Document Document Title
US09246155B2 Rechargeable secondary battery having improved safety against puncture and collapse
Disclosed is a secondary battery having improved safety against puncture and collapse. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, a case receiving the electrode assembly, a cap plate coupled to the case, and a support plate electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes of the electrode assembly, the support plate being disposed between the electrode assembly and the case.
US09246153B2 Secondary battery
A secondary battery is disclosed. In one aspect, the battery includes a bare cell having a substantially prismatic shape, a first terminal located in a first region of a first surface of the bare cell and a second terminal located in a second region of the first surface of the bare cell. The battery also includes a first insulation tape located between the bare cell and the first terminal, wherein the first insulation tape covers the first surface of the bare cell, and second and third surfaces of the bare cell extending in a direction that crosses the first surface of the bare cell. The battery also includes a second insulation tape located between the first insulation tape and the first terminal.
US09246148B2 Service panel for accessing a serviceable part
A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an enclosure assembly defining an interior and a service panel integrally formed in the enclosure assembly. The service panel includes a ductile portion that is removable to access the interior.
US09246147B2 Battery retainment block and battery module
A battery retainment block includes a plurality of block pieces each having a battery storage unit for retaining a battery. The plurality of block pieces are aligned and, among the plurality of block pieces, two block pieces that are adjacent to each other are coupled together. A gap is provided between the two block pieces that are adjacent to each other to serve as a circulation space for circulating a medium.
US09246145B2 Assembled battery and manufacturing method thereof
A combined battery (100) comprising a plurality of flat-type cells (10A to 10F) by laminating thereof so that polarity of electrode tabs (11A to 11F and 12A to 12F) is alternately set, wherein welding parts to connect in series the flat cells themselves, to compose a set when all the flat-type cells (10A to 10F) are laminated, are separated at a plurality of positions of the combined battery, and the flat-type cells having such a structure that all the flat-type cells are electrically connected in series by welding each of the welding parts.
US09246142B2 Secondary battery having interconnected positive and negative electrode tabs
A secondary battery is capable of fastening a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab to each other without performing welding. The secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab coupled to the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, respectively, a housing accommodating the electrode assembly and having one side open, a plate sealing up the open part of the housing, a fastening unit formed so as to protrude from the plate in a non-penetrating structure, and a first tab terminal inserted into the fastening unit via the positive electrode tab so as to electrically couple the positive electrode tab and the plate to each other.
US09246140B2 Rechargeable battery with a cap assembly having a first tab located outside of the case
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly, a case containing the electrode assembly and a cap assembly coupled to the case. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode. The cap assembly includes a cap plate and a deformable plate attached to the cap plate and configured to deform in response to an increase in pressure inside the case to electrically couple the first electrode and the second electrode to each other.
US09246138B2 Light-emitting panel, manufacturing method of light-emitting panel, and film forming system
A light-emitting panel includes: a substrate and a light-emitting functional multilayer formed on the substrate, wherein the light-emitting functional multilayer including a first functional layer and a second functional layer, a thickness of part of the first functional layer positioned in a first light-emitting region is smaller than a thickness of part of the first functional layer positioned in a second light-emitting region, a thickness of part of the second functional layer positioned in the first light-emitting region is greater than a thickness of part of the second functional layer positioned in the second light-emitting region, and when the light-emitting functional multilayer is viewed in a layering direction, the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region are adjacent or distant from each other in a direction perpendicular to the layering direction, and each include a plurality of pixels that are each composed of a plurality of adjacent sub-pixels.
US09246137B2 Method of fabricating light extraction substrate for OLED
A method of fabricating a light extraction substrate for an OLE) by which the flatness of the light extraction substrate for an OLED can be increased. Particles of a first metal oxide and a sol of a second metal oxide are inputted and mixed into an organic solvent. A base substrate is coated with a mixture of the first and second metal oxides and the organic solvent. A resultant coating film on the base substrate is heat-treated. The coating film is coated with the second metal oxide to form a metal oxide thin film on the base substrate. In the metal oxide thin film, the particles of the first metal oxide are impregnated in a matrix of the second metal oxide.
US09246131B2 Layered element for encapsulating a senstive element
This layered element (11) for encapsulating an element (12) that is sensitive to air and/or moisture, especially an element that collects or emits radiation such as a photovoltaic cell or an organic light-emitting diode, comprises a polymer layer (1) and a barrier layer (2) against at least one face (1A) of the polymer layer. The barrier layer (2) has a moisture vapor transfer rate of less than 10−2 g/m2 per day and consists of a multilayer of at least two thin hydrogenated silicon nitride layers (21, 22, 23, 24) having alternately lower and higher densities.
US09246128B2 Organic light emitting diode display device having metal enclosing wall
An organic light emitting diode display device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The organic light emitting diode display device includes a first flexible substrate, a second flexible substrate, a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, an organic light emitting diode element, and a metal enclosing wall. The first barrier layer is disposed on the first flexible substrate, and the second barrier layer is disposed on the second flexible substrate. The organic light emitting diode element is disposed between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer. The metal enclosing wall connects the first flexible substrate to the second flexible substrate and surrounds the organic light emitting diode element.
US09246127B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display includes a first substrate, an organic light emitting element, a sealant, and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first groove disposed in a display area of the organic light emitting diode display and a second groove disposed outside the display area. The organic light emitting element is at least partially disposed in the first groove. The sealant is at least partially disposed in the second groove. The second substrate is disposed on the first substrate. The organic light emitting element is sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate via at least the sealant.
US09246120B2 Functional layer for organic light-emitting diode, organic light-emitting display apparatus including the same, and method of manufacturing the organic light-emitting diode
An organic light-emitting diode includes a first electrode, an intermediate layer on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes an emission layer including an organic material, and a functional layer between the second electrode and the emission layer and including at least one of a metal compound and a semiconductor compound including at least one of an oxygen atom and a sulfur atom. An oxygen concentration in the functional layer increases toward the second electrode, and a sulfur concentration in the functional layer increases toward the emission layer.
US09246116B2 Method of manufacturing light-absorbing layer having semiconductor nanoparticles and method of manufacturing semiconductor device having the same light-absorbing layer
An exemplary method of manufacturing a light-absorbing layer and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including the same light-absorbing layer are provided. The exemplary method includes: forming a nanoparticles film by applying a semiconductor nanoparticles solution on a substrate; thermally treating the nanoparticles film at least one time to cause adhesion among the nanoparticles; and forming a light-absorbing layer by applying a light-absorbing solution on the nanoparticles film.
US09246107B2 Compound for organic optoelectronic device, organic light emitting diode including the same and display device including the organic light emitting diode
A compound for an organic optoelectronic device, an organic light emitting diode, and a display device, the compound including moieties represented by the following Chemical Formula 1; Chemical Formula 4; and one of Chemical Formulae 2 and 3;
US09246103B2 Polymers and oligomers with functionalized side groups
The present invention relates inter alia to oligomers and/or polymers with functionalized side groups which are bound to the backbone of the polymer via spacer.
US09246098B2 Ge—Sb—Te film forming method, Ge—Te film forming method, and Sb—Te film forming method
A Ge—Sb—Te film forming method includes a Sb source material introducing process, a first purging process, a Te source material introducing process, a second purging process, a Ge source material introducing process, a third purging process. An additive gas containing at least one of ammonia, methylamine, dimethylamine, hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine, dimethylhydrazine and pyridine is introduced in at least one of the Sb, Te and Ge source material introducing processes and the first to third purging processes.
US09246096B2 Atomic layer deposition of metal oxides for memory applications
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to nonvolatile memory devices and methods for manufacturing such memory devices. The methods for forming improved memory devices, such as a ReRAM cells, provide optimized, atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming a metal oxide film stack which contains at least one hard metal oxide film (e.g., metal is completely oxidized or substantially oxidized) and at least one soft metal oxide film (e.g., metal is less oxidized than hard metal oxide). The soft metal oxide film is less electrically resistive than the hard metal oxide film since the soft metal oxide film is less oxidized or more metallic than the hard metal oxide film. In one example, the hard metal oxide film is formed by an ALD process utilizing ozone as the oxidizing agent while the soft metal oxide film is formed by another ALD process utilizing water vapor as the oxidizing agent.
US09246095B2 Electronic device including a memory
An electronic device includes a semiconductor memory unit that includes a vertical electrode formed over a substrate and receiving a voltage through one end of the vertical electrode, a resistance variable layer formed along a side of the vertical electrode to be thinner going from one end to the other end, and a plurality of horizontal electrodes formed adjacent to the vertical electrode with the resistance variable layer disposed between the horizontal electrodes and the vertical electrode, and stacked over the substrate with a space from each other.
US09246092B1 Tunneling barrier creation in MSM stack as a selector device for non-volatile memory application
Selector elements that can be suitable for nonvolatile memory device applications are disclosed. The selector element can have low leakage currents at low voltages to reduce sneak current paths for non-selected devices, and higher leakage currents at higher voltages to minimize voltage drops during device switching. The selector element can include insulator layers between the semiconductor layer and the metal layers to lower the leakage current of the device. The metal layers of the selector element can include conductive materials such as tungsten, titanium nitride, or combinations thereof.
US09246090B2 Storage device and storage unit
A storage device includes: a first electrode; a storage layer including an ion source layer; and a second electrode. The first electrode, the storage layer, and the second electrode are provided in this order. The ion source layer contains a movable element, and has a volume resistivity of about 150 mΩ·cm to about 12000 mΩ·cm both inclusive.
US09246087B1 Electron barrier height controlled interfaces of resistive switching layers in resistive random access memory cells
Provided are resistive switching memory cells and method of forming such cells. A memory cell includes a resistive switching layer disposed between two buffer layers. The electron barrier height of the material used for each buffer layer is less than the electron barrier height of the material used for the resistive switching layer. Furthermore, the thickness of each buffer layer may be less than the thickness of the resistive switching layer. The buffer layers reduce diffusion between the resistive switching layer and electrodes. Furthermore, the buffer layers improve data retention and prevent unintentional resistive switching when a reading signal is applied to the memory cell. The reading signal uses a low voltage and most of the electron tunneling is blocked by the buffer layers during this operation. On the other hand, the buffer layers allow electrode tunneling at higher voltages used for forming and switching signals.
US09246085B1 Shaping ReRAM conductive filaments by controlling grain-boundary density
Filament size and shape in a ReRAM stack can be controlled by doping layers of a variable-resistance stack to change the crystallization temperature. This changes the density of the grain boundaries that form during annealing and provide minimal-resistance paths for the migration of charged defects. Hf, Zr, or Ti decreases the crystallization temperature and narrows the filament, while Si or N increases the crystallization temperature and widens the filament. Tapered filaments are of interest: The narrow tip requires little energy to break and re-form, enabling the cell to operate at low power, yet the wider body and base are insensitive to entropic behavior of small numbers of defects, enabling the cell to retain data for long periods.
US09246081B2 Method for manufacturing piezoelectric element
There is provided a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric element, the method having a step of polarizing the fired piezoelectric body while fixing at least two positions in a direction perpendicular to the polarization direction. The method is a means for obtaining a piezoelectric element provided with a thin and flat fired piezoelectric body with no warpage.
US09246080B2 Ferroelectric thin film and method for producing same
In order to obtain a ferroelectric thin film having good crystallinity and realizing high piezoelectric properties, and a production method therefor, provided is a ferroelectric thin film constituting a dielectric material having a perovskite structure that comprises Zr and Ti formed on a substrate, wherein a layer having a Zr ratio that is smaller than a predetermined ratio and having good crystallinity and a layer that realizes good piezoelectric properties and has a Zr ratio that is about as great as the predetermined ratio are combined. A production method is also provided.
US09246075B2 Tubular thermoelectric generation device
The present invention provides a tubular thermoelectric generation device, comprising: a plurality of plate-like p-type thermoelectric members each having an external periphery, a through hole, and an internal periphery formed around the through hole; a plurality of plate-like n-type thermoelectric members each having an external periphery, a through hole, and an internal periphery formed around the through hole; a plurality of external electrodes; and a plurality of internal electrodes. Each of the plurality of the external electrodes comprises an internal flange expanded in a direction from the external periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member toward the internal periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member. Each of the plurality of the internal electrodes comprises an external flange expanded in a direction from the internal periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member toward the external periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member.
US09246069B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a light emitting element, a phosphor layer, and a fluorescent reflection film. The phosphor layer has a transparent medium, a phosphor dispersed in the transparent medium, and a particle dispersed in the transparent medium. The phosphor is excited by the excitation light so as to emit a fluorescence. The particle is a magnitude of not more than 1/10 a wavelength of the excitation light. The particle has a different refractive index from a refractive index of the transparent medium. The fluorescent reflection film is provided between the light emitting element and the phosphor layer. The fluorescent reflection film has a higher reflectance with respect to a fluorescent wavelength of the phosphor, than a reflectance with respect to the wavelength of the excitation lights.
US09246067B2 Semiconductor light emitting device and vehicle lamp
A semiconductor light emitting device which produces mixed light of a desired emission color by a combination of a semiconductor light emitting element and a wavelength converting layer containing a fluorescent substance, and a vehicle lamp including the semiconductor light emitting device. The wavelength converting layer has different wavelength conversion characteristics respectively at its portion covering an area of relatively high current density at light emission operation of the semiconductor light emitting element and at its portion covering an area of relatively low current density so as to reduce chromaticity difference over the light extraction surface of the mixed light due to non-uniformity of current density in the light emitting layer at light emission operation.
US09246062B2 Zinc stannate ohmic contacts for p-type gallium nitride
Transparent ohmic contacts to p-GaN and other high-work-function (≧4.2 eV) semiconductors are fabricated from zinc stannate (e.g., ZnSnO3). ZnO and SnO2 may be sputtered from separate targets and annealed to form the zinc stannate. The Zn:Sn ratio may be tuned over the range between 1:2 and 2:1 to optimize bandgap, work function, conductivity, and transparency for the particular semiconductor and wavelength of interest. Conductivity may be improved by crystallizing the zinc stannate, by doping with up to 5 wt % Al or In, or both.
US09246060B2 Light emitting devices and packages and related methods with electrode marks on leads
Light emitting devices, packages and related methods are disclosed with electrical leads with one or more indicators. A package can include a leadframe that can include at least a first lead and a second lead. The first lead can include a first end for electrical connection to at least one light emitting device and a second end extending toward a first side of the package. The second lead can include a first end for electrical connection to at least one light emitting device and a second end extending toward a second side of the package. One or both of the second end of the first lead or the second end of the second lead can comprise an indicator serving as an identifier.
US09246057B2 Semiconductor structures having active regions comprising InGaN, methods of forming such semiconductor structures, and light emitting devices formed from such semiconductor structures
Semiconductor structures include an active region between a plurality of layers of InGaN. The active region may be at least substantially comprised by InGaN. The plurality of layers of InGaN include at least one well layer comprising InwGa1-wN, and at least one barrier layer comprising InbGa1-bN proximate the at least one well layer. In some embodiments, the value of w in the InwGa1-wN of the well layer may be greater than or equal to about 0.10 and less than or equal to about 0.40 in some embodiments, and the value of b in the InbGa1-bN of the at least one barrier layer may be greater than or equal to about 0.01 and less than or equal to about 0.10. Methods of forming semiconductor structures include growing such layers of InGaN to form an active region of a light emitting device, such as an LED. Luminary devices include such LEDs.
US09246055B2 Crystal growth method and semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a crystal growth method is disclosed for growing a crystal of a nitride semiconductor on a major surface of a substrate. The major surface is provided with asperities. The method can include depositing a buffer layer on the major surface at a rate of not more than 0.1 micrometers per hour. The buffer layer includes GaxAl1-xN (0.1≦x<0.5) and has a thickness of not smaller than 20 nanometers and not larger than 50 nanometers. In addition, the method can include growing the crystal including a nitride semiconductor on the buffer layer at a temperature higher than a temperature of the substrate in the depositing the buffer layer.
US09246053B2 Light-emitting device and fabrication method thereof
A light-emitting device of little aging electric leakage and high luminous efficiency and fabrication thereof, in which, the light-emitting device includes: a semiconductor epitaxial laminated layer that comprises an N-type semiconductor layer, a P-type semiconductor layer and a light-emitting layer between the N-type semiconductor layer and the P-type semiconductor layer, the surface of which has deflected dislocation; electromigration resistant metal that fills into the deflected dislocation over the N-type or/and P-type semiconductor layer surface through pretreatment to block the electromigration channel formed over the semiconductor epitaxial laminated layer due to deflected dislocation to eliminate electric leakage.
US09246048B2 Semiconductor light emitting devices having an uneven emission pattern layer and methods of manufacturing the same
Example embodiments are directed to light-emitting devices (LEDs) and methods of manufacturing the same. The LED includes a first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer; an active layer formed between the first and second semiconductor layers; and an emission pattern layer including a plurality of layers on the first semiconductor layer, the emission pattern including an emission pattern for externally emitting light generated from the active layer.
US09246045B2 Method for fabricating a photodetector
Fabrication of a photodetector is performed on a substrate comprising a first portion successively provided with a first semiconductor film, an electrically insulating layer, a second semiconductor film, and a protection layer. The substrate also comprises a second portion not comprising the second semiconductor film. It further comprises a third portion not comprising the second semiconductor film and the protection layer. The second semiconductor film is etched in the first portion to form a cavity. A PIN/NIP diode is formed in the third portion at least by means of deposition of a third semiconductor material which also comes and fills the cavity. A conversion layer is deposited to absorb a light signal originating from the second semiconductor film and to convert the light signal into an electric signal, the conversion layer electrically connecting the PIN/NIP diode.
US09246042B2 Method for contacting and connecting solar cells
A method for contacting and connecting solar cells, according to which at least one electrode is formed by at least one wire conductor, and including the following steps: positioning a continuous wire conductor so that the continuous wire conductor extends across a plurality of solar cells, interrupting the electrodes at the positions required for the connection, and contacting the solar cells and electrodes.
US09246041B1 Apparatus and method for allowing avalanche photodiode based single-photon detectors to be driven by the same electrical circuit in gated and in free-running modes
An apparatus and method for allowing avalanche photodiode based single-photon detectors to be driven by the same electrical circuit in gated and in free-running modes is proposed. The high-performance working of all the running modes relies on the capability of tuning the rise-time value of the electrical pulse driver which activates the avalanche photodiode in Geiger mode.
US09246038B2 Light collecting and emitting apparatus, method, and applications
A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer and an injection layer further including light injection elements and respective light bypass elements disposed optically upstream of the light injection elements. The light injection elements and/or the bypass elements may take the form of air prisms. There is an axial index of refraction variation between the light guide layer and the injection layer. The axial index of refraction variation may be discrete or may be an axial gradient index variation.
US09246031B1 Supressing optical loss in nanostructured metals by increasing self-inductance and electron path length
An optoelectronic device configured to operate at an electromagnetic radiation frequency having metal wire electrodes that are optically transparent as a result of the wires having an effective plasma frequency that is equal to or lower than the electromagnetic frequency at which the device operates. The effective plasma frequency of the wire is lowered by configuring the path of the wire between the terminal ends to be meandering, serpentine, U-shaped and in other non-linear configurations.
US09246030B2 Conductive silver paste for a metal-wrap-through silicon solar cell
A conductive silver via paste comprising particulate conductive silver, a vanadium-phosphorus-oxide and an organic vehicle is particularly useful in providing the metallization of the holes in the silicon wafers of MWT solar cells. The result is a metallic electrically conductive via between the collector lines on the front side and the emitter electrode on the back-side of the solar cell. The paste can also be used to form the collector lines on the front-side of the solar cell and the emitter electrode on the back-side of the solar cell. Also disclosed are metal-wrap-through silicon solar cells comprising the fired conductive silver paste.
US09246028B2 Silicon solar cell manufacture
A silicon solar cell is manufactured by providing a carrier plate, and by applying a first contact pattern to the carrier plate. The first contact pattern includes a set of first laminar contacts. The silicon solar cell is further manufactured by applying a multitude of silicon slices to the first contact pattern, and by applying a second contact pattern to the multitude of silicon slices. Each first laminar contact of the set of first laminar contacts is in spatial laminar contact with maximally two silicon slices. The second contact pattern includes a set of second laminar contacts. Each second laminar contact of the set of second laminar contacts is in spatial laminar contact with maximally two silicon slices.
US09246027B2 Method of manufacturing solar cell electrode
A method of manufacturing a solar electrode comprising steps of:(a) stencil printing a conductive paste onto a front side of a semiconductor substrate through a printing mask comprising: (i) 60 wt % to 95 wt % of a conductive powder, (ii) 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of glass frit, (iii) 3 wt % to 30 wt % of an organic medium, (iv) 0.4 wt % to 1.7 wt % of an amide compound, based on the total weight of the conductive paste and (b) firing the applied conductive paste to form an electrode.
US09246026B2 Solar cell and method of manufacture thereof, and solar cell module
Disclosed is a solar cell having a collecting electrode on one main surface of a photoelectric conversion section. The collecting electrode includes a first electroconductive layer and a second electroconductive layer in this order from the photoelectric conversion section side, and further includes an insulating layer between the first electroconductive layer and the second electroconductive layer. The first electroconductive layer includes a low-melting-point material, and a part of the second electroconductive layer is conductively connected with the first electroconductive layer through, for example, an opening in the insulating layer. The second electrode layer is preferably formed by a plating method. In addition, it is preferable that before forming the second electroconductive layer, annealing by heating is carried out to generate the opening section in the insulating layer.
US09246022B2 Varactors including interconnect layers
In an embodiment of the present invention is provided a varactor comprising a substrate, a plurality of bottom electrodes positioned on a surface of the substrate separated to form a gap therein, a tunable dielectric material positioned on the surface of the substrate and within the gap, the tunable dielectric at least partially overlaying the plurality of electrodes, and a top electrode in contact with the tunable dielectric.
US09246016B1 Silicon carbide semiconductor device
A silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor device having a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) and integrated with an anti-parallelly connected Schottky diode includes: a substrate, an n-drift layer, a plurality of doped regions, a gate dielectric layer, a gate electrode, an inter-layer dielectric layer, a plurality of source openings, a plurality of junction openings, a plurality of gate openings, a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The second metal layer at the junction openings forms the Schottky diode.
US09246014B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory element, nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and method for operating nonvolatile semiconductor memory element
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory element including: a semiconductor substrate including: a source region; a drain region; and a channel region; a lower insulating film that is formed on the channel region; a charge storage film that is formed on the lower insulating film and that stores data; an upper insulating film that is formed on the charge storage film; and a control gate that is formed on the upper insulating film, wherein the upper insulating film includes: a first insulting film; and a second insulating film that is laminated with the first insulating film, and wherein the first insulating film is formed to have a trap level density larger than that of the second insulating film.
US09246006B2 Recrystallization of source and drain blocks from above
A method for manufacturing a transistor is provided, including amorphization and doping, by one or more localized implantations, of given regions of source and drain blocks based on crystalline semi-conductor material disposed on an insulating layer of a semi-conductor on insulator substrate, the implantations being carried out so as to conserve at a surface of said blocks zones of crystalline semi-conductor material on regions of amorphous semi-conductor material; and recrystallization of at least one portion of said given regions.
US09246005B2 Stressed channel bulk fin field effect transistor
Effective transfer of stress to a channel of a fin field effect transistor is provided by forming stress-generating active semiconductor regions that function as a source region and a drain region on a top surface of a single crystalline semiconductor layer. A dielectric material layer is formed on a top surface of the semiconductor layer between semiconductor fins. A gate structure is formed across the semiconductor fins, and the dielectric material layer is patterned employing the gate structure as an etch mask. A gate spacer is formed around the gate stack, and physically exposed portions of the semiconductor fins are removed by an etch. Stress-generating active semiconductor regions are formed by selective epitaxy from physically exposed top surfaces of the semiconductor layer, and apply stress to remaining portions of the semiconductor fins that include channels.
US09246001B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate and extends in a first direction with a first insulating film around the fin-shaped semiconductor layer. A pillar-shaped semiconductor layer resides on the fin-shaped semiconductor layer. A width of the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, perpendicular to the first direction is equal to a width of the fin-shaped semiconductor layer perpendicular to the first direction. A gate insulating film is around the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a metal gate electrode is around the gate insulating film. A metal gate line extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction of the fin-shaped semiconductor layer and is connected to the metal gate electrode.
US09245997B2 Method of fabricating a LDMOS device having a first well depth less than a second well depth
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device capable of increasing a breakdown voltage without an additional epitaxial layer or buried layer with respect to a high-voltage horizontal MOSFET.
US09245994B2 MOSFET with curved trench feature coupling termination trench to active trench
A metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) in and on a semiconductor surface provides a drift region of a first conductivity type. A plurality of active area trenches in the drift region, and first and second termination trenches are each parallel to and together sandwiching the active area trenches. The active area trenches and termination trenches include a trench dielectric liner and electrically conductive filler material filled field plates. A gate is over the drain drift region between active area trenches. A body region of a second conductivity abuts the active region trenches. A source of the first conductivity type is in the body region on opposing sides of the gate. A vertical drain drift region uses the drift region below the body region. A first and second curved trench feature couples the field plate of the first and second termination trench to field plates of active area trenches.
US09245992B2 Carbon doping semiconductor devices
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device can include forming a III-N semiconductor layer in a reactor and injecting a hydrocarbon precursor into the reactor, thereby carbon doping the III-N semiconductor layer and causing the III-N semiconductor layer to be insulating or semi-insulating. A semiconductor device can include a substrate and a carbon doped insulating or semi-insulating III-N semiconductor layer on the substrate. The carbon doping density in the III-N semiconductor layer is greater than 5×1018 cm−3 and the dislocation density in the III-N semiconductor layer is less than 2×109 cm−2.
US09245988B2 Electrostatic discharge protection device and electronic apparatus thereof
An electrostatic discharge protection device has a substrate, a P-well, a N-well, and an isolation portion. The P-well and N-well formed in the substrate are neighboring to each other. Along a specific direction, the P-well has a first N-type, a first P-type, a second N-type, a second P-type, and a third N-type high doping regions sequentially located thereon, and the N-well has a third P-type, a fourth N-type, a fourth P-type, a fifth N-type, and a fifth P-type high doping regions sequentially located thereon. The first N-type, the third N-type, the first P-type, and the second P-type high doping regions are coupled to a ground end, the third P-type, the fifth P-type, the fourth N-type, and the fifth N-type high doping regions are coupled to a voltage supply end, and the second N-type and the fourth P type high doping regions are coupled to an input/output end.
US09245985B2 IGBT with buried emitter electrode
There are disclosed herein various implementations of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) with buried emitter electrodes. Such an IGBT may include a collector at a bottom surface of a semiconductor substrate, a drift region having a first conductivity type situated over the collector, and a base layer having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type situated over the drift region. In addition, such an IGBT may include deep insulated trenches extending from a semiconductor surface above the base layer, into the drift region, each of the deep insulated trenches having a buried emitter electrode disposed therein. The IGBT may further include an active cell including an emitter, a gate trench with a gate electrode disposed therein, and an implant zone situated, between adjacent deep insulated trenches. The implant zone is formed below the base layer and has the first conductivity type.
US09245981B2 Dielectric filler fins for planar topography in gate level
An array of stacks containing a semiconductor fins and an oxygen-impermeable cap is formed on a semiconductor substrate with a substantially uniform areal density. Oxygen-impermeable spacers are formed around each stack, and the semiconductor substrate is etched to vertically extend trenches. Semiconductor sidewalls are physically exposed from underneath the oxygen-impermeable spacers. The oxygen-impermeable spacers are removed in regions in which semiconductor fins are not needed. A dielectric oxide material is deposited to fill the trenches. Oxidation is performed to convert a top portion of the semiconductor substrate and semiconductor fins not protected by oxygen-impermeable spacers into dielectric material portions. Upon removal of the oxygen-impermeable caps and remaining oxygen-impermeable spacers, an array including semiconductor fins and dielectric fins is provided. The dielectric fins alleviate variations in the local density of protruding structures, thereby reducing topographical variations in the height of gate level structures to be subsequently formed.
US09245978B2 Self-aligned thin film transistor with doping barrier and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a self-aligned thin film transistor controlling a diffusion length of a doping material using a doping barrier in a thin film transistor having a self-aligned structure and a method of manufacturing the same. The self-aligned thin film transistor with a doping barrier includes: an active layer formed on a substrate and having a first doping region, a second doping region, and a channel region; a gate insulating film formed on the channel region; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; a doping source film formed on the first doping region and the second doping region; and a doping barrier formed between the doping source film and the first doping region and between the doping source film and the second doping region.
US09245977B2 Vertical double-diffusion MOS and manufacturing technique for the same
In one embodiment, a method of making a VDMOS transistor can include: (i) etching an oxide layer formed on a surface of an epitaxial structure to define an active region of the VDMOS; (ii) injecting and diffusing a first dopant into the active region to form a doping region; (iii) forming a gate oxide layer on the active region; (iv) depositing polysilicon on the gate oxide layer, and etching the polysilicon to form a gate; (v) injecting a second dopant at an end of the gate to form a source, where the first and second dopants have opposite types; (vi) forming a contact hole adjacent to the gate, and injecting a third dopant into the contact hole, where the first and third dopants have a same type; (vii) depositing and etching aluminum on a chip surface; and (viii) coating the aluminum and chip surface with a passivation layer.
US09245976B2 Vertical channel transistor with self-aligned gate electrode and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating vertical channel transistors includes forming a plurality of pillars which have laterally opposing both sidewalls, over a substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer on both sidewalls of the pillars; forming first gate electrodes which cover any one sidewalls of the pillars and shield gate electrodes which cover the other sidewalls of the pillars and have a height lower than the first gate electrodes, over the gate dielectric layer; and forming second gate electrodes which are connected with upper portions of sidewalls of the first gate electrodes.
US09245973B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a field-effect transistor, including forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first insulating film in the trench, forming an intrinsic polycrystalline silicon film over the first insulating film, and introducing first conductive type impurities into the intrinsic polycrystalline silicon film to form a first conductive film. The first conductive film is etched to form a first gate electrode in the trench. Next, a second insulating film is formed in the trench above the first insulating film and the first gate electrode, and a first conductivity type doped polycrystalline silicon film, having higher impurity concentration than the first gate electrode is formed over the second insulating film. The doped polycrystalline silicon film, upper part of the trench ton form a second gate electrode.
US09245972B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. A substrate having a first gate and a second gate respectively formed in a first region and a second region is provided. An underlayer is formed on the substrate to cover the first gate in the first region and the second gate in the second region. A patterned mask with a predetermined thickness is formed on the underlayer in the first region. The underlayer corresponding to the second gate in the second region is removed by the patterned mask to expose the second gate, wherein the underlayer corresponding to the first gate in the first region is partially consumed to expose part of the first gate.
US09245970B2 Semiconductor structure having interfacial layer and high-k dielectric layer
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes an interfacial layer over the semiconductor substrate, the interfacial layer having a capacitive effective thickness of less than 1.37 nanometers (nm). The semiconductor structure further includes a high-k dielectric layer over the interfacial layer.
US09245969B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor layer; a block insulating film; an organic molecular layer, which is formed between the semiconductor layer and the block insulating film, and provided with a first organic molecular film on the semiconductor layer side containing first organic molecules and a second organic molecular film on the block insulating film side containing second organic molecules, and in which the first organic molecule has a charge storing unit and the second organic molecule is an amphiphilic organic molecule; and a control gate electrode formed on the block insulating film.
US09245968B2 Field effect transistor and method of fabrication
An improved field effect transistor and method of fabrication are disclosed. A barrier layer stack is formed in the base and sidewalls of a gate cavity. The barrier layer stack has a first metal layer and a second metal layer. A gate electrode metal is deposited in the cavity. The barrier layer stack is thinned or removed on the sidewalls of the gate cavity, to more precisely control the voltage threshold of the field effect transistor.
US09245966B2 Wiring, thin film transistor, thin film transistor panel and methods for manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, a semiconductor on the gate insulating layer, and a drain electrode and a source electrode on the semiconductor and spaced apart from each other. Each of the drain electrode and the source electrode includes a first metal diffusion preventing layer which prevents diffusion of metal atoms, and a second metal diffusion preventing layer on the first metal diffusion preventing layer. At least one of the first and second metal diffusion preventing layers includes grains in a columnar structure, which are in a direction substantially perpendicular to a lower layer. First grain boundaries of the first metal diffusion preventing layer and second grain boundaries of the second metal diffusion preventing layer are substantially discontinuous in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor.
US09245959B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
One object is to have stable electrical characteristics and high reliability and to manufacture a semiconductor device including a semi-conductive oxide film. Film formation is performed by a sputtering method using a target in which gallium oxide is added to a material that is easy to volatilize compared to gallium when the material is heated at 400° C. to 700° C. like zinc, and a formed film is heated at 400° C. to 700° C., whereby the added material is segregated in the vicinity of a surface of the film and the oxide is crystallized. Further, a semi-conductive oxide film is deposited thereover, whereby a semi-conductive oxide having a crystal which succeeds a crystal structure of the oxide that is crystallized by heat treatment is formed.
US09245956B2 Electronic circuit comprising unipolar and bipolar devices
An electronic circuit includes a bipolar device, a unipolar device connected in parallel to the bipolar device, and an output line connected to the bipolar device and to the unipolar device. An inductance between the unipolar device and the output line is smaller than an inductance between the bipolar device and the output line.
US09245953B2 Method to induce strain in 3-D microfabricated structures
Methods and structures for forming strained-channel finFETs are described. Fin structures for finFETs may be formed in two epitaxial layers that are grown over a bulk substrate. A first thin epitaxial layer may be cut and used to impart strain to an adjacent channel region of the finFET via elastic relaxation. The structures exhibit a preferred design range for increasing induced strain and uniformity of the strain over the fin height.
US09245952B2 Method of forming a semiconductor device and structure therefor
In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device may include forming a buried region within a semiconductor region, including forming an opening in the buried region. The method may also include forming a drift region of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor region with at least a portion of the drift region overlying a first portion of the buried region. Another portion of the method may include forming a first drain region of the second conductivity type in the drift region wherein the first drain region does not overlie the buried region.
US09245950B2 Method for fabricating an insulated gate bipolar transistor
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a cathode region of the diode, a first buffer region adjacent to the cathode region at a rear surface side of a semiconductor substrate, a collector region of the IGBT, and a second buffer region adjacent to the collector region at the rear surface side. The method includes forming the step portion on the front surface so that the thin portion and the thick portion are formed in the semiconductor substrate, and injecting n-type impurities to a range on the front surface extending across the thin and thick portions so that the first buffer region and the second buffer region are formed.
US09245946B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes defining a curved active region by forming a plurality of trenches over a semiconductor substrate, forming an insulating layer to fill the plurality of trenches, and forming a pair of gate lines crossing the curved active region, so that it is possible to prevent leaning of an active region by forming a curved active region.
US09245945B1 Semiconductor device having weak current channel
The invention provides a semiconductor device having a weak current channel. The semiconductor device includes a gate, a source and a drain. There are a plurality of insulation layers and a plurality of first conductive type lightly doped regions alternatingly arranged between the gate and the drain; each of the first conductive type lightly doped regions providing a weak current channel between the source and the drain. When the gate is in a relatively low voltage range, the weak current channel is conducted; when the gate is in a relatively high voltage range, the weak current channel is not conducted.
US09245944B2 Silicon carbide device and a method for manufacturing a silicon carbide device
A silicon carbide device includes an epitaxial silicon carbide layer having a first conductivity type and a buried lateral silicon carbide edge termination region within the epitaxial silicon carbide layer and having a second conductivity type. The buried lateral silicon carbide edge termination region is covered by a silicon carbide surface layer including a doping of ions of a transition metal or including an increased density of intrinsic point defects in comparison to a density of intrinsic point defects of the buried lateral silicon carbide edge termination region.
US09245943B2 Semiconductor body with strained monocrystalline region
A semiconductor body comprised of a semiconductor material includes a first monocrystalline region of the semiconductor material having a first lattice constant along a reference direction, a second monocrystalline region of the semiconductor material having a second lattice constant, which is different than the first, along the reference direction, and a third, strained monocrystalline region between the first region and the second region.
US09245940B2 Inductor design on floating UBM balls for wafer level package (WLP)
An inductor design on a wafer level package (WLP) does not need to depopulate the solder balls on the die because the solder balls form part of the inductor. One terminal on the inductor couples to the die, the other terminal couples to a single solder ball on the die, and the remaining solder balls that mechanically contact the inductor remain electrically floating. The resulting device has better inductance, direct current (DC) resistance, board-level reliability (BLR), and quality factor (Q).
US09245936B2 Multi-display apparatus
Provided is a multi-display apparatus. The multi-display apparatus includes a first display including a region configured to allow external light to pass therethrough, a first module electrically coupled to the first display unit, a second display coupled to the first display, the second display overlapping the first module and being configured to not allow external light to pass therethrough, and a second module electrically coupled to the second display.
US09245935B2 Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device in which electrical characteristics of a transistor in a pixel can be monitored without degrading display quality is provided. The light-emitting device includes a plurality of pixels each comprising a pixel circuit. A pixel circuit included in a first pixel is electrically connected to a light-emitting element included in a second pixel through a first switch. A pixel circuit included in the second pixel is electrically connected to the light-emitting element included in the second pixel through a second switch and to a light-emitting element included in a third pixel through a third switch. The pixel circuits are connected to a correction circuit through switches.
US09245933B2 Electroluminescent (EL) device and display device
An electroluminescent (EL) device and a display device are disclosed. The OLED device comprises a base substrate; a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array are disposed on the base substrate; each pixel unit comprises sub-pixel units provided with EL structures; the EL structures each comprise a transparent anode, an emission layer (EML) and a transparent cathode disposed on the base substrate in sequence; the EL structure of each sub-pixel unit is divided into a transmissive area and a reflective area; and the reflective area of the EL structure is provided with a reflective layer. The EL device can achieve transparent display with the transmissive area of each sub-pixel unit, and meanwhile, the transmissive area for achieving transparent display can also realize normal display.
US09245928B2 Non-volatile memory device
According to an embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes: a first interconnection layer extending in a first direction; a second interconnection layer extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, the second interconnection layer including a metal-containing layer and a metal ion source layer, and the metal ion source layer being provided on the first interconnection layer side; and a resistance change layer provided in a position where the first interconnection layer and the second interconnection layer cross each other and a metal ion released from the metal ion source layer being capable to be diffused into the resistance change layer. At least part of the second interconnection layer protrudes to the first interconnection layer side in a cross section of the second interconnection layer cut perpendicularly to the second direction.
US09245924B2 Phase change memory element
A phase-change memory element with an electrically isolated conductor is provided. The phase-change memory element includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; a phase-change material layer electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least two electrically isolated conductors, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, directly contacting the phase-change material layers.
US09245923B2 Method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a colossal magneto-capacitive material being formed close to a channel region of a transistor
Semiconductor devices include a transistor having a gate structure located close to a channel region that comprises a colossal magnetocapacitive material. The gate structure is configured to affect electrical current flow through the channel region between a source and a drain. The colossal magnetocapacitive material optionally may be disposed between two structures, one or both of which may be electrically conductive, magnetic, or both electrically conductive and magnetic. Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices include forming a colossal magnetocapacitive material close to a channel region between a source and a drain of a transistor, and configuring the colossal magnetocapacitive material to exhibit colossal magnetocapacitance for generating an electrical field in the channel region. Methods of affecting current flow through a transistor include causing a colossal magnetocapacitive material to exhibit colossal magnetocapacitance and generate an electrical field in a channel region of a transistor.
US09245922B2 Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a display device and a manufacturing method thereof that can simplify manufacturing steps and enhance efficiency in the use of materials, and further, a manufacturing method that can enhance adhesiveness of a pattern. One feature of the invention is that at least one or more patterns needed for manufacturing a display panel, such as a conductive layer forming a wiring or an electrode or a mask for forming a desired pattern is/are formed by a method capable of selectively forming a pattern, thereby manufacturing a display panel.
US09245919B2 Solid-state image pickup apparatus
Provided is a back-illuminated solid-state image pickup apparatus having an improved color separation characteristic. A photo detector includes a first photo detector unit and a second photo detector unit disposed deeper than the first photo detector unit with respect to a back surface of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the first photo detector unit includes a first-conductivity-type first semiconductor region where carriers generated through photo-electric conversion are collected as signal carriers. A readout portion includes a first-conductivity-type second semiconductor region extending in a depth direction such that the carriers collected in the first semiconductor region are read out to a front surface of the semiconductor substrate. A unit that reduces the amount of light incident on the second semiconductor region is provided.
US09245914B2 Electronic device comprising a chip of integrated circuits stacked with an optical plate
An electronic device is formed by a stack of an integrated circuit chip and an optical plate. The integrated circuit chip includes integrated circuits (such as optical circuits) formed on or in a semiconductor substrate plate. The optical integrated circuits may form an optical sensor. An electrical connection network is provided on the top side of the semiconductor substrate plate. Electrical connection lugs, which are connected to the electrical connection network through electrical connection vias, are mounted on the back side of the semiconductor substrate plate. The vias are through silicon vias situated at a distance from the periphery of the semiconductor substrate plate. The optical plate is configured to allow light radiation to pass to the optical integrated circuits.
US09245910B2 Method for manufacturing board device
According to one embodiment, provided is an array substrate that can effectively prevent an oxide conductive film and a silicon nitride film on the oxide conductive film from peeling without deteriorating reliability. A method for manufacturing the array substrate includes a surface treatment step and a nitride film forming step. In the surface treatment step, by plasma discharge, the oxide conductive film is cleaned without being reduced, and surface layers of the insulating film layer not covered by the oxide conductive film and portions of the insulating film layer in the regions covered by the oxide conductive film are etched to form recesses leading to portions under the oxide conductive film. In the nitride film forming step, successively from the surface treatment step, the silicon nitride film is formed by plasma CVD so as to cover the recesses and the oxide conductive film.
US09245901B1 Memory device and method for fabricating the same
A memory device is provided, which includes a plurality of gate pillar structures and a plurality of dielectric pillars extending alternately arranged along a same direction and embedding in a stack layer so that the stack layer divided into a plurality of stack structures.
US09245887B2 Method and layout of an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit layout includes a first active region, a second active region, a first PODE (poly on OD edge), a second PODE, a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor, on the first active region, includes a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region. The second transistor, on the second active region, includes a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region. The first active region and the second active region are adjacent and electrically disconnected with each other. The first PODE and the second PODE are on respective adjacent edges of the first active region and the second active region. The source regions of the first and second transistor are adjacent with the first PODE and the second PODE respectively. The first PODE and the second PODE are sandwiched between source regions of the first transistor and the second transistor.
US09245881B2 Selective fabrication of high-capacitance insulator for a metal-oxide-metal capacitor
Methods and devices of a capacitor in a semiconductor device having an increased capacitance are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of forming a capacitor is disclosed. A section of a first insulating material between a first metal contact element and a second metal contact element is removed to form a channel. A second insulating material is deposited in the channel between the first metal contact element and the second metal contact element.
US09245879B2 Static discharge system
A semiconductor circuit includes a three-terminal high voltage semiconductor device, a charge distribution structure and a static discharge system. The charge distribution structure has a plurality of conductors with a floating potential. The charge distribution structure is capacitively coupled to a first terminal of the semiconductor device. The static discharge system removes charge that accumulates on at least a subset of the conductors. The static discharge system removes the charge that accumulates on the subset of conductors when the semiconductor device is in a first state while allowing charge to accumulate on the subset of conductors when the semiconductor device is in a second state.
US09245874B2 LED array having embedded LED and method therefor
An LED array comprises a base layer, at least one LED disposed on the base layer, and a diffusion layer including a luminescent material. The diffusion layer covers the at least one LED and the base layer in such a way that light emitted from the at least one LED passes through the diffusion layer.
US09245871B2 Vertically stackable dies having chip identifier structures
A vertically stackable die having a chip identifier structure is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a die comprising a first through silicon via to communicate a chip identifier and other data. The semiconductor device also includes a chip identifier structure that comprises at least two through silicon vias that are each hard wired to an external electrical contact.
US09245868B2 Method for manufacturing a chip package
A method for manufacturing a chip package is provided, the method including: forming a layer arrangement over a carrier; arranging a chip including one or more contact pads over the layer arrangement wherein the chip covers at least part of the layer arrangement; and selectively removing one or more portions of the layer arrangement and using the chip as a mask such that at least part of the layer arrangement covered by the chip is not removed.
US09245861B2 Wafer process for molded chip scale package (MCSP) with thick backside metallization
A wafer process for MCSP comprises: depositing a metal bump on bonding pads of chips; forming a first packaging layer at front surface of wafer covering metal bumps while forming an un-covered ring at the edge of wafer to expose the ends of each scribe line located between two adjacent chips; thinning first packaging layer to expose metal bumps; grinding back surface of wafer to form a recessed space and a support ring at the edge of the wafer; depositing a metal seed layer and a thick metal layer at bottom surface of wafer in recessed space in a sequence; cutting off the edge portion of wafer; and separating individual chips from wafer by cutting through first packaging layer, the wafer and the metal seed and metal layers along the scribe line.
US09245858B2 Semiconductor device package with integrated antenna for wireless applications
A semiconductor device package is provided with integrated antenna for wireless applications. The semiconductor device package comprises a substrate including a semiconductor chip mounted thereon; a protective layer covering the semiconductor chip; a metal pattern mounted on the protective layer; and a first connective member connecting the semiconductor chip and the metal pattern. According to this configuration, the semiconductor device package is capable of being easily manufactured while minimizing the electrical distance between the metal pattern for use as an antenna and the semiconductor chip.
US09245856B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate. The wiring substrate includes a first surface, a second surface located at an opposite side of the first surface, a cavity formed in the first surface, an electrode pad formed on the first surface surrounding the cavity, and a high frequency wire exposed on the first surface. A semiconductor element is accommodated in the cavity. A bonding wire connects the semiconductor element and the electrode pad. A first protection film is arranged on the first surface of the wiring substrate to cover the first surface, the semiconductor element, the electrode pad, the bonding wire, and the high frequency wire.
US09245854B2 Organic module EMI shielding structures and methods
Apparatus and methods for an electronic package incorporating shielding against emissions of electromagnetic interference (EMI). According to an integrated circuit structure, a substrate is on a printed circuit board. An integrated circuit chip is on the substrate. The integrated circuit chip is electrically connected to the substrate. An EMI shielding unit is on the integrated circuit chip and the substrate. The EMI shielding unit comprises a lid covering the integrated circuit chip and portions of the substrate outside the integrated circuit chip. A fill material can be deposited within a cavity formed between the lid and the substrate. The fill material comprises an EMI absorbing material. A periphery of the lid comprises a side skirt, the side skirt circumscribing the integrated circuit chip and the substrate. EMI absorbing material is on the printed circuit board, and a portion of the side skirt is embedded in the EMI absorbing material.
US09245851B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a plurality of first opening portions formed in an interlayer insulating film. The surface is covered with a metal film with a surface having concavities and convexities which scatter reflected light. Size of the first opening portion is of the same level as a contact hole of a component and cannot be recognized by an image recognition apparatus. The metal film can be recognized by the image recognition apparatus. By forming a TiN film serving as a reflection prevention film on an end of the metal film, portions that can easily scatter light and a portion that cannot easily reflect light are adjacent in an alignment marker. A passivation film is formed on the interlayer insulating film and the TiN film. Recessed portions disposed in the metal film are exposed to a second opening portion formed in the passivation film and the TiN film.
US09245849B2 Semiconductor device with air gap
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device may include forming isolation structures that include openings, over a substrate; forming sacrificial spacers on sidewalls of the openings; forming, on the sacrificial spacers, first conductive patterns that are recessed in the openings; removing the sacrificial spacers, and defining air gaps; forming a liner layer that caps the first conductive patterns and the air gaps; forming second conductive patterns through silicidation of the liner layer; and forming third conductive patterns over the second conductive patterns.
US09245847B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device for forming metal element-containing layer on insulating layer in which concave portion is formed, semiconductor device including insulating layer in which concave portion is formed, and semiconductor layer on insulating layer in which concave portion is formed
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device for forming a metal element-containing layer on an insulating layer in which a concave portion is formed, includes: forming an oxide layer including mainly an oxide of the metal element on the insulating layer including the concave portion; and forming a silicate layer including mainly a silicate of the metal element by making the oxide layer into silicate by annealing under a reducing atmosphere.
US09245844B2 Pitch-halving integrated circuit process and integrated circuit structure made thereby
A pitch-halving IC process is described. Parallel base line patterns are formed over a substrate, each being connected with a hammerhead pattern at a first or second side of the base line patterns, wherein the hammerhead patterns are arranged at the first side and the second side alternately, and the hammerhead patterns at the first or second side are arranged in a staggered manner. The above patterns are trimmed. A spacer is formed on the sidewalls of each base line pattern and the corresponding hammerhead pattern, including a pair of derivative line patterns, a loop pattern around the hammerhead pattern, and a turning pattern at the other end of the base line pattern. The base line patterns and the hammerhead patterns are removed. A portion of each loop pattern and at least a portion of each turning pattern are removed to disconnect each pair of derivative line patterns.
US09245841B2 Semiconductor device and fabricating process for the same
A semiconductor device and a fabricating process for the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a base layer having a part of a reactive material; and a self-assembled protecting layer of a self-assembled molecule reacting with the reactive material formed over the part.
US09245840B2 Semiconductor device having an inductor surrounds the internal circuit
To suppress the noise caused by an inductor leaks to the outside, and also to be configured such that magnetic field intensity change reaches the inductor.An inductor surrounds an internal circuit in a planar view and also is coupled electrically to the internal circuit. The upper side of the inductor is covered by an upper shield part and the lower side of the inductor is covered by a lower shield part. The upper shield part is formed by the use of a multilayered wiring layer. The upper shield part has plural first openings. The first opening overlaps the inductor in the planar view.
US09245831B1 Top-exposed semiconductor package and the manufacturing method
A semiconductor package includes a lead frame having a die paddle and a plurality of leads connected to die paddle, where each lead has a lead surface parallel to die paddle and is a continuous extension bending upward from die paddle. A semiconductor chip is mounted on die paddle, where drain metal layer covering a first surface of chip is connected to die paddle, and source metal layer and gate metal layer are located on a second surface opposite to first surface with gate metal layer located at one corner of the second surface. A source metal plate and a gate metal plate are attached on source metal layer and gate metal layer respectively. A molding layer covers lead frame, semiconductor chip, source metal plate and gate metal plate, where lead surface, top surfaces of source metal plate and gate metal plate are exposed from top surface of molding layer.
US09245829B2 Substrate structure, method of mounting semiconductor chip, and solid state relay
This invention provides a substrate structure that can effectively prevent scattering of solder balls which are produced due to explosion attributable to evaporation of flux during reflow soldering, and spreading of molten solder to the surroundings. On a substrate, a semiconductor chip is mounted via solder paste. The substrate is provided with a groove portion which continuously or discontinuously surrounds the solder paste.
US09245828B2 High speed signal conditioning package
A package and integrated circuit assembly is configured to perform signal conditioning on a signal. The assembly includes a line card having line card contacts that correspond to conductors in the line card connector. Two or more integrated circuits are configured to perform signal conditioning on the signal and the two or more integrated circuits are configured within a package into at least a first row and a second row on the package. The package includes a grid array of bonding pads to electrically connect to the two or more integrated circuits through bond wires or down bonds such that the structure of the grid array corresponds in physical arrangement or bond pad pitch to the line card contacts. This assembly also includes an electrical connection from the two or more integrated circuits to the line card through the package.
US09245819B2 Embedded electrical component surface interconnect
An electrical component package is disclosed comprising: an electrical component having an embedded surface, a structure attached to the electrical component opposite the embedded surface, a conductive adhesive directly attached to the embedded surface, where the conductive adhesive is shaped to taper away from the embedded surface, and an encapsulation material covering the conductive adhesive and the electrical component. In various embodiments, the tapered conductive adhesive facilitates the securing of the conductive adhesive to the electrical component by the encapsulation material. Also disclosed are various methods of forming an electrical component package having a single interface conductive interconnection on the embedded surface. The conductive interconnection is configured to maintain an interconnection while under stress forces. Further disclosed in a method of applied a conductive adhesive that enables design flexibility regarding the shape and depth of the conductive interconnection.
US09245816B2 Semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the semiconductor package
Embodiments of the inventive concept include a semiconductor package having a plurality of stacked semiconductor chips. A multi-layered substrate includes a central insulation layer, an upper wiring layer disposed on an upper surface of the central insulation layer, and a first lower wiring layer disposed on a lower surface of the central insulation layer. The stacked semiconductor chips are connected to the multi-layered substrate and/or each other using various means. The semiconductor package is capable of high performance operation, like a semiconductor package based on flip-ship bonding, and also meets the need for large capacity by overcoming a limitation caused by a single semiconductor chip. Embodiments of the inventive concept also include methods of manufacturing the semiconductor package.
US09245815B2 Underfill material including block copolymer to tune coefficient of thermal expansion and tensile modulus
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward underfill material including block copolymer. In one embodiment, an underfill material includes epoxy material and a copolymer including an epoxy-philic block and an epoxy-phobic block, wherein the epoxy-philic block is miscible in the epoxy material, the epoxy-phobic block is covalently bonded with the epoxy-philic block, the epoxy-phobic block is separated in a microphase domain within the epoxy material and the epoxy-philic block is configured to restrict thermal expansion or contraction of the epoxy material.
US09245812B2 Die with separate functional input, test out, enable input buffers
Timely testing of die on wafer reduces the cost to manufacture ICs. This disclosure describes a die test structure and process to reduce test time by adding test pads on the top surface of the die. The added test pads allow a tester to probe and test more circuits within the die simultaneously. Also, the added test pads contribute to a reduction in the amount of test wiring overhead traditionally required to access and test circuits within a die, thus reducing die size.
US09245811B2 Method for postdoping a semiconductor wafer
A method for treating a semiconductor wafer having a basic doping is disclosed. The method includes determining a doping concentration of the basic doping, and adapting the basic doping of the semiconductor wafer by postdoping. The postdoping includes at least one of the following methods: a proton implantation and a subsequent thermal process for producing hydrogen induced donors, and a neutron irradiation. In this case, at least one of the following parameters is dependent on the determined doping concentration of the basic doping: an implantation dose of the proton implantation, a temperature of the thermal process, and an irradiation dose of the neutron irradiation.
US09245805B2 Germanium FinFETs with metal gates and stressors
An integrated circuit structure includes an n-type fin field effect transistor (FinFET) and a p-type FinFET. The n-type FinFET includes a first germanium fin over a substrate; a first gate dielectric on a top surface and sidewalls of the first germanium fin; and a first gate electrode on the first gate dielectric. The p-type FinFET includes a second germanium fin over the substrate; a second gate dielectric on a top surface and sidewalls of the second germanium fin; and a second gate electrode on the second gate dielectric. The first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are formed of a same material having a work function close to an intrinsic energy level of germanium.
US09245795B2 Methods of forming substrate microvias with anchor structures
Methods of forming anchor structures in package substrate microvias are described. Those methods and structures may include forming a titanium layer in an opening of a package substrate using a first deposition process, wherein the opening comprises an undercut region, and wherein the first conductive layer does not substantially form in an anchor region of the undercut region. The titanium layer may then be re-sputtered using a second deposition process, wherein the titanium layer is formed in the anchor region.
US09245788B2 Non-bridging contact via structures in proximity
A first photoresist layer is patterned with a first pattern that includes an opening in a region between areas of two adjacent via holes to be formed. The opening in the first photoresist is transferred into a template layer to form a line trench therein. The lateral dimension of the trench is reduced by depositing a contiguous spacer layer that does not fill the trench completely. An etch-resistant material layer is conformally deposited and fills the trench, and is subsequently recessed to form an etch-resistant material portion filling the trench. A second photoresist layer is applied and patterned with a second pattern, which includes an opening that includes areas of two via holes and an area therebetween. A composite pattern of an intersection of the second pattern and the complement of the pattern of the etch-resistant material portion is transferred through the template layer.
US09245787B2 Apparatus of manufacturing semiconductor packages and methods of manufacturing semiconductor packages using the same
Apparatuses of manufacturing semiconductor packages are provided. An apparatus includes a chuck having a body, a porous plate disposed on the body, and a buffer pad disposed on the plate to provide a place on which a plurality of chips are loaded. The buffer pad has elasticity greater than the plate. The apparatus also includes a vacuum part supplying vacuum to the chuck so that the plurality of chips are sucked onto the buffer pad. Methods of manufacturing semiconductor packages using the apparatus are also provided.
US09245785B2 Substrate processing apparatus
The present invention provides an in-line type multi-chamber substrate processing apparatus which, with a simple configuration, can decrease influence of particles due to film peeling and enables installation of a number of processing chambers. In one embodiment of the present invention, a jointless arm of a transfer robot that has a substrate holding part 4a and performs rotational movement while maintaining a predetermined length of the arm is disposed inside a first process chamber capable of being evacuated. The first process chamber is configured to be able to transfer substrates from an adjacent second process chamber through an opening by the arm of the transfer robot. A holder as an arm retreating position and a substrate mounting position is positioned so as to overlap with a trajectory of the substrate holding part when the arm of the transfer robot rotates about a rotation axis.
US09245782B2 Article storage facility and article transport facility
An article storage facility includes a storage rack configured to store a semiconductor wafer and a reticle, and a storage and retrieval transport apparatus. The storage rack includes a first accommodation unit configured to store a wafer container for containing the semiconductor wafer, and a second accommodation unit configured to store a reticle container for containing the reticle. The storage and retrieval transport apparatus includes a holding unit configured to hold a top flange formed at an upper portion of the wafer container to support the wafer container in a hanging state. A flange portion configured to allow the storage and retrieval transport apparatus to hold the reticle container using the holding unit to support the reticle container in a hanging state is formed at an upper portion of the reticle container.
US09245778B2 Die bonding apparatus, die picking up apparatus and die picking up method
A die bonding apparatus includes a work supply/transfer portion for transferring a substrate; a bonding portion for conducting bonding of a die on the substrate; a wafer supply portion for supplying a wafer having the die thereon; and a controller portion for controlling equipment, wherein the wafer supply portion has a push-up unit for pushing up a dicing tape from a lower part, for separating the die from the dicing tape, and the push-up unit has a suction opening portion, which is configured to suck the dicing tape with vacuum, a push-up portion, which is made of an elastic body, sealing a fluid or a power therein, and is configured to push up the dicing tape, a cylinder, which is configured to apply pressure to the push-up portion, and an air supply means for supplying an air for changing the pressure within the cylinder through control of the controller portion.
US09245776B2 Plasma processing apparatus
A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber in which a target substrate is processed; an application electrode and a facing electrode provided to face each other in the processing chamber, a plasma generation space being formed between the application electrode and the facing electrode; and an RF power supply connected to the application electrode, an RF power being supplied from the RF power supply to the application electrode. At least one of the application electrode and the facing electrode includes a base formed of a metal, and a dielectric body inserted into the base, one or more metal plate electrodes being buried in the dielectric body.
US09245775B2 Heating device
A heating apparatus 11A includes a susceptor having a heating face 12a of heating a semiconductor. The susceptor includes a plate shaped main body 13 and a surface corrosion resistant layer 14 including the heating face. The surface corrosion resistant layer 14 is made of a ceramic material comprising magnesium, aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen as main components. The ceramic material comprises a main phase comprising magnesium-aluminum oxynitride phase exhibiting an XRD peak at least in 2θ=47 to 50° by CuKα X-ray.
US09245774B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a semiconductor device with an improved yield ratio and reduced height and manufacturing cost; and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including a substrate, a semiconductor element that is flip-chip connected to the substrate, and a molding portion that seals the semiconductor element. The side surfaces of the semiconductor element are enclosed by the molding portion. An upper surface of the semiconductor element is not enclosed by the molding portion. Damage to the side surfaces of the semiconductor element caused by an external impact when the semiconductor device is stored is minimized, because the molding portion protects the side surfaces of the semiconductor element. Accordingly, the yield ratio of the semiconductor device is improved. The height of the semiconductor device can also be reduced since the upper surface of the semiconductor element is not enclosed with the molding portion.
US09245773B2 Semiconductor device packaging methods and structures thereof
Semiconductor device packaging methods and structures thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of packaging semiconductor devices includes coupling a plurality of second dies to a top surface of a first die, and determining a distance between each of the plurality of second dies and the first die. The method also includes determining an amount of underfill material to dispose between the first die and each of the plurality of second dies based on the determined distance, and disposing the determined amount of the underfill material under each of the plurality of second dies.
US09245764B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method
This semiconductor device manufacturing method is provided with: a film-forming step wherein a silicon nitride layer or a silicon oxide layer is formed such that a side wall portion of a silicon-containing layer, which is formed on a substrate and patterned, is covered with the silicon nitride layer or the silicon oxide layer; and a plasma etching step wherein the silicon-containing layer is selectively removed, and the silicon nitride layer or the silicon oxide layer formed on the side wall portion is left. In the plasma etching step, an etching gas containing SF6 gas is used.
US09245763B2 Mechanisms for forming patterns using multiple lithography processes
The present disclosure provides a method for forming patterns in a semiconductor device. In accordance with some embodiments, the method includes providing a substrate, a patterning-target layer over the substrate, and a hard mask layer over the patterning-target layer; forming a first pattern in the hard mask layer; removing a trim portion from the first pattern in the hard mask layer to form a trimmed first pattern; forming a first resist layer over the hard mask layer; forming a main pattern in the first resist layer; and etching the patterning-target layer using the main pattern and the trimmed first pattern as etching mask elements to form a final pattern in the patterning-target layer. In some embodiments, the final pattern includes the main pattern subtracting a first overlapping portion between the main pattern and the trimmed first pattern.
US09245762B2 Procedure for etch rate consistency
Methods of conditioning interior processing chamber walls of an etch chamber are described. A fluorine-containing precursor may be remotely or locally excited in a plasma to treat the interior chamber walls periodically on a preventative maintenance schedule. The treated walls promote an even etch rate when used to perform gas-phase etching of silicon regions following conditioning. Alternatively, a hydrogen-containing precursor may be remotely or locally excited in a plasma to treat the interior chamber walls in embodiments. Regions of exposed silicon may then be etched with more reproducible etch rates from wafer-to-wafer. The silicon etch may be performed using plasma effluents formed from a remotely excited fluorine-containing precursor.
US09245761B2 Internal plasma grid for semiconductor fabrication
The embodiments disclosed herein pertain to improved methods and apparatus for etching a semiconductor substrate. A plasma grid assembly is positioned in a reaction chamber to divide the chamber into upper and lower sub-chambers. The plasma grid assembly may include one or more plasma grids having slots of a particular aspect ratio, which allow certain species to pass through from the upper sub-chamber to the lower sub-chamber. Where multiple plasma grids are used, one or more of the grids may be movable, allowing for tenability of the plasma conditions in at least the lower sub-chamber. In some cases, an electron-ion plasma is generated in the upper sub-chamber. Electrons that make it through the grid to the lower sub-chamber are cooled as they pass through. In some cases, this results in an ion-ion plasma in the lower sub-chamber.
US09245760B2 Methods of forming epitaxial layers on a porous semiconductor layer
In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first porous semiconductor layer over a top surface of a substrate. A first epitaxial layer is formed over the first porous semiconductor layer. A circuitry is formed within and over the first epitaxial layer. The circuitry is formed without completely oxidizing the first epitaxial layer.
US09245758B2 Method for fabricating silicon-doped or boron-doped aluminum electrode
A method for fabricating a silicon-doped or boron-doped aluminum electrode is revealed. Aluminum target or aluminum paste prepared by selectively doped with silicon and/or boron is arranged at a silicon wafer with a passivation layer by physical deposition or screen printing. Then the doped aluminum layer is melted in linear or dot pattern to pass through the passivation layer and contact with the silicon wafer. Thus contact resistance between an aluminum back electrode and the silicon wafer of crystalline silicon solar cells is reduced and acceptor concentration on a surface layer of the silicon wafer is increased. Therefore the process speed is faster and the energy conversion efficiency of the solar cell is improved.
US09245757B2 Laser annealing treatment apparatus and laser annealing treatment method
Provided is a laser annealing treatment including a laser light source that outputs pulse laser light, an optical system that shapes the pulse laser light, and leads the shaped pulse laser light to a semiconductor film subject to treatment, and a stage that carries the semiconductor film to be irradiated by the pulse laser light, wherein the pulse laser light irradiating the semiconductor film presents a rising time equal to or less than 35 nanoseconds from 10% of the maximum height to the maximum height in the pulse energy density, and a falling time equal to or more than 80 nanoseconds from the maximum height to 10% of the maximum height, thereby increasing, while an energy density suitable for crystallization and the like is not particularly increased, a margin quantity thereof, and carrying out high quality annealing treatment without decreasing a throughput.
US09245753B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a semiconductor layer on a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate made of crystals having a wide band gap; forming lattice defects on a second main surface on a side opposite to the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; and emitting a laser beam having a longer wavelength than an absorption edge wavelength which is a wavelength of a light having the lowest energy which the crystals absorb, to a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate after the step of forming the lattice defects; and forming an electrode on the second main surface of the semiconductor substrate after the step of emitting the laser beam.
US09245746B2 Semiconductor composite film with heterojunction and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention discloses a semiconductor composite film with a heterojunction and a manufacturing method thereof. The semiconductor composite film includes: a semiconductor substrate; and a semiconductor epitaxial layer, which is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and it has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, wherein the heterojunction is formed between the first surface and the semiconductor substrate, and wherein the semiconductor epitaxial layer further includes at least one recess, which is formed by etching the semiconductor epitaxial layer from the second surface toward the first surface. The recess is for mitigating a strain in the semiconductor composite film.
US09245744B2 Combinatorial plasma enhanced deposition and etch techniques
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an apparatus and method for enhanced deposition and etch techniques is described, including a pedestal, the pedestal having at least two electrodes embedded in the pedestal, a showerhead above the pedestal, a plasma gas source connected to the showerhead, wherein the showerhead is configured to deliver plasma gas to a processing region between the showerhead and the substrate and a power source operably connected to the showerhead and the at least two electrodes with plasma being substantially contained in an area which corresponds with one electrode of the at least two electrodes.
US09245741B2 Method for forming nitride film using plasma process
Disclosed is a method of forming a nitride film on an object to be processed (“processed object”). The method includes a step (step (a)) of exposing the processed object to dichlorosilane which is a precursor gas and a step (step (b)) of exposing the processed object to plasma of a processing gas which includes an ammonia gas and a hydrogen gas after step (a). Alternatively, step (a) and step (b) may be alternately repeated and a step of removing dichlorosilane (step (c)) may be further provided between step (a) and step (b).
US09245740B2 Amino-silyl amine compound, method for preparing the same and silicon-containing thin-film using the same
Provided are a novel amino-silyl amine compound, a method for preparing the same, and a silicon-containing thin-film using the same, wherein the amino-silyl amine compound has thermal stability and high volatility and is maintained in a liquid state at room temperature and under a pressure where handling is easy to thereby form a silicon-containing thin-film having high purity and excellent physical and electrical properties by various deposition methods.
US09245739B2 Low-K oxide deposition by hydrolysis and condensation
Methods for depositing flowable dielectric films using halogen-free precursors and catalysts on a substrate are provided herein. Halogen-free precursors and catalysts include self-catalyzing aminosilane compounds and halogen-free organic acids. Flowable films may be used to fill pores in existing dielectric films on substrates having exposed metallization layers. The methods involve hydrolysis and condensation reactions.
US09245735B2 Upper electrode device
An upper electrode device applied to the film coating process has a splitter chamber and at least three gas diversion plates; a gas inlet is set on the splitter chamber; the at least three gas diversion plates were fixed on the inside walls of the splitter chamber and used for diverting and outputting the gas introduced into the splitter chamber through the gas inlet. By using the upper electrode device provided by the present disclosure can uniformize the gas used for coating in the film coating process, especially uniformize the gas in the perimeter area and the center area. Consequently, the uniformity of the thickness of the whole film coated is improved.
US09245733B2 Microwave plasma discharge lighting system with adjustable color temperature
A plasma lighting system includes a magnetron configured to generate microwaves, and a bulb filled with a main dose and an additive dose. The main dose and the additive dose generate light under the influence of microwaves and have maximum intensities of respective intrinsic wavelengths at different wavelengths. A motor is configured to rotate the bulb. A controller is connected to the motor. The controller adjusts the Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) of the bulb to thereby adjust a color temperature of light emitted from the bulb.
US09245729B2 Discharge lamp and vehicle lamp
According to one embodiment, a discharge lamp includes a light-emitting part including a discharge space therein in which a metal halide and a gas are sealed, and a pair of electrodes which protrude toward an inside of the discharge space and are arranged to face each other while separated by a specified distance. Power consumption at a time of stable lighting is 20 W or more and 30 W or less. When a pressure of the gas sealed in the discharge space is X (atm), and a distance between a center axis of the electrodes and a surface of the metal halide is m (mm), a following expression is satisfied: 0.085≦m/X≦0.12.
US09245728B2 Mass spectrometer with beam expander
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a RF confinement device, a beam expander and a Time of Flight mass analyzer. The beam expander is arranged to expand an ion beam emerging from the RF confinement device so that the ion beam is expanded to a diameter of at least 3 mm in the orthogonal acceleration extraction region of the Time of Flight mass analyzer.
US09245727B2 Voltage supplies for mass spectrometers
The invention relates to the voltage supply of mass spectrometers, particularly electrostatic Kingdon ion analyzers, requiring extremely noise-free operating voltages. The invention proposes the use of passive charge storage devices, which operate without any feedback control and display no measurable noise or ripple if they are well shielded, instead of the usual actively operating high-voltage generators. Chemical charge storage devices or capacitors with good insulation can be used for this purpose. These may display slight voltage decreases due to continuous discharge, depending on their quality, but these decreases can be mathematically compensated.
US09245725B2 Ion trap device
An ion trap device is disclosed. The device includes a series of electrodes that define an ion flow path. A radio frequency (RF) field is applied to the series of electrodes such that each electrode is phase shifted approximately 180 degrees from an adjacent electrode. A DC voltage is superimposed with the RF field to create a DC gradient to drive ions in the direction of the gradient. A second RF field or DC voltage is applied to selectively trap and release the ions from the device. Further, the device may be gridless and utilized at high pressure.
US09245724B2 Lateral introduction of ions into RF ion guides
An ion guide system includes an ion guide with pole rods, a device for laterally introducing an ion species, and a mass spectrometer for analyzing product ions of reactions between different ion species. The device is configured and positioned such that an RF field with at least two-fold rotational symmetry with respect to the axis is generated. The device includes shortened pole rods and/or further electrodes. The pole rods and the further electrodes have at least two-fold rotational symmetry. The symmetry of the RF field allows ions to travel straight ahead through the ion guide with no hindrance. Such arrangements are particularly suitable for bringing together largely loss-free positive and negative ion species for reacting them. The reactions may be used to fragment multiply charged biopolymer ions by electron transfer or to remove excess charges of multiply charged biopolymer ions.
US09245723B2 Collision cell
A method of operating a gas-filled collision cell in a mass spectrometer is provided. The collision cell has a longitudinal axis. Ions are caused to enter the collision cell. A trapping field is generated within the collision cell so as to trap the ions within a trapping volume of the collision cell, the trapping volume being defined by the trapping field and extending along the longitudinal axis. Trapped ions are processed in the collision cell and a DC potential gradient is provided, using an electrode arrangement, resulting in a non-zero electric field at all points along the axial length of the trapping volume so as to cause processed ions to exit the collision cell. The electric field along the axial length of the trapping volume has a standard deviation that is no greater than its mean value.
US09245722B2 SMS probe and SEM imaging system and methods of use
SMS probe imaging systems, methods of use thereof, and the like are disclosed. Embodiments of the present disclosure can use direct interrogation of objects (e.g., cells or tissue) within a small pool/droplet of liquid, optional thermal, mechanical, electrical, optical and chemical manipulation, followed immediately by liquid sampling, optional sample conditioning, and soft ionization of biomolecules.
US09245721B2 High-throughput mass-spectrometric characterization of samples
The invention relates to the characterization of samples which are located in their many hundreds up to tens or hundreds of thousands on a sample support plate in a regular pattern, a so-called array, by ionization with matrix-assisted laser desorption and mass spectrometric measurement, for example. The invention proposes that the position of the sample pattern, and thus the position of each sample in the measuring instrument, for example a mass spectrometer, should be determined by measuring at least two finely structured internal position recognition patterns, such as fine crosses. The position recognition patterns are preferably applied as the samples are generated, with the same apparatus which also generates the sample pattern. A mass spectrometer in which laser spots with diameters of only four to five micrometers can be generated, which can preferably be positioned with an accuracy of one micrometer or better, is particularly suitable for the characterization.
US09245717B2 Gas distribution system for ceramic showerhead of plasma etch reactor
A gas delivery system for a ceramic showerhead includes gas connection blocks and a gas ring, the gas connection blocks mounted on the gas ring such that gas outlets in the blocks deliver process gas to gas inlets in an outer periphery of the showerhead. The gas ring includes a bottom ring with channels therein and a welded cover plate enclosing the channels. The gas ring can include a first channel extending ½ the length of the gas ring, two second channels connected at midpoints thereof to downstream ends of the first channel, and four third channels connected at midpoints thereof to downstream ends of the second channels. the cover plate can include a first section enclosing the first channel, two second sections connected at midpoints thereof to ends of the first section, and third sections connected at midpoints thereof to ends of the second sections. The channels are arranged such that the process gas travels equal distances for a single gas inlet in the gas ring to eight outlets in the cover ring allowing equal gas flow.
US09245715B2 Drawing apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides a drawing apparatus for performing drawing on a substrate with a plurality of charged particle beams, comprising a blanker array including first and second groups, each of which includes at least one blanker, a deflector configured to deflect the plurality of charged particle beams to scan the plurality of charged particle beams on the substrate, and a controller configured to respectively supply first and second control signals to the first and second groups at first and second timings, wherein the first and second groups are respectively arranged at such relative positions that a positional difference between respective drawing regions thereof, due to a difference between the first and second timings, in a scanning direction of the deflector is compensated for.
US09245711B2 Charged particle beam apparatus and image forming method
In observation of a sample having a structure in its depth direction, a charged particle beam apparatus that can form an SEM image reflecting a sample shape at a desired depth by a single image acquisition while avoiding enlargement of the apparatus is provided. The apparatus has: an irradiation optical system for irradiating and scanning a charged particle beam generated from a charged particle source on the sample; a detection optical system having a detector that detects charged particles generated from the sample by the irradiation of the charged particle beam, and converts them into an electric signal at a predetermined sampling period; and an image processing unit for forming an image based on the electric signal from the detector, in which the image processing unit detects a peak of wave height values for each pixel from the electric signal at each sampling time, and forms the image based on the peak of the detected wave height values.
US09245707B2 Coated X-ray window
An X-ray window includes a primary and a secondary window element. In order to evaporate debris by ohmic heating, current flows through the secondary (upstream) window element. Meanwhile, electric charge originating from electron irradiation and/or depositing charged particles is to be drained off the secondary window element via a charge-drain layer. To prevent large debris particles from short-circuiting the secondary window element, the current for heating the window element flows through heating circuitry which is electrically insulated from the charge-drain layer.
US09245705B1 Cutout box fuse bypass jumper
The fuse bypass jumper of the present invention bridges the upper and lower fuse terminals of a high-voltage transmission line cut-out box so as to bypass the fuse element. The jumper comprises lateral upper and lower arms connected by a longitudinal jumper bar. The jumper arms and bar are made of a heavy gauge conductor rated for at least 100 Amps. With the jumper in place, the fuse element can be opened, removed and/or replaced without interrupting the transmission line circuit through the cut-off box, since the jumper now provides a bypass around the fuse. Since the bypass conductive path constitutes a heavy gauge, high-amperage bar conductor, this jumper can carry a much larger current load than flexible wire-based jumpers.
US09245704B2 Piezoelectric multiplexer
A piezoelectric multiplexer includes an actuator and multiple piezo-morph beams. The actuator includes an actuator conducting head and an actuator stem, and each piezo-morph beam includes a conducting beam contact head and a beam stem manufactured out of piezo-morph material. A control voltage is selectively applied to electrical contacts coupled to the beam stems to create a piezoelectric effect that bends the selected piezo-morph beam and creates an electrical connection between its contact head and the conducting head of the actuator. A control circuit with a controller signals which piezo-morph beam to connect to the actuator. This multi-piezo-morph-beam piezoelectric multiplexer can be affixed to the electrical terminals of different electrical components (e.g., a transistor) to create an electrical cell that can be manufactured on a semiconductor chip or in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device.
US09245697B2 Device for detecting resetting of a circuit breaker, actuator of a separating mechanism of the circuit breaker contacts, electric circuit breaker and use of an induced current to generate a resetting indication signal
A detection device that detects resetting of an electric circuit breaker. The electric circuit breaker comprises fixed and moving contacts, the moving contact being movable between an open position and a closed position, a mechanism for separating the contacts, a lever for resetting the mechanism from the open position to the closed position of the moving contact, and an actuator for actuating the separator mechanism, the actuator including an electromagnetic coil and a core movable between an idle position and a working position in which the separating mechanism is actuated, the coil causing the moving core to move from idle position to working position. The detection device may comprise means to generate a resetting indication signal from an electric pulse corresponding to an electric current induced in the coil by the movement of the moving core from its working position to its idle position during resetting of the circuit breaker.
US09245691B1 High energy density electrochemical capacitors
Electrochemical capacitors and methods for producing such electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical capacitor can have an initial charged state and a cycled charged state and can include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode can include a first mixture having a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity. The cathode can include a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than said first average porosity. The electrolyte can be physically and electrically contacting said anode and said cathode, and the first mixture in the cycled charged state can be substantially free of lithium metal particles and can further include a plurality of lithium ions intercalating the first plurality of carbon comprising particles. The mass ratio of the cathode and the electrolyte can be less than 1.
US09245679B1 Wine bottle floatation device
The magnetic levitation assembly includes at least one electromagnet that is coupled to a support surface. A top coupler is positionable around a top of a beverage container. The top coupler is attracted to the at least one electromagnet. A bottom coupler is positionable on a bottom of the beverage container. The bottom coupler is repelled to the at least one electromagnet. The beverage container is levitated by magnetism via attraction to an electromagnet positioned above or repelled to an electromagnet positioned below a respective coupler.
US09245678B2 Lock device
A lock device includes a first lock part, a second lock part, which can be arranged on the first lock part in a fastening direction and is connected in a closing state to the first lock part, and an actuating element, on which the second lock part is movably arranged. The second lock part is in the closing state held on the first lock part via the actuating element and acts together with the actuating element in such a way that in a loaded state, when a force is acting on the second lock part relative to the first lock part along the fastening direction, the actuating element is rigidly connected to the first lock part and holds the second lock part on the first lock part, whereas in an unloaded state the second lock part can be detached from the first lock part by actuation of the actuating element.
US09245669B2 High performance support-separators for communications cables providing shielding for minimizing alien crosstalk
A high performance communications cable includes core support-separators which define clearance channels to maintain spacing between transmission media or transmission media pairs. The core support-separator can be either interior to a cable jacket or be employed singularly without the benefit of a jacket and extends along the longitudinal length of the communications cable. Alternatively, with no jacket for cable completion, a thin layer of material along the exterior of the support-separator acts as a type of skin for mechanical protection. The core support-separator has a central region that includes flap-tops along the radial edge that are available for partial or complete sealing of the clearance channels during manufacturing operations. The central region may also include a hollow center portion. Each of the defined clearance channels allow for disposal therein of metal conductors and/or optical fibers.
US09245666B2 Thermoformable polymer thick film silver conductor and its use in capacitive switch circuits
This invention is directed to a polymer thick film conductive composition that may be used in applications where thermoforming of the base substrate occurs, e.g., as in capacitive switches. Polycarbonate substrates are often used as the substrate and the polymer thick film conductive composition may be used without any barrier layer. Thermoformable electric circuits benefit from the presence of an encapsulant layer over the dried polymer thick film conductive composition. The electrical circuit is subsequently subjected to an injection molding process.
US09245665B2 Conductive metal composition
A conductive metal composition comprising 40 to 88 wt % of silver particles having an average particle size in the range of 10 to 100 nm and having an aspect ratio of 3 to 1:1, 2 to 20 wt % of a poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) resin having a weight-average molar mass of 50,000 to 500,000 and 10 to 58 wt % of a solvent for the poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) resin.
US09245664B2 Conductive metal ink
A conductive metal composition comprising 50 to 94 wt % of silver particles having an average particle size in the range of 40 to 450 nm and having an aspect ratio of 3 to 1:1, 1 to 4 wt % of a thermoplastic polyester resin having a weight-average molar mass of 10000 to 150000, and 4 to 49 wt % of a diluent for the thermoplastic polyester resin.
US09245662B2 Electroconductive particles
An electroconductive particle having a core particle and a tin oxide-containing coating layer on the core particle. The tin oxide of the coating layer has a crystallite size of 70 to 200 Å. The electroconductive particle preferably has a ratio of R3 to R1 of 1 to 250, wherein R1 and R3 are respective surface resistivities of electroconductive films formed of a coating composition containing the electroconductive particle and prepared by 1-hour dispersing and 3-hour dispersing, respectively. The coating layer preferably comprises dopant element-free, electroconductive tin oxide.
US09245661B2 Conductive film with doped layers, method for producing the same, and array substrate comprising the same
A conductive film, a method for producing the same and an array substrate comprising the same are provided, so that copper atoms can be efficiently prevented from diffusing into an adjacent semiconductor layer or interlaminated insulation film. The conductive film comprises a base film made of copper or copper alloy, in which hydrogen and/or carbon atoms are distributed.
US09245656B2 System and method for reducing trapped energetic proton flux at low earth orbits
A system and method for reducing energetic proton flux trapped in the inner radiation belt by injecting Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) electromagnetic waves is disclosed. The ULF electromagnetic waves is generated by space or ground based transmitters and the frequency range is selected such that the injected waves are in gyrofrequency resonance with trapped 10 to 100 Mev protons. Pitch angle scattering of the trapped protons in gyro-resonance with the injected waves increases their precipitation rate by forcing their orbits into pitch angles inside the atmospheric loss-cone where they are lost by intaracting with the dense neutral atmosphere at altitudes below 100 km. The reduction of energetic proton flux trapped in the inner radiation belt allows use of commercial electronics with submicron feature size on Low Earth Orbit satellites and microsatellites without the operational constraints imposed by the presence of energetic proton fluxes trapped at the inner radiation belts.
US09245651B2 Memory device for masking read data and a method of testing the same
A memory device includes a memory array, a plurality of input/output pins, a mask signal generator, an input/output block. The memory array is configured to output read data including a plurality of data bits. The mask signal generator is configured to generate at least one data mask signal. The input/output block is configured to mask bits having a logic level among the plurality of data bits in the read data to output the masked read data to the plurality of input/output pins.
US09245650B2 Semiconductor device
A sample-and-hold circuit including a transistor and a capacitor is connected to the differential circuit. The sample-and-hold circuit acquires voltage for correcting the offset voltage of the differential circuit by charging or discharging the capacitor through sampling operation. Then, it holds the potential of the capacitor through holding operation. In normal operation of the differential circuit, the output potential of the differential circuit is corrected by the potential held by the capacitor. The transistor in the sample-and-hold circuit is preferably a transistor whose channel is formed using an oxide semiconductor. An oxide semiconductor transistor has extremely low leakage current; thus, a change in the potential held in the capacitor of the sample-and-hold circuit can be minimized.
US09245649B2 Resistive switching sample and hold
A nonvolatile sample and hold circuit can include a resistive switching circuit, a sample circuit, a reset circuit, and a converter circuit. The resistive switching circuit can be operable to accept an input voltage Vg, and provide a resistance response Rrs that corresponds to the input signal Vg. The sampling circuit can be operable to sample an input signal such as an input voltage Vin, to provide a sampled voltage Vg. The reset circuit can be operable to reset the resistive switching circuit to a high resistance state. The converter circuit can be operable to convert the resistive switching circuit to an output voltage. The novel sample and hold circuit can have no issues related to charge injection, no settling time and instantaneous sampling time, together with potentially infinite hold time.
US09245646B2 Program verify operation in a memory device
Methods for program verifying a memory cell include generating an access line voltage in response to a count and applying the access line voltage to a control gate of the memory cell, and generating a pass signal in response to the access line voltage activating the memory cell. Methods further include comparing at least a portion of the count to an indication of a desired threshold voltage of the memory cell, and when the at least a portion of the count matches the indication of the desired threshold voltage of the memory cell, determining if the pass signal is present. Methods further include generating a signal indicative of a desire to inhibit further programming of the memory cell if the pass signal is present when the match is indicated.
US09245643B2 Distortion cancellation in 3-D non-volatile memory
A method in a memory that includes multiple analog memory cells arranged in a three-dimensional (3-D) configuration, includes identifying multiple groups of potentially-interfering memory cells that potentially cause interference to a group of target memory cells. Partial distortion components, which are inflicted by the respective groups of the potentially-interfering memory cells on the target memory cells, are estimated. The partial distortion components are progressively accumulated so as to produce an estimated composite distortion affecting the target memory cells, while retaining only the composite distortion and not the partial distortion components. The target memory cells are read, and the interference in the target memory cells is canceled based on the estimated composite distortion.
US09245637B2 Systems and methods for read disturb management in non-volatile memory
Non-volatile memory and methods of reading non-volatile memory are provided for managing and reducing read related disturb. Techniques are introduced to reduce read disturb using state-dependent read pass voltages for particular word lines during a read operation. Because of their proximity to a selected word line, adjacent word lines can be biased using state-dependent pass voltages while other unselected word lines are biased using a standard or second set of pass voltages. Generally, each state-dependent pass voltage applied to a word line adjacent to the selected word line is larger than the second set of pass voltages applied to other unselected word lines, although this is not required. Other word lines, may also be biased using state-dependent pass voltages. System-level techniques are provided with or independently of state-dependent pass voltages to further reduce and manage read disturb. Techniques may account for data validity and memory write and erase cycles.
US09245636B2 NAND flash memory unit, operating method and reading method
A NAND flash memory unit, an operating method and a reading method are provided. The NAND flash memory unit includes a plurality of gate layers, a tunnel layer, a charge trapping layer, a conductor layer and a second dielectric layer. A first dielectric layer is included between two adjacent gate layers among the gate layers. The tunnel layer, the charge trapping layer, the conductor layer, and the second dielectric layer penetrate the gate layers. The charge trapping layer is disposed between the tunnel layer and the gate layers, and the second dielectric layer is disposed between the conductor layer and the tunnel layer. Therefore, an erasing speed may be increased; the charge trapping layer may be repaired; the controllability of the gate layers may be increased.
US09245634B2 Initialization of flash storage via an embedded controller
A digital system including flash memory, coupled to a system-on-a-chip within which a flash memory subsystem controller is embedded, is disclosed. The system-on-a-chip includes support for a standard external interface, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or IEEE 1394 interface, to which a host system such as flash memory test equipment can connect. Initialization of the flash memory is effected by opening a communications channel between the host system and the embedded flash memory subsystem controller. The host system can then effect initialization of the flash memory subsystem, including formatting of the flash memory arrays, loading application programs, and the like, over the communications channel.
US09245633B2 Storage device, electronic device, and method for programming memory
A storage device, an electronic device, and a corresponding method for programming a memory are provided. The memory includes a plurality of cells. Each of the cells stores a plurality of bits. The bits of the memory are arranged into a plurality of pages of the memory. The method includes the following steps: receiving a host command for programming data into a first page of the memory; and performing 2Plane programming to program the data into the first page and backups the data into a second page of the memory when the first page does not consist of the most significant bits (MSBs) of the cells. The first page and the second page are located in different planes of the memory.
US09245626B2 System and method for packet classification and internet protocol lookup in a network environment
An example method includes partitioning a memory element of a router into a plurality of segments having one or more rows, where at least a portion of the one or more rows is encoded with a value mask (VM) list having a plurality of values and masks. The VM list is identified by a label, and the label is mapped to a base row number and a specific number of bits corresponding to the portion encoding the VM list. Another example method includes partitioning a prefix into a plurality of blocks, indexing to a hash table using a value of a specific block, where a bucket of the hash table corresponds to a segment of a ternary content addressable memory of a router, and storing the prefix in a row of the segment.
US09245625B2 Low power signaling for data transfer
Methods, systems and computer readable storage medium embodiments for communicating over a data bus include, determining a number of changes in bit value in respective bit positions between a previous bit string and a current bit string, transmitting either the current bit string in an inverted form over the data bus if the determined number of changes in bit value exceeds a threshold or the current bit string in non-inverted form if the determined number of changes in bit value does not exceed a threshold, and transmitting an additional at least one bit along with the current bit string having a logic value that indicates whether the current bit string is in an inverted form or non-inverted form. Methods, systems, and computer readable storage medium embodiments for receiving bit strings over a bus are also disclosed.
US09245624B2 Memory device including a SRAM memory plane and a non volatile memory plane, and operating methods
A memory device includes at least one memory cell having a first SRAM-type elementary memory cell having two inverters coupled to one another crosswise and two groups, each having at least one non-volatile elementary memory cell. The non-volatile elementary memory cells of the two groups are coupled firstly to a supply terminal and secondly to the outputs and to the inputs of the two inverters via a controllable interconnection stage.
US09245623B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including a first wire, a second wire crossing the first wire, and a memory cell connected to both the wires at a crossing portion of the first wire and the second wire, the memory cell including a variable resistance element storing data in a non-volatile manner by a resistance value, and a control circuit setting the variable resistance element in first or second resistance state by application of first or second voltage to the memory cell and reading data from the memory cell by application of third voltage to the memory cell. The control circuit applies to the memory cell at predetermined timing weak write voltage causing the variable resistance element to be held in the first resistance state and the second resistance state.
US09245620B2 Drift acceleration in resistance variable memory
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods including drift acceleration in resistance variable memory. A number of embodiments include applying a programming signal to the resistance variable memory cell to program the cell to a target state, subsequently applying a pre-read signal to the resistance variable memory cell to accelerate a drift of a resistance of the programmed cell, and subsequently applying a read signal to the resistance variable memory cell.
US09245611B2 Method of writing to a spin torque magnetic random access memory
A method includes sampling magnetic bits, applying a write current pulse to the magnetic bits to set them to a first logic state, resampling the magnetic bits, and comparing the results of sampling and resampling to determine the bit state for each magnetic bit. A read or write operation may be received after initiation of writing back magnetic bits having the second state, where the write-back can be aborted for a portion of the bits in the case of a write operation. The write-back may be performed such that different portions of the magnetic bits are written back at different times, thereby staggering the write-back current pulses in time. An offset current may also be used during resampling.
US09245604B2 Prioritizing refreshes in a memory device
A method and apparatus for refreshing a row of a memory device prior to a scheduled refresh. A memory array may include a plurality of memory cells. The memory array may be configured to be refreshed at a first refresh time interval. The memory device may also include an intermediate refresh circuit. The intermediate refresh circuit may be configured to detect a triggering event and request a refresh for a row of the memory array in response to detecting a triggering event.
US09245598B2 Circuitry and methods minimizing output switching noise through split-level signaling and bus division enabled by a third power supply
Disclosed herein are circuitry and methods for transmitting data across a parallel bus using both high common mode and low common mode signaling. The transmitter stages are configured to work with two of three possible power supply voltages: a high Vddq voltage, a low Vssq voltage, and an intermediate Vx voltage. In one embodiment, the odd numbered transmitter stages, that drive the odd numbered outputs to the bus, use the Vddq and Vx supplies, such that the odd numbered outputs comprise high common mode signals. The even numbered transmitter stages, that drive the even numbered outputs to the bus, use the Vx and Vssq supplies, such that the even numbered outputs comprise low common mode signals.
US09245597B2 Reference voltage generators and sensing circuits
Described examples include sensing circuits and reference voltage generators for providing a reference voltage to a sensing circuit. The sensing circuits may sense a state of a memory cell, which may be a PCM memory cell. The sensing circuits may include a cascode transistor. Examples of reference voltage generators may include a global reference voltage generator coupled to multiple bank reference voltage generators which may reduce an output resistance of the voltage generator routing.
US09245595B2 System and method for performing SRAM access assists using VSS boost
A method and a system are provided for performing memory access assist using voltage boost. A memory access request is received at a storage cell array that comprises two or more subarrays, each subarray including at least one row of storage cells. The voltage boost is applied, during the memory access, to a first negative supply voltage of a first storage cell subarray of the two or more storage cell subarrays. The first negative supply voltage of the first storage cell subarray is lower than a second negative supply voltage of a second storage cell subarray of the two or more storage cell subarrays.
US09245587B2 Server device and data storage device replacement mechanism thereof
A server device has a case, a backplane board mounted inside the case, a plurality of data storage device replacement mechanisms inserted inside the case, a plurality of first data storage devices and a plurality of second data storage devices. The data storage device replacement mechanism includes a tray, a connector assembly and a circuit board. The connector assembly is disposed inside an accommodation space of the tray and includes a first connector and a second connector. The circuit board is installed inside a second arrangement area of the tray and electrically connected to the first connector, the second connector and the backplane board. The first data storage device is arranged inside a first arrangement area of the tray and electrically connected to the first connector. The second data storage device is arranged inside the second arrangement area of the tray and electrically connected to the second connector.
US09245585B2 Content editing apparatus, content editing method and program
There is provided a content editing apparatus, content editing method and program capable of easily and rapidly extracting sections corresponding to a reproducing operation of content data.The content editing apparatus includes an operation input processing unit 104 into which a reproduction operating command of content data is input by a user and a record controlling unit 108 for recording operation data corresponding to the reproduction operating command input into the operation input processing unit along with a reproduction position of the content data in a recording medium.
US09245583B2 Group control and messaging for digital video playback sessions
Group management of video device playback provides a mechanism for shared playback of recorded video content. Digital video playback devices are linked to a central management system through network connections which manages the shared playback, or a peer-to-peer network connection is used without the central management system. One user may be responsible for all actions affecting content playback, or all users may be permitted to affect content playback, with certain actions of those users limited in type or quantity. Group membership and group member permissions can be accomplished using the digital playback device through interactive interfaces implemented by the digital video playback device, or can be accomplished using a personal computer coupled to the device or central management system. Users may comment on shared playback using interactive video-based commentary functionality that may provide a text channel or graphical images that may be selected from a set of pre-configured commentary items.
US09245579B2 Two-dimensional magnetic recording reader offset estimation
A method for enhancing read performance in a multi-reader two-dimensional magnetic recording system comprising first and second readers includes: receiving first and second analog read signals from the first and second readers, respectively; sampling the first and second analog read signals to generate first and second sampled signals, respectively, each of the first and second sampled signals comprising an integer component, indicative of a value of a corresponding one of the first and second analog read signals, respectively, at an integer multiple of a corresponding sampling period associated therewith, and/or a fractional component, indicative of a value of the corresponding one of the first and second analog read signals, respectively, at an arbitrary point in time between integer multiples of the corresponding sampling period; and combining the integer and/or fractional components of the respective first and second sampled signals to thereby generate a reader offset estimation signal.
US09245571B2 Optical disc device, control method thereof, program, and information storage medium
An optical disc device that reads information recorded in an optical disc medium includes an objective lens that focuses light on the optical disc medium, a spherical aberration correction mechanism that changes an amount of spherical aberration of the objective lens according to a setting value of a predetermined parameter, and an evaluation value measurement section that measures an evaluation value indicating the accuracy of reading of information from the optical disc medium. The optical disc device further includes a control section that executes adjustment processing in which the control section carries out plural times of measurement of the evaluation value by the evaluation value measurement section concurrently with changing the amount of spherical aberration of the objective lens by the spherical aberration correction mechanism and calculates an optimum setting value of the parameter based on plural evaluation values obtained by the plural times of measurement.
US09245568B2 Magnetic disk and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a magnetic disk that has excellent durability, particularly excellent LUL durability, and excellent alumina resistance and has a high level of reliability under a low flying height of a magnetic head involved in a recent tendency toward a rapid increase in recording density and a very severe environment resistance requirement due to diversified applications. A magnetic disk (10) comprises a substrate (1) and at least a magnetic layer (6), a carbon-based protective layer (7), and a lubricating layer (8) provided in that order over the substrate (1). The lubricating layer (8) contains a compound that has a perfluoropolyether main chain in the structure thereof and has an aromatic group and a polar group at the end of the molecule.
US09245566B2 Template-based magnetic grain-nucleation sites on seed layer
A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.
US09245562B1 Magnetic recording writer with a composite main pole
A magnetic transducer with a composite main pole and methods for fabricating the magnetic transducer are provided. The magnetic transducer includes a main pole having at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first magnetic material and has a first side forming at least a portion of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the main pole. The second portion includes a second magnetic material that is different from the first magnetic material, and the second portion is spaced apart from the ABS. The main pole may further include a third portion, where the second portion and the third portion are each located at one of the trailing side or the leading side of the main pole, with the third portion made of magnetic material that is different from the first magnetic material, and the third portion being spaced apart from the ABS.
US09245558B1 Electronic system with data management mechanism and method of operation thereof
An apparatus includes: a media; a head over the media; a head actuation motor coupled to the head; control circuitry, coupled to the head actuation motor, configured to position the head; and an environmental sensor, coupled to the control circuitry, configured to measure an environmental condition; wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: perform a background task; and adjust a frequency of the background task based on the magnitude of the environmental condition.
US09245546B1 Contamination mitigation cap for a hard disk drive actuator pivot assembly
A contamination mitigation cap for a hard disk drive actuator pivot assembly is affixed to the rotatable carriage of an actuator assembly and, in conjunction with a bearing hub cap, forms a labyrinth seal for retaining pivot bearing contamination. Consequently, the risk of such contamination migrating to the head-disk interface and causing read/write problems is mitigated, especially in the context of sleeveless pivot bearing assemblies. Various shapes of the contamination mitigation cap may be utilized, such as a flat ring, an S-section ring, and an L-section ring.
US09245545B1 Short yoke length coils for magnetic heads in disk drives
A method of forming a single layer inductive coil structure includes forming a first conductive coil on a substrate, forming an insulating layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD) over the first coil and the substrate, and forming one or more additional conductive coils on each of adjacent sides of the first coil insulated from the first coil and the substrate by the insulating layer. A method of forming a stacked layer inductive coil includes forming a cavity in a substrate, forming a first coil in the cavity wherein the cavity has an atomic layer deposition (ALD) layer, forming a second coil in the cavity adjacent to the first coil and separated by the ALD layer from the first coil, forming an insulating layer over the first and second coil, and forming a third coil on the insulating layer.
US09245544B1 Surface forming method for electronic component
A surface forming method for electronic component includes: forming a body that has at least one waveguide, with two ends of the waveguide exposed on a front end surface and a back end surface of the body; forming a photoresist film to cover on the front end surface of the body; irradiating a light from the back end surface of the body to remove a part, of the photoresist film, that covers at least a part of an end surface of the waveguide, thereby forming an exposed area on the end surface of the waveguide; etching the exposed area of the waveguide to form a recess; and removing the photoresist film. The position and size of the pattern could be controlled accurately and efficiently, instead of inefficient complex procedures of alignment.
US09245542B1 Media cleaning with self-assembled monolayer material
A method of cleaning a recording medium, such as a disc. The method includes contacting a surface of the recording medium with a cleaning tape comprising a flexible backing and a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coating. The cleaning tape may include an abrasive coating, with the SAM on the abrasive coating.
US09245541B1 Storage device with adaptive voltage generation system
Apparatus for generating supply voltages in a data storage device. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a data transducer adjacent a rotatable magnetic recording medium, the data transducer having a write coil and an electromagnetic source for thermally assisted recording by the write coil. A preamplifier/driver circuit (preamp) has a write driver adapted to supply write currents to the write coil and a source driver adapted to supply source voltage to the electromagnetic source. A voltage regulation circuit applies a first positive supply voltage to the write driver and a different, second positive supply voltage to the source driver.
US09245538B1 Bandwidth enhancement of speech signals assisted by noise reduction
The present technology provides robust, high quality expansion of the speech within a narrow bandwidth acoustic signal which can overcome or substantially alleviate problems associated with expanding the bandwidth of the noise within the acoustic signal. The present technology carries out a multi-faceted analysis to accurately identify noise within the narrow bandwidth acoustic signal. Noise classification information regarding the noise within the narrow bandwidth acoustic signal is used to determine whether to expand the bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth acoustic signal. By expanding the bandwidth based on the noise classification information, the present technology can expand the speech bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth acoustic signal and prevent or limit the bandwidth expansion of the noise.
US09245535B2 Network/peer assisted speech coding
A communications network is used to transfer user attribute information about participants in a communication session to their respective communication terminals for storage and use thereon to configure a speech codec to operate in a speaker-dependent manner, thereby improving speech coding efficiency. In a network-assisted model, the user attribute information is stored on the communications network and selectively transmitted to the communication terminals while in a peer-assisted model, the user attribute information is derived by and transferred between communication terminals.
US09245534B2 Spectral translation/folding in the subband domain
The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for improvement of High Frequency Reconstruction (HFR) techniques using frequency translation or folding or a combination thereof. The proposed invention is applicable to audio source coding systems, and offers significantly reduced computational complexity. This is accomplished by means of frequency translation or folding in the subband domain, preferably integrated with spectral envelope adjustment in the same domain. The concept of dissonance guard-band filtering is further presented. The proposed invention offers a low-complexity, intermediate quality HFR method useful in speech and natural audio coding applications.
US09245530B2 Apparatus, method and computer program for providing one or more adjusted parameters for provision of an upmix signal representation on the basis of a downmix signal representation and a parametric side information associated with the downmix signal representation, using an average value
An apparatus for providing one or more adjusted parameters for a provision of an upmix signal representation on the basis of a downmix signal representation and a parametric side information associated with the downmix signal representation has a parameter adjuster. The parameter adjuster is configured to receive one or more parameters and to provide, on the basis thereof, one or more adjusted parameters. The parameter adjuster is configured to provide the one or more adjusted parameters in dependence on an average value of a plurality of parameter values, such that a distortion of the upmix signal representation caused by the use of non-optimal parameters is reduced at least for parameters deviating from optimal parameters by more than a predetermined deviation.
US09245529B2 Adaptive encoding of a digital signal with one or more missing values
A method of encoding samples in a digital signal is provided that includes receiving a plurality of samples of the digital signal, and encoding the plurality of samples, wherein an output number of bits is adapted for coding efficiency when a value in a range of possible distinct data values of the plurality of samples is not found in the plurality of samples.
US09245528B2 Communication system, method, and apparatus
A server apparatus acquires content based on instruction information; decodes image data of the acquired content compression encodes captured image data using a predetermined encoding scheme; decodes an audio signal and compression encodes the decoded audio signal using the predetermined encoding scheme, stores the image and the audio signal and sends the packet to a packet forwarding apparatus. A mobile terminal receives the packet, decodes and displays the compression encoded image data stored in the packet; and decodes and reproduces the compression encoded audio signal.
US09245525B2 Automated speech recognition proxy system for natural language understanding
An interactive response system mixes HSR subsystems with ASR subsystems to facilitate overall capability of voice user interfaces. The system permits imperfect ASR subsystems to nonetheless relieve burden on HSR subsystems. An ASR proxy is used to implement an IVR system, and the proxy dynamically determines how many ASR and HSR subsystems are to perform recognition for any particular utterance, based on factors such as confidence thresholds of the ASRs and availability of human resources for HSRs.
US09245523B2 Method and apparatus for expansion of search queries on large vocabulary continuous speech recognition transcripts
The subject matter discloses a method for expansion of search queries on large vocabulary continuous speech recognition transcripts comprising: obtaining a textual transcript of audio interaction generated by the large vocabulary continuous speech recognition; generating a topic model from the textual transcripts; said topic model comprises a plurality of topics wherein each topic of the plurality of topics comprises a list of keywords; obtaining a search term; associating a topic from the topic model with the search term; and generating a list of candidate term expansion words by selecting keywords from the list of keywords of the associated topic; said candidate term expansion words are of high probability to be substitution errors of the search term that are generated by the large vocabulary continuous speech recognition.
US09245515B2 Earphone
An earphone has a housing, with a speaker mounted within the housing. A cable inlet contains a cable that includes a wire connected to the speaker. The cable and the cable inlet have different cross-sectional shapes, such that the cable is in contact with the inner surface of the cable inlet over a substantial portion of their length, while a rear volume of the speaker is vented through the cable inlet. This ensures that the cross-sectional area through which the rear volume is vented through the cable inlet remains relatively constant. The earphone may further comprise a microphone, positioned to detect ambient noise approaching the ear of a wearer of the earphone, and the cable may then further include a wire connected to the microphone.
US09245513B1 Radial input waveguide
Radial input waveguide is provided having three consecutive sound wave propagation passageways, virtually divided by two folding regions along its extension from radial input up to substantially rectangular output, each one forming a different type of waves and all three channels shaped between an internal body and a shell housing enclosing it at a distance. The radially expanding initial air channel forms a cylindrical wave front between two input walls. A relatively wide region with parallel walls is available for wave folding at adaptably changeable diameters in this region with a small distance between the folded walls. All individual partial wave fronts on the periphery of the first folding region are traveling along substantially equal, accumulated from the last two air channels, path lengths, to the waveguide output, forming there a common isophase and planar wave front. The middle passageway contains all the physical dimensions necessary to control the waveguide performance, the most important being the height H and the width D, whose ratio controls the wave front output curvature.
US09245507B2 Systems for combining inputs from electronic musical instruments and devices
An apparatus for combining input signals produced by a plurality of electric musical devices includes a plurality of audio buses and a plurality of segments. Each segment includes input circuitry configured to receive at least one input signal from at least one electric musical device and to deliver the at least one input signal to one of the plurality of audio buses; a plurality of variable adjustment devices each associated with a corresponding one of the audio buses and each configured to change at least one property of an input signal received by another of the plurality of segments and carried on the corresponding one of the audio buses independent from input signals carried on other of the plurality of audio buses; and a mixer configured to combine the input signals carried on each of the plurality of audio buses into an output signal.
US09245503B2 Musical percussion support stands and related devices and methods
In some aspects, a musical percussion support stand includes a stand tube, legs that are configured to be deployed perpendicular to the stand tube in supporting arrangement and a set of two or more height adjustable foot elements. The height adjustable foot elements include a body with at least one rest surface and a first recess. The first recess is configured to receive a leg, with a central axis of the first recess substantially parallel to a horizontal central axis of the body. The body has a first position and a second position relative to a central axis of the leg. In the first position, the rest surface may be disposed on a supporting surface for supporting the stand, with the leg relatively more spaced above the supporting surface than in the second position.
US09245497B2 Systems and methods for configuring the display resolution of an electronic device based on distance and user presbyopia
Systems and methods dynamically configure a display of an electronic device to a desired display resolution and/or a magnification factor without noticeable impact on the user viewing experience. According to certain aspects, the distance between a user and the display is measured, and the desired display resolution is determined based on the distance. If a user is exhibiting symptoms of presbyopia, a magnification factor may be determined. A request indicating the desired display resolution and/or magnification factor is transmitted to a server that supplies images, such as pictures or videos. The image is received from the server and displayed on the display. A focus area distance and/or a pupil orientation of the user may also influence the desired display resolution.
US09245496B2 Multi-mode memory access techniques for performing graphics processing unit-based memory transfer operations
This disclosure describes techniques for performing memory transfer operations with a graphics processing unit (GPU) based on a selectable memory transfer mode, and techniques for selecting a memory transfer mode for performing all or part of a memory transfer operation with a GPU. In some examples, the techniques of this disclosure may include selecting a memory transfer mode for performing at least part of a memory transfer operation, and performing, with a GPU, the memory transfer operation based on the selected memory transfer mode. The memory transfer mode may be selected from a set of at least two different memory transfer modes that includes an interleave memory transfer mode and a sequential memory transfer mode. The techniques of this disclosure may be used to improve the performance of GPU-assisted memory transfer operations.
US09245495B2 Simplification of local contrast compensation by using weighted look-up table
Systems, apparatus, articles, and methods are described including operations to generate a weighted look-up-table based at least in part on individual pixel input values within an active block region and on a plurality of contrast compensation functions. A second level compensation may be performed for a center pixel block of the active region based at least in part on the weighted look-up-table.
US09245494B2 Colorblind accessibility test for corresponding screen displays
A method and apparatus that are capable of identifying corresponding screen displays that convey color coded information and identifying whether color coded information found in corresponding screen displays is likely to be accessible or inaccessible to a colorblind individual. The method and apparatus are capable of receiving data corresponding to a plurality of screen displays including information encoded in color. The method and apparatus are capable of identifying corresponding screen displays from the plurality of screen displays. The method and apparatus are further capable of detecting text and color encoded information that are different in the first and second corresponding screen displays at first and second locations, respectively. The method and apparatus are further capable of determining a proximity of the first and the second locations when there is text that is different in the first and second corresponding screens at the first location, and generating a colorblindness accessibility indicator based on whether text that is different was detected/and or the determined proximity.
US09245492B2 Dual screen display for mobile computing device
A mobile computing device is disclosed for displaying backlight and diffuse reflecting information. The mobile computing device is configured to include a processor, a first LCD display unit connected to the processor, and a second diffuse reflecting display unit connected to the processor. The mobile computing device is further provided with a display panel interface, such as a mouse or a gravity detecting device like an accelerometer, configured to detect a property for activating a display type. The processor is configured to send information to be displayed to the first display unit or the second display unit or both depending on the display type property detected.
US09245482B2 Image display device
The white balance for a high brightness region and a low brightness region is improved in an image display device using MEMS and a laser light source. An image processing unit of the device superposes a signal based on a first measured value of a light quantity at a first temperature on a picture signal, during its blanking period, which is supplied to the laser light source, and superposes a high frequency signal on the picture signal during its effective scanning period. An amplification factor of the light source drive unit is changed so that a second measured value at a second temperature comes close to the first measured value at the first temperature as a target value based on the second measured value at which the light quantity of light generated at the laser light source is measured at the second temperature different from the first temperature on the signal based on the first measured value. By superposition of the high frequency signal, white balance control in a low brightness region for which control is especially difficult is performed with adequate accuracy.
US09245481B2 Active-matrix display device, and active-matrix organic electroluminescent display device
An active-matrix display device employs current-programmed-type pixel circuits and performs the writing data to each of pixels on a line-by-line basis. The active-matrix display device having a matrix of current-programmed-type pixel circuits includes a data line driving circuit 15 formed of m current driving circuits (CD) 15-1 to 15-m arranged corresponding to respective data lines 13-1 to 13-m. The data line driving circuit (CD) 15-1 to 15-m holds image data (luminance data herein) in the form of voltage, and then converts the voltage of the image data into a current signal. The current signal is then fed to the data lines 13-1 to 13-m at a time. The image information is thus written on the pixel circuits 11.
US09245478B2 Display device having a voltage limiting circuit to ensure that the voltage between the drain and source of a pixel's driving transistor does not exceed a predetermined value
A pixel circuit 110 includes a driving transistor, a light-emitting element, and a voltage limiter circuit. The transistor and the light-emitting element are connected in series between power supply. The transistor allows an electric current that is dependent on a voltage between its gate and source to flow through the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element emits light at a luminance that is dependent on an electric current that flows between two terminals. The voltage limiter circuit performs voltage limiting in such a way as to ensure that a voltage between the drain of the transistor and the source thereof does not exceed a predetermined value.
US09245477B2 Flexible display device and driving method thereof
A display device which displays an image having a size corresponding to a display area exposed outside a housing is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a flexible display panel having a recognition pattern, a housing, and a light-receiving sensor. The recognition pattern includes a plurality of self-luminous indicators arranged according to a first direction, and having different colors or different light-emitting intensities. The housing is coupled to the flexible display panel for entering/discharging of the flexible display panel according to the first direction such that a display area of the flexible display panel is variously exposed. The light-receiving sensor is positioned corresponding to the recognition pattern in the housing and respectively recognizes a plurality of indicators to sense the exposed display area of the flexible display panel.
US09245476B2 Start control circuit, display panel driving circuit and display device
A start control circuit is provided, which comprises a first switch unit, a start control unit and a second switch unit; the first switch unit is configured to determine a charging path of the start control unit according to the input signals of different start modes; the start control unit is configured to carry out the corresponding start modes, and start energy of the corresponding start modes is stored during a period of charging time corresponding to the charging path, thereby control the current of the second switch unit at the starting moment; and the second switch unit is configured to control an external circuit by receiving gating signals outputted from the start control unit. The present invention also provides a display panel driving circuit and a display device using the start control circuit.
US09245470B2 Display device
Provided is to secure a data-writing period to a source line and reduce the number of the IC chips used. N image data (e.g., three image data, RGB) are sequentially input to one input terminal. Three switches, three first memory elements, three transfer switches, three second memory elements, and three buffers are connected in parallel to the input terminal. The three switches are turned on respectively. RGB image data are held in the three respective first memory elements. In a selection period of a gate line of an (m−1)-th row, image data of an m-th row are written to the first memory elements. When the three transfer switches are turned on in a selection period of a gate line of an m-th row, the image data are transferred to and held in the second memory elements. Then, the image data are output to each source line through each buffer.
US09245469B2 Apparatus and method for displaying data in portable terminal
An apparatus and method for displaying data in a portable terminal to control data displayed on a projection beam screen. The apparatus includes a beam projector unit for displaying data on a beam screen, at least one camera unit for capturing the data displayed on the beam screen, and a controller for extracting a differential region between data to be displayed on the beam screen and the displayed data captured by the camera unit and displaying the data on the beam screen according to a display screen region excluding the differential region therefrom.
US09245467B2 Stereoscopic display device, image processing device and image processing method
A stereoscopic display device includes a display unit. The display unit includes a plurality of pixels. A scan driving unit sequentially applies scan signals through a plurality of scan lines to the plurality of pixels. A data driving unit applies gray voltages through a plurality of data lines to the plurality of pixels in response to the scan signals. A signal controlling unit transfers a data control signal and an image data signal to the data driving unit. The signal controlling unit classifies, in accordance with a disparity of objects respectively included in a left-eye image and a right-eye image, an object depth in which an object is recognized by a user. The signal controlling unit resets a luminance of at least one of the left-eye image or the right-eye image corresponding to the object depth.
US09245464B2 Hook-type display module
A hook-type display module includes a base assembly, a display hook receiving plate and at least one display hook. The base assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart side frame members having distal ends and proximal ends and a front frame member connecting the distal ends of the side frame members. The display hook receiving plate is positioned so as to extend between the spaced-apart side frame members and is located proximate to the proximal ends of the spaced-apart side frame members. The at least one display hook includes a base coupled to the display hook receiving plate and a hook extending from the base to a distal end. The distal end of the hook terminates at a location between the display hook receiving plate and the front frame member.
US09245462B2 Advertising support for sports and similar events
The support comprises a frame (1) with the general shape of a U with two uprights (11,12) and a crossmember (13), plus a printed sheet (2) secured to the frame; the frame comprises a solid core (14) and a tubular sleeve (15) covering the core, which comprises at least a natural or synthetic rubber. The support is prevented from being bent over by the wind or in the event of high temperatures, or from being deformed; damage is also avoided in the event of an impact against the support. The production method comprises providing a perforated fabric or mesh (2), roller-printing thereof, curing thereof in an oven at a temperature of at least 100° C. to obtain a highly flexible, high strength material, and printing or painting the required advertising motifs thereon.
US09245458B2 Systems and methods for using images to generate digital interaction
Systems and methods for managing toilet training of a person are provided. In one aspect, a method for managing toilet training of a person is provided. The method includes packaging a toilet training product within a container. The method also includes enclosing a post-sale image within the container. The post-sale image is configured to enable a set of enhanced functionality within a user computing device. The set of enhanced functionality is configured to track and record toilet training milestones achieved by the person.
US09245455B2 Music wormhole, a music education and entertainment system
System showing the finger positions on multiple different musical instruments for all the chords in all the keys of the Major Scale, color coordinated to western music's twelve point chromatic scale, showing key signature, character, chromatic scale degree and other relevant musical information.
US09245454B2 Rotary actuator and method of providing kinesthesia using a magnetorheological fluid
A rotary actuator and a method of providing kinesthesia using a magnetorheological fluid are provided. The method includes generating a solenoid which generates a magnetic field, thereby forming flux lines, in response to a current being applied thereto. A cylindrical rotor surrounds inner, outer and top surfaces of the solenoid, is freely rotatable about a rotary shaft disposed in an opened central portion thereof. A cylindrical housing surrounds inner, outer and bottom surfaces of the solenoid, and engages with the rotor. The magnetorheological fluid is disposed inside gaps among the solenoid, the rotor and the housing, and generates magnetic chains along the flux lines in response to the magnetic field. The thickness of walls of the rotor which surround the inner and outer surfaces of the solenoid decreases in the top-to-bottom direction. A space having a predetermined width is defined around the rotary shaft.
US09245453B1 Flight simulator yoke
A flight simulator yoke is provided having a single handle having a handgrip and yoke shaft operable from a left side of a user, wherein a neutral position for the handle is at a 45 degree angle. The yoke may further include two trim axes parallel to each other; and two moveable spring devices. The spring devices are operatively coupled to the trim axes, each spring device having a positive center detent, wherein the positive center detent requires a predetermined amount of force in order to move the yoke along each trim axis. The flight simulator yoke may simulate a yoke of a Cirrus aircraft.
US09245452B2 Methods and systems to accurately display lateral deviation symbology in offset approaches to runways
Systems and methods to accurately display lateral deviation symbology in offset approaches to runways is provided. A system for on-aircraft display of lateral deviation symbology for use in offset approaches comprises means for generating a conformal video display representation of an aircraft's current position, means for notifying a flight crew of the existence of an offset approach, means for displaying an extended runway center line, and means for displaying an approach line.
US09245447B2 Method and device for the position determination of objects in road traffic, based on communication signals, and use of the device
The invention relates to a method for the communication signal-based position determination of objects in road traffic, in which at least one data transporting communication signal is wirelessly transmitted from at least one sender (217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 34) and is reflected at least proportionally as a reflection signal on at least one object (211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 35), wherein the at least one communication signal and the reflection signal are received by a receiver (222, 33), and wherein the of at least one sender (217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 34). The method is characterized in that a propagation time difference of the communication signal and the reflection signal is determined by the received (222, 33). The invention further relates to a corresponding device (100) and to the use thereof.
US09245444B2 Detecting traffic
Devices and methods for detecting traffic objects. Radiated energy is captured at a detection device, wherein the radiated energy is radiated from traffic objects. Data associated with the radiated energy is generated. The data associated with the radiated energy is transmitted using a communication device.
US09245442B2 Virtual universal remote control
A method for providing a virtual, universal remote control feature includes displaying a virtual remote interface for an electronic device. A user interaction with an element of the virtual remote interface is detected. The virtual remote interface element is mapped to a device-function code. The device-function code is provided to a code transmitter. The device-function code corresponds to a control command associated with the electronic device.
US09245438B2 Water leak detector for a pipe having a retention reservoir
A water leak detector including a housing defining a retention reservoir, and a coupler connected to the housing and configured to secure the housing to a water pipe. A switch is supported by the housing and is configured to detect water at a predetermined level within the reservoir. An indicator may be an electrical communication with the switch to provide an indication to a user when water has reached the predetermined level within the reservoir.
US09245437B2 Contact monitoring system
The present invention relates to a system for monitoring contact or close proximity between one or more sources of contact within an environment and to one or more devices suitable for implementing such a system. Each source of contact is provided with a monitoring device. Each monitoring device comprises an indicator unit and a detecting unit. The indicator unit is operable to emit a signal and the detecting unit is operable to detect and identify signals of the type emitted by the indicator unit of another monitoring device and output an information signal indicative thereof.
US09245432B2 EAS tag utilizing magnetometer
An EAS tag comprises a microprocessor, motion sensor, magnetometer, communication elements, and audible alarm generator. Various means of attaching the tag to an object to be protected can be used. The magnetometer can measure the magnetic fields around it and digitally transmit the information to the microprocessor for storage. After a certain period of inactivity as measured by the motion sensor, the tag enters a state of reduced activity to conserve energy. When the motion sensor determines that the tag is being moved, the magnetometer takes a current snapshot which is compared to a previous snapshot. If the two images differ over certain percentage, the tag alarms. The tag can also monitor the ambient magnetic fields in real time and, when the fields change abruptly, the tag alarms. This prevents defeating the tag by placing it in a metallic foil bag.
US09245427B2 System and method for synchronization of networked fire alarm panels
A system and method for synchronizing a plurality of networked fire alarm panels is disclosed. A plurality of fire panels (i.e., nodes) are arranged on a peer-to-peer network, such as a token ring network. One node is designated as a SyncHost, and the remaining nodes are periodically reset to the clock time associated with the SyncHost to ensure all nodes remain substantially synchronized to a single time. As such, when an alarm condition is signaled, the visual notification devices (i.e., strobe lights) of all the fire panels (nodes) will flash at substantially the same time, in accordance with government guidelines. To accomplish the synchronization, the SyncHost sends periodic attendance polls around the network, noting the transit times of the polls. The individual nodes on the network also note times associated with the polls. The SyncHost sends a sync message to the nodes, and each of the individual nodes resets its internal clock according to the sync message and internal compensations calculated that are based on the attendance poll transit times. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09245424B2 Store system and sales registration method
According to one embodiment, a store system includes: an image output section configured to output an image picked up by an image pickup section; an object recognizing section configured to recognize a specific object by reading a feature value of the output image; a similarity determining section configured to calculate similarity indicating to which degree the recognized object is similar to a reference image of the object determined in advance and determine whether the calculated similarity exceeds a threshold set in advance; and a defective informing section configured to inform, if the similarity determining section determines that the calculated similarity does not exceed the threshold set in advance, that the object is not recognized as a regular commodity.
US09245423B2 Dual validator self-service kiosk
Apparatus and methods are provided for a dual validator self-service kiosk (“SSK”). The SSK may include a first validator. The first validator may examine a deposit inserted into the SSK. The SSK may include a second validator. The second validator may examine a tangible item before the SSK dispenses the tangible item. The SSK may retract the tangible item if the tangible item in not collected by a customer. The second validator may examine the tangible item after being retracted by the SSK. The first validator may apply a first examination routine to the deposit. The second validator may apply a second examination routine before the SSK dispenses the tangible item. The second validator may apply a third examination routine to a tangible item retracted by the SSK.
US09245419B2 Lottery games on an electronic gaming machine
Method and apparatus are described which are used to provide enhanced functionality on gaming devices associated with the play of wager-based games. A secondary processor, separate from a game controller on the gaming device, can be used to provide the enhanced functionality. In one embodiment, the secondary processor can be used to control a display interface on a video display, such as a video display used to play a wager-based game on the gaming device. The display interface can be used to purchase items, such as a lottery ticket, under control of the secondary processor. After purchase, the lottery ticket can be dispensed from the gaming device using a printer. After the lottery ticket is dispensed, it can be reinserted into the gaming device and validated. If any winnings are associated with the lottery ticket, it can be credited to the electronic gaming machine.
US09245413B2 Systems and methods for poker gameplay funding
Systems and methods for poker gameplay funding are disclosed through the crediting gaming accounts and the debiting of a stored value account. The stored value account can be linked to a stored value payment vehicle issued to a player. Funds held by the stored value account can be used for tournament poker play and cash game buy-in in virtual poker rooms and brick-and-mortar poker rooms. At the conclusion of gameplay, the gaming account can be debited and the stored value account credit to reflect poker winnings.
US09245408B2 System and method for gaming using wireless communication devices
A short-range wireless network is established by direct communication between wireless devices and wireless access points to permit gambling within a casino. The short communication range of the access points assures that the wireless device is in the casino. A gaming communication link is used to exchange game play data (e.g., betting, card dealing, etc.) between a gaming controller and one or more wireless devices. Game play may be conducted between a player and the house or between a plurality of payers. In one embodiment, all communication is routed between players using the gaming controller so that the house controls the transmission of all game play data.
US09245406B2 Apparatus for inserting a cart, such as a cart with one or more fixed wheels, into an enclosure
A dispenser having an interior portion that is dimensioned for receiving a wheeled cart that is configured for storing items to be dispensed from the dispenser. The cart may, for example, be supported by at least two non-swiveled wheels disposed adjacent a first end of the cart and at least one swiveled wheel disposed adjacent a second end of the cart. In particular embodiments, the dispenser includes a pivotable wheel support that is adapted for: (A) supporting the cart's non-swiveled wheels; and (B) while supporting these non-swiveled wheels in respective, substantially fixed positions relative to the pivotable wheel support, pivoting from: (1) a first position in which the cart is positioned outside the dispenser; to (2) a second position in which the cart is positioned within the dispenser's interior. This may assist in loading the cart into the dispenser.
US09245403B2 Method and device for accessing, controlling and purchasing a product through a dispenser
Various technologies described herein pertain to an automated dispenser including a dispensing portion, a motion sensor, a receiver module, and a control module. The control module initiates motion sensing by the motion sensor in response to receipt of an activation signal from a network server by the receiver module. The dispensing portion dispenses a product in response to the motion sensor sensing an absence, presence or motion of an object.
US09245402B2 Systems and methods for providing a combined product for dispensing from a product dispenser
Embodiments of the invention can include systems and methods for providing a combined product for dispensing from a product dispenser. In one embodiment, a system can provide a combined product for dispensing from a product dispenser. The system can include a code generation module operable to receive data associated with a plurality of product recipes; and generate a machine readable item with a combined recipe including the plurality of product recipes, wherein the machine readable item configures a product dispenser to dispense the combined recipe.
US09245401B2 Banknote handling device
Provided is a technique for improving banknote manageability in a banknote handling device. This banknote handling device is provided with multiple banknote storage compartments where banknotes are stored, and a banknote loading compartment where banknotes are stored that are to be loaded in each of the banknote storage compartments. This banknote handling device is provided with a banknote determination unit which obtains the serial numbers of banknotes in conveyance between the banknote storage compartments and the banknote loading compartment, and a conveyance path which conveys banknotes from the banknote loading compartment to the banknote storage compartments via the banknote determination unit. A main control unit of the banknote handling device controls the conveyance path, and, while loading the banknotes from the banknote loading compartment into each of the banknote storage compartments, performs banknote loading processing in which the serial numbers of the banknotes are obtained from the banknote determination unit.
US09245399B2 Media authentication
A method of authenticating a media item is described. The method comprises: measuring a magnetic signal along the media item, converting the measured signal to a calibrated length signal, aligning the calibrated length signal with a reference signal, extracting features from the aligned signal, and classifying the media item based on the extracted features.
US09245395B2 Rider characteristic determining apparatus and saddle riding type vehicle having the same
A rider characteristic determining apparatus capable of determining characteristics of a rider controlling a saddle riding type vehicle, and a saddle riding type vehicle including the same, are configured such that the rider's characteristics are determined from a turning movement of the saddle riding type vehicle which reflects results of the rider controlling the saddle riding type vehicle. This enables a stable characteristic determination regardless of individual operation or control by the rider. Further, a turning performance score of the vehicle is calculated based on at least one of vehicle state amounts of a roll direction, a pitch direction and a caster angle which influence the steering angle of the saddle riding type vehicle. This enables a proper evaluation of the turning characteristic of the saddle riding type vehicle.
US09245394B2 Diagnostic system and method for vehicle terminal
A system for diagnosing a vehicle terminal includes a WiFi dongle coupled to an external connection terminal of a vehicle to connect wireless communication between a vehicle diagnosis device and the vehicle terminal. A vehicle diagnosis device is configured to transmit an inspection start command to the vehicle terminal through the WiFi dongle, and inspect at least one of a Bluetooth function and a voice recognition function. The vehicle terminal is configured to download and store phone book data through Bluetooth paired with the vehicle diagnosis device, detect a phone book name in the stored phone book data, and enter a call making mode. The vehicle diagnosis device inspects the Bluetooth function according to whether the phone book data of the vehicle terminal is downloaded, and inspects the voice recognition function.
US09245387B2 Holographic snap grid
Methods for positioning virtual objects within an augmented reality environment using snap grid spaces associated with real-world environments, real-world objects, and/or virtual objects within the augmented reality environment are described. A snap grid space may comprise a two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual space within an augmented reality environment in which one or more virtual objects may be positioned. In some embodiments, a head-mounted display device (HMD) may identify one or more grid spaces within an augmented reality environment, detect a positioning of a virtual object within the augmented reality environment, determine a target grid space of the one or more grid spaces in which to position the virtual object, determine a position of the virtual object within the target grid space, and display the virtual object within the augmented reality environment based on the position of the virtual object within the target grid space.
US09245385B2 Augmented reality virtual guide system
A system, method, and computer program product for automatically combining computer-generated imagery with real-world imagery in a portable electronic device by retrieving, manipulating, and sharing relevant stored videos, preferably in real time. A video is captured with a hand-held device and stored. Metadata including the camera's physical location and orientation is appended to a data stream, along with user input. The server analyzes the data stream and further annotates the metadata, producing a searchable library of videos and metadata. Later, when a camera user generates a new data stream, the linked server analyzes it, identifies relevant material from the library, retrieves the material and tagged information, adjusts it for proper orientation, then renders and superimposes it onto the current camera view so the user views an augmented reality.
US09245384B2 Augmented reality interface for video
A system, method, and computer program product for automatically combining computer-generated imagery with real-world imagery in a portable electronic device by retrieving, manipulating, and sharing relevant stored videos, preferably in real time. A video is captured with a hand-held device and stored. Metadata including the camera's physical location and orientation is appended to a data stream, along with user input. The server analyzes the data stream and further annotates the metadata, producing a searchable library of videos and metadata. Later, when a camera user generates a new data stream, the linked server analyzes it, identifies relevant material from the library, retrieves the material and tagged information, adjusts it for proper orientation, then renders and superimposes it onto the current camera view so the user views an augmented reality.
US09245383B2 Accelerated three-dimensional intersection testing using compressed volumes
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to building volumetric data structures for intersection testing. For example, 3D data may be represented by points associated with triangles. The triangles may be rasterized to a 3D grid. Each cell of the grid may contain a set of triangles. The grid may be used to generate a new grid of larger grid cells, where each larger grid cell represents some portion of cells of the original grid. The triangle data from each new cell may then be encoded as a list of integers including the triangle data. The list of values may be run-length-encoded. The result is a single octree cube. This process may be repeated in order to generate additional octree cubes for the volumetric structure. The volumetric structure may then be used to identify triangles that intersect with a given ray.
US09245381B2 Visual distortion effects through translucent structures in design software
System, methods, and apparatus allow for creating translucent surfaces within a three-dimensional model. One or more implementations render a three-dimensional model of a layout of a design space within an architectural design environment. Additionally, one or more implementations identify a first portion of the three-dimensional model that is positioned behind a translucent surface within the three-dimensional model. Furthermore, one or more implementations render a visual distortion effect for the identified first portion of the three-dimensional model. Further still, one or more implementations display on a display device the three-dimensional model comprising the translucent surface, such that the three-dimensional model is displayed behind the translucent surface in a distorted form based on the rendered distortion effect.
US09245380B2 Local multi-resolution 3-D face-inherent model generation apparatus and method and facial skin management system
The present invention provides a local multi-resolution 3-D face-inherent model generation apparatus, including one or more 3-D facial model generation cameras for photographing a face of an object at various angles in order to obtain one or more 3-D face models, a 3-D face-inherent model generation unit for generating a 3-D face-inherent model by composing the one or more 3-D face models, a local photographing camera for photographing a local part of the face of the object, a control unit for controlling the position of the local photographing camera on the 3-D face-inherent model, and a local multi-resolution 3-D face-inherent model generation unit for generating a local multi-resolution face-inherent model by composing an image captured by the local photographing camera and the 3-D face-inherent model, a local multi-resolution 3-D face-inherent model generation using the local multi-resolution 3-D face-inherent model generation apparatus, and a skin management system.
US09245379B2 Continuum based model for position based dynamics
A technique for position based dynamics constrains deformation of triangles within a simulation mesh configured to model a cloth object. The constraints comprise at least a weft, warp, and shear constraint per triangle within the simulation mesh. A non-rigid shear constraint yields realistic cloth dynamics while avoiding locking within the simulation mesh. The technique may be implemented in real-time or batch simulation environments.
US09245378B1 Surface data generating system, device, and method
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating surface data are disclosed. An image generator is configured to receive navigation data; retrieve first surface data representative of a plurality of elevations; retrieve second surface data representative of location and elevation information (and possibly dimensions and the locations of at least one surface feature) of at least one reference point; determine shading data as a function of the first surface data; modify the first surface data as a function of the second surface data; and generate image data as a function of the modified first surface data and the shading data, where the image data is representative of a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside a vehicle comprised of at least one flattened surface feature area having one elevation and to which the shading represented in the shading data is applied.
US09245376B2 Lighting management in virtual worlds
A system has a server with a processor, a storage medium and coded instructions executable on the processor causing the server to display a video game to a player operating a computer, the video game comprising a virtual world having objects with surfaces, movable in the space of the virtual world by the player, and one or more light sources, create and manage a voxel grid associated with the player, compute an occupancy value for individual ones of the cells of the grid, compute an illumination value for cells of the grid by consideration of position and direction of the light sources, the occupancy value of the cell, and illumination values of immediately adjacent cells in the voxel grid, and determine brightness for pixels in display of surfaces of objects in frames of the video game based on the illumination values of cells proximate to the surfaces of the objects.
US09245373B2 Caching in map systems for displaying panoramic images
Operations for caching to display panoramic images include repeatedly receiving an indication of one or both of a current geographic location and a current view direction for a user, receiving from a remote server a first plurality of image tiles of a first panoramic image of a predicted geographic location, caching the received first plurality of image tiles, and processing the cached first plurality of image tiles. The processing includes decompressing the cached first plurality of image tiles and storing the decompressed image tiles. When the current geographic location is at the predicted geographic location, rendering, using the stored decompressed tiles, the first panoramic image to a plurality of three-dimensional surfaces in a memory, wherein each of the plurality of three-dimensional surfaces corresponds to a respective portion of a sphere.
US09245372B2 Map systems and methods for displaying panoramic images
Operations for efficient display of panoramic images include receiving control information a plurality of tiles of a panoramic image, identifying padding included in the received tiles, and processing the tiles to remove the padding. For each of the processed tiles, at least one patch is generated which maps at least a portion of each tile to a three-dimensional surface formed in a memory. Each patch includes a plurality of polygonal areas, and corresponds to a respective portion of a sphere. The panoramic image is drawn using the patches.
US09245369B2 Method and apparatus for generating an avatar
Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for creating an avatar. The method for creating an avatar according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes receiving information on an appearance of an object to be created into an avatar; generating avatar appearance type metadata using the information on the appearance; creating the avatar using the avatar appearance type metadata, wherein the avatar appearance type metadata include at least one of skin information, hair information, nails information, and teeth information. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention can create the avatar capable of facilitating the differentiation with another avatar while more approximating the reality, by adding more detailed data in addition to the data for the existing appearance so as to generate the avatar.
US09245366B1 Label placement for complex geographic polygons
Embodiments of the subject technology provide for determining a set of points that form a perimeter of a polygon included in an interactive geographic map. The determined set of points of the perimeter of the polygon is reduced based on a line simplification algorithm. An area, based on the reduced set of points, of the polygon is then reduced by performing a buffering operation on the area that creates an inner buffer zone for the polygon. The subject technology determines whether an area of the inner buffer zone satisfies a predetermined threshold area. Responsive to determining that the predetermined threshold area is satisfied, a centroid of the inner buffer zone may be determined. The subject technology provides, for display to a user, a label at a coordinate position corresponding to the centroid of the inner buffer zone on the interactive geographic map.
US09245363B2 System, method, and computer program product implementing an algorithm for performing thin voxelization of a three-dimensional model
A system, method, and computer program product for implementing an algorithm for performing thin voxelization is disclosed. The thin voxelization algorithm receives a surface, maps the surface onto a plurality of volumetric picture elements (voxels), and generates a value for each voxel in the plurality of voxels that intersects with the surface. A voxel intersects with the surface when the surface intersects a crosshair shape associated with the voxel.
US09245362B2 Displaying bar charts with a fish-eye distortion effect
A system and a method are disclosed for visually displaying data points using charts on a display screen with limited display area. A fish-eye distortion region allows presentation of detailed information for some data points compared to other data points that are displayed. The chart can be moved relative to the distortion region thereby changing the data points displayed within the fish-eye that present additional information. The relative movement between the chart and the distortion region is triggered by different kinds of inputs from the user including, tilting of the device, swiping with a pointing device and selecting a particular data point.
US09245360B2 Computing devices and methods for deterministically placing geometric shapes within geographic maps
The present disclosure is related to geographic maps including a plurality of map tiles having various geometric shapes. A determination is made for each map tile as to whether road segment geometry for a road corresponding to the geometric shape is available. The geometric shape is positioned using an actual road width when it is determined that the road segment geometry is available. The geometric shape is positioned using a default road width when it is determined that the road segment geometry is unavailable.
US09245358B2 Systems and methods for generating refined, high fidelity normal maps for 2D and 3D textures
Systems, methods and program storage devices are disclosed, which comprise instructions to cause one or more processing units to dynamically generate refined normal maps for 2D texture maps, e.g., supplied by a programmer or artist. Generally speaking, there are two pertinent properties to keep in balance when generating normal vectors comprising a normal map: “smoothness” and “bumpiness.” The smoothness of the normal vectors is influenced by how many neighboring pixels are involved in the “smoothening” calculation. Incorporating the influence of a greater number of neighboring pixels' values reduces the overall bumpiness of the normal map, as each pixel's value takes weight from those neighboring pixels. Thus, the techniques described herein iteratively: downsample height maps; generate normal maps; scale the normal maps to maintain bumpiness; and blend the generated scaled normal maps with generated normal maps from previous iterations—until the smoothness of the resultant normal map has reached desired levels.
US09245357B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a character recognition unit configured to perform character recognition of a character region where characters exist in an image to generate character code, a detection unit configured to detect a region of the image where a feature change in the image is small, and a placement unit configured to place data obtained from the character code in the detected region.
US09245356B2 Image decoding method and image decoding apparatus
An image decoding method includes: obtaining setting information for setting a first quantization matrix; and inverse-quantizing coefficients of the image, using the first quantization matrix set according to the setting information. In the inverse-quantizing: when the setting information includes specifying information for specifying a second quantization matrix and the second quantization matrix specified by the specifying information is referable, the second quantization matrix is set as the first quantization matrix; and when the setting information includes the specifying information and the second quantization matrix specified by the specifying information is not referable, a third quantization matrix which is referable may be set as the first quantization matrix.
US09245354B2 System and method having transparent composite model for transform coefficients
To better handle the flat tail phenomenon commonly seen in transform coefficients such as DCT coefficients, a system and method having a model dubbed a transparent composite model (TCM) are described. Given a sequence of transform coefficients, a TCM first separates the tail of the sequence from the main body of the sequence. A first distribution such as a uniform, truncated Laplacian, or truncated geometric distribution can be used to model transform coefficients in the flat tail while at least one parametric distribution (e.g. truncated Laplacian, generalized Gaussian (GG), and geometric distributions) can be used to model data in the main body. A plurality of boundary values can be used to bound a plurality of distribution models. The plurality of boundary values and other parameters of the TCM can be estimated via maximum likelihood (ML) estimation or greedy estimation.
US09245351B2 Color evaluation apparatus, color evaluation method and computer program
Provided are a color evaluation apparatus and the like capable of evaluating the appropriateness of a color scheme in an image to be evaluated. A color evaluation apparatus 101 includes a division unit 102 that identifies a partial region of an input image, an acquisition unit 103 that acquires color information for identifying a color contained in the partial region and a first character string contained in the partial region, an extraction unit 104 that extracts a second character string which is associated in advance with the color information, and an evaluation unit 105 that evaluates appropriateness of the color information according to a result of comparing the first character string and the second character string.
US09245345B2 Device for generating three dimensional feature data, method for generating three-dimensional feature data, and recording medium on which program for generating three-dimensional feature data is recorded
A stereo disparity calculating unit calculates the predicted value of the stereo disparity. A line extracting unit performs line extraction in an image. A line classification unit classifies the extracted lines into different line types. A meaningless line eliminating unit eliminates lines not existing in the real world away from the following processing. A stereo disparity correcting unit corrects the predicted value of the disparity based on the line pairs determined by the line pair determining unit. A line pair clustering unit clusters all the line pairs belonging to the same feature as one cluster. A plane combining unit finds out the location relationship in the three-dimensional space among all the planes of each feature extracted by a plane extracting unit, and generates a three-dimensional model describing the overall structure for each feature.
US09245341B2 Image acquisition using a level-indication icon
During an information-extraction technique, visual suitability indicators may be displayed to a user of the electronic device to assist the user in acquiring an image of a document that is suitable for subsequent extraction of textual information. For example, an imaging application executed by the electronic device may display, in a window associated with the imaging application, a visual suitability indicator of a tilt orientation of the electronic device relative to a plane of the document. When the tilt orientation falls within a predefined range, the electronic device may modify the visual suitability indicators to provide visual feedback to the user. Then, the electronic device may acquire the image of the document using an imaging device, which is integrated into the electronic device. Next, the electronic device may extract the textual information from the image of the document using optical character recognition.
US09245340B2 Method and system for determining a number of transfer objects which move within an observed region
The invention proposes a method for determining a number (13) of transfer objects which are moving from a first subregion (8) of an observed region (5) into a second subregion (9) of the observed region (5), wherein a succession of images of the observed region (5) is recorded which identify objects (1; 2; 3; 4) and determine positions (1b, 1c; 2a, 2b, 2c; 3a, 3b, 3c; 4a, 4b) for the objects (1; 2; 3; 4), respectively, the objects (1; 2; 3; 4) are each associated either with the first subregion (8) or with the second subregion (9) on the basis of the positions (1b, 1c; 2a, 2b, 2c; 3a, 3b, 3c; 4a, 4b) of said objects, and multiple transfers of the same object between the first subregion (8) and the second subregion (9) are taken into account when determining the number (13) of transfer objects. The invention likewise proposes an appropriate system which can be used to carry out the method, said system comprising a sensor arrangement and a computation unit connected to the sensor arrangement.
US09245338B2 Increasing accuracy of a physiological signal obtained from a video of a subject
What is disclosed is a system and method for increasing the accuracy of physiological signals obtained from video of a subject being monitored for a desired physiological function. In one embodiment, image frames of a video are received. Successive batches of image frames are processed. For each batch, pixels associated with an exposed body region of the subject are isolated and processed to obtain a time-series signal. If movement occurred during capture of these image frames that is below a pre-defined threshold level then parameters of a predictive model are updated using this batch's time-series signal. Otherwise, the last updated predictive model is used to generate a predicted time-series signal for this batch. The time-series signal is fused with the predicted time-series signal to obtain a fused time-series signal. The time-series signal for each batch is processed to obtain a physiological signal for the subject corresponding to the physiological function.
US09245337B2 Context driven image mining to generate image-based biomarkers
An image-based biomarker is generated using image features obtained through object-oriented image analysis of medical images. The values of a first subset of image features are measured and weighted. The weighted values of the image features are summed to calculate the magnitude of a first image-based biomarker. The magnitude of the biomarker for each patient is correlated with a clinical endpoint, such as a survival time, that was observed for the patient whose medical images were analyzed. The correlation is displayed on a graphical user interface as a scatter plot. A second subset of image features is selected that belong to a second image-based biomarker such that the magnitudes of the second image-based biomarker for the patients better correlate with the clinical endpoints observed for those patients. The second biomarker can then be used to predict the clinical endpoint of other patients whose clinical endpoints have not yet been observed.
US09245335B2 Method and system for controlling computer tomography imaging
A method, a device, a system and a computer program are for controlling limited-area computer tomography imaging. The method includes determining location data of a first imaging object when the first imaging object is positioned in an imaging area, determining reference location data related to the first imaging object and adjusting the imaging area based on the location data of the first imaging object and said reference location data for imaging a second imaging object. The first and the second imaging object can be located at a distance determined by the reference location data from each other or symmetrically in relation to the reference location data.
US09245331B2 Video contrast enhancement with sub-segments
A system and method for image contrast enhancement using sub-segments. A coarse piecewise linear transform is formed based on the intensity distribution in an image, the segments of the piecewise linear transform selected to produce, when the piecewise linear transform is applied to the image, an improved intensity distribution, e.g., one approximating a Rayleigh distribution. A fine piecewise linear transform is formed by forming sub-segments at each of the breakpoints of the coarse piecewise linear transform.
US09245329B1 System and method for graphics rendering using a proximity test
A circuit renders computer graphics for an electronic display. The circuit includes a frame buffer to store a primitive for each pixel of the display, the primitive for each pixel being output to the display. The circuit includes a processor for storing the primitives in the frame buffer based on input primitives. The processor receives an input primitive in the same group as a corresponding stored primitive, determines whether the input primitive is within a threshold distance from the stored primitive, determines which of the input primitive and stored primitive is closer in depth to an observer of the display when the input primitive and the stored primitive are not within the threshold distance, and outputs the closer primitive to the frame buffer. The processor determines whether the input primitive and stored primitive has a higher priority when within the threshold distance and outputs the primitive with the higher priority.
US09245324B2 Lossy color merge for multi-sampling anti-aliasing compression
Techniques related to graphics rendering including lossy color merge for multi-sampling anti-aliasing compression.
US09245321B2 Parallel image reconstruction using filter banks based on low-frequency part of k-space signals
A method for a parallel image reconstruction is disclosed. The method includes (a) acquiring image information by channel via parallel coils in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner; (b) extracting low-frequency signals from the image information; (c) reconstructing low-frequency images from the low-frequency signals; (d) generating filter banks by using the low-frequency images; and (f) reconstructing a final image by using the filter banks. The generating of the filter banks includes separately generating low-frequency image information for reconstruction of magnitude information and low-frequency image information for reconstruction of phase information, and then separately generating a filter for reconstruction of the magnitude information and a filter for reconstruction of the phase information.
US09245320B2 Method and system for correcting artifacts in image reconstruction
Methods and systems are provided for correcting artifacts in iterative reconstruction processes. In certain embodiments, weighting schemes may be applied such that less than all of the available scan or projection data is utilized in the iterative reconstruction. In this manner, inconsistencies in the data undergoing reconstruction may be reduced.
US09245319B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and image forming apparatus that perform an enhancement process to input image data
An image processing device, method, computer readable storage medium, and image forming device that calculate spatial frequency of input image data and determine a frequency component in which a distribution amount of the spatial frequency maximizes, and perform an enhancement process by applying, to the input image data, an enhancement amount that varies according to the distribution amount of the spatial frequency, based on the determined frequency component.
US09245318B2 Methods and systems for automated orientation detection and correction
Some embodiments are directed to a method of automatically modifying a scanned image of a page from an input document comprising a plurality of pages. First, scanned images of the plurality of pages are obtained. Next, a user selection for an output orientation of an output document and optionally value of N for an N-Up operation is received. Thereafter, input orientation of each scanned image is detected. Then, the scanned image is rotated, based on the detected input orientation, the output orientation and the value of ‘N’ if provided by the user. Next, the rotated scanned image content is resized so that it fits on a page. Finally, the output document is prepared that includes pages in the output orientation.
US09245317B2 Optically enhanced digital imaging system
Improved methods and systems for imaging are provided. Specifically, systems and methods for extending the range of a digital zoom are provided in which an imaging system provides continuous magnification over a plurality of interleaved optical pathways and digital zooming imagers. Systems and methods of centering an image as the field of view changes, and for masking out undesirable obstacles from a magnified image are also provided.
US09245315B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for generating super-resolved images
In an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes facilitating receipt of a light-field image, determining one or more depth levels in the light-field image and generating a plurality of images from the light-field image. The method includes determining one or more registration matrices corresponding to the one or more depth levels between an image and one or more remaining images of the plurality of images. The method includes performing a super-resolution of the image and the one or more remaining images based on the one or more registration matrices to generate a super-resolved image of the image.
US09245306B2 Methods and apparatus for generating and accessing information in binary files
An embodiment of a method for generating a binary file includes receiving information defining an entity that forms a portion of loadable diagnostics information, generating metadata defining a location within a binary file where the entity is to be located, and generating the binary file to include the metadata and the entity stored at the location. Additional embodiments include an aircraft diagnostic system and a method for the diagnostics system to access information within a binary file. The diagnostics system includes data storage and an accessor module. The data storage is configured to store the binary file, which includes metadata and an entity stored at a location within the binary file, where the metadata defines the location of the entity. The accessor module is configured to evaluate the metadata to make a determination of the location, and to access the entity within the binary file based on the determination.
US09245305B2 System and method for providing information regarding a status of an item
A system. A system includes a computing system. The computing system includes a processor, a first module, a second module, and a third module. The first module is communicably connected to the processor and is configured for receiving chain of custody information associated with an item. The second module is communicably connected to the processor and is configured for determining a status of the item based on the received chain of custody information. The third module is communicably connected to the processor and is configured for arranging data into a specified format. The data includes the status of the item and the chain of custody information. The third module is also configured for transmitting the data.
US09245304B2 Manufacturing separable pouches with a center cut blade
A system for manufacturing a plurality of separable pouches comprising a means for forming sealed pouches, a center cut blade and a means for segregating each sealed pouch with the center cut blade is described. The means for forming the sealed pouches includes placing a plurality of different tablets corresponding to different medications into each sealed pouch. The center cut blade includes a side cut on each end of the blade, a center cut in the middle of the blade, and at least one perforation cut between each side cut and the center cut. The means for separating each sealed pouch with the center cut blade provides each sealed pouch with a sealed top end, a sealed bottom end, and two sides, in which at least one side is also sealed.
US09245302B2 Accompaniment determination apparatus, accompaniment determination method, and computer readable storage medium
An accompaniment determination apparatus includes a past sensor information memory configured to store past sensor information, the past sensor information acquired by sensors respectively worn by two or more users, a sensor information receiver configured to receive sensor information from the sensor worn by each of two or more users, an accompanying user determiner configured to determine at a determination time point whether two or more users are accompanying each other, using the past sensor information and the received sensor information, and an output unit configured to output information indicating a result of the determining. The accompaniment determination apparatus thus determines on a real-time basis whether the two or more users are accompanying each other using the sensor information without collecting position information.
US09245301B2 System and method for finding matches between users in a networked environment
Finding a match for an end user on an online social platform is not a trivial task. To improve match making, various methods and systems are disclosed which are configured to compute heuristics for various end users, which help to predict the likelihood that two end users would ultimately engage in some form of communication with each other. The heuristics are used in an algorithm (i.e., a statistical/predictive model) for providing a set of matches to an end user. These heuristics may be computed based on varying forms of communication which indicate different levels of engagement between end users, and/or based on some other indication of how an end user may react to another end user.
US09245294B1 Providing separate views for items
Disclosed are various embodiments for providing separate views for items. A network page providing a summary view of at least a portion of a pool of items is encoded in a computing resource for rendering by a client computing device. A window superimposed over at least a portion of the summary view is rendered by the client computing device. The window provides a separate view for examination of one item from the pool of items, and the window facilitates a serial examination of the pool of items.
US09245292B2 Product management using electronic price labels
A method is provided for managing item placement in a store. A count of electronic price labels (EPLs) is sent, by a processor, to a handheld device indicating a quantity of EPLs needed in a select portion of a planogram. An EPL identifier is received, by the processor, from the handheld device for each of the quantity of EPLs equal to the count. An item in the portion of the planogram is linked, by the processor, to each EPL. Placement information is sent, by the processor, to each electronic price label. The placement information corresponds with the linked item and is configured to be rendered on a display of each EPL.
US09245282B2 Device, system, and method of enhancing user privacy and security within a location-based virtual social networking context
A first mobile computing device of a first user receives a request to participate in a location-based virtual social network. A radio component of the first mobile computing device detects venues within proximity of the first mobile computing device. Each venue includes a host of a respective virtual social network. One of the venues is selected by the user for participation in the virtual social network. A wireless connection with the virtual social network is established at the selected venue. Electronic communications with second users are conducted at the selected venue. The second users are also participants of the virtual social network. A departure of the first user from the selected venue is detected. In response to the detected departure, electronic records pertaining to the conducted electronic communications with the one or more second users are erased from the first mobile computing device.
US09245279B2 Conversion path performance measures and reports
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing conversion path performance measures and reports. In one aspect, user interaction data are obtained, were the user interaction data specify user interactions for a plurality of conversions. User interactions that are associated with each conversion are selected from the user interaction data, where the associated user interactions for each conversion are user interactions with a converting user during the conversion cycle for the conversion. Using the user interaction data for the selected user interactions, a quantity of user interactions that are associated with each conversion and occurred during the conversion cycle for the conversion are determined. In turn, conversion path performance measures are computed and reports specifying the conversion path performance measures are generated.
US09245278B2 Systems and methods for correcting translations in multi-user multi-lingual communications
Various embodiments described herein facilitate multi-lingual communications. The systems and methods of some embodiments enable multi-lingual communications through different modes of communication including, for example, Internet-based chat, e-mail, text-based mobile phone communications, postings to online forums, postings to online social media services, and the like. Certain embodiments implement communication systems and methods that translate text between two or more languages. Users of the systems and methods may be incentivized to submit corrections for inaccurate or erroneous translations, and may receive a reward for these submissions. Systems and methods for assessing the accuracy of translations are described.
US09245277B1 Systems and methods for categorizing neighborhoods based on payment card transactions
A computer implemented method for categorizing neighborhoods based on cardholder transactions is provided. The method is implemented using a computing device having a processor communicatively coupled to a memory. The method includes receiving a plurality of payment transactions from a plurality of cardholders, generating a list of cardholders based on the plurality of payment transactions, determining one or more life stage segments for each cardholder based on the plurality of payment transactions, determining one or more geographic regions based in part on the plurality of payment transactions where each geographic region contains a plurality of cardholders, determining a lifestyle category for at least one geographic region of the one or more geographic regions based on the one or more life stage segments of each of the cardholders associated with the corresponding geographic region, and providing a lifestyle report for the at least one geographic region.
US09245273B2 Control system and method for advertisement exposure
A control system and method of advertisement exposure are provided, in which the control system for advertisement exposure includes: a communication unit for communicating via a network with a multiplicity of client terminals, each including a web browser having a main area where a predetermined webpage is output and a sub area different from the main area; a storage unit for storing advertisement information and information about an incentive created to correspond to the advertisement information and offered to a user; and a control unit for outputting the advertisement information to at least one of the main are and sub area, and accumulating a corresponding incentive depending on an amount of viewing by plural users for the advertisement information to output information about the accumulated incentive to the sub area of the web browser. Accordingly, the advertisement information can be exposed more effectively through the web browser.
US09245272B2 Reverse benefits designer
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for a reverse benefits designer, one or more objects available for creating a plan design framework are displayed in a graphical user interface, an indication of an object from the one or more objects selected for placement in a hierarchy of the plan design framework depicted on the graphical user interface is received, and data is stored in a repository for the plan design framework in accordance with the object placement.
US09245271B1 Tag scoring for elements associated with a common tag
Tag scoring for elements associated with a common tag enables a user to conduct a tag search and view a listing of elements associated with the tag. The listing can be ordered by each element's tag score. To create such a tag score, users may associate an element with one or more tags that characterize the element. A tag score may then be assigned to this element for each assigned tag and may be based on a multitude of factors. These factors may include a number of times that the element has been tagged with the assigned tag and users' votes on the accuracy of the assigned tag to the element. Tag-scoring factors may include, among others, an age of a tag associated with the element, a click rate for the element, a customer review of the element, a sales rank for the element, or an availability of the element.
US09245270B2 Transaction security apparatus and method
An apparatus including an input device for inputting transaction information regarding a transaction on an account involving an individual, a camera for obtaining a photograph of the individual which photograph is stored as a digital photograph file, a processing device which processes information regarding the transaction and generates a message containing information regarding the transaction and the digital photograph file, and a transmitter which transmits the message to a communication device associated with an individual account holder. The message is transmitted to the communication device via, on, or over, a communication network and the message is transmitted to the communication device independently of any processing of the transaction by a central transaction authorization processing computer.
US09245266B2 Auditable privacy policies in a distributed hierarchical identity management system
A set of methods, and systems, for enabling the audit tracking of user agreement with policies, such as privacy policies in an authenticated fashion is disclosed herein. The method and system make use of third party signatures of privacy policies to show user approval of the policy as it pertains to released data.
US09245265B2 Medical device payment system
Methods of providing payment for use of a medical device on a per-treatment session basis are disclosed. The methods include downloading treatment credits to the device linked to a customer account and activating the medical device when the number of available treatment credits is greater the one. The number of treatment credits downloaded to the device is based on at least one of a credit limit provided to the customer account and a number of prepaid treatment credits purchased by the customer. In other embodiments, the medical device monitors the number of treatment sessions performed and activates the device only when a customer's account is current.
US09245255B2 Method and a system for monitoring an activity or lack of activity of a subject
A method and a system comprise monitoring one or more devices associated with a subject to generate one or more activity alerts for the subject. The activity alerts at least indicating the subject is active within their environment. The activity alerts are transmitted to a system unit for processing, in which the system applies a set of rules in determining a triggering event and notifies an interested party of activity of the subject and of inactivity of the subject.
US09245254B2 Enhanced voice conferencing with history, language translation and identification
Techniques for ability enhancement are described. Some embodiments provide an ability enhancement facilitator system (“AEFS”) configured to enhance voice conferencing among multiple speakers. Some embodiments of the AEFS enhance voice conferencing by recording, translating and presenting voice conference history information based on speaker-related information, wherein the translation is based on language identification using multiple speech recognizers and GPS information. The AEFS receives data that represents utterances of multiple speakers who are engaging in a voice conference with one another. The AEFS then determines speaker-related information, such as by identifying a current speaker, locating an information item (e.g., an email message, document) associated with the speaker, or the like. The AEFS records conference history information (e.g., a transcript) based on the determined speaker-related information. The AEFS then informs a user of the conference history information, such as by presenting a transcript of the voice conference and/or related information items on a display of a conferencing device associated with the user.
US09245253B2 Soft-sending chat messages
Techniques are disclosed for supplying users in an online environment with a safe and effective chat facility. The chat facility is “safe” in the sense that the ability of users to compose inappropriate messages is greatly restricted, while “effective” in the sense that users are still allowed a broad range of expressivity in composing and exchanging chat messages.
US09245252B2 Method and system for determining on-line influence in social media
A method and system for determining on-line influence in social media is disclosed. A recursive site influence modeling module computes a site influence from aggregated viral properties of content hosted by the site and further integrates, in the formulation of the site influence model, the influence of commentors, commenting on the hosted content, and the influence of individuals cited in the content. The influence of the commentors and individuals is calculated by aggregating viral properties of related content and as well by taking into account the influence of outlets owned by the commentors and the individuals.
US09245240B2 Subscription based content delivery for a digital signage network
A digital signage network employs a common data model and a subscription system to disseminate data gathered from a plurality of data sources to a number of displays. The network nodes interact with each other as content sources, content consumers, or both, with some systems acting as consumers to upstream sources and acting as sources to downstream consumers. The presentation of the data on a digital signage display allows for real-time binding of live data to provide a rich display effect.
US09245237B2 Creating documents from graphical objects in a virtual universe
Described herein are processes and devices that create and manage documents in a virtual universe. One of the devices described is a virtual document converter. The virtual document converter analyzes a set of one or more graphical objects of a virtual document in a virtual universe. The virtual document presents document content. The virtual document converter determines format information for generating a document file. The virtual document converter parses the document content of the virtual document. The virtual document converter generates the document file with the parsed document content and the determined format information.
US09245236B2 Factorization of concerns to build a SDP (service delivery platform)
A service layer is provided that is concerned with providing a service. Also, a network layer is provided that is concerned with communicating with devices. The concerns of each layer are separate. For example, the service layer performs the service without worrying about any network dependencies. Also, the network layer is concerned with communicating with devices without worrying about the services that are being performed. These layers, however, are configured to work together such that a result of the service layer is used by the network layer. For example, a service may be performed by the service layer and then the result of the service is communicated to a device using the network layer.
US09245234B2 Recognition dictionary generating device and pattern recognition device
A recognition dictionary generating device includes a unit that acquires plural reference vectors each containing an offset value indicating a degree of importance; a unit that selects a first reference vector belonging to the class same as an input vector and having the minimum distance from the input vector, and a second reference vector belonging to a class different from the input vector and having the minimum distance from the input vector; a unit that acquires a first distance value indicating a distance between the input vector and the first reference vector and a second distance value indicating a distance between the input vector and the second reference vector; a unit that corrects the first reference vector and the second reference vector using a coefficient changing in accordance with a relationship between the first distance value and the second distance value, the first distance value, and the second distance value; and a determining unit that determines a reference vector to be excluded from a recognition dictionary in accordance with the offset value of the corrected first reference vector and second reference vector.
US09245232B1 Machine generated service cache
A machine generated service cache that utilizes one or more machine learning classifiers is trained using service requests directed to a human-generated service and service responses generated by the human-generated service in response to the service requests. Once the machine generated service cache has been trained to a predetermined level of performance, the machine generated service cache can be utilized to process actual service requests directed to the human-generated service. The machine generated service cache might be utilized to process service requests for which it is not essential that the returned service response be identical to a response that would be generated by the human-generated service.
US09245229B2 Occupancy pattern detection, estimation and prediction
Systems and methods are described for predicting and/or detecting occupancy of an enclosure, such as a dwelling or other building, which can be used for a number of applications. An a priori stochastic model of occupancy patterns based on information of the enclosure and/or the expected occupants of the enclosure is used to pre-seed an occupancy prediction engine. Along with data from an occupancy sensor, the occupancy prediction engine predicts future occupancy of the enclosure. Various systems and methods for detecting occupancy of an enclosure, such as a dwelling, are also described.
US09245228B1 Statistical model for estimating unique users from unauthenticated cookies
This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods that facilitate employing a statistical model over a specified time frame divided into a plurality of time intervals for estimating a quantity of unique users from a set of unauthenticated unique identifiers, such as cookies, associated with accesses to one or more servers.
US09245225B2 Prediction of user response actions to received data
A system is provided for automatically predicting actions a user is likely to take in response to receiving data. The system may be configured to monitor and observe a user's interactions with incoming data and to identify patterns of actions the user may take in response to the incoming data. The system may enable a trainer component and a classifier component to determine the probability a user may take a particular action and to make predictions of likely user actions based on the observations of the user and the identified pattern of the user's actions. The system may also be configured to continuously observe the user's actions to fine-tune and adjust the identified patterns of user actions and to update the probabilities of likely user actions in order increase the accuracy of the predicted user action in response to incoming data.
US09245223B2 Unsupervised, supervised and reinforced learning via spiking computation
The present invention relates to unsupervised, supervised and reinforced learning via spiking computation. The neural network comprises a plurality of neural modules. Each neural module comprises multiple digital neurons such that each neuron in a neural module has a corresponding neuron in another neural module. An interconnection network comprising a plurality of edges interconnects the plurality of neural modules. Each edge interconnects a first neural module to a second neural module, and each edge comprises a weighted synaptic connection between every neuron in the first neural module and a corresponding neuron in the second neural module.
US09245219B2 Apparatus for displaying bar codes from light emitting display surfaces
Disclosed is a method of and apparatus for managing and redeeming bar-coded coupons that are displayed from a light emitting display surface of an information storage and display device, such as a cell-phone, a smart-phone, or a data communication device. The linear (1D) bar code symbols, associated with bar-coded store coupons, are displayed on the light emitting display surface using in a pulse code modulation (PCM) format, wherein a substantial portion of the pixels on the light emitting display surface are energized and de-energized to emit red-wavelengths of light energy, at a rate which temporally corresponds to the spatial frequency of the bars and spaces of the linear bar code symbol, so that a laser scanning bar code symbol reading device is capable of reading the PCM formatted bar code symbol displayed from the light emitting display surface.
US09245218B2 Image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus and storage medium
An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, includes a receiving unit configured to receive a packet from the server apparatus, a determining unit configured to determine whether a packet received by the receiving unit is a specific packet, a power supply control unit which, when the determining unit determines that a packet received by the receiving unit is the specific packet, brings the image forming apparatus into a first power condition which enables the image forming apparatus to start quickly using data stored in a volatile memory, and a start control unit configured to start the image forming apparatus quickly using data stored in the volatile memory.
US09245217B2 Optical writing device, image forming apparatus, and method for controlling optical writing device
An optical writing device forms an electrostatic latent image and includes a pixel-information acquiring unit that acquires pixel information and stores the acquired pixel information in a storage medium with respect to each main scanning line; a tilt correcting unit that generates a tilt correction signal specifying a main scanning line from which the pixel information to be input to a light source is read out from the storage medium in order to correct a tilt of the electrostatic latent image; a position correcting unit that generates a position correction signal specifying a timing to input the pixel information to the light source in order to correct a position of the electrostatic latent image; and a pixel-information-input control unit that controls input of the pixel information from the storage medium to the light source in response to the tilt correction signal and the position correction signal.
US09245216B2 Imposing apparatus, imposing method, and non-transitory storage medium
An imposing apparatus determines at least one pair of line components included in positioning marks based on the positional relationship between particular line components in a page region, and estimates marking positions for the positioning marks based on the shape of the pair of line components. The imposing apparatus acquires the marking positions as positional information of a page box in association with the page region.
US09245213B2 Apparatus, method and storage medium for storing program for printing an image according to an appropriate print setting
On the basis of information indicating a recommended print setting that corresponds to a content, a display device is controlled to display, in a distinguishable manner, the recommended print setting that corresponds to a content to be printed and a print setting different from the recommended print setting. Also, according to the print setting designated by the user, an image based on the content is printed by a printing device.
US09245206B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
The image processing apparatus detects a region of a subject from an input image, and extracts an image feature amount from the region. Also, the apparatus classifies the subject into any one of plural attributes based on the image feature amount, and estimates, based on the image feature amount and an attribute into which it is classified, an attribute value of the subject belonging to the attribute into which it is classified.
US09245203B2 Collecting information relating to identity parameters of a vehicle
The present invention discloses methods and systems for collecting information relating to identity parameters of a vehicle. According to the invention an image of the vehicle is obtained. A sub-image within the image is identified, interest points within the sub-image are detected and the sub-image is processed so as to obtain descriptors representing the interest points. The descriptors are matched to predetermined descriptors representing interest points in previously obtained images respective of known identity parameters and the information is stored in a record representing an identity of the vehicle.
US09245202B2 Tamper detection with microcaspule rupture
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for detecting a tampering event of a component. In a step, an exemplary embodiment encapsulates a fluorescent dye in one or more microcapsules. In another step, an exemplary embodiment embeds the one or more microcapsules in a translucent polymeric resin. In another step, an exemplary embodiment secures at least part of a component in the translucent polymeric resin. In another step, an exemplary embodiment detects a fluorescence of the fluorescent dye from a microcapsule in the translucent polymeric resin that is ruptured during a tampering with a light source that causes the fluorescent dye to fluoresce.
US09245198B2 Object recognition by comparison of patterns against map of image
An information processing apparatus comprises: a registration unit adapted to register information required to determine at least one specific pattern in an image; an input unit adapted to input image data; a first generation unit adapted to extract a predetermined feature distribution from the input image data, and to generate a first feature distribution map indicating the feature distribution; a second generation unit adapted to generate a second feature distribution map by applying a conversion required to relax localities of the first feature distribution map to the first feature distribution map; and a determination unit adapted to determine, using sampling data on the second feature distribution map and the registered information, which of the specific patterns the image data matches.
US09245191B2 System and method for scene text recognition
Apparatus and method for performing accurate text recognition of non-simplistic images (e.g., images with clutter backgrounds, lighting variations, font variations, non-standard perspectives, and the like) may employ a machine-learning approach to identify a discriminative feature set selected from among features computed for a plurality of irregularly positioned, sized, and/or shaped (e.g., randomly selected) image sub-regions.
US09245188B2 Lane detection system and method
Provided is a lane detection system and method. The lane detection method includes extracting feature points of a driving lane from an input road image, extracting candidate start points and candidate end points from candidate control points selected from among the feature points, selecting a left start point and a right start point of the driving lane from among the candidate start points based on information corresponding to a width of the driving lane, and selecting a left end point and a right end point of the driving lane from among the candidate end points based on a number of the candidate control points between each of the left start point and the candidate end points and the right start point and the candidate end points.
US09245185B2 Terminal for generating augmented reality and method thereof
A terminal for generating an augmented reality and a method thereof are provided. The terminal includes a camera property information providing server configured to store camera property information associated with one or more cameras, and the terminal is configured to receive, from the camera property information providing server, camera property information associated with a camera included in the terminal and generate an augmented reality based on the stored camera property information when an augmented reality-based application is driven and thus, may provide an augmented reality in which a virtual object is accurately matched to an image.
US09245184B2 Object detection apparatus and storage medium
Important information about an object is detected using less arithmetic processing. An object detection unit generates an edge image from a color image. The object detection unit evaluates symmetry of an image included in the edge image by performing processing in accordance with the position of a target pixel. The object detection unit identifies a symmetry center pixel forming an object having symmetry. The object detection unit detects an object width for each symmetry center pixel. The object detection unit identifies the width of the object in the vertical direction based on the width of the symmetry center pixels in the vertical direction, and identifies the width of the object in the horizontal direction based on the object width identified for each symmetry center pixel.
US09245182B2 Enhancing data in a screenshot
A computer-implemented method of enhancing data in a screenshot can include capturing a screenshot of content presented on a display and identifying within the content at least a first element comprising first semantic data. A first semantic representation of the first semantic data can be generated and the first semantic representation can be associated with the first element. The first semantic representation and the screenshot can be output.
US09245181B2 Method and system for resolution conversion of textual content or magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) content
A method and a system for resolution conversion of textual content or Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) content in an image are provided. The method includes receiving image data of the image, the image data having a plurality of image planes having essentially the same resolution, wherein at least one of the plurality of image planes includes textual image data configured to be rendered by a print engine with an output resolution different from the remaining image planes; processing the at least one of the plurality of image planes to identify one or more characters contained therein and to obtain character encoding data and positional information for the one or more identified characters; and processing the obtained character encoding data and the obtained positional information to generate an output data at the output resolution for the at least one of the plurality of image planes.
US09245175B1 Image capture and individual verification security system integrating user-worn display components and communication technologies
A system and method are provided for integrating user-worn display components and communication technologies into image capture and individual verification security systems. User-worn input/output (I/O) devices are employed to streamline the security screening procedures that continue to require human interaction for visual identification of participating individuals entering secure areas, particularly in large numbers. Individual access credentials and/or permissions are verified for individuals initially upon entry within the facility, and discernible physical feature recognition information, including facial recognition information, to be associated with the access verification for the individuals is collected. The user-worn I/O devices are used by security and screening personnel to observe discernible physical features of individuals presenting themselves at one or more internal security or limited access checkpoints and to initiate comparison analysis of the observed discernible physical features with stored discernible physical feature recognition information to expedite clearance and/or verification procedures.
US09245166B2 Operating method based on fingerprint and gesture recognition and electronic device
An operating method of an electronic device having a fingerprint sensor unit is provided. In the operating method, a touch action of an input device is sensed and a touch signal is generated by the fingerprint sensor unit. A fingerprint analysis and an action analysis are performed according to the touch signal to determine a finger category of the input device and an action information of the touch action. An operation corresponding to the finger category and the action information is executed.
US09245163B2 Optical velocity tracking for paint spray gun
A method of tracking and reporting the velocity of a hand-held paint spray gun. The object to be painted is placed in a room having one or more fiducial walls. A camera is installed on the spray gun, with its field of view toward the one or more fiducial walls. As the object is painted, the camera detects fiducials, calculates their current position, and compares current positions to previous locations to determine movement and velocity. The current velocity is compared to a stored target velocity, and audible or visible feedback is provided to the spray gun operator.
US09245160B2 Method for setting up a beacon network inside a retail environment
A system having multiple short-range transmission devices, each of which is assigned a unique identity and is positioned at a respectively different location within a three dimensional space. The assignment of the identity is according to signals broadcast by short-range device(s) as sensed unambiguously by a listening device or devices proximate to the short-range transmission device(s) and further associating the identity with a reference point.
US09245157B1 Identification verification system
A method and apparatus is provided for verifying the validity of ID cards. A card reading device reads an ID card and transmits a request to a database server. A database is queried and a reply is sent back to the card reading device indicating whether the ID is valid. If desired, the reply can include additional information, such as a description of the ID holder. The ID verification system can be used to help verify whether an ID belongs to the ID holder. The system can also log and timestamp events for future access.
US09245155B1 Virtual self-destruction of stored information
A method and apparatus are utilized to conveniently and swiftly render stored information inaccessible. Sensitive information is stored in an encrypted form and by eliminating the key or keys which are needed for decryption, the stored information becomes virtually destroyed. A variety of mechanisms and policies can be used to manage, set and eliminate decryption keys. In some cases decryption keys can be stored in volatile storage elements so that by merely interrupting power to the storage element, the decryption keys are eliminated. In this way, a manually controlled mechanism can be used to allow a user to accomplish a “self-destruct” of the stored information instantly without the need for the operation of any processor and without the need to change any stored information.
US09245154B2 System and method for securing input signals when using touch-screens and other input interfaces
A system and method for securing input signals when using input interfaces such as touch-screens and other input interfaces that are suitable for handheld, mobile, computing and other devices, by generating fake signals. In accordance with an embodiment, the technique can be used to protect input signals from, e.g. a touch-screen keyboard, and make it more difficult for malicious software applications to intercept and understand such input signals. The technique can also be implemented without requiring significant changes to the underlying operating system (OS) or graphical user interface (GUI). In accordance with an embodiment, a security enhancer or security enhancing application injects fake signals into the OS/GUI input signals queue. The security enhancer or security enhancing application is also associated with a communication channel that allows it to establish a cryptographic signature or key with authorized or sensitive application receivers that are authorized to receive the input signals. The fake signals can later be removed from the input signal stream only by the authorized receivers of the input signals. Unauthorized application listeners may be able to intercept a signal, but are unable to determine the original input.
US09245153B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device in related art has a problem that security on confidential information stored is insufficient. A semiconductor device of the present invention has a unique code which is unique to a device and generates unique code corresponding information from the unique code. The semiconductor device has a memory region in which specific information obtained by encrypting confidential information is stored in a region associated with the unique code corresponding information. The specific information read from the memory region is encrypted with the unique code corresponding information to generate the confidential information.
US09245150B2 Semantically determining a security classification of data
Disclosed herein is a method for determining a security classification for data that includes generating a classification signature for data based on a semantic interpretation of the data. The classification signature is associated with a security classification for the data. The method also includes comparing the generated classification signature to a predetermined classification signature associated with the security classification. Further, the method includes verifying the generated classification signature matches the predetermined classification signature.
US09245141B2 Secure vault service for software components within an execution environment
Embodiments of apparatuses, articles, methods, and systems for secure vault service for software components within an execution environment are generally described herein. An embodiment includes the ability for a Virtual Machine Monitor, Operating System Monitor, or other underlying platform capability to restrict memory regions for access only by specifically authenticated, authorized and verified software components, even when part of an otherwise compromised operating system environment. The underlying platform to lock and unlock secrets on behalf of the authenticated/authorized/verified software component provided in protected memory regions only accessible to the authenticated/authorized/verified software component. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09245136B2 Domain name hijack protection
A domain name registering entity (such as a domain registry, registrar, or reseller) or an independent proxy registration service may offer a domain name hijack protection to their actual or potential customers. When a domain name transfer request or notice is received, the domain name registering entity or the proxy registration service may ignore or decline it. Customers may be given an ability to turn the domain name hijack protection service on and off, as well as an ability to adjust a variety of settings associated with the service.
US09245130B2 Multi-user universal serial bus (USB) key with customizable file sharing permissions
A method, data storage device and computer program product for having multiple users share a single data storage device securely. A data storage device, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) key, is plugged into a computing device. A USB controller of the USB key recognizes the computing device and creates an account for the user. The created account is associated with the user as well as associated with the computing device. Data uploaded to the USB key by the user is then associated with the created account. Only that user will be able to view that data on his/her computing device (computing device associated with the created account) unless the user indicates to share that data with other users. Such a process may be repeated each time the USB key is plugged into a different computing device thereby creating multiple accounts associated with multiple computing devices and users.
US09245129B2 System and method for protecting data by returning a protect signal with the data
A system and method are provided for protecting data. In operation, a request to read data from memory is received. Additionally, it is determined whether the data is stored in a predetermined portion of the memory. If it is determined that the data is stored in the predetermined portion of the memory, the data and a protect signal are returned for use in protecting the data. In certain embodiments of the invention, data stored in the predetermined portion of the memory may be further processed and written hack to the predetermined portion of the memory. In other embodiments of the invention, such processing may involve unprotected data stored outside the predetermined portion of the memory.
US09245126B2 Protection of user data in hosted application environments
A method of converting an original application into a cloud-hosted application includes splitting the original application into a plurality of application components along security relevant boundaries, mapping the application components to hosting infrastructure boundaries, and using a mechanism to enforce a privacy policy of a user. The mapping may include assigning each application component to a distinct virtual machine, which acts as a container for its assigned component.
US09245124B2 Application selection using current detection intelligence
Selecting one or more applications from the plurality of similar or near redundant applications to activate. A method includes retrieving information about current characteristics of one or more applications. The method further includes retrieving information about a current computing operational landscape. Based on the information about current characteristics of one or more applications and the information about a current computing operational landscape, the method further includes creating a ranking of applications. The rankings are made available to a system with a plurality of applications with similar or near redundant functionality. At the system, one or more of the applications in the plurality of applications are selected to activate based on the ranking of applications.
US09245123B1 Systems and methods for identifying malicious files
The disclosed computer-implemented method for identifying malicious files may include (1) identifying different instances of a file that is subject to a security evaluation, (2) identifying, within a field for each of the different instances, an attribute of the different instance that associates the different instance with a respective application, (3) determining that the respective applications to which the different instances of the file are associated are distinct applications and are known to be safe, (4) adjusting a security policy for the file, by increasing an estimation that the file is malicious, based on the determination that the respective applications are distinct applications and are known to be safe, and (5) classifying, in a software security system, the file as malicious based on the adjusted security policy that increased the estimation that the file is malicious. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09245122B1 Anti-malware support for firmware
Technologies are described herein for anti-malware support within firmware. Through the utilization of the technologies and concepts presented herein, malicious software protection may be extended down to the firmware level. Detecting malicious firmware or software, removing it from firmware, and actively preventing it from exploiting known security vulnerabilities may be supported. Application level anti-malware software may interface with, and be supported by, one or more firmware level anti-malware modules. Firmware level anti-malware modules can actively prevent malicious software from affecting the system firmware. For example, the anti-malware modules may monitor or block access to the firmware. Anti-malware modules may be available at both boot-time and run-time. Thus, a wider range of malicious software attacks or infiltrations may be mitigated.
US09245120B2 Method and apparatus for retroactively detecting malicious or otherwise undesirable software as well as clean software through intelligent rescanning
The present invention relates to the security of general purpose computing devices, such as laptop or desktop PCs, and more specifically to the detection of malicious software (malware) on a general purpose computing device. A challenge in detecting malicious software is that files are typically scanned for the presence of malicious intent only once (and subsequent rescanning is typically performed in a simplistic manner). Existing methods in the art do not address how to most effectively rescan collections of files in a way that tries to optimize performance and efficacy. Accordingly we present novel methods, components, and systems for intelligently rescanning file collections and thereby enabling retroactive detection of malicious software and also retroactive identification of clean software. These methods may also be useful if additional information is now available regarding a file that might be useful to an end-user or an administrator, even though the file's core disposition might not have changed. More specifically, we describe methods, components, and systems that perform data analytics to intelligently rescan file collections for the purpose of retroactively identifying malware and retroactively identifying clean files. The disclosed invention provides a significant improvement with regard to efficacy and performance compared to previous approaches.
US09245119B2 Security status assessment using mobile device security information database
Systems and methods disclosed herein provide a security component on a server that may be in communication with a database containing mobile device security information. The server security component may receive event information regarding a mobile device from a local security component on the mobile device. The event information may be processed by the server to assess the security state of the mobile device by comparing the event information to the mobile device security information. Based on the processing, an assessment of the security state of the mobile device may be output by the server for display.
US09245118B2 Methods for identifying key logging activities with a portable device and devices thereof
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus that establishes a connection with a host computing device. One or more processes running on the host computing device are identified. One or more hooking operations performed in the one or more identified processes are identified. One or more suspected key logging actions are identified from the one or more identified hooking operations based on one or more of a first set of rules and output.
US09245117B2 Method and system for comparing different versions of a cloud based application in a production environment using segregated backend systems
An application is implemented in the production environment in which the application will be used. Two or more backend systems are used to implement different versions of the application using the production environment in which the application will actually be used and accessed. Actual user data is received. A first portion of the actual user data is routed and processed in the production environment using a first version of the application and a first backend system of the two or more backend systems. A second portion of the actual user data is also routed and processed in the production environment but using a second version of the application and a second backend system of the two or more backend systems. The results data is then analyzed to evaluate the various versions of the application in the production environment.
US09245116B2 Systems and methods for remote monitoring, security, diagnostics, and prognostics
A system includes a physical analysis module, a cyber analysis module, and a determination module. The physical analysis module is configured to obtain physical diagnostic information, and to determine physical analysis information using the physical diagnostic information. The cyber analysis module is configured to obtain cyber security data of the functional system, and to determine cyber analysis information using the cyber security data. The determination module is configured to obtain the physical analysis information and the cyber analysis information, and to determine a state of the functional system using the physical analysis information and the cyber analysis information. The state determined corresponds to at least one of physical condition or cyber security threat. The determination module is also configured to identify if the state corresponds to one or more of a non-malicious condition or a malicious condition.
US09245113B2 Out of band vital product data collection
A vital product data (VPD) system is connected to a network, allowing the VPD system to be accessed for inquiries about VPD. The VPD system includes a baseboard management controller (BMC), a VPD cache, a platform initialization system and a tamper detection switch. The BMC communicates with the tamper detection switch and sets a VPD flag to false when tampering is detected. Queries to the BMC through the network for VPD are then held pending and the VPD cache refreshed with a no-boot power on, using the platform initialization system to collect the new VPD capturing the nature of any modifications after tampering.
US09245111B2 Owner command execution in a multi-tenant cloud hosting environment
A owner command to an application hosted by a platform as a service (PaaS) system can be performed, in one embodiment, by receiving the command from the authenticated owner at a first resource pool containing a first application component of the application, wherein the first node hosts a plurality of resource pools each containing application components belonging to different application owners. A second resource pool associated with the application is then identified, the second resource pool being hosted on a second node and containing a second application component of the application. The, a command implementation sequence defining the implementation of the received command over multiple application components is executed by performing a first action on the first application component on the first node and performing a second action on the second application component on the second node.
US09245108B1 Dynamic adjustment of the file format to identify untrusted files
Approaches for an operating system to ascertain whether files stored its file system have been deemed trustworthy. When an operating system receives a request to perform an operation involving a file that is stored within the file system maintained by the operating system, the operating system requests the file from a driver. In turn, the driver consults a set of trust data to identify whether the file has been previously deemed trustworthy. Upon the driver determining that the file has been deemed trustworthy, the driver provides the file to the operating system in a first format. On the other hand, upon the driver determining that the file has not been deemed trustworthy, the driver provides the file to the operating system in a second format that is different than the first format. Advantageously, the file is stored in a single format in the file system.
US09245106B2 Providing a multi-phase lockstep integrity reporting mechanism
In one embodiment, a processor can enforce a blacklist and validate, according to a multi-phase lockstep integrity protocol, a device coupled to the processor. Such enforcement may prevent the device from accessing one or more resources of a system prior to the validation. The blacklist may include a list of devices that have not been validated according to the multi-phase lockstep integrity protocol. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09245104B2 Method and apparatus for providing security with a multi-function physical dial of a communication device
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate controlled access to a communication device in accordance with predefined security levels in an independent manner that does not require a network connection. In the context of a method, a combination lock code is associated with a predefined security level for the communication device. The method also includes receiving input indicative of rotation of a multi-function physical dial carried by the communication device. The method also determines whether the input corresponds to the combination lock code and, in an instance in which the input does correspond to the combination lock code, permits access to the communication device in a manner consistent with the predefined security level.
US09245103B2 Personal authentication and access
A user of a system defines a limited use access token for an external user for that external user to access defined resources of the system based on the user's account with the system. An access control system validates the access token when the external user attempts to access the defined resources and grants the external principal access to the defined resources.
US09245102B2 Combining navigation and fingerprint sensing
A method, device and machine readable medium are provided. The method comprises: activating a fingerprint sensor while performing a function other than authentication; and performing a security action when fingerprint data matching stored fingerprint data is not captured by the fingerprint sensor after a threshold duration from activation.
US09245101B2 Electronic device and unlocking method thereof
An electronic device includes a touch screen. When the electronic device wakes up and works in a locked state, a notification interface including a predetermined unlocking area is displayed on the touch screen. A user pattern formed by at least two fingers of a user located within the predetermined unlocking area is detected. The electronic device is unlocked if the user pattern matches a predetermined unlocking pattern.
US09245099B2 Unlocking a screen of a portable device
The present invention relates to a method for unlocking a screen of a portable device, comprising the steps: detecting movement of the portable device using at least one sensor unit of the portable device; determining a position of the portable device based on data provided by the sensor unit; comparing the determined position with at least one predetermined position to determine whether the determined position relatively matches the predetermined position; and executing an unlock of the screen of said portable device if the determined position relatively matches the predetermined position. Further the present invention relates to a portable device, preferably for the use in a communication network, in particular a mobile network according to a GSM, GPRS and/or UMTS radio network standard, characterized in that said portable device is designed and/or adapted to at least partially carry out a method according to present invention.
US09245096B2 Software license management in a networked computing environment
An approach for managing licenses for software installations on virtual machine (VM) instances in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment) is provided. Specifically, in one example, data (e.g., real-time and/or historical) pertaining to usage of a set of software installations on a set of (VM) instances in the networked computing environment is collected. When a request is received (e.g., from a requester) for a license for a particular software installation of the set of software installations, it is determined whether the license is available. If not, it is then determined whether the license is obtainable based on the collected data and a current configuration of the networked computing environment. Then, responsive to the license being obtainable, the requested license may be allocated.
US09245093B2 Pill dispensing system and apparatus
An automatic pill dispensing system and apparatus are disclosed that include a plurality of pill storage cartridges, a control system configured to dispense pills at predetermined times and intervals. The dispensed medications, dosage times, patient compliance information, other prescription information are programmed or available to a caregiver, physician, other medical personnel or pharmacist either directly or remotely by a caregiver through an interface that is not accessible to the patient. The apparatus signals the patient at appropriate times and pills are dispensed when the patient depresses a single dispense button to discharge the prescribed medications into a tray.
US09245091B2 Physically-constrained modeling of a heart in medical imaging
Physically-constrained modeling of a heart is provided. Patient-specific data may be used to estimate heart anatomy locations. A model is applied to the data for estimation. For increased accuracy of estimation, the biomechanics of the heart, such as the valve, may be used to constrain the estimation. By applying a dynamic system between estimated anatomy locations of different times, the locations may be deformed or refined. The modeled heart and/or valve may be used to estimate hemodynamics. The resulting velocities or other motion information may be used to emulate ultrasound Doppler imaging for comparing with acquired ultrasound Doppler data. The comparison may validate the modeling.
US09245089B1 Statistically based approach to broadband liner design and assessment
A broadband liner design optimization includes utilizing in-duct attenuation predictions with a statistical fan source model to obtain optimum impedance spectra over a number of flow conditions for one or more liner locations in a bypass duct. The predicted optimum impedance information is then used with acoustic liner modeling tools to design liners having impedance spectra that most closely match the predicted optimum values. Design selection is based on an acceptance criterion that provides the ability to apply increasing weighting to specific frequencies and/or operating conditions. One or more broadband design approaches are utilized to produce a broadband liner that targets a full range of frequencies and operating conditions.
US09245088B1 System and method for data mining safe operating area violations
A system and method for managing SOA assertion violations and related simulator output. Embodiments transform simulator output into descriptive data regarding SOA violations for relational database storage and processing. The database executes queries on the descriptive data according to user input specifying particular descriptive data and SOA assertion violations of interest, and outputs query results for further user action. Individual and accumulative SOA violations are more easily explored by users, through a search language that facilitates selection rule specification via pre-existing or user-defined filters. Filters may inherit rules and combine them with logical and comparative operators, enabling easy construction of complex selection expressions to provide more intuitive design guidance.
US09245086B2 Techniques for electromigration stress mitigation in interconnects of an integrated circuit design
A technique for electromigration stress mitigation in interconnects of an integrated circuit design includes generating a maximal spanning tree of a directed graph, which represents an interconnect network of an integrated circuit design. A first point on the spanning tree having a lowest stress and a second point on the spanning tree having a highest stress are located. A maximum first stress between the first and second points is determined. In response to determining the maximum first stress between the first and second points is greater than a critical stress, a stub is added to the spanning tree at a node between the first and second points. The maximum first stress between the first and second points is re-determined subsequent to adding the stub.
US09245083B2 Method, structures and method of designing reduced delamination integrated circuits
An integrated circuit wire structure. The structure includes a set of interconnect levels over a semiconductor substrate, each interconnect level of the set of interconnect levels comprising operational wires embedded in an interlevel dielectric layer; a dielectric barrier layer on an uppermost interconnect level of the set of interconnect levels and a bonding pad on the passivation layer; a stress reduction zone surrounding a perimeter of the bonding pad and extending into the set of interconnect levels; elongated fill wires in each of the interconnect levels in the stress reduction zone, the elongated fill wires not connected to any of the non-ground operational wires; and the elongated fill wires of each interconnect level of each set of interconnect levels physically connected to elongated fill wires of immediately upper and lower interconnect levels of the set of fill levels.
US09245080B2 Semiconductor device and method for making the same using semiconductor fin density design rules
A method for designing a semiconductor ic chip includes dividing the chip into functional blocks such as a core portion and one or more other functional cells and applying design rules concerning the spatial arrangement of semiconductor fins to the core portion but not to the other functional cells. The design guidelines include the application of design rules to some but not all functional blocks of the chip, may be stored on a computer-readable medium and the design of the semiconductor ic chip and the generation of a photomask set for manufacturing the semiconductor ic chip may be carried out using a CAD or other automated design system. The semiconductor ic chip formed in accordance with this method includes semiconductor fins that are formed in both the core portion and the other functional cells but are only required to be tightly packed in the core portion.
US09245075B2 Concurrent optimization of timing, area, and leakage power
Systems and techniques are described for performing circuit synthesis. Some embodiments create a lookup table based on information contained in a cell library. The lookup table is then used during circuit synthesis. Specifically, some embodiments optimize cells in a reverse-levelized cell ordering. For a given cell, a table lookup is performed to obtain a set of optimal cell configurations, and the cell is replaced with a cell configuration selected from the set of optimal cell configurations. Some embodiments concurrently optimize cells for timing, area, and power leakage based on the timing criticality of the cells.
US09245073B2 Pattern density-dependent mismatch modeling flow
In some embodiments, in a method, a layout of a circuit is received. A netlist with indicated pattern density (PD)-dependent mismatch elements associated with different PDs, respectively, is generated using the layout. A simulation on the netlist is performed such that when the PD-dependent mismatch elements are modeled in the simulation, corresponding model parameters of the PD-dependent mismatch elements are generated using variation distributions with different spreads.
US09245071B2 Database based timing variation analysis
A method for timing analysis of a circuit design includes, for each group of one or more instances of a cell of a cell library in the circuit design, determining timing related data for the group according to circuit context of the group in the design. The context includes at least one of a path depth, an output load, and an input slew rate. The determined timing related data are applied to analyze the circuit design.
US09245055B2 Visualization-based user interface system for exploratory search and media discovery
A user interface system for exploratory search and media discovery includes a display unit with a specific geometrical grid for the visualization of multidimensional interrelations among media items and includes a processing unit programmed to distribute and map media items to the grid coordinates. A method includes user interaction with the user interface system for exploratory browsing, with the users interacting with the visualization grid based on an extension of the focus-plus-context principle for a fluent browsing process. A further method includes generating the specific grid on the display unit.
US09245051B2 Method and apparatus for conducting a search based on available data modes
An approach is provided for conducting a search based on an extraction of a search term from available sensor data. The approach involves determining sensor data associated with at least one device, the sensor data determined from among a plurality of available data modes. The approach also involved processing and/or facilitating a processing of the sensor data to cause, at least in part, an extraction of one or more search terms for at least one query. The approach further involves determining one or more results of the at least one query based, at least in part, on context information associated with the at least one device, user profile information associated with the at least one device, or a combination thereof.
US09245047B2 Methods and systems for facilitating a remote desktop session utilizing a remote desktop client common interface
Examples of methods, systems, apparatus, and machine-readable storage media are provided to facilitate access and control of a remote desktop of a remote machine by a web browser at a client device through a transcoding server without installing proprietary plug-ins or protocols on the client device. A transcoding server may translate user input requests from a web browser into input calls compatible with a remote desktop display protocol. The transcoding server may receive remote desktop drawing commands from the remote machine and translate the remote desktop drawing commands into web browser drawing updates compatible with the web browser. A transcoding server may communicate with a web browser via HTTP and communicate with a remote machine via a remote desktop display protocol. A web browser may be an HTML5 browser. A transcoding server may send drawing coordinates to the web browser via an HTTP header and may use long polling.
US09245045B2 Aggregating missing bibliographic information in a collaborative environment
Techniques are provided which aggregate user selected content using a browser extension. A user may select content displayed in a web browser. The selected content may be captured, and the corresponding bibliographic information may be extracted by the browser extension. The user may input notes relating to the selected content. The selected content, bibliographic information and notes may be transmitted by the browser extension to one or more servers for storage, and may be associated with a user project entry. A subset of the bibliographic information may be presented to the user in accordance with a user selected bibliographic format.
US09245041B2 Creation and use of digital maps
Techniques described herein allow a user to automatically associate an object with a location of the user and/or the object. This object and associated location may then be transferred to an entity for publishing the object and location on a map. For example, a user may capture a digital picture or video on a device and, in response, may automatically transmit the picture or video and corresponding location data for publishing to a map that is associated with the user. The described techniques also allow a user to create a journal that is associated with an annotated map. For instance, the user may create a journal having one or more portions that are associated with one or more portions of an annotated map. As a user consumes (e.g., reads, views, listens, etc.) the created journal, the view of the map or the displayed annotations may correspondingly change. Finally, the described techniques allow for creation of multiple overlays on a digital map. That is, these tools may allow each of multiple users to create an overlay, comprising one or more annotations, onto a digital map. These tools may then allow consuming users to choose whether to view all, some, or none of these user-created overlays.
US09245039B2 Event record tracking across multiple search sessions
A method, system, and processor-readable storage medium are directed towards generating a report derived from data, such as event data, stored on a plurality of distributed nodes. In one embodiment the analysis is generated using a “divide and conquer” algorithm, such that each distributed node analyzes locally stored event data while an aggregating node combines these analysis results to generate the report. In one embodiment, each distributed node also transmits a list of event data references associated with the analysis result to the aggregating node. The aggregating node may then generate a global ordered list of data references based on the list of event data references received from each distributed node. Subsequently, in response to a user selection of a range of global event data, the report may dynamically retrieve event data from one or more distributed nodes for display according to the global order.
US09245038B2 Structured search queries based on social-graph information
In particular embodiments, a method includes receiving an unstructured text query, identifying nodes and edges from a social graph that correspond to n-grams in the text query, and then generating structured queries that include references to the identified nodes and edges.
US09245036B2 Mechanism for facilitating customized policy-based notifications for computing systems
A mechanism is described for facilitating customized policy-based notifications at computing systems according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments of the invention includes managing, at a computing device, data including at least one of power-aware data and context-aware data, dynamically customizing, at the computing device, notification policies based on the managed data, and generating, at the computing device, policy-based notifications based on the customized notification policies, and transmitting the policy-based notifications to facilitate communication of the policy-based notifications. The policy-based notifications may include at least one of a power-aware notification and a context-aware notification.
US09245027B2 Systems, computer-readable media, and methods of operating a target computer system to answer a query
A query may be answered when a compound result URL including a target page identifier and the query is received at a target computer system. The target page identifier may be used to identify a target page on the target computer system. A call script may then be automatically executed and cause receipt of a plurality of suggestions based on the query by the target computer system. The suggestions may include a text of the suggestion and a suggestion URL. A placement script may then be automatically executed that, for example, places the text of each suggestion on the target page. The text of each suggestion may have an associated suggestion URL. Selection of the text of the suggestion may cause redirection of the user computer based on the suggestion URL.
US09245021B2 Method and system for tracking online promotional source to offline activity
A computer implemented method is provided for tracking user activity across different communication networks; the method comprises receiving by a receiving device accessible on a first network, such as the internet, a request from a requesting network device, for an address on a second network, such as a telephone network or an SMS network; receiving by the receiving device from the requesting network device a combination of one or more attributes indicative of a source, such as an ad campaign, web location or keyword, that can lead a user to send a request for information over the first network; selecting a pool of addresses an addresses that is accessible on the second network; producing an association in a database between the selected address and the received attribute; and sending the selected address to the requesting network device over the first network.
US09245020B2 Collaborative media sharing
A media party network service manages a set of media parties and a set of users of the media party service. Managing the media parties can involve instantiating new media parties according to input from the users, allowing the users to join the media parties, and tracking which users are participating in which media parties. Managing a given one of the media parties may include maintaining a queue of media items, allowing users in the media party to provide input to add media items to the queue and to provide input to skip media items in the queue. The media party service streams the given one of the media parties to client devices of the users currently in the given media party such that all of the client devices are currently displaying substantially a same part of a media item in the corresponding queue.
US09245019B2 Device context-based methods and systems for providing a personalized interaction experience with a media service
An exemplary method includes 1) detecting a first activity performed by a first user with respect to a media service while the first user is logged in to the media service with a particular user account and a second activity performed by a second user with respect to the media service while the second user is logged in to the media service with the particular user account, 2) determining that the first activity is performed within a first device context and that the second activity is performed within a second device context, 3) including, based on the determination, the first activity in a local activity set associated with the first device context, 4) excluding, based on the determination, the second activity from the local activity set, and 5) using the local activity set to provide a personalized interaction experience with the media service within the first device context.
US09245016B2 Information display apparatus and recording medium
An apparatus comprises a module which stores document information to which content that includes link character strings linked to other items on an item basis is caused to correspond, a first display control module which displays content on an arbitrary item stored as first content according to a user operation, a second display control module which lists the link character strings included in the displayed first content and displays them together with the first content, a selection module which selects, according to a user operation, a link character string displayed, and a third display control module which displays content on an item stored in such a manner that the item is linked to the selected link character string.
US09245010B1 Extracting and leveraging knowledge from unstructured data
A system may include a machine-implemented data extractor and correlator configured to retrieve data from at least one data source. The data extractor and correlator may extract information from unstructured data within the retrieved data and correlate the extracted information with previously stored structured data to generate additional structured data. The system may also include a storage device configured to store the previously stored structured data and the additional structured data.
US09245008B2 Detecting and executing data re-ingestion to improve accuracy in a NLP system
In some NLP systems, queries are compared to different data sources stored in a corpus to provide an answer to the query. However, the best data sources for answering the query may not currently be contained within the corpus or the data sources in the corpus may contain stale data that provides an inaccurate answer. When receiving a query, the NLP system may evaluate the query to identify a data source that is likely to contain an answer to the query. If the data source is not currently contained within the corpus, the NLP system may ingest the data source. If the data source is already within the corpus, however, the NLP may determine a time-sensitivity value associated with at least some portion of the query. This value may then be used to determine whether the data source should be re-ingested—e.g., the information contained in the corpus is stale.
US09245006B2 Data search using context information
In an embodiment, a method is provided for conducting a search. In this method, a message is received from a client application. A user that initiated the message is identified and context information associated with the user is retrieved. Thereafter, a business object associated with the context information is identified and a domain associated with the business object is identified. Here, the domain includes a number of terms, and one or more of these terms are selected to be included in a query. A search of a data source can then be conducted using this query.
US09245003B2 Method and system for memory efficient, update optimized, transactional full-text index view maintenance
Methods and systems are directed to an update-optimized and memory-efficient method for transactional full-text index view maintenance. Embodiments include a method and system of reducing the overhead requirements of maintaining a transactional index view in the case of a large number of updates at any particular time. The method involves maintaining a single blacklist bitmap across updated transactional query views, applying the latest set of updates to the bitmap when a new view is required, and post-adjusting the bitmap when the transactional view is created to ensure that entries that should be visible have not been removed.
US09245000B2 Methods for the cyclical pattern determination of time-series data using a clustering approach
Cycles and other patterns within time-series data are determined. Time-series data are transformed into discretized sets of clustered data that are organized by time period. Comparison is made of the organized data to determine similar time periods and multiclusters of the similar time periods are formed. From the multicluster data, cycles are identified from which thresholds and other useful data may be derived, or the data used for other useful purposes.
US09244992B2 Method, system, and computer program product for simulating an online session
A method and system for conducting an offline session simulating an online session between a client and server in a network environment. The client imports data and functional logic from the server prior to going offline. The imported functional logic is embedded into a format or document that is capable of being interpreted and performed by the local interface at the client that is used to interact with server during an online session. Whether offline or online, the user utilizes the same local interface at the client to transmit instructions to the functional logic in order to manipulate the data. In an offline session, such instructions cause the imported and embedded functional logic to execute, thereby manipulating the data that is imported at the client. Known synchronization methods may also be used in order to maintain consistency and coherency between the imported data at the client and the database at the server.
US09244990B2 Representation of data records in graphic tables
Various arrangements for creating a pivot table are presented. A set of stored records may be accessed. A plurality of stored records from the set of stored records may be selected to be represented in a plurality of cells of the pivot table. A graphical representation may be generated for display for each stored record of the plurality of stored records. Each graphical representation may be generated for display within a cell of the plurality of cells of the pivot table. Each graphical representation of the pivot table is actively linked with the corresponding stored record.
US09244987B2 ETL data transit method and system
A method and system for archiving data is provided. The method includes an extraction stage, a load stage, and a production merge stage. In the extraction stage, incoming files from a source system are extracted, where each incoming file has data records. Upon determining that the incoming files are of different data record types, the incoming files are split by record type. The files are also parsed. In a load stage, all files from a load ready directory are placed together in a single batch with a common RUNID for each data record type. In a production merge stage, all files made available from the load stage are processed. The processed files are loaded into a data warehouse. Each stage operates independently of any other stage. Each stage is also iterative and circular.
US09244986B2 Method and system for interactive geometric representations, configuration and control of data
In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining a data set from a data source. The data set is prepared for an analysis operation according to a problem type. A result is generated from an interactive geometric node based a geometric property of the data set. A specified condition is determined with the result from the interactive geometric node based on a query to the interactive geometric node. A system's geometric configuration is determined. A geometric control criterion is determined.
US09244984B2 Location based conversational understanding
Location-based conversational understanding may be provided. Upon receiving a query from a user, an environmental context associated with the query may be generated. The query may be interpreted according to the environmental context. The interpreted query may be executed and at least one result associated with the query may be provided to the user.
US09244980B1 Strategies for pushing out database blocks from cache
Data of a columnar database is organized into extents. Each extent occupies contiguous storage on the disk. An extent stores database blocks of a column of a database table. The database system adds new database blocks of a column to the extents assigned to that column. When a request for adding a block to a table is received, the extent for the table and column combination is obtained and the block added to the extent. Prefetching strategies are used to retrieve database blocks in advance of an actual request. The rate of prefetching is determined per column. The rate of prefetching is adjusted based on the number of faults encountered for the column. Database blocks no longer needed in memory are pushed out. When a scan process is reading blocks, as soon as the block has been processed it is scheduled to be pushed out.
US09244973B2 Method and system for indexing and searching timed media information based upon relevance intervals
A method and system for indexing, searching, and retrieving information from timed media files based upon relevance intervals. The method and system for indexing, searching, and retrieving this information is based upon relevance intervals so that a portion of a timed media file is returned, which is selected specifically to be relevant to the given information representations, thereby eliminating the need for a manual determination of the relevance and avoiding missing relevant portions. The timed media includes streaming audio, streaming video, timed HTML, animations such as vector-based graphics, slide shows, other timed media, and combinations thereof.
US09244972B1 Identifying navigational resources for informational queries
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for creating a mapping between topics and navigational resources are disclosed. The mapping is created based on hybrid queries having both characteristics of informational queries and navigational queries. The mapping between topics and resources can be used in scoring search results for ranking, for example. Other mappings created based on other types of hybrid queries and their applications are also disclosed.
US09244970B2 Communication assistance device, communication assistance method, and computer readable recording medium
A communication assistance device (10) includes a communication level determination unit (11) so as to determine a level of a relationship between users who communicate with each other. The communication level determination unit (11) determines the level (communication level) of the relationship between the users based on similarity between the users obtained from preference information showing preferences of the users, and on user action records showing records of actions taken by a certain user toward a partner user with whom the certain user communicates out of the users.
US09244967B2 Incremental copy performance between data stores
Systems and methods are disclosed for copying a data object to a target storage pool using a hybrid of storage pools, in which at least one of the storage pools is particularly efficient at identifying data that should be used for copying the data object to the target storage pool, and at least one of the storage pools is particularly efficient at retrieving the data that should be sent to the target storage pool. The system comprises a performance storage pool for storing data and having relatively high performance for retrieving stored data; a deduplicating storage pool for storing deduplicated data and storing metadata about data objects in the system and which has relatively high performance for identifying and specifying differences in a data object over time; and a controller for causing the performance storage pool to retrieve differences and provide the data to the target storage pool.
US09244965B2 Method and system for sharing data between software systems
A method and system for sharing data between software systems is provided. A graph data structure is maintained in storage of a computing device. The graph data structure has data items and relationships therebetween that are semantically described. A request received from a first software system is stored. The request is for requested data that is semantically described, and an address declared by the first software system. The requested data is semantically resolved to at least one of the data items in the graph data structure. The address is called, and a value of one of the at least one data items is passed to the first software system when the value is updated.
US09244959B2 Comparing database performance without benchmark workloads
Database operation records are sequentially read from two or more log files. If the transaction identifier is new and the record is not an end-of-transaction record, an open transactions list entry is created. If the transaction identifier is new and the record is an end-of-transaction record, a transaction type list entry is created or updated. If the transaction identifier is not new and is not an end-of-transaction record, an open transactions list entry is updated. If the transaction identifier is not new and the record is an end-of-transaction record, a transaction type list entry is created or updated. When all log file records are read, analytical comparison between the information associated with two or more of the log files in data fields in the transaction type list entries is performed.
US09244958B1 Detecting and reconciling system resource metadata anomolies in a distributed storage system
A system that implements detection and reconciliation of system resource metadata for a distributed storage system is described. A node may obtain resource metadata specific to the node from another node that maintains system resource metadata for a distributed storage system. Based on the resource metadata specific to the node, a determination may be made that the node is not reconciled with the system resource metadata. A corrective operation may be performed to reconcile the node with the system resource metadata. A corrective operation may include terminating a resource, making unavailable a resource, modifying resource attributes, or sending a resource metadata update to system resource metadata for correction.
US09244955B1 Methods and apparatus for generating a database layout
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a database layout. A layout for a database is generated by receiving a user specification of a database vendor, purpose and environment for the database; receiving a user configuration of layout options for the database in a context of the given database vendor and purpose and for an indicated protection type; receiving a user selection of a storage profile for the database; and determining a correct size and product model for storing the database with the configured layout based on a quantitative profile factor assigned to the database vendor, purpose and environment and a quantitative layout factor assigned to the protection type. The quantitative profile factor can be based on a target layout complexity factor. The quantitative layout factor can be based on whether specified file types need to be stored on one or more tiers of a tiered storage system.
US09244949B2 Determining mappings for application integration based on user contributions
A method for determining mappings for application integration. The method includes identifying a plurality of integration templates that each contains a mapping of a first data field to another data field, wherein at least two of the plurality of integration templates map the first data field to different other data fields. The method includes receiving a ranking of each of the plurality of integration templates. The method includes determining a preferred mapping of the first data field to a second data field, based, at least in part, on the received ranking.
US09244946B2 Data mining shape based data
Embodiments of the disclosure include a method for data mining shape based data, the method includes receiving shape data for each of a plurality of data entries and creating a first abstract from the shape data for each of the plurality of data entries. The method also includes organizing the first abstracts into a plurality of groups based on a criterion and creating a second abstract for each data entry in the plurality of groups based on the criterion and information derived from the first abstract.
US09244944B2 Method, electronic device, and computer program product
According to one embodiment, a method has storing, registering and displaying. The storing is storing a plurality of images having at least a first image in storage. The registering is registering first information related to the first image. The displaying is displaying, when the first image corresponds to a second image acquired by a camera, the first information or information related to the first information on a display.
US09244938B2 Method and mechanism for reducing client-side memory footprint of transmitted data
The present invention is directed to a method and mechanism for reducing the expense of data transmissions between a client and a server. According to an aspect of data prefetching is utilized to predictably retrieve information between the client and server. Another aspect pertains to data redundancy management for reducing the expense of transmitting and storing redundant data between the client and server. Another aspect relates to moved data structures for tracking and managing data at a client in conjunction with data redundancy management.
US09244937B2 Efficient calculation of similarity search values and digest block boundaries for data deduplication
For efficient calculation of both similarity search values and boundaries of digest blocks in data deduplication, input data is partitioned into chunks, and for each chunk a set of rolling hash values is calculated. A single linear scan of the rolling hash values is used to produce both similarity search values and boundaries of the digest blocks of the chunk.
US09244935B2 Data encoding and processing columnar data
Aspects of the invention are provided for accessing a plurality of data elements. A page of column data is stored in a format that includes compressed and/or non-compressed elements, with the format including a plurality of arrays and a vector. Each of the arrays stores elements with common characteristics, with the vector functioning as a mapping to the stored data elements. The vector is leveraged to identify an array and determine an offset to support access to one or more of the data elements.
US09244933B2 Disk image introspection for storage systems
A method for disk image access in a storage system comprises receiving an input/output (I/O) request to a disk image in a file system of a storage system, and in response to the I/O request to the disk image in the file system, reconstructing a file system request. Introspection is performed on the disk image to determine an original file system request based on the I/O request to the disk image. The method further includes laying out a disk image in the file system of the storage system, and performing type-specific introspection on the disk image. Based upon the results of the introspection, data ranges in the disk image are mapped to block or files within the file system. A mapping of disk image data ranges to block or files in the file system is maintained for responding to further I/O requests.
US09244932B1 Resolving reparse point conflicts when performing file operations
Various systems and methods for detecting and resolving a reparse point conflict are disclosed. One method involves receiving a request to perform a file operation, where the file operation includes generation of a reparse point associated with the file. In response to receipt of the request, the method includes detecting a reparse point conflict, where detection of the reparse point conflict indicates a conflict between the reparse point and an existing reparse point. In response to detection of the reparse point conflict, the reparse point conflict is resolved.
US09244931B2 Time-aware ranking adapted to a search engine application
Techniques provide time-aware ranking, such as ranking of information, files or URL (uniform resource locator) links. For example, time-aware modeling assists in determining user intent of a query to a search engine. In response to the query, results are ranked in a time-aware manner to better match the user intent. The ranking may model query, URL and query-URL pair behavior over time to create time-aware query, URL and query-URL pair models, respectively. Such models may predict behavior of a query-URL pair, such as frequency and timing of clicks to the URL of the pair when the query of the pair is posed to the search engine. Results of a query may be ranked by predicted query-URL behavior. Once ranked, the results may be sent to the user in response to the query.
US09244929B2 Automated indexing of electronic files and file folders
A method for indexing an electronic file is presented. In the method, a first value based upon a time value is generated. An index for the electronic file is generated, with the index including the first value and a second value. The electronic file is associated with the index. In another embodiment, an electronic system includes a memory configured to store an electronic file, and control logic located within an electronic device of the electronic system and coupled with the memory. The control logic is configured to generate a first value comprising a timestamp, and to produce an index associated with the electronic file, wherein the index comprises the first value and a second value.
US09244923B2 Hypervideo browsing using links generated based on user-specified content features
A method for generating content links between a first digital file and a second digital file by detecting a content feature of a first digital file segment of the first digital file during playback of the first digital file segment of the first digital file, searching an index of a plurality of content features for a plurality of segments including a second digital file segment of the second digital file, and dynamically generating a link between the first digital file one segment of the first digital file and the second digital file segment of the second digital file when a content feature of the first digital file segment of the first digital file is related to the content feature of the at least one segment of the second digital file.
US09244922B2 Data management system
In a general aspect, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, via an input interface of a notification platform, updated subscriber data; comparing, using a comparison module of the notification platform, the updated subscriber data with existing subscriber data stored in a subscriber database; and, based on the results of the comparing, modifying, using a modification module of the notification platform, the existing subscriber data stored in the subscriber database.
US09244917B1 Generating a layout
Techniques for generating layout may include: receiving data corresponding to images modules; determining that a set of the image modules will fit a layout; assigning image modules from the set to the layout; determining a number of possible permutations of the image modules given one or more constraints associated with images in the set of image modules; selecting a number of candidate templates to accommodate the layout, where the number of candidate templates is based on the number of permutations; filling candidate templates with image modules from the set; receiving an input selecting one of the candidate templates containing image modules from the set; and outputting data for the selected candidate template, the data for generating a display of the selected candidate template.
US09244916B2 Downloading media objects
Among other things, two or more files are processed that each represent, in a streaming format, a portion of a media item. A file download facility at a user device can download the two or more processed files as if they were a single file.
US09244906B2 Text entry at electronic communication device
Typed input is received at a text field from a keyboard, such as a virtual keyboard displayed at an electronic communication device. Text prediction using the typed input can be performed to obtain at least one text-predicted candidate word and an associated confidence value. Speech recognition can be performed on audio input received via a microphone to obtain at least one speech-recognized candidate word and an associated confidence value, which can be adjusted based on the recency of the audio input. A candidate word having a highest confidence value can be selected from the text-predicted and speech-recognized candidate words for display as a suggestion to the user for selection by the user. The suggested candidate word can be displayed on a fret of the virtual keyboard.
US09244905B2 Communication context based predictive-text suggestion
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of tools and techniques for determining predicted-text suggestions based on communication contexts. According to one exemplary technique, text that recurs in one or more past communications is determined. The one or more past communications being associated with at least one context attribute. Also, a text entry is stored in a text suggestion dictionary. The text entry comprising the text and metadata associating the text with the at least one context attribute. Additionally, using the text suggestion dictionary, at least one predicted-text suggestion that includes the text is determined for a current communication associated with a communication context.
US09244903B2 Efficient data pattern matching
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems for parsing unstructured data with a plurality of pattern matching rules are disclosed. An optimized pattern matching rule for one or more respective pattern matching rules is derived from an original pattern matching rule. The optimized pattern matching rule includes an extracted text string from the respective pattern matching rule or a less complex pattern match than the respective pattern matching rule. If the extracted text string or pattern is determined to match any of the data to be parsed, application of the original pattern matching rule is bypassed. The original pattern matching rule is applied when the one or more optimized pattern matching rules match the data.
US09244901B1 Automatic speech tagging system and method thereof
A method, a computer readable medium, and a system for tagging Natural language application. In the method, utterances are analyzed using one or more rules, and a tag is assigned to the analyzed utterances based on the one or more rules. The analysis of the utterances may include determining a frequency of the utterances, and grouping the utterances by their determined frequency and their assigned tag. The frequency may represent a number of occurrences in natural language where the utterances share semantic meanings, for example. Further, the one or more rules may be prioritized, and each of the utterances may be analyzed using the prioritized rules. In this manner, meaning may be assigned to utterances such that groups of utterances may be tagged simultaneously.
US09244896B2 Binding between a layout engine and a scripting engine
Various embodiments provide an interface between a Web browser's layout engine and a scripting engine. The interface enables objects from the layout engine to be recognized by a memory manager in the scripting engine and interact in a streamlined, efficient manner. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the interface allows browser layout engine objects to be created as objects that are native to the scripting engine. Alternately or additionally, in some embodiments, the native objects are further configured to proxy functionality between the layout engine and the scripting engine.
US09244895B2 Editing web pages
In particular embodiments, a method for editing a web page includes identifying a plurality of components that collectively form a programmatic representation of a first web page. At least one of the components has content that dynamically changes in response to data retrieved externally from the content. A second web page is generated. The second web page includes a plurality of parameters. Each parameter of the second web page corresponds to a respective one of the identified plurality of components. One or more modifications made to the plurality of parameters are interpreted. A programmatic representation of a third web page is generated, the generation based at least in part on the interpretation.
US09244893B2 Method, computer, and system for an operating system independent device driver
A method for driving a device that enables using a device without using a conventional device driver that is dependent on the operating system of the computer. The method has a binary data conversion step which receives a mark-up language document written in a mark-up language and converts the mark-up language document to binary data composed of commands and data that can be processed by the device. The method also includes a binary data output step in which the converted binary data is output to the device.
US09244890B2 Electronic device, highlighter display control method, and non-transitory storage medium storing program
An electronic illustrated dictionary device includes an illustration highlighter character string hiding unit configured to execute a process of, when an illustration associated with an expository content of an arbitrary headword is displayed on the display unit according to a user operation, displaying a character string highlighted with a highlighter by the illustration highlighter adding unit in invisible form, and a link destination highlighter character string hiding unit configured to execute a process of, when the in-illustration textual content display unit displays an expository content having a character string as a headword highlighted with a highlighter by the illustration highlighter adding unit on the display unit, displaying a character string highlighted with a highlighter by the link destination highlighter adding unit in invisible form.
US09244885B1 Pipelined phase accumulator
An apparatus relating generally to accumulation is disclosed. In this apparatus, a first subtraction-bypass stage is coupled to receive an input operand and a modulus operand to provide a first difference and the input operand. An accumulation stage is coupled to the first subtraction-bypass stage to receive the first difference and the input operand. The accumulation stage is coupled to receive an offset operand for providing an offset-accumulated result. A second subtraction-bypass stage is coupled to receive the offset operand and the modulus operand to provide a second difference and the offset operand. A consolidation stage is coupled to receive the offset operand, the second difference and the offset-accumulated result to provide a consolidated accumulated result. The first subtraction-bypass stage, the accumulation stage, the second subtraction-bypass stage, and the consolidation stage are for a redundant number system.
US09244884B2 Method of controlling an optical output device for displaying a vehicle surround view and vehicle surround view system
The present invention relates to controlling an optical output device for displaying a vehicle surround view containing a vehicle model, the method comprising determining display control information for at least one vehicle component, and controlling the optical output device to display the vehicle surround view such that the vehicle model is adapted to depict the at least one vehicle component according to the display control information.
US09244878B2 Handheld electronic device and display method for a handheld electronic device
A handheld electronic device and display method for a handheld electronic device provide for an initialization screen to be displayed by a display unit, in response to user input, to display symbols reflecting an intent of the user. The handheld electronic device includes a user input unit having a first key to which a symbol of a first type is allocated and a symbol of a second type is not allocated, and a second key to which a symbol of the first type and a symbol of the second type are both allocated; a display unit that, upon input via the user input unit, displays a symbol of the first type and/or a symbol of the second type; and a control unit that controls what the display unit displays.
US09244876B2 Method and apparatus pertaining to universal serial bus-based charging
A control circuit (comprising, for example, a part of a charging hub for a portable electronic communications device) that is not configured to support USB On-The-Go-compatible Host Negotiation Protocol is operably coupled to a USB-ID connector and is configured to transmit an identifier via that USB-ID connector to prompt a USB device in function mode to serve as a USB host. A locally-available power supply can then serve to provide power to that USB device notwithstanding the latter's role as the host.
US09244874B2 Selectively transparent bridge for peripheral component interconnect express bus systems
A selectively transparent bridge facilitates a PCI device presenting itself to the host as a PCI-to-PCI bridge but selectively hiding and isolating hardware from the host bus. PCI configuration may be achieved through the standard PCI Express configuration mechanisms, but instead of configuring devices directly, a configuration processor in the selectively transparent bridge may intercept the configuration packets from the host, and create a virtual configuration to alter how the bus topology appears to the host. Devices are selectively hidden and managed by the configuration processor, resulting in simplified complexity and bus depth. Since the selectively transparent bridge appears to the host as a transparent bridge, no special drivers or resource preallocations are required, although the selectively transparent bridge fully supports special drivers and/or resource preallocations. Devices located/connected downstream of the bridge may therefore function with unmodified drivers.
US09244873B2 Semiconductor device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor device includes a data storage suitable for storing a training data for a training operation, a data bus inversion (DBI) calculator suitable for calculating DBI information for the training data input from the data storage through global transmission lines, generating a DBI flag signal based on the DBI information and outputting a DBI data, which is the training data inverted according to the DBI flag signal, in response to a DBI signal, a first multiplexer suitable for selectively outputting the training data input from the data storage through the global transmission lines or the DBI data to a first channel in response to a training signal and the DBI signal and a second multiplexer suitable for selectively outputting the training data input from the data storage through the global transmission lines or the DBI flag signal to a second channel.
US09244861B2 Efficient caching system
Cluster data is generated based on a history of storage operations. The cluster data may include an address range and an access history. The access history may comprise a bit pattern that represents a history of storage operations associated with a cluster. A prefix or counter may identify the number of storage operations identified in the bit pattern. The bit pattern and/or address range may be updated to reflect new storage operations associated with the cluster. The bit pattern then may determine when to cache data in a cache memory.
US09244860B2 Memory stacks management
A method for managing a memory stack provides mapping a part of the memory stack to a span of fast memory and a part of the memory stack to a span of slow memory, wherein the fast memory provides access speed substantially higher than the access speed provided by the slow memory.
US09244858B1 System and method of separating read intensive addresses from non-read intensive addresses
A data storage device includes a memory including a first set of storage elements corresponding to a first set of physical addresses and a second set of storage elements corresponding to a second set of physical addresses, where the first set of storage elements is distinct from the second set of storage elements. The data storage device also includes a controller coupled to the memory. The controller is configured to map logical addresses to physical addresses of the memory. The controller is configured to assign read intensive logical addresses to the second set of physical addresses and to assign non-read intensive logical addresses to the first set of physical addresses.
US09244854B2 Transparent code patching including updating of address translation structures
Code to be modified is identified and modified by a dynamic code optimizer (DCO) or other optimizer executing in the same or different address space as the application being modified. The modified code is stored in memory regions separate from the memory regions of the unmodified or pre-existing code. This allows instruction fetches by the application to access the modified code, while data accesses by the application access the unmodified code. An optimizer may also access the code, but accesses by the optimizer are considered data accesses, and therefore, such accesses would be to the unmodified code, instead of the modified code. Thus, an address mapping capability is provided in which the optimizer may access the modified code by having multiple addresses point to the same physical memory location. One address is used by the application in an instruction fetch and the other address is used by the optimizer in a data access to access the modified code.
US09244853B2 Tunable multi-tiered STT-MRAM cache for multi-core processors
A multi-core processor is presented. The multi-core processor includes a first spin transfer torque magnetoresistive random-access memory (STT-MRAM) cache associated with a first core of the multi-core processor and tuned according to first attributes and a second STT-MRAM cache associated with a second core of the multi-core processor and tuned according to second attributes.
US09244852B2 Recovering from uncorrected memory errors
A method for recovering from uncorrected memory errors may include receiving, at an operating system, a correctable error (CE) associated with a first memory page. The correctable error is marked in a page table entry describing the first memory page. The first memory page is then migrated, by the operating system, to a second memory page based on the received correctable error.
US09244848B2 Host controlled hybrid storage device
A host based caching technique may be used to determine caching policies for a hybrid hard disk drive. Because the host based caching may make use of knowledge about what data is being cached, improved performance may be achieved in some cases.
US09244844B2 Enabling hardware transactional memory to work more efficiently with readers that can tolerate stale data
A technique for enabling hardware transactional memory (HTM) to work more efficiently with readers that can tolerate stale data. In an embodiment, a pre-transaction load request is received from one of the readers, the pre-transaction load request signifying that the reader can tolerate pre-transaction data. A determination is made whether the pre-transaction load request comprises data that has been designated for update by a concurrent HTM transaction. If so, a cache line containing the data is marked as pre-transaction data. The concurrent HTM transaction proceeds without aborting notwithstanding the pre-transaction load request.
US09244836B2 Flash memory organization for reduced failure rate
A memory system distributes across multiple pages of a flash memory bits of a DRAM data word, the data word having a number of bits equal to a width of a row of a DRAM memory, and the bits of the data word all from a same row of the DRAM memory.
US09244833B2 Data-storage device and flash memory control method
FLASH memory is allocated to provide a data-storage device and management tables. The management tables may record logical-to-physical address mapping information in a hierarchical structure consisting of at least two levels. Further, in addition to the logical-to-physical address mapping information, the management tables may further provide a valid page count table and an invalid block record. The logical-to-physical address mapping information is updated after an update of the valid page count table is completed. The invalid block record is maintained based on the valid page count table.
US09244826B2 Managing CPU resources for high availability micro-partitions
Profile properties in a partition profile are user-configurable through a management entity such as a management console. A partition manager calculates a secondary processing unit entitlement for a logical partition based in part on a secondary processing unit mode property in the partition profile. The secondary processing unit entitlement may be smaller than a primary processing unit entitlement for the logical partition. The partition manager reserves processing units from a secondary shared processor pool equal to the logical partition's secondary entitlement for the logical partition. The primary and secondary processing unit entitlements may be stored in primary and secondary configuration data structures associated with the logical partition. The partition manager may relocate the logical partition to the secondary shared processor pool in response to a predetermined condition.
US09244824B2 Memory sub-system and computing system including the same
A memory sub-system includes a main memory, a storage device, a control unit, and a common interface unit. The control unit is configured to control the main memory and the storage device. The common interface unit is operatively coupled to the control unit, and is configured to access the main memory and the storage device through the control unit in response to a request received from a host.
US09244822B2 Automatic object model generation
A target device, such as a storage controller, may host an interface that manages objects, such as storage objects (e.g., logical unit numbers (LUNs), volumes, etc.), maintained by the storage controller. Accordingly, an object on the storage controller may be modeled as an object model, such as an object oriented library, based upon modeling information mined from the storage controller. The object model may be automatically generated, such as by discovering the interface to the object using available information in a command line interface (CLI) and/or an XML file (e.g., an XML help file). In this way, the object model may use hosted/exported interfaces to manage the object.
US09244817B2 Remote debugging in a cloud computing environment
A method for performing remote debugging in a cloud system comprises the steps of: receiving a remote debugging request during a remote debugging session; determining, according to an isolation level of the remote debugging request, a server node from a plurality of server nodes in the cloud system for performing the remote debugging, wherein the isolation level of the remote debugging request comprises at least one of: an exclusive level and a sharing level; and in response to determining the server node, forwarding the remote debugging request to the server node.
US09244814B1 Enriched log viewer
A computer implemented method of debugging with enriched message log capability may include, for each instance during an execution of a program to be debugged in which a message is issued, automatically analyzing the program code included in a scope of the program relating to the message to identify one or a plurality of variables. The method may also include saving on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium a value at that instance of each of said one or a plurality of variables. The method may further include causing a message log that includes the message to be presented on a display device, associating the value of each said one or a plurality of variables with the message.
US09244809B1 Validating code of an extract, transform and load (ETL) tool
An approach for validating code for an extract, transform and load (ETL) tool is provided. Naming, coding, and performance standards for the code is received. The code is exported to a job definition file and parsed. Violations of the standards are determined by determining the parsed code does not match the standards. A report identifying the violations is generated. Based on a review of the report and a rework of the code to comply with the standards, the reworked code is exported to another job definition file and parsed, the parsed reworked code is determined to not include the violations of the standards, and a second report is generated that indicates that the reworked code does not include the violations. An approval of the reworked code is received based on the second report.
US09244808B2 Pattern oriented data collection and analysis
A process for determining a problematic condition while running software includes: loading a first pattern data set having a symptom code module, a problematic condition determination module, and a set of responsive action module(s), generating a runtime symptom code in response to a first problematic condition being caused by the running of the software on the computer, determining that the runtime symptom code matches a symptom code corresponding to the first pattern data set, determining that the first problematic condition caused the generation of the runtime symptom code, and taking a responsive action from a set of responsive action(s) that corresponds to the first problematic condition.
US09244806B2 Debug trace stream timestamping using downstream correlation
A method of correlating the timing of multiple interleaved trace data streams. A Time Stamp Trace stream logic monitors the event trace stream for a synchronization point. When a synchronization point is detected a time stamp value is inserted into the trace stream along with any relevant identification markers available in the detected synchronization point.
US09244805B2 Method for generating descriptive trace gaps
A method of managing a debug trace data stream by detecting conditions where the trace data generated exceeds the available transmission bandwidth, and inserting a trace data gap into the trace data stream. The gap may contain additional information relating to the amount and type of data that is being lost during the overflow condition. In an alternate embodiment the generated trace may be throttled to ensure the available bandwidth is not exceeded.
US09244800B2 Management system for managing computer system comprising multiple monitoring-target devices
A management system manages a computer system including multiple monitoring-target devices. A storage device of the management system stores a general rule, general plan information, unresolved information, and configuration information. A control device of the management system creates multiple expanded rules based on the general rule and the configuration information, and if an event related to any of the multiple monitoring-target devices has occurred, identifies, based on the multiple expanded rules, a first conclusion event constituting a candidate for the cause of the occurred event, creates, based on the general plan information, one or more expanded plans, which are recovery plans that can be implemented if the first conclusion event is a cause, identifies an unresolved event based on the unresolved information, identifies a risk site based on the identified unresolved event, and displays data showing the first conclusion event, expanded plan, and risk site.
US09244799B2 Bus interface optimization by selecting bit-lanes having best performance margins
A bus interface selects bit-lanes to allocate as spares by testing the performance margins of individual bit-lanes during initialization or calibration of the bus interface. The performance margins of the individual bit-lanes are evaluated as the operating frequency of the interface is increased until a number of remaining bit-lanes that meet specified performance margins is equal to the required width of the interface. The bit-lanes that do not meet the required performance margins are allocated as spares and the interface can be operated at the highest evaluated operating frequency. When an operating bit-lane fails, one of the spare bit-lanes is allocated as a replacement bit-lane and the interface operating frequency is reduced to a frequency at which the new set of operating bit-lanes meets the performance margins. The operating frequency of the interface can be dynamically increased and decreased during operation and the performance margins evaluated to optimize performance.
US09244797B2 Methods for managing performance states in an information handling system
An information handling system (IHS) is disclosed wherein the system includes a processor associated with at least one performance state (P-state), and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory is operable to store a virtualization software and a basic input/out system (BIOS). The BIOS is configured to report a parameter of the P-state to the virtualization software. In addition, the BIOS is configured to transition the processor into a desired P-state. A method for managing performance states in an information handling system (IHS) is further disclosed wherein the method includes providing a basic input/output system (BIOS) in communication with a processor, the processor associated with an at least one performance state (P-state) and reporting a parameter of the at least one P-state to a virtualization software via the BIOS. The method further includes transitioning the processor to a desired P-state via the BIOS.
US09244795B2 Method and apparatus for emulation and prototyping with variable cycle speed
A hardware verification system includes, in part, a multitude of programmable devices and a system clock. The hardware verification system receives a circuit design and generates a variable period clock from the system clock by analyzing propagation delays in different signal paths of the circuit design. The variable period clock has a first period that occurs in each N cycles of the system clock and a second period that occurs in each M cycles of the system clock, in which M>N. The variable period clock is applied to at least one of the programmable devices to verify the circuit design.
US09244794B2 Modular computing architecture enabling diagnostics
A device and method for providing computer operation diagnostics. The method includes coupling a mobile device (such as a mobile smartphone) to the computer via a diagnostic port. The smartphone has a diagnostic program (application) thereon that is initiated so as to be able to communicate with a diagnostic module within the computer to request and receive information from the computer.
US09244793B1 Using target database system statistics in emulation
A method, system, and computer program are disclosed. Statistics are read from a data dictionary on a target system. The statistics include statistics for a table in a database in the target system. The statistics are exported to a test system separate from the target system. A command is received to use the statistics in emulation. In response the statistics are copied to a cache in the test system and the target system is emulated on the test system using the statistics in the test system's cache.
US09244792B1 Disk-media-error detection and correction
A disk-error detection system may include a storage array having a plurality of storage disks configured to store data. The disk-error detection system may include a processor in communication with the storage disks. The processor may detect presence of a media error in a storage disk from the plurality of storage disks during a read operation of the data stored on the storage disk. The processor may perform a media-error detection scan of a predetermined portion of the storage disk in response to the detection of the media error. The location on the storage disk of the predetermined portion of the storage disk may be based on location of the media error on the storage disk. A method and computer-readable medium may also implement disk-error detection.
US09244789B2 Apparatus and method for specifying a failure part in a communication network
A monitoring device specifies a failure part in a first device group including a plurality of information processing devices and a relay device relaying access of the plurality of information processing devices. The monitoring device includes a determination unit and a test controller. The determination unit determines whether one or more destination addresses of information transmitted from the relay device to outside of the first device group, include an address of a storage device included in a second device group connected to the first device group through the relay device, where the storage device is a destination of access of at least one of the plurality of information processing devices. The test controller causes one of the plurality of information processing devices to execute a communication test with respect to the address of the storage device.
US09244786B2 Substitution of a target volume of a secondary storage controller for a source volume of a primary storage controller for executing a write operation
A secondary storage controller receives metadata that uniquely identifies a source volume of a primary storage controller. Data stored in the source volume of the primary storage controller is synchronously copied to a target volume of the secondary storage controller. The secondary storage controller receives a command from a primary host to write selected data to the source volume. In response to receiving the command at the secondary storage controller, the selected data is written to the target volume of the secondary storage controller.
US09244785B2 Simulated power failure and data hardening
The various implementations described herein include systems, methods and/or devices used to enable power sequencing and data hardening in a storage device. In one aspect, a method includes, in response to a first signal received by the storage device, performing a soft power fail operation on a first section of the storage device. The soft power fail operation including: (1) signaling a power fail condition to a first plurality of controllers on the storage device, where the first plurality of controllers correspond to the first section of the storage device, (2) transferring data held in volatile memory of the storage device to non-volatile memory of the storage device, and (3) removing power from the first plurality of controllers.
US09244784B2 Recovery of storage device in a redundant array of independent disk (raid) or raid-like array
A method for managing storage devices in a storage subsystem having an array of storage devices, according to one embodiment, includes determining that a storage device in an array of storage devices has failed. A first candidate storage device having storage device characteristics that match storage device characteristics of the failed storage device is identified. The first candidate storage device is exchanged with a second candidate storage device in response to determining that the second candidate storage device has storage device characteristics that are more similar to the storage device characteristics of the array of storage devices than the first candidate storage device.
US09244783B2 Automated circuit triplication method and system
In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The process can include defining a plurality of subsets from a representation of a circuit, and rank-ordering each subset from the plurality of subsets. The process can also include selecting at least one of the subsets for triplication based on the rank-ordering and a triplication condition.
US09244782B2 Salvaging hardware transactions
A transactional memory system salvages a partially executed hardware transaction. A processor of the transactional memory system saves state information in a first code region of a first hardware transaction, the state information useable to determine whether the first hardware transaction is to be salvaged or to be aborted. The processor detects an about to fail condition in the first code region of the first hardware transaction. The processor, based on the detecting, executes an about-to-fail handler, the about-to-fail handler using the saved state information to determine whether the first hardware transaction is to be salvaged or to be aborted. The processor executing the about-to-fail handler, based on the transaction being to be salvaged, uses the saved state information to determine what portion of the first hardware transaction to salvage.
US09244777B2 Balanced distributed backup scheduling
A method for scheduling a backup of digital data includes determining whether a backup has previously been performed within a predetermined period. It is then determined whether a connection to a backup server is available. It is then decided whether to initiate a backup of digital data within a present time slot based at least in part on a randomly generated value when it is determined that a backup has not previously been performed within the predetermined period and it is determined that a connection to the backup server is available. The digital data is backed up to the backup server when it is decided that the data backup is to be initiated.
US09244775B2 Reducing reading of database logs by persisting long-running transaction data
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system reduces re-reading of database logs by persisting long running transaction data. The system processes the database log records of the database transaction log; generates a snapshot of the database log records at periodic intervals, wherein each snapshot includes database log records for pending transactions; and in response to an interruption in processing of the database log records, utilizes a snapshot to restore database log records for the pending transactions and resume processing of the database transaction log from a position succeeding the database log records of the selected snapshot.
US09244770B2 Responding to a maintenance free storage container security threat
A method for responding to a security threat for a maintenance free storage container begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module identifying a security threat for the maintenance free storage container, wherein the maintenance free storage container allows for multiple storage servers of a plurality of storage servers to be in a failure mode without replacement. The method continues with the DS processing module determining a failure mode level that is indicative of whether one or more of the multiple storage servers are in the failure mode. The method continues with the DS processing module selecting a security threat countermeasure based on the security threat and the failure mode level. The method continues with the DS processing module implementing the security threat countermeasure.
US09244767B1 Data storage device with in-memory parity circuitry
A data storage device includes a memory die. The memory die includes parity circuitry and a memory having a three-dimensional (3D) memory configuration. The memory includes a first block, a second block, and a third block. A method includes generating parity information based on first data associated with a first word line of the first block and further based on second data associated with a second word line of the second block. The parity information is generated by the parity circuitry. The method further includes writing the parity information to a third word line of the third block.
US09244764B2 Error correcting code techniques for a memory having a three-dimensional memory configuration
A data storage device includes a memory having a three-dimensional (3D) memory configuration. A method includes encoding first data to be stored at a first physical page. The first physical page is disposed within the memory at a first distance from a substrate of the memory, and the first data is encoded using a first encoding technique. The method further includes encoding second data to be stored at a second physical page. The second physical page is disposed within the memory at a second distance from the substrate that is greater than the first distance. The second data is encoded using a second encoding technique that is different than the first encoding technique.
US09244761B2 Erasure coding across multiple zones and sub-zones
In various embodiments, methods and systems for erasure coding data across multiple storage zones are provided. This may be accomplished by dividing a data chunk into a plurality of sub-fragments. Each of the plurality of sub-fragments is associated with a zone. Zones comprise buildings, data centers, and geographic regions providing a storage service. A plurality of reconstruction parities is computed. Each of the plurality of reconstruction parities computed using at least one sub-fragment from the plurality of sub-fragments. The plurality of reconstruction parities comprises at least one cross-zone parity. The at least one cross-zone parity is assigned to a parity zone. The cross-zone parity provides cross-zone reconstruction of a portion of the data chunk.
US09244755B2 Scalable log analytics
Large amounts of unstructured log data generated by software and infrastructure components of a computing system are processed and analyzed in real time to identify anomalies and potential problems within the computing system. A log analytics module reduces both the volume and level of detail of log data by first classifying log messages into message types based on their content similarity. The log analytics module may then further reduce data by grouping bursts of log messages into log events. Patterns within these log events, such as the collection and number of different message types that comprise the event, can be used to identify anomalous events.
US09244753B2 Redundant bus fault detection
A system and method for an approach of detecting faults in a redundant bus system based upon four timers.
US09244748B2 Operating system user activity profiles
A user profile and one or more activity profiles selectively operable when the user profile is active are stored in one or more data structures accessible by an operating system of a data processing system. The one or more activity profiles each specify an application set for a respective user activity supported by the data processing system. In response to receiving a user input selecting an activity profile among the one or more activity profiles while the data processing system is executing under the user profile, the operating system automatically starts each application in the application set specified by the activity profile and customizes a user experience by applying, to one or more applications in the application set, context information recorded during previous execution under the activity profile. During execution under the activity profile, context information for the activity profile in the one or more data structures is recorded.
US09244745B2 Allocating tasks by sending task-available messages requesting assistance with an image processing task from a server with a heavy task load to all other servers connected to the computer network
A plurality of server computers connected to computer network processes tasks that are unequally distributed among the server computers. A server sends a task-available message over the computer network to the remaining server computers to request assistance. The received task-available message is processed by some of the servers while others of the servers do not process the message because they are too busy. The servers that process the message respond by requesting a task from the message sending server.
US09244744B2 Adaptive resource usage limits for workload management
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system assigns at least one workload a hard share quantity and at least one other workload a soft share quantity or a hard share quantity. The system allocates a resource to the workloads based on the hard share quantity and the soft share quantity of active workloads in a predefined interval. A hard share quantity indicates a maximum resource allocation and a soft share quantity enables allocation of additional available processor time. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for allocating a resource to workloads in substantially the same manner as described above.
US09244743B1 Remotely interacting with a virtualized machine instance
A system and method for remotely interacting with a virtualized machine instance (VMI) through a trigger mechanism resident at the VMI. When the VMI receives a request via the trigger mechanism, the VMI responds to the request, such as by obtaining a program and executing the program locally at the VMI.
US09244740B2 Information processing device, job scheduling method, and job scheduling program
An information processing device includes: a measurement unit 10 for measuring respective use rates of a plurality of coprocessors each for executing a job, respective use rates of a plurality of interface cards each for passing data input or output by each of the plurality of coprocessors, and respective latencies and respective throughputs in communication between the plurality of coprocessors and the plurality of interface cards; and a determination unit 20 for determining a coprocessor that is to execute the job from among the plurality of coprocessors, based on a result of the measurement by the measurement unit 10.
US09244736B2 Thinning operating systems
Thinning operating systems can include monitoring a number of functionalities of an operating system, the number of functionalities of the operating system being provided by a number of computing components loaded thereon. Thinning operating systems can include automatically identifying an undesired functionality of the number of functionalities during runtime and removing from the operating system at least one of the number of computing components providing the undesired functionality as a result of the automatic identification to thin the OS.
US09244735B2 Managing resource allocation or configuration parameters of a model building component to build analytic models to increase the utility of data analysis applications
Data analysis applications include model building components and stream processing components. To increase utility of the data analysis application, in one embodiment, the model building component of the data analysis application is managed. Management includes resource allocation and/or configuration adaptation of the model building component, as examples.
US09244734B2 Mechanism of supporting sub-communicator collectives with o(64) counters as opposed to one counter for each sub-communicator
A system and method for enhancing barrier collective synchronization on a computer system comprises a computer system including a data storage device. The computer system includes a program stored in the data storage device and steps of the program being executed by a processor. The system includes providing a plurality of communicators for storing state information for a barrier algorithm. Each communicator designates a master core in a multi-processor environment of the computer system. The system allocates or designates one counter for each of a plurality of threads. The system configures a table with a number of entries equal to the maximum number of threads. The system sets a table entry with an ID associated with a communicator when a process thread initiates a collective. The system determines an allocated or designated counter by searching entries in the table.
US09244733B2 Apparatus and method for scheduling kernel execution order
A method and apparatus for guaranteeing real-time operation of an application program that performs data processing and particular functions in a computer environment using a micro architecture are provided. The apparatus estimates execution times of kernels based on an effective progress index (EPI) of each of the kernels, and determines an execution order of the kernels based on the estimated execution times of the kernels and priority of the kernels.
US09244729B1 Dynamic distribution for distributed arrays and related rules
The present invention provides a method and system for the dynamic distribution of an array in a parallel computing environment. The present invention obtains a criterion for distributing an array and performs flexible portioning based on the obtained criterion. In some embodiment analysis may be performed based on the criterion. The flexible portioning is then performed based on the analysis.
US09244728B2 Terminal and switching method
Terminals and switching methods are provided. The terminal includes: a first component (11) connected to a second component (13) via a connection unit (12), the second component (13) being connected to the connection unit (12), and the first (11) and second (13) components being in a first relative position relationship when the connection unit (12) is in the first connection state, or in a second relative position relationship when the connection unit (12) is in the second connection state; a detection unit (14) configured to detect a relative position relationship between the first (11) and second (13) components, and generate a first detection result upon detection of the first relative position relationship, or a second detection result upon detection of the second relative position relationship; and a switching unit (15) connected to the detection unit (14) and configured to switch the terminal to a first operation state based on the first detection result, or to a second operation state based on the second detection result. The terminal includes a first operating system and a second operating system. The first operation state is an operation state in which the first operating system is primarily used, and the second operation state is an operation state in which the second operating system is primarily used.
US09244727B2 Method and apparatus for implementing task-process-table based hardware control
Disclosed is a method for implementing task-process-table based hardware control, which includes dividing a task that has to be implemented by a hardware circuit into multiple sub-processes, and determining the depth of the task process table according to the number of the sub-processes; according to the control information of the hardware unit corresponding to each sub-process and the number (SPAN) of clock cycles occupied by hardware processing for the sub-process, determining the bit width of the task process table and generating the task process table; starting the hardware unit corresponding to each sub-process in an order of the sub-processes, under the control of the control information in the task process table, and completing the processing of each sub-process. A device for implementing hardware control is also disclosed. The disclosure enables precise control of the hardware control flow and is of versatility. For the hardware implementation of a task with a complex algorithm flow, the data processing flow is accurate, and the development efficiency is improved.
US09244725B2 Management of transactional memory access requests by a cache memory
In a data processing system having a processor core and a shared memory system including a cache memory that supports the processor core, a transactional memory access request is issued by the processor core in response to execution of a memory access instruction in a memory transaction undergoing execution by the processor core. In response to receiving the transactional memory access request, dispatch logic of the cache memory evaluates the transactional memory access request for dispatch, where the evaluation includes determining whether the memory transaction has a failing transaction state. In response to determining the memory transaction has a failing transaction state, the dispatch logic refrains from dispatching the memory access request for service by the cache memory and refrains from updating at least replacement order information of the cache memory in response to the transactional memory access request.
US09244721B2 Computer system and divided job processing method and program
Each execution computer measures a load on each execution computer, generates a job request including information about the number of executable divided jobs based on the measured load, and sends the generated job request to a management computer which manages each execution computer. The management computer receives the job request and assigns as many divided jobs as the number of divided jobs designated by the job request to each execution computer.
US09244719B2 Batch processing system
The second computer detects performance of processing to record the execution status of a batch job on a storing device, selects a recording method to be used from among a plurality of recording methods according to the detected performance, and notifies the first computer of the result. The first computer records the execution status of the batch job, executed in the own computer, on the storing device, using the recording method notified from the second computer.
US09244709B2 Automatic recognition of web application
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that enable web applications to be identified, and that enable the identified web applications to be published to remote servers. Objects are accessed in storage for a developed web application. A feed is received that includes a plurality of signatures that correspond to a plurality of webapp development applications. A webapp development application used to develop the web application is identified by comparing the signatures to the objects. A web deployment package is downloaded for the identified webapp development application. The downloaded web deployment package is applied to enable the web application to be published to a server, such as by modifying settings and/or applying transformations to the objects that defined by the downloaded web deployment package.
US09244696B2 In-car information system, information terminal, and application execution method
An in-car information system includes a portable information terminal and an in-car device. The information terminal includes a storage unit in which applications are stored and a control unit that executes an application manager. The application manager has a launch function that enables execution of the application stored in the storage unit in the foreground and a communication function that enables execution of communication processing in the background to allow the information terminal and the in-car device to exchange information.
US09244692B2 Information processing apparatus, control method for information processing apparatus, and program to stop supply of clock to a DSP
An information processing apparatus includes a first processing unit, a second processing unit which is different from the first processing unit, a supply unit configured to supply a clock to the first processing unit and the second processing unit, and a control unit configured to control the supply unit in such a manner as to stop a supply of the clock to the second processing unit in response to completion of activation of the second processing unit, and to resume the supply of the clock to the second processing unit in response to completion of activation of the first processing unit.
US09244683B2 System, method, and computer program product for implementing large integer operations on a graphics processing unit
A system, method, and computer program product for generating executable code for performing large integer operations on a parallel processing unit is disclosed. The method includes the steps of compiling a source code linked to a large integer library to generate an executable file and executing the executable file to perform a large integer operation using a parallel processing unit. The large integer library includes functions for processing large integers that are optimized for the parallel processing unit.
US09244680B2 Document quality review and testing
A method for examining document of a software product against a list of strings files of an interface of the software product to detect whether the document includes list of strings of the interface is provided. The method includes determination of source files of the document. The method further includes a search for string files of the interface that are present in the document. The method further includes comparison of the string files against the source files. Responsive to the comparison, if no match of the source files and the string files is found, an invalid status of the document is found, and wherein if a match is found, the document is flagged with a valid status.
US09244678B1 Managing content versions
Items of content may be available in any of a number of versions. Major aspects of each content version, such as overall plot and major characters, may generally overlap. However, minor aspects, such as level of description, minor characters, or sub-plots may vary between versions. Accordingly, systems and methods are provided for managing playback of multiple content versions, and enabling users to switch between such content versions. In some embodiments, a playback path including portions of multiple content versions may be provided, such that a user may consume only desired portions of each content version. In other embodiments, a determined playback path may be utilized to create a customized content version, which may be provided to a user.
US09244669B2 Deploying an application across multiple deployment environments
Disclosed examples to configure an application for deployment across a plurality of deployment environments involve displaying a user-selectable control in a user interface. The user-selectable control is to specify whether the application is to be deployed across the plurality of deployment environments. Based on selection of the user-selectable control, a blueprint of the application stores an indication of whether the application is to be deployed across the plurality of deployment environments. Based on the indication in the blueprint, an application deployment profile is generated to specify the plurality of deployment environments across which to deploy the application.
US09244663B1 Managing table of contents pointer value saves
A compiler identifies a function call in computer code. A linker directive associates the function call with a single table of contents (TOC) pointer value save placeholder. This single placeholder is the only TOC pointer value save placeholder associated with the function call. When a TOC pointer value save instruction occupies the placeholder, it ensures that the TOC pointer value is saved before the function call. The linker directive is then modified to associate the function call with two or more TOC pointer value save placeholders. When a TOC pointer value save instruction occupies at least one of the placeholders, it ensures that the TOC pointer value is saved before the function call. Under some circumstances, two or more of the placeholders must be occupied by a TOC pointer value save instruction to ensure that the TOC pointer value is saved before the function call.
US09244658B2 Multi-step auto-completion model for software development environments
Systems and methods for providing auto-completion functionality in a source code editor are described. In accordance with the systems and methods, code entities that are candidates for auto-completion are presented to a user via multiple auto-completion menus that are accessed in steps rather than via a single auto-completion menu. The multiple auto-completion menus include at least a first menu and a second menu. The first menu includes a common portion (e.g., a common prefix) of a subset of the candidate code entities. The second menu includes the subset of the candidate code entities and is presented when the user selects the common portion from the first menu.
US09244654B2 Decimal floating-point quantum exception detection
A system and method for detecting decimal floating point data processing exceptions. A processor accepts at least one decimal floating point operand and performs a decimal floating point operation on the at least one decimal floating point operand to produce a decimal floating point result. A determination is made as to whether the decimal floating point result fails to maintain a preferred quantum. The preferred quantum indicates a value represented by a least significant digit of a significand of the decimal floating point result. An output is provided, in response to the determining that the decimal floating point result fails to maintain the preferred quantum, indicating an occurrence of a quantum exception. A maskable exception can be generated that is immediately trapped or later detected to control conditional processing.
US09244653B2 Method and device for handling data values
A floating point value can represent a number or something that is not a number (NaN). A floating point value that is a NaN having data field that stores information, such as a propagation count that indicates the number of times a NaN value has been propagated through instructions. A NaN evaluation instruction can determine whether one or more operands is a NaN operand of a particular type, and if so can generate a result that is a NaN of a different type. An exception can be generated based upon the NaN of the different type being provided as a resultant.
US09244651B2 Document revision control
A method for managing document revisions. The method includes receiving a request to access a parent file stored on a server, where the parent file is associated with one or more child files; determining whether a first option is enabled that is associated with selecting a latest version or revision of a child file, where a revision includes one or more versions; determining whether a second option is enabled, where the second option is associated with selecting a released version or revision of a child file; and, for each child file, providing access to a version or revision of the child file based on whether the first option is enabled and whether the second option is enabled.
US09244649B2 Piloting assistance system and an aircraft
The present invention relates to a piloting assistance system for an aircraft that is provided with a controller for determining piloting information. The system comprises at least one display system wearable on the head of a pilot, the display system being provided with a left display suitable for being viewed by a left eye of the pilot and a right display suitable for being viewed by a right eye of the pilot, the controller including a first processor for processing the information and a second processor for processing the information, the processors including stored instructions for causing the information to be displayed simultaneously and respectively on the left display and on the right display.
US09244648B2 Multi-processor video processing system and video image synchronous transmission and display method therein
The present invention relates to the field of video processing. Disclosed are a multi-processor video processing system and video image synchronous transmission and display method therein. Via PCIE bus technology, synchronous transmission and tiled display of video image in the multi-CPU system is implemented. In the present invention, the multi-processor system includes multiple processors that are connected via a PCIE bus and each comprises a display unit and a decoding unit; a memory area of the display unit comprises two buffers, a read information packet containing a read flag, and a write information packet containing a write flag. The method includes the following steps: a decoding unit generating a frame of uncompressed image, performing the following steps on each corresponding display unit: if the read and write flags corresponding to the display unit are equal, sending, by calling the PCIE bus or using local transmission, the image to an idle buffer indicated by the write flag, and negating the write flag; each display unit querying for corresponding read and write flags according to a display refresh frequency; if the read and write flags are not equal, using the buffer indicated by the read flag as a storage area for data to be displayed next time, and setting the read flag to a write flag value.
US09244641B2 Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus is provided. In a state where the communication apparatus belongs to a second wireless network as a master station, when a device is found which belonged to a first wireless network as a master station, to which the communication apparatus belonged as a slave station, the communication apparatus is disconnected from the second wireless network, and configures a state where the communication apparatus belongs to a third wireless network as a slave station and the first device belongs to the third wireless network as a master station.
US09244640B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, web server, control method for the same, and storage medium
This image processing apparatus displays a web page received from a web server, and when a setting related to scan processing is performed via the displayed web page, causes a transition to a state in which execution of scan processing can be instructed using a predetermined hardware key, and when an execution of scan processing being instructed using the predetermined hardware key, executes scan processing based on the setting performed via the web page.
US09244636B1 Systems and methods for printing a document from a mobile communication device
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for printing a document from a mobile communication device. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a print job sent from the mobile communication device and determining a location of the mobile communication device. The method also includes identifying a printer proximate the mobile communication device and initiating execution of the print job at the identified printer.
US09244635B2 Printing apparatus, printing apparatus control method, and program
A printing apparatus includes a receiving unit which receives print data, an operating unit which receives a print instruction from a user, a display unit which displays a password entry screen for receiving a password entry from a user, and a printing unit which receives a print instruction from a user through the operating unit and prints print data without accepting a password through a password entry screen if a password added to the print data is matched with a fixed password and print data to be printed if a print instruction from a user is received through the operating unit, if the password added to the print data is matched with the fixed password, and if the password received through a password entry screen is matched with the password added to the print data.