| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09237738B2 |
Cutting of a soft food mass
Method and device for cutting a soft food mass, in particular for cutting machine-processed cheese, such as processed cheese or mozzarella, whereby the food mass is present as a broad food ribbon of small ribbon thickness, whereby the food ribbon is fed by means of a conveyor belt with a travel speed leading to a longitudinal cutting system, in particular in the form of a cutting roller, which cuts the food ribbon with axially arranged cutting disks into parallel longitudinal strips, whereby the direction of rotation of the longitudinal cutting system corresponds to the travel direction of the food ribbon, whereby the cutting disks in each case have blades that are provided with at least one tooth, whereby the tooth height is greater than the ribbon thickness, whereby the peripheral speed of the cutting roller is adjusted in such a way that a tooth is immersed in the food ribbon when cutting with the tips of the teeth and creates a slot of a specific slot length in the food ribbon that moves in the same direction, whereby the slot created by the subsequent tooth is adjacent to the preceding slot. |
| US09237737B2 |
Soybean variety 01046386
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046386. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046386. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046386 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046386 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09237734B2 |
Soybean variety 01045930
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01045930. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01045930. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01045930 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01045930 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09237732B2 |
Soybean variety 01045734
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01045734. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01045734. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01045734 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01045734 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09237731B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH552985
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH552985. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH552985, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH552985 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH552985. |
| US09237729B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH357389
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH357389. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH357389, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH357389 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH357389. |
| US09237725B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH391121
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH391121. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH391121, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH391121 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH391121. |
| US09237722B2 |
Soybean cultivar S130059
A soybean cultivar designated S130059 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S130059, to the plants of soybean cultivar S130059, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S130059, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S130059. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S130059. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S130059, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S130059 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09237716B2 |
Soybean cultivar S120077
A soybean cultivar designated S120077 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S120077, to the plants of soybean cultivar S120077, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S120077, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S120077. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S120077. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S120077, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S120077 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09237715B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH844202
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH844202. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH844202, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH844202 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH844202. |
| US09237714B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH325165
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH325165. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH325165, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH325165 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH325165. |
| US09237710B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH870386
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH870386. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH870386, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH870386 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH870386. |
| US09237706B1 |
Maize inbred PH25JS
A novel maize variety designated PH25JS and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH25JS with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH25JS through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH25JS or a locus conversion of PH25JS with another maize variety. |
| US09237700B1 |
Soybean variety SCH24258
Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated SCH24258, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-122197. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the SCH24258 variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program. |
| US09237696B2 |
Soybean variety A1035594
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1035594. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1035594. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1035594 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1035594 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09237693B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH956597
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH956597. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH956597, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH956597 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH956597. |
| US09237692B2 |
Planter with snap-in rim insert
A molded planter includes a container and a separate rim insert for providing the appearance of a wide upper rim. The rim insert is configured to snap fit into the upper annular edge of the container. When the rim insert and container are assembled, the upper annular edge of the container extends to or above the upper surface of the rim insert such that there is no visible seam between the container and rim insert when the planter is viewed from the side. |
| US09237688B2 |
Root rope for planting plant root material, and method of use
A method for using a root rope for planting root material includes disposing onto a bed of soil a root rope. The root rope includes root material, a carrier line onto which the root material is disposed, and wrapping material wrapped around the root material and the carrier line to secure the root material to the carrier line, forming an elongate rope. |
| US09237687B2 |
Crop input variety selection systems, methods, and apparatus
Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting an agricultural input. First and second seed meters selectively meter seed from first and second sources, respectively, into a common planting trench. In some embodiments the seed meters are selectively operated by electric motors controlled with reference to a seed type prescription. In some embodiments the first and second seed meters deposit seeds along a common plane. |
| US09241431B2 |
Electromagnetic shielding tool and wire harness
An electromagnetic shielding tool that includes a metallic cloth and two bracket body portions. The two bracket body portions each include two elongated portions and a coupling portion, and respectively hold a first outer edge portion and a second outer edge portion on the side opposite to the first outer edge portion among four outer edge portions of the metallic cloth so as to form a ring that surrounds the periphery of electrical wires. The two elongated portions are made of a conductive material, are joined to the metallic cloth in the state of being arranged in series along an outer edge portion of the metallic cloth, and form a ring shape due to being combined with each other on two sides of the electrical wires. The coupling portion couples end portions of the two elongated portions to each other and holds the two elongated portions in the ring shape. |
| US09241429B2 |
Power module and power conversion apparatus using same
A power module includes a plurality of semiconductor devices constituting upper/lower arms of an inverter circuit, a plurality of conductive plates arranged to face electrode surfaces of the semiconductor devices and a module case configured to accommodate the semiconductor devices and conductive plates, wherein the module case includes a heat-radiation member made of plate-like metal and facing a surface of the conductive plate and a metallic frame body having an opening that is closed by the heat-radiation member, and wherein a heat-radiation fin unit having a plurality of heat-radiation fins vertically arranged thereon is provided at a center of the heat-radiation member, and a joint portion with the frame body is provided at an peripheral edge of the heat-radiation member, and the heat radiation member has a heat conductivity higher than that of the frame body, and the frame body has a higher rigidity than that of the heat-radiation member. |
| US09241426B2 |
Air-based geothermal cooling system for a telecom utility cabinet
In one embodiment, the disclosure includes an air-based geothermal cooling system for a telecom utility cabinet. The air-based geothermal cooling system includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes configured to extend into an underground environment. The air-based geothermal cooling system also includes an input/output (I/O) manifold coupled to the plurality of heat exchange tubes and providing an airway between the plurality of heat exchange tubes and the telecom utility cabinet. |
| US09241424B2 |
Electronic device having a housing made of profile material
The disclosure relates to an electronic device comprising an insertion housing produced from a profile element having a closed cross-section and including a first opening and a second opening, a circuit board having at least one electronic component, and a first closure element. The first closure element is disposed at the first opening, and the first opening lies in a plane at an angle to a direction of insertion of the circuit board. |
| US09241422B2 |
Multidirectional support structure for tablet display apparatus
A multidirectional support structure for tablet display apparatus includes a support member having a first end section and a second end section opposite to the first end section. The first end section is pivotally connected with an angle adjustment seat. The angle adjustment seat is further pivotally connected with a rotatable connection assembly. The connection assembly is formed with a receiving space for receiving the tablet display apparatus. The second end section of the support member is pivotally connected with one side of a base seat. The other side of the base seat is pivotally connected with a board body. The board body can be connected with multiple press keys as necessary to form a keyboard. Accordingly, the tablet display apparatus can be co-used with the keyboard and rotated and tilted by different angles and supported in different inclined positions. |
| US09241421B2 |
Centralized chassis architecture for half-width boards
The thermal efficiency of dual-column chassis can be improved by re-locating line card to connection plane (LC-to-CP) interfaces to the center of the connection plane, as this allows inter line card channels (inter-LC channels) to be routed in a manner that avoids bisecting the thermal throughways over which convection cooling air is circulated to the line cards. One technique for centrally locating the LC-to-CP interfaces on the connection plane is to invert one column of line cards. Another technique for centrally locating the LC-to-CP interfaces on the connection plane is to use non-uniform line cards. An additional benefit of centrally locating the LC-to-CP interfaces on the connection plane is that the inter-LC channels extending between perpendicularly adjacent line cards are shortened, which increases server performance by virtue of reducing switching latency. |
| US09241417B2 |
Waterproof structure of electrical junction box
The waterproof structure of an electrical junction box herein prevents water from entering into the electrical junction box. The electrical junction box includes a main body having a groove formed on an outer wall thereof and a tubular wire cover composed of front and rear split covers. Electric wires are passed downward through the wire cover and fixed to a lower portion of the wire cover using a tape. The wire cover is slidably engaged with the groove of the junction box main body. The waterproof structure includes a step portion as a water stop formed on a rear wall of the wire cover. The rear wall is arranged in contact with or adjacent to a back wall of the groove so that the step portion prevents water from entering into the electrical junction box from bottom along the back wall of the groove through the electric wire. |
| US09241416B2 |
Module arrangement
A module arrangement including a plurality of functional modules lined up in a stacking direction, which are connected to one another for fluidic and electric communication, wherein a functional module includes a plate-shaped base body having two parallel, opposite joining surfaces which are designed to contact joining surfaces of adjacent base bodies, wherein the base body includes a connecting device designed for transferring electric signals and/or electric supply voltages and/or fluid flows between adjacent functional modules along the stacking direction, and wherein several signal lines selectable by the control module extend along the stacking direction of the functional modules for transmitting control signals provided for the direct selection of individual functional modules wherein at least one storage device for detecting, buffering and transferring at least one electric signal of an external component is electrically looped into at least one signal line. |
| US09241413B2 |
Device for assembling capacitors for an electronic converter
The device (100) for assembling capacitors (200) is intended for an electronic converter with a plurality of arms provided with transistors. The device comprises a bus bar (11) with positive polarity and a bus bar (12) with negative polarity. The bus bar with positive polarity and the bus bar with negative polarity are superposed one on top of the other without electrical contact. Preferably, the bus bar with positive polarity comprises a width (L1) smaller than the width (L2) of the bus bar with negative polarity. The device further comprises a support part (13) for insulating and indexing, arranged between the bus bar with positive polarity and the bus bar with negative polarity. The support part for insulating and indexing is typically formed from PBT plastic material reinforced with fiberglass. |
| US09241412B2 |
Manufacturing method of flexible display substrate
An embodiment of the invention provides a manufacturing method of flexible display substrate (10) comprising: preparing a backing layer (2) on a carrier substrate (1); preparing a flexible base substrate (3) on the backing layer (2); preparing electronic components (4) on the flexible base substrate (3); and removing the backing layer (2) from the flexible base substrate (3) back to obtain a flexible display substrate (10). |
| US09241408B2 |
Electronic component
In an electronic component, upper surface electrodes are located on one main surface of an insulating substrate of an interposer on which a multilayer ceramic capacitor is mounted. The insulating substrate has substantially the same shape as that of the multilayer ceramic capacitor, viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface, and has the multilayer ceramic capacitor mounted thereon so that the length direction of the multilayer ceramic capacitor substantially coincides with the length direction of the insulating substrate. The insulating substrate includes cutouts that include connection electrodes, respectively, and that are located at the four corners viewed from the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface. The upper surface electrodes on the one main surface are connected via the connection electrodes to lower surface electrodes, respectively, that are located on the other main surface and are connected to a circuit board. |
| US09241407B2 |
Tape film packages and methods of fabricating the same
A tape film package is provided including an insulating pattern; a via contact in a via hole in the insulating pattern; first interconnection patterns extending from the via contact to a cutting surface of the insulating pattern; and second interconnection patterns connected to the via contact below the insulating pattern. The second interconnection patterns are parallel to the first interconnection patterns and spaced apart from the cutting surface of the insulating pattern. |
| US09241406B2 |
Electronic assembly
An electronic assembly includes a first substrate, at least one first conductive pad and multiple second conductive pads. The first substrate comprises a base layer and at least one conductive circuit layer. The at least one conductive circuit layer is disposed on the base layer. The at least one first conductive pad is disposed on the first substrate. The first conductive pad is electrically insulated from the conductive circuit layer. The first conductive pad includes multiple first holes. The second conductive pads are disposed on the first substrate. The second conductive pads are electrically connected to the conductive circuit layer. |
| US09241397B2 |
Microwave plasma processing apparatus and microwave supply method
Disclosed is a microwave plasma processing apparatus including: a processing container configured to define a processing space a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves for generating plasma of a processing gas introduced into the processing space, a distributor configured to distribute the microwaves to a plurality of waveguides using a variable distribution ratio, an antenna installed in the processing container to seal the processing space and configured to radiate the microwaves distributed to each of the plurality of waveguides by the distributor to the processing space, a monitor unit configured to monitor a power of the microwaves distributed to each of the plurality of waveguides by the distributor, and a distribution ratio control unit configured to correct the distribution ratio used for distribution of the microwaves by the distributor based on a difference between a ratio of the power of the microwaves monitored by the monitor unit and a previously designated distribution ratio. |
| US09241393B2 |
Dynamic control of radiation emission
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems for selectively inhibiting radiation from being generated by a radiation source are provided. A radiation source comprises an electrically conductive gate situated between a cathode and an anode. When a voltage potential is created between the gate and the cathode, a flow of electrons between the cathode and the anode is mitigated, thus inhibiting radiation from being generated by the radiation source. When the voltage potential is removed or lessened, electrons may more freely flow between the cathode and the anode to generate radiation. In some embodiments, a calibration, such as a dark calibration, may be performed while the gate mitigates the flow of electrons. Moreover, in some embodiments, an accelerating voltage applied to the radiation source may be held substantially constant when radiation is generated as well as when radiation generation is inhibited. |
| US09241392B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing variable illumination
Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface. These features enable intelligent, networked DCR lighting systems operate with lower power (energy) consumption, greater flexibility, and simpler installation than other intelligent lighting networks. |
| US09241391B2 |
Electrical wiring device
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring assembly that includes a wall plate cover, a housing portion and an electro-optical assembly coupled to a plurality of wiring terminations. The assembly includes a circuit configured to provide an output signal in response to an external input signal. The assembly also includes a plurality of lighting elements coupled to the circuit and configured to emit the plurality of light beams in response to the output signal. The electro-optical assembly further includes an ambient light sensor accessible to the ambient space via at least one of the plurality of openings. The ambient light sensor is configured to generate the at least one external input signal in response to an ambient light level in the ambient space, the ambient light sensor being substantially isolated from the plurality of light beams. |
| US09241387B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method of driving the same
There is provided an organic light emitting display device capable of reducing power consumption by adjusting a voltage according to an input image and deterioration of the organic light emitting display device and a method of driving the same. |
| US09241383B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device (10) includes a plurality of light-emitting areas (10a, 10b and 10c), and each of the light-emitting areas (10a, 10b and 10c) includes a first light-emitting block (3) and a second light-emitting block (4). Each respective first light-emitting blocks (3) include a plurality of first light-emitting elements (A1, A2, or A3), which are connected in series, and each respective second light-emitting blocks (4) include a plurality of second light-emitting elements (B1, B2, or B3), which are connected in series. The number of first light-emitting elements in each respective first light-emitting blocks (3) is the same with one another of the first light-emitting blocks (3), and the number of second light-emitting elements in each respective second light-emitting blocks (4) is the same with one another of the second light-emitting blocks (4). |
| US09241376B2 |
Driver for LED backlight and LED backlight module and liquid crystal display
LED backlight driver, LED backlight module, and liquid crystal display are disclosed. The LED backlight driver comprises DC voltage input end, boost circuit, LED string, and constant current driver. The DC voltage input end is used for inputting a DC voltage. The boost circuit is used for boosting the DC voltage input from the DC voltage input end and outputting a boosted DC voltage. The LED string comprises a plurality of LEDs connected in series and a first resistor. The LED string receives the boosted DC voltage from the boost circuit. A sum of forward voltages of all of the LEDs in the LED string is less than or equal to the boosted DC voltage output from the boost circuit. The constant current driver is used for outputting a level signal to the boost circuit based on a voltage across the first resistor and a voltage for a triangular signal. |
| US09241373B2 |
Air conditioning device for seats
The present invention concerns a electrical conducting (control) device (5). It is provided that it exhibits at least one conducting-part carrier (5.2) and at least one conducting part (5.1), which is disposed at least partially on and/or for the conducting-part carrier (5.2). |
| US09241370B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing coexistence of multiple homogeneous radios and traffic management therein
Techniques are disclosed for controlling, in a network device, multiple radio circuits operating in a same or similar frequency band and in close physical proximity. In some embodiments, the radio circuits operate on the same network protocol. The network device can include a coexistence controller coupled to the network circuits. According to some embodiments, the network circuits are each assigned a priority, and the coexistence controller can control operations among the network circuits by selectively adjusting one or more transmission operating parameters of a respective network circuit based on a plurality of operating criteria, which include each network circuit's priority. Among other benefits, the embodiments disclosed herein can increase wireless network bandwidth and reduce mobile device power consumption by providing coordination among the radio circuits so that the transmitting and receiving operations are performed in a way that they do not interfere with their respective antennas. |
| US09241365B2 |
Method of handling device to device communication and related communication device
A method of handling device to device communication for a first user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system includes establishing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection to a network of the wireless communication system; performing a proximity-based services (ProSe) communication with a second UE of the wireless communication system; and transmitting a first message to the network when the first UE detects a radio link failure in the ProSe communication; wherein the first message indicates the radio link failure to the network or requests changing to a UE-to-network communication mode from a ProSe communication mode. |
| US09241364B2 |
Method for revocable deletion of PDN connection
The invention relates to a method of operating a network node in a telecommunication network, such as an MME. The method comprising: initiating a PDN connection revocable deletion procedure for a device when at least one predetermined criterion is fulfilled; sending a PDN connection revocable deletion request to another network node; receiving a PDN connection revocable deletion response message from said other second network node; and storing data indicating that a PDN connection with said device is revocably deleted. |
| US09241363B2 |
Short-range wireless communication apparatus and system
A short-range wireless communication apparatus comprising an own connection device and a control device is disclosed. The own connection device is capable of connecting a first predetermined communication protocol to a communication-destination-side connection device. The control device performs a first connection process of connecting the first predetermined communication protocol between the own connection device and the communication-destination-side connection device. The control device performs the first connection process at a time that is outside a period during which a second connection process of connecting a second predetermined communication protocol between the communication-destination-side connection device and a different connection device is performed. |
| US09241362B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data between wireless devices in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting data between wireless devices in a wireless communication system is provided. A first wireless device acquires downlink reception timing with a base station. The first wireless device determines transmission timing for direct communication with a second wireless device based on the downlink reception timing with the base station. The first wireless device transmits data for the direct communication to the second wireless device at the transmission timing for the direct communication. |
| US09241360B2 |
Systems, apparatus, and methods for programmatically associating nearby users
Systems, apparatus, methods, and non-transitory media for programmatically associating nearby users are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include user-wearable gesture exchange device including a motion sensor and circuitry. The motion sensor may be configured to generate motion data values indicating motion of the gesture exchange device. The circuitry may be configured to monitor motion data values generated by the motion sensor for detection of a gesture exchange signature, such as a handshake, being performed by the user. In some embodiments, the gesture exchange device may be configured to establish a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device for exchange of user data, such as in response to detecting user performance of the gesture exchange signature and/or determining that the second gesture exchange device is within a predetermined proximity. |
| US09241358B2 |
Wireless network configuration method and system for smart appliance
A wireless network configuration method and system for a smart appliance, wherein the smart appliance can start a client mode and an AP mode to connect with a wireless network AP and a portable electronic device separately. When the smart appliance established the connection with the wireless network AP, it will switch from the AP mode to a hidden SSID mode automatically. If an SSID and password of the access point have been stored in the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device will transmit these data to the smart appliance to simplify the operation for wireless network configuration. Besides, the smart appliance will keep connecting with the portable electronic device and disappearing in an available wireless network list of the portable electronic device in the hidden SSID mode. The advantages of this invention are full function and ease of operation. |
| US09241356B2 |
Mobile audio stream broadcasting method and system
A mobile audio stream broadcasting method has steps as follows: establishing a fist Bluetooth (BT) connection between a mobile device and at least one of a plurality of BT speakers; detecting connection signal strength and designating the BT speaker with maximum of connection signal strength as a first BT target speaker; establishing a second BT connection; transmitting an audio stream data to the first BT target speaker for broadcasting music via the second BT connection; detecting connection signal strength of the first BT target speaker continuously and automatically via the first BT connection; determining whether connection signal strength of the first BT target speaker is lower than a preset threshold value; if connection signal strength of the first BT target speaker is lower than the preset threshold value, then disconnecting the first and the second BT connections between the mobile device and the first BT target speaker. |
| US09241355B2 |
Media system access via cellular network
Embodiments are provided for establishing a simple and secure way to allow a user using a mobile device to control a media playback system without having direct access to the secure local network that the playback system is using. The media playback system may include one or more playback devices synchronously rendering media content. A user of the mobile device may obtain a system identifier of the playback system that is then sent to a remote server via a cellular network. The remote server, which is in communication with one or more media playback systems, may use the system identifier to recognize the correct media playback system and provide the mobile device with configuration information of the media playback system. Subsequently, the mobile device may use the given information to join the media playback system and control one or more features of the media playback system via a cellular network. |
| US09241351B2 |
Techniques and configurations for triggering a plurality of wireless devices
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques and configurations for triggering a plurality of wireless devices such as Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices in a wireless communication network. A method may include receiving, by an interworking function (IWF) of a wireless communication network, a trigger from a machine type communication (MTC) server to initiate a communication between the MTC server and a plurality of MTC devices and sending, by the IWF, a triggering indication to the plurality of MTC devices using a radio access network (RAN) over a first reference point to a first module including a cell broadcast center (CBC) or over a second reference point to a second module including a mobility management entity (MME) or a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN). Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09241347B2 |
Method and device for allocating common channel resources
A resource allocation method and device are provided that can achieve uniform loads on and stable quality of a common channel available to mobile stations having no dedicated channels. A method for allocating common channel resources in a system in which a plurality of first radio communication devices transmit data to a second radio communication device over a common channel, based on first resource allocation information, includes: by the second radio communication device, transmitting second resource allocation information to at least one of the first radio communication devices; and by each of the first radio communication devices, transmitting data to the second radio communication device over the common channel, based on any one of the first resource allocation information and the second resource allocation information. |
| US09241345B2 |
Wireless network communication system and method
A communication system comprising one or more wireless stations programmed to await for an authorizing signal to initiate wireless communications with a network controller or access point. The network controller maintains identification information in different queues, said queues based upon the anticipated wireless station's activity. The wireless station identification information is moved between the different queues in response to this predicted activity. Between polling, each mobile station aggregates data for the next opportunity to transmit. Multi-polling may be employed such that more than a single station is polled at a time. Polling is accomplished by polling one of the more active stations along with a less active station. The less active station is unlikely to transmit, so collisions are avoided to a certain degree. If a lesser active station becomes active, it is moved into the more active queue and consequently will be polled more often. |
| US09241344B2 |
Method of limiting use of a mobile wireless access point near a wireless local area network
To promote network security in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a mobile communication device, which is operable as a mobile wireless access point, may read a WLAN identifier that is known to be used by the WLAN and an indication of a channel on which a wireless access point of the WLAN is known to operate. The device may then monitor the channel for a transmission of the WLAN identifier. The mobile wireless access point may be configured to operate using the selected channel so that the monitoring occurs on the same channel as that on which the mobile wireless access point is operating. The transmission, if detected, may be considered to indicate that the mobile communication device is within the WLAN. Upon detecting the transmission, use of the WLAN identifier by the mobile wireless access point at the mobile communication device may be prevented, e.g. by requiring the mobile wireless access point to use a different WLAN identifier or by disabling the mobile wireless access point. |
| US09241342B2 |
Method and apparatus for ACK/NACK transmission
A method and an apparatus for ACK/NACK transmission. When a terminal device only receives a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in which a downlink assignment index (DAI) value is equal to 1 in a feedback window, the terminal device transmits ACK/NACK feedback information corresponding to the SPS PDSCH and ACK/NACK feedback information corresponding to the PDCCH on PUCCH format 1a/1b resource using PUCCH format 1b with channel selection or ACK/NACK bundling. |
| US09241339B2 |
Methods and apparatus for emphasizing frequency blocks containing priority data
A method is performed in an electronic device for emphasizing frequency blocks containing priority data. The method includes: determining to communicate data in a plurality of allocated frequency blocks; identifying a first subset of the plurality of allocated frequency blocks that contain data having a higher priority than data in a second subset of the plurality of allocated frequency blocks; and emphasizing, during data communication, the first subset of the plurality of allocated frequency blocks, which contain the data having the higher priority, over the second subset of the plurality of allocated frequency blocks. |
| US09241338B2 |
Link adaptation resumption based on CQI offset
Methods, apparatuses and computer readable media are described that adjust signaling messages that include channel quality metrics communicated between a mobile wireless device and a wireless access network before and/or after interruption of a connection to improve downlink performance after resumption of the connection. One or more adjusted channel quality metrics are determined and communicated to the wireless access network to compensate at least in part for an estimate of communication channel performance degradation by a network element of the wireless access network following the interruption and resumption of the connection between the mobile wireless device and the wireless access network. |
| US09241336B2 |
Communication terminal device and method, base station device, and communication system
The present technique relates to a communication terminal device and method, a base station device, and a communication system that enable efficient communications. A first communication unit that performs a first communication with a first other device transmits information indicating the margin in which the first communication is not disturbed by a second communication with a second other device, to the first other device. The communication terminal device and the communication system of the present technique can be used to perform efficient communications between a personal computer and a communication system utilizing the personal computer, for example. |
| US09241335B2 |
Channel selection rules for sub-1-GHz basic service sets
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for the coexistence of 1 MHz and 2 MHz operation modes within a wireless communication system in accordance with IEEE 802.11ah, for example. One example method generally includes scanning a plurality of channel pairs, wherein each of the channel pairs comprises a first channel having a first channel designation and a second channel having a second channel designation; determining, based on the scan, a set of open channels from the plurality of channel pairs in which no other apparatus is operating; selecting a primary channel based on the determination; and transmitting using the selected primary channel. The selection of the primary channel involves channel selection rules disclosed herein. |
| US09241334B2 |
Wireless reception device, wireless transmission device, and wireless communication method
A wireless reception device includes a resource information acquisition section that is configured to acquire silent resource setting information showing that a silent resource which indicates that no signals are allocated in a predetermined resource among distributed resources in which a resource unit defined in a frequency-time domain is divided along a time direction and distributed at a predetermined frequency interval, a receiver that is configured to receive a signal including the distributed resources in which the silent resource is allocated; and an inter-cell interference measurement section that is configured to measure an inter-cell interference pertaining to an amount of interference affected by another cell based on the silent resource setting information and by use of the silent resource allocated in the distributed resources. |
| US09241331B2 |
Method and system for optimal beamforming in wireless networks
Aspects of a method and system for optimal beamforming in a wireless network are presented. Aspects of the system may include one or more processors for use in a requesting communication device wherein the one or more processors may be operable to request a transmission time slot allocation. A determination may be made by a coordinating communication device as whether to assign a sector transmission time slot and/or beamforming transmission time slot to the requesting communication device based on the transmission time slot allocation request. The one or more processors may be operable to receive the assigned sector transmission time slot and/or beamforming transmission time slot. |
| US09241330B2 |
Resource management method and apparatuses for device to device communications
The present disclosure proposes a method and apparatuses for geographical zone based radio resource management. The geographical zone based radio resource management method adapted for a control node would receive from a user equipment a request to communicate in a Device to Device (D2D) mode of communication. The control node would validate the user equipment according to a geographical zone in which the user equipment is located in response to the request of the user equipment to communicate in the D2D mode, wherein the geographical zone is formed by at least three control nodes. The control node would then notify the user equipment whether the user equipment may communicate in the D2D mode after the user equipment is authorized. |
| US09241329B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and frequency hopping method
Disclosed are a wireless communication apparatus and frequency hopping method which minimize the change in the instantaneous power distribution characteristics of the time waveform of transmission signals when a plurality of channels are multiplexed by frequency division. At a terminal (200), a mapping unit (212) maps the PUCCH to frequency resources of a first slot, maps the PUSCH to frequency resources, among the frequency resources of the first slot, separated exactly by predetermined frequency spacing (B) from the frequency resources to which the PUCCH is mapped, and cyclically shifts the frequencies so as to map the PUCCH and PUSCH to frequency resources, within an IDFT or IFFT bandwidth, of a second slot while maintaining the predetermined frequency spacing (B), thereby allowing frequency hopping of the PUCCH and PUSCH between the first slot and the second slot. |
| US09241322B2 |
Enhanced LTE positioning protocol information transfer procedures for control plane LCS on LTE
Techniques disclosed herein provide for enhanced LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) Reliable Transport where the receiver of an LPP message sends a non-piggybacked acknowledgement. An example method for executing on a mobile device a protocol session with a location server includes sending a first protocol session message associated with a first protocol session to the location server, entering a wait-for-acknowledgement state in which uplink transmissions from the mobile device to the location server are suspended while waiting for an acknowledgement from the location server in response to the first protocol session message, receiving a second protocol session message associated with a second protocol session which is not an acknowledgement to the first protocol session message but includes information requested in the first protocol session message; exiting the wait-for-acknowledgement state responsive to receiving the second protocol session message; and performing an action using the information received in the second protocol session message. |
| US09241319B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing packet in multi-channel wireless network
A multi-channel wireless network acquires reference time information that is commonly applied to all multi-channels and acquires packet receiving time information of a received packet on each channel basis based on the reference time information by spreading and applying the reference time information to each channel. |
| US09241318B2 |
Apparatus and method for receiving data in communication system
Disclosed is an apparatus for receiving data in a communication system, including a receiving unit configured to receive data through a multi-channel in a MIMO (multi-input multi-output) scheme; a calculating unit configured to calculate a receiving power distribution value in each antenna of a multi-antenna and in each channel of the multi-channel, correspondingly to the MIMO scheme, and to generate a receiving synchronization signal using the receiving power distribution value; and a synchronization unit configured to synchronize frames for the data receiving of the receiving unit using the receiving synchronization signal. |
| US09241312B2 |
Radio communications terminal and radio communications method
A wireless communication terminal comprises a detection section, an acquisition section and a control section. The detection section detects activation of a voice telephone service application. The acquisition section acquires wireless station information transmitted from a wireless station that is a communication partner. The control section is set so as to ensure that a wireless receiver that receives wireless station information from the wireless station is always put in the ON condition when activation of the voice telephone service application is detected by the detection section. The control section sets the reception processing interval for which wireless station information is received and processed by the wireless receiver to a first interval in accordance with the wireless station information acquired by the acquisition section. The first interval is a time interval in which reception of voice telephone service incoming calls during standby is enabled. |
| US09241311B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adaptive receiver mode selection during discontinuous reception
Methods and apparatus for adaptively adjusting receiver operation during non-continuous (e.g., discontinuous) reception. In one exemplary embodiment, a user device such as a User Equipment (UE) adaptively adjusts its reception mode based on a determined actual error. The reception mode is selected so as to improve reception performance, while still minimizing overall power consumption. |
| US09241309B2 |
Dynamic configuration of inactivity timeouts for data radio bearers
Method and apparatus for dynamic configuration of an inactivity timeout period for a data radio bearer used to transport data for a data service between a wireless communication device and a wireless network is provided. The method includes formatting a message including information related to the data service. The method further includes sending the message from the wireless communication device to the wireless network that is attendant to establishment of the data radio bearer for the data service. The method additionally includes receiving, at the wireless communication device, an assignment of the data service to the data radio bearer. The data radio bearer can have a customized inactivity timeout period defined by the wireless network based at least in part on the information in the message provided by the wireless communication device. The method also includes sending data for the data service over the data radio bearer. |
| US09241308B2 |
Discontinuous reception method and user equipment using the same
The present application relates to a DRX method in a CoMP scenario. In one embodiment, the DRX method comprises steps of detecting a new transmission on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) of one of at least two Base Stations (BSs) each of which is serving the UE; and triggering a DRX thread for continuously monitoring the PDCCH of the one BS on which the new transmission is detected. There is also provided a user equipment using the DRX method. |
| US09241306B2 |
Radio communication system, mobile station, base station, and communication control method
A radio communication system includes multiple base stations including a first base station and a second base station, and a mobile station. A candidate base station selector selects multiple candidate base stations that are candidates for a radio access point for the mobile station on the basis of the reception powers reported by the mobile station. When the mobile station actually executes wireless communication with the base station, an access-point base station determiner determines, as an access-point base station that is the actual radio access point for the mobile station, a base station corresponding to a best reception quality among reception qualities measured in the protected resource and reception quality measured in the non-protected resource. |
| US09241301B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, mobile station device, and base station device
A wireless communication system includes a first base station device, a second base station device, and a mobile station device configured to communicate with the first and second base station devices. The first base station device includes a request notifying unit configured to notify the mobile station device of a request for carrier aggregation. The mobile station device includes: a cell search unit configured to, upon receiving the request, perform cell search and thereby search the second base station device available for carrier aggregation; and a base station notifying unit configured to notify the first base station device of information indicating the second base station device detected by the cell search unit performing the cell search. |
| US09241299B2 |
Method and device for discovering UE, first UE and base station
The present invention discloses a method and a device for discovering a UE, a first UE and a base station. The method for discovering a UE comprises the steps of: monitoring, by a first UE, an uplink signal in a mobile communication system; extracting, by the first UE, first information for identifying a UE that is to be discovered and that transmits the uplink signal from the monitored uplink signal; transmitting, by the first UE, a monitoring report message carrying the first information to a base station, acquiring, by the first UE, the device ID of the UE to be discovered in accordance with the monitoring report response message and completing the discovery process of the UE. According to the present invention, it is able to discover the UE without changing a channel system of an existing system and occupying time-frequency resources of the system. |
| US09241294B2 |
Base station and handoff method thereof
A base station for a communication system and a handoff method thereof are provided. The base station comprises a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver receives a measurement report message with a present reference signal received quality from a wireless device. The processor electrically connected to the transceiver calculates a next report period, estimates a next reference signal received quality and adjusts a first threshold according to a variance of a reference signal received quality. The processor further enables the transceiver to transmit a first measurement control message to the wireless device according to the next report period. The handoff decision process is triggered based on the first threshold and the next reference signal received quality. |
| US09241293B2 |
Cell reselection using access point information
Data provided by an access point of a wireless local area network (“WLAN”) is used to assist a mobile device in cell reselection. If a serving cell of a cellular communications network is unsuitable for providing cellular service, a candidate cell co-located with the serving cell can be selected as the serving cell based on quality of service metrics associated with the serving cell and the candidate cell. The mobile device can be proactively commanded to switch to the candidate cell for receiving cellular service. In some implementations, the quality of service metrics are calculated from call logs collected from mobile devices operating in the cellular communications network. In some implementations, network information regarding serving cell performance can be used with the call logs to generate the quality of service metrics. |
| US09241291B2 |
Method for reducing handover interruption time in terminal
A method for reducing handover interruption time in a mobile station is disclosed, in which a mobile station performs a ranging procedure using a dedicated ranging code previously allocated from a target base station. The dedicated ranging code allocated by the target base station may be provided through the serving base station, or may directly be provided from the target base station. |
| US09241290B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling handover to prevent femtocell interference
Provided are apparatus and method for controlling handover to prevent femtocell interference. The apparatus may include an event receiving module, a handover determining module, and an inter-frequency processing module. The event receiving module may be configured to receive a control message from user equipment. The handover determining module may be configured to analyze the received control message and determine whether the control message includes a request of inter-cell handover from a first cell base station of the first cell to a second cell base station of one of the second cells. The inter-frequency processing module may be configured to perform inter-frequency handover using an unshared frequency when the handover determining module determines that the control message includes the request of inter-cell handover. |
| US09241288B2 |
Method for changing the wireless access point associated with a terminal in a WiFi-DECT wireless telecommunications network
This method for changing the radio access point associated with a terminal, within a Wi-Fi-DECT wireless telecommunication network comprising dual-mode Wi-Fi-DECT radio terminals (PP) and Wi-Fi-DECT radio access points (AP1, AP2) connected to a local area network; comprises a step consisting of changing the Wi-Fi-DECT radio access point for the Wi-Fi part of the terminal in question (PP) whenever it is decided to change the Wi-Fi-DECT radio access point for the DECT part of the terminal in question (PP). |
| US09241287B2 |
Narrow bandwidth operation in LTE
A method of wireless communication provides narrow bandwidth operation within a wider LTE system bandwidth. Wideband information is transmitted to a first set of user equipments (UEs). Also, narrowband information is transmitted to a second set of UEs. The second set of UEs operate in a narrower bandwidth than the first set of UEs. |
| US09241276B2 |
Method for adaptive formation of cell clusters for cellular wireless networks with coordinated transmission and reception
The present invention provides a method of forming clusters of cells in a wireless communication system. The method includes accessing information generated by measuring channel conditions for at least one mobile unit and a plurality of cells in the wireless communication system. The method also includes adding more than one of the plurality of cells to at least one cell cluster based on the accessed information and coordinating communication between the cells in each cell cluster and the mobile unit(s). |
| US09241275B2 |
Distributed processing distributed-input distributed-output (DIDO) wireless communication
Techniques are presented for distributed processing Distributed-Input Distributed-Output (DIDO) wireless communication. A plurality of base stations (e.g., APs) are provided, each configured to wirelessly serve one or more wireless devices (e.g., clients). At least first and second base stations are configured to transmit simultaneously at an agreed upon time. The first and second base stations are each configured to locally generate steering matrix information used to spatially precode their respective data transmissions in order to steer their respective data transmissions to their one or more wireless devices while nulling to the one or more client devices of the other base station. Moreover, the first and second base stations are each configured to locally generate a transmit waveform by applying the steering matrix information to their respective data transmissions. |
| US09241272B2 |
Access control method and device
An access control method and device, wherein the method comprises: a wireless access device receiving a request message from a user equipment (UE), the request message carrying timing advance information; and the wireless access device controlling the access of the UE according to the timing advance information. In embodiments of the present application, the wireless access device acquires the timing advance information of the UE during an RRC connection establishment process or a cell updating process, thus performing access control to the UE based on the timing advance information of the UE, and thereby timely controlling the access of the UE. |
| US09241269B1 |
Method to identify a customer on a Wi-Fi network
A method of identifying a subscribing customer of a service on a Wi-Fi network is disclosed, the method comprising, in response to selection of an application on a mobile communication device, the application designed to access a service, transmitting either a carrier IP address assigned to the mobile communication device or a media access control address assigned to the mobile communications device, the carrier IP address or media access control address embedded in a payload of an IP datagram over a Wi-Fi network to a server, confirming at the server that the carrier IP address or media access control address belongs to a subscribing customer for the service and that the account of the subscribing customer is in good standing, sending back from the server to the mobile communication device a transmission containing an authentication token, and, granting access to the service to the mobile communication device. |
| US09241267B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
According to one embodiment, a radio communication apparatus includes a radio communicator, a storage, and a controller. The radio communicator is configured to perform close proximity wireless communication or near field wireless communication with other radio communication apparatus. The storage is configured to store data, setting parameters associated with the data, and an application. The controller is configured to execute the application and control a transmission and reception of the data performed by the radio communicator on the basis of the application. The application can be set to a read-only mode by an operation of a user. The setting parameters include transfer permission information. The controller checks whether or not a user is an authorized user of the radio communication apparatus, when the user is the authorized user, the controller executes the application and thereby activates the radio communicator. |
| US09241265B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling incoming status messages
An approach is presented for handling incoming status messages with respect to a request and/or a communication channel (e.g., PSMS). A PSMS client causes, at least in part, a transmission of a request over a communication channel, the request originating from an application associated with a device. A status message client of the PSMS client causes, at least in part, a monitoring of one or more inboxes associated with the communication channel for one or more status messages related to the communication channel, the request, or a combination thereof. The status message client causes, at least in part, a presentation of a representation of at least a portion of the one or more status messages, status information interpreted from the one or more status messages, or a combination thereof in a user interface of the application. |
| US09241263B2 |
Methods and a device for associating a first device with a second device
Methods for associating a first and a second device. Each device broadcasts an identity, the first device stores new identities and counts them. Upon user instruction and if there just one new identity, the first device sends a request for association to the second device that acknowledges this. The second device then sends, upon user instruction, a confirmation to the first device that verifies that the confirmation was sent by the second device and acknowledges this. The method is particularly suitable for use on devices that are unable to display identities of other devices. |
| US09241261B2 |
Method, system and device for negotiating security capability when terminal moves
An MME negotiates security in case of idle state mobility for a UE from a first network to a LTE network. The UE sends its security capabilities including non-access stratum (NAS) security capabilities supported by the UE to the LTE network. The MME selects a NAS security algorithm, in accordance with the NAS security capabilities of the UE, and sends the selected NAS security algorithm to the UE, sharing the NAS security algorithm between the UE and the LTE network when the UE moves from the first network to the LTE network. The MME also derives, in accordance with the selected NAS security algorithm, a NAS protection key from an authentication vector-related key so as to security communication between the UE and the LTE network. |
| US09241260B2 |
Key sharing method and system for machine type communication (MTC) server
The disclosure discloses a key sharing method for a Machine Type Communication (MTC) server, wherein when establishing a safe connection and performs safe communications with a first MTC server via a Generic Bootstrapping Architecture (GBA) process, an MTC device may send a second MTC server a request message containing a bootstrapping identifier (B-TID) currently used by the MTC device and the first MTC server and a host identifier NAF-ID1 of the first MTC server; the second MTC server sends a Bootstrapping Server Function (BSF) an authentication request containing a host identifier NAF-ID2 of the second MTC server, the B-TID, and NAF-ID; after verifying the validity of NAF-ID2 and NAF-ID1, the BSF generates a session key KNAF according to the B-TID and the NAF-ID1, and sends the generated KNAF to the second MTC server. Accordingly, the disclosure further discloses a key sharing system for an MTC server. With the disclosure, the MTC device is enabled to perform safe communications simultaneously with a plurality of MTC servers, thereby enhancing the efficiency of network resources. |
| US09241258B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing calls
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request for a voice call at a mobile switching center server, transmitting a mapping query from the mobile switching center server to a database in response to the request for the voice call, route the request from the mobile switching center server to an internet protocol multimedia subsystem for facilitating establishing the voice call when the mapping query is successful in obtaining an internet protocol address for establishing the voice call with a recipient communication device, and routing the request from the mobile switching center server to a second server for facilitating establishing the voice call without routing the request to the internet protocol multimedia subsystem when the mapping query is not successful in obtaining the internet protocol address. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09241257B1 |
Mobile device and control method thereof
A mobile device and a control method thereof are disclosed. The control method of the mobile device includes receiving device information from at least one external device, detecting at least one controllable external device based on the received device information, and switching the mobile device to a sharing standby mode when the mobile device is charging or when an input to the mobile device is not sensed for a predetermined time. The mobile device in the sharing standby mode may switch to a personal mode or a sharing mode based on whether mobile device receives a personal authentication input. |
| US09241253B2 |
System and method of providing a user with a registration review in IMS system
Disclosed are a network-based device, method and computer-readable medium for operating an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to provide registration review. The method embodiment includes tracking and storing all current registrations for each user in an IMS system, receiving a request from a user for a status of the user's current registrations and presenting, in response to the request, the current status of current registrations for the user. |
| US09241252B2 |
Identifying an entity associated with wireless network access point
Systems and methods for identifying an entity associated with a wireless network access point are provided. An estimated location of a wireless network access point and a network name associated with a wireless network access point can be accessed. The network name can be analyzed to identify at least one text signal. An entity associated with the wireless network access point can be identified based at least in part on the text signal. For instance, a confidence score for a plurality of candidate entities identified using the estimated location of the wireless network access point can be determined based on the text signal. The confidence score can be used to identify the entity associated with the wireless network access point. Information associated with the entity can be presented in a graphical user interface. |
| US09241250B2 |
System and method to support mediation of OCS diameter/RO reauthorization on GSM camel networks
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method which overcome the limitations of CAMEL systems which do not natively support reauthorization functionality. The system and method provide a mediation mechanism by which an online charging systems that supports reauthorization functionality can run using the mediation mechanism over CAMEL system. The mediation mechanism provides a means for added user credits to be utilized and allows the user to continue with the activity in which the user was engaged. This is advantageous both to the user and the service provider. |
| US09241249B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for providing notification at an automotive head unit that a wireless communication device is outside a vehicle
Computer-implemented methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for providing notification at an automotive head unit (AHU) of a vehicle that a pre-paired consumer electronics device (CED), such as a wireless communication device, is outside a vehicle. When it is determined that the pre-paired CED is not connected to a wireless communication interface of the AHU, a notification can be provided to the AHU indicating that the pre-paired CED is not connected. Positional data from a location message, provided from the pre-paired CED, can then be processed to generate location data and provide the location data to the AHU. |
| US09241247B2 |
Mobile communication system, base station, gateway apparatus, core network apparatus, and communication method
A mobile communication system includes a mobile station, a base station that communicates wirelessly with the mobile station, a gateway apparatus that connects the base station to a core network, and a core network apparatus that is arranged in the core network. The base station includes a control unit that includes, in a message, information indicating that the mobile station has originated a call as an emergency call, and a transmission unit that transmits the message to the core network apparatus. In addition, the core network apparatus includes a reception unit that receives the message that was transmitted from the base station. |
| US09241243B1 |
Step triangulation
A computing device can determine an estimated location of a target computing device based on historical signal readings describing wireless communication signals received from the target computing device. A signal reading can include data such as a signal strength value indicating the received signal strength of the wireless communication signal, a timestamp value and a geographic coordinate value indicating the location of a receiving computing device when the wireless communication signal was received. The signal readings can describe wireless communication signals received from the target computing device by one or more receiving computing devices and received during various times. The computing device can calculate the estimated location of the target computing device by triangulating the location of the target computing device based on the geographic coordinate value and signal strength value of three signal readings selected from the set of signal readings. |
| US09241238B2 |
Wireless communication system and wireless communication method
A wireless communication system has a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus. The first communication apparatus has an information generator to generate first information associated with a mobile terminal, an encoder to encode the first information, and a first wireless communication module to transmit the encoded first information to the mobile terminal by close range wireless communication. The second communication apparatus has a second wireless communication module to receive the encoded first information transmitted by the mobile terminal and second information, a decoder to decode the encoded first information, a verification module to verify validity of the first information, and an information processing module to process the second information received by the second wireless communication module when the validity is confirmed by the verification module. |
| US09241237B2 |
Device with an EEPROM having both a near field communication interface and a second interface
A peripheral device and a method for programming the read/writeable memory of the RFID circuitry by communications between either RF antenna or bus communications port controller interface or both. In the peripheral device, an EEPROM, bus communications controller interface, NFC interface, antenna, and logic controller operate to receive and transmit configuration and calibration data between a wireless personal area network circuit and an external wireless personal area network enabled device. The dual interfaced EEPROM is operable to share or partition its EEPROM between an NFC interface and a bus communications controller. |
| US09241236B2 |
Network expansion method for a bluetooth network
A method of connecting a further wireless Bluetooth node to a wireless Bluetooth node which participates in a wireless communication network, is disclosed. The method comprises: —initiating, by the further wireless Bluetooth node, a wireless network connection with the wireless Bluetooth node; —determining, by the wireless Bluetooth node, in how many slave connections the wireless Bluetooth node is involved; and —determining by the wireless Bluetooth node, if the connection initiation by the further wireless Bluetooth node is a priority connection request and —setting the predetermined number of free slave connections to one if the connection initiation by the further wireless Bluetooth node is a priority connection request and —setting the predetermined number of free slave connections to two if the connection initiation by the further wireless Bluetooth node is not a priority connection request. |
| US09241235B2 |
Passive entry cell phone and method and system therefor
A system for a vehicle including: a bluetooth receiver configured to be installed in a vehicle and connected with an electronic system of the vehicle; and a phone including a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from a cellular network and a bluetooth transmitter configured to communicate with the bluetooth receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range. |
| US09241233B2 |
Enhancing user experience for internet protocol multimedia core network subsystem based communication services
User experience is enhanced for Internet Protocol Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) based rich communication services in telecommunication environments. A system receives, from a user equipment, a session initiation protocol invitation packet to commence a communication session, and as a function of the session initiation protocol invitation packet, displays an access network technology type used by the user equipment to access a network device associated with a multiple access communication network. |
| US09241232B2 |
Method and apparatus for machine communication
A method, a Network Node and a machine is provided, wherein the machine initially is not provided with an identity which is valid for communication with the communication network. According to the method, the network receives an Activation Request (140, 352, 452, 552, 652) from a User Equipment (320, 420, 520, 620), which User Equipment has an identity which is valid in the communication network and which User Equipment is authenticated in the communication network, the Activation Request comprising a machine identity for the machine. An identity which is valid in said communication network for said machine is obtained (160, 354, 454, 555, 655) on the basis of the Activation Request being received from a User Equipment having a valid identity and being authenticated in the communication network. The obtained identity is transmitted (170, 360, 461, 564, 662) to the machine for enabling the machine to subsequently authenticate itself in one or more communication networks using the obtained identity. |
| US09241231B2 |
Information processing system, computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having stored therein information processing program, information processing control method, and information processing apparatus
In an exemplary information processing system including an information processing section, a first loudspeaker, and a second loudspeaker, predetermined music data composed of two channels is separated into first channel music data and second channel music data. A first sound source object associated with one of the first channel music data and the second channel music data, a second sound source object associated with the other one, and a virtual microphone are placed in a virtual 3-dimensional space. The reproduction volume of a sound reproduced from the first loudspeaker, and the reproduction volume of a sound reproduced from the second loudspeaker are determined based on the direction of the virtual microphone and the positional relationship between the virtual microphone and each of the first sound source object and the second sound source object. |
| US09241230B2 |
Extraction of channels from multichannel signals utilizing stimulus
An approach and device for optimizing a sound system by extracting a two-channel stereo source out of a set of multiple channels with unknown frequency responses, crosstalk, time delays and sample rate by employing a digital test sequence that utilizes maximum-length-sequences (MLS) that is fed into the sound system and results in a reconstructed stereo source that may be further used as an input to a signal processor that performs improved speaker and room equalization. |
| US09241228B2 |
Adaptive self-calibration of small microphone array by soundfield approximation and frequency domain magnitude equalization
Methods and apparatus for self-calibration of small-microphone arrays are described. In one embodiment, self-calibration is based upon a mathematical approximation for which a detected response by one microphone should approximately equal a combined response from plural microphones in the array. In a second embodiment, self-calibration is based upon matching gains in each of a plurality of Bark frequency bands, and applying the matched gains to frequency domain microphone signals such that the magnitude response of all the microphones in the array approximates an average magnitude response for the array. The methods and apparatus may be implemented in hearing aids or small audio devices and used to mitigate adverse aging and mechanical effects on acoustic performance of small-microphone arrays in these systems. |
| US09241227B2 |
Transducer with integrated sensor
An electroacoustic transducer includes a housing and a moving portion adapted to move relative to the housing. The moving portion has a first surface and includes a first electrode. A second electrode on a first surface of the housing is located proximate to a first region of the first electrode, and a third electrode on the first surface of the housing is located proximate to a second region of the first electrode. A capacitance between the first and second electrodes and a capacitance between the first and third electrodes vary similarly with displacement of the moving portion relative to the housing. An impedance buffer is coupled to the second electrode and the third electrode. |
| US09241224B2 |
Method for providing hearing aid compatibility mode and electronic device thereof
An apparatus and method for providing a Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) mode in an electronic device are provided, including detecting a type of battery, and applying an audio adjusting parameter for the HAC mode according to the detected type of battery. |
| US09241220B2 |
Speaker device
A speaker device includes a diaphragm, a frame supporting the diaphragm vibratably along a vibration direction, and a driving part disposed in proximity of the frame and vibrating the diaphragm corresponding to an audio signal. The driving part includes a magnetic circuit having a magnetic gap formed along a direction different from the vibration direction of the diaphragm, a voice coil supporting part having a voice coil and vibrating along the magnetic gap, and a vibration-direction-conversion part direction-converting the vibration of the voice coil supporting part and transmitting the vibration to the diaphragm. The vibration-direction-conversion part includes a link body angle-converting a link part formed between the voice coil supporting part and the diaphragm. |
| US09241214B2 |
Direct sound extraction device and reverberant sound extraction device
A direct sound extraction device includes: a spectrum transform unit that transforms an input signal, which includes a reverberant sound in a direct sound and on which a Fourier transform process has been performed, to a first amplitude spectrum signal Lfa; a low-pass filter unit (4) that performs a low-pass filtering process on the first amplitude spectrum signal Lfa for each frequency to generate a second amplitude spectrum signal Lfa1; a first subtraction unit (18) that calculates a third amplitude spectrum signal by subtracting the second amplitude spectrum signal Lfa1 from the first amplitude spectrum signal Lfa; and an inverse Fourier transform unit that generates a direct sound signal Lfd from a frequency spectrum signal calculated based on a phase spectrum signal and the third amplitude spectrum signal. |
| US09241213B2 |
Acoustic transducer
This invention relates to acoustic transducers with stationary and moving coils, and methods for operating the acoustic transducers. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces sound. The time varying signal applied to the moving coil corresponds to at least a processed version of an input audio signal and is updated based on, at least, a version of the time varying signal applied to the stationary coil. Some embodiments include updating the processed version of the input audio signal in response to a magnetic flux value corresponding to the time-varying signal applied to the stationary coil. Some embodiments include updating the time-varying signal applied to the moving coil in response to a feedback signal. |
| US09241209B2 |
Headphones with adaptable fit
A wearable audio component includes a first cable and an audio source in electrical communication with the first cable. A housing defines an interior and an exterior, the audio source being contained within the interior thereof. The exterior includes an ear engaging surface, an outer surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the front and outer surfaces. The peripheral surface includes a channel open along a length to surrounding portions of the peripheral surface and having a depth to extend partially between the front and outer surfaces. A portion of the channel is covered by a bridge member that defines an aperture between and open to adjacent portions of the channel. The cable is connected with the housing at a first location disposed within the channel remote from the bridge member and is captured in so as to extend through the aperture in a slidable engagement therewith. |
| US09241208B2 |
Communication shield assembly
A communication shield assembly covers a mouth of a wearer when the wearer speaks into a mouthpiece. The assembly includes an audio headset including a head strap and a speaker. The speaker is coupled to the head strap. A microphone has an arm member and a mouthpiece. A first end of the arm member is coupled to the audio headset and a second end of the arm member is coupled to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece extends in front of a mouth of a user for transmitting audio information to an external receiver when the user speaks into the mouthpiece. A shield is coupled to the microphone and is positioned adjacent to the mouthpiece wherein the shield covers the mouth of the user when the user speaks into the mouthpiece. |
| US09241207B2 |
Speaker module
The present invention provides a speaker module comprising a peripheral frame and speaker units housed in the peripheral frame, and the peripheral frame is provided with sound holes in communication with the outside, a front acoustic cavity in communication with the sound holes is defined between one side of the speaker units and the peripheral frame, and a rear acoustic cavity is defined between the peripheral frame and another side of the speaker units away from the front acoustic cavity; in which the speaker units are provided in plurality, and the rear acoustic cavity is divided into the same number of rear sub-cavities as that of the speaker units, and each of the speaker units corresponds to one of the rear sub-cavities and is in communication with its corresponding rear sub-cavity. The above structure makes it easier to adjust the acoustic performance and improves the stereo effect of the product. |
| US09241205B2 |
Vibration device, sound generator, speaker system, and electronic device
A vibration device includes a first frame member, a first vibration body, a second frame member, a second vibration body, and an exciter. The first vibration body is provided in an inner region of the first frame member. The second frame member is attached to the first vibration body with a spacing from the first frame member. The second vibration body is provided in an inner region of the second frame member with a spacing from the first vibration body. The exciter is attached to the second vibration body. |
| US09241202B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for dynamically and conditionally setting service triggers in a communications network
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for dynamically and conditionally setting service triggers in a communications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system for dynamic and conditional trigger insertion includes a dynamic trigger insertion (DTI) rules database for maintaining conditions or rules for dynamic trigger insertion and a DTI screening module for receiving a first mobility management message that is associated with a mobile subscriber, using the DTI rules database to determine whether a condition or rule for dynamic trigger insertion is satisfied, and, in response to determining that a condition or rule for dynamic trigger insertion is satisfied, generating a second mobility management message that includes a dynamically inserted trigger condition. |
| US09241192B2 |
Policy decision point override for content rating
A policy decision point override for content rating. Parental controls may be modified at a decision point. A content rating decision point includes memory configured for maintaining content metadata, wherein the memory includes a first field for storing a content provider assigned rating and a second field for storing a locally generated content rating for each of a plurality of content. A processor is coupled to the memory to receive input from a subscriber defining a locally generated content rating for rating presentation and rating-based control of content. |
| US09241188B2 |
System for presenting marketing content in a personal television channel
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to receive media content from a subscriber of a media communication system, receive marketing content from a marketing information source, and present the media content and the marketing content in a personal TV channel. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09241185B2 |
Apparatus and method for media detection and replacement
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller configured to receive a selection from a computing device during presentation of a media program comprising at least one of audio content and textual content associated with the audio content, wherein the selection identifies media content of interest, receive a selection from the computing device identifying replacement content for the media program, detect whether the media program contains the identified media content of interest, and replace the identified media content of interest with the replacement content if the identified media content of interest is detected in the media program. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09241181B2 |
Set-top box-based TV streaming and redirecting
A method for redirecting video content includes receiving a video signal at the set-top box and decoding the video signal to produce unrendered video data. The unrendered video data is encoded and provided to the remote device via a wide area network. By encoding unrendered, rather than rendered, video data for transmission to the remote device, the need for an encoding device external to the set-top box is obviated. |
| US09241178B2 |
Broadcast content via over the top delivery
Systems, methods, and receiver devices enable broadcasters with restricted content license areas (e.g., Designated Market Areas (“DMAs”) to distribute content via Over the Top (“OTT”) IP networks. Embodiments enable client reporting and authentication as well as broadcast content encryption. In an embodiment, information from the client may be reported back to the broadcasters, such as a view history/use report. In an embodiment, hand off between DMAs may be enabled. In an embodiment, local advertisement insertion in network content may be enabled. Embodiments may enable Multicast-Broadcast Single Frequency Network (“MBSFN”) operation across DMA boundaries. |
| US09241175B2 |
Digital broadcasting receiver and method for controlling the same
According to one embodiment, a method of processing broadcast data in a broadcast transmitter includes: encoding the broadcast data for broadcast service; encoding signaling information for signaling the broadcast data; assigning the encoded broadcast data and the encoded signaling information into a signal frame; and transmitting a broadcast signal including the signal frame. The broadcast signal further includes a signaling table having access information of the broadcast data. The signaling table includes service id information for identifying the broadcast service and component information for indicating a number of components in the broadcast service. |
| US09241173B2 |
Apparatus and method for compression of image data assembles into groups with positional indexes
A data compression apparatus 100 and method suitable for image data 50 assembles pixel values 52 into at least one group 55 with a positional index 56. An encoding unit 130 sets a maximum bit plane according to a highest value in the group, and encodes the data values sequentially along the group using iteratively reduced bit plane levels until reaching a lowest bit plane or exhausting the data values in the group, including recording the positional index where the bit plane level is changed, to provide a compressed dataset. |
| US09241172B2 |
Moving image encoding and decoding device
A moving picture encoding device includes a prediction signal generation method controller that determines, for each of a plurality of target blocks, a processing method. The processing method can be performed on one of a plurality of reference pictures for generating a prediction signal for each respective target block. The prediction signal generation method controller also determines a motion vector and a reference picture for each respective target block by performing motion prediction. The moving picture encoding device also includes a prediction signal generator and an encoder. The prediction signal generator generates the prediction signal for the respective target block by performing processing on the respective reference picture based on the respective processing method, and the encoder encodes information on the respective processing method on each respective reference picture together with a reference list number identifying the respective reference picture and motion vector information of every target block. |
| US09241169B2 |
Raster to block conversion in a compressed domain
A system for raster to block conversion in a compressed domain may include a raster to block encoder, a raster to block decoder, and a memory partitioned into a number of memory stripes having widths of a number of bits. The raster to block encoder may be configured to receive image information associated with pixels of an image in raster order, compress the image information associated with the pixels of the image to generate compressed bits that correspond to at least one of memory stripes, and write the compressed bits to the at least one of the memory stripes. The raster to block decoder may be configured to read, from at least one of the memory stripes of the memory, a number of the compressed bits that correspond to at least one block, and decode the number of the compressed bits to generate the at least one block. |
| US09241156B2 |
Method for estimating the type of the group of picture structure of a plurality of video frames in a video stream
A method for estimating the type of the GoP structure of a plurality of video frames in a video stream by estimating their frame types includes: capturing frame sizes in bytes of every video frame subsequent to an initial I-frame to obtain an array of frame sizes by exploiting features of a transport layer carrying the video stream; converting, after a number of frames, the array of frame sizes into an array of zeros and ones; matching the binarized array of frame sizes to a number of predefined short basic binary patterns, said predefined binary patterns depicting all GoP structures to be considered; converting the result of said matching to form a single score value; and determining the particular pattern of the number of predefined patterns of binaries having the best score value, according to a predefined metric. |
| US09241155B2 |
3-D rendering for a rotated viewer
Methods and systems for displaying a three dimensional image to a rotated viewer are presented. The roll and yaw of a viewer's eyes, with respect to a display, is tracked and used to adjust the orientation of a pair of stereoscopic images so as to maintain a three dimensional image when a viewer is rotated. Adjustment to the orientation of the pair of stereoscopic images may also factor in the orientation of a plurality of viewers, each viewer with a potentially different orientation with respect to the display. |
| US09241153B2 |
Contrast adjusted anaglyph for reducing ghosting artifacts
A system adjusts contrast of an anaglyph image and includes a contrast adjuster processor that generates a contrast-adjusted first luma signal and second luma signal and a contrast-adjusted third luma signal from a first input image signal and second input image signal. An upstream summing node determines a first difference between the first luma signal and third luma signal and a downstream summing node subtracts the first difference from the first signal component of the first input signal. A fine adjuster circuit receives a signal for the first difference and applies a fine adjustment as a gain adjustment, an offset adjustment, and a horizontal and vertical shift. |
| US09241144B2 |
Panorama picture scrolling
Systems and methods of displaying panorama images can provide for copying a first portion of a panorama image to a first memory space, and mapping a display to the first memory space. A copy may be initiated of a second portion of the panorama image to a second memory space in response to a scroll view associated with the display transitioning to a predetermined position. In addition, the display may be mapped to the second memory space in response to a transition of the scroll view into an overlap region that is shared by the first and second portions of the panorama image. |
| US09241141B1 |
Projection block extraction
Sensing systems using projection blocks of structured light provide useful information about the surfaces they are projected onto. A camera captures an image which contains a captured block, that is, an image of the projection block interacting with the surface. Corrections may be applied to the captured image to compensate for distortions produced by projector and/or camera systems and produce a corrected image. Noise may be removed from the corrected image using a bilateral filter, producing a filtered image. The filtered image may be processed to determine a boundary of the captured block. |
| US09241140B2 |
Arrangement for video surveillance
The invention relates to an arrangement for video surveillance with at least one video camera which can be directed into different positions by a remote controlled pan and/or tilt and/or zoom unit and with at least one video signal receiving device, which comprises means for demultiplexing the video Signals of the video camera in such a way that the at least one video signal receiving device receives video Signals generated by the video camera while remaining in one of the different positions only. |
| US09241139B2 |
Fluorescence observation device
Observation is performed at a more appropriate sensitivity without reducing an image quality. Provided is a fluorescence observation device (1) including: an excitation light source (3) that emits excitation light to be radiated onto a subject (A); a fluorescence-image acquiring section (21) provided with an imaging element (18) that acquires a fluorescence image (G2) by imaging fluorescence produced in the subject (A) when the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source (3) is radiated onto the subject (A); and a sensitivity adjusting section (22) that adjusts, based on luminance information of the fluorescence image (G2) acquired by the imaging element (18) of the fluorescence-image acquiring section (21), a number of pixels for binning summing (B) and/or an exposure time (t) in the imaging element (18) such that a SN ratio of the fluorescence image (G2) is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold. |
| US09241138B2 |
Image monitoring apparatus, image monitoring system, and image monitoring system configuration method
An image monitoring technology for accurately collecting information about a monitoring target is provided. An image monitoring apparatus according to the present invention tracks the monitoring target on the basis of images sent from an overhead camera and images sent from gazing cameras, and switches gazing targets for the gazing cameras on the basis of the position and event information of the monitoring target, and tracking information about the monitoring target. |
| US09241135B2 |
Method and system for image alteration
Methods and systems for image alteration. A video signal having a plurality of images may be accessed. An alteration request may be received from a user. A portion of the plurality of images of the video signal may be altered to blur the video signal. The blurred video signal may be provided for presentation. |
| US09241129B2 |
Video calls for external networks
A method for setting up a video communication session via an Internet Protocol (IP) network between a first correspondent and a second correspondent, the method having the steps of: the first correspondent placing a call through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the second correspondent to establish a PSTN communication session; the first correspondent sending a compatibility request via in-band signals to determine compatibility with the first correspondent for video communication; prompting the second correspondent to accept or decline an invitation for the video communication session; exchanging setup information via the PSTN for setting up the video communication session when the second correspondent accepts the invitation, the setup information comprising attributes of each of the correspondents; and setting up the video communication session via the IP network and terminating the PSTN communication session. |
| US09241128B2 |
Video conversion technology
Video conversion technology, in which a first stream of video content is accessed and multiple, different layers are extracted from the first stream of the video content. Each of the multiple, different layers are separately processed to convert the multiple, different layers into modified layers that each have a higher resolution. The modified layers are reassembled into a second stream of the video content that has a higher resolution than the first stream of the video content. |
| US09241125B2 |
Unified recording and pause buffer format
A unified recording format allows both recorded programs and paused buffered broadcasts to be stored in memory as a common virtual stream. As content is received on a channel, it is placed into the virtual stream with newer content at the start of the stream and progressively aging content migrating farther downstream. A front section of the stream effectively operates as a pause buffer, as the currently tuned broadcast program is recorded in this section and is responsive to pause/resume commands. Recorded programs are also stored as part of the same virtual stream. Pointers are used to identify the boundaries of the pause buffer, as well as the beginning and end of each recorded program in the virtual stream. |
| US09241124B2 |
Content generation for interactive video projection systems
Various embodiments herein include systems, methods, and software for interactive video projection system content generation. Such content is content consumed by a system that projects a scene view on a surface, such as a wall, screen, or floor, and is interactive with user motion. User motion is captured as input via a camera or other imaging device and processed on a computing device to determine where in a projected scene a user is moving. The scene is then modified based on the detected motion. A user generates content for consumption in such embodiments by providing image and variable input to populate a graphical rendering template when rendered for presentation to a user. |
| US09241120B2 |
Image sensing device and image capturing apparatus
An image sensing device comprises pixels having micro lenses; a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions arranged in the pixels; and a first adding unit which adds together signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions arranged in the same pixel; wherein the pixels are arranged in a row direction and a column direction, mixed among the pixels are an additional reading region in which addition is performed by the first adding unit and an individual reading region in which addition is not performed by the first adding unit, and a signal is read from at least one photoelectric conversion region, and the number of pixels in a horizontal direction in the individual reading region is constant in the row direction. |
| US09241119B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, method of driving image pickup apparatus, and image pickup system
An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion unit, an amplifying transistor, and a reset transistor. Each pixel is set into a selected state or a non-selected state according to a voltage supplied to an input node of an amplifying transistor via the reset transistor. A control unit controls the reset transistor to turn on or off by supplying a voltage to a control node of the reset transistor. More specifically, a first voltage is supplied to the control node of the reset transistor in the pixel at the selected state to control it in the off-state, and a second voltage is supplied to the control node of the reset transistor in the pixel at the non-selected state to control it to be in the off-state. |
| US09241117B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of pixels each including a read-out node to which an electric charge generated in a photoelectric conversion unit is transferred, an output unit configured to convert the electric charge transferred to the read-out node into a voltage and output the resultant voltage to a signal line, and a switch including a first node electrically connected to the read-out node. Each switch includes a second node different from the first node, and a particular number of second nodes are electrically connected to a common bypass wiring. |
| US09241115B2 |
Infrared scene projector
An apparatus for displaying a scene with light in a range of infrared wavelengths, includes: an array of elements configured to emit light in a range of infrared wavelengths, each element having one or more nanotubes; a stimulator configured to apply a stimulus to each element in the array in order for each element to emit light in the range of infrared wavelengths; and a processor configured to send a signal to the stimulator in order to apply the stimulus to one or more selected elements in the array to display the scene. |
| US09241108B2 |
Image-displaying device and method for controlling image-displaying device
An image capturing device includes an image data generation unit, a display control unit and a control unit. The control unit ends charge storing after a first amount of time passes since charge storing of an image capturing target line is started, and starts displaying image data of a display target line corresponding to the image capturing target line after a second amount of time passes since charge storing of an image capturing target line is ended. The second amount of time is time required for starting displaying image data in a display target line after charge storing of an image capturing target line is ended. The control unit starts charge storing of an image capturing target line such that the first amount of time is equal to or less than a vertical synchronization period of the image capturing sensor minus the second amount of time. |
| US09241107B2 |
Image pickup device and focal plane shutter
An image pickup device includes: an image pickup element; a control portion sequentially resetting charge stored in the image pickup element for every pixel line in a predetermined direction such that an electronic leading blade moves in a simulated manner; and a focal plane shutter. |
| US09241105B2 |
Camera module and method for driving the same
The present invention relates to a camera module and a method for driving the camera module, the module including: a photographing unit controlling a shutter speed to photograph an image in response to an inputted control signal; a display unit displaying the image; and a controller outputting a first shutter speed control signal to the photographing unit to allow an average brightness of two or more particular areas to become a set reference brightness, in a case the two or more particular areas in a plurality of divided areas in the display unit are selected. |
| US09241102B2 |
Video capture of multi-faceted documents
A system captures or otherwise receives a video and uses the video to create an electronic file corresponding to a multi-faceted printed artifact, such as a multi-page document. When the system receives the video, it selects a set of some or all of the video's image frames, determines a frame quality for each frame in the set, and identifies a subset of the frames such that the frame quality of each frame in the subset satisfies one or more image quality criteria. The subset will include at least one frame for each facet of the multi-faceted printed artifact, such as a page of the document. The processor then automatically combines the subset of frames into a single electronic file. |
| US09241101B2 |
Digital camera user interface for text entry
A portable electronic device providing a user-specified input string, comprising: user controls enabling a user to select between at least an up input, a down input, a left input, a right input, and a confirmation input; and a program memory storing instructions configured to implement a method for providing a user-specified input string. The method includes: displaying a string input interface including a string entry section, and at least two independently scrollable character selection sections; accepting user input to sequentially select characters, wherein the up input and the down input are used to select a scrollable character selection section, the left input and the right input are used to scroll through the characters in the selected scrollable character selection section to select a particular character, and the confirmation input is used to add the selected particular character to the input string displayed in the string input section. |
| US09241094B2 |
Capturing event information using a digital video camera
An event aware video system (EAVS) is to capture video frames during a first time period and process event portion of the video frames before transferring the processed data to a central computing system. The EAVS may establish a present no-event frame from the video frames, wherein a last frame of the video frames is marked as the present no-event frame if the difference between adjacent pair of frames of the video frames is less than a threshold value. The EAVS may establish an event frame, wherein a present frame captured after establishing the no-event frame is marked as the event frame if the difference between the present frame and a previous frame captured prior to the present frame is greater than the threshold value. The EAVS may generate the processed data by processing the event of the event frame. |
| US09241089B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for scaling image data by a correction pixel
An image forming apparatus includes: an acquiring unit; a resolution converting unit; a receiving unit; a position determining unit; a correcting unit; and a scaling unit. The acquiring unit acquires image data composed of a plurality of pixels; the scaling-factor determining unit determines a scaling factor of the acquired image data; the resolution converting unit converts a resolution of the acquired image data into a higher resolution than the resolution of the image data; the receiving unit receives a designation of a sub-scanning directional shift amount of a correction pixel to be corrected; a position determining unit performs a position determining process; and the scaling unit scales the image data at the determined scaling factor by causing the position determining unit and the correcting unit. |
| US09241082B2 |
Method and apparatus for scanning through a display screen
Scanners built in display devices that can be controlled to have a moment of see-through either entirely or on a specified portion are described. During the see-through moment, a scanning object (e.g., a currency bill) placed against the display is scanned, hence on-screen scanner. An exemplary such display device is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Without affecting the display functions of an LCD device, an image sensing module is provided with light sources. By controlling the liquid crystals in the LCD unit, the reflected light from an object placed against the LCD device to be imaged is projected onto an image sensor (or array) to generate an image of the object. |
| US09241081B2 |
Image processing device, image forming apparatus, and image processing method
An image processing device includes a mode instruction information obtaining section, a color determination threshold storage section, a mode determination section, and an automatic color determination threshold adjustment section. The mode determination section, using a color determination threshold, determines a mode to be a color mode when the image data belongs to a color mode range, and determines the mode to be a monochrome mode when the image data belongs to a monochrome mode range. The automatic color determination threshold adjustment section adjusts the color determination threshold so as to widen a mode range corresponding to the mode determined by the mode determination section, when the mode indicated by the instruction information obtained by the mode instruction information obtaining section is different from the mode determined by the mode determination section. |
| US09241074B1 |
Method and system for providing variable dial pattern provisioning in a SIP-based network
A system and method may provide identifying an initialization signal, receiving one or more pattern elements after identifying the initialization signal, and analyzing the one or more pattern elements based on an identified dialing plan to determine whether the one or more pattern elements correspond to a complete address. The system and method also may provide identifying that the one or more pattern elements or a subsequence of the one or more pattern elements are associated with a command. |
| US09241073B1 |
Systems and methods for managing an event scheduling request in a telephony system
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing an event scheduling request in a telephony system. According to certain embodiments, a call between a first communication device and a second communication device is established. Upon authenticating a user identity associated with the second communication device, an event scheduling request is determined based on one or more attributes provided to the first communication device. A notification is provided to the second communication device based on the event scheduling request. |
| US09241072B2 |
Conference call authentication utilizing passcodes personal to users
A system comprises a plurality of user devices and a conference call bridge connected to the plurality of end user devices via one or more networks. The conference call bridge is configured to connect to a given one of the plurality of user devices, receive a passcode from the given user device, and authenticate the given user device using the passcode. The passcode is personal to the given user. |
| US09241069B2 |
Emergency greeting override by system administrator or routing to contact center
The system of the present disclosure can determine that one or more of a selected person and communication device of the selected person has been or may be impacted by an emergency event and, in response, change one or more of the following: a greeting message provided to a contactor, a status of the selected person, and a communication event treatment of an inbound communication event from the contactor to the selected person and/or communication device to notify the contactor of an impact or potential impact of the emergency event on the selected person and/or communication device and/or service the inbound communication event notwithstanding the impact of the emergency event on the selected person and/or communication device. |
| US09241068B2 |
Visual interactive voice response
An interactive voice response system receives a communication initiated by a remote requesting party. Based upon receipt at the interactive voice response system of the communication, visual data to provide to the remote requesting party as part of an integrated interactive script is determined. The visual data is provided to the remote requesting party as part of the integrated interactive script. Depending upon a selection of the remote requesting party, individual elements of the integrated interactive script are sent to the remote requesting party iteratively based upon interaction between the remote requesting party and the interactive voice response system, or multiple individual elements of the integrated interactive script are sent together to the remote requesting party, and individually presented to the remote requesting party based upon interaction between the remote requesting party and the interactive voice response system. |
| US09241063B2 |
Methods for responding to an email message by call from a mobile device
Methods for responding to an email message by a phone call from a mobile device are described. In some embodiments, mobile devices are capable of receiving emails. The emails may be in form of messages in a threaded conversation. Each message has metadata and the metadata includes a phone number corresponding to a sender of the message. The text or information associated with the message is displayed but not the metadata. While a user is reading the message displayed on the mobile device, the user is provided with a plurality of options to respond to the message, an option is for the user to call the sender of the message using the phone number in the metadata. Upon selecting such an option, the user is able to initiate a call to the sender of the message by activating a feature to call using the phone number stored in the metadata without physically looking up and dialing the sender's number. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US09241062B2 |
Methods and systems for using external display devices with a mobile computing device
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for using external display devices with a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may be repurposed to display a virtual input device for interacting with a resource with output data being displayed on an external display device. |
| US09241061B2 |
Cell phone peripheral device, communication terminal and method for a cell phone peripheral device communicating with a cell phone
A cell phone peripheral device comprises a communication unit, for short-distance wireless communicating between said cell phone peripheral device and the cell phone; a processing unit, for receiving information from said communication unit, processing the information to obtain and analyze data information; a display unit, for receiving and displaying said data information. A method for a cell phone perpheral device communicating with a cell phone comprises receiving information from the cell phone by way of short-distance wireless communication; processing the information to obtain and analyze data information; and displaying, by the cell phone peripheral device, the data information. And a communication terminal comprises: a first communication unit for communicating with a cellular network, a processing unit, and a first input/output unit, and further comprising: a second communication unit, for transmitting voice and data information between the processing unit and the first input/output unit by way of short distance wireless communication. |
| US09241058B2 |
Mobile communication apparatus having anti-theft and auto-notification functions
A mobile communication apparatus comprises an anti-theft control circuit and a transmission control circuit. The anti-theft control circuit has an information management module and a security module. The information management module is used for storing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database. The transmission control circuit is used for transmitting data and/or signals. When the transmission control circuit receives a remote message, the security module examines whether the remote message is a predetermined legitimate remote control message; wherein if YES, the transmission control circuit sends out at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database to an electronic apparatus indicated by the remote message. |
| US09241057B2 |
System and method for providing telephone call notification and management in a network environment
Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to receive an incoming call message via a data interface upon activation of a trigger established with a voice communication network and activated when the voice communication network receives an incoming call to a destination identified by a pre-determined subscriber account; generate a call notification in response to the incoming call message; obtain a list of set-top boxes corresponding to the predetermined subscriber account; and route the call notification to the set-top boxes on the list. |
| US09241055B1 |
Two-way passive acoustic concentrator for a mobile phone
A two-way passive acoustic concentrator for a mobile phone is generally horn-shaped with a narrow throat portion divided into a speaker horn chamber and a microphone horn chamber. The mobile phone is retained in a way to acoustically couple its speaker and microphone to the respective chamber of the acoustic concentrator. As a result, speaker sound amplification as well as sound concentration for the microphone can be achieved to provide a hands-free two-way speaker operation of the mobile phone. |
| US09241052B2 |
System and method for activating components on an electronic device using orientation data
The disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing an orientation of a handheld electronic device. The method comprises: monitoring data from a first sensor in a handheld electronic device; determining an orientation of the handheld electronic device by analyzing the data from the first sensor; and when the orientation indicates that the handheld electronic device is face down, activating a first component on the handheld electronic device. |
| US09241050B1 |
Self-healing antenna system
A mobile communication device is provided that uses an accelerometer to sense when the mobile communication device is dropped and impacts a hard surface, such as a floor or table, with a force hard enough to bend or deform an external metal antenna. Once such an impact is detected by the mobile communication device, the mobile communication device is further configured to determine whether an antenna has become detuned from its respective transceiver and then retune the antenna prior to the user picking up the dropped mobile communication device. |
| US09241049B2 |
System and method for efficient networking for large file transactions
A novel overlay networking method designed specifically to handle the large file transfers that constitute a large and growing portion of media-rich Internet traffic is disclosed. The proposed system and method uses large (e.g., 10 MB) packets or Media Frames (MF) and orderly concatenations of these frames into chains (MC) to achieve a considerable reduction in power consumption relative to current IP Internet routers. Transmission of each MC is scheduled, while individual MFs are routed directly in interstices within MCs. |
| US09241047B2 |
System and method for providing virtual web access
A client-based computer system adapted to communicate with a remote server through a network and to provide access to content or services provided by the server. The system includes a storage device and a cache. The cache is adapted to communicate with the server over the network, to intercept a request from the client to the server, and to store responses from the server on the storage device. The cache is further adapted to automatically determine when to send the request to the server over the network. The cache is still further adapted to provide a response, including from the responses stored on the storage device based upon the request, to appear as through the server provided the response. The system may also include a crawler. The crawler is adapted to operate in conjunction with the cache to cause requests to be sent to the server over the network. |
| US09241045B2 |
Method of generating round robin service order lists for improving service performance during server failures
A method controls the routing of service requests to a plurality of servers using a first routing distribution algorithm. The method includes waiting a first period of time for a designated server to respond to a service request, transmitting the service request to the designated server a second time, and waiting a second period to time for the designated server to respond to the service request assigned to the designated server, the second period of time being longer than the first period of time. The method also includes determining that the designated server has failed, rerouting the service request to a different server, and routing the service requests to the plurality of servers using a second routing distribution algorithm. |
| US09241043B2 |
Method of connecting a hardware module to a fieldbus
A method is described of connecting a hardware module to a fieldbus, wherein a data connection between the hardware module and the fieldbus is established by a network module which is connected to the fieldbus and which has an internal memory, said method comprising the steps that the hardware module is connected to the network module, that the communication software is read out of the memory of the network module by the hardware module, said software being provided for the communication of the hardware module with the fieldbus, that the communication software is stored in the hardware module, and that the hardware module is use to communicate over the fieldbus. |
| US09241041B2 |
Method for a push server to broadcast data to user terminals via an interface device
A method for a push server to broadcast data to terminals via an interface device, the data sent by the server passing through a distribution system enabling the data to be broadcast from the server to the device. The server transmits a stream of content data and web application data to the system; the system multicasts the stream of content data and web application data to the device; a receptor in the interface device receives the data; the data are stored in a storage device of the interface device; a local wireless connection is established between a terminal provided with a web browser and the interface device; a HTTP query is transmitted from the terminal to a web server of the interface device, the query requesting the execution of an application stored in the storage device; and the requested application is executed in the browser of the terminal. |
| US09241036B2 |
Dynamically providing a feed of stories about a user of a social networking system
To display a news feed in a social network environment, a social networking system generates news items regarding activities associated with a user of a social network environment. The social networking system may also attach an informational link associated with at least one of the activities to at least one of the news items, limit access to the news items to a predetermined set of viewers, and assign an order to the news items. The news items may be displayed in the assigned order to at least one viewing user of the predetermined set of viewers, and the number of news items displayed may be dynamically limited. |
| US09241030B2 |
Scanner web service for web application and scanner driver communication
A computer system with a scanner web service set up as a local host is provided. An HTTP message is received from a client-side web application code client-side running in a web browser on the computer system by the scanner web service. A message based on the received HTTP message is sent to a scanner driver that is in communication with a scanner connected to or integrated with the computer system. Scanned image information is received from the scanner driver, and is provided to the client-side web application code running the web browser. |
| US09241023B2 |
System and method for managing media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media distribution system having a controller to identify a plurality of media presentation devices of a user of the media distribution system, identify one or more distribution preferences supplied by the user for distributing media content to the plurality of media presentation devices, receive media content from one of a plurality of media sources of the user, determine a media content type from the received media content, and distribute the received media content to one or more of the plurality of media presentation devices according to the one or more distribution preferences and the media content type. The one or more distribution preferences comprise in part media content distribution arrangements assigned by the user between the plurality of media sources of the user and the plurality of media presentation devices of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09241020B2 |
Group details of group services
A group detail indicator is provided that relates to group communication in a communication system. The group detail indicator provides information on at least an identity of a group and a type of the group. The group detail indicator also is attached to one of a request to initiate a group communication session and an instant messaging request. |
| US09241017B2 |
Systems and methods for cross domain service component interaction
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for interacting with components across different domains in a single user interface in an online social network. The user interface includes a first component and a second component, where the first component exposes content from a first database system at a first network domain and the second component exposes content from a second database system at a second network domain. A first interaction with the first component is received at a computing device, followed by a reference being provided in the second component, where the reference includes information related to the first interaction. A second interaction with the second component regarding the reference can be received at the computing device. Interactions between the components hosted on different database systems can occur through an application programming interface (API). |
| US09241016B2 |
System and associated methodology for detecting same-room presence using ultrasound as an out-of-band channel
A telecommunications device includes an electronic memory to store at least a network address and a random number code, and a sound unit to transmit the network address and the random number code via ultrasonic sound waves. The telecommunications device also includes a network interface to communicate via a data network using the network address and a processor to establish a communication session with another device over the data network based upon receipt of a response from the other device via the data network, the response including at least the random number code. The telecommunications device does not establish the communication session with the other device if the random number code is missing from the response or if the random number code in the response does not match the random number code transmitted in the ultrasonic sound waves. |
| US09241010B1 |
System and method for network behavior detection
Techniques for detecting malicious behavior of content or objects are described herein. According to one embodiment, a malicious content suspect is executed within a virtual machine that simulates a target operating environment associated with the malicious content suspect. A communication response object is received as a result of processing the malicious content suspect. A first behavior match result for a first sub-object of the communication response object is determined. A second behavior match result for a second sub-object of the communication response object is also determined. The first and second behavior match results are aggregated and a malicious behavior score is calculated according to the aggregated result from all matches. The malicious content suspect is classified according to the malicious behavior score. |
| US09241006B2 |
Method and system for detecting website visit attempts by browsers
A method and system of detecting website visit attempts by browsers includes monitoring networking operations generated by a client and intercepting a network address associated with the networking operations, detecting a type of website from the intercepted network address, and determining that a browser on the client has attempted to visit a website of the detected type based on the browser being in a running state and a website identified as historically visited by the browser matching the detected type of website. This can allow for the accurate detection of a browser's attempt to visit a restricted website, thereby accomplishing accurate monitoring of networking activities of the browser and enhancing the accuracy of subsequent prompting or intercepting of the networking activities of the browser. |
| US09241003B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for authenticating an entity through use of a global identity of the entity that serves as a proxy for one or more local identities of the entity
A method of authenticating an entity includes associating a local identity of the entity with a global identity of the entity, the local identity being associated with a first one of a plurality of restricted access zones, associating the global identity of the entity with particular ones of the plurality of restricted access zones for granting access to the particular ones of the plurality of restricted access zones, receiving an authentication request from the entity to access a second one of the plurality of access zones where the authentication request includes the local identity of the entity, and authenticating the entity for access to the second one of the plurality of access zones responsive to receiving the authentication request when the second one of the plurality of restricted access zones is one of the particular ones of the plurality of restricted access zones that are associated with the global identity of the entity. |
| US09240998B2 |
Management apparatus and control method of management apparatus
When a plurality of user terminals request a plurality of contents, the numbers of user terminals which request the content are managed. For each of the plurality of contents, the number of content servers which provide that content is decided using the managed numbers. For each of the plurality of contents, the content is installed in content servers as many as the number decided in association with that content, and user terminals which request the content are permitted to access the content servers which provide the content. |
| US09240997B1 |
Security for a power over ethernet installation
Aspects of the present invention monitor an electrical circuit in a power over Ethernet (“PoE”) installation to detect potential security breaches and implement a security response upon detecting the security event. The security event may be a disruption to the electrical circuit lasting more than a threshold duration (e.g., 250 ms, 0.5 second, 1 second). The disruption can be an open circuit caused by cutting or unplugging the Ethernet cable. In one aspect, the security response can be discontinuing further communications over the PoE connection. |
| US09240993B1 |
Method and system for in-field recovery of security when a certificate authority has been compromised
A certificate credential is generated based on a user device's private key securely stored, or accessible, by a certificate authority. When the certificate authority has been compromised, the credential, which typically includes information encrypted with the device's private key and the corresponding unencrypted information, is sent to the device. The device receives the information in encrypted and unencrypted form and decrypts the encrypted information. If the result of the decryption matches the unencrypted information, the device trusts the signer of the credential. |
| US09240990B1 |
Acknowledgment authentication system and method
The present invention is a method of and a system for enabling an initiating party to capture, store, and retrieve a video image of at least one acknowledging party performing an acknowledgement requested by the initiating party where the acknowledging party(s) may be remotely located from the initiating party. |
| US09240985B1 |
Method and system for managing access to storage space in storage systems
Method and system for managing access to storage space are provided. A plurality of client computing systems interfaces with a management console for accessing storage space at a plurality of storage devices managed by a plurality of storage servers that also interfaces with the management console. The management console is configured to receive a request from a client computing system to access a storage volume or to obtain information regarding the storage volume, validate the request by verifying a client computing system identity with a domain controller, store validation result in an access control data structure at a memory storage device; and use the validation result to either accept or reject any future client computing system request for accessing another storage volume without having to validate the future requests with the domain controller. |
| US09240983B2 |
Extending data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) provisioning of ethernet passive optical network (EPON) (DPoE) to EPON over coax (EPoC) multicast key management
Disclosed herein are mechanisms to support the management of multicast keys for a multicast group comprising one or more optical line terminals (OLTs), one or more fiber to coax units (FCUs), and a plurality of coax network units (CNUs). The disclosed embodiments may support the management of multicast keys over optical and coaxial networks. In some embodiments, an FCU may facilitate communication of operations administration and maintenance (OAM) messages containing multicast keys from one or more OLTs to one or more CNUs (typically a plurality of CNUs). Some embodiments may employ one multicast key over both the optical network and coaxial network. Other embodiments may employ an optical domain multicast key over the optical network and an electrical domain multicast key over the coaxial network. Embodiments may comprise adding a first CNU to a multicast group as well as adding subsequent CNUs to the multicast group. |
| US09240980B2 |
Management of group secrets by group members
A method of adding a new device (121) to a device group (110), wherein the device group comprises at least one device (111) that hosts a trusted module (151), the method including: generating keys of the trusted modules (151, 153) and devices (111, 112, 113, . . . , 11N) in the device group and a key of the new device (121); distributing the generated keys to the trusted modules (151, 153) in the device group (110); distributing the generated keys to the devices in the device group, such that each device in the device group receives the key of the new device, the keys of the trusted modules and of all other devices in the device group, except for its own key; establishing a secure authenticated channel (130) between the trusted module (151) and the new device (121); and sending to the new device (121) the generated keys except for the key of the new device. |
| US09240971B2 |
Automated management of generalized central name services by distributed remote devices
Systems and methods of the present disclosure facilitate updating the translation provided by one or more name servers from symbolic names to network addresses. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more remote devices, a management server, a configuration module, a detection module, and/or an update module. The management server may be configured to monitor and manage the remote device, which may be provided with network addresses by one or more address provisioning servers. Responsive to the detection module detecting a change in the network address of a remote device, the update module may update one or more name servers using an update program that includes templates for a control file, authentication information, and/or a template obtained from the management server. The detection and update modules can execute on remote devices or on the address provisioning server, and can be installed and configured automatically by the management server. |
| US09240969B1 |
Encouraging conversation in a social network
The disclosure includes a system and method for recommending social activity data and social conversation to a user. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: determine one or more topics associated with a message based at least in part on message data included in the message; determine knowledge data describing the one or more topics associated with the message; determine social activity data describing one or more user activities associated with a group of one or more social users based at least in part on the knowledge data, the one or more user activities describe the one or more topics; and determine graphical user interface data for displaying the social activity data associated with the message. |
| US09240968B1 |
Autogenerated email summarization process
A method of monitoring a plurality of servers is disclosed. The method comprises a centralized provisioning system (CPS) server receiving emails from a plurality of provisioning servers, wherein the emails are auto-generated by the provisioning servers. The method comprises the CPS server transferring the emails to an email account. The method comprises a CPS email process (CEP) server accessing the emails in the email account, wherein the emails are one or more of a variety of emails. The method comprises the CEP server analyzing the emails, wherein the CEP server analyzes the subject, the time stamp, and the source of each email. The method comprises, the CEP server transferring each of the emails to a plurality of lists based on its analysis. The method comprises the CEP server generating a summary email for each list. The method further comprises the CEP server sending the summary emails to a designated recipient. |
| US09240960B2 |
Port scheduling for a network device
A method and network device provides port scheduling for data ports in the network device. The network device may assign data ports of the network device into port groups according to port characteristics of the data ports. The network device may schedule processing time slots for active data ports by determining a selected port group based on group selection parameters. The network device may then determine a selected data port from the selected port group using port selection criteria. The port selection criteria may maintain minimum and maximum packet spacing requirements for the data ports of a port group. The network device may also maintain an active ports list to disqualify inactive data ports from selection. |
| US09240957B2 |
System and method for symmetric switching fabrics
A system and method for a symmetric switching fabric includes a first switching tier that includes a plurality of leaf switches, a second switching tier that includes one or more spine switches, and a plurality of interlinks for coupling the leaf switches to the spine switches. Each of the leaf switches includes one or more first ports configured to couple each of the leaf switches to other network devices outside the switching fabric and one or more second ports for coupling each of the leaf switches to each of the spine switches. A ratio of a number of first ports and a number of second ports is selected based on an oversubscription ratio. For each pair of a first switch selected from the leaf switches and a second switch selected from the spine switches, a same number of first interlinks selected from the plurality of interlinks couple the first switch to the second switch. |
| US09240946B2 |
Message restriction for diameter servers
Communication networks and methods are disclosed for providing a message restriction process used to control the transmission of Diameter messages. The communication network includes a Diameter server operable to serve a plurality of Diameter clients. The Diameter server detects a triggering event for initiating the message restriction process, such as detecting an overload condition. The Diameter server then generates control information that defines the Diameter messages that the Diameter clients are authorized to transmit during the message restriction process. The Diameter server generates a message restriction instruction that includes the control information, and transmits the message restriction instruction to one or more of the Diameter clients to initiate the message restriction process based on the control information. |
| US09240945B2 |
Access, priority and bandwidth management based on application identity
A method or system for managing packet flow is disclosed. The packets each include an inserted application identifier identifying a registered application. The method includes receiving packets destined for one or more resources, determining, by a packet processor, the inserted application identifier for each of the respective packets received and managing the packet flow of each received packet sent from a security node based at least in part on the inserted application identifier of the received packet. |
| US09240939B2 |
Detecting packet loss and retransmission in a network environment
One example method is provided for detecting end-to-end packet loss and retransmission occurring in a connection of a network environment. The method can include monitoring packets transmitted from a sender to a receiver and acknowledgement packets from the receiver to the sender using a probe located in a path between the sender and the receiver in the network environment; identifying, by the probe, a first packet as a possibly-retransmitted packet if the first packet has a fall back sequence number; classifying, by the probe, the first packet as a retransmitted packet using one or more conditions based, at least in part, on one or more of the following: characteristic(s) of the possibly-retransmitted packet, characteristic(s) of sequence numbers observed by the probe, and characteristic(s) of acknowledgements observed by the probe. |
| US09240938B2 |
Distributed system and method for flow identification in an access network
A system and method for tracking and adjusting packet flows through a network having a service delivery node and one or more residential services gateways. Packet flows are recognized as they pass through one or more residential services gateway and flow analytics information corresponding to the packet flows recognized in the residential services gateways are transferred from the residential gateways to the flow identification control unit. The flow analytics information received from the residential services gateways is analyzed within the flow identification control unit and traffic through one or more of the service access platform and the residential services gateways is adjusted, if necessary, as a function of the flow analytics information analyzed by the flow identification control unit. |
| US09240936B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improving call performance by enabling uplink transmissions during poor downlink radio conditions
Apparatus and methods of improving call performance by enabling/continuing uplink transmissions during poor downlink radio conditions. The apparatus and methods further include monitoring, by a user equipment (UE), downlink (DL) signal conditions associated with a serving Node B. Moreover, the apparatus and methods include triggering an out-of-sync state upon a determination that the DL signal conditions have degraded beyond a DL signal quality threshold. Additionally, the apparatus and methods include delaying turning off of a power amplifier (PA) associated with transmission of uplink (UL) messages for a call performance improvement threshold time duration. |
| US09240935B2 |
Communication system
A disclosed technology can accurately measures the data frame loss between a pair of communication devices even when link aggregation is present between the communication devices. A communication system includes a transmitting device, receiving device, a plurality of transmitting and receiving links, and a measuring device. The transmitting device duplicates for the same number of times as the number of transmitting and receiving links a data frame loss measurement frame in which the total number of transmitted data frames is written, and then transmits them to the transmitting and receiving links. The receiving device writes the total number of received data frames in the received data frame loss measurement frame. The measuring device measures the data frame loss between the transmitting and receiving devices by subtracting the total number of data frames received by the receiving device from the total number of data frames transmitted by the transmitting device. |
| US09240934B2 |
Monitoring the health of a home area network
Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring the health of a home area network. An example system includes multiple devices communicatively coupled via a home area network and a gateway device communicatively coupled to the devices via the home area network. The home area network is configured for communicating information regarding a resource consumed at a geographical area serviced by the home area network. The gateway device includes a processor and a computer-readable medium. The processor can execute instructions embodied in the computer-readable medium to perform operations. The operations include monitoring communication metrics describing communications among the devices via the home area network. The operations also include monitoring application-level events generated by applications executed by the devices. The operations also include generating a status indicator for the home area network based on the communication metrics and the application-level events. The status indicator describes a health of the home area network. |
| US09240933B2 |
Transaction middleware based application level transaction instance tracking across a composite application
Responsive to middleware for a domain processing a transaction instance at a processing point specified in transaction telemetry standards as a tracking point along a flow of the transaction instance from a requesting domain to a requestee domain, a facility of the middleware determines whether a token with correlation data comprising a unique identifier for the transaction instance available to both the requesting domain and the requestee domain is passed to the domain in compliance with transaction telemetry standards. Responsive to the facility of the middleware not detecting the token with correlation data, the token with generated correlation data accessible to the domain is generated. The facility of the middleware passes the token to at least one subsequent middleware instance of the plurality of middleware instances of the composite application along the flow of the transaction instance to uniquely identify the transaction instance. |
| US09240924B2 |
Out-of band replicating bios setting data across computers
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a system for replicating BIOS setting data (BIOSSD) across computers. The system includes a plurality of computers, and each computer is connected to a service processor (SP). Each computer includes a BIOS chip, which stores a first BIOSSD collection. The SP stores a second BIOSSD collection. When the first BIOSSD collection is newer, the SP receives a copy of the first BIOSSD collection from the computer to replace the second BIOSSD collection. When the second BIOSSD collection is newer, the SP transmits a copy of the second BIOSSD collection to the computer to replace the first BIOSSD collection in the BIOS chip. A remote management may request and obtain from the SP the updated second BIOSSD collection such that the remote management computer may send the copy the updated second BIOSSD collection to other SP's for update. |
| US09240922B2 |
Transcodeless on-the-fly ad insertion
Systems and methods for enabling dynamic advertisement insertion into media files without transcoding are disclosed. The techniques disclosed involve retrieving files of the media and advertisement(s) and converting the files to an MPEG-2 transport stream (MPEG-2 TS) format. The MPEG-2 TS streams are then joined to insert the advertisement at a desired point in the media file. The resulting MPEG-2 TS stream is then converted back to a media file, which can be provided for downloading, or optionally reindexed. Because it does not require transcoding, this process can be performed on-the-fly to provide dynamic insertion of advertisements into media files. Other media file manipulation, including the insertion of non-advertisement media, is contemplated. |
| US09240913B2 |
Full-duplex capacity allocation for OFDM-based communication
In one embodiment, device determines a quantity of subcarriers available for data frame transmission and data frame receipt based on information included in an acknowledgement data frame. The device transmits a first data frame over at least one of the subcarriers and includes information associated with one or more additional data frames pending transmission. The device then receives a second data frame, subsequent to transmission of the first data frame, and determines a quantity of subcarriers available for transmission of the one or more additional data frames pending transmission based on the information included in the second data frame. |
| US09240909B2 |
Reverse link channel estimation using common and dedicated pilot channels
The present invention provides a method of channel estimation implemented in a receiver having multiple antennas configured to receive at least one common pilot available to a plurality of users and a plurality of dedicated pilots. Each dedicated pilot is allocated to one of the plurality of users. The method includes estimating at least one first channel associated with a first user and at least one second channel associated with a second user based on observations of the plurality of dedicated pilots and of said at least one common pilot. |
| US09240904B2 |
System and method for a messaging assistant
A system and method for utilizing a message assistant. A contact list is updated by retrieving one or more contact lists. Preferences are received for communicating with contacts on the contact list. A message is received to be sent to a group listed in the contact list including one or more contacts at a time specified by a user. The message is sent to the group at the time specified by the user based on the preferences. |
| US09240901B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for providing communications services by determining the communications services require a subcontracted processing service and subcontracting to the subcontracted processing service in order to provide the communications services
Methods, systems, and products receive a request for communications service at a service provider. A subcontracted processing service is determined to fulfill the request for communications service. Packets of data are subcontracted to a different service provider to receive the subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is received from the different service provider. |
| US09240900B2 |
Wireless router system
Conventional routers employ a wired backplane that employs “long reach” serializer/deserializer (SerDes) links, but this type of architecture is complicated, costly, and uses a considerable amount of power. To address some of these issues, a new wireless backplane architecture is provided here. This wireless backplane employs direct millimeter wave links between line cards that replaces the convention, wired switching fabric. |
| US09240899B2 |
Method for implementing virtual network port and embedded device for implementing virtual network port
A method for implementing a virtual network interface, which is applicable for the embedded device without a physical network interface equipped, including that: the embedded device encapsulates the to-be-transmitted IP data packet as the data frame which is able to be identified by the universal interface on the device and carries a virtual network port identifier, transmits the data frame through the universal interface; after the embedded device receives the data frame from the universal interface, the embedded device delivers the IP data packet parsed from the received data frames to the application layer when determining that the received data frame carries a virtual network port identifier. An embedded device for implementing a virtual network interface is also provided, the device includes a universal interface, a determining module, an encapsulating/decapsulating module, and a sending/receiving module. |
| US09240898B1 |
Integrating VLAN-unaware devices into VLAN-enabled networks
Methods and apparatus for integrating VLAN-unaware devices into VLAN-enabled networks are described. For example, a method of assigning a virtual local area network identifier (VID) to a data unit may include receiving a data unit encapsulated in a wireless header from a source host via a wireless access point, wherein the data unit is addressed to a target host. A VID is determined based at least in part on an identifier of a wireless network included in the wireless header, and the VID is assigned to the data unit. |
| US09240897B2 |
Method of using AV devices and AV device system
A plurality of devices and a device system are disclosed, in which a plurality of input devices generate an input AV signal, a related device records and reproduces the AV signal, and a display device displays the AV signal. The input devices, the related device and the display device are interconnected to configure an AV system having a bus for transmitting or receiving the AV signal and management information. The related device of the AV system includes a recording medium for recording the AV signal, and the input devices transmit to the related device a request to secure a recording area on the recording medium. |
| US09240891B2 |
Hybrid authentication
A hybrid authentication device that has a keypad, a display, an electronic communications interface and a processor and memory that can be removable, such as a Subscriber Identity Module. The device can operate in a stand-alone mode, in which a user enters a personal identification number and challenge using the keypad, and the device generates a response. The device can also function as a smartcard, and can be electronically coupled to an external device using the communications interface. |
| US09240887B2 |
Off-host authentication system
An off-host authentication system includes an authentication information handling system (IHS) that is coupled to a network. The off-host authentication system also includes a host processing system. An off-host processing system in the off-host authentication system is coupled to the host processing system and is coupled to the authentication IHS through the network. The off-host processing system provides an encrypted primary authentication item to the authentication IHS through the network. The off-host processing system then receives an encrypted secondary authentication token from the authentication IHS through the network. The off-host processing system then decrypts the encrypted secondary authentication token to produce a decrypted secondary authentication token and uses the decrypted secondary authentication token to retrieve a tertiary authentication token. The off-host processing system then provides the tertiary authentication token to the host processing system for use in logging a user into a user IHS that includes the host processing system. |
| US09240886B1 |
Authentication adaptation
A system and method are provided to allow access to one or more computing resources using a single authentication scheme even though some of the computing resources may support different authentication schemes. In various embodiments, upon receiving a user request to access one or more computing resources, a first authentication credential according to a first authentication scheme is generated subsequent to successful authentication of the user. If processing of the request requires a second authentication credential according to a second authentication scheme, the second credential may be encapsulated in the first authentication credential and later extracted and combined with additional information, if necessary, for providing the requested access to the one or more computing resources. |
| US09240880B2 |
Distributed data storage device
The invention relates to a distributed data memory unit comprising a plurality of memory units, each having memory means and an access controller, an authentication unit comprising memory means and a validation unit, an execution controller comprising an execution controller module and an access verification unit, the execution controller communicating with the memory units and the authentication unit. At least one unambiguous electronic cipher is stored in the memory means of the authentication unit, the access verification unit has an access controller module and a memory unit. A first unambiguous cipher, which corresponds to a stored cipher of the authentication unit is stored in the memory unit and an assignment table is stored in the memory means of the memory unit. The invention also relates to a method for operating a distributed data memory unit. |
| US09240877B2 |
Segment sensitive scheduling
Systems and methods of scheduling sub-carriers in an OFDMA system in which a scheduler takes into account channel conditions experienced by the communication devices to optimize channel conditions. The scheduler can partition a set of sub-carriers spanning an operating bandwidth into a plurality of segments. The segments can include a plurality of global segments that each includes a distinct non-contiguous subset of the sub-carriers spanning substantially the entire operating bandwidth. One or more of the global segments can be further partitioned into a plurality of local segments that each has a bandwidth that is less than a channel coherence bandwidth. The scheduler determines channel characteristics experienced by each communication device via reporting or channel estimation, and allocates one or more segments to communication links for each device according to the channel characteristics. |
| US09240876B2 |
Method, base station, and user equipment for feeding back ACK/NACK information for carrier aggregation
The present invention provides a method, a base station, and a user equipment for feeding back ACK/NACK information for carrier aggregation. The method includes: configuring a common field preset in DCI as at least one type of command field related to ACK/NACK feedback of at least two types of command fields related to ACK/NACK feedback, where the common field can be configured as the command fields related to ACK/NACK feedback; and sending the DCI to a user equipment, so that the user equipment feeds back ACK/NACK information according to the DCI. The present invention may realize backward compatibility of the ACK/NACK information feedback with an LTE system in carrier aggregation. |
| US09240874B2 |
Coexistent channel access method
A method for transmitting a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) packet in a wireless local area network is described. The method includes generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) including a short training field (STF), a long training field (LTF), a very high throughput (VHT)-signal field, a VHT-STF, a VHT-LTF and a plurality of data streams. The STF is used for at least one receiver to estimate an automatic gain control and a coarse frequency offset. The LTF is used for the at least one receiver to estimate a fine frequency offset. The VHT-STF is used for improving automatic gain control estimation in a MIMO transmission. The VHT-LTF is used for estimating a MIMO channel based on the plurality of data streams. The PPDU is transmitted to the at least one receiver. |
| US09240859B2 |
Method and device for correcting channel quality indicator value
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for correcting a CQI value. Information indicates radio channel characteristics. A block error rate (BLER) target value is determined according to the information that indicates radio channel characteristics. A channel quality indicator (CQI) measurement value is corrected according to a BLER measurement value and the determined BLER target value. |
| US09240858B2 |
Optical communication system, optical communication method, optical communication device, and method and program for controlling the same
In order to perform the polarization demultiplexing of the polarization multiplexed BPSK signal using a small-scale circuit by means of optical phase modulation of the polarization multiplexed BPSK signal into the pseudo polarization multiplexed QPSK signal, an optical communication system for communicating by using polarization multiplexed optical signals includes an optical phase modulation means for modulating phases of a plurality of optical signals employing BPSK modulation system including information to be communicated, and for generating a plurality of optical signals to become signals by pseudo QPSK modulation system; and a signal restoration means for performing polarization demultiplexing of a plurality of polarization multiplexed optical signals from a plurality of optical signals modulated into the pseudo QPSK modulation system, and for restoring the information to be communicated. |
| US09240857B2 |
System, method and fiber-optic transceiver module for bandwidth efficient distortion-tolerant transmissions for high-bit rate fiber optic communications
According to one embodiment of the invention, fiber optic communications method is described. The method comprises a first operation of dynamically identifying frequencies at which spectral nulls occur in a signal received via an optical fiber, and thereafter, segregating communications over the optical fiber into a set of inter-null bands defined by the spectral nulls. |
| US09240856B2 |
Network system, network apparatus, and method of controlling network
A network apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers (110) each of which has a frequency variable characteristic and communicates on an allocated channel, a channel allocation unit (154) which allocates channels of standby transceivers that are not connected to a network and are set to a standby state, among the plurality of transceivers (110) so that the channels are different from each other, a tuning unit (158) which tunes the standby transceivers to the frequencies of the allocated channels by changing respective parameters, and a selection unit (156) which preferentially selects and uses a transceiver having a short channel setting time among the standby transceivers, when a path is newly set in the network. |
| US09240855B1 |
Fiber diagnosis system for point-to-point optical access networks
Implementations of techniques and systems are disclosed for detecting a fiber fault in a point-to-point optical access network based on optical time domain reflectometry (“OTDR”) measurements. The techniques include identifying loss of service between a central office (“CO”) and a given optical network unit (“ONU”) of a plurality of ONUs. In response to the identifying the loss of service, configuring a test signal distribution unit to optically couple an OTDR unit to a selected subset of the point-to-point fiber links which includes the given ONU. An optical test signal is launched from the OTDR unit into the selected subset of the point-to-point fiber links via the test signal distribution unit. Test signal reflections are received from each of the point-to-point fiber links within the selected subset as a reflection signature, which is analyzed to identify a location of the fiber fault. |
| US09240842B2 |
Isolation of RF signals using optical single side band modulation combined with optical filtering
A method and apparatus for isolating an RF signal are provided. A first RF signal is received and passed to an input of a 90 degree hybrid. An output of the 90 degree hybrid is connected to a first waveguide and a second output is connected to a second waveguide of an optical modulator. A second RF signal is received and passed to an input of a second 90 degree hybrid. An output of the second 90 degree hybrid is connected to the second waveguide and a second output is connected to the first waveguide of the optical modulator. The optical modulator is biased to produce single side band optical outputs of the RF signals. The single side band optical outputs are passed to an optical notch filter to remove one of the side band outputs. The other of the side band optical outputs is converted to an electrical signal. |
| US09240840B2 |
Inter-vehicle communication apparatus and method using visible light communication
The present invention relates to an inter-vehicle communication apparatus and method using visible light communication. The inter-vehicle communication apparatus using visible light communication includes a spreading code application unit for applying a spreading code to transmission data desired to be transmitted, and a transmission unit for generating a transmission frame based on the transmission data to which the spreading code is applied, and transmitting the transmission frame via a lighting lamp of a vehicle. The transmission frame includes a preamble field required to synchronize the transmission frame, a data field required to transmit the transmission data, and a position field required to provide hopping information of the transmission data. |
| US09240839B2 |
Transmitting data to a rolling shutter sensor array via a light emitter array
An array of light emitters is arranged single-file along an emitting surface of a transmitting device and emits light in a z-direction normal to the emitting surface. The array of light emitters is aligned along a y-direction normal to the z-direction. A lens assembly is optically coupled to the array of light emitters. The lens assembly includes at least one cylindrical lens and at least one aspherical lens. The lens assembly emits the light in free-space along the z-direction and has a first focal length in the y-direction and a different, second focal length in an x-direction. An encoder is coupled to apply a data signal to the array of light emitters. The data signal causes the array of light emitters to illuminate in a pattern that switches at a rate corresponding to a rolling shutter of a receiving sensor array. |
| US09240835B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for increasing radio frequency (RF) power in distributed antenna systems
A system, and related methods and devices, is disclosed for increasing an output power of a frequency band in a distributed antenna system that includes at least one RXU module that is operatively coupled to at least one RAU module. A first group of the plurality of channels within a first frequency band may be allocated to the RAU module, and a second group of the plurality of the channels within the first frequency band may be allocated to the RXU module. The at least one RAU module may be configured to receive RF signals from the first group of the plurality of channels being used in the first frequency band, and the at least one RXU module may be configured to receive RF signals from the second group of the plurality of channels being used in the first frequency band. In this manner, the amount of composite power per channel is increased. |
| US09240829B2 |
Transmitting apparatus, receiving apparatus, radio communication system, and radio communication method
A transmitting apparatus includes multiple antennas between which an antenna interval is variable; and a transmitter that transmits a pilot signal using an antenna selected from among the antennas and based on a correlation value representing correlation between the antennas. |
| US09240828B2 |
Transmitting method and transmission system using the same
A transmitting method and transmission system using the same is applied to selectively use a space block-coding module to transmit a transmitted data. Each data stream of the transmission data is transmitted using the transmitting paths, and the transmission qualities of the transmitting paths are detected to decide whether the space-block encoding module works or not. |
| US09240824B2 |
Wireless power and wireless communication for electronic devices
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless electronic devices. A method may comprise receiving a wireless signal with an antenna and identifying one of a wireless charging module and a near-field communication module to which the received signal is associated. The method may further comprise conveying the received signal to the identified one of the wireless charging module and the near-field communication module. |
| US09240823B2 |
Receiver, apparatus, and methods for wirelessly receiving data from a power infrastructure
Apparatuses, receivers, systems and methods for receiving data via a power line infrastructure. An exemplary apparatus includes a base station configured to receive a signal from a power line of a structure by coupling to the power line through an electrical outlet. The base station may include an impedance matching circuit configured to match an impedance of the power line of the structure, and a receiver coupled to the impedance matching circuit. The receiver may be configured to demodulate the signal received from the power line of the structure, convert the demodulated signal into a digital signal, and provide the digital signal to a decoder. |
| US09240822B2 |
Method of handling power reduction at transmitter and related communication device
A method of arranging a frame for power reduction, utilized in a transmitter in a communication system is disclosed. The transmitter communicates with a receiver in the communication system. The method comprises generating a preamble with a first power level in the frame; arranging a header with the first power level after the preamble in the frame, wherein the header comprises information of a second power level; arranging an additional channel estimation (ACE) symbol with the second power level after the header in the frame; and arranging a first payload with the second power level after the ACE symbol in the frame. |
| US09240817B2 |
Wall fastener for wireless transmission module
The wall fastener for a wireless transmission module includes a supporting frame and a case. The supporting frame has a front face, a rear face, a first engagement portion and a slot. The case has a rear plate which has an outer face, an inner face, a second engagement portion and a stopper. The stopper partially projects out of the outer face. The first and second engagement portions mate and the stopper is received by the slot. The wireless transmission module and the supporting frame are tightly engaged and easily disengaged by a tool. |
| US09240816B2 |
Timing synchronization system and method of super regenerative receiver based on ultra low power communication
A method and apparatus are provided to generate a preamble signal. A peak of each pulse of the preamble signal is synchronized with a sensitivity region of a super regenerative receiver (SRR). The method and apparatus are configured to transmit, to the SRR, a data packet comprising the preamble signal, wherein the data packet is a baseband signal corresponding to the preamble signal. |
| US09240815B1 |
Reconfigurable filter
A reconfigurable filter includes a splitter for providing an input signal on a plurality of paths. A first path includes a first filter section that can be configured as either a tunable band pass filter with a shunt-connected fixed inductor or a tunable notch filter with a fixed inductor in parallel with a tunable varactor, either of which can be responsive to a control signal. A second path is an all pass section that provides an unfiltered signal. A combiner is provided for combining the first filtered signal with the unfiltered signal for producing a composite signal. The unfiltered signal can have its gain or phase modified in either or both the splitter or the combiner. |
| US09240814B2 |
Ultrasonic receiver front-end
In certain embodiments, systems for receiving one or more echoes are provided. The system comprises a first attenuator, a first amplifier, and a second attenuator. The first attenuator is configured to receive the one or more echo signals, and generate a corresponding set of first attenuated echo signals, respectively, based on a number of signal strengths of the one or more echo signals. The first amplifier is configured to receive and amplify the set of first attenuated echo signals to thereby generate a set of first amplified echo signals corresponding to the one or more first attenuated echo signals, respectively. The second attenuator is configured to receive the set of first amplified echo signals and generate a set of second attenuated echo signals corresponding to the set of first amplified echo signals, respectively, based on a number of signal strengths of the set of first amplified echo signals, respectively. |
| US09240813B2 |
Distributed digitally convertible radio (DDCR)
Embodiments of a hybrid unit that supports a configurable number of radio units for a base station in a cellular communications network and embodiments of Distributed Digitally Convertible Radio Units (DDCRUs) for use with the hybrid unit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hybrid unit for a base station in a cellular communications network is provided. The hybrid unit includes an analog hybrid matrix. The analog hybrid matrix includes a number of feeder ports operative to connect to at least one radio unit and up to a number of radio units that are external to and separate from the hybrid unit. In one preferred embodiment, the radio unit(s) is(are) DDCRU(s). The analog hybrid matrix also includes a number of antenna ports operative to connect to at least one and up to a corresponding number of antennas of the base station. |
| US09240811B2 |
Switched duplexer front end
The disclosed invention relates to a transceiver system having a bypass signal path that enables low power consumption. The transceiver system has a plurality of signal paths respectively having a filtering element with a stop band and with a pass band. An antenna switching module (ASM) has a plurality of RF ports and a plurality of switching elements. Respective RF ports are connected to a separate one of the plurality of switching elements that selectively connect the RF port to an antenna port of the ASM. A control unit generates control signals that operate the plurality of switching elements to selectively connect the plurality of signal paths to the antenna port. A filtering response at the antenna port is equal to a combination of the filtering responses of filtering elements within the connected signal paths. |
| US09240810B2 |
Systems and processes for decoding chain reaction codes through inactivation
A method for processing a chain reaction code includes first selecting a source symbol which is associated with an output symbol of degree two or higher (i.e., an output symbol which is itself associated with two or more input symbols), and subsequently deactivating the selected source symbol in an attempt to produce an output symbol of degree one. The inactivation process can be repeated either successively until an output symbol of degree one is identified, and/or whenever the decoding process is unable to locate an output symbol of degree one. |
| US09240809B2 |
Methods for digital signal processing and transmission/reception systems utilizing said methods
Methods for digital signal processing and transmission/reception systems utilizing the methods based on the use of LDPC codes, for example the LDPC code with a 3/5 code rate, in combination with a QAM modulation, for example the 16 QAM or 64 QAM or 256 QAM modulation. In transmission, a bit permutation (Demux) is carried out prior to the QAM constellation mapping function, and in reception, the bit permutation is carried out after the QAM constellation demapping function. |
| US09240803B2 |
Compression of baseband signals in base transceiver system processors
A signal compression method and apparatus for a base transceiver system (BTS) in a wireless communication network provides efficient transfer of compressed signal samples over serial data links in the system. For the uplink, an RF unit of the BTS compresses baseband signal samples resulting from analog to digital conversion of a received analog signal followed by digital downconversion. The compressed signal samples are transferred over the serial data link to the baseband processor then decompressed prior to normal signal processing. For the downlink, the baseband processor compresses baseband signal samples and transfers the compressed signal samples to the RF unit. The RF unit decompresses the compressed samples prior to digital upconversion and digital to analog conversion to form an analog signal for transmission over an antenna. Compression and decompression can be incorporated into operations of conventional base stations and distributed antenna systems, including OBSAI or CPRI compliant systems. |
| US09240801B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter
A delta sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC) providing optimized performance and energy consumption. In one embodiment, a delta-sigma ADC includes a loop filter and a multi-bit quantizer. The multi-bit quantizer is coupled to the loop filter. The quantizer includes a counter, a reference voltage generator, and a comparator. The counter is configured to provide a multi-bit output value that estimates an output of the loop filter. The reference voltage generator is configured to generate a reference voltage ramp based on the output value of the counter. The comparator is coupled to the reference voltage generator to compare the reference voltage ramp to output of the loop filter. |
| US09240795B2 |
Apparatus and methods for phase-locked loop oscillator calibration and lock detection
A system and method of calibrating a phase-locked loop (PLL) having at least a phase detector, a frequency divider and a local oscillator are provided. The disclosed example includes generating a lock window signal based on a feedback signal generated by the frequency divider where the lock window signal may form an active lock window relative to each significant edge of the feedback signal, generating a sampled window signal based on samples of the lock window signal at each significant edge of a reference signal, and estimating a phase offset between the reference signal and the feedback signal based on a number of consecutive samples of the sampled window signal that are active. |
| US09240792B2 |
Monolithic clock generator and timing/frequency reference
A periodic signal generator includes a resonant LC tank circuit that generates a periodic reference signal at a first frequency at a differential output thereof. A temperature-responsive frequency compensation module is electrically coupled to the differential output of the resonant LC tank circuit. This module includes a temperature dependent voltage control module that generates a temperature dependent control voltage and an array of switchable capacitive modules that is electrically coupled to a first node of the differential output of the resonant LC tank circuit and responsive to the temperature dependent control voltage and a plurality of switching coefficients. The array of switchable capacitive modules includes a fixed capacitor having a first terminal electrically coupled to the first node and a voltage-controlled variable capacitor having a first terminal electrically coupled to the first node. |
| US09240791B2 |
Clock distribution architecture for logic tiles of an integrated circuit and method of operation thereof
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of logic tiles, wherein each logic tile includes a plurality of edges and is configurable to connect with adjacent logic tile. Each logic tile includes a plurality of input/output clock paths, wherein each input/output clock path is associated with a different edge of the logic tile. The plurality of input/output clock paths include a plurality of input clock path, each input clock path configurable to receive a tile input clock signal from an adjacent first logic tile, and a plurality of output clock paths, each output clock path configurable to output a tile output clock signal to an adjacent second logic tile. An output clock path includes a u-turn circuit to receive a tile clock signal having a first predetermined skew and provide a tile clock signal having a second predetermined skew. |
| US09240789B2 |
Sub-rate low-swing data receiver
A receiver is adapted to receive an input signal having a first voltage swing and to generate an output signal having a second voltage swing, the output signal being indicative of the input signal, the second voltage swing being greater than the first voltage swing. The receiver includes a first sub-rate receiver block and at least a second sub-rate receiver block. A receiver clock is divided into a first sub-rate clock phase and at least a second sub-rate clock phase, the first sub-rate clock phase being used to drive the first sub-rate receiver block and the second sub-rate clock phase being used to drive the second sub-rate receiver block. Each of the first sub-rate receiver block and the second sub-rate receiver block includes at least one gated-diode sense amplifier. |
| US09240786B2 |
Homogeneous dual-rail logic for DPA attack resistive secure circuit design
Homogenous dual-rail logic for DPA attack resistive secure circuit design is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an HDRL circuit comprises a primary cell and a complementary cell, wherein the complementary cell is an identical duplicate of the primary cell. The HURL circuit comprises a first set of inputs and a second set of inputs, wherein the second set of inputs are a negation of the first set of inputs. The HURL circuit has a differential power at a level that is resistive to DPA attacks. |
| US09240785B2 |
Analog signal compatible CMOS switch as an integrated peripheral to a standard microcontroller
At least one analog signal compatible complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch circuit is incorporated with digital logic circuits in an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may further comprise a digital processor and memory, e.g., microcontroller, microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), programmable logic array (PLA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc., for controlling operation of the at least one analog signal compatible CMOS switch for switching analog signals, e.g., audio, video, serial communications, etc. The at least one analog signal compatible CMOS switch may have first and second states, e.g., single throw “on” or “off”, or double throw common to a or b, controlled by a single digital control signal of either a logic “0” or a logic “1”. |
| US09240783B2 |
Pulse synthesizing circuit
A circuit having versatility synthesizes one-bit digital signals to generate a ternary signal. The pulse synthesizing circuit synthesizes one-bit digital signals from two DFFs to generate a ternary signal. The pulse synthesizing circuit has a first NOR gate, a second NOR gate, a third NOR gate, and three switches. The first switch is connected to a first electric potential, the second switch is connected to a second electric potential, and the third switch is connected to a third electric potential. The first to third switches are turned on/off according to logical values of the signals from the two DFFs, and any of the first electric potential, the second electric potential, and the third electric potential is set as an output potential so that a ternary signal is generated. |
| US09240781B2 |
Shift register, display apparatus, gate driving circuit, and driving method
A shift register, a display apparatus, a gate driving circuit and a driving method, the shift register comprises a plurality of stages of shift register circuits (SR0-SRn), a Nth stage shift register circuit among the plurality of stages of shift register circuits (SR0-SRn) comprises: a pre-charging circuit (1), a pulling-up circuit (2), a resetting circuit (3) and a retaining circuit, the retaining circuit is equipped with an eighth transistor (M8) whose gate is connected with a first control signal terminal (CK), source and drain are connected with each other. Not only a shift registering is realized, but also the operation period of the circuit is decreased, which can address the problem of shift in the voltage thresholds. Further, with the transistor whose source and drain are short-circuited, a control of the control signal on the pulling-down node is realized, so that a potential at the pulling-down node rises rapidly when the first control signal is in the high level and has a reduced descending range when the first control signal is in the low level, which can realize a better control of the circuit. |
| US09240780B1 |
Preventing voltage pulse propagation in a disabled capacitive feedback slew-controlled switch
Transient voltages are not propagated through a P-channel MOSFET used as a switch with output slew rate control feedback, by connecting a low or near-zero impedance across the source and gate terminals of the device whenever the MOSFET is supposed to be off. The low or near-zero impedance is provided by a second P-channel MOSFET connected across the source and gate of the MOSFET switch. |
| US09240779B2 |
Gate driving circuit
A gate driving circuit is provided which is capable of alleviating the effect of a switching noise generated when an IGBT is turned on/off or a common mode noise on a gate driving signal. The gate driving circuit, a primary side and a secondary side thereof being insulated from each other by a pulse transformer; the primary side of the pulse transformer being grounded to a first ground potential point; the secondary side of the pulse transformer being grounded to a second ground potential point insulated from the first ground potential point; and a gate driving signal generated in a secondary winding of the pulse transformer being outputted through a receiver having impedance matching resistors on the input side, includes an electrostatic shield plate between a primary winding of the pulse transformer and the secondary winding, the electrostatic shield plate being grounded to the second ground potential point. |
| US09240776B2 |
Analog-digital pulse width modulator (ADPWM)
Analog-to-digital pulse width modulation circuitry includes thermometer code generator circuitry, clock generator circuitry, delay selection circuitry, and an output stage. The thermometer code generator circuitry is adapted to generate a digital thermometer code based upon a received analog input voltage. The clock generator circuitry is adapted to generate a reference clock and a plurality of delayed clock signals. The delay selection circuitry is connected between the thermometer code generator circuitry and the clock generator circuitry, and is adapted to select one of the delayed clock signals to present to the output stage based upon the generated thermometer code. The selected delayed clock signal is delayed by an amount of time that is proportional to the generated thermometer code. The reference clock signal and the selected delayed clock signal are delivered to the output stage where they are used to generate a pulse width modulated output signal. |
| US09240774B2 |
Fast single-ended to differential converter
A single ended to a differential signal converter. The single ended signal is passed through a high pass filter to block DC components. A positive and a negative version of the filtered signal are used collectively as the differential output of the converter. To allow accurate measurements on the input signal without waiting for the output of the high pass filter to settle, the differential outputs are offset by a dynamically generated signal representative of the midpoint of the filtered signal. That offset is generated by capturing a value representing the midpoint when a signal is first applied. This captured value is allowed to change with a time constant matching a time constant of the high pass filter. The converter may be used to connect a test instrument to a unit under test that generates test signals in a format that the test instrument is not specifically configured to measure. |
| US09240771B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating signal having converted sampling rate in communication system
A method of generating a signal having a converted sampling rate in a communication system is provided. The method includes selecting effective input samples among S number of input samples included in an input stream corresponding to an input sampling rate, generating a filter coefficient set including filter coefficients having a length of a second tap, the filter coefficients having the length of the second tap being generated by dividing a filter coefficient having a length of a first tap configuring a low-pass filter into the filter coefficients having the length of the second tap corresponding to a number of selected effective input samples, selecting filter coefficients corresponding to each of the effective input samples among the filter coefficients included in the filter coefficient set, and outputting output samples having an output sampling rate which is converted from the input sampling rate. |
| US09240768B2 |
Duplexer with transmission and reception filters each including resonators formed on different chips
A duplexer includes a transmission filter and a reception filter having different passbands, wherein: first resonators that are series resonators or parallel resonators included in the transmission and reception filters so as to form a skirt characteristic at a guard band side are a temperature compensated type piezoelectric thin film resonator or a surface acoustic wave resonator using Love waves, and second resonators that form a skirt characteristic at an opposite side to the guard band are one of a temperature non-compensated type piezoelectric thin film resonator, a surface acoustic wave resonator using a lithium tantalate substrate or a substrate made by bonding a lithium tantalate substrate on a sapphire substrate, and a surface acoustic wave resonator using Love waves. |
| US09240765B1 |
Snap-on coaxial cable balun and method for trapping RF current on outside shield of coax after installation
Apparatus and method for a radially attachable RF trap attached from a side to a shielded RF cable. In some embodiments, the RF trap creates a high impedance on the outer shield of the RF cable at a frequency of RF signals carried on at least one inner conductor of the cable. In some embodiments, an RF-trap apparatus for blocking stray signals on a shielded RF cable that has a peripheral shield conductor and a inner conductor for carrying RF signals includes: a case; an LC circuit having a resonance frequency equal to RF signals carried on the inner conductor; projections that pierce and connect the LC circuit to the shield conductor; and an attachment device that holds the case to the cable with the LC circuit electrically connected to the shield conductor of the shielded RF cable. |
| US09240764B2 |
Apparatus and method for preventing acoustic shock of portable terminal
An apparatus and method for preventing an acoustic shock of a portable terminal are disclosed. The apparatus includes a transceiver gain determining unit including a table of gain values for sound signals in each of one or more call modes, configured to output a particular gain value corresponding to a particular call mode; a reference value determining unit configured to receive the gain value from the transceiver gain determining unit, monitor a change in the gain value, and determine a predetermined reference energy value based on the change in the gain value; and an output level adjusting unit configured to receive an input signal, compare the input signal with the predetermined reference energy value, and adjust the level of the input signal to output an output signal. |
| US09240762B2 |
Method and circuit for improving the settling time of an output stage
The present document relates to amplifiers, notably multi-stage amplifiers, such as linear regulators or linear voltage regulators (e.g. low-dropout regulators) configured to provide a constant output voltage subject to load transients. An amplifier comprising an output stage for providing an output current at an output voltage, in dependence of an input voltage at a stage input node of the output stage, is described. The output stage comprises a first input transistor; wherein a gate of the first input transistor is coupled to the stage input node of the output stage. Furthermore, the output stage comprises a first diode transistor; wherein the first diode transistor is arranged in series with the input transistor. In addition, the output stage comprises a pass device configured to provide the output current at the output voltage; wherein the first diode transistor and the pass device form a current mirror. |
| US09240760B2 |
Power amplifier module
A power amplifier module includes a first amplification transistor that amplifies and outputs a radio frequency signal, a second amplification transistor that is connected in parallel to the first amplification transistor and that has a smaller size than the first amplification transistor, a bias circuit that supplies a bias voltage or a bias current to the first and second amplification transistors, a current detector circuit that detects a current flowing in the second amplification transistor, and a bias control circuit that controls the bias voltage or the bias current supplied from the bias circuit to the first and second amplification transistors depending on the detection result of the current detector circuit. |
| US09240759B2 |
Amplifier assembly
The invention relates to an amplifier assembly. The assembly comprises an input device for receiving a representation of an input signal (I, Q; A, phi), a signal-component separator, wherein the signal-component separator produces a first complex intermediate output signal (S1) and a second complex intermediate output signal (S2), wherein the signal-component separator produces the first complex intermediate output signal (S1) and the second complex intermediate output signal (S2) on the basis of the representation of the input signal (I, Q; A, phi), wherein the signal-component separator provides a plurality of amplitude levels, wherein the plurality of amplitude levels is selected in such a way that a sum of the first complex intermediate output signal (S1) and the second complex intermediate output signal (S2) is substantially a reflection of a complex input signal in accordance with the representation of the input signal (I, Q; A, phi) and the phase angle between the first complex intermediate output signal (S1) and the second complex intermediate output signal (S2) is small. Furthermore, the assembly comprises an amplifying device for amplifying the signals in the high-frequency state and a combining device for combining the signals. |
| US09240757B2 |
Transmission apparatus and transmission method
A transmission apparatus comprises a signal generator that generates input signals of two or more bands of frequencies and outputs the generated input signals; a power amplifier that amplifies the input signals and outputs amplified signals; a branching filter that outputs branched signals for the respective frequencies from the amplified signals; a data transmitter that transmits data based on one of the branched signals of a first frequency; a power regenerator that converts one of the branched signals of a second frequency into regenerated power and output the regenerated power, and a power combiner that combines the regenerated power and power supply power output from a voltage source, as combined power and supplies the combined power to the power amplifier. |
| US09240756B1 |
High linearity, high efficiency, low noise, gain block using cascode network
A two-stage RF amplifier comprising first and second transistors arranged in cascode. The first transistor cooperatively connected to an input RF signal source through a parallel RC network. The gate of the second transistor terminated with a lossy connection. |
| US09240751B2 |
Phase current detection system
A motor control system includes an inverter and a plurality of current sensors each positioned in-line between the inverter and a phase coil of the motor. Each current sensor measures the current provided to each phase coil of the motor and provides a signal indicative of each phase current to a controller. In some embodiments, the currents sensors are provided as one or more current sense integrated circuits. A protection circuit protects the current sense integrated circuit from ground bounce by coupling a diode and an opposite facing Zener diode in series between the power supply pin and the ground pin of the integrated circuit. |
| US09240750B2 |
Forced air cooling-type power conversion device
Power conversion sub-blocks are combined to be configured as a power conversion block. The power conversion sub-blocks include power conversion modules including cooler base sections on which semiconductor elements are mounted and cooler fin sections provided on the rear surface side of semiconductor element mounting surfaces in the cooler base sections and cooler attachment members to which cooler fin sections are attached back to back, the cooler attachment members being configured to be capable of separating an opened section where the cooler fin sections are present and external air circulates and a closed section where the semiconductor elements are present and circulating cooling air to the cooler fin sections. |
| US09240742B1 |
Current boost circuit
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a current boost to support a voltage. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a voltage node; a switch coupled to the voltage node; a sensing circuit including an input coupled to the voltage node and an output for providing a corresponding voltage; and a voltage regulator coupled to receive the corresponding voltage and coupled to control the switch responsive to the received corresponding voltage. In an embodiment, a method comprises sensing a voltage; using a voltage regulator to turn on a switch responsive to the sensed voltage being less than a certain value; and providing additional current through the on switch to substantially maintain the voltage from being less than the certain value. |
| US09240740B2 |
Active voltage controller for an electric motor
A method for controlling an electric motor. A desired speed is identified for the electric motor during operation of the electric motor. A voltage is identified to cause the electric motor to turn at the desired speed. The voltage is applied to the electric motor and actively controlled during operation of the electric motor. |
| US09240728B2 |
Control device for rectifiers of switching converters
A control device detects zero crossings of a current through a rectifier transistor during plural cycles; generates a turn-on signal of the transistor and inserts a turn-on delay equal to a fixed first quantity from the start time of for each cycle. The control device starts counting consecutive cycles after inserting the turn-on delay; detects whether a zero crossing of the current through the transistor after turning on said transistor has occurred; if no zero crossing is detected before counting a number N of consecutive cycles, decreases the turn-on delay by a fixed second quantity for the next cycle; if a zero crossing is detected, maintains turned on the transistor; if the turn-on delay is smaller than first quantity, increases the turn-on delay o for the next switching cycle; and if the turn-on delay is equal to the first quantity, maintains the turn-on delay for the next switching cycle. |
| US09240724B2 |
Multiphase DC/DC converters and control circuits for controlling converters using fixed and/or variable frequencies
A multiphase DC/DC power converter includes an input, an output, at least a first converter and a second converter coupled in parallel between the input and the output, an inductor coupled to the first and second converters, an output capacitor coupled between the first and second converters and the output, and a control circuit coupled to the first converter and the second converter. The first and second converters each include a power switch. The control circuit is configured to switch the power switches at a frequency with a phase shift therebetween, and to vary the frequency to regulate a voltage at the output. Additionally, the control circuit may be configured to switch power switches at a fixed frequency with substantially no phase shift therebetween during startup of a multiphase DC/DC power converter, and at a variable frequency with a defined phase shift therebetween after startup. |
| US09240723B2 |
Resonant circuit and resonant DC/DC converter
A resonant circuit includes three resonant circuit input nodes and three output nodes and a transformer device having three primary windings and three secondary windings. The three primary windings are magnetically connected to the three secondary windings. The resonant circuit also includes a first resonant tank device, a second resonant tank device, and a third resonant tank device each connected between the respective first, second, and third resonant circuit input nodes and the respective first, second, and third primary windings. |
| US09240721B2 |
Multiphase digital current mode controller with dynamic current allocation
A multiphase switching regulator includes a power stage with at least a first phase and a second phase for supplying power to a load through inductors coupling the phases to the load. The multiphase switching regulator is operated by switching the first phase at a higher switching frequency than the second phase via pulse width modulation (PWM) signals provided to the phases. A phase-specific target current is generated for each phase at the switching frequency for that phase based on the difference between an output voltage of the power stage and a reference voltage. The current in the inductors coupling the phases to the load is sensed, and a duty cycle of the PWM signal provided to each phase is adjusted based on the phase-specific target current and sensed inductor current for that phase. |
| US09240719B2 |
Switching power supply device
A control circuit (24) includes a calculation means (28) which determines ON time and OFF time of a main switching element (14) and a drive pulse generating means (30) which generates drive pulses that turn the main switching element (14) ON and OFF. A control function formula which prescribes a relationship between an output voltage (Vo) and an output differential value (Vd) by a negative linear function and the like is defined in the calculation means (28). The calculation means (28) samples an input voltage signal (Vi) and an output voltage signal (Vo) at a timing synchronized with a switching cycle of the main switching element (14), and calculates the ON time and OFF time of the main switching element (14) thereafter so as to satisfy the control function formula. The drive pulse generating means (30) generates drive pulses (V14) which turn the main switching element (14) ON and OFF on the basis of the ON and OFF time determined by the calculation means (28). |
| US09240716B2 |
Switching power supply circuit
A switching power supply circuit is disclosed in an embodiment. The switching power supply circuit includes a power output stage, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator, a compensation module, and a overshooting protection module. The power output stage is used for generating an output signal to drive a load device. The PWM signal generator generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal which is used for controlling the power output stage. The compensation module is used for generating a compensation signal to the PWM signal generator according to the output signal. The overshooting protection module receives the output signal to enable or disable the PWM signal generator. |
| US09240711B2 |
Constant current control circuit with PFC function and its PFC circuit
A constant current control circuit with PFC function and its PFC circuit are provided. The PFC circuit comprises a valley-filled PFC circuit and a harmonic compensation circuit, whose output signal is supplied to the current control circuit. By adding the harmonic compensation circuit to the PFC circuit, the distortion of input current is decreased and the power factor is enhanced. Moreover, the whole circuit is simplified and its cost is reduced. |
| US09240710B2 |
Vibration-powered generator
A vibration-powered generator (100) has a vibrating element (10) and a coil (40) arranged therearound, and is configured to obtain electromotive force by moving the vibrating element (10) relatively to the coil (40). The vibrating element (10) has a plurality of magnets (20a to 20d) arranged so as to oppose the pole-faces of the same polarity; end supporting portions (12, 13) which support the plurality of magnets from both ends in the direction of arrangement; and a cushioning (16). The cushioning (16) is held between the end supporting portion (12) and the magnet (20c), while being compressed under a stress exceeding the repelling force between the pole-faces of the magnets, so as to keep the magnets (20a to 20d) in a row without leaving a gap in between, overcoming the repelling force. |
| US09240709B2 |
Manufacturing method for electric motor rotor
A manufacturing method for an electric motor rotor includes: a stacking process in which a plurality of iron core pieces are stacked to form a laminated iron core; a magnet insertion process in which a permanent magnet is inserted into a magnet insertion hole provided in the laminated iron core; a resin filling process in which the laminated iron core is heated to fill the magnet insertion hole with a molten resin for magnet fixation; and a rotary shaft assembly process in which a rotary shaft is warm-fitted into a rotary shaft insertion hole of the laminated iron core utilizing residual heat from the heating of the laminated iron core 10 in the resin filling process. |
| US09240704B2 |
Circuit for voltage stabilization in an onboard power supply
A circuit (20, 50) for voltage stabilization in an onboard power supply (10), particularly for motor vehicles, which is electrically connected between the onboard power supply (10) to be stabilized and a first energy store (E1) is disclosed. The circuit (20, 50) includes a diode element (24) which contains a plurality of semiconductor switches (34) connected in parallel. The circuit (20, 50) also includes a pilot and control circuit (33). The control circuit (33) determines the level of a current flowing through the diode element (24) and controls the semiconductor switches (34) of the diode element (24) on the basis of the determined current level. The circuit (20, 50) includes a second energy store (E2) which is electrically connected to the diode element (24) and to the onboard power supply (10). |
| US09240702B2 |
Modular pocket with inductive power and data
A modular pocket system includes a modularly mountable pocket modularly mountable to a tactical garment. An insert is mounted in the pocket to align and closely inductively couple a primary inductive coil and related primary drive circuits in the insert to a secondary inductive coil and related secondary charging circuits in a portable electronic device mountable into the insert for the inductively coupled transmission of power between the coils so to transmit power to the portable device, where the device has a rechargeable energy storage component electrically connected to the secondary inductive coil and secondary charging circuits. |
| US09240701B2 |
Lithium-ion secondary battery
A lithium-ion secondary battery (100) includes a positive electrode mixture layer (223) coated on a positive electrode current collector (221), a negative electrode mixture layer (243) coated on a negative electrode current collector (241), and an electrolyte solution containing lithium ions at a predetermined concentration. The number of lithium ions X in the electrolyte solution impregnated per 1 cm3 of the positive electrode mixture layer (223) and the number of lithium ions Y in the electrolyte solution impregnated per 1 cm3 of the negative electrode mixture layer (243) are both 3.75×1019 or greater. |
| US09240697B2 |
Charging circuit and method for preventing charging power supply from reversely connecting
The invention discloses a charging circuit and a method for preventing charging power supply from reversely connecting in an electronic cigarette or electronic cigarette case. The charging circuit comprises a direct current input terminal, an unit for preventing charging power supply from reversely connecting, a charge management unit and a rechargeable battery. The unit is electrically connected to the direct current input terminal; the charge management unit is electrically connected to the unit and the rechargeable battery. The charging circuit and method according to these embodiments of the invention can effectively avoid the risk caused by the reverse connection of the charging power supply for the electronic cigarette or the electronic cigarette case; it also has the advantages such as low voltage drop and low power consumption. |
| US09240696B2 |
Method and apparatus for recharging a battery
The present invention provides a novel method for charging silver-zinc rechargeable batteries and an apparatus for practicing the charging method. The recharging apparatus includes recharging management circuitry; and one or more of a silver-zinc cell, a host device or a charging base that includes the recharging management circuitry. The recharging management circuitry provides means for regulating recharging of the silver-zinc cell, diagnostics for evaluating battery function, and safety measures that prevent damage to the apparatus caused by charging batteries composed of materials that are not suited for the charging method (e.g., non-silver-zinc batteries). |
| US09240694B2 |
Method for charging battery and charge control device for battery
A method for charging a battery is used for charging a solid secondary battery including a positive electrode active material layer, a negative electrode active material layer and a solid electrolyte layer formed between the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer. Specifically, the method for charging a battery includes a process for obtaining or estimating temperature of the solid secondary battery; and an over-discharge process for lowering voltage of the solid secondary battery to or below a rated voltage by performing over-discharge and/or making an external short circuit with respect to the solid secondary battery prior to a process for charging the solid secondary battery, provided that the temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. |
| US09240690B2 |
Power transfer device
A power transfer device is provided. The power transfer device includes a circuit arrangement including a primary side having a primary coil; a secondary side having a secondary coil inductively coupled to the primary coil and a load transformation unit; wherein the load transformation unit includes an inductor and a capacitor; wherein the secondary coil, the inductor and the capacitor respectively includes a first terminal and a second terminal; wherein the first terminal of the secondary coil is coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor, the second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to the first terminal of the inductor, and the second terminal of the inductor is coupled to the second terminal of the secondary coil. |
| US09240688B2 |
Ultrasonic wireless power transmitter and receiver apparatuses, and method for wireless charging thereof
Disclosed are ultrasonic wireless power transmitter and receiver apparatuses, and a method for wireless charging thereof. A method for wireless charging according to the present disclosure includes: transmitting, by an ultrasonic wireless power transmitter apparatus, an wakeup signal to an ultrasonic wireless power receiver apparatus; calculating, by the ultrasonic wireless power transmitter apparatus, a charging time according to a charging status information received from the ultrasonic wireless power receiver apparatus; generating, by the ultrasonic wireless power transmitter apparatus, an ultrasonic signal, amplifying the generated ultrasonic signal to predetermined voltage and thereafter; charging, by the ultrasonic wireless power transmitter apparatus, the ultrasonic wireless power receiver apparatus for the calculated time and thereafter; and determining, by the ultrasonic wireless power transmitter apparatus, whether secondary charging is to be performed according to a charged status information received from the ultrasonic wireless power receiver apparatus. |
| US09240685B2 |
Reconfigurable matrix-based power distribution architecture
A power management and distribution (PMAD) system includes a first power supply of a first type, a second power supply of a second type different from the first type and first and second loads. The PMAD system includes a matrix of solid state power controllers (SSPCs) connected between the first and second power supplies and the first and second loads. The matrix is configured to selectively supply each of the first and second loads with a plurality of different power levels based on on/off states of the SSPCs of the matrix. |
| US09240683B2 |
Over-current regulating system
An over-current regulating system includes a protecting resistor, an amplifying circuit, and a comparing circuit. The protecting resistor is configured to be electrically coupled to a power supply unit. The amplifying circuit is electrically coupled to the protecting resistor and the comparing circuit and configured to amplify a voltage of the protecting resistor, and output the amplified voltage value to the comparing circuit. The comparing circuit is configured to determine whether the amplified voltage is greater than a first predetermined value when the comparing circuit is coupled to the power supply unit. When the voltage is greater than the first predetermined value, the comparing circuit outputs a controlling signal to reduce a work frequency of a load. |
| US09240680B2 |
Switch for a transmission path for high-voltage direct current
A switch for a high-voltage direct current transmission path includes a vacuum circuit breaker for disconnecting the transmission path and a gas-insulated circuit breaker for disconnecting the transmission path. The gas-insulated circuit breaker is connected in series with the vacuum circuit breaker. A device is provided for building up a counter-current against the current in the transmission path for the purpose of reducing the current across the vacuum circuit breaker. The elements of the switch are actuated by a control device in such a way that the switch is switched off at or close to the zero crossing of the current. |
| US09240679B2 |
Adaptive overvoltage protection circuit and method, and power system including the same
An adaptive over-voltage protection circuit includes an over-voltage protection reference voltage provider and an over-voltage signal output unit. The over-voltage protection reference voltage provider provides a voltage of an over-voltage protection level higher than that of an over-voltage protection voltage corresponding to an output voltage supplied to a load from among a plurality of different over-voltage protection levels as an over-voltage protection reference voltage when the output voltage reaches a range of a rated voltage of the load. The over-voltage signal output unit outputs an over-voltage signal indicating an over-voltage by comparing the over-voltage protection voltage with the over-voltage protection reference voltage. |
| US09240677B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug is provided with: a central electrode; a ground electrode forming a spark discharge gap with the center electrode; and a chip welded to at least one of the electrodes. The chip has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than a thermal expansion coefficient of the electrode to which the chip is welded, and the difference between the content A (mass %) of a noble metal component in the chip and the content B (mass %) of a noble metal component in the electrode (A−B) is 50 mass % or more. In an intermediate layer between the chip and the electrode, holes are present. When the length of a boundary between the chip and the intermediate layer is L (mm), and the length of the holes in a direction along the boundary of the chip and the intermediate layer is N (mm), 0.1≦N/L≦0.4. |
| US09240669B2 |
Device and passive method for the coherent combination of two amplified and/or spectrally broadened optical beams
A method and passive device for the coherent combination of two amplified and/or spectrally broadened optical beams using at least one bidirectional optical component (A1, A2), the device includes an amplitude division ring interferometer having optical splitting and recombining elements disposed so as to receive an incident optical beam (S0) and to split it spatially into a first secondary input beam (H1) and a second secondary input beam (H2), optical guiding elements disposed so as to define an optical path in the form of a ring in the interferometer, the at least one bidirectional optical component being disposed on the optical path of the ring interferometer, the splitting and recombining elements being disposed in such a way as to receive and to recombine spatially, temporally and coherently the first secondary output beam (H1″) and the second secondary output beam (H2″), so as to form a coherent output beam. |
| US09240668B2 |
Method for controlling wavelength tunable laser, and wavelength tunable laser
A lasing wavelength is controlled so that a wavelength detection result becomes a first target value; selection is made to select either a step of calculating a second target value as a wavelength detection result with a shift of the lasing wavelength, or a step of calculating a third control value of a wavelength characteristic of an etalon for letting a laser lase at a wavelength with a shift of the lasing wavelength; in the former step, the lasing wavelength is controlled so that the wavelength detection result becomes the second target value; in the latter step, the lasing wavelength is controlled so that the wavelength detection result becomes the first target value. |
| US09240666B2 |
Optical amplification device and method of controlling optical module
An optical amplification device includes: an optical module that outputs an amplified light; and a controller that makes the optical module emit a light when an emission command is input into the controller, wherein the controller cancels an inputting of the emission command until a predetermined time passes, when a protection for forbidding a light emission of the optical module is canceled. |
| US09240664B2 |
System and method for extending gas life in a two chamber gas discharge laser system
A method and system for performing injects of halogen gas into the chambers of a two chamber gas discharge laser such as a MOPA excimer laser for allowing operation of the laser within acceptable parameters and compensating for ageing effects without the necessity of performing refills is described. A parameter reflecting efficiency of the laser is measured, and the change in the parameter with respect to the length of laser operation is estimated. The change in the parameter with respect to the pressure in one of the chambers is also measured. At a given time, the total change in the value of the parameter is estimated, and from this change in pressure that is needed to reverse the change in the value of the parameter is calculated. The pressure in the chamber is then changed to correct for the amount of time that the laser has been in operation. |
| US09240662B2 |
Terminal treatment method and terminal treatment apparatus for coaxial cable
A terminal treatment method is for a coaxial cable which includes a core member in which an inner conductor is covered with an insulator, an outer conductor provided around the core member and formed of a plurality of wires, and a sheath covering an outer circumference of the outer conductor. The method includes exposing the outer conductor by removing the sheath on an end portion of the coaxial cable, separating the wires of the outer conductor from an outer circumferential surface of the core member by gripping and moving an end portion of the outer conductor to loosen the exposed portion of the outer conductor, extruding the core member having the inner conductor from gaps formed in the wires of the outer conductor to extract the core member from the outer conductor, and intertwining the outer conductor by gripping and twisting the end portion of the outer conductor. |
| US09240660B1 |
Slip ring assembly and method for impedance matching high frequency signals across the slip ring assembly
A slip ring assembly includes a pair of conductive rings consecutively positioned along a center shaft of the slip ring assembly. The pair of conductive rings are electronically coupled to a high frequency signal source via a first twisted wire pair. The pair of conductive rings are electronically coupled to a data processor via a second twisted wire pair. The first and second twisted wire pairs have constant target impedances that are substantially similar. The first and second conductive rings are axially spaced at an axial distance that is sized so as to maintain the constant target impedance across the first and second conductive rings during transmission of a high frequency signal from the high frequency signal source to the data processor. The slip ring assembly provides a method for impedance matching across the conductive rings of the slip ring assembly. |
| US09240659B2 |
Bi-pin dongle
The invention described herein is directed to different embodiments of a bi-pin dongle that in some embodiments is adapted to be received by a standard lamp holder to provide an electrical signal to a non-conventionally shaped lamp or other electronic device. |
| US09240657B2 |
Socket connector with shielding structure
A socket connector includes an insulative base (2), a plurality of contacts (3) therein with an engaging portion (32) and a floating cover (5). The floating cover (5) includes a plurality of through holes (53) for receiving the engaging portions (32) extending therethrough. The socket connector includes a metallic shell (4) having a plurality of receiving holes (41) for receiving the contacts therein and electrically engaging with a metallic surface (52) formed on bottom of the floating cover (5). |
| US09240656B1 |
Connector assembly with cable bundle
A connector assembly includes a cable bundle, a backshell, and a conductive gasket. The cable bundle includes a plurality of cables. The cables each have at least one inner conductor, a grounding element, and a cover layer that surrounds the at least one inner conductor and the grounding element. The backshell has walls defining a cavity. The cavity receives a terminating end of the cable bundle. The backshell has a cable end. The cable bundle extends from the backshell through a cable opening at the cable end. The conductive gasket is held within the cavity of the backshell at least proximate to the cable opening. The conductive gasket is electrically connected to the backshell. The conductive gasket extends between the cables of the cable bundle. The conductive gasket engages the grounding elements of the cables to provide electrical current paths between each of the cables and the backshell. |
| US09240655B2 |
Automatic splice having a magnetic indicator
A cable connector includes a body member having a first opening to receive a cable and a second opening. An indicator is received in the second opening and is movable between exposed and unexposed positions. A magnet is disposed in the body member and is aligned with the second opening. A support member is movable between first and second positions. When the support member is in the first position, the support member is disposed between the magnet and the indicator such that the indicator is in the exposed position. When the support member is in the second position the support member is withdrawn from between the magnet and the indicator such that the magnet moves the indicator to the unexposed position to indicate full insertion of the cable. |
| US09240650B2 |
Terminal block assembly
A terminal block assembly includes a terminal block and lever member and is less structurally complicated and less likely to deform as compared to the existing terminal block products. The terminal block has a main body and a chamber defined by the main body. The chamber is provided with a metal spring piece, which, in response to movements of the lever member, crimps a leading wire to form electrical connection or release the leading wire. The chamber is also provided with a buckle that performs reciprocating movements and is biased by a spring to normally engage with the lever member. When receiving an operating force, the buckle disengages with the lever member so that the lever member is allowed to move. The terminal block assembly advantageously provides easy and effort-saving operation. |
| US09240649B2 |
Power line coupler
The present invention relates to a power line coupler for coupling a pair of cables together. The coupler includes at least one protector for protecting the cables. A clamp is provided for clamping the protector and cables together. |
| US09240647B2 |
Connector and mating connector connectable to the same
The invention provides a connector including a body, first, second, third, and fourth terminals, and first and second connection objects. The body includes a first recess including a first bottom and a first side wall, and a second recess including a second bottom and a second side wall. The first terminal includes a first connecting portion provided in or on the first bottom, or with clearance from the first bottom. The second terminal includes a second connecting portion provided in or on the first side wall. The third terminal includes a third connecting portion provided in or on the second bottom, or with clearance from the second bottom. The fourth terminal includes a fourth connecting portion provided in or on the second side wall. The first connection object is connected to the first and second connecting portions. The second connection object is connected to the third and fourth connecting portions. |
| US09240643B2 |
Device for contacting a circuit board
A device for contacting a circuit board having one or more contact elements, an intake into which at least one section of the circuit board can be inserted, an actuator for moving the circuit board relative to the contact elements until the contact elements are contacted, and at least one securing component for fixing the circuit board in the position in which the contact elements are contacted. |
| US09240641B2 |
Electric connector and fixer used therefor
An electric connector to be mounted on a printed circuit board, includes a housing having an inner space into which a second electric connector is inserted in a direction in which a plane of the printed circuit board is extensive, and at least one fixer through which the housing is fixed on the printed circuit board, the fixer including an extending portion extending from a floor portion of the housing towards outside of the housing, and making contact at a lower surface thereof with a surface of the printed circuit board, the extending portion being fixed at a lower surface thereof on the surface of the printed circuit board to cause the electric connector to be fixed on the surface of the printed circuit board. |
| US09240639B2 |
Card edge connector with a lock mechanism
A card edge connector assembly includes a connector with a central slot and a daughter card having an inserted end for being inserted into the central slot. The connector includes an elongated housing, a plurality of terminals retained in the elongated housing, and at least one lock mechanism for locking the daughter card. The lock mechanism has a locking portion for locking the daughter card and an elastic projection projects from the locking portion for downwardly pressing the daughter card. It can prevent the daughter card from shaking shake. |
| US09240638B2 |
Mezzanine connector with terminal brick
A connector is provided that includes a first housing that supports first terminal bricks. The first housing can mate with a second housing that supports second terminal bricks that are configured to make with the first terminal bricks. The first housing and first terminal bricks can be adjusted so that a variety of spacing requirements can be met by the combination of the first and second housings while allowing for reduced tooling investment. |
| US09240630B2 |
Antenna shield for an implantable medical device
An implantable medical device includes a housing. An opening is present in the housing. The implantable medical device includes an antenna in the housing, where the antenna is located below the opening. The implantable medical device includes a cover coupled to edges of the housing defining the opening to close the opening. The cover enables passage of radio frequency signals at one or more communication frequencies to and from the antenna. The implantable medical device also includes an antenna shield positioned above the cover. The antenna shield reduces passage of radio frequency signals to and from at least a portion of the antenna during use. |
| US09240628B2 |
Multi-elevational antenna systems and methods of use
The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with an antenna system comprising a tension member configured to be towed by an aerial platform and/or secured to an orbiting satellite. In some embodiments, a first end of the tension member may be secured to the aerial platform and the second end may extend unsecured from the aerial platform at a different elevation than the first end. A plurality of antenna assemblies, each comprising at least one antenna, may be secured to and spaced along the length of the tension member. Each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted for use with a particular frequency or frequency bandwidth. For example, each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted or tuned for one or more frequencies useful for synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In some embodiments, a receiving system, a communication link, and/or an antenna location system may be utilized. |
| US09240627B2 |
Handheld device and planar antenna thereof
A handheld device and a planar antenna thereof are provided. The planar antenna comprises a radiator with an open terminal, a short terminal, a first feeding terminal and a second feeding terminal. The short terminal is coupled to a ground terminal. The first feeding terminal is formed between the open terminal and the short terminal, and coupled to a radio frequency (RF) signal terminal. The second feeding terminal is formed between the open terminal and the first feeding terminal, and coupled to the first feeding terminal by a transmission line and a switch element. The radiator resonates at the first central frequency when the switch element is turned off, and resonates at the second central frequency when the switch element is turned on. |
| US09240623B2 |
Wide-band microwave hybrid coupler with arbitrary phase shifts and power splits
A device for coupling microwave signals with arbitrary phase shifts and power split ratios over broadband may comprise a first branch comprising a cascade of first stripline sections connected to one another. A second branch may comprise a cascade of second stripline sections connected to one another. A single stripline section and a capacitor may be coupled in series to at least one of the branches. The first stripline sections of the first branch and the corresponding second stripline sections of the second branch form broadside coupled stripline sections. Those cascaded coupled stripline sections may be arranged to have a monotonically changing horizontal offsets but at a uniform vertical distance. |
| US09240621B2 |
Micro-strip crosstalk compensation using stubs
A micro-strip transmission line may include a plurality of conductors, wherein each conductor has a compensating portion and a remaining portion. The compensating portion can compensate for far-end crosstalk in the remaining portion. In one example, the compensating portion has a longitudinal section and a plurality of alternating stubs extending from lateral surfaces of the longitudinal section. |
| US09240619B2 |
Differential transmission line pairs using a coupling orthogonalization approach to reduce cross-talk
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus generally comprises a plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines. The plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines includes a set of pairs of differential transmission lines with each pair of differential transmission lines from the set of pairs of differential transmission lines including at least one twist to alternate current direction. Also, the plurality of differential transmission lines are arranged such that alternating current directions substantially eliminate cross-talk across the plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines. |
| US09240613B2 |
Carboranyl magnesium electrolyte for magnesium battery
An electrochemical device is provided having a carboranyl magnesium electrolyte. Specifically the disclosure relates to an electrochemical device having a carboranyl magnesium electrolyte which is compatible with a magnesium anode and a cathode, and on non-noble metal still having oxidative stability >3.0V vs. a magnesium reference. |
| US09240609B2 |
Fuel cell and apparatus for producing fuel cell
A fuel cell is formed by stacking membrane electrode assemblies and metal separators. The metal separator is formed by adhering and joining together an anode separator and a cathode separator. In the metal separator, a step is provided on an outer circumferential end of the cathode separator, the step being spaced from an outer circumferential end of the anode separator. An adhesive layer is formed on the step between the outer circumferential end of the cathode separator and the outer circumferential end of the anode separator. |
| US09240601B2 |
Fuel cell module
A fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, an annular second area disposed around the first area where a heat exchanger is provided, an annular third area disposed around the second area where a reformer is provided, and an annular fourth area disposed around the third area where an evaporator is provided, and a condensed water collecting mechanism for collecting condensed water produced by condensation of water vapor in a combustion gas by allowing the condensed water to flow through the fourth area, then, the third area, then, the second area, and then, the first area. |
| US09240600B2 |
Method for limiting the output voltage of a PEM fuel cell system
The method for limiting the output voltage of a PEM fuel cell system operating in, or near, zero load conditions, in such a way as to minimize degradation of performance over time, comprises: supplying a hydrogen stream to the anode of the fuel cell; supplying an oxygen stream to the cathode of the fuel cell; monitoring an output voltage of the fuel cell; monitoring a hydrogen pressure in the fuel cell; monitoring an oxygen pressure in the fuel cell; limiting the hydrogen stream and the oxygen stream while actuating controllable recirculating pumps for the hydrogen and the oxygen in such a way as to bring and maintain the hydrogen and oxygen pressures below 1 barabsolute while maintaining the hydrogen pressure between 70 and 130% of the oxygen pressure, so that the output voltage remains below 0.90 volts. |
| US09240598B2 |
Seal for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell
In solid polymer fuel cells employing framed membrane electrode assemblies, a conventional anode compliant seal is employed in combination with a cathode non-compliant seal to provide for a thinner fuel cell design, particularly in the context of a fuel cell stack. This approach is particularly suitable for fuel cells operating at low pressure. |
| US09240597B2 |
Ni modified ceramic anodes for direct-methane solid oxide fuel cells
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for fabricating a solid oxide fuel cell is described. The method includes synthesizing a composition having a perovskite present therein. The method further includes applying the composition on an electrolyte support to form an anode and applying Ni to the composition on the anode. |
| US09240593B2 |
Active material for nonaqueous secondary battery and method for producing same
There is provided a method for producing an active material for a nonaqueous secondary battery, including firing an adherend in which a compound containing an element A (at least one element selected from among B, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn, Mg and transition metal elements) is adhered to a particle surface of a material capable of being doped and dedoped with lithium ions, in a water-containing atmosphere so that weight increasing rate of the adherend is in a range of 0.1% by weight or more and 5.0% by weight or less, and firing the adherend. |
| US09240590B2 |
Battery active material, nonaqueous electrolyte battery and battery pack
According to one embodiment, a battery active material includes a complex oxide containing Nb and Ti and an element M. In the active material, the molar ratio (M/Ti) of the element M to Ti satisfies the following formula (I): 0 |
| US09240589B2 |
Electrode active material of lithium ion battery and method for making the same
A method for making an electrode active material of a lithium ion battery is provided. A sulfur grafted poly(pyridinopyridine) is synthesized. The sulfur grafted poly(pyridinopyridine) includes a poly(pyridinopyridine) matrix and a plurality of poly-sulfur groups dispersed in the poly(pyridinopyridine) matrix. The electrically conductive polymer is coated on a surface of the sulfur grafted poly(pyridinopyridine). An electrode active material of a lithium ion battery is also provided. |
| US09240587B2 |
Carbon material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary-battery negative electrode and process for producing the same, negative electrode including the same for nonaqueous secondary battery, and nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery
A carbon material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary-battery negative electrode is provided, which satisfies the followings (1) and (2):(1) the carbon material has an aspect ratio of 10 or less;(2) the amount of CO eliminated from the carbon material during heating to 1,000° C., as determined with a temperature programmed decomposition mass spectrometer (TPD-MS), is 2-15 μmol/g. |
| US09240584B1 |
Phase change material source for physical vapor deposition
A method and apparatus for manufacturing electrochemical cells. The apparatus and method includes the modification of solid phase material used in electrochemical cells, such as batteries, into a viscous phase for ease of metering and dispensing onto a hot wall reactor to create a substantially uniform cloud of vapor to be deposited on a substrate or other stacks of cells in a continuous or semi-continuous process and having the useful advantage of depositing large volumes of materials for economical manufacturing. |
| US09240579B2 |
Battery cell case with holder
Disclosed herein is a battery cell case. The battery cell case includes a front case plate and a rear case plate which are separably coupled to each other. The structures of the front and rear case plates are symmetrical structures, so that the battery cell case can be easily assembled in such a way that the front and rear case plates are coupled to each other with the battery cell disposed therebetween and are fastened to each other by holders fitted over the opposite ends of the case plates. In another embodiment, the structures of the front and rear case plates may be asymmetrical structures so that the front and rear case plates can be coupled with each other in an insert coupling manner without using a separate tool or fastening means. |
| US09240577B2 |
Cap assembly for lithium ion secondary battery
A cap assembly (100, 200) for a lithium ion secondary battery (1000, 2000). The cap assembly includes a cap plate (30, 97), a leakproof film (20, 98), and a cap cover (10, 99). The cap plate (30, 97) includes a supporting portion (31, 971) and a safety film (32, 972). The safety film is positioned in the supporting portion (31, 971). The safety film (32, 972) defines safety grooves (33, 973). The safety film (32, 972) is capable of break down along the safety grooves (33, 973). The leakproof film (20, 98) is attached on the supporting portion (31, 971). The leakproof film (20, 98) is made of a material with high temperature resistance and elasticity properties. The cap cover (10, 99) is attached on the leakproof film (20, 98). |
| US09240574B2 |
Secondary battery and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a secondary battery with improved safety through filling a polymer in a hardened state, and a method of manufacturing the same. The method of manufacturing a secondary battery according to the present disclosure includes preparing a polymer slurry by adding a polymer particle to an electrolyte solution, injecting the polymer slurry to a battery casing in which an electrode assembly is received, changing the polymer slurry to a polymer solution by heating the battery casing, and hardening the polymer solution by cooling the battery casing. |
| US09240565B2 |
Composition
A suitable composition for manufacturing components and devices is disclosed. |
| US09240562B2 |
OTFT array substrate, display device and method for manufacturing the same
According to embodiments of the present invention, there are disclosed an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) array substrate, a display device and a method for manufacturing the same, which are capable of improving quality of a channel. The OTFT array substrate comprises: a transparent substrate, a gate line and a data line which are formed on the transparent substrate, and a pixel unit which are defined by crossing of the gate line and the data line; the pixel unit including an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) and a pixel electrode; on a channel region of an active layer of the OTFT, there is provided a first passivation layer unit. |
| US09240561B2 |
Nanodevice and method for fabricating the same
This invention is to provide a nanodevice, which is combined with an electronic device such as a diode, tunnel device and MOS transistor, integrated circuit and manufacturing method of the nanodevice. A nanodevice includes: a first insulating layer 2; one electrode 5A and the other electrode 5B provided to have a nanogap on the first insulating layer 2; a metal nanoparticle or a functional molecule provided between the one electrode 5A and the other electrode 5B; a second insulating layer 8 provided on the first insulating layer 2, and on the one electrode 5A and the other electrode 5B to embed the metal nanoparticle or the functional molecule. The second insulating layer works as a passivating layer. |
| US09240558B2 |
Dibenzole[c,g]carbazole compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, display device, lighting device and electronic device
Provided is a novel compound which can be used for a transport layer or as a host material or a light-emitting material in a light-emitting element and with which a high-performance light-emitting element can be manufactured. A dibenzo[c,g]carbazole compound in which an aryl group having 14 to 30 carbon atoms and including at least anthracene is bonded to nitrogen of a dibenzo[c,g]carbazole derivative is synthesized. By use of the dibenzo[c,g]carbazole compound, a light-emitting element having very good characteristics can be obtained. |
| US09240554B2 |
Organic compound, organic electroluminescence element, and image display device
The present invention provides an organic electroluminescence element having a high luminous efficiency.An organic electroluminescence element includes an anode, a cathode, and at least one organic compound layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein at least one of the at least one the organic compound layer contains an organic compound shown in Claim 1. |
| US09240550B2 |
Resistive memory element based on oxygen-doped amorphous carbon
The present invention is notably directed to a resistive memory element comprising a resistively switchable material coupled to two conductive electrodes, wherein the resistively switchable material is an amorphous compound comprising carbon and oxygen. Moreover, the carbon and oxygen stoichiometric ratio can be within a range of 1:0.30 to 1:0.80. |
| US09240546B2 |
Magnetoresistive devices and methods for manufacturing magnetoresistive devices
A magnetoresistive device includes a substrate and an electrically insulating layer arranged over the substrate. The magnetoresistive device further includes a first free layer embedded in the electrically insulating layer and a second free layer embedded in the electrically insulating layer. The first free layer and the second free layer are separated by a portion of the electrically insulating layer. |
| US09240545B2 |
Dynamic state machine
In certain embodiments, a method includes receiving, using one or more processors, a trigger expression. The method may include processing, using the one or more processors, the trigger expression, the trigger expression comprising a first one or more terms comprising a first one or more fields, to generate a reduced trigger expression. The reduced trigger expression includes a second one or more terms comprising a second one or more fields and being logically equivalent to the trigger expression. The method may include generating, using the one or more processors, a dynamic state machine by generating a first data structure comprising each of the second one or more fields, generating, based on the first data structure, an expanded trigger expression by adding one or more additional terms for possible state transitions, and generating, based on the expanded trigger expression, a second data structure. |
| US09240543B2 |
Method for manufacturing piezoelectric device
In a method for manufacturing an electronic device, an ion implantation layer is formed at a desired depth from one principal surface of a piezoelectric single crystal substrate by implanting hydrogen ions into the piezoelectric single crystal substrate under desired conditions. The piezoelectric single crystal substrate in which the ion implantation layer has been formed is bonded to a supporting substrate, and a piezoelectric thin film is then formed by the application of heat using the ion implantation layer as a detaching interface. This heated detachment is performed at a reduced pressure less than atmospheric pressure and at a heating temperature determined in accordance with the reduced pressure. |
| US09240537B2 |
Light-emitting device including case and sealant
The present invention provides a light emitting device, which includes a light emitting diode (LED) chip, a case formed of polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, and a sealant that is charged into the case to seal the LED chip. In the light emitting device, a stabilizer having a melting point that is higher than a junction temperature of the LED chip by 80° C. or more exists at a boundary surface between an inner wall surface of the case and the sealant or within 300 μm of the boundary surface. |
| US09240535B2 |
Light-emitting-element mount substrate and LED device
A light-emitting-element mount substrate formed by relatively simple manufacturing steps, having a good heat release property, and having a high mechanical strength; and an LED device including the light-emitting-element mount substrate are provided. A substrate body of a light-emitting-element mount substrate is made of a low-resistance semiconductor (e.g., n-type silicon) substrate, and is divided into a first and second individual substrate bodies by an insulating layer. A first front-surface mounting electrode and a first external-connection electrode are formed on respective first and second major surfaces (e.g., front and back surfaces) of the first individual substrate body. A second front-surface mounting electrode and a second external-connection electrode are formed respective first and second major surfaces (e.g., front and back surfaces) of the second individual substrate body. The insulating layer has a shape different from a straight-line shape in plan view. |
| US09240531B2 |
Light emitting device including reinforcing member
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a semiconductor light-emitting layer, a pair of electrodes, a fluorescent material layer and a chromaticity adjusting layer. The semiconductor light-emitting layer emits first light. The pair of electrodes is connected to the semiconductor light-emitting layer. The fluorescent material layer covers at least a center portion of the semiconductor light-emitting layer, and contains a fluorescent material to absorb the first light and radiate second light. The chromaticity adjusting layer covers at least a peripheral portion of the semiconductor light-emitting layer, is exposed to outside, and contains a fluorescent material with a concentration lower than a concentration of the fluorescent material in the fluorescent material layer. |
| US09240530B2 |
Light emitter devices having improved chemical and physical resistance and related methods
Light emitter devices having improved chemical and physical resistance and related methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the light emitter device includes a light emission area with a cavity with one or more light emitting chips disposed within the cavity. The device can further include a filling material at least partially disposed over the one or more light emitting chips. The filling material can include a first discrete layer of phosphor containing material and a second discrete clear barrier layer. The clear barrier layer can include a layer of glass. |
| US09240519B2 |
Light-emitting element comprising a reflective structure with high efficiency
A light-emitting element, comprises: a substrate; a light-emitting semiconductor stack over the substrate and comprising an active layer; and a Distributed Bragg reflective unit under the substrate comprising a first Distributed Bragg reflective structure under the substrate and comprising a first number of pairs of alternately stacked first sub-layers and second sub-layers, and a second Distributed Bragg reflective structure under the first Distributed Bragg reflective structure and comprising a second number of pairs of alternately stacked third sub-layers and fourth sub-layers, wherein the first number is different from the second number. |
| US09240517B2 |
Strain relief superlattices and optoelectronic devices including the same
Structures for transitioning between two layers of differing lattice parameters are disclosed. In some embodiments, the structures are in the form of a superlattice that serves as a strain relieving transition between two layers of differing lattice parameters. By controlling the properties of the superlattice, the superlattice can exhibit desirable properties such as transparency to light and lattice matching to one of the two layers of differing lattice parameters. Optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes including such superlattices are also disclosed. |
| US09240516B2 |
High efficiency broadband semiconductor nanowire devices
Amongst the candidates for very high efficiency electronics, solid state light sources, photovoltaics, and photoelectrochemical devices, and photobiological devices are those based upon metal-nitride nanowires. Enhanced nanowire performance typically require heterostructures, quantum dots, etc which requirement that these structures are grown with relatively few defects and in a controllable reproducible manner. Additionally flexibility according to the device design requires that the nanowire at the substrate may be either InN or GaN. Methods of growing relatively defect free nanowires and associated structures for group IIIA-nitrides are presented without the requirement for foreign metal catalysts, overcoming the non-uniform growth of prior art techniques and allowing self-organizing quantum dot, quantum well and quantum dot-in-a-dot structures to be formed. Such metal-nitride nanowires and quantum structure embedded nanowires support a variety of devices including but not limited to very high efficiency electronics, solid state light sources, photovoltaics, and photoelectrochemical devices, and photobiological devices. |
| US09240514B2 |
Photovoltaic cell having a high conversion efficiency
An embodiment of a monolithic photovoltaic cell is provided. The photovoltaic cell comprises at least one junction; said at least one junction includes a base formed by an epitaxial doped semiconductor material of a first conductivity type and an emitter formed by a doped semiconductor material of a second conductivity type opposed to the first. Said emitter is stacked on the base according to a first direction, and the base of at least one of said at least one junction has a decreasing dopant concentration gradient along said first direction. Said base comprises a first portion far from the emitter, a second portion proximate to the emitter, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion. In the first portion, said decreasing dopant concentration gradient has a slope whose average value ranges from approximately −9*1017 cm−3/μm to −4*1017 cm−3/μm. In the second portion, said decreasing dopant concentration gradient has a slope whose average value ranges from approximately −3*1017 cm−3/μm to −9*1016 cm−3/μm. In the third portion, said decreasing dopant concentration gradient has a slope whose average value ranges approximately from −2*1017 cm−3/μm to −5*1016 cm−3/μm. |
| US09240508B2 |
Thin film structures and devices with integrated light and heat blocking layers for laser patterning
Selective removal of specified layers of thin film structures and devices, such as solar cells, electrochromics, and thin film batteries, by laser direct patterning is achieved by including heat and light blocking layers in the device/structure stack immediately adjacent to the specified layers which are to be removed by laser ablation. The light blocking layer is a layer of metal that absorbs or reflects a portion of the laser energy penetrating through the dielectric/semiconductor layers and the heat blocking layer is a conductive layer with thermal diffusivity low enough to reduce heat flow into underlying metal layer(s), such that the temperature of the underlying metal layer(s) does not reach the melting temperature, Tm, or in some embodiments does not reach (Tm)/3, of the underlying metal layer(s) during laser direct patterning. |
| US09240506B2 |
Transparent ceramic photo-optical semiconductor high power switches
A photoconductive semiconductor switch according to one embodiment includes a structure of sintered nanoparticles of a high band gap material exhibiting a lower electrical resistance when excited by light relative to an electrical resistance thereof when not exposed to the light. A method according to one embodiment includes creating a mixture comprising particles, at least one dopant, and at least one solvent; adding the mixture to a mold; forming a green structure in the mold; and sintering the green structure to form a transparent ceramic. Additional system, methods and products are also presented. |
| US09240504B2 |
Solar cell and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a solar cell with improved photoelectric conversion efficiency. The solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion body and first and second electrodes. The photoelectric conversion body includes a substrate made of semiconductor material. The first and second electrodes are disposed at intervals on one main surface of the photoelectric conversion body. Terraces each formed of a crystal plane are provided on a main surface of the substrate on the one main surface side of the photoelectric conversion body. At least one of the terraces exists between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US09240499B2 |
Solar cell
A solar cell is discussed. The solar cell includes a substrate of a first conductive type, an emitter region which is positioned at a front surface of the substrate and has a second conductive type different from the first conductive type, a front passivation region including a plurality of layers which are sequentially positioned on the emitter region, a back passivation region which is positioned on a back surface opposite the front surface of the substrate and includes three layers, a plurality of front electrodes which pass through the front passivation region and are connected to the emitter region, and at least one back electrode which passes through the back passivation region and is connected to the substrate. |
| US09240497B2 |
Junction field effect transistor with an epitaxially grown gate structure
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming a replacement gate structure on a portion of a semiconductor substrate, wherein source regions and drain regions are formed in opposing sides of the replacement gate structure. A dielectric is formed on the semiconductor substrate having an upper surface that is coplanar with an upper surface of the replacement gate structure. The replacement gate structure is removed to provide an opening to an exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. A functional gate conductor is epitaxially grown within the opening in direct contact with the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. The method is applicable to planar metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and fin field effect transistors (finFETs). |
| US09240496B2 |
Semiconductor device with floating gate and electrically floating body
Techniques for providing floating body memory devices are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor device comprising a floating gate, a control gate disposed over the floating gate, a body region that is electrically floating, wherein the body region is configured so that material forming the body region is contained under at least one lateral boundary of the floating gate, and a source region and a drain region adjacent the body region. |
| US09240495B2 |
Methods of forming nanoscale floating gate
A memory cell is provided including a tunnel dielectric layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The memory cell also includes a floating gate having a first portion overlying the tunnel dielectric layer and a second portion in the form of a nanorod extending from the first portion. In addition, a control gate layer is separated from the floating gate by an intergate dielectric layer. |
| US09240476B2 |
Field effect transistor devices with buried well regions and epitaxial layers
A method of forming a transistor device includes providing a drift layer having a first conductivity type and an upper surface, forming first regions in the drift layer and adjacent the upper surface, the first regions having a second conductivity type that is opposite the first conductivity type and being spaced apart from one another, forming a body layer on the drift layer including the source regions, forming spaced apart source regions in the body layer above respective ones of the first regions, forming a vertical conduction region in the body layer between the source regions, the vertical conduction region having the first conductivity type and defining channel regions in the body layer between the vertical conduction region and respective ones of the source regions, forming a gate insulator on the body layer, and forming a gate contact on the gate insulator. |
| US09240470B2 |
High-performance reverse-conduction field-stop (RCFS) insulated gate bipolar transistor and method for manufacturing the same
A high-performance reverse-conduction field-stop (RCFS) insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a first conductive type substrate, a plurality of trenches defined on a bottom face of the substrate, a plurality of first conductive type doping regions formed on bottom face of the trenches, a second conductive type doping region formed on bottom face of the substrate, and a first conductive type field stop doping region formed in the substrate and separated from the bottom face of the substrate by a field stop depth, where the field stop depth is larger than a depth of the trench. Due to a separation between the first conductive type doping regions and the second conductive type doping region, Zener diode can be prevented from forming on bottom side of the substrate and the performance of IGBT can be accordingly enhanced. |
| US09240468B2 |
Bipolar transistor having laterally extending collector
A semiconductor device and a method of making the same. The device includes a semiconductor substrate. The device also includes a bipolar transistor on the semiconductor substrate. The bipolar transistor includes an emitter. The bipolar transistor also includes a base located above the emitter. The bipolar transistor further includes a laterally extending collector located above the base. The collector includes a portion that extends past an edge of the base. |
| US09240465B2 |
Trench gate trench field plate semi-vertical semi-lateral MOSFET
A semiconductor device has a vertical drain extended MOS transistor with deep trench structures to define a vertical drift region and at least one vertical drain contact region, separated from the vertical drift region by at least one instance of the deep trench structures. Dopants are implanted into the vertical drain contact regions and the semiconductor device is annealed so that the implanted dopants diffuse proximate to a bottom of the deep trench structures. The vertical drain contact regions make electrical contact to the proximate vertical drift region at the bottom of the intervening deep trench structure. At least one gate, body region and source region are formed above the drift region at, or proximate to, a top surface of a substrate of the semiconductor device. The deep trench structures are spaced so as to form RESURF regions for the drift region. |
| US09240456B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method includes forming on a first main surface of a semiconductor wafer of a first conduction type, a gate electrode of a semiconductor element, an edge termination region for forming a breakdown voltage of the semiconductor element, and a first semiconductor region of a second conduction type which surrounds the semiconductor element and the edge termination region. A groove may be formed to reach the first semiconductor region from a second main surface of the semiconductor wafer. The groove is formed so that a portion of the semiconductor wafer, that forms an outer circumferential end of the semiconductor wafer, remains and the groove is further towards a center of the semiconductor wafer than the outer circumferential end. A third semiconductor region of the second conduction type is on a side wall of the groove and electrically connects the first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region. |
| US09240454B1 |
Integrated circuit including a liner silicide with low contact resistance
An integrated circuit includes a substrate supporting a transistor having a source region and a drain region. A high dopant concentration delta-doped layer is present on the source region and drain region of the transistor. A set of contacts extend through a pre-metal dielectric layer covering the transistor. A silicide region is provided at a bottom of the set of contacts. The silicide region is formed by a salicidation reaction between a metal present at the bottom of the contact and the high dopant concentration delta-doped layer on the source region and drain region of the transistor. |
| US09240451B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor device
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a low-concentration n-type drift layer deposited on a silicon carbide substrate to form a semiconductor substrate. A first front surface metal layer, which forms a Schottky contact with the semiconductor substrate, is formed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate. An outer circumferential end of the first front surface metal layer extends on an interlayer insulating film which covers an edge portion. A second front surface metal layer which forms a front surface electrode is formed on the first front surface metal layer. When a portion of the second front surface metal layer is formed by dry etching, the entire first front surface metal layer, which will be Schottky contact metal, is covered with the second front surface metal layer. Thus, generation of an etching residue is prevented and a device with a front surface electrode structure with high reliability is provided. |
| US09240446B2 |
Vertical trench MOSFET device in integrated power technologies
A semiconductor device having a vertical drain extended MOS transistor may be formed by forming deep trench structures to define at least one vertical drift region bounded on at least two opposite sides by the deep trench structures. The deep trench structures include dielectric liners. The deep trench structures are spaced so as to form RESURF regions for the drift region. Vertical gates are formed in vertically oriented gate trenches in the dielectric liners of the deep trench structures, abutting the vertical drift regions. A body implant mask for implanting dopants for the transistor body is also used as an etch mask for forming the vertically oriented gate trenches in the dielectric liners. |
| US09240441B2 |
Semiconductor devices including a support for an electrode and methods of forming semiconductor devices including a support for an electrode
Semiconductor devices are provided. Each of the semiconductor devices may include a plurality of electrodes. Moreover, each of the semiconductor devices may include a supporting pattern connected to sidewalls of the plurality of electrodes. Related methods of forming semiconductor devices are also provided. For example, the methods may include forming the supporting pattern before forming the plurality of electrodes. |
| US09240440B1 |
Method minimizing imprint through packaging of F-RAM
A method of minimizing imprint in a ferroelectric capacitor uses a gradually attenuated AC field to electrically depolarize the ferroelectric capacitor before being packaged. The AC field is linearly attenuated, and generated using a series of voltage pulses, down to a minimum allowed voltage. A final pulse is a positive voltage to minimize hydrogen degradation during packaging. Thermal depoling can also be used. |
| US09240434B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode and device comprising an organic light-emitting diode
In at least one embodiment, a light-emitting diode includes a carrier and an organic layer sequence with an active layer. A mirror layer and electrical contact regions are located on a connection side of the carrier. The contact regions are provided for electrically contacting the organic layer sequence. Electrical dummy regions are located on the connection side. The dummy regions are electrically insulated from the contact regions. The mirror layer is present in the dummy regions and in the contact regions. At least two of the dummy regions are arranged in such a way that base areas of these dummy regions cannot be congruently superimposed merely by arbitrary rotation of the carrier relative to a center axis of the carrier perpendicular to the connection side. |
| US09240433B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device including a light emitting structure comprising a plurality of light emitting regions comprising a first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer, a first electrode unit disposed on the first semiconductor layer in one of the light emitting regions, a second electrode unit disposed on the second semiconductor layer in another of the light emitting regions, and at least one connection electrode to sequentially connect the light emitting regions in series, wherein the light emitting regions connected in series are divided into 1st to ith light emitting region groups and areas of light emitting regions that belong to different groups are different (where 1 |
| US09240429B2 |
Image pickup device and method for producing the same
An image pickup device includes a light-receiving device unit, a processing portion, a first connection body, and a second connection body. The first connection body electrically connects a first electrode of the light-receiving device unit to a corresponding second electrode of the processing portion. The first connection body includes an indium-containing solder portion disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a barrier layer for suppressing alloying of the solder portion with the first electrode and the second electrode. The second connection body includes an alloy portion formed by alloying with a solder containing a material having a melting point equal to or higher than a melting point of the first connection body and a hardness higher than that of the first connection body. |
| US09240428B1 |
Image sensor and manufacturing method thereof
Embodiments of an image sensor are provided. The image sensor includes a sensing layer, a filter unit and a microlens. The filter unit is disposed on the sensing layer, and the microlens is disposed on the filter unit. The filter unit has a gradient refractive index. Therefore, the sensitivity of the image sensor is improved. |
| US09240427B2 |
CFA resist silylation for limiting color interactions and improving crosstalk
An electronic imager includes a pixel sensor array, a plurality elements of a color filter array containing pigments forming multiple color filter patterns on the pixel sensor array and a silylating agent formed between at least first and second elements of the multiple color filter patterns. A method for forming a color filter array on a pixel sensor array of an electronic imager includes forming a pixel sensor array on a substrate, forming a first color filter pattern on the pixel sensor array, depositing a silylating agent on the first color filter pattern, disposing elements of a second color filter pattern on the silylating agent between respective elements of the first color filter pattern and disposing elements of a third color filter pattern on the silylating agent between respective elements of the first color filter pattern. |
| US09240426B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device in which a parasitic capacitance between an optical signal common output line for commonly transmitting an optical signal and a control signal line and a parasitic capacitance between an initial voltage common output line for commonly transmitting an initial voltage and the control signal line in a plurality of photoelectric conversion units are substantially equal is provided. The control signal line is arranged so that the length of the wiring part of the control signal line in parallel with the optical signal common output line and the length of the wiring part of the control signal line in parallel with the initial voltage common output line are substantially equal and the distance between the control signal line and the optical signal common output line and the distance between the control signal line and the initial voltage common output line are substantially equal. |
| US09240419B2 |
Three-dimensional semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same
Three-dimensional semiconductor devices are provided. The three-dimensional semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buffer layer on the substrate. The buffer layer includes a material having an etching selectivity relative to that of the substrate. A multi-layer stack including alternating insulation patterns and conductive patterns is provided on the buffer layer opposite the substrate. One or more active patterns respectively extend through the alternating insulation patterns and conductive patterns of the multi-layer stack and into the buffer layer. Related fabrication methods are also discussed. |
| US09240418B2 |
Wordline resistance reduction method and structure in an integrated circuit memory device
Methods and structures for reducing resistance in wordlines of an integrated circuit memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming multiple columns of polycrystalline silicon for respective number of wordlines, forming core transistor junctions and periphery transistor junctions associated with the wordlines, performing a salicidation process for the periphery transistor junction and performing a salicidation process for the columns of polycrystalline silicon to from the wordlines with low resistance. |
| US09240413B2 |
Methods, structures, and designs for self-aligning local interconnects used in integrated circuits
An integrated circuit includes a gate electrode level region that includes a plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures. Each of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures is defined to extend lengthwise in a first direction. Some of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures form one or more gate electrodes of corresponding transistor devices. A local interconnect conductive structure is formed between two of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures so as to extend in the first direction along the two of the plurality of linear-shaped conductive structures. |
| US09240412B2 |
Semiconductor structure and device and methods of forming same using selective epitaxial process
Semiconductor structures, devices, and methods of forming the structures and device are disclosed. Exemplary structures include multi-gate or FinFET structures that can include both re-channel MOS (NMOS) and p-channel MOS (PMOS) devices to form CMOS structures and devices on a substrate. The devices can be formed using selective epitaxy and shallow trench isolation techniques. |
| US09240410B2 |
Group III-N nanowire transistors
A group III-N nanowire is disposed on a substrate. A longitudinal length of the nanowire is defined into a channel region of a first group III-N material, a source region electrically coupled with a first end of the channel region, and a drain region electrically coupled with a second end of the channel region. A second group III-N material on the first group III-N material serves as a charge inducing layer, and/or barrier layer on surfaces of nanowire. A gate insulator and/or gate conductor coaxially wraps completely around the nanowire within the channel region. Drain and source contacts may similarly coaxially wrap completely around the drain and source regions. |
| US09240409B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed on a substrate, a source/drain extension formed at one side of the gate structure while not being formed at the other side of the gate structure, and doped with a first type impurity, a halo region formed at one side of the gate structure while not being formed at the other side of the gate structure, and doped with a second type impurity different from the first type impurity, a first source/drain region formed at one side of the gate structure and doped with the first type impurity, and a second source/drain region formed at the other side of the gate structure and doped with the first type impurity. |
| US09240408B2 |
Integrated circuit device with transistors having different threshold voltages
Integrated circuit device with transistors having different threshold voltages and methods of forming the device are provided. The device may include the first, second and third transistors having threshold voltages different from each other. The first transistor may be free of a stacking fault and the second transistor may include a stacking fault. The concentration of the channel implant region of the third transistor may be different from the concentration of the channel implant region of the first transistor. |
| US09240407B2 |
Integrated diode array and corresponding manufacturing method
An integrated diode array and a corresponding manufacturing method are provided. The integrated diode array includes a substrate having an upper side, and a plurality of blocks of several diodes, which are positioned in a planar manner and are suspended at the substrate above a cavity situated below them in the substrate. The blocks are separated from one another by respective gaps, and within a specific block, the individual diodes are electrically insulated from one another by first STI trenches situated between them. |
| US09240405B2 |
Memory with off-chip controller
An integrated circuit memory device, including a memory circuit and a peripheral circuit, is described which is suitable for low cost manufacturing. The memory circuit and peripheral circuit for the device are implemented in different layers of a stacked structure. The memory circuit layer and the peripheral circuit layer include complementary interconnect surfaces, which upon mating together establish the electrical interconnection between the memory circuit and the peripheral circuit. The memory circuit layer and the peripheral circuit layer can be formed separately using different processes on different substrates in different fabrication lines. This enables the use of independent fabrication process technologies, one arranged for the memory array, and another arranged for the supporting peripheral circuit. The separate circuitry can then be stacked and bonded together. |
| US09240403B2 |
Embedded resistor
An embedded resistor including a first interdielectric layer, a cap layer, a resistive layer and a cap film is provided. The first interdielectric layer is located on a substrate. The cap layer is located on the first interdielectric layer, wherein the cap layer has a trench. The resistive layer conformally covers the trench, thereby having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The cap film is located in the trench and on the resistive layer, or, an embedded thin film resistor including a first interdielectric layer, a cap layer and a bulk resistive layer is provided. The first interdielectric layer is located on a substrate. The cap layer is located on the first interdielectric layer, wherein the cap layer has a trench. The bulk resistive layer is located in the trench. |
| US09240402B2 |
Electronic circuits including a MOSFET and a dual-gate JFET
Electronic circuits and methods are provided for various applications including signal amplification. An exemplary electronic circuit comprises a MOSFET and a dual-gate JFET in a cascode configuration. The dual-gate JFET includes top and bottom gates disposed above and below the channel. The top gate of the JFET is controlled by a signal that is dependent upon the signal controlling the gate of the MOSFET. The control of the bottom gate of the JFET can be dependent or independent of the control of the top gate. The MOSFET and JFET can be implemented as separate components on the same substrate with different dimensions such as gate widths. |
| US09240397B2 |
Method for integrating a light emitting device
Light emitting devices and methods of integrating micro LED devices into light emitting device are described. In an embodiment a light emitting device includes a reflective bank structure within a bank layer, and a conductive line atop the bank layer and elevated above the reflective bank structure. A micro LED device is within the reflective bank structure and a passivation layer is over the bank layer and laterally around the micro LED device within the reflective bank structure. A portion of the micro LED device and a conductive line atop the bank layer protrude above a top surface of the passivation layer. |
| US09240394B1 |
Stacked chips attached to heat sink having bonding pads
An integrated circuit comprises a heat sink devoid of electronic components and interposed between a back side of a bottom electronic chip and an upper exterior side of an encapsulation, the sink comprising a front side placed on the back side of the bottom electronic chip. The back side of the bottom electronic chip comprises pads and the front side of the sink comprises pads mechanically fastened to facing pads of the back side of the bottom electronic chip. |
| US09240391B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor chip; a second semiconductor chip placed such that a front face of the second semiconductor chip faces a front face of the first semiconductor chip, and being smaller in size than the first semiconductor chip; an expansion portion extending outward from at least one side face of the second semiconductor chip; a wiring board placed such that a front face of the wiring board faces the front face of the first semiconductor chip and a back face of the second semiconductor chip; and a first interconnect formed on the back face of the second semiconductor chip and a back face of the expansion portion, and being in connection to the wiring board. |
| US09240384B2 |
Semiconductor device with solder bump formed on high topography plated Cu pads
A semiconductor device has a first conductive layer formed over a substrate. A first insulating layer is formed over the substrate and first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the first conductive layer and first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed over the first insulating layer and second conductive layer. The second insulating layer has a sidewall between a surface of the second insulating material and surface of the second conductive layer. A protective layer is formed over the second insulating layer and surface of the second conductive layer. The protective layer follows a contour of the surface and sidewall of the second insulating layer and second conductive layer. A bump is formed over the surface of the second conductive layer and a portion of the protective layer adjacent to the second insulating layer. The protective layer protects the second insulating layer. |
| US09240381B2 |
Chip package and method for forming the same
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of conductors for connecting another semiconductor device. Each conductor connects to a chip select pad within the semiconductor device through an upper vertical connection formed through an insulation layer formed on a substrate or connected to a straight vertical connection formed through the substrate and the insulation layer. The semiconductor device further includes a plurality of lower vertical connections formed through the substrate and correspondingly connecting to the chip select pads and a chip select terminal. The chip select terminal electrically connects to the die circuit of the semiconductor device while the chip select pads are electrically isolated from the die circuit. The lower vertical connections and the straight vertical connection can be arranged in two dimensions. |
| US09240377B2 |
X-line routing for dense multi-chip-package interconnects
X-line routing arrangements for dense multi-chip-package interconnects are described. In an example, an electronic signal routing structure includes a substrate. A plurality of layers of conductive traces is disposed above the substrate. A first pair of ground traces is disposed in a first of the plurality of layers of conductive traces. A signal trace is disposed in a second of the plurality of layers of conductive traces, below the first layer. A second pair of ground traces is disposed in a third of the plurality of layers of conductive traces, below the first layer. The first and second pairs of ground traces and the signal trace provide an X-pattern routing from a cross-sectional perspective. |
| US09240374B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming thereof
Semiconductor device and method for forming a semiconductor device are presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with intermediate dielectric layer having interconnect levels. The interconnect levels include M1 to MX metal levels, where 1 is the lowest level and X corresponds to a number of metal level. The metal level MX includes a metal pad having an oxidized portion. An upper level having an upper dielectric layer is formed over the dielectric layer having MX. The upper dielectric layer includes a plurality of via contacts over the metal pad and a metal line over the via contacts. The oxidized portion remains within the metal pad and prevents punch through between MX and its adjacent underlying metal level MX-1. |
| US09240371B2 |
Semiconductor module, semiconductor device having semiconductor module, and method of manufacturing semiconductor module
A semiconductor module is configured such that heat radiation substrates are connected to lead frames and semiconductor chips are directly connected to the lead frames, so that the semiconductor chips are not connected to the lead frames through conductive portions of the heat radiation substrates. Therefore, the conductive portion can have a solid shape without being divided. As such, an occurrence of curving of the heat radiation substrates is suppressed when a temperature is reduced from a high temperature to a room temperature after resin-sealing at the high temperature or the like. Therefore, connection between the semiconductor chip and the lead frames and connection between the lead frames and the heat radiation substrates enhance. |
| US09240365B2 |
Cooling device and electronic device
A cooling device is disclosed. The cooling device includes a thermal diffusing unit operable to radiate heat taken from a heating element, and a heat transporting part, laminated in a thickness direction of the heat diffusing unit and diffused thereby. The thermal diffusing unit has an upper plate, a lower plate opposite thereto, a vapor diffusion path to diffuse an evaporated refrigerant, and a capillary channel to circulate a condensed refrigerant. The heat transporting part has an upper plate, a lower plate opposite thereto, a vapor diffusion path to diffuse an evaporated refrigerant, and a capillary channel to circulate a condensed refrigerant. Either the upper plate or the lower plate is formed with the same member of the lower plate or the upper plate of the heat transporting part. |
| US09240363B2 |
3D interconnection structure and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) interconnection structure and a method of manufacturing the same. The 3D interconnection structure includes a wafer that has one side of an inverted V-shape whose middle portion is convex and a lower surface having a U-shaped groove for mounting a circuit, and a first electrode formed to cover a part of the inverted V-shaped one side of the wafer and a part of the U-shaped groove. |
| US09240360B2 |
Run-to-run control utilizing virtual metrology in semiconductor manufacturing
A method for run-to-run control and sampling optimization in a semiconductor manufacturing process includes the steps of: determining a process output and corresponding metrology error associated with an actual metrology for a current processing run in the semiconductor manufacturing process; determining a predicted process output and corresponding prediction error associated with a virtual metrology for the current processing run; and controlling at least one parameter corresponding to a subsequent processing run as a function of the metrology error and the prediction error. |
| US09240359B2 |
3D NAND staircase CD control by using interferometric endpoint detection
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for forming stair-like structures with accurate profiles control in manufacturing three dimensional (3D) stacking of semiconductor chips using precise photoresist trimming process endpoint control. In one example, a method of determining a photoresist trimming endpoint for forming stair-like structures on a substrate includes performing a trimming process on a substrate to trim a patterned photoresist layer disposed on a film stack from a first width to a second width in a processing chamber, wherein the patterned photoresist layer exposes a portion of the film stack uncovered by the patterned photoresist layer during the trimming process, directing an optical signal to a surface of the patterned photoresist layer while trimming the patterned photoresist layer, collecting a return reflected optical signal reflected from the photoresist layer, and determining a trimming endpoint by analyzing the return optical signal reflected from the photoresist layer. |
| US09240357B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor device having preliminary stacked structure with offset oxide etched using gas cluster ion
According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a preliminary stack structure, the preliminary stack structure defining a through hole; forming a protection layer and a dielectric layer in the through hole; forming a channel pattern, a gapfill pattern, and a contact pattern in the through hole; forming an offset oxide on the preliminary stack structure; measuring thickness data of the offset oxide; and scanning the offset oxide using a reactive gas cluster ion beam. The scanning the offset oxide includes setting a scan speed based on the measured thickness data of the offset oxide, and forming a gas cluster. |
| US09240355B2 |
On-chip diode with fully depleted semicondutor devices
An electrical device including a first conductivity semiconductor device present in a first semiconductor device region of an SOI substrate, and a second conductivity semiconductor device present in a second semiconductor device region of the SOI substrate. The electrical device also includes a diode present within a diode region of the SOI substrate that includes a first doped layer of a first conductivity semiconductor material that is present on an SOI layer of the SOI substrate. The first doped layer includes a first plurality of protrusions extending from a first connecting base portion. The semiconductor diode further includes a second doped layer of the second conductivity semiconductor material present over the first doped layer. The second doped layer including a second plurality of protrusions extending from a second connecting base portion. The second plurality of protrusions is present between and separating the first plurality of protrusions. |
| US09240353B2 |
Method for manufacturing array substrate by forming common electrode connecting NMOS in display area and PMOS in drive area
A method for manufacturing an array substrate includes: forming a shielding layer, an insulating buffer layer, active layers, a gate insulating layer and NMOS gate electrodes in a display area and a drive area on a substrate in sequence; forming a PMOS gate electrode in the drive area on the foregoing substrate, in which the NMOS gate electrodes and the PMOS gate electrode are provided on the same layer; meanwhile forming a first through hole in a common electrode connecting area, in which the first through hole is configured to connect the shielding layer and a source/drain electrode layer; forming an intermediate insulating layer on the foregoing substrate, forming a second through hole in the common electrode connecting area and third through holes in the display area and the drive area, in which the second through hole is formed at a same position as the first through hole and configured to connect the shielding layer and a source/drain electrode layer, and the third through holes are configured to connect the active layers and the source/drain electrode layer; and forming the source/drain electrode layer on the foregoing substrate. |
| US09240352B2 |
Bulk finFET well contacts with fin pattern uniformity
Bulk finFET well contacts with fin pattern uniformity and methods of manufacture. The method includes providing a substrate with a first region and a second region, the first region comprising a well with a first conductivity. The method further includes forming contiguous fins over the first region and the second region. The method further includes forming an epitaxial layer on at least one portion of the fins in the first region and at least one portion of the fins in the second region. The method further includes doping the epitaxial layer in the first region with a first type dopant to provide the first conductivity. The method further includes doping the epitaxial layer in the second region with a second type dopant to provide a second conductivity. |
| US09240347B2 |
Tungsten feature fill
Described herein are methods of filling features with tungsten and related systems and apparatus. The methods include inside-out fill techniques as well as conformal deposition in features. Inside-out fill techniques can include selective deposition on etched tungsten layers in features. Conformal and non-conformal etch techniques can be used according to various implementations. The methods described herein can be used to fill vertical features, such as in tungsten vias, and horizontal features, such as vertical NAND (VNAND) word lines. Examples of applications include logic and memory contact fill, DRAM buried word line fill, vertically integrated memory gate/word line fill, and 3-D integration with through-silicon vias (TSVs). |
| US09240345B2 |
Shallow trench isolation structure having air gap, CMOS image sensor using the same and method of manufacturing CMOS image sensor
Disclosed is a shallow trench isolation structure having an air gap for suppressing the dark currents and cross-talk which occur in CMOS image sensors. The shallow trench isolation structure suppresses photons injected from neighboring pixels and dark current, so that high-quality images are obtained. Since impurities are removed from a p type ion implantation region for a photodiode when an inner wall oxide layer is etched to form the air gap, the p type ion implantation region has a uniform doping profile, thereby suppressing the diffusion of electrons towards the surface and achieving an image having a high quality. |
| US09240344B2 |
Method for manufacturing SOI wafer
A method for manufacturing a SOI wafer, including a step of performing a thickness reducing adjustment to a SOI layer of the SOI wafer by carrying out a sacrificial oxidation to the SOI wafer for effecting thermal oxidation to a surface of the SOI layer and removing a formed thermal oxide film, wherein, when the thermal oxidation in the sacrificial oxidation treatment is carried out with the use of a batch processing heat treatment furnace during the rising of a temperature and/or the falling of a temperature, a substantially concentric oxide film thickness distribution is formed on the surface of the SOI layer. The result is a method for manufacturing a SOI wafer that enables manufacturing a SOI wafer that has improved radial film thickness distribution with good productivity by performing the sacrificial oxidation treatment for forming a substantially concentric oxide film and removing the formed thermal oxide film. |
| US09240340B2 |
Electrostatic chuck
An electrostatic chuck includes a base having a first through hole extending through the base. An electrostatic chuck attraction plate is bonded to the base. An attraction electrode is incorporated in the electrostatic chuck attraction plate to generates electrostatic charge and electrostatically attract an attraction subject. A recess is formed in the electrostatic chuck attraction plate in alignment with the first through hole. The recess partially exposes the attraction electrode. An adhesive layer is formed between the electrostatic chuck attraction plate and the base. The adhesive layer covers an inner surface of the recess. A tubular insulator is arranged in the recess. The tubular insulator includes a second through hole. A power supply terminal is arranged in the first through hole and the second through hole. The power supply terminal includes a distal portion electrically connected to the attraction electrode. |
| US09240336B2 |
Imprint method and imprint apparatus
According to one embodiment, an imprint method is provided. In the imprint method, minute objects adhering to a shot of a substrate, on which imprinting is next performed, are removed after delivering the substrate to the interior of an imprint apparatus and before dropping a resist onto the substrate. Thereafter, a resist is dropped onto the shot. Further, a template that is an original plate having a concave-convex pattern is brought into contact with the resist to form a resist pattern on the substrate according to the concave-convex pattern. |
| US09240333B2 |
Manufacturing method for monolithic ceramic electronic component
In a manufacturing method for a monolithic ceramic electronic component, a plurality of green chips arrayed in row and column directions which are obtained after cutting a mother block are spaced apart from each other and then tumbled, thereby uniformly making the side surface of each of the green chips an open surface. Thereafter, an adhesive is applied to the side surface. Then, by placing a side surface ceramic green sheet on an affixation elastic body, and pressing the side surface of the green chips against the side surface ceramic green sheet, the side surface ceramic green sheet is punched and stuck to the side surface. |
| US09240332B2 |
Fiber-containing resin substrate, sealed substrate having semiconductor device mounted thereon, sealed wafer having semiconductor device formed thereon, a semiconductor apparatus, and method for manufacturing semiconductor apparatus
A fiber-containing resin substrate for collectively sealing a semiconductor devices mounting surface of a substrate having the semiconductor devices mounted thereon or a semiconductor devices forming surface of a wafer having semiconductor devices formed thereon, includes: a resin-impregnated fiber base material obtained by impregnating a fiber base material with a thermosetting resin and semi-curing or curing the thermosetting resin; and an uncured resin layer containing an uncured thermosetting resin and formed on one side of the resin-impregnated fiber base material. There can be a fiber-containing resin substrate that enables suppressing warp of a wafer and delamination of semiconductor devices even though a large-diameter wafer or a large-diameter substrate made of a metal and the like is sealed, enables collectively sealing a semiconductor devices mounting surface of the substrate or a semiconductor devices forming surface of the wafer, and has excellent heat resistance or moisture resistance after sealing. |
| US09240328B2 |
Arrays of long nanostructures in semiconductor materials and methods thereof
An array of nanowires and method thereof. The array of nanowires includes a plurality of nanowires. The plurality of nanowires includes a plurality of first ends and a plurality of second ends respectively. For each of the plurality of nanowires, a corresponding first end selected from the plurality of first ends and a corresponding second end selected from the plurality of second ends are separated by a distance of at least 200 μm. All nanowires of the plurality of nanowires are substantially parallel to each other. |
| US09240326B2 |
Self-aligned borderless contacts using a photo-patternable dielectric material as a replacement contact
A photo-patternable dielectric material is provided to a structure which includes a substrate having at least one gate structure. The photo-patternable dielectric material is then patterned forming a plurality of sacrificial contact structures adjacent the at least one gate structure. A planarized middle-of-the-line dielectric material is then provided in which an uppermost surface of each of the sacrificial contact structures is exposed. Each of the exposed sacrificial contact structures is then removed providing contact openings within the planarized middle-of-the-line dielectric material. A conductive metal-containing material is formed within each contact opening. |
| US09240325B2 |
Method for making an integrated circuit
A method includes making a gate stack on the surface of an active zone, including depositing a first dielectric layer; depositing a gate conductive layer; depositing a first metal layer; depositing a second metal layer; depositing a second dielectric layer; partially etching the gate stack for the formation of a gate zone on the active zone; making insulating spacers on either side of the gate zone on the active zone; making source and drain electrodes zones; making silicidation zones on the surface of the source and drain zones; etching, in the gate zone on the active zone, the second dielectric layer and the second metal layer with stopping on the first metal layer, so as to form a cavity between the insulating spacers; making a protective plug at the surface of the first metal layer of the gate zone on the active zone, where the protective plug fills the cavity. |
| US09240320B1 |
Methods of depositing smooth and conformal ashable hard mask films
Provided are plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition methods of depositing smooth and conformal ashable hard mask films on substrates containing raised or recessed features. The methods involve using precursors having relatively high C:H ratios, such as acetylene (C:H ratio of 1), and plasmas having low ion energies and fluxes. According to various embodiments, the methods involve depositing smooth ashable hard mask films using high frequency radio frequency-generated plasmas with no low frequency component and/or relatively high pressures. Also provided are methods of depositing ashable hard mask films having good selectivity and improved side wall coverage and roughness. The methods involve depositing a first ashable hard mask film on a substrate having a feature using a process optimized for selectivity and/or optical properties and then depositing a smoothing layer on the first ashable hard mask film using an HF-only process. |
| US09240307B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus
Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus including a mounting table within a processing container. The mounting table includes a lower electrode. A shower head constituting an upper electrode is provided above the mounting table. A gas inlet tube is provided above the shower head. The shower head includes a plurality of downwardly opened gas ejection holes, and first and second separate gas diffusion chambers on the gas ejection holes. The first gas diffusion chamber extends along a central axis that passes through a center of the mounting table. The second gas diffusion chamber extends circumferentially around the first gas diffusion chamber. The gas inlet tube includes a cylindrical first tube wall and a cylindrical second tube wall provided outside the first tube wall, and defines a first gas inlet path inside the first tube wall, and a second gas inlet path between the first and second tube walls. |
| US09240305B2 |
Charged particle beam device and sample observation method
All of the conventional charged particle beam devices are designed only for the observation at atmospheric pressure or in gas atmosphere at a pressure substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure, and there is no device enabling easy observation using a typical high-vacuum charged particle microscope at atmospheric pressure or in gas atmosphere at a pressure substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure. Such a conventional technique has another problem that the distance between the diaphragm and a sample cannot be controlled, and so it has a high risk of breakage of the diaphragm. Then, the device of the present invention includes a diaphragm configured to separate a space to place a sample therein so that pressure of the space to place the sample therein is kept larger than pressure of the interior of the enclosure, the diaphragm letting the primary charged particle beam transmit or pass therethrough and being removable; a contact prevention member configured to prevent a contact between the sample and the diaphragm; and an adjustment mechanism configured to let at least a part of the contact prevention member in an optical axis direction of the charged particle optic column. |
| US09240298B2 |
Switch
The concave streak portion 26, in which the welding inclination surface 27 is formed, is provided on the side wall 12; the projecting portion 40, which is fitted into the concave streak portion 26 when the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 overlap to form the switch case 3, is provided on the lid body 36; when the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 are overlapped, the switch case 3 is sealed by contacting the seal ring 31 with the flange portion 38 and the welding shoulder portion 41 interferes with the welding inclination surface 27; the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 are jointed by melting the interference portion by high-frequency welding; the release region K, which keep the communicating state of the inside of the switch case 3 with the outside is designed by notching the projecting portion 40 from the root thereof. |
| US09240295B2 |
Low EMI keypad circuitry
Disclosed is keypad circuitry operable to detect a pressed key while reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI). The keypad circuitry is operable to reduce EMI in two ways: a) reducing the voltage swing occurring at the row circuitry and column circuitry of the keypad, and b) reducing the number of signal transitions by restricting the signal transitions to occurring at the column and row corresponding to a pressed key. By limiting signal transitions to occurring only at the row and column corresponding to a pressed key, fewer signal transitions occur, and thus, less EMI is produced. Additionally, reduced voltage swings at the row circuitry and column circuitry results in reduced EMI. |
| US09240293B2 |
Circuit tracer
A circuit tracer for use with circuit breakers equipped with sensors capable of sensing at least a change in the power consumption of the circuit and transmitting, preferably wirelessly, such information. The information is received directly or indirectly by a circuit tracer having a display, the display showing all the circuit breakers equipped with the sensors. Upon changing the load of an electricity outlet, such as a wall outlet, a light source, HVAC, pump, electrical machinery, etc., the sensor equipped circuit breaker provides an indication of such power or current consumption change to the circuit tracer. This allows the user of the circuit tracer to associate on the circuit tracer the circuit breaker with the specific electricity outlet. The association information may be saved on a central server or database for future use. |
| US09240291B2 |
Rugged keypad
A tamper-resistant or tamper-evident keypad device for use in secure transactions. The keypad comprises multiple security mechanisms to prevent tampering to the device, and thus access to users' private information. The keypad is made of resilient materials and contains a tamper-resistant collar for housing the keypad's connector interface. The keypad comprises a multi-layered printed circuit board with at least two internal security-shield layers comprising switch trace protection, as well as additional security layers for tamper protection. The keypad comprises a silicon-rubber keypad actuator that engages tamper switches on the flexible security circuit. The keypad comprises an optional dome layer. |
| US09240288B2 |
Contact switching device
An object of the present invention is to provide a contact switching device that has small hitting sound during operation and is excellent in impact resistance. For this, there is a contact switching device in which a movable iron core (142) provided at one end portion of a movable shaft is attracted to a fixed iron core, based on excitation and degauss of an electromagnet portion, by which the movable shaft reciprocates in a shaft center direction, and a movable contact of a movable contact piece arranged at another end portion of the movable shaft contacts and departs from a fixed contact. Particularly, the movable iron core (142) has a cylindrical outer circumferential portion (142a) and an annular attracting and sticking portion (142b), and a ratio between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the cylindrical outer circumferential portion (142a) is 77% or less. |
| US09240285B2 |
Multi-notched anode for electrolytic capacitor
A solid electrolytic capacitor that includes an anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode body, a solid electrolyte that contains one or more conductive polymers and overlies the dielectric, and an external coating that overlies the solid electrolyte, is provided. The external coating includes at least one carbonaceous layer and at least one metal layer. In addition to the aforementioned layers, the external coating can also include at least one conductive polymer layer that can be disposed between the carbonaceous and metal layers. Among other things, such a conductive polymer layer can reduce the likelihood that the carbonaceous layer will delaminate from the solid electrolyte during use. Further, the notched geometry of the anode body itself is selected to minimize the risk of delamination of the external coating layers from the anode body. This combination of characteristics can increase the mechanical robustness of the part and improve its electrical performance. |
| US09240284B2 |
Cased capacitor within substrate circuit
The capacitor includes at least: a capacitor body; two lead wires provided on one end surface; a projecting portion provided at a substantially central portion of another end surface; and at least two relief valves provided on the another end surface. On the another end surface, the at least two relief valves are arranged in substantially rotational symmetry with respect to the projecting portion. Further, an axial center line of the projecting portion and an axial center line of the capacitor substantially correspond to each other. Also provided are a capacitor case to be used the capacitor and a substrate provided with a circuit using the capacitor. |
| US09240276B2 |
Induction powered panels
Vehicles and systems are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, for example, the vehicle may include, but is not limited to, a moveable panel comprising an electronic device, a power source, and a connector configured to selectively couple the movable panel to the vehicle, the connector configured to be electrically coupled to the power source and further configured to inductively couple the electronic device of the moveable panel to the power source. |
| US09240274B2 |
Common mode filter and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a common mode filter, including: an external magnetic layer; an insulating layer formed on the external magnetic layer and having coil electrodes therein; a protecting layer formed on the insulating layer; an internal magnetic layer formed inside an opening part formed in one surface of the protecting layer; and external electrode terminals passing through the protecting layer and connected with end portions of the coil electrodes, so that there can be provided a common mode filter having excellent durability, moisture resistance, and heat resistance. |
| US09240271B2 |
Inductor that switches between coupled and decoupled states
An apparatus includes first core spaced from a second core. The second core has a first section with a first winding, a second section with a second winding, and a third section between the first and second sections. At least one filler is included between the first core and the third section of the second core. The operational state of the apparatus changes based on the amount of magnetic flux through the filler. When the flux is at an unsaturated level, the first and second windings operate as decoupled inductors. When the flux is at a saturated level, the first and second windings operate as a coupled inductor. The amount of magnetic flux through the filler may be determined based on the size of the current through one or more of the windings and/or the magnetic permeability of the filler material. |
| US09240267B2 |
Power generation device
A power generation device includes a first magnet member, a second magnet member which is disposed such that the N pole side thereof is in the opposite direction to the N pole side of the first magnet member, a yoke which is disposed between the first magnet member and the second magnet member, an induction coil which is disposed at an outer periphery of the yoke. When the first magnet member and the second magnet member slidingly move in synchronization or when the yoke slidingly moves, the direction of a magnetic flux flowing in the yoke changes to generate an electromotive force in the induction coil. |
| US09240266B2 |
Grain oriented electrical steel sheet
A grain oriented electrical steel sheet has sufficiently low iron loss and having less conventionally-concerned warpage of the steel sheet even after the steel sheet is subjected to artificial magnetic domain refining treatment, where strain-introducing treatment is conducted with high energy so that an iron loss-reducing effect can be maximized. The grain oriented electrical steel sheet is obtained by adjusting tension to be applied to a tension-applying insulating coating, or to both surfaces of the steel sheet by the tension-applying insulating coating, before strain-introducing treatment in the range of Formula (1): 1.0≦(tension applied to non-strain-introduced surface)/(tension applied to strain-introduced surface)≦2.0 (1), and by controlling the amount of warpage of the steel sheet toward the strain-introduced surface side after strain-introducing treatment in the range of 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less. |
| US09240265B2 |
Method for manufacturing grain-oriented electrical steel sheet having superior magnetic property
Provided is a grain-oriented electric steel sheet and a method for manufacturing same, the steel sheet having superior magnetic properties. The method comprises heating a slab comprising 2.0 to 4.5 weight % of Si, 0.001 to 0.10 weight % of C, 0.010 weight % or lower of Al, 0.08 weight % or lower of Mn, 0.005 weight % or lower of N, 0.002 to 0.050 weight % of S, the remainder being Fe and other unavoidable impurities, performing hot-rolling of the heated slab, performing cold-rolling one time or two or more times including an intermediate annealing, performing decarbonization and re-crystallizing annealing, and performing secondary re-crystallizing annealing. |
| US09240264B2 |
Variable resistor having resistance varying geometrically ratio and control method thereof
An analog amplifier for amplifying an analog signal and an analog filter is provided. In particular, an apparatus and method for controlling gain and cutoff frequency of the variable gain amplifier and the variable cutoff frequency filter that is capable of changing the gain and cutoff frequency are provided. The variable resistor includes a plurality of resistor segments in the variable resistor and, when a plurality of resistance candidates for the variable resistor is arranged in order of size, the resistance candidates form a geometric series. |
| US09240262B1 |
Systems and methods for distributed pressure sensing
A pressure sensing cable in one embodiment includes an optical fiber having a first core and a second core. The first core extends along a length of the cable, and is sized and configured to provide propagation of light along the first core along the length of the cable. The first core has a first mode index corresponding to the speed of light propagation along the first core. The second core extends along the length, is spaced a distance from the first core, and is sized and configured to provide propagation of light along the second core along the length of the cable. The second core has a second mode index corresponding to the speed of light propagation along the second core. The second mode index is different from the first mode index, wherein light propagates along the second core at a different speed than along the first core. |
| US09240250B2 |
Apparatus and method to reduce power delivery noise for partial writes
Apparatus, systems, and methods to reduce power delivery noise for partial writes are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a processor and a memory control logic to insert one or more dummy unit intervals into data in a write operation when a number of state transitions between adjacent unit intervals exceeds a threshold. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US09240247B2 |
Ring oscillator and semiconductor device
A ring oscillator includes a plurality of ring-connected delay circuits. At least one of the plurality of delay circuits has an SRAM cell and a path circuit connected in parallel to the SRAM cell. The SRAM cell outputs an output signal from a second node to the delay circuit in the next stage within the plurality of delay circuits in response to one of rise transition and fall transition of a signal to be input to a first node from the delay circuit in the previous stage within the plurality of delay circuits. The path circuit outputs an output signal to the delay circuit in the next stage in response to the other transition of the one of transitions. |
| US09240244B2 |
Method for driving semiconductor device and semiconductor device
To read multilevel data from a memory cell having a transistor using silicon and a transistor using an oxide semiconductor, without switching a signal for reading the multilevel data in accordance with the number of the levels of the multilevel data. The potential of the bit line is precharged, the electrical charge of the bit line is discharged via a transistor for writing data, and the potential of the bit line which is changed by the discharging is read as multilevel data. With such a structure, the potential corresponding to data held in a gate of the transistor can be read by only one-time switching of a signal for reading data. |
| US09240243B2 |
Managing of the erasing of operative pages of a flash memory device through service pages
A method for managing a flash memory device including pages of memory cells is described. The memory device may be erasable at the page level, and the pages may include operative pages for storing operative values and service pages for storing information relating to the erasing of the operative pages. In response to a request to erase selected operative pages, the method may include determining a service page in use among the service pages according to service information stored in the service pages, verifying the presence a service page to be erased, and applying an erasing pulse to each service page to be erased. The method may also include writing an address of the operative pages into the service page in use, erasing the selected operative pages, and writing a completion indication of the erasing of the selected operative pages into the service page in use. |
| US09240241B2 |
Pseudo block operation mode in 3D NAND
A 3D NAND stacked non-volatile memory device, comprising: a string comprising a plurality of non-volatile storage elements, the string comprises a channel and extends vertically through layers of the 3D stacked non-volatile memory device, and the plurality of storage elements are subdivided into different groups based on group assignments, each group of the different groups comprises multiple adjacent storage elements of the plurality of storage elements; and a control circuit in communication with the string, the control circuit, to perform a Pseudo Block Operation Mode. |
| US09240236B1 |
Switching conditions for resistive random access memory cells
Provided are method for determining switching conditions for production memory cells based on dopant flux during set and reset operations. One group of test memory cells, which are representative of the production memory cells, is subjected to a prolonged application of a set voltage, while another group is subjected to a prolonged application of a reset voltage. Different durations may be used for different cells in each group. A dopant concentration profile of a test component in each cell is determined for both groups. One cell from each group may be identified such that the changes in the dopant concentration profiles in these two identified cells are complementary. The profile complementarity indicates that these two identified cells had a similar dopant flux during voltage applications. Durations of set and reset voltage applications for these two cells may be used to determine switching conditions for production memory cells. |
| US09240235B2 |
Mitigating disturb effects for non-volatile memory
A method includes adjusting a counter value to indicate an access operation to a first portion of a non-volatile memory. The access operation is an erase operation or a write operation. The adjusted counter value indicates that a number of access operations to the first portion have been performed since an access operation to a second portion of the non-volatile memory has been performed. The method also includes selectively initiating a remedial action to the second portion in response to a comparison of the number of access operations to a threshold. |
| US09240233B1 |
Integrated circuit having voltage mismatch reduction
An integrated circuit comprises a first circuit portion comprising a plurality of first cells, each first cell comprising a first transistor having a first voltage value at a first node, and a second transistor having a second voltage value at a second node. A second circuit portion comprises a plurality of second cells. The second cells are individually coupled with a corresponding first cell of the plurality of first cells. The second cells are selectively controllable to supply a voltage to one or more of the first cells based on an instruction to supply the voltage. The instruction to supply the voltage is based on a determined mismatch between the first voltage value and the second voltage value being greater than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US09240232B2 |
SRAM write driver with improved drive strength
A subsystem configured to write data to a static random access memory cell employs a single N-channel MOS device connected to ground in each leg of the bi-stable memory cell to overdrive the stored data. The subsystem implements the dual control required to effect matrix operation of the SRAM cell in the gate circuit of the single N-channel MOS device in the drive path. Specifically, the column select signal controls a semiconductor junction that interrupts the data connection to the gate. In this manner, the column select control is removed from the drive path, thus increasing drive strength. Further, a second semiconductor junction connects the gate of the single NMOS device in the drive path when the gate signal is interrupted. |
| US09240225B2 |
Current sense amplifier with replica bias scheme
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sense amplifier architecture that facilitates fast and accurate read operations. The sense amplifier architecture includes a folded cascode amplifier for its first sense amplifier stage, and a pre-charge circuit to establish a pre-charge condition for a senseline and a reference senseline of the sense amplifier. The pre-charge circuit and the folded cascode amplifier each include one or more cascode transistors of the same size and which receive the same bias voltage on a gate thereof. This architecture provides fast and accurate read operations in a relatively small footprint, thereby providing a good blend of cost and performance. |
| US09240212B2 |
Synchronized viewing of media content
Aspects of the disclosure relate to enabling a group of users, each at a different location, to view and control synchronized streamed media content. Users may execute trick play commands plays such as pause, rewind, and fast forward so that all users see the same media content including trick play actions. The media content may originate from streaming content servers or from network-DVR servers. |
| US09240211B2 |
Topographic feedforward system
A control mechanism may control the height and/or position of a read/write head configured to interact with a rotating information storage surface. A computation unit may compute a detected topography from gap measurements using a dynamic filter including a model of read/write head dynamics. A sensor may detect gap measurements of a side read/write track while the read/write head is interacting with a current read/write track. A memory may store the detected topography. The control mechanism may adjust the height of the read/write head based on the detected and/or stored topography. The control mechanism may be a reactionless control mechanism configured to apply a counterforce to offset movements of the read/write head and/or a slider. |
| US09240210B2 |
Physical subsector error marking
Physical subsector error marking allows for selectively marking subsectors of a physical sector of a storage medium as unreadable. The error marking may include a bad sector mask to indicate that the subsector is unreadable combined with an error signature to confirm that the bad sector mask was set intentionally. The remaining readable subsectors of the physical sector may be returned to the host. |
| US09240208B2 |
Recording apparatus with mastering function
There is provided a recording apparatus which can effectively execute compression processing regardless of the mixdown level, and which can thereby carry out the mastering process easily. A DSP mixes down audio signals assigned to a plurality of tracks into a stereo audio signal. When performing the mastering process, the DSP uses a peak value detected during the mixdown to adjust a threshold value for the compression processing, and carries out the compression processing using the adjusted threshold value. Subsequently, the DSP performs normalization processing so as to produce a master data, and records the master data in a recorder. |
| US09240205B1 |
Write parameters used to ensure accurate phase lock during reading of a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium
Based on thermal time constant of a head-to-media spacing of a write head, a write parameter is determined that includes at least one of: a modified laser power boost used at a beginning of writing; and a time adjustment affecting the beginning of the writing. The write parameter is applied to writing operations affecting a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium, the write parameter ensuring accurate phase lock during reading of the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium. |
| US09240202B1 |
Spin-valve element, hard disk head, and hard disk head assembly
According to one embodiment, a spin-valve element includes a nonmagnetic unit, a first magnetic unit, a second magnetic unit, a third magnetic unit, a current source, and a voltage sensor. The current source is connected to the second magnetic unit and the third magnetic unit. The current source causes a current to flow between the second magnetic unit and the third magnetic unit via the nonmagnetic unit. The voltage sensor is connected to the second magnetic unit and the third magnetic unit. A maximum length of a contact surface between the first magnetic unit and the nonmagnetic unit is not more than a spin diffusion length of the nonmagnetic unit. A length of the first magnetic unit in a direction orthogonal to the contact surface is not more than 3 times a spin diffusion length of the first magnetic unit. The first magnetic unit does not contact an external electrode. |
| US09240201B2 |
Enlarged substrate for magnetic recording medium
An enlarged substrate for a magnetic recording medium used in a data storage device such as a hard disc drive (HDD). In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate for a magnetic recording disc for installation in a 3½ inch form factor hard disc drive, the substrate having an overall diameter of nominally from 96.9 mm to 100.4 mm. In other embodiments, an apparatus comprises a substrate for a magnetic recording disc for installation in a 2½ inch form factor hard disc drive, the substrate having an overall diameter of nominally from 66.9 mm to 71.8 mm. In other embodiments, a data storage device has a magnetic recording medium that uses an enlarged substrate as set forth above. |
| US09240200B2 |
Magnetic element with crossed anisotropies
A magnetic element may be configured with at least a magnetic stack having first and second magnetically free layers that each has a predetermined stripe height from an air bearing surface (ABS). The first and second magnetically free layers can respectively be configured with first and second uniaxial anisotropies that are crossed in relation to the ABS and angled in response to the predetermined stripe height. |
| US09240199B2 |
Systems and methods for distortion characterization
Systems, methods, devices and circuits for data amplification, and more particularly systems and methods for characterizing distortion introduced during data amplification. In some cases, an amplifier modeling circuit is discussed that receives a preamplifier status input from a preamplifier circuit; applies a vector fitting algorithm to the preamplifier status to yield a pole value; determines that the pole value is greater than unity; and replaces the pole value with an inverse of the pole value when the pole value is greater than unity. |
| US09240197B2 |
Library of existing spoken dialog data for use in generating new natural language spoken dialog systems
A machine-readable medium may include a group of reusable components for building a spoken dialog system. The reusable components may include a group of previously collected audible utterances. A machine-implemented method to build a library of reusable components for use in building a natural language spoken dialog system may include storing a dataset in a database. The dataset may include a group of reusable components for building a spoken dialog system. The reusable components may further include a group of previously collected audible utterances. A second method may include storing at least one set of data. Each one of the at least one set of data may include ones of the reusable components associated with audible data collected during a different collection phase. |
| US09240195B2 |
Speech enhancing method and device, and denoising communication headphone enhancing method and device, and denoising communication headphones
The present invention discloses a speech enhancing method, a speech enhancing device and a denoising communication headphone. In the solutions of the present invention, a first sound signal that comprises a user's speech signal transmitted through coupling vibration and an ambient noise signal transmitted through the air and a second sound signal that is mainly an ambient noise signal transmitted through the air are picked up by a primary vibration microphone and a secondary vibration microphone, respectively, that have a specific relative positional relationship therebetween, and the ambient noise signals picked up by the two vibration microphones are correlated with each other; a control parameter used to control an updating speed of an adaptive filter is determined according to the first sound signal and the second sound signal; the first sound signal is denoised and filtered according to the second sound signal and the control parameter; and the denoised and filtered speech signal is further denoised and speech high-frequency enhancement is performed thereon. The technical solutions of the present invention can effectively improve the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the quality of speech in an environment of highly intense noises. |
| US09240192B2 |
Device and method for efficiently encoding quantization parameters of spectral coefficient coding
This invention introduces apparatus and methods to efficiently encode the quantization parameters of split multi-rate lattice vector quantization. In this invention, by doing spectral analysis on the split multi-rate vector quantized spectrum, the spectrum is split to null vectors region and non-null vectors region. For the null vectors region, instead of transmitting series of indication for null vectors, an indication of null vectors region and the quantized value of index of the ending vector in the null vectors region (or the number of the null vectors in the null vectors region) are transmitted. The indication of null vectors region can be designed in many ways, the only requirement is the indication should be distinguishable in the decoder side. The ending index or the number of null vectors can be quantized by an adaptively designed codebook. By applying of the invented method, some bits can be saved from the codebook indications. |
| US09240189B2 |
Real-time scheduling method with reduced input/output latency and improved tolerance for variable processing time
A method and apparatus for processing encoded audio data that operates on batches of data having a predetermined time block size. An input/output memory buffer provides a delay from input to corresponding output of 2+x time blocks where x is a predetermined constant and 0 |
| US09240183B2 |
Reference signal suppression in speech recognition
The technology described herein can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a first signal representing an output of a speaker device, and a second signal comprising the output of the speaker device, and an audio signal corresponding to an utterance of a speaker. The method includes aligning one or more segments of the first signal with one or more segments of the second signal. Acoustic features of the one or more segments of the first and second signals are classified to obtain a first set of vectors and a second set of vectors, respectively, the vectors being associated with speech units. The second set is modified using the first set, such that the modified second set represents a suppression of the output of the speaker device in the second signal. A transcription of the utterance of the speaker can be generated from the modified second set of vectors. |
| US09240179B2 |
Voice controllable interactive communication display system and method
A system and method for use with a voice-capable system, includes but is not limited to receiving a vocal input to the voice-capable system, receiving one or more instructions referential to the first speech output version of the vocal input, and creating a second speech output version of the vocal input representational of the first speech output version of the vocal input manipulated responsive to the one or more instructions. |
| US09240171B1 |
Electronic musical instrument
An electronic musical instrument capable of providing spatially spread and dynamic musical tones by causing mutual resonance of first and second vibration exciters for vibrating an opposition board and a soundboard opposed to each other, respectively. A first vibration exciter provided on a surface, opposed to a soundboard, of a opposition board, and driven according to a musical tone signal, for vibrating the opposition board to generate a musical tone, and a second vibration exciter provided on a surface, opposed to the opposition board, of the soundboard and driven according to the musical tone signal for vibrating the soundboard to generate a musical tone is connected by a connecting member for causes the first and second vibration exciters to resonate with each other. |
| US09240168B1 |
String musical instrument hand support apparatus
A removably engagable string musical instrument hand support apparatus that includes a beam having a first end portion and a second end portion, a principal surface, a minor surface, and a peripheral surface. Further included are first and second extension members that both extend from the minor surface, wherein the extension members contact a body of the musical instrument and the beam forms a non-contacting scaffold over a string of the musical instrument. Also included is an elastic finger having a primary end portion affixed to the peripheral surface and a secondary end portion affixed to an opposing peripheral surface, the primary and secondary ends both oppositely depend away from the beam towards the body with the ends having structure to removably engage opposing features of the body. Wherein the beam principal surface supports a user's hand over the musical instrument string for instrument playing. |
| US09240167B2 |
Pick-rite guitar aid
A guitar aid enables a user to selectively position and control tension and angle of a guitar pick for a richer sound with decreased strain on the user's hand and fingers. The guitar aid includes a band that can be adjustably sized to fit a user's finger. A guitar pick can be coupled directly to the band. The guitar pick can define a raised portion or ridge on the upper surface of the pick that serves as a first engagement feature for a first user finger, such as the user's thumb. The lower surface of the pick can include at least one outwardly projecting rib that serves as a second engagement feature for a second user finger, such as the user's index finger. The positioning of the pick with respect to the ring and the pair of engagement features cause a user to hold the pick at the proper angle and with appropriate tension when playing a guitar or other stringed instrument. |
| US09240156B2 |
Gate-driver-on-array (GOA) circuit
The present invention provides a GOA (Gate-Driver-on-Array) circuit, which includes multiple GOA units connected in cascade. An nth stage GOA unit of the GOA circuit includes a first (n−1)th stage signal input terminal (21), a second (n−1)th stage signal input terminal (22), a (n+1)th stage signal input terminal (23), a first clock signal input terminal (24), a first low level input terminal (25), a second low level input terminal (26), a first output terminal (27), and a second output terminal (28). The nth stage GOA unit further includes: a pull-up control unit (42), a pull-up unit (44), a first pull-down holding unit (46), a second pull-down holding unit (47), and a pull-down unit (48). The GOA circuit of the present invention overcomes the problems of poor performance of the conventional the GOA circuit caused by introduction of two low level signals into the GOA circuit and short operation service life and can enhance the quality of displayed images. |
| US09240153B2 |
Liquid crystal device, method of driving liquid crystal device, and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device having a first substrate, a second substrate, and liquid crystal provided between the first substrate and the second substrate includes: a plurality of scanning lines provided in the first substrate; a plurality of data lines provided in the first substrate; a plurality of switching elements provided in correspondence with intersections of the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines; a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements; a common electrode provided in correspondence with the pixel electrodes; a control circuit that alternately supplies a first voltage and a second voltage higher than the first voltage to the common electrode; and a data line driving circuit that alternately supplies a positive-polarity image signal, of which an electric potential is higher than the first voltage, and a negative-polarity image signal, of which an electric potential is lower than the second voltage, to the plurality of data lines. |
| US09240147B2 |
Display device
A display device includes movable members arranged to face a display screen of a liquid crystal display panel, a movable member driving mechanism, a display controller that controls the display of an image in a first display area and controls the display of a predetermined mark in a second display area on the liquid crystal display panel, and a drive controller that controls the movable member driving mechanism to move the movable members in accordance with a movement of the mark displayed. The display of an image object in the first display area and the display of the mark in the second display area are controlled so that the position of the image object displayed in the first display area corresponds to the position of the mark displayed in the second display area. |
| US09240146B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method therefore as well as electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a light blocking barrier, and a sensor. The apparatus has a barrier driving controlling unit, a display controlling unit, and a display mode decision unit to decide a display mode of an image to be displayed on the panel. The barrier driving controlling unit controls, when it is decided that the display mode is a first mode, driving of the barrier so that the position of the light blocking section of the barrier is moved in response to the position of the viewer detected by the sensor. The display controlling unit controls, when it is decided that the display mode is a second mode, the display of the panel so that the display position of the left-eye and the right-eye images on the panel is moved in response to the position of the viewer detected by the sensor. |
| US09240143B2 |
Electrowetting display driving system
A display driving system for an electrowetting display device having at least one display element, the display driving system comprising a driver stage for the display element, the driver stage providing a display voltage to be applied to the display element in response to a data signal representing an image to be displayed, the driver stage including a variable source providing a variable voltage in dependence on the data signal, the display driving system including an offset source providing an offset voltage, the display voltage being the sum of the offset voltage and the variable voltage. |
| US09240142B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving organic light emitting display device
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for driving an organic light emitting display device which facilitates to control current consumption of a display panel according to a temperature of the display panel including a light emitting device or a surrounding temperature of the display panel, the apparatus comprising the display panel including the plurality of pixels provided with the plurality of light emitting devices which emit light according to a current, a temperature sensing unit for generating temperature data by sensing a temperature of the display panel or surrounding temperature; and a panel driver for controlling a data signal to be supplied to each pixel so as to make current consumption of the display panel be lower than a preset current limit value on the basis of input data and temperature data. |
| US09240141B2 |
Pixel unit driving circuit, pixel unit driving method and pixel unit
A pixel unit driving circuit, a pixel unit driving method and a pixel unit, which can improve the problems of OLED panel luminance uniformity and luminance decreasing caused by material aging. The pixel unit driving circuit includes a driving TFT (DTFT), a matching TFT (MTFT), a first switching element (11), a storage capacitor (Cs) and a driving control unit (12); the driving TFT (DTFT) has a gate connected to a first terminal of the storage capacitor (Cs), a source connected to a second terminal of the storage capacitor (Cs) through the first switching element (11), and a drain connected to a driving power source; the matching TFT (MTFT) has a gate and a drain connected to the gate of the driving TFT (DTFT), and a source connected to the source of the driving TFT (DTFT) through the driving control unit (12); the second terminal of the storage capacitor (Cs) is also connected to a data line through the driving control unit (12). |
| US09240140B2 |
Display device, power source generator device, and driving method of an OLED pixel
A display device having a particular power controller circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a plurality of pixels, and a power controller for supplying a first power source voltage and a second power source voltage for providing a driving current of the plurality of pixels wherein the power controller connects at least one of a first high level voltage, a ground, and a capacitor to a first node connected to the first power source voltage, and connects one of a second high level voltage and the ground to a second node connected to the second power source voltage. |
| US09240136B2 |
Driving circuit for display device
A data driving circuit for a display panel. The data driving circuit includes a driving integrated circuit including a plurality of data driving units configured to supply image data to data lines of the display panel; and a package body including: a mount region in which the driving integrated circuit is mounted, logic power input patterns configured to transmit logic power to the plurality of data driving units, and at least two external auxiliary transmission lines formed in the mount region and connected to at least one logic power input pattern. Further, the at least two external auxiliary transmission lines are configured to transmit power received from the at least one connected logic power input pattern to data driving units located farthest from said at least one logic power input pattern. |
| US09240135B2 |
Chromaticity adjustment for LED video screens
A system and method for color matching/chromaticity adjustment for a video screen, display panel, module or other component that comprises different batches of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). The system and method do not alter the panel/module's RGB gain when adjusting saturation, luminance and hue. This way, the panels and modules can achieve a desired/targeted white balance. As such, different batches of LEDs can be set to the same RGB ratios to achieve proper color matching. Thus, the system and method can mix different batches of LEDs in the same video screen or wall, yet achieve uniformity across the screen/wall. |
| US09240134B2 |
Device for controlling electro-optic device including write section that executes first and second write operations during which different voltages are applied to pixels, method for controlling electro-optic device electro-optic device, and electronic apparatus
When a write operation to change the pixel into one of the first gray level and the second gray level is stopped before completion of the write operation, and when a write section executes a write operation to change the pixel into another of the first gray level and the second gray level, the write section executes the write operation by voltage application to change the pixel into the other gray level the same number of times of voltage application as the number of times of voltage application in the write operation that has been stopped. |
| US09240133B2 |
Detection circuit and method for a liquid crystal display
A detection circuit and a detection method for liquid crystal display are provided. The detection circuit comprises gate driver for providing row scan signal to liquid crystal cell to be detected; signal source for providing polarity inversion signal to source driver, polarity inversion signal comprises continuous high level signal and continuous low level signal; source driver for performing digital-analog conversion on received display data signal according to preset reference voltage and polarity inversion signal, generating pixel voltage signal, and sending pixel voltage signal to liquid crystal cell to be detected, polarity inversion mode formed by pixel voltage signal is column inversion mode. The polarity inversion mode of column inversion, formed by pixel voltage signal in technical solution makes white dot of damaged area of alignment film is more prominent during detection process, so it would be easy for the operator to recognize it and avoid the issue of missing detection. |
| US09240130B2 |
Combat medical simulators and associated systems and methods
Devices, systems, and methods appropriate for use in combat medical training are provided. In some instances, the combat medical simulators facilitate training of common field medical techniques including tracheostomy, wound care, tourniquet use, pneumothorax, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and/or other medical treatments. Further, the combat medical simulators have joints that provide realistic ranges of motions to enhance the realism of the training experience. |
| US09240129B1 |
Notifications and live updates for braille displays
Various systems, servers, methods, media, programs, and devices for providing a notification of a live event in an application to a braille display are provided. Content information of the application is transmitted to the braille display and displayed in a first display area of the braille display. The notification is transmitted to the braille display and displayed in a second display area of the braille display in response to detecting the live event for notifying a user of the braille display of the live event. The notification is transmitted independently of the content information without interrupting transmission of the content information. |
| US09240126B2 |
Method of simulating a failure on an aircraft
A method of failure simulation for an aircraft (7) having a power plant (10) with at least two turbine engines (11, 12), together the two engines develop an overall power, each engine (11, 12) being capable of delivering at least one contingency power in order to compensate for a total failure of other engines (11, 12). The device serves during a failure simulation to modify the overall power delivered by the power plant, with this modification being performed with the help of first adjustment means (20). Second adjustment means (30) serve to modify also the difference between the minimum power obtained during the simulated failure and the stabilized overall power, and also the time between said failure stabilizing on said overall power. |
| US09240122B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling automatic interworking of multiple devices
Provided is a method for controlling multiple devices in an automatic interworking manner, by which the multiple devices are controlled, according to a set of operation mstoringodes including combined functions of the multiple devices, through one central control device without individually controlling the functions of each of the multiple devices. The method includes an operation mode setting step for setting an operation mode in which performable functions of the electronic devices are combined and performed in a specific order and for storing the set operation mode in the central control device, an operation mode selecting step for selecting an operation mode to be executed in a plurality of set operation modes, and a controlling step for controlling the electronic devices according to the selected operation mode. |
| US09240121B2 |
Determining alert criteria in a network environment
Alert conditions datasets are created from historic data taken from actual incidents for which the alert condition datasets are to indicate during future operations. A networked computers system including various devices is monitored for alert conditions associated with one, or more, of the devices. The severity of an alert is based on the number of alert conditions met for a given alert conditions dataset. |
| US09240120B2 |
Caregiver rounding with real time locating system tracking
An information technology system for a healthcare facility is provided. The system includes a first computer device to keep track of rounding intervals for caregivers and to determine whether the caregivers successfully complete their rounds in a timely manner for their assigned patients. The system also has a real time locating system (RTLS) that tracks locations of the plurality of caregivers and that is in communication with the first computer device. The system further has a number of graphical displays in communication with the first computer device. Each graphical display is operable to display a list of patients for whom rounds are due and to display reminder messages to the plurality of caregivers relating to rounding. |
| US09240119B2 |
Tamper-alert resistant bands for human limbs and associated monitoring systems and methods
A tamper alert band is provided that includes a strap with conductive and non-conductive elements or layers. The tamper alert band includes an electronic or RFID device that is configured to communicate with RFID readers and/or exciters. The strap may be a single unitary body that has a conductive layer and a non-conductive layer. |
| US09240118B2 |
Systems and methods for beacon tethering in a monitoring system
Various embodiments of the present inventions are related to monitoring physical location of a monitored target, but not limited to, use of beacon location information. |
| US09240114B2 |
Systems and methods associated with detection of indoor gunfire
Systems and methods are disclosed for reliably detecting gunfire in enclosed spaces having significant acoustic reverberation. Implementations are configured to quickly and reliably report the room or portion of a room where gunfire is located. Innovations herein may ensure low false alarm rate by thresholding, pattern recognition and/or detecting the muzzle optical flash. In some embodiments, a review center with trained personnel may evaluate the incident before reporting to local authorities. The indoor system can be incorporated into an outdoor gunshot location system to better protect a local area such as a campus or a transportation hub. Systems and methods herein may involve features and functionality associated with additional resources, such as intercoms, cellphones, and access control, to provide mitigation of harm in case of a shooting. |
| US09240112B2 |
Online surveillance system to protect solar power plants
A method and apparatus is disclosed that can monitor the solar power inverters in real-time both day and night, and generate surveillance alarms and actions when a solar power inverter is removed or disconnected from the AC powerline for unknown reasons. It offers a low cost and reliable surveillance means to help guard a residential-scale, commercial-scale, or utility-scale solar power system in real-time at all times. |
| US09240111B2 |
Inferring building metadata from distributed sensors
Inferring building metadata from distributed sensors is described. In an embodiment multiple sensors are situated at various locations in a building detecting physical quantities (e.g. light, heat, motion). The data from at least one sensor is analyzed in order to detect events occurring in proximity to the sensor. Data about an event detected at a first sensor is compared with events detected at other sensors in order to identify correlated events from which connections between the sensor locations can be inferred and a building layout generated. In some embodiments a threshold may be applied to the data in order to filter out false events. In some embodiments the building layout may be used as part of a building control system. In some embodiments the sensor data may be used to determine if the sensor has been moved. |
| US09240106B2 |
Automatic transaction apparatus
Disclosed is an automatic transaction apparatus comprising an upper unit and a lower unit, wherein a means is provided for reducing the cost of manufacturing the upper unit. An automatic transaction apparatus comprises: an upper unit (2a) provided with a bill deposit/withdrawal part (3) and a sorting part (4); and a lower unit (2b) comprising denomination-specific cassettes (13) and a reject storage part (15). The automatic transaction apparatus is provided with: an upper conveyance path (7) which conveys bills to the parts in the upper unit (2a); and a lower conveyance path (10) which is connected to the upper conveyance path (7) and is disposed in the lower unit (2b), and which branches midway and conveys bills to the denomination-specific cassettes (13) or the reject storage part (15). |
| US09240105B2 |
Alphanumeric slot game system and method
A slot game and systems and methods for administering the slot game wherein the slot administrator defines game parameters that in turn define the contours of the slot game. Game play consists of wagers made on plays of alphanumeric combinations that a player tries to successfully match with the characters in outcome sets prepared for each character position in the target phrase, wherein the player selects one or more outcome characters from each outcome set. |
| US09240104B2 |
Gaming, system, method and device including a symbol changing or augmenting feature
Gaming systems, devices and methods are set forth which provide for the selection and application of modifiers to game outcomes. The modifiers confer different functionalities to base game symbols or an augmenting functionality to alter or provide an outcome. Different sets of modifiers may be accessed randomly or under different conditions and event. |
| US09240100B2 |
Virtual players card
A gaming machine including a secondary processor coupled to a player tracking system for tracking game play of a patron using a virtual player loyalty card is described. A virtual player loyalty card can be created by associating an existing physical player loyalty card with a newly created mobile loyalty card account. The mobile card can be virtually inserted into an electronic gaming machine when a portable electronic device with an associated mobile application is in the vicinity of an electronic gaming machine. Once the mobile card is virtually inserted into the gaming machine, the patron's game play at the gaming machine can be tracked. |
| US09240099B2 |
Game outcome validator
A simulator reproduces a game running on an electronic gaming machine using a model that implements the game rules and logic of the game. The electronic gaming machine stops at predetermined breakpoints during execution of a game session and sends data to the simulator at each breakpoint and at a conclusion of the game session. The data may include random number values, other game variables, and the result of the game session. The simulator uses the data to independently reproduce the game session. Output from the simulator is used to verify the state of internal variables and/or the result received from the electronic gaming machine. |
| US09240098B2 |
Kiosk for gaming
A kiosk for gaming by patrons. An identification scanner may scan an identification document into digital form. A biological sensor such as a camera may obtain biological data describing a human patron. Input-output device(s) mounted in the kiosk may present information and accept registration/login information and gaming commands from a human patron. A currency acceptor and dispenser may accept money. The kiosk may ask a patron to insert an identification document into the identification scanner, and scan the document. The kiosk may obtain biological data describing the patron. The kiosk may verify the identity of the patron and acceptability of the patron for gaming based at least in part on the digital form of the patron's identification and the biological data. The kiosk may accept currency for deposit into a wagering account. Once the patron is verified and the account is funded, the kiosk may offer gaming activities to the verified patron out of the wagering account, and pay out gaming winnings at the currency dispenser. |
| US09240097B2 |
Gaming machine having flexible mount for tower light
A gaming machine includes a cabinet having a topbox frame attached thereto and facing a player position in front of the gaming machine, and one or more display devices within the cabinet and configured to display a wagering game. The gaming machine further includes a tower light for indicating a status condition, and a conduit for mounting the tower light to the topbox frame. The conduit has a fixed end attached to the topbox frame and an adjustable end attached to the tower light. The adjustable end is movable to different positions to provide a line of sight for viewing the tower light. |
| US09240096B2 |
Electronic gaming device with a light-effect arrangement
The present invention is a gaming machine such as a slot machine having a housing with a light-effect arrangement for creation of light effects. The gaming machine has at least one reflector arranged on the housing such that the reflector is positioned with respect to a remote light source to reflect a light beam from the remote light source at least partly towards the front of the housing. The housing may include a light source, which may be a strip of LED lights that emits a light beam. This arrangement is particularly beneficial in modern gaming devices. A higher degree of design freedom relative to light source arrangement is achieved through the use of reflectors and the light source. |
| US09240095B2 |
Methods and systems for playing baccarat jackpot with an option for insurance betting
Methods for carrying out any or all the steps of the disclosed gaming method for playing jackpot and live baccarat games with an option for insurance betting. After first two cards are dealt to a player's hand and a banker's hand, according to a set of baccarat rules, and one or more of the players are allowed to place a bet on live baccarat on either the banker's hand to win or the player's hand to win, an insurance bet becomes available for the player to be placed on the player's hand or the banker's hand and various rules are set forth for winning the insurance bet. |
| US09240093B2 |
Tablet feeder
A tablet division feeder includes a moving unit to move a tablet T, a fixing blade located in a movement path of the tablet T, and a support plate extending from the fixing blade such that divided tablets T2 on the fixing blade are transferred and kept onto the support plate. The fixing blade divides the tablet T into upper and lower divided tablets as the tablet T is moved in such a manner that the lower divided tablet T1 is discharged and the upper divided tablet T2 is transferred from the fixing blade to the support plate by the moving unit and kept on the support plate. The upper divided tablet T2 is discharged from the support plate as the upper divided tablet T2 is further moved by the moving unit in such a manner that the upper divided tablet T2 is discharged from the moving unit. |
| US09240084B2 |
Elevator system preventing unauthorized use
A tamper alert band is provided that includes a strap with conductive and non-conductive elements or layers. The tamper alert band includes an electronic or RFID device that is configured to communicate with RFID readers and/or exciters. The strap may be a single unitary body that has a conductive layer and a non-conductive layer. |
| US09240082B2 |
Crowd sourced optimization of vehicle performance based on cloud based data
Tracking intrinsic and extrinsic vehicle parameters for optimizing vehicle performance is presented herein. A method can include consolidating sets of data associated with a vehicle to generate a model; generating, using the model, recommendation data representing a recommendation associated with an operation of the vehicle; and in response to receiving a request from a device of the vehicle corresponding to the operation of the vehicle, sending, based on the request, a message comprising the recommendation directed to the device of the vehicle. In an example, the method can further include determining, based on crowdsourced data representing the characteristic of the element of the vehicle, whether the characteristic satisfies a defined condition with respect to the operation of the vehicle. |
| US09240081B2 |
System and method of providing vehicular telematics service
A system and a method is provided for providing vehicular telematics service. The system for providing a vehicular telematics service includes a vehicle terminal, in which an embedded application and a downloaded application are installed for receiving a telematics service. The vehicle terminal also includes a telematics unit for transceiving data for the telematics service through a wireless communication network. The system further includes a telematics center which applies sending information and reception information about a service target application to header information of a service request message when receiving a service request from a user terminal. The telematics center further transmits the service request message to the vehicle terminal, in which when the vehicle terminal receives the service request message, the vehicle terminal drives the embedded application or the downloaded application by referring to the reception information applied to the header information. |
| US09240080B2 |
Server request for downloaded information from a vehicle-based monitor
A system for triggered request for downloaded information from a vehicle-based monitor comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the transmitter and the receiver. The processor is configured to determine whether it is desired to receive one or more data from a vehicle-based monitor. In the event that it is desired to receive one or more data from the vehicle-based monitor, the processor is configured to provide an indication that it is desired to receive the one or more data from the vehicle-based monitor. The processor is configured to receive the one or more data. |
| US09240077B1 |
Real-time visual effects for a live camera view
Visual effects for element of interest can be displayed within a live camera view in real time or substantially using a processing pipeline that does not immediately display an acquired image until it has been updated with the effects. In various embodiments, software-based approaches, such as fast convolution algorithms, and/or hardware-based approaches, such as using a graphics processing unit (GPU), can be used reduce the time between acquiring an image and displaying the image with various visual effects. These visual effects can include automatically highlighting elements, augmenting the color, style, and/or size of elements, casting a shadow on elements, erasing elements, substituting elements, or shaking and jumbling elements, among other effects. |
| US09240075B2 |
Campaign optimization for experience content dataset
A server for campaign optimization is described. An experience content dataset is generated for an augmented reality application of a device based on analytics results. The analytics results are generated based on analytics data received from the device. The experience content dataset is provided to the device. The device recognizes a content identifier of the experience content dataset and generates an interactive experience with a presentation of virtual object content that is associated with the content identifier. |
| US09240066B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for facilitating skeletal animation
Methods and apparatuses for facilitating skeletal animation are provided. A method may include determining a holistic motion path for a skeletal animation. The method may further include determining, independently of the determination of the holistic motion path, a limb animation for the skeletal animation based at least in part upon a plurality of skeletal key frames. The method may additionally include generating the skeletal animation by correlating the holistic motion path with the limb animation. Corresponding apparatuses are also provided. |
| US09240063B1 |
Methods and apparatuses for simulating fluids and media in digital art applications
The present invention relates to digital art software, and more particularly to methods of simulating fluids, brushes and associated media in digital art software applications. According to certain aspects, the invention relates to modeling techniques used to simulate fluids (and gases), which modeling techniques can employ dynamically sized simulation areas. In embodiments, these techniques incorporate modifications made to conventional techniques such as Lattice Bolzmann Modeling (LBM). According to certain other aspects, the invention relates to simulations of media using these techniques for modeling fluids such as Watercolor and “Wet Oil”. According to still further aspects, the invention relates to a “tool” adjuster paradigm for digital art software, among other things. |
| US09240060B2 |
Apparatus and method of generating a tomographic image
A method and an apparatus for generating a tomographic image are provided. The method for generating a tomographic image may involve: detecting a principal frequency region corresponding to a portion of a frequency data corresponding to a tomographic image, determining a plurality of sub frequency regions within the principal frequency region, and generating, by a processor, the tomographic image by synthesizing data of the plurality of sub frequency regions. |
| US09240059B2 |
Personal augmented reality
A method, article of manufacture and system for receiving, from a user device located at an environment at which a user is viewing an event both with and without the use of the user device, image data containing an image of the environment; receiving a request from the user device for an item of information that relates to the event, for placement into the image of the environment; responsive to receiving the request, accessing a database to retrieve the item of information; generating a scaled image of the item of information based on dimensions of the environment; and transmitting the scaled image for placement into the image of the environment on the user device to generate an augmented reality image. |
| US09240058B1 |
Dynamic barcode generation for content location
A user can share digital content with another user or device using dynamically-generated barcodes. A user might request to share an electronic book (“e-book”), stored on a first device, with another user having a second device. The first device can generate a barcode that includes not only information about the identity of the e-book, but also information about the user or the first device, which can help to determine rights and/or access restrictions for the content. The second device can capture an image of the barcode generated on a display of the first device, and use information extracted from that image to attempt to obtain a copy of the e-book. Other types of barcodes can be generated based at least in part upon the context, such as where a user is attempting to locate a physical copy of a type of digital content in a retail location. |
| US09240054B1 |
Method for monitoring water level of a water body and system for implementing the method
In a method for monitoring water level of a water body, a monitoring system is configured to: capture a current image that has a portion of the water body, and a remaining portion aside from the portion of the water body; process the current image into a processed image that includes a water body region corresponding to the portion of the water body, and a background region corresponding to the remaining portion of the current image; mark, on the processed image, a plurality of virtual alert points according to a predetermined water level of the water body; determine whether at least one of the virtual alert points is located within the water body region of the processed image; and generate a monitoring result according to the determination thus made. |
| US09240052B2 |
Correction of blotches in component images
Blotches may be identified and processed to reduce or eliminate the blotch. The blotch may be in just one of several separations and multiple separations may be used, for example, to identify the blotch. An implementation (i) compares a first component image of an image with a first component image of a reference image, (ii) compares a second component image of the image with a second component image of the reference image, and (iii) determines based on these comparisons whether the first component image of the image includes a blotch. Multiple image separations also, or alternatively, may be used, for example, to modify the blotch, as well as to evaluate whether a modification is beneficial. |
| US09240051B2 |
Object density estimation in video
A video camera may overlook a monitored area from any feasible position. An object flow estimation module monitor the moving direction of the objects in the monitored area. It may separate the consistently moving objects from the other objects. A object count estimation module may compute the object density (e.g. crowd). A object density classification module may classify the density into customizable categories. |
| US09240049B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring depth using an array of independently controllable cameras
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates. |
| US09240047B2 |
Recognition apparatus, method, and computer program product
In an embodiment, a recognition apparatus includes: an obtaining unit configured to obtain positions of a specific part in a coordinate system having a first axis to an n-th axis (n≧2); a calculating unit configured to calculate a movement vector of the specific part; a principal axis selecting unit configured to select a principal axis; a turning point setting unit configured to set a position at which there is a change in the principal axis, and set a position at which there is a change; a section setting unit configured to set a determination target section, and set a previous section; a determining unit configured to calculate an evaluation value of the determination target section and an evaluation value of the immediately previous section and, determine which of the first axis to the n-th axis is advantageous; and a presenting unit configured to perform the determined result. |
| US09240042B2 |
Wafer slip detection during CMP processing
A wafer-slip detection apparatus used in association with a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus may include an imaging device that generates images corresponding to at least an area of a rotation table of the CMP apparatus, and an image processing unit coupled to the imaging device for receiving and processing the generated images during a CMP process. The image processing unit includes a reference image that is compared with each of the generated images for detecting a wafer presence within the at least an area of the rotation table, whereby the detected wafer presence is indicative of a wafer-slip event. |
| US09240037B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes: a reduced image generation unit configured to obtain a reduced image; a gain data generation unit configured to obtain gain data; and a determination unit configured to determine a control gain required to amplify the input image based on the generated gain data, and letting first gain data be the gain data for an image having a relatively high frequency, and second gain data be the gain data having a relatively low frequency, the determination unit determines the control gain based on a first addition result and a second addition result. |
| US09240028B2 |
Reporting system and method for ingestible product preparation system and method
A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically receiving directive information including verification information to electronically verify issuance of the directive information by at least one authorized entity, living being identification associated with a particular individual living being, and reporting directions for electronically recording occurrence information to indicate at least one occurrence of at least partial preparation of a particular ingestible product designated by the reporting directions to be associated with an electronically inputted identification of the particular individual living being as verified using the living being identification electronically received with the directive information; and electronically transmitting the occurrence information to an electronic receiving device to be accessed by at least one recipient identified by the reporting directions as authorized to access the occurrence information subsequent to verification that the electronically received directive information was issued by the at least one authorized entity and subsequent to the electronic inputting of the identification of the particular individual living being, the occurrence information indicating the at least one occurrence of at least partial preparation of the particular ingestible product being associated with the particular individual living being. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US09240025B1 |
Dynamic pricing of network-accessible resources for stateful applications
Methods and apparatus for dynamic pricing of cloud resources for stateful applications are disclosed. A system includes a resource manager and a plurality of execution platforms. The resource manager stores client-provided application packages in a repository, where each package includes an executable object and has an associated pricing constraint. The resource manager selects a particular execution platform on which to schedule execution of the executable object of a particular application package, based at least in part on a current pricing of execution units of the particular execution platform and the pricing constraint of the application package. In response to a price-based interruption event, a representation of a state of the application is saved, and the execution of the application on the particular execution platform is stopped. |
| US09240024B2 |
Comment submission support system, comment submission support device, comment submission support device control method, program, and information storage medium
To provide a comment submission support system capable of supporting submission of such a comment as to enable a person who has viewed the comment to grasp a purchase status of a product or service. A purchase status information acquisition unit (61) acquires purchase status information relating to a purchase status of a product or service that is sold by a sales method in which a unit price of the product or service purchased by a plurality of purchasers within a target period is determined based on a total number of purchases of the product or service purchased by the plurality of purchasers within the target period. A transmission unit (63) transmits link information for access to a communication service device and information based on the purchase status information to a terminal of a user. The link information and the information based on the purchase status information are used by the terminal of the user to request the communication service device for submission screen data being such data as to automatically input the comment relating to the purchase status of the product or service to a comment input field. |
| US09240022B2 |
On-line video and image system
A system is provided that allows a photographer to take images for a customer and provide those images to order servicing equipment with which the images are placed on-line for the customer to view. The customer may place orders for the images and products and services related to the images. The order servicing equipment may credit the photographer when the customer orders images, products, or services. Images may be manipulated before images, products, or services are ordered. Images may be taken using film-based cameras or digital image acquisition equipment. Image presentation options may be selected. Content may be appended to the images. Web sites and digital albums may be created using the images. The photographer may check the status of assignments that have been submitted to the order servicing equipment and may check on account status. |
| US09240013B2 |
Evaluation of voice communications
One-to-many comparisons of callers' words and/or voice prints with known words and/or voice prints to identify any substantial matches between them. When a customer communicates with a particular entity, such as a customer service center, the system makes a recording of the real-time call including both the customer's and agent's voices. The system segments the recording to extract different words, such as words of anger. The system may also segment at least a portion of the customer's voice to create a tone profile, and it formats the segmented words and tone profiles for network transmission to a server. The server compares the customer's words and/or tone profiles with multiple known words and/or tone profiles stored on a database to determine any substantial matches. The identification of any matches may be used for a variety of purposes, such as providing representative feedback or customer follow-up. |