最新美国发明专利第2016-03-01期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09276380B2	Spontaneous and stimulated emission control using quantum-structure lattice arrays A device for controlling light emissions and a method for fabricating the device are disclosed herein. A quantum well of an active region of a semiconductor device may comprise a quantum structure lattice having lattice geometries that satisfies the Bragg condition, such that inter-quantum structure distance d between a first quantum structure and a second quantum structure within the quantum structure lattice is an integer multiple of a emission half wavelength mλo/2n, where m is an integer, λo is a wavelength in free space, and n is a refractive index of a cladding material of the quantum well.
US09276376B2	Laser module A laser module includes a Transmitter Optical Sub-Assembly (TOSA) and a heat radiating means. The TOSA generates light by an electrical signal and transmits the generated light through an optical fiber. The heat radiating means is in contact with the TOSA to discharge heat generated by the TOSA.
US09276374B2	Laser apparatus To achieve stable multimode output even when driven by a drive current near a threshold value, provided is a laser apparatus comprising a semiconductor laser element; a wavelength selecting element that performs laser oscillation by forming a resonator between itself and a reflective surface of the semiconductor laser element to output oscillated laser light; and an optical system that is optically coupled to an emission surface of the semiconductor laser element with a coupling efficiency η and inputs to the wavelength selecting element light output from the emission surface. The optical system causes a value that is correlated with a minimum light output within a linear light output region in which light output is linear with respect to an injection current injected to the semiconductor laser element to be less than this value occurring when the coupling efficiency η is at a maximum.
US09276369B2	Method of assembling an electric equipment having a first connector and a second connector According to one embodiment, one of two connectors, and a circuit board on which the other of the connectors is mounted are prepared. The one of the connectors has an engagement portion. The other of the connectors has an elastically deformable engagement detent. The engagement detent can go over the engagement portion and be engaged with the engagement portion. One of the connectors is fitted to the other of the connectors. A portion of the electric equipment is imaged by a camera. A piece of data which changes is measured from an obtained picture image. A deformation of the engagement detent occurs with going-up of the engagement detent onto the engagement portion. Whether or not the connectors are properly fitted is determined. Fitting of the connectors is performed again when it is determined that the connectors are not properly fitted.
US09276366B1	Electrical connection device An electrical connection device provides multiple types of sockets for facilitating charging of multiple electronic devices. The device includes a housing having a front face, a rear face, and a perimeter wall extending around and between the front face and the rear face to define an interior space of the housing. An electrical plug is coupled to the housing and configured for insertion into an electrical socket. A plurality of electrical outlets is coupled to the housing. Each electrical outlet is electrically coupled to the electrical plug. A plurality of ports is also coupled to the housing. Each port is electrically coupled to the electrical plug.
US09276365B2	Electrical connector with grounding mechanism contacting outer shell An electrical connector includes an upper contact module, a lower contact module, an outer insulative housing inject-molded with the upper contact module and the lower contact module, a shielding mechanism at least partly fixed in the outer insulative housing and a metallic outer shell enclosing the outer insulative housing. The upper contact module includes a number of upper contacts and an upper housing inject-molded with the upper contacts. The lower contact module includes a number of lower contacts and a lower housing inject-molded with the lower contacts. The shielding mechanism and the metallic outer shell are in mechanical contact with each other for achieving a relative larger grounding area.
US09276364B2	Terminal including cut-out or opening at portion of overlap with another terminal The receptacle connector includes a central terminal mechanically and electrically connecting with a core wire of a coaxial cable connected to a plug connector, and an outer terminal mechanically and electrically connecting with an external conductor surrounding the core wire with an internal electrical-insulator being sandwiched therebetween, the central terminal including a first contact making contact with the core wire, and a second contact electrically connected to the first contact, passing through under the outer terminal and extending to the outside of the outer terminal, the second contact being formed with at least one of a cut-out and an opening in an area where the second contact overlaps the outer terminal.
US09276363B2	Connector assembly for corrugated coaxial cable A connector comprising a connector body comprising a first end, a second end, and an inner bore defined between the first and second ends of the body, a compression member comprising a first end, a second end, and an inner bore defined between the first and second ends of the cap, the first end of the compression member being structured to engage the second end of the connector body, a clamp comprising a first end, a second end, an inner bore defined between the first and second ends of the clamp, wherein the clamp facilitates threadable insertion of a coaxial cable, and a compression surface disposed within the connector body, wherein axial advancement of the compression member facilitates the clamp being axially advanced into proximity with the compression surface such that the clamp and the compression surface transmit force between one another is provided. An associated method is also provided.
US09276361B2	Lamp holder A lamp holder includes a main body, a switch device and a mounting bracket. The main body has an axial end for connecting a light emitting element and another axial end having an electrically conductive module, and the switch device is installed in the main body, and the switch device and the electrically conductive module jointly control the light emitting element to be turned on or off. The rotary handle of the switch device is installed at an axial end of the main body and protruded out from the main body, and the mounting bracket encloses the rotary handle and locks with the main body. Therefore, the lamp holder can be installed onto a decorative shelter conveniently, and the rotary handle can be turned without limitation, and the lamp holder has a good appearance.
US09276360B2	Apparatus and method for providing a resistive shunt within a light string A shunting mechanism is provided within a socket of a light string system having a resistive element that substantially mirrors the resistive characteristic of the bulb inserted in the socket. The shunting mechanism is disabled when the bulb is inserted into the light string socket. When the bulb is removed from the light string socket, the shunting mechanism bridges the internal socket leads so as to maintain current flow and power delivery at levels similar to those provided when the bulb is present. In one embodiment, the resistive element is a resistive coating on the shunting mechanism or a resistive node on the shunting mechanism. In other embodiments, the resistive element is applied to the socket's internal leads. In yet other embodiments, the resistive element consists of sophisticated electronic circuitry specifically designed to mirror the resistive characteristics of the bulb assembly.
US09276358B2	Transceiver module release mechanism A transceiver module release system is disclosed. The system may be used to release a transceiver module housed in a cage that is permanently mounted on a printed circuit board. The release system may include a bail that rotates a slide-block through a slot to urge the bail forward in a slide-block path on the transceiver module. The bail has a hook shaped structure adapted to be connected with a detachable pull tab. As the bail begins to move forward from the locked position, wedge elements at the end of a pair of slide-block arms extending rearward from the bail may contact locking tabs on the cage, forcing the locking tabs outward. As the locking tabs are forced outward, the shoulders of the transceiver module are released, and the transceiver module is free to slide-block out of the cage as the operator pulls on the bail.
US09276355B2	High voltage plug in and unplugged type gas immersed cable termination with locking system A high voltage plug-in and unplugged type gas immersed cable termination comprising a recess inside the blind end of the electrode to allow the extension of the locking pin to lock the connector with the electrode and thereby anchor the power cable. The locking pin is designed to anchor the power cable to safeguard against sliding down of the power cable during the operation period. The high voltage plug-in and unplugged type gas immersed cable termination can be unplugged manually. The locking pin can be replaced before re-plugging-in of the termination.
US09276354B2	Plug for a data cable with pulling pressure release A plug for a data cable, has a conventional front plug element with a latching tongue, a plug element with a front sub-body which is attached to the plug element at the front end of the data cable in a tension-resistant manner to provide a high tensile strength, a rear sub-body, a forward-facing latching tongue protection element and a flexible kink protection element. An angularly curved actuating lever pushes onto the latching tongue and is guided at the other end inside an actuating lever guide, wherein, the plug is connected, an actuation side of the actuating lever lies on a front area of the latching tongue protection element, and wherein, pulling out at an area of the rear sub-body, the actuating lever is actuated, creating pressure on the latching tongue and releasing the lock connection, so that the data cable plug can be pulled out in an unlocked state.
US09276353B2	Protective lockable female electrical outlet An improved electrical outlet providing a lockable electrical connection between a male plug and the outlet to securely retain the plug. The method to secure and retain the plug imparts minimal stress to the outlet and to the male plug so as to not substantially decrease the durability of either. The outlet decreases the shocking potential to a user or unwitting child by remaining un-energized when idle, and prohibits movement from its idle position until the outlet has received the plug terminal prongs. The shape of the movable receptacle assembly and its corresponding cavity blocks a child from contacting the outlets power source with a metallic object, while making the power source available to the receptacle assembly when initiated by the user. The outlets locking action steps secure and energize the plug simultaneously during the locking action steps in a user friendly manner. The modularized design of the receptacle module can provide an easily adaptable means to fit and form various arrangements such as a wall outlet or an extension cord outlet.
US09276352B2	Connector and connector assembly provided therewith A lever (70) is rotatably mounted on a second lever-side connector (L2) connectable to a mating connector to extend between facing side surfaces. The lever (70) is rotatable substantially along a connecting direction between a connection surface of the second lever-side connector (L2) and a wire drawing surface (H). A correcting portion (71A) of a wire cover (71) mounted to cover the wire drawing surface is formed to rise at a position displaced toward a central part from a base portion (71B), and collects and accommodates wires (W) in the correcting portion (71A).
US09276350B1	Waterproof electric plug with transformer A waterproof electric plug is provided with a housing including two forward prongs, an open rear end, a closed groove on the rear end, and a closed trough on the rear end wherein length of the trough is greater than that of the groove; a transformer in the housing and electrically connected to the prongs; a cap including a closed projection on a forward end, and a closed protrusion on the forward end wherein length of the protrusion is greater than that of the projection; an electrical socket disposed through the cap and electrically connected to the transformer; and adhesive disposed in the groove. The projection is complimentarily disposed in the groove to press the adhesive for forming a first waterproof structure. The protrusion is complimentarily disposed in the trough to form a second waterproof structure.
US09276336B2	Metalized pad to electrical contact interface A surface mount electrical interconnect to provide an interface between a PCB and contacts on an integrated circuit device. The electrical interconnect includes a substrate with a plurality of recesses arranged along a first surface to correspond to the contacts on the integrated circuit device. Contact members are located in a plurality of the recess. The contact members include contact tips adapted to electrically couple with the contacts on the integrated circuit device. An electrical interface including at least one circuit trace electrically couples the contact member to metalized pads located along a second surface of the substrate at a location offset from a corresponding contact member. A solder ball is attached to a plurality of the metalized pads.
US09276335B2	Double-sided circuit board with opposing modular card connector assemblies An electronic assembly includes a circuit board that serves as both a mechanical attachment point and signal conduit for electronic components. The circuit board includes at least two modular card connector assemblies disposed on opposing surfaces of a mounting region of the circuit board. Pin sets of the modular card connector assemblies are connected together via corresponding through holes extending between the opposing surfaces in the mounting region. Further, pins of one or both the modular card connector assemblies may be connected to other electronic components disposed at the circuit board via lateral traces. One or both of the modular card connector assemblies can comprise a modular card socket to removably couple with a modular card. Alternatively, one or both of the modular card connector assemblies comprises a pin interface assembly that is integral to or otherwise fixedly attached to the modular card.
US09276334B1	Poke-in electrical connector An electrical connector includes a terminal block having a pocket, a poke-in chamber in the pocket configured to receive an electrical wire during a poke-in termination, and a plug channel in the pocket configured to receive a plug contact during a plug mating termination. An electrical contact is received in the pocket having a base held in the pocket and a wire trap beam extending from the base into the poke-in chamber. The wire trap beam is configured to engage the electrical wire when poked-in to the poke-in chamber. A plug interface is arranged in the plug channel. The plug interface has a slot defined by a first arm and a second arm. The first and second arms are configured to engage in physical contact with the plug contact when plugged into the plug channel. The base, wire trap beam and plug interface are a one-piece unitary structure.
US09276333B1	Terminal block with improved rail-engaging structure A terminal block includes a terminal block body, an engaging member, an elastic member, and a hook member. The terminal block body includes left and intermediate blocking portions. The engaging member is slidably provided on the terminal block body and includes a clawed operating portion, a connecting portion connected to the operating portion, and a stop block provided on the operating portion in order to be blocked by the left blocking portion. A blocking portion is formed where the connecting portion and the operating portion are connected. The elastic member is provided in the operating portion and pressed between the intermediate blocking portion and the blocking portion. The hook member includes an upper end movably connected to the connecting portion, a hooked lower end, and a pivotal connecting portion located therebetween and pivotally connected to the terminal block body. The terminal block is space-saving and features increased convenience of operation.
US09276331B2	Printed circuit board terminal The invention concerns a printed circuit board terminal with a housing with two frontal sides and at least one insertion opening arranged in one of the frontal sides, through which an electrical conductor can be inserted into the housing in one insertion direction.
US09276330B2	Cable connector assembly having a conductive element for connecting grounding layers of the cable together A cable connector assembly includes a cable connector comprising an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the insulative housing, the conductive terminal having a connecting portion; a cable having a plurality of wires electrically connecting with the connecting portions, the wire comprising a core, an insulative layer enclosing the core, and a grounding layer enclosing the insulative layer, the core extending beyond the grounding layer; and a conductive element electrically connecting with the connecting portion of a selected conductive terminal. The conductive element electrically connects the grounding layers; and the cores of the wires electrically connect with the connecting portions of the remaining conductive terminals.
US09276329B2	Ultra-wideband dual-band cellular basestation antenna Ultra-wideband dual-band cellular dual-polarization base-station antennas and low-band radiators for such antennas are disclosed. The low-band radiator comprises a dipole and an extended dipole con figured in a crossed arrangement, a capacitively coupled feed connecting the extended dipole to an antenna feed, and a pair of auxiliary radiating elements. The dipole comprises two dipole arms, each of approximately λ/4, for connection to the antenna feed. The extended dipole has anti-resonant dipole arms of approximately λ/2. The auxiliary radiating elements are configured in parallel at opposite ends of the extended dipole. The radiator is adapted for the frequency range of 698-960 MHz and provides a horizontal beamwidth of approximately 65 degrees. The dual-band base-station antenna comprises high-band radiators configured in at least one array and low-band radiators interspersed amongst the high-band radiators at regular intervals.
US09276328B2	Small-caliber, high-performance broadband radiator A small-caliber, high-performance broadband radiator allows two unit arms of the first and second group of dipoles to be folded inwards, an included angle of 40°-50° is formed between two unit arms of the first/second groups of dipoles and the first/second unit racks, and the unit arms of the first and second groups of dipoles are arranged linearly at interval while flexural loading sections are provided and also connected by dielectric medium. Hence, the broadband radiator allows significant reduction of the aperture of the broadband radiator, and there is a larger adjustment space for the gap of the radiator array, so the interference of low and high bands is less. This allows for improved performance, thus reducing the configuration size and manufacturing cost of antennas, and creating better industrial benefits with improved applicability.
US09276326B2	Electromagnetic wave absorber An electromagnetic wave absorber contains cement and carbon nanotubes and has an absolute value of a complex relative permittivity in a range of from 2.0 to 10.0 in a frequency range of from 1 to 110 GHz and a minimum value of a dissipation factor of 0.35 or greater in the frequency range of from 1 to 110 GHz.
US09276325B2	Electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber An electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber formed in the shape of a polyhedron includes an electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus installed on at least one wall of metal conductors of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber. The electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus having a shape of a roll screen and includes an electromagnetic wave absorbing film, a roll for rolling the one end of the electromagnetic wave absorbing film, a cover for covering the roll, and a fixing unit for fixing the other end of the electromagnetic wave absorbing film.
US09276323B2	Dual polarization antenna for a mobile communication base station, and multiband antenna system using same The present invention relates to a dual polarization antenna comprising a reflection plate, and a radiating module including first to fourth radiating elements having respective first to fourth radiating arms having respective bent portions. The bent portions of the first to fourth radiation arms are sequentially adjacent to each other, and sequentially form and shaped structures. The and shaped structures are located on a third quadrant, a fourth quadrant, a second quadrant, and a first quadrant, respectively. The first to fourth radiating elements have supports integrally extending from the bent portions of the first to fourth radiating arms to the reflection plate. The radiating module includes a first feeder line installed to transmit signals to the first and third radiating arms, and a second feeder line installed to transmit signals to the second and fourth radiating arms.
US09276317B1	Quad-mode antenna Methods, apparatuses, and systems for quad-mode antennas of user devices are described. The quad-mode antenna includes a loop element coupled to a single radio frequency (RF) input and ground. The loop element is configured to operate in four resonant modes to radiate electromagnetic energy in response to the single RF input.
US09276312B2	Antenna tuner control system using state tables An antenna tuner control system includes an RF path, a lookup table and a state table analysis component. The RF path is configured to generate an RF signal. The lookup table has a state table that correlates antenna states with impedance values. The state table analysis component is configured to generate a tuner control signal from the RF signal using the lookup table.
US09276300B2	Surgical instruments A surgical instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom. An end effector is operably supported at the distal end of the shaft includes a pair of jaw members. A generator operably coupled to the housing is in operable communication with a battery assembly of the surgical instrument to convert electrical energy into at least one of RF and ultrasonic energy to energize the at least one activatable jaw member. A thermally-activatable device in operable communication with either the generator or the battery assembly is configured to promote air-flow around the generator and battery assembly.
US09276299B2	Vehicle A vehicle having a battery mounted thereon is provided. The battery includes a cell group having a plurality of cells, each of the cells including an electrolytic solution and a power-generating element within a case of cylindrical shape, and a holding member holding each of the cells in a diameter direction of the cell, wherein the cell group is placed in an area inside an edge of the holding member when viewed from a height direction of the vehicle. Each of the cells can be arranged to extend in the height direction of the vehicle. The holding member may be a heat dissipation plate allowing heat exchange between the cells.
US09276297B2	Lithium ion battery cell having a capacitance sensor and method for monitoring the condition of a lithium ion battery cell of this type A lithium ion battery cell includes a graphite cathode, and an excess pressure valve. The excess pressure valve is configured to open in the presence of a predetermined battery cell internal pressure and discharging gases that have been produced inside the battery cell. Such gases are discharged together with graphite particles entrained in the gas. The battery cell further includes a capacitance sensor that has at least one capacitor positioned in the battery cell and configured such that the graphite particles that are entrained in the gas that is being discharged deposit themselves at least in part in a gap that is located between two electrodes of the capacitor and cause a change in the dielectric value in the gap. The change in the dielectric value causes a change in a capacitance of the capacitor.
US09276296B2	Sensor device and method for determining a pressure of a medium located inside an electrochemical energy store, electrochemical energy store, and method for the manufacture thereof A sensor device is provided for determining a pressure of a medium located inside a housing of an electrochemical energy storage. The sensor device includes a detection unit which may be or is inductively coupled to an electrically conductive layer, which is deflectable by the pressure of the medium to be determined. The detection unit is designed to inductively detect a distance, which is dependent on the pressure of the medium to be determined, between the layer and the detection unit, to determine the pressure of the medium from the distance.
US09276295B2	Storage battery arrangement A storage battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery cells each having a cell housing having at least one cell terminal protruding from an end of the cell housing. The storage battery arrangement also includes a plurality of control units each having a control unit housing and electronic circuitry provided inside the control unit housing for monitoring and controlling at least one of the plurality of battery cells. The control units each include at least one control terminal extending to the outside of the control unit housing, the control terminal being electrically connected to the electronic circuitry. The size and shape of each of the control unit housings are substantially similar to the size and shape of the cell housings so that the control units can be arranged side-by-side among the battery cells and electrically connected the same way to the battery cells.
US09276294B2	Planar high density sodium battery A method of making a molten sodium battery is disclosed. A first metallic interconnect frame having a first interconnect vent hole is provided. A second metallic interconnect frame having a second interconnect vent hole is also provided. An electrolyte plate having a cathode vent hole and an anode vent hole is interposed between the metallic interconnect frames. The metallic interconnect frames and the electrolyte plate are sealed thereby forming gaseous communication between an anode chamber through the anode vent hole and gaseous communication between a cathode chamber through the cathode vent hole.
US09276291B2	Electrolyte for high voltage lithium rechargeable battery and lithium rechargeable battery comprising the same In an aspect, an electrolyte for a lithium rechargeable battery and a lithium rechargeable battery are provided. The electrolyte may include a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an aromatic amine as an additive.
US09276289B2	Ambient temperature molten salt, electrode, battery, agent for preventing charge-up, and method for observing sample An object of the present invention is to provide an ambient temperature molten salt having excellent electron conductivity in addition to ion conductivity. The present invention attains the object by providing an ambient temperature molten salt including a first imidazolium salt having a cationic segment represented by the general formula (1) and an anionic segment represented by MX4 (where M is a transition metal and X is a halogen); and a second salt having a cationic segment as a monovalent cation and an anionic segment as a halogen.
US09276287B2	Non-rectangular batteries for portable electronic devices The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers forming a non-rectangular shape, wherein the set of layers comprises a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The layers are enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the non-rectangular shape is created by removing material from one or more of the layers.
US09276286B2	Secondary battery with excellent productivity and safety Disclosed is a secondary battery having a structure in which a jelly-roll having a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in a cylindrical battery case, wherein a plate-shaped insulator mounted on the top of the jelly-roll includes a molded article made of a polymer resin or a polymer composite and a plurality of fine pores is perforated through the molded article.
US09276284B2	Fuel cell subassemblies incorporating subgasketed thrifted membranes A fuel cell roll good subassembly is described that includes a plurality of individual electrolyte membranes. One or more first subgaskets are attached to the individual electrolyte membranes. Each of the first subgaskets has at least one aperture and the first subgaskets are arranged so the center regions of the individual electrolyte membranes are exposed through the apertures of the first subgaskets. A second subgasket comprises a web having a plurality of apertures. The second subgasket web is attached to the one or more first subgaskets so the center regions of the individual electrolyte membranes are exposed through the apertures of the second subgasket web. The second subgasket web may have little or no adhesive on the subgasket surface facing the electrolyte membrane.
US09276280B2	Power generation via combined fuel thermolysis and hydrolysis Devices and methods for power generation via combined fuel thermolysis and hydrolysis are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include a housing that includes an air intake, a fuel cartridge adapted to be removably placed within the housing, wherein the fuel cartridge includes a heating element configured to heat a fuel located in the fuel cartridge to cause a release of hydrogen from the fuel, an air conduit disposed about the fuel cartridge in the housing, wherein the air conduit includes a fuel cell portion and a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion, and the air conduit is configured to direct oxygen from the air intake to the fuel cell portion and to carry water vapor generated by the fuel cell portion past the membrane portion such that water vapor passes through the membrane portion and causes release of hydrogen from the fuel cartridge.
US09276279B2	Auxiliary power unit An auxiliary power unit (APU), a method of operating an APU and a vehicle comprising the APU are provided. The APU includes a fuel processor and a fuel cell, the fuel processor being provided with steam, air and dimethyl ether (DME). In order to avoid decreased functionality of the fuel cell caused by lubricants in the DME, a heat exchanger is provided for separating lubricant from the DME.
US09276277B2	Methods for operating a fuel cell system Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel. Also discussed are purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically turned OFF as the fuel cell's production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled.
US09276274B2	Vanadium flow cell A Flow Cell System that utilizes a Vanadium Chemistry is provided. The flow cell system includes a stack, electrolyte heat exchangers, and a controller executing a state machine.
US09276266B1	Perforated electrode plate An energy storage includes a cell that defines a flow chamber for receiving electrolyte, and an electrode arrangement positioned in the cell. The electrode arrangement includes a plate having first and second sides. The plate further has multiple openings that vary in size to facilitate electrolyte flow on both sides of the plate.
US09276259B2	Secondary battery of improved lithium ion mobility and cell capacity Provided is a lithium secondary battery having improved discharge characteristics in a range of high-rate discharge while minimizing a dead volume and at the same time, having increased cell capacity via increased electrode density and electrode loading amounts, by inclusion of two or more active materials having different redox levels so as to exert superior discharge characteristics in the range of high-rate discharge via sequential action of cathode active materials in a discharge process, and preferably having different particle diameters.
US09276255B2	Lithium cell having an improved cathode structure and production method for it A lithium cell is described having a cathode structure made of a base material which conducts electrons and Li ions. The cathode structure includes a continuous substrate, which provides a continuous base area, starting from which a plurality of crosspieces extends. The crosspieces provide crosspiece surfaces, starting from which carrier structures extend. The carrier structures provide carrier surfaces on which active material is distributed. In addition, an accumulator is also described in which a plurality of lithium cells is stacked. A method for producing a lithium cell is also described.
US09276252B2	Rechargeable battery A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator therebetween, a case housing the electrode assembly, a cap plate sealing the case and electrically connected to the positive electrode, a negative terminal and a positive terminal penetrating the cap plate and respectively electrically connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a safety member located between the electrode assembly and the case, electrically connected to the negative electrode, and including an end portion coupled to the negative electrode, a plate portion at a side of the electrode assembly, and a resistance controller coupling the end portion and the plate portion, and having a higher electrical resistance than the plate portion.
US09276251B2	Electronic device with battery terminal sealing member There is provided an electronic device includes a detachable battery pack from a casing; and a battery pack loading section in which the battery pack is loaded. The battery pack loading section includes a battery receiving surface that receives a battery and a peripheral wall that is formed at the peripheral edge of the battery receiving surface and faces the side surface of the battery. A connector to be connected to a battery terminal of the battery pack is disposed on the peripheral wall. A raised portion that is raised toward the battery pack is formed on the battery receiving surface and on the peripheral wall in the battery pack loading section. The battery pack has an elastic sealing member surrounding the battery terminal at a portion in contact with the raised portion in a manner disposed in the battery pack loading section.
US09276250B2	Battery array and battery pack having the same A battery array includes: a plurality of batteries arranged into 2N+1 bundles, each of the bundles including M+1 batteries of the batteries arranged in parallel (where N and M are natural numbers); a plurality of connection tabs arranged at a first end of the battery array and at a second end of the battery array, each of the connection tabs being coupled to a corresponding pair of the bundles to electrically couple a first bundle through a 2N+1th bundle of the bundles in series; a first output terminal having a first polarity, and electrically coupled to the first bundle; and a second output terminal having a second polarity, and electrically coupled to the 2N+1th bundle, the second output terminal being adjacent to the first bundle.
US09276248B2	Cell connector In order to provide a cell connector for the electrically conductive connection of a first cell terminal of a first electrochemical cell and a second cell terminal of a second electrochemical cell of an electrochemical device comprising a base body and a contact body, which is connected to the base body and is connected to one of the cell terminals in the assembled state of the cell connector, at which an electric potential is detectable in a particularly simple manner, it is proposed that the contact body comprises a voltage tap.
US09276247B2	Separator and electrochemical device comprising the same A separator including a porous substrate, and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and including a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer. A continuous or discontinuous patterned layer is formed on the surface of the porous coating layer to allow an electrolyte solution to permeate therethrough. The continuous or discontinuous patterned layer may be formed with continuous grooves to allow an electrolyte solution to permeate therethrough. Due to this structure, the wettability of the separator with an electrolyte solution is improved, shortening the time needed to impregnate the electrolyte solution into the separator.
US09276239B2	Method for manufacturing a flexible display device by removing foreign particles A method for manufacturing a flexible display device includes: manufacturing a flexible substrate on a substrate by: forming a first organic layer on the substrate, removing foreign particles formed on the first organic layer and forming a recessed first repair groove in the first organic layer, forming a first inorganic layer on the first organic layer, forming a second organic layer on the first inorganic layer and forming a second inorganic layer on the second organic layer, forming a display for displaying an image on the flexible substrate and removing the substrate from the first organic layer.
US09276238B2	Organic light-emitting diode, organic light-emitting diode substrate, and method of manufacturing same An organic light-emitting diode manufactured from an organic light-emitting diode substrate in which a concave-convex structure is provided in at least a part of the surface, in which the concave-convex structure is capable of obtaining an atomic force microscope (AFM) image in which a plurality of dots is dispersed when observed by an AFM. A histogram is created by measuring a diameter (nm) of each of the plurality of dots present in a randomly selected region having an area of 25 μm2 on the atomic force microscope image, resulting in a plurality of peaks including one main peak and one or more sub-peaks, and the chromaticity of light emitted from the organic light-emitting diode is in a range of (x, y)=(0.28 to 0.50, 0.29 to 0.45) in a CIE standard colorimetric system.
US09276233B2	Encapsulating structure of OLED device An encapsulating structure of an OLED device, comprising an upper substrate and a lower substrate that are disposed in opposition to each other, an OLED device, and a frit wall for sealing peripheries of the upper substrate and the lower substrate; two faces of the upper substrate and the lower substrate that are opposed abut against each other, the lower substrate has a recessed section, which is opened toward the upper substrate and within which the OLED device is positioned; the upper substrate has a first annular groove that is opened toward the lower substrate, the lower substrate has a second annular groove that is opposed to the first annular groove and opened toward the upper substrate, an upper bound of the frit wall is located in the first annular groove, and a lower bound of the frit wall is located in the second annular groove. The encapsulation stability of the encapsulating structure is relatively high, and service life of the OLED device is relatively long.
US09276230B2	Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: a substrate; a display part on the substrate and configured to display an image, the display part including a thin-film transistor (TFT) and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED); and a pad electrode on the substrate and outside the display part, and the pad electrode includes an embossed-shaped conductive reflective layer.
US09276229B2	Device and method for lighting A method is presented for reducing the light output capacity of light emitting components (C1, C2, C3), each with a different absorption band, of an OLED device (1). By irradiating at least a portion of each light emitting component (C1, C2, C3) with light (L) having a wavelength within at least one of the absorption bands, the light output capacity of the irradiated portion (P, P1, P2, P3) of each organic light emitting component having a light absorption band in which the wavelength of the light (L) is included is reduced. An OLED device (1) is also presented.
US09276227B2	Organic light-emitting device and flat panel display including the same An organic light-emitting device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and an organic layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the organic layer includes a compound of Formula 1 and a compound of Formula 2; and a flat panel display device including the organic light-emitting device. Substituents in Formulae 1 and 2 are the same as described in the specification
US09276224B2	Organic light emitting device having dual flexible substrates The present invention has an object of providing a light-emitting device including an OLED formed on a plastic substrate, which prevents degradation due to penetration of moisture or oxygen. On a plastic substrate, a plurality of films for preventing oxygen or moisture from penetrating into an organic light-emitting layer in the OLED (“barrier films”) and a film having a smaller stress than the barrier films (“stress relaxing film”), the film being interposed between the barrier films, are provided. Owing to a laminate structure, if a crack occurs in one of the barrier films, the other barrier film(s) can prevent moisture or oxygen from penetrating into the organic light emitting layer. The stress relaxing film, which has a smaller stress than the barrier films, is interposed between the barrier films, making it possible to reduce stress of the entire sealing film. Therefore, a crack due to stress hardly occurs.
US09276222B2	Organometallic iridium complex, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device Provided as a novel substance is a long-lifetime organometallic iridium complex emitting yellow light with high emission efficiency. The organometallic iridium complex is represented by General Formula (G1) and has a structure in which a phenyl group whose 2-position and 6-position are each substituted by an alkyl group is bonded to the 4-position of pyrimidine. In General Formula (G1), R1 and R2 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
US09276220B2	Anthracene compound and organic light emitting diode including the same An anthracene compound and organic light emitting diode including the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting diode includes, at least two stacks formed between a first electrode and a second electrode and a charge generation layer (CGL) including an N-type CGL and a P-type CGL formed between the stacks, wherein the N-type CGL is formed of the anthracene compound.
US09276218B2	Arylamine compound and organic light-emitting device comprising same An arylamine compound of Formula 1 below and an organic light-emitting device including the arylamine compound are provided: Substituents in Formula 1 are as defined in the specification.
US09276217B2	Electroactive materials There is provided an electroactive compound having Formula I In the formula: Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are the same or different and are aryl groups; R1 is the same or different at each occurrence and is D, alkyl or aryl; a is an integer from 0-4. The compound has a LUMO level deeper than −2.3 eV and a band gap of at least 2.9 eV.
US09276215B2	Diketopyrrolopyrrole polymers for use in organic semiconductor devices The present invention relates to polymers (I), or (II), and their use as organic semiconductor in organic devices, especially in organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes, or in a device containing a diode and/or an organic field effect transistor. The polymers according to the invention have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when the polymers according to the invention are used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes.
US09276213B2	Photoelectric conversion material, method for producing the same, and organic photovoltaic cell containing the same A photoelectric conversion material, which acts as an electron donor for donating an electron or an electron acceptor for accepting an electron, contains a polymer having at least one structural unit selected from graphenes represented by the following general formulae (1) to (4): wherein at least one of R1 to R6 in each of the general formulae (1) to (4) is a solubilizing group, and the polymer exhibits a higher solubility in an organic solvent with the solubilizing group than without the solubilizing group.
US09276211B2	Non-volatile resistive-switching memories Non-volatile resistive-switching memories are described, including a memory element having a first electrode, a second electrode, a metal oxide between the first electrode and the second electrode. The metal oxide switches using bulk-mediated switching, has a bandgap greater than 4 electron volts (eV), has a set voltage for a set operation of at least one volt per one hundred angstroms of a thickness of the metal oxide, and has a leakage current density less than 40 amps per square centimeter (A/cm2) measured at 0.5 volts (V) per twenty angstroms of the thickness of the metal oxide.
US09276210B1	Conductive barriers for ternary nitride thin-film resistors In a thin-film resistor stack (e.g. A ReRAM embedded resistor), a metallic barrier layer 1-5 nm thick protects an underlying or overlying ternary metal nitride layer from unwanted oxidation while having negligible effect on the resistance or height of the stack. For devices subjected to temperatures over 650 C after forming the stack, the metallic barrier layer may be iridium or ruthenium. For devices with temperatures kept below 650 C after forming the stack, the metallic barrier layer may be Al. The metallic barrier layer(s) and the ternary nitride layer may be formed in situ, for example by sputtering or atomic layer deposition.
US09276208B2	Phase change memory cell with heat shield A method for fabricating the phase change memory cells. The method includes forming an electrically conductive bottom electrode within a substrate. A heat shield is formed within the substrate and above the bottom electrode. The heat shield is thermally coupled to the bottom electrode, includes a sidewall and extends away from the bottom electrode. A heating element is formed within the sidewall of the heat shield. The heating element is electrically coupled to the bottom electrode and is configured to generate heat during programming of the phase change memory cell.
US09276201B2	Hybridized oxide capping layer for perpendicular magnetic anisotropy A method of forming a hybrid oxide capping layer (HOCL) is disclosed and used in a magnetic tunnel junction to enhance thermal stability and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in an adjoining free layer. The HOCL has a lower interface oxide layer and one or more transition metal oxide layers wherein each of the metal layers selected to form a transition metal oxide has an absolute value of free energy of oxide formation less than that of the metal used to make the interface oxide layer. One or more of the HOCL layers is under oxidized. Oxygen from one or more transition metal oxide layers preferably migrates into the interface oxide layer during annealing to further oxidize the interface oxide. As a result, a less strenuous oxidation step is required to initially oxidize the lower HOCL layer and minimizes oxidative damage to the free layer.
US09276200B2	Fabrication process and layout for magnetic sensor arrays A magnetic sensor includes a plurality of groups, each group comprising a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices having a plurality of conductors configured to couple the MTJ devices within one group in parallel and the groups in series enabling independent optimization of the material resistance area (RA) of the MTJ and setting total device resistance so that the total bridge resistance is not so high that Johnson noise becomes a signal limiting concern, and yet not so low that CMOS elements may diminish the read signal. Alternatively, the magnetic tunnel junction devices within each of at least two groups in series and the at least two groups in parallel resulting in the individual configuration of the electrical connection path and the magnetic reference direction of the reference layer, leading to independent optimization of both functions, and more freedom in device design and layout. The X and Y pitch of the sense elements are arranged such that the line segment that stabilizes, for example, the right side of one sense element; also stabilizes the left side of the adjacent sense element.
US09276197B2	Hybrid domain wall-hall cross device A hybrid domain wall Hall cross device consists of a semiconductor Hall cross having a top surface and a pair of arms intersecting at a center region, and a ferromagnetic wire fabricated on the top surface, electrically isolated from the Hall cross, and having a constriction proximate to the center of the Hall cross. The device provides a magnetoelectronic MRAM storage cell with improved performance characteristics. Binary storage is associated with a trapped domain wall having one of two stable orientations. The bit state can be written using current driven domain wall motion. This is a STT process in which the write current is applied to a thin film, low impedance wire. Heating is minimized and no wear-out mechanism is known to exist.
US09276192B2	Magnetoelectric composites Disclosed is a magnetoelectric (ME) composite including both a piezoelectric material and a magnetostrictive material, wherein a piezoelectric single crystal material having high piezoelectric properties is used as the piezoelectric material, and a metal magnetostrictive material having high magnetostrictive properties is used as the magnetostrictive material, thus achieving an ME composite having a layered structure via adhesion. When the ME layered composite is manufactured such that a <011> crystal orientation of the piezoelectric single crystal material is set to a thickness direction, high ME voltage coefficient, which is at least doubled, compared to a conventional <001> crystal orientation, can be obtained, and such an effect is further maximized in the resonance of the composite.
US09276188B2	Thermoelectric-based power generation systems and methods Some embodiments provide a waste heat recovery apparatus including an exhaust tube having a cylindrical outer shell configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid; a first heat exchanger extending through a first region of the exhaust tube, the first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cylindrical outer shell; a second region of the exhaust tube extending through the exhaust tube, the second region having a low exhaust fluid pressure drop; an exhaust valve operatively disposed within the second region and configured to allow exhaust fluid to flow through the second region only when a flow rate of the exhaust fluid becomes great enough to result in back pressure beyond an allowable limit; and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with an outer surface of the outer shell.
US09276187B2	Semiconductor light emitting device A semiconductor light emitting device includes an LED chip, which includes an n-type semiconductor layer, active layer, and p-type semiconductor layer stacked on a substrate. The LED chip further includes an anode electrode connected to the p-type semiconductor, and a cathode connected to the n-type semiconductor. The anode and cathode electrodes face a case with the LED chip mounted thereon. The case includes a base member including front and rear surfaces, and wirings including a front surface layer having anode and cathode pads formed at the front surface, a rear surface layer having anode and cathode mounting electrodes formed at the rear surface, an anode through wiring connecting the anode pad and the anode mounting electrode and passing through a portion of the base member, and a cathode through wirings connecting the cathode pad and the cathode mounting electrode and passing through a portion of the base member.
US09276186B2	Light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof A method for manufacturing a light-emitting device is provided, including: providing a base, which includes a heat dissipation layer made of graphene; forming a buffer layer on the heat dissipation layer; and forming a light emission unit on the buffer layer. The light-emitting device so made includes a graphene-made heat dissipation layer that effectively dissipates away heat emitting from an emissive layer of the light emission unit so as to effectively reduce the temperature of the light-emitting device and extend the service life of the light-emitting device. Particularly, when the light-emitting device is a light-emitting diode, the emissive layer thereof is a quantum dot emissive layer for effectively improving color saturation of the light-emitting diode and enhancing color displaying performance of the light-emitting diode.
US09276176B2	Light-emitting device A light-emitting device comprises: a light-emitting stack having an active layer; a transparent insulating layer on the light-emitting stack; and an electrode structure having a first electrode on the transparent insulating layer; wherein a surface area of a surface of the first electrode distal from the transparent insulating layer is smaller than a surface area of a surface of the transparent insulating layer distal from the light-emitting stack, the refractive index of the transparent insulating layer is between 1 and 3.4 both inclusive, and the transmittance of the transparent insulating layer is greater than 80%.
US09276168B2	Quantum dot light enhancement substrate and lighting device including same A component including a substrate, at least one layer including a color conversion material comprising quantum dots disposed over the substrate, and a layer comprising a conductive material (e.g., indium-tin-oxide) disposed over the at least one layer. (Embodiments of such component are also referred to herein as a QD light-enhancement substrate (QD-LES).) In certain preferred embodiments, the substrate is transparent to light, for example, visible light, ultraviolet light, and/or infrared radiation. In certain embodiments, the substrate is flexible. In certain embodiments, the substrate includes an outcoupling element (e.g., a microlens array). A film including a color conversion material comprising quantum dots and a conductive material is also provided. In certain embodiments, a component includes a film described herein. Lighting devices are also provided. In certain embodiments, a lighting device includes a film described herein. In certain embodiments, a lighting device includes a component described herein.
US09276165B2	Composite substrate with a protective layer for preventing metal from diffusing The present application discloses a composite substrate with a protective layer for preventing metal from diffusing, comprising: a thermally and electrically conductive layer (2) having a melting point of greater than 1000° C., and a GaN mono-crystalline layer (1) located on the thermally and electrically conductive layer (2). At least the side wall of the composite substrate is cladded with a protective layer (3) for preventing metal from diffusing. The composite substrate not only takes account of the homoepitaxy required for GaN epitaxy and improves the quality of the crystals, but also can be used directly to prepare LEDs with vertical structures and significantly reduce costs. The disclosed composite substrate effectively avoids the pollution of experimental instruments by the diffusion and volatilization of a metal material during the growth of MOCVD at high temperature.
US09276164B2	Optoelectronic device and method for manufacturing the same A method of fabricating an optoelectronic device, comprising: providing a first substrate; forming an epitaxial stack on the first substrate wherein the epitaxial stack comprising a first conductive-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive-type semiconductor layer; etching an upper surface of the second conductive-type semiconductor layer and forming a first texture profile on the upper surface of the second conductive-type semiconductor layer; forming a passivation layer on the upper surface of the second conductive-type semiconductor layer; and etching an upper surface of the passivation layer forming a second texture profile on the upper surface of the passivation layer wherein the first texture profile is different from the second texture profile.
US09276161B2	Thermography camera tuned to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.
US09276158B2	Photodiode A photodiode that can provide a THz operation with a stable output. A photodiode having a pin-type semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor layer structure and n and p electrodes. The semiconductor layer structure is obtained by sequentially layering an n-type contact layer, a low concentration layer, and a p-type contact layer. The low concentration layer is obtained by layering an electron drift layer, a light absorption layer, and a hole drift layer while being abutted to the n-type contact layer. The n electrode and the p electrode are connected to the n-type contact layer and the p-type contact layer, respectively. During operation, the low concentration layer is depleted.
US09276157B2	Methods of treating a semiconductor layer Methods for treating a semiconductor layer including a semiconductor material are presented. A method includes contacting at least a portion of the semiconductor material with a passivating agent. The method further includes forming a first region in the semiconductor layer by introducing a dopant into the semiconductor material; and forming a chalcogen-rich region. The method further includes forming a second region in the semiconductor layer, the second region including a dopant, wherein an average atomic concentration of the dopant in the second region is greater than an average atomic concentration of the dopant in the first region. Photovoltaic devices are also presented.
US09276156B2	Solar cells having a transparent composition-graded buffer layer A solar cell includes a first layer having a first-layer lattice parameter, a second layer having a second-layer lattice parameter different from the first-layer lattice parameter, wherein the second layer includes a photoactive second-layer material; and a third layer having a third-layer lattice parameter different from the second-layer lattice parameter, wherein the third layer includes a photoactive third-layer material. A transparent buffer layer extends between and contacts the second layer and the third layer and has a buffer-layer lattice parameter that varies with increasing distance from the second layer toward the third layer, so as to lattice match to the second layer and to the third layer. There may be additional subcell layers and buffer layers in the solar cell.
US09276152B2	Photovoltaic cell tabs and method and system for forming same A photovoltaic cell tab including: a front contact portion having a first profile; and a back contact portion having a second profile, wherein the first profile or second profile are complex shapes that may be dissimilar to each other. A system and method for forming photovoltaic cell tabs comprising: a feeding mechanism to feed wire; a first forming tool to trim and shape the wire to tabs; and a placement tool configured to match a profile of the tabs and place and attach the tabs on photovoltaic cells. In the system and method, the tabs may be formed to have a complex profile or shape that will affect incident light and/or mechanical or other characteristics of the tabs.
US09276146B2	Infrared sensor device and method for producing an infrared sensor device An infrared sensor device includes at least one sensor element formed in a semiconductor substrate, an SOI wafer that defines a gap below and around the sensor element, and a suspension device that is configured to suspend the sensor element in the SOI wafer. The sensor element is substantially arranged below the suspension device, thereby achieving a high sensitivity, low thermal capacity, low thermal coupling to the substrate and a high image refresh rate.
US09276144B2	Quantum cascade detector A quantum cascade detector includes a semiconductor substrate, and an active layer formed by laminating unit laminate structures each having an absorption region with a first barrier layer to a second well layer and a transport region with a third barrier layer to an n-th well layer. A second absorption well layer has a layer thickness ½ or less of that of a first absorption well layer thickest in one period, and a coupling barrier layer has a layer thickness smaller than that of an exit barrier layer thickest in one period. The unit laminate structure has a detection lower level arising from a ground level in the first well layer, a detection upper level generated by coupling an excitation level in the first well layer and a ground level in the second well layer, and a transport level structure for electrons.
US09276141B2	Photovoltaic module A photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared-transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing.
US09276140B1	Imager module with interposer chip An imager module having an interposer chip electrically connected to and routing signals between an image sensor, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a voice coil motor (VCM) is disclosed. In some example embodiments, one or more surface mount devices (SMDs) may further be attached to the interposer chip, the PCB, or both the interposer chip and the PCB. The interposer chip may further have a cavity therethrough to allow light to impinge in the image sensor. The interposer chip may still further have through silicon vias (TSVs) to route signals from the PCB to the VCM.
US09276139B2	Polyimide film production method, polyimide film production apparatus, and polyimide film A polyimide film which rarely undergoes the formation of bubbles, blisters or the like, even when heated to a high temperature; and a production method and a production apparatus for the polyimide film. The polyimide film production apparatus includes a support body, a cast furnace and a cure furnace, wherein the cure furnace is partitioned into multiple zones so that the temperature of a self-supporting film can be increased in a stepwise manner, and an infrared electric heater, which is disposed at a predetermined distance from the film, is arranged in a zone for heating the atmosphere of the self-supporting film to a temperature of 450° C. or higher on the upper surface side and/or the lower surface side of the self-supporting film. The polyimide production apparatus enables the production of a polyimide film which has a volatile content of 0.1 mass % or less after being heated at 450° C. for 20 minutes.
US09276138B2	Method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor component, and optoelectronic semiconductor component A method of producing an optoelectronic semiconductor component includes arranging a semiconductor layer stack with a pn-junction on a substrate, lateral patterning of the semiconductor layer sack into a plurality of pairs of first semiconductor bodies and second semiconductor bodies spaced from one another in a lateral direction, detaching the substrate from the pairs of first semiconductor bodies and second semiconductor bodies, applying at least one pair of first semiconductor bodies and second semiconductor bodies to a connection carrier including electrical connection points and/or at least one conductor track, and electrically connecting the semiconductor bodies of a pair of first semiconductor bodies and second semiconductor bodies by the connection points and/or the at least one conductor track such that the pn-junction of the first semiconductor body connects in antiparallel to the pn-junction of the second semiconductor body.
US09276133B2	Vertical memory devices and method of manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a vertical memory device is disclosed. In the method, a plurality of insulation layers and a plurality of first sacrificial layers are alternately stacked on a substrate. A plurality of holes is formed through the plurality of insulation layers and first sacrificial layers. A plasma treatment process is performed to oxidize the first sacrificial layers exposed by the holes. A plurality of second sacrificial layer patterns project from sidewalls of the holes. A blocking layer pattern, a charge storage layer pattern and a tunnel insulation layer pattern are formed on the sidewall of the holes that cover the second sacrificial layer patterns. A plurality of channels is formed to fill the holes. The first sacrificial layers and the second sacrificial layer patterns are removed to form a plurality of gaps exposing a sidewall of the blocking layer pattern. A plurality of gate electrodes is formed to fill the gaps.
US09276128B2	Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing the same, and etchant used for the same A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a first conductive film over a substrate; forming an insulating film over the first conductive film; forming an oxide semiconductor film over the insulating film to overlap with the first conductive film; forming a second conductive film including a metal film containing molybdenum as its main component and a metal film containing copper as its main component over the oxide semiconductor film; and etching the second conductive film by an etchant. At the time of etching the second conductive film by the etchant, the oxide semiconductor film is used as an etching stopper film. In addition, the etchant which can be used for a transistor including the oxide semiconductor film is provided.
US09276127B2	Semiconductor device and method for producing same This TFT substrate (100A) includes: a gate connecting layer (3a) formed on a substrate (1) out of a same conductive film as a gate electrode (3) or a transparent connecting layer (2a) formed on the substrate (1) out of a same conductive film as a first transparent electrode (2); an oxide layer (5z) which is formed on an insulating layer (4) and which includes at least one conductor region (5a); and a source connecting layer (6a) formed on the oxide layer (5z) out of a same conductor film as a source electrode (6s). The source connecting layer (6a) is electrically connected to either the gate connecting layer (3a) or the transparent connecting layer (2a) via the at least one conductor region (5a).
US09276125B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A miniaturized transistor having high electrical characteristics is provided with high yield. In a semiconductor device including the transistor, high performance, high reliability, and high productivity can be achieved. The semiconductor device includes a base insulating film, an oxide semiconductor film with a bottom surface and side surfaces in the base insulating film and a top surface exposed from the base insulating film, a source electrode and a drain electrode over the base insulating film and the oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, the source electrode, and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode over the gate insulating film and overlapping the oxide semiconductor film.
US09276121B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device including a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used for a channel formation region and which has a positive threshold voltage to serve as a normally-off switching element, and the like are provided. Stable electrical characteristics are given to the semiconductor device including the transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is used for the channel formation region, and thus the semiconductor device has high reliability. In a semiconductor device including a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film including a channel formation region, source and drain electrode layers, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode layer are stacked in this order over an oxide insulating film, a conductive layer overlapping with the gate electrode layer with the channel formation region provided therebetween and controlling the electrical characteristics of the transistor is provided in the oxide insulating film including an oxygen excess region.
US09276117B1	Structure and method and FinFET device The present disclosure provides an embodiment of a fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET) device. The device includes The device includes a strain-relaxed buffer (SRB) stack over a substrate, a first fin structure disposed over the SRB stack and a liner layer extending along the portion of the second SRB layer and the first semiconductor material layer of the first fin structure.
US09276116B2	Semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first fin on a substrate, a first gate electrode formed on the substrate to intersect the first fin, a first elevated source/drain on the first fin on both sides of the first gate electrode, and a first metal alloy layer on an upper surface and sidewall of the first elevated source/drain.
US09276111B2	Semiconductor devices having tensile and/or compressive stress and methods of manufacturing Semiconductor devices are provided which have a tensile and/or compressive strain applied thereto and methods of manufacturing. A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming sidewalls and spacers adjacent to a gate stack structure, and forming a recess in the gate stack structure. The method further includes epitaxially growing a straining material on a polysilicon layer of the gate stack structure, and in the recess in the gate stack structure. The straining material is Si:C and the gate stack structure is a PFET gate stack structure. The straining material is grown above and covering a top surface of the sidewalls and the spacers.
US09276106B2	Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same A silicon carbide film includes a first range having a first breakdown voltage holding layer, a charge compensation region, a first junction terminal region, and a first guard ring region. The silicon carbide film includes a second range having a second breakdown voltage holding layer, a channel forming region, and a source region. The first and second breakdown voltage holding layers constitutes a breakdown voltage holding region having a thickness in an element portion. When voltage is applied to attain a maximum electric field strength of 0.4 MV/cm or more in the breakdown voltage holding region during an OFF state, a maximum electric field strength in the second range within the element portion is configured to be less than ⅔ of a maximum electric field strength in the first range.
US09276100B2	Semiconductor device having a gate recess structure A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer disposed over a substrate, a second semiconductor layer disposed over the first semiconductor layer, a gate recess disposed, through removal of a part of or all the second semiconductor layer, in a predetermined region over the first semiconductor layer, an insulating film disposed over the gate recess and the second semiconductor layer, a gate electrode disposed over the gate recess with the insulating film therebetween, and a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed over the first semiconductor layer or the second semiconductor layer, whereby a central portion of the gate recess is higher than a peripheral portion of the gate recess.
US09276094B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a semiconductor layer, a power device formed in the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of concentric guard rings formed in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the power device, and voltage applying means for applying successively higher voltages respectively to the plurality of concentric guard rings, with the outermost concentric guard ring having the highest voltage applied thereto.
US09276092B1	Transistors and methods of forming transistors Some embodiments include a transistor having a drain region and a source region. A conductive gate is between the source and drain regions. First channel material is between the gate and the source region. The first channel material is spaced from the gate by one or more insulative materials. Second channel material is between the first channel material and the source region, and directly contacts the source region. The first and second channel materials are transition metal chalcogenide. One of the source and drain regions is a hole reservoir region and the other is an electron reservoir region. Tunnel dielectric material may be between the first and second channel materials.
US09276091B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which has stable electric characteristics is provided. A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which has excellent on-state characteristics is also provided. A semiconductor device in which an oxide semiconductor film having low resistance is formed and the resistance of a channel region of the oxide semiconductor film is increased. Note that an oxide semiconductor film is subjected to a process for reducing the resistance to have low resistance. The process for reducing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film may be a laser process or heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C., for example. A process for increasing the resistance of the channel region of the oxide semiconductor film having low resistance may be performed by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions, for example.
US09276090B2	Self-rectified device, method for manufacturing the same, and applications of the same A self-rectified device is provided, comprising a bottom electrode, a patterned dielectric layer with a contact hole formed on the bottom electrode, a memory formed at the bottom electrode and substantially aligned with the contact hole, and a top electrode formed on the bottom electrode and filling into the contact hole to contact with the memory, wherein the top electrode comprises a N+ type semiconductor material or a P+ type semiconductor material, and the memory and the top electrode produce a self-rectified property.
US09276087B2	Methods of manufacturing FINFET semiconductor devices using sacrificial gate patterns and selective oxidization of a fin A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes patterning a substrate to form an active fin, forming a sacrificial gate pattern crossing over the active fin on the substrate, forming an interlayer insulating layer on the sacrificial gate pattern, removing the sacrificial gate pattern to form a gap region exposing the active fin in the interlayer insulating layer, and oxidizing a portion of the active fin exposed by the gap region to form an insulation pattern between the active fin and the substrate.
US09276085B2	Semiconductor structure and method for manufacturing the same The present invention provides a semiconductor structure comprising a substrate; a gate stack on the substrate; a spacer on the sidewalls of the gate stack; a source/drain junction extension formed in the substrate on both sides of the gate stack by epitaxial growth; and a source/drain region in the substrate on both sides of the source/drain junction extension. Accordingly, the present invention also provides methods for manufacturing the semiconductor structure. The present invention can provide a source/drain junction extension with a high doping concentration and a low junction depth, thereby effectively improving the performance of the semiconductor structure.
US09276079B2	Semiconductor device exhibiting reduced parasitics and method for making same A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate. An upper layer of the gate stack is a metal gate conductor and a lower layer of the gate stack is a gate dielectric. A gate contact is in direct contact with the metal gate conductor.
US09276074B2	Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices having buried channel array A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a first and a second parallel field regions in a substrate, the parallel field regions are extended in a first direction, forming a first and a second gate capping layer in a first and a second gate trench formed in the substrate respectively, removing the gate capping layers partially so that a first landing pad hole is expanded to overlap the gate capping layers buried in the substrate partially, forming a landing pad material layer in the first space, and forming a bit line contact landing pad by planarizing the landing pad material layer to the level of top surfaces of the capping layers.
US09276072B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes: a first nitride semiconductor layer formed over a substrate; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed over the first nitride semiconductor layer; element isolation regions formed in a part of the second nitride semiconductor layer and the first nitride semiconductor layer; a gate electrode, source electrodes, and a drain electrode formed over the second semiconductor layer and the element isolation regions; and a drain field plate formed in such a manner as to project from upper portions of side surfaces of the drain electrode.
US09276071B2	Semiconductor device and method for producing semiconductor device Hydrogen atoms and crystal defects are introduced into an n− semiconductor substrate by proton implantation. The crystal defects are generated in the n− semiconductor substrate by electron beam irradiation before or after the proton implantation. Then, a heat treatment for generating donors is performed. The amount of crystal defects is appropriately controlled during the heat treatment for generating donors to increase a donor generation rate. In addition, when the heat treatment for generating donors ends, the crystal defects formed by the electron beam irradiation and the proton implantation are recovered and controlled to an appropriate amount of crystal defects. Therefore, for example, it is possible to improve a breakdown voltage and reduce a leakage current.
US09276061B2	Diode and signal output circuit including the same A diode includes: a p-type semiconductor substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type isolation region formed to surround a predetermined region of the n-type semiconductor layer on the p-type semiconductor substrate; an n-type buried layer formed across the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer within the predetermined region; an n-type collector wall formed in the n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type anode region and a plurality of n-type cathode regions formed in a diode formation region; and a p-type guard ring formed to surround the diode formation region in a region between the diode formation region of the surface layer of the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type isolation region. A transistor for reducing a leakage current is formed by the p-type anode region, the p-type guard ring, and an n-type semiconductor between the p-type anode region and the p-type guard ring.
US09276056B2	Baluns for RF signal conversion and impedance matching A magnetically-coupled structure is integrated with an integrated circuit in back end-of-line (BEOL) digital CMOS fabrication processes. A differential primary (or secondary) coil is formed by patterning a thick copper (Cu) metal layer, and a single-ended secondary (or primary) coil is formed by patterning a thick aluminum (Al) top metal bonding layer. Crossovers and/or cross-unders are formed using thin metal layers. One embodiment provides a stacked balun with a differential primary input winding defined in the copper layer, directly underneath a single-ended spiral winding defined in the aluminum layer. The spiral forms the single-ended secondary output of the balun and is rotated by 90° to prevent metal shorting for its cross-under connections. Another embodiment provides a transformer with one differential primary (or secondary) coil defined in the copper layer and another differential secondary (or primary) coil defined in the aluminum layer and adding a center tap. The position of the tap is selected to compensate for phase differences and provide desired balance.
US09276055B1	Display device with micro cover layer and manufacturing method for the same There is provided a flexible display having a plurality of innovations configured to allow bending of a portion or portions to reduce apparent border size and/or utilize the side surface of an assembled flexible display.
US09276054B2	Organic light-emitting display apparatus An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a first substrate, a display unit defining an active area on the first substrate and including an insulating layer, a second substrate on the display unit, one or more signal lines outside the active area and on the insulating layer, and a sealant between the first substrate and the second substrate. The sealant bonds the first substrate and the second substrate, and covers at least a portion of the signal lines.
US09276048B2	Method and apparatus for infrared detection and display Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for infrared (IR) detection. Organic layers can be utilized to produce a phototransistor for the detection of IR radiation. The wavelength range of the IR detector can be modified by incorporating materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths. Quantum dots of materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths than the host organic material of the absorbing layer of the phototransistor can be incorporated into the absorbing layer so as to enhance the absorption of photons having wavelengths associated with the material of the quantum dots. A photoconductor structure can be used instead of a phototransistor. The photoconductor can incorporate PbSe or PbS quantum dots. The photoconductor can incorporate organic materials and part of an OLED structure. A detected IR image can be displayed to a user. Organic materials can be used to create an organic light-emitting device.
US09276044B2	Display device and method for manufacturing display device A display device includes a substrate; a color filter layer positioned on the substrate correspondingly to a path where an image is outputted; and an organic overcoat layer covering the color filter layer and including an ion implantation layer coated on the surface.
US09276040B1	Majority- and minority-gate logic schemes based on magneto-electric devices Majority and minority logic can be implemented by voltage controlled switching of magneto-electric layers of magneto electric magnetic tunnel junction (ME-MTJ) devices. A ME-MTJ device includes an exchange bias-controlled switching element and a pinned ferromagnetic layer on an antiferromagnetic layer. In one case, the switching element includes a magneto electric (ME) layer on a free ferromagnetic (FM) layer, and is separated from the pinned FM layer by an insulator. To implement a majority or minority logic gate a single ME-MTJ device may be used where the device is provided with three electrodes contacting the ME layer in an overlaying relationship with the ME layer. The orientation of the pinned FM layer indicates whether the gate is a majority or a minority logic gate.
US09276038B2	Light emitting module Disclosed is a light emitting module. The light emitting module includes a substrate and a plurality of light emitting devices disposed on the substrate, at least one of the plurality of light emitting devices includes a plurality of light emitting cells which are individually driven, and the plurality of light emitting cells include a light emitting structure including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer, and has a light emitting surface emitting light.
US09276036B2	Photoelectric conversion apparatus and imaging system using the same If separations between photoelectric conversion elements are different from each other, charge leaking into adjacent photoelectric conversion elements varies. A photoelectric conversion apparatus of the present invention includes a first semiconductor region that can be potential barriers against signal charge, between first and second photoelectric conversion elements. Further, the apparatus includes a second semiconductor region that has the same depth as the depth of the first semiconductor region and a width narrower than the width of the first semiconductor region and can be potential barriers against the signal charge, between the first and a third photoelectric conversion element. Moreover, the apparatus includes a third semiconductor region that can be potential barriers against the signal charge under the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region.
US09276033B2	Semiconductor apparatus, method of manufacturing semiconductor apparatus, method of designing semiconductor apparatus, and electronic apparatus A semiconductor device including a first material layer adjacent to a second material layer, a first via passing through the first material layer and extending into the second material layer, and a second via extending into the first material layer, where along a common cross section parallel to an interface between the two material layers, the first via has a cross section larger than that of the second via.
US09276025B2	Active matrix image sensing panel and apparatus An active matrix image sensing panel comprises a substrate and an image sensing pixel. The image sensing pixel is disposed on the substrate and comprises a scan line, a data line crossing the scan line, a photo sensing element and a TFT element. The photo sensing element includes a first terminal electrode and a second terminal electrode, and the voltage of the first terminal electrode is higher than that of the second terminal electrode. The TFT element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected to the data line, the second electrode is electrically connected to the first terminal electrode, the first gate electrode is electrically connected to the scan line, and the second gate electrode is electrically connected to the first or second terminal electrode. An active matrix image sensing apparatus is also disclosed.
US09276023B2	Image pickup element housing package, and image pickup device An imaging device accommodating package includes an insulating base body and an imaging device connecting pad. The insulating base body includes a lower surface, a through-hole and a bonding area on the bottom surface of the recess. The lower surface includes a recess. The through-hole is formed in a bottom surface of the recess in a perspective plan view. The bonding area is used for an imaging device. The imaging device connecting pad is formed on an upper surface of the insulating base body or on an inner surface of the through-hole.
US09276022B2	Low crosstalk, front-side illuminated, back-side contact photodiode array The present application is directed to novel front side illuminated, back side contact photodiodes and arrays thereof. In one embodiment, the photodiode has a substrate with at least a first and a second side and a plurality of electrical contacts physically confined to the second side. The electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the first side through a doped region of a first type and a doped region of a second type, each of the regions substantially extending from the first side through to the second side. In another embodiment, the photodiode includes a wafer with at least a first and a second side; and a plurality of electrical contacts physically confined to the second side, where the electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the first side through a diffusion of a p+region through the wafer and a diffusion of an n+region through the wafer.
US09276020B2	Display device and method of manufacturing the same A display device and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, a display device includes a substrate having a pixel region, a transistor region and a capacitor region, a transistor arranged within the transistor region of the substrate and a capacitor arranged within the capacitor region of the substrate, wherein the capacitor includes a lower electrode arranged on the substrate, a gate insulating layer arranged on the lower electrode and an upper electrode arranged on the gate insulating layer and overlapping the lower electrode, the upper electrode includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer arranged on the first conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer is opaque.
US09276017B2	Disply device for minimizing thickness of bezel area A display device including a first substrate. The first substrate including an active region and a dummy region formed in an outer edge of the active region, the active region including a plurality of pixel regions and being configured to implement an actual image, the dummy region including a gate in panel (GIP) circuit, control signal lines, a ground, and common lines. The GIP circuit is overlapped by at least a part of the control signal lines, the ground, and the common lines with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. The display device further includes a thin film transistor (TFT) for a shift register is provided in each of a plurality of stages of the GIP circuit; and a source contact hole and a gate contact hole of each TFT for the shift registers, the source contact hole and the gate contact hole being formed along a corresponding control signal line.
US09276014B2	Array substrate and method of fabricating the same, and liquid crystal display device An array substrate, a method of fabricating the same, and a liquid crystal display device are disclosed. The method comprises: sequentially forming a first transparent conductive material layer, an insulation material layer, a semiconductor material layer and a photoresist layer on a substrate base and forming patterns including a gate line, a gate, a gate insulation layer, a semiconductor layer and a first transparent electrode by patterning process; forming a passivation layer and forming a source via and a drain via connected to the semiconductor layer in the passivation layer; sequentially forming a second transparent conductive material layer and a source-drain metal layer and forming patterns including a source, a drain and a second transparent electrode by patterning process, the gate insulation layer is formed only on the gate and the gate line, the source and the drain include stacked second transparent conductive material layer and source-drain metal layer.
US09276003B2	Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes a substrate with an active pattern, the active pattern having a first extension portion extending in a first direction substantially parallel to a top surface of the substrate, a second extension portion extending from a first end of the first extension portion in a third direction oriented obliquely to the first direction, a third extension portion extending from a second end of the first extension portion in a direction opposed to the third direction, a first projection portion protruding from the second extension portion in a direction opposed to the first direction, the first projection portion being spaced apart from the first extension portion, and a second projection portion protruding from the third extension portion in the first direction, the second projection portion being spaced apart from the first extension portion.
US09276001B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a word line, an insulation material, and an etch stop material. The substrate comprises a pillar that may comprise an active area. The word line is formed in the substrate. The insulation material is formed on the word line. The etch stop material is formed on the insulating material and around the pillar.
US09276000B2	Manufacturing process for zero-capacitor random access memory circuits Embodiments of a manufacturing process flow for producing standalone memory devices that can achieve bit cell sizes on the order of 4F2 or 5F2, and that can be applied to common source/drain, separate source/drain, or common source only or common drain only transistor arrays. Active area and word line patterns are formed as perpendicularly-arranged straight lines on a Silicon-on-Insulator substrate. The intersections of the active area and spaces between word lines define contact areas for the connection of vias and metal line layers. Insulative spacers are used to provide an etch mask pattern that allows the selective etching of contact areas as a series of linear trenches, thus facilitating straight line lithography techniques. Embodiments of the manufacturing process remove first layer metal (metal-1) islands and form elongated vias, in a succession of processing steps to build dense memory arrays.
US09275998B2	Inverted P-channel III-nitride field effect tansistor with Hole Carriers in the channel An inverted P-channel III-nitride field effect transistor with hole carriers in the channel comprising a gallium-polar III-Nitride grown epitaxially on a substrate, a barrier, a two-dimensional hole gas in the barrier layer material at the heterointerface of the first material, and wherein the gallium-polar III-Nitride material comprises III-Nitride epitaxial material layers grown in such a manner that when GaN is epitaxially grown the top surface of the epitaxial layer is gallium-polar. A method of making a P-channel III-nitride field effect transistor with hole carriers in the channel comprising selecting a face of a substrate so that the gallium-polar (0001) face is the dominant face for growth of III-Nitride epitaxial layer growth material, growing a GaN epitaxial layer, doping, growing a barrier, etching, forming a contact, performing device isolation, defining a gate opening, defining gate metal, making a contact window, and depositing and defining a thick metal.
US09275995B2	Semiconductor devices having composite spacers containing different dielectric materials An integrated circuit device includes an electrically conductive pattern on a substrate. This electrically conductive pattern may be a gate pattern of a field effect transistor. A first electrically insulating spacer is provided on a sidewall of the electrically conductive pattern. The first electrically insulating spacer includes a first lower spacer and a first upper spacer, which extends on the first lower spacer and has a side surface vertically aligned with a corresponding side surface of the first lower spacer. The first upper spacer has a greater dielectric constant relative to a dielectric constant of the first lower spacer. A pair of parallel channel regions may also be provided, which protrude from a surface of the substrate. The electrically conductive pattern may surround top and side surfaces of the pair of parallel channel regions.
US09275994B2	Integrated circuits having dummy gate electrodes and methods of forming the same An integrated circuit comprises a gate electrode of at least one active transistor. The integrated circuit also comprises a first dummy gate electrode on a first side of the gate electrode. The integrated circuit further comprises a second dummy gate electrode on a second side of the gate electrode, the second side being opposite the first side. The integrated circuit additionally comprises a diffusion ring surrounding the gate electrode, the first dummy gate electrode, and the second dummy gate electrode. The integrated circuit also comprises a diffusion area extending from a first edge of the diffusion ring to a second edge of the diffusion ring.
US09275992B1	Formation of electrical components on a semiconductor substrate by polishing to isolate the components Trenches may be formed in layers on a semiconductor substrate for defining electrical components for an electronic device, such as an amplifier. A polishing step may be performed after formation of the trenches and deposition of other layer(s) to define regions for resistors, capacitors, or other elements in a metal layer on a semiconductor substrate. The polishing step may create discontinuities in metal layers on the semiconductor substrate that define electrically isolated regions corresponding to the resistors, capacitor, and other components of the electronic device.
US09275991B2	Apparatus for transceiver signal isolation and voltage clamp An apparatus for transceiver signal isolation and voltage clamp from transient electrical events includes a bi-directional protection device comprising a bipolar PNPNP device assembly, a first parasitic PNPN device assembly, and a second parasitic PNPN device assembly. The bipolar PNPNP device assembly includes an NPN bi-directional bipolar transistor, a first PNP bipolar transistor, and a second PNP bipolar transistor, and is configured to receive a transient voltage signal through first and second pads. The first and second pads are electrically connected to the PNPNP device assembly through emitters of the first and second PNP bipolar transistors. The bipolar PNPNP device assembly is electrically connected to a first parasitic PNPN device assembly comprising a parasitic PNP bipolar transistor and a first parasitic NPN bipolar transistor. The bipolar PNPNP device assembly is further connected to a second parasitic parasitic PNPN device assembly comprising the parasitic PNP bipolar transistor and a second parasitic NPN bipolar transistor. The base of the parasitic PNP bipolar transistor is connected to the substrate of the transceiver through a resistor to prevent triggering and breakdown of the first and second parasitic PNPN device assemblies.
US09275987B2	Semiconductor device An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can store data even after the application of power supply voltage is stopped, a manufacturing method thereof, or a driving method thereof. Data stored in a first circuit portion is transmitted to a second circuit portion, the data is stored in the second circuit portion in a period during which the application of power supply voltage is stopped, and data corresponding to the data is transmitted to the first circuit portion at the time of applying power supply voltage again. With such a configuration, a semiconductor device can store data even in a period during which the application of the power supply voltage is stopped. In particular, the second circuit portion includes a transistor including an oxide semiconductor, whereby the data can be accurately stored.
US09275985B1	RC networks that include an integrated high resistance resistor on top of a MOS capacitor An apparatus including a resistor capacitor network that includes an integrated high resistance resistor on top of a MOS capacitor. The resistor capacitor network includes a metal oxide semiconductor capacitor portion that includes a high-k gate oxide layer. The value of k is in a range of 4.0 to 100.0. The resistor capacitor network further includes a high resistance polysilicon gate layer formed over the high-k gate oxide layer. The resistance of the polysilicon gate layer is in a range of 100 to 2000 ohms per square.
US09275983B2	Integrated circuit package A method of making an integrated circuit (IC) package including electrically and physically attaching a die to an interposer, attaching the interposer to a bottom leadframe, attaching a discrete circuit component to the interposer and attaching a top leadframe to the bottom leadframe.
US09275977B2	Electronic system comprising stacked electronic devices provided with integrated-circuit chips An electronic system includes a first electronic device (with a first integrated-circuit chip) and a second electronic device (with a second integrated-circuit chip). The second electronic device is stacked above the first electronic device on a same side as the first integrated-circuit chip. Electrical connection elements located around the first integrated-circuit chip electrically connected to the second electronic device to the first electronic device. A metal plate configured for heat capture and transfer extends between the first and second electronic devices. The metal plate includes through-passages aligned to permit the electrical connection elements to pass at a distance.
US09275976B2	System-in-package with integrated socket There are disclosed herein various implementations of a system-in-package with integrated socket. In one such implementation, the system-in-package includes a first active die having a first plurality of electrical connectors on a top surface of the first active die, an interposer situated over the first active die, and a second active die having a second plurality of electrical connectors on a bottom surface of the second active die. The interposer is configured to selectively couple at least one of the first plurality of electrical connectors to at least one of the second plurality of electrical connectors. In addition, a socket encloses the first and second active dies and the interposer, the socket being electrically coupled to at least one of the first active die, the second active die, and the interposer.
US09275975B2	Electronic package and method of connecting a first die to a second die to form an electronic package Some embodiments relate to an electronic package. The electronic package includes a substrate that includes a plurality of buildup layers. A first die is embedded in one of the buildup layers on one side of the substrate. A second die is bonded to the substrate within a cavity on an opposing side of the substrate. The first die and the second die may be electrically connected to conductors within the plurality of buildup layers. Other embodiments relate to method of connecting a first die to a second die to form an electronic package. The method includes attaching a first die to a core and fabricating a substrate onto the core. The method further includes creating a cavity in another of the buildup layers on an opposing side of the substrate and attaching a second die to the substrate within the cavity.
US09275963B2	Semiconductor structure having stage difference surface and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor structure includes a wafer, at least one nonmetal oxide layer, a pad, a passivation layer, an isolation layer, and a conductive layer. The wafer has a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a first stage difference surface connected between the second and third surfaces, and a second stage difference surface connected between the first and third surfaces. The nonmetal oxide layer is located on the first surface of the wafer. The pad is located on the nonmetal oxide layer and electrically connected to the wafer. The passivation layer is located on the nonmetal oxide layer. The isolation layer is located on the passivation layer, nonmetal oxide layer, the first, second and third surfaces of the wafer, and the first and second stage difference surfaces of the wafer. The conductive layer is located on the isolation layer and electrically contacts the pad.
US09275961B2	Low cost high frequency device package and methods A low-cost high-frequency electronic device package and associated fabrication method are described wherein waveguide structures are formed from the high frequency device to the package lead transition. The package lead transition is optimized to take advantage of waveguide interconnect structure.
US09275956B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit device and process for manufacturing the same A semiconductor substrate includes scribe and product regions, with grooves formed in the scribe region. The grooves are embedded with an insulating film to provide an isolation region, and an active region, including semiconductor elements, is formed in the product region. Dummy patterns are formed in the scribe region, which include a first dummy pattern and second dummy patterns for preventing dishing of the insulating film. The second dummy patterns are surrounded and defined by the isolation region. A target pattern for optical pattern recognition is arranged over the first dummy pattern, and includes a first conductive film. A plane area of the first dummy pattern is larger than a plane area of each of the second dummy patterns, and the first dummy pattern and the second dummy patterns are arranged in order from an edge of the semiconductor substrate toward the product region.
US09275955B2	Integrated circuit package with embedded bridge Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) package having first and second dies with first and second input/output (I/O) interconnect structures, respectively. The IC package may include a bridge having first and second electrical routing features coupled to a portion of the first and second I/O interconnect structures, respectively. In embodiments, the first and second electrical routing features may be disposed on one side of the bridge; and third electrical routing features may be disposed on an opposite side. The first and second electrical routing features may be configured to route electrical signals between the first die and the second die and the third electrical routing features may be configured to route electrical signals between the one side and the opposite side. The first die, the second die, and the bridge may be embedded in electrically insulating material. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09275952B2	Ultrathin superlattice of MnO/Mn/MnN and other metal oxide/metal/metal nitride liners and caps for copper low dielectric constant interconnects An electrical device including an opening in a low-k dielectric material, and a copper including structure present within the opening for transmitting electrical current. A liner is present between the opening and the copper including structure. The liner includes a superlattice structure comprised of a metal oxide layer, a metal layer present on the metal oxide layer, and a metal nitride layer that is present on the metal layer. A first layer of the superlattice structure that is in direct contact with the low-k dielectric material is one of said metal oxide layer and a final layer of the superlattice structure that is in direct contact with the copper including structure is one of the metal nitride layers.
US09275950B2	Bead for 2.5D/3D chip packaging application An integrated circuit package having a multilayer interposer has one or more metal wiring beads provided in the interposer, each of the one or more metal wiring beads has a convoluted wiring pattern that is formed in one of the multiple layers of wiring structures in the interposer, and two terminal end segments connected to the power lines in the integrated circuit package, wherein the one or more metal wiring beads operate as power noise filters.
US09275949B2	Semiconductor device Provided is a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor element mounted on a wiring substrate is placed in a hollow portion, the hollow portion being formed by the wiring substrate, a protective member, and a wall member, with the wiring substrate, the protective member, and the wall member being a bottom surface, a top surface, and side surfaces thereof, respectively. The wall member has a vent hole provided therein, which communicates the hollow portion to/from the outside, and the vent hole includes a pillar member formed of a material having a linear expansion coefficient which is smaller than that of the wall member. Therefore, airtightness of the hollow portion is maintained to prevent entry of foreign matters at ordinary temperature, and vapor pressure in the hollow portion is relieved when heated.
US09275939B1	Semiconductor device including leadframe with a combination of leads and lands and method In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a die pad defining multiple peripheral edge segments. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a plurality of leads and lands which are provided in a prescribed arrangement. Connected to the top surface of the die pad is at least one semiconductor die which is electrically connected to at least some of the leads and lands. At least portions of the die pad, the leads, the lands, and the semiconductor die are encapsulated by the package body, with at least portions of the bottom surfaces of the die pad and the lands being exposed in a common exterior surface of the package body.
US09275930B2	Circuit device and method of manufacturing the same In a hybrid integrated circuit device of the present invention, leads are fixedly attached on the upper surface of a circuit board. The lead includes an island portion, a slope portion, and a lead portion. A transistor and a diode are mounted on the upper surface of the island portion. Electrodes provided on the upper surfaces of the transistor and the diode are connected to a bonding portion through a fine metal wire. The bonding portion of the lead is disposed at a higher position than the island portion. Thus, the fine metal wires connected to the bonding portion are separated from each other.
US09275927B1	Self-heating integrated circuit Self-heating integrated circuits are provided. In one embodiment, a self-heating integrated circuit comprises a drive circuit configured to drive a device and a controller configured to selectively operate the drive circuit in a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the controller is configured to operate the drive circuit to drive the device and, in the second mode, the controller is configured to operate the drive circuit to heat the integrated circuit to a target temperature.
US09275925B2	System and method for an improved interconnect structure Presented herein are an interconnect structure and method for forming the same. The interconnect structure comprises a contact pad disposed over a substrate and a connector disposed over the substrate and spaced apart from the contact pad. A passivation layer is disposed over the contact pad and over connector, the passivation layer having a contact pad opening, a connector opening and a mounting pad opening. A post passivation layer comprising a trace and a mounting pad is disposed over the passivation layer. The trace may be disposed in the contact pad opening and contacting the mounting pad, and further disposed in the connector opening and contacting the connector. The mounting pad may be disposed in the mounting pad opening and contacting the opening. The mounting pad separated from the trace by a trace gap, which may optionally be at least 10 μm.
US09275921B2	Semiconductor device According to one embodiment, the connector has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is provided on the second surface of the semiconductor chip and bonded to the second electrode. The first portion has a first bonding surface bonded to the second electrode of the semiconductor chip, and a heat dissipation surface opposite the first bonding surface and exposed from the resin. The second portion protrudes from the first portion toward the second lead frame side and thinner than the first portion. The second portion has a second bonding surface bonded to the second lead frame and a level difference portion provided near the second bonding surface at the first portion side.
US09275920B2	Semiconductor apparatus and stacked semiconductor apparatus for checking formation and connection of through silicon via A semiconductor apparatus includes a TSV formed to be electrically connected with another chip and a TSV test unit configured to check a capacitance component of the TSV to generate a TSV abnormality signal.
US09275917B2	Determination of gain for eddy current sensor In one aspect, a method of controlling polishing includes receiving a measurement of an initial thickness of a conductive film on a first substrate prior to polishing the first substrate from an in-line or stand-alone monitoring system, polishing one or more substrates in a polishing system, the one or more substrates including the first substrate, during polishing of the one or more substrates, monitoring the one or more substrates with an eddy current monitoring system to generate a first signal, determining a starting value of the first signal for a start of polishing of the first substrate, determining a gain based on the starting value and the measurement of the initial thickness, for at least a portion of the first signal collected during polishing of at least one substrate of the one or more substrates, and calculating a second signal based on the first signal and the gain.
US09275902B2	Dicing processes for thin wafers with bumps on wafer backside Approaches for front side laser scribe plus backside bump formation and laser scribe and plasma etch dicing process are described. For example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having integrated circuits on a front side thereof involves forming first scribe lines on the front side, between the integrated circuits, with a first laser scribing process. The method also involves forming arrays of metal bumps on a backside of the semiconductor wafer, each array corresponding to one of the integrated circuits. The method also involves forming second scribe lines on the backside, between the arrays of metal bumps, with a second laser scribing process, wherein the second scribe lines are aligned with the first scribe lines. The method also involves plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the second scribe lines to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09275900B2	Method of fabricating a semiconductor interconnect structure A method for forming a semiconductor interconnect structure includes forming a dielectric layer on a substrate and patterning the dielectric layer to form an opening therein. A metal layer fills the opening and covers the dielectric layer. The metal layer is planarized so that it is co-planar with a top of the dielectric layer. A treating process is performed on the metal layer to convert a top surface thereof into a metal oxide layer. A copper-containing layer is then formed over the metal oxide layer and the dielectric layer. The copper-containing layer is etched to form interconnect features, wherein the etching stops at the metal oxide layer and does not etch into the underlying metal layer. A radiation exposure process is thereafter performed on the metal oxide layer to convert it into a non-oxidized metal layer.
US09275895B2	Semiconductor component and methods for producing a semiconductor component A method for producing a semiconductor component with a semiconductor body includes providing a substrate of a first conductivity type. A buried semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type is provided on the substrate. A functional unit semiconductor layer is provided on the buried semiconductor layer. At least one trench, which reaches into the substrate, is formed in the semiconductor body. An insulating layer is formed, which covers inner walls of the trench and electrically insulates the trench interior from the functional unit semiconductor layer and the buried semiconductor layer, the insulating layer having at least one opening in the region of the trench bottom. The at least one trench is filled with an electrically conductive semiconductor material of the first conductivity type, wherein the electrically conductive semiconductor material forms an electrical contact from a surface of the semiconductor body to the substrate.
US09275888B2	Temporary substrate, transfer method and production method Temporary substrates may include a bonding surface prepared for receiving an additional substrate that will transfer a thin layer. Such substrates may include a principal part or support and a surface layer thereon with the surface layer having a plurality of inserts therein. The inserts are made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is significantly different from that of the material constituting the surface layer. Processing methods for transferring a selected portion of an original substrate may involve such temporary substrates and productions methods may produce such temporary substrates.
US09275886B2	Device and method for detecting position of semiconductor substrate Provided is a position detecting device that is capable of precisely detecting the coordinates of the center of a disc-shaped substrate from image data captured by one camera, calculating the amount of positional misalignment of the disc-shaped substrate on a support member as the disc-shaped substrate is being transported during processing, and correcting the position such that the substrate can be located at the precise loading position. Isosceles right triangles, each having the radius of the disc-shaped substrate as one side, are generated from the coordinates of two places on edge data extracted from the image data and the radius on the edge data, and the coordinates of the center position of the disc-shaped substrate are detected by using the Pythagorean theorem.
US09275885B2	Horizontal displacement mechanism for cleanroom material transfer systems A spiral cam has a tubular shaped portion defined by an interior cavity and an exterior surface that includes a cam contour. A linear slide assembly having a length defined along a rotational axis is defined to slide lengthwise into the interior cavity of the spiral cam. The linear slide assembly allows for movement of the spiral cam along the rotational axis and prevents rotation of the spiral cam relative to the linear slide assembly. A cam roller is fixed at a position proximate to the exterior surface of the spiral cam. The cam roller is disposed separate from the linear slide assembly and within the cam contour of the spiral cam. The cam roller engages the cam contour to move of the spiral cam along the rotational axis when the linear slide assembly and spiral cam are rotated in unison about the rotational axis relative to the cam roller.
US09275884B2	Systems and methods for inhibiting oxide growth in substrate handler vacuum chambers A substrate handling robot includes an arm section and a wrist portion connected to the arm section. An end effector is connected to the wrist portion and is configured to support a substrate. A housing is arranged adjacent to the end effector and includes a gas outlet that directs gas onto an exposed surface of the substrate during transport.
US09275879B1	Multi-chip module with rework capability Multi-chip underfills and methods for multi-chip module fabrication include connecting one or more chips to a substrate with one or more electrical connections; partially curing an underfill material such that the underfill provides structural support to the electrical connections; electrically testing the one or more chips to identify one or more defective chips; and replacing the one or more defective chips.
US09275878B2	Metal redistribution layer for molded substrates Integrated circuits are packaged by placing a plurality of semiconductor dies on a support substrate, each one of the semiconductor dies having a plurality of terminals at a side facing the support substrate and covering the semiconductor dies with a molding compound to form a molded structure. The support substrate is then removed from the molded structure to expose the side of the semiconductor dies with the terminals, and a metal redistribution layer is formed on the molded structure and in direct contact with the terminals of the semiconductor dies and the molding compound. The redistribution layer is formed without first forming a dielectric layer on a side of the molded structure with the terminals of the semiconductor dies. A corresponding molded substrate and individual molded semiconductor packages are also disclosed.
US09275877B2	Semiconductor device and method of forming semiconductor package using panel form carrier A semiconductor device has a first insulating layer formed over a carrier. A first conductive layer is formed over the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed over the first conductive layer. Vias are formed through the second insulating layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the second insulating layer and extends into the vias. A semiconductor die is mounted to the second conductive layer. A bond wire is formed between a contact pad on the semiconductor die and the second conductive layer. The second conductive layer extends to a mounting site of the semiconductor die to minimize the bond wire span. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die. A portion of the first insulating layer is removed to expose the second conductive layer. A portion of the first conductive layer is removed to electrically isolate remaining portions of the first conductive layer.
US09275875B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device An object is to provide a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electrical characteristics and high reliability. In a manufacturing process of a bottom-gate transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, heat treatment in an atmosphere containing oxygen and heat treatment in vacuum are sequentially performed for dehydration or dehydrogenation of the oxide semiconductor layer. In addition, irradiation with light having a short wavelength is performed concurrently with the heat treatment, whereby elimination of hydrogen, OH, or the like is promoted. A transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer on which dehydration or dehydrogenation treatment is performed through such heat treatment has improved stability, so that variation in electrical characteristics of the transistor due to light irradiation or a bias-temperature stress (BT) test is suppressed.
US09275873B2	Masking process and structures formed thereby A method, e.g., of forming and using a mask, includes forming an inverse mask over a dielectric layer; forming a mask layer conformally over the inverse mask; removing horizontal portions of the mask layer; and after removing the horizontal portions, simultaneously etching the inverse mask and vertical portions of the mask layer. The etching the inverse mask is at a greater rate than the etching the vertical portions of the mask layer. The etching the inverse mask removes the inverse mask, and the etching the vertical portions of the mask layer forms a mask comprising rounded surfaces distal from the dielectric layer. Recesses are formed in the dielectric layer using the mask. Locations of the inverse mask correspond to fewer than all locations of the recesses.
US09275872B2	Method for forming stair-step structures A method for forming a stair-step structure in a substrate is provided. An organic mask is formed over the substrate. A hardmask with a top layer and sidewall layer is formed over the organic mask. The sidewall layer of the hard mask is removed while leaving the top layer of the hardmask. The organic mask is trimmed. The substrate is etched. The forming the hardmask, removing the sidewall layer, trimming the organic mask, and etching the substrate are repeated a plurality of times.
US09275871B2	Nanostructures having low defect density and methods of forming thereof A method of forming nanostructure comprises forming self-assembled nucleic acids on at least a portion of a substrate. The method further comprises contacting the self-assembled nucleic acids on the at least a portion of a substrate with a solution comprising at least one repair enzyme to repair defects in the self-assembled nucleic acids. The method may comprise repeating the repair of defects in the self-assembled nucleic acids on the at least a portion of a substrate until a desired, reduced threshold level of defect density is achieved. A semiconductor structure comprises a pattern of self-assembled nucleic acids defining a template having at least one aperture therethrough. At least one of the apertures has a dimension of less than about 50 nm.
US09275857B1	Nanowires, nanowire networks and methods for their formation and use Various embodiments provide non-planar nanowires, nanowire arrays, and nanowire networks as well as methods of their formation and applications. The non-planar nanowires and their arrays can be formed in a controlled manner on surfaces having a non-planar orientation. In embodiments, two or more adjacent nanowires from different surfaces can grow to merge together forming one or more nanowire branches and thus forming a nanowire network. In embodiments, the non-planar nanowires and nanowire networks can be used for cantilever oscillation, switching and transistor actions.
US09275856B2	Nanorod thin-film transistors A method for forming an electronic switching device on a substrate, wherein the method comprises depositing the active semiconducting layer of the electronic switching device onto the substrate from a liquid dispersion of ligand-modified colloidal nanorods, and subsequently immersing the substrate into a growth solution to increase the diameter and/or length of the nanorods on the substrate, and wherein the as-deposited nanorods are aligned such that their long-axis is aligned preferentially in the plane of current flow in the electronic switching device.
US09275855B2	Semiconductor thin-film forming method, semiconductor device, semiconductor device manufacturing method, substrate, and thin-film substrate A semiconductor thin-film manufacturing method includes: forming, above a substrate, an amorphous silicon film (precursor film) having a photoluminescence (PL) intensity greater than or equal to 0.65 when photon energy is 1.1 eV in a PL spectrum normalized to have a maximum PL intensity of 1; and annealing the amorphous silicon film to form a crystalline silicon film.
US09275852B2	Substrate treating apparatus and substrate treating method Provided is an apparatus for treating a substrate using a supercritical fluid. The substrate treating apparatus includes a housing, a support member disposed within the housing to support the substrate, a supercritical fluid supply unit in which the supercritical fluid is stored, a supply tube connecting the supercritical fluid supply unit to the housing to adjust an amount of supercritical fluid supplied from the supercritical fluid supply unit into the housing, and a vent tube branched from the supply tube to discharge the supercritical fluid remaining in the supply tube. A switching valve opening or closing the vent tube is disposed in the vent tube.
US09275851B2	Aqueous, nitrogen-free cleaning composition and its use for removing residues and contaminants from semiconductor substrates suitable for manufacturing microelectronic devices Aqueous, nitrogen-free cleaning composition, preparation and use thereof are provided. The composition having a pH of from 5 to 8 comprises (A) an amphiphilic nonionic, water-soluble or water-dispersible surfactant and (B) a metal chelating agent selected from polycarboxylic acids having at least 3 carboxylic acid groups. The composition is used for removing residues and contaminants from semiconductor substrates.
US09275850B2	Method for cleaning wafers using a polycarboxylate solution A cleaning solution and method for removing submicron particles from the surface of an electronic substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The cleaning solution comprises a polycarboxylate polymer, a base and water. The method comprises the step of contacting a surface of the substrate with a cleaning solution comprised of the polycarboxylate polymer. Additional optional steps in the method include applying acoustic energy to the cleaning solution and/or rinsing the surface with a rinsing solution with or without the application of acoustic energy to the rinsing solution.
US09275849B2	Single-chamber apparatus for precision cleaning and drying of flat objects A single-chamber type cleaning-drying apparatus for flat objects, such as semiconductor wafers, wherein cleaning is carried out by impinging both sides of the wafer, which rotates at a relatively low speed, with jets of a washing liquid and wherein subsequent drying is carried out in the same chamber by increasing the rotation speed of the wafer and supplying isopropyl-alcohol (IPA) mist onto the wafer from the top of the chamber. After the IPA forms a solution with the residue of water on the wafer, the drying process is accelerated by supplying gaseous nitrogen through nozzles arranged on both sides of the wafer he coaxially with the wafer center. As a result, the IPA-water solution quickly evaporates without leaving traces of water drops on the dried surface.
US09275848B2	Processing method for optical device wafer A method of processing an optical device wafer which includes a laser processing step of repeating an application of one pulse of a pulsed laser beam to the optical device wafer to form one laser processed hole, thereby forming a plurality of laser processed holes along streets; an etching step of causing an etchant to enter into the laser processed holes to etch the inside of the laser processed holes; and a dividing step of exerting an external force on the optical device wafer to divide the optical device wafer along the streets, thereby forming a plurality of optical devices.
US09275841B2	Time of flight mass spectrometer utilizing overlapping frames A time of flight (TOF) spectrometer and a method for operating the same is disclosed. The spectrometer includes an event extractor, a streaming processor, and a FIFO buffer. The event extractor generates a ion event record corresponding to each detected ion, the ion event record including an intensity of a plurality of aliases for that detected ion. The streaming processor includes a memory array that stores a TOF spectrum and a probability processor that provides a probability for each alias in each received ion event record and updates the TOF spectrum based on the probabilities. A FIFO buffer receives each of the ion event records after the TOF spectrum has been updated and outputs the oldest ion event record to the streaming processor when a new ion event record is processed by the streaming processor.
US09275836B2	Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber that accommodates a substrate therein; a lower electrode positioned within the processing chamber and serving as a mounting table; an upper electrode positioned to face the lower electrode within the processing chamber; a first high frequency power supply that applies high frequency power for plasma generation of a first frequency to the lower electrode or the upper electrode; a second high frequency power supply that applies high frequency power for ion attraction of a second frequency lower than the first frequency to the lower electrode; at least one bias distribution control electrode positioned at least in a peripheral portion above the lower electrode; and at least one bias distribution control power supply that applies an AC voltage or a square wave voltage of a third frequency lower than the second frequency to the at least one bias distribution control electrode.
US09275833B2	Methods of forming layers A method of forming a layer, the method including providing a substrate having at least one surface adapted for deposition thereon; and directing a particle beam towards the surface of the substrate, the particle beam including moderately charged ions (MCIs), substantially all the MCIs independently have charges from ±2 to ±6 and kinetic energies of not greater than about 200 eV, wherein the MCIs do not penetrate more than about 30 Å into the surface of the substrate to form a layer on the substrate.
US09275832B2	Particle beam device and method for processing and/or analyzing a sample A particle beam device and method for processing and/or for analyzing a sample are provided. A sample carrier is arranged at a first position, in which a sample surface is oriented parallel to a first beam axis of a first particle beam column. The sample carrier is rotatable from the first position into a second position, in which the sample surface is oriented perpendicular to a second beam axis of a second particle beam column. The first and second beam axes intersect at a coincidence point. In the first position a distance between the coincidence point and the first particle beam column is greater than a distance between the sample surface and the first particle beam column. In the second position a distance between the coincidence point and the second particle beam column is greater than a distance between the sample surface and the second particle beam column.
US09275830B2	Scanning charged particle microscope, image acquisition method, and electron detection method A scanning charged particle microscope is offered which can selectively detect and image electrons. The scanning charged particle microscope (100) has: a source (1) of a charged particle beam (E1); an objective lens (6) for bringing the charged particle beam (E1) emitted from the source (1) into focus at a sample (S); a scanning deflector (4) for scanning the focused charged particle beam (E1) over the sample (S); a sorting portion (10) for sorting out electrons emitted at given emission angles from electrons released from the sample (S) in response to irradiation of the sample (S) by the charged particle beam (E1); an electron deflector (20) for producing a deflecting field to deflect the electrons (E2) sorted out according to their energy; a detection portion (30) for detecting the electrons (E2) deflected by the electron deflector (20); and an image creating portion (44) for creating an image, based on the results of the detection performed by the detection portion (30).
US09275827B2	Charged particle beam apparatus having needle probe that tracks target position changes A charged particle beam apparatus includes: a charged particle beam column; a detector configured to detect secondary charged particles; an image processor; a display device; a needle arranged in an irradiation area of charged particle beam; a needle actuator; a user interface; and a controller configured to control the needle actuator to actuate the needle in accordance with a target position that is set by the user interface. The controller controls the needle actuator to move the needle to track a change of the target position that is set by the user interface.
US09275823B2	Multiple gas injection system A multi-positional valve is used to control the destination of gas flows from multiple gas sources. In one valve position the gases flow to an isolated vacuum system where the flow rate and mixture can be adjusted prior to introduction into a sample vacuum chamber. In another valve position the pre-mixed gases flow from the isolated vacuum chamber and through a needle into the sample vacuum chamber.
US09275822B2	Liquid metal containment in an X-ray tube Liquid metal containment in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube anode assembly includes a shaft terminated by a head and an anode connected to an anode hub. The anode hub is at least partially surrounding the head of the shaft. The anode hub is configured to contain a volume of a liquid metal and to rotate around the stationary shaft. The anode hub may also define a catch space within the anode hub that is configured to catch the liquid metal in order to contain the liquid metal within the hub while in a non-rotating state and regardless of the orientation of the x-ray tube anode assembly.
US09275817B2	Particle-beam column corrected for both chromatic and spherical aberration An objective lens for use in probe-forming particle-optical columns such as focused ion beam equipment, scanning electron microscopes, and helium microscopes is described. It comprises two interleaved (quadrupole/octopole) lenses and two or three ancillary octopole lenses, and is capable of simultaneous compensation of spherical (Cs) and chromatic (Cc) aberrations of the objective lens alone or of the complete particle-optical column. Additional apparatus comprising a gridded aperture and position-sensitive detector is specified, together with a method to measure and minimize all of the five independent third-order aberration coefficients of the objective lens.
US09275816B2	Switch for protection of electric circuit against overloading The disclosure refers to a switch which is suitable to protect an electric circuit against overloading. The switch generally consists of a triggering assembly as well as of an interrupting assembly, wherein said triggering assembly comprises and induction unit, a thermic interrupter and an actuating needle. The induction unit comprises a coil with a yoke intended to displace the actuating needle towards the triggering assembly, when the short circuit occurs. Said thermic interrupter comprises a bimetallic membrane, which is mechanically interconnected with the actuating needle and is in the case of excess current and generating of heat displaced towards the interrupting assembly. In order to provide such switch, which could moreover enable protection against transient voltage, e.g. due to thunder bolt, such switch is furnished with a varistor, which is located within the triggering assembly in a heat-conductive relationship with said thermic interrupter.
US09275815B2	Relay having two switches that can be actuated in opposite directions An electromechanical relay is provided, comprising a magnetic system and a pivotable armature. A diagnostic switch is arranged on one side of the relay, and the set of contacts of the diagnostic switch is driven by the adjacent leg of the armature. A load switch is arranged on the bottom side of the relay and is driven by the second leg of the armature via an insulating coupling member.
US09275810B2	Keyboard illumination Methods and apparatuses disclosed herein relate to backlit visual display elements. One embodiment may take the form a keyboard including at least one keycap, a dome switch layer underlying the keycap, and an encapsulation layer underlying the dome switch layer. The encapsulation layer may include a first printed circuit layer configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the at least one keycap. The keyboard may further include a light emissive layer underlying the encapsulation layer. The light emissive layer may include at least one emissive area corresponding to the at least one keycap and a second printed circuit layer configured to supply a voltage to the at least one emissive area.
US09275808B2	Hybrid handle tie Apparatus are described herein that provide a circuit breaker handle tie configured to mechanically couple circuit breaker handles of different configurations to one another.
US09275803B2	Electric storage apparatus and manufacturing method of electric storage apparatus An electric storage apparatus has a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. Each of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate has a collector plate and an active material layer containing an electrolytic solution, and the active material layer is formed in a predetermined width on a partial region of a collector plate. The separator is placed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate and contains an electrolytic solution. At least one of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, an edge of the active material layer in a width direction has a waveform. A set value Wn of the width of the active material layer and a variation ΔW of the width of the active material layer satisfy a condition of 0.03≦ΔW/Wn≦0.056.
US09275802B2	Electrolyte synthesis for ultracapacitors A method of forming an electrolyte solution involves combining ammonium tetrafluoroborate and a quaternary ammonium halide in a liquid solvent to form a quaternary ammonium tetrafluoroborate and an ammonium halide. The ammonium halide precipitate is removed from the solvent to form an electrolyte solution. The reactants can be added step-wise to the solvent, and the method can include using a stoichiometric excess of the ammonium tetrafluoroborate to form a substantially halide ion-free electrolyte solution.
US09275798B2	Method for manufacturing a double layer capacitor and a lithium ion capacitor A thin energy storage device having high capacity is obtained. An energy storage device having high output is obtained. A current collector and an active material layer are formed in the same manufacturing step. The number of manufacturing steps of an energy storage device is reduced. The manufacturing cost of an energy storage device is suppressed. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing of an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion capacitor, which includes porous metal electrodes formed by removing a metal from an alloy foil, and an electrolyte provided therebetween. A surface area per volume of the porous structure is greater than or equal to 100 m2/cm3.
US09275797B2	Multilayer ceramic capacitor, dielectric ceramic, multilayer ceramic electronic component, and method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic capacitor A dielectric ceramic that can be sintered at a sufficiently low temperature and has a desired specific resistance at a high temperature, and a multilayer ceramic electronic component (a multilayer ceramic capacitor and the like) using the dielectric ceramic are provided. The multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a multilayer body having a plurality of laminated dielectric ceramic layers, and a plurality of internal electrodes at interfaces between the dielectric ceramic layers; and external electrodes 8 and 9 on outer surfaces of the multilayer body. The composition of the multilayer body includes a perovskite-type compound containing Ba and Ti (where a part of Ba may be substituted by Ca, and a part of Ti may be substituted by Zr) as a primary ingredient, and further includes M (where M is at least one of Cu, Zn, Li, K, and Na) and Bi. The total content of M and Bi is equal to or greater than 3 molar parts when the total content of Ti and Zr is 100 molar parts. The crystal particle size of the dielectric ceramic is 30 nm or more and 150 nm or less.
US09275796B2	Processes for in-situ annealing of TMR sensors A method in one embodiment includes applying a current to a lead of a tunneling magnetoresistance sensor for inducing joule heating of the lead or a heating layer, the level of joule heating being sufficient to anneal a magnetic layer of the sensor; and maintaining the current at the level for an amount of time sufficient to anneal the tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) sensor. Additional systems and methods are also presented.
US09275794B2	Corrosion-resistant magnet and method for producing the same An object of the present invention is to provide an R—Fe—B based sintered magnet that exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and maintains excellent adhesion strength to an adherend even under severe conditions, and a method for producing the same. A corrosion-resistant magnet of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized by comprising a chemical conversion film containing at least Zr, V, Al, fluorine, and oxygen as constituent elements and not containing phosphorus over a surface of an R—Fe—B based sintered magnet with a film made of Al or an alloy thereof therebetween.
US09275792B2	Power supply system, and fixed body and movable body therefor Provided is a power supply system which makes it possible to stably supply power regardless of changes in placement of electrodes. The power supply system for supplying power to a load (24). The fixed body (10) includes: a first power-transmitting electrode (12) and second power-transmitting electrode (13); and an AC power supply (11) to supply AC power to the first power-transmitting electrode (12) and second power-transmitting electrode (13). The movable body (20) includes: a first power-receiving electrode (21a) and second power-receiving electrode (21b) to form a first coupling capacitor (30) and a second coupling capacitor (31), respectively, by being placed in a manner opposed to and not contacting corresponding ones of the first power-transmitting electrode (12) and second power-transmitting electrode (13) while facing one side of an interface, the one side not being faced by these power-transmitting electrodes, and a first capacitor (22a) and first coil (22b) connected to one another in parallel between the first power-receiving electrode (21a) and second power-receiving electrode (21b). The AC power supply (11) transmits power to the load (24) via the first and second coupling capacitors under a condition that causes parallel resonance between the first capacitor (22a) and first coil (22b).
US09275790B2	Contactless power supplying device A contactless power supplying device is provided. A primary coil and a basic power supplying unit circuit are arranged in a power supplying area. The primary coil supplies secondary power through electromagnetic induction to a secondary coil of a power receiving device in the power supplying area. The basic power supplying unit circuit excites the primary coil in the power supplying area. The basic power supplying unit circuit transmits an oscillation signal from the power supplying area to the power receiving device, receives a modulated wave signal from the power receiving device that detects a modulation wave that is in accordance with a magnetic flux change, and detects the modulated wave signal to demodulate the modulation wave. A system control unit determines whether or not a metal foreign object is present in the power supplying area corresponding to the basic power supplying unit circuit based on the modulation wave.
US09275789B2	Method for controlling contactless power supplying device and contactless power supplying device A method for controlling a contactless power supplying device that excites a primary coil and supplies power using an electromagnetic induction effect to a secondary coil of a power receiving device arranged in an electric appliance is provided. A full-bridge circuit is full-bridge-operated to excite the primary coil when the electric appliance is on a setting surface. The full-bridge circuit is half-bridge-operated to excite the primary coil when the electric appliance is not on the setting surface.
US09275787B2	High current magnetic component and methods of manufacture Magnetic components including pre-formed clips are described that are more amenable to production on a miniaturized scale. Discrete core pieces can be assembled with pre-formed coils and physically gapped from one another with more efficient manufacturing techniques.
US09275783B2	System and method for demagnetization of a magnetic structure region A system and a method are described herein for demagnetizing a region of a magnetic structure. In one embodiment, the system comprises: (a) a pulsed magnetizer; and (b) at least one magnetizing coil that receives a sequence of discrete current with continually decreasing current values from the pulsed magnetizer and outputs a sequence of discrete magnetizing fields with continually decreasing field strengths to overwrite and at least partly demagnetize the region of the magnetic structure. The at least one magnetizing coil is located adjacent to the region of the magnetic structure.
US09275779B2	Iron-based soft magnetic powder for dust core, preparation process thereof, and dust core Provided is an iron-based soft magnetic powder for dust core having a less coercive force, which is obtained by specifying the amount of inclusions in the iron-based powder for dust core, and at the same time, capable of decreasing the coercive force of a dust core produced using the iron-based soft magnetic powder. The iron-based soft magnetic powder for dust core is characterized by that when the cross-section of the iron-based soft magnetic powder particle is observed with a scanning electron microscope, the number of inclusions having an equivalent circle diameter from 0.1 to 3 μm is 1×104 pieces/mm2 or less and the number of inclusions having an equivalent circle diameter exceeding 3 μm is 10 pieces/mm2 or less.
US09275773B2	Dispersion comprising metallic, metal oxide or metal precursor nanoparticles The present invention relates to a dispersion comprising metallic, metal oxide or metal precursor nanoparticles and a polymeric dispersant, the dispersant comprising an anchor group with affinity for the metallic, metal oxide or metal precursor nanoparticles that is chemically bonded to a polymeric backbone characterized in that the dispersant has a 95 wt. % decomposition at a temperature below 300° C. as measured by Thermal Gravimetric Analysis. It further relates to metallic fluids or inks prepared from the dispersion and to the preparation of the dispersion and the metallic fluid or inks.
US09275771B2	Conductive polymer, synthesis method thereof, and electroactive electrode covered with said conductive polymer The present invention provides a conducting polymer, a synthesis method thereof, and an electroactive electrode covered with the said conducting polymer. The conducting polymer is synthesized as follows: use the polybasic acid as dopant and crosslinking agent, and polymerize monomers into conducting polymer hydrogel. The monomers are selected one or more from pyrrole or its derivatives, thiophene or its derivatives, aniline or its derivatives. The acid group of the polybasic acid contains phosphate or polybasic acid which contains at least two substituents per molecule selected from sulfate, nitrate or carboxylic in which the molecular weight of at least one acid group is no more than 800. The mole ratio of the acid group in polybasic acid to monomers of the conducting polymer is 1:12-12:1. The preparation applied in the invention is simple, and need not to import any impurity. The conducting polymer hydrogel has high ionic conductivity, super hydrophilicity, and good biocompatibility.
US09275768B2	Transport container for nuclear fuel assembly and method of transporting a nuclear fuel assembly A container for a non-irradiated nuclear fuel assembly including a single casing for receiving at least one nuclear fuel assembly, the casing being formed from an elongate tubular shell, the shell including a metallic internal layer delimiting at least one individual housing for receiving a nuclear fuel assembly, and a metallic external layer surrounding the internal layer, the shell being filled between its internal layer and its external layer, and from lids for closing the or each housing at the longitudinal ends of the shell.
US09275761B2	Small modular reactor safety systems An integral pressurized water reactor that combines all of the components typically associated with a nuclear steam supply system, such as the steam generator, reactor coolant pumps, pressurizer and the reactor, into a single reactor pressure vessel. The reactor pressure vessel is itself enclosed in a containment pressure vessel that also houses a number of safety systems, such as the core make-up tanks, the primary side of residual heat removal heat exchangers, an automatic depressurization system and a recirculation system that enables continuous core cooling through natural circulation over an extended period of time. Actuation of the passive systems is done by single actuation of valves, powered from redundant batteries.
US09275759B2	Modular nuclear fission reactor Illustrative embodiments provide modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors and methods for their operation. Illustrative embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor modules, methods of operating a modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor, and the like.
US09275756B2	Semiconductor test device and method of generating address scramble using the same The method of generating an address scramble includes receiving address information for each of a plurality of memory cells included in a semiconductor memory device and the address information that includes a logical address and a physical address corresponding to each of the memory cells; generating an address scramble logical expression, the address scramble logical expression relating logical addresses to physical addresses based on the address information; and reducing the address scramble logical expression using a given algorithm.
US09275753B2	Circuit and method for reducing write disturb in a non-volatile memory device An active precharge circuit for a non-volatile memory array which minimizes write disturb to non-selected memory cells during programming is disclosed. In a programming cycle, all bitlines are pre-charged to a program inhibit voltage level and held at the program inhibit voltage level with current or voltage sources coupled to each of the bitlines in a precharge operation and a following programming operation. In the programming operation, a bitline connected to a memory cell to be programmed is driven to a programming level, such as VSS, while the active precharge circuit is enabled to enable programming thereof. Because the other non-selected bitlines are held at the program inhibit voltage level, they will not be inadvertently programmed when the programming voltage is supplied by the word line.
US09275751B2	Nonvolatile memory device and program method A programming method includes a first program loop applying first and second pulses to a selected word line and thereafter determining a threshold voltage for the selected memory cell in relation to first and second verification voltages. Then, upon determining that the threshold voltage is lower than the first verification voltage, performing the second program loop by applying the first pulse to the selected word line, or upon determining that the threshold voltage is higher than the first verification voltage and lower than the second verification voltage, performing the second program loop by applying the second pulse to the selected word line.
US09275747B2	Integrated circuit with automatic total ionizing dose (TID) exposure deactivation Integrated circuits and methods for deactivating user circuit operation with one or more wide channel sensing transistors biased to an on condition for exposure to total ionizing dose and then to an off condition for measurement and comparison of a leakage current or threshold voltage parameter to a predetermined reference, and a deactivation circuit selectively disables operation of the user circuit if the sensed parameter is greater than or equal to the reference.
US09275744B1	Method of restoring a flash memory in an integrated circuit chip package by addition of heat and an electric field A method of enhancing a thermal anneal of a flash memory in an integrated circuit (IC) chip package by addition of an electric field may include heating an integrated circuit (IC) chip, disposed within an IC chip package, to an elevated temperature that does not degrade the IC chip package, where the IC chip includes a flash memory that includes blocks of flash memory cells. A negative electric field may be applied to each of the blocks of flash memory cells at the elevated temperature. The application of the negative electric field and the heating of the IC chip may be terminated. Stored data for each of the blocks of flash memory cells may be retrieved from a storage device and rewritten into each of the blocks of flash memory cells.
US09275742B2	Memory system, program method thereof, and computing system including the same Disclosed is a memory system and a method of programming a multi-bit flash memory device which includes memory cells configured to store multi-bit data, where the method includes and the system is configured for determining whether data to be stored in a selected memory cell is an LSB data; and if data to be stored in a selected memory cell is not an LSB data, backing up lower data stored in the selected memory cell to a backup memory block of the multi-bit flash memory device.
US09275740B2	Method and apparatus for improving data integrity using threshold voltage recalibration A non-volatile (“NV”) memory device is able to enhance data integrity using threshold voltage (“Vt”) recalibration based on a selected scheme. Upon receiving a command for reading a data page, the process, in one embodiment, identifies a reference page which is located at a predefined location in a block of the NV memory. After reading the first reference data from the reference page by a reader in response to a first or current Vt, a first bit error rate (“BER”) is generated based on the comparison between the first reference data and the predefined known data pattern. If the first BER is greater than a predefined BER target, a second Vt is subsequently calculated in accordance with the first Vt. When the second BER is equal to or less than the predefined BER target, an optimal Vt is set to the second Vt. There are also two other methods using DC balance coding scheme and counting the number of 1's in the selected data page can be used in recalibrating the threshold voltage.
US09275739B2	Semiconductor memory device, reading method, and programming method The invention provides a NAND-type semiconductor memory device capable of high speed operation. A semiconductor memory device of the invention includes: a memory array, which forms a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix direction; a vertical selecting mechanism, which couples to the memory array, and selects the memory cells in a vertical direction of the memory array according to a vertical address signal; a horizontal selecting mechanism, which couples to the memory array, and selects the memory cells in a horizontal direction of the memory array according to a horizontal address signal; and a controlling mechanism, which reads data from the memory cells or writes data into the memory cells. A plurality of cell units is disposed in the memory array. Each cell unit is consisted of a data memory cell which storages data and a reference memory cell which storages reference data.
US09275735B2	Array organization and architecture to perform range-match operations with content addressable memory (CAM) circuits An array organization and architecture for a content addressable memory (CAM) system. More specifically, a circuit is provided for that includes a first portion of the CAM configured to perform a first inequality operation implemented between 1 to n CAM entries. The circuit further includes a second portion of the CAM configured to perform a second inequality operation implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries. The first portion and the second portion are triangularly arranged side by side such that the first inequality operation and the second inequality operation are implemented between the 1 to n CAM entries using the same n wordlines.
US09275734B2	Memory having information refinement detection function by applying a logic operation in parallel for each memory address to the match/mismatch results of data items and memory addresses, information detection method using memory, and memory address comparison circuit for the memory There is provided an externally readable memory for storing information in each memory address, and this memory is provided with an information refinement detection function; this memory comprises: an input means for entering first input data for comparing data items stored in the memory and second input data for comparing addresses in the memory, wherein the first and second comparison data are externally; means for determining matches/mismatches of both data items stored in the memory and addresses of the memory according to both of the input data provided by the input means, and further performing logic operations on both of the match/mismatch determination results; and means for outputting addresses with positive results of the logic operations. This memory may be applicable in a broad range of fields including intelligent information search as well as artificial intelligence.
US09275729B2	Semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device comprises: first lines; second lines; memory cells; a first and second select gate transistor; and a control circuit. The first lines are arranged with a certain pitch in a first direction perpendicular to a substrate and are extending in a second direction parallel to the substrate. The second lines are arranged with a certain pitch in the second direction, are extending in the first direction, and intersect the plurality of first lines. The memory cells are disposed at intersections of the first lines and the second lines. The first and second select gate transistors each include a first or second channel line that are connected to a lower end or an upper end of the second line and a first or second gate line. The control circuit controls the first and second select gate transistors independently.
US09275728B2	Memory cells, non-volatile memory arrays, methods of operating memory cells, methods of writing to and writing from a memory cell, and methods of programming a memory cell In one aspect, a method of operating a memory cell includes using different electrodes to change a programmed state of the memory cell than are used to read the programmed state of the memory cell. In one aspect, a memory cell includes first and second opposing electrodes having material received there-between. The material has first and second lateral regions of different composition relative one another. One of the first and second lateral regions is received along one of two laterally opposing edges of the material. Another of the first and second lateral regions is received along the other of said two laterally opposing edges of the material. At least one of the first and second lateral regions is capable of being repeatedly programmed to at least two different resistance states. Other aspects and implementations are disclosed.
US09275722B2	Memory device preventing fail caused by successive read operations and system including the same A memory device include a memory array, a transmitter suitable for outputting data to the outside of the memory device, and a data bus suitable for transmitting data of a selected memory cell in the memory array to the transmitter during a read operation. When successive read commands for the same memory cell are applied, data transmission from the memory array to the data bus is blocked, and data previously loaded in the data bus is outputted through the transmitter.
US09275719B2	Voltage regulator A voltage regulator includes an amplifier, an output stage coupled with the amplifier, at least one back-bias circuit, and an output end coupled with the output stage and with the amplifier. The output stage includes at least one transistor having a bulk and a drain. The at least one back-bias circuit is coupled with the bulk of the at least one transistor. The output end is configured to be coupled with a memory array and with an output end of another voltage regulator. The back-bias circuit is configured to reduce a contention current between the voltage regulator and the other voltage regulator during a standby mode.
US09275712B1	Semiconductor device and semiconductor system A semiconductor system includes a controller configured to output external commands and external addresses; and a semiconductor device configured to generate internal commands from the external commands by a delay amount controlled according to PVT information in a boot-up operation, generate internal addresses by delaying the external addresses, and select a plurality of banks according to the internal addresses in synchronization with the internal commands.
US09275711B2	Command processing circuit, memory device and memory system including the same A command processing circuit of a memory device includes a clock divider, a clock controller and a command decoder. The clock divider generates a plurality of divided clock signals based on an external clock signal having a first frequency. The divided clock signals have a second frequency lower than the first frequency. Each of the divided clock signals has a phase that is different from phases of the other divided clock signals. The clock controller generates an operating clock signal based on a command signal and the divided clock signals, where the command signal is transferred in synchronization with the external clock signal. The operating clock signal has the second frequency and a phase corresponding to reception timing of the command signal. The command decoder decodes the command signal in synchronization with the operating clock signal.
US09275704B2	Method and apparatus for asynchronous FIFO circuit The disclosure provides an asynchronous FIFO circuit that includes a data memory which is coupled to a write data path and a read data path. The data memory receives a write clock and a read clock. A FIFO write pointer counter receives a write enable signal and the write clock. The FIFO write pointer counter provides a FIFO write pointer signal to the data memory. A FIFO read pointer counter receives a read enable signal and the read clock. The FIFO read pointer counter provides a FIFO read pointer signal to the data memory. A control circuit receives the write enable signal, the read enable signal, the FIFO write pointer signal, the FIFO read pointer signal, the write clock and the read clock. The control circuit generates a memory full signal when the data memory is full and a memory empty signal when the data memory is empty.
US09275702B2	Memory circuitry including read voltage boost Memory circuitry 2 includes an array 4 of bit cells 6. One or more boost capacitors C1, C2 are connected to bit lines 8 running through the array 4 and serve to store a sample charge with a sample voltage difference during a sampling configuration of the boost capacitors C1, C2. A boost configuration is subsequently adopted in which the boost capacitors C1, C2 are connected with a different plurality to respective bit lines 8 such that the sample voltage difference is added to the voltage change within the bit line produced by the bit line cell 6 so as to generate an increased magnitude change in voltage which is supplied to sense amplifier circuitry 12.
US09275696B2	Energy conservation in a multicore chip Technologies are described herein for conserving energy in a multicore chip via selectively refreshing memory directory entries. Some described examples may refresh a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) that stores a cache coherence directory of a multicore chip. More particularly, a directory entry may be accessed in the cache coherence directory stored in the DRAM. Some further examples may identify a cache coherence state of a block associated with the directory entry. In some examples, refresh of the directory entry stored in the DRAM may be selectively disabled based on the identified cache coherence state of the block such that energy associated with the multicore chip is conserved.
US09275693B1	Semiconductor devices and semiconductor systems including the same The semiconductor memory device may include a power control signal generator and a sense amplifier circuit. The power control signal generator may generate a first power control signal in response to a detection signal generated from detecting a level of a power supply voltage signal. The sense amplifier circuit may generate a first power signal driven to have a first drive voltage in response to the first power control signal. The sense amplifier circuit may sense and amplify a level of a bit line using the first power signal as a power supply voltage.
US09275689B2	Semiconductor device Provided is a semiconductor device capable of increasing the number of signals. A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the invention includes memories; a controller that designates addresses of the memories; amounting board having lines formed thereon, the lines connecting the controller with the memories; and a first ball group that connects the controller with the lines of the mounting board. A plurality of address lines formed on the mounting board includes an address line formed of a front surface wiring layer, and an address line formed of a back surface wiring layer. In each of the front surface wiring layer and the back surface wiring layer, each of the address lines from first balls of the first ball group is routed in order from a first memory to a fourth memory.
US09275686B2	Memory banks with shared input/output circuitry A memory cell array includes local input/output logic configured to access memory cells in memory banks. The memory cell array includes inner memory banks disposed in either direction from the local input/output logic. The memory cell array includes outer memory banks disposed beyond the inner memory banks in either direction from the local input/output logic. The memory cell array further includes local bitlines that run in a lower metallization layer of each of the memory banks. The local bitlines of the outer memory banks connect to the local input/output logic via an upper metallization layer across regions of the inner memory banks.
US09275683B1	Systems and methods for identifying a scene-change/non-scene-change transition between frames Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying a scene-change/non-scene-change transition between frames. One embodiment takes the form of a method including receiving a first frame of video; defining a first region of the first frame, wherein the first region is associated with a first plurality of pixels of the first frame; receiving a second frame of video; defining a second region of the second frame, wherein the second region is associated with a second plurality of pixels of the second frame; using (i) a first plurality of luma values associated with the first plurality of pixels and (ii) a second plurality of luma values associated with the second plurality of pixels, as a basis to identify the pair of the first and second frames as having a particular scene-change/non-scene-change attribute; and storing in a memory an indication that the pair of the first and second frames has the identified attribute.
US09275682B1	Video content alignment Various embodiments identify differences between frame sequences of a video. For example, to determine a difference between two versions of a video, a fingerprint of each frame of the two versions is generated. From the fingerprints, a run-length encoded representation of each version is generated. The fingerprints which appear only once (i.e., unique fingerprints) in the entire video are identified from each version and compared to identify matching unique fingerprints across versions. The matching unique fingerprints are sorted and filtered to determine split points, which are used to align the two versions of the video. Accordingly, each version is segmented into smaller frame sequences using the split points. Once segmented, the individual frames of each segment are aligned across versions using a dynamic programming algorithm. After aligning the segments at a frame level, the segments are reassembled to generate a global alignment output.
US09275676B2	Skew compensation in a patterned medium Apparatus for providing skew compensation in a patterned medium, such as but not limited to a self-assembling bit patterned medium. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus includes a transducer and a rotatable substrate. The substrate has a plurality of rows of spaced apart data recording dots. Each row of dots is angularly offset from an immediately adjacent row responsive to a skew angle of the transducer. The rows of dots are arranged into concentric zones of hypertracks. Each zone has an arcuate timing field segment which extends across the zone and is angularly discontinuous with the timing field segment of an immediately adjacent zone.
US09275675B2	Reading narrow data tracks with multiple wide readers Technologies are described herein for utilizing multiple, wide readers to read narrow data tracks on a magnetic recording media in a storage device. A system for reading a data track on a magnetic recording media comprises a plurality of reader elements, the width of each reader element being an integer greater than 1 multiple of a width of the data tracks on the recording media. The system further comprises a multi-reader decoder module operably connected to the plurality of reader elements. Each of the reader elements is configured to read a magnetic signal from the magnetic recording media. The multi-reader decoder module is configured to receive a read signal from each of the reader elements, and decode the data on the data track based on the read signals from the reader elements.
US09275673B2	Taskbar media player A system and method for controlling media through a user interface integrated within a taskbar is described. This system and method enable a user to control media while a user interface of another application remains in perspective. Further, this system includes a taskbar media player, which can play media and enable a user to control the play of that media from within a taskbar.
US09275671B2	Optical information storage medium An optical information storage medium includes a multilayer film that includes a plurality of extruded alternating active data storage layers and buffer layers, which separate the active data storage layers. The active data storage layers and buffer layers have thicknesses that allow the active data storage layers to be writable by permanent or reversible one- or multiphoton, linear, nonlinear, or threshold optical writing processes to define data voxels within the active data storage layers that are readable by an optical reading device.
US09275668B2	Light coupling structure, method of forming a light coupling structure and a magnetic recording head A light coupling structure, a method of manufacturing a memory cell, and a magnetic recording head are provided. The light coupling structure includes a light coupling layer having a cavity; a waveguide having a cladding layer and a core layer; wherein the cladding layer of the waveguide is disposed in the cavity of the light coupling layer and the core layer of the waveguide is disposed over the light coupling layer and the cladding layer of the waveguide; wherein the light coupling layer is configured to receive light from a light source and couple the received light into the core layer of the waveguide.
US09275662B2	Magnetic head, magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, and method of manufacturing magnetic head A magnetic head of an embodiment includes: a first electrode being a magnetic body having a magnetic shielding property; a first signal detector disposed on the first electrode and being a differential magnetoresistive effect element; a second electrode disposed on the first signal detector; an insulating layer disposed on the second electrode; a third electrode disposed on the insulating layer; a second signal detector disposed on the third electrode and being a differential magnetoresistive effect element; and a fourth electrode disposed on the second signal detector and being a magnetic body having a magnetic shielding property. At least one of the second electrode and the third electrode is a nonmagnetic metal.
US09275656B1	Disk drive with channel and preamp with dynamic write-current control for write head Disk drives with a Channel System and Write Driver Preamp architecture that dynamically adjusts the write driver's signal wave-shape depending on the write data signal pattern are described. The wave-shape control signal is generated in the Channel and transmitted to the Write Driver Preamp. Embodiments of the invention provide discrete n-level overshoot amplitude control using amplitude-level modulated (AML) signal. One embodiment implements a look-ahead strategy overshoot amplitude control where the overshoot amplitude for each transition depends only on the subsequent (following) bits in the data stream and not on any previously recorded data.
US09275655B2	Timing error detector with diversity loop detector decision feedback Aspects of the disclosure pertain to an apparatus for detecting timing errors including an analog to digital converter circuit, a diversity loop detector and a timing error calculation circuit. The analog to digital converter circuit is operable to convert an input signal into a series of digital samples. The diversity loop detector is operable to apply a data detection algorithm to a plurality of signals derived from the series of digital samples at different phase offsets, to select one of the phase offsets, and to yield a detected output with the selected phase offset. The timing error calculation circuit is operable to calculate a timing error of the analog to digital converter circuit based at least in part on the selected phase offset.
US09275652B2	Device and method for manipulating an audio signal having a transient event A signal manipulator for manipulating an audio signal having a transient event may have a transient remover, a signal processor and a signal inserter for inserting a time portion in a processed audio signal at a signal location where the transient event was removed before processing by the transient remover, so that a manipulated audio signal has a transient event not influenced by the processing, whereby the vertical coherence of the transient event is maintained instead of any processing performed in the signal processor, which would destroy the vertical coherence of a transient.
US09275648B2	Method and apparatus for processing audio signal using spectral data of audio signal A method of processing an audio signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving spectral data corresponding to a first band in a frequency band including the first band and a second band, determining a copy band based on frequency information of the copy band corresponding to a partial band of the first band, and generating spectral data of a target band corresponding to the second band using the spectral data of the copy band, wherein the copy band exists in an upper part of the first band.
US09275643B2	Document extension in dictation-based document generation workflow An automatic speech recognizer is used to produce a structured document representing the contents of human speech. A best practice is applied to the structured document to produce a conclusion, such as a conclusion that required information is missing from the structured document. Content is inserted into the structured document based on the conclusion, thereby producing a modified document. The inserted content may be obtained by prompting a human user for the content and receiving input representing the content from the human user.
US09275639B2	Client-server architecture for automatic speech recognition applications A client-server architecture for Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) applications, includes: (a) a client-side including: a client being part of distributed front end for converting acoustic waves to feature vectors; VAD for separating between speech and non-speech acoustic signals; adaptor for WebSockets; and (b) a server side including: a web layer utilizing HTTP protocols and including a Web Server having a Servlet Container; an intermediate layer for transport based on Message-Oriented Middleware being a message broker; a recognition server and an adaptation server both connected to said intermediate layer; a Speech processing server; a Recognition Server for instantiation of a recognition channel per client; an Adaptation Server for adaptation acoustic and linguistic models for each speaker; a Bidirectional communication channel between a Speech processing server and client side; and a Persistent layer for storing a Language Knowledge Base connected to said Speech processing server.
US09275638B2	Method and apparatus for training a voice recognition model database An electronic device digitally combines a single voice input with each of a series of noise samples. Each noise sample is taken from a different audio environment (e.g., street noise, babble, interior car noise). The voice input/noise sample combinations are used to train a voice recognition model database without the user having to repeat the voice input in each of the different environments. In one variation, the electronic device transmits the user's voice input to a server that maintains and trains the voice recognition model database.
US09275627B2	Closed loop control system for active noise reduction and method for active noise reduction The invention relates to a closed loop control system for active noise reduction, comprising a speaker and an adding device connected to the speaker. A feedforward control and a feedback control each comprise a microphone for recording noise interference or for recording a sound output by the speaker. Control networks for forming a corresponding control parameter are coupled to the corresponding microphones and are connected to the adding device at the output side thereof. According to the invention, the feedback control for noise reduction is adapted on the basis of a first acoustic ratio and the feedforward control for noise reduction is adapted on the basis of a second acoustic ratio. The control network of the feedback control is designed to at least partially compensate for the control parameter of the feedforward control when current acoustic ratios change in the direction of the first acoustic ratio.
US09275623B2	Mounting system for a fish finding device There is provided a mounting system for a fish finding device to a watercraft which has a support for supporting a fish finding device on a watercraft. The support has a top, a bottom and a peripheral side wall which form a receptacle housing for a battery. Mounting means are positioned at the top of the support to receive a fish finder. Securing means are provided on the bottom of the support for mounting the support to a surface on a watercraft. Mounting means are provided for detachably securing a transducer to a watercraft.
US09275622B2	Vibro-acoustic attenuation or reduced energy transmission Vibro-acoustic attenuation or reduced energy transmission. The present invention relates to devices that display frequency zones of strong vibro-acoustic attenuation or reduced energy transmission. This can be used in particular, although not necessarily solely, in applications that require lightweight materials with good mechanical properties and good vibro-acoustic response or in applications that require materials with high sound reflection, absorption or sound isolation in a certain frequency band.
US09275619B2	Digital cymbal displacement control device for electronic cymbal Embodiments of a digital cymbal displacement control device for an electronic hi-hat are provided. A digital cymbal displacement detection unit in accordance with the present disclosure is configured to be directly mounted on the tube above the stand of an electronic hi-hat, as with any conventional hi-hat, without any need of changing the way how the electronic hi-hat is operated. The digital cymbal displacement detection unit includes at least one displacement detection unit and a plurality of sliding elastic elements that slide along a contact surface of the at least one displacement detection unit. Variation in an electrical parameter of at least one of the at least one displacement detection unit is utilized to determine the displacement of an electronic cymbal set of the electronic hi-hat.
US09275618B2	Haptic controller suitable for controlling a sound characteristic The invention relates to a haptic controller comprising a base (2), at least one maneuvering body (8) which is movably mounted on the base such that it can be moved under the action of a user, mechanical connection means (4, 15) comprising at least one deformable abutment consisting of an elastomer material between the maneuvering body and the base, and suitable for exerting a monotonous, non-linear resistive effort against an actuating effort of the maneuvering body, at least one sensor (12) placed in the haptic controller in such a way as to generate a signal representative of said actuating effort, and associated built-in or remote means (18) for processing the signal generated by the sensor, in order to supply an output signal for controlling at least one characteristic of a sound.
US09275614B2	Musical instrument A wind instrument includes a body defining a body with a plurality of tone holes. A plurality of keys are attached to the body, each key of the plurality of keys further including a key pad that is configured to selectively seal at least one of the plurality of tone holes to produce notes of different pitch. In one example, the body includes one monolithic piece of a metal extrusion having a “D”-shaped cross-section that provides a substantially flat upper surface and a lower curved surface. In another example, a biasing member includes a pair of magnets associated with each key, each pair of magnets including a first magnet attached the body and second magnet attached to one of the keys. A position of at least one of the first and second magnets is selectively adjustable relative to the other.
US09275613B2	System, kit and method for universal mounting of tuning machines on stringed musical instruments Systems, kits and methods are provided for mounting multiple tuning machines to a stringed musical instrument without requiring permanent alteration of the instrument. An exemplary mounting element includes a multiplicity of post apertures. Each post aperture is configured to receive a string post of a respective tuning machine, which is then axially secured within respective head stock holes of the instrument. The mounting element includes one or more alignment detents associated with the post apertures. The axial securement generally does not require penetration of the instrument independent of the head stock holes. When the string posts are received by their post apertures and are axially secured to the head stock of the instrument, the alignment detents restrict rotation of the tuner gear housing with respect to the instrument. The axial securement is preferably via threaded engagement between a threaded hub of the tuning machine and a respective barrel nut.
US09275612B2	Keyboard instrument A keyboard instrument includes: an instrument body; at least one speaker; and at least one acoustic pipe configured to collect a sound emitted from the at least one speaker and guide the sound to at least one sound emitting opening formed in a front face of the instrument body.
US09275609B2	Display device with programmable gamma unit The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a display device comprising: a data driver; a display panel for displaying an image in response to a data signal supplied from the data driver; and a programmable gamma unit for supplying a gamma reference voltage to the data driver, wherein a different number of bits is allocated to each of decoders included in the programmable gamma unit.
US09275608B2	Display device According to an aspect, a display device includes a display unit and a control unit. The display unit stereoscopically displays a display object. When a movement of an object is detected in a three-dimensional space where the display object is stereoscopically displayed, the control unit for changes the display object in the three-dimensional space according to the movement of the object.
US09275607B2	Dynamic color adjustment for displays using local temperature measurements An electronic device may include a display and display control circuitry. The display may be calibrated to compensate for changes in display temperature. Display calibration information may be obtained during manufacturing and may be stored in the electronic device. The display calibration information may include adjustment factors configured to adjust incoming pixel values to reduce temperature-related color shifts. During operation of the electronic device, display control circuitry may determine the temperature at different locations on the display. The display control circuitry may determine the temperature at a given display pixel using the temperatures at the different locations on the display. The display control circuitry may determine adjustment values based on the temperature at the display pixel. The display control circuitry may apply the adjustment values to incoming pixel values to obtain adapted pixel values, which may in turn be provided to the display pixel.
US09275600B2	Source electrode driving module with Gamma correction and LCD panel The present invention discloses a source electrode driving module for providing a data signal to an LCD unit, comprising: a Gamma correction chip and a source electrode driving chip, wherein, the Gamma correction chip comprises a P-GAMMA driving chip with three to eight output channels; the P-GAMMA driving chip is used for generating multiple control voltages providing to the source electrode driving chip; the source electrode driving chip comprises a first resistor string and a second resistor string; the multiple control voltages generated by the P-GAMMA driving chip connect into the first resistor string and the second resistor string according to turning points of a Gamma curve of the LCD unit, wherein, n is an integer, and 6≦n≦10. The present also disclose an LCD panel including the source electrode driving module described above.
US09275598B2	DAC architecture for LCD source driver A two-stage digital-to-analog converter for outputting an analog voltage in response to a M-bit digital input code includes a two-bit serial charge redistribution digital-to-analog converter having a high reference voltage input node for receiving a high reference voltage and a low reference voltage input node for receiving a low reference voltage, and a voltage selector. The voltage selector sets the high reference voltage and low reference voltage to selected levels depending on at least a portion of the M-bit digital input code.
US09275594B2	Driving circuit of liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal panel, and a driving method A liquid crystal (LC) panel includes a plurality of data lines and a plurality of leads connected to the data lines, the driving circuit of the LC panel includes a monitor module and a data-driving module, the data-driving module includes a data latch unit coupled to the lead of the LC panel. The monitor module outputs a time sequence signal to control the data latch unit to output a display signal to the data line. The driving circuit of the LC panel includes a delay unit corresponding to the data line, and the time sequence signal is sent to the data latch unit through the delay unit. When the delay unit reaches a preset delay time, the time sequence signal controls the data latch unit to the display signal to a corresponding data line, and a delay time of a delay unit coupled to a long lead of the LC panel is shorter than a delay time of a delay unit coupled to a short lead of the LC panel.
US09275593B2	Display panel having static electricity protection In one embodiment, a display panel includes a substrate and a gate driver disposed on the substrate. The gate driver comprises a wiring unit which receives signals and a circuit unit which outputs driving signals in response to the signals received from the wiring unit. The circuit unit comprises a shift register and a shift register wiring connected to the shift register. The wiring unit comprises first through n-th signal lines (n is a natural number greater than two) arranged sequentially adjacent to the shift register. The first line is located farthest from the shift register and the n-th signal line is closest from the shift register. Further, the first signal line is electrically connected to the shift register by a first connection line that comprises a first contact portion connected to the first signal line and a second contact portion connected to the shift resistor wiring.
US09275590B2	Liquid crystal display and driving method capable of adaptively changing a problem pattern A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a register for storing pixel information of a problem pattern and polarity pattern information, a block pattern recognition unit for comparing input data with the problem pattern to count the number of problem patterns contained in the input data and comparing the count value with a first threshold value, a line pattern recognition unit for determining the line containing the problem pattern as a problem line, a frame pattern recognition unit for comparing the number of problem lines with a second threshold value, and determining the frame containing the input data as a problem frame, a polarity control signal generating unit for generating vertical and horizontal polarity control signals, and source drive integrated circuits (ICs) for controlling the vertical and horizontal polarities of data voltages supplied to the data lines.
US09275583B2	Organic light emitting display device and driving method thereof Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device including: plurality of data lines; a charging line formed in a direction crossing the plurality of data lines; and charging switches connected between the charging line and the data lines. The charging line inputs a charging voltage and the charging switches are individually controlled in data line.
US09275578B2	Method for operating active matrix display system having triode switch driver circuitry A pixel circuit for an active matrix organic light-emitting diode display system includes a first input node, a second input node, first power supply node, a second power supply node, a triode switch circuit, a storage capacitor, an organic light emitting diode, and a resistive element. The triode switch circuit is connected to the first and second input nodes. The storage capacitor is connected between an output of the triode switch circuit and the second power supply node. The organic light-emitting diode is connected between the output of the triode switch circuit and the second power supply node. The first resistive element is connected between the output of the triode switch circuit and the first power supply node.
US09275577B2	Frame scanning pixel display driving unit and driving method thereof, display apparatus The present disclosure provides a frame scanning pixel display driving unit and a driving method thereof, and a display apparatus. The frame scanning pixel display driving unit includes: a driving control module for receiving a first frame data signal, and controlling the driving transistor to drive the pixel to display based on the first frame data signal; a data writing module for receiving and latch the second frame data signal when the driving transistor drives the pixel to display based on the first frame data signal, and transmitting the second frame data signal to the driving control module after the displaying of the first frame data signal is completed. The present disclosure enables a frame scanning display mode, and can reduce the power consumption during the signal writing phase and effectively reduce the power consumption of the panel display.
US09275575B2	Display device When a previously existing technique is applied to a white OLED, such a structure is adopted that the peak wavelength of the intensity of interference is the emission peak wavelength corresponding to blue or less. However, in this case, the intensity of interference of the wavelength range corresponding to red is reduced to decrease the light emission intensity of red. A display device is configured in which a stacked film configuring a white light emitting element (an organic light-emitting diode element) is configured in such a manner that the peak wavelength of the intensity of interference is the peak wavelength of the light emission intensity corresponding to blue or less. The light emission intensity of the light emitting element corresponding to a red pixel is made greater than the light emission intensity of the light emitting elements corresponding to pixels for other colors.
US09275568B2	Detection circuit and method for a liquid crystal display A detection circuit and a detection method for liquid crystal display are provided. The detection circuit comprises gate driver for providing row scan signal to liquid crystal cell to be detected; signal source for providing polarity inversion signal to source driver, polarity inversion signal comprises continuous high level signal and continuous low level signal; source driver for performing digital-analog conversion on received display data signal according to preset reference voltage and polarity inversion signal, generating pixel voltage signal, and sending pixel voltage signal to liquid crystal cell to be detected, polarity inversion mode formed by pixel voltage signal is column inversion mode. The polarity inversion mode of column inversion, formed by pixel voltage signal in technical solution makes white dot of damaged area of alignment film is more prominent during detection process, so it would be easy for the operator to recognize it and avoid the issue of missing detection.
US09275566B2	Custom built portable billboard The present disclosure provides for a customizable, portable billboard system. The portable billboard has a number of sidewalls enabling advertisement graphic placement. These sidewalls sit upon a support base that has structures, preferably wheels, which help to facilitate movement of the billboard. The advertisement graphical overlay is attached to the sidewalls via framing that surrounds the perimeter of each of the sidewalls. The entire system is self-contained and has a generator to power any lights or speakers or the like that may be required. The system has a hitch attachment so that it may be easily maneuvered or transported to a particular location by motor vehicle.
US09275563B1	Sign holder A sign holder includes a pair of upright posts, each having a lower ground engaging end and an upwardly disposed portion having a serpentine area with a plurality of bend areas leading to an upper end which is not aligned with the lower end. A relatively thicker transverse member joins the upright posts such that the upper ends thereof are spaced farther apart than the lower ends thereof.
US09275562B2	Advertising apparatus Disclosed is an advertising apparatus capable of motion sensitive illumination and 180° viewing, which includes a top piece, a bottom piece, a back piece, one or more front side pieces capable of edge illumination, wherein the top piece, the bottom piece the back piece and the one or more front side pieces are mechanically coupled together to form the assembled advertising apparatus, and a universal mounting system base plate reversibly coupled to the back piece. In addition, an advertising apparatus capable of motion sensitive illumination and 180° viewing includes an illumination source for illuminating the front side pieces, a motion sensor, for detecting motion of a potential customer, and a power source to power the advertising apparatus, wherein the illumination source and the motion sensor are coupled to the power source.
US09275559B2	Identification medium configured for displaying visible and excitable indicia An identification medium is optimized for displaying visible and excitable indicia. The medium includes a substrate having a color change layer, such as a direct thermal layer, and a patterned excitable layer placed over the color change layer. The color change layer produces the visible indicia. The excitable layer produces the excitable indicia. The excitable indicia is not easily readable under ambient light but becomes more easily readable under directed radiation, i.e., UV or IR light.
US09275555B2	Device and method for teaching numeral systems A device and method of teaching and learning numeral systems comprising at least one game board and a plurality of value block pieces, wherein the game board comprises columns whereby one column is a decimal point column and other columns are each a numeric column to form a numeric grid thereon, and wherein each value block piece identifies the number equivalent value of a numeric symbol derived from the symbol's location on the numeric grid.
US09275552B1	Real-time driver observation and scoring for driver'S education A method includes, for each of two or more driving sessions in which a student driver operates a vehicle, gathering driving skill data indicative of at least one of behavior of the student driver, acceleration of the vehicle, braking of the vehicle, or steering of the vehicle, and generating a driving session report. The method further includes causing the driving session reports corresponding to the two or more driving sessions to be displayed to a driving instructor, and receiving comments from the driving instructor about the two or more driving sessions of the student driver. Still further, the method includes storing the driving session reports corresponding to the two or more driving sessions along with the received comments from the driving instructor.
US09275548B2	Method and device for detecting a starting intention of a stopped vehicle In a method for detecting a starting intention of a stopped vehicle, a starting intention criterion is ascertained upon detection of a stopped vehicle, and decision data are formed based on the starting intention criterion, which decision data include an item of information on whether or not the stopped vehicle will start.
US09275547B2	Prediction of free parking spaces in a parking area Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for management of parking spaces in a parking area. Identifying an individual entering a parking area and a vehicle in the parking area that corresponds to the identified individual. Determining a distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area. Determining whether the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle. Responsive to determining that the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle, determining whether the determined distance is less than an associated distance threshold condition. In another embodiment, detecting a parking ticket entering the parking area and identifying an individual and a vehicle in the parking area that correspond to the detected parking ticket.
US09275546B2	System and method for minimizing the time to park a vehicle Systems and methods for providing a user with information on spaces in which to park a vehicle are provided. A method for providing a user with information on spaces in which to park a vehicle, comprises identifying one or more spaces in which to park the vehicle, selecting valid spaces from the identified one or more spaces based on a validation criteria, and ranking the valid spaces and providing a ranked list of the valid spaces to the user, wherein the identifying, selecting, ranking and providing steps are performed by a computer system comprising a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory.
US09275543B2	Tamper detection for pulse-producing device Systems and methods for detecting tampering with a pulse-producing component of an electrical device are disclosed. An example electrical device includes a pulse-producing circuit and a tamper detection circuit. The pulse-producing circuit is configured for generating at least one pulse. The pulse-producing circuit includes a pulse interface via which the at least one pulse is communicated from the pulse-producing circuit. The tamper detection circuit is electrically connected to the pulse interface. The tamper detection circuit can be connected between a pulse-counting device and the pulse interface. The tamper detection circuit is configured for communicating the pulse to the pulse-counting device via at least one electrical path in the absence of a tampering condition. The tamper detection circuit is also configured for simulating damage to the pulse interface by modifying the at least one electrical path in response to the presence of the tampering condition.
US09275542B2	Location-indexed audio content Associations between pieces of electronic audio content and geographic locations are stored. An indication of a present link between an electronic device and a particular geographic location is received. A particular piece of electronic audio content is identified as being related to the particular geographic location. The identified piece of electronic audio content then is made available to the electronic device.
US09275541B2	Remote control systems and methods for providing page commands to digital electronic display devices A remote control system, set forth by way of example and not limitation, includes a remote control device including one or more controls operative to develop at button control signals in response to activation by a user. An interface device is responsive to the button control signals and is operative to provide device control signals via a wired connection to an electronic display device. The device control signals are operative to control an application running on an electronic display device.
US09275540B2	Methods and apparatus for contingency communications Methods and systems for contingency communication are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing emergency services may be performed by a portable device operating in a communication system. In an embodiment, the method for providing emergency services includes operating in at least one of a plurality of modes. A stress mode may be entered from a normal mode in response to receiving a beacon signal indicating an emergency status. An indication may be provided on the portable device regarding the emergency status via an audio, visual, or mechanical user interface during the stress mode. An acknowledgement signal may be transmitted in response to the beacon signal.
US09275537B2	Inter-communication system and notification method for inter-communication system An inter-communication system has a security functionality capable of reporting incidents such as abnormalities occurring in a security system. In an inter-communication system, if a communication sound control device receives an alarm from a security system via a main shop processing device, the communication sound control device notifies a predetermined order reception communication device, such as a manager communication device, of the reception of the alarm, and the main shop processing device reports to a preset destination over a communication network.
US09275532B2	Systems and methodologies for real-time driver gaze location determination and analysis utilizing computer vision technology The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring one or more eyes of a vehicle operator during a driving session to generate a plurality of gaze location logs with gaze location values and timestamps. The gaze location value may be generated by determining a focal point of the vehicle operator's gaze, determining which of a plurality of areas of the vehicle is associated with the focal point, and assigning the gaze location value based on the area of the vehicle associated with the focal point. The gaze location logs may be analyzed to determine the duration of the vehicle operator's gaze at each area of the vehicle. Based on the duration of the vehicle operators gaze, recommendations to improve vehicle operator performance may be determined and communicated to the vehicle operator.
US09275529B1	Enhanced signal amplitude in acoustic-magnetomechanical EAS marker Systems (100) and methods (600) for making a marker. The methods comprise: obtaining a resonator material which has been annealed under a tensile force selected to provide a maximum resonant amplitude at a bias field Hmax in the marker; and providing with the bias material of the marker an operating bias field Hoperating with a value less than a value of said bias field Hmax. The value of Hoperating is reduced by performing at least one of the following operations: selectively modifying a geometry of a bias material which is to be disposed in a housing of the marker; selectively modifying a spacing between the resonator material and the bias material arranged in a stacked configuration; and partially de-gaussing the bias material subsequent to being fully saturated.
US09275526B2	Checkout station A checkout station includes a turntable that is rotatable between a first position and a second position and a barcode scanner that is attached to the turntable and is directed in a first direction in the first position and in a second direction in the second position.
US09275524B2	Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with multiple symbol display position elements A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position elements. Each multiple symbol display position element is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position element to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position element must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.
US09275522B2	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.
US09275517B2	Interactive toys A plurality of individual toys, at least a first one of which generates acoustic signals and at least a second one of which receives acoustic signals. When the second toy receives acoustic signals from the first toy, it responds, for example, by generating a sound and/or controlling its motion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toys flock and/or form a procession of toys which follow a leader toy, for example a mother goose and a plurality of following and preferably quacking goslings.
US09275514B2	System and method for providing a system generated in-game bonus in a gaming environment A gaming system, terminal and method where a bonus is derived from multiple sources including system based and local sources and is delivered to a gaming machine by providing one or more additional game(s), altered games or altered features at the gaming machine instead of a direct award of the prize. The gaming system, terminal and method also provides for selection between various game features with different expected values for delivery of the bonus.
US09275512B2	Secure communications in gaming system Secure communications are provided in a gaming system environment using a hash manager to hash information, store the hashed information to a database, and to retrieve and unhash the information when needed. Information may include a user identifier, pass phrase and/or package of executable gaming machine instructions. This approach may provide security without requiring a user to reenter log in information (e.g., user identifier and/or pass phrase) during a login or security session.
US09275509B2	Methods and devices for incremental wagering to earn multiple prizes per winning wager Methods, devices, and systems provide means for carrying out video events on which wagers are placed. The wagers may be won, lost, or returned. Multiple prizes, including a main prize and a bonus prize, are awarded for each winning wager. Execution of the video events causes multiple event symbols to be displayed on a display. The event symbols may represent symbols on multiple reels that are spun during each video event, or playing cards that are dealt from a simulated deck of playing cards during each video event. For each video event, a prize symbol may be randomly assigned to each of the two or more displayed event symbols. An event symbol displayed for a winning wager may be selected via a symbol selector. The selected event symbol may be replaced with a prize symbol to reveal the bonus prize for the winning wager.
US09275503B2	Method and apparatus for remotely communicating vehicle information to the cloud The present invention relates generally to the communication of vehicle data, diagnostics and related information with a network remote from the vehicle, and more particularly to communications and storage of vehicle data in the cloud. In one or more preferred embodiments, vehicle information is securely gathered from a vehicle, processed in accordance with instructions and a profile set remotely, and stored at a remote data store, where remote access to such information can be accommodated through applications, smartphones and other remote devices.
US09275498B2	GPU-accelerated path rendering A tessellation unit of a graphics processing unit (GPU) determines domain coordinates for vertices of a received primitive. The tessellation unit outputs the determined domain coordinates for the vertices. The tessellation unit further determines that a domain type for the received primitive is not one of tri, isoline, or quad domain, and outputs information indicative of a graphical feature associated with one or more of the determined domain coordinates when the domain type is not one of the tri, isoline, or quad domain.
US09275497B2	Method and device for forming surface processed Surface form data as an object to which a grain is applied is inputted to a data input part. A plane polygon forming part projects a borderline of the surface form data on an x-y plane and changes the borderline to poly-lines to form a two-dimensional polygon mesh having the borderline as an outer edge. A three-dimensional polygon forming part connects together intersections of straight lines extending to a z-axis direction from apexes of the polygon mesh and the original surface form data to obtain a three-dimensional polygon mesh and further make the mesh uniform. A grain forming part obtains an amount of displacement from texture data corresponding to the apex of the three-dimensional polygon mesh through a texture model formed and deformed in a texture model deforming part to set polygon data obtained by connecting together the apexes respectively displaced in normal directions as the surface processed data.
US09275496B2	Systems and methods for rapid three-dimensional modeling with real facade texture A computer system is described for automatically generating a 3D model, including hardware and non-transitory computer readable medium accessible by the hardware and storing instructions that when executed by the hardware cause it to create wire-frame data of structures within a geographic area; identify a geographic location of a structure of the structures; receive multiple oblique images representing the geographic location and containing a real façade texture of the structure; locate a geographical position of a real façade texture of the structure; select one or more base oblique image from the multiple oblique images by analyzing, with selection logic, image raster content of the real façade texture depicted in the multiple oblique images, and, relate the real façade texture of the one or more base oblique image to the wire-frame data of the structure to create a three dimensional model providing a real-life representation of physical characteristics of the structure.
US09275495B2	Rendering transparent primitives Representing a transparent object as a summation of substantially zero step functions of a visibility curve for the object. An array may be used to store nodes to represent the visibility function. The size of the array may be limited to be storable within a memory of an on-chip graphics processing unit.
US09275492B2	Method and system for multisample antialiasing A method and system for generating two or three dimensional computer graphics images using multisample antialiasing (MSAA) is provided, which enables memory bandwidth to be conserved. For each of one or more pixels it is determined whether all of a plurality of sample areas of that pixel are located within a particular primitive. For those pixels where it is determined that all the sample areas of that pixel are located within that primitive, a value is stored in a multisample memory for a smaller number of the sample areas of that pixel than the total number of the sample areas of that pixel and data is stored indicating that all the sample areas of that pixel are located within that primitive.
US09275491B2	GPU work creation and stateless graphics in OPENGL One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for generating work to be processed by a graphics pipeline residing within a graphics processor. The method includes the steps of receiving an indication that a first graphics workload is to be submitted to a command queue associated with the graphics processor, allocating a first portion of shader accessible memory for one or more units of state information that are necessary for processing the first graphics workload, populating the first portion of shader accessible memory with the one or more units of state information, and transmitting to the command queue of the graphics processor the one or more units of state information stored within the first portion of shader accessible memory, wherein the first graphics workload is processed within the graphics pipeline based on the one or more units of state information.
US09275487B1	System and method for performing non-affine deformations A method for performing non-affine deformations. The method includes receiving data representing mathematical vectors associated with elements defining an object. The elements are organized in a hierarchy, a different subset of mathematical vectors is associated with one or more elements, and the mathematical vectors within each subset are defined relative to a local coordinate space associated with each element. The method further includes determining that a first non-affine deformer is to be applied to a first set of the elements, and, for each element in the first set, applying the first non-affine deformer to world coordinate space values corresponding to the mathematical vectors within the subset of mathematical vectors associated with the element to generate modified world coordinate space values for the mathematical vectors.
US09275479B2	Method, system and computer program product for creating collages that visually resemble a particular shape or group of shapes A method, system and computer program product for creating collages that visually resemble a particular shape or group of shapes are provided. The method is a computer-implemented method of creating a shape collage and includes receiving a shape specification signal which specifies at least one desired shape. Each desired shape has at least one shape boundary and an area. The method also includes receiving image data which represents a plurality of images and processing the signal and the data to obtain a shape collage of the images which at least partially covers and conforms to the area of the at least one desired shape. The step of processing includes the steps of evaluating whether each image is to be treated as being either within or without the area and removing or hiding any image that is evaluated as being outside the area.
US09275477B2	Real-time global illumination rendering system A shading method and computer graphics system are provided in which a path of light is reflected at a given object from a virtual light source. The path of light reaches a given eye point is sampled. A distribution function for a surface of the object is obtained using the sampled path of light, and arithmetic processing is performed such that a maximum value of the distribution function is less than or equal to a predetermined value. In this regard, an estimated specular roughness of the surface of the object is obtained by setting the distribution function to be less than or equal to the predetermined value.
US09275475B2	Generating a simulated three dimensional scene by producing reflections in a two dimensional scene A method that simulates a three dimensional scene by producing reflections in a two dimensional scene. In some embodiments, the two dimensional scene includes a display area for displaying a set of images, and at least one object that is displayed near the display area. The method generates reflections of the set of images on the object and superimposes the generated reflections on the display of the object. In some embodiments, the method generates and displays the reflections in real-time as it displays the set of images in order to cause the display of the set of images to appear to be part of a 3D environment. In some embodiments, the set of images are part of a video that a device displays in real-time. The device generates reflections off one or more neighboring objects from the content displayed in each video frame.
US09275473B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program An image processing apparatus includes a display unit that displays an image of a measurement object and an image of an object which corresponds to the measurement object and has a 3-dimensional (3D) shape which is calculated in advance, a designating unit that designates a first point on the image of the measurement object and a second point on the image of the object, a calculating unit that performs a geometric calculation of a first figure, an adjusting unit that adjusts a pose or a position of at least one of the image of the measurement object and the image of the object based on a result of the geometric calculation, and a measuring unit that calculates spatial coordinates on the object corresponding to a measurement position designated after the pose or the position is adjusted, and calculates a size of the object based on the calculated spatial coordinates.
US09275470B1	Computer vision system for tracking ball movement and analyzing user skill A computer processor of the mobile device may overlay a shape graphic on a fixed area of a screen of the mobile device. A camera of the mobile device may search the fixed area for a ball with a marking. The computer processor may recognize the marking on the ball. The computer processor may calibrate the movement of the ball in the overlayed shape graphic in view of the recognized marking of the ball. The camera may track and may record data pertaining to the movement of the ball. The computer processor may calculate one or more metrics relating to ball controlling abilities from the data. The computer processor may display the one or more metrics on the screen.
US09275469B2	Methods and devices for evaluating and treating a bone condition on x-ray image analysis This disclosure relates to methods and devices for analyzing x-ray images. Futhermore, bone condition of a subject can be evaluated by analyzing x-ray images of the subject's bone and therapies can then be selected or devised for the subject.
US09275467B2	Incremental contour-extraction scheme for binary image segments Contours of objects appearing in a digital image are extracted in a plurality of one-directional passes across the digital image. Each pass loads rows or columns of the image into a local memory, in the order they appear in the image, and analyzes them for the presence of portions of the full contour. The portions are then combined to create the full contour.
US09275465B2	System for preparing an image for segmentation A system for cleaning up and preparing an image for segmentation is disclosed. An image transmitting device is configured to transmit a first image to an image receiving device. The image receiving device is configured to: receive the first image; apply a Dual Tree Complex Wavelet transform to the first image to form a plurality of sub-images; generate a high pass image based on the plurality of sub-images; generate a rotational invariant resultant image based on the high pass image; generate a low pass image based on the plurality of sub-images; and combine the rotational invariant resultant image and the low pass image to form a pseudo-fluorescent image.
US09275464B2	Method for determining the extent of a foreground object in an image Embodiments are directed towards determining within a digital camera whether a pixel belongs to a foreground or background segment within a given image by evaluating a ratio of derivative and deviation metrics in an area around each pixel in the image, or ratios of derivative metrics across a plurality of images. For each pixel within the image, a block of pixels are examined to determine an aggregate relative derivative (ARD) in the block. The ARD is compared to a threshold value to determine whether the pixel is to be assigned in the foreground segment or the background segment. In one embodiment, a single image is used to determine the ARD and the pixel segmentation for that image. Multiple images may also be used to obtain ratios of a numerator of the ARD, useable to determine an extent of the foreground.
US09275458B2	Apparatus and method for providing vehicle camera calibration A method and apparatus for providing a vehicle camera calibration includes choosing overlap images from among the image information captured by a camera mounted on a vehicle, and filtering images having the same vehicle attitude from among the chosen overlap images on a basis of a map coordinate system and status information of the vehicle, picking out objects in the filtered images, separating stationary objects from the picked out objects, and predicting an angular misalignment with respect to the separated stationary objects.
US09275454B2	Motion compensated second pass metal artifact correction for CT slice images An apparatus and a method for correcting a CT slice image for an image artifact (330) caused by the motion of a high attenuation part (140) in an object (135) of interest. The CT slice image is based on projection images (310a,b). The apparatus and method uses a footprint (315a,b) of the part in each of the projection images (310a,b).
US09275448B2	Flash/no-flash imaging for binarization Provided are methods and systems for generating a binarized representation of a document using a mobile device configured to provide a Flashed and No-flashed image of the document. According to an exemplary method, the Flash and No-flash images are aligned and blended, where the resulting image includes the No-flash image where any hot spots are included in the Flash image. After blending, the blended image is binarized.
US09275444B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program to prevent degradation of image quality There is provided an image processing apparatus including: a prediction tap selection unit which selects a pixel which is a prediction tap used for prediction operation for acquiring a pixel value of a target pixel which is a target from a second image obtained by converting a first image, from the first image; a classification unit which classifies the target pixel to any class from a plurality of classes; a tap coefficient output unit which outputs a tap coefficient of a class of the target pixel from tap coefficients, acquired by learning to minimize an error between a result of the prediction operation using a student image corresponding to the first image and a teacher image corresponding to the second image; and an operation unit which acquires a pixel value of the target pixel by performing the prediction operation using the tap coefficient and the prediction tap.
US09275440B2	Image processing device and image processing method An image processing device (100) is configured such that an edge histogram creating section (130) calculates interproximal pixel luminance difference for each of pixels constituting a frame, and a first ratio, which is a ratio of pixels whose interproximal pixel luminance difference is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and an edge enhancement section (140) performs edge enhancement in such a way that a shoot component to be added is smaller for a frame having a larger first ratio.
US09275434B2	Phase control multi-tap downscale filter Implementations include video image processing systems, methods, and apparatus for downscaling video data using a phase control multi-tap downscale filter. For example, a device configured to process video information may include a memory configured to store a downscaling filter comprising a number of coefficients. A processor may be configured to receive video input data and determine a scale factor between the video input data and a video output. In addition, the processor may be configured to modify the downscaling filter based on the scale factor and the number of coefficients in the unmodified downscaling filter. The processor may be configured to downscale the video input data using the modified downscaling filter.
US09275433B2	Apparatus and method for scaling layout of application in image display device An apparatus and method for scaling a layout of an application in an image display device are provided. The method for scaling includes generating a scaling variable considering a distance between the image display device and a user, and scaling a layout of an application using the scaling variable.
US09275432B2	Method of, and apparatus for, registration of medical images An apparatus for registering medical image data representing a tubular structure comprises a data processing unit for obtaining first medical image data representing the tubular structure and second medical image data representing the tubular structure, a region identification unit for identifying the tubular structure in the first medical image data, defining in the first medical image data a volumetric region of interest comprising the tubular structure along the length of the tubular structure and defining a subset of the first medical image data corresponding to the region of interest, and a registration unit for performing a registration of the subset of the first medical image data with at least some of the second medical image data, wherein the registration comprises at least one of a rigid registration and an affine registration.
US09275428B2	Dark to light watermark without special materials Methods and systems rasterize a document to produce a bitmap having first pixels of a first color as background uniformly located across a watermark region and second pixels of a second color located in a pattern forming foreground items within the watermark region. The rasterization causes the first pixels to deposit a first marking material (forming the first color) to a first height on the print media, and the rasterization causes the second pixels to deposit a second marking material (forming the second color) to a second height (different from the first height) on the print media. In the printed document, by having the first color be different from the second color and the second height be different from the first height, this causes the relative darkness between the background and the foreground items to reverse when the printed document is viewed from different angles (relative to a light source).
US09275423B2	Right object renewal method and apparatus for right-protected broadcast service A Right Object renewal method and apparatus for a right-protected digital broadcast service that is capable of predicting the expiration of a Right Object issued for the right-protected broadcast channel and renewing the Right Object prior to the expiration of the Right object based on the predicted expiry is provided. A right object renewal method for a right-protected broadcast service using a long term right object having a purchased license duration and a short term right object having a temporary license duration which is shorter than the purchased license duration according to the present invention includes determining whether the time to expire of a previously issued short term right object is less than a predetermined threshold value; requesting, when the time to expire of the previously issued short term right object is less than the threshold value, requesting and receiving a new short term object; and renewing the duration of the short term right object based on the received new short term right object.
US09275421B2	Triggering social pages Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for information retrieval. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a search input including one or more search terms; determining whether the search input includes a particular token; in response to determining that the search input includes the particular token, determining whether the one or more search terms are associated with a particular social page; in response to determining that the one or more search terms are associated with the particular social page, providing the particular social page without providing search results.
US09275418B2	Providing e-receipts to customers Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for providing e-receipts to customers. Embodiments receive authorization from a customer for the customer to be enrolled in a point of transaction e-receipt communication program; receive transaction data corresponding to at least one transaction performed by the customer at a point of transaction of a merchant; and initiate communication, to the customer, of an e-receipt based at least in part on the received transaction data. Some embodiments receive authorization from a plurality of enrolling merchants for enrollment in the point of transaction e-receipt communication program; and build a cooperating merchant list comprising information corresponding to a plurality of cooperating merchants cooperating with a financial institution implementing the point of transaction e-receipt communication program.
US09275417B2	Synchronization of vehicle sensor information A method includes receiving and storing sensor data including a first plurality of data points indicative of a plurality of respective states of the environment external to a vehicle at a plurality of respective times, external data including a second plurality of data points indicative of an additional plurality of respective states of the external environment, and synchronization data. The external data is data that was received by the vehicle from a handheld mobile communication device of a pedestrian external to the vehicle via a wireless link, and is indicative of objects sensed by the handheld mobile communication device. The method also includes generating an animated re-creation of an event involving the vehicle using the stored data, and causing the animated re-creation of the event to be displayed.
US09275416B2	Device, system, and method of automatic financial-instrument management Devices, systems, and methods of automatic Financial-Instrument (FI) management. In some embodiments, a system includes, a memory having stored thereon financial-instrument-based (FI-based) management instructions; and a processor to execute the FI-based management instructions resulting in a FI-based management application, wherein the FI-based management application may receive portfolio data corresponding to a plurality of financial-instrument portfolios associated with a plurality of clients, wherein the FI-based management application may automatically identify one or more portfolios of the plurality of portfolios satisfying at least one criterion, wherein, for each identified portfolio, the FI-based management application may receive client-specific management data corresponding to a client associated with the identified portfolio, wherein the client-specific management data includes at least client-specific destination information defining at least one destination, and wherein, for each identified portfolio, the FI-based management application may automatically communicate portfolio-related data corresponding to the identified portfolio to the destination defined by the management data.
US09275415B2	System for latency reduction in high frequency trading networks A system includes an optical splitter that may receive an optical signal containing trading information from over an exchange network. The optical splitter may split the optical signal at a physical layer into a plurality of signals and transmit the plurality of signals toward a plurality of hosts at a customer end, which may execute transactions using the trading information.
US09275412B2	Method and system for uniquely identifying a person to the exclusion of all others Methods, program products, computer program products and systems for uniquely identifying an individual within a population to the exclusion of all others within the population by comparing data from unique data sources based on the name of the individual for providing a collection of preliminary suspects. An individual search service provider is then searched for additional data relating to the collection of preliminary suspects to locate any potential matches, which are reconciled with data from the unique data sources to locate at least a portion of a unique identifier that may be associated with the individual. The potential matches and portion of the unique identifier are compared with other data records within the individual search data source for locating a complete unique identifier that may be associated with the individual, followed by determining whether or not this complete unique identifier uniquely identifies the individual.
US09275411B2	Customized voice action system Systems, methods, and computer-readable media that may be used to modify a voice action system to include voice actions provided by advertisers or users are provided. One method includes receiving electronic voice action bids from advertisers to modify the voice action system to include a specific voice action (e.g., a triggering phrase and an action). One or more bids may be selected. The method includes, for each of the selected bids, modifying data associated with the voice action system to include the voice action associated with the bid, such that the action associated with the respective voice action is performed when voice input from a user is received that the voice action system determines to correspond to the triggering phrase associated with the respective voice action.
US09275410B2	Internet payment system and method A system and method for facilitating payment for online purchases is disclosed. The system allows consumers/customers who shop online to select, at the time of checkout, direct payment from an account as the payment option. An electronic bill (ebill), independent of any confidential financial information pertaining to the consumer, is automatically displayed and emailed to the consumer. The consumer pays the ebill at their bank the same way they pay their utility bill, which then results in a payment confirmation sent from the bank to the payee. Payment information from the bank is sent to the system to update the purchase transactions. Once the payment information is processed, the consumer and merchant accounts are balanced and both receive automatic notification of the payment.
US09275404B2	Analyzing communications to determine business entity popularity Techniques for determining the popularity of a business entity are provided. A communication is received at a computing system. The computing system searches the received communication for a business entity name. The computing system also searches the received communication for information related to an opinion about the business entity. Based on the information related to the opinion, the computing system determines a customer satisfaction rating of the business entity.
US09275402B2	Advertisement scheme for use with interactive content A method for use in advertising includes initiating playing of interactive content, suspending playing of the interactive content, displaying an advertisement, and resuming playing of the interactive content. A computer program product includes a medium embodying a computer program for causing a computer to perform these operations, and a system for use in advertising includes a display and a processing system configured to perform these operations.
US09275401B2	Tamper resistant video rendering Video media subscribers attempt to circumvent embedded ads in downloads by modifying the media files to render only the content feature. A media program is defined as an integrated set of media files including the requested content feature and the accompanying promotional materials. Media files associated with a particular content feature are stored as an integrated whole, and security tokens computed on selected random portions of the collection of media files that define the media program (content feature and interspersed ads). A hash engine computes a security token on selected blocks of the media files. The security tokens and corresponding metadata are stored in a secure repository. Before rendering the content feature, the hash values are recomputed on the downloaded media program; and compared to the corresponding locations from the stored hash values and metadata.
US09275400B2	Method and system for simulated product evaluation via personalizing advertisements based on portrait images Advertising method and system for creating a personalized advertisement, and for recommending a product being advertised. An uploaded facial photograph is received, the facial photograph including a plurality of facial features. At least one facial feature of the plurality of facial features is detected. Personal information may be extracted by analyzing the at least one detected facial feature. A product being advertised may be recommended, wherein the recommended product applies to a treatment related to the extracted personal information.
US09275397B2	Opt in system and method A financial transaction system includes a computer readable storage medium and a processor in communication with the computer readable storage medium. The processor is configured to receive a financial transaction request message from a payment device reader, and parse the financial transaction request message. The financial transaction request message includes a cardholder response to an offer to enroll in a loyalty program of a commercial entity. The processor is further configured to store the cardholder response in the computer readable storage medium.
US09275392B2	Parking facility resource management Technologies are generally described for an information system configured to manage parking facility resources. The system can create and apply models and profiles regarding customers, parking space usage, access patterns, events, traffic, and other factors related to the parking facility. Parking facility operators may use the models to seek optimized revenues or profits. Increased revenue for parking facility operators may be supported by allocating resources to longer staying and better paying customers. New opportunities such as reselling, auctions, or options may further improve revenue generation for parking facilities. Customers may interface with the information system for availability queries, interactive reservation, and various other functions that may improve convenience, security, privacy, and service quality for the customers as well as for neighboring businesses and venues. Improved efficiency in parking facility resource consumption may reduce street traffic congestion. Parking security may be improved by adaptive lighting and camera operation.
US09275391B2	Electric vehicle charging station adapted for the delivery of goods and services The present application provides a solar canopy station having a processor. The processor receives requests for delivery of goods or services and transmits the delivery request to a provider along with information regarding the processor location. The provider provides the requested goods or services. The station also is provided with a mechanism to couple the solar canopy to a battery, which may be a vehicle battery such as an electric car or electric scooter. The solar canopy would provide electrical energy either directly to the battery or through a power conditioner and, optionally, a storage facility. The solar canopy, storage facility, or power conditioner may be provided to power equipment associated with providing services such as, for example, power refrigeration units or freezer units to allow delivery of perishable and frozen goods.
US09275387B1	Systems and methods for processing transactions using a wallet The invention provides a wallet vault, in the form of a tangibly embodied processing machine, disposed in communication with a financial payment network, the wallet vault comprising a communication portion and a processing portion. The processing portion may perform processing including storing token information of a customer and real credentials of the customer, the token information associated with the real credentials of the customer, the real credentials constituted by an account number of the customer; inputting the token information with transaction ID information from a processing entity in the financial network, the token information with transaction ID information generated by a merchant processing a transaction for the customer; associating the token information of the customer with the real credentials of the customer; and outputting the associated real credentials with the transaction ID information to the processing entity.
US09275383B2	Mobile kiosk for enhanced financial product offerings In some embodiments, a mobile kiosk includes a vehicle and a kiosk portion coupled to the vehicle. The mobile kiosk provisions financial products. The mobile kiosk receives information for a first configuration customized according to a first customer location, applies the first configuration, and provisions a first set of the financial products using the first configuration. The mobile kiosk then receives information for a second configuration customized according to a second customer location, applies the second configuration, and provisions a second set of the financial products using the second configuration. The second configuration differs from the first configuration and the second location differs from the first location.
US09275382B2	Reconfigurable checkout station A checkout station for a retail store is configurable between an employee-assisted mode and a self-service mode. In the employee-assisted mode, the checkout station is positioned on a checkout lane and a merchant operates the checkout station to checkout a customer from the store. In the self-service mode, the checkout station is positioned on the opposite side of the checkout lane and the customer performs the checkout functions with little or no help from the merchant. A motor in the checkout station is controlled to move the entire checkout station laterally across the checkout lane in response to receiving reconfiguration commands from the merchant. The reconfiguration commands may also control the checkout station to raise or lower its vertical height.
US09275379B2	Method for mutual authentication of a user and service provider The present invention relates to a method and system for mutual authentication of a user and service provider, said method comprising acts of: authenticating an event by a key generation module (KGM), said event is generated on a computing device by a user, sending a shared secret of registered user for the event by an authentication server to the key generation module (KGM), generating one time key by the KGM for the event, transmitting the one time key by appending the shared secret to registered user mobile device, and performing at least one of: authenticating the user for said event by the KGM when a registered user enters the one-time key on the computing device within a predetermined time period, or terminating the event upon receipt of predefined key sequence from the mobile device.
US09275378B2	Method and system for providing access to image system services A method and system according to the disclosure facilitates subscription based access to services for image systems including an image acquisition device configured to generate image data describing a target object in a target area of the image acquisition device and an image display device configured to generate a human perceptible rendering of the target object based on the image data.
US09275373B2	E-mail containing live content A system for introducing live content into an electronic mail message comprising at least one dynamic live content area sent through an e-mail service provider system comprises memory and a click manager. The memory includes live content comprising image data and expiration data. The click manager receives an indication of the opening of the message by a recipient, wherein the click manager accesses the memory to retrieve live content and send the retrieved live content for rendering in the dynamic live content area of the e-mail message opened by the one of the plurality of recipients.
US09275371B2	Keeping track of a detached e-mail attachment A system, computer program product and method of keeping track of an attachment that has been detached from an e-mail message are provided. Generally, a table on which an attachment that has been detached from an e-mail message is cross-referenced to its storage location is used. Further, a link is inserted into the e-mail message to facilitate access to the detached attachment. If the attachment is ever moved from its storage location to a new storage location, the cross-referencing table is updated to reflect the new storage location. The link is also updated to facilitate access to the attachment at the new storage location.
US09275369B2	Demystifying obfuscated information transfer for performing automated system administration Techniques for automating the administration of computer systems. In one set of embodiments, information can be received specifying one or more commands and a list of target computer systems. Upon receiving this information, the one or more commands can be automatically executed in parallel against the target computer systems. In certain embodiments, executing the one or more commands in parallel can include forking a child process for each target computer system, and executing the one or more commands against that target computer system in the context of the child process. Output and error information that is collected by each child process as a result of executing the one or more commands can be aggregated and made available to a system administrator upon completion. Further, error information that is generated as a result of the automated administration process itself can be stored and made available to the system administrator for review.
US09275368B1	Annotation mapping A method for annotation mapping includes identifying a set of differences between a first version of a document and a second version of the document, the first version comprising annotations. The method further includes generating a position map that maps differences between the first version and the second version, where the position map facilitates the migration of the annotations from the first version to the second version.
US09275363B2	Apparatus, systems, and methods to facilitate the interaction between parties Devices, systems and methods for facilitating interactions between individuals are disclosed. The exemplary method may include providing member facility information and allowing other members to review the facility information. Members may request a meeting with another member with details of the requested meeting via the system. The request is transmitted to another member and the other member may accept, deny, or modify the request by the other member. Members may have an other members inclusive list or other members exclusive list to assist in facilitating interactions. Ratings may be used to rate other members and interaction facilities to aid in facilitating future interactions.
US09275362B2	Method and system for handling files with mobile terminals and a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium A method and system for handling files with mobile terminals and a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be used in particular for handling e-mail attachments and the like on mobile terminals (PDAs, Smartphone, mobile phone) are described. According to the described method, an original file is stored on a data processing device different from the mobile terminal, and a file corresponding to the original file is generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal. The corresponding file includes information about the storage location of the original file. The original file is handled on the data processing device. An application installed on the mobile terminal processes at least part of the data in the corresponding file according to user input entered on the mobile terminal. First processing device is thereby prompted to execute handling of the original file according to the user input.
US09275360B2	Account opening flow configuration computer system and process for implementing same An account opening computer system is configured to provide a flexible front end user interface, separating and decoupling the computer implemented user journey from computer implemented business process(es). The flexible front end user interface includes a plurality of portlets and a component-based object-oriented flow configuration to configure and/or navigate the flow of display screens. Various embodiments are described, including a computer implemented method of account opening using a flow configuration.
US09275354B2	Power management device, power management method, and demand notifying device A power management device includes a power demand predicting section, demand control section, demand issuing section, and acceptance receiving section. The power demand predicting section calculates a first predicted amount of power demand, representing a result of prediction of power demand of a power consumer on a date and time in a future, and a second predicted amount of power demand, being calculated after the first predicted amount of power demand, and represents a result of prediction of power demand of the consumer on the date and time in the future. The demand control section determines a demand for prompting the consumer to adjust the amount of power demand based on the first and the second predicted amounts of power demand. The demand issuing section issues the demand determined by the demand control section to the consumer. The acceptance receiving section receives acceptance of the issued demand by the consumer.
US09275353B2	Event-processing operators Novel event-processing operators are provided. These novel operators can be advantageously utilized in implementing event processors and event-processing systems. The novel event-processing operators include operators for event filtering by clustering, operators for event partitioning by classification, operators for event abstraction by hypothesis testing, and operators for event filtering by point estimation.
US09275350B2	Managing online shop using instant messaging system A method and a system for managing an online shop use an instant messaging system to allow an auxiliary account to log in and manage an online shop of a primary account user. The primary account user creates an online shop in an online shop server, and associates itself with one or more auxiliary accounts in an instant messaging system. Upon authorization by primary account user to allow an auxiliary account to manage the online shop, the system records an authorization relation between the auxiliary account and the primary account. The authorization relation may be recorded in the instant messaging system. Based on the recorded authorization relation, the system allows a user of the authorized auxiliary account to manage the online shop system through the instant messaging system. An instant messaging server serving for this purpose is also disclosed.
US09275349B2	Healthcare system integration An approach is provided for acquiring and integrating data into external services. According to the approach, image and/or video data and identification data are received from a client device. The image and/or video data includes one or more images and/or video data of an object that are acquired by the client device and the identification data is data that uniquely identifies the object. Record data is generated and stored that includes the identification data and at least a reference to the image and/or video data. The image and/or video data and the identification data are transmitted to an external service. This identification data allows an external service to associate the image and/or video data with other data maintained by the external service.
US09275348B2	Identifying participants for collaboration in a threat exchange community Identifying participants for collaboration in a threat exchange community can include receiving security data from a plurality of participants at a threat exchange server within the threat exchange community; and in response to receiving from a first participant from the plurality of participants security data associated with a security occurrence, identifying at the threat exchange server the first participant and a second participant from the plurality of participants for collaboration based on characteristics of the first participant and the second participant.
US09275347B1	Online content classifier which updates a classification score based on a count of labeled data classified by machine deep learning Embodiments are directed towards online content classification that includes training a machine learning system. A batch of data items may be randomly selected from unlabeled test data. The batch of data items may be communicated to a client computer enabling a user to label each data item based on the contents of each data item. These labeled data items may be employed to train the machine learning system. While a classification result score is less than a threshold value, iteration may be performed to train the machine learning system. For each iteration another batch of data items may be selected from the unlabeled test data. This batch of data items may be classified using the machine learning system. The batch of classified data items may be communicated back to the client computer to be labeled by the user.
US09275340B2	System and method for graph pattern analysis In some example embodiments, a system and method are provided for graph pattern analysis. In example embodiments, pattern data of a primary network that includes data relating to relationships between entities are received. A secondary network based on the pattern data of the primary network is generated by using an algorithm that processes pattern characteristics extracted from the pattern data. The generated secondary network is provided for further analysis.
US09275336B2	Method and system for skipping over group(s) of rules based on skip group rule A method and corresponding system for providing a skip group rule feature is disclosed. When a search for a key matches a skip group rule in a group of prioritized rules, the search skips over rules having priorities lower than the skip group rule and the search continues to a next group. A convenient example of a compiler rewrites the lower priority rules by subtracting the skip group rule from them. The subtraction includes subtracting range, exact-match, mask, and prefix fields. The rewritten rules appear to a search processor as typical rules. Beneficially, the search processor requires no additional logic to process a skip group rule, skip over lower priority rules, and go on to search a next group of rules. Advantageously, this approach enables any number of skip group rules to be defined allowing for better classification of network data.
US09275334B2	Increasing signal to noise ratio for creation of generalized and robust prediction models A computer system iteratively executes a decision tree-based prediction model using a set of input variables. The iterations create corresponding rankings of the input variables. The computer system generates overall variables contribution data using the rankings of the input variables and identifies key input variables based on the overall variables contribution data.
US09275328B1	Neuromorphic compiler A neuromorphic compiler includes a placement module to provide analytic placement of neurons in a neural network description. The analytic placement is to produce placed neurons. The neuromorphic compiler further includes a smoothing module to perform diffusion-based smoothing of the placed neurons; a legalization module to adjust locations of the placed neurons to correspond to legal locations of neuromorphic neurons within a neural fabric; and a simulated annealing module to refine locations of the placed neurons within the neural fabric using simulated annealing following location adjustment by the legalization module. The neural fabric is to implement a synaptic time-multiplexed (STM) neuromorphic network.
US09275324B2	Booster antenna structure for a chip card In various embodiments, a booster antenna structure for a chip card is provided, wherein the booster antenna structure may include a booster antenna; and an additional electrically conductive structure connected to the booster antenna.
US09275321B2	Information carrying card comprising a cross-linked polymer composition, and method of making the same The disclosure provides a cross-linkable polymer composition, a core layer for an information carrying card comprising such cross-linked composition, resulting information carrying card, and methods of making the same. A crosslinkable polymer composition comprises a curable base polymer resin in a liquid or paste form, and a particulate thermoplastic filler. The base polymer resin is selected from the group consisting of urethane acrylate, silicone acrylate, epoxy acrylate, urethane, acrylate, silicone and epoxy. The particulate thermoplastic filler may be polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a copolymer of vinyl chloride and at least another monomer, or a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a compound or blend thereof.
US09275319B2	Electric power system and image forming apparatus An electric power system includes: a switching power supply converting an AC into a DC and operating in an on mode and an off mode; a power supply control unit activated when electric power is supplied from the AC power supply, and the power supply control unit being configured to control an oscillation operation of the switching power supply according to the mode designation signal; a mode control unit generating the mode designation signal; and an auxiliary power supply configured to supply electric power to the mode control unit when the switching power supply does not oscillate. In one of the on mode and off mode, the mode control unit performs outputs a consecutive-pulse signal to the power supply control unit. In the other mode, the mode control unit performs a restriction process of restricting output of the consecutive-pulse signal.
US09275314B2	Imaging forming apparatus and method that adjusts an XPS file to the outputted paper size An image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit to receives an XML paper specification (XPS) file, an XPS file processing unit which converts the XPS file into an output data corresponding to printing paper to print the XPS file using information regarding the height and width of a FixedPage in the XPS file, and a control unit which controls the image forming apparatus to print the output data. Accordingly, even when an XPS file does not include information regarding printing paper, a user can select and print printing paper suitable for the user's demand.
US09275313B2	Printing apparatus capable of specifying and storing user defined envelope flap sizes A printing apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a sheet holding unit configured to hold an envelope, a first setting unit configured to set a standard-size of an envelope for the sheet holding unit and a second setting unit configured to set an additional size attached to the standard-size for the sheet holding unit. The printing apparatus further includes a storage unit configured to store the standard-size and the additional size attached to the standard-size for the sheet holding unit, and a presentation unit configured to, when a standard-size of an envelope is newly set for the sheet holding unit, acquire the additional size attached to the set standard-size from the storage unit and present the additional size.
US09275312B2	Print control apparatus, print control system, and print control method to determine a surface-effect selection table corresponding to an acquired piece of recording medium information A print control apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store surface-effect selection tables for respective pieces of recording medium information on a recording medium, different types of same surface effects being registered in each surface-effect selection table; an acquiring unit configured to acquire a piece of recording medium information; a table generating unit configured to generate a surface-effect selection table corresponding to the piece of recording medium information and store the surface-effect selection table in the storage unit; a determining unit configured to determine the surface-effect selection table; and an image data generating unit configured to generate image data based on the surface-effect selection table and based on gloss-control plane data in which a type of a surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and an area of the recording medium to which the surface effect is to be applied are specified.
US09275311B2	Efficient image matching for large sets of images A system and method to detect similarities between images. The system and method allow comparisons between a query image and one or more catalog images in a manner that is resilient to scanning, scaling, rotating, cropping and other distortions of the query image. The system includes an image processing module that determines and/or calculates principle features of a catalog image and constructs a feature vector using one or more of the principle features. The system also includes a matching module that matches a query image to one or more catalog images. The system finds matches based on a distance measure of features present in the query image and features present in the catalog images.
US09275310B2	Evaluating image similarity Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for creating an image similarity model. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining feature vectors for images in a set of images, and determining first similarity measures for unlabeled images relative to a reference image. The first similarity measures are independent of first similarity feedback between the unlabeled images and the reference image. The unlabeled images are ranked based on the first similarity measures, and a weighted feature vector is generated based, in part, on the ranking. Second similarity measures are determined, independent of second similarity feedback, for labeled images and a second reference image. The labeled images are ranked based on the second similarity measures. The weighted feature vector is adjusted based, in part, on a comparison of the ranking to a second ranking of the labeled images that is based on the second similarity feedback.
US09275305B2	Learning device and method, recognition device and method, and program A learning device includes: a generating unit configured to generate an image having different resolution from an input image; an extracting unit configured to extract a feature point serving as a processing object from an image generated by the generating unit; a calculating unit configured to calculate the feature amount of the feature point by subjecting the feature point to filter processing employing a predetermined filter; and an identifier generating unit configured to generate an identifier for detecting a predetermined target object from the image by statistical learning employing the feature amount; with the filter including a plurality of regions, and the calculating unit taking the difference value of difference within the regions as the feature amount.
US09275301B2	Method and system for creating digital image album The disclosed embodiments related to a method and system for creating a digital image album implementable on a computing device. The method includes grouping a plurality of digital images to generate a plurality of groups. Each of the plurality of groups is then transmitted to one or more crowdworkers for ranking each digital image of the plurality of groups. A final rank corresponding to each of the plurality of digital images is then determined based on the one or more ranks assigned by the one or more crowdworkers to each digital image of the plurality of groups. Thereafter, at least one digital image is selected from each of the plurality of groups based on the final rank of at least one digital image to create the digital image album.
US09275299B2	System and method for identifying image locations showing the same person in different images The same person is automatically recognized in different images from his or her clothing. Color pixel values of a first and second image are captures and areas are selected for a determination whether they show the same person. First histograms of pixels area are computed, representing sums of contributions from pixels with color values in histogram bins. Each histogram bin corresponds to a combination of a range of color values and a range of heights in the areas. The ranges of color values are normalized relative to a distribution of color pixel values in areas. Furthermore, second histograms of pixels in the areas are computed, the second histograms representing sums of contributions from pixels with color values in further histogram bins. The further histogram bins are at least partly unnormalized. First and second histogram intersection scores of the first and second histograms are computed. A combined detection score is computed from the first and second histogram scores.
US09275297B2	Techniques for identifying parking lots in remotely-sensed images by identifying parking rows Processing and analyzing at least one remotely-sensed image to automatically detect and identify parking lots within a region of the remotely-sensed image. This may include: (1) receiving a remotely-sensed image having zero or more parking lots; (2) identifying a set of pixels related to parking lot features within the remotely-sensed image; (3) identifying at least one parking row within the remotely-sensed image; and (3) identifying a parking lot based on the identified parking rows. Identifying at least one parking lot may further include using first, second, third, and fourth level modules, such as a concrete/asphalt detection module, a road marking detection module, a vehicle detection module, and a Hough aggregation for parking row detection module.
US09275293B2	Automated object identification and processing based on digital imaging and physical attributes A method and associated systems for object identification and subsequent processing based on digital imaging and physical attributes. An object-identification system receives, in a materials-handling environment, a digital image and physical attributes that characterize an unidentified object. An attempt is made to identify the object by matching the image and attributes to those of known objects stored in an image database, an attribute database, or another external source. The object is associated with a label that identifies the actual object, associates the object with a similar object that may be substituted for the actual object in a desired application, or designates the object as unidentifiable. The digital image, label, and external sources used to identify the object may be updated by associating them with metadata gathered during the identification process. Subsequent processing is governed by business rules that operate as functions of the label data.
US09275292B2	Shape measurement apparatus and method A shape measurement apparatus includes a work stage supporting a target substrate, a pattern-projecting section including a light source, a grating part partially transmitting and blocking light generated by the light source to generate a grating image and a projecting lens part making the grating image on a measurement target of the target substrate, an image-capturing section capturing the grating image reflected by the measurement target of the target substrate, and a control section controlling the work stage, the pattern-projecting section and the image-capturing section, calculating a reliability index of the grating image and phases of the grating image, which is corresponding to the measurement target, and inspecting the measurement target by using the reliability index and the phases. Thus, the accuracy of measurement may be enhanced.
US09275291B2	System and method of classifier ranking for incorporation into enhanced machine learning Systems and methods are disclosed for machine classifiers that employ enhanced machine learning. The machine classification may be automated, based on the input of human classifiers, or a combination of both. The selection of human classifiers is determined by a classifier ranking or scoring process. In addition, data generated by the ranking or scoring process can be used to train the machine classifiers to more accurately classify data.
US09275287B2	Driving assistance device An indication control unit 11 indicates a side-rearward image of a vehicle 1 captured by a left-rearward camera 2L and a right-rearward camera 2R mounted on the vehicle 1, after superimposing guidelines showing a guide of a distance from the vehicle 1, to a left-rearward indicator 3L and a right-rearward indicator 3R. A road shape recognizing unit 13 recognizes a shape of a road on which the vehicle is traveling. When it is recognized by the road shape recognizing unit 13 that the vehicle 1 is traveling on the road of a predetermined shape, the indication control unit 11 sets the guidelines to non-display, or sets an indicating position of the guidelines according to the shape of the road recognized by the road shape recognizing unit 13.
US09275285B2	Methods and apparatus to count people in images Methods and apparatus to count people in images are disclosed. An example method includes generating a first fluctuation factor for a first frame by averaging fluctuation values of a random set of pixels of the first frame; generating a second fluctuation factor for a person indication area of the first frame by averaging fluctuation values of pixels of the person indication area; and marking the person indication area as a false positive when the second fluctuation factor is less than or equal to the first fluctuation factor.
US09275284B2	Method and apparatus for extraction of static scene photo from sequence of images An apparatus and method for extracting a static background image from a non-static image sequence or video sequence having at least three spatially overlapping frames is presented. Obscured static background areas are filled, according to the disclosure, with actual content as the background area becomes visible over time as non-static objects move with respect to the background. Consecutive image frames are stored in tracking buffers from which alignment is performed and absolute differences determined. Object contours are found in the difference image and bounding boxes determined as object masks. The background is then filled from areas outside these object masks to arrive at a static background image.
US09275266B2	Apparatus and method for tracking contour of moving object, and apparatus and method for analyzing myocardial motion A moving object contour tracking apparatus includes a contour tracking section for performing, by taking an initial contour of the moving object in a predetermined image slice as a starting contour, contour tracking in a first time direction to acquire a first contour of the moving object and contour tracking in a second time direction to acquire a second contour of the moving object in each image slice; a contour comparison section for calculating, in the predetermined image slice, a similarity between the first contour and the initial contour and a similarity between the second contour and the initial contour; and a contour correction section for taking the contours in the image slices that are acquired in a contour tracking direction corresponding to the greater one of the two similarities as the contours of the moving object in the respective image slices.
US09275265B2	Seed sorter A seed sorter system is operable to sort seeds based on one or more characteristics of the seeds. The system includes a seed loading station operable to isolate individual seeds from a plurality of seeds and load the isolated seeds into a seed tray, an imaging and analysis subsystem operable to collect image data of at least a top portion and a bottom portion of each of the seeds in the seed tray and determine one or more characteristics of each of the seeds, a seed off-load and sort station operable to remove the seeds from the seed tray and sort the seeds to desired receptacles based on the determined one or more characteristics of the seeds, and a seed transport operable to move the seed tray between the seed loading station, the imaging and analysis subsystem, and the seed off-load and sort station.
US09275262B2	Container qualification method, associated storage enclosure A qualification method for a container provided with an RFID tag comprising the following steps when the container is stored in a storage enclosure comprising a sensor suitable for measuring the temperature within the enclosure and an RFID reader: a/ radiofrequency transmission by reader of a message comprising a value representative of a temperature measurement in the enclosure; step a/ being reiterated after each measurement moment of a plurality of predetermined successive measurement moments; b/ storage, by the RFID tag of the container, of the value included in said message received, the memory of the RFID tag comprising successively stored temperature values each associated with a distinct determined measurement moment; c/ qualification or disqualification of the container as a function of a comparison between the number of temperature values stored for the container and the number of said determined measurement moments.
US09275258B2	Verifying system and a method thereof This invention discloses a verifying system and method thereof. The verifying system comprises a plurality of objects to be verified and a verifying end. Each of the objects to be verified respectively comprises an identifying code. The verifying end has a database, and the database stores a plurality records of information of the objects respectively corresponding to each of the indentifying codes. When a user utilizes an electronic device to read one of the indentifying codes for making the electronic device connect to the verifying end, the verifying end compares the identifying code with the plurality records of information of the objects to generate an information of verification results which is then transmitted back to the electronic device. Herewith the effect of the present invention being verifying authenticity of the object by the indentifying code is achieved.
US09275256B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit A method of a semiconductor integrated circuit comprising a logic circuit including n storage elements (n is a positive integer) which can each store 1-bit information and an attack detection circuit, the method including detecting, by an error determination circuit, through a logic operation that k-bit or less errors (k is a positive integer) have occurred in n-bit codes stored in the n storage elements, and detecting, by a light irradiation detection circuit which includes light detection elements, that light has been irradiated to (k+1) or more of the n storage elements. It is determined that the logic circuit has been attacked from outside when the error determination circuit detects an error or the light irradiation detection circuit detects light irradiation.
US09275255B2	Methods, systems, and computer program products for protecting information on a user interface based on a viewability of the information Methods, systems, and computer program products for protecting information on a user interface based on a viewability of the information are disclosed. According to one method, a viewing position of a person other than a user with respect to information on a user interface is identified. An information viewability threshold is determined based on the information on the user interface. Further, an action associated with the user interface is performed based on the identified viewing position and the determined information viewability threshold.
US09275254B2	Augmented reality system for public and private seminars Described are computer implemented augmented reality techniques for public and private seminars that includes receive an indication of a start of a segment of a live presentation, the live presentation comprising at least one segment, with the at least one segment having at least one presentation component; receive information related to a plurality of users, receive rules to analyze the information and select from the information, private information pertaining to a particular user, with the selected information being relevant to the at least one presentation component of the at least one segment of the live presentation, generate an image that when rendered on a display device renders the private information pertaining to the particular user for that presentation component, and send the image of the private information to a device associated with the particular user.
US09275251B2	Segment deduplication system with encryption and compression of segments A system for storing encrypted compressed data comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to determine whether an encrypted compressed segment has been previously stored. The encrypted compressed segment was determined by breaking a data stream, a data block, or a data file into one or more segments and compressing and then encrypting each of the one or more segments. The processor is further configured to store the encrypted compressed segment in the event that the encrypted compressed segment has not been previously stored. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US09275250B2	Searchable encryption processing system In the searchable encryption processing system, a data base server retaining data, a registration client which deposits the data into the data base server, and a search client which causes the data base server to search the data collaborate across a network, wherein the registration client, using a probabilistic encryption method which uses a mask using a homomorphic function and a hash value, deposits the encrypted data into the server, whereupon the search client, using probabilistic encryption which uses the mask which uses the homomorphic function for encryption of the search query, outputs the search query and non-corresponding data as search results without causing the data base server to unmask the mask and without allowing the frequency of occurrences of the data corresponding to the search to leak to the data base server.
US09275249B1	Accelerated encrypted database operations Accelerated encrypted database operations may include a database receiving a modified database query and one or more decryption keys that correspond to the modified database query. Based, at least in part, on the modified database query and the one or more decryption keys, the database may generate partially decrypted query results. The database may submit the partially decrypted query results to an encryption manager for further decryption by an offload processor to generate further decrypted query results.
US09275242B1	Security system for cloud-based emails A cloud-based email system is accessed by way of a cloud access security system. The cloud access security system allows for encryption of incoming emails and outgoing emails stored in the cloud-based email system. The cloud access security system includes a protocol proxy for providing an interface between a client computer of a user and the cloud-based email system, an encryption module for indexing and encrypting emails, and an event listener for receiving email event notifications from the cloud-based email system and replacing emails with corresponding encrypted emails. The cloud access security system may receive encryption keys from a key manager hosted by a key server, which may be part of the cloud access security system or hosted on premise in the same private computer network as client computers employed by users.
US09275241B2	Cryptographic method In a cryptographic method between a portable data carrier and a terminal device there are employed a public data-carrier key and a secret data-carrier key of the data carrier as well as a public terminal key and a secret terminal key of the terminal device. The data carrier employs as a public data-carrier key a static public key. As a secret data-carrier key the data carrier employs a secret key that is derived from a secret basic key associated with the public data-carrier key. Within the framework of the method, the terminal device checks an authentication parameter associated with the data carrier and different from the data-carrier keys.
US09275237B2	Method and apparatus for privacy and trust enhancing sharing of data for collaborative analytics One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for privacy-preserving sharing of data for secure collaboration. During operation, the system obtains a first set of data describing network events associated with one or more network addresses. Next, the system negotiates with a potential partner to determine a metric for deciding whether to share data. The potential partner is associated with a second set of data describing network events. The system then computes a value for the metric in a privacy-preserving way, based on the first set of data and the second set of data. Subsequently, the system determines whether the metric value exceeds a predetermined threshold, and, responsive to determining that the metric value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the system shares the first set of data with the potential partner, while controlling how the data should be shared to optimize benefits and risks of collaboration.
US09275232B2	Systems and methods for evaluating a source code scanner Apparatuses, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium that evaluate a source code scanner are described. In one implementation, the method comprises obtaining source code. One or more good code snippets and one or more bad code snippets are inserted into the source code to obtain a modified source code. An issue list generated by the source code scanner upon scanning the modified source code is obtained. The issue list comprises code segments having security defects identified by the source code scanner, reasons for the security defects, and locations of the security defects in the modified source code. The code segments present in the issue list are compared with the one or more good code snippets and the one or more bad code snippets. A plurality of metrics, indicating quality of the source code scanner, are generated based on the comparison.
US09275227B2	Policy driven administration of mobile applications Policy-driven administration of mobile applications includes receiving a policy defined by a client system. The policy is defined by rules configured for implementation by a scanner and a compliance definition indicative of a threshold acceptability value for output of the implementation of the scanner on a mobile application. The policy-driven administration also includes executing the scanner for the mobile application and identifying an association between a mobile device and the client system. The policy-driven administration of mobile applications further includes controlling access to the mobile application by the mobile device based on results of executing the scanner using the compliance definition.
US09275226B1	Systems and methods for detecting selective malware attacks A computer-implemented method for detecting selective malware attacks is described. A website visited by a user is identified based on a number of visits to the website satisfying a predetermined threshold. A web crawl is performed on the identified website. Results of the web crawl are analyzed to determine whether the identified website includes a malicious software attack designed to selectively attack visitors to the website.
US09275224B2	Apparatus and method for improving detection performance of intrusion detection system An apparatus for improving detection performance of an intrusion detection system includes a transformed detected data generation unit for changing original detected data, detected based on current detection rules, to transformed detected data complying with transformed detected data standard. A transformed detected data classification unit classifies the transformed detected data by attack type, classifies transformed detected data for attack types by current detection rule, and classifies transformed detected data for detection rules into true positives/false positives. A transformed keyword tree generation unit generates a true positive transformed keyword tree and a false positive transformed keyword tree. A true positive path identification unit generates a true positive node, and identifies a true positive path connecting a base node to the true positive node in the true positive transformed keyword tree. A true positive detection pattern generation unit generates a true positive detection pattern based on the true positive path.
US09275222B2	Reliable selection of security countermeasures Among other things, this document describes a computer-implemented security method such as for authenticated selection of security countermeasures and for reliable identification of computing devices. The method can include receiving, by a computing system, a request from a computing device for an electronic resource. The computing system can identify a security token received from the device that made the request. Based on the security token, particular security countermeasures can be selected that are to be applied to the electronic resource to be served in response to the request. The countermeasures can be operable to interfere with an ability of malware to interact with the served electronic resource when the served electronic resource is on the computing device. Portions of the electronic resource that are to be executed on the computing device can be re-coded using the selected particular security countermeasures.
US09275217B2	ID usage tracker There is provided a method for using a multi-user operating system. A user attempts to access the multi-user operating system. The user is prompted to enter a shared credential associated with the multi-user operating system and an individual credential of the user. The entered shared credential and the entered individual credential are verified. Access is granted to the user if both the entered shared credential and the entered individual credential are verified. Commands entered by the user granted the access are tracked via the entered shared credential while the user is using the multi-user operating system. The tracked commands indicate the entered individual credential.
US09275215B2	Systems and methods for implementing and tracking identification tests Systems and methods for providing identification tests. In some embodiments, a system and a method are provided for generating and serving to a user an animated challenge graphic comprising a challenge character set whose appearance may change over time. In some embodiments, marketing content may be incorporated into a challenge message for use in an identification test. The marketing content may be accompanied by randomly selected content to increase a level of security of the identification test, hi some embodiments, a challenge message for use in an identification test may be provided based on information regarding a transaction for which the identification test is administered. For example, the transaction information may include a user identifier such as an IP address. In some embodiments, identification test results may be tracked and analyzed to identify a pattern of behavior associated with a user identifier. A score indicative of a level of trustworthiness may be computed for the user identifier.
US09275214B2	Authentication method and system A codebook, comprising a number of groups of symbols in a predetermined pattern printed on a card or the like is issued to a user. The user is attributed or selects an extraction pattern representing an order of progression through the symbols in each group of symbols. When the user wishes to make an authentication action an authentication party challenges the user to submit the symbols found at selected positions in the extraction pattern. The user applies the extraction pattern to the codebook and retrieves the symbols found at the selected positions, and submits these to the authenticating party. The authenticating party applies the same extraction pattern to the same codebook, and determines whether the results match those submitted by the user, and in a case where the two sets of symbols match, authenticates the user.
US09275211B2	System and method for utilizing behavioral characteristics in authentication and fraud prevention A behavioral characteristics authentication system and method (“BCA system”) that facilitates authentication of the identity of a user, registrant, or applicant of a website, application, or other accessible computer resource using a verification process that incorporates behavioral characteristics. In operation, the BCA system compares a single user's behavior with their previous behavior, a user's behavior with behavior generally attributed to non-fraudulent behavior, or a user's behavior with behavior generally attributed to fraudulent behavior. The population of other users that a user's behavior is compared with may be selected to have similar demographic or other characteristics as the user. By analyzing various behavioral characteristics associated with legitimate or fraudulent multi-factor authentication attempts, the BCA system adds another layer of security to online transactions.
US09275205B2	Material output system for outputting meeting material for prospective participant in meeting In a material output system, if it is determined that a meeting management server has stored therein meeting information in which an authenticated person is included in prospective participants in a meeting, in which an installation place of MFP that has performed authentication agrees with a meeting room where the meeting is held, and in which the present date and time is included in a meeting room reservation time, MFP is instructed to output a material saved in a location associated with the meeting information. If it is determined that such meeting information is not stored in the meeting management server, the material output system displays a screen to allow output of the material saved in the associated location, for at least one piece of meeting information in which the authenticated user is included in prospective participants in a meeting. Accordingly, the material can be promptly distributed to the participant in the meeting.
US09275204B1	Enhanced network access-control credentials In aspects of enhanced network access-control credentials, a network access device includes a network interface for data communication with network-connected devices via a network. The network access device implements an access control manager that receives a network access request from a requesting device to access the network, where the network access request includes authentication credentials. The access control manager can then modify the network access request to generate a modified network access request, and initiate communication of the modified network access request to an authentication server that authenticates the requesting device to the network based on the modified network access request.
US09275203B1	Methods, systems, and computer readable media for preventing software piracy and protecting digital documents using same The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for preventing software piracy. One method includes specifying at least one codemark that is intrinsic to a computing system. The method further includes inserting guard code in an application. The guard code including a first code portion that uses a codemark and produces an output that depends on a value of the codemark and a second code portion that uses the output of the first code portion. The method further includes executing the first and second code portions and selectively triggering a protective action based on the output of the second code portion. Multiple types, styles, and frequencies of guard codes can be used to provide in-depth, long lasting, and strong protection.
US09275200B2	Information processing device, license assignment method, and computer-readable, non-transitory medium An information processing apparatus includes a storage for storing a plurality types of software licenses in association with a number of possessed licenses, a product type of a software product, and a device specification condition, a receiver for receiving information of a software product operating in a management target device and information of a device specification of the management target device, a determining module for determining a software license to be assigned to the management target device based on the number of possessed licenses, a number of the product types, or the device specification condition, when there is a plurality of software licenses, in which the software product is included in the product type and the device specification meets the device specification condition, among the plurality types of software licenses, and an assigning module for assigning a software license determined by the determining module to the management target device.
US09275195B1	Intermediated rights management One customer of the license clearinghouse may act as an intermediary and perform selected tasks on behalf of another customer. In particular, an intermediary customer can make rights inquiries that access the portion of the central repository that belongs to its client in order to determine rights available to the client. In one embodiment, the portion of the central repository that is accessed in response to a rights inquiry is determined by an IP address of the device being used to make the rights inquiry. This IP address is used to retrieve a record having a customer ID and a field that indicates whether the IP address corresponds to a rights intermediary. If this is the case, a keyword corresponding to the customer ID of the customer that is provided in the rights request by the rights intermediary is used to access the central repository.
US09275193B2	Processing system and method A method and computer program product for monitoring one or more processes occurring during a first portion of a multi-portion recipe being executed on a processing device to obtain data concerning at least of portion of the one or more processes. At least a portion of the data is stored. The availability of the at least a portion of the data is enabled to one or more processes occurring during a second portion of the multi-portion recipe.
US09275188B2	Multi-stage search for microbe mass spectra in reference libraries Microbes in a sample are identified by calculating similarities between a mass spectrum of the sample and reference mass spectra in a spectral library. The spectral library is divided into a hierarchy of sub-libraries where each sub-library contains reference mass spectra of microbes which are statistically the most prevalent in the samples, but are not included in other sub-libraries and all additional reference mass spectra in the library that have substantial similarity to the reference mass spectra of these microbes. Only if the search in a sub-library does not provide a hit with sufficient certainty of identification, is the search carried out in sub-libraries of higher stages.
US09275187B2	Programmable test chip, system and method for characterization of integrated circuit fabrication processes A test chip, system and method for testing large numbers of test devices on a single test chip decreases the time and complexity required to characterize the variation and reliability of the IC fabrication process. A remotely configurable test chip can be programmed with varying bias conditions for testing of process variation or numerous failure modes on large sample sizes. An on-chip addressing technique allows large numbers of test devices to be tested simultaneously and the measurement signals read out serially for different test devices. The test chip may be configured for wafer, die or package-level testing.
US09275186B2	Optimization for circuit migration An embodiment is a method for providing an adjusted electronic representation of an integrated circuit layout, the method including using one or more processor, generating a timing performance of a path in a first netlist, identifying a first cell in the path that violates a timing performance parameter, and generating a plurality of derivative cells from a subsequent cell that is in the path after the first cell, where each derivative cell includes a variation of the subsequent cell. The method further includes in response to the identifying the first cell, replacing the subsequent cell with at least one of the plurality of derivative cells to generate a first modified netlist, where the variation of the at least one of the plurality of derivative cells reduces the violation of the timing performance parameter, and generating a final netlist based on the first modified netlist.
US09275184B1	Method and apparatus for performing timing closure analysis when performing register retiming A method for designing a system on a target device includes performing register retiming on the system. A critical chain in the system is detected, wherein the critical chain includes a plurality of register-to-register paths and where improving timing on one of the register-to-register paths improves timing on other register-to-register paths. Properties of the critical chain are reported.
US09275183B2	Apparatus and method for aiding in designing electronic circuits First and second pin groups are each formed from a plurality of pins associated with specific nets. Pins in the first pin group are to be wired to pins in the second pin group according to their associated nets. A candidate selection unit selects a set of pair candidates each specifying a first pair of pins in the first pin group and a second pair of pins in the second pin group. The first and second pairs of pins are associated with the same pair of nets, and their respective distances are within a specified range. A pair determination unit determines which pins in the first and second pin groups are to be wired in pairs, based on the pair candidates selected by the candidate selection unit.
US09275176B2	Register clustering for clock network topology generation In some embodiments, in a method, a physical netlist of a placed IC chip design is received. The physical netlist comprises a plurality of registers. Timing criticalities of register pairs in the registers are obtained. Weights to the register pairs are assigned based on the timing criticalities of the register pairs. Candidate registers that are in physical vicinity of a first cluster are identified. If a first candidate register in the candidate registers of the first cluster is in a second cluster, selecting the first candidate register as the first register to be added to the first cluster if sum of weights of other candidate registers in register pairs across the boundary of the first cluster and the first candidate register in one or more register pairs across a boundary of the second cluster is optimized.
US09275175B2	Integrated circuit clock tree visualizer A system that visualizes a clock tree for an integrated circuit receives an extracted cell library, an extracted clock netlist including clock headers and interconnects, and simulation results. The system generates an internal data structure for the clock headers, and divides the clock headers into a plurality of levels based on the interconnects. The system then orders the clock headers from a lowest level to a highest level, and displays the ordered clock headers in an untangled manner.
US09275168B2	Hardware projection of fixed and variable length columns of database tables In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a hardware accelerator, a first instruction to project a first plurality of database rows, where each of the first plurality of database rows has one or more variable-length columns. The first plurality of database rows are projected, by a computer processor, to produce a first plurality of projected rows. This projection is performed at streaming rate.
US09275151B2	System and method for generating a user profile A system and method is disclosed for generating a user profile. The method discloses: receiving a user profile request from a profile requester; identifying profile fragments with a profile mediator, from existing profiles in a profile corpus which are responsive to the user profile request; aggregating the identified profile fragments into the user profile response; and transmitting the user profile response to the profile requestor. The system discloses various means and modules for effecting the method.
US09275149B2	Utilizing social network relevancy as a factor in ranking search results A method, a system and a computer program product for influencing ranking of URLs in a search engine. In an example embodiment, a computer determines that a posting of a URL has occurred in a social networking environment, the computer tracks accesses of the URL subsequent to the posting of the URL. The computer further determines whether a number of accesses of the URL has increased subsequent to the posting of the URL and, responsive to determining that the number of accesses of the URL has increased subsequent to the posting of the URL, the computer determines whether the number of accesses of the URL has increased by at least a predefined threshold. Further, responsive to determining that the number of accesses of the URL has increased by at least the predefined threshold, the computer increases the ranking of the URL in a search engine.
US09275144B2	System and method for metadata search A system, a method, and a computer readable article of manufacture for metadata searching. The system includes: a receiving module for receiving a search query with respect to a plurality of metadata resources; a query module for parsing the search query and searching related metadata resources and the structural information among the related metadata resources according to the parsing of the search query; and an output module for outputting the search results so as to realize a fuzzy structural search with respect to the plurality of metadata resources. The method includes the steps of: receiving a search query that does not designate complete structural information of the metadata resources; parsing the search query and searching related metadata resources to form search results that include the complete structural information; and outputting the search results.
US09275141B2	Methods and systems for processing a sample of a media stream Methods and systems for processing a sample of a media stream are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a sample of a media stream rendered by a media rendering source, and for matching media recordings from which the sample was obtained, the method also includes receiving a signature file including a temporally mapped collection of features describing content of the matching media recordings. Each received signature file may be stored in memory. In addition, a signature stream may be received that includes features extracted from the media stream, and a number of matching features between the signature stream of the media stream and the signature file for at least one matching media recording can be determined. In one example, when substantially matching features between the signature stream of the media stream and the signature file for a matching media recording stop occurring, a discontinuity can be identified.
US09275136B1	Method for siren detection based on audio samples The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses that enable an apparatus to identify sounds from short samples of audio. The apparatus may capture an audio sample and create several audio signals of different lengths, each containing audio from the captured audio sample. The apparatus my process the several audio signals in an attempt to identify features of the audio signal that indicate an identification of the captured sound. Because shorter audio samples can be analyzed more quickly, the system may first process the shortest audio samples in order to quickly identify features of the audio signal. Because longer audio samples contain more information, the system may be able to more accurately identify features in the audio signal in longer audio samples. However, analyzing longer audio signals takes more buffered audio than identifying features in shorter signals. Therefore, the present system attempts to identify features in the shortest audio signals first.
US09275135B2	Annotating entities using cross-document signals An apparatus and an article of manufacture for annotating an entity in a document corpus using cross-document signals include determining which documents in a document corpus mention an entity of interest, clustering the documents that mention an entity of interest according to a temporal signal, a structural signal and/or a content signal, thereby forming at least one cluster of documents, and annotating at least one document in the at least one cluster of documents by marking each occurrence of the entity in the at least one document.
US09275132B2	Entity-centric knowledge discovery A user interface of an entity-centric knowledge discovery system presents an entity profile including a mix of structured and unstructured data relating to an entity. As a user refines the entity profile based on information gathered from various sources, the changing entity profile can be used as a substantially continuously updating query to search, retrieve, and rank new and pertinent information specifically relevant to the profiled entity. The platform described herein provide an active loop for refining an entity description and searching for additional information in which human input and machine-based algorithms can cooperate to more quickly build a comprehensive description of an entity of interest.
US09275131B2	Data indexing system, data indexing method and data querying method A data indexing system is provided. The system includes: a time interval splitting unit configured to split a predetermined time range into a plurality of time intervals. A first index creating unit is configured to create a first-level index for data in a current time interval, the first-level index including a time interval index and a subspace index. A second index creating unit is configured to create, in a time interval after the current time interval, a second-level index for data in the current time interval. The second-level index has a finer granularity than the first-level index. A data indexing method and a data querying method are also provided. The cost for index maintenance can be greatly reduced in a case of frequent updates. Further, invalid scans during the query process can be reduced and the query performance can be improved.
US09275130B2	Semi-automatic index term augmentation in document retrieval Disclosed are methods and systems for indexing or retrieving materials accessible through computer networks.
US09275128B2	Method and system for document indexing and data querying Generating a document index comprises: obtaining a document to be indexed; determining whether each monadic partition obtained from the document is a filter character and if so, forming a polynary partition with the monadic partition and at least one adjacent monadic partition and indexing the polynary partition, otherwise, indexing the monadic partition. Querying data comprising: receiving a data query, determining whether each monadic partition obtained from the data query is a filter character and if so, forming a polynary partition with the monadic partition and at least one adjacent monadic partition and using the polynary partition to obtain search results, otherwise, using the monadic partition to obtain search results; and combining search results to form a final query search result.
US09275125B1	System for organizing data from a plurality of users to create individual user profiles A system and related methods for organizing incoming data into profiles and persons based upon identifying characteristics. Profiles contain identifying characteristics that are assigned different values based upon reliability factors, such as age of the data, or generality of the data. These values are used to link a plurality of profiles together into a person. As persons are created and stored by the system, the introduction of new persons causes both new data and existing data to be evaluated so that when information for a person already present in the system is entered the objects are merged rather than duplicated. Self healing mechanisms allow data integrity to be maintained despite changes in configuration or data reliability valuation by re-evaluating links between profiles and identification of persons when a change is detected. Several APIs allow end users to insert new data an access existing data.
US09275119B2	Sharing search queries on online social network In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph that includes a plurality of nodes and edges, receiving from a user a selection of a structured query the user wants to share, where the structured query comprises references to nodes and edges of the social graph, and sending the structured query for display on a page associated with one or more other users.
US09275115B2	Correlating corpus/corpora value from answered questions Mechanisms are provided for dynamically selecting a subset of candidate answer sources for use by a question and answer (QA) system. The QA system receives an input question for which an answer is sought and generates one or more queries based on the input question. The QA system selects a subset of candidate answer sources, from a group of candidate answer sources, based on a ranked listing of candidate answer sources. The ranked listing of candidate answer sources is generated based on characteristics of previous candidate answers generated by the QA system for previously input questions. The QA system applies the one or more queries to the subset of candidate answer sources and generates at least one candidate answer for the input question based on results of applying the one or more queries to the subset of candidate answer sources.
US09275113B1	Language-specific search results Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products are described for ranking content items identified by a search engine and delivering corresponding search results. In one aspect, search engine user language preference data is stored in association with user content item selection records. Analysis of the records is performed to identify content items that appeal to users having common language preferences. Query results can be ranked based on the language preference of the current user and/or the user's query and data derived from the selection records.
US09275108B1	Efficient top-down hierarchical join on a hierarchically clustered data stream An apparatus for conducting a hierarchical join on a hierarchically clustered data stream is disclosed. The apparatus may include a memory storing query conditions that each determine whether a Structured Query Language query is suitable for performing a non-buffering read operation on a hierarchical data storage. A processor in communication with the memory may be configured to receive a Structured Query Language (“SQL”) query from a client device and evaluate the SQL query for one or more of the query conditions stored in the memory. When the processor determines that the SQL query satisfies one or more of the query conditions, the processor may then perform a non-buffering read operation on the hierarchical data storage to obtain a hierarchically clustered data stream. The hierarchically clustered data stream may be evaluated to obtain a plurality of record results, which may be transmitted to the client device.
US09275107B2	Apparatus and method for analyzing query optimizer performance A method of analyzing the performance of a query optimizer includes identifying an event trigger. A reproduction object characterizing operational parameters of the customer computer at the time of the event trigger is populated. The reproduction object is transported from the customer computer to a test computer. The reproduction object is analyzed at the test computer to characterize the performance of a query optimizer.
US09275106B2	Dynamic search box for web browser A system may receive one or more terms of a search query. The system may automatically identify prior search queries that include the one or more terms of the search query from a history of prior search queries. The system may automatically identify possible spelling corrected search queries based on the one or more terms of the search queries. The system may automatically receive remote server-based query completion suggestions including the one or more terms of the search query. The system may present query refinement options, the query refinement box being populated with the prior search queries as suggested queries for possible selection by a user, the identified possible spelling corrected search queries, and the received query completion suggestions.
US09275104B2	Structured relevance—a mechanism to reveal how data is related A machine receives a description of the relationships among members of a data set. The machine constructs a graph that represents the relationships among the members of the data set, organizing the members of the data set into groups. The groups are analyzed to determine their relative strengths. Unbalanced groups can be balanced by splitting off heavy sub-trees that include too large a percentage of the nodes in the group. The machine can then use the graph to answer queries about members of the data set.
US09275100B2	Method, apparatus and system of processing correlated keywords The present disclosure discloses a method, an apparatus and a system of processing related keywords. The method includes: receive a primary keyword inputted by a user; form a spliced URL for requesting related keywords based on the primary keyword; establish a link between an embedded window object in a current web page and a server using the URL to obtain the related keywords from the server; the embedded window object creates a keyword list and presents the related keywords in the current web page; and obtain a related keyword selected by the user and instantaneously add the related keyword into an input box.
US09275097B2	Set-oriented locking based on in-memory bitmaps for a column-oriented database A set-oriented locking based on in-memory bitmap for a column store database is described. An example method includes establishing a column-based in-memory database including a main store and a delta store, where the delta store has a plurality of row-visibility lock bitmaps visible to transactions at various points in time. The lock bitmaps represent a bit encoding to indicate whether there are granted row locks tables in the database. A delete or an update statement is executed with a transaction on a table. A set of row locks on rows of the table manipulated by the delete or the update statement are requested to preclude other transactions from currently deleting or updating the same rows. Accordingly, set operations are performed on the lock bitmap to manage the set of row locks associated with the transaction.
US09275096B2	Optimized b-tree The present technology includes an optimized b-tree. To improve concurrent access, a read lock can be applied to traversed nodes of a b-tree in a lock coupling. A read locked node can be promoted to a write locked node upon a determination that the node is likely to be modified, wherein the locked node first restricts access to further functions and then applies a write lock to the node when all existing functions accessing the node end. If one of the other functions attempts to promote the later function can be canceled and removed from the tree. A node can be promoted if the node is likely to be modified when considering multiple factors such as type of function, whether it is a leaf node, the number of keys in the node, or the number of keys in a child node.
US09275092B2	Methods and systems for encoding the maximum resolution data level for a quadtree A method and system for searching for data covered by nodes in a quadtree are disclosed. Nodes at a selected level of the quadtree are encoded with an index. The index nodes store data related to the level of descendants and ancestors of each index node. To search for data covered by a particular desired node, the index node ancestor or descendant of the desired node is determined. Based on the data in the index node, the desired node can be located without a full traversal of the quadtree. The quadtree nodes store elevation data for points on the Earth.
US09275091B2	Database management device and database management method A database management device includes: plural index blocks that have an index entry and an access counter including a read counter and a write counter; an access management unit that updates the read counter in response to a read access to an index block and updates the write counter in response to an update access to the index block; an extended block manipulation unit that acquires an extended block not identified with an index entry of another index block and serving as a destination of storing a new index entry on the basis of a result of comparison between the read counter and the write counter of a leaf block serving as a target of inserting the new index entry, and sets identification information for identifying the extended block to the leaf block serving as the target of insertion.
US09275089B2	Managing reusable artifacts using placeholders Arrangements described herein relate to managing reusable artifacts. Responsive to receiving a request to create a placeholder for a reusable artifact representing a reusable unit, the placeholder for an appropriate version of the reusable artifact is created within a container and a first parameter identifying the reusable artifact is assigned to an artifact property of the placeholder. The placeholder further includes a branch property configured to indicate a first null value or a second parameter identifying a branch of the reusable artifact corresponding to a particular variant of the reusable artifact, and a version property configured to indicate a second null value or a third parameter identifying a particular version of the reusable artifact.
US09275087B2	Managing versions of artifacts stored across disparate tools Arrangements described herein relate to managing versions of artifacts stored across disparate tools. In a multi-dimensional configuration space, dimensions can be defined. The dimensions can represent respective variations of respective versions of a plurality of artifacts for at least a first configuration of a system. Via the dimensions, versions of the plurality of artifacts can be mapped to at least a corresponding first configuration of the system, the mapped versions of the plurality of artifacts corresponding to the versions of the artifacts used in the first configuration. The first configuration can be identified by a point in the multi-dimensional configuration space defined by the respective dimensions. At least a first of the plurality of artifacts can be stored by a first tool, and at least a second of the plurality of artifacts can be stored by a second tool disparate from the first tool.
US09275086B2	Systems and methods for database archiving A data storage system according to certain aspects can archive database data associated with different database applications. The data storage system according to certain aspects may provide database archiving modules that include logic incorporating and/or based on the native schema and/or native commands specific to particular database applications. The database archiving modules according to certain aspects may determine the relationship between tables associated with corresponding database applications and archive selected database data based on the native schema and native commands.
US09275084B2	Digital asset management data model A digital asset management system effectively provides full control of compound media assets and their specific components. The digital asset management data model supports the creation and management of multiple levels of granularity or metadata enrichment, and different sets of file types or renditions used throughout the digital asset processing life-cycle. The extensible digital asset management data model allows telecommunications service providers to augment or enrich compound media asset metadata, and thereby, optimize the relationship between media assets, and enhance storage and retrieval functionalities. The digital asset management system solves the technical problems arising from ingesting, storing, and managing rich media assets economically and efficiently.
US09275082B2	User-extensible common schema in a shared database A user-extensible common schema is described in the context of a shared database. In one example, an apparatus includes a shared database organized around a common schema. First and second applications provides access to the shared database using the common schema, the first and second applications having first and second schema extensions having first and second sets of additional objects, defined by the first and second applications, respectively. The first and second applications present views of and operations on the shared database that are extended by the respective schema extension.
US09275076B2	Space equipment recognition and control using handheld devices A system, handheld devices, and methods for space equipment tracking and control. The system tracks and controls items, people and their interactions. The handheld mobile wireless device provides item specific information, instruction, and supervision. A plurality of handheld devices is configured to be used by different people, and communicate with a central database. A handheld device comprises a camera for scanning an image of an item of space equipment, a display for displaying information, and a wireless network connection to the database for sending and receiving data. The system recognizes the item of space equipment and identifies a person. The database includes information regarding people and their roles, permissions, and authorized or assigned tasks; space equipment and tools; item specific instructions; and the handheld devices. An observer, or the system, can monitor the performance of the tasks, and provide corrective feedback.
US09275072B2	Hierarchical multi-tenancy management of system resources in resource groups Establishing hierarchical user management authority for storage resources organized into resource groups in a computing storage environment are provided. Each storage resource is associated with a resource group and storage resource object having a resource group attribute associating the storage resource object with one of the resource groups. The resource group label attribute is assigned to the resource group object. An additional attribute of the resource group object, that specifies management policies for the resource group object and the storage resources associated with the resource group object, is defined. One of the available users of the storage resources is associated with a user resource scope attribute. A schema is defined for comparing of values of the user resource scope attribute with the resource group label attribute.
US09275069B1	Managing disconnected investigations A system and method enable an information analyst to use a stand-alone computer-based investigation application to conduct a disconnected investigation on shared database data in a remote location where network access to a shared data repository of the system might be only periodically available, unreliable, or non-existent. In addition, the system and method enable the disconnected investigation to incrementally incorporate ongoing updates made to the shared repository of data, and to periodically publish interim or final results of the disconnected investigation to the shared data repository. A disconnected investigation can be conducted entirely at the disconnected investigation location without having any network connectivity to the shared repository of data.
US09275068B2	De-duplication deployment planning Assignment of files to a de-duplication domain. Address space of data files is divided into multiple containers. For each of the containers, a file metadata scan is performed to obtain file system metadata, which is aggregated and summarized in a content feature summary. A content feature summary prediction measurement is measured between containers from the generated content feature summary, and files from each container are assigned to a de-duplication domain based upon the content similarity predication measurement.
US09275062B2	Computer-implemented system and method for augmenting search queries using glossaries A computer-implemented system and method for augmenting search queries using glossaries is provided. At least one search query of one or more search terms is received. A set of tagged documents each associated with a tag and a glossary for the tag is accessed. The glossary includes one or more terms selected from that tagged document, definitions for the terms, and aliases for the terms. The search query is compared to the glossaries in the set. One or more terms in at least one of the glossaries that are related to the search terms of the search query are selected for inclusion in the search query.
US09275061B2	Automatic resource ownership assignment system and method A method for automatic folder ownership assignment, including ascertaining which first folders, among a first multiplicity of folders, have at least one of modify and write permissions to non-IT administration entities, adding the first folders to a list of candidates for ownership assignment, defining a second multiplicity of folders which is a subset of the first multiplicity of folders and not including the first folders and descendents and ancestors thereof, ascertaining which second folders among the second multiplicity of folders, have permissions to non-IT administration entities, adding the second folders to the candidates, defining a third multiplicity of folders, which is a subset of the second multiplicity of folders and not including the second folders and descendents and ancestors thereof, ascertaining which third folders among the third multiplicity of folders are topmost folders, adding the third folders to the candidates, and recommending possible assignment of ownership of the candidates.
US09275059B1	Genome big data indexing A computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus for modeling a Big Data dataset, the method comprising creating non-specific representations of the Big Data dataset by representing, as objects in a computer model, non-specific representations including metaInformation, DataSet, BigData and Properties representations and creating non-specific representations of indices, wherein the indices are mapped to one or more key-value pairs.
US09275058B2	Relocation of metadata server with outstanding DMAPI requests A cluster of computer system nodes share direct read/write access to storage devices via a storage area network using a cluster filesystem and operating system implementing DMAPI. Threads executing on a metadata client know when a DMAPI event is required, and generate the DMAPI event on their own initiative when necessary. A metadata server maintains DMAPI queues. If the metadata server relocates to another host, the DMAPI events in the DMAPI queues are moved transparently to users.
US09275057B2	Information processing device, information processing method, and program There is provided an information processing device including a display control unit configured to display pieces of content at a first position of a screen, a condition setting unit configured to set a clustering condition for the pieces of content in accordance with a user operation, and a clustering unit configured to classify the pieces of content into a cluster in accordance with the clustering condition. The display control unit moves a display of the pieces of content from the first position toward a second position corresponding to the cluster.
US09275055B2	Method and system for visually indicating a replay status of media items on a media device A device is provided for visually indicating a replay status of media items on a media device. Aspects of the device include displaying in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the media device a representation of a first media item; displaying a profile score of the first media item that is based on user preferences; and displaying a replay score for the first media item.
US09275051B2	Automatic modification of web pages A system for interactive paper is described. Data fragments are captured at locations in a rendered document. A digital version of the document is optionally located. Markup data applied to the capture creates a rich set of interactions for the user. New models for publishing documents and new document-related services are described.
US09275046B2	Systems and methods for displaying foreign character sets and their translations in real time on resource-constrained mobile devices The present invention is related to systems and methods for providing one or more translations in a real-time video feed of a first language into a second language, comprising selecting a vertical language text translation box corresponding to a plurality of words in the first language; cropping a frame of the real-time video feed of one or more words of the first language to fit inside a bounding box to produce a cropped frame; performing character segment detection on the cropped frame to produce a plurality character segments; performing character merging on the character segments to produce a plurality of merged character segments; performing character recognition on the merged character segments to produce a plurality of recognized characters; and performing one or more translations on the recognized characters of the first language into one or more translated words of the second language.
US09275043B2	Relationship information expansion apparatus, relationship information expansion method, and program A relationship information expansion apparatus capable of acquiring a new relationship based on a relationship information piece including two or more language expressions having a semantic relationship is provided. The relationship information expansion apparatus generates a candidate expanded relationship information piece in which at least one language expression included in the relationship information piece was replaced with a similar language expression, and acquires a score that indicates a probability that the candidate expanded relationship information piece has a semantic relationship. The relationship information expansion apparatus selects an expanded relationship information piece, which is a candidate expanded relationship information piece having a high score among candidate expanded relationship information pieces.
US09275039B2	Information processing device, information processing method and computer program product According to an embodiment, an information processing device includes a first set generating unit that generates a first set of states reachable by following ε-transitions in a forward direction and a reverse direction among states included in a finite state automaton; a second set generating unit that generates a second set representing a set of states included in each of a plurality of first sets connected by one transition that is not an ε-transition and the first set that is not connected to another first set by one transition that is not an ε-transition; a combination generating unit that obtains, among combinations of ε-removal patterns to be respectively applied to the ε-transitions in the second set, a combination with which the number of transitions after removing ε-transitions is the smallest; and a removing unit that removes ε-transitions in the second set by the removal patterns included in the obtained combination.
US09275034B1	Exceptions to action invocation from parsing rules A language processing system identifies, from log data, command inputs that parsed to a parsing rule associated with an action. If the command input has a signal indicative of user satisfaction, where the signal is derived from data that is not generated from performance of the action (e.g., user interactions with data provided in response to the performance of another, different action; resources identified in response to the performance of another, different action having a high quality score; etc.), then exception data is generated for the parsing rule. The exception data specifies the particular instance of the sentence parsed by the parsing rule, and precludes invocation of the action associated with the rule.
US09275031B2	Data analysis expressions Methods and systems are disclosed for receiving and processing data analysis expressions. A particular method includes receiving a data analysis expression at a pivot table of a spreadsheet. The data analysis expression is executed for a particular cell of the pivot table by determining a context associated with the particular cell, calculating a value of the data analysis expression based on the context, and outputting the calculated value at the particular cell.
US09275030B1	Horizontal and vertical line detection and removal for document images Methods for removing vertical and horizontal lines from a document image. The horizontal line removal method includes: for a column of black pixels at each horizontal position along the line, removing them if their maximum stroke width is less than the median value of maximum stroke widths in a small window centered at that horizontal position; Remove connected components remaining in the horizontal line bounding box that do not extend significantly above or below the bounding box boundaries; and Perform closing operation to join broken pieces of character strokes caused by underline removal. This method preserves character strokes while removing underlines. The vertical line removal method includes: for vertical lines that have large height to width ratio, remove parts of such lines that are not at intersection of with horizontal or near-horizontal lines; remove all remaining connected components that touch neither left nor right boundary of the bounding box.
US09275026B2	Constrained digital text reader A text display system provides a restricted copy-and-paste operation such that only a limited percentage less than 100% of a source text can be copied. The strategy assumes that a document contains a plurality of words and sentences that a restriction can be placed upon. While it is possible to highlight any amount of text via a typical select function (e.g., mouse drag over text), depending on the number of words at the sentence, paragraph or document level, the present invention limits how much of the selected text can be copied. The system provides the user with instant feedback via visual, tactile or other means, when a selection exceeds the system-imposed limit. The restriction permits the copy-and-paste operation of key ideas from the source text, potentially for further elaboration upon in future writing, and yet discourages indiscriminant copying leading to plagiarism.
US09275025B2	Interactive special paste A special paste feature presents a variety of options to a user for choosing the appearance of the pasted object or objects. When the user selects to specially paste the object, an interface is presented for the user to select from a variety of styles and format codes or predefined groups thereof to keep in the pasted object. Once the user selects the level of structure and formatting that he or she desires to import into the target document, the object will be copied into the target document or application using only the structure and formatting selected to remain by the user.
US09275020B2	Tracking changes among similar documents In one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a calculation section, an identification section, and a notification section. The calculation section is configured to calculate similarity among a plurality of documents. The identification section is configured to identify, in response to a change made to a first document, a second document having a similarity greater than or equal to a first criterion as compared to the first document before the change. The notification section is configured to notify a user of the identified second document that the first document has been changed, in response to the change to the first document.
US09275018B2	Techniques for analyzing web pages to determine font subsets A computer-implemented method technique can intercept, at a server including one or more processors, a first request for a source document representing a web page, the first request being transmitted from a computing device to a web server. The first request can include web browser information indicating web browser software executing on the computing device. The technique can intercept the source document being transmitted from the web server to the computing device in response to the first request. The source document can specify one or more fonts in which to display text in the source document. The technique can generate the web page, determine unique characters displayed at the web page, and obtain one or more font subsets. The technique can then transmit information to the computing device based on whether the web browser software is capable of displaying a font family having a plurality of fonts.
US09275014B2	Vector processing engines having programmable data path configurations for providing multi-mode radix-2x butterfly vector processing circuits, and related vector processors, systems, and methods Vector processing engines (VPEs) having programmable data path configurations for providing multi-mode Radix-2X butterfly vector processing circuits. Related vector processors, systems, and methods are also disclosed. The VPEs disclosed herein include a plurality of vector processing stages each having vector processing blocks that have programmable data path configurations for performing Radix-2X butterfly vector operations to perform Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) vector processing operations efficiently. The data path configurations of the vector processing blocks can be programmed to provide different types of Radix-2X butterfly vector operations as well as other arithmetic logic vector operations. As a result, fewer VPEs can provide desired Radix-2X butterfly vector operations and other types arithmetic logic vector operations in a vector processor, thus saving area in the vector processor while still retaining vector processing advantages of fewer register writes and faster vector instruction execution times over scalar processing engines.
US09275009B2	Calibration and consistency check of variable volume systems Variable volume systems and methods of use thereof described herein are capable of making calibrated determinations of fluid properties and phase behavior of a fluid sample. The determinations can be calibrated based on one or more calibration functions, such as system volume corrected for pressure and temperature variations. Cross-checking the results of measurements can be used to determine accuracy of the calibration or monitor for leaks or other anomalies of the variable volume systems. The variable volume systems can be implemented in a well logging tool and are capable of being calibrated downhole.
US09275005B2	Device commissioning The disclosed subject matter may provide a system and methods for commissioning a device or appliance into a network. A processor may detect the insertion of a removable device into a data receptacle of a first device. The first device may be an appliance or a network controller. Information may be retrieved from or delivered to the removable device. The information may be information specific to the appliance, such as model number, or may be information related to the network controller. For example, information delivered from the network controller to the removable device may include a network address assignment and network protocol to be used by an appliance when the appliance communicates with the network. The removable device may be removed from the first device and inserted into a data receptacle of a second device.
US09274999B2	Communication system and optical navigation device There is provided a communication system including a transmission interface, a master device and a slave device. The transmission interface includes a TR/ACK channel configured to transmit a trigger signal and an acknowledge signal and a DA channel configured to transmit a normal data or a simplified data. The master device sends the trigger signal via the TR/ACK channel before data transmission begins. The slave device sends the normal data or the simplified data to the master device via the DA channel after receiving the trigger signal.
US09274998B2	Drive train control Various techniques relating to drive train control are disclosed. In an embodiment, in a first mode of operation communication between a controller and a submodule of the drive train takes place via a first communication channel and optionally additionally via a second communication channel. In a second mode of operation, upon failure of the first communication channel, communication with the submodule of the drive train takes place via the second communication channel.
US09274996B2	Method for filtering cached input/output data based on data generation/consumption According to one embodiment, filtering cached input/output (I/O) data includes receiving a current I/O transfer that is part of an ongoing data stream, and evaluating whether to filter ongoing data streams once the data stream reaches are particular size threshold. The transfer rate for the ongoing data stream may be calculated and a determination is made as to whether the transfer rate is greater than a throughput associated with a target storage device. The current I/O transfer is cached if the transfer rate is greater than the throughput associated with a target storage device, or is not cached if the transfer rate is not greater than the throughput associated with a target storage device. The current I/O transfer may be also cached if the transfer rate is less than or equal to the throughput associated with the target storage device and the I/O transfer is a write I/O transfer.
US09274991B2	Memory hub architecture having programmable lane widths A processor-based system includes a processor coupled to a system controller through a processor bus. The system controller is used to couple at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one data storage device to the processor. Also coupled to the processor bus is a memory hub controller coupled to a memory hub of at least one memory module having a plurality of memory devices coupled to the memory hub. The memory hub is coupled to the memory hub controller through a downstream bus and an upstream bus. The downstream bus has a width of M bits, and the upstream bus has a width of N bits. Although the sum of M and N is fixed, the individual values of M and N can be adjusted during the operation of the processor-based system to adjust the bandwidths of the downstream bus and the upstream bus.
US09274990B2	Interface device capable of supporting unknown I/O device An interface device capable of supporting an unknown I/O device comprises: a transmission module, used for receiving a control signal sent by an I/O device and sending a feedback signal to the I/O device; a signal process module, used for generating a control indicating signal according to the control signal and generating the feedback signal according to a feedback indicating signal; and a USB interface, used for sending the control indicating signal to a data process device and receiving the feedback indicating signal from the data process device; wherein, information content of the control indicating signal and information content of the feedback indicating signal both comprise the information of a first device description unit and a first interaction description unit contained in a first device index chart.
US09274987B2	Inter-component communication including slave component initiated transaction Component apparatuses with inter-component communication capabilities, and system having such component apparatuses are disclosed herein. In embodiments, such a component may include a number of control pins including a clock pin, a number of data pins, and a logic unit. The logic unit may be configured to receive a clock signal from another component through the clock pin, to provide an alert signal to the other component through a selected one of the control and data pins to initiate a transaction with the other component, to receive in response to the alert signal from the other component through the data pins a status request to determine nature of the transaction, and to provide in response to the status request to the other component through the data pins a status to indicate the nature of the transaction. The provision of the alert signal, the receipt of the status request and the provision of the status may be in reference to the clock signal. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
US09274985B2	Approach for allocating virtual bank managers within a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) controller to physical banks within a DRAM Banks within a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) are managed with virtual bank managers. A DRAM controller receives a new memory access request to DRAM including a plurality of banks. If the request accesses a location in DRAM where no virtual bank manager includes parameters for the corresponding DRAM page, then a virtual bank manager is allocated to the physical bank associated with the DRAM page. The bank manager is initialized to include parameters needed by the DRAM controller to access the DRAM page. The memory access request is then processed using the parameters associated with the virtual bank manager. One advantage of the disclosed technique is that the banks of a DRAM module are controlled with fewer bank managers than in previous DRAM controller designs. As a result, less surface area on the DRAM controller circuit is dedicated to bank managers.
US09274982B2	Switch circuit A switch circuit for switching between a first storage and a second storage. The switch circuit includes a switch, first and second control circuits, a switch control chip, and a processing chip. When the second control circuit transmits power from a power supply to the first storage, the first control circuit connects the power supply to the first storage, and connects the second control circuit to the processing chip the first storage regardless of the state of the switch. When the second control circuit transmits power from the power supply to the second storage, the first control circuit connects the power supply to the second storage, and connects the processing chip to the second storage regardless of the state of the switch.
US09274980B2	Apparatus and methods for communicating with programmable devices A circuit arrangement includes a programmable logic device. The programmable logic device includes configuration logic circuitry. The programmable logic device also includes configurable interconnects. The circuit arrangement further includes a storage device configured to provide data to the programmable logic device. The storage device communicates with the programmable logic device via a bi-directional interface.
US09274979B2	System, method, and computer program product for optimizing data encryption and decryption by implementing asymmetric AES-CBC channels A system, method, and computer program product are provided for implementing asymmetric AES-CBC (Advanced Encryption Standard-Cipher Block Chaining) channels usage between encryption and decryption of data. In operation, data to be written to memory is identified. In addition, the data is encrypted utilizing a first AES-CBC channel. Additionally, at least one of a plurality of AES-CBC channels is utilized to decrypt the data to achieve a determined performance target.
US09274978B2	Migration of encrypted data for data storage systems Systems and methods for compression, formatting, and migration of data for data storage systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, data repacking can be used in any situation where embedded metadata needs to be accessed, such as during data migration, and where the underlying data is encrypted. In some embodiments, performance is increased because encrypted data is repacked without first performing decryption. In addition, data may also be compressed and repacking can be performed without performing decompression. Advantageously, there is no need to retrieve or wait for the availability of encryption key (or keys) or expand resources in decrypting (and decompressing) data before repacking it and encrypting repacked data. Available capacity for storing user data, reliability, and performance of the data storage system can be increased.
US09274977B2	Storing data integrity information utilizing dispersed storage A method begins by a processing module generating an integrity check value for each encoded data slice of a set of encoded data slices to produce a set of integrity check values. The method continues with the processing module encoding the set of integrity check values to produce encoded integrity check values. The method continues with the processing module sending the encoded integrity check values for storage in a memory system.
US09274972B2	Handling cross-platform system call with a shared page cache in a hybrid computing system A method and computing system for handling a page fault while executing a cross-platform system call with a shared page cache. A second kernel running in a second computer system sends a system call to a first kernel running in a first computer system. The second kernel receives, from the first kernel, a memory page that is a faulted memory page in the second computer system. The second kernel updates a second validity flag denoting that the memory page is currently available to the second computer system in a second copy of the shared page cache. A first validity flag in the first computer system denotes that the memory page is currently unavailable to the first computer system in a first copy of the shared page cache. The second kernel executes the system call to obtain a result and sends the result to the first kernel.
US09274969B2	Cache memory apparatus A cache memory apparatus includes an L1 cache memory, an L2 cache memory coupled to the L1 cache memory, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) within the L2 cache memory, the combined ALU and L2 cache memory being configured to perform therewithin at least one of: an arithmetic operation, a logical bit mask operation; the cache memory apparatus being further configured to interact with at least one processor such that atomic memory operations bypass the L1 cache memory and go directly to the L2 cache memory.
US09274966B1	Dynamically throttling host commands to disk drives Example implementations described herein are related to methods for dynamically throttling host commands (up or down) to disk drives that include cache memory and rotating media, based on environmental conditions and/or drain rate from the cache memory to the rotating media, to provide consistent throughput for extended periods of time, and to avoid dramatic swings in performance from the pre-saturation state to the post-saturation state. The example implementations may be further extended to dynamically throttling host commands to devices that have HDD and SSD portions.
US09274963B2	Cache replacement for shared memory caches A method for managing objects stored in a shared memory cache. The method includes accessing data from the shared memory cache using at least a plurality of cache readers. A system updates data in the shared memory cache using a cache writer. The system maintains a cache replacement process collocated with a cache writer. The cache replacement process makes a plurality of decisions on objects to store in the shared memory cache. Each of the plurality of cache readers maintains information on frequencies with which it accesses cached objects. Each of the plurality of cache readers communicates the maintained information to the cache replacement process. The cache replacement process uses the communicated information on frequencies to make at least one decision on replacing at least one object currently stored in the shared memory cache.
US09274959B2	Handling virtual memory address synonyms in a multi-level cache hierarchy structure Handling virtual memory address synonyms in a multi-level cache hierarchy structure. The multi-level cache hierarchy structure having a first level, L1 cache, the L1 cache being operatively connected to a second level, L2 cache split into a L2 data cache directory and a L2 instruction cache. The L2 data cache directory including directory entries having information of data currently stored in the L1 cache, the L2 cache being operatively connected to a third level, L3 cache. The first level cache is virtually indexed while the second and third levels are physically indexed. Counter bits are allocated in a directory entry of the L2 data cache directory for storing a counter number. The directory entry corresponds to at least one first L1 cache line. A first search is performed in the L1 cache for a requested virtual memory address, wherein the virtual memory address corresponds to a physical memory address tag at a second L1 cache line.
US09274956B1	Intelligent cache eviction at storage gateways Methods and apparatus for intelligent cache eviction at storage gateways are disclosed. A system comprises computing devices configured to determine whether the number of free chunks of storage at a storage appliance for caching portions of a storage object is below a threshold value. If the number is below the threshold, the computing devices identify an eviction set of chunks to be freed, and generate a respective new instance identifier for each chunk of the eviction set. The identifier of a given chunk may be used to determine a validity of a block of the chunk. The devices store, within metadata storage of the appliance, the new instance identifiers of the eviction set, and indicate that the chunks of the eviction set are available for caching data of the storage object.
US09274951B2	Cache memory controller for accelerated data transfer A cache memory controller in a computer system, such as a multicore processing system, provides compression for writes to memory, such as an off-chip memory, and decompression after reads from memory. Application accelerator processors in the system generate application data and requests to read/write the data from/to memory. The cache memory controller uses information relating location parameters of buffers allocated for application data and sets parameters to configure compression and decompression operations. The cache memory controller monitors memory addresses specified in read requests and write requests from/to the first memory. The requested memory address is compared to the location parameters for the allocated buffers to select the set of parameters for the particular application data. Compression or decompression is applied to the application data in accordance with the selected set of parameters. The data size of the data transferred to/from memory is reduced.
US09274950B2	Data restructuring in multi-level memory hierarchies A method, executed on a suitably programmed processor, provides for ordering records using a memory hierarchy. The memory hierarchy includes and two or more lower levels of the memory hierarchy. The method includes the steps of (a) receiving unsorted input records; (b) reading the input records in pages and writing one or more pages of the input records to the primary memory; (c) sorting the pages of input records to create a run; (d) if a size of the run exceeds primary memory capacity, moving data that just exceeds the primary memory capacity to a secondary level of the memory hierarchy; (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until either (i) all unsorted input records have been read into primary memory and sorted, or (ii) a capacity of the secondary level of the memory hierarchy is exceeded; (f) following step (e)(ii), moving data that just exceeds the secondary memory capacity from the secondary level to a tertiary level of the memory hierarchy until the capacity of the secondary level no longer is exceeded; and (g) following either of steps (c), (e)(i), or (f), merging runs to create a merge output.
US09274949B2	Tracking data updates during memory migration Methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking updates during memory migration. The method includes computer instructions for establishing communication from a source virtual machine to a target virtual machine, the source virtual machine including a memory. Contents of the memory on the source virtual machine are transmitted to the target virtual machine. The contents include a plurality of pages. Pages in the memory that are modified subsequent to being transmitted to the target virtual machine are tracked. The tracking includes creating a data structure having a plurality of bits corresponding to the pages in the memory, the bits indicating if the corresponding pages have been modified subsequent to being transmitted to the target virtual machine. The data structure also includes a first bit location index to identify the location of the first bit in the data structure that corresponds to a modified page. Bits in the data structure are updated in response to detecting that the corresponding pages have been modified subsequent to being transmitted to the target virtual machine. The data structure is scanned starting at the first bit location index to identify pages that have been modified subsequent to being transmitted to the target virtual machine. The identified pages are transmitted to the target virtual machine.
US09274947B1	Non-precise garbage collection in non-cooperative systems Embodiments are directed towards garbage collection for an application running on a non-cooperative target platform. Where the garbage collection optimistically manages thread state for transitions to and from native and managed code and that some threads are suspended while others are left executing during garbage collection. When a characteristic of the native code call indicates that a duration of the native code call may exceed a defined duration, state information for the thread may be updated to transition the thread to the unmanaged code environment. When a garbage collection event occurs, thread state information is updated to communicate suspend requests to the threads. Then the runtime may wait for each thread in the managed code environment to be reach a safe state before garbage collection may commence.
US09274945B2	Processing unit reclaiming requests in a solid state memory device An apparatus and method for processing unit reclaiming requests in a solid state memory device. The present invention provides a method of managing a memory which includes a set of units. The method includes selecting a unit from the set of units having plurality of subunits. The method further includes determining a number of valid subunits m to be relocated from the units selected for a batch operation where m is at least 2. The selecting is carried out by a unit reclaiming process.
US09274934B2	System and method for creating change-resilient scripts A method for creating agnostic test automation script commands associated with a specified action and a user interface (UI) is provided. The method may include receiving a target element associated with the specified action. The method may also generate at least one anchor uniquely identifying the target element, wherein the target element is ambiguous. The method may further include generating an agnostic test automation script command based on the received target element and the at least one generated anchor. Additionally, the method may analyze, using the generated agnostic test automation script command, the at least one generated anchor to locate the target element within the user interface (UI), wherein the analyzing is based on an application on which the agnostic test automation script command is to be executed. The method may also include performing, using the generated agnostic test automation script command, the specified action on the located target element.
US09274933B2	Pretest setup planning A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining a description of a test suite which comprises a plurality of tests, wherein each test of the test suite is described by values of functional attributes, wherein at least a portion of the functional attributes are setup-related attributes, wherein a combination of values of the setup-relates attributes potentially indicate a setup activity to be performed prior to executing the test to set up a test environment for the test. Identifying, based on the description of the test suite, a setup activity that is associated with two or more tests, wherein the setup activity is configured to set up a component of the test environment, wherein the identifying is performed by a processor. Providing a first instruction to perform the setup activity prior to executing a first test of the two or more tests. And, providing a second instruction to reuse the component of the test environment when executing additional tests of the two or more tests, whereby avoiding performing duplicate setup activities.
US09274932B2	Graphical-user-interface-based method and system for designing and configuring web-site testing and analysis The current application is directed to methods and systems for designing and configuring web-site testing and analysis. In certain implementations, a testing service collects customer page-access and conversion information on behalf of a web site. The testing service is straightforwardly accessed and configured, through a web-site-based graphical user interface, and is virtually incorporated into the web site.
US09274928B1	Verification of computer-executable code generated from a model A code verification tool verifies that code generated from a model represents all of the functionality of the model and does not contain any unintended functionality. The code verification tool may receive for examination a model or an intermediate representation (IR) of the model and the generated code or an intermediate representation of the generated code. The code verification tool may create further intermediate representations of the model and/or the generated code in order to compare the functionality presented in both.
US09274924B2	Method for the computer-assisted analysis of software source code A method is disclosed for the computer-assisted analysis of a software source code. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the software source code is analyzed in consideration of parameters comprising encoding rules and/or encoding metrics, wherein as the analysis result errors detected in the software source code are calculated. The errors detected are classified by way of associating them with at lest one error category from a plurality of error categories. To this end, a specification that can be output via a user interface is associated with each error category, which describes the errors of the respective error category. The error categories with which the detected errors are associated are then output via a user interface.
US09274922B2	Low-level checking of context-dependent expected results A processor-implemented method for diagnostic testing using an expected result parameter is provided. The processor-implemented method may include establishing a known system environment associated with a function under test and setting the expected result parameter corresponding to the function under test and the known system environment. A call is issued by the processor to execute the function under test. Before returning to the caller, the function under test compares an expected result value to an actual result value. The function under test determines an error based on the actual result value being different from the expected result value and performs a low-level diagnostic based on the determined error. Then the processor receives a return value from the function under test based on the issued call.
US09274920B2	Code profiling in embedded ULE applications Mobile electronic devices and related methods to achieve an enhanced security level are disclosed. A security module is deeply embedded in a non-open companion chip of the mobile device, wherein the companion chip controls vital functions of the mobile device. Any security technology can be provided by the security module. The security module can, in case of a security violation, disable all vital functions of the companion chip without requiring communicating to other components of the mobile device. The vital functions deployed in the companion chip comprise e.g. system power management or audio functions.
US09274919B2	Transaction tracing mechanism of distributed heterogenous transactions having instrumented byte code with constant memory consumption and independent of instrumented method call depth A system and method for tracing individual transactions on method call granularity is disclosed. The system uses instrumentation based transaction tracing mechanisms to enhance thread call stack sampling mechanisms by a) only sampling threads executing monitored transactions while execution is ongoing b) tagging sampled call stacks with a transaction id for correlation of sampled call stacks with instrumentation bases tracing data. The combination of instrumentation based tracing with thread call stack sampling reduces sampling generated overhead by only sampling relevant thread, and reduces instrumentation generated overhead because it allows reducing instrumentation.
US09274915B2	Sideband logic for monitoring PCIe headers Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring PCIe packets between clock domains. An interrupt is set to a root complex or external hardware based on the detection of malformed, and illegal, packets.
US09274914B2	System and method for presenting alert notifications for master and slave devices if in idle operational states A method for presenting alert notifications includes identifying an alert condition for one of a master device, a slave device, and a production device. Operational states of the slave device and the master device are determined. For each of the slave device and the master device, upon a determination that the given device is in an idle state, that device is caused to display a notification corresponding to the identified alert condition.
US09274912B2	Simulating burst errors in mobile data communication network system level simulations The disclosed examples provide techniques for simulation of a wireless mobile network that includes block level simulation of burst errors. The simulation allows input of a variable burst error rate to a system level simulation of a communications network. Theoretical error rates are replaced with variable burst error rates in the simulation. Injecting burst errors at the system level provides a network simulation that more realistically reflects the effects of burst errors on network performance.
US09274909B2	Method and apparatus for error management of an integrated circuit system An apparatus and method for error management in an integrated circuit system are presented. An error management unit (EMU) apparatus manages critical and non-critical errors that may be masked or non-masked. An EMU includes an EMU state machine, having a BOOT state, a CONFIG state, a FUNCT state, a WARNING state and an ERROR state. The method discloses transitions in the EMU state machine. While in the ERROR state an error reaction may be applied. The objective of the error reaction is to recover errors by software and hardware means. The EMU may further appropriately alert the system while in ERROR state and therefore be used as a safety mechanism permitting to collect error signals issued by fault detector units and can further cause action on faulty units for recovery purposes.
US09274905B1	Configuration tests for computer system A computer system has a managing server for managing one or more managed nodes. The managed nodes have media encoded with test executables executable on their respective nodes. The test executables can check configuration data for the node and/or check whether external resources are accessible from the node. The managing server issues commands to run the test executables and collects test results returned by the test executables.
US09274903B1	Disaster recovery service A customer may use a disaster recovery service to generate a disaster recovery scenario in order to make certain resources available to the customer in the event of a data region failure. The customer may specify a recovery point objective, a recovery time objective and a recovery data region for the scenario. Accordingly, the disaster recovery service may coordinate with one or more other services provided by the computing resource service provider to reproduce the customer resources and other resources necessary to support the customer resources. These reproduced resources may be transferred to the recovery data region based at least in part on the parameters specified by the customer. In the event of a data region failure, the disaster recovery service may update the domain name system to resolve any customer requests for the customer resources to the recovery data region.
US09274900B2	Method and apparatus for updating firmware A method for updating firmware in a user terminal comprises dividing files with modified contents into a plurality of groups and assigning each file with respective offset. The method then performs bitwise XOR operations between the plurality of groups onto the backup buffer. Consequently, the method stores a result of the bit XOR operations on the backup buffer into a non-volatile storage as a backup file. An apparatus for updating firmware comprises a processing circuit configured to divide files with modified contents into a plurality of groups and assign each file with respective offset. The processing circuit performs bitwise XOR operations between the plurality of groups onto the backup buffer and store a result of the bit XOR operations on the backup buffer into a non-volatile storage as a backup file.
US09274897B2	Backup policy migration and image duplication Various systems and methods for seeding a storage device. For example, a method involves accessing a policy that identifies a number of clients. The method then involves selecting a most recent backup image for each of the clients and copying the most recent backup images from a source storage device to a target storage device. Once a most recent backup image has been copied from the source storage device to the target storage device for each of the clients, the method switches a destination value in the policy from the source storage device to the target storage device.
US09274896B2	Versioned file system with fast restore A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. Each structured data representation corresponds to a version, and each version comprises a tree of write-once objects. Each version in the versioned file system has associated therewith a borrow window. When it is desired to reconstruct the file system to a point in time, i.e., to perform a “restore,” it is only required to walk a single structured data representation. During a restore, metadata is pulled back from the cloud first, so users can see the existence of needed files immediately. The remainder of the data is pulled back from the cloud when the user goes to open the file. As a result, the entire file system is restored to a previous time nearly instantaneously. A fast restore is performed if an object being restored exists within a borrow window of the version from which the system is restoring.
US09274894B1	System and method for providing a watchdog timer to enable collection of crash data A system and method for providing a watchdog timer to enable collection of crash data is provided. Upon execution of certain operations, a source thread of an application initiates a watchdog thread that periodically sample state of data relating to the application. Should the operation not complete within a watchdog timeout period, the watchdog thread invokes a crash function to collect additional state data. At least a portion of the state data is stored for later analysis and debugging.
US09274891B2	Decoding method, memory storage device, and memory controlling circuit unit A decoding method, a memory storage device and a memory controlling circuit unit are provided. The decoding method includes: reading at least one memory cell according to a first read voltage to obtain at least one first verification bit; executing a hard bit mode decoding procedure according to the first verification bit, and determining whether a first valid codeword is generated by the hard bit mode decoding procedure; if the first valid codeword is not generated by the hard bit mode decoding procedure, obtaining storage information of the memory cell; deciding a voltage number according to the storage information; reading the memory cell according to second read voltages matching the voltage number to obtain second verification bits; and executing a soft bit mode decoding procedure according to the second verification bits. Accordingly, the speed of decoding is increased.
US09274889B2	Systems and methods for data processing using global iteration result reuse The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for use of a detector output by a data decoder. As an example, a data processing system is discussed that includes a data detector circuit operable to provide a first detector output and a second detector output, and a combining circuit operable to combine a first input derived from the first detector output with a second input derived from the second detector output to yield a combined detector output. The combined detector output includes a unified data set element generated by combining an element of the first input with a corresponding element of the second input.

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