| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09276130B2 |
Semiconductor device
High field-effect mobility is provided for a transistor including an oxide semiconductor. Further, a highly reliable semiconductor device including the transistor is provided. In a bottom-gate transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, an oxide semiconductor layer functioning as a current path (channel) of the transistor is sandwiched between oxide semiconductor layers having lower carrier densities than the oxide semiconductor layer. In such a structure, the channel is formed away from the interface of the oxide semiconductor stacked layer with an insulating layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor stacked layer, i.e., a buried channel is formed. |
| US09276123B2 |
Oxide semiconductor target and oxide semiconductor material, as well as semiconductor device using the same
There are provided an oxide semiconductor material, capable of attaining stability of a threshold voltage (Vth) (threshold voltage shift amount ΔVth within a range of ±3 V in PDS and NBIS) and field-effect mobility of 5 cm2/Vs or more necessary for the operation of an OLED display device. An oxide semiconductor target in which an oxide semiconductor material with one or more of oxides of W, Ta, and Hf of 5d transition metal added each by 0.07 to 3.8 at %, 0.5 to 4.7 at %, and 0.32 to 6.4 at % to a semiconductor material with Zn—Sn—O as a main ingredient is sintered; a semiconductor channel layer formed by using the target, and an oxide semiconductor material for TFT protective film, as well as a semiconductor device having the same. |
| US09276120B2 |
Transistor, method of manufacturing the transistor, semiconductor unit, method of manufacturing the semiconductor unit, display, and electronic apparatus
A method of manufacturing a transistor includes: forming an oxide semiconductor film and a gate electrode on a substrate, the oxide semiconductor film having a channel region, and the gate electrode facing the channel region; and forming an insulating film covering the gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor film. Infiltration of moisture from the insulating film into the oxide semiconductor film is suppressed by the substrate. |
| US09276114B2 |
FinFET with dual workfunction gate structure
Disclosed are a method to fabricate a semiconductor device having a two-layered gate structure, and so fabricated a semiconductor. The gate threshold voltage can be tuned by using two metal layers with different workfunctions, disposed over a fin structure on a substrate and extending in parallel to the current flow direction in the fin structure, and by varying individual thicknesses of the layer so as to change the relative coverage of the fin structure by the layers. The method may comprise providing a substrate having a fin structure, depositing first and second gate metals, and forming a gate dielectric layer. The method may further comprise determining the workfunctions of the first and second gate metals and their thicknesses to achieve a desired gate threshold voltage. Forming the first and second gate metal layers and the dielectric layer may use processes such as deposition, epitaxial growth, CMP, or selective etching. |
| US09276109B2 |
High-voltage transistor with high current load capacity and method for its production
An isolation area (10) is provided over a drift region (12) with a spacing (d) to a contact area (4) provided for a drain connection (D). The isolation area is used as an implantation mask, in order to produce a dopant profile of the drift region in which the dopant concentration increases toward the drain. The implantation of the dopant can be performed instead before the production of the isolation area, and the later production of the isolation area (10) changes the dopant profile also in a way that the dopant concentration increases toward the drain. |
| US09276107B2 |
Semiconductor device having buried gate electrode structures
A semiconductor device includes first and second gate electrode structures and a connection plug. The first gate electrode structure is buried in a semiconductor portion and has array stripes inside a first cell array of transistor cells and a contact stripe outside the first cell array, the contact stripe structurally connected with the array stripes. The second gate electrode structure is buried in the semiconductor portion and has array stripes inside a second cell array of transistor cells. An array isolation region of the semiconductor portion separates the first and second gate electrode structures. The connection plug extends between a first surface of the semiconductor portion and the contact stripe of the first gate electrode structure. |
| US09276103B2 |
Nitride semiconductor and fabricating method thereof
This specification is directed to a semiconductor device capable of reducing a leakage current by forming a first GaN layer including a plurality of GaN layers and FexNy layers interposed between the plurality of GaN layers, in a semiconductor device having the first GaN layer, an AlGaN layer, a second GaN layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode which are deposited in a sequential manner, and a fabricating method thereof.To this end, a semiconductor device according to one exemplary embodiment includes a first GaN layer, an AlGaN layer on the first GaN layer, a second GaN layer on the AlGaN layer, and a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode formed on a portion of the second GaN layer, wherein the first GaN layer comprises a plurality of GaN layers and FexNy layers interposed between the plurality of GaN layers. |
| US09276102B2 |
Tunnel transistor with high current by bipolar amplification
A tunnel-effect transistor the drain region of which includes a first zone doped with a doping of a first type, and a second zone doped with a doping of a second type forming a junction with the first zone. |
| US09276101B2 |
High speed gallium nitride transistor devices
A low leakage current switch device (110) is provided which includes a GaN-on-Si substrate (11-43) covered by a passivation surface layer (43) in which a T-gate electrode with sidewall extensions (48) is formed and coated with a conformal passivation layer (49) so that the T-gate electrode sidewall extensions are spaced apart from the underlying passivation surface layer (43) by the conformal passivation layer (49). |
| US09276098B2 |
High electron mobility transistor and method of manufacturing the same
According to example embodiments, a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a first semiconductor layer on a substrate and a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer. The first and second semiconductor layers define a recessed region. A semiconductor doped layer is in the recessed region of first and second semiconductor layers. A 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) region is at a portion of the first semiconductor layer adjacent to both sides of the semiconductor doped layer. |
| US09276097B2 |
Gate overvoltage protection for compound semiconductor transistors
A transistor device includes a compound semiconductor body, a drain disposed in the compound semiconductor body and a source disposed in the compound semiconductor body and spaced apart from the drain by a channel region. A gate is provided for controlling the channel region. The transistor device further includes a gate overvoltage protection device connected between the source and the gate, the gate overvoltage protection device including p-type and n-type silicon-containing semiconductor material. |
| US09276093B2 |
Self-aligned emitter-base region
Aspects of the invention provide a method of forming a bipolar junction transistor. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate including a uniform silicon nitride layer over an emitter pedestal, and a base layer below the emitter pedestal; applying a photomask at a first end and a second end of a base region; and performing a silicon nitride etch with the photomask to simultaneously form silicon nitride spacers adjacent to the emitter pedestal and exposing the base region of the bipolar junction transistor. The silicon nitride etch may be an end-pointed etch. |
| US09276088B1 |
Method for making high voltage integrated circuit devices in a fin-type process and resulting devices
Methods for making high voltage IC devices utilizing a fin-type process and resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include forming two pluralities of silicon fins on a substrate layer, separated by a space, wherein adjacent silicon fins are separated by a trench; forming an oxide layer on the substrate layer and filling a portion of each trench; forming two deep isolation trenches into the oxide layer and the substrate layer adjacent to the two pluralities of silicon fins; forming a graded voltage junction by implanting a dopant into the substrate layer below the two pluralities of silicon fins; forming a gate structure on the oxide layer and between the two pluralities of silicon fins; implanting a dopant into and under the two pluralities of silicon fins, forming source and drain regions; and forming an epitaxial layer onto the two pluralities of silicon fins to form merged source and drain fins. |
| US09276084B2 |
Transistor and method for forming the same
A method for forming a transistor is provided. The method includes: forming a channel layer over a substrate; patterning the channel layer to form a recess; and forming a source layer in the recess, such that at least a portion of the channel layer protrudes to form the fin-type channel. |
| US09276082B2 |
Method for producing a semiconductor device comprising a Schottky diode and a high electron mobility transistor
A semiconductor device includes a Schottky diode and a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) formed on a III-nitride stack. The III-nitride stack includes at least a lower and an upper III-nitride layer forming a heterojunction therebetween, so that a 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer may be formed in the lower layer. The 2DEG layer serves as a charge carrier for the diode and the HEMT. A doped III-nitride layer may be present between a portion of the anode of the diode and the III-nitride stack, and the portion may be located between the diode's Schottky junction and the cathode. A further layer of doped III-nitride material may be present between the gate electrode of the HEMT and the III-nitride stack. The thickness of the III-nitride layers is not equal, so that the turn-on voltage of the diode and the threshold voltage of the HEMT may be tuned according to specific requirements. The disclosure also involves a method of producing such a semiconductor device. |
| US09276075B2 |
Semiconductor device having vertical MOSFET structure that utilizes a trench-type gate electrode and method of producing the same
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate including a body region, a drift region, a trench that extends from a surface of the semiconductor substrate into the drift region through the body region, and a source region located adjacent to the trench in a range exposed to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, the source region being isolated from the drift region by the body region. A specific layer is disposed on a bottom of the trench, and it has a characteristic of forming a depletion layer at a junction between the specific layer and the drift region. An insulating layer covers an upper surface of the specific layer and a sidewall of the trench. A conductive portion is formed on a part of the side wall of the trench. The conductive portion is joined to the specific layer, and reaches the surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09276066B2 |
Semiconductor multi-layer substrate and semiconductor element
A semiconductor multi-layer substrate includes a substrate, a buffer layer formed on the substrate and made of a nitride semiconductor, an electric-field control layer formed on the buffer layer and made of a nitride semiconductor, the electric-field control layer having conductivity in the substrate's lateral direction, an electric-field relaxation layer formed on the electric-field control layer and made of a nitride semiconductor, and an active layer formed on the electric-field relaxation layer and made of an nitride semiconductor. A resistance in the substrate's lateral direction of the electric-field control layer is equal to or smaller than 10 times a resistance of the electric-field relaxation layer, and a ratio of an electric field share between the electric-field relaxation layer and the buffer layer is controlled by a ratio between a thickness of the electric-field relaxation layer and a thickness of the buffer layer. |
| US09276062B2 |
Fin deformation modulation
A method includes forming a plurality of trenches extending from a top surface of a semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate, with semiconductor strips formed between the plurality of trenches. The plurality of trenches includes a first trench and second trench wider than the first trench. A first dielectric material is filled in the plurality of trenches, wherein the first trench is substantially fully filled, and the second trench is filled partially. A second dielectric material is formed over the first dielectric material. The second dielectric material fills an upper portion of the second trench, and has a shrinkage rate different from the first shrinkage rate of the first dielectric material. A planarization is performed to remove excess second dielectric material. The remaining portions of the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material form a first and a second STI region in the first and the second trenches, respectively. |
| US09276060B2 |
Triode
A triode includes a semiconductor, a deep n-well, a p-well, an n+ doping region, and a doping region. The deep n-well is disposed adjacent to the semiconductor substrate. The p-well is included in the deep n-well and serves as a collector region of the triode. The n+ doping region serves as a base region of the triode. The p+ doping region serves as an emitter region of the triode. The deep n-well is coupled to the n+ doping region via at least one conducting channel. |
| US09276058B2 |
Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of lower electrodes on a substrate, with each of the lower electrodes extending in a height direction from the substrate and including sidewalls, the lower electrodes being spaced apart from each other in a first direction and in a second direction, a plurality of first supporting layer patterns contacting the sidewalls of the lower electrodes, the first supporting layer patterns extending in the first direction between ones of the lower electrodes adjacent in the second direction, a plurality of second supporting layer patterns contacting the sidewalls of the lower electrodes, the second supporting layer pattern extending in the second direction between ones of the lower electrodes adjacent in the first direction, the plurality of second supporting layer patterns being spaced apart from the plurality of first supporting layer patterns in the height direction. |
| US09276057B2 |
Capacitor structure and method of manufacturing the same
A capacitor structure includes a substrate with a plurality of dielectric layers sequentially formed thereon, a trench formed in the dielectric layers, wherein the trench is composed of at least two interconnected dual damascene recesses, each dual damascene recess formed in one dielectric layer; and a capacitor multilayer disposed on the sidewall of the trench. |
| US09276052B2 |
Light-emitting element and display device using same
A display device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements aligned on a TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix. The plurality of light-emitting elements each have a flat surface portion and including a light-emitting layer, an anode, and a cathode, an insulating layer formed on the TFT substrate and under the light emitting element, and a tilted metal surface provided on a peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and having a tilt angle with respect to the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element. The tilted metal surface is provided on a surface of a slope of a bank that is provided on the insulation layer, and a width of a cross-section of the bank becomes smaller as the cross section comes farther away from a surface of the TFT substrate. A counter substrate is placed on the TFT substrate. |
| US09276050B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
Disclosed herein is an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Display) device. A switching thin-film transistor configured to be an oxide semiconductor thin-film transistor is disposed in a first pixel. A second pixel is adjacent to the first pixel in the direction in which data lines are extended. A switching thin-film transistor configured to be an LTPS (Low Temperature Poly-Silicon) thin-film transistor is disposed in the second pixel. The switching thin-film transistor of the first pixel and the switching thin-film transistor of the second pixel are connected to the same gate line. A pixel and another pixel adjacent to the pixel connected to a gate line in common, so that it is possible to provide an OLED device with high aperture ratio and high resolution. |
| US09276049B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus
An organic light-emitting apparatus has a structure capable of reducing defects during the formation of an insulation layer (e.g., a pixel defining layer). The organic light emitting apparatus includes a substrate having a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area; a step forming layer on the peripheral area of the substrate; an insulation layer on the substrate across the display area and the peripheral area, wherein the top surface of a portion of the insulation layer corresponding to the step forming layer by covering the step forming layer is higher than the top surface of the remaining portion of the insulation layer; and a first conductive layer on the insulation layer, an end portion of the first conductive layer being close to the portion of the insulation layer corresponding to the step forming layer. |
| US09276045B2 |
Display panel
A display panel has first and second unit regions staggered to each other and includes a pixel array layer and a color filter layer. The pixel array layer includes white organic light emitting units generating a white light. The color filter layer includes red, green and blue filter patterns and first and second white filter patterns. A first white light CIE color coordinate of the white light passing through the first white filter patterns is different from a second white light CIE color coordinate of the white light passing through the second white filter patterns. Each first unit region has one red filter pattern, one green filter pattern, one blue filter pattern, and one first white filter pattern disposed therein, and each second unit region has one red filter pattern, one green filter pattern, one blue filter pattern, and one second white filter pattern disposed therein. |
| US09276043B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device, method of manufacturing photoelectric conversion device, solid-state imaging unit, and electronic apparatus
A method of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device includes: forming a first electrode on a first surface side of a substrate that has two opposing surfaces; forming an electrode section on a second surface side of the substrate, the electrode section being used for external connection; and after forming the first electrode and the electrode section, forming an organic photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode on the first electrode. |
| US09276041B2 |
Three dimensional RRAM device, and methods of making same
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of novel three dimensional RRAM devices, and various methods of making such devices. In one example, a device disclosed herein includes a first electrode for a first bit line comprising a variable resistance material, a second electrode for a second bit line comprising a variable resistance material and a third electrode positioned between the variable resistance material of the first bit line and the variable resistance material of the second bit line. |
| US09276032B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixels and a plurality of on-chip lenses. The plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern. Each of the pixels has a photoelectric conversion portion configured to photoelectrically convert light incident from a rear surface side of a semiconductor substrate. The plurality of on-chip lenses are arranged for every other pixel. The on-chip lenses are larger in size than the pixels. Each of color filters at the pixels where the on-chip lenses are present has a cross-sectional shape whose upper side close to the on-chip lens is the same in width as the on-chip lens and whose lower side close to the photoelectric conversion portion is shorter than the upper side. |
| US09276031B2 |
Photodiode with different electric potential regions for image sensors
An image sensor pixel is disclosed. The pixel may include a photodiode having a first region with a first potential and a second region with a second, higher potential, with the second region being offset in depth from the first region in a semiconductor chip. A storage node may be positioned at substantially the same depth as the second region of the photodiode. A storage gate may be operable to transfer charge between the photodiode and the storage node. |
| US09276030B2 |
Read out integrated circuit input/output routing on permanent carrier
A focal plane array (FPA) comprising a photodiode array (PDA) and a read out integrated circuit (ROIC), wherein the FPA can include a plurality of conductive bumps that electrically couple PDA circuitry to ROIC circuitry. In an embodiment, an optically transparent lid can include a plurality traces electrically coupled to circuitry on the ROIC which can be used as a conductive path between the ROIC and external pads. |
| US09276029B1 |
Optical isolation grid over color filter array
A color image sensor includes a plurality of pixel cells arranged in a pixel array. A plurality of color filters is arranged in a color filter array disposed over the pixel array. Each color filter is aligned with a corresponding underlying pixel cell. An optical isolation grid is disposed over the color filter array such that incident light is directed through the optical isolation grid prior to be being directed through the color filter array to the pixel array. The optical isolation grid includes a plurality of sidewalls arranged to define a plurality of openings in the optical isolation grid. Each opening is aligned with a corresponding color filter such that each color filter is optically isolated by the optical isolation grid to receive incident light only through a corresponding aligned one of the plurality of openings. |
| US09276024B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device including forming a mask with apertures corresponding to a pixel pattern on the surface of a semiconductor layer, implanting second-conductivity-type impurity ions into the semiconductor layer from the front side of the layer to form second-conductivity-type photoelectric conversion parts and forming a part where no ion has been implanted into a pixel separation region, forming at the surface of the semiconductor layer a signal scanning circuit for reading light signals obtained at the photoelectric conversion parts after removing the mask, and removing the semiconductor substrate and a buried insulating layer from the semiconductor layer after causing a support substrate to adhere to the front side of the semiconductor layer. |
| US09276019B2 |
Method of manufacturing element substrate
A method of manufacturing an array substrate 20 according to the present invention includes a line forming step, and line forming step includes following performances. A plurality of source lines 27 are formed on a glass substrate GS so as to extend from a first region A1 on the glass substrate GS to a second region A2 that is adjacent to the first region on an outer side thereof. A plurality of source driver side check lines 45A are formed on the glass substrate GS so as to extend from the second region A2 to a third region that is adjacent to the first region A1 on an outer side thereof and adjacent to the second region A2. A plurality of first line connection portions 49 are formed in the second region A2 and the first line connection portions 49 connect the source lines 27 and the first source driver side check lines 45A. A capacity stem line 43 and a common line 44 are formed to extend from the first region A1 to the third region A3. A second source driver side check line 45B and a second line connection portion 50 that connects each of the capacity stem line 43 and the common line 44 and the source driver side check line 45B are formed in the third region A3. |
| US09276015B2 |
TFT array substrate with metal layer between source electrode and pixel electrode
A TFT array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display apparatus. The TFT array substrate comprises: a substrate (10) having a gate electrode (12), a gate insulation layer (17), a semiconductor active layer (18), a data line, a source electrode (14)/a drain electrode (15), a pixel electrode (16) formed thereon. The data line being connected with the source electrode (14). The drain electrode (15) is connected with the pixel electrode (16), wherein a first insulation layer (19), a metal layer (20) and a second insulation layer (21) are sequentially formed between the source electrode (14)/a drain electrode (15) and the pixel electrode (16). The metal layer (20) is connected with the stable voltage signal line through a through-hole (23) of the metal layer lead, thus the influence of the coupling capacitance of the TFT array substrate to the voltage of the pixel electrode is reduced, and meanwhile, the aperture ratio of the pixel unit is increased. |
| US09276012B2 |
Method to match SOI transistors using a local heater element
An integrated circuit with a matched transistor pair with a matching resistance heater coupled to each transistor of the matched transistor pair. A method for forming a matching resistance heater. A method for operating an SOI integrated circuit containing a matched transistor pair with a matching resistance heater coupled to each transistor of the matched transistor pair. |
| US09276010B2 |
Dual silicide formation method to embed split gate flash memory in high-k metal gate (HKMG) technology
The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for embedding a non-volatile memory (NVM) in a high-K metal gate (HKMG) integrated circuit that utilizes a replacement gate technology with low poly resistance and high program/erase speed. A silicide layer formed over top surfaces of the NVM device, after replacement gate process of the HKMG circuit prevents poly damage during contact formation and provides low gate resistance, thereby improving program/erase speed of the NVM device. |
| US09276009B2 |
NAND-connected string of transistors having the electrical channel in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate
Vias are formed within a stack of alternating active and insulating layers by forming a first sub stack, a second sub stack over the first sub stack, a first buffer layer therebetween and a second buffer layer under the first sub stack. An upper layer of the first sub stack is exposed through a set of vias by first and second etching processes. The first etching process forms a first set of etch vias through the second sub stack and stops at or in the first buffer layer. The second etching process etches through the first buffer layer to the upper layer of the first sub stack. A third etching process etches through the first set of etch vias, through the first sub stack and stops at or in the second buffer layer. A fourth etching process and etches through the second buffer layer. |
| US09276008B2 |
Embedded NVM in a HKMG process
A process integration is disclosed for fabricating complete, planar non-volatile memory (NVM) cells (110) prior to the formation of high-k metal gate electrodes for CMOS transistors (212, 213) using a planarized dielectric layer (26) and protective mask (28) to enable use of a gate-last HKMG CMOS process flow without interfering with the operation or reliability of the NVM cells. |
| US09276007B2 |
System and method for manufacturing self-aligned STI with single poly
A method for fabricating a memory device with a self-aligned trap layer and rounded active region corners is disclosed. In the present invention, an STI process is performed before any of the charge-trapping and top-level layers are formed. Immediately after the STI process, the sharp corners of the active regions are exposed. Because these sharp corners are exposed at this time, they are available to be rounded through any number of known rounding techniques. Rounding the corners improves the performance characteristics of the memory device. Subsequent to the rounding process, the charge-trapping structure and other layers can be formed by a self-aligned process. |
| US09276006B1 |
Split gate non-volatile flash memory cell having metal-enhanced gates and method of making same
A non-volatile memory cell including a substrate having first and second regions with a channel region therebetween. A floating gate is disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the channel region which is adjacent the first region. A select gate is disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the channel region which is adjacent to the second region. The select gate includes a block of polysilicon material and a work function metal material layer extending along bottom and side surfaces of the polysilicon material block. The select gate is insulated from the second portion of the channel region by a silicon dioxide layer and a high K insulating material layer. A control gate is disposed over and insulated from the floating gate, and an erase gate is disposed over and insulated from the first region, and disposed laterally adjacent to and insulated from the floating gate. |
| US09276005B1 |
Non-volatile memory array with concurrently formed low and high voltage logic devices
A memory cell includes source and drain regions in a substrate with a channel region therebetween, an erase gate over the source region, a floating gate over a first channel region portion, a control gate over the floating gate, and a wordline gate over a second channel region portion. A first logic device includes second source and drain regions in the substrate with a second channel region therebetween under a first logic gate. A second logic device includes third source and drain regions in the substrate with a third channel region therebetween under a second logic gate. The wordline gate and the first and second logic gates comprise the same conductive metal material. The second logic gate is insulated from the third channel region by first and second insulation. The first logic gate is insulated from the second channel region by the second insulation and not by the first insulation. |
| US09276004B2 |
ROM arrays having memory cell transistors programmed using metal gates
According to one exemplary implementation, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a first memory cell transistor of a read only memory (ROM) array, the first memory cell transistor including a first metal gate of a first work function and having a first threshold voltage. The IC also includes a second memory cell transistor of the ROM array, the second memory cell transistor including a second metal gate of a second work function and having a second threshold voltage. The first memory cell transistor and the second memory cell transistor can be of a first conductivity type. Furthermore, the first memory cell transistor can include a first high-k gate dielectric and the second memory cell transistor can include a second high-k gate dielectric. |
| US09276002B2 |
Integrated circuit structure with bulk silicon FinFET
The present disclosure generally provides for an integrated circuit (IC) structure with a bulk silicon finFET and methods of forming the same. An IC structure according to the present disclosure can include: a bulk substrate; a finFET located on a first region of the bulk substrate; and a layered dummy structure located on a second region of the bulk substrate, wherein the layered dummy structure includes a first crystalline semiconductive layer, a second crystalline semiconductive layer positioned on the first crystalline semiconductive layer, wherein the first crystalline semiconductive layer comprises a material distinct from the second crystalline semiconductive layer, and a third crystalline semiconductive layer positioned on the second crystalline semiconductive layer, wherein the third crystalline semiconductive layer comprises the material distinct from the second crystalline semiconductive layer. |
| US09275999B2 |
Floating body memory cell having gates favoring different conductivity type regions
A method for fabricating floating body memory cells (FBCs), and the resultant FBCs where gates favoring different conductivity type regions are used is described. In one embodiment, a p type back gate with a thicker insulation is used with a thinner insulated n type front gate. Processing, which compensates for misalignment, which allows the different oxide and gate materials to be fabricated is described. |
| US09275997B2 |
Structure and method of latchup robustness with placement of through wafer via within CMOS circuitry
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming a trench in a back side of a substrate; depositing a dopant on surfaces of the trench; forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure in a top side of the substrate opposite the trench; forming a deep well in the substrate; out-diffusing the dopant into the deep well and the substrate; forming an N-well and a P-well in the substrate; and filling the trench with a conductive material. |
| US09275996B2 |
Vertical semiconductor devices including superlattice punch through stop layer and related methods
A semiconductor device may include a substrate, and a plurality of fins spaced apart on the substrate. Each of the fins may include a lower semiconductor fin portion extending vertically upward from the substrate, and at least one superlattice punch-through layer on the lower fin portion. The superlattice punch-through layer may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers of the superlattice punch-through layer comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. Each fin may also include an upper semiconductor fin portion on the at least one superlattice punch-through layer and extending vertically upward therefrom. The semiconductor device may also include source and drain regions at opposing ends of the fins, and a gate overlying the fins. |
| US09275990B2 |
Circuit and method for reducing BVii on highly overdriven devices
An integrated circuit is formed on a p-type semiconductor substrate connected to ground potential. A deep n-well is disposed in the p-type substrate. A p-well is disposed in the deep n-well. An n+ drain region and an n+ source region are disposed in the p-well, the n+ source region connected to a common potential. A p-type contact is disposed in the p-well and is connected to ground potential through a resistor. |
| US09275989B2 |
Capacitors positioned at the device level in an integrated circuit product and methods of making such capacitors
One illustrative integrated circuit product disclosed herein includes a metal-1 metallization layer positioned above a semiconducting substrate, a capacitor positioned between a surface of the substrate and a bottom of the metal-1 metallization layer, wherein the capacitor includes a plurality of conductive plates that are oriented in a direction that is substantially normal relative to the surface of the substrate, and at least one region of insulating material positioned between the plurality of conductive plates. |
| US09275986B2 |
Transistor and tunable inductance
According to a first aspect embodiments provide a transistor including at least one gate region between at least one drain region and at least one source region, wherein a ratio between a width of the gate region and a length of the gate region exceeds 300. |
| US09275982B2 |
Method of forming interconnection structure of package structure
A package structure including: a first semiconductor device including a first semiconductor substrate and a first electronic device, the first semiconductor device having a first side and a second side, wherein at least part of the first electronic device being adjacent to the first side, and the first semiconductor device has a via-hole formed through the first semiconductor device, wherein the via-hole has a first opening adjacent to the first side; an interconnection structure disposed in the first semiconductor device, wherein the interconnection structure includes: a via structure disposed in the via-hole without exceeding the first opening; a first pad disposed on the first side of the first semiconductor device and covering the via-hole; and a second semiconductor device vertically integrated with the first semiconductor device. |
| US09275979B2 |
Enhanced color rendering index emitter through phosphor separation
LED packages, and LED lamps and bulbs, are disclosed that are arranged to minimize the CRI and efficiency losses resulting from the overlap of conversion material emission and excitation spectrum. In different devices having conversion materials with this overlap, the present invention arranges the conversion materials to reduce the likelihood that re-emitted light from a first conversion materials will encounter the second conversion material to minimize the risk of re-absorption. In some embodiments this risk is minimized by different arrangements where there is separation between the two phosphors. In some embodiments this separation results less than 50% of re-emitted light from the one phosphor passing into the phosphor where it risks re-absorption. |
| US09275974B2 |
Optical sensor chip device and corresponding production method
An optical sensor chip device and a corresponding production method. The optical sensor chip device includes a substrate having a front side and a rear side; at least one first optical sensor chip for acquiring a first optical spectral range, the chip being attached to the substrate; and a first sealed cavern fashioned above an upper side of the first optical sensor chip. The first optical sensor chip is situated on a first side of the first cavern, and a first optical device is situated on an opposite, second side of the first cavern. |
| US09275972B2 |
Resin-encapsulated semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A resin-encapsulated semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element mounted on a die pad portion, a plurality of lead portions arranged so that leading end portions thereof are opposed to the die pad portion, and thin metal wires connecting electrodes of the semiconductor element to the lead portions. An encapsulation resin encapsulates the die pad portion, semiconductor element and lead portions in such a manner that a bottom surface part of the die pad portion and a lead bottom surface part, lead outer surface part, and lead upper end part of the lead portions are exposed from the encapsulation resin. A plating layer is formed on the lead bottom surface parts and the lead upper end parts. The encapsulation resin has cutouts on a side surface thereof vertically above the portions of the lead upper end parts on which the plating layer is formed. |
| US09275970B1 |
Wire bonds for electronics
A circuit element includes a semiconductor chip and a wire for connecting between the semiconductor chip and an additional circuit element. A plurality of wire bond connections electrically connect the wire and the semiconductor chip. The plurality of wire bond connections can be disposed on a surface of the semiconductor chip and on a surface of the wire. |
| US09275965B2 |
Copper pillar bump with cobalt-containing sidewall protection layer
A method of forming an integrated circuit device comprises forming a metal pillar over a semiconductor substrate. The method also comprises forming a solder layer over the metal pillar. The method further comprises forming a metallization layer comprising a cobalt (Co) element, the metallization layer covering the metal pillar and the solder layer. The method additionally comprises thermally reflowing the solder layer to form a solder bump, driving the Co element of the metallization layer into the solder bump. The method also comprises oxidizing the metallization layer to form a metal oxide layer on a sidewall surface of the metal pillar. |
| US09275964B2 |
Substrate contact opening
An under-bump metallization (UBM) structure for a substrate, such as an organic substrate, a ceramic substrate, a silicon or glass interposer, a high density interconnect, a printed circuit board, or the like, is provided. A buffer layer is formed over a contact pad on the substrate such that at least a portion of the contact pad is exposed. A conductor pad is formed within the opening and extends over at least a portion of the buffer layer. The conductor pad may have a uniform thickness and/or a non-planar surface. The substrate may be attached to another substrate and/or a die. |
| US09275960B2 |
Integrated circuit formed using spacer-like copper deposition
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a metal spacer over a core supported by a first extremely low-k dielectric layer having metal contacts embedded therein, etching away an upper portion of the metal spacer to expose the core between remaining lower portions of the metal spacer, removing the core from between the remaining lower portions of the metal spacer, and depositing a second extremely low-k dielectric layer over the remaining lower portions of the metal spacer. |
| US09275959B2 |
Semiconductor packages having EMI shielding layers, methods of fabricating the same, electronic systems including the same, and memory cards including the same
Semiconductor packages are provided. In some embodiments, the semiconductor package includes a substrate, a first ground line including a first internal ground line disposed along edges of the substrate and a plurality of first extended ground lines between the first internal ground line and sidewalls of the substrate, a chip on the substrate, a molding member disposed on the substrate to cover the chip, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding layer covering the molding member, the EMI shielding layer extending along the sidewalls of the substrate and contacting the end portions of the plurality of first extended ground lines. The plurality of first extended ground lines include end portions that are exposed at the sidewalls of the substrate. |
| US09275957B2 |
EM protected semiconductor die
In one embodiment, a semiconductor die is formed to have sloped sidewalls. A conductor is formed on the sloped sidewalls. |
| US09275954B2 |
Molecular self-assembly in substrate processing
Methods for sealing a porous dielectric are presented including: receiving a substrate, the substrate including the porous dielectric; exposing the substrate to an organosilane, where the organosilane includes a hydrolysable group for facilitating attachment with the porous dielectric, and where the organosilane does not include an alkyl group; and forming a layer as a result of the exposing to seal the porous dielectric. In some embodiments, methods are presented where the organosilane includes: alkynyl groups, aryl groups, flouroalkyl groups, heteroarlyl groups, alcohol groups, thiol groups, amine groups, thiocarbamate groups, ester groups, ether groups, sulfide groups, and nitrile groups. In some embodiments, method further include: removing contamination from the porous dielectric and a conductive region of the substrate prior to the exposing; and removing contamination from the conductive region after the forming. |
| US09275951B2 |
Curvilinear wiring structure to reduce areas of high field density in an integrated circuit
A method for reducing areas of high field density in an integrated circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a first curvilinear wiring structure in a first interconnect layer of an integrated circuit. A second curvilinear wiring structure may be formed in a second interconnect layer of the integrated circuit, such that the first and second curvilinear wiring structures are substantially vertically aligned. The first curvilinear wiring structure may then be electrically connected to the second curvilinear wiring structure. A corresponding apparatus and design structure are also described. |
| US09275947B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor package having a plurality of differential signal balls
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a sealing portion, a controller, a semiconductor chip, and a plurality of differential signal balls. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface positioned on a side opposite to the first surface. The sealing portion is formed on the first surface of the substrate. The controller is covered with the sealing portion. The semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the controller, and is covered with the sealing portion. The plurality of differential signal balls are formed on the second surface of the substrate. At least some of the plurality of differential signal balls are arranged substantially parallel to one side of the substrate. |
| US09275946B2 |
Switch mode power converters using magnetically coupled galvanically isolated lead frame communication
An integrated circuit package for use in a switch mode power converter includes a portion of a lead frame disposed within an encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having an inner conductive loop disposed within the encapsulation, and a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor having an outer conductive loop disposed within the encapsulation and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. First and second control circuits are coupled to the first and second conductors, respectively. The first control circuit is coupled to control a switching circuit in response to one or more control signals communicated between first and second dice that include the first and second control circuits, respectively, through the communication link to regulate a transfer of energy from an input to an output of the switch mode power converter. |
| US09275942B2 |
Flexible lead frame connection for electronic interconnects
A lead frame assembly which allows for the connection of multiple individual fixed components in various locations, while alleviating tolerance concerns by having a flexible lead frame. The lead frame assembly includes several sub-lead frames, and a plurality of interconnects which connect each of the sub-lead frames together. The lead frame assembly also includes a plurality of segments, and each segment surrounds one of the sub-lead frames, to electrically isolate each sub-lead frame. Various components are electrically connected by incorporating stamped receptacles, or slot terminals, in the sub-lead frames. The interconnects along with plastic voids allow the various attached components to have tolerance flexibility relative to one another, as various components are attached to each of the slot terminals. |
| US09275931B2 |
Heat dissipating module
A heat dissipating module including multiple first heat dissipating fins and multiple second heat dissipating fins combined to the first heat dissipating fins is provided. Each first/second heat dissipating fin has a first/second body and multiple first/second heat dissipating groove assemblies disposed in the first/second body, wherein each first/second heat dissipating groove assembly has multiple first/second heat dissipating groove unit. One end of the first heat dissipating groove unit is overlapped to one end of the second heat dissipating groove unit adjacent thereof. The other end of the first heat dissipating groove unit is overlapped to one end of another second heat dissipating groove unit. The two second heat dissipating groove units are disposed in the second body adjacent to each other. |
| US09275924B2 |
Semiconductor package having a recess filled with a molding compound
A semiconductor package includes a passivation layer overlying a semiconductor substrate, a bump overlying the passivation layer, and a molding compound layer overlying the passivation layer and covering a lower portion of the bump. A sidewall of the passivation layer is covered by the molding compound layer. |
| US09275923B2 |
Band pass filter for 2.5D/3D integrated circuit applications
Some embodiments relate to a device and method for a band pass filter with a reduced cost, area penalty, and manufacturing complexity relative to current solutions. An integrated passive device chip includes a plurality of capacitors embedded in a common molding compound along with a transceiver chip. The integrated passive device chip and the transceiver chip are also arranged within a polymer package. An ultra-thick metallization layer is disposed within the polymer package and configured to couple the integrated passive device chip to the transceiver chip. The ultra-thick metallization layer also forms a plurality of transmission lines, wherein the combined integrated passive device chip and transmission lines form a band pass filter with improved frequency response, noise immunity, and cost and area as compared to conventional solutions. |
| US09275919B2 |
Test module device and a test method for monitoring the stability of processes
The present invention discloses a test method for monitoring the stability of process and a test module device thereof. The test module device comprises: a substrate, a certain number of the first metal wires, a certain number of the second metal wires, an insulating block is disposed between the adjacent first metal wires. The method comprises: a preconfigured value of the test current in the test module is provided in the process; the multiple test module devices are provided. The present invention adopts a method adopting an offset to set the upper metal wire and lower metal wire in the test module instead of regular equal interval setting. Consequently, the safety zone of the overlay in the process can be determined. The present invention can monitor the stability of the process. |
| US09275918B2 |
Statistical method for monitoring manufacturing equipment and processing operations
A statistical process control method for monitoring and controlling semiconductor manufacturing processing operations is provided. For a chosen processing operation, multiple measurement sites are used to generate data of a measurable characteristic that is impacted by and associated with the processing operation. The data from the sites is compared over time and one or more outlier sites are identified. The outlier sites are the sites at which the data values are most divergent from the rest of the data. Algorithms are used to mathematically compare the outlier sites to the other sites to produce a comparative index. The comparative index is monitored graphically or otherwise to identify changes in the processing operation, and corrective actions are taken. |
| US09275916B2 |
Removable indicator structure in electronic chips of a common substrate for process adjustment
A method of processing a plurality of packaged electronic chips being connected to one another in a common substrate is provided, wherein the method comprises etching the electronic chips, detecting information indicative of an at least partial removal of an indicator structure following an exposure of the indicator structure embedded within at least a part of the electronic chips and being exposed after the etching has removed chip material above the indicator structure, and adjusting the processing upon detecting the information indicative of the at least partial removal of the indicator structure. |
| US09275913B2 |
Memory arrays for both good data retention and low power operation
Designs and programming schemes can be used to form memory arrays having low power, high density and good data retention. High resistance interconnect lines can be used to partition the memory array can be partitioned into areas of high data retention and areas of low data retention. Variable gate voltages can be used in control transistors to store memory values having different data retention characteristics. |
| US09275912B1 |
Method for quantification of extended defects in gallium-containing nitride crystals
Methods for quantifying extended defects in a gallium-containing nitride crystal, wafer, or device, are disclosed. The methods include providing a gallium-containing nitride crystal, wafer, or device, processing the gallium-containing nitride crystal, wafer, or device in an etchant solution comprising one or more of H3PO4, H3PO4 that has been conditioned by prolonged heat treatment to form polyphosphoric acid, and H2SO4; removing the gallium-containing nitride crystal, wafer, or device from the etchant solution; and quantifying the concentration of at least one of etch pits or etch grooves. |
| US09275907B2 |
3D transistor channel mobility enhancement
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes growing an epitaxial doped layer over an exposed portion of a plurality of fins. The epitaxial doped layer combines the exposed portion of the fins to form a merged source and drain region. An implantation process occurs in the fins through the epitaxial doped layer to change the crystal lattice of the fins to form amorphized fins. A nitride layer is deposited over the semiconductor structure. The nitride layer covers the merged source and drain regions. A thermal treatment is performed in the semiconductor structure to re-crystallize the amorphized fins to form re-crystallized fins. The re-crystallized fins, the epitaxial doped layer and the nitride layer form a strained source and drain region which induces stress to a channel region. |
| US09275906B2 |
Method for increasing a surface area of epitaxial structures in a mixed N/P type fin semiconductor structure by forming multiple epitaxial heads
A non-planar semiconductor structure includes mixed n-and-p type raised semiconductor structures, e.g., fins, having epitaxial structures grown on top surfaces thereof, for example, epitaxial silicon and silicon germanium, naturally growing into a diamond shape. The surface area of the epitaxial structures is increased by removing portion(s) thereof, masking each type as the other type is grown and then subsequently modified by the removal. The removal may create multi-head (e.g., dual-head) epitaxial structures, together with the neck of the respective raised structure resembling a Y-shape. |
| US09275903B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device substrate with crystal structure reformation regions
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device include preparing an initial substrate including an edge region and a central region in which circuit patterns are formed, forming a reforming region in the edge region of the initial substrate, grinding the initial substrate to form a substrate, and cutting the substrate to form a semiconductor chip including each of the circuit patterns. A crystal structure of the reforming region is different from that of the initial substrate. |
| US09275899B2 |
Chemical mechanical polishing composition and method for polishing tungsten
A composition and method for tungsten is provided comprising: a metal oxide abrasive; an oxidizer; a tungsten removal rate enhancing substance according to formula I; and, water; wherein the polishing composition exhibits an enhanced tungsten removal rate and a tungsten removal rate enhancement. |
| US09275894B2 |
Method for forming semiconductor device structure
In accordance with some embodiments, a method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer has at least one first trench in the dielectric layer. The method also includes forming a seed layer on a sidewall and a bottom surface of the first trench. The method further includes forming a first conductive layer on the seed layer. The method includes performing a thermal treatment process to melt and transform the seed layer and the first conductive layer into a second conductive layer. The method also includes forming a third conductive layer on the second conductive layer to fill the first trench. |
| US09275892B2 |
Method of high temperature layer transfer
A method of transferring a layer from a donor substrate onto a receiving substrate comprises ionic implantation of at least one species into the donor substrate and forming a layer of concentration of the species intended to form microcavities or platelets; bonding the donor substrate with the receiving substrate by wafer bonding; and splitting at high temperature to split the layer in contact with the receiving substrate by cleavage, at a predetermined cleavage temperature, at the layer of microcavities or platelets formed in the donor substrate. The method further comprises, after the first implantation step and before the splitting step, ionic implantation of silicon ions into the donor substrate to form a layer of concentration of silicon ions in the donor substrate, the layer of concentration of silicon ions at least partially overlapping the layer of concentration of the species intended to form microcavities or platelets. |
| US09275891B2 |
Process for fabricating an integrated circuit having trench isolations with different depths
A process for fabricating an integrated circuit includes, in a stack of layers including a silicon substrate overlaid with a buried insulating layer overlaid with a silicon layer, etching first trenches into the silicon substrate, depositing a silicon nitride layer on the silicon layer to fill the first trenches and form first trench isolations, forming a mask on the silicon nitride layer, etching second trenches into the silicon substrate, in a pattern defined by the mask, to a depth greater than a depth of the first trenches, filling the second trenches with an electrical insulator to form second trench isolations, carrying out a chemical etch until the silicon layer is exposed, and forming a FET by forming a channel, a source, and a drain of the field effect transistor in the silicon layer. |
| US09275889B2 |
Method and apparatus for high yield contact integration scheme
A methodology for forming contact areas by a multiple patterning process that provides increased yield and lower risk of contact-to-contact short at points of tight tip-to-tip spacing and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming one or more trench patterning layers on a planarized surface of a wafer, forming one or more trenches in the one or more trench patterning layers, forming a block mask at one or more points along the one or more trenches, extending the one or more trenches down to a substrate level of the wafer, and removing the block mask from the one or more points. |
| US09275883B2 |
Apparatus for substrate transportation using electrostatic floating
The intent of this invention is to provide an apparatus for substrate transportation that is to carry the substrate without any mechanical contact when the substrate is required to be transported in various manufacturing processes including semiconductor, display and the like. |
| US09275881B2 |
Liquid processing apparatus, liquid processing method, and storage medium
A liquid processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes a rotatable substrate holder that holds a wafer from above, and a top plate nozzle that supplies at least rinse liquid to the wafer and is provided in the rotation center of the substrate holder. The top plate nozzle is movably configured with the substrate holder in the top-bottom direction, and the rinse liquid is supplied to the wafer from the top plate nozzle while the top plate nozzle is spaced from the substrate holder. When the top plate nozzle approaches to the substrate holder, the rinse liquid is supplied to the lower surface of the substrate holder from the top plate nozzle to clean the lower surface of the substrate holder. |
| US09275869B2 |
Fast-gas switching for etching
A method for etching a layer in a plasma chamber with an inner injection zone gas feed and an outer injection zone gas feed is provided. The layer is placed in the plasma chamber. A pulsed etch gas is provided from the inner injection zone gas feed at a first frequency, wherein flow of pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed is ramped down to zero. The pulsed etch gas is provided from the outer injection zone gas feed at the first frequency and simultaneous with and out of phase with the pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed. The etch gas is formed into a plasma to etch the layer, simultaneous with the providing the pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed and providing the pulsed gas from the outer interjection zone gas feed. |
| US09275868B2 |
Uniform roughness on backside of a wafer
Substrates (wafers) with uniform backside roughness and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a material on a backside of a wafer. The method further includes patterning the material to expose portions of the backside of the wafer. The method further includes roughening the backside of the wafer through the patterned material to form a uniform roughness. |
| US09275867B2 |
Method for improving quality of spalled material layers
Methods for removing a material layer from a base substrate utilizing spalling in which mode III stress, i.e., the stress that is perpendicular to the fracture front created in the base substrate, during spalling is reduced. The substantial reduction of the mode III stress during spalling results in a spalling process in which the spalled material has less surface roughness at one of its' edges as compared to prior art spalling processes in which the mode III stress is present and competes with spalling. |
| US09275866B2 |
Gas cluster reactor for anisotropic film growth
A method of forming a low temperature silicide film on a substrate includes supplying a source gas to a cluster formation chamber to form a gas cluster that is subsequently moved to an ionization-acceleration chamber to form a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB). The GCIB is injected into a processing chamber containing the substrate. A precursor gas is injected through an injection device located on a top portion of the processing chamber to form a silicide film on the substrate by bombarding the substrate with the GCIB in the presence of the precursor gas. |
| US09275865B2 |
Plasma treatment of film for impurity removal
Methods for plasma treatment of films to remove impurities are disclosed herein. Methods for removing impurities can include positioning a substrate with a barrier layer in a processing chamber, the barrier layer comprising a barrier metal and one or more impurities, maintaining the substrate at a bias, creating a plasma comprising a treatment gas, the treatment gas comprising an inert gas, delivering the treatment gas to the substrate to reduce the ratio of one or more impurities in the barrier layer, and reacting a deposition gas comprising a metal halide and hydrogen-containing gas to deposit a bulk metal layer on the barrier layer. The methods can further include the use of diborane to create selective nucleation in features over surface regions of the substrate. |
| US09275864B2 |
Method to form a polysilicon nanocrystal thin film storage bitcell within a high k metal gate platform technology using a gate last process to form transistor gates
A process integration is disclosed for fabricating non-volatile memory (NVM) cells (105-109, 113-115) on a first flash cell substrate area (111) which are encapsulated in one or more planar dielectric layers (116) prior to forming an elevated substrate (117) on a second CMOS transistor area (112) on which high-k metal gate electrodes (119-120, 122-126, 132, 134) are formed using a gate-last HKMG CMOS process flow without interfering with the operation or reliability of the NVM cells. |
| US09275863B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor device
In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a MISFET of trench gate structure, a trench is formed from a major surface of a semiconductor layer of first conductivity type which serves as a drain region, in a depth direction of the direction of the semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film including a thermal oxide film and a deposited film is formed over the internal surface of the trench, and after a gate electrode has been formed in the trench, impurities are introduced into the semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type to form a semiconductor region of second conductivity type which serves as a channel forming region, and impurities are introduced into the semiconductor region of second conductivity type to form the semiconductor region of first conductivity type which serves as a source region. |
| US09275861B2 |
Methods of forming group III-V semiconductor materials on group IV substrates and the resulting substrate structures
One method disclosed herein includes forming a patterned mask layer above a surface of a semiconductor substrate, performing at least one etching process through the patterned mask layer to define a plurality of intersecting ridges that define a ridged surface in the substrate, and forming a Group III-V material on the ridged surface of the substrate. An illustrative device disclosed herein includes a Group IV substrate having a ridged surface comprised of a plurality of intersecting ridges and a Group III-V material layer positioned on the ridged surface of the Group IV substrate. |
| US09275860B2 |
Method of manufacturing a junction electronic device having a 2-dimensional material as a channel
A method of manufacturing a junction electronic device having a 2-Dimensional (2D) material as a channel, includes forming a pattern portion by surface-treating a substrate so that the patterned portion has a higher surface potential than other portions of the substrate; bonding a 2D material to rthe patterned portion having the higher surface potential by spraying a liquid including 2D material flakes onto the substrate; forming a pair of first electrodes in contact with both ends of the 2D material disposed on the substrate; forming a dielectric layer on the first electrodes and the 2D material; and forming a second electrode on the dielectric layer. The 2D materials are disposed at desired positions by chemical exfoliation. |
| US09275854B2 |
Compound semiconductor integrated circuit and method to fabricate same
A structure includes a substrate having a surface and a first transistor disposed in a first region supported by the surface of the substrate. The first transistor has a channel formed in a first compound (Group III-V) semiconductor having a first energy bandgap. The structure further includes a second transistor disposed in a second region supported by the substrate. The second transistor has a channel formed in a second compound (Group III-V) semiconductor having a second energy bandgap that is larger than the first energy bandgap. In one embodiment the first compound semiconductor is a layer that overlies a first portion of the surface of the substrate and the substrate is the second compound semiconductor. In another embodiment the second compound semiconductor is provided as a second layer that overlies a second portion of the surface of the substrate. Methods to form the structure are also disclosed. |
| US09275847B2 |
Recycling unit and substrate treating apparatus
The substrate treating apparatus includes a drying chamber in which an organic solvent remaining on a substrate is dissolved by using a fluid, and a recycling unit including a separator for separating the organic solvent from the fluid discharged from the drying chamber to recycle the fluid. The separator includes a distiller in which a fluid containing an organic solvent having a first concentration is introduced, a heating unit heating a fluid containing an organic solvent having a second concentration discharged from the distiller, and supplying an evaporated fluid containing an organic solvent having a third concentration into the distiller, and a condensation unit liquefying a fluid containing an organic solvent having a fourth concentration discharged from the distiller. The organic solvent has the second concentration, the first concentration, the third concentration, and the fourth concentration which are successively lowered in concentration. |
| US09275844B2 |
Apparatus and method for nanoflow liquid jet and serial femtosecond x-ray protein crystallography
Techniques for nanoflow serial femtosecond x-ray protein crystallography include providing a sample fluid by mixing a plurality of a first target of interest with a carrier fluid and injecting the sample fluid into a vacuum chamber at a rate less than about 4 microliters per minute. In some embodiments, the carrier fluid has a viscosity greater than about 3 centipoise. |
| US09275840B2 |
Method for providing uniform distribution of plasma density in a plasma treatment apparatus
Proposed is a method for providing uniform distribution of plasma density in a CCP plasma processing apparatus. According to the method the through gas holes of the showerhead of used in the plasma processing chamber of the apparatus are provided with conical nozzles formed on the side of the gas holes that face the gas reservoir of the cooler plate. The cone angle θ of the nozzles decreases in the direction from the peripheral portion to the central area of the showerhead in the range from 120° to 0°. Since the conical nozzles increase the gas gap between the showerhead and the cooler plate, more favorable conditions are created for electric breakdown. In order to protect the surfaces of the conical nozzles and gas holes from deterioration by hollow cathode discharge, these surface are coated by a protective coating resistant to electrical breakdown and chemical corrosion. |
| US09275839B2 |
Toroidal plasma chamber for high gas flow rate process
A plasma chamber for activating a process gas, including at least four legs forming a toroidal plasma channel, each leg having a cross-sectional area, and an outlet formed on one leg, the outlet having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the other legs. The plasma chamber further includes an inlet for receiving the process gas and a plenum for introducing the process gas over a broad area of the leg opposing the outlet to reduce localized high plasma impedance and gas flow instability, wherein the leg opposing the outlet defines a plurality of holes for providing a helical gas rotation in the plasma channel. |
| US09275837B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus
A parallel resonance frequency can be adjusted in order to stably and securely block different high frequency noises flowing into a line such as a power feed line or a signal line from electric members including a high frequency electrode within a processing chamber. A filter 102(1) coaxially accommodates a coil 104(1) within a cylindrical outer conductor 110, and a ring member 122 is coaxially installed between the coil 104(1) and the outer conductor 110. The ring-shaped member 122 may be a plate body of a circular ring shape on a plane orthogonal to an axial direction of the outer conductor 110 and made of a conductor such as cupper or aluminum and electrically connected with the outer conductor 110 while electrically insulated from the coil 104(1). |
| US09275835B2 |
Plasma generating device with moving carousel and method of use
One possible embodiment of the invention could be a plasma reactor chamber and method of operating same wherein the plasma reactor chamber comprises a set of chamber walls and a door that when closed seals the plasma reactor chamber air-tight; one or more RF electrodes with at least one RF electrode being a power RF electrode; and a structure that moves one or more specimens proximate to the one or more RF electrodes. |
| US09275829B2 |
Image forming device and computer program
In an image forming apparatus and a computer program, extraction of information about distortion in a charged particle beam scan area can be implemented. An image forming apparatus integrates image data obtained by a charged particle beam apparatus and calculates, from a plurality of images with different scan directions of the charged particle beam apparatus, first information about the amount of change in a feature quantity in accordance with the time of irradiation of the charged particle beam, second information about the amount of change in the feature quantity before and after a change in beam scan direction, and/or third information about a position error of a pattern on the image before and after the change in beam scan direction. |
| US09275828B2 |
Source for selectively providing positively or negatively charged particles for a focusing column
A single column charged particle source with user selectable configurations operates in ion-mode for FIB operations or electron mode for SEM operations. Equipped with an x-ray detector, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis is possible. A user can selectively configure the source to prepare a sample in the ion-mode or FIB mode then essentially flip a switch selecting electron-mode or SEM mode and analyze the sample using EDS or other types of analysis. |
| US09275824B2 |
Multi charged particle beam writing method, and multi charged particle beam writing apparatus
A multi charged particle beam writing method includes emitting each corresponding beam in an “on” state while starting and continuing tracking control, shifting a writing position by beam deflection of the multi beams, in addition to tracking control, while continuing tracking control, emitting each corresponding beam in the next “on” state to the next writing position having been shifted while continuing tracking control, and returning the tracking position by resetting tracking control, after emitting each next corresponding beam to the next writing position having been shifted at least once, wherein writing of a predetermined region is completed by repeating the number of preset times a group of performing emitting, shifting, emitting, and returning, wherein the tracking time from start to reset of tracking control in at least one of the repeated groups is longer than the others. |
| US09275821B2 |
Electron emission device and electron emission display
An electron emission device includes a number of second electrodes intersected with a number of first electrodes to define a number of intersections. An electron emission unit is sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode at each of the number of intersections, wherein the electron emission unit includes a semiconductor layer, an electron collection layer, and an insulating layer stacked together, and the electron collection layer is a conductive layer. |
| US09275819B2 |
Magnetic field sources for an ion source
An ion source is provided that includes an ionization chamber and two magnetic field sources. The ionization chamber has a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and includes two opposing chamber walls, each chamber wall being parallel to the longitudinal axis. The two magnetic field sources each comprises (i) a core and (ii) a coil wound substantially around the core. Each magnetic field source is aligned with and adjacent to an external surface of respective one of the opposing chamber walls and oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The cores of the magnetic field sources are physically separated and electrically isolated from each other. |
| US09275813B1 |
Remote racking tool
A remote racking tool can have a drive assembly, remote control assembly, and radio remote pendant station. The remote racking can enable operators to install or remove circuit breakers in switchgear or equipment rooms while outside of an arc flash zone. |
| US09275809B2 |
Device camera angle
Techniques for device camera angle are described. In one or more implementations, a camera is mounted in a computing device at an angle based on an orientation of the computing device. For example, when the computing device is positioned on a surface and at an angle to the surface (such as when supported by a kickstand), the mounting angle of the camera is such that an optical axis of the camera points forward, and not towards the surface. In at least some implementations, a computing device includes a camera that is physically adjustable to support different orientations of the computing device. In at least some implementations, images that are captured via a camera on a computing device can be manipulated based on an orientation of the computing device. |
| US09275807B2 |
Interlock system for switchgear
An interlock system for a circuit-interrupting device. The circuit-interrupting device includes a gearbox, a load-breaker in series with a visible disconnect, and an assembly driving the visible disconnect between an open state and a closed state. The interlock system includes a cam and a bias-driven follower. The cam is coupled to a shaft and is driven by the shaft between a first cam state when the load-breaker is in an open state and a second cam state when the load-breaker is in a closed state. The bias-driven follower has a first follower state when the cam is in the first cam state and has a second follower state when the cam is in the second cam state. In the second follower state, the bias-driven follower blocks movement of at least one component of the assembly. The cam and the bias-driver follower are positioned inside the gearbox. |
| US09275801B2 |
Systems and methods for enhanced dielectric properties for electrolytic capacitors
This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for enhanced dielectric properties for electrolytic capacitors to store energy in an implantable medical device. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for manufacturing a capacitor adapted to be disposed in an implantable device housing. An embodiment of the method includes providing a dielectric comprising aluminum oxide and doping the aluminum oxide with an oxide having a dielectric constant greater than aluminum oxide. Doping the aluminum oxide includes using sol-gel based chemistry, electrodeposition or atomic layer deposition (ALD) in various embodiments. |
| US09275799B2 |
Wet electrolytic capacitor containing an improved anode
A wet electrolytic capacitor that includes a sintered porous anode body containing a dielectric layer, a fluid electrolyte, and a cathode is provided. At least one longitudinally extending channel is recessed into the anode body. The channel may have a relatively high aspect ratio (length divided by width), such as about 2 or more, in some embodiments about 5 or more, in some embodiments from about 10 to about 200, in some embodiments from about 15 to about 150, in some embodiments from about 20 to about 100, and in some embodiments, from about 30 to about 60. |
| US09275786B2 |
Superposed structure 3D orthogonal through substrate inductor
A three-dimensional (3D) orthogonal inductor pair is embedded in and supported by a substrate, and has a first inductor having a first coil that winds around a first winding axis and a second inductor having a second coil that winds around a second winding axis. The second winding axis is orthogonal to the first winding axis. The second winding axis intersects the first winding axis at an intersection point that is within the substrate. |
| US09275785B2 |
Multilayered power inductor and method for preparing the same
Disclosed herein are a multilayered power inductor including an inner electrode coil pattern formed on a ceramic substrate; an outer electrode layer; and a magnetic layer made of a metal powder insulated along a grain interface of the metal powder included in a part or the whole of a chip, and a method for preparing the same. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the magnetic layer made of the metal powder insulation-coated with the ceramic material along the grain interface of the magnetic metal powder can be used for a part or the whole of the chip, thereby increasing the filling ratio of the magnetic metal powder to 90% within the magnetic layer. Therefore, a high-capacity power inductor can be implemented to effectively improve efficiency characteristics. |
| US09275782B2 |
Dual stroke mechanically latched mechanism
A switch for an electrical circuit includes a base, a rotatable cam having a first profile and a second profile, a solenoid, a link, and a member comprising a cam follower configured to follow the second profile. A first cycle of the solenoid includes a first energized state and a first de-energized state and the second cycle of the solenoid includes a second energized state and a second de-energized state. A first portion of the link couples to the solenoid, and a second portion of the link movably couples to the first profile of the cam. When the solenoid is in a first cycle, the member moves from a retracted position to an extended position, and when the solenoid is in a second cycle, the member moves from the extended position to the retracted position. |
| US09275777B2 |
Method for processing an embedded metal film
A method for processing a metal film (1) embedded in a carrier (2) includes the step of heating the metal film (1) in such a way that the metal film (1) is transformed in a subregion into at least one insulator section (3). The metal film (1) is preferably locally heated by laser radiation (4). Also described is a component (10, 11, 12, 13) which is produced by the method and includes an electrostatic clamp, a drive mechanism which is adapted for moving a workpiece under the action of electrical fields, a resistor element or a display device, for example. |
| US09275775B2 |
Electrical insulation system
An electrical insulation system includes a first insulation layer having a first polymer and a first filler in the form of nanoparticles, and a second insulation layer including a second polymer and a second filler in the form of either chromium oxide, Cr2O3, iron oxide, Fe2O3, or a mixture of chromium oxide and iron oxide. At least one of the insulation layers is in the form of a solid and flat sheet. An insulation system combining the first insulation layer with well dispersed nanoparticles and the second insulation layer filled with Cr2O3particles and/or Fe2O3 particles. |
| US09275772B2 |
Electroconductive paste composition
An electroconductive paste composition, particularly for solar cells, contains silver particles, glass particles, an organic vehicle, and at least one additive. The additive may be tantalum pentoxide or fine, electrically conductive, metal particles, such as gold and/or platinum group metals. When used to form an electrical contact on a solar cell, such a paste provides for enhanced adhesion of the contact to the cell and improved electron transmission. |
| US09275769B2 |
Marking template for radiography
A template for radiography and methods of using and making a template are described. The template can include a contoured sheet having first portions and second portions. The first portions are radiodense and the second portions are radiolucent to provide markings on a radiograph. At least one surface of the contoured sheet can correspond to at least one surface of a target part to provide alignment of the contoured sheet to the target part. |
| US09275767B2 |
Systems and methods for generating power employing VES air supply stored energy
The present invention relates to a generation system for converting compressed air in a passive main control room habitability system to energy when the main control room habitability system is activated during an accident scenario in a nuclear reactor power plant. The system includes a pressure regulator for reducing the pressure of the compressed air to produce reduced pressurized air, an eductor to deliver air to the control room, and piping to connect the tank to the pressure regulator and the eductor to allow the flow of compressed air therein. The generation system includes a mechanism positioned upstream of the eductor for receiving the reduced pressurized air from the pressure regulator and converting at least a portion of said reduced pressurized air into energy. |
| US09275766B2 |
Apparatus for vertically segmenting a boiling water reactor control rod blade
Apparatus for longitudinally segmenting a cruciform shaped irradiated boiling water reactor control rod having four elongated blades radially extending from a central spline, into four flat panels. The apparatus employs a double bladed band saw with the band saw blades orthogonally oriented at two different elevations and having one side of each band saw blade crossing over the center of the spline of the control rod in between the control rod blades. |
| US09275765B2 |
Method and apparatus for the shielded relocation of a nuclear component
A nuclear component transfer device that incorporates a shielded canister into the mast design of a conventional nuclear refueling machine. A moveable mast telescopes within a stationary mast which is attached to a bridge for lateral positioning. The canister allows for the addition of shielding that is positioned with the movement of the moveable mast without additional motorized components to deploy the shielding during nuclear component movement. The nuclear component is drawn up into the shielded canister as the moveable mast lifts the nuclear component. The nuclear component is then placed into a transfer cart that is also fitted with a shielded canister. The transfer is made without exposing the nuclear components resulting in completely shield movement. |
| US09275764B2 |
Operation monitoring apparatus of nuclear power plant
In an operation monitoring apparatus of a nuclear power plant, a first operation console (12) that can be operated by an operator and includes displays (31 to 37), an operation command console (14) that can be operated by a shift supervisor and includes displays (41 to 44) , a transfer device (51) that can display an image displayed on the displays (31 to 37) of the first operation console (12) on the displays (41 to 44) of the operation command console (14), and a switching device (54) that switches an image on the displays (41 to 44) of the operation command console (14) to the image on the displays (31 to 37) of the first operation console transferred by the transfer device (51) are provided. With this configuration, it is possible to improve communications between the supervisor and the operation in operation of the nuclear power plant. |
| US09275760B2 |
Heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system
A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger body defining an exit plenum chamber therein shaped for uniform flow of a hot primary heat transfer fluid through the chamber. A plurality of adjacent heat transfer members are connected to the heat exchanger body and spaced apart by a predetermined distance for defining a plurality of flow passages between the heat transfer members. The flow passages open into the exit plenum chamber. Spacing of the heat transfer members by the predetermined distance evenly distributes flow of the primary heat transfer fluid through the flow passages, across the surfaces of the heat transfer members and into the exit plenum chamber. Each heat transfer member defines a flow channel therethrough for flow of a cooler secondary heat transfer fluid. Heat transfer occurs from the hot primary heat transfer fluid to the cooler secondary heat transfer fluid as the primary heat transfer fluid flows through the chamber and as the secondary heat transfer fluid simultaneously flows through the flow channel. |
| US09275758B2 |
Error detection circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit using the same
The technology may include: a first error detection operation unit configured to perform a serial error detection operation on a data signal which is inputted in sequence through each of multiple input/output pads, and to generate multiple pieces of preliminary information; and a second error detection operation unit configured to perform a parallel error detection operation on the multiple pieces of preliminary information, and to generate an error detection code. |
| US09275754B2 |
Shift register, data driver having the same, and liquid crystal display device
Disclosed are a shift register capable of reducing power consumption, a data driver having the same, and a liquid crystal display device. The shift register includes a storing cell array including storage cells which store a plurality of serial data, and a control array for outputting sampling signals, which are sequentially shifted every period of data transmission such that the storage cells sequentially store the data, in response to at least one clock signal having a frequency lower than a transmission frequency of the data. |
| US09275750B2 |
Reduction of read disturb errors
Methods and apparatuses for reduction of read disturb errors in a memory system utilizing modified or extra memory cells. |
| US09275748B2 |
Low leakage, low threshold voltage, split-gate flash cell operation
A method of reading a memory device having rows and columns of memory cells formed on a substrate, where each memory cell includes spaced apart first and second regions with a channel region therebetween, a floating gate disposed over a first portion of the channel region, a select gate disposed over a second portion of the channel region, a control gate disposed over the floating gate, and an erase gate disposed over the first region. The method includes placing a small positive voltage on the unselected source lines, and/or a small negative voltage on the unselected word lines, during the read operation to suppress sub-threshold leakage and thereby improve read performance. |
| US09275743B1 |
Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof
An operating method of a semiconductor device is provided. The operating method of the semiconductor memory device includes programming a second source select transistor electrically coupled to a common source line through a first source select transistor; reprogramming the second source select transistor when a threshold voltage of the second source select transistor is less than a target voltage, and ending a program for the second source select transistor when the threshold voltage of the second source select transistor is greater than or equal to the target voltage. The programming includes electrically decoupling the second source select transistor from the common source line by turning off the first source select transistor. |
| US09275736B2 |
Semiconductor device and operating method thereof
The semiconductor device includes a CAM block including a plurality of vertical strings having a perpendicular configuration with respect to a semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the plurality of vertical strings is electrically coupled to a plurality of word lines and each of the plurality of word lines is electrically coupled to a plurality of CAM cells, a peripheral circuit configured to program CAM cells selected from the plurality of CAM cells, and a control circuit configured to issue at least one command to the peripheral circuit to simultaneously apply a program voltage to an nth word line, an n−1th word line and an n+1th word line to simultaneously program CAM cells electrically coupled to the n−1th word line, the nth word line and the n+1th word line, wherein the n−1th word line and an n+1th word line are adjacent to the nth word line and the selected CAM cells are electrically coupled to the nth word line. |
| US09275732B2 |
Write buffer for resistive random access memory
A circuit includes a current generator and a voltage generator. The current generator is configured to generate a predetermined current flowing toward a selected cell in a memory array via a node during a write operation. The voltage generator is configured to generate a predetermined voltage. The voltage level at the node is clamped at a predetermined value associated with the predetermined voltage as the selected cell is switched between a low resistance state and a high resistance state during the write operation. |
| US09275730B2 |
Apparatuses and methods of reading memory cells based on response to a test pulse
The disclosed technology generally relates to memory apparatuses and methods of operating the same, and more particularly to memory arrays and methods of reading memory cells in a memory array, such as a cross point memory array. In one aspect, the method comprises providing a memory array comprising a memory cell in one of a plurality of states. The method additionally comprises determining whether a threshold voltage (Vth) of the memory cell has a value within a predetermined read voltage window. A test pulse is applied to the memory cell if it is determined that the threshold voltage has a value within the predetermined read voltage window. The state of the memory cell may be determined based on a response of the memory cell to the test pulse, wherein the state corresponds to the one of the pluralities of states of the memory cell prior to receiving the test pulse. |
| US09275727B2 |
Multi-level memory array having resistive elements for multi-bit data storage
A resistor array for multi-bit data storage without the need to increase the size of a memory chip or scale down the feature size of a memory cell contained within the memory chip is provided. The resistor array incorporates a number of discrete resistive elements to be selectively connected, in different series combinations, to at least one memory cell or memory device. In one configuration, by connecting each memory cell or device with at least one resistor array, a resistive switching layer found in the resistive switching memory element of the connected memory device is capable of being at multiple resistance states for storing multiple bits of digital information. During device programming operations, when a desired series combination of the resistive elements within the resistor array is selected, the resistive switching layer in the connected memory device can be in a desired resistance state. |
| US09275726B2 |
Static memory cell
A static memory cell is provided. The static memory cell includes a data latch circuit and a voltage provider. The data latch circuit is configured to store a bit data. The data latch circuit has a first inverter and a second inverter, and the first inverter and the second inverter are coupled to each other. The first inverter and the second inverter respectively receive a first voltage and a second voltage as power voltages. The voltage provider provides the first voltage and the second voltage to the data latch circuit. When the bit data is written to the data latch circuit, the voltage provider adjusts a voltage value of one of the first and second voltages according to the bit data. |
| US09275724B2 |
Method of writing to and reading data from a three-dimensional two port register file
A method comprises selecting a memory cell included in a memory cell array in which data is to be stored. The memory cell array is connected with a logic gate array. The memory cells of the memory cell array are individually coupled with a corresponding logic gate of the logic gate array by a separate word line output. The method also comprises communicating a write row output signal to the logic gate array. The write row output signal is communicated from a write address row decoder to the logic gate array. The write address row decoder has a plurality of write row outputs coupled with the logic gate array. The method further comprises communicating a write column output signal to the logic gate array. The write column output signal is communicated from a write address column decoder to the logic gate array. |
| US09275723B2 |
Scalable floating body memory cell for memory compilers and method of using floating body memories with memory compilers
A floating body SRAM cell that is readily scalable for selection by a memory compiler for making memory arrays is provided. A method of selecting a floating body SRAM cell by a memory compiler for use in array design is provided. |
| US09275721B2 |
Split bit line architecture circuits and methods for memory devices
Apparatus and methods for providing a high density memory array with reduced read access time are disclosed. Multiple split bit lines are arranged along columns of adjacent memory bit cells. A multiple input sense amplifier is coupled to the multiple split bit lines. The loading on the multiple split bit line is reduced, and the corresponding read speed of the memory array is enhanced over the prior art. The sense amplifier and the memory bit cells have a common cell pitch layout height so that no silicon area penalty arises due to the use of the multiple split bit lines and sense amplifiers. Increased memory array efficiency is achieved. |
| US09275720B2 |
Differential vector storage for dynamic random access memory
A storage device stores data in groups of memory cells using vectors corresponding to voltage code codewords, each codeword having k entries. Entries have values selected from a set of at least three entry values and 2n distinct inputs can be encoded into k-entry codewords for some n>k. A vector storage element comprising k cells can store an k electrical quantities (voltage, current, etc.) corresponding to a codeword. The voltage code is such that, for at least one position of a vector, there are at least three vectors having distinct entry values at that position and, for at least a subset of the possible codewords, the sum of the entry values over the positions of the each vector is constant from vector to vector in that subset. The storage device might be an integrated circuit device, a discrete memory device, or a device having embedded memory. |
| US09275715B2 |
Non-destructive write/read leveling
In some examples, a memory device is configured with non-volatile memory array(s) having one or more associated volatile memory arrays. The memory device may include a non-destructive write mode configured to prevent access to the non-volatile memory array(s) during an initiation or calibration sequence performed by the memory device or an electronic device associated with the memory device to calibrate read and write access timing associated with the memory device. |
| US09275710B2 |
Three dimensional cross-access dual-port bit cell design
A semiconductor memory comprises a dual-port memory array having a plurality of cross-access dual-port bit cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein each of the plurality of cross-access dual-port bit cells has two cross-access ports for read and write of one or more bits of data to the cross-access dual port bit cell. The semiconductor memory further comprises a pair of word lines associated with at least one of the plurality of rows of the dual-port memory array, wherein the pair of word lines is configured to carry a pair of row selection signals for enabling one or more read and write operations on one or more cross-access dual-port bit cells in the row. The semiconductor memory further comprises a pair of column selection lines associated with at least one of the plurality of columns of the dual port memory array, wherein the pair of column selection lines is configured to carry a pair of column selection signals for enabling the cross-access dual-port bit cells in the column during the read and write operations. |
| US09275707B2 |
Driver and memory controller having the same
A memory controller includes a bus driver that allows the controller to support both a semiconductor memory device supporting a low power double data rate 3 (LPDDR3) transmission method and a semiconductor memory device supporting a low power double data rate 4 (LPDDR4) transmission method. |
| US09275705B2 |
Integrated circuit for storing information
An integrated circuit includes a variable resistance unit including at least one transistor that receives a control signal and changes a resistance through the transistor in response to the control signal in a programming operation mode and an information detection unit configured to detect programming information in response to an output voltage of the variable resistance unit in a normal operation mode. |
| US09275698B2 |
Memory system and method using stacked memory device dice, and system using the memory system
A memory system and method uses stacked memory device dice coupled to each other and to a logic die. The logic die may include a timing correction system that is operable to control the timing at which the logic die receives signals, such as read data signals, from each of the memory device dice. The timing correction controls the timing of the read data or other signals by adjusting the timing of respective strobe signals, such as read strobe signals, that are applied to each of the memory device dice. The memory device dice may transmit read data to the memory device at a time determined by when it receives the respective strobe signals. The timing of each of the strobe signals is adjusted so that the read data or other signals from all of the memory device dice are received at the same time. |
| US09275697B2 |
Utilizing destructive features as RAM code for a storage device
A host including a controller configured to be connected to a storage device separate from the host. The controller is configured to maintain random access memory (RAM) code on the host, the RAM code configured to provide a destructive function, temporarily load the RAM code onto a volatile memory in the storage device during a manufacturing process, wherein the loaded RAM code, when executed by a processor in the storage device, is configured to cause the processor in the storage device to perform a destructive function on the storage device, and remove the loaded RAM code from the volatile memory after the manufacturing process, wherein the destructive function is unable to be performed by the processor when the loaded RAM code is removed from the volatile memory. |
| US09275695B2 |
Memory device and read operation method thereof
A read operation for a memory device is provided. A selected word line, first and second global bit line groups and a selected first bit line group are precharged. A first cell current flowing through the selected word line, the first and the selected first bit line groups is generated. A first reference current flowing through the second global bit line group is generated. A first half page data is read based on the first cell current and the first reference current. The selected word line, the first and the second global bit line groups are kept precharged. |
| US09275692B2 |
Memory, memory controllers, and methods for dynamically switching a data masking/data bus inversion input
Examples are described herein of dynamic switching of data masking and data bus inversion functionality of a memory input. Both dynamic switching and a static setting for the memory input may be supported in some examples described herein. Use of a command indicating a functionality of the memory input is described. |
| US09275690B2 |
Power management in an electronic system through reducing energy usage of a battery and/or controlling an output power of an amplifier thereof
A method includes forming a power control circuit through coupling a gate switch array between a buffer stage at an input of the power control circuit and an amplifier array including N amplifier stages in parallel to each other, with N>1. The method also includes coupling each of the N amplifier stages to a corresponding gate switch of the gate switch array, and controlling an output power of the power control circuit by switching one or more appropriate gate switches of the gate switch array to apply an input signal from the buffer stage to a corresponding one or more amplifier stages coupled to the one or more appropriate gate switches such that a maximum output power is achieved when all of the N amplifier stages are turned on and a minimum output power is achieved when only one amplifier stage is turned on. |
| US09275687B2 |
Semiconductor chips
A semiconductor chip includes a core region having a plurality of first memory cells and a first edge adjacent to a first side of the core region. The first edge includes a first region and a second region. The first region includes a plurality of second memory cells, and the second region includes a first pad portion through which at least one of an address signal, a command signal, a clock signal, a data signal and a control signal is inputted or outputted. |
| US09275680B2 |
Viewer-centric user interface for stereoscopic cinema
Described is a user interface that displays a representation of a stereo scene, and includes interactive mechanisms for changing parameter values that determine the perceived appearance of that scene. The scene is modeled as if viewed from above, including a representation of a viewer's eyes, a representation of a viewing screen, and an indication simulating what each of the viewer eyes perceives on the viewing screen. Variable parameters may include a vergence parameter, a dolly parameter, a field-of-view parameter, an interocular parameter and a proscenium arch parameter. |
| US09275679B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium
The present invention comprises an input part for inputting image data, a receiving part for receiving production information relating to production transmitted from another apparatus, a recording part for recording the production information received by the receiving part and image data input by the input part, a detection part for detecting a recording position on a recording medium at an editing point of image data recorded by the recording part, and a transmission part for transmitting information of the recording position detected by the detection part, whereby identification information for identifying image data and voice data is recorded in a recording medium or a recording device, this relieving a burden on a photographer and an editor and facilitating extraction of image data and voice data. |
| US09275678B2 |
Primary storage media with associated secondary storage media for efficient data management
A system according to one embodiment includes a tape cartridge, the tape cartridge comprising: a housing; a magnetic recording tape in the housing; and a non-tape nonvolatile memory coupled to the housing, the nonvolatile memory being for storing therein an index comprising file system information for a plurality of files stored on the magnetic recording tape. A method for storing data on a tape cartridge according to one embodiment includes writing a plurality of files to a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge; and writing an index to a non-tape nonvolatile memory of the tape cartridge, the index including information about locations of data of the plurality of files on the magnetic recording tape. |
| US09275672B2 |
Magnetic head, magnetic recording method and apparatus for controlling magnetic head with spin torque oscillator in a disk drive
A microwave assisted magnetic recording head includes a recording magnetic pole unit that produces a recording field for writing to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, and a high-frequency magnetic field oscillator that produces a high-frequency magnetic field. The recording magnetic pole unit includes a magnetic core with a write gap portion at which a main recording field component is concentrated, and the high-frequency magnetic field oscillator is disposed in the write gap. |
| US09275669B1 |
TbFeCo in PMR media for SNR improvement
The present disclosure generally relates to a PMR media for use in a HDD. The PMR media has an amorphous ferri-magnetic material layer disposed within the capping structure. The amorphous ferri-magnetic material layer reduces the noise. The amorphous ferri-magnetic material layer may be disposed between capping layer or on top of the capping layers. Additionally, the amorphous ferri-magnetic material layer may contain Tb. |
| US09275666B1 |
Rotatable recording head actuator for correcting angular error in tape drives
A recording head actuator assembly for correcting for tape mis-registration (TMR) in a tape drive. The assembly includes a recording head actuator including a recording head and actuators for laterally positioning the head relative to tracks of a tape. The assembly also includes a dynamic azimuth control (DAC) assembly that includes a flexural pivot and a rotation driver. The rotation driver applies a driving force on the flexural pivot causing the flexural pivot to rotate about a hinge axis and the head to rotate about a rotation axis passing through the head, from a first azimuth angle to a second azimuth angle. The rotation axis and the hinge axis coincide, and the rotation axis of the head is transverse to a direction of tape travel. In some useful implementations, the flexural pivot may include a planar outer flexure and a planar inner flexure arranged as a cross strip pivot. |
| US09275664B2 |
Shielded flex cable for use in a disk drive
A flex cable with a shielding layer for use in a disk drive is described. The flex cable connects the actuator to the system electronics. The flex cable has a shielding layer that provides RF shielding for the embedded signal traces. In embodiments the shielding layer is connected to the baseplate or device enclosure ground at one or more selected points on the bracket end of the flex cable that are separated from the signal paths. Embodiments of the shielding layer include rows of apertures or windows that are aligned with selected signal traces such as the read and write signal traces and serve to maintain the desired impedance in the read and write signal traces. In one embodiment the shielding layer extends over a selected portion of the flex cable that includes the bracket end and the area under the first stiffener. |
| US09275663B2 |
Heater to keep reader head in stable temperature range
Technologies are described herein for utilizing a head heater to test temperature stability of a head of a storage device and to prevent the head from operating in an unstable temperature condition. A temperature condition of a read/write head in a storage device is ascertained and it is determined whether the temperature condition is within a predetermined range of temperature conditions in which the read/write head exhibits instability. If the temperature condition of the read/write head is within the predetermined range, a power level of a head heater of the read/write head is adjusted to change the temperature condition of the read/write head to be outside of the predetermined range. |
| US09275659B2 |
Peg only near-field transducer
An apparatus for a heat assisted magnetic recording device that includes a write pole, a near-field transducer, and a heat sink. The near-field transducer is comprised only of a peg disposed adjacent the write pole. The heat sink is disposed between the write pole and at least a portion of the near-field transducer. |
| US09275653B2 |
Systems and methods for haptic augmentation of voice-to-text conversion
Systems and methods for providing voice-to-text haptic augmentation in a user interface are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, a system for converting audible speech information to a haptic effect includes a microphone and a processor in communication with the microphone, the processor configured to receive an audio signal associated with a voice from the microphone, determine a characteristic of the audio signal, and generate an actuator signal based at least in part on the characteristic, the actuator signal configured to cause an actuator to output a haptic effect. |
| US09275650B2 |
Hybrid audio encoder and hybrid audio decoder which perform coding or decoding while switching between different codecs
A new hybrid audio decoder and a new hybrid audio encoder having block switching for speech signals and audio signals are provided. Currently, very low bitrate audio coding methods for speech and audio signals are proposed. These audio coding methods cause very long delays. Generally, in coding an audio signal, an algorithm delay tends to be long to achieve higher frequency resolution. In coding a speech signal, the delay needs to be reduced because the speech signal is used for telecommunication. To balance fine coding quality for speech and audio input signals with very low bitrate, a combination of a low delay filter bank like AAC-ELD and a CELP coding method is provided. |
| US09275649B2 |
Method and system for encoding audio data with adaptive low frequency compensation
A method for determining mantissa bit allocation of audio data values of frequency domain audio data to be encoded. The allocation method includes a step of determining masking values for the audio data values, including by performing adaptive low frequency compensation on the audio data of each frequency band of a set of low frequency bands of the audio data. The adaptive low frequency compensation includes steps of: performing tonality detection on the audio data to generate compensation control data indicative of whether each frequency band in the set of low frequency bands has prominent tonal content; and performing low frequency compensation on the audio data in each frequency band in the set of low frequency bands having prominent tonal content as indicated by the compensation control data, but not performing low frequency compensation on the audio data in any other frequency band in the set of low frequency bands. |
| US09275645B2 |
Drone detection and classification methods and apparatus
A system, method, and apparatus for drone detection and classification are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a sound signal in a microphone and recording, via a sound card, a digital sound sample of the sound signal, the digital sound sample having a predetermined duration. The method also includes processing, via a processor, the digital sound sample into a feature frequency spectrum. The method further includes applying, via the processor, broad spectrum matching to compare the feature frequency spectrum to at least one drone sound signature stored in a database, the at least one drone sound signature corresponding to a flight characteristic of a drone model. The method moreover includes, conditioned on matching the feature frequency spectrum to one of the drone sound signatures, transmitting, via the processor, an alert. |
| US09275642B2 |
Voice-operated internet-ready ubiquitous computing device and method thereof
In one aspect of this disclosure, a voice-operated internet-ready ubiquitous computing device and a method implemented by the computing device are disclosed. A sound input associated with a user is received at the first computing device, and in response to receiving the sound input, the first computing device establishes a voice session associated with the user. The first computing device then determines a session quality associated with the voice input, and sends the session quality to a further computing device such as a second computing device or a server. The first computing device will receive a request to transfer the voice session to a second computing device; and in response to receiving the request, transfers the voice session to the second computing device. |
| US09275636B2 |
Automatic accuracy estimation for audio transcriptions
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for estimating the accuracy of a transcription of a voice recording. Specifically, in a typical embodiment, each word of a transcription of a voice recording is checked against a customer-specific dictionary and/or a common language dictionary. The number of words not found in either dictionary is determined. An accuracy number for the transcription is calculated from the number of said words not found and the total number of words in the transcription. |
| US09275634B2 |
Wireless server based text to speech email
An email system for mobile devices, such as cellular phones and PDAs, is disclosed which allows email messages to be played back on the mobile device as voice messages on demand by way of a media player, thus eliminating the need for a unified messaging system. Email messages are received by the mobile device in a known manner. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the email messages are identified by the mobile device as they are received. After the message is identified, the mobile device sends the email message in text format to a server for conversion to speech or voice format. After the message is converted to speech format, the server sends the messages back to the user's mobile device and notifies the user of the email message and then plays the message back to the user through a media player upon demand. |
| US09275633B2 |
Crowd-sourcing pronunciation corrections in text-to-speech engines
Technologies are described herein for providing validated text-to-speech correction hints from aggregated pronunciation corrections received from text-to-speech applications. A number of pronunciation corrections are received by a Web service. The pronunciation corrections may be provided by users of text-to-speech applications executing on a variety of user computer systems. Each of the plurality of pronunciation corrections includes a specification of a word or phrase and a suggested pronunciation provided by the user. The pronunciation corrections are analyzed to generate validated correction hints, and the validated correction hints are provided back to the text-to-speech applications to be used to correct pronunciation of words and phrases in the text-to-speech applications. |
| US09275628B2 |
Tunable frequency acoustic structures
An acoustic structure and a method for dampening sound. The acoustic structure includes an acoustic absorber having one or more acoustic elements. The acoustic absorber is disposed inside a volume. The acoustic structure further includes an acoustic radiator having one or more acoustic elements. The acoustic radiator is disposed outside the volume. A cross-sectional area of the one or more acoustic elements decreases with a distance from a mouth of the one or more acoustic elements to a throat of the one or more acoustic elements. The acoustic structure also includes one or more acoustic waveguide ducts configured to acoustically couple the acoustic absorber and the acoustic radiator. |
| US09275626B2 |
Audio system
An audio system comprises a headset comprising a pair of earpieces positionable with respect to the user's ears so that, in use, the user is inhibited from hearing sounds from the user's environment, at least one of the earpieces having a transducer for reproducing sounds from an input audio signal; a microphone for generating a captured audio signal representing captured sounds from the user's environment; a detector for detecting the presence of any of a set of one or more characteristic sounds in the captured audio signal; and a controller operable to transmit sounds from the user's environment to the user in response to a detection that one or more of the set of characteristic sounds is present in the captured audio signal. |
| US09275625B2 |
Content based noise suppression
Apparatus and methods for audio noise attenuation are disclosed. An audio signal analyzer can determine whether an input audio signal received from a microphone device includes a noise signal having identifiable content. If there is a noise signal having identifiable content, a content source is accessed to obtain a copy of the noise signal. An audio canceller can generate a processed audio signal, having an attenuated noise signal, based on comparing the copy of the noise signal to the input audio signal. Additionally or alternatively, data may be communicated on a communication channel to a separate media device to receive at least a portion of the copy of the noise signal from the separate media device, or to receive content-identification data corresponding to the content source. |
| US09275621B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program for adjustable noise cancellation
An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, allow the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving a background audio signal from an earpiece microphone, the earpiece microphone configured to convert sound from a surrounding environment into the background audio signal; and allow a user of the apparatus to control the generation and characteristics of a noise cancellation signal, the noise cancellation signal configured to interfere destructively with the background audio signal to alter the amplitude of the background audio signal. |
| US09275620B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board pickup for stringed instruments and method of using the same
A retrofit pickup assembly for stringed instruments is disclosed. The retrofit pickup assembly includes an existing coil and existing or new magnets and a flexible circuit having a plurality of wires and two connectors. A pickup assembly for new stringed instruments is also disclosed utilizing the same principles. A method of retrofitting an existing pickup assembly for stringed instruments is also disclosed. |
| US09275611B2 |
Display device and touch sensing method thereof
Disclosed is a display device capable of improving touch sensitivity by removing noise from a user's touch signal through compensation of display touch crosstalk, and a touch sensing method thereof, wherein the display device may include a timing controller for driving one frame by a time division method to alternately perform a displaying driving mode and a touch sensing mode; and a touch sensor for determining a DTX compensation block including at least one touch sensing block corresponding to a unit for sensing a user's touch; calculating a compensation representative value and a sensing block average value; and sensing a user's touch by compensating for touch data in accordance with a difference between the compensation representative value and the sensing block average value. |
| US09275605B2 |
Content metadata enhancement of high dynamic range images
Image data is encoded for distribution in a lower bit-depth format. The image data has a range that is less than a maximum range and is mapped to the lower bit depth format using a mapping such that a ratio of a range of the lower bit depth representation to a maximum range of the lower bit depth representation is greater than a ratio of the range of the image data to a maximum range of the image data. Metadata characterizing the mapping is associated with lower bit depth representation. The metadata may be used downstream to reverse the mapping so that tonal detail is better reproduced. |
| US09275601B2 |
Techniques to control frame display rate
Techniques to determine when to decrease a frame display rate based in part on the amount or degree of change between sequential frames. The amount or degree of change can be measured based on all or part of similarly located portions of sequential frames. In some cases, power use can be reduced without compromising visual quality by reducing frame display rate when an amount or degree of change between frames is small. |
| US09275599B2 |
Display appratus
A display apparatus is provided which includes a display panel; a gate driver configured to drive a plurality of gate lines, a data driver configured to drive a plurality of data lines, a level shifter configured to generate a gate on voltage corresponding to an atmospheric temperature and to generate a gate clock signal, the gate on voltage becoming higher depending on a decrease in an atmospheric temperature, and a timing controller configured to control the gate driver and the data driver and to generate agate pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to a voltage level of the gate on voltage. |
| US09275597B2 |
Display device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes signal lines, scanning lines, pixel switching elements, a signal line driving circuit, a scanning line driving circuit and a display pixel, wherein the signal line driving circuit is configured to apply a voltage, which is identical to a voltage of the counter-electrode, to all the signal lines when a control signal, which is supplied from an outside of the insulative substrate, is at a first logic level, and the scanning line driving circuit is configured to turn on all the pixel switching elements when the control signal is at the first logic level, and to turn off the pixel switching elements at different timings when the control signal is at a second logic level. |
| US09275595B2 |
Output buffer circuit and source driving circuit including the same
A source driving circuit includes an output buffer circuit to compensate for slew rate of signals used to drive a display device. The output buffer circuit includes a bias current control signal generating circuit and a channel amplifying circuit. The bias current control signal generating circuit performs an exclusive OR operation on an input signal and an output signal of a reference operational amplifier to generate a bias current control signal. The channel amplifying circuit adjusts the slew rate of a plurality of output voltage signals in response to the bias current control signal. The output signals are then used to control the display device. |
| US09275592B2 |
Pixel array
A pixel array includes a first color pixel unit, a second color pixel unit and a third pixel unit, and the first, second and third pixel units respectively include a scan line, a data line, an active device electrically connected to the scan line and the data line and a first pixel electrode electrically connected to the active device. The first pixel electrode has at least one first slit, and a first acute angle is formed between an extending direction of the first slit and an extending direction of the scan line. Any two of the first acute angle of the first color pixel unit, the first acute angle of the second color pixel unit, and the first acute angle of the third color pixel unit are different. |
| US09275589B2 |
Gate drive circuit, array substrate and display apparatus
A gate drive circuit, comprising: a plurality of shift register units each having a signal output end, wherein the signal output end of one of the plurality of shift register units except the last one is connected to the signal input end of the next one; L arithmetic units each having a plurality of input ends, wherein L is an integer equal to or larger than 2, and one of the plurality of input ends of each of the L arithmetic units is connected to the signal output end of a respective shift register unit; and a clock generation unit having a plurality of clock output ends for outputting different clock signals, wherein at least one of the plurality of clock output ends is connected to at least one of the other input ends of a respective arithmetic unit except the one input end connected to the signal output end of the shift register unit, so that the L arithmetic units output L different drive signals. |
| US09275588B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, driving method for liquid crystal display devices, and inspection method for liquid crystal display devices
Using technology which uses a single shift register and simultaneously generates multiple pulses, this invention is a liquid crystal display device which rapidly drives data lines. It is possible to increase the frequency of the shift register output signal without changing the frequency of the shift register operation clock. If the shift register output signals, by means of analog switches, are used to determine the video signal sampling timing, high speed data line driving can be realized. Additionally, if the output signals of the shift register mentioned above are used to determine the video signal latch timing in a digital driver, high speed latching of the video signal can be realized. Consequently, even if the driving circuits of the liquid crystal display matrix are composed of TFTs, high speed operation of the driving circuits is possible without increasing power consumption. The shift register can also be used to inspect the electrical characteristics of the data lines and analog switches. |
| US09275587B2 |
Array substrate, display device, liquid crystal panel, and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal panel LCP includes a first side and a second side which are adjacent to each other. This liquid crystal panel LCP includes: data signal lines Sa and Sb formed so as to extend in a direction parallel to the second side, and also so as to array in a direction perpendicular to the second side; a plurality of vertical-side source terminals f formed along the second side to which edge portions of the plurality of data signal lines Sa and Sb formed in a position on a closer side to the second side of the data signal lines Sa and Sb are each connected; and a plurality of horizontal-side source terminals F formed along the first side to which edge portions of the plurality of data signal lines Sa and Sb formed in a position on a farther side from the second side are each connected. Thus, higher definition can be handled. |
| US09275581B2 |
Pixel, display device comprising the same and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels includes 1) a driving transistor controlling a driving current supplied to an OLED, 2) a first capacitor connected to a first electrode of the driving transistor and 3) a switching transistor connecting the first capacitor and the data line. Each pixel further includes a first light emission transistor transmitting a first power source voltage to the first electrode of the driving transistor and a second capacitor connected between the gate electrode of the driving transistor and the first power source voltage. When the first power source voltage is applied to the first electrode of the driving transistor, the corresponding scan signal of a gate-on voltage is supplied and thus the corresponding data voltage is stored in the first capacitor. |
| US09275570B2 |
Field emission display and drive method for the same
A field emission display includes a panel and a control unit. The panel has a number of pixel units. Each of the pixel units has at least one fluorescent layer. The control unit which electrically connects to the pixel units receives an objective image. The control unit further selects a part of the pixel units corresponding to the objective image, divides the part of the pixel units into a number of pixel unit groups, and scans the pixel unit groups to make the plurality of pixel unit groups sequentially work such that the panel displays the objective image. |
| US09275569B2 |
Flat panel display, threshold voltage sensing circuit, and method for sensing threshold voltage
A threshold voltage sensing circuit applied in a display panel includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor positioned in the display panel receives an operation signal at a regular time point after start-up and continuously receives multiple driving signals which are the same as those received by the pixel circuits of the display panel and outputs a first output voltage accordingly. The second sensor positioned in the display panel receives the driving signals at a regular time point after start-up and outputs a second output voltage accordingly. When the voltage difference between the first output voltage and the second output voltage is beyond a variation standard, the low level of the gate voltage of the pixel circuit is adjusted. |
| US09275567B2 |
Pixel and organic light emitting display using the same
A pixel may include an organic light emitting diode (OLED) with a cathode electrode coupled to a second power source, a first transistor with a first electrode coupled to a data line, with a second electrode coupled to a first node, the first transistor being turned on when a scan signal is supplied to a scan line, a first capacitor coupled between the first node and a third power source to charge a first capacitor voltage corresponding to a data signal supplied from the data line, and a pixel circuit charged by the first capacitor voltage to supply current corresponding to a charged first power source voltage from a first power source to the second power source via the OLED. |
| US09275564B2 |
Panoramic diver down flag
A three-dimensional, panoramic diver down flag visible having increased visibility is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a diver down flag includes a first indicator and a second indicator positioned obliquely to the first indicator. A separation member is disposed between the first and the second indicator, the separation member configured to maintain an angular separation between the first and the second indicator. |
| US09275561B2 |
Optical adhesive film and flat panel display device having the same
An optical adhesive film for improving the adhesive strength between constitutional elements of a flat panel display device, and a flat panel display device having the same. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical adhesive film for use in a flat panel display module that displays an image, the optical adhesive film including a transmission unit disposed on the flat panel display module and allowing the image to transmit through the transmission unit; a wing member extending from at least one side surface of the transmission unit, and covering side surfaces and a portion of a rear surface of the flat panel display module; and an adhesive member disposed covering all surfaces of the transmission unit and the wing member. |
| US09275558B1 |
Multi-mode card attachment device for a gift
A card attachment device for attaching a greeting card to a package having a thin, elongated substrate folded into a front and rear portion. The substrate has a through hole with a slot connecting the through hole to an edge of respective front and rear portions of the substrate. Adhesive is disposed on at least a portion of an inward facing surface of both said front and rear portions. A greeting card may be secured between adhesive on the front and rear portions. The secured card may be secured to an elongated handle of a gift bag. The card attachment device has a perforation allowing portions to be separated from one another and used in combination to secure a greeting card to a package without elongated handles. |
| US09275551B2 |
Methods and systems for determining fleet trajectories to satisfy a sequence of coverage requirements
Methods and systems for determining trajectories for vehicles of a fleet of vehicles are provided. In one example, a method comprises receiving an initial location of one or more vehicles, and receiving a sequence of coverage requirements for a region and an associated period of time. The region may be divided into a plurality of landmarks and the period of time may be divided into a plurality of phases. The method also comprises determining for each of one or more phases and at least one respective landmark, a set of starting landmarks from which a vehicle could reach the respective landmark during the phase. The method further comprises determining which respective landmark that the vehicle should travel to during the one or more phases based on the sequence of coverage requirements and the set of starting landmarks for the one or more phases and the at least one respective landmark. |
| US09275550B1 |
Dynamic ground vehicle tracking and reporting system
A system and method are provided for implementing low-cost real-time or near real-time tracking of a plurality of vehicles operating in a confined area, including on an airport. A MESH-type of network is provided to allow for the deployment and integration of large numbers of low power (line of sight) radios. The disclosed systems and network architecture include vehicle-mounted integrated end-device radio/GPS/power/antenna units, fixed or mobile router/repeater devices and fixed network gateways/coordinator units with Internet connectivity that may communicate near real-time end device (vehicle) position/track information for display on a situational awareness display device. The device/vehicle position/track information includes latitude, longitude, speed, direction, time/date, and identification of the end device (vehicle) to a server system capable of managing access to received data as well as capable of displaying received data on the situational awareness display device and of archiving the received data for other analytical uses. |
| US09275549B2 |
Vehicle pseudo-travel locus generator
An in-vehicle apparatus and method generates a pseudo-travel locus that is used to perform a driving support control. The in-vehicle apparatus has a pseudo-locus generator for generating the pseudo-travel locus of a subject vehicle and a communication controller for controlling a transmitter to transmit the pseudo-travel locus of the subject vehicle. The pseudo-travel locus is generated from a travel locus of a lead vehicle and a current position of the subject vehicle. Therefore, a portion of the travel locus of the subject vehicle is similar to an actual travel locus of the subject vehicle. Thus, when the pseudo-travel locus is transmitted as a travel locus of the subject vehicle, nearby vehicles may perform a driving support control based on the pseudo-travel locus of the subject vehicle. As a result, the actual travel locus of the subject vehicle is not disclosed. |
| US09275534B2 |
Method and arrangement for evaluating activity and functional ability based on interaction and physiological signals
A method is for monitoring interaction between a person and his companion and pet. The method can be realized via a data transfer network, a monitoring arrangement used in the method, a server and a computer program to be used in the monitoring arrangements, which are included in the monitoring arrangement. With the method and monitoring arrangement, an interactive event between the companion and person and/or pet can be visualized on a data processing device for a selected time period. The data processing device can be situated in a different location than the persons and pet being monitored. In the method, the latest 3D location measuring data and physiological measuring data of the pet, companion and person are compared to long-term average data. The physiological measuring data is received from wireless monitoring devices carried by the pet, companion and person. |
| US09275533B2 |
Systems and method for intelligent medical vigilance with alert cause indication
An intelligent medical vigilance system that observes and analyzes, and, only in the event of a clinically significant negative condition, notifies and reports the event to the care staff utilizing the hospital's existing nurse call system. The device includes a bedside unit connected to a pad or coverlet with a sensor array (placed under the patient) and also to an existing hospital nurse call system via an interface. The bedside unit is a wall-mounted unit with a display that becomes active when an alarm condition is enabled. Vigilance alarms are suspended if a patient is detected out of bed. An unable-to-measure alert is provided if the system is unable to reliably monitor. An alert message is generated and maintained on the display screen to inform a responding caregiver of the time and reason for any alarm. |
| US09275531B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptively controlling alarm issuance
Systems (100) and methods (600-900) for adaptively controlling a transmitter field in an EAS detection system. The methods comprise: detecting the presence of a first person located in proximity to a first pedestal of the EAS detection system using a first proximity sensor disposed on the first pedestal; determining a first distance value representing a distance from the first pedestal to the first person whose presence was previously detected using distance information obtained from the first proximity sensor; using the first distance value to select a criteria for use in determining whether the alarm issuance should be inhibited; and adaptively controlling the alarm issuance if the criteria which was previously selected is met based at least on a first amplitude of a security tag signal received at the first pedestal. |
| US09275528B2 |
Point of sale terminal having enhanced security
A data entry device including a housing formed of at least two portions, data entry circuitry located within the housing, at least one case-open switch assembly operative to sense when the housing is opened and tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from the at least one case-open switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with the data entry circuitry located within the housing. The at least one case-open switch assembly includes an arrangement of electrical contacts arranged on a base surface and a resiliently deformable conductive element, which defines a short circuit between at least some of the arrangement of electrical contacts only when the housing is closed. |
| US09275523B1 |
Gaming system and method for displaying a plurality of individual symbols at a single symbol display position
A gaming system including a game which utilizes one or more designated symbols. In these embodiments, if at least one single individual designated symbol is generated and displayed at at least one single symbol display position, the gaming system modifies the single individual designated symbol into one or more individual designated symbols at the same single symbol display position. This modification of an individual designated symbol into a plurality of individual designated symbols is associated with one or more benefits, such as the availability of one or more awards not previously available prior to the modification. |
| US09275521B2 |
Method of adapting a class II game to provide the play characteristics of a class III game
Methods, systems, and devices for adapting a Class II game to provide play characteristics of a Class III game are provided. Plays of the Class III game are simulated in a computer to obtain frequencies of occurrence of at least one Class III award. Plays of the Class II game are simulated in a computer to obtain frequencies of occurrence of at least one Class II outcome. A Class III award is selected. A Class II outcome having a similar frequency of occurrence to the selected Class III award is selected. An award is defined for the selected Class II outcome according to the selected Class III award. |
| US09275518B2 |
Mash-up wagering game creation
A wagering game developer can provide an online wagering game community, and receive continuous and current feedback about wagering games. The wagering game developer can use the online wagering game community to gauge popularity of wagering games, demonstrate wagering games, test wagering games, estimate wagering game life cycles, etc. Moreover, the wagering game developer can use the creativity of community members to modify and, perhaps, develop wagering games. The wagering game developer can decompose different aspects of a wagering game into executable code units that are platform independent, re-usable, and/or configurable (“wagering game widgets”). Users combine wagering game widgets, whether derived from a wagering game or user generated, to create a wagering game for playing in the online wagering game community. Wagering game developers can reward users who create the most popular wagering games, and develop proper versions of these user-created wagering games for deployment in wagering game establishments. |
| US09275515B2 |
Wagering game with multi-level progressive game
A method for playing a wagering game allows an opportunity to achieve a progressive award. A wager input is received from a player for playing the wagering game. A triggered progressive game includes player-selectable elements, each of the player-selectable elements being capable of association with a progressive-winning outcome. An outcome is assigned to each of the player-selectable elements, wherein a probability that the outcome is a progressive-winning outcome depends upon an amount of the wager input. The player-selectable elements are displayed. |
| US09275511B2 |
Casino gaming device base with adjustable mounting brackets
One or more gaming devices, such as slot machines, can be installed onto a gaming device base comprised of facade kits removably attached to a gaming device foundation. The tops of the gaming device bases either have replaceable top surfaces or adjustable attachment points in order to allow different gaming devices to be attached to any given base. In one embodiment of the later, adjustable mounting brackets are utilized that provide elongated bolt hole slots through which bolts can be inserted from a gaming device. The gaming devices are then secured to a base by use of nuts inserted and tightened over the bolts. The adjustable mounting brackets can be slid back and forth when bolts through them have not been secured with nuts. The mounting brackets can also be easily inserted and removed. The result is that the mounting points for gaming devices can be adjusted in two dimensions, allowing for the installation of most gaming devices, regardless of bolt and cable configurations. |
| US09275510B2 |
Wagering game with time-based bonus
A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a display and a controller. The display displays a base game of the wagering game in response to receiving a wager input from a player. The controller is coupled to the display and, in response to receiving the wager input, is programmed to increment eligibility time to a counter of bonus-time eligibility. The counter is decremented as real time progresses. If the counter is greater than zero when a bonus game of the wagering game is triggered, the player is allowed to play the bonus game. |
| US09275508B1 |
Electronic container vending system
An electronic container vending machine is provided. Including at least one modular vending unit capable of incrementally rotating and locking in predetermined positions, and includes multiple discrete storage volumes each configured to contain a single container, an access means for accessing the interior of the rotatable container storage and dispensing unit, that is capable of switching between a locked state and an unlocked state, and that is configured to cooperate with the rotatable storage and dispensing unit. The modular vending unit also includes a control unit for communicating with a user and the at least one modular vending unit. The control unit also includes an electronic selection means configured to allow the acquisition or return of a container. The electronic selection device may be a multi-touch screen display. The electronic payment interface may include a credit card payment interface or an NFC payment interface. |
| US09275507B2 |
Control unit for controlling an automatic device for preparing beverages
A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage, which control unit is provided with a display panel and an input wherein the control unit is provided furthermore with an operating unit for displaying by the display panel a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user, and for controlling a preparation unit of the automatic device, wherein the display panel has selection fields for mutually exclusive settings for formulations of the beverage to be prepared, wherein the control unit enables the user to select one of the settings by designation of one of the selection fields, wherein a collecting field with at least one setting field shows the chosen setting of the formulation, and wherein the non-designated selection fields remain visible and selectable. |
| US09275506B1 |
Systems and methods for off-line stored value card transactions
Systems and methods for processing an off-line stored value card transaction are provided. The store where the gift card transaction is being processed may save stored value card account information for a plurality of stored value cards. For example, the store may maintain stored value card account information for cards that were issued at the store or previously used at the store. When the store is off-line and cannot verify a stored value card using a home office, the store may verify the card using the account information that is locally saved. The store may upload information for stored value card transactions that occurred while the store was off-line to the home office once the store is back online. The home office may update the store's account information at regular intervals when the store is online. |
| US09275505B2 |
Apparatus, method and article for physical security of power storage devices in vehicles
A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To avoid theft and tampering of the portable electrical energy storage devices, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is locked in and operably connected to the vehicle to which it provides power unless the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as that in a service center. Once within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device a locking mechanism in the vehicle or within the portable electrical energy storage device unlocks and allows the portable electrical energy storage device to be exchanged or serviced. |
| US09275504B1 |
Sensor and feedback assembly for a bicycle
A feedback system and indicator for aerodynamic positioning while bicycling comprising one or more sensors located on the bicycle in positions that indicate when rider is in an aerodynamic position that activates and or otherwise records data associated with aerodynamic positioning while riding. |
| US09275500B2 |
System and method for detecting the condition of a coolant in a vehicle
A cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment may include a heat generation device that is cooled by a coolant solution that exchanges heat with the heat generation device to maintain the heat generation device at a required temperature. More specifically, the cooling system includes a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the coolant solution, a conductivity sensor that detects the conductivity of the coolant solution, and a controller that uses coolant solution temperature and coolant solution conductivity that are detected through the temperature sensor and the conductivity sensor to determine a condition of the coolant solution. |
| US09275494B2 |
Method and apparatus for stack management
A method and apparatus for managing a stack used for a tree traversal (TRV) may include a processing unit that may manage a short stack for a tree TRV, and a storage unit that may store data of the short stack. The processing unit may perform a restart of the tree TRV from an intermediate node of a tree to fill the short stack when the short stack is empty. |
| US09275493B2 |
Rendering vector maps in a geographic information system
Systems and methods for rendering vector data in conjunction with a three-dimensional model are provided. An initial vector map providing a two dimensional representation of vector data, including one or more vector elements (roads, road names, borders, transit lines, etc.), can be texture mapped so that it appears to be located on a surface of the three-dimensional polygon mesh. The initial vector map can be updated or adjusted to an updated vector map. According to aspects of the present disclosure, a blended vector map can be rendered during a blend period to provide for a transition to the updated vector map. The transition can include fading in of vector elements in the updated vector map and/or fading out of vector elements in the initial vector map. |
| US09275484B2 |
Goodness of fit based on error calculation and fit type
Examples disclose selecting an error calculation corresponding to a measure of goodness of fit and identifying a fit type among multiple fit types based on the selected error calculation. The identified fit type indicates a better fit type of goodness of fit than the multiple fit types. The examples further disclose providing the goodness of fit based on the selected error calculation and the identified fit type. |
| US09275482B1 |
Display selection based on data format recognition
A method may include receiving a selection of a streaming data source, where the streaming data source provides data to a display component in a graphical model; determining a data type for the data associated with the streaming data source. Determining the data type may include reading a portion of the data from the data source, analyzing the read data portion to determine a data pattern, and identifying the data type based on the data pattern, where the identified data type is one of a plurality of available data types. The method may further include selecting, in response to determining the data type, a visual representation for the data associated with the data source; and displaying the data associated with the data source using the selected visual representation within the display component. |
| US09275481B2 |
Viewport-based contrast adjustment for map features
A system receives a description of a first set of elements representing physical and/or logical entities in a geographic area to be displayed on a digital map. The system determines current boundaries of a viewport within which the digital map is to be displayed and generates a metric indicative of how frequently the elements in the first set occur within the current boundaries of the viewport relative to at least a second set of elements displayed on the digital map. The system determines one or more visual attributes for the first set of elements based at least in part on the generated metric and displays representations of the first set of elements on the digital map in accordance with the determined one or more visual attributes. |
| US09275480B2 |
Encoding of line pattern representation
The encoding of a line pattern representation. The line pattern representation has a changing value in a first dimension as a function of a value in a second dimension. The line pattern representation is segmented into multiple segments along the second dimension. The line pattern representation is then encoded by assigning a quantized value to each of the segments based on the changing value of the line pattern in the first dimension as present within the corresponding segment. If the line pattern generally falls within a given range within a segment, the segment will be assigned a quantized value corresponding to that range. The encoding may be used to assign the line pattern representation into a category. |
| US09275478B2 |
Method, control system, and computer program for compression of digital breast tomosynthesis data
A method for compressing digital breast tomosynthesis data, a system and a control unit for image reconstruction of three-dimensional digital breast tomosynthesis volumes (DBT). The volume to be reconstructed is analyzed in order to identify clusters of regions in the volume with a low and high degree of diagnostically relevant information. Depending on the affiliation or belonging to a certain cluster, a specific reconstruction algorithm and a specific slab thickness are determined in order to be used for reconstruction of the cluster. Thus, different clusters are reconstructed differently. |
| US09275474B2 |
Partial expansion method of encoded images and image processing apparatus
A method and apparatus for partially up/downscaling an image encoded on a macroblock basis. The method and apparatus performs operations of: storing the encoded image; creating map data from bitstream of the encoded image to decode at least one macroblock of the encoded image, creating a shrunken image of a predetermined size based on resolution of a display device, storing the map data and the shrunken image so as to relate with the encoded image; outputting the shrunken image related with the encoded image to be displayed based on a control request received from an input device; determining at least one macroblock to be decoded based on a display area of the shrunken image; partially decoding the encoded image for the determined macroblock using the map data; and outputting to the display device, the image data of the display area of the partially decoded image. |
| US09275463B2 |
Stereo image processing device and stereo image processing method
Provided is a stereo image processing device, with which it is possible to compute disparity with high precision even for an object of a small image region size in a baseline length direction. With this device, an image matching unit (102) acquires a correspondence point of a reference image for a target point of a target image. An image cropping unit (201) extracts first two-dimensional pixel data including the target point from the target image, and extracts second two-dimensional pixel data including the correspondence point from the reference image. An image reconfiguration unit (202) reconfigures the respective first two-dimensional pixel data and second two-dimensional pixel data into first one-dimensional pixel data and second one-dimensional pixel data. A peak position detection unit (104) computes disparity based on the correlation between the first one-dimensional pixel data and the second one-dimensional pixel data. |
| US09275462B2 |
Efficient visual surface finding
A method and non-transitory program for determining a plane in a depth image includes dividing a portion of a depth image into a plurality of areas, fitting a two-dimensional line to depth points in each of the plurality of areas, and combining two or more of the plurality of two-dimensional lines to form a three-dimensional plane estimate. |
| US09275459B2 |
Method and apparatus for calibrating an imaging device
Described are methods and apparatus for adjusting images of a stereoscopic image pair. The methods and apparatus may capture a first and second image with first and second imaging sensors. The two imaging sensors have intrinsic and extrinsic parameters. A normalized focal distance of a reference imaging sensor may also be determined based on intrinsic and extrinsic parameters. A calibration matrix is then adjusted based on the normalized focal distance. The calibration matrix may be applied to an image captured by an image sensor. |
| US09275455B1 |
Method for vessel extraction
A method for improving the detection of low-contrast and narrow width vessels comprising combining matched-filter responses with that of directional filter bank. A given vessel is characterized by having an elongated structure with a specific width and direction. Matched filters are designed in the form of elliptical second-order Gaussian derivatives at various scales, catering for vessels of widely varying widths. On the other hand, the directional filter bank helps in identifying the orientation of the vessels. Thus, combining both in complementary manner results is an improved response for vessels with varying width and varying direction. Results comparing this hybrid approach to matched filter and directional filter bank alone show substantial improvements both qualitatively and quantitatively. |
| US09275451B2 |
Method, a system, and an apparatus for using and processing multidimensional data
A method for analyzing a functional map of at least one tissue of a patient. The method comprises managing a plurality of functional maps each being associated with a plurality of first biological activity indications, receiving a functional map which is associated with a plurality of second biological activity indications, identifying a matching set of the managed functional maps by matching between the plurality of first and second biological activity indications, and using the matching set for a member of a group consisting of: an image data acquisition, a diagnosis of the received functional map, a classification of the received functional map. |
| US09275450B2 |
High accuracy design based classification
Systems and methods for classifying defects on a wafer are provided. One method includes dilating an extended bounding box (EBB) surrounding a defect position on a wafer in two dimensions in proportion to a width and height of a pattern of interest (POI) for a hot spot closest to the defect position. The method also includes determining if polygons in the POI match polygons in the dilated bounding box. If the polygons in the POI do not match the polygons in the dilated bounding box, the defect is classified as a non-hot spot defect. If the polygons in the POI match the polygons in the dilated bounding box, the defect is classified as a hot spot defect if the area of the EBB intersects the area of interest associated with the hot spot and a non-hot spot defect if the EBB area does not intersect the area of interest. |
| US09275449B2 |
Methods and systems for determining a dose-to-clear of a photoresist
A method of determining a dose-to-clear of a photoresist on a wafer includes providing an image of the wafer after the photoresist was exposed to a dose of energy and was developed, transforming the image of the wafer into frequency spectrum data, calculating an average frequency spectrum component of the frequency spectrum data, calculating a difference between the average frequency spectrum component and a noise average frequency spectrum component of a noise average frequency spectrum, and determining a dose-to-clear of the photoresist based on the difference between the average frequency spectrum component and the noise average frequency spectrum component. |
| US09275447B2 |
Method and system for describing image region based on color histogram
A method and system for describing image region based on color histogram is provided. The method for describing an image region based on color histogram comprising: a color quantization step for quantizing said image region into a quantized color region, wherein a specific color range and colors outside the specific color range are differently treated in the quantizing; a color histogram calculation step for computing one or more color histograms according to said quantized color region; and a histogram assembling step for generating a unique vector by using said one or more color histograms. |
| US09275446B2 |
Large radius edge-preserving low-pass filtering
A method of large-radius edge-preserving low-pass filtering is performed on a digital signal having data points. The method includes computing a weighted average of a signal layer at vertices spaced a distance apart such that an amount of the vertices is less than an amount of the data points and producing, for each of the data points, a large-radius edge-preserving low-pass filtered signal based on the weighted average of the signal layer at vertices neighboring the data point. |
| US09275445B2 |
High dynamic range and tone mapping imaging techniques
Algorithms for improving the performance of conventional tone mapping operators (TMO) by calculating both a contrast waste score and a contrast loss score for a first tone-mapped image produced by the TMO. The two contrast scores can be used to optimize the performance of the TMO by reducing noise and improving contrast. Algorithms for generating an HDR image by converting non-linear color space images into linear color space format, aligning the images to a reference, de-ghosting the aligned images if necessary, and merging the aligned (and potentially de-ghosted) images to create an HDR image. The merging can be performed with exposure fusion, HDR reconstruction, or other suitable techniques. |
| US09275441B2 |
Method for preparing quantitative video-microscopy and associated system
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for calibrating an imaging system for analyzing a plurality of molecular species in a sample. According to one embodiment, the method comprises acquiring a plurality of images of the sample with an image acquisition device at a plurality of different wavelengths, comparing a region of interest associated with at least one of the images acquired at one respective wavelength to a region of interest associated with at least one of the images acquired at a different wavelength, and aligning the plurality of images such that the region of interest associated with at least one of the images acquired at one respective wavelength corresponds to the region of interest associated with the at least one of the images acquired at a different wavelength. |
| US09275438B2 |
Bilateral denoising for digital camera images
An apparatus comprising one or more processors configured to receive a digital image comprising a current pixel and a plurality of nearby pixels, determine a pixel intensity of the current pixel, wherein the pixel intensity comprises a noise component, and reduce the noise component by applying a bilateral filter as a combination of a domain filter and a range filter on the current pixel, wherein the domain filter is dependent on the pixel intensity and geometric closeness between the current pixel and the nearby pixels, and wherein the range filter is dependent on the pixel intensity and photometric similarity between the current pixel and the nearby pixels. |
| US09275437B2 |
Method for efficient digital subtraction angiography
A system and method for performing DSA (digital subtraction angiography), which does not require a non-enhanced or “mask” image to be obtained. |
| US09275436B2 |
Image processing apparatus for editing data in accordance with an user operation, image processing method, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program
An editing apparatus includes at least a processor and a memory that cooperate to function as a display control unit to cause a display device to display information for editing. A specifying unit specifies a processing area of the displayed information for editing the information in accordance with a user's operation. A determining unit determines an end point based on the user's operation for specifying the processing area of the displayed information. A setting unit sets an instruction portion, on the information displayed on the display device, for providing an instruction to select a type of editing to be performed on the specified area. The instruction portion is set on a position based on the determined end point. An editing unit executes the type of editing selected via the instruction portion, in accordance with a user's operation on the specified processing area of the displayed information. |
| US09275431B2 |
Method and system for calibrating laser measuring apparatus
A method for calibrating a laser measuring apparatus having a laser illumination unit and an image capturing unit includes the following steps. A calibration board having at least one slit gap and a plurality of markers is provided. The relative position between the calibration board and the laser illumination unit is adjusted to allow a slit laser beam emitted by the laser illumination unit to pass through the at least one slit. The calibration board is captured by the image capturing unit to generate a calibration board image. The calibration board image is processed so as to obtain a camera coordinate of each of the markers. A plurality of calibration parameters are calculated according to the camera coordinate and an actual coordinate of each of the markers so as to obtain actual coordinates of an object captured in an object image generated by the laser measuring apparatus. |
| US09275430B2 |
Computing system employing a multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem supporting single-GPU non-parallel (multi-threading) and multi-GPU application-division parallel modes of graphics processing operation
A computing system employing a multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem supporting single-GPU non-parallel (i.e. multi-tasking) and multi-GPU parallel application-division modes of graphics processing operations, in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data (GCAD) render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during the run-time of the multiple graphics-based applications, while managing and conserving electrical power and graphics processing resources. An automatic mode control module (AMCM) analyzes the application profiles assigned to graphics applications running on the computing system, and automatically controls the mode of operation of the multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem during the run-time of the multiple graphics-based applications. |
| US09275429B2 |
Device hang detection and recovery
The techniques described in the disclosure are generally related to gradual, iterative hang recovery for a graphics processing unit (GPU). The techniques described in the disclosure attempt to re-execute instructions of an application in response to a GPU hang, rather than stopping the execution of the application. If the re-execution causes the GPU to hang again, the techniques described in the disclosure cause the GPU to iteratively execute next set of instructions. |
| US09275427B1 |
Multi-channel audio video fingerprinting
Implementations are provided herein relating to audiovisual matching. Audio and video channel data is merged to create a single multi-channel fingerprint used to match media content. Audio channel data is used to generate audio fingerprints. Video channel data is used to generate a video fingerprints. Multi-channel fingerprints can then be generated based on the audio channel fingerprints and video channel fingerprints. In this sense, entropy can be increased while the multi-channel fingerprint can be less resistant to noise. |
| US09275426B2 |
Method and apparatus for unifying graphics processing unit computation languages
A method and apparatus for unifying graphics processing unit (GPU) computation languages is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a GPU of a computer system; accessing a plurality of macros representing a difference in source code between a first GPU computation language and a second GPU computation language, expanding each macro in the plurality of macros based on the identified GPU and executing a kernel on the computer system using the expanded macro. |
| US09275424B2 |
Controlled resources based on good behavior
Computing system resources are controlled based on the behavioral attributes associated with users of the computing system. These behavioral attributes are monitored in real time and through a historical log, and behavioral attributes that fall outside pre-determined preferred behavioral parameters are detected. Access by the computing system user to computing system resources contained in a preferred and habitually accessed computing system resource set associated with the computing system user are adjusted in response to the detection of the behavioral attribute outside the pre-determined preferred behavioral parameters. |
| US09275422B2 |
Distributed k-core view materialization and maintenance for graphs
Large graph data in many application domains dynamically changes with vertices and edges inserted and deleted over time. The problem of identifying and maintaining densely connected regions in the graph thus becomes a challenge. Embodiments of the invention describe a method using a k-core measure as a metric of dense connectivity over large, partitioned graph data stored in multiple computing servers in a cluster. The method describes steps to identify a k-core subgraph in parallel and to maintain a k-core subgraph when a new edge is inserted or an existing edge is deleted. The embodiments thus enable practitioners to identify and monitor large scale graph data, such as exemplified by multiple topical communities in a social network, in a scalable and efficient manner. |
| US09275414B2 |
Mass decision mode in a mobile application
Systems and methods of providing a mass decision mode in a mobile application are provided. An object management module receives a plurality of objects to be presented to a user via a mass decision mode graphical user interface (GUI) of a client application residing on a client device. A mass decision module generates the mass decision mode GUI, the mass decision mode GUI including a description of the respective objects of the plurality of objects and a mass decision option. The mass decision option is an option to apply a deviant decision to a first portion of the one or more objects and to apply a default decision to a remainder portion of the one or more objects upon being selected. A deviant decision module assigns, upon receiving a selection of an object of the one or more objects, the deviant decision to the object. |
| US09275413B2 |
Transaction management system
The systems and methods described herein relate to a system for documenting transactions. A filter is provided that captures content associated with transactions. The filter may be configured to start and stop the capture at predetermined times, and may be further configured to specify what content is to be captured during a transaction. The system may store any documents or data associated with a transaction, including dynamic content and user selections and inputs. A document repository may be provided for storing unstructured data representing data, text, forms, and so forth presented to a party during a transaction. A viewer may be provided for displaying data stored in the document repository. |
| US09275409B2 |
Method, medium, and system for building a product finder
The principles set forth herein describe building a product finder. One aspect comprises receiving a request at a computing device to develop a product finder for a specified product category; receiving input at the computing device to configure the product finder, the input comprising data representing product information associated with the specified product category; developing, via a processor accessible by the computing device, the product finder based on an existing template, wherein developing the product finder based on the existing template reduces writing of computer code; and utilizing the input to customize the product finder. Other embodiments are disclosed herein. |
| US09275408B1 |
Transferring ownership of computing resources
A service provider provides instances of computing resources for customer use, such as instances of data processing resources, data storage resources, database resources, and networking resources. A customer of the service provider might create a solution that utilizes one or more instances of computing resources provided by the service provider. The customer can request to transfer control and payment responsibility for computing resources, such as those utilized in a solution, to another customer of the distributed computing environment. In response to such a request, control and payment responsibility for the resources may be transferred to the receiving customer. The request to transfer resources might be received by way of a solution marketplace or through another mechanism. |
| US09275403B2 |
Experience sharing system and method
User commentary concerning a user experience is received and a user experience data card is generated for the user experience based, at least in part, upon the user commentary. The user experience data card is stored, wherein the stored user experience data card corresponds to a first view of the user experience data card and receiving a request for an experience data card from a second user. The user experience data card is provided to the second user at least in part based on the request received from the second user and receiving feedback from the second user concerning the user experience data card. A second view of the user experience data card is generated based, at least in part, upon the feedback from the second user, wherein the second view of the user experience data card is distinct form the first view of the experience data card. |
| US09275399B2 |
Privacy management across multiple devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a method for managing privacy rights of a user related to the delivery of content. The method comprises providing a global privacy management interface that presents a selection tool for enabling a user to review privacy options and interests. The privacy options and interests include controls for presenting a list of identifiers that are associated with the user and interests associated with those identifiers. Each identifier is associated with a requesting source having been used by the user to access content. The interface enables de-selection of individual interests on a per-identifier or global basis. The method further comprises determining, in a server system, content to deliver to the user in view of the privacy selections. |
| US09275394B2 |
Identifying user-target relation
A marked target representation (100; 200) includes a human-cognizable relation mark (104; 206). The marked target representation represents a target. An image capture device (130; 302) is used to capture (114; 413) an image (112; 304) of the target representation. A data structure (120; 332) indicating a relation between a user (125; 326) of the image capture device and the target is generated (116; 415) using the image. |
| US09275390B1 |
Systems and methods for state based advertisement messaging across media types
A method is provided for state based advertisement messaging. The method comprises obtaining state information from a state engine, wherein the state information relates to an advertisement that has been displayed in the mobile device. The method also includes selecting an advertisement from a plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the state information. The method additionally comprises displaying the selected advertisement in the application, and updating the state information for the selected advertisement when the selected advertisement has been displayed in the application. |
| US09275388B2 |
Transaction terminal with signature capture offset correction
A method of processing a transaction comprising the steps of generating a position signal indicative of position of a touching of a touch screen having a transparent reference surface, displaying an image of the touching of the screen responsive to the position signal, and changing the image as a function of the difference between the position signal and a predetermined position value. |
| US09275385B2 |
POS terminal and POS terminal control method
A POS terminal includes an application unit that outputs a first command that performs a first operation on a medium to a first communication port, or a second command that performs a second operation different from the first operation to a second communication port; a receiving unit that receives the first command or second command output by the application unit, the first command or the second command being received by the first communication port or the second communication port; a command control unit that converts the first command to a third command, or converts the second command to a fourth command; and a communication unit that transmits the third command or fourth command output from the command control unit to a third communication port. |
| US09275381B2 |
Charging and billing system and billing device
A charging and billing system, which can be installed in a space-saving manner and at low cost when installed in a parking lot where multiple electric vehicles park, is provided. The charging and billing system has: multiple charging devices that performed charging by supplying electricity; a vending machine, which is separate to the charging devices, and which performs billing according to the amount of electricity supplied during charging; and a transmission line that connects the charging devices to the vending machine so as to enable information to the transmitted. The vending machine has: a touch panel that displays on a fee on a screen according to the amount of electricity supplied during charging; a settlement unit for settling the fee according to the amount of electricity supplied during charging; a fee calculation unit that calculates the fee corresponding to the amount of electricity supplied by a charging device; and a charging initiation unit that causes the charging device to begin charging, by transmitting initiation information for causing the charging device to begin charging to the charging device via the transmission line. |
| US09275375B2 |
Managing rich presence collections in a single request
A method and system for increasing the computational and network efficiency of presence servers having collections of publications is provided. The presence system uses several techniques that enable a presence server to provide rich presence information without requiring expensive processing. First, the presence system accepts batches of publication updates in a single presence update request. Similarly, the presence system accepts batches of subscription requests. Next, the presence system supports new expiration types for publication update requests that eliminate the need for a publishing user to continually refresh presence information that has not changed. Finally, the presence system accepts access lists that contain membership groups rather than an individual list of users that are to have access to a particular presence collection. |
| US09275372B2 |
Controlling active and passive participation in a thread of conversation
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and persistent chats and provide a method, system and computer program product for controlling active and passive participation among participants in a thread of conversation in an instant messaging session or persistent chat. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling active and passive participation among participants in a thread of conversation can be provided. The method can include creating a thread of conversation in a messaging system, adding participants to the thread, classifying the participants as one of either active or passive, and permitting only those participants classified as active participants to post to the thread while providing merely a view of the thread to the passive participants. |
| US09275367B2 |
System for designating, displaying and selecting types of process parameters and product outcome parameters
Described is the display on a visual display device of one or more first visual indicators that indicate that one or more first process parameters of a process are critical process parameters. The critical process parameters are displayed on the visual display device as part of a hierarchical data structure. |
| US09275366B2 |
Data extraction systems and methods
Example systems and methods of extracting and processing data are described. In one implementation, a method accesses genealogy data (which includes a root node) associated with multiple data sources. The genealogy data is expanded from the root node. The method identifies data objects associated with the genealogy data and identifies a simplification rule to apply to the genealogy data. Data objects in the genealogy data that satisfy the simplification rule are identified by the method. A simplified representation of the genealogy data is generated by replacing each identified data object with a link to a predecessor data object. |
| US09275359B1 |
Mechanism and techniques for discovery and prediction of long-term high-level nearly periodical business processes from low-level logs
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing discovery and prediction of long-term high-level nearly periodical business processes from low-level logs is presented. Query activity vectors are extracted from database logs. Groups of queries having similar behavior for a set of business processes are identified by clustering of the query activity vectors. Periodic structure is discovered in the business processes and their future activity is predicted. The predictions of future activity are provided to a storage system. |
| US09275358B1 |
System, method, and computer program for automatically creating and submitting defect information associated with defects identified during a software development lifecycle to a defect tracking system
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for automatically creating and submitting defect information associated with defects identified during a software development lifecycle to a defect tracking system. In use, creation of a defect ticket is initiated for an identified defect for submission to a defect tracking system, the identified defect being identified during a software development life cycle. Additionally, a list of potential originating teams from which the identified defect was potentially identified is presented, the list of potential originating teams being presented in a user selectable format. Further, a list of teams in which to assign the identified defect is presented, the list of teams in which to assign the identified defect being presented in a user selectable format. Furthermore, a user selected originating team and a user selected team in which to assign the identified defect is identified. Additionally, details associated with the identified defect are collected from one or more data sources. Further, a description associated with the identified defect is generated utilizing the details associated with the identified defect. Moreover, the defect ticket is generated for the identified defect utilizing the identified user selected originating team, the identified user selected team in which to assign the identified defect, and the generated description associated with the identified defect. |
| US09275356B2 |
Quality monitoring of baby formula manufacture
Methods used to monitor quality control of a baby formula manufacturing process are disclosed herein. Consequently, the methods and systems provide a means to perform quality manufacturing on an integrated level whereby baby formula manufacturers can achieve data and product integrity and ultimately minimize cost. |
| US09275342B2 |
Method and apparatus for intent modeling and prediction
A method and apparatus enables identification of customer characteristics and behavior, and predicts the customer's intent. Such prediction can be used to adopt various business strategies to increase the chances of conversion of customer interaction to a sale, and thereby can increase revenue, and/or enhance the customer's experience. |
| US09275341B2 |
Method and system for machine comprehension
The AKOS (Artificial Knowledge Object System) of the invention is a software processing engine that relates incoming information to pre-existing stored knowledge in the form of a world model and, through a process analogous to human learning and comprehension, updates or extends the knowledge contained in the model, based on the content of the new information. Incoming information can come from sensors, computer to computer communication, or natural human language in the form of text messages. The software creates as an output. Intelligent action is defined as an output to the real-world accompanied by an alteration to the internal world model which accurately reflects an expected, specified outcome from the action. These actions may be control signals across any standard electronic computer interface or may be direct communications to a human in natural language. |
| US09275339B2 |
System and method for probabilistic name matching
Generally discussed herein are systems and methods for probabilistic name matching. In one or more embodiments a method can include determining a first set of possible intended names as a function of a first name, determining a second set of possible intended names for each name in a set of names in a name variant database, and probabilistically matching a name from the first set of possible intended names to a name from the second set of possible intended names. Probabilistically matching can include determining a weight associated with typing the first name but intending to type another name in the first set of possible intended names and determining the probability of typing a name in the set of names in the name variant database but intending to type a name from the second set of possible intended names. |
| US09275338B2 |
Predictive analysis of event patterns in machine data
Embodiments are directed towards the visualization of machine data received from computing clusters. Embodiments may enable improved analysis of computing cluster performance, error detection, troubleshooting, error prediction, or the like. Individual cluster nodes may generate machine data that includes information and data regarding the operation and status of the cluster node. The machine data is received from each cluster node for indexing by one or more indexing applications. The indexed machine data including the complete data set may be stored in one or more index stores. A visualization application enables a user to select one or more analysis lenses that may be used to generate visualizations of the machine data. The visualization application employs the analysis lens to produce visualizations of the computing cluster machine data. |
| US09275335B2 |
Autonomous biologically based learning tool
An autonomous biologically based learning tool system and a method that the tool system employs for learning and analysis are provided. The autonomous biologically based learning tool system includes (a) one or more tool systems that perform a set of specific tasks or processes and generate assets and data related to the assets that characterize the various processes and associated tool performance; (b) an interaction manager that receives and formats the data, and (c) an autonomous learning system based on biological principles of learning. The autonomous learning system comprises a memory platform and a processing platform that communicate through a network. Both the memory platform and the processing platform include functional components and memories that can be defined recursively. Knowledge generated and accumulated in the autonomous learning system(s) can be cast into semantic networks that can be employed for learning and driving tool goals based on context. |
| US09275333B2 |
Augmented knowledge base and reasoning with uncertainties and/or incompleteness
A knowledge-based system under uncertainties and/or incompleteness, referred to as augmented knowledge base (AKB) is provided, including constructing, reasoning, analyzing and applying AKBs by creating objects in the form E→A, where A is a rule in a knowledgebase and E is a set of evidences that supports the rule A. A reasoning scheme under uncertainties and/or incompleteness is provided as augmented reasoning (AR). |
| US09275332B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for expediting expertise
A method including generating a global topic model based on a set of data that is updated according to an activity of each user of a plurality of users, the global topic model including a topic representation for a topic, generating a plurality of user models, each user model being generated based on the activity of a respective user, generating an expertise model for the topic based on the activity of at least one user of the plurality of users, the expertise model for the topic setting a target level of knowledge for a first user of the plurality of users, comparing a user model of the first user with the expertise model for the topic, the comparing being performed by a processor of a computer system, and recommending an activity associated with the set of data to the first user based on the comparison. |
| US09275331B2 |
Document classification system with user-defined rules
Machines, systems and methods for classifying documents, the method comprising: classifying a document from among a plurality of documents in a first class, in response to applying statistical analysis to data associated with the document; classifying the document in a second class, in response to determining that a rule from among a plurality of rules applies to the document, wherein a proposed rule is added to the plurality of rules, in response to determining that application of the proposed rule to one or more of the plurality of documents to which the rule is applicable does not diminish accuracy of overall classification for the plurality of documents. |
| US09275327B2 |
AI for relating herbal ingredients to illnesses classified in traditional chinese medicine/TCM using probabilities and a relevance index
Described herein are systems and methods for identifying herbal ingredients effective in treating illnesses in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) using an artificial neural network. |
| US09275325B2 |
Dual-function card with key card functionality and stored value card functionality
Embodiments described herein generally relate to a dual-purpose, or dual-function, card that provides functionality as a key card to access rooms or other locations within a hospitality venue as well as functionality as a payment card to purchase products or services using a stored value account associated with the dual-function card. Thus, rather than providing a key card and a gift card or stored value card separately, a single card may be provided or used that combines the functionality of the key card and stored value card. |
| US09275323B2 |
Core with a tag
A paper roll core, which includes a tag and wherein the tag is a tag which is radio-readable and includes a flexible element. The core has its end face provided with a recess with a bottom and a wall, in which the tag is fitted in an at least partially coiled configuration. For example, the tag can be glued in the recess. Alternatively or additionally, the tag can be retained substantially stationary by a springback force evolved as a result of coiling the flexible element, bracing the flexible element against a wall and/or a bottom included in the recess. |
| US09275322B2 |
Stretchable multi-layer wearable tag capable of wireless communications
A wearable tag capable of wireless communications includes a first elastic layer, a second elastic layer over the first elastic layer, wherein the second elastic layer is embedded with a first conductive circuit. The wearable tag includes a dielectric layer on the second elastic layer, a third elastic layer on the dielectric layer, wherein the third elastic layer is embedded with a second conductive circuit, wherein the dielectric layer comprises via holes that contain electric connections between the semiconductor chip and the first conductive circuit. A semiconductor chip is in connection with the first conductive circuit and the second conductive circuit, wherein the semiconductor chip, the first conductive circuit, and the second conductive circuit are configured to wirelessly communicate with external devices. The wearable tag also includes a fourth elastic layer on the semiconductor chip. |
| US09275315B2 |
Recording device and control method for replacing fonts with printer fonts correlates print data attributes
A recording device, a control method for a recording device, and a program can record even when recording using a font that is not internally stored by the recording device is specified. A printer 2 that records on a recording medium using a font specified by a host computer 4 has font substitution information 24C that correlates specified fonts to internal fonts based on the number of columns per line that can be recorded on the recording medium using the specified font. When a font is specified by the host computer 4, the printer 2 substitutes an internal font for the specified font based on the font substitution information 24C. |
| US09275308B2 |
Object detection using deep neural networks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for detecting objects in images. One of the methods includes receiving an input image. A full object mask is generated by providing the input image to a first deep neural network object detector that produces a full object mask for an object of a particular object type depicted in the input image. A partial object mask is generated by providing the input image to a second deep neural network object detector that produces a partial object mask for a portion of the object of the particular object type depicted in the input image. A bounding box is determined for the object in the image using the full object mask and the partial object mask. |
| US09275307B2 |
Method and system for automatic selection of one or more image processing algorithm
Disclosed is a method and system for automatic algorithm selection for image processing. The invention discloses the method and system for automatically selecting the correct algorithm(s) for a varying requirement of the image for processing. The selection of algorithm is completely automatic and guided by a plurality of machine learning approaches. The system here is configured to pre-process plurality of images for creating a training data. Next, the test image is extracted, pre-processed and matched for assessing the best possible match of algorithm for processing. |
| US09275306B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for learning a discriminant image representation
Systems, devices, and methods for generating an image representation obtain a set of low-level features from an image; generate a high-dimensional generative representation of the low-level features; generate a lower-dimensional representation of the low-level features based on the high-dimensional generative representation of the low-level features; generate classifier scores based on classifiers and on one or more of the high-dimensional generative representation and the lower-dimensional representation, wherein each classifier uses the one or more of the high-dimensional generative representation and the lower-dimensional representation as an input, and wherein each classifier is associated with a respective label; and generate a combined representation for the image based on the classifier scores and the lower-dimensional representation. |
| US09275304B2 |
Feature vector classification device and method thereof
Disclosed is a feature vector classification device which includes an initial condition setting unit; a variable calculating unit configured to receive a training vector and to calculate an error and a weight according to setting of the initial condition setting unit; a loop deciding unit configured to determine whether re-calculation is required, based on a comparison result between the calculated error and an error threshold; and a hyperplane generating unit configured to generate a hyperplane when an end signal is received from the loop deciding unit. |
| US09275296B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method thereof
An image processing apparatus for searching for a feature point by use of a depth image and a method thereof are provided. The image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a three-dimensional image having depth information, a feature point extraction unit configured to obtain a designated point from an object image extracted from the depth image to obtain a feature point that is located at a substantially farthest distance from the designated point, and to obtain other feature points that are located at substantially farthest distances from feature points that are previously obtained as well as the designated point. The apparatus includes a control unit configured to control the input unit and the feature point extraction unit so that time in estimating a structure of the object is reduced, and a recognition result is enhanced. |
| US09275294B2 |
Compressed sensing using regional sparsity
A method for reconstructing an image includes acquiring raw image data during a scan of an area, estimating an image from the raw image data, separating the estimated image into a region of interest (ROI) and a background region, and applying compressed sensing to iteratively update only the ROI and maintain the background region to reconstruct an image. |
| US09275290B2 |
Methods and systems for routing in a state machine
A device includes a routing buffer. The routing buffer includes a first port configured to receive a signal relating to an analysis of at least a portion of a data stream. The routing buffer also includes a second port configured to selectively provide the signal to a first routing line of a block of a state machine at a first time. The routing buffer further includes a third port configured to selectively provide the signal to a second routing line of the block of the state machine at the first time. |
| US09275286B2 |
Short-time stopping detection from red light camera videos
A method for detecting a vehicle running a stop signal positioned at an intersection includes acquiring a sequence of frames from at least one video camera monitoring an intersection being signaled by the stop signal. The method includes defining a first region of interest (ROI) including a road region located before the intersection on the image plane. The method includes searching the first ROI for a candidate violating vehicle. In response to detecting the candidate violating vehicle, the method includes tracking at least one trajectory of the detected candidate violating vehicle across a number of frames. The method includes classifying the candidate violating vehicle as belonging to one of a violating vehicle and a non-violating vehicle based on the at least one trajectory. |
| US09275282B2 |
Processing and managing multiple maps for an LCI
Systems, apparatus and methods for merging maps used by a positioning server are presented. Original maps are overlaid, concatenated or inset to create a more detailed map. The original maps are from different sources and/or in different formats. By merging or fusing maps together, a positioning server may create a better structural map, which is in turn used to create improved positioning assistance data. |
| US09275281B2 |
Mobile image capture, processing, and electronic form generation
In various embodiments, methods, systems, and computer program products for capturing and processing digital images captured by a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes capturing image data using a mobile device, the image data depicting a digital representation of a document; defining, based on the image data, a plurality of candidate edge points corresponding to the document; defining four sides of a tetragon based on at least some of the plurality of candidate edge points; determining a plurality of fields within the tetragon; for each field, determining at least a field location and a field data type; associating each determined field location with each field data type to generate a plurality of metadata labels; and associating the plurality of metadata labels with an image of an electronic form. |
| US09275279B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus selects as an output image a candidate character component, from which a non-character component is removed, in a gradation having the largest number of pixels when there is a significant difference between the number of character pixels in the gradation having the largest number of character pixels and the number of character pixels in a gradation having the second largest number of character pixels, and selects as an output image a candidate character component, from which the non-character component is removed, in a gradation having the smallest number of edge pixels when there is no significant difference between the number of character pixels in the gradation having the largest number of character pixels and the number of character pixels in the gradation having the second largest number of character pixels. |
| US09275278B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing and using off-center embedded media markers
Provided is an off-center embedded media marker, which may have a form of an iconic marker printed outside the boundary of a region of interest in a document or other article and indicating an available media object or a function associated with the aforesaid region of interest. This marker is used by defining a sight element with the boundary shape of the marker near the edge of a viewable portion of a display, aligning the sight element with the marker and capturing an image of a predetermined region of the document without using a visible region boundary on the hardcopy document. The media or function associated with the marker is automatically determined by performing a feature-based analysis of the captured image similarly to the techniques developed in connection with the conventional embedded media markers. Upon the determination, the associated media is retrieved of the associated function is performed. |
| US09275275B2 |
Object tracking in a video stream
A computing device for tracking an object in an image stream, said computing device comprising a memory and a controller, wherein said controller is configured to: receive an image stream comprising at least a first and a previous image of an object to be tracked, determine contour lines in at least said first image, wherein said contour lines comprises a plurality of points, determine and assign at least one descriptor to each point, filter out points based on the descriptors, determine relative distances between each point in said first picture with each point in said previous picture, which points have not been filtered out; and determine a maximum occurrence for the relative distances, wherein the maximum occurrence corresponds to a movement of said object to be tracked in the plane. A movement in a direction parallel to the line of sight is determined from an average position, a relative distance and slopes of linear fittings for each point-component of the points in the two images. |
| US09275271B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing connection between electronic devices
A method, performed in an electronic device, for connecting to a target device is disclosed. The method includes capturing an image including a face of a target person associated with the target device and recognizing an indication of the target person. The indication of the target person may be a pointing object, a speech command, and/or any suitable input command. The face of the target person in the image is detected based on the indication and at least one facial feature of the face in the image is extracted. Based on the at least one facial feature, the electronic device is connected to the target device. |
| US09275268B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and non-transitory recording medium
The binary processor of a digital camera turns an image targeted to recognize a particular shape into a binary image. The searcher searches for a valid pixel that is a pixel satisfying a given condition from the binary image. The determiner determines whether the region comprising a set of valid pixels has a particular shape when it is determined that a valid pixel is detected during the search. The retainer retains position information showing the position of the region comprising the set of valid pixels and determined to have the particular shape when the determiner determines that the region has the particular shape. |
| US09275267B2 |
System and method for automatic registration of 3D data with electro-optical imagery via photogrammetric bundle adjustment
Accurate automatic registration and fusion of LADAR (from laser detection and ranging) and EO (electro-optical) data from different sensors provides additional analysis and exploitation value beyond what each data set provides on its own. Such data sets often exhibit significant misregistration due to uncorrelated geometric errors between or among two or more sensors. One or more automatic algorithms achieve superior registration as well as algorithms for fusing the data in three dimensions (3D). The fused data can provide multi-image colorization for change detection, automatic generation of surface relief colorization, interactive and/or automatic filtering of 3D vegetation points for LADAR foliage penetration analysis, automatic surface orientation determination for improved spectroradiometric exploitation, and other benefits that cannot be achieved by the LADAR or EO data alone. |
| US09275264B2 |
System and method for estimation and classification of barcodes using heuristic and statistical measures
In a system and method of estimating and classifying a barcode using heuristic and statistical measures, a classification determination is generated for each of a plurality of estimated barcode digits that correspond to a decoded barcode estimation. The classification determination is selected from one of a first classification determination and a second classification determination. The first classification determinations among a plurality of estimation determinations are aggregated. The aggregated first classification determinations are compared to a first predetermined threshold to determine a validity of the decoded barcode estimation. |
| US09275263B2 |
Imaging reader with plug-in imaging modules for electro-optically reading indicia
A plurality of imaging modules, each including a solid-state imager mounted on an individual printed circuit board (PCB), is mounted in a reader, such as a bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation, for capturing images along different fields of view of diverse targets useful for customer identification, customer payment validation, operator surveillance, and coded indicia. The imaging modules are individually mounted on a motherboard for individual installation at, and individual removal from, the reader. |
| US09275260B2 |
Low profile connector
An electrical connector is used to mount to a circuit board. The electrical connector comprises a housing having a spacer, a cage and a terminal block. The cage is engaged with the housing, the cage and the housing together are provided on the circuit board and the spacer is spaced apart from the circuit board, so as to together define a first slot positioned above the spacer and a receiving space positioned under the spacer and is adjacent to the circuit board. The terminal block comprises an insulative plate positioned in the receiving space and the insulative plate is parallel to and spaced apart from the spacer so as to in turn form a second slot in the receiving space. |
| US09275259B2 |
In-line quality assurance
Systems and methods for verifying character(s) on a personalized document, and electronically verifying a magnetic stripe and a smartcard chip of the personalized document, are provided. A quality assurance station is located downstream of personalization stations of a document personalization system. The quality assurance station can provide automated, in-line verification and quality assurance for personalized documents. The quality assurance station integrates a vision verification sub-station, a magnetic stripe sub-station, and a smartcard sub-station. |
| US09275257B2 |
Secure communication architecture
Secure communication of user inputs is achieved by isolating part of an endpoint device such that certificates and encryption keys are protected from corruption by malware. Further, the communication is passed through a trusted data relay that is configured to decrypt and/or certify the user inputs encrypted by the isolated part of the endpoint device. The trusted data relay can determine that the user inputs were encrypted or certified by the protected certificates and encryption keys, thus authenticating their origin within the endpoint device. The trusted data relay then forwards the inputs to an intended destination. In some embodiments, the isolated part of the endpoint device is configured to detect input created by auto-completion logic and/or spell checking logic. |
| US09275247B2 |
Interactive networking systems with user classes
A networking system may comprise a web site incorporating a combination of one or more of the following: a crediting system, a chat bidding system, a performance bidding system, a telephony switching system, a media interaction system, a display system, a photo management system, and a messaging system. The networking system may categorize each user of the web site into classes, including a featured class, a common class, a sponsored class, and a sponsoring class. The networking system may facilitate user interactions, some of which may be partially dependent on user classes. A featured user may opt to temporarily appear as a common user, thus activating an alternative user profile and hiding his featured status. A sponsored user may participate in interactions on the web site if a sponsoring user offers his credits to pay for the sponsored member's participation. Other aspects of the networking system are also disclosed herein. |
| US09275245B2 |
Data access sharing
A request to obtain data items associated with an entity is received from a client device. One or more computing devices determine whether access to the data items is restricted by an access control policy and whether the client device complies with the access control policy. In response to determining that the client device complies with the access control policy, at least a portion of the data items that the access control policy permits the client device to access are identified. An integration of the at least a portion of the data items with additional data items is initiated. |
| US09275244B2 |
Authentication apparatus showing inputted password unrecognizable
Provided is an authentication apparatus that, in case of showing an inputted password as an unrecognizable state, shows it a recognizable state with maintaining confidentiality according to operation by a user. The password inputted by the user is shown on a password input area as the unrecognizable state, such as “*.” While a password peripheral region is pushed by the user along with a password input area, a control part changes the password from the unrecognizable state, where a displaying condition of the password shown on password viewing area being hidden by “*,” into the recognizable state, and the inputted password itself are shown. |
| US09275243B2 |
Communication between key manager and storage subsystem kernel via management console
System, computer program product, and method embodiments for communication between a kernel operational on a storage subsystem and a key manager (KM) through a hardware management console (HMC) to provide encryption support are provided. In one embodiment, an event request is initiated by the kernel to the KM to execute an event flow. Pursuant to a communication request by the kernel to the HMC, a socket of the HMC is opened along a communication path between the KM and the kernel according to an event flow type selected by the KM for the event flow. Data including a data payload is sent by the KM to the kernel, the data payload corresponding to the selected event flow type. |
| US09275240B2 |
Synchronized virtual trusted platform modules (VTPM) and virtual machine (VM) rollbacks
In at least one embodiment, a method for secured rollback of a virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) that renders available functionalities offered by Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on a computer to a virtual machine (VM) is provided. The method includes taking and saving a snapshot of current state of a virtual machine as well as a snapshot of the corresponding vTPM, upon receiving a request for taking a snapshot of the virtual machine. The method further includes converting the snapshots into the current state of the virtual machine and the current state of the vTPM, respectively, upon receiving a request to roll back the virtual machine. |
| US09275238B2 |
Method and apparatus for data security reading
A method for data security reading includes steps of: receiving a hardware instruction; analyzing said hardware instruction; if said hardware instruction is a reading instruction, obtaining the source address in the reading instruction; searching a mapping bitmap and modifying the reading address in the reading instruction according to the data of the mapping bitmap, wherein the mapping bitmap is used to indicate whether the data stored in a local storage address is dumped to said security storage device; transmitting the modified reading instruction to a hardware layer. An apparatus for data security reading includes a receiving unit, an instruction analyzing unit, an instruction modifying unit and a transmitting unit. The Trojan horse or malicious tools cannot store or transmit the acquired information even if the secret information has been obtained, so that the data always exists in controllable security range. |
| US09275236B2 |
Method for securing a program
A method for securing a first program with a second program, a third program and a fourth program, each program comprising constitutive elements having a finite number of program points and evolution rules associated with the program points and defining the passage from one program point to another program point, and each program comprising a definition of a set of properties each property being associated with one or more of the constitutive elements of the program. The fourth program constructed by defining at least one relation between at least one constitutive element of the second program and at least one constitutive element of the third program, said relation being named a correspondence relation, and at least one property of the third program being proven, propagate the proof of said property to at least one property of the first program by exploitation of the correspondence relation. |
| US09275229B2 |
System to bypass a compromised mass storage device driver stack and method thereof
A method to circumvent malicious software via a system configured to bypass a device driver stack and, consequently, also bypass the malicious software that may be adversely affecting the device driver stack by using an alternative stack such as a crash dump I/O stack. The crash dump I/O stack is poorly documented relative to the device driver stack and functions independently from the device driver stack. |
| US09275228B2 |
Protecting multi-factor authentication
Methods are detailed for online fraud prevention. In one approach state information of a first and a second device is monitored, both of which are associated with one user. During a multi-factor authentication procedure which utilizes at least one of the first and the second devices for authorizing a transaction by an Internet domain, a security server participates in a supplemental security procedure which is conditional on the monitored state information. In another approach the second device receives a message that is ostensibly related to multi-factor authorization by an Internet domain, and in response sends a query about state information of the first device. Based on the response to the query that indicates the state information, the second device performs a supplemental security procedure. |
| US09275223B2 |
Real-time module protection
Technologies for securing an electronic device include trapping an attempt to access a secured system resource of the electronic device, determining a module associated with the attempt, determining a subsection of the module associated with the attempt, the subsection including a memory location associated with the attempt, accessing a security rule to determine whether to allow the attempted access based on the determination of the module and the determination of the subsection, and handling the attempt based on the security rule. The module includes a plurality of distinct subsections. |
| US09275220B2 |
Multiple input based passwords
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for utilizing one or more input methods for passwords. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of determining, by one or more processors, one or more input methods supported for a password entry, wherein the password entry verifies a user's credentials; receiving, by one or more processors, a candidate password through the one or more input methods, wherein each character of the candidate password has an associated input method; and storing, by one or more processors, the candidate password as the password entry, along with the associated input method for each character of the candidate password. |
| US09275218B1 |
Methods and apparatus for verification of a user at a first device based on input received from a second device
In one embodiment, a verification platform is adapted for communication with at least first and second devices. The verification platform receives a verification request from the first device, and determines if the first device has a registered association with the second device. If the first device has the registered association, the verification platform sends a notification to the second device regarding the verification request, receives verification input from the second device responsive to the notification, and grants or denies the verification request based at least in part on the verification input received from the second device. The verification request may be generated in conjunction with an attempted launch of a designated application on the first device, with user access to the application being controlled responsive to the granting or denying of the verification request. The first and second devices may comprise mobile telephones, computers or other types of devices. |
| US09275216B2 |
Electronic device and method for unlocking electronic device
In a method for unlocking an electronic device, a plurality of icons are preset and an icon is designated to be an unlocking icon for unlocking the electronic device. When the electronic device is locked, the icons are moving on the display device, and the moving icons is highlighted one by one according to a moving direction and a time interval. When a highlighted icon is touched and the highlighted icon is the unlocking icon, the electronic device is unlocked. |
| US09275212B2 |
Secure element biometric authentication system
An input device may be in communication with an application processor, wherein the input device may be configured to receive an input and the application processor may be configured to translate the input to a received template. A secure element may be in communication with the application processor and configured to receive the received template from the application processor. The secure element may include a matcher and an enrolled template database. The matcher may be configured to compare the received template from the application processor with an enrolled template within the enrolled template database and return a match status based on the comparison. |
| US09275206B2 |
Managing sensitive information
A method, system or computer usable program product for securing pages that contain sensitive information including utilizing a processor to provide a user interface on a display allowing a user to select a page as password protected on a device, responsive to a user utilizing the UI to select the page as password protected, receiving a password from the user, and requiring entry of the password before displaying the page on the display. |
| US09275198B2 |
Systems and methods for electronically publishing content
Systems and methods for electronically publishing content are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a content selection and receiving a selection of rights assigned to the content. The method also includes receiving a selection of one or more tags and associating the content with the rights assigned and the tag to enable a security trimmed rank adjusted search return of the content. |
| US09275194B2 |
System and method of multi-user coaching inside a tunable motion-sensing range
A system and a method of multi-user coaching are introduced herein. Motion-sensing cameras are applied to capture images, and a depth image stitching module is applied to perform a depth image stitching process on the captured images to expand the motion-sensing range, so as to establish a virtual environment for multi-user coaching. Each user can be coached individually by a one-to-multiple approach to improve his or her motions. By using the system and the method of multi-user coaching, that is, the system can only calculates on motion similarities of the users, and instructions are fed back to each user. Therefore, the system and the method described herein can be extensively applied to various products, such as a virtual gymnasium, a virtual aerobics classroom, a virtual Budokan, and so on. |
| US09275191B2 |
Methods and systems for producing an implant
A computer implemented method for determining the 3-dimensional shape of an implant to be implanted into a subject includes obtaining a computer readable image including a defective portion and a non-defective portion of tissue in the subject, superimposing on the image a shape to span the defective portion, and determining the 3-dimensional shape of the implant based on the shape that spans the defective portion. |
| US09275179B2 |
Single event upset mitigation for electronic design synthesis
Technology is disclosed herein that provides for modifying a circuit design to reduce the potential occurrence of single event upset errors during operation of a device manufactured from the synthesized design. After a circuit design has been synthesized to a particular abstraction level, a static timing analysis procedure is run on the design. The slack values for paths within the design are determined based upon the static timing analysis procedure. Subsequently, delays are added to selected paths within the design based upon the slack values. |
| US09275177B2 |
Semi-local ballistic mobility model
A transistor model defines the carrier mobility as a combination of both drift-diffusion mobility and ballistic mobility. The ballistic mobility is calculated based on the assumption that the kinetic energy of carriers near an injection point is no greater than the potential energy difference of carriers near that injection point. The abruptness of the onset of velocity saturation, as well as the asymptotic velocity associated therewith is made dependent on the degree to which the velocity is ballistically limited. The model further takes into account the inertial effects on the velocity and/or charge flux associated with carriers. The model computes the mobility and hence the velocity of carriers in accordance with their positions in the channel both along the direction of the current flow as well as the direction perpendicular to the current flow. |
| US09275171B2 |
Content recommendations for social networks
A recommendation system generates customized recommendations for social network members. The outputs for recommended content are personalized based on members' explicit and implicit interests derived from user actions, content selections, etc. |
| US09275169B2 |
Data detection
An apparatus for processing a sequence of tokens to detect predetermined data, wherein each said token has a token type, and the predetermined data has a structure that comprises a predetermined sequence of token types, including at least one optional token type. The apparatus comprises a processor arranged to: provide a tree for detecting the predetermined data, the tree comprising a plurality of states, each said state being linked with at least one other state by a respective condition, the arrangement of linked states forming a plurality of paths; and compare the token types of the sequence of tokens to respective conditions in the tree to match the sequence of tokens to one or more paths in the tree, wherein the predetermined data can be detected without using an epsilon reduction to take account of said at least one optional token type. |
| US09275165B2 |
Method and apparatus for defining an application to allow polymorphic serialization
An application defined to allow polymorphic serialization. In one embodiment, the application comprises a plurality of page definitions or views. At least one page definition is configured to be serialized into content in a first serialization format and content in a second serialization format that is different from the first serialization. |
| US09275160B2 |
Performing an upgrade in a multi-tenant database system environment
A system and method for providing features in a database system. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a user, a request for a feature, where the feature is a functionality of the database system. The method further includes upgrading the database system, where the upgrading includes one or more provisioning steps that are based on the request from the user. |
| US09275159B1 |
Content marking
Techniques for content marking are provided. An Application includes a plug-in which permits an offset location within a document to be marked as a content marker. The content marker is stored independent of the application and is subsequently processed by a content marking service. The content marking service permits the content marker to be selected causing the application to be initiated, the document to be loaded within the application, and the offset location to be presented within the document. |
| US09275154B2 |
Context-sensitive point of interest retrieval
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on one or more computer storage devices, for context sensitive point of interest retrieval. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a current location of a user's electronic device and retrieving multiple points of interest within a predetermined distance to the current location. Each point of interest is ranked based on the point of interest's proximity to the current location and one or more time-related attributes associated with the point of interest. Data identifying one or more of the points of interest is provided to the electronic device for presentation to the user on a display of the electronic device based on the ranking. |
| US09275153B2 |
Ranking search engine results
A method of determining search engine rank for digital content. The method may include performing a search for digital content on a network using a search term to obtain search results. The method may also include obtaining search engine optimization data from the search results and analyzing the search engine optimization data to determine a position of digital content related to an entity with respect to non-category specific search results and sub-links of non-category specific search results. |
| US09275152B2 |
Related entities
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying entities that are related to an entity to which a search query is directed. One of the methods includes receiving a search query, wherein the search query has been determined to relate to a first entity of a first entity type, and wherein one or more entities of a second entity type have a relationship with the first entity; receiving search results for the search query; determining that a count of search results identifying a resource containing a reference to the first entity satisfies a first threshold value; determining that a count of search results identifying a resource having the second entity type as a relevant entity type satisfies a second threshold value; and transmitting information identifying the one or more entities of the second entity type as part of the response to the search query. |
| US09275145B2 |
Electronic document retrieval system with links to external documents
An electronic document retrieval system is disclosed. It has particular utility to World-Wide Web searching. The system requires webmasters to put forward categories into which the pages on their web-site might sensibly be divided, and to provide a list of those categories together with a list of popular keywords associated with those categories to a global search engine. The global search engine is then able to augment one or more of its search results with links to category-heading pages which most closely relate to the query provided by the user. In this way, a user is able to find the page most relevant to his query more rapidly than has hitherto been possible. |
| US09275143B2 |
Detecting duplicate and near-duplicate files
Improved duplicate and near-duplicate detection techniques may assign a number of fingerprints to a given document by (i) extracting parts from the document, (ii) assigning the extracted parts to one or more of a predetermined number of lists, and (iii) generating a fingerprint from each of the populated lists. Two documents may be considered to be near-duplicates if any one of their fingerprints match. |
| US09275142B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-browser web-based applications
Various methods are described for expanding the display of a web application across multiple devices. One example method may comprise receiving an indication of content associated with a main frame of a web application. The method may further comprise displaying of the content associated with the main frame. Furthermore, the method may comprise searching for one or more external devices. Each of the one or more external devices may comprise a display for rendering content associated with a respective expanded frame of the web application. The method of this example embodiment may further comprise establishing a connection with the one or more external devices. Furthermore, the method may comprise providing for transmission to each of the one or more external devices of an indication of the content associated with the respective expanded frame. Similar and related example methods, example apparatuses, and example computer program products are also provided. |
| US09275140B2 |
Method of optimizing the search for a scene on the basis of a stream of images archived in a video database
A method of searching for a scene based on a stream of images archived in a video surveillance database including: a first phase of preprocessing prior to archiving of the images including extracting generic information from the images of the stream, systematically annotating the scenes of the images by at least one indication defined as a function of the generic information, and indexing the scenes of the images based on information extracted from the indications originating from one or more streams; a second phase of investigation by preselecting video segments from the stream of images including the annotation indications associated with the images; and a third phase of searching for a particular scene based on at least one additional characteristic not forming part of the annotations associated with the preselected video segments. |
| US09275139B2 |
“At least” operator for combining audio search hits
System and method to search audio data, including: receiving audio data representing speech; receiving a search query related to the audio data; compiling, by use of a processor, the search query into a hierarchy of scored speech recognition sub-searches; searching, by use of a processor, the audio data for speech identified by one or more of the sub-searches to produce hits; and combining, by use of a processor, the hits by use of at least one combination function to provide a composite search score of the audio data. The combination function may include an at-least-M-of-N function that produces a high score when at least M of N function inputs exceed a predetermined threshold value. The composite search score employ a soft time window such as a spline function. |
| US09275138B2 |
System for generating media recommendations in a distributed environment based on seed information
A system and medium for generating a media recommendation is disclosed. The system comprises a central server operably connected to a network that comprises at least one processor and memory containing software executable by the at least one processor. The central server is configured to receive information identifying a user associated with a requesting device, identify profile information based on the information identifying the user, receive a media recommendation request from the requesting device, the media recommendation request comprising seed information comprising information identifying a media item and a current location of the requesting device, determine at least one related media item based on at least the information identifying the media item and the profile information, and provide information identifying the at least one related media item to the requesting device. |
| US09275126B2 |
Self populating address book
System, methods and computer program products for creating and maintaining an address book are described. The address book may collect or update its existing contact information from sent or received communications. Contact information associated with the existing contacts also may be collected (or updated based on information received) from outside sources (e.g., external to an application hosting or accessing the address book). The address book may intelligently combine profile data from various sources to enrich the existing records associated with the contacts. |
| US09275124B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling snapshot exports
Methods, apparatus, and computer-accessible storage media for controlling export of snapshots to external networks in service provider environments. Methods are described that may be used to prevent customers of a service provider from downloading snapshots of volumes, such as boot images created by the service provider or provided by third parties, to which the customer does not have the appropriate rights. A request may be received from a user to access one or more snapshots, for example a request to export the snapshot or a request for a listing of snapshots. For each snapshot, the service provider may determine if the user has rights to the snapshot, for example by checking a manifest for the snapshot to see if entries in the snapshot manifest belong to an account other than the customer's. If the user has rights to the snapshot, the request is granted; otherwise, the request is not granted. |
| US09275123B2 |
Replicating a source storage system
For replicating a source storage system, a scan module generates a source storage server description for each source storage server of the source storage system from a scan of the source storage system. The source storage server description includes a replication type and a source volume record for each source logical volume of the source storage server. A provision module determines a number of replicated instances of each source logical volume for a target storage system from the replication type. In addition the provision module generates a target storage server description for each target storage server of the target storage system from each source storage server description in response to the target storage system satisfying a target storage requirement. |
| US09275122B2 |
Business intelligence dashboard generator
A cloner is configured to assist users in deploying templates from a source environment into a target environment. The cloner includes a source identification module configured to identify source objects in a source environment from one or more business intelligence reports. The cloner also includes a mapping module configured to provide a declarative mapping screen showing the source objects and a list of available objects in a target environment to map the source objects against, and to receive mapping information selections from a user. The cloner further includes a duplication module configured to duplicate the one or more business intelligence reports into the target environment based on the mapping information selections. |
| US09275121B2 |
Interoperable shared query based on heterogeneous data sources
The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for creating and using shared queries based on heterogeneous data sources. One example method includes receiving a request to execute a shared query, identifying at least one data source and a query specification associated with the shared query, generating a native query for each identified data source based on the identified query specification, executing the generated native queries at the respective data sources to collect a set of query results from the respective data sources, and formatting the set of query results from the respective data sources into a unified set of query results. |
| US09275120B2 |
Easy query
A system and method for using an easy query in a business warehouse system environment that includes external end-user systems. A method includes providing a flag in a query to a business warehouse data system, the flag marking the query for access to the query by sources external to the business warehouse data system. The method further includes providing, by the at least one data processor the access points having a number of parameters that are fixed at a design time associated with the query, providing a query result to the access points of the sources external to the business warehouse system according to the number of parameters. The system and method provide an easy way of creating an access function at design time, as well as an easy way of result set consumption provided by the function at runtime. |
| US09275118B2 |
Method and system for collecting and presenting historical communication data
Among other disclosures, a method may include collecting historical communication data and personal data relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications. The method may include depositing the collected data into a repository of historical communication data and personal data. The method may include presenting one or more items in the repository, in response to user behavior. |
| US09275116B2 |
Evaluation predicting device, evaluation predicting method, and program
A computer-implemented method, an apparatus and a recording medium are provided for predicting a score associated with a first user and with a first item are provided. The method comprises: storing one or more first scores in a first database, each first score being associated with a user and with an item; calculating, based on the first scores, one or more latent user features associated with one or more users including the first user and one or more latent item features associated with one or more items including the first item; calculating, based on the latent user features and the latent item features, a second score associated with the first user and with the first item; and providing the second score as a predicted score associated with the first item and with the first user. The recording medium comprises instructions to configure the apparatus to perform the method. |
| US09275112B2 |
Filtering views with predefined query
An application, such as a data store application, provides a filter query to manage access to a view of a data store. The application uses the filter query to restrict or shape access to the view. A user constructs the filter query using a query constructor component of the application. The application attaches the constructed filter query to the view. The application may extract the structure of the query and combine that with the original view to generate a filtered view result in place of the original view result. |
| US09275110B2 |
Disk-based hash join process
A database system performs hash join process for processing queries that join an inner and an outer database table. The hash join processes builds a hash table in memory for the inner table. The database system receives a limit on the memory for storing the hash table. The database system maximizes the number of partitions stored in memory for the hash table. If the hash table exceeds the limit of the memory while adding rows from the inner table, the database system selects a partition for spilling to a persistent storage. The partition selected for spilling to may be the largest partition or a partition larger than most of the partitions. The database system initializes the hash table to a number of partitions that is substantially equal to half of the total number of blocks that can be stored within the specified limit of memory for the hash table. |
| US09275109B2 |
Ad-hoc temporary record relationship management
A method for ad hoc temporary record relationship management includes selecting an instance of a data object persisted in a database of a database driven application and creating a different instance of a different data object referencing the selected instance of the data object and relating the selected instance of the data object to an instance of yet a further data object also persisted in the database. The method also includes storing the created different instance of the different data object in a collection of instances of the different data object and querying the collection of instances of the different data object for a particular instance of the further data object. Of note, the querying can produce a result set of data objects related to the particular instance of the further data object. Finally, the method includes processing the result set in the database driven application. |
| US09275102B2 |
System load query governor
Techniques are disclosed for query processing. In one embodiment, a query is received for execution in a processing environment. Based on a measure of current load of the processing environment, a maximum amount of a resource that the query is allowed to consume is determined. An amount of the resource that the query is to consume is estimated. Execution of the query is managed based on a comparison between the maximum amount and the estimated amount. |
| US09275101B2 |
Search queries with previews of search results on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph that includes a plurality of nodes and edges, generating a plurality of structured queries, where each structured query comprises references to nodes and edges of the social graph, generating search results corresponding to at least one of the structured queries, and sending one or more of the structured queries to a user for display, where at least one of the structured queries is displayed with a preview of one or more of the search results corresponding to the structured query. |
| US09275098B2 |
Techniques for implementing batch processing in a database system
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system. These techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system may enable embodiments to provide great flexibility to a tenant of the architecture to perform desired functions on content of the database while allowing the owner of the architecture schedule the processing of the functions on the content. |
| US09275093B2 |
Indexing sensor data
In particular embodiments, a method includes, from an indexer in a sensor network, accessing a set of sensor data that includes sensor data aggregated together from sensors in the sensor network, one or more time stamps for the sensor data, and metadata for the sensor data identifying one or more pre-determined attributes of the sensor data. The method includes, at the indexer, generating an index of the set of sensor data according to a multi-dimensional array configured for querying of the set of sensor data along with a plurality of other sets of sensor data. One or more first ones of the dimensions of the multi-dimensional array include time, and one or more second ones of the dimensions of the multi-dimensional array include one or more of the pre-determined sensor-data attributes. The method includes, from the indexer, communicating the index of the set of sensor data for use in responding to one or more queries of the set of sensor data along with a plurality of other sets of sensor data. |
| US09275085B2 |
Data processing system and method
A method of interpreting data in a first version of a data structure, the method comprising determining if the first version of the data structure is different to a currently used version of the data structure; and if the versions are different, then for each field of the currently used version of the data structure, determining if a corresponding field is present in the first version of the data structure; and if not, adding data to the field in the currently used version of the data structure according to interpretation rules. |
| US09275083B2 |
System and method for managing data policies on application objects
Described herein are systems and methods for providing data policy management over application objects in a storage system environment. An application object may comprise non-virtual or virtual objects (e.g., non-virtual-based applications, virtual-based applications, or virtual storage components). An application object manager may represent application objects by producing mapping graphs and/or application object data that represent application objects in a standardized manner. A mapping graph for an application object may describe a mapping between the application object and its underlying storage objects on a storage system. Application object data may describe a mapping graph in a standardized format. Application object data representing application objects may be received by an application policy manager that manages data policies on the application objects (including virtual applications and virtual storage components) based on the received application object data. Data policies may include policies for backup, service level objectives, recovery, monitoring and/or reporting. |
| US09275078B2 |
Estimating depth from a single image
During a training phase, a machine accesses reference images with corresponding depth information. The machine calculates visual descriptors and corresponding depth descriptors from this information. The machine then generates a mapping that correlates these visual descriptors with their corresponding depth descriptors. After the training phase, the machine may perform depth estimation based on a single query image devoid of depth information. The machine may calculate one or more visual descriptors from the single query image and obtain a corresponding depth descriptor for each visual descriptor from the generated mapping. Based on obtained depth descriptors, the machine creates depth information that corresponds to the submitted single query image. |
| US09275067B2 |
Apparatus and method to sequentially deduplicate data
A method to sequentially deduplicate data, wherein the method receives a plurality of computer files, wherein each of the plurality of computer files comprises a label comprising a file name, a file type, a version number, and file size, and stores that plurality of computer files in a deduplication queue. The method then identifies a subset of the plurality of computer files, wherein each file of the subset comprises the same file name but a different version number, and wherein the subset comprises a maximum count of version numbers, and wherein the subset comprises a portion of the plurality of computer files. The method deduplicates the subset using a hash algorithm, and removes the subset from said deduplication queue. |
| US09275066B2 |
Media file replacement
The computer manages media content by receiving, at a first memory storage location, a first file having one or more associated properties. The computer identifies a second file, at a second memory storage location, having one or more associated properties that are substantially similar to the first file. The computer compares the one or more properties of the first file to the one or more properties of the second file. The computer determines whether to replace the first file with the second file, based on the comparison of the one or more properties of the first file to the one or more properties of the second file. Responsive to determining to replace the first file with the second file, the computer stores at the first memory storage location a link to the second memory storage location. |
| US09275063B1 |
Replication optimizated IO
A system method and program product for data replication comprising based on metadata, creating a mapping of pending IO to a logical storage medium and changing a mapping of the logical storage medium to tiered storage mediums to optimize the pending IO to the logical storage medium. |
| US09275056B2 |
System and method of presenting media data
Systems and methods of presenting media data are provided. A particular method includes receiving a first event message associated with the media data from a media engine presenting media data via a graphical user interface (GUI). The method also includes executing an instruction in response to the first event message. The instruction modifies an in-memory representation associated with the GUI in which the media data is being presented. |
| US09275053B2 |
Decoding a watermark and processing in response thereto
Watermark encoders and decoders can be integrated into operating systems, Internet browsers, media players, and other applications and devices. Such integration enables the watermark-enabled application or device to provide additional functionality and information available via the watermark. The watermark, for example, may link to metadata or actions related to a media object. To exploit this watermark enabled functionality, the integrated application uses a watermark decoder to access the related metadata and actions. The user interface of the integrated application is enhanced to present metadata and actions linked via the watermark. Similarly, watermark encoders may be integrated into applications to convert media objects into enhanced, watermarked objects. A variety of other arrangements and features are also detailed. Many arrangements can be implemented using object identifiers other than watermarks. |
| US09275052B2 |
Providing annotations of a digital work
A digital work may be annotated using an eBook reader device. Upon receiving an annotation relating to a specific portion of the digital work, an invariant location reference identifier corresponding to the specified portion of the digital work may be appended to the annotation. The annotation may then be stored in association with the digital work for later reference. In some instances, an annotation may be presented on an eBook reader device upon receipt of a valid authorization credential granting access to the annotation. |
| US09275049B2 |
Protective case for portable electronic device
Removable cases for portable electronic devices incorporating memory tags (e.g., NFC memory tags) capable of being read by an electronic reading device are disclosed. The memory tags may be pre-programmed or programmable to contain one or more readable items of identification data associated with the custodian of the device or protective case. The memory tags may also or alternatively include code or executable commands that effectuate certain functionality (e.g., go into silent or airplane mode, call home or a particular person, turn off, check email, set alarm, play music or video, etc.) in another of the user's device. The protective case may protect, shield, and/or conceal the tag visually in part or in whole while allowing the tag to be read and the tags position visually identified. Systems and methods to recover lost or misplaced electronic devices using information contained in the memory tag of the protective enclosure are also disclosed. |
| US09275048B2 |
System and methods for solving information retrieval problem sets
An information sharing system to solve one or more information retrieval problems is concerned with the novel, hybrid use of the stochastic optimization techniques of evolutionary computation (EC) search strategies for computer information systems such as search engines, or service oriented architectures (SOAs). The information sharing system uses stochastic optimization agents for task distribution and communication when foraging a system of stored documents for information, assessing the computational effort required to retrieve information in the form of stored documents, sharing information among stochastic optimization agent processes and processors, and extracting knowledge from the information. The field of evolutionary computation encompasses stochastic optimization techniques, such as randomized search strategies, in the form of evolutionary strategies (ES), evolutionary programming (EP), genetic algorithms (GA), classifier systems, evolvable hardware (EHW), and genetic programming (GP). The information sharing system is an attempt to harness information processing models by adapting to information system fluctuations that occur within a computer, a local area network, and a wide area network that encompasses the whole Internet. |
| US09275044B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for finding synonyms
A method and system are provided for finding synonyms which are more contextually relevant to the intended use of a particular word. The system finds a list of synonyms for the input word and also finds a list of synonyms for an additional word entered by the user to approximate the intended usage of the input word. These two lists of synonyms are compared to find words common to both lists, and the common words are presented to the user as potential synonyms which are appropriate for the intended use. |
| US09275042B2 |
Semantic clustering and user interfaces
Semantic clustering techniques are described. In various implementations, a conversational agent is configured to perform semantic clustering of a corpus of user utterances. Semantic clustering may be used to provide a variety of functionality, such as to group a corpus of utterances into semantic clusters in which each cluster pertains to a similar topic. These clusters may then be leveraged to identify topics and assess their relative importance, as for example to prioritize topics whose handling by the conversation agent should be improved. A variety of utterances may be processed using these techniques, such as spoken words, textual descriptions entered via live chat, instant messaging, a website interface, email, SMS, a social network, a blogging or micro-blogging interface, and so on. |
| US09275037B2 |
Managing comments relating to work items
A computer for managing textual content of phrases where the computer determines if a phrase is entered into a first field in a display, wherein the phrase contains textual content. The computer determines if a portion of the textual content of the phrase is present in a phrase dictionary, wherein the phrase dictionary contains textual content of one or more topics. Responsive to determining that the portion of the textual content of the phrase is not present in the phrase dictionary, the computer determines to not enter the portion of the textual content of the phrase in a second field of the display. |
| US09275033B2 |
System, method and computer program product for creating an object within a system, utilizing a template
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for creating an object within a system, utilizing a template. These mechanisms and methods for creating an object within a system, utilizing a template can enable increased efficiency, resource and time savings, more intuitive object creation, etc. |
| US09275029B2 |
Automated form layout based upon usage patterns
Historical form usage information for a group of fields associated with a graphical user interface (GUI) form is analyzed with a computer processor. Usage characteristics for each of the group of fields associated with the GUI form is indentified within the historical form usage information. The GUI form is automatically changed based upon the identified usage characteristics for each of the group of fields. The changed GUI form is displayed on a display of the computing device. |
| US09275028B2 |
Creating and viewing digital note cards
Systems, techniques, and methods are presented for creating digital note cards and presenting a graphical user interface for interacting with digital note cards. For example, content from an electronic book can be displayed in a graphical user interface. Input can be received in the graphical user interface highlighting a portion of the content and creating a note, the note including user generated content. A digital note card can be created where one side of the digital note card includes the highlighted text, and the other side of the digital note card includes the note. The digital note card can be displayed in the graphical user interface. |
| US09275027B2 |
Method and system for collaborative capture and replay of digital media files using multimodal documents
A system and method for enabling capture and replay of digital media files using multimodal documents including a context manager for managing multimodal documents with a virtual media content management system coupled to the context manager. The virtual media content management system contains digital content which is adapted to be managed by the virtual media content management system. An input system is coupled to the context manager and includes a stylus operable to select digital content to be processed. The context manager is operable to issue multimodal document management instructions to the virtual media content management system to process digital content selected by the stylus based on input information from the input system. |
| US09275024B2 |
Identifiers for web font templates
A computer-implemented method includes producing a unique identifier, and, assigning the unique identifier to a style sheet for web asset production. |
| US09275023B2 |
Methods for further adapting XSL to HTML document transformations and devices thereof
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for further adapting XSL to HTML document transformations includes identifying with a web computing device one or more rules in an HTML document. An action associated with each of the identified one or more rules is identified with the web computing device. The identified actions are filtered with the web computing device based on one or more filtering rules when two or more of the identified actions have a match. The remaining identified actions after the filtering are applied with the web computing device to transform the one or more rules in the HTML document. The transformed HTML document is provided by the web computing device. |
| US09275017B2 |
Methods, systems, and media for guiding user reading on a screen
In some embodiments, a method for guiding user reading on a screen is provided, the method comprising: determining a reading speed of a user; receiving a selection of a document having an original layout to be read; setting a reading speed for the document; formatting the selected document for presentation to the user on a screen; presenting the formatted document using the original document layout; dividing text in the formatted document into blocks that include a plurality of words; reformatting the blocks based on the layout of the formatted document and punctuation of the document to include at least one word, such that each reformatted block includes less than a predetermined number of characters and the at least one word of the reformatted block is on a single line in the text of the document; and presenting guidance to the user within the formatted document at the set reading speed. |
| US09275013B2 |
System and method for analysis and reconstruction of variable pulse-width signals having low sampling rates
Systems and methods are described herein for applying a predefined functional shape to coefficients of a discrete Fourier transform of a waveform. The waveform may based, at least in part, on an electro-cardiogram (ECG). The predefined functional shape may be parabolic, and may be defined on a logarithmic scale. The application of a predefined functional shape may allow a more accurate reconstruction of a waveform to be generated at a lower sampling rate. |
| US09275012B2 |
Multi-way number partitioning using weakest link optimality
Multi-way partitioning is dramatically improved based on “weakest-link” optimality. The set of numbers to be partitioned is subjected to pairwise decomposition with a first partition having a candidate subset (P1={S1}), and a lower cost bound cmin is set equal to a maximum cost of this subset. A recursive call is then invoked to resolve the subproblem of the second partition (P2={S2, S3, . . . , Sk}). If each second candidate subset in the second partition has a cost which is less than or equal to the lower cost bound, then the first partition is returned with the second partition as an optimal solution regardless of whether the second partition is an optimal decomposition. Additional efficiency may be achieved by excluding any subset having a cost which is greater than or equal to the best cost so far. Dominated and symmetric solutions can also be excluded. |
| US09275006B2 |
Configuration file updater
A method for updating configuration information includes, in a computing device including a processor, memory, and an operating system, initiating an update to at least one configuration setting of the computing device. The update may be downloaded from at least one update data source. The update may include configuration update data and configuration update metadata. The update may be verified by comparing the configuration update metadata with metadata associated with a current version of the at least one configuration setting. The update may be installed if it is verified. The update to the at least one configuration setting may be installed based on an intent from an unsecure component of the computing device. The unsecure component may include content consuming application installed on the device, a component of a computing platform of the device, and/or an update-seeker application installed on the device. |
| US09275004B2 |
Hybrid firewall for data center security
A system and method for managing a hybrid firewall solution, employing both hardware and software firewall components, for a cloud computing data center is provided. A virtual application is hosted by a first plurality of application virtual machines and a second plurality of firewall virtual machines provides firewalling services for traffic associated with the virtual application. A cloud management entity determines that the virtual application requires an increased number of application virtual machines. A security profile for the virtual application is verified to determine if an increased number of firewall virtual machines is required by the increased number of application virtual machines. The cloud management entity can instantiate additional application virtual machines and firewall virtual machines as required. |
| US09275003B1 |
NIC atomic operation unit with caching and bandwidth mitigation
A network interface controller atomic operation unit and a network interface control method comprising, in an atomic operation unit of a network interface controller, using a write-through cache and employing a rate-limiting functional unit. |
| US09275002B2 |
Tile-based processor architecture model for high-efficiency embedded homogeneous multicore platforms
The present invention relates to a processor which comprises processing elements that execute instructions in parallel and are connected together with point-to-point communication links called data communication links (DCL). The instructions use DCLs to communicate data between them. In order to realize those communications, they specify the DCLs from which they take their operands, and the DCLs to which they write their results. The DCLs allow the instructions to synchronize their executions and to explicitly manage the data they manipulate. Communications are explicit and are used to realize the storage of temporary variables, which is decoupled from the storage of long-living variables. |
| US09275001B1 |
Updating personal content streams based on feedback
A personal content stream comprising a plurality of videos is generated for a user. The user selects topics used in the generation of a personal content stream. The plurality of user selected topics is expanded to include topics related to one or more of the user selected topics. Each of the topics in the expanded plurality of topics includes a topic weight. Videos are selected that are related to one or more of the expanded plurality of topics to generate a plurality of stream videos. Additional videos are selected and added to the plurality of stream videos as the user watches videos. The topic weights are adjusted during video playback based on feedback from the user. |
| US09274995B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, first monitor controller of electronic circuit board recognizes free slot into which the electronic circuit board has been hot-inserted, notifies host control device of start together with slot information causes first parameter setting module to change reception parameter of first T/R circuit module. The host control device instructs switch processing board to change transmission parameter, in response to slot information and start notification. Second monitor controller of the switch processing board causes second parameter setting module to change transmission parameter of second T/R circuit module, in accordance with an instruction from the host control device. |
| US09274989B2 |
Impersonating SCSI ports through an intermediate proxy
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include ascertaining, by a first storage system, a respective port identifier for each of one or more host ports defined to the first storage system for a logical volume stored on a second storage system. Examples of the port identifiers include WWPN and iSCSI iQN identifiers. A respective unique identifier is assigned to each of the ascertained one or more host ports, and for each of the one or more host ports, the respective port identifier and the assigned respective unique identifier are conveyed to the second storage system. Upon receiving, from one of the one or more host ports, an input/output (I/O) request for the logical volume, I/O request with the respective unique identifier of the one of the one or more host ports is conveyed to the second storage system. |
| US09274986B2 |
Data transmission circuit and data transmission method using configurable threshold and related universal serial bus system
A data transmission circuit applied to a universal serial bus (USB) system includes a memory, a direct memory access (DMA) engine and a USB controller. The memory is arranged for receiving and storing external data. The DMA engine is coupled to the memory, and arranged for controlling data retrieved from the memory. The USB controller is coupled to the DMA engine, and arranged for receiving data from the DMA engine and for transmitting the received data to a host. When the memory the stored data volume reaches a first threshold, the DMA engine starts continuously fetching data from the memory and transmitting it to the USB controller, until the data volume fetched by the DMA engine reaches a second threshold, or there is no data left in the memory. The second threshold is greater than the first threshold. |
| US09274984B2 |
Multi-processor with selectively interconnected memory units
A multi-processor having a plurality of data processing units and memory units has a bus system that selectively interconnects the processing units and the memory units. |
| US09274981B2 |
Forming apparatus and processing method to request configuration data from a management apparatus in predetermined transition state
Upon generation of a prescribed condition in an image forming apparatus, when a download request of configuration data associated with that condition is sent to a configuration data management apparatus, the requested configuration data of those managed by the configuration data management apparatus are downloaded to the image forming apparatus. Then, the image forming apparatus uses the configuration data downloaded from the configuration data management apparatus as those associated with the condition. |
| US09274973B2 |
Memory address translation
The present disclosure includes devices, systems, and methods for memory address translation. One or more embodiments include a memory array and a controller coupled to the array. The array includes a first table having a number of records, wherein each record includes a number of entries, wherein each entry includes a physical address corresponding to a data segment stored in the array and a logical address. The controller includes a second table having a number of records, wherein each record includes a number of entries, wherein each entry includes a physical address corresponding to a record in the first table and a logical address. The controller also includes a third table having a number of records, wherein each record includes a number of entries, wherein each entry includes a physical address corresponding to a record in the second table and a logical address. |
| US09274971B2 |
Low latency data exchange
According to one embodiment, a method for exchanging data in a system that includes a main processor in communication with an active memory device is provided. The method includes a processing element in the active memory device receiving an instruction from the main processor and receiving a store request from a thread running on the main processor, the store request specifying a memory address associated with the processing element. The method also includes storing a value provided in the store request in a queue in the processing element and the processing element performing the instruction using the value from the queue. |
| US09274965B2 |
Prefetching data
The present disclosure is directed towards a prefetch controller configured to communicate with a prefetch cache in order to increase system performance. In some embodiments, the prefetch controller may include an instruction lookup table (ILT) configured to receive a first tuple including a first instruction ID and a first missed data address. The prefetch controller may further include a tuple history queue (THQ) configured to receive an instruction/stride tuple, the instruction/stride tuple generated by subtracting a last data access address from the first missed data address. The prefetch controller may further include a sequence prediction table (SPT) in communication with the tuple history queue (THQ) and the instruction lookup table. The prefetch controller may also include an adder in communication with the instruction lookup table (ILT) and the sequence prediction table (SPT) configured to generate a predicted prefetch address and to provide the predicted prefetch address to a prefetch cache. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure. |
| US09274961B2 |
Method for building multi-processor system with nodes having multiple cache coherency domains
A method for building a multi-processor system with nodes having multiple cache coherency domains. In this system, a directory built in a node controller needs to include processor domain attribute information, and the information can be acquired by configuring cache coherency domain attributes of ports of the node controller connected to processors. In the disclosure herein, the node controller can support the multiple physical cache coherency domains in a node. |
| US09274960B2 |
System and method for simplifying cache coherence using multiple write policies
System and methods for cache coherence in a multi-core processing environment having a local/shared cache hierarchy. The system includes multiple processor cores, a main memory, and a local cache memory associated with each core for storing cache lines accessible only by the associated core. Cache lines are classified as either private or shared. A shared cache memory is coupled to the local cache memories and main memory for storing cache lines. The cores follow a write-back to the local memory for private cache lines, and a write-through to the shared memory for shared cache lines. Shared cache lines in local cache memory enter a transient dirty state when written by the core. Shared cache lines transition from a transient dirty to a valid state with a self-initiated write-through to the shared memory. The write-through to shared memory can include only data that was modified in the transient dirty state. |
| US09274957B2 |
Monitoring a value in storage without repeated storage access
A technique is provided for monitoring a value without repeated storage access. A processing circuit processes an instruction of a program that specifies a memory address of a memory location to be monitored. The processing circuit configures a monitor station for monitoring the memory location. The memory location includes a state descriptor for the program. The processing circuit receives a cross-invalidate request from a memory controller. The cross-invalidate request indicates to the monitor station that content of the memory location has been changed by another processing circuit. |
| US09274955B2 |
Reduced scalable cache directory
A processing network comprising a cache configured to store copies of memory data as a plurality of cache lines, a cache controller configured to receive data requests from a plurality of cache agents, and designate at least one of the cache agents as an owner of a first of the cache lines, and a directory configured to store cache ownership designations of the first cache line, and wherein the directory is encoded to support substantially simultaneous ownership of the first cache line by a plurality but less than all of the cache agents. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving coherent transactions from a plurality of cache agents, and storing ownership designations of a plurality of cache lines by the cache agents in a directory, wherein the directory is configured to support storage of substantially simultaneous ownership designations for a plurality but less than all of the cache agents. |
| US09274943B2 |
Storage unit management method, memory controller and memory storage device using the same
A storage unit management method for managing a plurality of physical units in a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided, wherein the physical units are at least grouped into a data area and a spare area. The method includes configuring a plurality of logical units for mapping to the physical units belonging to the data area, and determining whether the rewritable non-volatile memory module contains cold data. The method further includes performing a first wear-leveling procedure on the physical units if it is determined that the rewritable non-volatile memory module does not contain any cold data, and performing a second wear-leveling procedure on the physical units if it is determined that the rewritable non-volatile memory module contains the cold data. |
| US09274940B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating memory space with write-combine attribute
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for allocating a memory space with a write-combine attribute, including: determining, when resources of devices are scanned, a type and a size of a resource required by each device; determining, after the scanning of the resources of the devices is completed, a total size of write-combine memory spaces required by all first devices; then determining a starting address used to allocate a write-combine memory space to the first devices; and allocating one memory space jointly to all the first devices and allocating, from the one memory space, a sub-memory space to each first device. According to the embodiments of the present invention, a memory space with a write-combine attribute can be allocated to devices in a more reliable manner and by using a relatively simple allocation method. |
| US09274939B2 |
Memory system
A memory system includes: a memory controller configured to change data to be stored in memory cells according to an address of a weak cell in order to store changed data having a lower program level than a highest program level among a plurality of program levels in peripheral cells adjacent to the weak cell; and a memory device configured to execute a program loop in order to store the changed data in a selected page. |
| US09274937B2 |
Systems, methods, and interfaces for vector input/output operations
Data of a vector storage request pertaining to one or more disjoint, non-adjacent, and/or non-contiguous logical identifier ranges are stored contiguously within a log on a non-volatile storage medium. A request consolidation module modifies one or more sub-requests of the vector storage request in response to other, cached storage requests. Data of an atomic vector storage request may comprise persistent indicators, such as persistent metadata flags, to identify data pertaining to incomplete atomic storage requests. A restart recovery module identifies and excludes data of incomplete atomic operations. |
| US09274931B2 |
Inserting implicit sequence points into computer program code to support debug operations
Arrangements described herein relate to inserting implicit sequence points into computer program code to support debug operations. Optimization of the computer program code can be performed during compilation of the computer program code and, during the optimization, implicit sequence points can be inserted into the computer program code. The implicit sequence points can be configured to provide virtual reads of symbols contained in the computer program code when the implicit sequence points are reached during execution of the computer program code during a debug operation performed on the computer program code after the computer program code is optimized and compiled. |
| US09274930B2 |
Debugging system using static analysis
A debugging system for compiled code may include static analysis of the compiled code to determine current values for variables at a paused location within the compiled code. The static analysis may consist of liveness analysis to determine which variables are ‘live’ and in which memory locations those variables are stored. The variables and their values may be presented to a user. The debugging system may include mechanisms for setting stop points, for pausing and continuing execution, as well as stepping through a step or group of steps. Other static analysis may include unwind information that may determine a point in the code from where the current function was called, as well as partial decompilation of the source code to produce a representation of the compiled code that is closer to that of the source code. |
| US09274925B2 |
Programmable symbolic execution based dynamic checker
A method of analyzing a software program includes compiling the software program into an intermediate representation. The method also includes finding an instruction in the intermediate representation that matches a pattern in a check pattern. The method also includes generating an instrumented intermediate representation in which the instruction is modified according to an action specified in the check pattern. The method also includes symbolically executing the instrumented intermediate representation. |
| US09274923B2 |
System and method for stack crawl testing and caching
A method for extracting static information from user code, analyzing the static information to determine location expressions for program information and comparing the location expressions to reference location expressions of the user code. In addition, a system having a reading module configured to read and extract static information from user code, an analyzing module configured to analyze the static information to determine location expressions for program information and a comparison module configured to compare the location expressions to reference location expressions of the user code. |
| US09274918B2 |
Prediction of impact of workload migration
A method, system and product for predicting impact of workload migration. The method comprising: obtaining a utilization pattern of a workload that is being executed on a first platform; generating a synthetic workload that is configured to have the utilization pattern when executed on the first platform; executing the synthetic workload on a second platform; and identifying a change in performance between execution of the synthetic workload on the first platform and between execution of the synthetic workload on the second platform in order to provide a prediction of an impact of migrating the workload from the first platform to the second platform. |
| US09274913B2 |
Event pages for web applications and extensions
A method and system for monitoring events related to web browser extensions includes storing a set of events for which a browser extension integrated in a web browser application registers a listener. The browser extension integrated in the web browser application is executed. Upon the occurrence of an event related to the browser extension, an invisible event page associated with the browser extension is loaded if the event is one of the set of events. Using the invisible event page, a function related to a visible object of the browser extension is executed. The invisible event page is unloaded from the browser after receiving an acknowledgement from the browser extension. |
| US09274911B2 |
Using shared pins in a concurrent test execution environment
A method for using shared pins in a concurrent test execution environment is disclosed. The method relates to scheduling tests in concurrently executing test flows for automated test equipment (ATE) in a way so that resources can be shared between the test flows. The method comprises determining if any of a plurality of splits used by a first test contains at least one resource that is shared, wherein the first test and a second test are sequenced for execution in two separate concurrently executing test flows. The method further comprises determining if the first test should execute before the second test if the split is associated with resources required by both the second and first tests. Finally the method comprises reserving the split containing the at least one shared resource for access by the first test before beginning execution of the first test. |
| US09274907B1 |
Decommissioning of virtual backup appliances
Various methods and techniques are disclosed to manage resources of virtual backup appliances in a backup and recovery network. In one embodiment, a backup server receives a request to decommission a virtual backup appliance (VBA) of a first primary storage system. The backup server is configured to manage backup operations to back up data from a plurality of primary storage systems to a backup storage system over a network, where each primary storage system has one or more VBA that carry out backup operations. In response to the request, the backup server transmits a first request to the first primary storage system over the network to delete data and metadata related to the data associated with the VBA. The back up server then determines whether the backup storage system contains data associated with the requested VBA. Upon the determination, the backup server transmits a second request to the backup storage system to delete the data associated with the requested VBA from the backup storage system. The backup server then deletes a second metadata associated with the VBA, and then unregisters the VBA from the backup and recovery network. |
| US09274904B2 |
Software only inter-compute unit redundant multithreading for GPUs
A system, method and computer program product to execute a first and a second work-group, and compare the signature variables of the first work-group to the signature variables of the second work-group via a synchronization mechanism. The first and the second work-group are mapped to an identifier via software. This mapping ensures that the first and second work-groups execute exactly the same data for exactly the same code without changes to the underlying hardware. By executing the first and second work-groups independently, the underlying computation of the first and second work-groups can be verified. Moreover, system performance is not substantially affected because the execution results of the first and second work-groups are compared only at specified comparison points. |
| US09274898B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing criticality based data backup
An approach is provided for providing criticality based data backup. A data backup platform determines one or more state trajectories associated with one or more information management processes operating on at least one information space. The data backup platform further processes and/or facilitates a processing of the one or more state trajectories to determine criticality information associated with one or more data items of the at least one information space. The data backup platform also determines (a) one or more data backup processes, (b) one or more data restoration processes, (c) one or more parameters for the one or more data backup processes, the data restoration processes, or a combination thereof, or (d) a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the criticality information. |
| US09274893B2 |
Data storage device and error correction method thereof
The present invention provides a data storage device including a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory is capable of operating in a SLC mode and a non-SLC mode. The controller is configured to perform a first read operation to read a page corresponding to a first word line of the flash memory in the SLC mode according to a read command of a host, and perform an adjustable read operation when data read by the first read operation cannot be recovered by coding, wherein the controller is further configured to enable the flash memory to operate in the non-SLC mode in the adjustable read operation, and write logic 1 into a most-significant-bit page corresponding to the first word line in the non-SLC mode to adjust voltage distribution of the first page. |
| US09274892B2 |
Memory chip with error detection and retry modes of operation
A memory system includes a link having at least one signal line and a controller. The controller includes at least one transmitter coupled to the link to transmit first data, and a first error protection generator coupled to the transmitter. The first error protection generator dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the first data. At least one receiver is coupled to the link to receive second data. A first error detection logic determines if the second data received by the controller contains at least one error and, if an error is detected, asserts a first error condition. The system includes a memory device having at least one memory device transmitter coupled to the link to transmit the second data. A second error protection generator coupled to the memory device transmitter dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the second data. |
| US09274887B2 |
Non-regular parity distribution detection via metadata tag
This can relate to non-regular parity distribution of a non-volatile memory (“NVM”), such as flash memory, and detection of the non-regular parity via a metadata tag. For example, each codeword of the NVM can include one or more parity pages that may be distributed at random through the NVM. To identify the page as a parity page, a parity page marker can be included in the metadata of that page. During power-up of the NVM, an address table including the logical-to-physical address mapping of the pages can be created. Pages including a parity page marker, however, can be skipped during the creation of this address table. Additionally, by having two or more parity pages associated with a codeword, an additional layer of protection can be provided for repairing errors in that codeword. |
| US09274886B2 |
Data storage device having a reduced error occurrence, operating method thereof, and data processing system including the same
Operating a data storage device may include reading a first data group, detecting errors in the first data group, correcting the errors in the first data group, if the errors detected in the first data group can be corrected, and estimating a read retry estimation voltage for a subsequent read retry operation of a second data group that is different than the first data group and associated with the data storage device based on error correction data associated with the correcting the errors of the first data group. |
| US09274883B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for storing validity masks and operating apparatuses
Apparatuses and methods for storing a validity mask and operating apparatuses are described. A number of methods for operating an apparatus include storing a validity mask that is associated with a number of pages of memory cells in a group of pages and that provides validity information for the number of pages of memory cells in the group of pages. |
| US09274879B2 |
System-level issue detection and handling
Issue detection and handling technology in which issue definitions that enable detection of issues at different devices of an enterprise level system that operate different applications are maintained. Solution definitions that relate to resolving issues detected based on the issue definitions are also maintained. Issue detection logic based on the issue definitions is provided to each of the different devices of the enterprise level system. Issue detection information collected based on the issue detection logic is received from at least one of the different devices of the enterprise level system. Based on the issue detection information, an issue at the at least one device is determined. A solution definition related to resolving the determined issue is accessed from the solution definitions. Based on the accessed solution definition, an operation directed to handling the determined issue is performed. |
| US09274874B1 |
Automated defect diagnosis from machine diagnostic data
Diagnosis of defect(s) in a system is disclosed. A defect signature-based query is performed against system diagnostic data stored in one or more structured records. It is determined that a defect signature is associated with a system based at least in part on the query. Remediation information generated based at least in part on the defect signature and the system diagnostic data may be output. |
| US09274862B2 |
Reducing latency in performing a task among distributed systems
Among other things, at a client computer system in communication with a computer network, a request object is generated that includes logic to control the handling of requests. At least one of the requests depends on (for example, simply by being part of a sequence) a result of at least one of the other of the requests. The request object is sent to a server computer system that is in communication with the computer network. A response object is received that includes results of at least some of the requests. |
| US09274860B2 |
Multi-processor device and inter-process communication method thereof
Provided are a multi-process device and an inter-process communication (IPC) method thereof. The multi-processor device includes a first processor, a second processor, a first memory connected to the first processor, and a second memory connected to the second processor. When an inter-process communication (IPC) operation is performed between the first processor and the second processor, data is exchanged between the first memory and the second memory. |
| US09274856B2 |
Improving processor performance for instruction sequences that include barrier instructions
A technique for processing an instruction sequence that includes a barrier instruction, a load instruction preceding the barrier instruction, and a subsequent memory access instruction following the barrier instruction includes determining, by a processor core, that the load instruction is resolved based upon receipt by the processor core of an earliest of a good combined response for a read operation corresponding to the load instruction and data for the load instruction. The technique also includes if execution of the subsequent memory access instruction is not initiated prior to completion of the barrier instruction, initiating by the processor core, in response to determining the barrier instruction completed, execution of the subsequent memory access instruction. The technique further includes if execution of the subsequent memory access instruction is initiated prior to completion of the barrier instruction, discontinuing by the processor core, in response to determining the barrier instruction completed, tracking of the subsequent memory access instruction with respect to invalidation. |
| US09274854B2 |
Contamination based workload management
Computer-implemented methods for workload management and related computer program products are disclosed. One method comprises receiving corrosion rate signals from a first sensor associated with a first compute node, determining a first corrosion level for the first compute node as a function of the corrosion rate signal received from the first sensor, and automatically removing a first workload from the first compute node in response to determining that the first compute node has a first corrosion level that is greater than a setpoint level of corrosion. |
| US09274852B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing virtual processing unit
A method and apparatus for managing a virtual processor including resources for operating application through a real central processing unit, which includes determining a utilization of a plurality of real CPUs to which a plurality of virtual processors are divided to be allocated; and repartitioning the virtual processors and reallocating the repartitioned virtual processor to at least part of the real CPUs, when the utilization of any one of the real CPUs is at a threshold or less. |
| US09274850B2 |
Predictive and dynamic resource provisioning with tenancy matching of health metrics in cloud systems
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method computing resources are dynamically provisioned to meet service level objectives in a cloud computing environment. Resources available for provisioning to the cloud computing environment are determined and the quality thereof monitored. Current resource needs for a cloud job tenancy are determined, and selected resources are dynamically provisioned from resources available for provisioning based on the current resource needs and the quality of the resources available in order to meet the cloud job tenancy and the service level objectives. |
| US09274849B1 |
Systems and methods for configuring and managing computing resources to provide highly-scalable services
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a cloud computing environment that includes a service cloud and one or more services accessing the service cloud. The service cloud includes multiple resources of different types that support the execution of the services accessing the service cloud. Each resource and service in the cloud computing environment is configured via a centralized configuration service. In addition, resource allocation and predictive performance monitoring engines allocate resources and monitor the resources allocated to the services accessing the service cloud. |
| US09274847B2 |
Resource management platform
In client-server architectures, systems and methods for implementing an extensible resource management platform at a server are described. The extensible resource management platform is developed based on a plug-in based architecture which includes one or more subsystems for performing functions associated with resource management. Different implementations can be provided by new or different components or plug-ins. The resource management platform is thus a platform over which one or more functionalities can be further added to supplement existing and varying functions. |
| US09274844B2 |
Priority-based management of system load level
Systems, methods, and computer program products are described herein for managing computer system resources. A plurality of modules (e.g., virtual machines or other applications) may be allocated across multiple computer system resources (e.g., processors, servers, etc.). Each module is assigned a priority level. Furthermore, a designated utilization level is assigned to each resource of the computer system. Each resource supports one or more of the modules, and prioritizes operation of the supported modules according to the corresponding assigned priority levels. Furthermore, each resource maintains operation of the supported modules at the designated utilization level. |
| US09274841B2 |
System for energy saving in company data centers
Assigning of application-hosting virtual machines to a plurality of servers inclusive of active and inactive servers in a data or calculation center is described. |
| US09274840B2 |
Dynamic memory management with thread local storage usage
Methods and arrangements for dynamic memory management. Data are accepted for thread local storage, and memory usage is monitored in thread local storage. A memory block is allocated to thread local storage for storing accepted data, based on the monitored memory usage. |
| US09274835B2 |
Data shuffling in a non-uniform memory access device
A method of orchestrated shuffling of data in a non-uniform memory access device that includes a plurality of processing nodes includes running an application on a plurality of threads executing on the plurality of processing nodes and identifying data to be shuffled from source threads running on source processing nodes among the processing nodes to target threads executing on target processing nodes among the processing nodes. The method further includes generating a plan for orchestrating the shuffling of the data among the all of the memory devices associated with the threads and shuffling the data among all of the memory devices based on the plan. |
| US09274834B2 |
Remote service for executing resource allocation analyses for computer network facilities
A system and method for performing remote resource allocation analyzes on distributed computer systems utilizes a snapshot of a target distributed computer system obtained at a distributed computer system, which is transmitted to a remote resource allocation module so that a remote resource allocation analysis can be performed on the snapshot of the target distributed computer system. The snapshot includes configurations and resource usage information of at least some components of the target distributed computer system. |
| US09274829B2 |
Handling interrupt actions for inter-thread communication
A mechanism is provided for handling interrupt actions for inter-thread communication. In association with a first processor thread, a thread action data structure is provided that comprises a non-blocking synchronization data structure and an internal list data structure of pending interrupts having no form of synchronization. A post of an interrupt action is received from a second processor thread to the thread action data structure associated with the first processor thread, where the interrupt action is added to the non-blocking synchronization data structure of the thread action data structure. The interrupt action is moved from the non-blocking synchronization data structure to the internal list data structure of pending interrupts for handling by the first processor thread. The internal list data structure of pending interrupts is processed to thereby handle interrupt actions moved to the internal list data structure. |
| US09274828B2 |
Systems and methods for event driven object management and distribution among multiple client applications
A computer implemented method for updating and distributing data objects among multiple client applications is described. The method includes receiving object data for an object from a first application instance of an application engine, wherein the object data reflects a change to a state of the object based on action of the first application instance, updating a data structure for the object in a based on the received object data, determining whether a transformation policy is applicable to the object and, if so, modifying data associated with the object according to the transformation policy, identifying application instances that should receive updated object data for the object based on stored information identifying clients that have agreed to share updated object data and based on stored information identifying types of updates that clients are to receive, and communicating updated object data to the application instances that should receive updated object data according to stored preferences associated with each of the application instances. |
| US09274827B2 |
Data processing apparatus, transmitting apparatus, transmission control method, scheduling method, and computer product
A data processing apparatus includes a processor configured to receive an interrupt request that is a trigger for execution of an interrupt process executed by the processor; store the received interrupt request to a recording area; calculate based on a time when the interrupt request is received and particular time information read from the recording area, a predicted time when a subsequent interrupt request is to be received; detect a thread to be executed by the processor, among executable threads of the processor; judge based on the calculated predicted time and a current time, whether there is a possibility of the interrupt process being executed while the detected thread is under execution; decide based on a judgment result, whether to execute the detected thread on the processor; and execute the detected thread on the processor, based on a decision result. |
| US09274826B2 |
Methods for task scheduling through locking and unlocking an ingress queue and a task queue
A method for parallel processing implemented by a first core in a network unit, comprising locking an ingress queue if the ingress queue is not locked by another core, searching for an unlocked task queue from a first default subset of a plurality of task queues when the ingress queue is locked by another core, wherein the first subset is different from a second default subset of the plurality of task queues from which a second core begins a search for an unlocked task queue, and searching a remainder of the plurality of task queues for an unlocked task queue when all of the first default subset of task queues are locked and the ingress queue is locked. |
| US09274824B2 |
Network technology standard operating environment
Method, device, and storage medium to provision virtual machines, software, storage, and network resources of a standard operating environment including devices having identical software, hardware, and configurations. A provisioning device uses dedicated flows based on the resource to be provisioned. |
| US09274823B1 |
Thin hypervisor for native execution of unsafe code
A system, method and computer program product for implementing a thin hypervisor. The thin hypervisor does not have any association with a VM. The thin hypervisor serves as a wrapper over hardware capabilities of a processor. The processor has privileged low-level capabilities EPT VTX, AMD V and the ARM has virtualization technology. In order to use processor hardware capabilities and receiving root privileges, the system operates in a “super user” mode. The VM operates in a VM environment with kernel privileges in a user mode. A super user space is created in a safe mode. A user space application (or a process) is created. A user space virtualization framework library is used. These entities are separated by a user space and a kernel space. A thin hypervisor is implemented in the user space. |
| US09274822B2 |
Reactive loop sensing in multi-datacenter deployments
Technologies are generally provided for reactive loop sensing in multi-datacenter deployments. In some examples, tagged metrics from deployment elements on different datacenter or platform providers may be used by a stability module to generate a synthetic generalized deployment model that aliases multiple system elements into general state vectors. The state vectors may include a transfer vector on the border between each datacenter or platform, and the feedback from the metrics may cause the states of the datacenters/platforms to match the deployment's unobserved variables allowing stability analysis before failure. For example, the metrics may be associated with a portion of the deployment on one of the multiple datacenters. The stability analysis module may compare the received metrics with model metrics derived from a model of the multi-datacenter deployment to determine the stability of the deployment and/or adjust the model for increased stability. |
| US09274820B2 |
Specifying user defined or translator definitions to use to interpret mnemonics in a computer program
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for specifying user defined or translator definitions to use to interpret mnemonics in a computer program. A mnemonic is processed in the computer program having a user defined definition and a translator definition. The mnemonic is interpreted according to the user defined definition in response to previously processing a mnemonic command specifying the mnemonic and the user defined definition. The mnemonic is interpreted according to the translator definition in response to previously processing a mnemonic command specifying the mnemonic and the translator definition. |
| US09274819B2 |
Performing garbage collection using a virtual thread in operating system without kernel thread support
Techniques are provided to allow concurrent operation of threads in an operating system that does not support kernel threads. A first process may create a first thread. The first thread may create a second process. The second process is granted access to a portion of the address space of the first thread. Synchronization information is passed between the first thread and the second process over a communications channel. |
| US09274818B2 |
Reliable and scalable image transfer for data centers with low connectivity using redundancy detection
A system and method for efficiently transferring virtual machine images across nodes in a cloud computing environment, includes analyzing each image on each node to create hash code clusters and a similarity matrix. An instruction to transfer an image from a source node to a target node is received. The clusters and the similarity matrix are used to determine to what extent the data from the image is already on the source node, or on any other node, and further determines the cost and speed of transferring such data to the target node. An optimal transfer plan is generated, and data that is not already on the target node is transferred to the target node from the most efficient node on which it is available, according to the optimal transfer plan. |
| US09274814B2 |
Enhanced hook function for use with different versions of a dynamically loaded library
A hooking system for hooking predetermined references to predetermined dynamically loaded library (DLL) functions includes a DLL version identifier provided by a hook entry code to an enhanced hook. The hook entry code is dynamically generated during runtime of an affected software application. The version identifier enables unambiguous communication of a single enhanced hook with functions of multiple versions of identically named DLLs loaded into the same isolated process memory area. |
| US09274813B2 |
Customizable frequency converter
A frequency converter (100) comprises a processor (102), memory (104) and basic software (106) in the memory, the execution of which software implements the basic functionality of the frequency converter. For application-specific customization, the memory of the frequency converter is arranged to include application software (108) that contains callable functions (210) and is installable separately from the basic software. The frequency converter is arranged to execute the basic software (106) and the application software (108) with the same processor (102). The basic software (106) calls a function of the application software and/or provides functions of its own to be called by the application software indirectly via a link (240k) in a call table (240), the location of the link in the call table being independent of the location of the function (210) corresponding to the link in the memory. |
| US09274811B1 |
System and method for cloud provisioning and application deployment
Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for installing or otherwise supporting applications in a cloud environment and systems and methods for provisioning a cloud environment. One embodiment includes abstracting a set of configuration information associated with a first environment into a set of environment independent attributes and a set of environment dependent attributes. A second environment may then be configured using the mapped environment independent attributes and the values for the set of environment dependent attributes. If the second environment is a cloud environment, embodiments described herein can include provisioning the cloud environment by mapping hardware and/or software characteristics of the first environment and/or user selected characteristics to abstractions of the characteristics and sending API calls to a cloud environment interface based on the abstractions of the characteristics to provision a selected target environment in the cloud environment. |
| US09274805B2 |
System and method for thermally aware device booting
Various embodiments of methods and systems for thermally aware booting in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. Because bringing high power consumption processing components online when a PCD is booted under less than ideal thermal conditions can be detrimental to the health of the PCD, embodiments leverage a low power processing component early in a boot sequence to authorize, delay or modify the boot sequence based on measured thermal indicators. One exemplary method is essentially a “go/no go” method that delays or authorizes completion of a boot sequence based on the thermal indicator measurements. Another exemplary method modifies a boot sequence of a PCD based on a thermal boot policy associated with a thermal boot state. A thermal boot policy may include allowing the boot sequence to complete by modifying the power frequency to which one or more high power consumption components will be booted. |
| US09274800B2 |
Dynamic evaluation and adaption of hardware hash functions
Creating hash values based on bit values of an input vector. An apparatus includes a first and a second hash table, a first and second hash function generator adapted to configure a respective hash function for a creation of a first and second hash value based on the bit values of the input vector. The hash values are stored in the respective hash tables. An evaluation unit includes a comparison unit to compare a respective effectiveness of the first hash function and the second hash function, and an exchanging unit responsive to the comparison unit adapted to replace the first hash function by the second hash function. |
| US09274798B2 |
Multi-threaded logging
A data slot may be reserved for a first thread selected from a plurality of threads executed by a computer system. A memory of the computer system may comprise a plurality of log files and a next free data slot pointer. Each log file may comprise a plurality of data slots and each of the data slots may be of a common size. Reserving the data slot for the first thread may comprise attempting to perform a first atomic operation to write to a first data slot pointed to by a current value of the next free data slot pointer an indication that the first data slot is filled. If the first atomic operation is successful, the computer system may update the next free data slot pointer to point to a second data slot positioned sequentially after the first data slot. If the first atomic operation is unsuccessful, the computer system may analyze the second data slot. |
| US09274791B2 |
Verification of a vector execution unit design
A method for verification of a vector execution unit design. The method includes issuing an instruction into a first instance and a second instance of a vector execution unit. The method includes issuing a random operand into a first lane of the first instance of the vector execution unit and into a second lane of the second instance of the vector execution unit. The method further includes receiving results from execution of the instruction and the random operand in both the first and the second instance of the vector execution unit and comparing the received results. |
| US09274788B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium
As methods for updating firmware, an information processing apparatus executes a first update method of acquiring update firmware from an external apparatus via a network, storing the acquired update firmware in a volatile memory, and updating the firmware of the information processing apparatus based on the stored update firmware, and a second update method of updating the firmware of the information processing apparatus using a method that is different from the first update method. Furthermore, based on the remaining amount of a battery, the information processing apparatus decides whether to permit both the update of the firmware using the first update method and the update of the firmware using the second update method, or to permit the update of the firmware using the second update method and not to permit the update of the firmware using the first update method. |
| US09274781B2 |
Display device capable of upgrading smart functions and method for controlling the same
A display device capable of upgrading smart functions as broadly described herein may include a multi-functional display device capable of upgrading smart functions, including a broadcast receiver for receiving a broadcast signal, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the received broadcast signal, a decoder for decoding the demultiplexed broadcast signal, a display for displaying the decoded broadcast signal, an external device interface configured to connect to a smart card for receiving upgrade data, a memory for storing the upgrade data and version information of the smart card, and a controller configured to process and display the received broadcast signal on the display, determine whether the smart card is connected to the display device, and communicate with the smart card to operate the multi-functional display device, wherein the smart card includes at least one smart function for execution on the multi-functional display device. |
| US09274779B2 |
Method for installing application in portable terminal
A method for installing an application in a portable terminal includes acquiring a screen image of another portable terminal and acquiring information about at least one applications from the acquired screen image, displaying a list of the at least one applications whose information is acquired, and requesting and receiving an installation file of an application selected by a user from the displayed list, and installing the selected application by using the received installation file. |
| US09274778B2 |
Software signature discovery
In a method for determining and scoring a signature for a software package. A processor determines a signature of a first software package, wherein the signature comprises an indication of a first set of files on a computer system after installation of the first software package that were not present on the computer system before the installation, and an indication of a second set of files not remaining on the computer system after an uninstall of the first software package. A processor compares the first and the second set of files indicated in the signature of the first software package to files indicated in one or more other signatures of other software packages. A processor determines a score for the signature of the first software package based on the comparison. |
| US09274777B2 |
Method and apparatus for universal control of networked devices
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for communicating a command to a networked device that requires a driver via an endpoint device that does not have the driver installed are disclosed. For example, the method establishes a first connection with virtual device server, establishes a second connection with a universal device driver API server, transmits a command to the universal device driver API server, receives a translated command compatible with the driver of the networked device from the virtual device server, wherein the translated command is received by the virtual device server from the driver that is called by the universal device driver API server, establishes a third connection with the networked device using identical connection information associated with the second connection with the virtual device server and transmits the translated command to the networked device over the third connection. |
| US09274771B1 |
Automated adaptive compiler optimization
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for automatically and adaptively optimizing compilation of application code using a rule-based optimization analyzer (RUBOA) that can command a compiler to apply and adapt optimizations at the code segment level according to gathered performance data. For example, source code can be canonically compiled, and annotations can associate compiled code sections with source code sections. The generated binary can then be executed and monitored to gather performance characteristics. The RUBOA can apply the gathered performance characteristics and annotations to a pre-defined rule set to generate compiler optimizations, each associated with and parametrically tailored to respective source code segments. The RUBOA can automatically generate optimization control data from the generated compiler optimizations, and the source application code can be re-compiled according to the set of optimization control data to generate executable code that is adaptively optimized at the code segment level. |
| US09274769B1 |
Table of contents pointer value save and restore placeholder positioning
Embodiments describe a computer implemented method of compiling application source code into application object code. A compiler generates application object code having a plurality of table of contents TOC placeholder locations for a potential TOC pointer value command within a calling function. A first function call site of the calling function is corresponded to a first TOC placeholder location. A second function call site of the calling function is corresponded to a second TOC placeholder location. |
| US09274765B2 |
Spatial graphical user interface and method for using the same
A spatial graphical user interface for interfacing with a plurality of data sources to create a layered image includes a content acquisition module configured to acquire a first primary image from any one of the data sources where the primary image has at least an image of one object thereon. A transparent layer generating module generates a transparent layer to be overlaid over the primary image which spatially corresponds to the primary image. A link generating module generates an icon on the transparent layer over the at least one object such that the icon represents a link to data contained in the data sources related to the object on the primary image. The layered image is the combined view of the primary image, the transparent layer and icons on the transparent layer. |
| US09274763B2 |
System and method for creating a development and operational platform for mobile applications
The present invention provides a system and method for constructing a complete definition of a backend requirements model that can be automatically accessed and interpreted, and generated into a mobile consumable API for creation of, and use with, mobile applications. The mobile consumable API can be provided and made available to mobile app developers on a separate, stand-alone platform, and may act as an intermediary between the mobile app and the primary mainframe/enterprise/back end system. The method may include identification and definition of one or more of information providers, integration providers, and system behaviors, and creating a domain model. The domain model may be automatically codified into an API based solution as the app/mainframe interface, and stored on a development and operational platform for use. |
| US09274761B1 |
Dual programming interface
A computer-implemented method for providing an informal interface and a formal interface to a computing application using a computer is provided. The informal interface includes first routines, the first routines using an informal input format. The method also includes providing a formal interface using the computer, where the formal interface includes second routines. The second routines support developer functionality, and the second routines using a formal input format. The method includes receiving a first input having a first routine input format, the first routine input format complying with the informal input format, or a second input having a second routine input format, the second routine input format complying with the formal input format. The method includes processing the received first input or the received second input and performing a computing operation based on the processing. |
| US09274759B2 |
Module management apparatus, module management system and module management method
There is provided a module management apparatus, that coordinates, in a time of start of a module management infrastructure carrying out integrated management of: a bundle having a module formed by a program described by an object oriented language and definition information including an attribute of the module; and a module group including a plurality of pieces of the bundle, when the bundle is loaded from a folder, and, if the definition information collides between different bundles, a reference relationship of the bundle by changing the definition information dynamically. |
| US09274753B1 |
Application diagram tool
A system for an application diagram is provided. The system includes a technology roadmap database, an application database, a project database, a processor, an analysis module, and a user interface. The technology roadmap database contains technology roadmap information defining a technology roadmap. The application database contains configuration information about applications. The configuration information identifies the technology resources allocated to each application. The project database contains project information, which identifies any project impact on each application. The processor executes the analysis module to analyze the technology roadmap information, the configuration information, and the project information and to create the application diagram for a selected project. The application diagram organizes applications within enterprise functional areas and presents any changes planned for the selected project. The user interface, responsive to user input, promotes selection of projects and displays the application diagram for selected projects. |
| US09274752B2 |
Leading change anticipator logic
In one embodiment, a processor includes at least one floating point unit. The at least one floating point unit may include an adder, leading change anticipator (LCA) logic, and a shifter. The adder may be to add a first operand X and a second operand Y to obtain an output operand having a bit length n. The LCA logic may be to: for each bit position i from n−1 to 1, obtain a set of propagation values and a set of bit values based on the first operand X and the second operand Y; and generate a LCA mask based on the set of propagation values and the set of bit values. The shifter may be to normalize the output operand based on the LCA mask. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09274751B2 |
Fused booth encoder multiplexer
A multiplier circuit comprises a fused Booth encoder multiplexer which produces partial product bits, a tree which uses the partial product bits to generate partial products, and an adder which uses the partial products to generate intermediate sum and carry results for a multiplication operation. The fused Booth encoder multiplexer utilizes encoder-selector cells having a logic tree which carries out a Boolean function according to a Booth encoding and selection algorithm to produce one of the partial product bits at a dynamic node, and a latch connected to the dynamic node which maintains the value at an output node. The encoder-selector cells operate in parallel to produce the partial product bits generally simultaneously. A given one of the encoder-selector cells has a unique set of both multiplier operand inputs and multiplicand operand inputs, and produces a single partial product bit. |
| US09274750B2 |
System and method for signal processing in digital signal processors
An embodiment of a method and a related apparatus for digital computation of a floating point complex multiply-add is provided. The method includes receiving an input addend, a first product, and a second product. The input addend, the first product and the second product each respectively has a mantissa and an exponent. The method includes shifting the mantissas of the two with smaller exponents of the input addend, the first product, and the second product to align together with the mantissa of the one with largest exponent of the input addend, the first product and the second product, and adding the aligned input addend, the aligned first product and the aligned second product. |
| US09274749B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes saving a first memo sheet including at least one memo object and at least one audio memo object for the first memo sheet, displaying the first memo sheet to be displayed on a touchscreen, and when a prescribed memo object is selected from the at least one memo object displayed on the first memo sheet, controlling an audio memo object corresponding to the selected memo object to be outputted via an audio output unit. Accordingly, a voice memo content and other memo contents can be efficiently recorded and read. |
| US09274747B2 |
Natural user input for driving interactive stories
A system and method are disclosed for combining interactive gaming aspects into a linear story. A user may interact with the linear story via a NUI system to alter the story and the images that are presented to the user. In an example, a user may alter the story by performing a predefined exploration gesture. This gesture brings the user into the 3-D world of the displayed image. In particular, the image displayed on the screen changes to create the impression that a user is stepping into the 3-D virtual world to allow a user to examine virtual objects from different perspectives or to peer around virtual objects. |
| US09274744B2 |
Relative position-inclusive device interfaces
A computing device can analyze image or video information to determine a relative position of an active user. The computing device can optimize audio or video data capture based at least in part upon the relative location. The device can capture audio using one or more microphones pointing toward the relative location of the active user, and can use other microphones to determine audio from other sources to be removed from the captured audio. If video data is being captured, a video capture element can be adjusted to focus primarily on the active user. The position of the user can be monitored so the audio and video data capture can be adjusted accordingly. |
| US09274741B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal capable of carrying out time counting to execute a control function, and a control method thereof. The mobile terminal includes a display unit, and a controller configured to continuously display counting information for guiding the time counting on at least a part of an edge area of a display unit for a predetermined time when the time counting is executed in association with a terminal operation, and execute a control function associated with the terminal operation after a lapse of the predetermined time. |
| US09274740B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus enabling a user to recognize positions and boundaries of light source blocks, method for controlling the same, and image display system
A liquid crystal display apparatus which enables a user to recognize positions and boundaries of light source blocks, a method for controlling the same, and an image display system are provided. The apparatus comprises a liquid crystal panel; a backlight which has a plurality of light source blocks and which radiates light onto the liquid crystal panel; a generating unit which generates boundary image data which indicates a light source block area as an area corresponding to each of the light source blocks on the liquid crystal panel; a combining unit which combines image data to be inputted and the boundary image data; and a display control unit which displays composite image data combined by the combining unit on the liquid crystal panel. |
| US09274738B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method and storage medium storing program for short distance wireless communication
In an information processing apparatus capable of performing communication using each of a plurality of communication methods, information used to communicate with an external apparatus of the information processing apparatus by a second communication method among the plurality of communication methods is received from the external apparatus by a first communication method among the plurality of communication methods. The external apparatus is notified, by the second communication method based on the received information, of information about execution of predetermined processing in accordance with a result obtained by determining the status of the communication with the external apparatus by the first communication method. |
| US09274735B2 |
Communication apparatus comprising integrated circuit tag interface
A first communication apparatus may comprise a first type of interface configured to function as an IC tag, a second type of interface, and a controller. The controller may cause the first type of interface to execute a sending operation. The sending operation may be executed by using a first wireless connection established between the first and second communication apparatuses. The sending operation may include an operation of the first type of interface to send network identification information to the second communication apparatus. The network identification information may be information to be used in a first wireless network to which both the first and second communication apparatuses belong. The controller may execute, after the first type of interface has executed the sending operation, a wireless communication of target data with the second communication apparatus via the second type of interface by using the first wireless network. |
| US09274731B2 |
System and method for controlling a print job
A system and method for controlling a print job receive a request to print a print job; record, in the print job, a first time at which the request is received; obtain a second time at which the print job is sent to a printing device; calculate an elapsed time between the first time recorded in the print job and the second time obtained; determine whether the elapsed time is larger than a predetermined time period, and generate a notification based on the determination. |
| US09274727B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable storage medium for performing connection to a processing target apparatus
It is determined whether a relay apparatus connected via a network is an external apparatus having a function of executing predetermined processing. In accordance with a determination result, the relay apparatus is registered as the external apparatus having the function of executing the predetermined processing. |
| US09274725B2 |
Image forming system and setting screen manipulating method for allowing terminal apparatus to manipulate setting screen
Provided is an image forming system that allows a user to quickly reach a desired setting item so as to resume alteration of the setting of the image forming apparatus and a job manipulation between a mobile terminal and an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus starts an operation of changing the setting when an operation panel part is operated. Then, a terminal apparatus displays setting items of the image forming apparatus on a display panel in the form of a menu map. When an operation for determining a setting item is performed on a menu-map screen on the terminal apparatus, the image forming apparatus changes a setting screen to be displayed on the display panel to a setting screen for the setting item indicated by transmitted information. |
| US09274721B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and data management method thereof
A data management method of a nonvolatile memory device which includes a data cell area and a reference cell area includes selecting shared data from write data input to the memory device; generating reference data based on the shared data; and storing the write data in the data cell area and a first reference area of the reference cell area; and storing the reference data in a second reference area of the reference cell area. |
| US09274718B1 |
Migration in replication system
In one aspect, a method includes replicating a first volume of a first storage array to a second volume of a second storage array and notifying a first splitter of a start of migration. The first splitter is configured to send I/Os sent from an application to the first volume to a first data replication appliance (DPA) to be replicated at the second volume and configured to send the I/Os to the first volume. The method also includes configuring a second splitter of a third storage array to: ignore data migrating from the first volume to the third volume and send the I/Os sent from the application to the third volume to the first DPA to be replicated at the second volume and to send the I/Os to the third volume; and migrating data from the first volume to the third volume. |
| US09274717B2 |
Deduplication of data blocks on storage devices
A storage system comprises a cache for caching data blocks and storage devices for storing blocks. A storage operating system may deduplicate sets of redundant blocks on the storage devices based on a deduplication requirement. Blocks in cache are typically deduplicated based on the deduplication on the storage devices. Sets of redundant blocks that have not met the deduplication requirement for storage devices and have not been deduplicated on the storage devices and cache are targeted for further deduplication processing. Sets of redundant blocks may be further deduplicated based on their popularity (number of accesses) in cache. If a set of redundant blocks in cache is determined to have a combined number of accesses being greater than a predetermined threshold number of accesses, the set of redundant blocks is determined to be “popular.” Popular sets of redundant blocks are selected for deduplication in cache and the storage devices. |
| US09274715B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for in-system field repair and recovery from memory failures
In a particular embodiment, a device includes memory address remapping circuitry and a remapping engine. The memory address remapping circuitry includes a comparison circuit to compare a received memory address to one or more remapped addresses. The memory address remapping circuitry also includes a selection circuit responsive to the comparison circuit to output a physical address. The physical address corresponds to a location in a random-access memory (RAM). The remapping engine is configured to update the one or more remapped addresses to include a particular address in response to detecting that a number of occurrences of errors at a particular location satisfies a threshold. |
| US09274714B2 |
Method and system for managing storage capacity in a storage network
A system for managing configuration of a storage network having multiple storage resources is disclosed. The system uses a storage management policy to set parameters for detecting storage resource problems in the storage network. The system monitors the storage resources in the storage network based on the storage management policy. Based on the monitoring, the system detects limited storage resource conditions, and identifies one or more potential solutions to the condition. After identifying potential solutions, the system simulates effects on the storage resources of implementing individual solutions. Based on the simulations, the system then implements one or more selected solutions. These solutions may be selected automatically or by a user. |
| US09274711B2 |
Skewing expected wearout times of memory devices
Aspects of the present invention include a system, method, and computer program product for skewing expected wearout times of memory devices in an array are provided according to some embodiments of the present invention. In general, the method includes determining or receiving an amount of spare space to provide in an array of memory devices, allocating the spare space non-uniformly to the memory devices in the array, and skewing expected wearout times of the memory devices by controlling writing of data to the array according to the allocation of the spare space. |
| US09274708B2 |
Thick and thin data volume management
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include configuring one or more storage devices as a plurality of physical storage units, each of the physical storage units having a storage granularity, and configuring, on the one or more storage devices, a thin provisioned storage pool having a physical number of the physical storage units and a logical number of logical storage units. Upon receiving a request to create a thick data volume having a requested number of the physical storage units, an available number of the physical storage units that are available in the thin provisioned pool can be identified. A certain number of physical storage units are then allocated based upon a determination of the identifying. |
| US09274705B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
Disclosed are a terminal in which a shape or configuration of a virtual keypad is transformable by considering user's convenience and a method for controlling the same, the terminal including: a display module configured to display a virtual keypad; a user input unit configured to receive a touch or drag input from a user; and a controller configured to transform the shape of the virtual keypad according to a dragged direction or dragged length when a spot of the virtual keypad is touched to be dragged in a specific direction. |
| US09274701B2 |
Method and system for a creased paper effect on page limits
In a touchscreen viewing device, a method for implementing a crease effect. The method includes receiving a swipe input related to an image displayed on a touch screen of a viewing device, upon determination that the swipe input will generate an item end effect, causing a crease effect to appear on the image in response to the swipe input, and subsequent to the end of the swipe input, undoing the crease effect on the image to return the image to an original effect. |
| US09274695B2 |
Parallax scrolling of multiple information panels in a graphical user interface
A method and a device are disclosed including a parallax Graphical User Interface (GUI) software component configured to allow automatic, parallax-type, smooth movement of multiple information panels out of user's view when focus is placed on one of the multiple information panels and the focus information panel is scrolled. When the user scrolls in the opposite direction, the non-focus panels reappear smoothly and automatically and the original user view before scrolling is restored. In various embodiments, search results may be categorized and organized into separate windows, each independently scrollable, which may be viewed using the parallax GUI. In various embodiments, a number of documents and/or software applications used to open such documents, may be registered in a parallax list to allow navigation using the parallax GUI. |
| US09274678B2 |
Identifying a thumbnail image to represent a video
Techniques are shown for generating image frames from a media presentation, selecting candidate thumbnails from the generated image frames using a selection process, and testing each selected candidate thumbnail for a success ranking relative to a target metric. The probability of choosing a selected candidate thumbnail with a success ranking higher than all other selected thumbnails as an optimum thumbnail for presentation to a user is based, at least in part, on the ratio of the success ranking of the selected candidate thumbnail with the highest success ranking to the sum of the success rankings of all of the selected candidate thumbnails. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09274672B1 |
Monitoring overtime of tasks
A computer system monitors the execution time of each of a plurality of tasks over a plurality of time periods. The system receives a first input that selects a particular time period from the plurality of time periods, and further monitors the execution time of the plurality of tasks in the selected time period. The system receives a second input that selects a particular task from the particular time period, and monitors the execution time of the particular task in the particular time period. |
| US09274671B2 |
Managing a user interface for an application program
A method, apparatus and computer program is disclosed for managing a user interface (UI) for an application program in which a plurality of user interface methods are provided for a given application program function, one or more of the more frequently used UI options being maintained in the UI while one or more of the less frequently used UI options are removed. |
| US09274668B2 |
Guided page navigation
Configuring a set of guided documents for operation of a business activity based on a workflow for the activity, industry expertise, and a plurality of models of source data that is relevant to the business activity, wherein points of entry to access the guided documents are organized around one or more industry-specific data dimensions. |
| US09274647B2 |
Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device
This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile). |
| US09274645B2 |
Touch determination with signal enhancement
Multi-touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch-sensitive apparatus comprising a panel for conducting signals from a plurality of incoupling points to a plurality of outcoupling points, thereby defining detection lines between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points. Signal generators coupled to the incoupling points generate the signals, and signal detectors coupled to the outcoupling points generate an output signal indicative of one or more touches on the surface portion. A signal processor obtains the output signal which, if converted into a set of data samples of a given input format, enables a predetermined reconstruction algorithm to determine an interaction pattern on the surface portion. The signal processor generates, based on the output signal, a modified set of data samples in the given input format; and operates the predetermined reconstruction algorithm on the modified set of data samples so as to determine a modified interaction pattern on the surface portion. |
| US09274644B2 |
Synchronization of active stylus and touch sensor
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a synchronization signal from a computing device and determining a first time associated with detection of a first edge of the synchronization signal. The method also includes determining a second time associated with detection of a second edge of the synchronization signal and determining whether the second time occurs within a first predetermined window of time from the first time. The method further includes, if the second time occurs within the first predetermined window of time from the first time, then determining that the synchronization signal is valid. |
| US09274642B2 |
Acceleration-based interaction for multi-pointer indirect input devices
An indirect interaction input device, such as but not limited to a touch sensor, can provide multiple points of input. These multiple points are in turn mapped to multiple positions on an output device such as a display. The multiple points of input, however, make the application of pointer ballistics and resolution differences between the input sensor and target display more difficult to manage. Thus, a characteristic of the set of points is identified and used to adjust the mapping of each of the points. For example, one way to solve this problem is to identify the input point with the least displacement from a prior frame, whether from its prior point or from a reference point. This displacement is used to adjust the mapping of the set of input points from the input device to their corresponding display coordinates. |
| US09274640B2 |
Panel control device, panel control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
A panel control device includes a processor. The processor is configured to perform processes including acquiring a plurality of pressed cells and a plurality of cell coordinates, the plurality of pressed cells being a plurality of cells, among pluralities of cells that divide a panel into a plurality of regions, to which pressing forces are applied simultaneously, and each of the plurality of cell coordinates being coordinate information that indicates a position within one of the pressed cells to which the pressing forces have been applied, specifying, as at least one candidate cell, at least one of the plurality of pressed cells based on positional relationships among the plurality of cell coordinates included in an adjacency group, and specifying designation coordinates based on cell coordinates, among the plurality of cell coordinates, that indicates a position within the at least one candidate cell. |
| US09274638B2 |
Touch panel
A touch panel includes a substrate, a light-shielding layer, a patterned transparent layer, a reflecting layer, at least one first sensing series, and at least one second sensing series. The substrate has a touch sensing region and a peripheral region. The light-shielding layer is disposed in the periphery region. The light-shielding layer has a patterned opening and a sidewall adjacent to the patterned opening. The patterned opening is configured to provide a mark identifiable by human eyes. The patterned transparent layer is disposed in the peripheral region, and the patterned transparent layer covers a portion of the patterned opening. The patterned transparent layer has an inclined sidewall positioned in the patterned opening. The reflecting layer covers the inclined sidewall and the patterned opening. The first sensing series and the second sensing series are arranged in the touch sensing region to detect a position of a touch point. |
| US09274636B2 |
Embedded touch array substrate and liquid crystal display panel
The present invention discloses an embedded touch array substrate, which comprises: multiple pairs of gate scanning lines and data lines arranged alternately; a pixel switch electrically connected with the gate scanning lines and the data lines; a pixel electrode electrically connected with the pixel switch; a touch emission line provided between two pairs of the gate scanning lines adjacent to each other; a touch receiving line provided between two pairs of the data lines adjacent to each other and intersecting the touch emission line; and a touch unit electrically connected with the intersection of the touch emission line and the touch receiving line. The gate scanning line and the data line according to the present invention utilize double lines, which provide individual trace area for the touch emission line and the touch receiving line. It further decreases the interference between the panel driving signal and the touch signal. |
| US09274634B2 |
Touch panel
Disclosed is a touch panel. The touch panel includes a substrate including a view area and a dead area; a bridge electrode on the view area of the substrate; a print part on the dead area of the substrate; a wire electrode formed on the printed part to make direct contact with the print part; and an insulation pattern on the bridge electrode and the wire electrode. |
| US09274631B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a light shielding plate having an opening, a protective plate, and a coordinate input device having a transparent substrate, and a first flexible interconnect substrate. The coordinate input device is disposed on the display panel at the side of a display screen, and each of the light shielding plate and the protective plate is arranged on the coordinate input device on the opposite side of the display panel. The coordinate input device has first signal interconnects and a second signal interconnect disposed outside the first signal interconnects but near a peripheral edge of the transparent substrate. The second signal interconnect is formed of a thin conductive film disposed along a peripheral edge portion of the transparent substrate, and is disposed along the peripheral edge of three sides of the transparent substrate. |
| US09274629B2 |
Two-way touch-screen based communication system
Embodiments of the disclosure generally set forth a two-way touch screen based communication system. One example method may include receiving an order for an item from a first touch screen device via a first network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a negotiable parameter reflective of a preference of the customer. The method may also include making available the order for a second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve via a second network and to display and prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network. |
| US09274625B2 |
Touch screen shield
A shield that is attachable to a touch sensitive screen is disclosed. The shield may be attached to the touch sensitive screen only at its outer peripheral portion. An air gap is enclosed between the shield and the touch sensitive screen to form a planar air bearing. The shield preferably does not touch the active area of the touch sensitive screen when the user is not touching the shield but only viewing the touch sensitive screen through the shield. This mitigates unwanted optical artifacts such as trapped air bubbles, Newton rings and chromatic interference while maintaining the sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen. |
| US09274615B2 |
Interactive input system and method
An interactive input system comprises at least two imaging assemblies capturing image frames of a region of interest from different vantages, each imaging assembly comprising an image sensor and signal processing circuitry implemented on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), image data acquired by the image sensor being pre-processed by the signal processing circuitry; and processing structure processing pre-processed image data output by the imaging assemblies to determine the location of at least one pointer within the region of interest. |
| US09274614B2 |
Optical mouse apparatus based on image variation and related method thereof
An optical mouse apparatus includes a light source unit, a sensing unit, and a processing unit. The light source unit is arranged for generating and emitting an optical signal, wherein the optical signal is emitted upon a surface, and then reflected to form an optical reflected signal. The sensing unit is arranged for generating a sensed image output according to the optical reflected signal, wherein the sensed image output is utilized for estimating an image displacement of the optical mouse apparatus. The processing unit is coupled to the light source unit and the sensing unit, and arranged for controlling the light source unit to emit the optical signal and determining a operation status of the optical mouse apparatus according to an image variation of at least a partial region of each of consecutive images of the sensed image output. |
| US09274613B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to dynamically determining entered telephone numbers
As keys of the keyboard of a portable communication device are asserted, the device dynamically determines at least a portion of a corresponding telephone number to present on the device's display by, at least in part, considering likelihoods of differing explicit and implicit interpretations of these key assertions. By one approach this can comprise according a likelihood advantage to an explicit interpretation of one or more of the key assertions and/or implicit interpretations of such key assertions. These likelihood advantages need not be necessarily dispositive with respect to the resultant interpretation. |
| US09274612B2 |
User interface system
The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner. |
| US09274611B2 |
Electronic apparatus, input control program, and input control method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a touch panel, a display, a key detection module, a keyboard display module and a transmission module. The key detection module is configured to detect a touch and a release of a key of a software keyboard, based on touch detection on the touch panel. The transmission module is configured to transmit data indicative of key-down of a first key in accordance with touch detection of the first key, to transmit data indicative of key-down of a second key in accordance with touch detection of the second key in a state in which the first key is touched, and then to transmit data indicative of key-up of the first key and the second key in accordance with release detection of the first key and the second key. |
| US09274609B2 |
Inputting radical on touch screen device
Example apparatus and methods concern improved input of radicals. Example apparatus and methods facilitate more efficiently inputting Chinese radicals using a touch screen. One example method includes displaying a labeled soft key on a touch screen device. The label may represent all or a portion of a radical. The example method includes accepting a touch input associated with the soft key and then taking an action based on the label and the touch input. The action may include inputting a radical or updating the display on the touch screen. Updating the display may facilitate iterative and intuitive progress through radical construction leading to radical selection and input. |
| US09274603B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters
The disclosure relates to systems and methods of providing haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters used to customize the haptic feedback. The system may modify or otherwise alter haptic feedback that is determined using the media content alone. In other words, the system may use both the media content and the external parameters to determine haptic feedback that should be output to the user or others. The external parameters may include, for example, sensor information, customization information, and/or other external parameters that may be used to customize the haptic feedback. |
| US09274601B2 |
System and method for generating a feedback signal in response to an input signal provided to an electronic device
The disclosure relates to a system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: a display; an input device; an input module to detect activation of the input device; and a input module to generate a feedback signal for the electronic device based on signals from the input module. In system, the input device is a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric element and the input module may cause the transducer to vibrate upon receiving an activation signal from the input module. |
| US09274600B2 |
System and method for providing passive haptic feedback
Systems and methods for providing passive haptic feedback are described. Embodiments of the present invention comprise an actuator for bringing a manipulandum and braking surface into contact and thereby providing a resistance. The manipulandum includes scroll wheels, scroll drums, linear sliders and similar user input devices. The actuator may be, for example, electromagnetic or piezo-electric. An embodiment of the present invention may include a processor in communication with the actuator for providing the haptic effects. |
| US09274597B1 |
Tracking head position for rendering content
Content displayed on a display element of a computing device can be rendered from a viewpoint that updates with changes in the relative position of a user's head, or other such feature, with respect to the device. At least one camera of the device can attempt to track the relative position in order to determine the proper viewpoint. When the user's head can no longer be seen, or when confidence in the determined relative position drops below an acceptable value, for example, the device can utilize information from another source, such as a motion or rotation sensor, to attempt to estimate the current position of the user's head. Physical limitations of the user with respect to the device also can be used to improve the accuracy of the determination. |
| US09274587B2 |
Power state adjustment
A system and method for selecting devices for which power states and/or mode of operation may be adjusted can be implemented based on power supply availability, cost of power consumption at certain periods of the day or year, environmental conditions, priority of applications, and business objectives are disclosed. |
| US09274586B2 |
Intelligent memory interface
Many computer processing tasks require large numbers of memory intensive operations to be performed very rapidly. For example, computer network requires that packets be placed into and removed from First-In First-Out (FIFO) queues, numerous counters to be maintained and routing table look-ups to be performed. All of these operations must be performed at very high-speeds in order to keep up with today's high-speed computer network traffic. To help perform these high-speed memory tasks, a high-speed intelligent memory subsystem has been developed. The high-speed intelligent memory subsystem handles the intricacies of these memory operations such that a main process is relieved of some of its duties. Various different high-level memory interfaces for interfacing with the intelligent memory subsystem. The memory interfaces may be hardware-based or software-based. In one embodiment, two layers of interfaces are implemented such that an internal interface may evolve over successive generations without affecting an externally visible interface. |
| US09274583B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a central processing unit 21 the operation of which is stopped or slowed down in a sleep mode; an edge detection unit 23 detecting an edge of an interrupt signal supplied from the outside and generating an edge detection signal; and a data holding unit 22 holding data supplied from the outside when the edge detection signal is received. The central processing unit 21 reads the data held by the data holding unit 22 after returning from the sleep mode to an active mode in response to the interrupt signal. |
| US09274582B2 |
Power consumption management
Embodiments include a system, an apparatus, a device, and a method. A system includes a power module operable to determine respective indicia of power consumed in executing at least one instruction by a first subcircuit and by a second subcircuit of a synchronous circuit. The system also includes a scheduler module operable to direct an execution task to a subcircuit selected from the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit. The subcircuit selection is responsive to the determined respective indicia of power consumption by the first subcircuit and by the second subcircuit. |
| US09274581B2 |
Date adjusted power budgeting for an information handling system
An information handling system determines a system configuration including a hardware module, and determines an adjusted power budget for the hardware module. The adjusted power budget is based on a calculation including a difference between a date code read from the hardware module and a baseline date, a baseline power budget, a power reduction period and a power reduction interval. The calculation may optionally include a risk factor. In alternate embodiments, an adjusted power budget for a hardware module may be calculated by an order processing system for information handling systems, or by a planning tool for a data center which contains information handling systems. |
| US09274580B2 |
Voltage regulator supplying power exclusively to a non-core region of a processor having a supply capability threshold
Systems and methods may provide for monitoring a current provided from a voltage regulator to a non-core region of a processor, and asserting a throttle signal to the non-core region of the processor if the current exceeds a supply capability threshold of the voltage regulator. In one example, a specified current supply capability of the non-core region is greater than a current supply capability of the voltage regulator, and the supply capability threshold is less than the specified current supply capability of the non-core region and an over current protection threshold of the non-core region. |
| US09274579B2 |
Circuitry for active cable
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow signals that are compliant with multiple standards to share a common connector on an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that provides signals compatible with a legacy standard in one mode and a newer standard in another mode. |
| US09274576B2 |
System and method for activation of portable and mobile media player devices for wireless LAN services
A system and a method for activation of portable and mobile media player devices for wireless LAN services have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a server computer, a wireless transmitter to transmit a signal, and a portable device comprising a wireless receiver to receive the signal and a wireless transceiver to transition from a first state to a second state to perform content synchronization with the server computer in response to the signal, wherein the wireless transceiver consumes less power in the first state than in the second state. Other embodiments have been claimed and described. |
| US09274572B2 |
High capacity power distribution panel for a modular data center
A power distribution network includes a first busway, a second busway situated between the first busway and a load, a first bus plug, and a second bus plug. The first and second bus plugs are configured to span across the first busway and the second busway. The first bus plug is further configured to provide power from the first busway to the load via an exit from the first bus plug that is adjacent to the load. The second bus plug is further configured to provide power from the second busway to the load via an exit from the second bus plug that is adjacent to the first load. |
| US09274567B2 |
Portable electronic device and control method thereof
A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a display module, a speed sensor and a control module. The display module is for displaying an image. The speed sensor is for determining a moving speed of the portable electronic device. The control module, coupled to the speed sensor and the display module, is for determining a rotation sensitivity for the control module to rotate the displayed image according to the moving speed of the portable electronic device. A control method of the aforementioned portable electronic device is also provided. |
| US09274562B2 |
Flexible electronic devices
Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery. A flexible printed circuit may include flexible and rigid portions or openings that allow some rigid portions to flex with respect to other rigid portions. |
| US09274555B2 |
Wearable electronic device
A wearable electronic device according to the present disclosure includes a first belt, front surface of the first belt being provided with a displaying unit having a curved display face; a second belt; a hinge that connects a first end of the first belt to a first end of the second belt. A shape of a space formed by the first and second belts is an elliptical shape when the device worn around a subject is viewed from a side. The hinge has higher flexibility than the first and second belts. The device has a first engagement unit provided at a second end and a rear surface of the first belt, and in a region where the elliptical shape has smaller curvature than other regions. The device has a second engagement unit provided at an outer side of the second belt and engaging with the first engagement unit. |
| US09274550B2 |
Hinge, supporting module having the hinge, and display device having the supporting module
A hinge for pivotally interconnecting first and second brackets includes a shaft having a shaft body extending through the first and second brackets and formed with an engaging end portion proximate to the second bracket, a fixing member connected to the engaging end portion, a ratchet sleeved rotatably on the shaft body between the fixing member and the second bracket, a friction mechanism having an urging unit sleeved on the shaft body between the ratchet and the fixing member and pressing the ratchet toward the second bracket, and a brake mechanism disposed on the second bracket and having a pawl member releasably engaged to the ratchet. |
| US09274548B2 |
Electronic apparatus comprising backplane and methods of assembling and disassembling
The present disclosure relates to an electronic apparatus (100) comprising a backplane (120) and methods of assembling and disassembling such an apparatus. The electronic apparatus (100) comprises a chassis (101) having plural walls and a circuit board (140) fastened to a wall of the chassis, a surface of the circuit board having a plurality of conductive pads (146). A backplane (120) is fastened in a received position in the chassis substantially perpendicular to the circuit board. The backplane has a connector (130) at an edge of the backplane, the connector comprising a plurality of sprung conductive elements (132,134) which extend outwards beyond the edge of the backplane to make electrical contact with respective conductive pads (146) on the circuit board. |
| US09274546B2 |
Apparatus and method to recover a data signal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an apparatus and method for recovering a data signal in a digital transmission. A computer processor receives a data signal from a data signal input wire. The computer processor receives an external clock signal. The computer processor samples a binary bit of the data signal multiple times per clock cycle. The computer processor determines, for each sampling group, a sample and a quality measurement. The computer processor stores, for each sampling group, the sample and the quality measurement into a set of memory elements. The computer processor stores the sample from each sampling group into a first and a second delay chain. The computer processor determines a current sampling point. The computer processor transmits output corresponding to a content of the current sampling point to a data signal output wire. |
| US09274545B2 |
Apparatus and method to recover a data signal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an apparatus and method for recovering a data signal in a digital transmission. A computer processor receives a data signal from a data signal input wire. The computer processor receives an external clock signal. The computer processor samples a binary bit of the data signal multiple times per clock cycle. The computer processor determines, for each sampling group, a sample and a quality measurement. The computer processor stores, for each sampling group, the sample and the quality measurement into a set of memory elements. The computer processor stores the sample from each sampling group into a first and a second delay chain. The computer processor determines a current sampling point. The computer processor transmits output corresponding to a content of the current sampling point to a data signal output wire. |
| US09274543B2 |
Estimation apparatus and method for estimating clock skew
A method for estimating a clock skew between a first clock and a second clock. The method includes the steps of detecting the clock skew to generate a detection resultant signal representing the clock skew; and determining time unit of a signal processing process, and estimating the clock skew according to the time unit of the signal processing process and the detection resultant signal. |