最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US09241434B2 NANO composite consisting of carbon nanotubes and metal oxide and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are a method for manufacturing a carbon nanotube-metal oxide composite, and a carbon nanotube-metal oxide composite manufactured thereby, the method comprising: dispersing carbon nanotubes in a reductive solvent to prepare a dispersion liquid; adding a co-reducing agent and a metal precursor to the dispersion liquid to prepare a mixture liquid; and performing heat treatment on the mixture liquid to coat the metal precursor on the carbon nanotubes in a metal oxide form, so that there can be provided a carbon nanotube-metal oxide composite where metal oxide particles of several nm to several tens of nm are uniformly dispersed in carbon nanotubes or combined with surfaces of the carbon nanotubes in a coating type.
US09241432B1 Seawater faraday cage
A method for deploying a lightweight, flexible Faraday cage around a device can include the step of directing the conductive fluid flow in a manner that causes a shroud to form over the device. In some embodiments, a flexible material such as canvas can be deployed over the device and the conductive fluid can be sprayed onto the flexible material to form the shroud. In other embodiments, a plurality of nozzles can be placed around the perimeter of the device, and the nozzles can be directed at a predetermined point over the device. The streams can meet at the predetermined point, collide and thereby provide the conductive shroud for the device. The shroud can have a thickness, which can be chosen according to the desired frequency of electromagnetic radiation to be blocked, typically from one to one hundred millimeters (1-100 mm).
US09241430B2 Power pole isolated heat pipe inverter assembly
A power pole inverter is provided. The power pole inverter includes a housing assembly, a capacitor assembly, a number of arm assemblies, a number of heat sinks, and a support assembly. The housing assembly includes a number of sidewalk. The housing assembly sidewalls defining an enclosed space. The capacitor assembly is coupled to the housing assembly. Each arm assembly includes a plurality of electrical components and a number of electrical buses. Each the electrical bus includes a body with terminals, each the terminal structured to be coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the capacitor assembly, each arm assembly including a neutral terminal. Each arm assembly is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the capacitor assembly. The support assembly includes a non-conductive frame assembly. The support assembly is structured to support each the heat sink in isolation.
US09241428B1 Inverter assembly
Power inverter assemblies are provided herein for use with motor vehicles. An inverter assembly may have a symmetrical structure configured to convert DC input power to AC output power. The inverter assembly may include a housing enclosing a symmetrical DC input portion, a symmetrical AC output portion, a DC link capacitor, and a gate drive portion having a pair of power modules. The symmetrical DC input portion can include a DC input bus bar sub-assembly to which the DC link capacitor is coupled, and a second DC bus bar sub-assembly that may electrically couple the DC link capacitor with the power modules. The symmetrical AC output portion may include a three phase output AC bus bar sub-assembly to which the power modules can be electrically coupled. A cooling sub-assembly may be provided for cooling the power modules with fluid transfer using a coolant.
US09241425B1 Angled card cage for improved cooling airflow in front to back airflow products
An angled card cage for improved cooling airflow in front to back airflow products is disclosed. The angled card cage for improved cooling airflow includes a card cage having horizontally mounted circuit cards wherein the card cage is oriented at a non-orthogonal yaw angle relative to the front facing of an equipment rack. The angled card cage for improved cooling airflow provides advantages over systems known in the art by reducing pressure head losses incurred by the cooling air stream.
US09241420B2 In-package fly-by signaling
In-package fly-by signaling can be provided in a multi-chip microelectronic package having address lines on a package substrate configured to carry address information to a first connection region on the substrate having a first delay from terminals of the package, and the address lines being configured to carry the address information beyond the first connection region to at least to a second connection region having a second delay from the terminals that is greater than the first delay. Address inputs of a first microelectronic element, e.g., semiconductor chip, can be coupled with each of the address lines at the first connection region, and address inputs of a second microelectronic element can be coupled with each of the address lines at the second connection region.
US09241410B2 Wired circuit board and producing method thereof
A wired circuit board includes an insulating layer, and a conductive layer including a wire covered with the insulating layer and a terminal continued to the wire to electrically connect the wire to an electronic element. The insulating layer is formed with an insulating opening exposing the terminal, and the terminal is formed in a pattern which is indented in a thickness direction.
US09241401B2 Solid state lighting device and method employing heat exchanger thermally coupled circuit board
An illumination device comprises a circuit board that carries solid-state light sources and a heat transfer structure to which the circuit board is intimately physically coupled such that the circuit board is curved along at least one of a longitudinal dimension or a lateral dimension thereof. Such may allow less fasteners to be used than would otherwise be possible, while maintaining close contact over a large portion of the surface area. Some embodiments may employ a clamp, for example a peripheral clamp such as a cover or bezel clamp.
US09241398B2 Method of manufacturing high-frequency acceleration cavity component
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a high-frequency acceleration cavity component, the method including covering a mold with a conducting material, enclosing, in an outer shell, the mold covered with the conducting material, vacuum-airtight-welding the outer shell enclosing the mold, conducing hot isostatic pressing of the vacuum-airtight-welded outer shell, and taking the conducting material formed in the mold out of the outer shell which has undergone the hot isostatic pressing.
US09241396B2 Method for operating a plasma arc torch having multiple operating modes
The present invention provides a multi-mode plasma arc torch that includes a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, a first tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the first end, a second tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the second end, an electrode housing connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, and a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that the center line of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel. Adjusting a position of the electrode with respect to the hollow electrode causes the multi-mode plasma arc torch to operate in a dead short resistive mode, a submerged arc mode, an electrolysis mode, a glow discharge mode or a plasma arc mode.
US09241394B2 Radiation imaging control apparatus and method for controlling the same
A radiation imaging control apparatus configured to control a radiation imaging operation using a radiation generation apparatus in which a radiation generation condition is adjustable by a manual operation includes a setting unit configured to set the radiation generation condition for the radiation imaging operation, a transmission unit configured to transmit the radiation generation condition to the radiation generation apparatus, and a transmission control unit configured to limit transmission of the radiation generation condition by the transmission unit in a case where a radiation imaging operation belonging to the same group as that of the radiation imaging operation is performed.
US09241389B2 Digital lighting sub-network interface
A digital sub-network interface unit includes a primary digital lighting interface port to couple to a primary lighting network. An address of the digital sub-network interface unit on the primary lighting network is manually set at the digital sub-network interface unit. The digital sub-network interface unit also includes a secondary digital lighting interface port to couple to a secondary lighting network. The digital sub-network interface unit further includes a lighting sub-network processor. The lighting sub-network processor is configured to assign addresses to a plurality of secondary lighting fixtures, and to receive commands from a primary digital lighting controller in association with an address of the digital sub-network interface unit. The lighting sub-network processor is also configured to control a plurality of secondary lighting fixtures based on the commands received from the primary digital lighting controller.
US09241388B2 Method and apparatus for manufacturing a light-emitting device including correction of an application amount of a fluorescent resin based on a fluorescent particle concentration
A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device which includes a light-emitting source is provided by applying, onto the light-emitting source, a fluorescent resin which includes fluorescent particles and is stored in and discharged from an applicator. The method includes measuring a first concentration which is a concentration of the fluorescent particles included in the fluorescent resin discharged from the applicator; and applying, onto the light-emitting source, the fluorescent resin in an application amount determined based on the first concentration which has been measured and reference data which indicates a relationship between a concentration of the fluorescent particles and an application amount of the fluorescent resin that enables the light-emitting device to have constant chromaticity.
US09241385B2 Current balancing circuits for light-emitting-diode-based illumination systems
A system including a plurality of switches and a comparator. The plurality of switches is configured to respectively supply a plurality of currents via respective terminals to a plurality of sets of light emitting diodes. The sets of light emitting diodes are configured to respectively output light having wavelengths in a plurality of wavelength ranges in a spectrum of blue light. The comparator is configured to compare a reference voltage to a voltage at one of the terminals of one of the plurality of switches connected to one of the sets of light emitting diodes, and to adjust, based on the comparison, biasing of the plurality of switches to maintain a predetermined ratio of the plurality of currents.
US09241384B2 Solid state lighting devices with adjustable color point
A solid state lighting device includes multiple solid state light emitters and a control circuit configured to adjust aggregated emissions to produce a mixture of light having an adjustable color point together with high luminous efficacy, wherein at least one color point is on or near the white body line WBL (line of minimum tint). Adjustment of color point may provide substantially constant 1931 CIE x-values; substantially constant 1931 CIE y-values, or substantially constant distance relative to the blackbody locus (e.g., with variation in CCT of at least 100K for the color points). An adjustable color point may be arranged to transition between one point near the BBL and another point on or near the WBL. An adjustable color point may provide a first color point on or near the WBL and another point having different CCT and luminous flux. Emitters selected solely from discrete bins or subregions of a CIE diagram may be used in combination to yield a point on or near the WBL.
US09241378B2 Hybrid constant current LED lamp
The present invention relates to a hybrid constant current LED lamp. The LED lamp includes a rectifier unit, a filter circuit, a switching mode power supply, at least one main LED and a subsidiary LED. The main LED is electrically connected in series to the output terminal of the rectifier unit and the input port of the primary-side circuit of the switching mode power supply. The subsidiary LED is connected to the secondary-side circuit. The invention not only provides circuit architecture capable of providing a constant current, but also improves the power efficiency of the lamp.
US09241377B2 LED backlight driving circuit, LCD device, and method for driving the LED backlight driving circuit
A light emitting diode (LED) backlight driving circuit includes a power supply, an LED light bar, and a constant current driving chip that adjusts brightness of the LED light bar. The constant current driving chip receives the PWM dimming signal. N boost units are connected in series between the power supply and the LED light bar, and the N boost units are connected in parallel with each other. Comparing units are correspondingly coupled to control ends of one or more of (N−1) boost units. When a duty ratio of the PWM dimming signal is less than a preset threshold, the comparing unit drives a corresponding boost unit to turn off. N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
US09241371B2 Apparatus and method for performing wireless communication with a terminal switching between communication modes
A communication apparatus for performing communication with a communication terminal, and a method of controlling the same. The apparatus performs wireless communication with the communication terminal by a first wireless communication mode and performs wireless communication with the communication terminal by a second wireless communication mode in which either the communication apparatus or the communication terminal becomes an access point. The apparatus receives a switching instruction of communication mode from a user, and determines whether or not the switching of the communication mode in accordance with the received switching instruction is executable, makes a request for an additional instruction to the user when it is determined that it is not executable, and controls the switching of the communication mode in accordance with an additional instruction in response to the request.
US09241369B2 Method and apparatus for establishing wireless local area network link between portable terminals
A method of connecting a plurality of portable terminal over a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method including: a user selecting at least one contact from a contact list displayed on a screen of a first portable terminal, transmitting, from the first portable terminal to an external server over a cellular network, connection information necessary for establishing a WLAN link to the first portable terminal; pushing the connection information from the external server to a second portable terminal corresponding to the selected contact; a user pressing a connection authentication button on a selection menu displayed on the second portable terminal, and establishing the WLAN link to the first portable terminal from the second portable terminal by using the connection information.
US09241357B2 Electronic device, method, and computer-readable storage medium
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a request module, a transmission module, and a connection module. The request module requests a tethering start for a terminal equipped with a tethering feature. The transmission module transmits a password for tethering to the terminal. The connection module connects the electronic device to a network via a tethering terminal.
US09241354B2 Method and apparatus for initiating X2 interface setup in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting a transport network layer (TNL) address in a wireless communication system is provided. A home eNodeB (HeNB)/X2-proxy determines a TNL address and an eNB ID to be transmitted in a configuration transfer message based on an indication whether a direct X2 interface or an indirect X2 interface is to be established between a macro eNB and a HeNB. Or, in case that the direct X2 interface between the macro eNB and the HeNB is not available, the HeNB GW/X2-proxy modifies the TNL address of the HeNB and the eNB ID of the HeNB in the configuration transfer message into a TNL address of the NeNB GW/X2-proxy and an eNB ID of the HeNB GW/X2-proxy.
US09241350B1 Access network type identification in mobile internet protocol (MIP) registration (RRQ)
A wireless communication device identifies the access network type in the Mobile IP (MIP) Registration Request (RRQ). The wireless communication device uses a wireless communication network to access the IP communication network. The wireless communication device initiates a switch to another wireless communication network. In response to initiating the switch, the wireless communication device determines the network type of the new wireless communication network and generates a MIP RRQ identifying the access network type. After the MIP Registration Response (RRP) is received, the wireless communication device sends and retrieves IP data with the IP communication network via the new wireless communication network.
US09241349B2 Method of transmitting data in a mobile communication system
Disclosed is a data transmission method in a mobile communication system. The data transmission method through a code sequence in a mobile communication system includes grouping input data streams into a plurality of blocks consisting of at least one bit so as to map each block to a corresponding signature sequence, multiplying a signature sequence stream, to which the plurality of blocks are mapped, by a specific code sequence, and transmitting the signature sequence stream multiplied by the specific code sequence to a receiver.
US09241343B2 Enhanced access channel masks for xHRPD
A method of performing Pseudo-random-Noise (PN) quadrature covering for transmitting data via an access channel. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving a 42-bit access long code mask MIACMAC and a 42-bit access long code mask MQACMAC from an upper layer; generating an MI mask and an MQ mask for PN quadrature covering by using certain bits of an assigned channel number for the access channel; performing exclusive OR operations on certain bits of the received access long code mask MIACMAC; performing exclusive OR operations on certain bits of the received access long code mask MQACMAC; and transmitting signals via the access channel based on the generated 12-bit MI mask and the generated 12-bit MQ mask.
US09241340B2 Apparatus for scheduling in LTE machine type communication
The present invention relates to a way that a machine type communication module transmits/receives data, using a sleep mode or avoiding a busy time of a base station. That is, the present invention relates to an apparatus for scheduling in LTE machine type communication in which a machine type communication module transmits/receives data, using a sleep mode or avoiding a busy time of a base station for a response to an order or for a periodic report. The apparatus for scheduling in LTE machine type communication includes a machine type communication module that performs machine type communication with a base station.
US09241333B2 Modular base station
A base station module configured to be part of a group of base station modules comprising the base station module and other base station modules, the group of base station modules together forming a base station, and having antennas for receiving radio signals from mobile stations in a base station communication band, a communication interface for transferring data obtained via the received radio signals to the other base station modules and for receiving corresponding data from the other base station module, a data handling unit selects data for transfer to the other base station modules and an uplink data processing unit processes channels used by a subset of the mobile stations communicating with the base station, where the subset is assigned to the base station module. The base station module uses the data received from the other base station modules to influence processing in the uplink data processing unit.
US09241328B2 Data transceiving method and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus in which a terminal receives downlink data in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: a step of receiving a control channel signal including resource allocation information through a specific time domain of a subframe having a plurality of time domains; and a step of receiving the downlink data through the downlink data channel resource domain scheduled by the resource allocation information within said specific time domain. In cases where the downlink data channel resource domain is overlapped with a common search space, the downlink data is received through the residual resource domain except the portion overlapped with the common search space from among the downlink data channel resource domain.
US09241324B2 Mapping and resource allocation method for relay link-physical downlink shared channel
The present disclosure provides a mapping and resource allocation method for R-PDSCH, including: when resources allocated for an R-PDCCH overlap with resources allocated for the R-PDSCH, data of the R-PDSCH is not mapped or sent on over-lapped resources, or the data of the R-PDSCH to be sent on the over-lapped resources is punctured; the data of the R-PDSCH is mapped and sent on all or partial resources which are not occupied by the R-PDCCH; a receiving end receives data according to the mapping method for the R-PDSCH; wherein a resource allocation mode corresponding to a shared channel in an LTE system is reused or a grouping-tree resource allocation mode is used to allocate resources for the R-PDSCH.
US09241323B2 Method and apparatus for transport format selection in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus for selecting transport formats in a wireless transmitting device and wireless communication device associated therewith, wherein the wireless transmitting device supports transmission modes including single-stream transmission mode and multiple-stream transmission mode and comprises a transmit buffer to buffer data before transport format being selected for transmitting said data to a wireless receiving device, comprising: acquiring radio qualities associated with each stream being transmitted to the wireless receiving device; setting the transmission mode according to received radio qualities; detecting whether there is buffer limitation for said transmit buffer when multiple-stream transmission mode is set; and when buffer limitation is detected and multiple-stream transmission mode is selected for stream transmission, allocating the buffered data among the multiple streams based on the received radio qualities associated with respective streams and selecting transport formats for respective streams of the multiple streams based on their respective allocated buffered data quantities. This enables to obviate the TX power imbalance in case of multiple-stream transmissions, balance code and power usage among UEs in a cell, and thus improve code multiplexing efficiency.
US09241315B2 Power efficient communications
A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power.
US09241307B2 Method and apparatus using an ultra low power signal with scheduled power save modes
Methods and stations for wireless communication are described herein. In some aspects, the station may include a processing circuit configured to process a first signal transmitted to the station, the first signal indicating a target wake up time when an activation signal is expected to be received. The station may further include a wake-up circuit configured to transition a first receiver to an awake state based on the indicated target wake up time. The first receiver is configured to receive the activation signal at the indicated target wake up time. The station may further include a second receiver configured to transition to an awake state based on the first receiver receiving the activation signal and receive a second signal while in the awake state.
US09241304B2 Optimization process and system for a heterogeneous ad hoc network
Method and system for optimizing selection of a network. The method includes identifying available lenders and existing networks within a vicinity of a borrower, selecting an optimization technique for completing a task of the borrower, calculating, for a plurality of network options, a value for completing the borrower's task according to the optimization technique, and selecting an optimum network option to complete the borrower's task. The plurality of network options includes forming a heterogeneous network composed of both a peer-to-peer network and a multiplexed network.
US09241300B2 Method for scanning in a multi-mode multi-antenna device
A method and system are provided in which a device comprising a first or main phase locked loop (PLL) and a second or reference PLL, is operable to communicate utilizing a first and a second receiving antenna. The first PLL may generate a first signal based on a reference signal generated by the second PLL. A second signal may also be generated based on the reference signal. Data associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) may be received via the first receiving antenna utilizing the generated first signal. The first RAT or another RAT may be scanned via the second receiving antenna utilizing the generated second signal. The scan via the second receiving antenna may be performed concurrently with the reception of data via the first receiving antenna. A switch may be utilized to enable or disable scanning operations via the second receiving antenna.
US09241298B2 Devices and methods for facilitating access probe sequences
Access terminals are adapted to transmit a plurality of previously successful access probes to a network node, and determine an initial transmission power level for subsequent access attempts. The initial transmission power level can be determined based at least in part on one or more parameters associated with the plurality of previously successful access probes. An initial access probe of a subsequent access attempt can then be transmitted at the determined initial transmission power level. Network nodes that receive the one or more access probes from access terminals can send a message instructing the access terminals to employ a particular initial transmission power level for a subsequent access attempt. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.
US09241289B1 Dynamic adjustment of cell reselection parameters for a wireless communication device
A method of operating a wireless communication device to facilitate cell reselection comprises achieving downlink timing synchronization with a cell associated with a wireless access node based on information broadcast by the wireless access node over a synchronization signal, and performing a number of attempts to achieve uplink timing synchronization with the cell, wherein each of the attempts includes transmitting a preamble identifier and waiting to receive a positive acknowledgement. The method further comprises, if the number of attempts to achieve the uplink timing synchronization with the cell exceeds a threshold amount without receiving the positive acknowledgement, applying an offset to cell reselection parameters to generate modified cell reselection parameters, and responsive to the modified cell reselection parameters satisfying cell reselection criteria, performing both intra-frequency and inter-frequency measurements for potential cell reselection and selecting a different cell for potential synchronization based on the intra-frequency and the inter-frequency measurements.
US09241285B1 PCRF/ANDSF interaction in a communication network
In a packet communication system, a PCRF processes communication policy data to generate a communication policy instruction and a user notice. The PCRF transfers the communication policy instruction for delivery to a packet gateway system. The PCRF transfers the user notice for delivery to an ANDSF. The ANDSF processes the user notice to generate and transfer a data file for delivery to a user communication device that displays the user notice based on the data file. The packet gateway system processes the communication policy instruction to filter packets exchanged with the user communication device.
US09241280B2 Methods and arrangements for testing a transmission parameter value in a wireless communication system
A method in a first radio network node for testing a transmission parameter value in a wireless communication system is provided. The first radio network node is configured to, during operational mode thereof, perform transmissions using available resources divided in to resource blocks. The first radio network node allocates a test resource block, for test purposes, among the available resources. The first radio network node defines for the test resource block, a test value for the transmission parameter. The test value differs from the nominal value. The first radio network node performs, during operational mode, a test transmission using the resource block. During the test transmission, the transmission parameter is set to the test value. The test transmission is configured to form the basis for an evaluation of the test value.
US09241277B2 System and method for monitoring and optimizing network performance to a wireless device
The disclosed embodiments include a method for monitoring and optimizing network performance to a wireless device that includes determining network performance information of a wireless router and communicating data packets containing the network performance information to a network management device. In one embodiment, the network management device is configured to transmit instructional data packets to the wireless router that include instructions for optimizing network performance associated with the wireless device in response to identify a network performance problem associated with the wireless router.
US09241274B2 Method for avoiding in-device coexistence interference in wireless communication terminal, terminal and eNodeB
The present invention provides a method, terminal and base station for avoiding device coexistence interference of a wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication terminal includes a Long Term Evolution (LTE)/Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) communication module and a coexistence communication module. The method includes the following steps: a first sending step, sending a coexistence communication module startup notification message to the base station, and a first interference avoidance step, before sending auxiliary information to the base station, the wireless communication terminal using a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) mode between the LTE/LTE-A communication module and the coexistence communication module.
US09241273B2 Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for configuration of signaling radio bearers
Methods, corresponding apparatuses, and computer program products for configuring one or more signaling radio bearers are disclosed. A method comprises sending a configuration request for configuring one or more signaling radio bearers to a local area access point by which a user equipment is connected to a wide area base station, wherein the one or more signaling radio bearers are used for communication between the user equipment and the wide area base station. The method also comprises receiving configuration information with respect to the one or more signaling radio bearers from the local area access point. The method additionally comprises sending the configuration information with respect to the one or more signaling radio bearers to the user equipment via a radio resource control message. With the claimed inventions, the wide area base station is capable of efficiently configuring the signaling radio bearers for use between the wide area base station and the user equipment via the local area access point.
US09241271B2 System and method for restricting access to network performance information
A system and method for restricting access to network performance information associated with communications over a packet network. A request may be received from a user to access network performance information associated with communications of data packets over a packet network. A determination as to whether the user has permission to access the network performance information may be made. In response to determining that the user has permission to access the network performance information, the user may be enabled to access the network performance information; otherwise, the user may be prevented from accessing the network performance information. The network performance information may include information associated with communications of data packets including real-time content and non-real-time content.
US09241270B1 In-field smart device updates
Methods and systems for causing a device to join a local area network or fabric. A joining device sends an indication that the electronic device is not connected to a network type and receives a device ID for an assisting device to assist the electronic device in joining a network of the network type. Moreover, the assisting device resides on the network. The joining device then authenticates to the assisting device from the assisting device and receives network credentials for the network. Furthermore, the joining device joins the network using the network credentials.
US09241266B2 Authentication system, small base station, and authentication method
The present invention relates to an authentication system, a small base station, and an authentication method which allow a server side to authenticate whether an installation position of a small base station is valid or not. In a packet to be sent as an authentication request from the femto base station 1, in-IC card information of an IC card inserted into the femto base station 1 is contained. A network terminating device 2 converts a local IP address described in a header of the packet to a global IP address, and sends it to a femto concentrator 4. The femto concentrator 4 generates authentication information by associating the in-IC card information with the global IP address, and sends it to an authentication server 5. The authentication server 5 determines that the installation position of the femto base station 1 is valid if the in-IC card information and global IP address included in the authentication information have been associated with each other and registered in an authentication table. The present invention can be applied to a base station for a femtocell.
US09241264B2 Network access authentication for user equipment communicating in multiple networks
The invention relates to a method, an element, and a system for providing access authentication for a user using user equipment (1-2) communicating (1) in a first communications network (1-30) accepting a first type of identification to a second communications network (1-16, 1-20) accepting a second type of identification. In the invention, an identifier comprising a first part and a second part is received (5); a corresponding second part is retrieved (7) from a database (BSF) by using the first part; the received second part is compared with the retrieved corresponding second part; and if they are the same, the user equipment (1-2) is provided with access authentication to the second communications network (1-16, 1-20).
US09241262B2 Apparatus and method for securing beacons
A short-range communication tag includes a transmitter, a clock circuit providing a clock value and a memory containing a unique identification value. The tag further includes a processor which generates encryption keys with a period of K seconds and combines the unique identification value with the encryption key, according to a predetermined encryption method, to generate an obfuscated unique identification value. The tag further includes a short-range transmitter to transmit the tag identification value.
US09241259B2 Method and apparatus for managing the transfer of sensitive information to mobile devices
Methods and apparatus provide data loss protection for mobile devices. In one aspect, data is analyzed by a data loss protection server to determine if it is authorized by data loss protection policies to be transferred to a mobile device. The time necessary to analyze the data may exceed a mobile device timeout value. To prevent the mobile device from timing out, the DLP server may send one or more portions of a response to the mobile device at a time interval less than the mobile device timeout value. Some portions of the response may be sent before the analyzing of the data is completed.
US09241256B2 Transmission and distribution of position- and/or network-related information from access networks
The present invention relates to a method, subscriber database, network element, an interface, and a computer program product for distributing position- or network-related information from an access network to a core network, wherein a first interface between the access network and the subscriber database is associated with a second interface between the core network and the subscriber database in a manner so that, in response to at least one predetermined notification indicating a registration or change of position and signaled to the subscriber database via the first interface, the position- or network-related information is selectively signaled via the second interface to a network element of the core network in a server assignment answer or in a push profile request. Thereby, position or location information of a subscriber or user in an access network is directly or automatically availability in the core network.
US09241255B2 Local breakout with optimized interface
The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and computer program products at interrelated entities of a network system for providing access via a cellular access network to a packet data network, wherein a simple local IP access or local breakout (LBO) feature is provided, which uses a bridging function between a packet data network interface and a radio interface in an access device (e.g. base station device or HNB) that can be controlled by a single control plane interface.
US09241245B2 Management of unwanted calls and/or text messages
Management of unwanted phone calls and/or text messages can be performed by allowing a user to create a personalized list of unwanted calls and/or text messages at the user's device and synchronizing that personalized list between a storage system in the user's device and a remote storage in a network to which the device can be coupled. In one embodiment, the remote storage can be a cloud based backup system for the user's contacts and content and the user can access a full list of the unwanted phone numbers through a web server but the full list is not accessible on the device except through a web browser that retrieves the full list from the web server.
US09241240B2 Techniques for server-controlled tiling of location-based information
Techniques for server-controlled tiling of location-based information are described. An apparatus may comprise a communication component and a tile component. The communication component may be operative to receive a location-based search request from a client application, the location-based search request comprising a geographic area, and to transmit a plurality of tiles to the client application. The tile component may be operative to determine the plurality of tiles as a set of tiles that cover the geographic area, each tile of the plurality of tiles covering a portion of the geographic area and comprising a set of locations. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09241234B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting data in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting data from a first User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. In the method, the first UE receives uplink data of a second UE from the second UE on a first uplink subframe of an Nth frame and transmits the received uplink data of the second UE to a base station on a first uplink subframe of an (N+1)th frame and then receives feedback information associated with the transmitted uplink data of the second UE from the base station.
US09241222B2 Binaural compressor preserving directional cues
A hearing aid system includes a first hearing aid configured to communicate with a second hearing aid, wherein the first hearing aid comprises a microphone and an A/D converter for provision of a digital input signal in response to sound signals received at the microphone, a processor that is configured to process the digital input signal in accordance with a signal processing algorithm into a processed digital output signal, the processor including a compressor, a D/A converter and an output transducer for conversion of the processed digital output signal to an acoustic output signal, and a transceiver for data communication with the second hearing aid, wherein, a gain of the compressor of the first hearing aid is controlled by a first compressor control signal with a value that is substantially equal to a value of a second compressor control signal controlling a gain of a compressor in the second hearing aid, whereby a sense of direction is maintained.
US09241221B2 Thermoacoustic chip
A thermoacoustic chip includes a shell having a hole and a speaker located in the shell. The speaker includes a substrate having a surface, a sound wave generator located on the surface of the substrate and opposite to the hole of the shell, and, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are spaced from each other and electrically connected to the sound wave generator.
US09241219B2 Audio device and portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a built-in speaker, an interface configured to connect to an external audio device to output sound, a switch, and a main microchip. The main microchip detects whether the external audio device is connected to the portable electronic device. When the external audio device is connected to the portable electronic device, the main microchip selects the audio device to output sound. When the audio device is not connected to the portable electronic device, the main microchip selects the built-in speaker to output the audio signals.
US09241218B2 Apparatus and method for decomposing an input signal using a pre-calculated reference curve
An apparatus for decomposing a signal having an number of at least three channels includes an analyzer for analyzing a similarity between two channels of an analysis signal related to the signal having at least two analysis channels, wherein the analyzer is configured for using a pre-calculated frequency dependent similarity curve as a reference curve to determine the analysis result. The signal processor processes the analysis signal or a signal derived from the analysis signal or a signal, from which the analysis signal is derived using the analysis result to obtain a decomposed signal.
US09241217B2 Dynamically adjusted stereo for portable devices
A mobile device includes an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the mobile device and at least two speakers, each configured to output sound according to an audio signal. The mobile device further includes a processing device configured to group at least two of the speakers into a speaker pair based on the orientation detected by the orientation sensor.
US09241216B2 Data structure for higher order ambisonics audio data
The invention is related to a data structure for Higher Order Ambisonics HOA audio data, which data structure includes 2D or 3D spatial audio content data for one or more different HOA audio data stream descriptions. The HOA audio data can have on order of greater than ‘3’, and the data structure in addition can include single audio signal source data and/or microphone array audio data from fixed or time-varying spatial positions.
US09241210B1 Mass ports for tuning driver frequency response
A mass port configured to tune a frequency response of an audio reproduction device is disclosed. The mass port includes a head portion and an insertion portion coupled to the head portion. The head portion includes a sealing structure on a rear side. The head portion is configured to attach to a rear plate of a driver at the sealing structure. The insertion portion is configured to be inserted into a speaker port on the rear plate of the driver. The head portion and the insertion portion include an air slot that runs through the head portion and the insertion portion.
US09241206B2 Decoupled drive unit for a loudspeaker enclosure
A loudspeaker enclosure defined by one or more panels housing a drive unit. The drive unit includes a coil, a diaphragm, and a magnet. The magnet is decoupled from the one or more panels of the loudspeaker enclosure. Sound is generated by the movement of the diaphragm and complementary movement of the magnet, on application of an appropriate electrical signal to the coil. The moving diaphragm acts against a first volume of air within the enclosure, while the movement of a surface coupled to the magnet, acts against a second air volume, different from the first volume. The surface coupled to the magnet is decoupled from the one or more panels of the loudspeaker enclosure.
US09241199B2 Announcement broadcasting system, announcement broadcasting optical receiver used for the announcement broadcasting system, cable television broadcasting system, and optical receiver used for the cable television broadcasting system
In a subscriber's facility of an announcement broadcasting system utilizing an optical fiber cable TV network, an announcement broadcasting optical receiver receiving an optical transmission signal of audio information and outputting an audio information electric signal for an announcement broadcasting terminal is provided. The announcement broadcasting optical receiver includes: a photo-detection section for converting the optical transmission signal into the audio information electric signal; a photoelectric conversion section, which is connected to the photo-detection section, for converting the optical transmission signal that the photo-detection section receives into electric energy; and an RF signal potential transformation section, to which the electric energy obtained by the photoelectric conversion section is supplied, for potential-transforming the audio information electric signal output from the photo-detection section to one at an input voltage level appropriate to the announcement broadcasting terminal and outputting it.
US09241196B2 Front module having triplexer for multimedia over coax alliance
Disclosed herein is a front module having a triplexer. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front module includes: a triplexer receiving and distributing a MoCA receiving signal and a cable broadcasting signal from a coaxial cable and receiving the MoCA transmitting signal and outputting the received MoCA transmitting signal to the coaxial cable; a transceiver for MoCA removing and outputting noise from the MoCA receiving signal input through the triplexer and amplifying the MoCA transmitting signal input from the outside and providing the amplified MoCA transmitting signal to the triplexer; and a receiver for cable removing and outputting noise from the cable broadcasting signal input through the triplexer.
US09241194B2 Multi-view of media content
In a content processing device, a set of media channels to be provided in a graphical user interface is identified. Each channel in a subset of the channels is assigned to a cell that is included in a set of cells in the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface is provided to a display. Upon a predetermined indication, at least some of the subset of the channels are rotated through at least a subset of the cells, whereby the display shows each of the cells in the subset of cells to be including a channel other than a channel that was included in the cell before the rotating was performed.
US09241193B2 Apparatus, method and system for generating metadata for content to be shared
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, a communication method, and a communication system able to share content on the basis of metadata. A storage unit 105 retains content. A registration processor 106 generates metadata related to the content and registers the generated metadata in a database. An uploader 104 requests another communication apparatus via a network for content retained by the other communication apparatus on the basis of metadata generated by the other communication apparatus. A downloader 103 supplies content retained by the storage unit 105 via the network to the other communication apparatus requesting on the basis of metadata generated by the registration processor 106. The present invention can be applied to a recording and playback apparatus able to record or play back content, for example.
US09241189B2 Web television having a two-way communication bus interconnecting a television controller and an internet module
A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.
US09241183B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and application information table transmitting apparatus
[Object] To appropriately control simultaneous presentation of broadcast content and an application.[Solving Means] The information processing apparatus includes: a broadcast content processor configured to receive and process broadcast content; and a controller configured to obtain an application information table, the application information table (XML-AIT) storing an application identification descriptor 24 as information specifying broadcast content, the broadcast content being capable of being presented with the application simultaneously, and to determine if it is possible to present the application and the broadcast content simultaneously or not.
US09241180B2 Distributing content to subscribers of a communications service provider
A system, method, and server for distributing content. The system includes a number of servers in communication with the Internet and configured to provide subscribers of the communications service provider with access to content stored on the number of servers without having to access external networks including the Internet. The system further includes a remote content management application operating on at least one of the number of servers and configured to provide content providers with: (1) digital rights management (DRM) and (2) guaranteed quality of service (QoS) to the subscribers of the communications service providers, wherein the content providers establish the DRM and the QoS.
US09241179B2 Method and system for creating video channels for delivery of content from multiple platforms
A system for managing delivery of content from multiple platforms maintains data for various video channels. Some of the video channels are television channels, while others are over-the-top (OTT) video content sources such as video streaming websites. The system includes a package generation module by which a service provider may define a package of both traditional and OTT channels to offer to subscribers in a unified programming interface. When a user uses the interface to select a set of video channels, the system compiles the set of the video channels in a subscriber package of both television and OTT channels. The system assigns a name to the subscriber package, and it stores the defined package and name, along with other information about the package, in a data storage facility for offering to a subscriber of content from the service provider.
US09241174B1 Demand-based edge caching video content system and methods
A video-on-demand system includes a resource manager (501) in communication with a central storage server (502), a back office system (503), and a plurality of edge servers (504). The resource manager can receive (523) a video-on-demand session request 524) requesting delivery of content (529), read (525) a content allocation register (520) that includes a popular asset list (301) with a plurality of content assets ranked (314) by highest demand (314) within a predetermined past usage window (316) and an edge server list (302) indicating which edge servers have delivered each content asset of the popular asset list. The resource manger can then Select (526) a selected edge server (527) from the content allocation register as a function of the popular asset list and the edge server list and cause (528) the selected edge server to deliver (529) the content in response to the video-on-demand session request.
US09241170B1 Adaptive streaming using chunked time-to-offset mapping
Systems and methods are provided herein relating to adaptive video streaming. Time-to-offset mapping associated with a set of video blocks can be broken up into chunks. A client can download a first set of seek index chunks and use the first set of seek index chunks to select a stream. Seek index chunks within remaining sets of seek index chunks can be ranked for relevance based on client capabilities. A subset of remaining sets of seeks index chunks can be downloaded based on the rankings and client capabilities during streaming. Chunked time-to-offset mapping can facilitate faster startup when playing streamed video.
US09241168B2 Methods and apparatus for illumination and color compensation for multi-view video coding
There are provided a method and apparatus for illumination and color compensation for multi-view video coding. A video encoder includes an encoder for encoding a picture by enabling color compensation of at least one color component in a prediction of the picture based upon a correlation factor relating to color data between the picture and another picture. The picture and the other picture have different view points and both corresponding to multi-view content for a same or similar scene.
US09241167B2 Metadata assisted video decoding
A video decoder is disclosed that uses metadata in order to make optimization decisions. In one embodiment, metadata is used to choose which of multiple available decoder engines should receive a video sequence. In another embodiment, the optimization decisions can be based on length and location metadata information associated with a video sequence. Using such metadata information, a decoder engine can skip start-code scanning to make the decoding process more efficient. Also based on the choice of decoder engine, it can decide whether emulation prevention byte removal shall happen together with start code scanning or not.
US09241166B2 Technique for adapting device tasks based on the available device resources
Methods, systems and devices are provided for efficiently receiving and displaying content in a mobile computing device. The computing device's reception and decoding operations are adjusted to match the capabilities of available device resources and/or to meet battery consumption needs/requirements. Higher level components (e.g., application layer components) selectively pull data from lower-level components (e.g., physical-layer or adaptation-layer components). The quality of video displayed is intelligently balanced against the amount of resources available, and a subset of the video data sufficient to display the content is pulled from the lower layer, providing users with an optimal balance between content quality and power consumption.
US09241163B2 VC-2 decoding using parallel decoding paths
Methods, devices and systems that perform VC-2 decoding are disclosed. In an embodiment, a VC-2 decoder includes three parallel data paths including top-band, current-band and bottom-band data paths. The top-band data path performs variable length decoding (VLD), inverse-quantization (IQ) and inverse-DC-prediction (IDCP) processing of a top compressed data-band. The current-band data path performs VLD, IQ and IDCP processing of a current compressed data-band. The bottom-band data path performs VLD, IQ and IDCP processing of a bottom compressed data-band. Additionally, the decoder includes a three-level inverse discrete wavelet transform (IDWT) module to perform IDWT processing to synthesize decoded source pixel values in dependence on partially-decompressed top, current and bottom data-bands produced using the three parallel data paths. The decoder also includes a slice-bytes equalizer, a bit-stream first-in-first-out (FIFO), a scan conversion FIFO, and a module that inserts horizontal and vertical blanking periods into data received from the scan conversion FIFO.
US09241161B2 Moving picture coding method, and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus for performing inter-picture predictive coding for pictures constituting a moving picture is provided with a coding unit for performing predictive error coding for image data; a decoding unit for performing predictive error decoding for an output from the coding unit; a reference picture memory for holding output data from the decoding unit; and a motion vector detection unit for detecting motion vectors on the basis of the decoded image data stored in the memory. When coding a B picture as a target picture, information indicating whether or not the target picture should be used as a reference picture when coding another picture is added as header information. Therefore, in a decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream Bs outputted from the moving picture coding apparatus, management of a memory for holding the reference picture can be facilitated on the basis of the header information.
US09241158B2 Hypothetical reference decoder parameters in video coding
A device performs a hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) operation that determines conformance of a bitstream to a video coding standard or determines conformance of a video decoder to the video coding standard. As part of performing the HRD operation, the device determines a highest temporal identifier of a bitstream-subset associated with a selected operation point of the bitstream. Furthermore, as part of the HRD operation, the device determines, based on the highest temporal identifier, a particular syntax element from among an array of syntax elements. The device then uses the particular syntax element in the HRD operation.
US09241157B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that is provided with an image pickup device and a fixed pattern outputting section that outputs a fixed pattern set in advance and includes a control unit and a path. The control unit is electrically connected to the imaging unit and receives an image acquired by the image pickup device and a fixed pattern outputted from the fixed pattern outputting means. The path electrically connects the imaging unit and the control unit, and electrically transmits an image and a fixed pattern from the imaging unit to the control unit. The control unit controls, depending on the image, an application which requires the image as one of inputs to the application. Further, the control unit compares a specific pattern prepared in advance according to the fixed pattern, with the fixed pattern, to determine the occurrence of an anomaly in the electrical connection of the path.
US09241154B2 Liquid crystal display panel and display method compatible with 2D and 3D display mode
The present invention provides an LCD panel and a display method compatible with a 2D and a 3D display mode. The 3D display mode comprises a shutter 3D and a polarized 3D display mode. The LCD panel comprises multiple pixels, and each pixel comprises: a substrate, a data line, scan line, a common electrode line, 2D/3D switching control signal line, and a pixel unit. The pixel unit comprises: a first to a fourth switching elements, a first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The present invention, through disposing a 2D/3D switching control signal line to achieve switching of every operation mode, improve the color shift issue at the large viewing angle, increase aperture ratio, and reduce energy consumption at the same time.
US09241150B2 Three-dimensional image capture apparatus
A three-dimensional image capture apparatus includes a single lens module, an X-cube beam-splitting prism, two image sensors and a parallax processor. The beam-splitting prism includes a first transflective surface and a second transflective obliquely intersecting the first transflective surface. The first transflective surface is configured for reflecting light from a first viewing angle of an object through the lens module toward a first direction. The second transflective surface is configured for reflecting light from a second viewing angle of an object through the lens module toward an opposite second direction. The image sensors are configured for respectively detecting the light reflected by the first and second transflective surfaces, and generating parallax image signals. The parallax processor is configured for processing the parallax image signals from the image sensors to generate a 3D image.
US09241149B2 Subtitles in three-dimensional (3D) presentation
A method and system for preparing subtitles for use in a stereoscopic presentation are described. The method allows a subtitle to be displayed without being truncated or masked by comparing the subtitle's initial footprint with an image display area. If any portion of the initial footprint lies outside the image display area, the subtitle is adjusted according to adjustment information, which includes at least one of: a scale factor, a translation amount and a disparity change, so that the adjusted subtitle lies completely within the image display area. Furthermore, the disparity of the subtitle can be adjusted by taking into account the disparities of one or more objects in an underlying image to be displayed with the subtitle.
US09241148B2 Disparity calculating method and stereo matching device thereof
A disparity calculating method includes generating an energy matrix according to a first image-block and a second image-block, wherein the energy matrix includes a plurality of energies of a plurality of pixels corresponding to a plurality of disparity candidates; setting the energy corresponding to a starting pixel of the plurality of pixels and a specified disparity candidate of the plurality of disparity candidates as a first predetermined value and setting the energies corresponding to the starting pixel and other disparity candidates of the plurality of disparity candidates as a second predetermined value, wherein the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value; generating a path matrix according to the energy matrix; and determining a plurality of disparities of the plurality of pixels sequentially from an ending pixels of the plurality of pixels, wherein the disparity of the ending pixel is set as a third predetermined value.
US09241146B2 Interleaved approach to depth-image-based rendering of stereoscopic images
Techniques are disclosed for generating stereoscopic images. The techniques include receiving a first image frame associated with a first eye, and receiving a first depth frame associated with the first eye. The techniques further include reprojecting the first image frame based on the first depth frame to create a second image frame associated with a second eye. The techniques further include identifying a first pixel in the second image frame that remains unwritten as a result of reprojecting the first image frame, and determining a value for the first pixel based on a corresponding pixel in a prior image frame associated with the second eye. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that DIBR reprojected image frames have a more realistic appearance where gaps are filled using pixels from a prior image for the same eye.
US09241145B2 Information processing system, recording/playback apparatus, playback terminal, information processing method, and program
An information processing system is disclosed. The information processing system includes: a recording/playback apparatus; and a playback terminal. The recording/playback apparatus includes an output unit, a management unit, and a playback unit. The playback terminal includes a playback unit, a generating unit, and an output unit.
US09241143B2 Output correction for visual projection devices
Dedicated projectors and devices with projection abilities such as digital cameras or camcorders have projections that are corrected to compensate for irregularities in the surfaces receiving the projection. The image data being projected is compensated to account for the irregularities by observing the irregularities with a camera to produce image data and creating the compensation based on that image data. Irregularities of the projection receiving location including angular relationships to the projector causing keystoning, noisy surfaces with reflectivity or absorption, color patterns, non-planar regions, intervening objects, and the like may be accounted for during the compensation. The projection of the image itself may be utilized to capture the result of projecting onto the irregularities. Projection of target grids, such as using infrared, may be used to capture the result of projecting onto the irregularities. The captured image may be processed to produce a compensated image to be projected.
US09241136B2 Method and apparatus for creating a personalized programming guide
An approach is provided for creating a personalized programming guide. A guide manager receives input from a user for creating a personalized programming guide. The guide manager retrieves one or more search criteria associated with a community of other users to construct a query. The guide manager then performs the query and displays the results of the query in a personalized programming guide.
US09241131B2 Multiple channel communication using multiple cameras
A method for video image sharing and control comprises activating video communication between electronic devices. Transmission of multiple video feeds is controlled using multiple cameras from a first electronic device.
US09241130B2 Streaming of telepresence video content
Solutions for distributing telepresence content to users and devices that are not direct participants in the telepresence session in which the content is created. For example, in some cases, a collector device might receive telepresence content from a dedicated telepresence endpoint and/or transmit that content, through a firewall, to a system that is outside the firewall and therefore is accessible from the Internet. In an aspect, such embodiments might employ a protocol that does not require any incoming connection from the outside system and therefore does not require any modification of the firewall policies in order to provide such content.
US09241127B2 Wide dynamic range image processing method and image signal processor using the same
An image processing method includes the operations of receiving N×N raw data from an N×N sub pixel array including a plurality of first exposure pixels and second exposure pixels having different exposure times, respectively; obtaining a difference value between a value obtained by normalizing an interpolated value of the first exposure pixels and an interpolated value of the second exposure pixels for each channel in the N×N sub pixel array based on the N×N raw data; setting a mismatching value to a maximum value among difference values obtained for the respective channels; and setting a corrected value of a central pixel in the N×N sub pixel array based on the N×N raw data and based on the mismatching value and a threshold value.
US09241122B2 Display device and method for controlling the same
A display device includes a display module configured to output a broadcast program and a channel banner list, a communication module configured to perform a data communication with an external server, a receiving unit configured to receive a channel change signal, a memory configured to store a viewing history data of a user, and a controller configured to control an operation of the display device, the controller is further configured to output a first broadcast channel banner list including a channel banner of broadcast channels received by the display device in a screen, receive a broadcast channel change signal more than a first number within a predetermined time period, output a second broadcast channel banner list having changed a size of the channel banner of the channels included in the first broadcast channel banner list.
US09241121B2 Programs of interest presentation apparatus, systems, and methods
Various embodiments present information about programs of interest. Some embodiments provide electronic program guides based on previously viewed programs. In some cases, an electronic program guide generator (“EPGG”) generates an electronic program guide for a designated time period, the electronic program guide including information about one or more scheduled programs, based on the one or more scheduled programs each having at least one attribute that matches an attribute of a program that was previously viewed at a time of day corresponding to the designated time period. The generated electronic program guide may then be presented on a presentation device. Another embodiment provides information about one or more programs that are related to a designated program of interest.
US09241118B2 High fill-factor image sensor architecture
An image sensor architecture is implemented within an image sensor system. Image sensor pixels include pixel regions, and each pixel region includes a photosensor, a reset circuit, and a readout circuit. The readout circuit receives enable signals from an enable signal line, and outputs a pixel signal representative of light captured by the photosensor on a combination input/output line. The reset circuit resets the photosensor in response to receiving a first reset signal on a reset line and a second reset signal on the combination input/output line.
US09241114B1 Uniform universal remote configuration
Providing uniform universal remote configuration is described herein. In different aspects, the techniques may include sending an identification (ID) request to a remote control and receiving an ID response from the remote control in response to the ID request. The ID response may be used to configure a device to process a plurality of control signals from the remote control.
US09241113B2 Apparatus and method for displaying images
Disclosed herein is an image display apparatus including a storage unit storing a plurality of images, an input unit receiving a selection command for selecting one or more images from among the plurality of images, and a display unit displaying at least one image of the selected images in a first zone and at least one second image of the selected images in a second zone.
US09241112B2 Imaging apparatus, imaging method and computer-readable recording medium
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures a subject to generate image data of the subject; a display unit that displays the image; an image separating unit that separates a subject image and a background image from the image displayed; a special effect input unit that receives information related to special effects respectively applied to the subject image and the background image; a special effect image generating unit that generates a special effect image of each of the subject and background images by applying special effects corresponding to information received by the special effect input unit; a storing unit that stores special effect information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of special effects which the special effect image generating unit applies to the subject image and the background image; and a synthetic image generating unit that generates a synthetic image using the generated special effect image.
US09241111B1 Array of cameras with various focal distances
A photography device includes a plurality of cameras arranged as an array. The array may include multiple cameras with different focal distances. Each camera has a different focal distance. Or groups of cameras in an array may share multiple focal distances. The cameras may provide a similar field of view and similar magnification. A unified image is formed by combining the images from the different cameras.
US09241103B2 Apparatus and method for playback of multiple panoramic videos with control codes
An apparatus and method are provided for viewing panoramic images and videos through the selection of a particular viewing angle and window within that panorama while allowing the viewer to simultaneously implement temporal transport control, and allowing the video to be in a state of pause, play, fast forward, fast rewind, slow forward, slow rewind, or frame-by-frame. A plurality of panoramic video or images from multiple cameras can be synchronized so that as a viewer pauses, rewinds, forwards a video in one panorama, and all panoramas are time synchronized and go through the same states as the panorama being viewed. When the user selects a different panorama for viewing from a different camera, this panorama comes up in the same state as the panorama previously being viewed.
US09241093B2 Guided filter-based detail enhancement
Systems and methods for generating a detail-enhanced video signal are provided. In a method for generating the detail-enhanced video signal, an input video signal is received. A first signal that is a linear transformation of the input video signal is generated. A detail signal is generated by determining a difference between the input video signal and the first signal, where the detail signal includes information that is added to the input video signal to generate the detail-enhanced video signal. A filtered detail signal is generated by removing noise from the detail signal. The filtered detail signal is multiplied by a gain function to generate a second signal. The gain function is based on an amount of variance in the input video signal. The input video signal and the second signal are combined to generate the detail-enhanced video signal.
US09241088B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system, image forming system control method, and program
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive data via a network, a printing unit configured to print an image based on the data received from the receiving unit, and a control unit configured to control the receiving unit to refuse a data reception based on a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) when a toner remaining amount for the printing unit is less than a predetermined value, wherein the printing unit is configured to print, in the case that the receiving unit receives page description language (PDL) data, an image based on the received PDL data even if the toner remaining amount is less than the predetermined value.
US09241086B1 Image-reading apparatus
An image-reading apparatus includes a case constituted to shut off ambient light and including an opening on a bottom surface thereof, an image capturing unit capturing an image of a medium in the case through the opening, a plurality of light sources disposed in the case to emit light to the opening, and an image-processing unit performing image capturing by the image capturing unit, and performing composition process on plural image data captured by the image capturing unit. The light sources emit light in a direction to form shadowed areas outside of different edges of the medium when the medium is smaller than an area of the opening, and the image-processing unit extracts the edges based on the shadowed areas in the image data and crops the medium from the image data based on the extracted edges.
US09241076B1 Identification of public safety answering platform next generation 911 media support
A method, system, and medium are provided for generating a profile for public safety answering platforms. The profile identifies media formats supported by the PSAPs at various cell sector locations maintained by a network provider. A network server selects a cell sector and generates a test emergency services call. The test emergency services call is transmitted to a PSAP. The PSAP generates a response that indicates whether the PSAP supports a media format identified in the test emergency services call. The PSAP transmits the response to the network server for storage in the profile.
US09241075B2 Alarm system call handling
An alarm system that monitors and selectively handles incoming telephone calls at a premises in disclosed. The alarm system includes, a telephone network interface, for receiving a subscriber line from a telephone network that further includes a caller-ID decoder for decoding caller-ID information for telephone calls received on said subscriber line; and a switch for selectively interconnecting said subscriber line to a telephone feed at the premises. A processor is in communication with the caller-ID decoder and the switch to selectively interconnect calls from the subscriber line to the telephone feed at the premises, based on associated caller-ID information.
US09241071B2 Method and apparatus for moving call
An operation method and apparatus of a terminal for call move are provided. The method includes, if receiving a call move request signal including registration information of a first device that is in voice communication with a second device from the first device, transmitting, by the terminal, a call state request signal for the first device using the registration information to a server, if determining that a call state for the first device is not a call through the server by using a call state response signal received from the server, establishing, by the terminal, a wireless connection with the first device, and, performing, by the terminal, voice communication with the second device through the established wireless connection.
US09241070B1 Providing compliance enforcement for manually dialed wireless numbers in a contact center using callback functionality
A call to a wireless number can be originated by a contact center while enforcing various compliance requirements. A dialer and PBX cooperate to originate the call to the wireless number. The dialer selects the next eligible number in the calling list that should be dialed by an agent. Account information provided by the dialer is displayed on the agent's computer, and a call is placed to the agent's phone by the dialer, wherein the call uses the selected number as the ANI. The call is shortly terminated by the dialer, so that it is not answered by the agent. The agent can then redial that number or invoke a callback function to originate the call to the selected number. A PBX handing the call may inform the dialer of the call origination. The dialer may thus monitor the status of the call without actually originating the call.
US09241066B2 Secure call analysis and screening of a secure connection
In one embodiment, a secure computer telephony integration (CTI) connection is established between a call analysis and/or screening device and a call control agent. The call analysis device sniffs secure media packets between the endpoints and receives CTI events from the call control agent via the secure CTI connection. The device correlates the CTI events with the secure media packets, enabling the device to decrypt the packets to perform voice quality troubleshooting or call screening in real-time.
US09241060B1 Communication device
The communication device comprising a first weather implementer, a second weather implementer, a first weather dependent shortcut icon modification implementer, and a second weather dependent shortcut icon modification implementer.
US09241056B2 Image based dialing
A device may include an image display component to display an image that includes a subject, where the image has a header portion, and to display subject information that includes a communication identifier related to the subject, and wherein the subject information is stored in the header portion. The device may include a transceiver to contact the subject via the communication identifier. The device may include a processor to provide the image and the subject information to the display component, to receive a request to contact the subject, to retrieve the communication identifier from the header portion, and to send the communication identifier to the transceiver to cause the transceiver to contact the subject.
US09241048B2 Mechanism for processing network event protocol messages
A communication system includes a first apparatus and a second apparatus. The first apparatus is configured to: attach first and second message length information to a first and second SYSLOG message, respectively; form at least a portion of a transport payload by adding a first portion and a second portion thereto, wherein the first portion includes the first SYSLOG message with the attached first message length information, and the second portion includes the second SYSLOG message with the attached second message length information; and send the transport payload. The second apparatus is configured to: parse the first and second SYSLOG messages one by one from the transport payload.
US09241046B2 Methods and systems for speeding up data recovery
A method for providing recovery from a remote server to a client includes sending at least one data restore request to the remote server. A data block identifier are received at the client system via a network. A data block associated with the data block identifier is retrieved from a local backup server associated with the client system if the local back up server stores the data block. The data block associated with the data block identifier is received from the remote server if the local backup server does not store the data block. The data block is restored to the client system.
US09241038B2 User presence aggregation at a server
A presence aggregation system provides a presence aggregation server that allows for the publication of presence state of a publisher from the publisher's multiple endpoints. A presence state includes an availability value and an activity. An activity may include an activity token and/or a custom string. When any one of the publisher's endpoints makes a presence state publication on the presence aggregation server, the presence aggregation server generates an aggregated state of the publisher (i.e., the availability of the publisher aggregated across all of the publisher's endpoints) and publishes the generated aggregated state to each of the publisher's endpoints. The presence aggregation server may also provide the publisher's aggregated state to the subscribers of the publisher's aggregated state information.
US09241037B2 Server device, behavior promotion and suppression system, behavior promotion and suppression method, and recording medium
A behavior information acquirer (11) acquires behavior information representing the behavior of a user detected by a behavior detector (21), and stores the behavior information in a behavior information memory (12). How the influence of the behavior of the user indicated by the behavior information acquired by the behavior information acquirer (11) will spread over a network of mutual information is calculated from mutual information, user information, and a behavior list respectively stored in a mutual information memory (13), a user information memory (14), and a behavior information memory (12). A presentation information generator (16) generates presentation information depicting the way in which the influence of the behavior of the user indicated by the behavior information acquired by the behavior information acquirer (11) propagates to other users, and transmits the presentation information to a terminal device (2B).
US09241035B2 Organization of inputs for online service
Technologies are generally described for organizing inputs for an online service. It is determined that there are no updated inputs generated on a personalized page hosted on a server corresponding to the online service for a predetermined time period. The inputs may be associated with an acknowledged contact regarding the online service. Inputs previously generated on the personalized page hosted on the server are reorganized in accordance with one of multiple arrangements.
US09241034B2 Peer-to-peer network connectivity status
The embodiments disclosed herein provide a system, apparatus, and method for managing requests in a peer-to-peer network. A processor determines whether to reduce an amount of checks for connectivity for the device in the peer-to-peer network in response to a device being in the peer-to-peer network. The processor configures the device to send a message indicating a status of the device to a number of other devices in the peer-to-peer network without receiving a request for the status of the device in response to a determination to reduce the amount of checks for connectivity for the device in the peer-to-peer network.
US09241031B2 Selecting an auxiliary event-package server
A method includes registering with a proxy for an auxiliary event-package, wherein the auxiliary event-package is provided by a plurality of auxiliary event-package servers. The method may further include subscribing to the auxiliary event-package through the proxy. The proxy forwards the subscription to the plurality of auxiliary event-package servers. The method may include receiving notification from each of the auxiliary event-package servers. The notification includes an indicator of capacity of the auxiliary event-package server. The method may include determining an auxiliary event-package server having a highest capacity based on the indicators of capacity of the auxiliary event-package servers. In addition, the method may include selecting the auxiliary event-package server having the highest capacity as a primary handle for the auxiliary event-package.
US09241027B2 System and method for managing an online social network
An online social network is managed using one server for database management tasks and another server, preferably in a distributed configuration, for CPU-intensive computational tasks, such as finding a shortest path between two members or a degree of separation between two members. The additional server has a memory device containing relationship information between members of the online social network and carries out the CPU-intensive computational tasks using this memory device. With this configuration, the number of database lookups is decreased and processing speed is thereby increased.
US09241025B2 Network communications of applications running on devices utilizing virtual network connections with asymmetrical network paths
A method includes receiving, at a first device via a virtual network connection, a packet communicated from a second device over a first path, the packet including data appended thereto by one or more devices along the first path, and determining whether the first path satisfies one or more requirements of an application running on the first device, the determination being based at least in part on information from the packet received by the first device; and receiving, at the second device via a virtual network connection, a packet communicated from the first device over a second path, the packet including data appended thereto by one or more along the second path, and determining whether the second path satisfies one or more requirements of an application running on the second device, the determination being based at least in part on information from the packet received by the second device.
US09241024B2 File system interface to web and network services
A method for providing an interface to a service for a plurality of clients by a backend data center using a remote file system that includes receiving a first file by the remote file system from a client of the plurality of clients, determining the service associated with the first file, reformatting the first file based on the service, transmitting the reformatted first file as a request to the service, receiving a response from the service based on the request, and storing the response in a second file on the remote file system, wherein the second file is accessed remotely by the client from the remote file system, and wherein the first file is simultaneously visible to the client and the backend data center.
US09241022B2 Information processing apparatus and associated method of content exchange
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing computer program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of exchanging content. The method includes connecting to an information processing apparatus, and transferring a ID of the computer to the information processing apparatus when a connection to the information processing apparatus is detected. The method further includes storing content and data related to the content transmitted from the information processing apparatus, transferring the data corresponding to the content stored in the computer, and reproducing the stored content. The content is automatically transferred to the computer when the computer is judged to be a predetermined device.
US09241021B2 Remote subscription management method and system
A method and system to enable remote management of a media content subscription are described. The method includes receiving, at a local point of presence from a consumer, a request to access media content that is available under a media content subscription. The method further includes capturing, at the local point of presence from a consumer, a request to access media content from the local media content provider and transforming the captured media content into a digital stream that is suitable for streaming over a network. Finally, the method includes streaming the digital stream over the network, via which the consumer, using a computer device, accesses the media content.
US09241019B2 System and method of extending IMS SCIM / service broker to enable application servers using MSCML to execute on GSM camel networks
In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that provide unified user interaction across different network interfaces are provided. A system can include a service control interaction manager (SCIM) which is operable to manage communication between one or more call parties and one or more applications. In a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, when the one or more IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) applications connect a call party to a media resource, the SCIM is configured to connect the call party to a mobile switching center (MSC) internal resource function, receive a message from the one or more IMS applications which indicates an announcement to play to the call party and/or information to be collected from the call party, mediate the message into native customized applications for mobile networks enhanced logic (CAMEL) operations for the GSM network, and play the announcement and/or collect information indicated in the message.
US09241008B2 System, method, and software for cyber threat analysis
According to certain embodiments, a cyber threat analysis system generates a network model of a network infrastructure that is used by an organization, assigns a weighting value to each of a plurality of network elements of the network infrastructure according to a relative importance of the each network element to the organization, and generates an attack vector according to a determined vulnerability of the network infrastructure. The attack vector represents one or more illicit actions that may be performed to compromise the network infrastructure. The system may simulate, using a network modeling tool, the attack vector on the network model to determine one or more resulting ramifications of one or more of the plurality of network elements due to the attack vector, and determine a criticality level of the attack vector according to the weighting value of the one or more network elements.
US09241005B1 Method and apparatus for updating patterns of packets through a network device based on detection of an attack
A network device including a first and second processors. The first processor: receives first and second packets; and selects some of the second packets according to contents of the second packets and sampling criteria. The second processor operates in first and second modes. While operating in the first mode, the second processor learns a traffic pattern of the first packets through the network device. While operating in the second mode, the second processor compares a traffic pattern of the some of the second packets to the traffic pattern of the first packets to determine whether the second packets are associated with an attack on the network device. In response to determining the second packets are not associated with an attack on the network device, the second processor updates the patterns of the first packets based on a characteristic of the some of the second packets.
US09241004B1 Alteration of web documents for protection against web-injection attacks
A web document protection module protects web documents against web-injection and other malicious attacks. The web document protection module may be implemented in a user computer, a proxy server computer system, a web server computer system, or other computers. The web document protection module receives a web document, such as a webpage, and alters the web document to change its structure. For example, the web document protection module may obfuscate the web document to make it difficult for malware to find locations in the web document to insert additional program code. The web document protection module provides the obfuscated web document to a web browser for rendering.
US09241000B2 Trusted social network
A technique for trusted social networking involves enabling parties to join a social network and provide a list of trusted content sources. The system can maintain folders associated with each of the trusted content sources for a first member. If one of the trusted content sources is a second member that indicates the first member is trusted, then the system can maintain a master folder for the first and second member.
US09240999B2 Managed virtual point to point communication service having verified directory, secure transmission and controlled delivery
A system for providing a managed virtual point to point communication service having a verified directory and providing secure transmission and controlled delivery of electronic document images may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a verified directory of users. The interface may communicate with devices of sending and receiving users in the verified directory. The processor may be operative to receive a request to deliver an electronic document image from a sending user to a receiving user. The processor may provide secure access to the electronic document image to the receiving user. The processor may provide a delivery confirmation to the sending device of the sending user upon determining that the electronic document image was securely accessed by the receiving user. The delivery confirmation may indicate that the electronic document image was securely transmitted to the receiving user.
US09240996B1 Method and system for risk-adaptive access control of an application action
Risk-adaptive access control techniques are disclosed. In various embodiments, a value for a threat level attribute is determined based at least in part on threat detection data generated by a security system or process. The determined value for the threat level attribute is used to make, at least in part, an access control decision with respect to a request to access the resource. In various embodiments, the threat level attribute is used as an environment attribute provided as input to an XACML-based access control system.
US09240995B1 Method and system for denying cable modem access to a broadband network
A device, such as a cable modem or embedded media terminal adaptor that attempts to obtain unauthorized network services, is designated by head end equipment, such as a CMTS, as being a ‘rogue’ device. Upon a range request from the rogue device, the CMTS responds with a continuing range command. Upon receiving each periodic range request transmitted from the rogue device during a periodic station maintenance opportunity, the CMTS responds with another continuing range command. Thus, the rogue device does not ever establish connection with the CMTS because an ACK message is not received back from the CMTS.
US09240986B1 Managing security and wireless signal detection
A method is used in managing security and wireless signal detection. Information is gathered about analog signal reception at a receiver. Based on the information, a result is produced for use in determining location information at the receiver. The result is used to affect a security decision.
US09240984B2 Configuring an electronic device based on a transaction
A first network signal is received indicating a device identifier in response to a transaction involving an electronic device uniquely associated with the device identifier. An entity identifier specific to an entity associated with the transaction is determined. In response to an initialization event of the electronic device, a second network signal from the electronic device is received that identifies the electronic device. In response to the second network signal, a configuration is communicated to the electronic device that is specific to the entity associated with the transaction.
US09240981B2 System and method for authenticating identity of discovered component in an infiniband (IB) network
A system and method can verify trustfulness of a fabric component in an InfiniBand (IB) fabric. A subnet manager that is responsible for authenticating the fabric component using private/public key pairs. The subnet manager can first send a first encrypted message to a fabric component in the IB fabric, wherein the first encrypted message contains a token and is encrypted using a public key associated with the fabric component. Then, the fabric component is allowed to decode the first encrypted message using a private key associated with the fabric component, and to send a second encrypted message back to the subnet manager. Finally, the subnet manager can authenticate the fabric component if the second encrypted message contains correct information.
US09240978B2 Communication system having message encryption
A system includes a communication device configured to transmit a message to an unsecured server. A secured server is in communication with the communication device, and is configured to receive the message from the communication device before the message is transmitted to the unsecured server, encrypt the message, and transmit the encrypted message to the unsecured server.
US09240977B2 Techniques for protecting mobile applications
Techniques for protecting mobile applications are presented. A user's mobile device is provisioned and proxied over a cloud environment with enterprise policy enforced in that cloud environment. Enterprise applications run on the mobile device within the cloud environment. Administrative reporting and control occurs within the cloud environment and the enterprise applications establish connections to, authenticate to, and communicate with remote enterprise services via the provisioned cloud environment.
US09240975B2 Security device implementing network flow prediction
A security device for processing network flows is described, including: one or more packet processors configured to receive incoming data packets associated with network flows where a packet processor is assigned as an owner of network flows and each packet processor processes data packets associated with flows for which it is the assigned owner; and a packet processing manager configured to assign ownership of network flows to the packet processors where the packet processing manager includes a global flow table containing global flow table entries mapping network flows to packet processor ownership assignments and a predict flow table containing predict flow entries mapping predicted network flows to packet processor ownership assignments. A predict flow entry includes a predict key and associated packet processor ownership assignment. The predict key includes multiple data fields identifying a predicted network flow where one or more of the data fields have a wildcard value.
US09240967B2 Location-based communications
A computer-implemented method includes generating a communication to be sent from a sender to a recipient who are related to one another by blood or employment; and scheduling delivery of the communication to the recipient based on a future location of the recipient. The content of the communication and the future location of the recipient are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the sender, the recipient, or both.
US09240965B2 Methods and systems for business interaction monitoring for networked business process
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for monitoring interactions of business processes within networked business processes. One method comprises identifying a networked business process, the networked business process comprising a set of interrelated business processes performed by two or more second network participants. A first message from a first network participant associated with the networked business process is received, where the first message includes information defining an event associated with a first business process performed by the first network participant. At least a second network participant associated with the information defining the event included in the first message is identified. The identified at least second network participant is then notified of the information defining the event included in the first message.
US09240963B2 Chat room viewing
A system and method allows a user to view communications exchanged between other participants within an online chat room without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room. The online chat room enables ongoing exchanges of electronic communications between two or more participants whose participation within the chat room are mutually revealed to each other. A user is enabled to perceive the existence of the online chat room without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room. Selection of the online chat room by the user is received. Responsive to user selection of the online chat room and without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room, at least some of the communications exchanged between the participants within the online chat room are made perceivable to the user as the communications are exchanged.
US09240956B2 Communication system using orbital angular momentum
Different data communication architectures deliver a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, to consumers. The architectures may utilize orbital angular momentum to deliver more bandwidth across multiple channels than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architectures distribute data across multiple orbital angular momentum channels in a bonded channel group.
US09240951B2 Apparatus, system and method of controlling data flow to a plurality of endpoints over a communication network
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of controlling data flow over a communication network. For example, an apparatus may include a communication unit to control the transfer of a stream of data from a first device to a second device over a communication link, the stream of data including data to be delivered to a plurality of endpoints. For example, the controlling may include communicating between the first and second devices at least one message including at least one endpoint-specific credit consumption unit (CCU) defined with respect to at least one endpoint of the plurality of endpoints.
US09240949B2 Methods, systems and computer readable media for predicting overload conditions using load information
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for predicting imminent Diameter overload conditions using load information are disclosed. One embodiment of a system for implementing the subject matter described herein includes a first Diameter node including at least one network interface for receiving Diameter messages and a Diameter overload prediction unit. The Diameter overload prediction unit may be configured to extract load information from the Diameter messages, detect a traffic pattern using the extracted load information, predict at least one overload condition associated with one or more other Diameter nodes, and communicate an indication of the predicted overload condition to at least some of the other Diameter nodes before a time at which the overload condition is predicted to occur.
US09240948B2 Method for managing and sharing symmetric flow and asymmetric flow in duplexed network
Provided is a network duplexing apparatus and method. The network duplexing apparatus includes a plurality of network interface units configured to store information of a flow flowing in the network interface units when the information of the flow is not generated, provide the information of the flow to a master unit when the flow corresponds to an asymmetric flow, and request information of an opposite side flow of the flow from the master unit to receive the requested information, and the master unit configured to store the information of the flow provided from the network interface unit, determine whether the information of the opposite side flow of the flow is stored, and provide the information of the opposite side flow to the network interface unit when the information of the opposite side flow is stored.
US09240943B2 Metropolitan area network communications method and communication system
A metropolitan area network (MAN) communications method, a metropolitan area server, a node switch, a node server, and a MAN communication system for solving the incapability of an IP network in ensuring transmission quality. The communications method comprises: a piece of MAN equipment accessing a MAN, the metropolitan area server in the MAN allocating for the network accessing equipment a protocol tag and a MAN address; the MAN equipment comprising the node switch and the node server; the protocol tag being used as a description of the connection between the MAN equipment and the metropolitan area server; for each cross MAN service request, the metropolitan area server allocating a data tag of the corresponding service: the data tag being used as a description of the connection among the service node related to the service. This invention is applicable in multimedia transmission, and is capable of ensuring a stable transmission rate, thereby avoiding delays.
US09240941B2 System and method for managing media in a distributed communication network
A system and method for processing communication media in a regionally distributed communication platform that includes at a first platform region, establishing a communication session comprising establishing a media communication to at least one endpoint from the first region and establishing signaling communication to a second platform region; selecting a media resource in response to a change in media processing requirements of the communication session; when the selected media resource is outside the first region, routing media communication through a media resource outside of the first region; when the media resource is available in the first region, routing media communication through the media resource of the first region; and when the media resource is outside of the second region, storing the media communication in the first region at least temporarily and tunneling a branch of the media communication to a central media service in the second region.
US09240940B2 Scalable infiniband interconnect performance and diagnostic tool
In accordance with some implementations, a method for evaluating large scale computer systems based on performance is disclosed. A large scale, distributed memory computer system receives topology data, wherein the topology data describes the connections between the plurality of switches and lists the nodes associated with each switch. Based on the received topology data, the system performs a data transfer test for each of the pair of switches. The test includes transferring data between a plurality of nodes and determining a respective overall test result value reflecting overall performance of a respective pair of switches for a plurality of component tests. The system determines that the pair of switches meets minimum performance standards by comparing the overall test result value against an acceptable test value. If the overall test result value does not meet the minimum performance standards, the system reports the respective pair of switches as underperforming.
US09240932B2 VOIP cooperative multipoint solution
It is provided a user equipment, including mode switching means adapted to switch, autonomously or based on a command from a base station of a communication system to which the user equipment belongs, the user equipment into a low data rate mode; measuring means adapted to measure a downlink reference signal received on a downlink from the base station; feedback preparing means adapted to prepare a feedback based on the measurement by the measuring means; encoding means adapted to encode the feedback, thus obtaining encoded data; modulating means adapted to modulate the encoded data; and providing means adapted to provide the modulated encoded data for being sent on the uplink at a predetermined time after the downlink reference signal was received, if the user equipment is in the low data rate mode.
US09240930B2 System for network flow visualization through network devices within network topology
A network device includes internal interfaces and operates to receive a network flow at an ingress interface and route the network flow within the network device. A computer in communication with the network device executes instructions for rendering a graphical user interface including an object representing the network device. The computer also renders interface objects respectively corresponding to each of the internal interfaces of the network device. The computer operates to acquire a network flow record for the network flow through the network device. The network flow record identifies the ingress interface of the network device for the network flow and identifies switching information for the network flow within the network device. The computer also renders a graphical representation of a transmission path of the network flow within the network device from the ingress interface. The transmission path is defined by the switching information identified by the network flow record.
US09240926B2 Base station and communication control method
A base station 100 maps the system information formed of multiple blocks (SIB) to predetermined regions of a downlink shared channel and transmits the mapped system information to the mobile station. The base station 100 includes: a system information transmission control unit 105 configured to divide each of the predetermined regions into a first half and a second half in a time direction; and a transmission data generation unit 111 configured to map the system information to at least one of the first half and the second half. The system information transmission control unit 105 switches positions of the first half and the second half in rotation every transmission timing of the predetermined regions on the shared channel.
US09240925B1 System and method for server customization
Customization of a plurality of servers in a computer network. A server customizer module is generated that includes a server customizer initialization file containing a plurality of arguments for populating and running a plurality of standardized applications, scripts and utilities on each server. The server customizer module is installed on each of the plurality of servers for subsequent execution as part of the server build/customization process. A server unattended install launch module, cooperative with the server customizer module is generated that includes an unattended install launch initialization file for launching a plurality of standardized processes on each server. The server unattended install launch module is installed on each of the plurality of servers for subsequent execution as part of the server build/customization process. The server customizer module and server unattended install launch module are executed on each of the plurality of servers to complete customization of each server.
US09240920B2 Wireless transmitter for multi-mode concurrent transmission of signals complying with different communication standards
A wireless transmitter has a digital baseband module and a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter. The digital baseband module generates a multi-mode modulated signal by using a plurality of digital synthesizers. The RF transmitter has a frequency synthesizer and a digital power amplifier (DPA). The frequency synthesizer generates an oscillation signal with an RF carrier frequency. The DPA generates a multi-standard RF signal according to the multi-mode modulated signal and the oscillation signal.
US09240919B2 Polar modulator
A polar modulator (200) comprises a modulation generator (10) arranged to generate phase modulation data and amplitude modulation data; and a phase modulation stage (20) arranged to generate a phase modulated, PM, carrier signal and a PM clock signal, wherein the PM carrier signal has a PM carrier signal frequency and the PM clock signal has a PM clock signal frequency, and the PM carrier signal frequency is higher than the PM clock signal frequency, the PM carrier signal and the PM clock signal are phase modulated by the phase modulation data, and the phase modulation stage (20) comprises an adjustable delay stage (50) arranged to adjust a relative delay between the PM carrier signal and the PM clock signal to a target value. The polar modulator (200) further comprises a re-timing circuit (40) arranged to generate an amplitude modulation, AM, clock signal by re-timing the PM clock signal with the PM carrier signal; an amplitude modulation stage (30) arranged to employ the AM clock signal to clock the amplitude modulation data into the amplitude modulation stage (30) and arranged to amplitude modulate the PM carrier signal with the amplitude modulation data; an error detection stage (60) arranged to generate an indication of a magnitude of a first deviation of the AM clock signal from a target condition; and a control stage (70) arranged to select the target value of the relative delay by determining, by controlling the adjustment of the relative delay by the adjustable delay stage (50), a first value of the relative delay that maximizes the magnitude of the first deviation, and applying an offset to the first value of the relative delay.
US09240918B2 Method, devices and computer program product for modulation and demodulation delivering OFDM/OQAM symbols
A method is provided for modulating a real data stream grouped into blocks of nb·M real data, where M is the number of carriers and nb is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The method includes, for a block of real data: a first modulation by a first modulator of the first M/2 data, delivering a first set of modulated carriers; a second modulation by a second modulator of the following (nb−1)·M data, delivering a second set of (nb−1)·M modulated carriers; a third modulation by a third modulator of the last M/2 data, delivering a third set of modulated carriers; and a superposition of the first, second and third sets, forming a block of OFDM/OQAM symbols of length nb·M/2, the first set being superposed with the start of the second set and the third set being superposed with the end of the second set.
US09240910B2 Out-of-band emission cancellation
A transmission signal pre-processing method and apparatus for out-of-band emission cancellation are disclosed. For each of N subchannels in a band weighting each of N subchannel symbols by a calculated value in the range from 0 to 1 is performed. Precoding said N weighted symbols, organised as an N×1 matrix, by multiplication by a unitary matrix is then performed.
US09240908B2 Pilot pattern for observation scalar MIMO-OFDM
In an embodiment, a transmitter includes first and second transmission paths. The first transmission path is configurable to generate first pilot clusters each including a respective first pilot subsymbol in a first cluster position, and the second transmission path is configurable to generate second pilot clusters each including a respective second pilot subsymbol in a second cluster position such that a vector formed by the first pilot subsymbols is orthogonal to a vector formed by the second pilot subsymbols. For example, where such a transmitter transmits simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) over respective channels that may impart inter-carrier interference (ICI) to the signals due to Doppler spread, the pattern of the pilot symbols that compose the pilot clusters may allow a receiver of these signals to use a recursive algorithm, such as a Vector State Scalar Observation (VSSO) Kalman algorithm, to estimate the responses of these channels.
US09240906B2 System and method for monitoring and altering performance of a packet network
The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for monitoring performance of a packet network. In one embodiment, a method includes determining network performance information of a packet network by monitoring performance information packets that are communicated along network paths of the packet network. The method also includes appending the network performance information gathered at a network node along the network paths to data stored in the performance information packets. The method stores the network performance information collected by monitoring the performance information packets in memory and analyzes the stored network performance information to generate historical network performance information. The method automatically alters network operation in response to current network performance information indicating that the packet network is not operating properly based on the historical network performance information.
US09240902B2 Attachment server network for viewing attachments on a portable electronic device
An attachment server network including at least two attachment servers in communication with one another, each of the attachment servers for converting email attachments in response to view requests received from portable electronic devices, each of the attachment servers having a respective cache for storing data corresponding to previously converted attachments, the data being available to any of the attachment servers in the attachment server network.
US09240895B2 Method, system and device of multicast functionality in an energy portal
Described herein are embodiments of methods, systems and devices of providing multicast functionality through an energy portal such as a meter, which reduces bandwidth required for communication between the energy portal and a server. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided of providing multicast functionality through an energy portal, which reduces bandwidth required for communication between the energy portal and a server. In one embodiment, the method includes: receiving, over a first network, a single message, wherein the single message includes at least one device characteristic; determining, using a processor, one or more devices associated with the at least one device characteristic, wherein each of the one or more devices are connected to a second network; and transmitting the single message over the second network to each of the one or more devices associated with the at least one device characteristic, wherein the single message is transmitted individually to each of the one or more devices associated with the at least one device characteristic such that the single message is transmitted as many times as there are devices associated with the at least one device characteristic.
US09240893B2 Bidirectional multicast protocol with upstream and downstream join messages
Systems and methods for implementing a bidirectional multicast protocol with two types of join messages are disclosed. The two types of join messages, upstream joins and downstream joins, are used to control the Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface is added to the outgoing interface list for a particular multicast group, which in turn controls when multicast packets will be forwarded to the rendezvous point. One method involves receiving a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G. The method inhibits the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface, unless the outgoing interface list corresponding to the multicast group G already identifies the RPF interface. The RPF interface can be added to the outgoing interface list in response to reception of a downstream join message via the RPF interface, as well as in response to monitoring, via the RPF interface, an upstream join message on a shared network segment.
US09240892B1 Method and apparatus for reduction of communications media energy consumption
A Method and Apparatus for Reduction of Communications Media Energy Consumption have been disclosed. Media energy consumption can be reduced by mapping a periodic data pattern in data to an alternate data pattern that consumes less energy when the alternate pattern is transmitted on the communications media in place of the original data pattern. The detection of the original selected patterns and the choice of replacement patterns may be made automatically or according to the transmission state (for example, idle or alarm).
US09240888B2 Authentication system for gaming machines
Disclosed is a system and method that uses digital signature technology to authenticate the contents of one or more manifests located on a storage device. Each manifest contains a list of file records, where each record contains the name of a file stored on the storage device, and a signature value derived from the contents of the file. At boot time, the gaming machine first authenticates the contents of the manifest and then authenticates the contents of the files using the signature value stored in the manifest. Files are verified using the signature, as they are needed, during the boot up of the operating system and throughout normal operation. This method reduces the boot time of the gaming machine and eliminates the need to check digital signatures for each individual file or over the entire contents of a non-secure media.Similarly, a method of adding authentication ability to legacy software components without necessarily altering the legacy software components is disclosed. Introduction of a stronger authentication algorithm, or when a private key has been compromised would normally require the software component to be re-built to support the new algorithm or private/public key pair; however, a method is disclosed where algorithms and key pairs may be changed and applied to legacy software without having to re-built, re-test, re-sign, or re-submit the component to regulatory agencies for approval. Also disclosed is a system and method of establishing a trusted environment containing a gaming operating system and associated authentication module, file system drivers, and/or network drivers that may be used to in the process of authenticating contents of one or more manifests located on a storage device.
US09240882B2 Key generating device and key generating method
According to an embodiment, a key generating device connected to an external device includes a generating unit configured to generate an encryption key; a first communicating unit configured to transmit and receive the encryption key to and from the external device; a storage unit configured to stores therein state information indicating a communication state with respect to an application using the encryption key; and a controller configured to make a control of changing a frequency at which the generating unit generates the encryption key or a frequency at which the first communicating unit transmits and receives the encryption key according to the state information.
US09240879B2 Signal generator, electronic system comprising the signal generator and method of generating signals
A quadrature phase signal generator comprises a relative delay unit, a phase detector, a first amplifier and a loop filter. The relative delay unit delays differential input signals and generates four delayed signals. The phase detector generates quadrature four phase output signals, a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal according to the four delayed signals. A difference of the first and the second voltage signals indicates a phase error of the quadrature four phase output signals. The first amplifier amplifies the voltage difference of the first and the second voltage signals. The loop filter filters the amplified voltage difference and generates a tuning voltage signal. The loop filter is further communicatively coupled to the relative delay unit. The relative delay unit adjusts a delay of the quadrature four phase delayed signals according to the tuning voltage signal.
US09240872B2 Method and device for configuring pilot in wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method for configuring a pilot frequency in a wireless communication system, comprising: on the basis of at least one item among a current wireless channel characteristic parameter, device capability information of a correspondent node, and system requirement information, configuring in real-time a pilot frequency for different transmissions during a transmission process; and transmitting the configuration result to the correspondent node. Also disclosed is a corresponding device for configuring the pilot frequency. The present invention allows for configuration in real-time of the pilot frequency. This facilitates improved transmission reliability and guaranteed communication quality, and reduces pilot frequency overhead, and at the same time, is applicable in additional number of channel environments and application scenarios.
US09240871B2 MIMO WLAN system
A multiple-access MIMO WLAN system that employs MIMO, OFDM, and TDD. The system (1) uses a channel structure with a number of configurable transport channels, (2) supports multiple rates and transmission modes, which are configurable based on channel conditions and user terminal capabilities, (3) employs a pilot structure with several types of pilot (e.g., beacon, MIMO, steered reference, and carrier pilots) for different functions, (4) implements rate, timing, and power control loops for proper system operation, and (5) employs random access for system access by the user terminals, fast acknowledgment, and quick resource assignments. Calibration may be performed to account for differences in the frequency responses of transmit/receive chains at the access point and user terminals. The spatial processing may then be simplified by taking advantage of the reciprocal nature of the downlink and uplink and the calibration.
US09240869B2 Wireless communication system
In a wireless communication system, a terminal device and a base station device communicate using frequency bands selected from among a plurality of frequency bands. The base station device selects a frequency band used for a downlink and a frequency band used for an uplink as frequency bands used for communication with the terminal device from among the plurality of frequency bands, selects an association between the frequency band used for the downlink and the frequency band used for the uplink among the selected frequency bands, and transmits information indicating the selected frequency bands and information indicating the association containing identification information of the association using a signal specific to the terminal device.
US09240868B2 Increasing reliable data throughput in a wireless network
Systems and methods for improving data transmission rates in communication networks are disclosed. In an 802.11 wireless communication network, where a source node of the wireless network transmits TCP data to a destination node of the wireless network, the destination node does not transmit TCP acknowledgments (ACKs) for the TCP data if 802.11 ACKs indicate that the destination node received the TCP data. If a source outside the wireless network transmits TCP data to the destination node within the wireless network through an intermediate device, such as an access point, the destination node suppresses transmitting TCP ACKs. The intermediate device transmits TCP ACKs as proxy for the destination node to the source. The intermediate device also suppresses TCP ACKs where a source node within the wireless network sends the TCP data to a destination node outside of the wireless network.
US09240867B1 Bit-level combining for MIMO systems with HARQ and/or repetition coding
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors from a common digital information sequence. Each received signal vector is decoded using, for example, a maximum-likelihood decoder to produce log-likelihood ratios. The results of the decoders are combined by addition to produce a final decoding estimate. In some embodiments, each of the received signals may be processed prior to decoding. The disclosed decoding scheme may utilize all received information without increasing hardware complexity.
US09240866B2 Interleaving method and deinterleaving method
Bit permutation to bits of a codeword is performed such that: at least one spatial-multiplexing block is made up of bits from B/2 different cyclic-blocks; each constellation word of the at least one spatial-multiplexing block is made up of bits from Bt/2 different cyclic blocks, Bt being the number of bits of the constellation word; and each of the bit pairs of the constellation word is made up of bits from a common one of the Bt/2 different cyclic blocks.
US09240865B2 Digital broadcasting system and data processing method
A method of transmitting broadcast signals includes forward error correction (FEC) encoding mobile data; interleaving the FEC encoded mobile data; encoding signaling information for the mobile data; mapping the interleaved mobile data and the encoded signaling information into a data unit, wherein the data unit includes a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is concatenated with the second region, wherein the first region includes known data and the encoded signaling information, and wherein the second region includes known data and the encoded mobile data; and transmitting the broadcast signals including the data unit, wherein the data unit is multiplexed with a data unit of main data in a specific time period, wherein the signaling information includes information of the data unit having the interleaved mobile data.
US09240864B2 Blind CRS detection
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for blind detection of cell-specific reference signals. Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbol by a user equipment (UE). The method generally includes predicting a current channel response of a current OFDM symbol based on a channel response of at least one previous OFDM symbol, estimating a noise power level of the current OFDM symbol, forming a log likelihood ratio (LLR) of two detection hypotheses based on the predicted current channel response and the estimated noise power level, comparing the LLR to a pre-determined threshold, and determining that at least one CRS is present in the current OFDM symbol based on the comparison.
US09240862B2 Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof. The apparatus comprises an encoder for encoding service data corresponding to each of a plurality of data transmission path, wherein each of the data transmission path carries at least one service component for broadcast services, an encoder for encoding signaling data, wherein the signaling data includes static data and dynamic data, a frame builder for building signal frames, wherein each of signal frames includes the encoded service data and the encoded signaling data, wherein each of signal frames belongs to one of the broadcast services, wherein the static data remain constant in the signal frames belonging to the broadcast service in a duration of a super frame and the dynamic data changes by the signal frames, a modulator for modulating the signal frames by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals carrying the modulated signal frames.
US09240851B2 Broadcast signal receiver, method for providing broadcast signal relation information, and server
A broadcast signal receiver capable of displaying relation information corresponding to a broadcast signal in real time.
US09240850B2 Exploiting multiple antennas for spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks
Spectrum sensing in wireless communications is provided to identify utilized and/or unutilized frequency bands reserved for primary users using a cyclostationary beamforming approach. An adaptive cross self-coherent restoral (ACS) algorithm can be utilized to extract signals of interest (SOI) at unique cycle frequencies related to primary and/or secondary users from an antenna array measurement. Based on the SOI, one or more users of the spectrum can be identified or the spectrum can be regarded as vacant; this can be based on lobe identification in the frequency spectrum of the SOI, in one example. This mechanism is less complex than traditional cyclic spectrum analysis methods. The cyclostationary beamforming based approach is more effective than the energy detection method. Also, the need for quiet periods in spectrum sensing is eliminated when using this mechanism such that signals can be transmitted simultaneously with receiving signals over the antenna array.
US09240849B2 Apparatus and method for detecting faulty antennas
The present invention discloses an apparatus for detecting a faulty antenna among a plurality of antennas contained in a communication device (200), comprising: a measurer (210) adapted to measure signal strengths of signals obtained from the plurality of antennas each; a calculator (220) adapted to calculate differences between each two of the measured signal strengths; a first comparator (230) adapted to compare each of the calculated differences with a first predetermined threshold value; and a first decider (240) adapted to decide, among the plurality of antennas, an antenna to be faulty on the basis of a respective result of the comparison. The present invention provides an efficient and direct way to detect antennas that are not performing according to expectations, without use of extra external or dedicated detection devices, which reduces hardware and software cost. Further, the detection performed according to the present invention only takes advantage of the measured data of signal strengths, and neither extra transmit power nor time slot is needed for the detection. Also, statistical data of antennas for a long term can be obtained according to the present invention.
US09240846B2 Random access channel procedures for in-device coexistence interference avoidance
A method, system and device are provided for avoiding in-device coexistence interference between different radio technologies by allocating random access channel preambles to include one or more dedicated access preambles to be sued for sending IDC interference indication messages over a random access channel (RACH) to a radio access network. In response, the radio network provides control parameters and/or instructions for avoiding interference in a random access response message corresponding to the IDC interference indication message using one or more fields in the MAC subheader and payload fields of a designated IDC MAC PDU message.
US09240844B2 Optocoupler arrangement and input and/or output module
An optocoupler arrangement for signal transmission with galvanic separation includes a first optocoupler with a first input path and a first output path, a second optocoupler with a second input path and a second output path, wherein the first and second input paths are arranged in series with a connecting switching device, and wherein an actuation circuit has first and second input signals as inputs, and first, second and third outputs as outputs, and the actuation circuit is configured such that, as a function of a first switching state related to the first and second signal inputs, the connecting switching device is actuated, and with respect to either a second or a third switching state, either a first switching device assigned to the first input path of the first optocoupler or a second switching device assigned to the second input path of the second optocoupler is actuated.
US09240841B2 Method and system for free-field optical transmission by means of laser signals
The invention relates to a method and system for free-field optical transmission by means of laser signals, including setting a rate for encoding information that is useful for transmission on the basis of variations in a signal receiving characteristic belonging to a single communication session. The encoding rate is preferably dynamically adjusted during the communication session. An optimized compromise is thereby created between a useful rate that is high and a post-decoding bit error rate that is low. The method and the related system enable atmospheric conditions that can disrupt laser signal transmission to be taken into account in real time when said laser signals pass through part of the earth's atmosphere.
US09240838B2 Optical transmitter and method for controlling bias for optical modulator
An optical transmitter includes a signal generator configured to generate a drive signal from input data, an optical modulator configured to have a voltage-to-light-intensity characteristic in which intensity of output light changes in response to an applied voltage, and to generate a light signal that corresponds to the drive signal, a multiplier configured to multiply the drive signal and an electric signal that is obtained from the light signal; and a control section configured to control, based on output of the multiplier, a bias voltage for the optical modulator.
US09240837B2 Systems and methods using optical communication for commissioning of network nodes
Embodiments relate to methods, devices, and computer-implemented methods for transmitting a modulated signal transmitted from at least one signal light source and using the modulated signal for commissioning of network nodes. The method can include determining, by a network node, that the network node is not commissioned. The method can further include generating, by the network node, a random number, and generating a modulated light signal based on the random number. In addition, the method can include transmitting, to an image capture device, the modulated light signal, receiving, from a network control unit, via a radio channel, an encrypted commissioning message, and decrypting, by the network node, the encrypted commissioning message using the random number. Further, the method can include establishing, with the network control unit, communication based on data in the encrypted commissioning message.
US09240836B1 OTDR fault tracing in optical networks
A first optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) connects at a first location along an optical path between multiple optical transmitters and multiple optical receivers in an optical network. An optical filter, connects along the optical path, and includes multiple selectable optical wavelength blockers. A set of different length optical fibers is installed in multiple last fiber legs in the optical path. A controller selects ones of the multiple selectable wavelength blockers of the optical filter for insertion in the optical path; instructs the first OTDR to inject a first OTDR signal at the first location; receive, from the first OTDR, indications of whether a reflection of the first OTDR signal was received from each of the multiple optical receivers; and identifies faults in the optical network based on the received indications whether the reflection of the first OTDR signal was received from each of the multiple OTDR reflectors.
US09240834B2 Method and apparatus for providing open loop bandwidth allocation
An approach for allocating bandwidth is disclosed. A request is detected from a terminal for capacity on a communication channel based on type of traffic transmitted from the terminal. A bandwidth allocation pattern designated for the terminal is retrieved, wherein the bandwidth allocation pattern is set based on a predetermined service plan associated with the terminal. Bandwidth over the communication channel is reserved for the terminal according to the bandwidth allocation pattern without feedback to the terminal. This arrangement has particular applicability to a satellite network that provides data communication services.
US09240832B2 Method and apparatus for signal detection
A method for detecting signals using an adaptive transducer arrangement, the arrangement including a transducer array having a plurality of transducers, a beamformer, and an energy detector, the method comprising: determining weights to be applied by the beamformer to signals emitted from each transducer in order to maximize a performance metric; applying the determined weights to the signals emitted from each transducer; measuring the energy received at the energy detector; comparing the measured energy with a predetermined value and based on said comparison determining whether or not one or more signals are present.
US09240830B2 Antenna swapping methods including comparing performance characteristics of first and second antennas, and related portable electronic devices
An antenna swapping method may include tuning respective signals provided to first and second antennas in a portable electronic device to at least one frequency band. The method may also include connecting the first antenna to an uplink signal path that is for transmissions through the first and second antennas, and performing impedance matching for the first antenna. The method may further include comparing a real-time performance characteristic of the first antenna with a real-time performance characteristic of the second antenna. The method may additionally include, responsive to determining that the second antenna has a stronger real-time performance characteristic than the first antenna while the first antenna is connected to the uplink signal path, swapping from the first antenna to the second antenna by connecting the second antenna to the uplink signal path and disconnecting the first antenna from the uplink signal path, and performing impedance matching for the second antenna.
US09240826B2 Electronic device and control method thereof
An electronic device and a control method thereof are provided. The electronic device and the control method thereof provides a user interface whereby when an electronic device is connected to an external device through short-range communication, an item of the electronic device can be shared with the external device through a simple manipulation on the touchscreen. For example, a particular item displayed on the touchscreen can be easily shared with the external device through only an operation of associating an item desired to be shared with a tray bar.
US09240825B2 Monitoring device and a method for wireless data and power transmission in a monitoring device
In a monitoring device including a reader and a data carrier, the data carrier includes a receiver coil (201), a resonator capacitor (202), rectifier means (203), a modulation capacitor (206), an energy storage capacitor (204), three modulation switches (209, 210, 211) and data processing means. The modulation capacitor (206), the energy storage capacitor (204), the data processing means and the three modulation switches (209, 210, 211) are arranged such that, in a first configuration, the modulation capacitor (206) and the energy storage capacitor (204) are coupled in parallel and, in a second configuration, the modulation capacitor (206) and the energy storage capacitor (204) are coupled in series. The invention further provides a method of operating a data carrier in such a monitoring device.
US09240821B2 Communication system
A charging station performs communications by use of a superimposing/separating unit configured by connecting a capacitor, a coupling transformer and a capacitor to branch lines branching out respectively from a control cable and a grounded cable. An electric vehicle performs communications by use of a superimposing/separating unit configured by providing a coupling transformer to the control cable. A capacitor is also connected between the control cable and the grounded cable. Communications are allowed by the configuration of a closed loop circuit comprising the control cable, the branch line, the capacitor, a primary coil of the coupling transformer, the capacitor, the branch line, the grounded cable, the capacitor, and a primary coil of the coupling transformer.
US09240820B2 Network communication structure, network communication system and network communication method
A network communication structure, system and method are disclosed in the invention. The network communication structure includes client devices, a power line network and access points. One of the access points is connected to an external internet. The access points are all connected in the power line network, such that a first local area network is formed between the access points. Each of the access points utilizes an omni-directional antenna to form a local area sub-network between the access point and a client device. Each of the access points utilizes a directional antenna to form a second local area network between access points. According to a network quality of the power line network, each of the access points transmits an information packet to another access point via the first local area network or the second local area network.
US09240819B1 Self-tuning transfer function for adaptive filtering
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes receiving, at one or more processing devices, a plurality of values representing a set of coefficients of an adaptive filter over a period of time, and identifying, by the one or more processing devices based on the plurality of values, a phase error associated with a transfer function of the adaptive filter. The method also includes adjusting, based on the identified phase error, a phase associated with the transfer function of the adaptive filter such that coefficients calculated using the adjusted transfer function reduce the phase error. The method further includes determining a set of coefficients for the adaptive filter based on the adjusted transfer function, and programming the adaptive filter with the determined set of coefficients to enable operation of the adaptive filter.
US09240808B2 Methods, apparatus, and systems for coding with constrained interleaving
Serially-concatenated codes are formed in accordance with the present invention using a constrained interleaver. The constrained interleaver cause the minimum distance of the serial concatenated code to increase above the minimum distance of the inner code alone by adding a constraint that forces some or all of the distance of the outer code onto the serially-concatenated code. This allows the serially-concatenated code to be jointly optimized in terms of both minimum distance and error coefficient to provide significant performance advantages. Constrained interleaving can be summarized in that it: 1) uses an outer code that is a block code or a non-recursive convolutional code, and as such, there are multiple codewords present in the constrained interleaver, 2) selects a desired MHD, 3) selects an interleaver size and a set of predefined interleaver constraints to prevent undesired (low-distance) error events so as to achieve the desired MHD, and 4) performs uniform interleaving among the allowable (non-constrained) positions, to thereby maximize or otherwise improve the interleaver gain subject to the constraints imposed to maintain the desired MHD.
US09240807B2 Radio transmitting/receiving device, communication system, and channel coding processing method used thereby
A radio transmitting/receiving device uses a channel interleaver with turbo codes serving as error-correcting codes to convert burst errors into random errors. The radio transmitting/receiving device, in Code Block Concatenation (15), when dividing a Transport Block into a plurality of Code Blocks, performs channel coding so that burst errors that occur during transmission are distributed to all the Code Blocks. Therefore, when burst errors occur, the errors can be uniformly distributed to all Code Blocks in a Transport Block so that no unevenness occurs in error resilience between the Code Blocks.
US09240804B2 Techniques for alignment of parallel signals
Receiver circuits in serial lanes each generate a synchronous clock signal that is aligned with a master clock signal to allow synchronous transfer of data onto the master clock domain without corruption. A serial-to-parallel converter circuit in each receiver circuit converts a serial data signal into parallel data signals in response to one of the synchronous clock signals. Phase detection circuitry generates an indication of a phase shift based on a phase offset between the synchronous and master clock signals. A clock signal generation circuit provides an adjustment to a phase of the synchronous clock signal based on the indication of the phase shift. The serial-to-parallel converter circuit adjusts positions of bits indicated by the parallel data signals based on the adjustment to the phase of the synchronous clock signal.
US09240802B2 Inverse quantization method, inverse quantization device, and program
Disclosed is an inverse quantization method that reverse-quantizes multiple quantized values as a set, obtaining a set of multiple inverse quantized values, said method being characterized in that the range of potential inverse quantized values for each quantized value is obtained using at least a signal other than that of the aforementioned quantized value, and in that the set of preliminary inverse quantized values for which the total variation norm is the minimum within the range of potential values for each inverse quantized value is obtained as the aforementioned set of reverse-quantized values.
US09240798B2 On-chip analog-to-digital converter (ADC) linearity text for embedded devices
A method for testing linearity of an ADC, comprising receiving a trigger signal indicating an ADC input voltage step adjustment, reading an ADC output sample upon receiving the trigger signal, wherein the ADC output sample has a value range of N integer values that correspond to N discrete ADC output codes, computing a histogram of code occurrences for M consecutive ADC output codes, wherein the histogram comprises M number of bins corresponding to the M consecutive ADC output codes, and wherein M is less than N, updating a DNL value and an INL value according to the histogram at an interval of K number of ADC output sample readings, and shifting the histogram by one ADC output code after updating the DNL and the INL values.
US09240793B2 Method for providing a stabilized oscillator signal
A method for stabilizing the output frequency of an oscillator comprises providing a temperature model to capture the temperature characteristics of a second oscillator when measured by a first oscillator, measuring a value indicative of the frequency of the second oscillator by using the first oscillator, determine a temperature of the second oscillator based on the measured value indicative of the frequency of the second oscillator and the temperature model, determining a compensation amount for the frequency of the first oscillator from the determined temperature, and providing a compensated output frequency of the first oscillator as a stabilized output.
US09240790B2 Three dimensional integrated circuits
A three-dimensional semiconductor device, comprising: a first module layer having a plurality of circuit blocks; and a second module layer positioned substantially above the first module layer, including a plurality of configuration circuits; and a third module layer positioned substantially above the second module layer, including a plurality of circuit blocks; wherein, the configuration circuits in the second module control a portion of the circuit blocks in the first and third module layers.
US09240787B2 Wide supply range high speed low-to-high level shifter
A level shifter may include a first current source configured to source current to a node that pulls up an output voltage of the level shifter to a logic high level and a second current source configured to sink away current from the node to pull down the output voltage to a logic low level. When the output voltage at the node reaches the logic high voltage, the first current source may be deactivated while a latch connected to the node maintains the output voltage at the logic high level. Similarly, when the output voltage reaches the logic low voltage, the second current source may be deactivated while the latch maintains the output voltage at the logic low level.
US09240777B2 Switching control device
A switching control device controls a drive circuit including one or more series circuits each one of which includes an upper switching element and a lower switching element. The switching control device includes an upper side temperature detection unit detecting a temperature of the upper switching element (hereinafter, “an upper side temperature”), a lower side temperature detection unit detecting a temperature of the lower switching element (hereinafter, “a lower side temperature”), and a signal generation circuit adding an offset value to a command voltage of a PWM signal output to the upper and lower switching elements to generate and output a PWM signal to the switching elements so that the upper and lower side temperatures approximate to each other.
US09240775B2 Circuit arrangements
A circuit arrangement may include: a first bipolar transistor; a second bipolar transistor; wherein the circuit arrangement is configured to provide a first current flowing through the first bipolar transistor and a second current flowing through the second bipolar transistor; a resistor connected between a first input of the first bipolar transistor and a first input of the second bipolar transistor; a first circuit configured to provide a first current flowing through the resistor to a first input node of the first bipolar transistor, and a second circuit configured to provide a reference current to the first input node of the first bipolar transistor, wherein the first current and the reference current have different temperature dependencies.
US09240772B2 Frequency synthesiser
A low power frequency synthesizer circuit for a radio transceiver, the synthesizer circuit comprising: a digital controlled oscillator configured to generate an output signal (Fo) having a frequency controlled by an input digital control word (DCW); a feedback loop connected between an output and an input of the digital controlled oscillator, the feedback loop configured to provide the digital control word to the input of the digital controlled oscillator from an error derived from an input frequency control word (FCW) and the output signal; and a duty cycle module connected to the digital controlled oscillator and the feedback loop, the duty cycle module configured to generate a plurality of control signals to periodically enable and disable the digital controlled oscillator for a set fraction of clock cycles of an input reference clock signal (RefClock).
US09240769B2 Piezoelectric thin film resonator, filter, communication module and communication device
A piezoelectric thin film resonator includes a substrate, a lower electrode provided on the substrate, a piezoelectric film provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode provided on the piezoelectric film. At least a portion of the upper electrode and that of the lower electrode oppose each other through the piezoelectric film, and at least a portion of the periphery of the upper electrode is reversely tapered.
US09240767B2 Temperature-controlled integrated piezoelectric resonator apparatus
An integrated resonator apparatus comprises a piezoelectric resonator, an acoustic Bragg reflector coupled to the piezoelectric resonator, and a substrate on which the acoustic Bragg reflector is disposed. The apparatus also includes an active heater layer covering the piezoelectric resonator. Heat produced by the active heater layer is controllable by an amount of current provided through the heater layer.
US09240755B2 Oscillator circuit
An oscillator circuit includes a first resonator, a second resonator, and a frequency adjusting unit. The second resonator has a frequency characteristic different from a frequency characteristic of the first resonator. The frequency adjusting unit is configured to change a ratio between a contribution of the first resonator and a contribution of the second resonator so as to adjust an output frequency.
US09240754B2 Frequency fine tuning
An oscillator includes an oscillating circuit for generating an output signal having an output signal frequency. The oscillating circuit includes an inductive element and a capacitive element, the capacitive element having a variable capacitance for coarsely tuning the output signal frequency. The oscillator further includes a current supply for supplying current to the oscillating circuit, the current supply being variable for finely tuning the output signal frequency.
US09240753B2 Oscillator and power management apparatus
An oscillator includes a transformer, a first capacitor, a first transistor, a depletion or native second transistor, and a current control circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding configured to receive an input voltage and a secondary winding configured to boost the input voltage to generate an output voltage. The first capacitor is configured to form an LC resonant circuit together with the secondary winding to cause oscillation operation, the first transistor is connected in series with the primary winding, and the output voltage is applied to a control terminal of the first transistor. The depletion or native second transistor is connected in series with the primary winding and the first transistor, and the current control circuit is configured to adjust a control voltage applied to a control terminal of the second transistor to control a current flowing through the first winding.
US09240752B2 Power oscillator apparatus with transformer-based power combining
An oscillator circuit includes first and second oscillators arranged in a series configuration between a supply voltage node and a reference voltage node. The first and second oscillators are configured to receive a synchronizing signal for controlling synchronization in frequency and phase. An electromagnetic network provided to couple the first and the second oscillators includes a transformer with a primary circuit and a secondary circuit. The primary circuit includes a first portion coupled to the first oscillator and second portion coupled to the second oscillator. The first and second portions are connected by a circuit element for reuse of current between the first and second oscillators. The oscillator circuit is fabricated as an integrated circuit device wherein the electromagnetic network is formed in metallization layers of the device. The secondary circuit generates an output power combining power provided from the first and second portions of the primary circuit.
US09240748B2 Dynamically reconfigurable motor and generator systems
An electrical machine comprises a rotor, and a stator magnetically coupled to the rotor. The stator has a plurality of slots and a plurality of windings, and each winding is installed in a corresponding slot. A plurality of magnetic poles and a plurality of phases in each pair of poles are formed when currents flow through the windings. The windings are so configured that the number of phases and the number of poles can be dynamically adjusted.
US09240746B2 Driving apparatus for vibration-type actuator
A driving apparatus for a vibration-type actuator that applies an AC voltage to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and generates a driving force between a vibration member and a movable member includes a voltage amplitude command unit configured to instruct an amplitude of the AC voltage, a pulse width command unit configured to monotonically increase a pulse width command and a change rate of the pulse width command according to an increase in a voltage amplitude command, and output a pulse width command, and a pulse signal generation unit configured, when a pulse signal that directly or indirectly generates the AC voltage is generated at the same frequency as the AC voltage to apply the AC voltage to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, to generate a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the pulse width command based on the pulse width command.
US09240745B2 System and method for saving energy when driving masses having periodic load variations
A system and method are described for conserving energy by decoupling a supply voltage to an electric motor operating under periodic load variations. A time segment value corresponding to a duration of periodic load variations is obtained and the supply voltage is adjusted to maintain an observed phase angle for a supply voltage and current at a value corresponding to a target phase angle. At least one off-time period is identified during the time segment value that corresponds to when the adjusted supply voltage is applied to the motor. During a remainder of the time segment value, at least one turn-on time period is provided when the supply voltage is coupled to the motor. The system may enter to a closed-loop control process after a predetermined period of time to adjust to any changes in the periodic load variations.
US09240741B2 AC motor
An embodiment of the invention provides an AC motor that is driven by an AC voltage. The AC motor includes a motor coil, a switch circuit, a position detector and a controller. The motor coil receives the AC voltage to drive an axis of the motor. The switch circuit is coupled to the motor coil and controls a current passing through the motor coil. The position detector detects the position of a motor rotor to output a polarity signal. The controller controls the switch circuit according to the polarity signal and the AC voltage to make the current to be a first current with a first direction or a second current with a second direction.
US09240735B2 Standby power reduction device
A standby power reduction device is provided, including a capacitor connected in parallel to a main switch controlling a switching mode power supply, without the necessity of providing a starting circuit, thereby reducing the cost and enabling miniaturization of product.
US09240733B2 High dynamic control apparatus for current source converter
Current source converters and control methods are presented for high dynamic performance by implementing a DC link current control loop parallel to one or more motor control loops, with a DC link current control command value for operating the current source rectifier being derived at least partially independent of the motor control command values, wherein certain implementations drive the current source rectifier to its maximum rated value, or the DC current command value can be set above an amount required by the current source inverter using a gain factor which can be fixed or can itself be adjusted based on one or more motor control error values for balancing as-needed dynamic performance and efficiency.
US09240732B2 Harmonic regulator for current source rectification and inversion
A system includes a current source rectifier which has a plurality of switches configured to receive an input current from an AC voltage source and to receive a plurality of control signals. The switches are configured to produce a rectified output current based on the input current and the control signals. The system also includes a rectifier controller configured to receive a current sense signal indicative of the rectified output current and to generate the control signals based at least in part on the current sense signal, where the control signals cause the current source rectifier to attenuate at least one of a plurality of harmonic frequencies in the rectified output current.
US09240730B2 Power circuit of an AC power supply with an adjustable DC voltage regulation circuit
A power circuit of an AC power supply includes a power input unit connected to a AC/DC converter. The AC/DC converter is connected to a DC/DC circuit, and the DC/DC circuit is further connected to an adjustable DC voltage regulation circuit. The adjustable DC voltage regulation circuit is connected to an amplifier to amplify and convert the DC voltages into the AC voltages, thereby outputting different AC voltages and electric currents under the condition of not switching off the output when adjusting the voltage via cross position, so that a power level is switched promptly and a very low power distortion.
US09240729B2 Resonant converter for achieving low common-mode noise, along with isolated power supply and method employing the same
Embodiments are described for reducing common-mode current in electronic devices. In the various embodiments, a resonant converter is employed, for example in a power supply, and the resonant converter is driven by a DC input to generate an AC primary voltage on the primary windings of a power transformer. The DC input may be derived from an AC line voltage or a DC-to-DC converter. The AC primary voltage drives the primary winding of the transformer to generate an AC secondary voltage on at least one secondary winding of the transformer. The AC secondary voltage may then drive a rectifier, which in turn drives a low-pass filter to produce a DC output voltage. Phase-shift modulation is employed which, in conjunction with the resonant converter, applies a sinusoidal waveform to the primary of the transformer resulting in a reduced amount of common-mode current injected onto the secondary.
US09240725B2 Coordinated dimmer compatibility functions
A system and method includes a controller that is configured to coordinate (i) a low impedance path for a dimmer current, (ii), control of switch mode power conversion and (iii) an inactive state to, for example, to allow a dimmer to function normally from cycle to cycle of an alternating current (AC) supply voltage. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer functions normally when the dimmer conducts at a correct phase angle indicated by a dimmer input setting and avoids prematurely resetting while conducting. In at least one embodiment, by coordinating functions (i), (ii), and (iii), the controller controls a power converter system that is compatible with a triac-based dimmer. In at least one embodiment, the controller coordinates functions (i), (ii), and (iii) in response to a particular dimming level indicated by a phase cut, rectified input voltage supplied to the power converter system.
US09240722B2 Methods and systems for improving light load efficiency for power stages of multi-phase voltage regulator circuits
Methods and systems are disclosed that may be employed to improve efficiency of smart integrated power stages (IPstages) of multi-phase VR systems while operating under relatively light, ultra-light, or partial or reduced loads. The disclosed methods and systems may be implemented to improve VR system light load efficiency by providing and enabling reduced power IPstage operating modes in one or more smart IPstage/s of a VR system, and by enabling state transition between IPstage active and reduced power operating modes such as IPstage standby and IPstage hibernation modes.
US09240720B2 Emulation based ripple cancellation for a DC-DC converter
DC to DC converters and pulse width modulation controllers are presented with compensation circuitry to mitigate discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) undershoot and continuous conduction mode offsets in inductor current emulation information by providing compensation signals proportional to the output voltage and the converter off time (Toff) when the low side converter switch is actuated.
US09240717B2 Switching power supply device and electronic appliance therewith
Provided is a switching power source device in which fluctuation of the switching frequency can be suppressed without impairing the advantages of a non-linear control system. A switching power source device is provided with: switching control units of non-linear control type that generate an output voltage (out) from an input voltage (IN) by performing ON/OFF control of switching elements in accordance with the results of comparing a feedback voltage (FB) and reference voltage (REF); and an ON time setting unit that monitors switching voltage (SW) appearing at one end of the switch terminals, and sets the ON time (Ton) of the switching element in the switching control units based on the duty of the switching voltage (SW).
US09240714B2 Voltage converter using graphene capacitors
The subject matter disclosed herein provides an apparatus for smoothing an output signal. The apparatus comprising can include an input, an output, one or more voltage regulator circuit components, and one or more graphene capacitors. The voltage regulator circuit components can be configured to provide for a change in the voltage level of signalling between the input and the output. The one or more graphene capacitors can be configured to provide for smoothing of the signalling provided to the output. Related methods, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
US09240712B2 Controller including a common current-sense device for power switches of a power converter
A controller for a power converter includes a current-sense device couplable in series with switched terminals of power switches of interleaved switching regulators and configured to produce a current-sense signal. The controller also includes an error amplifier configured to produce an error signal as a function of a characteristic of the power converter. The controller also includes a duty-cycle controller configured to sample the current-sense signal at mid-points of duty cycles of the power switches and regulate the characteristic as a function of the error signal and the current-sense signal.
US09240707B2 Rotary electric machine
A coil is configured so that: N conductor wires of wave windings each divided at at least two positions in a circumferential direction are provided in one of a plurality of slots; within a unit of the divided wave windings in which conduction is made, the N conductor wires are connected in one of series and parallel to each other at division positions located at substantially the same circumferential position of conductor-wire end portions; division units of the divided wave windings are connected in series to each other, and a total number of series turns of the series-connected division units of the each phase is a predetermined number of series turns, which does not exceed an upper limit value of a terminal voltage of the rotary electric machine; and the series-connected division units of the each phase have the same total number of series turns.
US09240706B2 Alternating current (AC) synchronization for load restoration
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for synchronizing one or more direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) power sources (e.g., a DC power source coupled to an inverter) for restoration of power to a load. That is, responsive to a grid fault of a grid used to supply power to a load over a common bus, the common bus is isolated from the grid and the load. One or more DC to AC power sources are synchronized through synchronization circuits (e.g., voltage, phase, and/or frequency synchronization) until a total power supply provided by respective synchronized DC to AC power sources is greater than or equal to a target power used to supply the load. Once the target power is achieved, a load circuit breaker is closed so that respective synchronized DC to AC power sources provide power to the load over the common bus.
US09240699B2 Power supply apparatus and power supply apparatus for electric vehicle
There are provided an all-in-one power supply apparatus capable of concurrently supplying battery charging power and main power, in particular, main power for driving an electric vehicle, and a power supply apparatus for an electric vehicle. The power supply apparatus and the power supply apparatus for an electric vehicle respectively including: a charging unit; a main power supplying unit; and an auxiliary power supplying unit.
US09240698B2 Switching power supply device and battery charger including the same
A switching power supply device includes a full-bridge circuit comprising a plurality of switching devices, a transformer comprising a primary coil and a secondary coil, the primary coil being connected to an output of the full-bridge circuit, and a DC/DC converter comprising a rectifier circuit. The rectifier circuit includes a plurality of diodes and is connected to the secondary coil to rectify a voltage outputted from the secondary coil. A snubber circuit includes a first snubber diode connected to an intermediate point of the secondary coil, a second snubber diode connected in series with the first snubber diode, the second snubber diode being connected to one end of an output capacitor, and a snubber capacitor connected between a node between the first and second snubber diodes and a positive side output of the rectifier circuit.
US09240695B2 USB charger with electric power display and a method for electric power display
The invention discloses an USB charger with electric power display of battery being charged and a method for electric power display of battery being charged in an electronic cigarette. The USB charger includes an USB interface, a battery unit and a charging control unit, and further includes an electric power display unit. The charging control unit, being separately connected to the USB interface, the battery unit and the electric power display unit, controls an external power supply charging a battery in the battery unit through the USB interface, tests voltage of the battery being charged directly or indirectly, and further controls the electric power display unit to show updated electric power of the battery being charged in real time to user who can know current charging state of the battery.
US09240693B2 Battery discharge device with self-adjusting resistance
A battery discharge device according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a sensor configured to sense a parameter of a high voltage source, a controller in communication with the sensor and a discharge circuit that discharges energy stored on the high voltage source in response to a command signal from the controller. The discharge circuit includes a plurality of resistors connected in parallel to one another.
US09240689B2 Load and consumer
A load includes a device for inductively powering it, the device including an insertion part, following the insertion of which into the load the powering of the latter is provided.
US09240687B2 Smart microgrid
Described herein are embodiments of microgrid systems which may be used as stand-alone systems or may be connected to a larger, integrated power supply system. In some embodiments, a system comprises a smart microgrid system comprising at least one electrical power bus connectable to at least one input power source by one or more switchable connections, a communication network coupled to the smart microgrid system, and a controller coupled to the communication network. In some embodiments the controller comprises logic to monitor power outputs from the at least one input power source, to monitor one or more power loads coupled to the at least one electrical power bus, and to selectively connect one or more of the input power sources to the at least one electrical power bus.
US09240686B2 Battery power management system
The loads of a vehicle electrical system are connected to a power distribution bus through a first or through first and second latching relays. A set of vehicle mandatory loads are connected to an output side of the first latching relay to be cut off from the power distribution bus upon opening of the first latching relay. A set of vehicle optional loads are connected to an output side of the second latching relay to be cut off from the power distribution bus upon opening of the first latching relay or the second latching relay. Opening and closing of the first and second latching relays depends of the values for the measured current and measured voltage. Among factors relating to opening and closing of the first and second latching relays are measured voltage exceeding a voltage high threshold, in which case the first latching relay opens, measured voltage falling below a low voltage threshold in which case the second latching relay opens while the first latching relay remains closed and a positive current transient exceeding a minimum threshold, which opens the first latching relay.
US09240684B2 Overvoltage protection for electrically conductive structures
There is described a structure (14) that is disposed on an electrically non-conductive, electrostatically chargeable strip-type carrier film (12) and that has electrically conductive and/or semiconducting structural elements, which structure has at least one structural region (14s) protected against electrostatic voltage flashover. The at least one structural region (14s) protected against electrostatic voltage flashover is connected to a protective conductor track (19) and/or surrounded by a protective conductor track (19, 19′), which is realized such that it discharges an electrostatic charge and/or shields the protected structural region (14s).
US09240678B2 Electrical junction box
There is provided an electrical junction box which can improve rigidity of a case body. An electrical junction box includes a block, a case body and an inner cover which regulates a wiring path of an electric wire attached to the block. The case body is formed into a deep box-like shape having a peripheral wall, a bottom wall and an opening portion, wherein a portion of the case body adjacent to the bottom wall has a tapered shape. Cutout portions are formed at two opposing faces of the peripheral wall. A width of the cutout portion is smaller when the case body is in a natural condition in which the block is not housed in the case body than when the block is housed in the case body. The width of the cutout portion is broadened as the block is inserted into the case body.
US09240676B2 Ignition plug
A spark plug has a metal shell and a cylindrical ceramic insulator disposed in an inner circumference of the metal shell. An axial hole extends in an axial line CL direction through the insulator, and has a tip located more to a tip side of the spark plug than a tip of the metal shell, and a distance along the axial line CL1 from the tip of the metal shell to the tip of the ceramic insulator is 0.5 mm or more. The insulator satisfies C ≧1.07 mm and V ≦3.9 mm3, where C is a thickness of the insulator in a cross section passing an inner circumference surface tip of the metal shell and orthogonal to the axial line CL1 ,and V is a volume of the ceramic insulator within a range of 0.5 mm from the tip of the ceramic insulator to a rear end side in the axial line CL1 direction.
US09240674B2 Quantum cascade laser
A quantum cascade laser includes a semiconductor substrate, and an active layer that is provided on the substrate, and has a cascade structure in which emission layers and injection layers are alternately laminated by multistage-laminating unit laminate structures each consisting of the quantum well emission layer and the injection layer, and generates light by intersubband transition in a quantum well structure. Further, in a laser cavity structure for light with a predetermined wavelength to be generated in the active layer, CeO2 insulating films and reflection control films are formed in order on respective faces of a first end face and a second end face facing each other. Thereby, it is possible to realize a quantum cascade laser capable of preferably realizing reflectance control for light within a mid-infrared region on the laser device end face.
US09240673B2 Tunable SOI laser
A wavelength tunable silicon-on-insulator (SOI) laser comprising: a laser cavity including: a semiconductor gain medium having a front end and a back end; and a phase-tunable waveguide platform coupled to the front end of the semiconductor gain medium; wherein the phase-tunable waveguide platform includes a first Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) and a second Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR); at least one of the Distributed Bragg Reflectors having a comb reflectance spectrum; and wherein a mirror of the laser cavity is located at the back end of the semiconductor gain medium.
US09240671B2 Laser light source
A laser light source (100) includes a laser element (102) that emits a fundamental wave, a wavelength converting element (104) that performs wavelength conversion on the fundamental wave emitted from the laser element (102) and outputs the converted wave, and an optical waveguide (103) that guides the light output from the wavelength converting element (104). The optical waveguide (103) has a direction changing portion (113) that changes the travel direction of the guided light. The direction changing portion (113) has a function of transmitting the converted wave alone and of not transmitting the fundamental wave.
US09240670B2 Optical pulse source with increased peak power
In at least one embodiment time separated pulse pairs are generated, followed by amplification to increase the available peak and/or average power. The pulses are characterized by a time separation that exceeds the input pulse width and with distinct polarization states. The time and polarization discrimination allows easy extraction of the pulses after amplification. In some embodiments polarization maintaining (PM) fibers and/or amplifiers are utilized which provides a compact arrangement. At least one implementation provides for seeding of a solid state amplifier or large core fiber amplifier with time delayed, polarization split pulses, with capability for recombining the time separated pulses at an amplifier output. In various implementations suitable combinations of bulk optics and fibers may be utilized. In some implementations wavelength converted pulse trains are generated. A method and system of the present invention can be used in time domain applications utilizing multiple beam paths, for example spectroscopy.
US09240665B2 Gas laser apparatus carrying out improved startup process
A gas laser apparatus includes a receptacle for enclosing a laser gas, a laser oscillator that emits a laser beam, a pressure detecting unit that detects gas pressure inside the receptacle, an exhausting unit that discharges a gas from the receptacle, a feeding unit that supplies a laser gas into the receptacle, a pressure storing unit configured to store the pressure detected by the pressure detecting unit and retain stored information even when a power supply is shut off, a comparing unit that compares pressure inside the receptacle when the gas laser apparatus has stopped suddenly with pressure inside the receptacle when the gas laser apparatus is restarted thereafter, and a determining unit that determines whether or not a gas should be discharged from the receptacle and whether or not the laser gas should be supplied into the receptacle based on the result of the comparison.
US09240658B2 Connector system with a plurality of housings each with a wafer and plurality of contacts
A connector system includes a first housing, a second housing and a third housing. The first and second housings each include a wafer with signal terminals aligned in corresponding rows. The third housing mates to the first and second housings and supports a terminal array that connects the signal terminals in the first housings to the signal terminals in the second housing when the first and second wafer are arranged perpendicular to each other.
US09240654B2 Circuit-terminal connecting device
A circuit-terminal connecting device comprising a first connector having a first housing attached to a first circuit board provided thereon with first circuit-terminals and a first metallic member, a second connector having a second housing attached to a second circuit board provided thereon with second circuit-terminals and a second metallic member and a manipulatable member mounted on the second housing, wherein an end portion of the manipulatable member is formed into a movable locking portion supported by the second metallic member, the first metallic member is provided thereon with a fixed locking portion, and the manipulatable member is resiliently deformed for causing the movable locking portion to engage with the fixed locking portion so that the second housing is put in mechanical lock to the first housing when the second housing is put in engagement with the first housing for connecting the second circuit-terminals with the first circuit-terminals.
US09240653B2 Wire-to-board connector
A plug side surface of a plug housing is provided with a claw portion. The claw portion includes a plug lock surface facing in a direction away from a connector mounting surface. Each assistant fitting of a receptacle connector includes a receptacle lock surface that faces in a direction approaching the connector mounting surface and is opposed to the plug lock surface in a mated state. The plug lock surface includes a lock maintaining surface and an unlocking surface. Further an angle formed between a reference plane and the lock maintaining surface is a lock maintaining angle and an angle formed between the reference plane and the unlocking surface is an unlocking angle, the lock maintaining angle is smaller than the unlocking angle.
US09240652B2 Protection device for protecting a power cable connector and related power supply and electronic system
A protection device for protecting a power cable connector includes one sensor, a separation mechanism and a processing unit. The sensor is for sensing a relative distance and a moving speed of an external object. The separation mechanism is connected to the power cable connector in a separable manner. The processing unit is electrically connected to the sensor for controlling the separation mechanism to separate from the power cable connector as the sensor senses that the relative distance is less than a separation distance and the moving speed is not zero.
US09240651B2 Universal DC power adaptor
A universal DC power adaptor for a PRC-148 radio, a PRC-152 radio, and a Handheld ISR Transceiver, and a method of using same, is disclosed. The presently disclosed universal DC power adaptor includes mounting and locking features that are common to both the PRC-148 radio and the PRC-152 radio. The universal DC power adaptor further includes certain mounting and locking features that are unique to the PRC-148 radio and other mounting and locking features that are unique to the PRC-152 radio. The universal DC power adaptor also provides an output voltage suitable for both the PRC-148 and PRC-152 radios. Such features also are compatible with the Handheld ISR Transceiver, making the universal DC power adaptor compatible with the ISR Transceiver as well. Additionally, the universal DC power adaptor includes programmable control electronics.
US09240648B2 Header contact for an implantable device
An implantable medical device includes a housing and a header mounted to the housing, the header including a header body having a bore with an electrical contact located within the bore, wherein the electrical contact includes a helical coil spring having an axial bore, wherein the axial bore of the helical coil spring is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the bore.
US09240646B2 Press-fit type connector terminal
The press-fit type connector terminal includes a pin section having a U-shaped or quadrangular cross-section, and a contact section situated at a front end of the pin section, the contact section including a contact piece surrounding an imaginary center line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pin section, and a slit formed at a part of the contact piece and extending substantially parallel to the imaginary center line, the connector terminal being comprised of a single bent metal plate having elasticity.
US09240645B1 Electrical contact
An electrical contact (1) includes a base portion (10) for connecting with a first device (2), a first spring arm (12) extends from the base portion (10) and includes a first contact tip (121) at the end thereof for connecting with the first device (2) and a second contact tip (122) near the base portion (10) for connecting with a second device (3), at a first stage, the base portion (10) is higher than the second contact tip (122) and the second contact tip (122) is higher than the first contact tip (121), at another stage, the base portion (10) and the first contact tip (121) are in a same height to contact the first device (2) and the second contact tip (122) is lower than the first contact tip (121) to contact the second device (3).
US09240636B2 Coaxial cable connector having a coupling nut and a conductive insert with a flange
A male coaxial connector of the present invention comprises a conductive insert and a coupling nut. The conductive insert has a front end with an annular flange. The coupling nut includes an inner surface defining a bore, wherein the bore at least partially surrounds the conductive insert and is configured to receive a provided female coaxial connector. The coupling nut further includes a locking member extending from its inner surface. The male connector further comprises a torque washer formed from fiber-reinforced rubber and disposed between the flange of the conductive insert and the locking member. When the coupling nut engages a female coaxial connector, the locking member and the torque washer are compressed against the flange of the insert. The compressed locking member and the compressed torque washer each maintain a tension force between the male and female connectors to help prevent separation of the male and female connectors. The male coaxial connector can be configured to be coupled to an end of the coaxial cable by, for example, crimping or compression.
US09240634B2 Antenna and method for steering antenna beam direction
An antenna comprising an IMD element and one or more parasitic and active tuning elements is disclosed. The IMD element, when used in combination with the active tuning and parasitic elements, allows antenna operation at multiple resonant frequencies. In addition, the direction of antenna radiation pattern may be arbitrarily rotated in accordance with the parasitic and active tuning elements.
US09240633B2 Tunable wireless power device
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power devices. A device may include a transmit antenna and a metallic structure spaced from and configured for detuning the transmit antenna. The device may further include a circuit for tuning the transmit antenna.
US09240626B2 Snap attachment for reflector mounting
A mount for mounting a reflector of a satellite dish is provided. In one embodiment, the mount includes one or more first hooks and one or more second hooks located offset from the one or more first hooks, wherein the one or more second hooks are spring loaded and the one or more first hooks and the one or more second hooks fasten the reflector of the satellite dish to the mount.
US09240625B2 Expandable in-wall antenna for a security system control unit
The present disclosure relates to an expandable antenna for a security system that is installed within a wall. The security system may include a control unit. The control unit may include a casing that houses one or more internal components of the control unit and a radio-frequency (RF) communication module that is situated within the casing. The RF communication module includes an antenna connected that is exposed to the exterior of the casing. An expandable antenna connects to the antenna connector. The expandable antenna is fit through an aperture in a wall and is then expanded to an enlarged size within the gap of the wall.
US09240620B2 High frequency filter
The invention relates to an improved high frequency filter (high pass filter) that is characterized by the following features: in addition to the at least both capacitively coupled inner conductor front faces (5b) or the capacitively coupled inner conductor end segments (5c) of two coupled inner conductor segments (5a), at least one further inner conductor coupling device (15) or at least one further inner conductor coupling element (115) is provided, the at least one further inner conductor coupling device (15) or the at least one further inner conductor coupling element (115) is arranged in an at least partially overlapping manner with the inner conductor end segments (5c) of the coupled inner conductor segments (5b), and the branch line (7) runs between the inner conductor coupling device (15) or the inner conductor coupling element (115) and the outer conductor (1).
US09240618B2 Rechargeable battery and battery module
A rechargeable battery is disclosed. In one aspect, the battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a case accommodating the electrode assembly and a terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and exposed from the case. The battery further includes a protective circuit module comprising a connecting member electrically connected to the terminal and an insulating member interposed between the terminal and the connecting member, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the insulating member.
US09240616B2 Solvent including 1,2-dialkyl-1,2-difluoroethylene carbonate for non-aqueous electrolytic solution of lithium secondary battery
A solvent for non-aqueous electrolytic solution of lithium secondary battery including a non-fluorine-containing cyclic carbonate (I), a non-fluorine-containing chain carbonate (II) and 1,2-dialkyl-1,2-difluoroethylene carbonate (III). When the total amount of (I), (II) and (III) is taken as 100% by volume, the non-fluorine-containing cyclic carbonate (I) is contained in an amount of 10 to 50% by volume, the non-fluorine-containing chain carbonate (II) is contained in an amount of 49.9 to 89.9% by volume and the 1,2-dialkyl-1,2-difluoroethylene carbonate (III) is contained in an amount of not less than 0.1% by volume and less than 30% by volume. A non-aqueous electrolytic solution including the above-mentioned solvent and a lithium secondary battery using the non-aqueous electrolytic solution are also disclosed.
US09240614B2 Nonaqueous electrolyte solution and electrochemical element using same
The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolytic solution which can improve the electrochemical characteristics in a broad temperature range, an electrochemical element produced by using the same and a sulfonic ester compound having a branched structure which is used for the same.The present invention relates to a nonaqueous electrolytic solution prepared by dissolving an electrolyte salt in a nonaqueous solvent, which comprises a sulfonic ester compound represented by the following Formula (I) in an amount of 0.001 to 5% by mass of the nonaqueous electrolytic solution: (wherein R represents an alkyl group or an aryl group; A represents a >CH group or a >SiZ group (Z represents an alkyl group or an aryl group); X represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl group; Y represents a cycloalkyl group, a -L1CHRaOSO2Rb group or a —Si(Rc)(Rd)OSO2Rb group; W represents 1 or 2; Ra represents an alkyl group; Rb, Rc and Rd represent an alkyl group or an aryl group; L1 represents an alkylene group in which at least one hydrogen atom may be substituted with —OSO2Re (Re has the same meaning as that of R), a divalent linkage group containing at least one ether bond or a single bond).
US09240612B2 Layered materials with improved magnesium intercalation for rechargeable magnesium ion cells
Electrochemical devices which incorporate cathode materials that include layered crystalline compounds for which a structural modification has been achieved which increases the diffusion rate of multi-valent ions into and out of the cathode materials. Examples in which the layer spacing of the layered electrode materials is modified to have a specific spacing range such that the spacing is optimal for diffusion of magnesium ions are presented. An electrochemical cell comprised of a positive intercalation electrode, a negative metal electrode, and a separator impregnated with a nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing multi-valent ions and arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode active material is described.
US09240611B2 Semiconductor structures having a micro-battery and methods for making the same
The present disclosure provides an embodiment of an integrated structure that includes a first electrode of a first conductive material embedded in a first semiconductor substrate; a second electrode of a second conductive material embedded in a second semiconductor substrate; and a electrolyte disposed between the first and second electrodes. The first and second semiconductor substrates are bonded together through bonding pads such that the first and second electrodes are enclosed between the first and second semiconductor substrates. The second conductive material is different from the first conductive material.
US09240603B2 Method of controlling fuel cell system
In a case where gas supply controller of an FC system determines that the temperature of an FC is a predetermined temperature or less, the gas supply controller fixes the FC voltage to a voltage value within a voltage region where degradation is relatively small, the voltage value being below a voltage range where an oxidation-reduction proceeds. Further, the amount of a gas supplied to the FC is changed in accordance with electric power required by a load.
US09240602B2 Fuel cell system
Provided is a fuel cell system capable of supplying electric power to external loads without excess or deficiency even when switching occurs between operation states. A warm-up timing judgment part judges whether it is time to operate warm-up based on the temperature of a fuel cell stack. A target shift voltage determination part determines a target output voltage of the fuel cell stack used during a warm-up operation, and a voltage change speed determination part determines a voltage change speed based on electric power required from the fuel cell stack, the target output voltage of the fuel cell stack used during the warm-up operation which is output from the target shift voltage determination part and a current output voltage detected by a voltage sensor. A voltage decrease execution part operates voltage decrease processing according to the voltage change speed indicated by the voltage change speed determination part.
US09240599B2 Ammonia or hydrazine injection into fuel cell systems
A fuel cell system includes a controller, a fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit operatively connected to the fuel cell stack, the fuel inlet conduit adapted to receive fuel from a fuel supply, a recycling conduit operatively connecting the fuel cell stack to the fuel inlet conduit, the recycling conduit adapted to recycle a portion of a fuel exhaust stream from the fuel cell stack to the fuel inlet conduit, and an ammonia or hydrazine storage vessel operatively connected to the fuel inlet conduit via a valve coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the valve to provide ammonia or hydrazine from the ammonia or hydrazine storage vessel into the fuel inlet conduit upon detecting a change in the fuel from the fuel supply.
US09240596B2 Composite electrode material
The invention relates to a composite material comprising carbon fibers and complex oxide particles, wherein the carbon fibers and the complex oxide particles have a carbon coating on at least part of their surface, said carbon coating being a non powdery coating The material is prepared by a method comprising mixing a complex oxide or precursors thereof, an organic carbon precursor and carbon fibers, and subjecting the mixture to a heat treatment in an inert or reducing atmosphere for the decomposition of the precursors The material is useful as the cathode material in a battery.
US09240594B2 Positive electrode active substance for lithium ion batteries, positive electrode for lithium ion batteries, and lithium ion battery
The present invention provides a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery which has a high capacity and good rate characteristics can be provided. The positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery has a layer structure represented by the compositional formula: Lix(NiyMe1-y)Oz (wherein Me represents at least one type selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Al, Mg, Cr, Ti, Fe, Nb, Cu and Zr, x denotes a number from 0.9 to 1.2, y denotes a number from 0.70 to 0.79, and z denotes a number of 1.9 or more), wherein the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are within the region enclosed by three lines given by the equations: y=1.108, y=−37.298x+108.27, and y=75.833x−217.1 on a graph in which the x-axis represents a lattice constant a and the y-axis represents a compositional ratio (Li/M) of Li to M, and the lattice constant c is 14.2 to 14.25.
US09240591B2 Active material for battery, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and battery pack
In general, according to one embodiment, the active material for a battery contains a niobium composite oxide represented by the formula: LixM(1-y)NbyNb2O(7+δ). M represents at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Ti and Zr. X, y, and δ are numbers respectively satisfying the following: 0≦x≦6, 0≦y≦1, and −1≦δ≦1). The pH of the active material for a battery is from 7.4 to 12.5.
US09240588B2 Anode active material for lithium-ion batteries
In at least one embodiment, a rechargeable battery is provided comprising an anode having an active material including MSb2O4 having a purity level of greater than 93 percent by weight, wherein M is a metal. The metal may have an oxidation state of 2+ and may include transition metals and/or alkali-earth metals. The anode active material may be synthesized using metal acetates or metal oxides. The synthesis may include heating at a first temperature to remove oxygen and water and reacting at a second temperature to form the MSb2O4 structure, which may be a spinel crystal structure.
US09240585B2 Manufacturing of high capacity prismatic lithium-ion alloy anodes
High capacity energy storage devices and energy storage device components, and more specifically, to a system and method for fabricating such high capacity energy storage devices and storage device components using processes that form three-dimensional porous structures are provided. In one embodiment, an anode structure for use in a high capacity energy storage device, comprising a conductive collector substrate, a three-dimensional copper-tin-iron porous conductive matrix formed on one or more surfaces of the conductive collector substrate, comprising a plurality of meso-porous structures formed over the conductive current collector, and an anodically active material deposited over the three-dimensional copper-tin-iron porous conductive matrix is provided. In certain embodiments, the three-dimensional copper-tin-iron porous conductive matrix further comprises a plurality of columnar projections formed on the conductive current collector with the plurality of meso-porous structure formed on the plurality of columnar projections.
US09240581B2 Battery unit and battery module using the same
A battery unit includes a case accommodating an electrode assembly and having an opening, and a cap plate cover the opening, and having a terminal insertion portion. The battery unit further includes a terminal member inserted into the case through the terminal insertion portion from an exterior of the case and coupled to the electrode assembly, the terminal member having a terminal portion, extending in a major side direction of the cap plate at an exterior of the cap plate, and being separated from an upper surface of the cap plate. The battery unit further includes a fixing member in the terminal insertion portion fixing the terminal member to the cap plate and having injection-molded plastic resin in the terminal insertion portion surrounding the terminal member; and a support member coupled to the cap plate and supporting the terminal portion with respect to the cap plate.
US09240576B2 Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
If a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a seal structure between a lid and an electrode terminal in which a seal member is compressed by fastening a nut, the nut may be loosened to make the amount of compression of the seal member insufficient to reduce the seal performance even if the nut is fastened enough to obtain an appropriate amount of compression of the seal member at the time of manufacture of the battery. A battery case has an opening, and houses an electrode group and an organic electrolyte. A lid is fastened to the battery case, and tightly seals the opening of the battery case. An electrode terminal is electrically connected to the electrode group. The lid and the electrode terminal face each other via an elastic member.
US09240573B2 Method of fabricating organic electroluminescent device
A method of fabricating an organic electroluminescent display includes: forming a plastic layer on a substrate including a first pixel region; patterning the first plastic layer to form a first opening in the first pixel region; forming a first organic light emitting layer on the first plastic layer having the first opening; and removing the first plastic layer from the substrate to form a first organic light emitting pattern in the first opening.
US09240570B2 Organic light-emitting device and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a method of fabricating an organic light-emitting device. The method of fabricating an organic light-emitting device includes: providing a substrate; forming a control electrode on the substrate; forming an insulating layer covering at least a top surface of the control electrode; forming a hole transport layer pattern through printing on at least a part of the insulating layer; forming an organic light-emitting layer to be in contact with at least a part of a surface of the hole transport layer pattern; forming an electron transport layer pattern through printing to be in contact with at least a part of a surface of the organic light-emitting layer; and forming a first electrode and a second electrode respectively on the hole transport layer pattern and the electron transport layer pattern.
US09240564B2 Organic electroluminescence device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic electroluminescence device is capable of enhancing reflectance of an anode, resulting in improved light-emitting efficiency. An anode, a thin film layer for hole injection, an insulating layer, an organic layer including a luminescent layer and a cathode including a semi-transparent electrode are laminated in order on a substrate. The anode comprises silver which is a metal with high reflectance or an alloy including silver, and the thin film layer for hole injection comprises chromium oxide or the like. Light generated in the luminescent layer is multiply reflected between the anode and the semi-transparent electrode to be emitted from the cathode. As the reflectance of the anode is enhanced, the light generated in the luminescent layer can be efficiently emitted. An alloy comprised in the anode preferably includes silver, palladium and copper, and a silver content is preferably 50% by mass or over.
US09240559B2 Phosphorescent compound and organic electroluminescent device using the same
A phosphorescent compound is represented by following Formula:
US09240556B2 Semiconducting compounds and devices incorporating same
Disclosed are molecular and polymeric compounds having desirable properties as semiconducting materials. Such compounds can exhibit desirable electronic properties and possess processing advantages including solution-processability and/or good stability. Organic transistor and photovoltaic devices incorporating the present compounds as the active layer exhibit good device performance.
US09240551B2 Polymers based on benzodiones
The present invention relates to polymers comprising one or more (repeating) unit(s) of the formula (I), and compounds of formula (III), wherein Y, Y15, Y16 and Y17 are independently of each other a group of formula (A), (B) or (C) and their use as IR absorber, organic semiconductor in organic devices, especially in organic photovoltaics and photodiodes, or in a device containing a diode and/or an organic field effect transistor. The polymers and compounds according to the invention can have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when the polymers and compounds according to the invention are used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics and photodiodes.
US09240548B2 Memory arrays and methods of forming an array of memory cells
A method of forming an array of memory cells includes forming lines of covering material that are elevationally over and along lines of spaced sense line contacts. Longitudinal orientation of the lines of covering material is used in forming lines comprising programmable material and outer electrode material that are between and along the lines of covering material. The covering material is removed over the spaced sense line contacts and the spaced sense line contacts are exposed. Access lines are formed. Sense lines are formed that are electrically coupled to the spaced sense line contacts. The sense lines are angled relative to the lines of spaced sense line contacts and relative to the access lines. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
US09240547B2 Magnetic tunnel junctions and methods of forming magnetic tunnel junctions
A method of forming a line of magnetic tunnel junctions includes forming magnetic recording material over a substrate, non-magnetic material over the recording material, and magnetic reference material over the non-magnetic material. The substrate has alternating outer regions of reactant source material and insulator material along at least one cross-section. The reference material is patterned into a longitudinally elongated line passing over the alternating outer regions. The recording material is subjected to a set of temperature and pressure conditions to react with the reactant of the reactant source material to form regions of the dielectric material which longitudinally alternate with the recording material along the line and to form magnetic tunnel junctions along the line which individually comprise the recording material, the non-magnetic material, and the reference material that are longitudinally between the dielectric material regions. Other methods, and lines of magnetic tunnel junctions independent of method, are disclosed.
US09240544B2 Method of manufacturing piezoelectric element
A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element including a step of preparing a green sheet A including a portion which becomes a fired piezoelectric body later, by use of a piezoelectric material; a step of joining, to at least one surface of the green sheet A, a green sheet B having an opening in a portion facing the portion which becomes the fired piezoelectric body later, followed by firing to obtain the fired piezoelectric body provided with a reinforcing plate to which the reinforcing plate formed owing to the firing of the green sheet B is attached; and a step of forming a film-like electrode in a portion obtained by the firing of the green sheet A in the fired piezoelectric body provided with the reinforcing plate.
US09240541B2 Piezoelectric vibration module and vibration generating apparatus including the same
There are provided a piezoelectric vibration module and a vibration generating apparatus including the same. The piezoelectric vibration module includes: a piezoelectric actuator including a piezoelectric element deformed in both a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction through the application of electrical power thereto; at least one first rod transferring deformation force of the piezoelectric actuator in the first direction; at least one second rod converting deformation force of the piezoelectric actuator in the second direction into deformation force in the first direction and transferring the converted deformation force; and a mass body connected to the first and second rods and disposed on the piezoelectric actuator so that displacement is generated in the first direction.
US09240538B2 LED spirit system and manufacturing method
The present invention relates to a new method, system and apparatus for light emitting diode (LED) packages. An object of the present invention is to provide an LED package having reduced components, a superior heat dissipation property and a compact structure, does not largely restrict use of conventional equipment for its manufacture, and is compatible with implementation within present illumination devices packaging.
US09240536B2 Surface-mountable optoelectronic component and method for producing a surface-mountable optoelectronic component
A surface-mountable optoelectronic component has a radiation passage face, an optoelectronic semiconductor chip and a chip carrier. A cavity is formed in the chip carrier and the semiconductor chip is arranged in the cavity. A molding surrounds the chip carrier at least in places. The chip carrier extends completely through the molding in a vertical direction perpendicular to the radiation passage face.
US09240534B2 Light emitting package having a guiding member guiding an optical member
A light emitting package, includes a base; a light emitting device on the base; an electrical circuit layer electrically connected to the light emitting device; an optical member formed of a light transmissive material; and a guiding member guiding the optical member, the guiding member including an opening, a first portion disposed on the uppermost surface of the base, and a second portion connected to an edge portion of the optical member. The first portion of the guiding member is positioned higher than a bottom surface of the optical member, an uppermost surface of the base is closer to the first portion of the guiding member than the second portion of the guiding member, and the edge portion of the optical member is closer to the second portion of the guiding member than the first portion of the guiding member.
US09240532B2 LED package structure
A LED package structure includes a substrate unit, a light-emitting unit and a package unit. The substrate unit includes two lead frames, and light-emitting unit including a LED chip electrically connected between the two lead frames. The package unit includes a light-transmitting package body enclosing the light-emitting unit and one part of each lead frame and a lens body integrated with the light-transmitting package body, and another part of each lead frame is exposed from the light-transmitting package body. Therefore, light beams generated by the LED chip pass through the lens body to project a cross light pattern on a plane, the cross light pattern has a concentrated cross light shape and a scattered light shape surrounding the concentrated cross light shape, the luminous intensity of the concentrated cross light shape is substantially the same and larger than the luminous intensity of the scattered light shape.
US09240528B2 Solid state lighting apparatus with high scotopic/photopic (S/P) ratio
Solid state light emitting apparatuses include blue LEDs (e.g., including short wavelength and long wavelength blue LEDs in combination) to stimulate green lumiphors, with supplemental emissions by red lumiphors and/or red solid state light emitters, to provide aggregate emissions with high S/P ratio (e.g., ≧1.95) and high color rendering values (e.g., ≧85), preferably in combination with high brightness and high luminous efficacy. In certain embodiments, a light emitting apparatus may be devoid of a LED having a peak wavelength of from 470-599 nm and/or devoid of lumiphors with peak wavelengths in the yellow range. Multiple LEDs may be arranged in an emitter package. A fabrication method includes mounting multiple solid state emitters (e.g., with a first blue and a second red emitter) to a common substrate, applying a stencil or mask over the second emitter, applying a lumiphoric material over the first emitter, and removing the stencil or mask.
US09240527B2 Submount, optical module provided with submount, and submount manufacturing method
In manufacturing a submount, a first electrode layer (12) is formed as a layer on the surface of a submount substrate (11); a side surface (122) of the first electrode layer (12) is formed on substantially the same plane as a side surface (112) of the submount substrate (11); and the side surface (122) of the first electrode layer (12) is a connection surface for creating an electrical connection with the first electrode layer (12). By making the first electrode layer (12) sufficiently thick, the surface area of the side surface (122) can be made sufficiently large to allow, for example, wire bonding using the side surface (122). Further, components such as an optical element (14) can be protected by a sealing material (16).
US09240526B2 Solid state light emitting diode packages with leadframes and ceramic material
Solid state light emitting diode packages can be provided including a ceramic material and a leadframe structure, on the ceramic material, the leadframe structure including a portion thereof that integrates the leadframe structure with the ceramic material.
US09240521B2 Electrode structure and light emitting diode using the same
An electrode structure includes a first diffusion barrier layer, an aluminum reflective layer formed over the first diffusion barrier layer. The aluminum reflective layer has a thickness from about 500 angstroms (Å) to less than 2,000 Å, a second diffusion barrier layer formed over the aluminum reflective layer, and an electrode layer overlying the second diffusion barrier layer. The electrode structure is applicable in a light emitting diode device.
US09240513B2 Dynamic support system for quartz process chamber
One embodiment of the present invention provides a support system for providing dynamic support to a deposition reactor. The system includes a coupling mechanism configured to provide coupling between the deposition reactor and the support system, an attachment mechanism configured to attach the support system to an external frame, and at least one gas bellows situated between the coupling mechanism and the attachment mechanism.
US09240511B2 Photodetector using surface plasmon resonance and image sensor having the same
Disclosed is a photodetector including an electrically conductive substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, a second electrode disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode, a plasmonic nanostructure positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and having surface plasmon resonance, and a resistance measuring device or an electrical conductivity measuring device connected to the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09240502B2 Element and photovoltaic cell
The invention provides an element including a semiconductor substrate and an electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate, the electrode being a sintered product of a composition for an electrode that includes phosphorus-containing copper alloy particles, glass particles and a dispersing medium, and the electrode includes a line-shaped electrode having an aspect ratio, which is defined as electrode short length:electrode height, of from 2:1 to 250:1.
US09240500B2 Film-forming material
There is provided a novel material used for solar cells that can contribute to the improvement in maximum output of solar cells without using the conventional MPPT system. A film-forming material for forming a light-collecting film on a transparent electrode of a solar cell, including an aromatic group-containing organic polymer compound (A) and a cross-linker (B), wherein the film-forming material exhibits an index of refraction of 1.5 to 2.0 at a wavelength of 633 nm and a transmittance of 95% or more with respect to light having a wavelength of 400 nm, and a solar cell obtained by coating a cured film made from the film-forming material on a surface of a transparent electrode.
US09240498B2 Optical semiconductor device
Phosphate-based glass doped with copper ions having infrared blocking filter characteristics is formed into particles and is mixed with a transparent encapsulating resin to encapsulate a semiconductor element. The glass particles have a particle diameter four times or more as large as a wavelength of infrared radiation to be blocked. An optical semiconductor device can be obtained having a stable filter characteristics thereof even if an incident light angle changes and is resistant to moisture.
US09240494B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including a first dielectric film, a floating gate portion, second and third dielectric films, a control gate portion, and a recess on the side face of the floating gate portion. The second dielectric film for element isolation is embedded between a height position of a lower portion of the side face of the floating gate portion and a height position inside the semiconductor substrate. The third dielectric film covers an upper surface and a side face portion of the floating gate portion up to a height position of an upper surface of the second dielectric film, and on the second dielectric film. A height position of an interface between the second and third dielectric films is between a height position of a center of the recess and a position in a predetermined range below the height position of the center of the recess.
US09240493B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor film, manufacturing method of semiconductor device, and manufacturing method of photoelectric conversion device
A method for forming an amorphous semiconductor which contains an impurity element and has low resistivity and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with excellent electrical characteristics with high yield are provided. In the method for forming an amorphous semiconductor containing an impurity element, which utilizes a plasma CVD method, pulse-modulated discharge inception voltage is applied to electrodes under the pressure and electrode distance with which the minimum discharge inception voltage according to Paschen's Law can be obtained, whereby the amorphous semiconductor which contains an impurity element and has low resistivity is formed.
US09240490B2 Oxide semiconductor target and oxide semiconductor material, as well as semiconductor device using the same
There are provided an oxide semiconductor material, capable of attaining stability of a threshold voltage (Vth) (threshold voltage shift amount ΔVth within a range of ±3 V in PDS and NBIS) and field-effect mobility of 5 cm2/Vs or more necessary for the operation of an OLED display device. An oxide semiconductor target in which an oxide semiconductor material with one or more of oxides of W, Ta, and Hf of 5d transition metal added each by 0.07 to 3.8 at %, 0.5 to 4.7 at %, and 0.32 to 6.4 at % to a semiconductor material with Zn—Sn—O as a main ingredient is sintered; a semiconductor channel layer formed by using the target, and an oxide semiconductor material for TFT protective film, as well as a semiconductor device having the same.
US09240489B2 Oxide material and semiconductor device
An object is to provide a material suitably used for a semiconductor included in a transistor, a diode, or the like. Another object is to provide a semiconductor device including a transistor in which the condition of an electron state at an interface between an oxide semiconductor film and a gate insulating film in contact with the oxide semiconductor film is favorable. Further, another object is to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device by giving stable electric characteristics to a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is used for a channel. A semiconductor device is formed using an oxide material which includes crystal with c-axis alignment, which has a triangular or hexagonal atomic arrangement when seen from the direction of a surface or an interface and rotates around the c-axis.
US09240488B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A transistor including an oxide semiconductor, which has good on-state characteristics, and a high-performance semiconductor device including a transistor capable of high-speed response and high-speed operation. In the transistor including an oxide semiconductor, oxygen-defect-inducing factors are introduced (added) into an oxide semiconductor layer, whereby the resistance of a source and drain regions are selectively reduced. Oxygen-defect-inducing factors are introduced into the oxide semiconductor layer, whereby oxygen defects serving as donors can be effectively formed in the oxide semiconductor layer. The introduced oxygen-defect-inducing factors are one or more selected from titanium, tungsten, and molybdenum, and are introduced by an ion implantation method.
US09240487B2 Method of manufacturing thin film transistor and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display having thin film transistor
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor having a compound semiconductor with oxygen as a semiconductor layer and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display having the thin film transistor include: forming a gate electrode on an insulating substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; forming a semiconductor layer including oxygen ions on the gate insulating layer, and including a channel region, a source region, and a drain region; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode to contact the semiconductor layer in the source region and the drain region, respectively; and forming a passivation layer on the semiconductor layer by coating an organic material, wherein a carrier density of the semiconductor layer is maintained in the range of 1E+17 to 1E+18/cm3 to have stable electrical property.
US09240486B2 Thin-film transistor, method for manufacturing the same and display device including the same
A thin-film transistor, a method for manufacturing the same and a display device including the same are provided. The thin-film transistor may include a substrate, and an active layer formed on the substrate. The active layer may be made from an oxide semiconductor. A gate electrode may be formed above the active layer or below the active layer. A conductive layer may come in contact with the active layer, may be overlapped with at least a part of the gate electrode, and may be insulated from the gate electrode. A source electrode and a drain electrode may be electrically connected to the active layer. The conductive layer can reduce a channel length of the thin-film transistor and increase a capacitance between the source electrode and the gate electrode or between the drain electrode and the gate electrode.
US09240484B2 FinFET with metal gate stressor
A gate stressor for a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device is provided. The gate stressor includes a floor, a first stressor sidewall, and a second stressor sidewall. The floor is formed on a first portion of a gate layer. The gate layer is disposed above a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. The first stressor sidewall formed on a second portion of the gate layer. The second portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a fin. The second stressor sidewall formed on the third portion of the gate layer. The third portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a structure spaced apart from the fin. The first stressor side wall and the second stressor sidewall do not exceed a height of the fin.
US09240481B2 Semiconductor device having embedded strain-inducing pattern
A semiconductor device can include an active region having a fin portion providing a channel region between opposing source and drain regions. A gate electrode can cross over the channel region between the opposing source and drain regions and first and second strain inducing structures can be on opposing sides of the gate electrode and can be configured to induce strain on the channel region, where each of the first and second strain inducing structures including a respective facing side having a pair of {111} crystallographically oriented facets.
US09240480B2 Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor with metal-insulator semiconductor contact structure to reduce Schottky barrier
A method includes depositing a first metal layer on a native SiO2 layer that is disposed on at least one of a source and a drain of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). A metal oxide layer is formed from the native SiO2 layer and the first metal layer, wherein the remaining first metal layer, the metal oxide layer, and the at least one of the source and the drain form a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) contact.
US09240479B1 Three dimensional semiconductor integrated circuit having gate pick-up line and method of manufacturing the same
A 3D semiconductor integrated circuit having a gate pick-up line and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of active pillars formed in a gate pick-up region, buffer layers formed on the respective active pillars in the gate pick-up region, gates each surrounding an outer circumference of the corresponding active pillar and the corresponding buffer layer, and a gate pick-up line electrically coupled to the gates.
US09240477B2 Transistor-containing constructions and memory arrays
Some embodiments include transistor-containing constructions having gate material within an opening in a semiconductor material and spaced from the semiconductor material by gate dielectric material. The opening has a wide lower region beneath a narrow upper region. A saddle region of the gate dielectric material extends outwardly from a bottom of the opening and is along the semiconductor material beneath the opening. A saddle region of the gate material extends outwardly from the bottom of the opening and is along the gate dielectric material beneath the opening. Source/drain regions are within the semiconductor material along sides of the gate material. Some embodiments include memory arrays.
US09240471B2 SCR with fin body regions for ESD protection
An electrostatic discharge protection circuit is disclosed. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes forming a semiconductor controlled rectifier including a first plurality of fingers between an n-well body contact and an anode in an n-well, and a second plurality of fingers between a p-well body contact and a cathode in a p-well.
US09240469B2 Transverse ultra-thin insulated gate bipolar transistor having high current density
A transverse ultra-thin insulated gate bipolar transistor having current density includes: a P substrate, where the P substrate is provided with a buried oxide layer thereon, the buried oxide layer is provided with an N epitaxial layer thereon, the N epitaxial layer is provided with an N well region and P base region therein, the P base region is provided with a first P contact region and an N source region therein, the N well region is provided with an N buffer region therein, the N well region is provided with a field oxide layer thereon, the N buffer region is provided with a P drain region therein, the N epitaxial layer is provided therein with a P base region array including a P annular base region, the P base region array is located between the N well region and the P base region, the P annular base region is provided with a second P contact region and an N annular source region therein, and the second P contact region is located in the N annular source region. The present invention greatly increases current density of a transverse ultra-thin insulated gate bipolar transistor, thus significantly improving the performance of an intelligent power module.
US09240467B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device for high power application in which a novel semiconductor material having high mass productivity is provided. An oxide semiconductor film is formed, and then, first heat treatment is performed on the exposed oxide semiconductor film in order to reduce impurities such as moisture or hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor film. Next, in order to further reduce impurities such as moisture or hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor film, oxygen is added to the oxide semiconductor film by an ion implantation method, an ion doping method, or the like, and after that, second heat treatment is performed on the exposed oxide semiconductor film.
US09240464B2 Manufacturing method of power MOSFET using a hard mask as a CMP stop layer between sequential CMP steps
A manufacturing method of a power MOSFET employs a hard mask film over a portion of the wafer surface as a polishing stopper, between two successive polishing steps. After embedded epitaxial growth is performed in a state where a hard mask film for forming trenches is present in at least a scribe region of a wafer, primary polishing is performed by using the hard mask film as a stopper, and secondary polishing is then performed after the hard mask film is removed.
US09240462B2 Field-effect transistor with local source/drain insulation and associated method of production
A method for fabricating a field-effect transistor with local source/drain insulation. The method includes forming and patterning a gate stack with a gate layer and a gate dielectric on a semiconductor substrate; forming source and drain depressions at the gate stack in the semiconductor substrate; forming a depression insulation layer at least in a bottom region of the source and drain depressions; and filling the at least partially insulated source and drain depressions with a filling layer for realizing source and drain regions.
US09240461B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a dummy gate pattern and a spacer that is arranged on a sidewall of the dummy gate pattern on a substrate, forming an air gap on both sides of the dummy gate pattern by removing the spacer, exposing the substrate by removing the dummy gate pattern, and sequentially forming a gate insulating film including a high-k insulating film and a metal gate electrode on the exposed substrate.
US09240457B2 IGBT transistor with protection against parasitic component activation and manufacturing process thereof
An IGBT transistor includes a drift region, at least one body region housed in the drift region and having a first type of conductivity, and a conduction region, which crosses the body region in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the drift region and has the first type of conductivity and a lower resistance than the body region. The conduction region includes a plurality of implant regions, arranged at respective depths from the surface of the drift region.
US09240455B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A MOSFET includes an SiC layer including main surfaces. The SiC layer includes an n type drift region, a p type body region, and an n type source region. The MOSFET further includes a gate insulating film formed to be located on a channel region, a gate electrode formed to be located above the channel region, the gate insulating film being sandwiched between said gate electrode and said channel region, and a connection electrode which includes a contact portion having a width smaller than a width of the gate electrode, has electric resistance lower than electric resistance of the gate electrode, and is formed on the gate electrode.
US09240450B2 IGBT with emitter electrode electrically connected with impurity zone
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body including a drift zone of a first conductivity type, an emitter region of a second, complementary conductivity type configured to inject charge carriers into the drift zone, and an emitter electrode. The emitter electrode includes a metal silicide layer in direct ohmic contact with the emitter region. A net impurity concentration in a portion of the emitter region directly adjoining the metal silicide layer is at most 1×1017 cm−3.
US09240445B2 Lateral semiconductor device
A lateral semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, and a resistive field plate. The semiconductor layer includes a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region at a surface portion, and the second semiconductor region makes a circuit around the first semiconductor region. The insulating layer is formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer and is disposed between the first and second semiconductor regions. The resistive field plate is formed on a surface of the insulating layer. Between the first and second semiconductor regions, a first section and a second section are adjacent to each other along a circumferential direction around the first semiconductor region. The resistive field plate includes first and second resistive field plate sections respectively formed in the first and second sections, and the first and second resistive field plate sections are separated from each other.
US09240443B2 Process of preparing a gap filler agent, a gap filler agent prepared using same, and a method for manufacturing semiconductor capacitor using the gap filler agent
A method of preparing a gap filler agent includes adding a halosilane to a basic solvent, and, to the basic solvent and the halosilane, adding ammonia in an amount of about 50 to about 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the halosilane at a rate of about 1 g/hr to about 15 g/hr.
US09240442B2 Method for fabricating capacitor of semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a capacitor of a semiconductor device includes forming a mold layer over a substrate, forming a plurality of preliminary openings by selectively etching the mold layer, forming a plurality of openings where each opening is formed to have a given linewidth by forming a sacrificial layer on sidewalls of the preliminary openings, and forming a plurality of storage nodes in the plurality of openings.
US09240439B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first etching stopper film and a second etching stopper film that are formed to be spaced apart from one another on a first inter-layer insulating film; a metal thin film resistor formed to extend over the first and second etching stopper films; a second inter-layer insulating film formed on the first inter-layer insulating film to cover the first and second etching stopper films and the metal thin film resistor; a first contact hole formed in the second inter-layer insulating film to extend from a surface of the second inter-layer insulating film onto the first etching stopper film by penetrating through the metal thin film resistor; and a second contact hole formed in the second inter-layer insulating film to extend from a surface of the second inter-layer insulating film onto the second etching stopper film by penetrating through the metal thin film resistor.
US09240438B2 Passive-matrix display and tiling display
A passive-matrix display of the disclosure includes a first electrode disposed over a substrate, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode and three-dimensionally intersecting the first electrode, a first auxiliary electrode disposed between the substrate and the first electrode, three-dimensionally intersecting the first electrode and being parallel to the second electrode, and a second auxiliary electrode parallel to the first auxiliary electrode and to the second electrode, the first electrode and the first auxiliary electrode being electrically connected by a first connection portion, and the second electrode and the second auxiliary electrode being connected by a plurality of second connection portions each disposed with at least one of the first electrodes therebetween. The passive-matrix display enables voltage drop and variation in brightness to be reduced by lowering the wiring resistance of the second electrode.
US09240436B2 Display panel and pixel array thereof
A pixel array includes a plurality of pixel groups, each of which includes a plurality of brightness sub-pixel regions, a plurality of first sub-pixel regions, and a plurality of second sub-pixel regions. Each brightness sub-pixel regions has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. The first sub-pixel regions include a first group and a second group, and the second sub-pixel regions include a third group and a fourth group. The first, the second, the third, and the fourth groups are respectively disposed at the first, the third, the second, and the fourth sides of the first brightness sub-pixel region. Extension lines of long directions of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth groups respectively interlace a vertical baseline at a first angle θ1, a second angle θ2, a third angle θ3, and a fourth angle θ4. 0°<θ1<90°, 0°<θ2<90°, 0°<θ3<90°, and 0°<θ4<90°.
US09240435B2 Organic EL display
Disclosed is a coated type organic EL display wherein the light extraction efficiencies of all organic light-emitting elements are improved even when the organic light-emitting elements have different organic light-emitting layers for respective emission colors. Specifically disclosed is an organic EL display which comprises a substrate, a red organic light-emitting element (R), a green organic light-emitting element (G), and a blue organic light-emitting element (B), said organic light-emitting elements being arranged on the substrate. Each of the organic light-emitting elements has a pixel electrode that is a reflective electrode, a functional layer that is formed on the pixel electrode by coating, an organic light-emitting layer that is arranged on the functional layer, a counter electrode that is a transparent electrode arranged on the organic light-emitting layer, and a tapered bank that defines the functional layer formed by coating. The amounts of the functional layers formed by coating are different among the element (R), the element (G) and the element (B), and the tapered angles of the banks defining the functional layers are different among the element (R), the element (G) and the element (B).
US09240432B2 Passivation of back-illuminated image sensor
A method for forming a back-illuminated image sensor includes forming a higher doped crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate, growing a lower doped crystalline layer on the higher doped crystalline layer and forming a photodiode and component circuitry from the lower doped crystalline layer. Metallization structures are formed to make connections to and between components. The crystalline substrate is removed to expose the higher doped crystalline layer. An optical component structure is provided on an exposed surface of the higher doped crystalline layer to receive light therein such that the higher doped crystalline layer provides a passivation layer for the photodiode and the component circuitry.
US09240424B2 Thin film transistor array substrate and producing method thereof
Disclosed are a thin film transistor array substrate and a producing method thereof in the embodiments of the present invention, the producing method comprising: forming an active layer thin film and a conductive layer thin film on a substrate; depositing a source/drain electrode layer thin film on the conductive layer thin film, treating the conductive layer thin film and the source/drain electrode layer thin film using gray tone or half tone masking process, to form at least two data lines, a pixel electrode and source/drain electrodes of the thin film transistor (TFT); after depositing an insulating layer thin film covered the active layer thin film, the source/drain electrodes, the data lines and the pixel electrode, forming a through hole and a gate insulating layer of the TFT on the insulating layer, to form an active layer of the TFT; forming a gate electrode of the TFT and at least two gate scanning lines cross with the data wires.
US09240420B2 3D non-volatile storage with wide band gap transistor decoder
Disclosed herein are 3D stacked memory devices having WL select gates that comprises TFTs having bodies formed from a wide band gap semiconductor. The wide energy band gap semiconductor may be an oxide semiconductor, such as a metal oxide semiconductor. As examples, this could be an InGaZnO, InZnO, HfInZnO, or ZnInSnO body. The word lines may be formed from metal, such as tungsten. The 3D stacked memory device could have NAND strings. The TFTs may be formed in the word line layer. The TFT has a high drive current, a high breakdown voltage and low leakage current.
US09240416B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a stacked body with electrode films and inter-electrode insulating films alternately stacked therein, a semiconductor member, a charge accumulation film, an insulating member and a floating electrode member. The semiconductor member is provided in the stacked body. The insulating member is provided at a position opposed to the inter-electrode insulating film on a side surface of the charge accumulation film. The insulating member is divided for each of the inter-electrode insulating films. The floating electrode member is provided on a region of the side surface of the charge accumulation film not covered with the insulating member. The floating electrode member is in contact with the charge accumulation film. The floating electrode member is divided for each of the electrode films. The floating electrode member has higher conductivity than the charge accumulation film.
US09240414B1 Semiconductor devices having self-aligned contact pads
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a field area that defines active areas, gate trenches in the substrate and extending in a first direction, a buried gate in a respective gate trench, gate capping fences in a respective gate trench over a respective buried gate, the gate capping fences protruding from top surfaces of the active areas and extending in the first direction, bit line trenches in the gate capping fences, a respective bit line trench crossing the gate capping fences and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an insulator structure on inner walls of a respective bit line trench, bit lines and bit line capping patterns stacked on the insulator structures in a respective bit line trench, contact pads self-aligned with the gate capping fences and on the substrate between the adjacent bit lines, and a lower electrode of a capacitor on a respective contact pad.
US09240406B2 Precision trench capacitor
A capacitor structure can include a parallel connection of a plurality of trench capacitors. First nodes of the plurality of trench capacitors are electrically tied to provide a first node of the capacitor structure. Second nodes of the plurality of trench capacitors are electrically tied together through at least one programmable electrical connection at a second node of the capacitor structure. Each programmable electrical connection can include at least one of a programmable electrical fuse and a field effect transistor, and can disconnect a corresponding trench capacitor temporarily or permanently. The total capacitance of the capacitor structure can be tuned by programming, temporarily or permanently, the at least one programmable electrical connection.
US09240398B2 Method for producing image pickup apparatus and method for producing semiconductor apparatus
A method for producing an image pickup apparatus includes processes of: cutting an image pickup chip substrate to fabricate a plurality of image pickup chips; bonding the image pickup chips to a glass wafer via a transparent adhesive layer as well as bonding dummy chips to an outer peripheral region of the glass wafer where the image pickup chips are not bonded to fabricate a joined wafer; filling a sealing member between the image pickup chips and the dummy chips; machining the joined wafer to thin a thickness; and cutting the joined wafer.
US09240395B2 Waterproof surface mount device package and method
The present invention is directed to LED packages and methods utilizing waterproof and UV resistant packages with improved structural integrity. In some embodiments, the improved structural integrity is provided by various features in the lead frame that the casing material encompasses to improve the adhesion between the lead frame and the casing for a stronger, waterproof package. Moreover, in some embodiments the improved structural integrity and waterproofing is further provided by improved adhesion between the encapsulant and the casing. Some embodiments also provide for improved wire bonds, with the length, thickness, and loop height of the wire bonds controlled and optimized for improved adhesion between the wire bonds and the encapsulant as well as improved reliability.
US09240390B2 Semiconductor packages having wire bond wall to reduce coupling
A device (e.g., a Doherty amplifier) housed in an air cavity package includes one or more isolation structures over a surface of a substrate and defining an active circuit area. The device also includes first and second adjacent circuits within the active circuit area, first and second leads coupled to the isolation structure(s) between opposite sides of the package and electrically coupled to the first circuit, third and fourth leads coupled to the isolation structure(s) between the opposite sides of the package and electrically coupled to the second circuit, a first terminal over the first side of the package between the first lead and the third lead, a second terminal over the second side of the package between the second lead and the fourth lead, and an electronic component coupled to the package and electrically coupled to the first terminal, the second terminal, or both the first and second terminals.
US09240388B2 Semiconductor manufacturing device and semiconductor manufacturing method
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor manufacturing device includes a first stage, a second stage, a transfer unit, and a detector. The first stage corrects a position of the semiconductor chip. The second stage supports an object into which the semiconductor chip is to be installed. The transfer unit transfers the semiconductor chip picked up from the first stage to the second stage. The detector detects an elastic wave from the semiconductor chip. The detector is attached to at least one of the first stage and the second stage.
US09240386B2 Semiconductor device and process for producing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate in which a product region and scribe regions are defined; a 1st insulation film formed above the substrate; a metal film in the 1st insulation film, disposed within the scribe regions in such a manner as to surround the product region; a 2nd insulation film formed on the 1st insulation film and the metal film; a 1st groove disposed more inside than the metal film in such a manner as to surround the product region, and reaching from a top surface of the 2nd insulation film to a position deeper than a top surface of the metal film; and a 2nd groove disposed more outside than the metal film in such a manner as to surround the metal film, and reaching from the top surface of the 2nd insulation film to a position deeper than the top surface of the metal film.
US09240382B2 High speed, high density, low power die interconnect system
A system for interconnecting at least two die each die having a plurality of conducting layers and dielectric layers disposed upon a substrate which may include active and passive elements. In one embodiment there is at least one interconnect coupling at least one conducting layer on a side of one die to at least one conducting layer on a side of the other die. Another interconnect embodiment is a slug having conducting and dielectric layers disposed between two or more die to interconnect between the die. Other interconnect techniques include direct coupling such as rod, ball, dual balls, bar, cylinder, bump, slug, and carbon nanotube, as well as indirect coupling such as inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, and wireless communications. The die may have features to facilitate placement of the interconnects such as dogleg cuts, grooves, notches, enlarged contact pads, tapered side edges and stepped vias.
US09240379B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method for suppresing wiring material from being diffused into insulating film, storage medium and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a second conductive layer on an underlying layer which has an insulating layer in which a recess is formed and a first conductive layer exposed on a bottom surface of the recess; forming a third conductive layer on the second conductive layer; supplying, into the third conductive layer, a material solid-soluble in the third conductive layer; and heating the third conductive layer into which the solid-soluble material is supplied.
US09240378B2 Method of forming a copper layer using physical vapor deposition
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes the steps: providing a substrate; forming a dielectric over the substrate; forming an opening recessed under a top surface of the dielectric; forming a barrier layer on a sidewall of the opening; performing a physical vapor deposition (PVD) to form a copper layer over the barrier layer, a corner of the opening intersecting with the top surface and the top surface with a predetermined resputter ratio so that the ratio of the thickness of the copper layer on the barrier layer and the thickness of the copper layer over the top surface is substantially greater than 1.
US09240376B2 Self-aligned via fuse
A method including forming a first via opening in a substrate, the first via opening is self-aligned to a first trench in the substrate, forming a second via opening in the substrate, the second via opening is self-aligned to a second trench in the substrate, a portion of the second via opening overlaps a portion of the first via opening to form an overlap region, and the overlap region having a width (w) equal to or greater than a space (s) between the first trench and the second trench, and removing a portion of the substrate in the overlap region to form a bridge opening, the bridge opening is adjacent to the first and second via openings and extends between the first and second trenches.
US09240373B2 Semiconductor devices with close-packed via structures having in-plane routing and method of making same
The invention relates to a semiconductor structure, comprising a substrate of a semiconductor material having a first side (FS) and an opposite second side (BS). There is at least one conductive wafer-through via (V) comprising metal, and at least one recess (RDL) provided in the first side of the substrate and in the semiconductor material of the substrate. The recess is filled with metal and seamlessly connected with the wafer-through via. The exposed surfaces of the metal filled via and the metal filled recess are essentially flush with the substrate surface on the first side of the substrate. There is also provide an interposer comprising the above structure, further comprising contacts for attaching circuit boards and integrated circuits on opposite sides of the interposer. A method of making the structure is also provided.
US09240369B2 Encapsulated semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An encapsulated semiconductor device includes: a first conduction path formative plate; a second conduction path formative plate joined to the first conduction path formative plate; a power element bonded to the first conduction path formative plate; a heatsink held by the first conduction path formative plate with an insulation sheet interposed between the heatsink and the first conduction path formative plate; and an encapsulation resin configured to encapsulate the first and second conduction path formative plates. A through hole or a lead gap is formed in a region of the first conduction path formative plate in contact with the insulation sheet. The insulation sheet is press-fitted into the through hole or the lead gap.
US09240367B2 Semiconductor package with cantilever leads
A semiconductor package includes a metallic leadframe having a plurality of cantilever leads, a mounting area for mounting a die, and one or more non-conductive supports adjacent to a recessed surface of the cantilever leads to support the leads during die mount, wire bond, and encapsulation processes. Encapsulant encapsulates and supports at least a portion of the die, the leadframe.
US09240364B2 Adhesive film for heat dissipation, semiconductor device including the same, and method of fabricating the semiconductor device
A heat dissipation adhesive film, a semiconductor device including the same, and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device, the heat dissipation adhesive film being placeable between a protective layer encasing a semiconductor element therein and a heat dissipation metal layer on the protective layer to bond the protective layer to the heat dissipation metal layer, wherein an adhesive strength between the heat dissipation adhesive film and the protective layer and an adhesive strength between the heat dissipation adhesive film and the heat dissipation metal layer are each about 3 kgf/25 mm2 or greater.
US09240356B2 Surface inspection apparatus, method for inspecting surface, exposure system, and method for producing semiconductor device
A surface inspection apparatus includes: an irradiation unit; a detection unit configured to detect a first detection signal according to a first light beam and a second detection signal according to a second light beam; a providing unit which is configured to provide a first reference data and a second reference data; and a determination unit which is configured to determine a processing condition of the pattern in the substrate as an inspection object substrate, based on consistency between the first detection signal and the first reference data, and consistency between the second detection signal and the second reference data.
US09240354B2 Semiconductor device having diffusion barrier to reduce back channel leakage
A semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate comprises a bulk semiconductor substrate, a buried insulator layer formed on the bulk substrate and an active semiconductor layer formed on the buried insulator layer. Impurities are implanted near the interface of the buried insulator layer and the active semiconductor layer. A diffusion barrier layer is formed between the impurities and an upper surface of the active semiconductor layer. The diffusion barrier layer prevents the impurities from diffusing therethrough.
US09240351B2 Field effect transistor device with improved carrier mobility and method of manufacturing the same
The devices are manufactured by replacement gate process and replacement sidewall spacer process, and both tensile stress in the channel region of NMOS device and compressive stress in the channel region of PMOS device are increased by forming a first stress layer with compressive stress in the space within the first metal gate layer of NMOS and a second stress layer with tensile stress in the space within the second metal gate layer of PMOS, respectively. After formation of the stress layers, sidewall spacers of the gate stacks of PMOS and NMOS devices are removed so as to release stress in the channel regions. In particular, stress structure with opposite stress may be formed on sidewalls of the gate stacks of the NMOS device and PMOS device and on a portion of the source region and the drain region, in order to further increase both tensile stress of the NMOS device and compressive stress of the PMOS device.
US09240350B2 Techniques for forming 3D structures
A technique for forming 3D structures is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for forming 3D structures. The method may comprise providing a substrate comprising at least two vertically extending fins that are spaced apart from one another to define a trench; depositing a dielectric material in the trench between the at least two vertically extending fins; providing an etch stop layer within the dielectric material, the etch stop layer having a first side and a second opposite side; removing the dielectric material near the first side of the etch stop layer.
US09240348B2 Method of making a semiconductor device package
A method of forming a semiconductor device package includes bonding a front surface of a first substrate to a second substrate, and thinning a back surface of the first substrate. The method includes depositing and patterning a dielectric layer on the thinned back surface of the first substrate, and etching the first substrate after the depositing and the patterning of the dielectric layer are performed to form a through silicon via to enable electrical connection with a first level metal of the first substrate. The method includes depositing an isolation layer to line the through silicon via is formed, and etching the isolation layer at the bottom of the through silicon via. The method includes depositing a conductive layer to line the through silicon via after the isolation layer at the bottom of the through silicon via is etched, and deposited a copper film over the conductive layer.
US09240346B2 Double patterning method
Self-aligned double patterning methods that can be used in back-end-of-line (BEOL) processing and other stages of integrate circuit device manufacturing. In these methods, line termini are masked prior to self-aligned double patterning. The self-aligned double patterning involves forming a mandrel, the shape of which is determined by a lithographic mask. That same lithographic mask is used prior to self-aligned double patterning to trim the mask that determines the locations of line termini. The methods provide precise positioning of the line termini mask relative to the line locations determined by self-aligned double patterning. The methods forms consistent end-of-line shapes and allow line termini to be placed more closely together than would otherwise be feasible.
US09240343B2 Method for modifying an initial stress state of an active layer to a final stress state
This process comprises steps of: a) providing a first substrate comprising the active layer made of a first material of Young's modulus E1 and of thickness h1; b) providing a second substrate made of a second material of Young's modulus E2 and of thickness h2; c) bending the first substrate and the second substrate such that they each have a curved shape of a radius of curvature R; d) joining the second substrate to the active layer such that the second substrate closely follows the shape of the first substrate; and e) re-establishing the initial at-rest shape of the second substrate, the process being noteworthy in that the second material of the second substrate is a flexible material respecting the relationship E2/E1<10−2, in that the thickness of the second substrate respects the relationship h2/h1≧104, and in that the radius of curvature respects the relationship R = h 2 2 ⁢ ⁢ ɛ .
US09240341B2 Top wafer rotation and support
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide thermal processing chambers including a drive mechanism and a heating assembly disposed on opposite sides of a substrate support assembly. Particularly, the heating assembly is disposed below the substrate support assembly to process a substrate with a device side facing up and the drive mechanism is disposed above the substrate assembly.
US09240337B2 Substrate transport method, substrate transport apparatus, and coating and developing system
A substrate transporting method includes: after a holding unit of a substrate holding apparatus receives a substrate from one placement location for a substrate and holds it, detecting a first positional deviation of the substrate from a reference position of the substrate on the holding unit; transporting the substrate held by the holding unit to a position facing another placement location; detecting a second positional deviation of the substrate from the reference position of the substrate on the holding unit, when the substrate is located at the position facing the another placement location; calculating, based on the first and second positional deviations, a positional displacement of the substrate relative to the holding unit that occurred during the transporting of the substrate to the position facing the another placement location; and determining whether or not the positional displacement thus calculated falls within a predetermined range.
US09240331B2 Semiconductor device and method of making bumpless flipchip interconnect structures
A semiconductor device includes a substrate with contact pads. A mask is disposed over the substrate. Aluminum-wettable conductive paste is printed over the contact pads of the substrate. A semiconductor die is disposed over the aluminum-wettable conductive paste. The aluminum-wettable conductive paste is reflowed to form an interconnect structure over the contact pads of the substrate. The contact pads include aluminum. Contact pads of the semiconductor die are disposed over the aluminum-wettable conductive paste. The aluminum-wettable conductive paste is reflowed to form an interconnect structure between the contact pads of the semiconductor die and the contact pads of the substrate. The interconnect structure is formed directly on the contact pads of the substrate and semiconductor die. The contact pads of the semiconductor die are etched prior to reflowing the aluminum-wettable conductive paste. An epoxy pre-dot to maintain a separation between the semiconductor die and substrate.
US09240330B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device
The TSV technology has been popular as one of stacking technologies of a plurality of semiconductor chips. It has however been revealed by the present inventors that when TSV is formed using a so-called first via process, via middle process, front-via via last process, or the like, there is a possibility of defects such as gate breakdown occurring due to electrostatic breakdown in the subsequent process. In order to overcome the above problem, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, in which a through via electrode is formed by forming a hole in a semiconductor substrate, forming an insulating member in the hole, and burying a conductive member in the resulting hole while covering a portion of the hole except for the bottom portion with the insulating member.
US09240324B2 Self-aligned process to fabricate a memory cell array with a surrounding-gate access transistor
A method to prevent a gate contact from electrically connecting to a source contact for a plurality of memory cells on a substrate. The method includes depositing and etching gate material to partially fill a space between the pillars and to form a word line for the memory cells, etching a gate contact region for the word line between the pair of pillars, forming a spacer of electrically insulating material in the gate contact region, and depositing a gate contact between the pair of pillars to be in electrical contact with the gate material such that the spacer surrounds the gate contact.
US09240323B2 Methods of forming semiconductor devices with metal silicide using pre-amorphization implants
A method of forming a semiconductor device can be provided by forming an opening that exposes a surface of an elevated source/drain region. The size of the opening can be reduced and a pre-amorphization implant (PAI) can be performed into the elevated source/drain region, through the opening, to form an amorphized portion of the elevated source/drain region. A metal-silicide can be formed from a metal and the amorphized portion.
US09240321B2 Mask having separated line patterns connected by a connecting pattern
According to one embodiment, a mask includes a line-and-space mask pattern. The mask has a separation portion separating a line pattern in a predetermined region within the line-and-space mask pattern. The mask also includes a connection pattern arranged in a crossing direction crossing the extending direction of the line pattern connecting the separated line patterns. The connection pattern is arranged on a position where the end of the line pattern, which is separated by the separation portion, projects from the connection pattern.
US09240317B2 High temperature GaN based super semiconductor and fabrication process
A low temperature GaN based super semiconductor comprising a GaN supercell having equal percentages of Cu and at least one material from the family of P, As, or Sb. The GaN supercell is doped in accordance with the formula Ga1-2xCuxAsxN, wherein x is from about 6.25% to about 25%. The supercell is deposited on GaN grown on silicon substrate.
US09240312B2 Discharge lamp and light source device
A discharge lamp includes a housing including a dielectric portion having a light transmission area formed of a dielectric material and transmitting light, and a main body portion forming a discharge-gas-filled space together with the dielectric portion, the discharge-gas-filled space being filled with a discharge gas; an electron emission source disposed in the discharge-gas-filled space to face the light transmission area; a discharge path limiting member separating the electron emission source and the light transmission area, in the discharge-gas-filled space, and including an electron passage hole that transmits electrons emitted from the electron emission source; and an external electrode disposed at an outer side of the housing to face the electron emission source across the dielectric portion, and including an opening that passes the light transmitted through the light transmission area.
US09240310B2 Method and apparatus for improving ion transmission into a mass spectrometer
An ion transfer device for transferring ions emerging from an electrospray ion source at atmosphere to a vacuum chamber includes an inner surface in the shape of a diverging conical duct. The ion transfer device has an entrance aperture for positioning proximate the exit port of the electrospray ion source emitter, the entrance aperture receiving the electrosprayed ions from the exit port of the electrospray ion source emitter at atmosphere, the diverging conical duct being an electrode toward which the ions migrate and having an exit aperture with an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of its entrance aperture, the exit aperture enclosed in the vacuum chamber, the diverging conical duct transporting the ions from atmosphere to vacuum. The vacuum chamber can be a chamber of a vacuum housing enclosing a mass analyzer.
US09240304B2 Specimen holder tip part, specimen holder having said specimen holder tip part, gonio stage, and electron microscope having said gonio stage
In at least one embodiment, a specimen holder tip part comprises a specimen setting seat, a specimen mesh for mounting a specimen, a specimen holding part for holding the specimen mesh and a clamping part that clamps the specimen holding part.
US09240301B1 Thermal-field type electron source composed of transition metal carbide material with artificial facet
An electron source is made from mixed-metal carbide materials of high refractory nature. Producing field-enhanced thermionic emission, i.e., thermal-field or extended Schottky emission, from these materials entails the use of a certain low work function crystallographic direction, such as, for example, (100), (210), and (310). These materials do not naturally facet because of their refractory nature. The disclosed electron source made from transition metal carbide material is especially useful when installed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) performing advanced imaging applications that require a high brightness, high beam current source.
US09240300B2 Device comprising a thermal fuse and a resistor
The present invention discloses a device comprising a thermal fuse and a resistor, the solid ceramic base of the wirewound resistor is changed to be hollow, forming a ceramic tube; the thermal fuse is placed in the solid ceramic base, the ceramic tube provides housing for the thermal fuse; a lead wire of the thermal fuse passes through an end cap of an end of the wirewound resistor, the other end of the thermal fuse extends out of the end cap of the other end of the wirewound resistor, the end cap of the wirewound resistor extends outwardly with a lead wire, then an epoxy resin is used to encapsulate the device. The present invention can be used as a basic unit and directly installed in an existing high-frequency charger; it is capable of replacing the existing simple wirewound resistor or the wirewound resistor with an external contact type thermal fuse, and realizing triple functions of general impedance, over-current fuse protection, and over-temperature protection in case of overload.
US09240296B2 Keyboard construction having a sensing layer below a chassis layer
A keyboard having a sensor layer below a chassis layer is described. In one embodiment, the keyboard includes a keyboard chassis and a plurality of keycaps positioned above the keyboard chassis. Each of the plurality of keycaps has a touch surface for receiving a press force. A sensor substrate is positioned below the keyboard chassis and has sensor electrodes configured to sense that one or more of the plurality of keycaps is in a pressed position.
US09240294B2 Touch pad module having a circuit board including a recessed area and electronic device using the same
A touch pad module includes a circuit board and a trigger element. The circuit board includes a recessed area. The trigger element is disposed on the circuit board and covers the recessed area. When the trigger element deforms by an external force, at least a part of the trigger element is located in the recessed area.
US09240292B1 Environmentally sealed button
The disclosure relates to a button assembly for a device, such as an electronic device. The button assembly may include a button and a seal. The button may fit within a space defined by the seal. A portion of each of three sealing surfaces may each seal and press against respective surfaces of the button.
US09240290B2 Switch for preventing inrush current shock and cutting off standby power
The present invention is provided with a delay unit for applying a function of a double-pole contact switch and a control function of an activation switch, so as for the contact switch and the activation switch not to operate simultaneously when turned on. Accordingly, when a predetermined time elapses after the double-pole contact switch operates first to prevent an inrush current shock, the activation switch generates a control signal to safely operate an internal circuit such as a central processing device or a control device, so that an electronic product is turned on without an electrical shock or a significant spark. Moreover, if power is cut off by software or the internal circuit is turned off in response to a control signal of the activation switch after an ON button of the electronic product is pressed, the double-pole contact switch is automatically turned off immediately or over a time interval, so that standby power is cut off completely, safely, conveniently, and effectively.
US09240286B2 Photoelectric conversion device, light detecting device, and light detecting method
The present invention has an object to provide a photoelectric conversion device which can be manufactured through a simple manufacturing process, achieve photoelectric conversion over a wide range of wavelength regions, and attain high photoelectric conversion efficiency even in the infrared wavelength region, a photodetection device, and a photodetection method. This photoelectric conversion device 1 includes a substrate 2 containing single crystalline titanium dioxide, adhesion layers 2c formed on a surface 2a of the substrate 2, metal microstructure bodies 3, each of which has a volume of 1,000 nm3 or more and 3,000,000 nm3 or less, arranged at predetermined intervals in a predetermined direction on surfaces of the adhesion layers 2c, a container 4 for containing an electrolyte solution L in an arrangement region of the metal microstructure bodies 3 on the surface 2a of the substrate 2, a conductive layer 7 formed on a rear surface 2b of the substrate 2, and a counter electrode 5 in contact with the electrolyte solution L in the container 4; and the metal microstructure bodies 3 adhere onto the substrate 2 through the adhesion layers 2c, a Schottky barrier is formed at an interface of the substrate 2 with the metal microstructure bodies 3, and photoelectric conversion is carried out for light in an infrared region by utilizing a plasmon resonance phenomenon.
US09240281B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and board for mounting the same
There is provided a multilayer ceramic capacitor including a ceramic body including a plurality of dielectric layers and having first and second main surfaces, first and second side surfaces, and first and second end surfaces; a first capacitor part including a first internal electrode exposed to the first end surface and a second internal electrode exposed to the second side surface and a second capacitor part including a third internal electrode exposed to the first side surface and a fourth internal electrode exposed to the second end surface; an internal connection conductor exposed to the first and second side surfaces; and first to fourth external electrodes electrically connected to the first to fourth internal electrodes and the internal connection conductor, wherein the internal connection conductor is connected to the first and second capacitor parts in series.
US09240280B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body including dielectric layers; first and second internal electrodes facing each other while having the dielectric layer disposed therebetween, and alternately exposed to end surfaces of the ceramic body; first and second external electrodes electrically connected to the first and second internal electrodes, wherein each of the first and second external electrodes includes a first external electrode layer formed of material containing copper and glass and extending from an end surface of the ceramic body to portions of main and side surfaces of the ceramic body; a second external electrode layer formed of material containing glass, disposed on the first external electrode layer, and being shorter than the first external electrode layer to expose portion of the first external electrode layer; and a third external electrode layer formed of material containing copper and glass and covering the first and second external electrode layers.
US09240275B2 Core for a wire-wound electronic component, a wire-wound electronic component and a method for manufacturing a core for a wire-wound electronic component
A wire-wound electronic component, a core for a wire-wound electronic component and a method for manufacturing a core for a wire-wound electronic component are provided. A winding core portion of a core of a wire-wound electronic component includes flanges at respective ends of the winding core portion, and project in directions perpendicular to an axial direction of the winding core portion. Concaves are positioned at corners formed of adjoining surfaces of the flanges that adjoin to the winding core portion and end surfaces of the flanges that are located at ends in a first perpendicular direction, which is one of the projecting directions of the flange. Connecting surfaces, which connect contact portions where the flanges contact with the winding core portion to the end surfaces, are at least part of inner peripheries of the concaves. All normal vectors of the connecting surfaces have components in the first perpendicular direction.
US09240270B2 Wireless power transfer magnetic couplers
A magnetic coupler is disclosed for wireless power transfer systems. A ferrimagnetic component is capable of guiding a magnetic field. A wire coil is wrapped around at least a portion of the ferrimagnetic component. A screen is capable of blocking leakage magnetic fields. The screen may be positioned to cover at least one side of the ferrimagnetic component and the coil. A distance across the screen may be at least six times an air gap distance between the ferrimagnetic component and a receiving magnetic coupler.
US09240269B2 Solenoid actuator, use of a solenoid actuator and braking or clamping device for linearly moving and/or axially rotating components
The invention relates to a solenoid actuator, consisting of a magnet body (1), a magnet armature, a cover (3) closing the space in which the magnet armature travels back and forth, at least one electric coil (4), which is arranged in the magnet body (1) concentrically around the axis of travel of the magnet armature, and means (5) for power transmission, which are in operative connection with the magnet armature and protrude out of the solenoid actuator. According to the invention, the magnet armature of the solenoid actuator is an axially guided annular magnet armature (2), and the means (5) for power transmission are arranged coaxially around the axis of travel of the annular magnet armature (2). This has the advantage that the solenoid actuator allows long switching paths and a small construction, along with high tightening and holding forces. This also results in the up to 100% higher holding force of the solenoid, making it particularly suitable for the actuation of braking and clamping equipment for rods and cables.
US09240263B2 Device connection cable with flat profile
A cable includes a flexible jacket extending along a length and first and second lateral axes perpendicular to the length. The jacket also defines flat major surfaces that are parallel to each other and spaced apart on opposite sides of the first lateral axis. First and second inner wire assemblies extend within the jacket. The jacket maintains the first and second inner wire assembles in predetermined positions along the first lateral axis within 0.05 mm of each other and disposed on opposing sides of the second lateral axis. First and second outer wire assemblies also extend within the jacket. The outer wire assemblies include a wire of conductive filaments and an insulating layer of an enamel material surrounding the wire. The jacket maintains the first and second outer wire assemblies in positions along the first lateral axis and spaced apart from the first and second inner wire assemblies.
US09240261B2 Multi-conductor cables with spacers for conductors
Multi-conductor cables for telecommunication systems include a plurality of fiber-optic conductors and/or power conductors extending within an outer jacket in a main body portion of the cable, and extending outside of the outer jacket in a break-out portion of the cable. A break-out boot may be attached to the outer jacket and may surround the conductors in a break-out portion of the cable. Potting material may be provided in the break-out boot within spaces between adjacent conductors to provide innovative sealing of the break-out portion.
US09240260B2 Flame-retardant resin composition and electric wire using same
The present invention provides a flame-retardant resin composition having excellent flame retardancy, in which generation of a corrosive gas during combustion is suppressed.The flame-retardant resin composition of the present invention, comprising the below-described component (A) or both of components (A) and (B) as a flame retardant component(s) in a halogen-free thermoplastic resin, wherein the ratio of the components (A) and (B) is 100:0 to 60:40 in terms of mass ratio; the electric conductivity of a gas generated during combustion, which is measured in accordance with IEC 60754-2, is not higher than 10.0 μS/mm; and the flame retardancy rating measured in accordance with the UL94VTM standard is VTM-2 or higher.Component (A): a (poly)phosphate compound represented by the following Formula (1): Component (B): a (poly)phosphate compound represented by the following Formula (2): (wherein, X1 represents ammonia or a triazine derivative represented by the following Formula (3))
US09240254B2 System and method for characterizing a film by X-ray photoelectron and low-energy X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy
Systems and methods for characterizing films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are disclosed. For example, a system for characterizing a film may include an X-ray source for generating an X-ray beam having an energy below the k-edge of silicon. A sample holder may be included for positioning a sample in a pathway of the X-ray beam. A first detector may be included for collecting an XPS signal generated by bombarding the sample with the X-ray beam. A second detector may be included for collecting an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) signal generated by bombarding the sample with the X-ray beam. Monitoring/estimation of the primary X-ray flux at the analysis site may be provided by X-ray flux detectors near and at the analysis site. Both XRF and XPS signals may be normalized to the (estimated) primary X-ray flux to enable film thickness or dose measurement without the need to employ signal intensity ratios.
US09240251B2 Electronic device and method for operating electronic device
An electronic device comprising a semiconductor memory unit that may include a plurality of data transfer lines; a plurality of columns including a plurality of memory cells; at least one redundancy column including a plurality of redundancy memory cells and configured to replace at least one column among the plurality of columns; a repair select information generation unit configured to store a column address of the at least one column to be replaced among the plurality of columns and generate a plurality of repair select information in response to the stored column address; and a plurality of repair selection units connected with data transfer lines corresponding to them among the plurality of data transfer lines, columns corresponding to them among the plurality of columns and the at least one redundancy column, and each configured to electrically connect a column selected among a column corresponding to it and the at least one redundancy column, to a data transfer line corresponding to it, in response to repair select information corresponding to it among the plurality of repair select information.
US09240246B2 Semiconductor device having fuse circuit
A semiconductor device includes a fuse array with a plurality of fuses, a common signal generation unit suitable for receiving a power-up signal and generating an inverted power-up signal and a reset signal, a plurality of fuse registers suitable for latching a plurality of fuse data for the plurality of fuses and commonly receiving the inverted power-up signal and the reset signal from the common signal generation unit by grouped fuse registers, and an output selection unit suitable for outputting the plurality of fuse data stored on the plurality of fuse registers according to a predetermined sequence.
US09240245B1 Memory efficient triggers of read disturb checks in solid state storage
An indication is received that a word line has been read. The word line is part of a plurality of word lines (in solid state storage) which is divided into a plurality of groups. It is determined which group is associated with the read. A count of consecutive, at least potentially uninformative reads is updated based at least in part on the group associated with the read and a group associated with a prior read. It is determining if the count is greater than a threshold and in the event it is determined the count is greater than the threshold, a read disturb check is triggered.
US09240242B1 Method for operating low-cost EEPROM array
A method for operating a low-cost EEPROM array is disclosed. The EEPROM array comprises bit lines, word lines, common source lines, and sub-memory arrays. The bit lines are divided into bit line groups. The word lines include a first word line and a second word line. The common source lines include a first common source line. Each sub-memory array includes a first memory cell and a second memory cell, which are respectively connected with the first and second word lines. Each of the first and second memory cells is also connected with the first bit line group and the first common source line. The first and second memory cells are operation memory cells and symmetrically arranged at two sides of the first common source line. The method operates all the operation memory cells and uses special biases to program or erase memory cells massively in a single operation.
US09240237B2 Semiconductor device and method of writing/reading entry address into/from semiconductor device
The semiconductor device of the present invention includes a search memory mat having a configuration in which a location with which an entry address is registered is allocated in a y-axis direction, and key data is allocated in an x-axis direction and a control circuit connected to the search memory mat. In the search memory mat, a plurality of separate memories is formed such that a region to which the key data is allocated is separated into a plurality of regions along the y-axis direction. The control circuit includes an input unit to which the key data is input, a division unit which divides the key data input to the input unit into a plurality of pieces of key data, and a writing unit which allocates each piece of divided key data by the division unit into the separate memory using the divided key data as an address.
US09240234B2 Method of operating channel buffer block and devices including the channel buffer block
A method of operating a channel buffer block is provided. The method includes changing bias voltages applied to bias lines in an input stage included in the channel buffer block using a coupling effect of coupling capacitors during a slewing interval and increasing bias currents in the input stage using input voltages and changed bias voltages.
US09240231B2 Recording apparatus and control method for recording apparatus
In a recording apparatus, a generating unit generates a timing signal by delaying a clock signal. A control unit controls so that a predetermined command is output multiple times to a storage device and each piece of data sent by the storage device in response to the multiple predetermined commands is received in accordance with the timing signal having a different delay amount for each of the multiple predetermined commands. A detection unit detects, in order of the delay amounts, a range of the delay amounts of the timing signals for which predetermined data has been successfully received. A setting unit sets, in a case where a plurality of the ranges have been detected by the detection unit, a single delay amount in a single predetermined range among the plurality of ranges, as the delay amount of the timing signal.
US09240230B2 Bipolar logic gates on MOS-based memory chips
A system for using selectable-delay bipolar logic circuitry within the address decoder of a MOS-based memory includes a MOS-based memory, which includes an array of a plurality of memory cells configured to store data; an address decoder including bipolar logic circuitry, where the address decoder is configured to accept a word including a plurality of bits and access the array of memory cells using the word; where the bipolar logic circuitry includes a plurality of bipolar transistor devices, where at least one bipolar transistor device has an adjustable gate bias and is configured to accept an input, wherein the gate bias is adjusted based on the input, where the gate bias determines a selectable gate delay.
US09240228B1 Static memory apparatus and data reading method thereof
A static memory apparatus and a data reading method thereof are provided. The static memory apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of dummy memory cells, a sense amplifier, and a discharge current adjuster. The dummy memory cells respectively include a plurality discharge ends for discharging charges on a dummy bit line. The sense amplifier is enabled for a sensing and amplifying operation according to a signal on the dummy bit line, and the sense amplifier generates readout data accordingly. The discharge current adjuster adjusts at least one discharge current on at least one controlled discharge end according to an operating voltage of the memory cells.
US09240227B2 Daisy chain cascading devices
A technique for serially coupling devices in a daisy chain cascading arrangement. Devices are coupled in a daisy chain cascade arrangement such that outputs of a first device are coupled to inputs of a second device later in the daisy chain to accommodate the transfer of information, such as data, address and command information, and control signals to the second device from the first device. The devices coupled in the daisy chain comprise a serial input (SI) and a serial output (SO). Information is input to a device via the SI. The information is output from the device via the SO. The SO of an earlier device in the daisy chain cascade is coupled to the SI of a device later in the daisy chain cascade. Information input to the earlier device via the device's SI is passed through the device and output from the device via the device's SO. The information is then transferred to the later device's SI via the connection from the earlier device's SO and the later device's SI.
US09240223B2 Semiconductor memory devices with a power supply
A semiconductor device includes a virtual power supplier, a driving signal generator and a load driver. The virtual power supplier boosts a driving voltage to generate a virtual voltage. The driving signal generator generates a driving signal based on the virtual voltage, such that the driving signal has a voltage level that is reinforced as compared with a voltage level of the driving voltage. The load driver drives a load based on the driving voltage and the driving signal.
US09240220B2 Stacked-die multi-processor
A plurality of stacked dies has outer dies that permits high heat dissipation. A plurality of processors is located on a first outer die. A plurality of memory elements located on a second outer die. An interconnect structure is located an inner die.
US09240218B2 Mobile terminal and control method of mobile terminal
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal displaying an image and a control method of the same. A mobile terminal according to an aspect of the invention may include: a display unit displaying an image; and a controller receiving data according to a user's selection, storing the data to be associated with the image, and displaying an icon on the display unit to indicate that the data is stored.
US09240214B2 Multiplexed data sharing
A computing device may receive multiple recordings or transmissions from one or more source devices. The recordings may include geo-tag information to relate the recordings to a specific event. The computing device may receive from a client device a request for the recordings. Responsive to the received request, the computing device may transmit the recordings to the client device. The computing device may receive from the client device an identification of which recording(s) are preferred over the course of the event, and may compile statistics related to the preferred selections over the course of the event as received from a plurality of client devices. The computing device may generate a “best-cut” recording or summary version of the event based on the most preferred recording at various points in time during the event, based on the compiled statistics.
US09240207B1 Minimization of VCM-resolution switching induced position error transients
Systems, methods, and devices for selecting modes of operation include, in at least one aspect, a method including: selecting a first mode associated with digital-analog conversion; determining whether a second mode associated with digital-analog conversion is available; if the second mode is available, evaluating one or more switching parameters associated with the second mode; switching from the first mode to the second mode if the one or more evaluated switching parameters satisfy one or more predetermined criteria; analyzing one or more performance parameters after switching from the first mode to the second mode; and setting the second mode as a default mode of operation if the one or more analyzed performance parameters are satisfactory.
US09240204B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording disc
A perpendicular magnetic disk is provided. The disk includes, on a base and in the order from bottom, a first granular magnetic layer group including a plurality of magnetic layers each having a granular structure, a non-magnetic layer having Ru or a Ru alloy as a main component, a second granular magnetic layer group including a plurality of magnetic layers each having the granular structure, and an auxiliary recording layer having a CoCrPtRu alloy as a main component. Layers closer to a front surface among the plurality of magnetic layers included in the first granular magnetic layer group having an equal or smaller content of Pt. Layers closer to the front surface among the plurality of magnetic layers included in the second granular magnetic layer group having an equal or smaller content of Pt and having an equal or larger content of an oxide.
US09240198B1 Magnetic disk drive and write control method
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a disk including a plurality of servo areas for detecting a positioning error, a head to write and to read data, and a processor. The processor detects a current positioning error of the head on the disk, while writing data to tracks of the disk so as to partially overlap with each other, calculates a predicted positioning error in a next servo area, determinates write inhibit, based on comparison between the current positioning error and a first threshold value, sets the first threshold value to a smaller value being used as the first threshold value to determinate the write inhibit in the next servo area.
US09240196B2 Apparatus and method for handling transient sound events in audio signals when changing the replay speed or pitch
An apparatus for processing an audio signal has an overlap-add stage for overlapping and adding blocks of a corresponding one of a plurality of subband signals using an overlap-add-advance value being different from a block extraction advance value. The apparatus further has a transient detector for detecting a transient in the audio signal or a subband signal of the plurality of subband signals. The overlap-add stage is configured for reducing an influence of a detected transient or for not using the detected transients when adding. The apparatus further has a transient adder for adding a detected transient to a subband signal generated by the overlap/add stage. A related method for processing an audio signal has, inter alia, either reducing an influence or discarding a detected transient when overlapping and adding.
US09240193B2 Modulation of speech signals
Methods, systems, and devices for processing an audio signal are provided. An example method includes mapping a fundamental frequency of an audio signal to a modulation frequency. An output of the mapping is less than the fundamental frequency when the fundamental frequency is greater than an intersection frequency. The intersection frequency is a frequency at which the output of the mapping is the fundamental frequency.
US09240191B2 Frame based audio signal classification
An audio classifier for frame based audio signal classification includes a feature extractor configured to determine, for each of a predetermined number of consecutive frames, feature measures representing at least the following features: auto correlation, frame signal energy, inter-frame signal energy variation. A feature measure comparator is configured to compare each determined feature measure to at least one corresponding predetermined feature interval. A frame classifier is configured to calculate, for each feature interval, a fraction measure representing the total number of corresponding feature measures that fall within the feature interval, and to classify the latest of the consecutive frames as speech if each fraction measure lies within a corresponding fraction interval, and as non-speech otherwise.
US09240190B2 Formant based speech reconstruction from noisy signals
Implementations of systems, method and devices described herein enable enhancing the intelligibility of a target voice signal included in a noisy audible signal received by a hearing aid device or the like. In particular, in some implementations, systems, methods and devices are operable to generate a machine readable formant based codebook. In some implementations, the method includes determining whether or not a candidate codebook tuple includes a sufficient amount of new information to warrant either adding the candidate codebook tuple to the codebook or using at least a portion of the candidate codebook tuple to update an existing codebook tuple. Additionally and/or alternatively, in some implementations systems, methods and devices are operable to reconstruct a target voice signal by detecting formants in an audible signal, using the detected formants to select codebook tuples, and using the formant information in the selected codebook tuples to reconstruct the target voice signal.
US09240184B1 Frame-level combination of deep neural network and gaussian mixture models
A method and system for frame-level merging of HMM state predictions determined by different techniques is disclosed. An audio input signal may be transformed into a first and second sequence of feature vector, the sequences corresponding to each other and to a temporal sequence of frames of the audio input signal on a frame-by-frame basis. The first sequence may be processed by a neural network (NN) to determine NN-based state predictions, and the second sequence may be processed by a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to determine GMM-based state predictions. The NN-based and GMM-based state predictions may be merged as weighted sums for each of a plurality of HMM state on a frame-by-frame basis to determine merged state predictions. The merged state predictions may then be applied to the HMMs to speech content of the audio input signal.
US09240176B2 Active noise control system and method
Methods and systems are provided for active noise control in a vehicle. The system includes a position sensor for sensing an occupant position. A microphone receives audible noise and generates an error signal corresponding to the audible noise. A first controller is configured to receive the error signal from the microphone and generate a modified error signal by modifying the error signal based on the occupant position with respect to the microphone. A second controller is in communication with the first controller and configured to generate an anti-noise signal based at least in part on the modified error signal. The system also includes a loudspeaker in communication with the second controller for receiving the anti-noise signal from the second controller and producing sound corresponding to the anti-noise signal to negate at least some of the audible noise.
US09240173B2 Sound source control information generating apparatus, electronic percussion instrument, and sound source control information generating method
A sound source control information generating apparatus, an electronic percussion instrument, and a sound source control information generating method, adapted for preventing generation of an unintended sound caused by a rebound of an object placed on one struck head, are provided. According to the present invention, if a first output value with respect to one struck head is obtained, the one struck head serves as a target struck head, and information is generated for controlling a sound source means such that a sound generation process performed by the sound source means differs according to whether the first output value obtained with respect to the target struck head or a value corresponding to the first output value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
US09240172B2 Foot pedal
A musical instrument effects pedal system and related methods of use are provided. The system includes rotatable control mechanisms mounted on the side of the enclosure, easily manipulated by the foot of the user, for altering the audio signal output by an instrument.
US09240169B2 Pivot supports for drum rim
In a drum beating assembly, the combination comprising a frame, including at least one pedestal, an axle carried by the pedestal to rotate relative thereto, the axle having an axis of rotation, a drum beater carried by the axle, a pedal operatively connected to the axle to rotate the axle and beater in response to pedal movement, the frame including a base plate, there being a clamp arm and means supporting the arm on the plate to pivot relative thereto, and multiple drum rim support elements carried to engage the drum rim at multiple locations to support the drum rim relative to the base plate. The support elements are typically pivotable to self-adjust during clamp up.
US09240166B1 Devices and methods for mounting tuning machines on stringed instruments
Devices and methods for mounting a tuning machine with locator pins to a stringed instrument having a mounting configuration with receiving holes that are misaligned with the tuning machines locator pins. A mounting element is provided having top and bottom surfaces and a post aperture to receive the tuning machine's post. Tuning machine alignment apertures in the top surface are in alignment with and adapted to receive the locator pins when the post is located within the post aperture, and instrument alignment elements in the bottom surface are in alignment with the receiving holes on the instrument when the post is located within the post aperture on the mounting element and the first post aperture on the instrument. The top surface complementarily receives the base of the tuning machine, and the bottom surface complementarily fits with the mounting configuration of the instrument such that the tuning machine can be secured to the mismatched instrument.
US09240163B2 Video wall
A video wall, having screens, cables, synchronization detection modules and a central control unit. The cables are operative to carry image data to be displayed on the screens. The synchronization detection modules are coupled between the screens and the cables for detection of a feature symbol. The central control unit collects detection results from the synchronization detection modules, and the detection results are utilized in the adjustment of the image data before cable transmission. In this manner, image display synchronization between the screens is achieved. The synchronization detection modules may be implemented as connectors, each having a first end connected to a screen and a second end connected to a cable.
US09240162B2 Transparent display apparatus and method for controlling the same
There are provided a transparent display apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The transparent display apparatus includes a transparent display unit that includes an emissive area and a transmissive area and is configured to display a video, an optical sensor configured to measure the amount of light, and a light shielding unit that is disposed on one surface of the transparent display unit and is configured to adjust transmittance on the basis of the amount of light.
US09240161B2 System and display for controlling display
A system and method that adjusts a screen brightness of a display, considering an ambient illumination state, are provided. The method includes receiving a signal, corresponding to an event related to an illumination state alteration, from a sensor, confirming the event, and adjusting, if the event is confirmed, a screen brightness of a display unit in accordance with the event.
US09240160B2 Driving circuit and display device of using same
In one aspect of the invention, a driving circuit has a PCB, a transmitter disposed on the PCB for providing an input signal, first and second transmission lines disposed on the PCB and electrically coupled to the transmitter for transmitting the input signal, and a plurality of source drivers formed in a COF architecture disposed between the PCB and the display panel. The input signal is an encoded signal including first and second Gamma reference voltages control signals, and image data. The first and second Gamma reference voltages are transmitted by the PLC technology through the first and second transmission lines, respectively. The driving circuit is implemented with differential transmission of the Gamma voltages, the image data and the control signals.
US09240158B2 Method and apparatus for program utilization of display area
A method comprising determining that an apparatus is in a partial display physical configuration, receiving an indication of an input that identifies a program to operate in a greater display physical configuration, determining that the apparatus has become configured in the greater display physical configuration, and causing the program to utilize at least part of a display area and at least part of another display area is disclosed.
US09240155B2 Driving circuit and driving method thereof and liquid crystal display
A driving circuit for a liquid crystal display comprises a light sensitive element configured to be arranged on a liquid crystal panel of the liquid crystal display, and detect an operation state of a backlight source of the liquid crystal display; and a reset signal output device configured to receive an input signal from the light sensitive element in accordance with the operation state of the backlight source, and output a reset signal to a gate line driver of the liquid crystal display so as to turn on all of gate lines on the liquid crystal panel.
US09240152B2 Array substrate and liquid crystal display panel and driving method thereof
The present disclosure provides an array substrate and liquid crystal display panel, and a driving method thereof, wherein each pixel unit of the array substrate includes a compensation circuit unit. When proceeding in the direction of scanning and when there is a scanning signal on a scanning line related to a pixel unit in the next row of a present pixel unit, the compensation circuit of the present pixel unit works on a sub electrode of the present pixel unit, such that a ratio of the voltage difference between the sub electrode and a common electrode to the voltage difference between a main electrode and the common electrode during a positive polarity inversion driving period equals a ratio of the voltage difference between the sub electrode and the common electrode to the voltage difference between the main electrode and the common electrode during a negative polarity inversion driving period. By means of the above, the liquid crystal display panel according to the present disclosure can obtain the effect of reduced color shift.
US09240151B2 Source driver and method for determining polarity of pixel voltage thereof
A source driver and a method for determining polarity of pixel voltage thereof are provided. The source driver includes a data register unit, a plurality of data groups and a plurality of polarity determining units. The data register unit receives an image data signal and provides a plurality of display data. The data groups have at least two data channels respectively. The data channels are coupled to the data register unit to receive the corresponding display data and provide a plurality of pixel voltages. The polarity determining units are respectively coupled to the data channels corresponding to different data groups, and each of the polarity determining units determines whether to invert polarities of a part of the pixel voltages provided by the coupled data channels according to the received display data of the coupled data channels and previous display data corresponding to the received display data.
US09240149B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of fabricating the same, the LCD device having a dual link structure for reducing width of a line diverging section where data link wires diverge to come in contact with data lines. A set of data link wires are placed in a first layer and another set of data link wires are placed in a second layer so that the pitch between the data link wires can be reduced.
US09240145B2 Multi-display device and image display device
A multi-display device includes an image-display-light emitting backlight which includes a light emitting element arranged in each of a plurality of areas to emit light to form planar light; and a light emission controller configured or programmed to generate emission luminance data, for each of the areas, to drive the light emitting element. The light emission controller includes a luminance correcting controller configured or programmed to correct the emission luminance data on the basis of installation directions of image display devices and connection information that is information on connection positions thereof.
US09240144B2 Liquid crystal display and local dimming control method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit including a plurality of light sources, the backlight unit providing light to a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel, a backlight driving circuit that individually drives a plurality of previously determined blocks each including the light sources based on a dimming value of each of the blocks, and a local dimming control circuit that calculates a pixel gain value compensating for a luminance reduction resulting from the dimming value of each block and corrects the pixel gain value based on a grayscale saturation level of each block.
US09240139B2 Organic electroluminescent display device and method of driving the same
An organic electroluminescent display device includes a plurality of pixels, each one of the plurality of pixels including: a switching transistor that is connected to a gate line and a data line; a driving transistor, wherein a data voltage of the data line passing through the switching transistor is reflected into a gate of the driving transistor; a sampling transistor that samples a threshold voltage of the driving transistor, wherein a gate of the sampling transistor is connected to a control line, and the sampled threshold voltage is reflected into the gate of the driving transistor; an initializing transistor, wherein a gate of the initializing transistor is connected to a previous or next gate line, and an initialization voltage passing through the initializing transistor is reflected into the gate of the driving transistor; and an organic light emitting diode that is connected to the driving transistor, wherein a driving current of the organic light emitting diode is adjusted according to a voltage of the gate of the driving transistor.
US09240138B2 Organic light emitting diode display device and method for driving the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and a method are discussed. The OLED display device includes a display panel, a power supply unit for supplying drive voltages having different levels respectively corresponding to a user image display mode and an idle mode to power lines of a display panel in accordance with the user image display mode and the idle mode, respectively, a timing controller for controlling the power supply unit, to thereby control image display operations in accordance with the user image display mode and the idle mode, respectively, and a drive voltage generating unit for varying a level of a feedback voltage thereof in accordance with a predetermined feedback reference voltage select signal so that the same period of time is taken to generate the drive voltages upon a mode change to the user image display mode and a mode change to the idle mode, respectively.
US09240128B2 System and method for domain adaptation in question answering
The present disclosure relates generally to question answering systems and methods and, particularly, to systems and methods for domain adaptation in question answering.
US09240125B2 Detecting roadway targets across beams
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting targets across beams at roadway intersections. Embodiments of the invention include tracking a target across a plurality of beams of a multiple beam radar system in a roadway intersection and updating track files for targets within a roadway intersection. Returns from a plurality of radar beams monitoring a roadway intersection are divided into range bins. Identified energy in the range bins is used to compute the position of targets within a roadway intersection. When the position of a target is computed, it is determined if the position is a new position for an existing target or if the position is the position of a new target.
US09240124B2 Traffic-volume prediction device and method
Because a route selection model for traffic demand prediction of selecting a route from among travel routes in probe data cannot include other routes than the travel route in the probe data, it is not possible to predict a traffic volume on the route that has not been traveled. A traffic-volume prediction device includes a simple-network creation device that makes a simple network connecting principal intersections extracted from travelling loci in the collected probe data, a model creation device that determines a utility between the principal intersections based on the data of the travelling loci and calculates a selection probability for each principal intersection based on the utility, and a traffic-volume assignment device that distributes a traffic volume to the routes between the principal intersections according to the selection probability and uses the traffic volume for each route candidate to be a traffic demand prediction object.
US09240116B1 Integrated gas detection and vehicle telematics system
Systems and methods for detecting chemical substance levels in surrounding environments using an integrated vehicle system are provided. A vehicle is equipped with a vehicle system comprising a detector component, a vehicle telematics component, and mobile gateway component. The detector component monitors a level of one or more chemical substances and determines that a threshold level of the one or more chemical substances has been detected. The vehicle telematics component generates an alert signaling detection of the threshold level of the one or more chemical substances. The alert may be communicated to one or more recipients including a command center. The alert may include, among other things, the level of the one or more chemical substances and the location of the vehicle. Communication of the alert and additional communications with the one or more recipients is facilitated by a mobile gateway component that provides access to a wireless communications network.
US09240115B2 Power transmission apparatus
Disclosed is a power transmission apparatus to detect the deterioration state of a timing belt in use, thereby making it possible to detect at a high accuracy whether or not the timing belt reaches an exchanging time. The power transmission apparatus comprises a crankshaft pulley, an intake camshaft pulley, and a timing belt wound around the crankshaft pulley and the intake camshaft pulley. The timing belt contains a stress light emission material capable of emitting light when receiving an external force. The power transmission apparatus further comprises an optical sensor and an ECU. The optical sensor is disposed to measure light emitted from the timing belt. The ECU is operative to judge whether or not the timing belt is deteriorated and to judge that the timing belt reaches the exchanging time when the timing belt is judged to be deteriorated.
US09240113B2 Low-power security and intrusion monitoring system and method based on variation detection of sound transfer characteristic
Disclosed are a method for measuring a acoustic transfer function of a predetermined space to be secured or monitored through a correlation between sound signals acquired from a sound source generating device and a sound measuring device and a method and a system for judging whether there is an intrusion object by using a difference between an initially set acoustic transfer function information and varied acoustic transfer function information by using the method for measuring the transfer function. In the present disclosure, when an object moves or an intrusion object is generated in a predetermined space, intrusion or no intrusion is monitored by variation of the acoustic transfer function varied by the intrusion object even though there is no noise generated by the intrusion object.
US09240110B2 Haptic footswitch treadle
A haptic footswitch treadle for use in microsurgical systems is disclosed. The haptic footswitch treadle includes a haptic surface coupled to a pivotable treadle base and configured to convey vibratory haptic feedback to a surgeon. The haptic footswitch includes a positional sensor coupled to the treadle base and suspension elements and actuators positioned between the haptic surface and the treadle base. The actuators are configured to move the suspension elements and the haptic surface based on command signals generated by haptic software applications in response to data from the positional sensor.
US09240109B2 LED indicator for producing a light bar in a bargraph
A led indicator has a bargraph and a lighting device arranged behind the bargraph and provided with a row of LEDs controlled to produce a light bar with a length which is variable as a function of the number of LEDs that are switched on along a lighting sense; the LEDs are arranged between screens, which are spaced apart from the lower surface of the bargraph and extend at least to reach an axis which starts from the immediately preceding led orthogonally to such a lower surface.
US09240107B2 Apparatus for receiving and dispensing bill and method for receiving and dispensing bill
Disclosed herein are an apparatus for receiving and dispensing bills and a method for receiving and dispensing bills using the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a bill receiving or dispensing port which is provided in an ATM to receive or dispense bills; a carriage unit which clamps the bills received into the port or clamps the bills to be dispensed and transfers the bills to the port; a separation and piling unit which has a separation space in which the received bills wait for being separated individually from each other sheet-by-sheet, and a piling space in which the bills to be dispensed are piled; a carriage transfer unit which moves the carriage unit along a trajectory between the bill receiving or dispensing port and the separation and piling unit; and a controller which controls operation of the carriage unit, the separation and piling unit and the carriage transfer unit.
US09240103B2 Spin to win gaming device
Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines, gaming systems, methods, and computer-readable media for presenting a multi-tiered promotional game having a promotional base game component, promotional bonus game component, and a cash giveaway component. According to one embodiment, the gaming system includes a player tracking system having a database of player gaming data that includes a record of multi-tiered promotional game entry points and multi-tiered promotional bonus game entry points. The gaming system also includes a plurality of gaming devices in communication with the player tracking system, wherein each gaming device presents a primary game. The gaming devices also include a secondary display associated with each gaming device, wherein the secondary display is capable of presenting a promotional base game or a promotional bonus game. The gaming system further includes a multi-tiered promotional game server in communication with the secondary display, wherein the multi-tiered promotional game server manages the promotional base game and the promotional bonus game.
US09240094B2 Rapid play poker gaming device
Embodiments of this concept are directed to a video poker gaming device that deals five cards to a player and selects five more cards that represent the possible cards used in a later draw. From these ten cards, the gaming device if a winning combination above a threshold amount is possible. If such a winning combination is not possible, in some embodiments, the device automatically ends the game and deals a new hand. If a win over the threshold amount is possible, the gaming device allows the player to hold and draw cards. This increases the speed of play of the poker game and focuses game play on hands where winning combinations are likely.
US09240092B2 Hockey equipment vending machines
Vending machines designed specifically for the sale and provision of large and potentially unusually shaped items, such as sporting goods, including an electronic system for the selection and sale of the vended items. In some examples, the vending machine includes multiple product storage areas designed for holding and vending varied goods such as hockey sticks, hockey stick blades, and related accessories, with each area separate and made accessible by the electronic system as appropriate based upon the purchased products selected by a user.
US09240090B2 Security shelving apparatus and method for securely storing and/or dispensing retail articles
Systems and methods secure, store and/or dispense one or more retail items, and have at least one shelf and at least one product holder having a front portion, a back portion, a pusher paddle, at least one product stop ramp, and a level actuator. The systems and methods have a hinged front panel hinged, a blocker panel locatable in an engaged position or in an unengaged position, and at least one linkage connecting the front panel and the blocker panel, wherein the at least one portion of the level actuator is movable within the opening formed in the front panel to lift the associated forks above the stop ramp of the at least one product holder.
US09240089B2 Systems and methods for time variable financial authentication
The systems and methods of the invention provide a technique for authenticating a finance related transaction. The method may include providing a token which contains a token counter, the token counter periodically advancing to generate a changing token value, the token counter being synchronized to a base counter that generates an authenticating value; transforming the token value into a token output sequence using logic; and outputting at least part of the token output sequence to an authenticating authority, the authenticating authority having access to the authenticating value. Further, the method includes the authenticating authority verifying the validity of the transaction based on the token output sequence and the authenticating value, from which the authenticating authority obtains a verification sequence using the logic, the verifying the validity including the authenticating authority comparing the token output sequence to the verification sequence to determine if there is a match between the token output sequence and the verification sequence.
US09240086B2 Banknote validator
The present invention relates to the technical field of devices for reading/authenticating banknotes. The invention also concerns handheld devices, particularly those which may be used by visually impaired persons, to identify different banknote denominations. The present invention is aimed at providing a banknote validator that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art. The validator according to the invention may as well be used for validating a security document including a marking (like luminescent ink or pattern printed on said document, luminescent security thread or strip, for example) operable to glow with a specific color luminescence under appropriate UV light illumination. The invention further describes a method for identifying a denomination of a banknote having a test zone including a marking operable to glow with a specific color luminescence according to the denomination under appropriate UV light illumination.
US09240078B2 Electronic toll management
Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing a set of toll transaction entries. Each entry in the set designates a toll transaction between a vehicle and the toll system and includes a transaction descriptor and a transaction time stamp. A series of toll transaction pictures is accessed. The series includes a plurality of pictures, each of which is associated with a picture time stamp. A toll transaction entry is identified from the set as a violation transaction entry based on the transaction descriptor. A toll transaction picture is selected from the series. The transaction time stamp of the violation transaction is compared, using a processing device, with the picture time stamp of the selected toll transaction picture. The selected toll transaction picture is identified as a violation picture corresponding to the violation transaction entry based on a result of the comparison.
US09240073B2 File format for representing a scene
A file format that includes a constant section and a varying section. The constant section provides a referencing scheme that references the various components that comprise the scene, as well as a listing of attributes of the scene that are modifiable. Within the same file format, the varying section provides an overriding mechanism to modify the attributes that are available to be modified. Accordingly, the disclosed file format can access cached animated geometry directly and/or aggregate other files via the aforementioned referencing and sparse override semantics. This allows the same set of inspection, manipulation, and rendering tools to be used throughout the rendering pipeline, from asset creation to final rendering.
US09240068B2 Three-dimensional image processing apparatus and calibration method of the same
A three-dimensional image processing apparatus and a calibration method of the same are disclosed. A display device displays two or more view images. A three-dimensional image filter is disposed at the front of the display device. The three-dimensional image filter has transmission regions and non-transmission regions which are alternately arranged. A controller adjusts positions of the non-transmission regions of the three-dimensional image filter based on a current position of a user and a reference switch mode. Upon detecting a user action to request movement of the non-transmission regions, the controller changes the reference switch mode in response to the user action and adjusts the positions of the non-transmission regions of the three-dimensional image filter based on the changed reference switch mode.
US09240065B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
There is provided an image processing apparatus including an image processing unit which performs image processing on each of a plurality of images of a same subject having different resolutions, and an image combining unit which combines an image processing result of each of the plurality of images obtained by the image processing unit.
US09240064B2 Image processing device, method for controlling image processing device, program, and information storage medium
Provided is an image processing device capable of obtaining a trimming image including a characteristic part of a target image without having a person to select the characteristic part of the target image. A setting unit sets a plurality of trimming candidate areas in a target image. A calculation unit calculates, with respect to each of a plurality of trimming candidate areas, a total value of edge amounts of pixels in the trimming candidate area. A determination unit determines a trimming area from among the plurality of trimming candidate areas, based on the total value of each of the plurality of trimming candidate areas. An obtaining unit obtains an image in the trimming area.
US09240062B2 Node arranging apparatus, node arranging method, and storage medium
A node arranging apparatus includes: a node arranging unit that arranges, in a virtual three-dimensional space, nodes indicated by inter-node information stored in an inter-node information storage unit; a node moving unit that moves each node using a movement amount and a movement direction of that node determined by arrangement relationship of that node with a first plane, arrangement relationship with another node arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space, and arrangement relationship with at least one other node associated therewith by the inter-node information and arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space; a display information generating unit that generates display information of a node connection image where nodes are projected and connected; and an output unit that outputs the display information. The node moving unit repeatedly performs at least once the node moving process until a predesignated condition is satisfied.
US09240057B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Whether or not a received drawing instruction is an instruction which needs an arithmetic operating process with a background portion is discriminated. When it is determined that the received drawing instruction is not the instruction which needs the arithmetic operating process with the background portion, the drawing instruction is converted into a drawing command and transmitted to a printing apparatus, and the received drawing instruction is stored as intermediate data. When it is determined that the received drawing instruction is the instruction which needs the arithmetic operating process with the background portion, the intermediate data which relates to the received drawing instruction is extracted from the intermediate data stored by the storing step, a drawing command in which the arithmetic operating process of the received drawing instruction has been executed to the extracted intermediate data is formed and transmitted to the printing apparatus.
US09240056B2 Video retargeting
Videos are retargeted to a target display for viewing with little to no geometric distortion or video information loss. Salient regions of video frames may be determined using scale-space spatiotemporal information. Video information loss may be a result of spatial loss, due to cropping, and resolution loss, due to resizing. A desired cropping window may be determined using a coarse-to-fine searching strategy. Video frames may be cropped with a window that matches an aspect ratio of the target display, and resized isotropically to match a size of the target display.
US09240055B1 Symmetry-based interpolation in images
The aspects described herein relate to replacing pixels in images in order to remove obstructions from images. In one example, an image of a scene having symmetrical features and image information identifying at least one pixel of the image corresponding to a hole to be filled may be received. This hole may correspond to an obstruction in the image. A set of symmetry axes may be identified based on the symmetrical features. A symmetry map identifying correspondences between different pixels in the image based on the set of symmetry axes may be generated. A correspondence between the at least one pixel corresponding to a hole to be filled and a second pixel of the image is identified based at least in part on the symmetry map and the image information. The at least one pixel may be altered based on the identified correspondence in order to remove the obstruction.
US09240053B2 Target tracking
An apparatus and a method are disclosed for tracking a plurality of targets (e.g. land-based vehicles). The method can include: for a first time-step, estimating a state of each respective target; at a second time-step, measuring values for a state of each target; for the second time-step, estimating a state of each target using the estimated target states for the first time-step; updating the estimated target states for the second time-step by performing a Joint Probabilistic Data Association process using the measured values; and performing an identity management process to estimate a probability that a particular state measurement corresponds to a particular.
US09240046B2 Method and system to assist 2D-3D image registration
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method that is able to automatically provide a starting point for 2D to 3D image registration, without relying on human recognition of features shown in the 2D image. This is achieved by pre-processing the 3D data to obtain synthetically generated 2D images of those parts of the 3D data volume which will be used for registration purposes. Many different synthetically generated 2D images of the or each part of the 3D volume are produced, each from a different possible viewing direction. Each of these synthetic images is then subject to a feature extraction process to extract characterizing feature data of the registration feature shown in the images. Once the feature extraction has been undertaken for each image, when registration is to be performed the real-time 2D image is processed by applying each of the sets of extracted features thereto, to try and identify which set best matches the registration features in the 2D image. For example, where a generalized Hough transform was used in the feature extraction, the R tables would be applied to the 2D image to obtain respective accumulation images. The accumulation images may then be ranked to identify which registration feature is shown in the 2-D image, and from which view direction. This gives the required information of which registration feature is being shown in the 2D image, and also the in-plane location and orientation. This information can then be used as a starting point for the 2D to 3D registration procedure.
US09240045B2 Image diagnosis device and control method thereof
An image diagnosis device comprising: a positioning image collection unit configured to collect a positioning image for an object; a weight distribution estimation unit configured to estimate a weight distribution of the object from the collected positioning image; a top board sagging amount estimation unit configured to estimate an amount of sagging of a top board on which the object is placed, from the estimated weight distribution; and an alignment adjustment unit configured to perform alignment for each captured image of the object, based on the estimated amount of sagging of the top board.
US09240044B2 Drug solution inspection device and drug solution inspection method
A drug solution inspection device includes a jig that mounts thereon a syringe containing a drug solution, an imaging unit that captures an image of the syringe mounted on the jig, an exposure unit that performs exposure on the syringe mounted on the jig, and a first control unit that controls the imaging unit and the exposure unit to acquire inspection information. In order to inspect an amount of the drug solution in the syringe, the first control unit transmits the captured image of the syringe while changing an exposure state of the exposure unit.
US09240039B2 Method for fast test strip intensity recognition
Techniques for fast and accurate measuring test strip intensities are disclosed herein. A method for measuring a test strip intensity comprising steps of obtaining an image of a sample line in a test strip and a plurality of reference lines, wherein the reference lines have known intensities; determining grayscale values of the sample line and the reference lines from the image; constructing a standard curve based on the grayscale values versus the known intensities of the reference lines; and determining the intensity of the sample line by fitting the grayscale value of the sample line on the standard curve.
US09240034B2 Biomedical data analysis on heterogeneous platform
Methods and apparatus for biomedical data analysis to produce enhanced images of tubular structures are disclosed. A Gaussian convolution of an input image is used to calculate a Hessian matrix. An Eigen decomposition of the Hessian matrix produces eigenvectors and eigenvalues, which are sorted to determine bright tubular structure detection according to high and low values that represent brightness, and structure shape. A tubularity computation calculates the probability of a voxel of interest being part of a tubular network. Embodiments may be implemented to share computer resources such as between a computer processing unit (CPU) and a graphic processing unit (GPU).
US09240032B2 Multi-modality deformable registration
A method, system, and computer program product are provided for performing a multi-modal deformable imaging registration between two different modalities for which a functional dependency is missing or very difficult to identify. The method provides a nonlinear mapping between every pair of points in the two image modalities by calculating the nonlinear mapping for only a limited number of identifiable landmarks within the two modalities and a statistical deformation model of the structure of interest. The method comprises: calculating a mean deformation and a plurality of deformation mode Eigen vectors for a body structure from images from the same imaging mode with different deformation states for a plurality of subjects; performing a registration of a limited number of uniquely identifiable landmark points between images from two different imaging modalities for the same subject to calculate the deformation field for the landmarks from the images; determining weights for each deformation mode Eigen vector using deformation field values at the landmarks with the mean deformation and the deformation mode vectors; and summing the mean deformation field and the linear combination of the weighted deformation mode vectors to determine the deformation field between the different imaging modes for all the points within the images.
US09240030B2 Method and mechanism for performing both server-side and client-side rendering of visual data
Disclosed is an approach for providing an improved approach for rendering graphics that can utilize both server-side rendering and client-side rendering for the same display frame. In this way, the different visual objects within the same frame can be rendered using either approach, either at the server or at the client.
US09240029B2 Street level video simulation display system and method
A system and method are disclosed for displaying video on a computing device for navigation and other purposes. Video data is collected by traveling along roads in a geographic area and storing the video data along with data indicating the positions at which the video data had been captured. This captured video data is then used in navigation systems and other devices that provide navigation, routing, or other features. A video is presented to a user on the display of a navigation system (or other device). An application associated with the navigation system uses the previously captured video data to create the video shown to the user. The application selects that video data that shows the end user's position from a vantage point. The application further superimposes an indication on the video at a location that corresponds to the position of the end user.
US09240027B2 Systems and methods for establishing communication between an interpreter and a service recipient
A representative a scheduler and telecommunication provider manager has instructions that are stored in memory and executed by a processing device. The instructions includes the logics of receiving a request for a date, time, and an availability of an interpreter having at least one language interpretation to schedule a interpretation service assignment from the plurality of computing devices associated with the at least one service recipient; receiving authorization of a interpretation service assignment from the plurality of computing devices associated with the at least one insurance carrier based on the requested date, time, and availability of the interpreter; responsive to receiving the authorization of the interpretation service assignment, scheduling the interpretation service assignment based on the requested date, time, and the availability of the interpreter; determining whether to activate a telecommunication connection between the plurality of the computing devices associated with the interpreter and service recipient based on the requested date, time, and the availability of the interpreter; and responsive to determining that the telecommunication connection is activated, establishing the telecommunication connection between the plurality of the computing devices associated with the interpreter and service recipient by way of the scheduler and telecommunication provider server.
US09240026B2 Forward-looking transactive pricing schemes for use in a market-based resource allocation system
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. One of the disclosed embodiments is a method for generating a bid value for purchasing electricity in a market-based resource allocation system. In this embodiment, a desired performance value indicative of a user's desired performance level for an electrical device is received. Price information from an electricity futures market is received. A bid value for purchasing electricity from a local resource allocation market sufficient to operate the electrical device at the desired performance level is computed. In this embodiment, the computing is performed based at least in part on the desired performance value and based at least in part on the price information from the electricity futures market.
US09240023B1 Precomputing processes associated with requests
Processes from a set of processes for use at a second triggering event may be processed by performing a subset of the set of processes in response to a first triggering event to obtain a first result. A remainder of the set of processes may be processed in response to the second triggering event occurring after the first triggering event, and using the first result, to obtain a second result.
US09240020B2 Method of recommending content via social signals
A method for recommending content via social signals is provided. Two different content sets having content objects that have content-identifying information are received from separate content providers. Social graph information is received from a service provider. A portion of the first content set and a portion of the second content set are aggregated based at least in part on the social graph information, thereby generating a third content set.
US09240019B2 Location information exchange between vehicle and device
Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure builds on integrating existing technology with new devices, methods, and systems to provide a complete vehicle ecosystem.
US09240018B2 Method and system for maintaining and reporting vehicle occupant information
The present disclosure describes an occupant information module that reports, to a third party, occupant information regarding a vehicle occupant.
US09240017B2 Guide based content services
Systems are described for a guide of audio, video, multimedia transmission, receiving and playback with advertising and bi-directional fulfillment of goods and services over the Internet. A method of streaming content distribution includes creating data on streaming content; creating data on network locations of streaming content; creating data on access characteristics; locating a source of streaming content with a with a streaming content guide; and starting playback of streaming content from the source of streaming content. A streaming content distribution system includes a streaming content guide through which a user locates a source of streaming content and starts playback of streaming content; data on streaming content; data on network locations of streaming content; and data on access characteristics.
US09240015B2 Method and system for synchronizing delivery of promotional material to computing devices
A system and method for identifying, managing, and synchronizing delivery and storage of promotional material to computing devices associated with a user. The system and method are configured to receive a request from one or more of the user's computing devices to synchronize the delivery of the promotional material to at least a portion of the user's device portfolio. Advantageously, tile action triggering the sending of the synchronization request may include an interaction with the promotional material or an interaction with a web service application.
US09240014B1 Method and apparatus for promotion of users in rules-based virtual worlds
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer and network software, and more particularly it relates to a method and apparatus for promoting and rewarding users within a rules-based virtual world system in accordance with personalized/customized/user-generated content and/or virtual spaces. According to some aspects, the invention allows users to customize virtual content and activities in a manner that drives traffic to their own virtual spaces or those of other users or partners within the system. According to other aspects, the invention provides mechanisms to reward users whose customized content and activities drive a certain level of traffic to partner sites and/or their own virtual spaces. According to further aspects, the invention enables users to promote their customized virtual spaces and/or customized content and activities outside their own circle of friends, and to users of the system as a whole.
US09240011B2 Systems and methods to communicate with transaction terminals
A transaction terminal is configured with an application that is configured to present a user interface for out-of-band communication with a transaction handler during the processing of a payment transaction. The transaction handler is configured invoke the application in the transaction terminal via transmitting a predetermined code in an authorization response message.
US09240008B2 Method for providing mobile service using code-pattern
A method and apparatus for providing a mobile service with the use of a code pattern is disclosed In one embodiment, the method comprising: taking a photograph of a code pattern image, decoding the photographed code pattern image so as to obtain code information, extracting uniform resource locator (URL) information corresponding to the code information, transmitting a content information request message to a service provider server corresponding to the URL information, and receiving content information corresponding to the URL information from the service provider server. According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide various and convenient mobile services to mobile terminal users using a mobile terminal, having a camera, and a code pattern containing the URL information.
US09240006B2 Wireless transactions for enhancing customer experience
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for facilitating a wireless transaction by coupling or associating an identifier to a location. The identifier is read, retrieved, or received by a customer's wireless communication device to connect to a POS terminal. Once connected, the wireless communication device sends a location identifier to the POS terminal, so that the POS terminal can associate the wireless communication device with the location. Once an association is established, the POS terminal then presents options. The POS terminal receives selections, and alerts a staff member of selections and the location. In many instances, the POS terminal also adds the selection to a bill or an invoice.
US09240003B1 System and method for supporting a product via a user-based community
The invention relates to a method to provide product support. The method steps include storing mentor information received from at least one mentor to create a volunteer mentor network, where the at least one mentor volunteers to assist a plurality of users with a product, and where mentor information comprises a reported expertise with the product and availability of the at least one mentor to provide product support, tracking a status of the at least one mentor to determine current availability to provide product support, receiving user data, where user data comprises information concerning a focus of a user in the product, identifying an applicable mentor based on the volunteer mentor network and user data, and displaying the applicable mentor to the user.
US09239999B2 System and method for random voice communications through a social network
A system and method for establishing voice connections between users of a social network. User access is granted to a social network through a VoIP phone. The social network is navigated based on user input. The user is directly connected to a second user randomly for voice communications based on an authorization.
US09239996B2 Method and apparatus for clearing cloud compute demand
Provided are systems and methods for simplifying cloud compute markets. A compute marketplace can be configured to determine, automatically, attributes and/or constraints associated with a job without requiring the consumer to provide them. The compute marketplace provides a clearing house for excess compute resources which can be offered privately or publically. The compute environment can be further configured to optimize job completion across multiple providers with different execution formats, and can also factor operating expense of the compute environment into the optimization. The compute marketplace can also be configured to monitor jobs and/or individual job partitions while their execution is in progress. The compute marketplace can be configured to dynamically redistribute jobs/job partitions across providers when, for example, cycle pricing changes during execution, providers fail to meet defined constraints, excess capacity becomes available, compute capacity becomes unavailable, among other options.
US09239995B2 System and method for generating vehicle drive cycle profiles
A system and method for generating vehicle drive cycles. Information describing a path of travel and a vehicle are received from a user. A detailed representation of the path of travel is obtained. Road condition information for segments of the path of travel is obtained, and the path of travel is verified as being traversable by the described vehicle. This information is used to generate a drive cycle profile, which contains at least the simulated path traversed by the vehicle, the speed of the vehicle along segments of the path, and any ambient conditions taken into account when predicting the speed of the vehicle.
US09239992B2 Method and system for generating 3D seating maps
Embodiments of systems and methods are described for allowing a user to purchase a ticket. In some implementations, a system comprises a data store and a processor. The data store stores one or more program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform several functions. For example, the processor constructs first data configured to cause an application executing on a computing device to generate a three-dimensional graphical representation of a venue in a first view, receives a selection of a section of seats in the venue from the application, and constructs second data configured to cause the application to generate a graphical representation of the selected section in the first view. The graphical representation of the selected section comprises a graphical representation of rows of seats in the selected section and an image representative of a view from a selected row.
US09239991B2 Services support system and method
A system and method for remotely supporting users includes receiving identification information of a potential problem with a remotely located equipment from a user and responding to receiving the identification information by providing a recommended work scope to the user. The recommended work scope includes a recommended series of actions to perform to at least one of repair or replace a component subsystem and an instructional representation for display on a mobile device. The first instructional representation both illustrates the series of actions to perform and includes at least one annotation to represent an alert to the user that is related to the action being illustrated. The first instructional representation includes images, videos, and/or a combination thereof that are displayed on the mobile device to guide the user through the recommended work scope.
US09239990B2 Hybrid location using pattern recognition of location readings and signal strengths of wireless access points
A query device scans radio frequencies for visible transmitting devices. The querying device receives at least a signal strength and identifier information associated with each of the transmitting devices. The list of visible devices is used to query a database containing location information for a plurality of visible devices. The list may be sent to a locationing system that may perform a location analysis on the resulting data to return a location to the query device. The weighted average of the locations returned in the database query may be computed to determine the location of the querying device, with the weight for each of the locations being the current signal strength detected by the querying device. Neural network analysis may also be used to determine the location of the querying device. Learning and seeding operations many also be used to populate the database with location information for transmitting devices.
US09239989B2 Computer-implemented system with adaptive cognitive features and method of using the same
A computer-implemented system includes an edge module and at least one input device coupled to the edge module. The at least one input device is configured to generate data input signals. The system also includes a cognitive module coupled to the edge module. The cognitive module includes a perception sub-module coupled to the edge module. The perception sub-module is configured to receive the data input signals. The cognitive module also includes a learning sub-module coupled to the perception sub-module. The learning sub-module is configured to adaptively learn at least in part utilizing the data input signals.
US09239986B2 Assessing accuracy of trained predictive models
A system includes a computer(s) coupled to a data storage device(s) that stores a training data repository and a predictive model repository. The training data repository includes retained data samples from initial training data and from previously received data sets. The predictive model repository includes at least one updateable trained predictive model that was trained with the initial training data and retrained with the previously received data sets. A new data set is received. A richness score is assigned to each of the data samples in the set and to the retained data samples that indicates how information rich a data sample is for determining accuracy of the trained predictive model. A set of test data is selected based on ranking by richness score the retained data samples and the new data set. The trained predictive model is accuracy tested using the test data and an accuracy score determined.
US09239975B2 Image forming apparatus performing a delay process when a number of sheets printed in a unit of time is equal to or greater than a reference number
Image forming apparatus includes: image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and controller for controlling the image forming unit. The controller includes process modules to carry out: counting process for performing counting in accordance with the number of sheets printed by the image forming unit; first bias applying process for setting a developing bias to be applied to the developer carrier to a first bias if a count value in the counting process has not reached a predetermined threshold value; bias changing process for changing the developing bias to a second bias whose absolute value is smaller than that of the first bias if the count value has reached the threshold value; and delaying process for causing an execution timing of the bias changing process to be delayed if the number of sheets printed in a unit of time is not smaller than a reference number.
US09239966B2 Method and device for watermarking a sequence of images, method and device for authenticating a sequence of watermarked images and corresponding computer program
A method for watermarking a sequence of images is provided. The method implements the following steps, for at least one current image: comparing the current image with a preceding image of the sequence, delivering a difference image representing a motion between the preceding image and the current image; if the difference between the current image and the preceding image is above a predetermined threshold, watermarking the current image by inserting a message comprising a field carrying an identifier of the current image and a field carrying a soft hash obtained from at least one portion of the difference image; and if not, watermarking the current image by inserting a message comprising a field carrying an identifier of the current image.
US09239961B1 Text recognition near an edge
The recognition of text in an acquired image is improved by using general and type-specific heuristics that can determine the likelihood that a portion of the text is truncated at an edge of an image, frame, or screen. Truncated text can be filtered such that the user is not provided with an option to perform an undesirable task, such as to dial an incorrect number or connect to an incorrect Web address, based on recognizing an incomplete text string. The general and type-specific heuristics can be combined to improve confidence, and the image data can be pre-processed on the device before processing with an optical character recognition (OCR) engine. Multiple frames can be analyzed to attempt to recognize words or characters that might have been truncated in one or more of the frames.
US09239955B2 Method and system for vehicle classification
A method and system of vehicle classification, and more particularly to a method and system called hierarchical vehicle classification system using a video and/or video image, a method and system of vehicle classification using a vehicle ground clearance measurement system, and method and system for classification of passenger vehicles and measuring their properties, and more particularly to capturing a vehicle traveling along a road from a single camera and classifying the vehicle into a vehicle class.
US09239953B2 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.
US09239948B2 Feature descriptor for robust facial expression recognition
A method and system for generating a feature descriptor for robust facial expression recognition pre-processes a facial image using a Gaussian filter to smooth the facial image. Then, gradient based images at M scales and N orientations are generated from the pre-processed facial image. Further, a portion of an image corresponding to each action unit is selected from each of the gradient based images. Thereafter, appearance of at least one facial event in the selected portion of the image is captured. Also, a geometry of the at least one facial event in the selected portion of image is determined to obtain a feature descriptor for each action unit for robust facial expression recognition.
US09239947B2 Face detection method
A method for detecting faces in an image having a plurality of picture elements, each having a plurality of color components in a predetermined color space, includes determining an extended range for color component values, in the color space, in which a skin tone area is likely to be detected, defining intervals for the color component values, in the color space, covering at least part of the extended range, and scanning each of the intervals to detect a skin tone area. If a skin tone area is detected, the method includes selecting the intervals in which a skin tone area is detected, defining candidate limited ranges for color component values, in the color space, from the selected intervals, performing face detection on a skin tone area in at least some of the candidate limited ranges, and selecting a chosen candidate limited range based on the number of faces detected.
US09239946B2 Method and apparatus for detecting and processing specific pattern from image
In an image within which a face pattern is detected, when a ratio of a skin color pixel is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value in a first region and a ratio of a skin color pixel is equal to or greater than a second threshold value in a second r region, the vicinity of the first region is determined to be a face candidate position at which the face pattern can exist. Face detection is carried out on the face candidate position. The second region is arranged in a predetermined position relative to the first region.
US09239945B2 Biometric authentication apparatus and biometric authentication method
A biometric authentication apparatus includes: a storage unit which stores representative matching data representing features of biometric information of a registered user and representing conditions of a designated body part of the registered user, each representing one of at least two different portions of a variation range over which the condition of the body part containing the registered user's biometric information varies due to cyclic environmental variations; a biometric information acquiring unit which generates a biometric image representing biometric information of a user; a matching data generating unit which generates, from the biometric image, input matching data that represents the features of the biometric information of the user; a matching unit which matches the input matching data against at least one of the representative matching data; and an authentication judging unit which judges, based on a result of the matching, whether the user is to be authenticated or not.
US09239944B2 Biometric information registration device and biometric information registration method
The quality of biometric information that will be input the next time is estimated. Estimated matching quality information is calculated which indicates the degree of matching between estimated quality information and quality information of the actually input biometric information. Further, past quality information is calculated which indicates how the quality of a plurality of pieces of estimated matching quality information varied in the past. Then, whether or not the biometric information is to be registered is determined according to the estimated matching quality information and the past quality information.
US09239942B2 Apparatus, system and method for extending the field area of a device equipped with a high-frequency reader
A structure for extending the field area of a device equipped with an RF tag reader. The structure can include at least one reader coupling area for inductively coupling with an RF tag reader, and at least one tag coupling area for inductively coupling with an RF tag, wherein the tag coupling area is disposed outside the field area of the RF tag reader, and the reader coupling area is conductively coupled to the tag coupling area such that a signal induced in the reader coupling area by the RF reader creates a signal in the tag coupling area, thereby inducing a signal in the tag, and allowing the RF reader to communicate with the tag.
US09239940B2 Chip-and-pin reader device
The invention provides a chip-and-PIN reader device having a slot for accommodating a chip-and-PIN card, a set of electrodes adapted to come into contact with corresponding electrodes on the card when the card is inserted into the slot, and a means for ensuring correct registration between the electrodes on the card and the set of electrodes of the reader device. The means for ensuring correct registration may include two orthogonally disposed walls of the slot, against which the card is pushed. Alternatively, the means may include a pair of electrodes on each side of the set of electrodes of the reader, which are short-circuited when the chip electrodes are not correctly registered with the reader electrodes. The short-circuit is flagged to the user of the card. The reader may also be equipped to read an MSR-type device.
US09239932B2 Secure handling of user related information between web applications
Methods and arrangements in a client node and a server node for supporting secure handling of information related to a user, said information being stored by the server node and comprising certain data. The user is assumed to be authenticated towards the server node and to employ a first and a second web application in a web browser supporting cross-Origin resource sharing. The methods and arrangements involve determining whether the first web application is permitted to access the certain data owned by the second web application, and allowing or denying the first web application to access the certain data, based on whether the first web application is permitted to access the data. The methods and arrangements further involve providing user input related to a permission for accessing the certain data, to the server node, and establishing and declaring a mutual trust relation between the first and the second web application.
US09239926B2 Static analysis for discovery of timing attack vulnerabilities in a computer software application
Discovering timing attack vulnerabilities in a computer software application by statically analyzing instructions of a computer software application to identify multiple possible execution paths traversing any of the instructions, calculating, for each of the possible execution paths, a cost associated with the execution of the instructions traversed by the possible execution path, comparing the costs of at least two of the possible execution paths having inputs of the same size, and identifying as a timing attack vulnerability any of the compared possible execution paths whose cost differs, by at least a predetermined amount, from the cost of any other of the compared possible execution paths.
US09239919B2 Authentication processing device for performing authentication processing
The present invention is to enable a user to input authentication information without burden, such that the user only has to memorize part of the authentication information even when inputting lengthy authentication information in order to ensure high-level security. When an operation of inputting and arranging authentication information in an information arrangement region is performed in a state where an arrangement status of a specified portion in the information arrangement region is set in advance as partial-authentication reference information in a reference authentication information memory, a CPU detects an arrangement status of the specified portion from an overall arrangement status in the information arrangement region, and performs, as partial authentication, processing of matching the detected arrangement status of the specified portion and the arrangement status of the specified portion set as the partial-authentication reference information.
US09239916B1 Using spatial diversity with secrets
A method is used in using spatial diversity with secrets. A spatially diverse presentation is presented. A reaction of a user to the spatially diverse presentation is received and analyzed. The analysis is used as a basis for helping to determine whether the user has knowledge of a secret.
US09239912B1 Method, manufacture, and apparatus for content protection using authentication data
A method, apparatus, and manufacture for content protection using authentication data. A client media player is employed to determine whether media content is protected. The client media player includes an application, and further includes a media engine that is a distinct program from the application. Upon determining that the media content is protected, the application is employed to get a key and/or a license for the protected media content such that authentication data is employed to authorize the client. The authentication data includes at least one of a software token or a cookie. The application is employed to instruct the media engine to play the media content. The key and/or the license is sent from the application to the media engine.
US09239910B2 System and method for preventing the leaking of digital content
There are disclosed a system and method for preventing the leaking of digital content. The system for preventing the leaking of digital content may include a digital content layer generation unit for generating a digital content layer displaying digital content, a security layer generation unit for generating a security layer including security information based on information about a user terminal, and an information display unit for displaying the security layer generated by the security layer generation unit and the digital content layer generated by the digital content layer generation unit in the display device of the user terminal in an overlapping form so that the security information looks like overlapping with the digital content. Accordingly, the illegal leaking of digital content through photographing or screen capture can be prevented.
US09239908B1 Managing organization based security risks
A method and system is used in managing organization based security risks. Organization based information is analyzed for information that is suitable for use in attacking a user in the organization. The organization based information comprises user access information. Publicly available information is analyzed for information that is suitable for use in identifying the user within the organization. Based on the analyzes, there is derived a risk score for the user.
US09239903B2 Determination of output of biochemical reaction networks
Provided are methods and devices for modeling biochemical reaction networks. A look up matrix is generated with a number of concentrations for each of the input molecules of the reaction network, coupled with calculated concentrations of the output molecules. Such a look up matrix, by itself or with further fitting, can then be used to predict the output of the reaction network for a given set of input molecule concentrations and can be used to determine the reaction time required for a reaction to reach equilibrium. Additionally, disease states and effects of pharmacological agents can be mathematically analyzed on the basis of comparing the relevant system matrices.
US09239901B2 Wiring board design system and wiring board design method
An object of the present invention is to provide wiring board design system and wiring board design method to determine a component and a wiring pattern in real-time when designing a wiring on a circuit board. The wiring board design system provides a cloud service for a terminal which is used by users via a network. When to arrange components on the circuit board, while pushing out automatically wirings which are overlapped with the components on the arranging position, the wiring board design system secures a space on that can arrange the component. The wiring processing is performed automatically and the fine adjustment such as rotation, movement of arranged components is performed automatically if necessary. The processing for equalization is performed so as to be the equal wiring density on the circuit board.
US09239900B2 Method of repeater chip
A design method of a repeater chip is provided, the repeater chip designed by using the method can implement interconnection among nodes, and implement packet sequence receiving, classifying, storing, forwarding, sorting, and transmitting functions of the repeater chip, thereby implementing effective extension of a high-speed transmission link among the nodes, so as to reduce hardware design difficulties and design risks. The structure of the repeater chip is formed by: an interface detecting unit, a sequence storing unit, a sequence forwarding unit, a sequence determining unit, and a sequence sorting unit.
US09239897B2 Hierarchical testing architecture using core circuit with pseudo-interfaces
A core circuit that can be connected in a hierarchical manner, and configured to test a multiple circuits is disclosed. The core circuit includes at least one real input for receiving scan-in data for controlling operation of the core circuit. The core circuit further includes an input register coupled to the at least one real input and configured to store data. The core circuit further includes at least one scan chain coupled a subset if registers of the register chain and configured to generate scan-out data representing the presence of faults in an circuit. Furthermore, the core circuit includes at least one control pseudo-output coupled to the input register and configured to route at least a subset of the data to another register chain in the core circuit or to another core circuit.
US09239894B2 Systems and methods for predicting failures in power systems equipment
Certain embodiments herein are directed to systems and methods to predict failures in power systems equipment. In one embodiment, one or more life-span models associated with power systems equipment may be received. Examples of such life-span models may include a left-censoring model, a right-censoring model, and an interval-censoring model. An accuracy of the life-span models may be determined based at least in part on statistical analysis, such as a Weibull distribution analysis. A stability of the life-span models may also be determined, in certain embodiments herein.
US09239892B2 X-ray vision for buildings
Embodiments of the present invention include a method for generating a skeletal view of a building including receiving location information and spatial orientation information for a computing device. Further, a field of view may be determined based on the location information and spatial orientation information. The computing device may then receive information about a building at a location near the computing device, and identify a structure in the field of view of the computing device. Based on the information about the building, the structure, and the field of view, a graphical representation of the structure may be prepared and displayed.
US09239889B2 Adaptive search and navigation through semantically aware searching
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for semantically aware adaptive searching and navigation of application data. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for semantically aware adaptive searching and navigation of application data is provided. The method includes associating different tags with different data of a database of unstructured data, each of the different tags corresponding to selected semantics of different objects encapsulating data for a data driven application executing in memory of a host computing system. The method also includes applying in the memory of the host computing system a filter operation to both the tags of the unstructured data and also the different objects, using filter criteria corresponding to one or more semantics of the different objects. Finally, the method includes displaying in a user interface to the data driven application a result set from the filter operation.
US09239885B2 Acquiring data for processing using location information
An information processing apparatus generates first location information about a location of at least a part of data as a target of predetermined processing and second location information about a location of location information corresponding to a part different from the part, and transmits the generated first and second location information to a processing apparatus which executes the predetermined processing for the data.
US09239883B2 Searching system having a server which automatically generates search data sets for shared searching
A system has a primary server storing search data sets (“staks”) and a linked social network server.
US09239872B2 Data store organizing data using semantic classification
Data stores that store content units and annotations regarding the content units derived through a semantic interpretation of the content units. When annotations are stored in a database, different parts of an annotation may be stored in different tables of the database. For example, one or more tables of the database may store all semantic classifications for the annotations, while one or more other tables may store content of all of the annotations. A user may be permitted to provide natural language queries for searching the database. A natural language query may be semantically interpreted to determine one or more annotations from the query. The semantic interpretation of the query may be performed using the same annotation model used to determine annotations stored in the database. Semantic classifications and format of the annotations for a query may be the same as one or more annotations stored in the database.
US09239866B2 Method, system and device for connecting similar users
Methods, systems and devices for automatically connecting similar users wherein similarity is based on live audio listening information. The method comprises receiving and storing audio listening information at a server for a plurality of users and identifying the audio the user is currently listening to. The server uses the stored information to automatically generate a list of users similar to a particular user. The similarity between users can be based on audio users are currently listening to, so that the list of similar users comprises a list of users currently listening to the same audio as the particular user. The server filters the list of similar users to a specific geographic area, such as a town. The server then provides the particular user with information on the similar users which may enable the particular user to communicate with the similar users publicly or privately.
US09239863B2 Method and apparatus for graphic code database updates and search
Methods and apparatuses for updating and searching a graphic code are disclosed. The apparatus receives a graphic query request carrying a graphic code to be searched. If no product information corresponding to the graphic code is found in the graphic code database, the apparatus searches for a recommended keyword corresponding to the graphic code; if a recommended keyword is found, the apparatus returns the recommended keyword, and if not found, returns a search box. The apparatus then receives a search request carrying a search keyword, and, if the search keyword is determined to be inconsistent with the recommended keyword corresponding to the graphic code, makes the search keyword a new recommended keyword of the graphic code, and adds the new recommended keyword to the graphic code database.
US09239860B1 Augmenting virtual directories
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for linking data. In some embodiments, this includes creating a virtual directory in a first server, creating a symbolic link for an object in the virtual directory, and storing the symbolic link in the first server. In some embodiments, the symbolic link is unknown to a client until the client requests access to the object.
US09239856B2 Methods, systems, or apparatuses, to process, create, or transmit one or more messages relating to goods or services
Embodiments of methods, systems, or apparatuses relating to data processing and more particularly to methods, systems, or apparatuses to process, create, or transmit, one or more messages relating to goods or services.
US09239851B1 Advanced database systems and methods
Large-scale advanced database models, systems, and methods provide a responsive, scalable data storage solution which is ripe for use in data warehousing and analytics environments. These advanced database models, systems, and methods provide for dramatically increased performance in accessing data as well as increased storage capabilities in the data set.
US09239838B1 Scalable partitioning in a multilayered data service framework
A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition.
US09239835B1 Providing information to modules
Providing information to a module is disclosed. A first query and one or more subject type concepts associated with the first query is received. A second query to be provided to the module based at least in part on the received first query and subject type concepts is determined. The second query is sent to the module.
US09239834B2 Systems, methods and apparatus for dynamic content management and delivery
Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for linking virtual content to various types of object, such a static physical objects, through the use of triggers of varying formats. The virtual content can be updated by a content curator over time.
US09239833B2 Presenting translations of text depicted in images
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for presenting additional information for text depicted by an image. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an image. Text depicted in the image is identified. A presentation context is selected for the image based on an arrangement of the text depicted by the image. Each presentation context corresponds to a particular arrangement of text within images. Each presentation context has a corresponding user interface for presenting additional information related to the text. The user interface for each presentation context is different from the user interface for other presentation contexts. The user interface that corresponds to the selected presentation context is identified. Additional information is presented for at least a portion of the text depicted in the image using the identified user interface. The user interface can present the additional information in an overlay over the image.
US09239832B2 Modifying language of a user interface on a computing device
A mechanism for modifying a language of a user interface in a computing device. A method includes receiving, by a computing device, a request to modify a first language of a user interface of the computing device to a second language. The user interface comprises text displayed in the first language. The method also includes converting, by the computing device, the first language of the user interface to the second language during runtime of the computing device without losing a session of a user of the computing device.
US09239829B2 Speech recognition device
A speech recognition device includes: a speech recognition unit 23a that performs speech recognition for input speech; a reading information conversion data base in which a reading information conversion rule L is registered; a reading information conversion unit 27a that converts reading information of the word among the languages based on the rule L; and a speech recognition control unit 24a that performs control such that, when a word in a different language that is different from a predetermined language is included in a recognition subject vocabulary in which a speech recognition unit 23a refers to recognition subject word information E, the unit 27a converts the reading information in the different language into reading information in the predetermined language, and that the unit 23a performs the speech recognition that makes reference to the recognition subject word information of the corresponding word, including the converted reading information in the predetermined language.
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