Document Document Title
US09385140B1 Efficient buried oxide layer interconnect scheme
An integrated circuit has a buried interconnect in the buried oxide layer connecting a body of a MOS transistor to a through-substrate via (TSV). The buried interconnect extends laterally past the TSV. The integrated circuit is formed by starting with a substrate, forming the buried oxide layer with the buried interconnect at a top surface of the substrate, and forming a semiconductor device layer over the buried oxide layer. The MOS transistor is formed in the semiconductor device layer so that the body makes an electrical connection to the buried interconnect. Subsequently, the TSV is formed through a bottom surface of the substrate so as to make an electrical connection to the buried interconnect in the buried oxide layer. A body of a transistor is electrically coupled to the TSV through the buried interconnect.
US09385135B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate; a channel layer projecting from a surface of the substrate, in a direction perpendicular to the surface; a tunnel dielectric layer surrounding the channel layer; a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and a plurality of control gate electrodes alternately formed along the channel layer; floating gate electrodes interposed between the tunnel dielectric layer and the plurality of control gate electrodes, the floating gate electrodes comprising a metal-semiconductor compound; and a charge blocking layer interposed between each of the plurality of control gate electrodes and each of the plurality of floating gate electrodes.
US09385134B2 Semiconductor device and method forming patterns with spaced pads in trim region
In a semiconductor device, parallel first and second conductive lines having a unit width extend from a memory cell region into a connection region. A trim region in the connection region includes pads respectively connected to the first and second conductive lines but are separated by a width much greater than the unit width.
US09385133B2 Semiconductor device including memory cell with transistors disposed in different active regions
A semiconductor device having an SRAM which includes: a monolithic first active region in which a first transistor and a fifth transistor are disposed; a second active region separated from the first active region, in which a second transistor is disposed; a monolithic third active region in which a third transistor and a sixth transistor are disposed; and a fourth active region separated from the third active region, in which a fourth transistor is disposed. Each driver transistor is divided into a first transistor and a second transistor (or a third transistor and a fourth transistor) and these driver transistors are disposed over different active regions.
US09385132B2 Arrays of recessed access devices, methods of forming recessed access gate constructions, and methods of forming isolation gate constructions in the fabrication of recessed access devices
A method of forming an array of recessed access device gate constructions includes using the width of an anisotropically etched sidewall spacer in forming mask openings in an etch mask for forming all recessed access device trenches within semiconductor material within all of the array. The etch mask is used while etching all of the recessed access device trenches into the semiconductor material within all of the array through the mask openings. Individual recessed access gate constructions are formed in the individual recessed access device trenches. Other methods are contemplated, including arrays of recessed access devices independent of method of manufacture.
US09385130B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
In order to achieve the reduction of contact resistance by forming a metal silicide layer with a sufficient thickness in an interface between a polycrystalline silicon plug and an upper conductive plug, the polycrystalline silicon plug contains germanium, which is ion-implanted before forming the metal silicide layer.
US09385126B2 Silicon-on-insulator finFET with bulk source and drain
Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor structure including a finFET having an epitaxial semiconductor region in direct physical contact with a plurality of fins, wherein the epitaxial semiconductor region traverses an insulator layer and is in direct physical contact with the semiconductor substrate. The gate of the finFET is disposed over an insulator layer, such as a buried oxide layer. Methods of forming the semiconductor structure are also included.
US09385121B1 Tipless transistors, short-tip transistors, and methods and circuits therefor
An integrated circuit can include a plurality of first transistors formed in a substrate and having gate lengths of less than one micron and at least one tipless transistor formed in the substrate and having a source-drain path coupled between a circuit node and a first power supply voltage. In addition or alternatively, an integrated circuit can include minimum feature size transistors; a signal driving circuit comprising a first transistor of a first conductivity type having a source-drain path coupled between a first power supply node and an output node, and a second transistor of a second conductivity type having a source-drain path coupled between a second power supply node and the output node, and a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor, wherein the first or second transistor is a tipless transistor.
US09385118B2 Capacitor array having capacitor cell structures
A capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitor cell structures. The capacitor cell structures of the plurality of cell structures each includes a first capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrode over the first capacitor electrode, a third capacitor electrode adjacent to first sidewalls of the first and second capacitor electrodes, a fourth capacitor electrode adjacent to second sidewalls of the first and second capacitor electrodes, and a fifth capacitor electrode adjacent to the fourth capacitor electrode.
US09385116B2 Semiconductor ESD device
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device on a semiconductor substrate and a method for making the same. The device has an active region. The active region includes a gate. The active region also includes a source including a silicide portion having a source contact. The active region further includes a drain including a silicide portion having a drain contact. The source and drain each extend away from the gate along a device axis. The drain contact is laterally offset with respect to the source contact along a direction orthogonal to the device axis whereby current flow between the source contact and the drain contact has a lateral component. The device further comprises a non-silicide region located laterally between the drain contact and the source contact.
US09385114B2 Non-linear element, display device including non-linear element, and electronic device including display device
A non-linear element, such as a diode, in which an oxide semiconductor is used and a rectification property is favorable is provided. In a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor in which the hydrogen concentration is less than or equal to 5×1019/cm3, the work function φms of a source electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor, the work function φmd of a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor, and electron affinity χ of the oxide semiconductor satisfy φms≦χ<φmd. By electrically connecting a gate electrode and the drain electrode of the thin film transistor, a non-linear element with a more favorable rectification property can be achieved.
US09385112B1 Semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having laterally-adjacent first and second substrate regions. A first isolation region is at least in the first substrate region. An active region is at least in the second substrate region. The active region is laterally adjacent to the first isolation region. A conductive line extends from the first substrate region into the second substrate region. The conductive line is over the first isolation region and over the active region. A top surface of the conductive line over the first isolation region in the first substrate region is lower in the substrate than an elevationally outer surface of active material of the active region in the second substrate region. A top surface of the conductive line over the active region in the second substrate region is higher in the substrate than the elevationally outer surface of the active material of the active region in the second substrate region. A conductive via extends elevationally inward at least to elevation of the higher top surface of the conductive line elevationally over the active region in the second substrate region. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09385107B2 Multichip device including a substrate
A device includes a substrate including an electrically insulating core, a first electrically conductive material arranged over a first main surface of the substrate, and a second electrically conductive material arranged over a second main surface of the substrate opposite to the first main surface. The device further includes an electrically conductive connection extending from the first main surface to the second main surface and electrically coupling the first electrically conductive material and the second electrically conductive material, a first semiconductor chip arranged over the first main surface and electrically coupled to the first electrically conductive material, and a second semiconductor chip arranged over the second main surface and electrically coupled to the second electrically conductive material.
US09385106B1 Method for providing charge protection to one or more dies during formation of a stacked silicon device
A method for providing charge protection to a die during formation of an integrated circuit, includes bonding the die to an interposer to form an unprotected stacked silicon component; encapsulating the unprotected stacked silicon component with a mold compound to cover at least a top surface of the die; grinding the mold compound to reduce a thickness of the mold compound; bonding a carrier wafer to the mold compound; removing the carrier wafer from the mold compound; and removing the mold compound from the top surface of the die after the carrier wafer is removed from the mold compound, to expose the top surface of the die.
US09385105B2 Semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes: a chip having at least one electrically conductive contact at a first side of the chip; an extension layer extending laterally from one or more sides of the chip; a redistribution layer on a surface of the extension layer and the first side, and coupled to the contact; an interposer having at least one electrically conductive contact at a first surface of the interposer and coupled to the redistribution layer, and at least one electrically conductive contact at a second surface of the interposer opposite to the first surface; a molding material at least partially enclosing the chip and the redistribution layer, and in contact with the interposer. Another semiconductor device includes: an interposer; a redistribution layer over the interposer; a circuit having first and second circuit portions, wherein the redistribution layer includes the first circuit portion, and the interposer includes the second circuit portion.
US09385104B2 Bonding apparatus
Provided is a flip-chip bonding apparatus (500) capable of stacking and bonding a second-layer of the semiconductor chip (30) onto a first-layer of the semiconductor chip (20) having first through-silicon vias, the second-layer of the semiconductor chip (30) having second through-silicon vias at positions corresponding to the first through-silicon vias. The flip-chip bonding apparatus (500) includes: a double-view camera (16) configured to take images of thechips (20) and (30); and a control unit (50) having a relative-position detection program (53) for detecting relative positions of the first-layer of the semiconductor chip (20) and the second-layer of the semiconductor chip (30) that are stacked and bonded based on an image of the first through-silicon vias on a surface of the first-layer of the semiconductor chip (20) taken by the double-view camera (16) before stacked bonding, and an image of the second through-silicon vias on a surface of the second-layer of the semiconductor chip (30) taken by the double-view camera (16) after stacked bonding. This provides accurate connection between through-silicon vias using a simple method.
US09385098B2 Variable-size solder bump structures for integrated circuit packaging
An integrated circuit package is described including a substrate, an integrated circuit die, a first plurality of solder bump structures, and a first plurality of variable-size solder bump structures. The first plurality of solder bump structures electrically couple the integrated circuit die to the substrate. The first plurality of variable-size solder bump structures are disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate. The first plurality of variable-size solder bump structures are sized to be substantially coplanar with a seating plane of the integrated circuit package.
US09385097B2 Bump-on-trace methods and structures in packaging
A method and structure for bump-on-trace bonding is provided. In an embodiment traces to be used for bump-on-trace (BOT) bonding are protected during a pre-solder treatment. The pre-solder treatment improves the adhesion between the exposed traces (e.g., the non-BOT traces) and a solder resist layer.
US09385093B2 Chip diode and diode package
A chip diode includes a plurality of diode cells formed on a semiconductor substrate, each having a diode junction region; and parallel connection portions provided on the substrate to connect the diode cells in parallel and including a first electrode formed in one side of the substrate and having at least two extending portions extending only to another side of the substrate. At least two diode junction regions are formed along each of the extending portions. At least two extending portions are formed to have line symmetry and at least four diode junction regions are formed to have point symmetry and line symmetry in a plane view. A space is formed in the center of at least the four diode junction regions. Fluctuations in characteristics of the diode are suppressed even when a large stress is applied to a pad of a diode package for electrical connection with the exterior.
US09385089B2 Alignment mark recovery with reduced topography
When opaque films are deposited on semi-conductor wafers, underlying alignment marks may be concealed. The re-exposure of such alignment marks is one source of resulting surface topography. In accordance with one implementation, alignment marks embedded in a wafer may be exposed by removing material from one or more layers and by replacing such material with a transparent material. In accordance with another implementation, the amount of material removed in an alignment mark recovery process may be mitigated by selectively ashing or etching above a stop layer.
US09385088B2 3D semiconductor device and structure
A semiconductor device including: a first layer including first transistors including at least one first monocrystalline silicon transistor channel; a second layer including second transistors including at least one second monocrystalline non-silicon transistor channel; a plurality of connection paths extending from the second transistors to the first transistors, where at least one of the connection paths includes at least one through layer via with a diameter of less than 200 nm.
US09385086B2 Bi-layer hard mask for robust metallization profile
A robust metallization profile is formed by forming two or more layers of hard mask with different density. Multi-layer metal hard mask is helpful especially in small feature size process, for example, 50 nm and below. Lower layers have higher density. In such ways, enough process window is offered by lower layers and at the same time, round hard mask profile is offered by upper layers.
US09385084B2 Metal pattern structure having positioning layer
A metal pattern structure having a positioning layer thereon is provided. The positioning layer is located within a predetermined region of the metal pattern structure and located directly on the surface of a metal layer of the metal pattern structure.
US09385083B1 Wafer-level die to package and die to die interconnects suspended over integrated heat sinks
An interconnect for electrically coupling pads formed on adjacent chips or on packaging material adjacent the chips, with an electrically conductive heat sink being disposed between the pads, the interconnect comprising a metallic membrane layer disposed between two adjacent pads and disposed or bridging over the electrically conductive heat sink so as to avoid making electrical contact with the electrically conductive heat sink. An electroplated metallic layer is disposed on the metallic membrane layer. Fabrication of interconnect permits multiple interconnects to be formed in parallel using fabrication techniques compatible with wafer level fabrication of the interconnects. The interconnects preferably follow a smooth curve to electrically connect adjacent pads and following that smooth curve they bridge over the intervening electrically conductive heat sink material in a predictable fashion.
US09385081B2 Semiconductor device with advanced pad structure resistant to plasma damage and method for forming the same
A connective structure for bonding semiconductor devices and methods for forming the same are provided. The bonding structure includes an alpad structure, i.e., a thick aluminum-containing connective pad, and a substructure beneath the aluminum-containing pad that includes at least a pre-metal layer and a barrier layer. The pre-metal layer is a dense material layer and includes a density greater than the barrier layer and is a low surface roughness film. The high density pre-metal layer prevents plasma damage from producing charges in underlying dielectric materials or destroying subjacent semiconductor devices.
US09385067B2 Semiconductor device with through silicon via and alignment mark
A semiconductor device with a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposite-facing second surface, a through electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor element and penetrating the semiconductor substrate from the first surface to the second surface, and a conductor, not electrically connected to the semiconductor element, penetrating the semiconductor substrate from the first surface to the second surface, where the through electrode and the conductor have different shapes in plan view.
US09385064B2 Heat sink having a through-opening
A semiconductor structure includes a heat sink. The heat sink having a first major surface, a second major surface, a first sidewall surface, and a through-opening extending from one of the first sidewall surface or the first major surface of the heat sink to the second surface of the heat sink, and wherein the through-opening has an inflow region, a restrictive region, and an outflow region. The restrictive region is located between the inflow region and the outflow region, wherein the inflow region has an inflow surface opening at the one of the first sidewall or the first major surface, and the outflow region has an outflow surface opening at the second major surface. A cross-sectional area of the restrictive region is less than an area of the inflow surface opening and less than an area of the outflow surface opening.
US09385063B2 Thermally conductive sheet feeder and method for feeding thermally conductive sheet
Provided by the present invention are a thermally conductive sheet feeder and a method for feeding a thermally conductive sheet, which are a thermally conductive sheet feeder and a method for feeding a thermally conductive sheet using an emboss carrier tape, wherein the emboss carrier tape provided on its surface with a plurality of pockets, each having one thermally conductive sheet accommodated therein, and a cover film to protect surface of the emboss carrier tape are rolled up in a reel-like form.
US09385061B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: semiconductor modules in which a circuit board having at least one or more semiconductor chips mounted thereon is sealed with a mold resin material and an attachment hole is formed; main terminal plates that individually connect individual connection terminals of the plurality of semiconductor modules which are arranged in parallel; and a module storage case into which the plurality of the semiconductor modules connected by the main terminal plates are inserted integrally with the main terminal plates from an opening portion and which holds the plurality of semiconductor modules such that the position of the semiconductor modules can be adjusted during attachment and includes attachment insertion holes facing the attachment holes of the semiconductor modules.
US09385060B1 Integrated circuit package with enhanced thermal conduction
Integrated circuit packages with enhanced thermal conduction are disclosed. A disclosed integrated circuit package includes a package substrate. An integrated circuit die with a layer of metal on its backside is mounted on the package substrate at a first temperature (e.g., reflow temperature). The package further includes a heat spreading lid that is bonded to the integrated circuit die at a second temperature, which is less than the first temperature. The heat spreading lid is formed over the integrated circuit die in which the heat spreading lid makes physical contact with the integrated circuit die via the layer of metal.
US09385058B1 Semiconductor device and structure
An Integrated Circuit device, including: a base wafer including first electronic circuits and a plurality of first single crystal transistors; at least one metal layer; and a second layer including second electronic circuits and a plurality of second single crystal transistors, the second layer overlying the at least one metal layer; the second layer includes a through layer via with a diameter of less than 150 nm; a portion of the first electronic circuits is circumscribed by a first dice lane, and there are no conductive connections to the portion of the first electronic circuits that cross the first dice lane; wherein a portion of the second electronic circuits is circumscribed by a second dice lane, and there are no conductive connections to the portion of the second electronic circuits that cross the second dice lane, and the second dice lane is overlaying and aligned to the first dice lane.
US09385056B2 Packaging substrate having embedded interposer and fabrication method thereof
A packaging substrate includes a carrier and an interposer. The carrier has opposite top and bottom surfaces. A recess is formed on the top surface and a plurality of first conductive terminals are formed on the recess. Further, a plurality of second conductive terminals are formed on the bottom surface of the carrier. The interposer is disposed in the recess and has opposite first and second surfaces and a plurality of conductive through vias penetrating the first and second surfaces. A first conductive pad is formed on an end of each of the conductive through vias exposed from the first surface, and a second conductive pad is formed on the other end of each of the conductive through vias exposed from the second surface and electrically connected to a corresponding one of the first conductive terminals. Compared with the prior art, the invention improves the product reliability.
US09385048B2 Method of forming Fin-FET
The present invention provides a method of forming Fin-FET. A substrate with an active region and a dummy region are defined thereon. A plurality of first fins and second fins are formed in the active region, and a plurality of dummy fins are formed in the dummy region and the active region. A first active region is provided in the active region. A revised first active region is formed by extending the first active region to cover at least one adjacent dummy fin. Next, a first dummy region is provided in the dummy region. A first mask layout is formed by combining the revised first active region and the first dummy region. A first patterned mask layer is formed by using the first mask layout. A first epitaxial process is performed for the first fins and the dummy fins exposed by the first patterned mask layer.
US09385044B2 Replacement gate process
An integrated circuit containing metal replacement gates may be formed by forming a CMP stop layer over sacrificial gates, and forming a dielectric fill layer over the CMP stop layer. Dielectric material from the dielectric fill layer is removed from over the sacrificial gates using a CMP process which exposes the CMP stop layer over the sacrificial gates but does not expose the sacrificial gates. The CMP stop layer is removed from over the sacrificial gates using a plasma etch process. In one version, the plasma etch process may be selective to the CMP stop layer. In another version, the plasma etch process may be a non-selective etch process. After the sacrificial gates are exposed by the plasma etch process, the sacrificial gates are removed and the metal replacement gates are formed.
US09385041B2 Method for insulating singulated electronic die
In one embodiment, a method of forming an electronic device includes providing a wafer having plurality of die separated by spaces. The method includes plasma singulating the wafer through the spaces to form singulation lines that expose side surfaces of the plurality of die. The method includes forming an insulating layer on the exposed side surfaces. In one embodiment, the steps of singulating and forming the insulating layer are carried out with the wafer mounted to a carrier substrate that supports the wafer and singulated die during both steps.
US09385038B2 Selective local metal cap layer formation for improved electromigration behavior
A method of forming a wiring structure for an integrated circuit device includes forming one or more copper lines within an interlevel dielectric layer (ILD); masking selected regions of the one or more copper lines; selectively plating metal cap regions over exposed regions of the one or more copper lines; and forming a conformal insulator layer over the metal cap regions and uncapped regions of the one or more copper lines.
US09385035B2 Current ramping and current pulsing entry of substrates for electroplating
In some method and apparatus disclosed herein, the profile of current delivered to the substrate provides a relatively uniform current density on the substrate surface during immersion. These methods include controlling the current density applied across a substrate's surface during immersion by dynamically controlling the current to account for the changing substrate surface area in contact with electrolyte during immersion. In some cases, current density pulses and/or steps are used during immersion, as well.
US09385033B2 Method of forming a metal from a cobalt metal precursor
A metal precursor and a method comprising decomposing a metal precursor on an integrated circuit device; and forming a metal from the metal precursor, wherein the metal precursor is selected from the group consisting of (i) a Co2(CO)6(R1C≡CR2), wherein R1 and R2 are individually selected from a straight or branched monovalent hydrocarbon group have one to six carbon atoms that may be interrupted and substituted; (ii) a mononuclear cobalt carbonyl nitrosyl; (iii) a cobalt carbonyl bonded to one of a boron, indium, germanium and tin moiety; (iv) a cobalt carbonyl bonded to a mononuclear or binuclear allyl; and (v) a cobalt(II) complex comprising nitrogen-based supporting ligands.
US09385031B2 Method for providing a self-aligned pad protection in a semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a method for processing a semiconductor device is provided including forming a final metal layer forming a passivation layer over the final metal layer and structuring the passivation layer and the final metal layer to form a patterned metal layer and a patterned passivation layer, wherein the patterned metal layer includes a pad region covered by the patterned passivation layer.
US09385028B2 Air gap process
Methods are described for forming “air gaps” between adjacent metal lines on patterned substrates. The common name “air gap” will be used interchangeably with the more technically accurate “gas pocket” and both reflect a variety of pressures and elemental ratios. The air gaps are produced within narrow gaps between copper lines while wide gaps retain dielectric material. Retention of the dielectric material within the wide gaps enables formation of a desirable planar top surface. Using a hardmask layer and a selective dry-etch process enables a wet processing step to be avoided right before the formation of the air gaps. The air gaps can have a dielectric constant approaching one, favorably reducing interconnect capacitance compared with typical low-k dielectric materials.
US09385024B2 Room temperature metal direct bonding
A bonded device structure including a first substrate having a first set of metallic bonding pads, preferably connected to a device or circuit, and having a first non-metallic region adjacent to the metallic bonding pads on the first substrate, a second substrate having a second set of metallic bonding pads aligned with the first set of metallic bonding pads, preferably connected to a device or circuit, and having a second non-metallic region adjacent to the metallic bonding pads on the second substrate, and a contact-bonded interface between the first and second set of metallic bonding pads formed by contact bonding of the first non-metallic region to the second non-metallic region. At least one of the first and second substrates may be elastically deformed.
US09385023B1 Method and structure to make fins with different fin heights and no topography
A semiconductor structure is provided that contains silicon fins having different heights, while maintaining a reasonable fin height to width ratio for process feasibility. The semiconductor structure includes a first silicon fin of a first height that is located on a first buried oxide structure. The structure further includes a second silicon fin of a second height that is located on a second buried oxide structure that is spaced apart from the first buried oxide structure. The second height of the second silicon fin is greater than the first height of the first silicon fin, yet a topmost surface of the first silicon fin is coplanar of a topmost surface with the second silicon fin.
US09385022B2 Silicon waveguide on bulk silicon substrate and methods of forming
Various methods include: forming an optical waveguide in a bulk silicon layer, the optical waveguide including a set of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions overlying a silicon substrate region; ion implanting the silicon substrate to amorphize a portion of the silicon substrate; forming a set of trenches through the STI regions and into the underlying silicon substrate region; undercut etching the silicon substrate region under the STI regions through the set of trenches to form a set of cavities, wherein the at least partially amorphized portion of the silicon substrate etches at a rate less than an etch rate of the silicon substrate; and sealing the set of cavities.
US09385017B2 Apparatus and methods for handling workpieces of different sizes
Apparatus and methods for plasma processing workpieces of different diameters. The apparatus includes a lift plate having an outer perimeter, an opening inside of the outer perimeter, and a gap extending between the opening and the outer perimeter. The lift plate includes annular rims of different inner diameters and that are configured to respectively support the first and second workpieces.
US09385013B2 Method and apparatus of manufacturing a semiconductor device by forming a film on a substrate
Provided is a technique including forming a film by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes: (a) forming a discontinuous first layer including the first element and having a thickness of less than one atomic layer on the substrate by supplying a gas containing the first element into a process vessel accommodating the substrate; and (b) forming a second layer including the first element and the second element by supplying a gas containing the second element into the process vessel to modify the first layer under a condition where a modifying reaction of the first layer by the gas containing the second element is not saturated.
US09385008B2 Semiconductor component of semiconductor chip size with flip-chip-like external contacts
A semiconductor component and a method for its production in semiconductor chip size, can have a semiconductor chip, which has external contacts of the semiconductor component that are arranged in the manner of a flip-chip on its active upper side. The semiconductor chip can be encapsulated by a plastic compound at least on its rear side and its side edges. The outer contacts, which can be arranged on external contact connecting areas, can project from the active upper side.
US09385001B1 Self-aligned ITO gate electrode for GaN HEMT device
A P-N junction gate high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) device with a self-aligned gate structure and a method for making the HEMT device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the HEMT device includes a heterojunction comprising a barrier layer formed on a channel layer. A gate layer is formed on the barrier layer, the gate layer comprising a P-type group III-V semiconductor material suitable for depleting the carriers of a current conducting channel at the heterojunction when the HEMT device is off. A gate electrode comprising indium tin oxide (ITO) is formed on the gate layer, the gate electrode and the gate layer having substantially the same length.
US09384999B2 Plasma etching method and storage medium
A plasma etching method that can prevent residues from becoming attached to bottoms and sides of via holes and trenches. An interlayer insulation film formed of CwFx (x and w are predetermined natural numbers) and a metallic layer or a metal-containing layer formed on a substrate are exposed at the same time to plasma generated from a process gas. The process gas is a mixed gas including CyFz (y and z are predetermined natural numbers) gas and N2 gas, and the flow rate of the N2 gas in the process gas is higher than the flow rate of the CyFz gas.
US09384996B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and device manufactured by the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a device manufactured by the same are provided. According to the embodiment, a substrate having at least a first area with a plurality of first gates and a second area with a plurality of second gates is provided, wherein the adjacent first gates and the adjacent second gates separated by an insulation, and a top surface of the insulation has a plurality of recesses. Then, a capping layer is formed over the first gate, the second gates and the insulation, and filling the recesses. The capping layer is removed until reaching the top surface of the insulation, thereby forming the insulating depositions filling up the recesses, wherein the upper surfaces of the insulating depositions are substantially aligned with the top surface of the insulation.
US09384993B2 Oxide etching method
An oxide etching method includes loading an object to be processed, on a surface of which a patterned silicon oxide film is formed, in a chamber, supplying HF gas and NH3 gas as reactant gases and a diluent gas to the chamber to conduct a reaction treatment in which the HF gas and the NH3 gas are reacted with the silicon oxide film. Thereafter, a heating process is performed to remove a reaction product generated by the reaction treatment. In the reaction treatment, a pressure in the chamber is increased to a predetermined value by increasing a flow rate of the diluent gas so that no etching residue remains and an etching shape has high verticality after the heating process.
US09384992B2 Plasma processing method
A plasma processing method is provided for etching a multilayer film having a first film and a second film with differing dielectric constants alternatingly stacked on a substrate, and forming a hole with a predetermined shape in the multilayer film. The plasma processing method includes a first step of etching the multilayer film to a first depth using a gas mixture containing a CF based gas at a first flow rate and a bromine-containing gas, a chloride-containing gas, and/or an iodine-containing gas; a second step of etching the multilayer film to a second depth after the first step using a gas mixture containing the CF based gas at a second flow rate and the bromine-containing gas, the chloride-containing gas, and/or the iodine-containing gas; and a third step for over etching the multilayer film after the second step until the hole reaches a base layer.
US09384991B2 Carbon layer and method of manufacture
A system and method for manufacturing a carbon layer is provided. An embodiment comprises depositing a first metal layer on a substrate, the substrate comprising carbon. A silicide is eptiaxially grown on the substrate, the epitaxially growing the silicide also forming a layer of carbon over the silicide. In an embodiment the carbon layer is graphene, and may be transferred to a semiconductor substrate for further processing to form a channel within the graphene.
US09384990B2 Titanium nitride electrode
The present invention relates to a method for decreasing the impedance of a titanium nitride element for use in an electrode component. The method comprises obtaining a titanium nitride element and hydrothermally treating the titanium nitride element by immersing the titanium nitride element in a liquid comprising water while heating said liquid.
US09384983B2 Method of manufacturing a vertical semiconductor device
A method for producing a vertical semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and comprising an n-doped first semiconductor layer, forming a hard mask on the first surface, the hard mask comprising openings defining first zones in the n-doped first semiconductor layer, implanting acceptor ions of a first maximum energy through the hard mask into the first zones, replacing the hard mask by an inverted mask comprising openings that are substantially complementary to the openings of the hard mask; implanting acceptor ions of a second maximum energy different to the first maximum energy through the inverted mask into second zones of the n-doped first semiconductor layer, and carrying out at least one temperature step to activate the acceptor ions in the first zones and the second zones.
US09384979B2 Apparatus for the deposition of a conformal film on a substrate and methods therefor
A method for depositing a conformal film on a substrate in a plasma processing chamber of a plasma processing system, the substrate being disposed on a chuck, the chuck being coupled to a cooling apparatus, is disclosed. The method includes flowing a first gas mixture into the plasma processing chamber at a first pressure, wherein the first gas mixture includes at least carbon, and wherein the first gas mixture has a condensation temperature. The method also includes cooling the chuck below the condensation temperature using the cooling apparatus thereby allowing at least some of the first gas mixture to condense on a surface of the substrate. The method further includes venting the first gas mixture from the processing chamber; flowing a second gas mixture into the plasma processing chamber, the second gas mixture being different in composition from the first gas mixture; and striking a plasma to form the conformal film.
US09384968B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device by forming a film on a substrate
Provided is a technique of forming a film on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes: forming a first layer by supplying a gas containing a first element to the substrate, wherein the first layer is a discontinuous layer, a continuous layer, or a layer in which at least one of the discontinuous layer or the continuous layer is overlapped; forming a second layer including the first layer and a discontinuous layer including a second element stacked on the first layer; forming a third layer including the second layer and a discontinuous layer including a third element stacked on the second layer; and forming a fourth layer including the first element, the second element, the third element and a fourth element by supplying a gas containing the fourth element to the substrate to modify the third layer.
US09384964B1 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The inventive concepts provide methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a thermal treatment process. The method may include providing a substrate including a channel region of a transistor, forming an initial oxide layer on the channel region, and performing a thermal treatment process at least once before or after forming the initial oxide layer.
US09384961B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device, method for processing substrate, substrate processing apparatus and recording medium
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a thin film containing a specific element and having a prescribed composition on a substrate by alternately performing the following steps prescribed number of times: forming a first layer containing the specific element, nitrogen, and carbon on the substrate by alternately performing prescribed number of times: supplying a first source gas containing the specific element and a halogen-group to the substrate, and supplying a second source gas containing the specific element and an amino-group to the substrate, and forming a second layer by modifying the first layer by supplying a reactive gas different from each of the source gases, to the substrate.
US09384959B2 Purging of porogen from UV cure chamber
A purge ring for providing a gas to a wafer processing chamber includes an inlet ring wall defining a ring hole space. An outer perimeter of the inlet ring wall is elliptical. An outer perimeter of the ring hole space is circular. The inlet ring wall is a continuous structure surrounding the ring hole space. An inlet baffle formed within the inlet ring wall surrounds at least 180 degrees of the outer perimeter of the ring hole space. An inlet plenum arranged in a first end of the inlet ring wall provides the gas to the ring hole space through the inlet baffle. An exhaust channel is formed within the inlet ring wall in a second end of the inlet ring wall. An exhaust outlet hole arranged in the second end of the inlet ring wall exhausts the gas out of the ring hole space via the exhaust channel.
US09384957B2 Mass analysis device and mass calibration method
In conducting multiple repetitions of MS/MS analysis on the same test sample for which a precursor ion whose m/z is known (m/z=M) has been established, MS/MS analysis is conducted under a dissociation condition in which CID is less prone to occur in part of the analysis. When an MS/MS spectrum is created by summing up spectral data thus obtained, a known precursor ion is observed at m/z=M without exception. Thus, a peak corresponding to the precursor ion is detected on the MS/MS spectrum, a mass deviation between an actual measured value and theoretical value M of m/z at the peak is determined, and a spectrum is created by correcting other peaks for mass shifts based on the mass deviation. This makes it possible to mass-calibrate the MS/MS spectrum in substantially the same manner as an internal standard method and improve mass accuracy over conventional methods.
US09384955B2 Mass spectrometer, control system and methods of operating and assembling a mass spectrometer
A mass spectrometer and methods for controlling a mass spectrometer are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the mass spectrometer includes a plurality of discrete functional modules, each operable to perform a predetermined function of the mass spectrometer, wherein the modules are individually addressable and connected in a network. The mass spectrometer can also include a scheduler operable to introduce discrete packets of instructions to the network at predetermined times to instruct at least one module to perform a predetermined operation.
US09384941B2 Charged particle beam apparatus and sample observation method
A charged particle beam apparatus includes an electron beam column and an FIB column, in which an irradiation axis of the electron beam column and an irradiation axis of the FIB column are disposed to be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other on a sample without interference. In addition, the first sample stage and a second sample stage are independently provided and moved to be tilted centering on an axial direction. The sample is moved by the first sample stage and a sample piece which is cut off from the sample is moved to be fixed to a tip end of a probe which is rotatable centering on the axial direction, thereby manufacturing the sample piece which reduces the influence of a curtaining effect.
US09384938B2 Particle-optical systems and arrangements and particle-optical components for such systems and arrangements
The present invention concerns a charged-particle multi-beamlet system that comprises a source of charged particles (301); a first multi-aperture plate (320) having plural apertures disposed in a charged particle beam path of the system downstream of the source; a first multi-aperture selector plate (313) having plural apertures; a carrier (340), wherein the first multi-aperture selector plate is mounted on the carrier; and an actuator (350) configured to move the carrier such that the first multi-aperture selector plate is disposed in the charged particle beam path of the system downstream of the source in a first mode of operation of the system, and such that the first multi-aperture selector plate is disposed outside of the charged particle beam path in a second mode of operation of the system. The source, the first multi-aperture plate and the carrier of the system are arranged such that a first number of charged particle beamlets is generated at a position downstream of both the first multi-aperture plate and the first multi-aperture selector plate in the first mode of operation, and that a second number of charged particle beamlets is generated at the position in the second mode of operation, wherein the first number of beamlets differs from the second number of beamlets.
US09384936B2 Energy filter for charged particle beam apparatus
This invention provides two methods for improving performance of an energy-discrimination detection device with an energy filter of reflective type for a charged particle beam. The first method employs a beam-adjusting means to improve the energy-discrimination power, and the second method uses an electron-multiplication means to enhance the image signal without noise raise. A LVSEM with such an improved energy-discrimination detection device can provide variant high-contrast images of interested features on a specimen surface for multiple application purposes.
US09384934B2 Electron exit window foil
An electron exit window foil for use with a high performance electron beam generator operating in a corrosive environment is provided. The electron exit window foil comprises a sandwich structure having a film of Ti, a first layer of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than Ti, and a flexible second layer of a material being able to protect said film from said corrosive environment, wherein the second layer is facing the corrosive environment.
US09384932B2 Thick-film resistorized ceramic insulators for sealed high voltage tube electrodes
An annular ceramic washer has inner and outer cylindrical surfaces, first and second annular surfaces, and a winding path thick film resistor located on the inner surface. Metal washers are preferably brazed to the end ring surfaces. The annular ceramic washer is useful in vacuum tube applications in establishing a voltage on a target utilizing the voltage of an electrode coupled to the winding path thick film resistor.
US09384930B2 Fuse appliance
A fuse appliance has a fuse carrier for receiving a fuse and a base. The fuse carrier is in a cavity of the base and is manually operable to remove or insert the fuse. Fixed contacts are provided on the base which engage with moving contacts provided on the carrier. Wiring terminals are electrically connected to the fixed contacts. A rotational-linear pulling operation mechanism has a semicircular rotary shaft structure that has two semicircular convex shafts and first and second circular straight grooves fitted to each other so that the fuse carrier performs rotational and linear movements relative to the base and an interchange between rotational and linear movements at a transition position when the carrier is pulled out of or pushed into the appliance.
US09384929B2 Fuse unit
A fuse unit includes a feeding terminal, an energizing terminal and a fusion portion. The feeding terminal is fixed to a battery post to receive power from a battery. The fusion portion electrically connects the feeding terminal and the energizing terminal, and is arranged over the battery post. The feeding terminal is positioned between the energizing terminal and the fusion portion.
US09384928B2 Electrical switching apparatus including transductor circuit and alternating current electronic trip circuit
An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current between the input terminal and the output terminal. The electrical switching apparatus also includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit configured to control pairs of separable contacts to separate based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit.
US09384927B2 Electric vehicle relay
An electric vehicle relay includes: a pair of fixed electrodes; a movable electrode movable to contact or to be separated from the fixed electrode; a driving shaft which performs a vertical motion as an upper end thereof is coupled to the movable electrode; a fixed core fitted into a central part of the driving shaft with a gap; a movable core coupled to a lower end of the driving shaft and sucked by a magnetic force of the fixed core; and a cylinder configured to insertion-support the fixed core and the movable core, wherein locking protrusions are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the movable core, wherein inclined grooves for inserting the locking protrusions are formed on an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder, and wherein the movable electrode is rotated as the locking protrusions are moved along the inclined grooves when the movable core performs an up-down motion.
US09384926B2 Method and apparatus for restoring mechanical relay from stuck fault to normal condition
Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for restoring a mechanical relay from a stuck fault to a normal condition. The method may include detecting, by an MCU, a short state or open state of a relay, repeatedly transferring, by the MCU, a current application signal and a current non-application signal to a relay driver when the relay is in the short state, repeating, by the relay driver, an operation of periodically applying an electric current from a power source unit to the relay in response to the current application signal and the current non-application signal so that the release of the contact point of the relay is induced, detecting, by the MCU, the release state of the contact point of the relay, and maintaining, by the MCU, an ECU in an operating state when the contact point of the relay is released.
US09384925B2 Sterile disposable remote pneumatic actuators
The various embodiments of the present invention relate to remote pneumatic (bellows-action) actuators for switching applications, which are preferably sterile and/or disposable. When compressed, the bellows-action actuator provides a pulse of air pressure sufficient to actuate a remotely-located pneumatic switch configured to turn on/off an electrical, mechanical or optical device. The pulse of air pressure is propagated along a non-conducting tube, thereby substantially reducing the risk of e.g., electric shock or O2 ignition/combustion associated with conventional electric switches in wet, hazardous or medical environments.
US09384923B1 Extruded bushing terminal radiator
A circuit breaker, or transformer, or insulated bus for use with AC voltages greater than 30 kilovolts and AC currents greater than 400 amperes includes an elongated bushing made from electrically insulating material and having a first end adapted to be coupled to a main enclosure of the circuit breaker, or transformer, or insulated bus. An elongated extruded radiator has a first end coupled to the second end of the bushing and a second end. A terminal pad is coupled to the second end of the extruded radiator. An electrical conductor is disposed in internal cavities of the bushing and the extruded radiator in spaced relation to internal walls of the bushing and the extruded radiator that define the internal cavities. One end of the conductor is electrically connected to the terminal pad.
US09384919B2 Touchsurface assembly having key guides formed in a sheet metal component
Methods and apparatus for a touchsurface assembly such as a key assembly are described. The touchsurface assembly includes a sheet metal component having ramps formed therein and a keycap having ramp contacting features and a touchsurface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap toward a pressed position. The ramp contacting features contact at least one of the ramps in the sheet metal component while the keycap moves toward the pressed position, the ramps guiding the keycap to move in a second direction orthogonal to the press direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position.
US09384910B1 Electrical switching apparatus and trip assembly therefor
A trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, a reset assembly, an electrical communication assembly, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a trip bar and a crossbar. The trip assembly includes: a mounting assembly coupled to the housing; an actuating element coupled to the mounting assembly, the actuating element being electrically connected to the electrical communication assembly; a trip cam coupled to the mounting assembly, the trip cam cooperating with the reset assembly in order to reset the actuating element; and an indication assembly coupled to the mounting assembly. The actuating element is structured to drive the trip cam into the trip bar in order to trip open the separable contacts. The actuating element cooperates with the indication assembly to electrically communicate a circuit status to the electrical communication assembly.
US09384906B2 Non-aqueous electrolyte solution and electricity-storage device using same
The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolytic solution capable of improving electrochemical characteristics at high temperatures, which comprises at least one organic phosphorus compound represented by the following general formula (I), an energy storage device using the nonaqueous electrolytic solution, and a specific organic phosphorus compound. (In the formula, R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkoxy group, a cycloalkoxy group, an alkenyloxy group, an alkynyloxy group, a halogenoalkyl group, a halogenoalkoxy group, an aryl group, or an aryloxy group; R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl group; m is an integer of from 1 to 4, n is 0 or 1, q is 1 or 2. When q is 1 and n is 0, X represents an alkoxy group, an alkynyloxy group, an alkyloxyalkoxy group, an aryloxy group, etc.; when q is 1 and n is 1, X represents an alkyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkynyloxy group, an alkyloxyalkoxy group, etc.; and when q is 2, X represents —O-L3-O—, —OC(═O)—C(═O)O—, or a single bond.)
US09384902B2 Silicon dioxide solar cell
In order to increase the generation efficiency of a silicon dioxide solar cell, two conductive substrates are arranged so that the conductive surfaces thereof face each other, at least one of the substrates is disposed upon the substrate facing the light entry-side substrate, and an electrolyte is filled between the silicon dioxide particles compact and the light entry-side substrate. Silicon dioxide solar cells having this configuration exhibit a significantly increased short circuit current and open circuit voltage in comparison to solar cells in which the silicon dioxide and the electrolyte are mixed. This configuration can further be improved by disposing a titanium dioxide solar cell or a dye-sensitized titanium dioxide solar cell upon the light entry-side substrate to further increase the short circuit current and the open circuit voltage.
US09384901B2 Wet electrolytic capacitor for use at high temperatures
A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous body and a fluidic working electrolyte is provided. The casing contains a metal substrate coated an electrochemically-active material. Through a unique and controlled combination of features relating to the capacitor configuration and sealing assembly, the present inventor has discovered that good electrical properties (e.g., ESR stability) can be achieved at relatively high temperatures. One unique feature of the wet electrolytic capacitor that can help achieve such good ESR stability is the presence of a dielectric layer on the metal substrate of the cathode within a controlled thickness range. In other embodiments, a sealing assembly may be employed that contains a hermetic seal (e.g., glass-to-metal seal) and an elastomeric barrier seal formed from a high-temperature elastomeric material.
US09384900B2 Electronic component and manufacturing method thereof
An electronic component includes a metal case with an opening at one end, a metal foil placed in an internal space of the metal case, a packing made of an elastic material and fit into the opening of the metal case, the packing having a through-bore, a cap made of a foamed material and provided at an outer side of the packing, a conductive tab inserted in the through-bore of the packing and connected at one end to the metal foil in the internal space of the metal case, and a lead with a first end connected to another end of the conductive tab and a second end projecting externally from the metal case.
US09384899B2 Tantalum capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
A tantalum capacitor may include: a capacitor body containing a tantalum powder and having a tantalum wire exposed to one end surface thereof; a positive electrode lead frame including a positive electrode terminal part, a vertical support part vertically extended from one leading edge of the positive electrode terminal part, and a positive electrode connection part extended from the vertical support part toward the positive electrode terminal part and connected to the tantalum wire; a negative electrode lead frame having the capacitor body mounted on an upper surface thereof; and a molding part formed to allow a lower surface of the positive electrode terminal part of the positive electrode lead frame and a lower surface of the negative electrode lead frame to be exposed, while enclosing the capacitor body.
US09384897B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a multilayer ceramic capacitor including a ceramic body having first and second side surfaces facing each other, and third and fourth end surfaces connecting the first and second side surfaces, a plurality of internal electrodes formed in the ceramic body and having one ends thereof exposed to the third end surface or the fourth end surface, and first and second side margin parts formed from the first and second side surfaces to edges of the internal electrodes, wherein in a width direction of the ceramic body, both edges of the internal electrodes include oxide regions, the oxidation regions of an internal electrode contributing to capacitance formation except for uppermost and lowermost internal electrodes among the internal electrodes have a maximum length Lmax of 3 μm or less, and a standard deviation in length is 1 μm or less.
US09384895B2 Polytetrafluoroethylene film capacitor
A capacitor having a first electrode, a second electrode, a dielectric layer of a PTFE film having a dielectric strength greater than about 500 V/um, a tensile strength of greater than about 10,000 psi (or, alternatively, a tensile yield strength of greater than about 2,000 psi), and a thickness less than about 20 microns disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09384893B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and board having the same mounted thereon
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes: a ceramic body; an active layer disposed in the ceramic body and including first internal electrodes each having a first lead part exposed to at least one of the first and second side surfaces, and second internal electrodes each having a second lead part exposed to the at least one of the first and second side surfaces, thereby forming capacitance; an upper cover layer formed on an upper portion of the active layer in the thickness direction; a lower cover layer formed on a lower portion of the active layer in the thickness direction and having a thickness greater than that of the upper cover layer; a first external; and a second external electrode.
US09384889B2 Vacuum induction melting and strip casting equipment for rare earth permanent magnetic alloy
A vacuum induction melting and strip casting equipment for rare earth permanent magnetic alloy includes a vacuum induction melting and strip casting chamber, a material receiving heat preservation treatment chamber, a cooling chamber and an isolation valve. The isolation valve is located between the material receiving heat preservation treatment chamber and the cooling chamber, the vacuum induction melting and strip casting chamber is located above the material receiving heat preservation treatment chamber, an outlet of a material guiding tube of the vacuum induction melting and strip casting chamber is corresponding to the material receiving heat preservation treatment chamber. Water-cooled electrodes, a vacuum pumping device, an inert gas introduction pipeline, a temperature measurement mechanism, a pressure gauge, a vacuum gauge and a safety valve are provided on the vacuum induction melting and strip casting chamber. The present invention improves the production efficiency and has high production performance and good consistence.
US09384886B2 Tablet computer stand with near field coupling enhancement and combined stand keyboard system
A tablet stand is disclosed which incorporates a near field antenna configuration which couples to a near field antenna in the back of a tablet and provides a near field antenna coupling region for near field communication at the front of the tablet. The stand may be completely passive and use conductive antenna elements and passive resonance matching circuit elements to provide efficient coupling. In another aspect a thin profile passive keyboard adapted for use with a near field enabled tablet is provided. In another aspect a mounting bracket or holder, embedded antenna, and passive keyboard combination is provided adapted for converting a tablet into a notebook type configuration.
US09384885B2 Tunable wireless power architectures
Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer. The parameters of components of the wireless energy transfer system are adjusted to control the power delivered to the load at the device. The power output of the source amplifier is controlled to maintain a substantially 50% duty cycle at the rectifier of the device.
US09384882B2 Noise reducing solenoid apparatus for shift lever
A solenoid apparatus for a shift lever is provided that includes a bobbin having an aperture therein and a coil wound therearound. A core is mounted on the exterior of the bobbin, surrounds an end portion of the aperture, and is magnetized by a current applied to the coil. A plunger moves along the inside of the aperture and is magnetized by the current. A shaft is inserted into, and penetrates through, the plunger and a buffer member is disposed at an end of the shaft exposed from the plunger. An elastic member is disposed between the buffer member and an end of the aperture. The plunger moves toward the core due to combined forces obtained by combining forces applied in a direction of the movement of the plunger by a magnetic field generated by the current and attractive forces generated vertically between the plunger and the core.
US09384881B2 Balanced magnetic array
A balanced magnetic string and methods for forming same are described. The balanced magnetic string includes at least a plurality of magnetic elements linearly arranged in an alternating magnetic polarity pattern and each comprising a first magnetic volume and a compensating magnetic element having a second magnetic volume that is different than the first magnetic volume. The plurality of magnetic elements and the compensating magnetic element magnetically interact to provide a resultant magnetic field having a desired magnetic field strength at a point of interest.
US09384878B2 Ferromagnetic carbon and boron lithium borohydride complexes
A novel ferromagnetic composition is provided. The reagent includes at least one zero-valent atom, whether metal, metalloid, or non-metal, in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The composition need not contain any inherently ferromagnetic elements and can be much lighter than conventional iron or other metal-based ferromagnetic materials. Core-solenoid devices having ferromagnetic cores which employ the novel ferromagnetic composition are additionally provided. Examples such as electric motors or generators for use in hybrid or all-electric automobiles are included.
US09384876B2 Chip resistor, mounting structure for chip resistor, and manufacturing method for chip resistor
A chip resistor includes a first electrode 1, a second electrode 2, a resistor portion 3, a first intermediate layer 4 connected to the first electrode 1 and the resistor portion 3, a second intermediate layer 5 connected to the second electrode 2 and the resistor portion 3, a coating film 61 covering the first electrode 1, and oxides existing in the first intermediate layer 4. The coating film 61 is made of a material having a higher absorptance of a laser beam of a predetermined wavelength than that of the material forming the first electrode 1. The oxides are oxides of the material forming the coating film 61.
US09384875B2 Method for transferring graphene film and method for manufacturing transparent conductive film
[Object] To provide a method for transferring a graphene film, which can transfer a graphene film on a desired substrate with excellent adhesiveness, can effectively prevent defects from being generated in a graphene film and is excellent also in mass productivity, and a method for manufacturing a transparent conductive film.[Solving Means] One layer or a plurality of layers of graphene films 12 formed on a first substrate 11 and a second substrate 14 are stuck with a resin layer 13 that contains less than 1% by weight of a volatile component and has adhesiveness, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 14 are pressurized to reduce a thickness of the resin layer 13, the resin layer 13 is cured, after that the first substrate 11 is removed.
US09384871B2 Polymer composition comprising carbon nanotubes
A composition can include polystyrene, modified-polystyrene, or a mixture thereof. The polystyrene, modified-polystyrene, or mixture thereof can include carbon nanotubes. The composition can also include a polyolefin. The composition can include at most 1.90% by weight of carbon nanotubes, based on a total weight of the composition. The composition can be made by melt blending the polystyrene, modified-polystyrene, or a mixture thereof with carbon nanotubes, and with the polyolefin. An article can be made from the composition.
US09384868B2 Water-based conductive ink for inkjet recording
There is provided a water-based conductive ink for inkjet recording, the water-based conductive ink enabling formation of highly conductive circuit wiring even by low-temperature firing. A water-based conductive ink for inkjet recording contains metal nanoparticles (X), a polyhydric alcohol (A), and water (B), wherein a polyhydric alcohol represented by the following general formula is used as the polyhydric alcohol (A) (where R represents a hydrogen atom or any one lower alkyl group selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group, and an n-propyl group).
US09384867B2 Flexible, semiconducting nanocomposite materials based on nanocrystalline cellulose and polyaniline
A new approach is conceived for the development of organic polymeric conducting materials synthesized from nanocomposites of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and polyaniline (PANI). The process involves oxidative-radical polymerization of aniline in the presence of NCC using either in situ or emulsion polymerization. The resulting NCC-PANI nanocomposite material can be obtained in film or powder form and exhibits electrical conductive properties typical of semiconducting materials. Unlike PANI, a brittle conductive polymer, NCC-PANI nanocomposite materials can be engineered to possess significant flexibility, strength and/or hardness as a result of the NCC acting as a reinforcing scaffold. Depending on the preparation conditions, electrical conductivities for the NCC-PANI nanocomposite materials prepared according to this disclosure range from 9.98×10−5 to 1.88×10−2 S·cm−1; they could also have hardness ≧0.189 GPa or be formed into flexible films of tensile strength of the order of 9.74 MPa and stretch of the order of 0.54%. These unique electrical and mechanical properties render these materials suitable for use in a variety of value-added industrial products, such as batteries, electronics, electrical sensors, separation membranes, anti-static coatings for aerospace applications, as well as anti-corrosive coatings for automotives and other industrial applications.
US09384866B2 Polyaniline composite, method for producing same, and composition
A polyaniline composite including substituted or unsubstituted polyaniline molecules and a proton donar, the polyaniline molecules being doped with the proton donar, the composite having a chlorine content of 0.6 wt % or less and the composite satisfying the following formula (1): P10000/PALL≦0.15  (1) wherein P10000 is the total sum of the weights of the polyaniline molecules contained in the polyaniline composite having a molecular weight of 10000 or less; and PALL is the total sum of the weights of all polyaniline molecules contained in the polyaniline composite.
US09384862B2 Method of fabricating liquid-metal coolants for nuclear reactors
A method of fabricating a liquid-metal coolant includes adding nanoparticles to the liquid-metal coolant to change neutronic properties of the liquid-metal coolant. The nanoparticles have neutronic properties different from that of the liquid-metal coolant.
US09384849B2 Memory control apparatus, memory control method, and storage medium
A memory control apparatus, a memory control method, and a program are provided which allow reduction of the number of times of writing to a nonvolatile memory. According to the present invention, both of data to be written to one block of a plurality of blocks dividing a storage region of a nonvolatile memory and information for identifying the number of times of writing to the nonvolatile memory are written to the one block.
US09384846B1 Semiconductor memory device, memory system including the same, and operating method thereof
Disclosed are a semiconductor memory device, a memory system including the same, and an operating method thereof. The memory system includes: a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory chips; and a controller configured to measure a cell current of each of the plurality of memory chips, generate temperature compensation data corresponding to the measured cell current, and store the generated temperature compensation data in each of the plurality of memory chips.
US09384843B2 Nonvolatile memory having memory array with differential cells
A nonvolatile memory includes a memory array. The memory array is connected to m word lines and (2+n) bit line pairs. These bit line pairs include an erase bit line pair, a program bit line pair and n data bit line pairs. Each word line is connected with (2+n) differential cells of a corresponding row. The (2+n) differential cells include an erase flag differential cell, a program flag differential cell and n data differential cells. The erase flag differential cell is connected with the erase bit line pair. The program flag differential cell is connected with the program line pair. The n data differential cells are connected with the data line pairs. The n data differential cells are determined as erased cells or programmed cells according to setting conditions of the erase flag differential cell and the program flag differential cell.
US09384842B1 Method and system to improve soft-programming time in non-volatile memory
A method of erasing a plurality of non-volatile memory (NVM) cells on a die includes applying erase signals to the plurality of NVM cells. A subset of the plurality of NVM cells is identified to be soft programmed. Information is identified from a non-volatile storage location that stores a value to identify a particular magnitude from a plurality of possible magnitudes of a starting voltage. A soft program signal is applied to the NVM cells identified for soft programming, wherein the starting voltage of the soft program signal has the particular magnitude.
US09384833B2 Memory system
The memory system includes at least one volatile memory configured to store data. The memory system also includes a non-volatile memory controller configured to provide a control signal to allow the data to be stored in a non-volatile memory during a power interruption mode. In addition, the memory system includes a termination resistor (TER) configured to control a data path in response to a power interruption signal.
US09384831B2 Cross-point memory single-selection write technique
A system and technique is disclosed for writing data in a cross-point memory. The state of one or more memory cells of the cross-point memory are sensed and then are continued to be selected and left on. It is then determined which of the one or more memory cells are to change state based on incoming user data that is to be written into the one or more memory cells. The one or more memory cells determined to change state and are still selected to be on are then written by applying a write-current pulse to the memory cells. In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more memory cells comprise one or more phase-change-type memory cell devices.
US09384829B2 Memory device
A memory device includes n (n being an integer of 2 or more) resistance change films being series connected to each other. Each of the resistance change films is a superlattice film in which plural pairs of a first crystal layer made of a first compound and a second crystal layer made of a second compound are alternately stacked. An average composition of the entire resistance change film or an arrangement pitch of the first crystal layers and the second crystal layers are mutually different among the n resistance change films.
US09384828B2 Electronic device and method for operating the same
An electronic device including a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of variable resistance elements; a plurality of read voltage application terminals configured to supply different levels of read voltages to respective one ends of the plurality of variable resistance elements; and an analog-to-digital conversion unit configured to generate multi-bit digital data corresponding to a total current which is acquired by summing currents flowing through the plurality of variable resistance elements.
US09384826B2 Circuits and methods for performance optimization of SRAM memory
In aspects of the present application, circuitry for storing data is provided including a static random access memory (SRAM) circuit operable to store data in an array of SRAM cell circuits arranged in rows and columns, each SRAM cell coupled to a pair of complementary bit lines disposed along the columns of SRAM cells circuits, and one or more precharge circuits in the SRAM memory circuit coupled to one or more pairs of the complementary bit lines and operable to charge the pairs of complementary bit lines to a precharge voltage, responsive to a precharge control signal. The precharge control signal within the SRAM circuit is operable to cause coupling transistors within the SRAM circuit to couple a pair of complementary bit lines to the precharge voltage responsive to mode signals output from a memory controller circuit external to the SRAM circuit, indicating a bitline precharge is to be performed.
US09384820B1 Aligning calibration segments for increased availability of memory subsystem
A method and apparatus for aligning calibration segments for increased availability of a memory subsystem is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory subsystem includes a memory and a memory controller coupled thereto via a number of independently operable channels (interfaces). The memory controller may convey on each of the channels at least one corresponding data strobe signal. The data strobe signal in each channel may be periodically calibrated. The memory controller may be configured to align the periodic calibrations in time so that they are performed concurrently instead of in a staggered manner. During the time the calibrations are performed on each channel, the memory may be unavailable for normal accesses.
US09384817B1 Refresh signal generation circuit and semiconductor device using the same
This technology includes: a refresh signal generation unit configured to generate a first preliminary refresh signal with a cycle varying according to temperature changes; a magnification adjustment unit configured to generate a second preliminary refresh signal and a third preliminary refresh signal, which have a cycle variation slope equal to the first preliminary refresh signal and have cycle magnifications different from the first preliminary refresh signal according to the first preliminary refresh signal; and a selection unit configured to output one of the first preliminary refresh signal, the second preliminary refresh signal, and the third preliminary refresh signal as a refresh signal according to a control signal.
US09384816B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same
In a conventional DRAM, when the capacitance of a capacitor is reduced, an error of reading data easily occurs. A plurality of cells are connected to one bit line MBL_m. Each cell includes a sub bit line SBL_n_m and 4 to 64 memory cells (a memory cell CL_n_m_1 or the like). Further, each cell includes selection transistors STr1_n_m and STr2_n_m and an amplifier circuit AMP_n_m that is a complementary inverter or the like is connected to the selection transistor STr2_n_m. Since parasitic capacitance of the sub bit line SBL_n_m is sufficiently small, potential change due to electric charge in a capacitor of each memory cell can be amplified by the amplifier circuit AMP_n_m without an error, and can be output to the bit line.
US09384812B2 Three-phase GSHE-MTJ non-volatile flip-flop
Systems and methods are directed to a three-phase non-volatile flip-flop (NVFF), which includes a master stage formed from a dual giant spin Hall effect (GSHE)-magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure, with a first GSHE-MTJ and a second GSHE-MTJ coupled between a first combined terminal and a second combined terminal, and a slave stage formed from a first inverter cross-coupled with a second inverter. A first data value is read out from the slave stage during a read phase of the same clock cycle that a second data value is written into the master stage during a write phase. The three-phase NVFF includes three control signals, for controlling an initialization phase of the slave stage, the read phase, and the write phase.
US09384810B2 Monolithic multi-channel adaptable STT-MRAM
A monolithic multi-channel resistive memory includes at least one first bank associated with a first channel and tuned according to first device attributes and/or first circuit attributes. The memory also includes at least one second bank associated with a second channel and tuned according to second device attributes and/or second circuit attributes.
US09384804B1 Semiconductor device and semiconductor system
A semiconductor system is provided, which includes a controller configured to output an active command and test mode signals; and a semiconductor device configured to sense and amplify a pair of bit lines by generating a first power control signal of which a pulse width is adjusted in accordance with a combination of the test mode signals during an enable period of an enable signal generated by the active command, receiving a supply of a first power according to the first power control signal, and receiving a supply of a second power according to a second power control signal.
US09384803B2 Storage device and latch management method thereof
A latch management method of a storage device includes permitting the storage device to enter a reduced power mode in which the storage device operates with a reduced power. The method includes reading initial latch data stored in the at least one nonvolatile memory device in response to the entering operation. The method includes setting latches associated with the at least one nonvolatile memory device based on the read initial latch data.
US09384802B2 Bit line sensing methods of memory devices
Bit line sensing methods may be provided. The methods may include pre-charging a first bit line and a second bit line with a bit line pre-charge voltage. The first bit line may be connected to a first input terminal of a first inverter, and the second bit line may be connected to a second input terminal of a second inverter. The method may also include adjusting voltages of the first bit line and the second bit line corresponding to either threshold voltages of first and second pull-down circuits included in the first and second inverters respectively or threshold voltages of first and second pull-up circuits included in the first and second inverters respectively. The method may further include sharing charges of one of the first bit line and the second bit line with charges of a corresponding memory cell and amplifying a voltage difference between the first bit line and the second bit line.
US09384801B2 Threshold voltage expansion
Embodiments including systems, methods, and apparatuses associated with expanding a threshold voltage window of memory cells are described herein. Specifically, in some embodiments memory cells may be configured to store data by being set to a set state or a reset state. In some embodiments, a dummy-read process may be performed on memory cells in the set state prior to a read process. In some embodiments, a modified reset algorithm may be performed on memory cells in the reset state. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.
US09384800B2 Semiconductor device and semiconductor system having the same
A semiconductor device includes a column command generation unit suitable for generating a column command delayed by a first delay time from a source command, in response to a first control signal and the source command, a bank address generation unit suitable for generating a bank address delayed by the first delay time from a bank source address, in response to the first control signal and the bank source address, a precharge command generation unit suitable for generating a precharge command delayed by a second delay time from the column command, in response to a second control signal and the column command, and a precharge bank address generation unit suitable for generating a precharge bank address delayed by the second delay time from the bank address, in response to the second control signal and the bank address.
US09384797B2 Memory control method and system
A memory control method includes assigning based on a table to which an allocated device that executes a first process in a first application is registered, the first process in the first application to the allocated device registered; notifying a port connector of identification information of a port of memory, the port to be used by the first application, and registering a number of the port into the table; and allocating a storage area to the port and registering an address of the storage area into the table.
US09384796B2 Semiconductor memory device and memory system including the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a core region for storing data and a peripheral region for controlling the core region. The semiconductor memory device includes a digital noise measurement circuit and an output selection circuit. The digital noise measurement circuit selects a first operation voltage among a plurality of operation voltages based on a voltage selection signal, generates first noise data by digitizing first noise in the first operation voltage based on a plurality of reference voltages, and outputs the first noise data. The plurality of operation voltages are supplied to the core region and the peripheral region. The output selection circuit outputs one of first data and the first noise data based on an output selection signal. The first data is provided from the core region.
US09384795B1 Fully valid-gated read and write for low power array
In an array that qualifies each row according to a valid/invalid state, each row may each include valid-gated read circuitry to conditionally block a read wordline from toggling unless the row stores a data word that has a valid state or a read force signal is asserted. Furthermore, in a write operation, each row may have valid-gated write circuitry that conditionally blocks a write wordline from toggling unless input data to be written to the row has a valid state or a write force signal is asserted. Moreover, output latch clocking may be blocked from toggling unless a row to be read stores a data word that has a valid state or the read force signal is asserted, and input latch clocking may also be blocked unless the input data to be written has a valid state or the write force signal is asserted.
US09384794B2 Semiconductor device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor device includes a pipeline latch unit including a plurality of write pipelines, and suitable for latching data, and a control unit suitable for controlling at least one write pipeline of the write pipelines based on an idle signal.
US09384792B2 Offset-cancelling self-reference STT-MRAM sense amplifier
Embodiments are directed to a self-reference STT-MRAM sensing scheme that uses offset-cancellation to reduce the impact of FET mismatch and thereby allow the sensing of lower read voltages. In some embodiments, the sensing scheme includes a differential amplifier having a first input connected to a memory cell. In some embodiments, a second input of the differential amplifier may be connected to ground, a common mode voltage of the system or a mid-level supply voltage. The present disclosure provides flexibility with respect to the voltage level at which the sensing is performed (e.g., ground, Voc, Vmid, etc.). The present disclosure provides further flexibility with respect to the sense voltage polarity.
US09384791B1 Apparatus and method for sense amplifier offset cancellation
Disclosed is a circuit architecture for cancellation of threshold voltage offsets for an array of sense amplifiers. An offset calibration controller, which may be embedded as a hard-wired circuit in the transceiver core circuits, writes the offset adjustment values to a memory-mapped interface circuit. The memory-mapped interface circuit outputs the offset adjustment values to offset adjustment circuits for the sense amplifiers. The offset adjustment circuits may utilize a body bias technique. Advantageously, the disclosed circuit architecture provides for the minimization of residual offset without sacrificing bandwidth. Other embodiments, features and advantages are also disclosed.
US09384790B2 Memory device with separately controlled sense amplifiers
A memory device includes a memory array comprising memory cells, sense amplifiers configured to sense data stored in the memory cells of the memory array, and control circuitry configured to generate a plurality of separate sense amplifier control signals for application to respective control inputs of respective ones of the sense amplifiers. For example, the memory device may comprise a row of dummy memory cells each coupled to a dummy wordline. In such an arrangement, the control circuitry may comprise a plurality of logic gates coupled to respective ones of the dummy memory cells, with each such logic gate configured to generate a corresponding one of the separate sense amplifier control signals for a corresponding one of the sense amplifiers as a function of a data transition at a bitline of the corresponding dummy memory cell. The separate sense amplifier control signals may comprise respective sense amplifier enable signals.
US09384789B2 Power management in an electronic system through reducing energy usage of a battery and/or controlling an output power of an amplifier thereof
A method includes configuring a battery and a voltage regulator configured to regulate an output voltage of the battery to supply power to a memory of an electronic circuit also comprising non-memory circuitry. The method also includes switching the supply of power between the battery and the voltage regulator such that: the memory is powered from the battery when the non-memory circuitry is inactive, the memory is powered from a combination of voltage from the battery and the voltage regulator when the memory is about to communicate with the non-memory circuitry during a transition of the non-memory circuitry into an active state thereof, and the memory and the non-memory circuitry are powered from the voltage regulator during the active state of the non-memory circuitry. Thus, minimal current is drawn from the battery while a state of the memory of the electronic circuit is preserved.
US09384780B2 System and method for video summarization and navigation based on statistical models
The disclosed method calculates video time density functions based on inter-frame mutual information or other similarity measures. The method includes acquiring a video sequence from memory, computing mutual information or other similarity measures between two consecutive frames of the video sequence, and constructing a video temporal density function based on the mutual information or similarity measures. The method enables fast navigation of the video sequence by performing a temporal quantization of the video time density function to determine a set of quanta. The video sequence can be navigated using the nearest neighbor video frames to the set of quanta. The method enables thumbnail extraction of a video sequence using statistical modeling by performing a temporal quantization of the video time density function to segment video sequence in time domain and using mixture (such as Gaussian mixture and ICA mixture) vector quantization to find the sample frames for each temporal segment.
US09384774B1 Data storage device calibrating a laser power for heat assisted magnetic recording based on slope of quality metric
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk and a head actuated over the disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk. The laser power is adjusted and a pattern is written to a target track at the adjusted laser power. The pattern is read from the target track to generate a read signal, and a quality metric is generated based on the read signal. The process is repeated at least once, and a write power for the laser is configured based on a slope of the quality metric.
US09384771B2 Lubricants providing magnetic head wear reduction and magnetic spacing improvement
A lubricant according to one embodiment includes a cyclophosphazene according to chemical formula 1,
US09384769B2 Write pole configuration
A write head having a write pole with a tip portion defining a pole tip and a paddle portion extending from the tip portion away from the pole tip, the paddle portion defining a back edge. The write head also has a coil structure having at least two active turns crossing the paddle portion, wherein a back of the coil structure is no more than 1 micrometer past the back edge of the write pole. In some implementations, a length from the pole tip to the back edge is no more than 4.5 micrometers.
US09384767B2 Generating position error signal based on data tracks for rotating magnetic data storage
A system including an inter-track interference detection module and a position error signal generation module. The inter-track interference detection module determines a first inter-track interference value based on a first signal from a first sensor positioned over a first track of a rotating storage medium. The first inter-track interference value indicates energy contributed by tracks adjacent to the first track compared to energy contributed by the first track. The inter-track interference detection module determines a second inter-track interference value based on a second signal from a second sensor positioned over a second track of the rotating storage medium. The second inter-track interference value indicates energy contributed by tracks adjacent to the second track compared to energy contributed by the second track. The position error signal generation module generates a position error signal based on the first inter-track interference value and the second inter-track interference value.
US09384760B2 Sound processing device and sound processing method
A sound processing device includes a first noise suppression unit configured to suppress a noise component included in an input sound signal using a first suppression amount, a second noise suppression unit configured to suppress the noise component included in the input sound signal using a second suppression amount greater than the first suppression amount, a speech section detection unit configured to detect whether the sound signal whose noise component has been suppressed by the second noise suppression unit includes a speech section having a speech for every predetermined time, and a speech recognition unit configured to perform a speech recognizing process on a section, which is detected to be a speech section by the speech section detection unit, in the sound signal whose noise component has been suppressed by the first noise suppression unit.
US09384754B2 Removal of audio noise
A system for removing noise from an audio signal is described. For example, noise caused by content playing in the background during a voice command or phone call may be removed from the audio signal representing the voice command or phone call. By removing noise, the signal to noise ratio of the audio signal may be improved.
US09384750B2 Oversampling in a combined transposer filterbank
The present invention relates to coding of audio signals, and in particular to high frequency reconstruction methods including a frequency domain harmonic transposer. A system and method for generating a high frequency component of a signal from a low frequency component of the signal is described. The system comprises an analysis filter bank (501) comprising an analysis transformation unit (601) having a frequency resolution of Δf; and an analysis window (611) having a duration of DA; the analysis filter bank (501) being configured to provide a set of analysis subband signals from the low frequency component of the signal; a nonlinear processing unit (502, 650) configured to determine a set of synthesis subband signals based on a portion of the set of analysis subband signals, wherein the portion of the set of analysis subband signals is phase shifted by a transposition order T; and a synthesis filter bank (504) comprising a synthesis transformation unit (602) having a frequency resolution of QΔf; and a synthesis window (612) having a duration of DS; the synthesis filter bank (504) being configured to generate the high frequency component of the signal from the set of synthesis subband signals; wherein Q is a frequency resolution factor with Q≧1 and smaller than the transposition order T; and wherein the value of the product of the frequency resolution Δf and the duration DA of the analysis filter bank is selected based on the frequency resolution factor Q.
US09384743B2 Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding multichannel signal
An apparatus and method for encoding/decoding a multi-channel signal may be provided. The apparatus of encoding a multi-channel signal may insert information about whether to encode a phase parameter indicating phase information of a plurality of channels, included in the multi-channel signal, in a bitstream of the multi-channel signal. The apparatus of decoding a multi-channel signal may determine whether to up-mix a mono signal using the phase parameter based on the information about whether to encode.
US09384741B2 Binauralization of rotated higher order ambisonics
A device comprising one or more processors is configured to obtain transformation information, the transformation information describing how a sound field was transformed to reduce a number of a plurality of hierarchical elements to a reduced plurality of hierarchical elements; and perform binaural audio rendering with respect to the reduced plurality of hierarchical elements based on the transformation information.
US09384740B2 Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding multi-channel signal
Provided are an encoding apparatus and a decoding apparatus of a multi-channel signal. The encoding apparatus of the multi-channel signal may process a phase parameter associated with phase information between a plurality of channels constituting the multi-channel signal, based on a characteristic of the multi-channel signal. The encoding apparatus may generate an encoded bitstream with respect to the multi-channel signal using the processed phase parameter and a mono signal extracted from the multi-channel signal.
US09384735B2 Corrective feedback loop for automated speech recognition
A method for facilitating the updating of a language model includes receiving, at a client device, via a microphone, an audio message corresponding to speech of a user; communicating the audio message to a first remote server; receiving, that the client device, a result, transcribed at the first remote server using an automatic speech recognition system (“ASR”), from the audio message; receiving, at the client device from the user, an affirmation of the result; storing, at the client device, the result in association with an identifier corresponding to the audio message; and communicating, to a second remote server, the stored result together with the identifier.
US09384733B2 Call registration device for elevator
A call registration device for an elevator includes a voice input section which receives input of a user's voice, a voice recognition section which stores beforehand a predetermined call registration command representing a destination floor and a predetermined start command used for starting voice recognition of a call registration and which differs from the call registration command, the voice recognition section also performing voice recognition by judging whether the inputted voice is the call registration command or the start command, a call registration control section which, if the inputted voice was the call registration command, outputs a call registration request to the destination floor of the relevant call registration command, and a start command changing part which changes a start command which becomes effective by a predetermined condition. If the inputted voice is a start command made effective, the voice recognition section starts voice recognition of a call registration.
US09384732B2 Voice command definitions used in launching application with a command
A voice command definition file (VCDF) declaratively defines voice commands for an application. For example, the VCDF may include definitions for: voice commands; one or more phrases/utterances that may be said to execute each of the commands; a navigation location to navigate to within the application (e.g. a page); phrase lists containing items that may be used as a parameter in a voice command; examples; feedback; and the like. A user may say a single utterance to launch the application, navigate to the associated location of the command and execute the command. The VCDF may define multiple ways to listen for a particular command. The VCDF may be edited/defined by a user and may include a user friendly name for an application. A speech engine loads the VCDF for use such that it may recognize the commands associated with an application. The definitions may be updated during runtime.
US09384727B2 Active sound reduction system and method
The present invention refers to an active sound reduction system and method for attenuation of sound emitted by a primary sound source, especially for attenuation of snoring sounds emitted by a human being. This system comprises a primary sound source, at least one speaker as a secondary sound source for producing an attenuating sound to be superposed with the sound emitted by said primary sound source, a reference microphone for receiving sound from said primary sound source, and at least one error microphone being allocated to each speaker to form a speaker/microphone pair. The at least one error microphone is provided as a directional microphone pointing at its allocated speaker to receive residual sound resulting from the superposition of the sounds from the primary sound source and the corresponding speaker. The error microphone and speaker of at least one speaker/microphone pair and the primary sound source are arranged substantially collinear. A control unit is provided to receive an output reference signal of the reference microphone representing the sound received by the reference microphone and an output error signal of the at least one error microphone representing the sound received by the at least one error microphone and to calculate a control signal for the speaker from the output reference signal and the output error signal.
US09384725B2 Transmission path compensator
The invention relates to a system for generating anti-noise in an exhaust-gas line (9) of a vehicle, comprising a first electro acoustic transducer (11) for generating a first acoustic signal based on an electric control signal, and being in communication with the exhaust-gas line via an acoustic line (4, 7), with the first acoustic signal entering the exhaust line in form of anti-noise after having passed the acoustic line, a second electro acoustic transducer (13) for generating an electric measurement signal representing a second acoustic signal, and being in acoustic communication with the exhaust-gas line (9) at the anti-noise coupling region, a control unit (21) for generating the control signal based on the measurement signal, and a parameterizing unit (29) for determining a conforming phase parameter and a conforming magnitude parameter for the control function used by the control unit (21) based on the transient response of the control unit.
US09384724B2 Music playing device, electronic instrument, music playing method, and storage medium
A CPU detects an operation state on a fingerboard at a prescribed period, stores the detected operation state in a memory every time an operation state is detected, detects whether or not any of a plurality of extended strings has been struck, determines a pitch of a note to be played based on the operation state stored in the memory in response to a string being struck, and controls a note to be played in a sound source based on the detected operation state and the operation state stored in the memory every time the operation state is detected after a command to play a note of a determined pitch is issued to the sound source.
US09384722B2 Method and device for rechargeable, retrofittable battery pack
A power system on an electric guitar may include a cover plate covering a standard cavity in the electric guitar. A rechargeable power source may be contained within the standard cavity and may not extend beyond an external surface of the cover plate. Other instruments or configurations may be used.
US09384721B2 Pickup assembly for an electrical stringed musical instrument
A pickup for an electrical, stringed musical instrument includes a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly includes a base plate, a pole that extends upward from the base plate and a coil of wire wrapped around the pole above the base plate. The second assembly includes a housing that has a fastening feature that allows the second assembly to be user attachable and detachable from the first assembly independently of any electrical connections made by the first assembly. The second assembly also includes a magnet seated within the housing. The pickup is further constructed so that the second assembly readily attaches and detaches to the first assembly such that when attached, the pole of the first assembly is in magnetic cooperation with the magnet of the second assembly.
US09384720B2 Keyboard musical instrument, and method for recording half performance of pedal or key damper on keyboard musical instrument
Dampers provided in corresponding relation to a plurality of keys are each controlled in response to both an operation of a pedal and an operation of the corresponding key. One half region or half point is determined based on a plurality of half pedal regions or half pedal points, in a stroke of the pedal, specific to the individual dampers. Performance data instructing a pedal operation is generated and recorded on the basis of a stroke position detected in response to a pedal operation and the determined one half region or half point. For each of the keys, a key-damper half region or key-damper half point in a stroke of the key is identified in advance. Performance data instructing key operations is generated and recorded on the basis of the key-damper half regions or key-damper half points specific to the keys and stroke positions detected in response to key operations.
US09384719B2 Generating customized arpeggios in a virtual musical instrument
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media generate customized arpeggios. An exemplary method includes providing a storage medium, including a database storing data corresponding to an arpeggio pattern to be played by a virtual instrument. The method further includes receiving a plurality of user inputs that enable a user to select a desired set of musical notes (e.g. a chord) other than the notes (e.g. chord) used to create the arpeggio stored in the database, without having to re-enter the note sequence. The method then includes creating the desired arpeggio for the selected set of notes by applying the stored arpeggio data from the database to the entered notes, and playing the created desired arpeggio.
US09384717B2 Tone generation assigning apparatus and method
Tone generating instructions designating one or more tone pitches are received in response to performance operation on a keyboard, for example. A plurality of assigners are provided to assign tone colors to the one or more tone pitches designated by the received tone generating instructions. The plurality of the assigners are configured to select, for each assignor, from among the one or more tone pitches designated by the one or more tone generation instructions received by a reception section, one or more target tone pitches to which the tone color is to be assigned by the assigner, and determine, for each assignor and on the basis of a priority order set for each assigner, from among the selected one or more target tone pitches, one or more tone pitches of which tones are to be generated with the tone color assigned by the assigner.
US09384716B2 Automatic key adjusting apparatus and method, and a recording medium
An automatic key adjusting apparatus is provided, which determines keys on an input melody in real time and adjusts the determined keys in non real time to obtain accurate keys, thereby enhancing accuracy of placement of chords. The automatic key adjusting apparatus is provided with a keyboard for playing a melody of a musical piece. CPU judges keys on the melody in real time based on a history of pitches of the played melody of the musical piece, and adjusts the result of the key judgment in non real time after the melody of the musical piece is played.
US09384715B2 Keyboard apparatus and keyboard instrument
A keyboard apparatus is provided, which is provided with plural keys 2 disposed in parallel, plural transmission members 10 rotating in response to a key pressing operation on the plural keys, and plural hammer members 11 rotating in accordance with rotation of the transmission member to give an action load to the key. The weights of the transmission members together with the weights of the hammer members bring the plural keys to the initial positions and initial loads of the keys are adjusted by the weights of the hammer members. Even if the weight of the hammer member is changed, the initial load of the key can be adjusted based on the weight of the transmission member. Therefore, when the weights of the hammer members are changed, the initial loads of the keys can be kept constant on the high-pitched tone side and the low-pitched tone side.
US09384705B2 Gate driver and display apparatus including the same
A gate driver is disclosed. The disclosed gate driver includes a shift register configured to generate a shift signal. The shift signal is based on a gate start signal and a gate clock signal. The gate driver further includes a gate drive signal generator configured to generate a gate drive signal. The gate drive signal is based on a gate control signal and the shift signal. The rising edge of the gate control signal precedes the falling edge of the shift signal, and the falling edge of the gate control signal follows the falling edge of the shift signal. The gate drive signal falls from a second voltage to a third voltage in response to the falling edge of the shift signal and rises from the third voltage to a first voltage in response to the falling edge of the gate control signal. The first voltage is higher than the third voltage but lower than the second voltage.
US09384703B2 Techniques for avoiding and remedying DC bias buildup on a flat panel variable refresh rate display
A method for driving a display panel having a variable refresh rate is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a current input frame from an image source. It also comprises determining a first number of re-scanned frames to insert between the current input frame and a subsequent input frame, wherein the re-scanned frames repeat the current input frame, and wherein the determining depends on a minimum refresh interval (MRI) of the display panel. Further, it comprises calculating intervals to insert the first number of re-scanned frames between the current input frame and the subsequent input frame. Further, it comprises scanning the current input frame for display on the display panel. Finally it comprises inserting the first number of re-scanned frames at the respective intervals between the current input frame and the subsequent input frame from the image source, wherein the inserting is operable to reduce charge accumulation in the display panel.
US09384701B2 Backlight driver with luminance control and liquid crystal display including the same
A backlight driver and a liquid crystal display (LCD) including the same, in which the backlight driver includes an interface unit enabled in response to a first carry signal, receiving serially provided optical data, and outputting a second carry signal; and a plurality of control units controlling one or more light-emitting devices in response to the serially provided optical data.
US09384700B2 Pixel circuit, organic electroluminesce display panel and display device
A pixel circuit, an organic electroluminescent display panel and a display device are provided. The pixel circuit includes a light emitting element, a first capacitor, a reset control module, a drive control module, a compensation control module, and a light emission control module. In a reset phase, the reset control module writes a reset signal at a reset signal end into a second end of the first capacitor. In a compensation phase, the reset control module writes a data signal at a data signal end into a first end of the first capacitor, and the drive control module charges the first capacitor through the compensation control module. In a light emission phase, both the light emission control module and the first capacitor enable the drive control module to drive the light emitting element with a stable current for emission of light.
US09384699B2 Organic light-emitting display device
An organic light-emitting display device includes an organic light-emitting display panel displaying an image that includes a plurality of frames, a data driver providing a plurality of data signals, which correspond to the image, to the organic light-emitting display panel, and a gamma voltage generator providing a gamma voltage, which varies in a same period as each of the frames, to the data driver.
US09384698B2 System and methods for aging compensation in AMOLED displays
A voltage-programmed display system allows measurement of effects on pixels in a panel that includes both active pixels and reference pixels coupled to a supply line and a programming line. The reference pixels are controlled so that they are not subject to substantial changes due to aging and operating conditions over time. A readout circuit is coupled to the active pixels and the reference pixels for reading at least one of current, voltage or charge from the pixels when they are supplied with known input signals. The readout circuit is subject to changes due to aging and operating conditions over time, but the readout values from the reference pixels are used to adjust the readout values from the active pixels to compensate for the unwanted effects.
US09384692B2 Organic light emitting display having a reduced number of signal lines
An organic light emitting display includes common coupling units at crossing regions of scan lines and data lines; first pixels at the crossing regions and positioned on an ith horizontal line to be coupled to the common coupling units positioned at the same crossing regions, wherein i is a positive integer; second pixels at the crossing regions and positioned on an (i+1)th horizontal line to be coupled to the common coupling units positioned at the same crossing regions; first control lines coupled to the first pixels; and second control lines coupled to the second pixels.
US09384685B2 Method for deployment of a display system
A method for deployment of a display system includes providing a first collection container for receiving a first display arrangement, and a second collection container for receiving a second display arrangement. The method further includes positioning the first collection container and the second collection container in close proximity to one another. The method further includes selectably engaging the first display arrangement to the second display arrangement and simultaneously deploying the first and second display arrangements.
US09384682B2 Electronic circuit, electronic apparatus, and authentication system
An electronic circuit includes: a plurality of RS latch circuits each configured to enter a metastable state in accordance with a clock signal input to the RS latch circuit; a determination circuit configured to determine whether an output of each of the RS latch circuits is a random number or a fixed number; and a selector configured to select whether to maintain the clock signal input to the RS latch circuit, to change the clock signal input to the RS latch circuit to another clock signal having a different frequency, or to input a clock signal for fixing a signal output from the RS latch circuit, as the clock signal input to the RS latch circuit, in accordance with a result determined by the determination circuit.
US09384678B2 System and method for generating questions and multiple choice answers to adaptively aid in word comprehension
An adaptive learning system and method provides for automatically generating question types to a user for word comprehension and selecting multiple choice answers for display. Questions are developed for the user by obtaining online content and indexing the content into individual sentences and questions. The system provides questions in a series of rounds to the user and then adaptively tracks the progress of the user based on the categorization of each question.
US09384677B2 Automated execution and evaluation of network-based training exercises
This disclosure generally relates to automated execution and evaluation of computer network training exercises, such as in a virtual machine environment. An example environment includes a control and monitoring system, an attack system, and a target system. The control and monitoring system initiates a training scenario to cause the attack system to engage in an attack against the target system. The target system then performs an action in response to the attack. Monitor information associated with the attack against the target system is collected by continuously monitoring the training scenario. The attack system is then capable of sending dynamic response data to the target system, wherein the dynamic response data is generated according to the collected monitor information to adapt the training scenario to the action performed by the target system. The control and monitoring system then generates an automated evaluation based upon the collected monitor information.
US09384675B2 Simulator for skill-oriented training
A simulator for skill-oriented training is presented. The simulator includes a platform having a sensor and provides an immersive virtual training environment. The simulator includes a display unit worn by the operator. The unit includes a camera, a speaker and a unit sensor. The camera and the speaker provide visual and audio output to the operator. The simulator includes a controller and a data processing system. The controller includes a sensor. The sensors cooperate to provide to the processing system signals representing spatial positioning, angular orientation and movement data of the controller relative to the platform and a work piece. In response, the processing system renders the work piece, a virtual coating spray pattern, a virtual coating as applied to the work piece and performance guidance in the training environment.
US09384670B1 Situational awareness display for unplanned landing zones
A method for an airborne vehicle includes visually displaying a representation of an environment below the vehicle and a landing zone in the environment, computing a range of approach gates that enable the vehicle to reach the landing zone at a desired glide slope while satisfying minimum obstacle clearance, and visually displaying the range in the representation.
US09384662B2 Parking assistance for a vehicle
Parking assistance for a vehicle includes various elements directed to assessing whether a motion or position of a vehicle is conducive to detecting an available parking slot. In one instance, a signal is received, and the signal is used to calculate a movement parameter. For example, the movement parameter might include a distance between the driven vehicle and one or more objects or a passing angle of the driven vehicle relative to the one or more objects. The movement parameter is then compared to a movement parameter threshold, and a notification is transmitted when the movement parameter is violated.
US09384661B1 Cognitive needs-based trip planning
A route-determination module (RDM) is provided, with the RDM having as input one or more cognitive preferences of a traveler. Further, the RDM receives input on a current or a forecasted cognitive state of the traveler, along with the cognitive load associated with one or more potential routes for traveling to a destination. A recommended route is determined based on the preference(s), state, and/or cognitive load.
US09384660B2 Mirror alert with projected message
An apparatus includes a mirror dome and a light producing system for producing and transmitting light through the mirror dome to an external surface to produce a message viewable on the external surface. A sensing system identifies traffic and is in communication with the light producing system to cause the light producing system to produce and project a message viewable on the external surface when the sensing system detects approaching objects or traffic.
US09384652B2 System and method for transfer of primary alarm notification on patient monitoring systems
The present application discloses methods and systems for transferring primary alarm notification on patient monitoring systems from a bedside monitor to one or more secondary devices which may operate on a less than fully reliable network. The bedside monitor includes an attached physiological parameter measurement device which detects when a specific physiological parameter measures outside a predetermined range. The bedside monitor then directs the secondary device(s) to annunciate its alarm. Primary alarming responsibility reverts from the secondary device(s) back to the bedside monitor whenever communication between the two is lost or when acknowledgement of the alarm condition by the secondary device is not relayed back to the bedside monitor within a predetermined amount of time.
US09384648B2 Marine emergency position indicating system
A marine emergency position indicating system that can communicate wirelessly between beacon and search engine is provided. When someone carrying the beacon falls into the water, power supply of the beacon opens through drowning automatic switch or manual switch, therefore the beacon can emit wireless SOS signals out. Rescue boat or aircraft installed with search engine can search and receive SOS signals sent from beacons over a 5-kilometer radius along the way to accidental site. The search engine can distinguish the beacons around this area and determine the direction and approximate distance between drowning persons carrying beacons and the search engine through wireless communication technology and wireless positioning technology to help rescuers implement fixed-point rescue. Therefore, the marine emergency position indicating system can overcome the bad weather impact on marine rescue, speed up the rescue process and improve the success possibilities of fixed-point rescue.
US09384646B2 Motion monitoring method and device
Provided is a motion monitoring method for monitoring a user's motion state with a motion monitoring device, sending an alert signal from the motion monitoring device to remind the user and displaying user data for recognizing the user when the motion monitoring device detects that the user's motion state does not generate any variation within a predetermined period of time or a generated variation is less than a standard value, and sending a distress signal from the motion monitoring device to specific and/or nonspecific persons if the alert signal is not turned off after the motion monitoring device having sent the alert signal continuously for a while, so as to lend a helping hand to the user as soon as possible.
US09384640B2 Tactile alerting mechanism for portable communications device
A portable communications device, such as a mobile phone, includes a novel tactile alerting mechanism capable of alerting the user of an incoming communication or other event. In some embodiments, a mechanical actuator causes a rod or lever to pulsate, rotate, or protrude out of a static housing for the communications device. In other embodiments, a pneumatic actuator inflates a bladder that protrudes out of the housing. The alerting mechanism may be configured as a movable part of a decorative fanciful housing for the communications device.
US09384639B2 Rigid fixture for coupling one or more transducers to the upper back of the human body
One embodiment of a rigid fixture for coupling one or more transducers to the center upper back of the human body. The left contact area (10) and right contact area (11) are curved surfaces designed to ergonomically fit against the trapezius muscle groups. The contact areas (10) and (11) may optionally be covered with a cushioning pads (31). Between the contact areas (10) and (11) is a center section spaced away from the spine (12) that is not in contact with the human body. One or more transducers (30) are attached or incorporated into the center section (12), which may be facilitated by transducer attach points (21). The entire fixture can be fastened to straps, belts, harnesses, backpacks, clothing, or seats by the attach points (20).
US09384635B2 Tournament game system and tournament method
In an embodiment of a gaming method, an identifier may be received from a first gaming unit, wherein the identifier is associated with a tournament game card, wherein the tournament game card is provided to a player in response to paying a fee. Whether the identifier received from the first gaming unit is authentic may be determined. A duration the player may play in a tournament may be determined based on the identifier, and the first gaming unit may be enabled for play in the tournament for the duration if the identifier is authentic. A tournament score of the player may be received, and a winning player of the tournament, if any, may be determined. Data indicative of a value payout to be awarded to the winning player may be generated if the winning player of the tournament is determined.
US09384632B2 Methods and system for providing outcomes
Gaming devices may generate outcomes to be sold in printed form. Representations of the outcomes, corresponding payouts, and other information are printed on sheets of paper. Multiple printed outcomes are assembled into books, wrapped, and sold to consumers. Consumers may purchase the books and browse through the printed outcomes at their leisure. When finished with a book, a consumer may submit a portion of the book to the casino that sold the outcomes. The casino may then pay the player based on the payouts associated with the outcomes in the book.
US09384625B2 Gaming system for tracking player activity during virtual sessions at a gaming machine
A gaming system has a central authority connected to a plurality of gaming machines. Player activity is tracked at the gaming machines during regular gaming sessions and during virtual gaming sessions. Such data is transmitted to the central authority for providing player points in a player account file of a central database. Regular gaming sessions occur between player card insertion and player card removal. Virtual gaming sessions may occur prior to player card insertion as well as after player card insertion. For example, a coin-in event prior to player card insertion will establish a virtual session, and credits remaining on the credit meter at a card-out event will establish a virtual gaming session.
US09384624B2 Gaming system and a method of gaming
A gaming system comprises a player interface (50) comprising a display on which a plurality of selectable symbol display positions are displayed to a player, the player interface (50) allowing a player to select one or more windows (700-703) defining respective ones of one or more subsets of the symbol display positions (600), and a game controller (60) arranged to select symbols for display at all symbol display positions (600), and to evaluate selected symbols within each selected window based on a win entitlement applying to the selected window to determine a game outcome.
US09384622B2 Methods and systems for presenting pari-mutuel betting options and constructing wagers
Methods and systems of pari-mutuel wagering are disclosed to facilitate the wager construction process. In one method, patrons or tellers select a graphic area on a display element to place runners in a position of a pari-mutuel wager. In another method, a patron or teller selects a graphic area of a display element to copy a runner of a position to another position of a pari-mutuel wager. Another method provides a patron or teller with an opportunity to sort a list of runners of a pari-mutuel gaming activity by selecting an icon of a display element. In a further method, a patron or teller places a multi-position pari-mutuel wager by selecting an area of a display element.
US09384614B2 Coin dispensing device and drawer
A drawer 72 includes a coin container receiving unit 74 and a plurality of types of coin containers 76a, 76b having different shapes, each of the coin containers 76a, 76b can be placed in the coin container receiving unit 74, and wherein a number of the coin containers 76a, 76b installed in the drawer 72 is changeable according to a combination of the types of the coin containers 76a, 76b placed in the coin container receiving unit 74.
US09384603B2 Failure cause classification apparatus
Selection of sensors requires the knowledge of individual sensors mounted on a target machine and the knowledge of mechanical features of the machine. In the past, experts having mechanical knowledge selected the sensors. The present invention involves analyzing sensor data at e of machine failure, extracting features from the sensor data regarding each failure cause, and comparing the extracted features so as to clarify the difference between the sensor data about the failure causes and present an operator with the clarified difference thereby to support sensor selection. The invention makes it possible to select more simply than before the sensors considered effective for classifying failure causes. For example, the sensors deemed effective for classifying failure causes without mechanical knowledge can be selected.
US09384597B2 System and method for crowdsourcing vehicle-related analytics
Currently vehicles typically include an engine computer that outputs diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) that are indicative of some fault condition in a vehicle. DTCs can tell a specific problem with a particular part such as that a cylinder in an engine is misfiring, but do not provide any indication as to the cause of the problem and do not propose any solutions for solving the problem. This disclosure advantageously describes systems that can analyze DTCs and other telematics data using crowdsourcing principles to recommend vehicle maintenance and other solutions.
US09384596B2 Visualization of obscured objects in 3D space
A system, method and software application implement a visualization scheme for presenting information in a 3D map. A set of rules specifies the visualization scheme, particularly with respect to how the system renders background objects that are obscured by a foreground object. The objects include elements such as building surfaces, streets, pointers, icons, labels, floor plans, and the like. The rules specify details such as stroke, fill, transparency, opacity, and visibility of the elements. Some of the rules may specify relationships between an object and elements that are considered “internal” to the object, while others of the rules may specify relationships between an object and other elements considered “external” to the object.
US09384595B2 Computing devices and methods for navigating around a surface of three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system representations of 3D objects
The present disclosure relates to navigating around geographic maps within a map viewport display. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to navigating around a surface of a 3D, geographic coordinate system, representation of a globe using a pan feature while North is locked. In response to a user activating a pan feature of a navigation interface, a spin angle and, or a swing angle is calculated and the globe is revolved around a spin-axis and, or a swing-axis while revolution around a rotate-axis is locked.
US09384594B2 Anchoring virtual images to real world surfaces in augmented reality systems
A head mounted device provides an immersive virtual or augmented reality experience for viewing data and enabling collaboration among multiple users. Rendering images in a virtual or augmented reality system may include capturing an image and spatial data with a body mounted camera and sensor array, receiving an input indicating a first anchor surface, calculating parameters with respect to the body mounted camera and displaying a virtual object such that the virtual object appears anchored to the selected first anchor surface. Further operations may include receiving a second input indicating a second anchor surface within the captured image that is different from the first anchor surface, calculating parameters with respect to the second anchor surface and displaying the virtual object such that the virtual object appears anchored to the selected second anchor surface and moved from the first anchor surface.
US09384586B1 Enhanced flight vision system and method with radar sensing and pilot monitoring display
An image processing system for enhanced flight vision includes a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The memory contains program instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive radar returns data for a runway structure, generate a three-dimensional model representative of the runway structure based on the radar returns data, generate a two-dimensional image of the runway structure from the three-dimensional model, and generate an aircraft situation display image representative of the position of the runway structure with respect to an aircraft based on the two-dimensional image.
US09384585B2 3-dimensional shape reconstruction device using depth image and color image and the method
A 3-dimensional (3D) whole shape reconstruction apparatus using a depth image and a color image and a 3D whole shape reconstruction method are provided. The 3D whole shape reconstruction apparatus may include an information generation unit to generate shape information of 3D portions using a depth image and a color image, and a shape reconstruction unit to reconstruct a 3D whole shape of a user by matching the shape information of 3D portions.
US09384584B2 Display list control stream grouping in tile based 3D computer graphics system
A method and apparatus are provided for rendering a 3 dimensional computer graphics image. The image is subdivided into a plurality of rectangular areas and primitives which may be visible in the image are assigned to respective ones of a plurality of primitive blocks. A determination is made as to which primitive blocks contain primitives which intersect each rectangular area. The rectangular areas are then grouped into a plurality of fixed size groups and control stream data for each of the fixed size groups is derived, this control stream data including data which determines which primitive blocks are required to render the rectangular areas in each respective first fixed size group. The control stream data is then used to render the image for display.
US09384582B2 Methods and computer program products for quantitative three-dimensional image correction and clinical parameter computation in optical coherence tomography
Methods and computer program products for quantitative three-dimensional (“3D”) image correction in optical coherence tomography. Using the methods and computer program products, index interface (refracting) surfaces from the raw optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) dataset from an OCT system can be segmented. Normal vectors or partial derivatives of the curvature at a refracting surface can be calculated to obtain a refracted image voxel. A new position of each desired refracted image voxel can be iteratively computed. New refracted corrected voxel positions to an even sampling grid can be interpolated to provide corrected image data. In some embodiments, clinical outputs from the corrected image data can be computed.
US09384580B2 Multiple image generation from a single patient scan
Methods and systems for generating images. One system includes a processor. The processor is configured to receive image generation settings, receive projection data generated by a CT scan of an object, and automatically generate a first three-dimensional data set based on the projection data, wherein the first three-dimensional data set has a first field-of-view of the object. The processor is also configured to automatically generate a second three-dimensional data set based on the projection data and the image generation settings. The second three-dimensional data set has a second field-of-view of the object smaller than the first field-of-view in at least one dimension. In one embodiment, the second three-dimensional data set is transmitted to a service provider over at least one network.
US09384576B2 Method and device for computing a change in an image scale of an object
A method is provided for computing a change in an image scale of an object. The method includes a step of recognizing, a step of providing, a step of scaling, a step of ascertaining, and a step of combining. Image coordinates of characteristic image areas are recognized in an instantaneous image in the step of recognizing. The characteristic image areas depict object features at least of the one object in the instantaneous image. A model is provided in the step of providing, model coordinates of the model representing a selection of positions of recognized object features of the object in a preceding image. The model is scaled in the step of scaling in order to obtain a scaled model. At least a portion of the model coordinates is correlated with the recognized image coordinates.
US09384575B2 Space constrained small format visual analytic labeling
Systems and methods for automated rule-based labeling of space constrained small format visual analytics are disclosed. A label engine receives visual analytic data and metadata. Using default or specific rules, the label engine analyzes the metadata to determine a number of measures and dimensions of the visual analytic data. The label engine then analyzes the measures, dimensions, and other metadata according to the rules to generate a set of labels, and a set of locations within the visual analytic into which to insert the set of labels. Placement of the labels can be based on the size and format of the visual analytic. In addition, the placement of the labels can be based on a dashboard framework in which the visual analytic is disposed. Any labels that are redundant with the information in the context of the dashboard framework can be omitted from visual analytic.
US09384573B2 Computer-implemented system and method for placing groups of document clusters into a display
A computer-implemented system and method for placing groups of document clusters into a display is provided. One or more spines of document clusters are placed into a display and at least one of the document clusters for each placed spine is designated as an anchor cluster. At least one of the unplaced spines is compared with each of the placed spines in the display and one of the placed spines most similar to the unplaced spine is identified. The document clusters of the unplaced spine are compared with the anchor cluster of the most similar placed spine and the cluster on the unplaced spine that is most similar to the anchor cluster on the most similar placed spine is identified. The most similar cluster of the unplaced spine is grafted to the anchor cluster of the most similar placed spine.
US09384566B2 System and method for simulataneous image artifact reduction and tomographic reconstruction
Described here is a system and method for image reconstruction that can automatically and iteratively produce multiple images from one set of acquired data, in which each of these multiple images corresponds to a subset of the acquired data that is self-consistent, but inconsistent with other subsets of the acquired data. The image reconstruction includes iteratively minimizing the rank of an image matrix whose columns each correspond to a different image. The rank minimization is constrained subject to a consistency condition that enforces consistency between the forward projection of each column in the image matrix and a respective subset of the acquired data that contains data that is consistent with data in the subset, but inconsistent with data not in the subset.
US09384564B2 Rendering of data sets comprising multiple-resolution samples
A data set may be represented by samples of multiple resolutions, such as an image represented by pixels of various resolutions. When such multiple-resolution samples are potentially overlapping, it may be inefficient to render both a lower-resolution sample and also the plurality of higher-resolution samples that overlap the lower-resolution sample. Conversely, it may be more efficient to determine, before rendering a sample representing a particular data unit, whether the sample is overlapped by available higher-resolution samples that represent the same data unit. Techniques are disclosed for making this determination in an efficient manner, and for acting upon the determination to achieve improved efficiency in the rendering of the data set.
US09384563B2 Image processing device, method, and computer program product
In an embodiment, an image processing device includes: a first calculating unit; a selecting unit; an extracting unit; a second calculating unit; a determining unit; and a generating unit. The first calculating unit calculates posture information of a subject from a first image including the subject. The selecting unit selects a second image associated with the posture information from a plurality of second images including clothing. The extracting unit extracts a first feature of the subject from a first contour in the first image and extracts a second feature from a second contour in the second image. The second calculating unit calculates a first difference between the first feature and the second feature. The determining unit determines a transparency that is higher as the first difference is larger. The generating unit generates a composite image combining the first image and the second image with the determined transparency.
US09384560B2 Contamination level estimation method for high voltage insulators
The contamination level estimation method for high voltage insulators collects samples of naturally contaminated insulators and builds an image data set for the collected insulators. Flashover voltages of several insulators samples are measured. ESDD levels of the collected insulators are estimated. Images are input to image processing algorithms to extract representative features. The images are segmented. Transforming the image from RGB color space into grayscale model excludes the background from the image. Subsequently, the segmented images are transferred back to RGB color space model using matrix manipulation. Since contaminants on the insulator surface affect the color of the insulator, the segmented image is transformed from RGB to HSV color space which is used for extracting statistical and linear algebraic features from the hue image. A trained artificial neural network correlates the extracted features to the contamination levels enabling testing of other contaminated insulators.
US09384559B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and medium that determine whether a candidate region of a specific region in divided images forms the specific image, based on shape information
An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit to acquire a plurality of divided images from one image. The divided images that neighbor one another do not have an overlapping region. An extraction unit extracts a candidate region of a specific region in the divided image. In a case when candidate regions extracted by the extraction unit neighbor one another at the boundary between the divided images that neighbor one another, a combining unit combines shape information of the candidate regions that neighbor one another. A determination unit determines whether the candidate regions form the specific region by using the shape information combined by the combining unit.
US09384558B2 Image processing device for performing image segmentation processing
An image processing device of the present invention acquires the positional information of a boundary line for a case where a first image is segmented into a foreground and a background by a segmentation processing that segments an image into a foreground and a background, and controls the segmentation processing to segment a second image having a predetermined relationship with the first image by use of the positional information of the acquired boundary line.
US09384556B2 Image processor configured for efficient estimation and elimination of foreground information in images
An image processing system comprises an image processor having image processing circuitry and an associated memory. The image processor is configured to implement a foreground processing module utilizing the image processing circuitry and the memory. The foreground processing module is configured to obtain one or more images, to estimate a foreground region of interest from the one or more images, to determine a plurality of segments of the foreground region of interest, to calculate amplitude statistics for respective ones of the plurality of segments, to classify respective segments as being respective portions of static foreground objects or as being respective portions of dynamic foreground objects based at least in part on the calculated amplitude statistics and one or more defined patterns for known static and dynamic objects, and to remove one or more segments classified as static foreground objects from the foreground region of interest.
US09384551B2 Automatic rectification of stereo imaging cameras
An electronic device can have two or more pairs of cameras capable of performing three-dimensional imaging. In order to provide accurate disparity information, these cameras should be sufficiently rectified. Automatic rectification can be performed by periodically capturing images with the cameras of interest, and locating matching feature points in corresponding images captured by those cameras. Small misalignment errors can be treated as linear translations, such that a set of linear equations can be used to solve for the misalignments. Another process can process a set of homographies for the cameras until a cost function converges. Various other approaches can be used as well, such as to directly solve for yaw, pitch, and roll errors. Once this information is obtained, the misalignment values (or related values) can be stored for use in correcting images subsequently captured by those cameras.
US09384542B1 System and method for automatically identifying and matching a color of a structure's external surface
The method and system may be used to provide an indication of a color value for a particular siding sample and to color match a specific siding product to the color value of the siding sample. The system receives a digital image of a siding sample and a desired color value to be matched. A color query module plots this desired color value as a desired color point in a multidimensional color space together with a plurality of color reference points. Each color reference point represents the color value of an existing siding product. The system determines a “distance” between the desired color point and each plotted color reference point within the color space and identifies the siding product associated with the color reference point that is located the shortest distance to the desired color point within the color space.
US09384538B2 Adaptive noise filter
A method for applying a filter to data to improve data quality and/or reduce file size. In one example, a region of interest of an image is identified. A histogram is generated of pixel intensity values in the region of interest. The histogram is iteratively updated to focus (zoom) in on the highest peak in the histogram. A Gaussian curve is fitted to the updated histogram. A bilateral filter is applied to the images, where parameters of the bilateral filter are based on the parameters of the Gaussian curve.
US09384535B2 Methods and systems for reducing or eliminating perceived ghosting in displayed stereoscopic images
Methods and systems for reducing or eliminating perceived ghosting in stereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) image display are described. A stereoscopic image that includes image content can be received. Display system parameters can be received. A local region of the stereoscopic image can be identified using the image content. The local region can include ghosting. Psychovisual factors can be selected using the image content. A modified stereoscopic image can be generated from the stereoscopic image by reducing or eliminating the ghosting of the local region using the psychovisual factors and the display system parameters. The modified stereoscopic image can be outputted for display.
US09384534B2 Method and system for establishing model based on virtual algorithm
The present disclosure provides an image processing method based on a virtual algorithm, comprising: a) simulating a single subpixel; b) simulating a subpixel array of a single color; c) overlaying subpixel arrays of different colors; and d) deriving a virtual signal.
US09384533B2 Method and device for converting image resolution, and electronic device having the device
A method for converting an image resolution converts a low resolution image into a high resolution image, generates a second high resolution image by compensating an image quality of the high resolution image, and selectively compensating, by using information about a specific region included in the low resolution image, a region which is included in the second high resolution image and corresponds to the specific region.
US09384526B2 System and method for handling remote drawing commands
Examples of systems and methods are provided for handling remote drawing commands. A system may comprise a buffer module configured to receive, at the system from a remote server system over a remote access connection between the system and the remote server system during a remote connection session, remote drawing commands, according to a drawing command rate, of a remote application running on the remote server system. The buffer module may be configured to store the remote drawing commands. The system may comprise a timer module configured to facilitate sending at least some of the remote drawing commands in the buffer module to a graphics module according to a refresh rate that is less than the drawing command rate. The timer module may be application agnostic.
US09384525B2 Systems and methods for providing pre-operating system and post-operating system remote management of information handling system
A method may include during a pre-operating system environment writing user graphics data to a discrete graphics controller and an embedded graphics controller of a service processor integral to the information handling system and storing user graphics data written to the embedded graphics controller in a frame buffer such that a remote management information handling system remotely coupled to the information handling system via the service processor may receive user graphics data from the frame buffer. The method may also include during a post-operating system environment establishing a remote management connection between the service processor and a host processor of the information handling system via an internal network, communicating datagrams from the host processor to the embedded processor, wherein the datagrams comprise a payload including post-operating system user graphics data, and communicating the post-operating system user graphics data from the service processor to the remote management information handling system.
US09384524B2 Image processing apparatus and image display system
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a receiver, a write controller, and a transmission controller. The receiver is configured to receive image data which forms an image to be displayed on a display apparatus. The write controller is configured to control to divide the image data into a plurality of regions and write compressed image data obtained by compressing the image data for each region, to a frame memory. The transmission controller is configured to control to transmit, to the display apparatus, original image data, which is restored by reading the compressed image data from the frame memory and decompressing the compressed image data for each region. Each of the regions has an overlap portion which is overlapped by a part of an adjacent region.
US09384523B1 Method for reducing input latency on GPU accelerated devices and applications
The subject technology discloses configurations for receiving, by a first process, a set of input events from an application in which the set of input events includes a set of input update commands. The first process writes the set of input update commands into a low-latency graphics pipeline. The subject technology dispatches, by the first process, the set of input update commands from the low-latency graphics pipeline to a second process. The second process receives the set of input update commands from the low-latency graphics pipeline. The subject technology then writes, by the second process, a set of input data into a shared graphics processing unit (GPU) texture.
US09384521B2 Method and device for assessing the presence of a watermark in a video
The invention relates to a method for assessing the presence of a watermark in a video wherein the video comprises at least a sequence of frames. The method comprises for at least one frame among one of the sequences of frames the steps of computing a set of axial cross-correlation values, wherein each axial cross-correlation value corresponds to a correlation between the frame and a reference watermark shifted along a spatial horizontal axis; obtaining a detection score by computing a weighted sum of values output by a function applied to said axial cross-correlation values; assessing the presence of a watermark according to the detection score. Such method is particularly well adapted to the detection of disparity coherent watermark but is compliant with any watermarking technique. A device implementing the method is further disclosed.
US09384517B2 Rendering
This document describes methods, systems and computer program products related to cloud-based rendering. The subject matter of this document is embodied in a method that includes receiving, at a server, information associated with a job of rendering one or more frames at the server, and using, at the server, an application to perform at least a portion of the rendering. The use of the application to perform the rendering bears a charge according to a usage license associated with the application. The method also includes measuring, at the server, an amount of use of the application in performing the rendering for use in determining the charge.
US09384516B2 Licensing for services
A method, system, and computer-readable storage media for providing licensing for services are provided herein. The method includes determining, via a service partner, whether a user exists in a user provisioning cache and whether the user is provisioned to use a service provided by the service partner. The method also includes querying a licensing service to determine updates to the user provisioning cache if the user does not exist in the user provisioning cache or is not provisioned to use the service, or both. Further, the method includes determining whether the user is provisioned to use the service based on the updates to the user provisioning cache and, if the user is provisioned to use the service, allowing the user access to the service.
US09384515B2 Shared vehicle management
A location of a shared vehicle is identified. Shared vehicle usage data is obtained for the location. An instruction is provided to adjust an operating mode of the shared vehicle based at least on the shared vehicle usage data and the location.
US09384508B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for wireless thermal printing for order fulfillment
Systems, methods, and a printer apparatus using network-based communication over 3G or 4G wireless networks, and provides for electronic response from the printer relating to order confirmation and fulfillment at the recipient printer, in communication to an order management coordinator or server. The printer provides an order output including at least one symbol representing an order, including at least one of order content, ordering entity or individual, price, time of order, and combinations thereof.
US09384507B1 Navigation among items in a network page
Disclosed are various embodiments for browsing items in a network page. A plurality of images of a corresponding plurality of items are displayed in a network page rendered on a display device of a client device. A first level of information detail about each of the items is presented in the network page. A window is generated that is anchored to a currently designated one of the images. The window presents a second level of information detail about a respective one of the items depicted in the designated one of the images presented in the window. The currently designated one of the images is specified by navigating from image to image.
US09384503B2 Terminal apparatus, advertisement display control apparatus, and advertisement display method
Provided is a terminal apparatus including a display unit, an acquisition unit, a detection unit, and a display control unit. The acquisition unit acquires advertisement information from an advertisement delivery apparatus. The detection unit detects a scroll state of a page displayed on the display unit. The display control unit sets an initial display position of the advertisement information to a predetermined position of the page in a case where the page is not scrolling and which sets the initial display position of the advertisement information to a predetermined display position of the display unit in a case where the page is scrolling.
US09384502B2 Techniques for organizing and presenting deal content
Techniques for organizing and presenting deals/commercial offers received by users in emails are provided. Emails directed to a user that contain commercial offers for the user are determined. The determined emails are stored in a deal folder for the user. A deal newsletter is generated that at least summarizes commercial offers contained in at least a portion of the emails stored in the deal folder. The deal folder may be displayed to show the user the received deal emails. Furthermore, the deal newsletter may be displayed to the user to summarize the received deals for the user.
US09384500B2 System for targeting advertising content to a plurality of mobile communication facilities
A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
US09384497B2 Use of SKU level e-receipt data for future marketing
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for determining and providing an offer to a customer based at least in part on product level data associated with a transaction. The system, method, and computer program product are configured to receive unstructured data from a customer account, wherein the unstructured data comprises product level data for a transaction; convert the unstructured data into structured data; determine a transaction at a financial institution corresponding to the structured data; determine an offer for a customer based on the product level data and the transaction; and provide the offer to the customer. Typically, product level data related to transactions is not available to financial institution. This disclosure describes a system and method for identifying and using product level data.
US09384493B2 Systems and methods to quantify consumer sentiment based on transaction data
A computing apparatus is configured to quantify consumer sentiment at an aggregated or micro level using transaction data that records the transactions processed by a transaction handler of a payment system. A quantification model is generated based on correlating transaction data with respective emotional content indices extracted from data sources, such as regional news, weather, stock markets, movie themes, local sports, employment, traffic conditions, etc. Using the quantification model, consumer sentiment can be evaluated at various granularity levels, based on the granularity of the user group and the time period of the transaction data used in the quantification model.
US09384492B1 Method and apparatus for monitoring product purchasing activity on a network
Method and apparatus for monitoring product purchasing activity on a network are described. In some examples, processing of network traffic in a network is performed. Web content is extracted from the network traffic at a node in the network. A statistical analysis of the web content is performed to detect product purchasing activity. Product attributes associated with the product purchasing activity are extracted. The product attributes are stored in a log implemented in a memory on the network.
US09384487B2 Phone number payments for bill payments users
Described herein are methods and systems for registering a phone number as a payment facilitator. The phone number can be registered through a user's Bill Pay account, which is associated to the user's financial account. The user can specify the types of purchases that can be made using the phone number and request that a merchant processing a payment using the phone number convey customized details regarding the purchase. Purchase details associated with a purchase can then be provided to the consumer by the merchant. Also described herein are methods and systems for processing a payment using a phone number. The payment can be processed, in part, by a payment processor providing a consumer with a Bill Pay account associated with the consumer's financial account. The payment can be processed without the use of a credit card network and, as a result, without incurring unnecessary Interchange fees.
US09384486B2 Secure financial payment
To improve security for processing of financial transactions on a customer's account, particularly for users of mobile devices, the examples authenticate the customer or user in an effective manner and/or transfer funds upon successful authentication, using intelligence of the customers' mobile devices. The present approach uses an identifier of the mobile device or user at the mobile device. The user is authenticated for a particular desired transaction based on some number of authentication factors, one or more of which is a biometric input. The user authentication technique, e.g. factors used and/or precision of matching of received user authentication factors to reference factors, can be varied based on a variety of parameters, such as transaction amount, time, device location, history of prior transactions or history of other aspects of device usage. The processing avoids storage of sensitive customer data, e.g. account number at a merchant and/or at the customer's mobile device.
US09384483B2 Method and system for globally sharing and transacting digital contents
A method and system for globally sharing and transacting service including a digital content is provided. The method includes registering a digital content with a global multi-service platform (MSP), storing metadata or an electronic catalog for the digital content generated in a universal language or a local language, sharing the registered digital content and global metadata between a local MSP and the global MSP, implementing, if necessary, a distribution agreement or a supply agreement on a selected portion of the digital content between a local MSP and the global MSP, and sending the selected portion of the digital content from the global MSP and/or the local MSP storing the digital content to a customer terminal.
US09384474B2 Multi-layered online calendaring and purchasing
A computer-implemented method and system for generating and displaying a calendar containing user-selected events from user-selected categories. A plurality of categories of events are provided. The user can select which categories are of interest, and then select individual events within those categories. Events are overlaid on a calendar unique to the user. Calendars may also be shared among a number of selected users, if desired. Online purchasing and related actions can be associated with each event.
US09384470B2 Slide show navigation
A slide show, integrated into an email application, displays images such as those included as an attachment to an email message. The user can view the slide show without exiting the email application. Slide show navigation controls are provided. An index sheet mode can be activated wherein a number of thumbnails are displayed, allowing easy navigation to any image within the slide show. Transition animations can be provided for clarifying operations such as activating and dismissing the index sheet.
US09384469B2 Modifying environmental chat distance based on avatar population density in an area of a virtual world
A mechanism for modifying a chat distance associated with an environmental chat based on the avatar population density of an area of a virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. An initial environmental chat distance may be determined based on the avatar population density, i.e., the number of avatars, in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. The environmental chat distance may be modified in response to a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. The environmental chat distance may be modified such that the environmental chat distance is inversely proportional to the detected number of avatars in the virtual universe area associated with the environmental chat.
US09384468B2 Method for adding game elements to information aggregation
This is a system for adding game elements to an information aggregation client-server application. Said system will provide users avatars, character classes, groups, goals, achievements, punishments and provided abilities in order the make interacting with other users and posting information on the site more fun and exciting.
US09384464B2 Web based template reporting system
A system for generating an on-line report that includes a host site connected to user terminals the Internet. The host site has a relational database for storing data and a server connected to the database and to the Internet. Users access and manipulate data, create reporting templates, and customize and run reports on the host site. The host site includes a web pages that display options for accessing the relational database to create a data framework, web pages that display options for accessing the data framework to design a reporting template; and web pages that display options for accessing the reporting template to customize and run at least one report.
US09384460B1 Methods for assigning traceability information to and retrieving traceability information from a store shelf
A shelf code in a machine readable format, such as on a QR code on a printed card, is provided where bulk merchandise displayed in a bin. When the bin is stocked from a case bearing a case code, the case code is associated with the shelf code. Lot-specific and lot-independent information previously associated with the case code is then linked to the shelf code. Consumers scan the shelf code with a mobile device to establish a communication channel to access the linked information. Retailers and producers use the channel to reach the consumer, and to solicit feedback from the consumer at a known time and location. A mobile device can also be used to associate quality assessments of merchandise to the shelf code. Analysis of consumer ratings and quality inspection assessments that are tied to time and location can provide valuable insights to both producers and retailers.
US09384459B2 Certified factory location
A methods and systems are provided that relate to providing location data so that a retailer can know whether an item is produced at a factory it is purported to be produced at. A website may be provided to the retailer and/or exposed to the consumer. The consumer may be able to view information about the location of the factory, pictures of the factory, data about the factory (e.g., wage information, carbon footprint, size of the factory, inspection data, social compliance data, regulatory violations if any, etc.). A first geolocation may be received from a microchip associated with an item. A second geolocation may be obtained from a label associated with the item. The first geolocation and the second geolocation may be compared to determine whether the item was manufactured at the same place from or in which it is being packaged, shipped, and/or invoiced.
US09384455B2 On-line invention disclosure system
An on-line invention disclosure system includes a user computer, a server and a database coupled to the server. The server provides user screens to the user to prompt the users to provide disclosure information to the server. The server receives the disclosure information from the users and stores the information in the database while allowing access to the database after storing the information on the database.
US09384447B2 Passive tracking of underwater acoustic sources with sparse innovations
A system and method involve acoustic source localization using passive sonar and capitalizing on the sparse nature of a source location map (SLM). Two types of sparsity are exploited, namely sparsity in the support of the SLMs and sparsity in the innovations across consecutive SLMs. The first type is motivated by the desire to construct SLMs whose non-zero entries corresponded to locations where sources are present. The second type of sparsity is motivated by the observation that few changes occur in the support of consecutive SLMs. Per time instant, an SLM is obtained as the solution of a regularized least-squares problem, where the regularization terms are chosen to encourage the desired sparse structures in each SLM and the innovations. Each SLM may be obtained via a specifically-tailored, computationally-efficient proximal gradient algorithm.
US09384445B2 Tooling for implementing business processes using web services
Business processes are implemented using a collection component for storing system knowledge comprising usage history and user input relative to activities within community of users, where the system knowledge comprises at least a folksonomy. At least one of a user client component interacts with the data collection component to enable a corresponding user to contribute user-derived information to the folksonomy and a monitoring component monitors activities associated with the community of users and interacts with the data collection component to contribute usage information to the system knowledge. Still further, a composition design application interacts with a user to build and/or modify processes built using services, wherein the composition design application recommends candidate services that can implement aspects of the business processes based upon information derived from the system knowledge.
US09384439B2 Semiconductor device and communication system
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device in which a sophisticated integrated circuit using a polycrystalline semiconductor is formed over a substrate which is weak with heat such as a plastic substrate or a plastic film substrate and a semiconductor device which transmits/receives power or a signal without wires, and a communication system thereof. One feature of the invention is that a semiconductor device, specifically, a processor, in which a sophisticated integrated circuit is fixed to a plastic substrate which is weak with heat by a stripping method such as a stress peel of process method to transmit/receive power or a signal without wires, for example, with an antenna or a light receiving element.
US09384434B2 Image forming apparatus capable of making user aware of security policy violation, method of controlling the image forming apparatus, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus which is capable of making a user aware of a violation of an information security policy. A network communication unit receives data having a user ID attached thereto from an external apparatus. A printing unit prints an image based on the data. A control unit executes user authentication using the user ID attached to the data and determines, when the user authentication is successful, whether or not a password expiration date of the user has passed. When it is determined that the password expiration date has passed, the control unit restricts printing of the image to be printed based on the data having the user ID attached thereto.
US09384433B2 Image forming apparatus that performs color misregistration correction control caused by inclination of transfer member
An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that is driven to be rotated; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the transfer member; a detection unit configured to detect inclination of the transfer member relative to a rotation direction of the transfer member; and a control unit configured to perform correction control of color misregistration caused by the inclination of the transfer member when an image is formed by the image forming unit, based on the inclination of the transfer member. The control unit is further configured not to perform the correction control when a monochrome image is formed.
US09384431B2 Image processing apparatus, method, and storage medium that perform quantizing processing of image data for at least N colors
An apparatus includes an image processing circuit to perform quantizing processing of image data, which has a plurality of rasters, each of which is formed with a plurality of pixels, by an error diffusion method, to generate print data. The image processing circuit is capable of performing quantizing processing of image data for N colors, and performs the quantizing processing multiple times in image processing of image data for colors more than N colors. In a case when the image processing circuit performs image processing for image data for colors more than the N colors, the image processing circuit repeatedly performs at least first image processing for performing image processing of image data of a first color group and second image processing for performing image processing of image data of a second color group for each band.
US09384424B2 Methods and systems for customizing a plenoptic media asset
Methods and systems are described for providing customized user experiences with media assets created using plenoptic content capture technology. The ability to increase the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may allow a user to more easily track the object. Conversely, the ability to decrease the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may block, or cloud the display of, the object from being seen by a user.
US09384422B2 Image evaluation
A machine may be configured to perform image evaluation of images depicting items for sale and to provide recommendations for improving the images depicting the items to increase the sales of the items depicted in the images. For example, the machine accesses a result of a user behavior analysis. The machine receives an image of an item from a user device. The machine performs an image evaluation of the received image based on an analysis of the received image and the result of the user behavior analysis. The performing of the image evaluation may include determining a likelihood of a user engaging in a desired user behavior in relation to the received image. Then, the machine generates, based on the evaluation of the received image, an output that references the received image and indicates the likelihood of a user engaging in the desired behavior.
US09384420B2 Classifying user activities using eye fixation clustering, fixation features, and regions of interest
A computing device classifies user activities. The device receives eye tracking data for a person viewing a page having multiple contiguous regions. The eye tracking data comprises a temporal sequence of fixations, where each fixation has a duration and a location. The device partitions the fixations into clusters, where each cluster has a consecutive sub-sequence of the fixations. The device assigns a provisional user activity label to each fixation based on a set of characteristics of the fixation. The device also groups together consecutive fixations that have the same label to partition the fixations into groups. For each group that matches a respective cluster, the device retains the provisional label assignment as a final user activity label assigned to each of the fixations in the respective group. The device also reconciles non-matching groups with non-matching clusters, using the regions, to form a set of non-overlapping modified groups.
US09384414B2 Search for a target in a multispectral image
A search for a target in a multispectral image is made more efficient and more user-friendly by combining a contrast optimization which is performed locally, with a presentation of a detection image which extends over the entire field of observation (10). The contrast is optimized inside a window (2) of reduced size relative to an image matrix (1) corresponding to the entire field of observation. This window may be moved in conjunction with the direction of observation (D), or it may be selected at will in the image matrix. The detection image may be renewed for each window used, or it may be shared by several windows.
US09384410B2 Method and system for image compression while encoding at least one extra bit
A method for encoding at least one extra bit in an image compression and decompression system. The method includes accessing an input image, and compressing the input image into a compressed image using an encoder system, wherein said encoding system implements an algorithm for encoding at least one extra bit. The method further includes communicatively transferring the compressed image to a decoding system, and decompressing the compressed image into a resulting uncompressed image that is unaltered from said input image, wherein the algorithm for encoding enables the recovery of the at least one extra bit.
US09384407B2 System and process for detecting, tracking and counting human objects of interest
A method of identifying, tracking, and counting human objects of interest based upon at least one pair of stereo image frames taken by at least one image capturing device, comprising the steps of: obtaining said stereo image frames and converting each said stereo image frame to a rectified image frame using calibration data obtained for said at least one image capturing device; generating a disparity map based upon a pair of said rectified image frames; generating a depth map based upon said disparity map and said calibration data; identifying the presence or absence of said objects of interest from said depth map and comparing each of said objects of interest to existing tracks comprising previously identified objects of interest; for each said presence of an object of interest, adding said object of interest to one of said existing tracks if said object of interest matches said one existing track, or creating a new track comprising said object of interest if said object of interest does not match any of said existing tracks; updating each said existing track; and maintaining a count of said objects of interest in a given time period based upon said existing tracks created or modified during said given time period.
US09384405B2 Extracting and correcting image data of an object from an image
A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided. A processor is configured to detect a region of at least one object from the image, define a plurality of straight lines approximating a boundary of the detected region of the at least one object, and based on the number of points at which each of the plurality of first straight lines coincide with the boundary, extract first image data for a polygonal region. The polygonal region has vertexes at a plurality of first intersection points at which the plurality of straight lines intersect each other. Second image data may be generated by correcting distortion of the first image data. A storage unit stores the second image data, which may also be displayed or transmitted.
US09384402B1 Image and video compression for remote vehicle assistance
A vehicle may receive one or more images of an environment of the vehicle. The vehicle may also receive a map of the environment. The vehicle may also match at least one feature in the one or more images with corresponding one or more features in the map. The vehicle may also identify a given area in the one or more images that corresponds to a portion of the map that is within a threshold distance to the one or more features. The vehicle may also compress the one or more images to include a lower amount of details in areas of the one or more images other than the given area. The vehicle may also provide the compressed images to a remote system, and responsively receive operation instructions from the remote system.
US09384401B2 Method for fog detection
A method for detecting fog by use of a camera image or a video image includes the taking of a two-dimensional image with at least one color channel or several color channels as a function of two independent location coordinates. The method determines a two-dimensional gray-scale function for the at least one color channel or for each of the several color channels, which defines the value of the gray scale as a function of the two independent location coordinates of the two-dimensional image. Then, the method performs a two-dimensional Fourier transformation of the two-dimensional gray-scale function depending on two independent frequency coordinates.
US09384399B2 Method and system for processing image data obtained from scanning a network infrastructure
The invention relates to a method and system for processing image data obtained from scanning a network infrastructure for the detection and analysis of specific objects of interest, such as powerlines and other overhead conductors, or similar structures. The image data comprises a plurality of co-ordinate points in three-dimensional space, and in order to identify conductors in the network infrastructure, the method involves analyzing the co-ordinate points to identify sets of co-ordinate points indicative of a set of substantially parallel lines, and analyzing the co ordinate points on the basis of said identified substantially parallel lines thereby to allow identification and mapping of hanging catenaries representing said conductors.
US09384396B2 System and method for detecting settle down time using computer vision techniques
A method for detecting settle-down time in a space includes acquiring a sequence of frames capturing a select space from a first camera. The method includes determining an initial time for computing a duration it takes for an associated occupant to settle into a seat in the select space. The method includes determining one or more candidate frames from the sequence of frames where one or both of a sitting behavior and seat occupancy is observed at the seat. The method includes determining a final frame and a final time associated with the final frame from the one or more candidate frames. The method includes computing the settle-down time using the initial and the final times.
US09384395B2 Method for providing augmented reality, and user terminal and access point using the same
Provided are a method for providing augmented reality (AR) services, and a user terminal and an access point using the same. The user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a reception unit that receives AR-related information broadcast by at least one access point (AP), a photographing unit that photographs an image of an object to obtain the photographed image, and a comparison unit that compares the obtained image of the object with the AR-related information received from the at least one AP to identify the object.
US09384393B2 Check data lift for error detection
Embodiments for identifying errors based on data extracted from financial record images includes systems that receive one or more financial record images from a user, apply an optical character recognition process to at least a portion of the one or more financial record images, and identify record data based on the applied optical character recognition process comprising at least a name of a party to the financial record. The systems further identify errors associated with the one or more financial record images based on the record data.
US09384392B2 Adjusting different areas of a payment instrument image independently
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer-implemented methods for allowing independent adjustment for different areas of a payment instrument image. An example method includes receiving an original payment instrument image associated with a tangible payment instrument; creating a clearing payment instrument image based on the original payment instrument image associated with a first contrast value; presenting the clearing payment instrument image in a user interface in response to creating the clearing payment instrument image; in response to presenting the clearing payment instrument image: receiving an indication of an area of the clearing payment instrument image from the user interface; receiving an indication of a second contrast value to which to update the indicated area from the user interface; and updating a contrast value of the indicated area of the clearing payment instrument image to the second contrast value.
US09384389B1 Detecting errors in recognized text
Some examples include detecting errors in text that has been recognized using automated text recognition technology. For instance, errors in the recognized text may be detected based on glyph image similarity and the use of a language model, dictionary information, or the like. Some implementations may group together glyphs based on association of the glyphs with the same glyph identifier and a similarity of the appearance of the glyphs. Furthermore, the words associated with each glyph may be checked against a language model, such as to check a spelling or other validity of the words, and a score may be assigned to each group of glyphs based on the validity of the words corresponding to the glyphs in that group. Groups that have a score that fails to meet a threshold may be reviewed by a person or may undergo automated correction techniques.
US09384386B2 Methods and systems for increasing facial recognition working rang through adaptive super-resolution
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for increasing facial-recognition working range through adaptive super-resolution. One embodiment takes the form of a process that includes calculating one or more video metrics with respect to an input set of video frames. The process also includes obtaining a metric-specific weighting factor for each of the calculated video metrics. The process also includes calculating a weighted sum based on the obtained metric-specific weighting factors and the corresponding calculated video metrics. The process also includes selecting, based at least in part on the calculated weighted sum, a super-resolution technique from among a plurality of super-resolution techniques. The process also includes outputting an indication of the selected super-resolution technique.
US09384384B1 Adjusting faces displayed in images
A computing device can acquire a set of images, each image including at least a portion of a user's face. The images can be acquired using one or more cameras and/or from an image library/database associated with the user. Based on the images including the user's face (or portions thereof), a virtual representation for the user's face can be generated. The device can subsequently receive or identify an image including a facial representation (e.g., face or portion thereof) to be adjusted. The device can analyze the image including the facial representation and determine that the facial representation sufficiently matches the virtual representation. Using the virtual representation, (at least a portion of) the face can be adjusted. For example, one or more variations or details associated with the user's face, which are provided via the virtual representation, can be used to replace, improve, or otherwise modify the face in the image.
US09384382B1 Image analysis and communication device control technology
Techniques are described for controlling communication devices using image analysis. For instance, when a communication is received by a communication device, the communication device outputs an alert to notify users of the received communication and accesses one or more images of an area proximate to the communication device. The one or more images cover an area proximate to the communication device at a time during which the communication device is outputting the alert. The communication device analyzes the one or more images to determine whether a user is present in the one or more images and in a position to perceive the received communication. The communication device handles at least one aspect of the received communication based on the determination of whether a user is in a position to perceive the received communication.
US09384379B1 Using quick response code to generate an electronic consent database
Electronic consent for telemarketing calls can be obtained by soliciting consent from an individual using two-dimensional barcodes, such as quick response (“QR”) codes. The QR code can be printed on an advertisement and read by a smart phone. The reading of the QR code causes communication to be originated from the individual's smart phone for the purpose of requesting the individual to be contacted for a particular purpose. The communication can be construed by the enterprise as providing electronic consent for the enterprise to contact the individual with a subsequent telemarketing call. The sender's telephone number and other relevant information can be stored in an electronic consent database used to ensure compliance with appropriate marketing regulations.
US09384378B2 Low power multi-core decoder system and method
A portable data terminal including a multi-core processor having at least a first core and a second core, at least one illumination assembly and at least one imaging assembly and data storage means configured to store a plurality of program instructions, the program instructions including at least one one-dimensional decoder and at least one two-dimensional decoder.
US09384375B2 Radio tag communication apparatus, radio tag communication system, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A radio tag communication apparatus that communicates with radio tags including storing units capable of storing identification information and state information of articles includes a search-condition setting unit for reading the state information, which is a search target, a radio tag communication unit configured to perform communication with the radio tag under a set search condition using a first reading function for reading the radio tag without designating the radio tag and a second reading function for designating the radio tag, setting a transmission output, and repeatedly reading the radio tag, a comparison determination unit configured to perform comparison determination of information read by the first reading function and the search condition, and communication control unit configured to control the radio tag communication unit according to result of the comparison determination to switch the reading operation by the first reading function to the reading operation by the second reading function.
US09384372B2 Barcode detecting and marking device
A barcode detecting and marking device can include a base, a transmission mechanism mounted on the base, a marking mechanism mounted on the base, a code reader adjacent to the transmission mechanism, and a controlling platform adjacent to the base. The transmission mechanism can include a supporting assembly mounted on the base, and a transmission assembly coupled to the supporting assembly. The transmission assembly can include a feeding tray coupled to the supporting assembly, a rolling tray coupler to the supporting assembly, and a first driver coupled to the supporting assembly and the rolling tray. The first driver rotates the rolling tray. The marking mechanism can include a driving member mounted on the base, and an execution member. The controlling platform can be electrically coupled to the transmission mechanism and the code reader.
US09384370B1 Signal combination circuit and digital to analog conversion circuit using the same
A signal combination circuit includes a first decoding block configured to decode a first signal group of an input signal and generate a first decoding signal group according to a first random number signal, a second decoding block configured to decode a second signal group of the input signal and generate a second decoding signal group according to the first random number signal, a first network block configured to randomly mix the first decoding signal group and generate a first preliminary mixed signal group according to a second random number signal, a second network block configured to randomly mix the second decoding signal group and generate a second preliminary mixed signal group according to the second random number signal, and a selection block configured to selectively combine the first preliminary mixed signal group and the second preliminary mixed signal group and generate a mixed signal group according to the first random number signal.
US09384366B2 System for encoding customer data
A system for encoding customer data includes a memory, a decision engine, a rules engine and an interface engine. The memory stores customer data associated with service levels and rules. The decision engine receives a request for customer data from a third party, determines that the third party is associated with a first service level, and retrieves the customer data associated with the first service level. The rules engine transforms customer data into first and second code segments by applying the rules. The rules engine combines at least the first code segment and the second code segment to form a customer profile code. An interface engine communicates the customer profile code to the third party.
US09384361B2 Distributed event system for relational models
A distributed event system for a relational database is disclosed. An event data model operatively describes a target database. For a subject entity in the target database, the event data model declares and defines triggering events and respective corresponding operations. An event engine monitors database queries and events involving the subject entity and determines from the event data model corresponding operations. Execution of the determined corresponding operations is distributed to network-based agents. Agents may be filtered based on skills and/or credentials injected at runtime. Code binaries of the operations are downloaded to the agents for execution.
US09384355B2 Information processing apparatus with hibernation function, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An information processing apparatus that is capable of preventing leakage of confidential information from data saved on a nonvolatile memory even when the apparatus makes a transition to a hibernation state. The information processing apparatus with a hibernation function has a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. A security-area determination unit determines whether a memory area allocated to the volatile memory is a security area. A transition unit to save data saved on a memory area of the volatile memory that is determined as a non-security area by the security-area determination unit and not to save data saved on a memory area of the volatile memory that is determined as a security area, when going to a hibernation state. A resuming unit writes the data that is saved on the nonvolatile memory back to the volatile memory at the time of resuming from the hibernation state.
US09384353B2 System and method for encryption of disk based on pre-boot compatibility testing
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for encryption of disk based on pre-boot compatibility testing. An example method includes upon determining, by a processor, no test booting of the computer, performing one or more pre-boot compatibility tests to boot an operating system of the computer; upon detecting a successful test booting, performing booting the operating system of the computer or performing the one or more pre-boot compatibility tests again; upon detecting an unsuccessful test booting, restoring a process of ordinary booting of the operating system and performing an ordinary booting of the operating system; determining one or more encryption policies applicable to a pre-boot execution stage of the computer; and comparing results of the one or more pre-boot compatibility tests with the encryption policies to determine whether to apply a full disk encryption to the boot disk.
US09384352B2 Trusted boot and runtime operation
An embodiment includes an apparatus comprising: an out-of-band cryptoprocessor including secure non-volatile storage that couples to a root index, having a fixed address, and comprises first and second variables referenced by the root index; and semiconductor integrated code (SIC) including embedded processor logic to initialize a processor and embedded memory logic to initialize a memory coupled to the processor; wherein (a) the SIC is to be executed responsive to resetting the processor and prior to providing control to boot code, and (b) the SIC is to perform pre-boot operations in response to accessing at least one of the first and second variables. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09384348B2 Identity theft countermeasures
In some embodiments, techniques for computer security comprise preventing and/or mitigating identity theft such as phishing.
US09384339B2 Authenticating cloud computing enabling secure services
Authenticating cloud computing enabling secure services (ACCESS) offloads “client authentication” activity onto a third-party authenticating cloud computing enabling secure services (ACCESS) node. Instead of having a client device authenticate itself directly to a network server, the client device instead authenticates itself to a third-party authenticating cloud computing enabling secure services (ACCESS) node. The authenticating cloud computing enabling secure services (ACCESS) node then provides credentials that are used by the client device to communicate directly with the server (and utilize the service) without any further authentication being necessary.
US09384333B2 Method and system for secure distribution of selected content to be protected on an appliance-specific basis with definable permitted associated usage rights for the selected content
The present invention relates to data rights management and more particularly to a secured system and methodology and production system and methodology related thereto and to apparatus and methodology for production side systems and are consumer side systems for securely utilizing protected electronic data files of content (protected content), and further relates to controlled distribution, and regulating usage of the respective content on a recipient device (computing system) to be limited strictly to defined permitted uses, in accordance with usage rights (associated with the respective content to control usage of that respective content), on specifically restricted to a specific one particular recipient device (for a plurality of specific particular recipient devices), or usage on some or any authorized recipient device without restriction to any one in specific, to control use of the respective content as an application software program, exporting, modifying, executing as an application program, viewing, and/or printing of electronic data files.
US09384332B2 Watermarking method and apparatus for tracking hacked content and method and apparatus for blocking hacking of content using the same
Watermarking method and apparatus for tracking hacking and method and apparatus for blocking hacking of content are provided. The watermarking method includes: obtaining device information from a reception device, with which content is shared, through a determined network channel; generating watermark data based on the obtained device information; and generating watermarked multimedia content by inserting the generated watermark data into content. The method of blocking hacking of content includes: if hacked content is found, detecting watermark data from the hacked content; detecting transmission and reception device information from the detected watermark data; and extracting a progress route of the content based on the detected transmission and reception device information and performing revocation on a hacked device.
US09384331B2 Device, system and method of wirelessly delivering content
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of wirelessly delivering content. For example, a method may include receiving at a first wireless communication device a request from a second wireless communication device via a first communication link of a first wireless communication protocol having a first coverage range, the request indicating requested content to be transferred from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device; transmitting over the first communication link a session-handoff message from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, the session-handoff message including one or more link-related parameters defining a second wireless communication link of a second wireless communication protocol having a second coverage range, which is greater than the first coverage range; and transmitting the requested content from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device over the second wireless communication link.
US09384330B2 Providing user attributes to complete an online transaction
A first server device receives a request for attributes, of a user, from a second server device associated with a receiving entity. The first server device determines whether the receiving entity is entitled to receive the attributes, and authenticates an identity of the user. The first server device also identifies the attributes based on the identity when the receiving entity is entitled to receive the attributes, and transmits the identified attributes to the second server device.
US09384328B1 System and method to select a prosthesis based on proximal femur morphology
Methods and systems for selecting an appropriate prosthesis for a prospective implant recipient are discussed. For example, a method for selecting an appropriate prosthesis can include, accessing anatomical image data, receiving an indication of a plurality of landmark locations within the image data, constructing a femoral canal axial indication within the image data, producing a plurality of lateral anatomic structural measurements, and selecting the appropriate prosthesis to fit the prospective implant recipient. The anatomical image data can include sufficient detail to allow measurement of internal and external geometry of a proximal femur. The plurality of lateral anatomic structural measurements can include measurements along, and perpendicular to, the femoral canal axial indication that run along a femoral canal within the anatomical image data. The prosthesis can be selected based, at least in part, on the plurality of lateral anatomic structural measurements.
US09384324B2 Metabolic monitoring, a method and apparatus for indicating a health-related condition of a subject
An apparatus for indicating a health-related condition of a subject has an input interface for receiving a sequence of samples of a first biological quantity derived by a first measurement method, the first measurement method being an invasive measurement and having a first impact on the subject, and for receiving a sequence of samples of a second biological quantity derived by a second measurement method, the second measurement method being a non-invasive measurement and having a second impact on the subject, wherein the first biological quantity gives a more accurate indication of the health-related condition of the subject than the second biological quantity, wherein the first biological quantity and the second biological quantity have a correlation to the health-related condition of the subject, and wherein the second impact is smaller than the first impact; a predictor for providing, for a certain time, for which no sample for the first biological quantity exists, an estimated value of the first biological quantity using samples for the first biological quantity and, as far as available, samples for the second quantity; and an output interface for outputting the estimated value or data derived from the estimated value so that an indication for the health-related condition of the subject is obtained.
US09384321B2 Organization, visualization and utilization of genomic data on electronic devices
Described herein are methods, devices and systems for simple organization, visualization and use of genome data (e.g. human genome data) on electronic devices (e.g. portable devices). In some embodiments, the data are organized and/or visualized according to phenotype traits, genes, and/or markers in a similar manner to the organization and/or visualization of digital music contents. This concept allows a new procedure for genomic data organization and facilitates the development of genomic data visualization tools. The methods described herein can be implemented with consumer-oriented software on electronic devices, computers, and portable devices, for the use of genomic related data in the field of personalized medicine for predictive, preventive and participative wireless healthcare.
US09384317B1 Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing electronic designs using constraint driven techniques
One aspect checks and prepares design data (202) based on design rule(s) to identify tracks for physical implementation of an electronic design. Structured physical implementation (204) is performed to implement at least a part of the electronic design by using the tracks under separate design rule(s). Structured physical implementation using the tracks under separate design rules result in correct-by-construction implementation results automatically satisfying the design rule(s), without performing additional design rule checking on the design rule(s). Additional physical implementation (206) may be optionally performed for portion(s) of the electronic design not implemented with the structured physical implementation. Layout fixing or optimization may be optionally performed to fix design rule violations in the additional physical implementation results, if any, or to optimize the additional physical implementation results.
US09384312B2 Method and apparatus for implementing periphery devices on a programmable circuit using partial reconfiguration
A programmable circuit includes a physical interface at an input output (IO) periphery of the programmable circuit. The programmable circuit also includes a partial reconfigurable (PR) module, at the IO periphery of the programmable circuit, to implement a sequencer unit operable to configure the physical interface during a first instance of the PR module, and a controller unit operable to translate commands to the physical interface during a second instance of the PR module.
US09384310B1 View data sharing for efficient multi-mode multi-corner timing analysis
A system and method for performing multi-mode multi-corner (MMMC) analysis such that multiple views or conditions can be analyzed together to improve runtime by taking advantage of common steps of analysis in different corners. Views are clustered based on their similarity to one another to take advantage of calculations and other tasks that may be shared between views during timing analysis. Then, during timing analysis, each net in the design is analyzed for each view.
US09384309B2 Global timing modeling within a local context
Some embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and systems for determining and using margin values. An arrival time at an output pin of a logic gate can be determined. Next, required times at the output pin of the logic gate can be determined. Each required time can be associated with a timing end-point in a path-group, affected by that pin. The system can then determine a first set of slack values at the output pin of the logic gate by computing a difference between the required times and the arrival time. Next, the system can determine a set of margin values at the output pin of the logic gate by computing a difference between the first set of slack values and a second set of slack values at the timing end-points in the path-groups. Next, the system can use the set of margin values to optimize the logic gate.
US09384307B2 Stitch and trim methods for double patterning compliant standard cell design
A method for creating double patterning compliant integrated circuit layouts is disclosed. The method allows patterns to be assigned to different masks and stitched together during lithography. The method also allows portions of the pattern to be removed after the process.
US09384306B2 Method of searching address book and portable communication device using the same
A method of searching an address book and a portable communication device using the same, the method including: arranging an address book based on a character selected from information being displayed on the portable communication device; and displaying the arranged address book.
US09384304B2 Document search apparatus, document search method, and program product
According to one embodiment, a document search apparatus includes an acquirer, determiner, searcher, and display. The acquirer acquires data on a handwriting including coordinate data. The determiner determines a shape of the handwriting based on the coordinate data to determine a type of a query. The searcher searches the document according to a search method corresponding to the type of the query. The display that displays the document by a display method corresponding to the type of the query.
US09384303B2 Evaluation of substitution contexts
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for evaluating substitute terms. One of the methods includes receiving a query and identifying an original term occurring in the query. One or more substitution contexts are determined for the original term, wherein a substitution context includes one or more context terms and an indication of a position in the query of the original term and the one or more context terms. A score is determined for each substitution context of the one or more substitution contexts. One or more substitution contexts are selected based on the score of each substitution context. One or more substitute terms for the original term in the context of the one or more selected substitution contexts are determined.
US09384299B2 Receiving content for mobile media sharing
A media sharing system is able to deliver media content, including video, audio, photographs and graphics, to a wide variety of devices, using a file format appropriate to the delivery device and using a delivery method appropriate to the delivery device.
US09384298B2 Previewing web pages associated with search results
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for previewing search results determined in response to search queries input into a browser toolbar search box are provided. Descriptors of search results determined to match the input search query are presented in a search results window that overlays a first portion of the browser web page. Upon receiving an indication that the user desires to view one of the presented search results, a preview of a web page associated with the indicated search result is presented overlaying a second portion of the browser page. If the user determines from the preview that the indicated search result does not provide the desired information, s/he may move the mouse pointer to a different search result. In response, a web page associated with the second indicated search result is presented overlaying the second portion of the browser page for the user to preview.
US09384289B2 Method and system to identify geographical locations associated with queries received at a search engine
Techniques are provided for prediction locations of users that submit search queries. A query is received at a search engine. An inverted index is searched to identify one or more geographical locations associated with one or more terms of the received query. The inverted index lists a plurality of query terms and one or more geographical locations associated with each query term. Each geographic location that is associated with a listed query term in the inverted index is a determined location for at least one user previously having submitted the listed term in a search query. A geographical location is predicted for a user that submitted the received query based on the identified one or more geographical locations. In this manner, a location is predicted for the user based on similar queries previously submitted by users.
US09384284B2 Value-added usage of process-oriented extension fields in business mashups
A method for value-added usage of process-oriented extension fields in business mashups may include generating, using at least one processor, a mashup component with an unbound parameter; receiving input identifying the creation of an extension field, the extension field tied to data stored in a database; binding the unbound parameter of the mashup component to the extension field; presenting an application interface, the application interface including the extension field; receiving a request to load the mashup component; and in response to receiving the request, passing the data tied to the extension field as an input parameter to the mashup component.
US09384280B2 Searching restricted content on a network
A transceiver of a computing device may receive data from a query to provide to a search engine to perform a search. The computing device may negotiate, automatically to overcome a restriction to access a page of a set of top webpages in association with the search, a fee. A processor of the computing device may continue to search information associated with the query on the page using a machine learning function.
US09384278B2 Methods and systems for assessing excessive accessory listings in search results
A system and method for assessing excessive accessory listings in search results includes a processor-implemented textual mining module that parses a data field of a document and generates at least one token from the data field. A processor-implemented scoring module calculates a score for the at least one token, with the at least one token score representing a likelihood that the at least one token belongs to one of two binary classifications. The processor-implemented scoring module also calculates a score for the document based on the at least one token score, with the document score representing a probability of the document being in one of the two binary classifications. A processor-implemented decision tree module inputs the document score and document attribute values into a decision tree and generates an output representing a refined score based on the document score and at least one of the document attribute values.
US09384276B1 Reducing latency for remotely executed applications
Disclosed are various embodiments that reduce video encoding latency for remotely executed applications. An application is executed in response to a client request. A video frame generated by the application is obtained before the video frame is sent to an external port of a graphics device. The video frame is encoded into a compressed video stream. The compressed video stream is sent to the client.
US09384272B2 Methods, systems, and media for identifying similar songs using jumpcodes
Methods, systems, and media for identifying similar songs using jumpcodes are provided. In some embodiments, methods for a cover song from a query song are provided, the methods comprising: identifying a query song jumpcode for the query song, wherein the query song jumpcode is indicative of changes in prominent pitch over a portion of the query song; identifying a plurality of reference song jumpcodes for a reference song, wherein each of the reference song jumpcodes is indicative of changes in prominent pitch over a portion of the reference song; determining if the query song jumpcode matches any of the plurality of reference song jumpcodes; and upon determining that the query song jumpcode matches at least one of the plurality of reference song jumpcodes, generating an indication that the reference song is a cover song of the query song.
US09384270B1 Associating user accounts with source identifiers
This disclosure describes a system for associating user accounts with source identifiers included in communication requests received from users of those user accounts and using that information to later identify potential user accounts. For example, when a user contacts a support network, such as a call center, the source identifier (e.g., telephone number) may be identified. Once the user initiating the communication request is verified and the corresponding user account identified, the source identifier may be associated with the identified user account. By establishing and storing a relationship between the source identifier and the verified user account, if the user later again initiates a communication request that includes the same source identifier, that user's user account may be quickly identified to the agent, thereby simplifying verification.
US09384269B2 Subsnippet handling in search results
Architecture that enables an optional display of a longer version of each subsnippet in response to user interactions such as clicking, hovering, or other suitable form of interaction. More specifically, options are provided to display additional text from a search result at the point where a subsnippet (a subsegment in a snippet that is delimited by ellipses) ends. Selecting suitable boundaries for both initial subsnippets and expanded subsnippets enables relevant information to be presented and increased readability.
US09384265B2 System and method for enhanced lookup in an online dictionary
A system and method predictively generates words based on a user input, according to a frequency of lookup of each of the generated words. The system and method also allows for a user to add predictively generated words to a word list that assists in the facilitation of word and vocabulary comprehension for a user. Words in the online dictionary are grouped in word families where a user can navigate between different forms of a root word.
US09384263B2 Leveraging enterprise content
A method and system for leveraging content is provided. The method includes receiving, data associated with a subscriber and registering the subscriber with an ECM computing system. Devices belonging to the subscriber are connected to the ECM computing system and metadata associated with content retrieved from the devices is generated. The content in the devices are classified into formal content and informal content. Multiple searches for additional content are monitored and multifaceted search results associated with the formal content and the informal content are generated and presented to the subscriber. The subscriber has an option to request informal content on additional end user devices from respective end users based on metadata presented by search results.
US09384261B2 Automatic creation of rules for identifying event boundaries in machine data
Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention provide the ability to organize and build understandings of machine data generated by a variety of information-processing environments. Machine data is a product of information-processing systems (e.g., activity logs, configuration files, messages, database records) and represents the evidence of particular events that have taken place and been recorded in raw data format. In one embodiment, machine data is turned into a machine data web by organizing machine data into events and then linking events together.
US09384259B2 Categorizing hash tags
A content item categorizer system retrieves content items from Internet sources. If a retrieved content item includes sufficient information for traditional categorization methods, then the system assigns one or more categories to the content item using such traditional methods. The system creates a metadata model, based on information about traditionally-categorized content items, that maps at least hashtags from the content items to one or more content categories. When the system retrieves a sparse-info item that does not include sufficient information for traditional categorization, the system applies the metadata model to categorize the content item using at least hashtags in the sparse-info item. The metadata model may also include information indicating mappings between categories and coincidence of hashtags and additional content item attributes. Also, the metadata model may provide information for categorizing sparse-info items based on multiple hashtags in the sparse-info item metadata.
US09384258B1 Identifying top fans
Both content creators and content consumers can benefit by improving communication mechanisms that currently exist. For example, content creators can increase the appeal of content by leveraging the energy of fans, but it is often difficult to identify which content consumers are the best or top fans. However, such can be identified based on various metrics, for example, based on engagement and/or influence of the content consumer. Once the set of top fans is identified, content creators can interact, potentially exclusively, with the set of top fans, which can enhance the experience for all parties involved.
US09384256B2 Reporting and summarizing metrics in sparse relationships on an OLTP database
Storing and/or accessing data in a transactional database, with use of the following technique: (i) selecting a set of base tables in a transactional database; and (ii) creating a factless materialized query table, having maximum sparsity, for the set of base tables. The set of base tables includes at least two base tables. The set of base tables includes a set of keys including at least two distinct primary keys. The factless materialized query table includes one record associated with each record in the set of base tables. Each record in the materialized query table includes a value for every primary key in the set of base tables.
US09384255B2 Managing remote data replication
Various systems, processes, and products may be used to manage remote data replication. In particular implementations, a system and process for managing remote data replication may include the ability to store versions of a disk at a first site, a second site, and a third site. The version of the disk at the first site may store input/output for a host system, the version at the second site may be a synchronous replication of the version at the first site, and the version at the third site may be an asynchronous replication of the version at the first site. The system and process may also include the ability to synchronize the version at the first site with the version at the third site if the second site is unavailable and synchronize the version at the second site with the version at the third site if the first site is unavailable.
US09384254B2 System and method for providing intra-process communication for an application programming interface
Systems and methods are provided for intra-process communication in a backup framework. A custom requester is registered with a framework configured to run and coordinate one or more requesters and one or more providers, wherein the framework provides an application programmer interface for the requesters and providers. A first requester from the one or more requesters starts a backup process for a first data set associated with a first application. The first requester determines that the data storage device associated with the first data set and the first application is exported by a data management system. The first requester selects a first provider to create a backup of the first data set for the backup process, wherein the first requester and first provider are separate threads in a same process space that can communicate directly with each other using one or more intra-process communication channels.
US09384253B1 System and method for multiple-layer data replication in a Linux architecture
The system and method described herein may support multiple-layer data replication using a block input/output (“BIO”) structure that an operating system kernel employs to provide an intermediate mechanism between file systems and block devices. For example, the system and method described herein may capture events that occur when the kernel uses the BIO structure to encapsulate input/output requests that will change data on a master block device. As such, a replication mechanism may send the changes encapsulated within the BIO structure to a replay mechanism, which may then replicate the changes on a standby block device to ensure that the master block device and the standby block device have an identical state. Alternatively, a filter may be used to only replicate changes to certain partitions or file system objects on the master block device.
US09384252B2 User initiated replication in a synchronized object replication system
A snapshot of selected objects in a source repository is created in response to the user-initiated replication. The snapshot is designated as a snapshot replication job. The snapshot replication job is added to the end of a replication queue to await execution for the synchronized object replication. Unsynchronized objects in a target destination are detected by comparing a state of the selected objects in the snapshot with a current state of the target destination at the time of execution of the snapshot replication job. The unsynchronized objects in the target destination are synchronized based upon the comparison of the state of the selected objects in the snapshot with the current state of the target destination at the time of execution of the snapshot replication job.
US09384247B2 Plural architecture master data management with supplemental attributes
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for managing data within a plurality of data management architectures includes at least one processor. The system persists an entity managed by a first data management architecture to a second data management architecture. The first data management architecture manages entity data within data sources and the second data management architecture manages persisted entities within a common repository. Entity attributes are mapped between the first and second data management architectures. The system further provides one or more supplemental attributes for the persisted (e.g., registration mode or fully persisted mode) entity within the second data management architecture, wherein the supplemental attributes are unmapped between the first and second data management architectures. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for managing data within a plurality of data management architectures in substantially the same manner described above.
US09384244B1 Search with autosuggest and refinements
Techniques for search with autosuggest and refinements are disclosed. In some embodiments, search with autosuggest includes determining a plurality of potential query suggestions for a partially entered query string; and automatically suggesting a plurality of queries based on a query count for each of the queries. For example, the query count can correspond to a popularity of the query. In some implementations, the query count can be determined based on a number of times that the query was received, and the plurality of queries can be listed based on the popularity of each of the plurality of queries (e.g., to facilitate display of more popular queries higher in the list of suggested queries).
US09384243B2 Real-time trend detection in a social network
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for tracking trends at an online presence are described. In some embodiments, an interactivity data structure and a tenured interactivity data structure are utilized in determining trends quickly.
US09384242B1 Discovery of news-related content
Techniques identify time-sensitive content and present the time-sensitive content to communication devices of users interested or potentially interested in the time-sensitive content. A content management component analyzes video or audio content, and extracts information from the content and determines whether the content is time-sensitive content, such as recent news-related content, based on analysis of the content and extracted information. The content management component evaluates user-related information and the extracted information, and determines whether a user(s) is likely to be interested in the time-sensitive content based on the evaluation results. The content management component sends a notification to the communication device(s) of the user(s) in response to determining the user(s) is likely to be interested in the time-sensitive content.
US09384239B2 Parallel local sequence alignment
Various technologies described herein pertain to parallel local sequence alignment that aligns a query sequence with a database sequence. The database sequence is segmented into a plurality of stripes. A first processing unit can compute Smith-Waterman values for a first stripe of the database sequence across the query sequence based on a cost function that models biological similarity between sequences. Moreover, a second processing unit can compute Smith-Waterman values for a second stripe of the database sequence across the query sequence based on the cost function. Further, a subset of the Smith-Waterman values for the second stripe of the database sequence across the query sequence can be re-computed based on the cost function (e.g., by the first processing unit or the second processing unit). The subset of the Smith-Waterman values to be re-computed can be determined based on a query sequence length and the cost function.
US09384238B2 Block partitioning for efficient record processing in parallel computing environment
A computer-implemented method is disclosed for efficiently processing a large number of records. In the method, a computer system may obtain a plurality of records and count the number of records thereof corresponding to each block of a plurality of blocks. The computer system may also identify a plurality of partitions corresponding to selected blocks of the plurality of blocks. Each partition of the plurality of partitions may be substantially uniform in processing time. The computer system may then distribute a workload associated with a block or partition to each node of a plurality of nodes contained within the computer system. Each node may then process the block or partition in parallel such that each node completes the processing within a selected period of time.
US09384236B2 Method and system for operating on database queries
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for operating on database queries. One example method includes identifying a parameterized input query in a first database query language. The parameterized input query includes one or more parameter placeholders. A random value is generated, for each parameter placeholder. A concrete instance of the parameterized input query in the first database query language is constructed. The concrete instance of the parameterized input query replaces each parameter placeholder with the corresponding generated random value. A translated output query in a second database query language is generated, from the concrete instance of the parameterized input query. The translated output query includes the generated random values. Each of the generated random values are replaced within the translated output query in the second database query language with a placeholder value associated with the second database query language.
US09384231B2 Data lineage management operation procedures
Apparatus and methods for data lineage management operation procedures are provided. The apparatus may include a relational database. The relational database may store a plurality of Key Business Elements (“KBEs”). The apparatus may retrieve a selected KBE. The selected KBE may include one or more KBE parameters. The parameters may be associated with the selected KBE. The KBE may be used in a business process. The apparatus may include a processor. The processor may identify a KBE system of origination. The system of origination may create the KBE. The system of origination may modify the KBE. The processor may identify a KBE system of record. The system of record may determine an authoritative source. The authoritative source may be the authoritative source of the KBE. The processor may develop a data lineage. The data lineage may be the lineage of the KBE from the system of origination to the system of record.
US09384223B2 Automation of MLOAD and TPUMP conversion
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for converting MLOAD and TPUMP operations. In some embodiments, a system is configured to: receive an input production parameter, wherein the input production parameter is associated with a load utility and defines a library of parameters, wherein the library of parameters defines a first syntax; convert the first syntax of the library of parameters to a second syntax, wherein the second syntax is associated with the load utility; validate the second syntax of the library of parameters; and write an output parameter to a memory location based on positive validation of the second syntax of the library of parameters.
US09384222B2 Database system that provides for history-enabled tables
Techniques for history enabling a table in a database system so that past versions of rows of the history-enabled table are available for temporal querying. The table is history enabled by adding a start time column to the table and creating a history table for the history-enabled table. The start time field's value in a row of the history-enabled table indicates when the contents of the row last changed. The rows of the history table are copies of rows of the history-enabled table that have been deleted or updated. The rows include end time fields whose values indicate when the row was updated or deleted. A history table's row thus indicates a period in which the history table's row was in the history-enabled table. Temporal queries are performed on a view which is the union of the history-enabled table and the history table.
US09384220B2 Optimizing database definitions for a new database
Systems and methods for optimizing a definition for a database are provided. A method for optimizing a definition for a database, comprises receiving an input command to create a database object, receiving at least one extension corresponding to an estimated feature of the database, submitting the input command and the at least one extension to a knowledge base to determine an optimized command, and generating the optimized command.
US09384218B2 Format identification for fragmented image data
Format identification for fragmented data is disclosed. In some embodiments, an input stream of information that includes a continuity property is received. A format identifier of at least a portion of the stream is determined, wherein the format identifier includes a data representation size, a group size, and an alignment that is consistent with the continuity property. The stream of information is compressed using a compression technique selected based on the format identifier to produce a compressed stream, and the compressed stream is stored.
US09384213B2 Searching and annotating within images
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for searching within images. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a query from a user device; receiving a query image from the user device; identifying a result image responsive to the query; determining that an object depicted in a sub-portion of the query image is similar to the result image; and in response to determining that the object depicted in the sub-portion of the query image is similar to the result image: providing annotation data to the user device that causes the user device to display an annotation with the query image, the annotation specifying the sub-portion of the query image that includes the object that is similar to the result image.
US09384209B2 Virtual file system integrating multiple cloud storage services and operating method of the same
Disclosed is a virtual file system integrating and managing multiple cloud storages. A virtual file system may comprise an API database storing information on open API of the cloud storages, a storage state database storing state information of the cloud storages, a metadata database storing metadata of the cloud storages, a cloud storage allocation part receiving an user request and selecting a cloud storage appropriate for the user request among the cloud storages by referring to the storage state database and the metadata database, and an API mapping part reading out open API information of the cloud storage selected by the cloud storage allocation part from the API database, converting the user request to an open API of the selected cloud storage, and transferring the converted open API to the selected cloud storage.
US09384204B2 Efficient data compression and analysis as a service
Data may be efficiently analyzed and compressed as part of a data compression service. A data compression request may be received from a client indicating data to be compressed. An analysis of the data or metadata associated with the data may be performed. In at least some embodiments, this analysis may be a rules-based analysis. Some embodiments may employ one or more machine learning techniques to historical compression data to update the rules-based analysis. One or more compression techniques may be selected out of a plurality of compression techniques to be applied to the data. Data compression candidates may then be generated according to the selected compression techniques. In some embodiments, a compression service restriction may be enforced. One of the data compression candidates may be selected and sent in a response.
US09384202B1 Gateway module to access different types of databases
Some implementations may include a gateway module to receive, from a software application, a command to perform an action to a database. The gateway module may translate the command to create a translated command based on configuration data associated with the database. The configuration data may enable the gateway module to determine how to perform the action to the database. The gateway module may determine whether the translated command is valid based on the configuration data. If the translated command is valid, the gateway module may send the translated command to the database. The gateway module may receive a result of performing the translated command from the database. The gateway module may determine, based on the translated command, the result, or both, whether conditions associated with a triggered command are satisfied (e.g., met). If the conditions are satisfied, the gateway module may send the triggered command to the gateway module.
US09384193B2 Use and enforcement of provenance and lineage constraints
Provided are techniques for managing constraints. Content data and content metadata that is associated with the content data is stored. In response to receiving a change to one of the content data and the content metadata, a provenance value is calculated based on the change, wherein the provenance value represents a change in content between the changed content data or the content metadata and an original version of the content data or the content metadata, and a lineage value is calculated based on the change, wherein the lineage value represents a change in authorship between the changed content data or the content metadata and the original version of the content data or the content metadata. It is determined whether the calculated provenance value violates at least one constraint. It is determined whether the calculated lineage value violates at least one constraint. In response to determining that the calculated provenance value or the calculated lineage value violates at least one constraint, one or more actions associated with the violated constraint are performed, wherein the one or more actions include allowing the change and preventing the change.
US09384190B2 Method and system for conveying an example in a natural language understanding application
A method (300) and system (100) is provided to add the creation of examples at a developer level in the generation of Natural Language Understanding (NLU) models, tying the examples into a NLU sentence database (130), automatically validating (310) a correct outcome of using the examples, and automatically resolving (316) problems the user has using the examples. The method (300) can convey examples of what a caller can say to a Natural Language Understanding (NLU) application. The method includes entering at least one example associated with an existing routing destination, and ensuring an NLU model correctly interprets the example unambiguously for correctly routing a can to the routing destination. The method can include presenting the example sentence in a help message (126) within an NLU dialog as an example of what a caller can say for connecting the caller to a desired routing destination. The method can also include presented a failure dialog for displaying at least one example that failed to be properly interpreted to ensure that ambiguous or incorrect examples are not presented in a help message.
US09384187B2 Document analysis, commenting, and reporting system
A method includes identifying a document structure instance that includes structure components. A selected structure component is chosen from the structure components. The method includes generating, with a processor, a hierarchical graph based on the selected structure component. The hierarchical graph includes classes, a class definition relationship, and an instance identifier that identifies the selected structure component. The hierarchical graph is output.
US09384186B2 Monitoring conversations to identify topics of interest
A system and method for monitoring conversations of a community of users to identify topics of interest is provided. A user community which is based partly on social networking connections relative to a first user is identified. Conversations involving at least one member of the identified user community are monitored. Based in part on an aggregated analysis of the monitored conversations, keywords are selected to present to the first user. The first user is then provided with a display in which the selected keywords associated with the user community are presented to the first user such that the first user can select a keyword to access content associated therewith.
US09384179B2 Automated composition evaluator
Systems and methods are provided for evaluating composition of a first file representing a document to be evaluated. An evaluation method transforms the first file to a second file. The second file includes a plurality of objects corresponding to the composition of the first file. The evaluation method also determines parameters based on the plurality of objects; evaluates the parameters based on a plurality of composition rules provided by a rule engine; generates evaluation findings and stores the evaluation findings; and generates an evaluation conclusion based on the evaluation findings. The evaluation conclusion indicates compliance of the document according to the composition rules.
US09384178B2 Review of signature based content
Briefly, in accordance with at least one embodiment, a content creator/editor may have content reviewed by one or more reviewers. The content may include one or more signatures or characteristic values to correlate an annotation of the content made by one of the reviewers with respect to a flow of time of the content. The content creator/editor may generate a review file for the content and send the review file to the reviewers. The reviewers may provide annotations to the content with respect to the flow of time of the content, where the annotations may be correlated to the content via the signature or characteristic values of the content, and the reviewers may store the annotations independent of the content. The review process may be managed independent of a managing server where the content creator/editor may generate a review file and send the review file to the reviewers using a client content creation and editing software program on local machine of the content creator/editor. The reviewers may receive the review file, which may include content or the content may be streamed to a local machine of the reviewers using a client review program to manage the obtaining and reviewing of the content. The reviewers may generate annotations of the content independent of content and save them in a file that is sent back to the content creator/editor for aggregation of the annotations and selective viewing of the annotations of the content.
US09384174B1 Automated system for assisting the architectural process
There is disclosed an automated system for assisting the architectural process on an open-network. The system may include a data entry means for user-selected project features and at least one catalog database from which the user-selected feature is identified. The system may further incorporate filtering means for providing a graphical interface with filtered data associated with a user-selected feature, at least one user database which stores a unique identifier of the user-selected feature, automated selection means for incorporating data associated with the user-selected feature into at least one document, and generation means for creating an architectural document, such as a specification, detail, or schedule. The system may include at least one remote catalog database from which the user-selected feature is identified. Included are tracking the architectural process, querying a user database or a group of user databases, and generating Industry Foundation Class tags for industry compatibility searching.
US09384172B2 Multi-level list detection engine
A multi-level list detection engine. The multi-level list detection engine detects text obtained from a fixed format document that is formatted as a static multi-level list and creates a dynamic multi-level list object in a flow format document. The resulting dynamic multi-level list object automatically updates as the end user edits the multi-level list in the flow format document. The multi-level list detection engine identifies list elements in the fixed format text based on the presence of a list identifier. The list elements are grouped into lists based on the properties of each list element relative to other list elements. List elements are then assigned to a list level based on the relative properties of the list elements within a list. Finally, level list assignments are verified and corrected, the levels are merged, as necessary, and the lists are consistently formatted as appropriate to create a final well-formed dynamic multi-level list object.
US09384169B2 Numerical method for solving an inverse problem in subsonic flows
It is a numerical method for solving an inverse problem about the shape design of aerodynamic body in inviscid subsonic flows. This method transfers the original Euler equations into the stream-function plane, where it solves the Riemann problem across the streamline presenting the solid-wall and obtains the geometry of the solid-wall concurrently.
US09384168B2 Vector matrix product accelerator for microprocessor integration
In at least one example embodiment, a microprocessor circuit is provided that includes a microprocessor core coupled to a data memory via a data memory bus comprising a predetermined integer number of data wires (J); the single-ported data memory configured for storage of vector input elements of an N element vector in a predetermined vector element order and storage of matrix input elements of an M×N matrix comprising M columns of matrix input elements and N rows of matrix input elements; a vector matrix product accelerator comprising a datapath configured for multiplying the N element vector and the matrix to compute an M element result vector, the vector matrix product accelerator comprising: an input/output port interfacing the data memory bus to the vector matrix product accelerator; a plurality of vector input registers for storage respective input vector elements received through the input/output port.
US09384163B2 Non-linear termination for an on-package input/output architecture
An on-package interface. A first set of single-ended transmitter circuits on a first die. A first set of single-ended receiver circuits on a second die. The receiver circuits have a termination circuit comprising an inverter and a resistive feedback element. A plurality of conductive lines couple the first set of transmitter circuits and the first set of receiver circuits. The lengths of the plurality of conductive lines arc matched.
US09384155B2 Customization of a bus adapter card
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to customization of a bus adapter card. in some implementations, an apparatus includes a processor and a program memory, a bus adapter card coupled with the computing apparatus and configured to connect with a storage device, the bus adapter card computing a cache memory and a controller to cache in the cache memory data associated with the storage device, where the program memory includes a driver to communicate with the bus adapter card responsive to requests corresponding to the storage device, and the driver is configured to modify its communications with the bus adapter card responsive to information provided separate from the requests.
US09384149B2 Block-level data storage security system
A secure storage appliance is disclosed, along with methods of storing and reading data in a secure storage network. The secure storage appliance is configured to present to a client a virtual disk, the virtual disk mapped to the plurality of physical storage devices. The secure storage appliance is capable of executing program instructions configured to generate a plurality of secondary blocks of data by performing splitting and encrypting operations on a block of data received from the client for storage on the virtual disk and reconstitute the block of data from at least a portion of the plurality of secondary blocks of data stored in shares on corresponding physical storage devices in response to a request from the client.
US09384147B1 System and method for cache entry aging
A system comprises a host device and a cache controller. The host device includes a command buffer and a host application that posts a cache command that includes a cache key and a key aging alias in the command buffer. The cache controller includes logic circuitry configured to load the cache command from the command buffer of the first host device into the buffer memory, identify a match, if any, for the cache key in the command queue, perform the cache command, and return cache completion status information to the first host application, wherein the cache completion status information includes a value of the key aging alias in cache metadata when a match for the cache key is found and includes a value of the key aging alias provided by the first host application when a match for the cache key is not found.
US09384139B2 Maintaining a system state cache
Methods, apparatuses and computer software products implement embodiments of the present invention that include storing, to a module memory in each of a plurality of modules having multiple sub-modules, a record containing record entries corresponding respectively to the sub-modules. Upon detecting changes in respective states of the sub-modules of a given module, the corresponding record entries are set in response to the detected changes in the states of the sub-modules of the given module. A cache containing cache entries corresponding respectively to the sub-modules in the plurality of the modules is stored to a controller memory, and the record in each of the modules is polled. Upon detecting that a given record entry of the given module has been set, from the current state information with respect to the given sub-module is requested and received, and a corresponding cache entry is updated in the cache with the current state information.
US09384135B2 System and method of caching hinted data
The disclosure is directed to a system and method of cache management for a data storage system. According to various embodiments, the cache management system includes a hinting driver and a priority controller. The hinting driver generates pointers based upon data packets intercepted from data transfer requests being processed by a host controller of the data storage system. The priority controller determines whether the data packets are associated with at least a first (high) priority level or a second (normal or low) priority level based upon the pointers generated by the hinting driver. High priority data packets are stored in cache memory regardless of whether they satisfy a threshold heat quotient (i.e. a selected level of data transfer activity).
US09384134B2 Persistent memory for processor main memory
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system of one or more processors that includes persistent memory.
US09384130B2 Rewriting symbol address initialization sequences
A system includes a memory to store a linker and one or modules, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory. The computer system is configured to recognize a first symbol address initialization sequence in a module. The system determines whether the first symbol address initialization sequence is a candidate for replacement, determines whether to replace the first symbol address initialization sequence with a second symbol address initialization sequence, and replaces the first symbol address initialization sequence with the second symbol address instruction sequence when it is determined to replace the first symbol address initialization sequence with the second symbol address initialization sequence.
US09384125B2 Method for accessing flash memory having pages used for data backup and associated memory device
The present invention provides a method for accessing a flash memory, where a block of the flash memory includes pages whose quantity is (2N+M), N and M are positive integers. The method includes: writing a data stream into 1st-(2N)th pages, and backing up data of a portion of the 1st-(2N)th pages into (2N+1)th-(2N+M)th pages.
US09384122B2 High sampling rate sensor buffering in semiconductor processing systems
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward systems and/or methods that buffer data from various sensors with a high sampling rate in a semiconductor processing system. Such sampling can provide better data about the processing for diagnosing the conditions leading up to a processing fault in the system.
US09384121B2 Functional test automation for gesture-based mobile applications
A method for cloud-based functional testing of a mobile application includes running a functional test program on a server. The functional test program provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to select a mobile application and a mobile computing device having a touch-sensitive display screen for receiving user input. The mobile computing device is located remote to the server. The functional test program launches the mobile application on the mobile computing device via a wireless network connection. The server receives precision elements of each gesture-based input on the touch-sensitive display screen, the precision elements being captured and transmitted from the mobile computing device to the server during execution of the mobile application. The precision elements of each gesture-based input are then recorded in a test clip.
US09384119B2 Web page error reporting
An error in a web page displayed on a device is detected. The error is assigned to a bucket to indicate a type of the error, and a record describing the current state of the device is generated. Both an indication of the bucket and the record describing the current state of the device are then sent to a server. At the server, error information including error records and bucket identifiers are received from multiple devices. Each error record describes a current state of one of the multiple devices at a time when an error in a web page displayed on the one device was detected. Each bucket identifier corresponds to one of the error records and describes a type of the error associated with that error record. The error records are grouped into multiple baskets based at least in part on the current state information in the error records.
US09384111B2 Method and apparatus for GPS based slope determination, real-time vehicle mass determination, and vehicle efficiency analysis
Three dimensional GPS or vehicle position data is used to determine a slope the vehicle is traveling over at a specific point in time. The slope data can then be combined with other metrics to provide an accurate, slope corrected vehicle mass. The vehicle mass can then be used along with other vehicle data to determine an amount of work performed by a vehicle, enabling s detailed efficiency analysis of the vehicle to be performed. To calculate slope, horizontal ground speed (VHGS) can be calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem. One can take the Z/Up magnitude and divide it by the horizontal ground speed. Replacing Z, x and y with directional vectors enables one to calculate slope. The slope data is then used to determine the mass of the vehicle at that time. Pervious techniques to calculate mass did not factor in slope, and thus are not accurate.
US09384108B2 Functional built-in self test for a chip
According to one embodiment, a self-test system integrated on a chip is provided, the chip including a functional logic module for performing a selected application. The self-test system includes a primary interface a primary interface to the functional logic module, the primary interface configured to interface with a primary device, an input interface protocol generator for generating a pattern to be inserted into the primary interface and a secondary interface to the functional logic module, the secondary interface configured to interface with a secondary device. The system also includes an emulator engine coupled to the secondary interface, the emulator engine for testing a function of the functional logic module based on the inserted patterns, the function being configured to communicate with a secondary device coupled to the secondary interface, wherein the emulator engine tests the function when no secondary device is coupled to the chip.
US09384102B2 Redundant, fault-tolerant management fabric for multipartition servers
Redundant, fault-tolerant management fabric for multipartition servers are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises connecting a plurality of rack system components to a first network segment, the connection including at least two physical links sharing a single network address. The method also comprises monitoring communications paths in the first network segment. The method also comprises switching communications from the first network segment to a failover network segment if there is a failure in any of the communications paths in the first network segment.
US09384097B2 Method and system for recovery of a failed registry
A method of recovering a registry includes accessing a plurality of registry zone files for the registry and archiving, on a first periodic basis, the plurality of registry zone files. Each of the registry zone files includes at least domain names, registrar IDs, and status information represented in a first predetermined format. The method also includes accessing bulk WHOIS data for the registry and archiving, on a second periodic basis, the bulk WHOIS data. The bulk WHOIS data includes at least nameserver server names, IP addresses, and status information represented in a second predetermined format. The method further includes validating one of the plurality of archived registry zone files based on a comparison between the plurality of registry zone files and the bulk WHOIS data, publishing the validated registry zone file to a second registry's nameservers, initiating a root zone change request, and updating authoritative nameservers.
US09384096B2 Application management
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes executing one or more computer applications and ranking the applications according to one or more criteria that change in response to a user's interaction with the applications. State information for certain of the one or more applications is saved and one or more applications are terminated in response to a memory condition. Subsequently, one of the terminated applications is revived using the saved state information.
US09384095B2 Recovering from a defective boot image
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include detecting, by a first computer having a first memory, a software stack in a second memory of a second computer coupled to the first computer via a network. The software stack is copied from the second memory to the first memory, and the copied software stack is executed by the first computer. Prior to copying the software stack an error is detected in a boot image stored on a boot device for the first computer.
US09384089B2 Systems and methods for proactively refreshing nonvolatile memory
System and methods for proactively refreshing portions of a nonvolatile memory including a memory system that proactively refreshes a portion of nonvolatile memory based on data associated with the portion. The data may include the time elapsed since the portion was last refreshed, the number of times the portion has been cycled, and the average operating temperature of the nonvolatile memory. A portion of nonvolatile memory, when meeting certain criteria determined from the data, may be proactively refreshed during a downtime when the nonvolatile memory is not otherwise being accessed.
US09384087B2 Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding data in memory system
Example embodiments disclose methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding data in a memory system. In an encoding method according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts, a codeword is generated based on a combination of data to be stored and auxiliary data according to stuck cells and an encoding matrix based on information regarding coordinates of the stuck cells and values of the stuck cells. The generated codeword includes data corresponding to the values of the stuck cells at addresses corresponding to the coordinates of the stuck cells. In a decoding method according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts, data may be generated by multiplying an inverse matrix of the encoding matrix used for encoding by the codeword.
US09384082B1 Proactively providing corrective measures for storage arrays
Proactively providing corrective measures for storage arrays includes: receiving data from a storage array, the data including one or more events; detecting, in dependence upon a problem signature, one or more events from the data indicative of a particular problem, where the problem signature comprises a specification of a pattern of events indicative of the particular problem experienced by at least one other storage array; determining whether the particular problem violates an operational policy of the storage array, the operational policy specifying at least one requirement for an operational metric of the storage array; and if the particular problem violates the operational policy of the storage array, deploying automatically without user intervention one or more corrective measures to prevent the storage array from experiencing the particular problem.
US09384081B2 Delayed disk recovery
A method of recovering content stored on a computer readable medium transported by a vehicle comprises identifying, by one or more computer processors, an error on the computer readable medium, storing, by the one or more computer processors, an indication of the error, and detecting, by the one or more computer processors, an interval of travel of the vehicle during which the computer readable medium has access to stable power. The method further includes, during the detected interval of travel, initiating, by the one or more computer processors, a recovery of the computer readable medium based on the indication of the error.
US09384077B2 Storage control apparatus and method for controlling storage apparatus
A storage control apparatus for controlling a storage apparatus including inside a casing thereof one or more storage units and two or more fans for cooling the storage units includes a processor. The processor is configured to obtain abnormality information regarding abnormalities in access in each of the storage units. The processor is configured to switch a control state between a first control state and a second control state. The first control state corresponds to a first combination of operation modes of the fans. The second control state corresponds to a second combination of operation modes of the fans. The second combination is different from the first combination. The processor is configured to detect, among the fans, a first fan that is related to an abnormality in the storage units on basis of first abnormality information for the first control state and second abnormality information for the second control state.
US09384076B2 Allocating machine check architecture banks
In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided systems and methods for allocating machine check architecture banks. The processing device includes a plurality of machine check architecture banks to communicate a machine check error. The processing also includes an allocator to allocate during runtime of the processor a target machine check architecture bank of the plurality of machine check architecture banks. The runtime of the processor is during an occurrence of the machine check error.
US09384069B2 Method for event processing using hierarchical structures and event processing system thereof
Provided is a method for event processing and a system for using the same. The system for event processing in a computer may include an interface to detect an input associated with an event, an event definition engine which defines the event using a plurality of event components and a corresponding event component wrapper wrapping each of the plurality of event components, an event processing engine which processes the event, and an event action module to generate an output based on the event. The event definition engine may determine a hierarchical relationship between the plurality of event components and assigns the hierarchical relationship in the corresponding event component wrapper. Moreover, the event processing engine may execute each of the event components according to the hierarchical relationship assigned in the event component wrapper.
US09384059B2 Comparing resource costs between allocation plans in a load balance apparatus
An apparatus predicts time-series variations in resource usage for logical structures for a future time period (a schedule period) on the basis of a history representing the history of resource usage by the logical structures. The apparatus attempts to select a plurality of arrangement candidates for which resource usage in each of a plurality of physical machines is equal to or less than a criterion for each of a plurality of time segments comprising the schedule period. The apparatus computes a migration cost of migrating the logical structures between physical machines for an arrangement according to a holistic arrangement plan for each of a plurality of holistic arrangement plans. Each of the plurality of holistic arrangement plans is a combination of a plurality of selected arrangement candidates corresponding to each of the plurality of time segments.
US09384058B2 Method for executing virtual application delivery controllers having different application versions over a computing device
A method for executing virtual application delivery controllers (vADCs) having different application versions over a computing device. The method comprises installing a virtualization infrastructure in the computing device; creating by the virtualization infrastructure a plurality of vADCs having different application versions, wherein each vADC is created from a software image maintained in a hardware infrastructure of the computing device; gathering version information associated with each of the plurality of vADCs; independently executing the plurality of vADCs over an operating system of the computing device; and controlling the execution of the plurality of the vADCs over an operating system of the computing device using the virtualization infrastructure using in part the version information. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of vADCs does not execute its own guest operating system.
US09384045B2 Intelligent inclusion/exclusion automation
Methods, computer systems, and computer program products for automating tasks in a computing environment, are provided. In one such embodiment, by way of example only, if an instant task is not found in one of list of included tasks and a list of excluded tasks, at least one of the following is performed: the instant task is compared the with previous instances of the task, if any; the instant task is analyzed, including an input/output (I/O) sequence for the instant task, to determine if the instant task is similar to an existing task; and the instant task is considered as a possible candidate for automation. If the instant task is determined to be an automation candidate, the instant task is added to the list of included tasks, otherwise the instant task is added to the list of excluded tasks.
US09384040B2 Scheduling computer jobs for execution
A method, system, and apparatus to divide a computing job into micro-jobs and allocate the execution of the micro-jobs to times when needed resources comply with one or more idleness criteria is provided. The micro-jobs are executed on an ongoing basis, but only when the resources needed by the micro-jobs are not needed by other jobs. A software program utilizing this methodology may be run at all times while the computer is powered up without impacting the performance of other software programs running on the same computer system.
US09384036B1 Low latency thread context caching
A method includes performing one or more operations as requested by a thread executing on a processor, the thread having a thread context; receiving a park request from the thread, the park request received following a request from the thread for a low latency resource, wherein the cache response time is less than or equal to a resource response threshold so as to allow the thread context to be stored and retrieved from the cache in less time than the portion of time it takes to complete the request for the low latency resource; storing the thread context in the cache; detecting that the resume condition has occurred; retrieving the thread context from the cache; and resuming execution of the thread.
US09384034B2 Detecting operation of a virtual machine
Detecting the operation of a virtual machine by identifying seed candidates from sets of random numbers generated at a computer, where each of the sets includes multiple random numbers, identifying candidate performance counter frequencies from the seed candidates and from timing information associated with the sets of random numbers, and determining that the computer is operating as a virtual machine if any of the candidate performance counter frequencies is consistent with a predefined virtual machine performance counter frequency.
US09384033B2 Large receive offload for virtual machines
A network interface controller (NIC) that includes a set of receive NIC queues capable of performing large receive offload (LRO) operations by aggregating incoming receive packets is provided. Each NIC queue turns on or off its LRO operation based a set of LRO enabling rules or parameters, whereby only packets that meet the set of rules or parameters will be aggregated in the NIC queue. Each NIC queue is controlled by its own set of LRO enabling rules such that the LRO operations of the different NIC queues can be individually controlled.
US09384032B2 Methods, devices, and systems for establishing, setting-up, and maintaining a virtual computer infrastructure
A system and method of operating an electronic device may include loading an operating system, from a boot key, on the electronic device during turn-on of the electronic device. The operating system may be operated on the electronic device. The boot key may cause the electronic device to automatically communicate with a web-service located on a communications network to enable executable instructions from the web-service to be communicated to the electronic device for execution thereon.
US09384030B2 System and method for deploying a dynamic virtual network address translation appliance
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for deploying a virtual network address translation (NAT) appliance includes receiving a request to generate a virtual machine environment. The method also includes generating the virtual machine environment from an environment template, the virtual machine environment comprising a first virtual machine. The method further includes configuring a hostname for a virtual NAT appliance instance, and configuring one or more private network settings for the virtual NAT appliance instance. The method also includes generating the virtual NAT appliance instance from the NAT appliance template, the NAT appliance instance comprising a public network interface and a private network interface.
US09384022B1 Automating display modes of files within a virtual machine
Approaches for rendering a file within a display mode. A guest module, executing within a virtual machine, determines that a process executing within the virtual machine is requesting to display a file. The guest module sends a request to display the file to a host module which executes within a host operating system. After the host module receives the request, the host module determines whether a user initiated the display of the file. Upon the host module determining that the file is permitted to be displayed, the host module determines a particular display mode for the file. Thereafter, the host module causes the file to be displayed in the particular display mode. Files may be automatically displayed in a configurable display mode in a secure manner.
US09384016B2 Method of estimating program speed-up with highly parallel architectures
The amount of speed-up that can be obtained by moving a program to a parallel architecture is determined by a model associating speed-up to micro-architecture independent features of the program execution. The model may be generated, for example, by linear regression, by evaluating programs that have been ported to parallel architectures where the micro-architecture independent features are known.
US09384015B2 Techniques for dynamically redirecting device driver operations to user space
Various embodiments are generally directed an apparatus and method for configuring an execution environment in a user space for device driver operations and redirecting a device driver operation for execution in the execution environment in the user space including copying instructions of the device driver operation from the kernel space to a user process in the user space. In addition, the redirected device driver operation may be executed in the execution environment in the user space.
US09384012B2 Standalone data entry for backend system
A computer-implemented system may include reception of a user interface package at a client device, the user interface package including layout information and a data model, the layout information conforming to a user interface model of a backend service provider and the data model conforming to a business object model of the backend service provider. The layout is rendered at the client device based on the user interface model, data input to the rendered layout at the client device is received, the data is stored at the client device in conformance with the business object model, and the data is transmitted from the client device to the backend service provider.
US09383994B2 Co-processor for complex arithmetic processing, and processor system
In order to enable to quickly and efficiently execute, by one system, various modulation/demodulation/synchronous processes in a plurality of radio communication methods, a co-processor (22) for complex arithmetic processing, which forms a processor system (100), includes a complex arithmetic circuit (22) that executes for complex data a complex arithmetic operation required for radio communication in accordance with an instruction from a primary processor (10), and a memory controller (20, 21) that operates in parallel with the complex arithmetic circuit and accesses a memory. A trace circuit provided in the complex arithmetic circuit (22) monitors arithmetic result data for first complex data series sequentially read from the memory, and detects a normalization coefficient for normalizing the arithmetic result data.
US09383993B2 Enterprise wide software version recommendation
In an illustrative embodiment of a process for software version recommendation, a computer receives information representative of a software instance at a target machine, analyzes the received information using a set of predefined rules and a set of available updates metadata associated with a particular updates agent and target machine to identify information pertinent to a combination of a respective target machine associated with the particular updates agent. The computer, responsive to a determination to send the identified information as a recommendation to the respective target machine, sends the recommendation to the combination of the respective target machine associated with the particular updates agent.
US09383987B1 Systems and methods for providing software updates
The present invention comprises systems and methods, and computer readable media comprising the methods, for updating software applications. The systems and methods of the present invention provide automation and flexibility to the updating process. Processor usage and network usage are monitored and software updates are initiated and/or continued during periods where processor and/or network usage are low. The update process may be halted when the processor and/or network connection are called upon for other uses. Processor and/or network usage may also be throttled, for example limiting the bandwidth available for the download to maintain sufficient processor share and/or bandwidth for other tasks. Adverse impact on a computer user is minimized.
US09383986B2 Safe low cost web services software deployments
System, method, and computer program product to perform an operation, including installing a first service on a first virtual machine and a second service on a second virtual machine in a web services cluster, testing the first service on the first virtual machine and the second service on the second virtual machine to determine that the first and second services are stable, installing the first service and the second service on a third virtual machine in the web services cluster, causing at least a portion of traffic directed to the first service and the second service to be sent to the third virtual machine, testing the first service and the second service on the third virtual machine, and removing the first and second virtual machines from the web services cluster upon determining that the first service and the second service executing on the third virtual machine are stable.
US09383983B2 Method and system to impose enterprise security mechanisms throughout a mobile application lifecycle
Particular embodiments provide a method to authenticate a user of an application running on a mobile operating system (OS) installed on a mobile device, wherein the mobile OS invokes callback methods of the application upon making changes to an execution state of the application. Code embedded into the application causes the application to communicate with a management agent installed in the mobile OS upon invocation of a hooked callback method. Upon invocation of the hooked callback method, the embedded code assesses whether the user should be provided an authentication challenge prior to enabling the application to run in the foreground, and presents the authentication challenge if necessary. Finally, the embedded code returns execution control from the management agent back to the application wherein the application executes the at least one callback method prior to running in the foreground.
US09383982B2 Data-parallel computation management
Data-parallel computation programs may be improved by, for example, determining the functional properties user defined functions (UDFs), eliminating unnecessary data-shuffling stages, and/or changing data-partition properties to cause desired data properties to appear after one or more user defined functions are applied.
US09383980B2 Determining a method to inline using an actual footprint calculation
Techniques for calculating the actual footprint of a computer-implemented method are disclosed. An example computer-implemented method includes a computer creating a map indicating to which code method each instruction included in compiled code belongs. This computer-implemented method also includes the computer sampling instructions executed using a hardware performance counter. This computer-implemented method also includes the computer mapping the sampled instructions to the code methods to which the instructions belong using the map. This computer-implemented method also includes the computer calculating the actual footprint of each code method as the total number of instructions sampled at least once among the instructions belonging to the code methods.
US09383975B1 Projection of software and integrated circuit diagrams into actual 3D space
The present invention is a technique of displaying in actual 3D space (i.e. not merely a 3D representation on a 2D surface) any type of diagram relating to software or integrated circuits that requires depth perception in order to be fully comprehended. The 3D space can be manipulated as desired, including but not limited to rotation, collapse/expand, and the ability of the user to enter the 3D space and view it from within.
US09383974B2 Graphical computer programming
A computer program product and method for using a computer program product for graphically developing a computer program for execution at least in part on a separate host processor device, such as, a digital signal processor. The computer program product includes code for providing a graphical programming environment. The computer code which is used for developing the computer program includes a cell module for graphically representing a graphical control. The cell module does not contain any host processor specific code. The cell module may include code for rendering on the display of the computer that is operating as the programming environment one or more graphical controls. The cell module may also contain host processor independent code that accepts input from a user (parameter value) and converts the parameter value or applies an equation to the parameter value. The computer program also includes a plurality of algorithm modules, wherein each algorithm module provides functional code for the graphical control. The functional code is host processor specific code. The computer program also includes computer code for associating the cell module with one or more of the plurality of algorithm modules for developing the computer program. The computer program also includes code for defining an execution path amongst the algorithm modules. This can be achieved by graphically connecting the cell modules and defining an input and output.
US09383968B2 Math processing by detection of elementary valued operands
One embodiment of the present invention includes a method for simplifying arithmetic operations by detecting operands with elementary values such as zero or 1.0. Computer and graphics processing systems perform a great number of multiply-add operations. In a significant portion of these operations, the values of one or more of the operands are zero or 1.0. By detecting the occurrence of these elementary values, math operations can be greatly simplified, for example by eliminating multiply operations when one multiplicand is zero or 1.0 or eliminating add operations when one addend is zero. The simplified math operations resulting from detecting elementary valued operands provide significant savings in overhead power, dynamic processing power, and cycle time.
US09383965B1 Media library analyzer
Disclosed are various embodiments analyzing a user's interaction with his or her music library. The system generates a time series by tracking a plurality of instances of music library interaction between a user and a music library. The system also determines a distribution expressed in the time series, the distribution indicating a trend of playing a set of audio items for a particular period of time, the set of audio items being associated with a class, wherein a timestamp corresponds to an occurrence of the trend. The system associates the distribution with a triggering event and generates a recommendation according to the class in response to the triggering event.
US09383964B1 Independent game and chat volume control
Methods and systems are provided for independent audio volume control. For example, an audio component (e.g., implemented in an element of an audio setup) may control generation and/or outputting of a combined-game-and-chat audio signals. The audio component may receive user input comprising one or both of: a setting for a desired volume of a chat audio component of the combined-game-and-chat audio signal, and a setting for a desired volume of a game audio component of the combined-game-and-chat audio signal. The audio component may determine, based on the user input, a corresponding mix setting for mixing together of the chat audio component and the game audio component in an audio source to generate the combined-game-and-chat audio signal and a corresponding volume setting applicable at an audio output element; provide the mix setting to the audio source; and provide the volume setting to the audio output element.
US09383962B2 Input device, display apparatus, and method of controlling the input device
An input device, a display apparatus and a method of controlling the input device are provided. The input device includes: a communicator configured to communicate with a display apparatus; a sensor configured to sense a sound; a volume extractor configured to extract volume sections from the sound sensed by the sensor; and a controller configured to determine whether a peak level of each of the volume sections extracted by the volume extractor exceeds a threshold level, and in response to determining the peak level of a volume section among the volume sections exceeds the threshold level, control the communicator to generate an event signal for cancelling a job for a pattern image displayed on the display apparatus based on a touch input and transmit the event signal to the display apparatus.
US09383955B2 Mechanism for automatically disabling printer separator pages
A computer generated method disclosed. The method includes receiving a print job, analyzing the print job data stream, determining if the print job data stream includes a command matching one or more pre-defined criteria and disabling generation of a separator page for the print job if the print job data stream includes a command matching one or more pre-defined criteria.
US09383954B2 Non-transitory storage medium storing program capable of changing operation mode of image processing apparatus and image processing apparatus capable of changing operation mode
A non-transitory storage medium storing a program executable by a computer of a control device that controls a recording device and a reading device, wherein, when the control device receives a command for a cooperative operation in which the reading device reads an image from a recording medium and the recording device records the read image on a recording medium, the program causes the control device to: obtain, from each of the recording device and the reading device, operation mode information relating to an operation mode set for each of the recording device and the reading device; and where the operation mode information of the recording device or the reading device indicates a quiet mode and the operation mode information of the other of the recording device and the reading device does not indicate the quiet mode, control the other of the recording device and the reading device to perform a quiet operation.
US09383953B2 Print control apparatus, method for controlling print control apparatus, and program
A print control apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus has a first power mode and a second power mode, and power consumption of the second power mode is lower than power consumption of the first power mode.
US09383951B2 Method and system for formatting messages into stylized messages for print out
Methods for formatting messages into stylized templates for delivery to a printer. The templates include a variety of different formats to accommodate the various elements of the message. The available templates can include themed templates, calendars, to-do lists, address books, stationary, and the like. The system and methods format the message by parsing the elements of the message into component parts and fitting them within a template.
US09383950B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and process execution method
An information processing system includes a managing unit that sorts a process execution request based on a type of process of the process execution request; a storing unit that stores the sorted process execution request according to the type of process of the process execution request; and a plurality of executing units that are configured to execute a process corresponding to the process execution request stored in the storing unit. At least one executing unit of the plurality of executing units is configured to split the process corresponding to the process execution request stored in the storing unit into a plurality of processes to be executed by at least two other executing units of the plurality of executing units and store in the storing unit a split process execution request including the split processes for prompting the other executing units to cooperatively execute the split processes.
US09383940B1 Techniques for performing data migration
Described are techniques for performing data migration for a source logical volume and a target. The target is configured as storage for another mirror of the source logical volume prior to copying data from the source logical volume to the target, and if the target is configured storage of another logical volume of the data storage system, the configured storage is remapped as storage for another mirror of the source logical volume prior to copying data from the source logical volume to the target. One or more invalid bits are set indicating that the target does not contain a valid copy of data from the source logical volume. Data is copied from the first mirror of the source logical volume to the target. Invalid bits are cleared as data portions of the first mirror of the source logical volume are copied to the target.
US09383939B2 Migrating and retrieving queued data in byte-addressable storage
In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a computer-implemented method may include storing in a primary storage a plurality of list entries belonging to an ordered list. Free space in the primary storage may be monitored to determine whether a first predetermined condition related to the free space is met. In a secondary storage, a storage block of a predetermined size may be allocated for migration, when the first predetermined condition is met. A cursor may be provided pointing to a first list entry in the primary storage. One or more list entries may be selected at the cursor. The selected list entries may be migrated to the storage block while maintaining their order in the list.
US09383932B2 Data coherency model and protocol at cluster level
An apparatus for providing data coherency is described herein. The apparatus includes a global persistent memory. The global persistent memory is accessed using a protocol that includes input/output (I/O) semantics and memory semantics. The apparatus also includes a reflected memory region. The reflected memory region is a portion of the global persistent memory, and each node of a plurality of nodes maps the reflected memory region into a space that is not cacheable. Further, the apparatus includes a semaphore memory. The semaphore memory provides a hardware assist for enforced data coherency.
US09383930B2 Code optimization to enable and disable coalescing of memory transactions
A transactional memory system controls the coalescing of outermost memory transactions. The coalescing causing committing of memory store data to memory for a first transaction to be done at transaction execution (TX) end of a second transaction. A processor of the transactional memory system executes a run-time instrumentation program for monitoring and modifying an associated program having a plurality of transactions. The processor initiates execution of the associated program. Based on execution of transactions, by the processor, of the associated program, the run-time instrumentation program dynamically obtains instrumentation information associated with the execution. Based on the obtained instrumentation information, the processor dynamically modifies continued execution of transactions of the associated program to optimize transactional execution (TX).
US09383926B2 Host-controlled garbage collection
In an array of solid-state drives (SSDs), SSDs in the array are each configured to initiate generation of additional erased memory blocks when an initiation command is received from a host or when the number of erased memory blocks in the SSD falls below a minimum threshold of erased memory blocks for the SSD. The minimum threshold value may be adjusted by the host.
US09383925B2 Page compression strategy for improved page out process
A page compression strategy classifies uncompressed pages selected for compression. Similarly classified pages are compressed and bound into a single logical page. For logical pages having pages with more than one classification, a weighting factor is determined for the logical page.
US09383922B2 Keyboard-based navigation of a user interface
Various embodiments of systems and methods for keyboard-based navigation of a user interface are described herein. An area around a first object displayed on a user interface is divided into quadrants and one or more segments for at least one of the quadrants. The user interface includes a plurality of objects and the quadrants represent directions with respect to the first object. In response to a key stroke indicating a first direction, a first one of the quadrants corresponding to the first direction is identified. The segments of the first quadrant are scanned to identify a second object that is closest to the first object in the first quadrant. The second object is then selected.
US09383921B2 Touch-sensitive display method and apparatus
An example method includes associating a first area of a non-display area of a touch-sensitive display with a first control, wherein a touch associated with the first control results in moving an indicator through the information in a first direction and in a second direction. The method may also include associating a second area of the non-display area with a second control, wherein a touch associated with the second control results in moving the indicator through the information in the first direction and in the second direction. The method may also include detecting a first touch associated with the first control, in response to detecting the first touch, moving the indicator in the first direction, detecting a second touch associated with the second control, and in response to detecting the second touch, moving the indicator in the first direction.
US09383918B2 Portable electronic device and method of controlling same
A method includes detecting a touch at a plurality of touch locations on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, identifying when the touch is a first gesture type based on touch attributes including a first touch location of the plurality of touch locations, and at least one of speed of the touch, time between detecting the touch at consecutive ones of the touch locations, distance between the consecutive ones of the touch locations, and direction of the touch.
US09383914B2 Touch free user recognition assembly for activating a user's smart toilet's devices
The system may use a touch free device to identify a user. The system allows the user to operate a smart toilet's devices with the passive input of their presence, in the toilet area. The user may be identified using, facial recognition, eye recognition, or proximity card devices. The computer associates the identified user with the user's pre stored identity and preprogrammed user profile. The user's profile may contain the user's desired smart toilet device settings. Toilet devices settings and sequence of operation may include a bidet's water temperature, a toilet seat position, an internet connection to the computer, etc. Operating the toilet touch freely, reduces the user's physical contact with the toilet control panel and toilet seat. This may reduce the transference of bacteria from the toilet to the user. This may reduce the possibly of illness caused by bacteria. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US09383913B2 Touch screen device data filtering
A data filtering menu enabling a user to select different characteristics and values may be displayed. Each of the characteristics may be displayed in a first selectable list in the filtering menu. Once a user selects one of the characteristics, a second list containing selectable values associated with the selected characteristic may be displayed in a second list. The selected values may filter a set of data and the list of characteristics may be modified to display a representation of values selected from one or more of the second lists. Additionally, a selectable object associated with a characteristic having user selected values may also be displayed with a filtered result. If this object is selected, a list of values from the second list may be redisplayed. The user may then select different values and re-executed the filter with the new values.
US09383910B2 Autoscroll regions
Technologies are described herein for autoscroll regions. A device establishes a trigger line near an edge of a selectable region of content that is adjacent to a non-selectable region of content. The device detects user input within the selectable region and detects movement of the user input that intersects the trigger line. In response to detecting the user input intersecting the trigger line, the device scrolls a scrollable region.
US09383904B2 Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. The mobile terminal may generate and display a plurality of objects each having a specific contour, on a touch screen, and may display a bar for controlling an undo function on at least some section of the contour of one or more of the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen. Accordingly, the contour of one or more of the displayed objects may be edited more conveniently.
US09383900B2 Enabling real-time operational environment conformity to an enterprise model
An enterprise model associated with an operational environment within an operational dashboard can be identified. The model can include an entity which can be an operational node, an architecture component node, a resource, a goal, or a constraint of an enterprise organization. The environment can include element which can be a computing resource and a computing resource state associated with the organization. An operational state change within the operational environment can be performed. A result of the change can be presented within an architectural view of the model within the dashboard. The result can include a context, a policy, a function, or a relationship affecting the model.
US09383898B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program for changing layout of displayed objects
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a display section which displays, as a first layout state, an object group including a plurality of objects arranged in a first direction, a detection section which detects an operation input that is input to the display section, and a control section which, when the detection section detects an operation input in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, changes the first layout state into a second layout state in which the respective objects constituting the object group which has been selected are spread and pieces of information associated with the plurality of objects, respectively, are displayed.
US09383891B2 Methods and systems for an intermediate graphical desktop sharing protocol
Generating a universal graphical desktop sharing protocol is disclosed. The universal graphical desktop sharing protocol is configured to communicate information (e.g., a sequence of one or more desktop sharing events) that has been translated from a first graphical desktop sharing protocol and is available to be translated into a final graphical desktop sharing protocol.
US09383885B2 Hit testing curve-based shapes using polygons
Upon receiving an input comprising an area of a user interface, a user interface element associated with the area of the user interface may be identified and a polygon-based representation of the at least one user interface element may be created. If the input is determined to comprise a selection of the user interface element according to the polygon-based representation, an operation associated with the user interface element may be performed.
US09383881B2 Input device and method with pressure-sensitive layer
Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods facilitate input using a pressure-sensitive layer whose electrical admittivity changes in response to pressure applied to a touch surface. An input device is provided that comprises a plurality of sensor electrodes including a set of primary sensor electrodes and a set of secondary sensor electrodes. Each primary sensor electrode is electrically coupled to at least one secondary sensor electrode to form a set of electrical admittances. In one embodiment, the pressure-sensitive layer is located between the sensor electrodes and the touch surface, such that changes in the admittivity of the pressure-sensitive layer in response to pressure on the touch surface cause corresponding changes in the admittances between the primary and secondary sensor electrodes.
US09383880B2 Display device
According to one embodiment, a lateral-electric-field liquid crystal display device includes a light-emitting display layer including OLEDs and a driving circuit controlling light emission of the OLEDs, a moisture impermeable film provided to be laminated on the light-emitting display layer to prevent infiltration of moisture into the light-emitting display layer, an optical substrate provided separately from the moisture impermeable film and subjecting light from the light-emitting display region to optical processing, a first touch electrode group serving as one electrode group of touch electrodes and provided on a back surface of the optical substrate, and an extraction electrode group formed to be laminated on the moisture impermeable film, the extraction electrode group and the optical substrate have an overlapping part in plan view, and electrodes of the first touch electrode group being electrically connected to electrodes of the extraction electrode group in the overlapping part.
US09383877B2 Touch screen and manufacturing method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch screen and a manufacturing method thereof. The touch screen includes: a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes and a blanking component. The blanking component at least includes a first blanking layer and a second blanking layer for reducing reflection of external light, wherein, the first blanking layer and the second blanking layer are different in density; the blanking component is arranged between the substrate and the bridging component; and the substrate is arranged between the blanking component and an external environment.
US09383876B2 Fingerprint sensing system and method
A fingerprint sensing system comprises a sensor array with a plurality of sensing structures and read-out circuitry connectable to each of the sensing structures, and power supply circuitry arranged to provide to the read-out circuitry a substantially constant supply voltage being a difference between a high potential and a low potential. The fingerprint sensing system is configured in such a way that the low potential and the high potential are variable while substantially maintaining the supply voltage, and the read-out circuitry is connectable to each of the sensing structures in such a way that a variation in the low potential and the high potential while substantially maintaining the supply voltage results in a change of the charge carried by a sensing structure connected to the read-out circuitry. The change in charge is indicative of a capacitive coupling between the sensing structure and the finger.
US09383874B2 Touch screen panel, touch sensing controller, and touch sensing system including the same
A touch screen panel is provided. The touch screen panel includes: a sensing area comprising a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a matrix form in first and second directions of a substrate and a plurality of second electrodes extending in the first direction, the plurality of second electrodes being arranged alternately with the plurality of first electrodes in the second direction; a channel wiring area including a plurality of channel wires configured to transmit signals of the plurality of first electrodes and signals of the plurality of second electrodes, the channel wiring area being disposed around the sensing area; and an electrode wiring area comprising a plurality of electrode wires connecting the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes to the plurality of channel wires, the electrode wiring area being in the sensing area, wherein at least two electrodes, from among the first electrodes, that are disposed in a same column are connected to different channel wires.
US09383869B1 Capacitive touch screen
An embodiment of a capacitive touch screen may comprise a display device comprising a substantially transparent substrate, a first plurality of electrodes attached to the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the first plurality of electrodes are substantially parallel in a first direction, and a second plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the second plurality of electrodes is capacitively coupled with each of the first plurality of electrodes.
US09383868B2 Input device, input control method, program and electronic apparatus
An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can achieve a hover operation and a touch operation that are differentiated and detected without inviting degradation in detection responsiveness to the touch operation. The input device includes a selecting section for selecting a pair from among a plurality of X electrodes and Y electrodes disposed as being spaced apart from each other, a detecting section for detecting a touch operation or a hover operation from a change of an electric characteristic of the pair, and a setting section for setting part of at least either of the X electrodes and the Y electrodes as hover electrodes for hover operation detection and setting at least part of the other electrodes as touch electrodes for touch operation detection.
US09383863B2 Mitigating intended touch selection errors
For mitigating touch selection errors, code detects a touch selection error on a touch screen. In addition, the code mitigates the touch selection error based at least in part on a command history.
US09383861B2 Systems and methods for image filtering in sensor devices
A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module, a filter module, and a determination module. The sensor module is configured to drive a plurality of transmitter electrodes with transmitter signals; receive, with a plurality of receiver electrodes, resulting signals comprising effects corresponding to the transmitter signals; and produce a first sensor image based on the resulting signals. The filter module is configured to produce a transformed sensor image by applying a spatial filter to the first sensor image. The determination module is configured to positional information and/or the validity of a baseline for the input device based on the transformed sensor image.
US09383859B2 Multi-mode touch input device
A multi-mode touch input device includes a first touch input device and a second touch input device. When a first lateral surface of the first touch input device and a first lateral surface of the second touch input device are combined together, both of the first touch input device and the second touch input device are operated in a keyboard mode, and the first touch input device and the second touch input device are collaboratively defined as a touch keyboard. When a second lateral surface of the first touch input device and a second lateral surface of the second touch input device are combined together, both of the first touch input device and the second touch input device are operated in a handwriting tablet mode, and the first touch input device and the second touch input device are collaboratively defined as a handwriting tablet.
US09383857B2 Driver IC and display device
The driver IC includes: a control circuit operable to perform control for creating the timing of detection by a touch panel in a non-display drive period during which the action of a drive circuit remains stopped, and for creating a display drive period during which the drive circuit drives the display panel, and the non-display drive period; and a data RAM operable to hold display data of more than one display line, but smaller than one display frame in capacity. The control circuit performs control for alternately creating the display and non-display drive periods by repeating a memory-addressing operation for writing display data supplied from outside into the RAM and reading the display data from the RAM at a speed faster than the writing speed to provide the read data to the drive circuit two or more times in a period of one display frame according to a wraparound method.
US09383855B2 Identifying contacts on a touch surface
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.
US09383851B2 Method and apparatus for buffering sensor input in a low power system state
A solution is proposed for processing input in a lower power user interface of touch-sensitive display panels. According to an embodiment, a mobile computing device is placed in the low power mode. During this mode, the sensor controller produces a raw event/interrupts on a detected touch. Upon detecting a touch, the sensor controller also automatically increases the scan rate of the touch sensor, while the triggered event or interrupt proceeds to wake the system into a higher power state. Subsequent touch data received while the system is booting into the higher power state is buffered by the timing controller, or by a bridge chipset, while the processor(s) in the power up. When awake, the processor(s) collect the touch samples from the buffer, and processes the touch samples, generating updated displays where necessary.
US09383845B2 Electrooptic device having input function
Disclosed herein is an electrooptic device having an input function including: an electrooptic panel; a touch panel having an input position detecting electrode in an input area aligned to an image display area of the electrooptic panel; and a wiring board connected to any one of the electrooptic panel and the touch panel, the wiring board having a touch sensor located outside the input area of the touch panel as viewed from an input surface of the touch panel.
US09383842B2 Touch sensor module and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a touch sensor module, including: a window substrate; a touch sensor formed to face the window substrate and having an electrode pattern on a surface; an adhesive layer coupling the window substrate with the touch sensor; and a first moisture prevention layer formed along an outer edge of the touch sensor.
US09383841B2 Shift register circuit
A shift register is disclosed. The shift register circuit includes a pull up control circuit configured to provide a pull up control signal; a first pull up circuit configured to provide a sensor driving signal in response to the pull up control signal and a second clock signal; a second pull up circuit configured to provide a gate driving signal in response to a first clock signal, the pull up control signal and the second clock signal; a first pull down control circuit configured to output a first pull down control signal; a first pull down circuit configured to pull down the pull up control signal, the sensor driving signal and the gate driving signal in response to the first pull down control signal; and a main pull down circuit configured to pull down the pull up control signal and the gate driving signal.
US09383839B1 Configuration of a profile associated with a stylus
A stylus may comprise a configurable profile to control one or more local and remote operational features. One or more computing devices may be in communication with the stylus. The one or more computing devices may be configured to receive information relating to the reconfiguration of the settings of the operational profile, reconfigure the operational profile based at least in part on the received information, store the reconfigured operational profile, and associate the reconfigured operational profile with the stylus, wherein the at least one operational feature of the stylus is modified based on the reconfigured operational profile.
US09383838B2 Tilt roller for control device
A control device includes a roller configured to rotate and tilt; a roller support coupled to the roller, wherein the roller is configured to rotate relative to the roller support; the first hinge disposed adjacent to a first end of the roller support; and a second hinge disposed adjacent to a second end of the roller support, wherein the first end and the second end are substantially opposite ends of the roller support, the second hinge is above the first hinge, and the first hinge and the second hinge are configured to provide tilting support for the roller and roller support.
US09383837B2 Touch screen panel and method for manufacturing same
A one glass solution touch screen panel includes a substrate, a shielding layer, an indium tin oxide film layer, a soft circuit board, an infiltrate layer, and a plurality of conducting connectors. The shielding layer is formed on a first portion of the substrate. The indium tin oxide film layer is formed on a second portion of the substrate and has a plurality of indium tin oxide film connecting portions. The soft circuit board is formed on the shielding layer. The infiltrate layer is formed on the connecting portions and defines a plurality of infiltrate gaps within the infiltrate layer. The conducting connectors are formed on the infiltrate layer. The conducting connectors are electrically connected to the soft circuit board. The conducting connectors extend into the infiltrate layer substantially filling a substantial portion of the plurality of infiltrate gaps and electrically connecting to the connecting portions.
US09383836B2 Stylus keyboard
A combination of a stylus and a keyboard. A collapsible keyboard portion is coupled to a stylus tip. When in a collapsed state, the apparatus may be used as a stylus, or stored in a receptacle or a user's pocket. When a keyboard is needed, the stylus keyboard may be unrolled or unfolded, and used to control an electronic device via a wireless connection between a transceiver on the stylus keyboard and the electronic device.
US09383831B1 Powered augmented reality projection accessory display device
An augmented reality system may generate an augmented reality environment by projecting images onto various surfaces within a scene. A projection accessory display device (PADD) provides known characteristics for projection, and may be configured to simplify generation and maintenance of the projected image upon the PADD. The PADD may also provide one or more input devices which accept input from a user within the augmented reality environment. The PADD may comprise non-electronic passive components, electronic active components, or a combination thereof.
US09383829B2 Hand-held combination key apparatus and method for inputting information by hand-held combination key apparatus
A hand-held combination key apparatus configured to input information to an intelligent electronic apparatus is provided. Three to five key groups, which correspond to each corresponding finger of a single hand respectively, are set on one of left side and right side of a shell, each key group having two combination keys, and each combination key being the key with compound functions of touch conduction and press conduction. Various combination states of touch conduction of each combination key are used to search and pre-display characters or operational function symbols; and press conduction of each combination key is used to determine character input or operational function input. The hand-held combination key apparatus can be used in any state without limitation absolutely, such as when the user is sitting, standing, lying down and moving, other than the normal standard keyboard which needs a practicable plane to support in use, saving space.
US09383825B2 Universal script input device and method
A method providing for input of any script/language, on any computing device, mobile or otherwise by conveying Unicode characters to the computing device instead of keyboard scan codes that require further processing. The method includes all script/language processing independent from the computing device, permits changing input script/language “on-the-fly”, provides for a universal platform-independent method to select each particular script/language, and requires no language-specific support on the computing device, other than the ability to display the selected script. The method also provides for input of commands and backward-compatible input using legacy keyboard key codes.
US09383823B2 Combining gestures beyond skeletal
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for gesture input beyond skeletal. A user's movement or body position is captured by a capture device of a system. Further, non-user-position data is received by the system, such as controller input by the user, an item that the user is wearing, a prop under the control of the user, or a second user's movement or body position. The system incorporates both the user-position data and the non-user-position data to determine one or more inputs the user made to the system.
US09383820B2 Custom vibration patterns
The present disclosure describes technology, which can be implemented as a method, apparatus, and/or computer software embodied in a computer-readable medium, and which, among other things, be used to create custom vibration patterns in response to user input, for example, in response to the user tapping out a desired pattern on the display of a mobile device. For example, one or more aspects of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in one or more methods that include receiving tactile input from a user of an electronic device specifying a custom vibration pattern, in concert with receiving tactile input, providing visual feedback to the user corresponding to the received tactile input, and storing the specified custom vibration pattern for use by the electronic device to actuate haptic feedback signaling a predetermined notification event.
US09383819B2 Manipulation of virtual object in augmented reality via intent
A system and method for manipulating a virtual object based on intent is described. A reference identifier from a physical object is captured. The reference identifier is communicated via a network to a remote server. The remote server includes virtual object data associated with the reference identifier. The virtual object data is received at the computing device. The virtual image is displayed in a virtual landscape using the virtual object data. In response to relative movement between the computing device and the physical object caused by a user, the virtual image is modified. Brain activity data of the user is received. A state of the virtual object in the virtual landscape is changed based on the brain activity data.
US09383816B2 Text selection using HMD head-tracker and voice-command
A joint head tracker and voice command in a headset computer enables hands-free user text selection. The method and system enables an end-user to select sections of text without requiring use of a mouse cursor control input device. Embodiments include a headset computer, including a processor, configured to display text in a screen view. The computer further configured to place a first point within the displayed text according to one or more of first head tracking information, first voice commands and first gestures, and place a second point within the displayed text according to second head tracking information, second voice commands and second gestures. The computer further configured to select a text section between the first point and the second point in response to one or more of third head tracking information, third voice commands and third gestures, and display the selected text section as a highlighted text section.
US09383815B2 Mobile terminal and method of controlling the mobile terminal
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal that is capable of executing a multitasking function, and a method of controlling the mobile terminal. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal includes a display unit on which an address input window including address information on a web page is displayed, along with the web page, and a controller that monitors an event that occurs, and that controls the address input window in such a manner that the address input window is used in executing a function associated with the event that occurs, depending on whether or not the event occurs.
US09383814B1 Plug and play wireless video game
A video game device and method are provided. The device is a cordless touch-free video game device that is plug and play. The device includes an array of light transmitters for transmitting a light signal to an object. The object can be retroreflectors that are attached to a user's feet or hands. Upon striking the objects, the transmitted signal is reflected, producing a reflected light signal. A light receiver including a detection array receives the reflected signal from the objects and the reflected signal is transformed into a second signal used to send and track motion of the objects. The motion is used by a game device that determines an activity of the user by sensing the type of user movement performed. The device is ideally suited for controlling cursor position for use with video dance games.
US09383804B2 Method and system for reducing thermal load by forced power collapse
A system and method for reducing heat in a portable computing device includes clocking a processor such that it is provided with a full frequency over time t0 to t1. A timer is set to trigger a forced power collapse (“FPC”) that removes all power to the processor from time t1 to time t2. At time t2, the processor may be awakened such that it can resume processing at the full frequency. Advantageously, during the FPC, no leakage power (“PL”) is consumed by the processor between t1 and t2. The result is that the processor averages the same processing efficiency over time t0 to t2 as it otherwise would have if a reduced frequency had been provided to it. However, because no PL was consumed during the FPC, the generation of heat between time t1 and t2 that is related to PL is avoided.
US09383801B2 Methods and apparatus related to processor sleep states
A system includes a processor including at least a first core and a local interrupt controller associated with the first core. The first core is operable to store its architectural state prior to entering a first core sleep state, and the processor is operable to receive and implement a request for entering a system sleep state in which the first core is in the first core sleep state and the local interrupt controller is powered down and exit the system sleep state by restoring the local interrupt controller and restoring the saved architectural state of the first core.
US09383800B2 Managing a portal application
A mobile device includes a processor that executes a portal application to implement a plurality of portlet modules; and a user interface that allows a user to establish a trigger for reducing power consumption in the mobile device. The processor is configured to pause operations in a number of the portlet modules in the portal application in response to the trigger occurring.
US09383791B1 Accurate power allotment
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes supplying power to a portion of a data center through a power distribution line. Utilization of a statistically significant sample of the computers is monitored, and an estimated individual power draw for each of the computers based on the utilization is calculated. An estimated total power draw is calculated for different times from the estimated individual power draws to generate a collection of estimated total power draw values for the different times. Actual power draw is monitored at the power distribution line and a collection of actual power draw values is generated. A function is fitted to pairs of actual power draw values and estimated power draw values, each pair comprising an actual draw value and an estimated draw value for the same time, and the function is then stored.
US09383787B2 Heat dissipating module
A heat dissipating module disposed at a motherboard includes a fan, a air guiding cover, a first fin set and a second fin set. The fan provides cool air and is disposed in the air guiding cover. The air guiding cover includes a first air outlet, a second air outlet and an air guiding part connected between the first air outlet and the second air outlet. The first fin set is disposed at an upper surface of the motherboard and includes a plurality of first fins. The first air outlet covers at least a part of the first fins. The second fin set is disposed at a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface and extends to a side edge of the motherboard. The second fin set includes a plurality of second fins located beside the side edge, and the second air outlet covers the second fins.
US09383782B2 Mobile terminal, control method thereof, and program
A mobile terminal, including detection section 30 that detects an orientation and moving direction of mobile terminal 1; vibration section 40 that generate vibrations corresponding to the orientation and moving direction detected by detection section 30; and control section 50 that executes an operation of mobile terminal 1 corresponding to the orientation and moving direction detected by detection section 30.
US09383779B2 Information processing device
An information processing device includes a first case, a second case over which the first case is placeable, and a connector including a first rotation part and a second rotation part and configured to couple the first case on the second case, the first rotation part allowing the first case to be rotated about a first axis, the second rotation part allowing the first case to be rotated about a second axis, the second axis being displaced from a central position of the first case in an axial direction of the first axis, wherein when front and back surfaces of the first case are reversed and the first case is placed over the second case, at least part of the first case projects from the second case toward an outer side.
US09383769B2 Display device
A ruggedized display device is disclosed. The ruggedized display device may include an optical stack configured to resist a load up to a load threshold. The optical stack may include an electronic display including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a top protective component coupled to the top surface of the electronic display via a bonding material layer, to shield the electronic display. The top protective component and the bonding material layer may collectively have a first thickness of less than 1.0 millimeters. The optical stack may further include a bottom protective component, coupled to the bottom surface via a resiliently deformable adhesive layer, to support the electronic display from below. The bottom protective component and the adhesive layer may collectively have a second thickness less than 10.0 millimeters.
US09383767B2 Circuit design for balanced logic stress
An electronic system is disclosed, which may include a phase pipeline, a data pipeline, an input phase selector, and an output phase selector. The phase pipeline may have latches clocked by a clock signal, and designed to propagate phase signals from a phase input to a phase output. The data pipeline may have latches clocked by the phase pipeline clock signal, and designed to propagate data from a data input to a data output. The input phase selector may be designed to provide an inverted or a non-inverted copy of data from a data input, in response to a value at the phase input, to the data pipeline data input. The output phase selector may be designed to provide an inverted or a non-inverted copy of data from the data pipeline output to an output phase selector data output, in response to a phase pipeline output value.
US09383765B2 Pedal simulator for active brake system
Disclosed herein is a pedal simulator for an active brake system. According to an aspect of the present invention, the a pedal simulator for an active brake system, which is installed at a master cylinder to receive a hydraulic pressure corresponding to a driver's pedal force and to provide pedal feeling to the driver, includes a simulator block having an oil hole connected with the master cylinder at an upper portion thereof and having a bore therein to be in communication with the oil hole, a damping housing coupled to seal a lower end of the bore, a first reaction piston provided in the bore to be slidable by oil introduced from the master cylinder, a second reaction piston slidably provided in the bore and disposed under the first reaction piston to be spaced apart from the first reaction piston in a predetermined distance, a first damping member installed at the first reaction piston to be moved together with the first reaction piston, a second damping member installed at the damping housing and configured to provide a reaction force by pressing of the second reaction piston, and a reaction spring provided between the second reaction piston and the damping housing.
US09383762B2 Voltage regulator using both shunt and series regulation
A voltage regulator for providing a constant voltage to a circuit is described in which a series regulator acts as the current source for a shunt regulator and the series regulator in turn is controlled by the current diverted from the output by the shunt regulator. The current being diverted by the shunt regulator is measured, either directly or by measuring a related operating parameter. When current below or above a certain desired amount is being diverted from the load by the shunt regulator, a signal is sent to the series regulator causing the series regulator to provide more or less current respectively, so that the shunt regulator again diverts the desired amount of current and the output voltage remains constant. This configuration results in efficiency near that of a series regulator while maintaining the better frequency response of a shunt regulator.
US09383758B2 Flow rate range variable type flow rate control apparatus
A pressure type flow rate control apparatus is provided wherein flow rate of fluid passing through an orifice is computed as Qc=KP1 (where K is a proportionality constant) or as Qc=KP2m(P1−P2)n (where K is a proportionality constant, m and n constants) by using orifice upstream side pressure P1 and/or orifice downstream side pressure P2. A fluid passage between the downstream side of a control valve and a fluid supply pipe of the pressure type flow rate control apparatus comprises at least 2 fluid passages in parallel, and orifices having different flow rate characteristics are provided for each of these fluid passages, wherein fluid in a small flow quantity area flows to one orifice for flow control of fluid in the small flow quantity area, while fluid in a large flow quantity area flows to the other orifice for flow control of fluid in the large flow quantity area.
US09383757B2 Aircraft control device, aircraft, and method for controlling aircraft
An aircraft control device determines, on the basis of relative positional relations between an individual aircraft and a target aircraft, a role of the individual aircraft with respect to the target aircraft, and a trajectory of the individual aircraft based on control operations determined according to the role of the individual aircraft. As an example, the aircraft control device represents the role of the individual aircraft with respect to the target aircraft as a numerical value and changes the role of the individual aircraft a plurality of times by changing the numerical value. Every time the role of the individual aircraft is changed, a minimum distance to target is calculated for the individual aircraft, and the role of the individual aircraft having the largest minimum distance to target is determined as the role of the individual aircraft.
US09383756B2 Automatic flight control method for a rotorcraft enabling the rotorcraft to maintain a path by tracking manual flight controls
A method of enabling an autopilot (9) to cause a rotorcraft (1) to follow a path. At least one guide mode (G) relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y) of the rotorcraft (1) is selected by the rotorcraft pilot. Said selection causes the selected guide mode (G) to be inhibited (19) and causes a path setpoint (C) to be acquired (20) from the pilot of the rotorcraft (1) operating a manual control member (4) for controlling the progression of the rotorcraft (1). The path setpoints (C) relating to other guide modes (G) of the rotorcraft (1) that continue to be engaged are conserved in their initial states and the autopilot (9) adapts the commands relating to the progression axes (P, R, V, Y) relating to these other guide modes (G).
US09383753B1 Wide-view LIDAR with areas of special attention
A light detection and ranging device with dynamically adjustable angular resolution for use as a sensor providing environmental information for navigating an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. A first region of a scanning zone is scanned while emitting light pulses at a first pulse rate, and a second region of the scanning zone is scanned while emitting light pulses at a second pulse rate different from the first pulse rate. Information from the LIDAR device indicative of the time delays between the emission of the light pulses and the reception of the corresponding returning light pulses is received. A three dimensional point map is generated where the resolution of the point map in the first region is based on the first pulse rate and is based on the second pulse rate in the second region.
US09383752B2 Railway maintenance device
A railway maintenance device configured for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation in a rail environment is provided. The device can process image data to move about the rail environment and perform one or more actions in the rail environment. The actions can include one or more actions related to decoupling and/or attaching rail vehicles, and can be implemented by performing three-dimensional image processing. The device can be configured to move with any movement of a rail vehicle on which one or more actions are being performed. In an alternative embodiment, the various components configured to perform the action are implemented at a stationary location with respect to a rail line.
US09383751B2 Self operable wheelchair
A self operable wheelchair includes a chair body having several wheels for moving about; a power module electrically connected to one wheel of the chair body for supplying power; a processing module electrically connected to the power module for processing one route data and converting into a control signal transmitted to the power module for controlling activation of the chair body; a memory module for storing and transmitting the route data to the processing module; a detection module capable of detecting the route data of the chair body and transmitting the route data via the processing module to store within the memory module; and an operation module for transmitting an operation signal to the processing module, which, in turn, activates the chair body based on the operation signal.
US09383750B2 System for predictively managing communication attributes of unmanned vehicles
A system predictively determines data transmitted within a wireless network in accordance with a mission plan and changes to the mission plan. The system includes a first team member and a second team member. The first team member includes a first module for evaluating the changes to the mission plan encountered by the first team member and determining whether to transmit information of the change to the second team member. The first team member further includes a second module containing rules for evaluating changes to the mission plan encountered by the first team member. The first module utilizes the rules of the second module to predictively alter the mission plan.
US09383740B2 Control of safety critical operations
A system wherein control of a safety-critical system operation is effected by sending a plurality of keywords via a low integrity communication path.
US09383737B2 Building energy management method and system
An energy management system within a building obtains energy usage data over several cycles to determine a minimum feasible load. The minimum feasible load corresponds to operational conditions of the building, such as occupied or unoccupied. The energy usage data is binned according to the operational condition under which it was obtained. A threshold based on the minimum feasible load is used to monitor energy usage within the building and to identify anomalies in energy demand for possible action.
US09383734B2 Motor servo-drive for high performance motion control
A servo-drive system for feedback-based control of motion and positioning of a motor comprises a current measurement device that obtains a measure of current being drawn by the drive motor from which to provide feedback. The current has an operating range which is made up of a relatively large current range for acceleration but remains within a relatively smaller current range for steady state operating of the motor. The current measurement device has a first, coarse, sensor optimized for measuring the relatively large current range and a second, fine, sensor optimized for measuring the relatively smaller current range, thereby to maximize feedback accuracy during steady state operation.
US09383729B2 Linking on-line analysis and tracer technology
The present invention relates to a method of obtaining value from providing fabrication equipment comprising the following steps. Fabrication equipment is provided to an article producer, which equipment includes an on-line analyzer for detecting the presence of a tracer element. Raw material which contains the proprietary tracer element is then provided to the article producer. The article producer is then allowed to begin to convert the raw material to a finished article using the fabrication equipment. The raw material is analyzed for the presence of the tracer element while the fabrication equipment is operated. Appropriate action, such as charging a royalty or shutting down the fabrication equipment, is then taken in the event the tracer element is not detected.
US09383726B2 Physical quantity measuring apparatus and physical quantity measuring method
A physical quantity measuring method includes: (a) generating a synchronized input signal from an input signal, wherein the synchronized input signal is synchronized with a reference clock; (b) measuring a total number (Nsum) that is the sum of pulses of the reference clock included in each of n units of the synchronized input signal; (c) generating 2n deviation signals based on a delay of the synchronized input signal with respect to the input signal; (d) generating a deviation integration signal by subtracting the total values of n rear-half deviation signals from the total values of n front-half deviation signals; (e) converting the deviation integration signal into a number of pulses of the reference clock; and (f) calculating the average number (Nrave) of pulses of the reference clock included in one unit of the input signal, based on the total number (Nsum), the number (dNsum), and the number n.
US09383715B2 Lubricant supplying device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A lubricant supplying device includes a lubricant supplier contacting an image bearer, a solid lubricant contacting the roller, a detector detecting a lubricant amount, and a controller controlling a supplying of the roller based on a detector detection. The detector outputs to the controller a first signal of a near-end state when the amount reaches a first amount, a second signal of an end state when the amount reaches a second amount smaller than the first amount, and a third signal of an absolute end state when the amount reaches a third amount smaller than the second amount. The controller temporarily stops the supplying when the second signal is output, cancels a roller temporary stopped state even when lubricant replacement is not completed after this state, stops the supplying when the third signal is output, and maintains a roller stopped state until the replacement is completed after this state.
US09383710B2 Driving transmission device and image forming apparatus
A driving transmission device includes a motor, a first pulley, a second pulley, an endless belt which is wound on the first pulley and the second pulley, dielectric layers disposed between the endless belt and the first pulley and between the endless belt and the second pulley, and a power source unit. A length of a portion of the endless belt which is wound on the second pulley is longer than a length of a portion of the endless belt which is wound on the first pulley. An amount of current supplied from the second pulley to the endless belt in a region in which the endless belt is wound on the second pulley is smaller than an amount of current supplied from the first pulley to the endless belt in a region in which the endless belt is wound on the first pulley.
US09383707B2 Image forming apparatus and feeding device that detect sheets with a sensor that is chosen according to sheet size
An image forming apparatus according to the invention(s) has the following feature(s): When first and second recording materials have a first length and a sum of the first length and an interval is less than a distance from a regulation position, where an accommodation unit regulates a leading edge of a recording material, to a second position, a feeding unit feeds a second recording material in accordance with a timing in which a first detecting unit detects the first recording material. When the first and second recording materials have a second length that is longer than the first length and a sum of the second length and the interval is greater than or equal to the distance from the regulation position to the second position, the feeding unit feeds the second recording material in accordance with a timing in which the second detecting unit detects the first recording material.
US09383703B2 Line width correction and tailing suppression
An image forming apparatus is provided that prevents a deteriorated print quality even if a line width correction processing and a tailing suppression processing are configured in parallel. The image forming apparatus comprises a determination unit configured to determine a tailing suppression processing specification depending on a line width correction setting for detecting an edge neighboring region of an input image subjected to a line width correction processing. The tailing suppression processing specification is used to perform a tailing suppression processing on the input image.
US09383702B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method for setting image forming size
An image forming apparatus includes an operating section, a control section and an image display unit. The operating section accepts inputting operations for settings on information on an image forming size of an original image and a setting on a paper sheet size. The control section compares the image forming size with the paper sheet size, and outputs, if the image forming size exceeds the paper sheet size at least in either of a lengthwise direction and a lateral direction, a notice signal to cause a notice to that effect. The image display unit displays a preview image based on the notice signal.
US09383698B2 Substrate, fixing belt with substrate, fixing device with fixing belt, and image forming apparatus
A fixing belt substrate for an image forming apparatus is prepared by an electroforming process. The fixing belt substrate contains nickel of prescribed weight percent, phosphorus of from about 0.4 weight percent or more to about 0.7 weight percent or less, sulfur of from about 0.003 weight percent or more to about 0.02 weight percent or less, and carbon of from about 0.012 weight percent or more to about 0.03 weight percent or less.
US09383696B2 Fixing device
A fixing device includes: first and second rotatable members configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a heating portion, provided opposed to an outer surface of the first rotatable member, configured to heat the first rotatable member through electromagnetic induction heating; a holding portion configured to hold the heating portion; and a suppressing portion configured to suppress air flow in a space between the first rotatable member and the holding portion. The suppressing portion extends from the holding portion toward the first rotatable member and is provided so that a free end portion thereof is in a position of 0.5 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less from the outer surface of the first rotatable member.
US09383694B2 Image forming device provided with cleaner, waste toner accommodating portion, and paper guide disposed between cleaner and waste toner accommodating portion
An image forming device includes: a photosensitive drum; a first roller; a second roller; an intermediate transfer belt; a transfer roller; a cleaner; a waste toner accommodating portion; and a paper guide. The intermediate transfer belt is looped around the first roller and the second roller to circularly move in a moving direction. The intermediate transfer belt contacts the photosensitive drum. The transfer roller is disposed opposite to the first roller with respect to the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner collects waste toner on the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner is disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum in the moving direction and downstream of the transfer roller in the moving direction. The waste toner accommodating portion accommodates the waste toner collected by the cleaner. The paper guide guides a recording medium and disposed between the cleaner and the waste toner accommodating portion.
US09383693B2 Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater for heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable circumferential direct heating span of the fixing rotary body where the heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body directly. A controller is operatively connected to the heater and the heat shield to move the heat shield after the controller turns on the heater as a print job starts so as to change an area of the direct heating span of the fixing rotary body.
US09383692B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body to come into contact with a toner image on a recording medium and a pressing rotary body separably pressed against the fixing rotary body to press the recording medium against the fixing rotary body. A cooler, disposed opposite the pressing rotary body to cool the pressing rotary body, includes a fan to move air to the pressing rotary body and at least one inlet duct interposed between the fan and the pressing rotary body to supply air from the fan to the pressing rotary body. The at least one inlet duct selectively cools the pressing rotary body in a variable axial span in an axial direction thereof.
US09383690B1 Transfer device and image forming apparatus
A transfer device includes an endless rotating member that rotates; a first transfer section that transfers a toner image, which is formed by a first forming unit by using a flat toner containing a flat metallic pigment, onto an outer periphery of the rotating member; a second transfer section that transfers a toner image, which is formed by a second forming unit by using a non-flat toner, onto the outer periphery; a ground-connected section that is disposed downstream of the first transfer section in a rotating direction of the rotating member and that is connected to ground by being in contact with an inner periphery of the rotating member; and a power supply that applies an electric current to the first transfer section, which is lower than an electric current applied to the second transfer section, when the first transfer section transfers the toner image onto the outer periphery.
US09383689B1 Image forming apparatus that transfers a first image formed using a toner containing a pigment other than a flat pigment and that transfers a second image formed using a toner containing a flat pigment
An image forming apparatus includes a first forming unit that forms a first image by using a toner that contains a pigment other than a flat pigment; a second forming unit that forms a second image by using a toner that contains a flat pigment; a transfer body that transports the first image and the second image transferred thereon and transfers the first image and the second image onto a recording medium; a first transfer member that nips the transfer body in cooperation with the first forming unit with a first load and transfers the first image from the first forming unit onto the transfer body; and a second transfer member that nips the transfer body in cooperation with the second forming unit with a second load, which is larger than the first load, and transfers the second image from the second forming unit onto the transfer body.
US09383688B2 Wet-type developing device and wet-type image forming apparatus with charging unit and neutralizing unit
A wet-type developing device and a wet-type image forming apparatus each employ a developer including a carrier liquid and toner particles dispersed in the carrier liquid. A charging unit is applied with positive voltage. A neutralizing unit is applied with negative voltage. The charging unit and the neutralizing unit are made different from each other in one of a sectional configuration and a length to a developer carrier such that an absolute value of a voltage-current characteristic of the neutralizing unit becomes smaller than an absolute value of a voltage-current characteristic of the neutralizing unit including a constituent element equal to a constituent element of the charging unit.
US09383687B2 Transfer of ink layers
An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive member to move in a rotational direction, a charging unit to charge the photoconductive member, a discharging unit to discharge a portion of the photoconductive member to form a latent image thereon, and a plurality of ink applicator units to sequentially apply a plurality of ink layers, respectively, toward the latent image to form an ink image. The image forming apparatus may also include an image transfer blanket to receive the ink image including the plurality of ink layers from the photoconductive member.
US09383684B1 Method and system for converting a toner cartridge printer to a white toner printer
Method and system for converting a toner cartridge printer to a white toner printer. The method may comprise the steps of: providing a printer having one or more toner cartridges; removing at least one of the one or more toner cartridges; disassembling the one or more removed toner cartridges; cleaning the one or more removed toner cartridges; filling the one or more removed toner cartridges with a white toner; and installing the one or more removed white toner cartridges into the printer.
US09383682B1 Developing device including a first transport path and a second transport path including a plurality of flow paths and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a first transport path and a second transport path. In the first transport path, a developer containing toner and a magnetic material is transported in the axial direction of a first transport member that opposes a developer holding element by rotation of the first transport member. The second transport path includes plural flow paths that extend along the axial direction, and plural second transport members provided in the plural flow paths to transport the developer. The plural flow paths each have a length in the axial direction that is shorter than the length of the first transport path in the axial direction. Respective end portions of the first and second transport path are connected such that the developer which has flowed into the second transport path from one end of the first transport path flows into the other end of the first transport path.
US09383681B2 Developing cartridge
A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller that is rotatable about a developing roller axis line, which extends in a predetermined direction; a supply roller, which is rotatable about a supply roller axis line, which extends in the predetermined direction, and which supplies developer to the developing roller; a developing roller driving gear that is connected to the developing roller; a supply roller driving gear that is connected to the supply roller; and a driving force transmission gear, which is rotatable about a gear axis line extending in the predetermined direction, and which includes: a first gear part meshed with the developing roller driving gear; and a second gear part meshed with the supply roller driving gear. The driving force transmission gear transmits driving force to the developing roller driving gear and the supply roller driving gear.
US09383680B2 Developer container and image forming apparatus including the same
A toner container includes a container body, a toner discharge outlet, a moveable wall, and a stirring member. The container body includes an inner circumferential section having a tubular shape extending in a first direction and an internal space. The toner discharge outlet passes through the container body. The moveable wall includes a conveying surface and an outer circumferential section in sealed contact with the inner circumferential section of the container body. The moveable wall moves in the first direction while conveying developer toward the toner discharge outlet. The stirring member stirs toner in proximity to the toner discharge outlet. A first gear that transmits driving force to the moveable wall and a second gear that transmits driving force to the stirring member are located together outside of the container body.
US09383670B2 Toner and method for manufacturing the same
A toner includes a plurality of toner particles each having a core and a shell layer on a surface of the core. In a cross section of the toner particle analyzed by EELS, for at least 50% of a circumferential length of the core, the shell layer has one or more portions each satisfying conditions that: a ratio of INc to INs is no less than 0.0 and no greater than 0.2; and a thickness of the shell layer is at least 5 nm. Here, INs indicates an intensity of an N-K shell absorption-edge originating from nitrogen atoms in the shell layer, and INc indicates an intensity of an N-K shell absorption-edge originating from nitrogen atoms in the core. In addition, the longest length among the one or more portions of the shell layer each satisfying the conditions is at least 100 nm.
US09383664B2 Electrophotographic photosensitive member
An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a photosensitive layer containing a naphthalenediimide derivative represented by the following formula (1) or (2). In the formula (1) or (2), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally having an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
US09383662B2 Lithography system for processing at least a part of a target
The invention relates to a lithography system for processing a target, wherein the lithography system comprises a final projection system arranged for projecting a pattern on the target surface. The lithography system comprises a mark position detection system arranged for detecting a position of a position mark on the target surface. The mark position detection system comprises an optical element arranged for projecting a light beam on the target surface and a light detector arranged for detecting a reflected light beam. The optical element may be positioned adjacent to the final projection system and the light detector may be positioned inside a frame.
US09383656B2 Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes a projection system, a movable stage, an alignment system and a measurement member. The projection system has a last optical element, and projects a beam onto a substrate through an immersion liquid. The movable stage has a holder by which the substrate is held. The alignment system detects an alignment mark on the substrate not through the immersion liquid. The measurement member is provided on the movable stage, and has a reference mark to be detected by the alignment system not through the immersion liquid. The measurement member has a material to form the reference mark, the material being covered with a light-transmissive material. The movable stage is movable to a position so that the measurement member is under the projection system and a gap between the projection system and the measurement member is filled with the immersion liquid.
US09383655B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithography apparatus comprises a temperature controller configured to adjust a temperature of a projection system, a substrate and a liquid towards a common target temperature. Controlling the temperature of these elements and reducing temperature gradients may improve imaging consistency and general lithographic performance. Measures to control the temperature may include controlling the immersion liquid flow rate and liquid temperature, for example, via a feedback circuit.
US09383650B2 Exposure apparatus and exposure method
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus and an exposure method. The method comprises: utilizing an exposure light source to provide light rays to the photo-resist layer; and utilizing a reflective plate to reflect the light rays passing through the photo-resist layer and the transparent substrate back to the photo-resist layer. The present invention can reduce a line space of a pattern of the photo-resist layer.
US09383649B2 Digital grey tone lithography for 3D pattern formation
A method of processing a substrate is described herein. The method includes positioning a substrate on a stage associated with a maskless direct writing pattern generator. The substrate has an undeveloped, unexposed photoresist layer formed thereon. The photoresist layer has a plurality of writing pixel locations. The method includes delivering predetermined doses of electromagnetic energy from the pattern generator to each writing pixel location. A first predetermined dose is a full tone dose, and the first predetermined dose is delivered to at least one writing pixel location. A second predetermined is a fractional tone dose, and the second predetermined dose is delivered to at least one writing pixel location. A third predetermined dose is either a fractional dose or a zero tone dose. The third predetermined dose is delivered to at least one writing pixel location, and the third predetermined dose is different from the second predetermined dose.
US09383647B2 Resist film and method of forming pattern
Disclosed herein is a resist film including: a pattern forming resist layer; and a liquid contact preventing resist layer adhered to any one surface of upper and lower surfaces of the pattern forming resist layer, in order to prevent a physical and chemical change of a resist due to a spray pressure applied when a developing solution is sprayed in a development process.
US09383645B2 Pattern forming method, actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive film, manufacturing method of electronic device, and electronic device
A pattern forming method including: (i) a process of forming a film using an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition containing a Resin (P) including a non-acid-decomposable Repeating Unit (b1) represented by a following General Formula (b1) and a repeating unit including a group capable of being decomposed by acid and generating a polar group, and a Compound (B) capable of generating an acid through irradiation of actinic rays or irradiation; (ii) a process of exposing the film using actinic rays or radiation with a wavelength of equal to or less than 200 nm; and (iii) a process of developing the exposed film using a developer including an organic solvent containing a hetero atom and carbon atoms having 7 or more carbon atoms to forming a negative tone pattern.
US09383639B2 Mask
An embodiment of the present invention discloses a mask. The mask comprises: a substrate; a light transmission area on the substrate; a light shielding area on the substrate, provided with at least two light shielding layers, each of the at least two light shielding layers having a preset mask pattern and being conductive; and one or more connecting wire(s), configured to respectively electrically connect the at least two light shielding layers.
US09383631B2 Camera carrying and mounting system
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a camera carrying and mounting system. The system may include a camera plate configured to mount onto a camera, a carrying structure, and a coupling mechanism coupled to the camera plate and configured to releasably engage the carrying structure to the camera plate. The camera plate may be configured to secure the camera to a camera stand with the coupling mechanism remaining coupled to the camera plate.
US09383628B1 Humidity prevention system within a camera housing
A camera housing includes a humidity prevention system comprising various seals between internal components of the housing such as an external shell of the housing, a lens barrel within the external shell, a front cover of the housing, an outer front cover of the housing, and a viewing component connected to the outer front cover. A plurality of seals creates an airtight seal between the lens barrel and the front cover and between the front cover and the outer front cover. The seals create an airtight cavity within the outer front cover, the viewing component, the front cover, and the lens barrel. Additional seals can also be used to create an airtight seal between the outer front cover and the viewing component and between the external shell and the front cover, further preventing humidity from accumulating within the closed airtight space.
US09383625B2 Blade-driving device, optical device, and method for producing arm
A blade-driving device includes: a board including an opening; a blade opening and closing the opening; an arm driving the blade and made of a synthetic resin; a drive member driving the arm; and a reinforcement member formed with a laser welding mark indicating a mark formed by laser welding the reinforcement member and the arm together, and made of a synthetic resin.
US09383623B2 Color display device
The present invention provides a color display device in which each pixel or sub-pixel can display four high quality color states. More specifically, an electrophoretic fluid is provided which comprises four types of particles, dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture. The fluid may further comprise substantially uncharged neutral buoyancy particles.
US09383622B2 Color reflective display and method of manufacturing the same
A color reflective display includes a substrate, an electrode pattern layer formed on the substrate, a reflective display-material layer formed on the electrode pattern layer, a light-transmissive electrode layer formed on the reflective display-material layer, a transparent layer formed on the transmissive electrode layer, and a color filter layer formed on the transparent layer and including an array of colored pixels. The color reflective display satisfies a following first formula when (0.54×C)−15 μm is zero or a positive value: (0.54×C)−15 μm≦D≦(0.54×C), and the color reflective display satisfies a following second formula when (0.54×C)−15 μm is a negative value: 0
US09383621B2 Electrophoretic fluids
This invention relates to electrophoretic fluids, the use of these fluids for the preparation of an electrophoretic display device, and electrophoretic displays comprising such fluids.
US09383620B2 Electrophoretic device, method of manufacturing the same, and display
An electrophoretic device includes: a plurality of electrophoretic particles in an insulating liquid; and a porous layer formed of a fibrous structure in the insulating liquid, the fibrous structure having a polarity same as a polarity of the electrophoretic particles.
US09383610B2 Display panel with agglomerates formed around spacers of substrate
A display panel includes a first substrate having a first alignment film, a second substrate having a second alignment film and plural spacers, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, and a plurality of agglomerates positioned between the first and second alignment films and further surrounding at least one of the spacers. The spacers maintain a uniform gap between the first and second substrates. The second alignment film is disposed oppositely to the first alignment film and covers the spacers. In one embodiment, sizes of the agglomerates are distributed in a range of 0.1 μm˜2 μm.
US09383606B2 Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel is provided and includes a pair of substrates arranged face to face so as to sandwich a liquid crystal layer, a lower electrode formed on a lower substrate, an upper electrode formed on the lower substrate through an insulating layer, in which plural slits are formed in each sub-pixel, wherein each of the plural slits is formed as an aperture in which both ends thereof in the longitudinal direction are closed, and an alignment film formed so as to cover a surface of the upper electrode and the insulating layer. The plural slits have different widths at both ends of slits in a longitudinal direction, and a rubbing direction of the alignment film is a direction crossing longitudinal edges of each of the slits.
US09383605B2 Backlight unit and liquid crystal display including the same
A backlight unit includes a light source portion configured to provide light to a display panel, a reflection sheet arranged on a lower part of the light source portion, a mold frame accommodating the light source portion, and a support frame which supports the mold frame and includes a bottom portion, first and second side wall portions which extend upward from both end sides of the bottom portion and face each other, a ceiling portion which extends in a horizontal direction from an upper end of the first side wall portion, and a slant portion slanted downward from an end part of the ceiling portion and having one end that comes in contact with the end part of the ceiling portion and the other end that comes in contact with an upper end of the second side wall portion.
US09383602B2 Liquid crystal device with antireflective structure and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal layer is disposed between an element substrate and an opposite substrate and a pixel electrode being light-reflective is disposed between an element substrate and a liquid crystal layer, and a planarization layer that is light-transmissive, a first light-transmissive film that has a high refractive index than a refractive index of the planarization layer, a second light-transmissive film that has a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the first light-transmissive film, and a third light-transmissive film that is electrically conductive and has a higher refractive index than the refractive index of the second light-transmissive film are disposed between the opposite substrate and the liquid crystal layer from the opposite substrate side in this order.
US09383600B2 Backlight modules, liquid crystal devices, and OLED display devices
A backlight module including a back plate and a heating device is disclosed. The back plate includes a passive layer and an active layer adhered below the passive layer, wherein a coefficient of heat expansion of the active layer is greater than that of the passive layer. The heating device is configured for controlling a heating temperature of the back plate so as to adjust a rate of curvature of the back plate toward a liquid crystal panel. In addition, a LCD and an OLED display device are also disclosed. The rates of curvature of the backlight module, the LCD, and the OLED display device may be adjusted accordingly.
US09383599B2 Display module
The present disclosure provides a display module, comprising a light guide plate; a display panel arranged on one side of the light guide plate; a fixing element capable of being fixed on a peripheral edge of the display panel; a backboard arranged on one side of the light guide plate far away from the display panel; and a rubber frame arranged on the periphery of the light guide plate, wherein the rubber frame is connected and fixed to the backboard, and further engageably connected to the fixing element so as to fix the display panel.
US09383596B2 Variable spectrum element
A variable spectrum element includes: first and third sensors which are placed at positions at which the first and third sensors are symmetrical with respect to a line connecting the centers of mass of the surfaces of a pair of optical substrates opposite to each other, respectively; second and fourth sensors which are placed at positions at which the second and fourth sensors are symmetrical with respect to the line connecting the centers of mass, respectively; and first to fourth actuators which are placed on lines running from the center of mass of the surface of each of the pair of the optical substrates opposite to each other to the centers of the first to fourth sensors respectively, respectively.
US09383595B2 Microwave frequency component controlled by a system of shielded coplanar electrodes, and corresponding manufacturing method
A microwave frequency component includes a thin layer of dielectric material arranged between an earth electrode and a control electrode controlling a microwave frequency electrical signal such that the earth electrode extends over a first face, called the lower face, of the thin layer of dielectric material, and the control electrode extends longitudinally over a second face, called the upper face, of the thin layer of dielectric material. The microwave frequency component is such that it includes a set of at least two shielded coplanar electrodes extending along the entire length of the control electrode, to each side of and at an equal distance from the control electrode.
US09383593B2 Methods to form biocompatible energization elements for biomedical devices comprising laminates and placed separators
Methods and apparatus to form biocompatible energization elements are described. In some examples, the methods and apparatus to form the biocompatible energization elements involve forming cavities comprising active cathode chemistry and placing separators within a laminate structure of the battery. The active elements of the cathode and anode are sealed with a laminate stack of biocompatible material. In some examples, a field of use for the methods and apparatus may include any biocompatible device or product that requires energization elements.
US09383592B2 Stabilization of contact lenses
Contact lens designs are provided with improved stabilization wherein the moments of momentum are balanced.
US09383589B2 Display device
A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a liquid crystal lens panel positioned on a display panel; and a reflective polarizer positioned between the display panel and the liquid crystal lens panel, wherein the liquid crystal lens panel includes a lower substrate and an upper substrate facing each other, a lower lens electrode formed on the lower substrate, where the lower lens electrode includes a plurality of separate lower lens electrodes formed into lower lens electrode groups, where a width of each separate lower lens electrode becomes wider closer to a center of the lower lens electrode group; an upper lens electrode formed on the upper substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the lower substrate and the upper substrate. The liquid crystal lens panel is configured to be operated in a 2D mode, a 3D mode, or a mirror mode.
US09383588B2 Slanted lens interlacing
A method of interlacing images into an interlaced print file for controlling an output device. The interlacing method involves arranging a set of pixels in a line that is transverse but non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of a slant lens or lenticule. Each of these pixels is associated with a different frame/image, e.g., six or more frames are used in each interlaced image, with one being visible through the lens or lenticule at a time by a viewer. The slant lens interlacing method does not involve slicing each frame and then splicing these slices together. Instead, individual pixels from each frame are combined within a digital print file in a unique pattern to provide the non-orthogonal interlacing described herein (e.g., the new interlacing may be considered “matrix interlacing” or “angular-offset interlacing”), and a significantly larger amount of information is presented under each slant lens.
US09383587B2 Method and apparatus for displaying 3D images
A method and an apparatus for displaying 3D images are disclosed. 2D images are projected from multiple points to a surface with narrow diffusion characteristics, thus it is possible to get a 3D light field with arbitrary angular dependence. According to the invention, the projectors (10) do not target particular screen (12) points. The projectors (10) are directed to the screen (12) with no special positioning, however from the bunch of light beams present, pertaining to the large number of pixels in the projected images, it is possible to select and define a pixel-wise precise 3D light-field through a calibration process. A novel calibration method and device are also described for calibrating 3D display systems, the device being equipped with proper image sensor(s) and a control system.
US09383585B2 Three-dimensional liquid crystal display device
A three-dimensional (3D) liquid crystal display (LCD) device is disclosed herein and the 3D LCD device includes an LCD layer, an LC electrode layer and a transparent electrode layer. The LC electrode layer is disposed on the LCD layer and a voltage is applied to the LC electrode layer to switch between 2D mode and 3D mode. The transparent electrode layer is disposed on the LC electrode layer and a voltage or current is applied to the transparent electrode layer to generate a certain heat in the 3D mode. The heat generated by the transparent electrode layer increases the temperature of the LC electrode layer so as to increase the response time of the 3D LCD device and improve the naked eye type 3D display effect of the 3D LCD device.
US09383584B2 Video playing system
A video playing system includes a support, a screen mask, and a projecting device set on the support. The support includes a pair of rotating fasteners correspondingly set at two opposite sides of the support. The screen mask is rotatably connected to the rotating fasteners and covers a part of the support. The screen mask includes a inner projecting surface. The projecting device projects video onto the inner projecting surface.
US09383580B2 Image display device
A substrate housing portion stores a circuit substrate that outputs an image signal. The optical unit generates and projects an image based on the image signal output from the circuit substrate. The image is projected onto a combiner. The optical unit has an optical unit main body that includes a light source and an image display element, and a projection unit that is attached to the optical unit main body and that determines a projection direction. The projection unit is provided with an intermediate image screen that images an intermediate image and is freely removed from or installed in the optical unit main body.