| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09402335B2 |
Oil cooling device for server and method for driving same
The present invention relates to an oil cooling device for a server and a method for driving the same. The oil cooling device for the server comprises: a server tower having a flow passage into which insulating cooling oil flows; a heat absorbing part for absorbing the heat generated from a heat-generating electronic device within the server tower; a cooling oil tube which is connected to an external cooling device from the flow passage of the server tower; a hydraulic pump for circulating the cooling oil of the cooling oil tube; a first temperature sensor which is provided inside the server tower and detects a change in temperature; a storage tank for generating hot water, which enables the cooling oil tube to come in contact with cooling water so as to perform a primary cooling step; a heater for enabling the cooling oil tube cooled through the primary cooling process to come in contact with the air so as to perform a secondary cooling process; a second temperature sensor which is provided inside the cooling oil tube and measures the temperature of the cooling oil tube; a residual-heat processing part for performing a third cooling step using a small-sized and low-power cooler provided in the cooling oil tube cooled through the second cooling step; and a control unit for controlling operations of the hydraulic pump and the residual heat processing unit according to measured values from the first and second temperature sensors on the basis of reference temperature data. The present invention can save energy by using the condensation heat generated from the electronic device which generates heat in a large scale server tower for an enterprise so as to enable heat and hot water to be used, and can efficiently cool the server tower through a total of three cooling steps. |
| US09402334B2 |
Method for controlling airflow of directional flow perforated tile
An air flow control assembly, system, and method for controlling air flow to a server rack. An example air flow control assembly includes a retractable barrier configured to block the air flow, at least partially, from passing through a perforated floor tile to the server rack. The air flow control assembly also includes a barrier mount configured to secure the retractable barrier proximate the perforated floor tile. |
| US09402331B2 |
Integrated circuit chip comprising electronic device and electronic system
An electronic device includes a substrate wafer made of an insulating material and having an electrical connection network. An integrated circuit chip is mounted to a top side of the substrate wafer. The substrate wafer contains an internal duct. The duct is formed by a covered trench located in the top side of the substrate wafer. The trench contains a thermally conductive material, for example being a fluid. Openings in the top side of the substrate wafer that are offset from the trench permit the making of an electrical connection between the integrated circuit and the electrical connection network. |
| US09402328B2 |
Server
A server includes a case, a storage module, a connection module, a first expander board, a second expander board, a first mother board and a second mother board. The case includes a bottom case. The storage module is disposed on the bottom case and includes multiple storage units. The connection module is disposed on the bottom case and connected to the storage module. At least one first expander chip is disposed on the first expander board. At least one second expander chip is disposed on the second expander board. At least one first central processing unit is disposed on the first mother board. At least one second central processing unit is disposed on the second mother board. The first expander board, the second expander board, the first mother board and the second mother board are pluggably connected to the connection module, respectively. |
| US09402326B2 |
Fixed relocatable wireless device
A fixed relocatable wireless device (FRWD) (100) includes a self-contained communications system for providing full-time connectivity to the Internet and/or to Internet protocol (IP) addresses via a built-in wired and/or wireless interface. Once configured, the FRWD allows an external local device access to the Internet without drivers or additional software in the local device, and without an external computer. The FRWD includes an operating system and application software. The FRWD utilizes a cellular modem (830) as back-haul for connectivity to the Internet. The FRWD allows a voice call to be originated and/or terminated over cellular voice channels. The FRWD includes circuitry (800) and antennas (802 and 804) that are completely enclosed in a housing (110) shaped as an AC wall adapter. |
| US09402325B2 |
Portable electronic device and method of protecting portable electronic device
Provided is a portable electronic device with excellent shock resistance without reducing design property. A portable electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a case including a device (e.g., a speaker), a covering member that covers the device, a protrusion that is formed on the case, and a protective member that protects the covering member. The protective member is formed to protrude from the covering member and also with a substantially equivalent height to that of the protrusion. It is preferable that the protrusion is formed at facing edges of the case, and the protective member is formed between the protrusion. |
| US09402324B2 |
Electrical junction box
An electrical junction box includes a casing and a relay that is accommodated in the casing and has a relay case and a terminal portion, the terminal portion being accommodated in the relay case and having a fixed contact and a movable contact. A small heat amount-generating region that generates a smaller amount of heat than the relay does when current flows through the relay is formed in the casing, and the relay is disposed such that the fixed contact and the movable contact are located on the small heat amount-generating region side. |
| US09402322B1 |
Metal-free monolithic epitaxial graphene-on-diamond PWB with optical waveguide
According to some embodiments, an apparatus includes a circuit board made of polycrystalline diamond. The circuit board is formed by thermolysis of layers of a preceramic polymer. A plurality of tubes are formed within the circuit board and comprise a plurality of terminations at one or more surfaces of the circuit board. Each tube comprises a layer of graphene that is operable to permit each tube to conduct electrical current. Each layer of graphene is formed by thermolysis of the polycrystalline diamond circuit board at a temperature greater than or equal to 900 degrees Celsius. The apparatus also includes a plurality of optical waveguides formed within the circuit board. Each optical waveguide comprises a core of polycrystalline silicon carbide surrounded by polycrystalline diamond. The polycrystalline diamond is formed by thermolysis of poly(hydridocarbyne) and the silicon carbide is formed by thermolysis of poly(methylsilyne). |
| US09402316B2 |
Methods for forming a sensor array package
Various methods for forming a low profile assembly are described. The low profile assembly may include an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit as well as components associated with the integrated circuit may be positioned below a surface plane of a printed circuit board in which the integrated circuit is located. The integrated circuit may include bond wires configured to electrically connect the integrated circuits to other components. The low profile assembly may include forming various layers over a substrate and later removing some of the layers. |
| US09402315B2 |
Semiconductor package having magnetic connection member
Provided is a semiconductor package including a wiring substrate having top and bottom surfaces. A first semiconductor chip is disposed on the wiring substrate in a flip-chip manner. The first semiconductor chip has a first surface facing the top surface of the wiring substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface. First connection members are disposed between the wiring substrate and the first semiconductor chip. The first connection members include first and second contact members each including one or more magnetic materials. The first contact members include portions disposed in the second contact members. The one or more magnetic material of the first contact members have an opposite polar orientation to that of the second contact members. |
| US09402313B2 |
Conductive material, conductive paste, circuit board, and semiconductor device
A conductive material includes a first metal part whose main ingredient is a first metal; a second metal part formed on the first metal part and whose main ingredient is a second metal, the second metal having a melting point lower than a melting point of the first metal, which second metal can form a metallic compound with the first metal; and a third metal part whose main ingredient is a third metal, which third metal can make a eutectic reaction with the second metal. |
| US09402311B2 |
Semiconductor module
A semiconductor module includes a copper connector jointing an electrode formed on a top surface of a bare-chip transistor and a wiring pattern out of plural wiring patterns via a solder. The copper connector includes an electrode jointing portion jointed to the electrode of the bare-chip transistor and a substrate jointing portion arranged to face the electrode-jointing portion and jointed to the wiring pattern. The width W1 of the electrode jointing portion in a direction perpendicular to one direction is smaller than the width W2 of the substrate jointing portion in the direction perpendicular to the one direction. |
| US09402308B2 |
Plug standards-compliant circuit modules and connectors
A high speed, high reliability circuit module and connective strategy that is connectively compliant with a receptacle in compliance with the SFF-8639 Specification whether expressing for example a PCIe interface or a high speed SAS interface. The present invention reduces impedance discontinuity by reducing the interconnection length and cross-planar transit found in typical specification compliant connectors. |
| US09402305B2 |
Transparent conducting article comprising first and second conductive layers and an intervening inorganic dielectric layer having a plurality of apertures therein
A conducting film or device electrode includes a substrate and two transparent or semitransparent conductive layers separated by a transparent or semitransparent intervening layer. The intervening layer includes electrically conductive pathways between the first and second conductive layers to help reduce interfacial reflections occurring between particular layers in devices incorporating the conducting film or electrode. |
| US09402298B2 |
Method of manufacturing radio frequency accelerator, radio frequency accelerator, and circular accelerator system
A method of manufacturing a radio frequency accelerator that accelerates charged particles injected into a second-stage linear accelerator from a first-stage linear accelerator includes a step of setting a value of a power distribution factor R for the power distributor to supply radio frequency power to the second-stage linear accelerator and a value of a ratio L/ω of a length L of the matching section between the outlet of the first-stage linear accelerator and the inlet of the second-stage linear accelerator to the angular frequency ω of the radio frequency power, so that a charged particle beam is extracted from the second-stage linear accelerator over a range of the total radio frequency power wider than a widest allowable range among allowable total radio frequency power ranges determined for each phase of charged particles on the basis of phase acceptance of the second-stage accelerator. |
| US09402295B2 |
Accent lighting system
Apparatus for illuminating an object with light that is controlled for intensity and color temperature. A ceiling mounted luminaire contains a circuit that controls the intensity and color temperature of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In one embodiment the circuit is battery powered. A remote unit provides input to the luminaire for controlling the intensity and color temperature of the emitted light. The frequency of a pulse width modulation (PWM) device is varied to control the intensity of an associated LED. The duty cycle or voltage of a pulse width modulation (PWM) device is varied to control the color temperature of an associated LED. In one embodiment a single LED with the desired color temperature range and intensity level is used. In another embodiment multiple LEDs with different color temperature ranges are controlled to provide a mixed output at the desired color temperature and intensity. |
| US09402293B2 |
Multi-bleeder mode control for improved LED driver performance
Various examples directed to phase-dimming LED driver input circuitry having multiple bleeder circuits activated by a controller with multi-bleeder mode control are disclosed. In one example, the input circuitry may include multiple bleeder circuits controlled by the controller in an open-loop or closed-loop configuration. The controller may selectively activate or deactivate the multiple bleeder circuits based on the input line voltage, the dimming state, and the type of dimming being implemented to improve performance of the LED driver by preventing or reducing shimmering/blinking and by reducing bleeder loss. |
| US09402288B2 |
Backlight of liquid crystal display device and driving circuit thereof
The present invention relates to a backlight of a liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof. The backlight comprises a LED lamp bead group and a backlight driving module. The LED lamp bead group includes a plurality of strings of LED lamp bead which are opposite in term of positive and negative directions. The backlight driving module is electrically connected to the LED lamp bead group to output a voltage signal and a current signal to drive the LED lamp bead group, wherein the voltage signal is configured as more than one serials of periodic square-wave signal, under the action of which a string of LED lamp bead of positive direction and a string of LED lamp bead of negative direction emit light in an alternate manner, and the brightness of emitted light is determined by the magnitude of the current signal. |
| US09402282B2 |
System, method and apparatus for pulsed induction heat removal of components from structural assemblies
A pulsed induction heating system removes bonded elements from underlying substrates. A coil loop of a tool fits around the base of the element to be removed. The tool heats the element and the substrate in short pulses that are followed by brief, non-heated wait periods. The temperature of the substrate is measured during the wait periods between pulses to avoid overheating. When the substrate reaches a target temperature, the adhesive is sufficiently softened such that the element and adhesive are readily scraped off without damaging the substrate. |
| US09402278B2 |
Multi-mode communication system for a mobile phone
A multi-mode communication system for a mobile phone includes a plurality of antennas, a plurality of matching networks, each matching network connected to a respective one of said plurality of antennas, a plurality of near field devices, each near field device connected to a respective one of said plurality of matching networks, each pair of near field device and its associated matching network operative to either load modulate its antenna or generate an active magnetic field via its antenna, a plurality of switches, with one of said switches positioned between each of said matching networks and its respective antenna, and a controller for controlling the switched state of said plurality of switches such that one or more of said near field devices and their respective matching networks are selectively coupled to their respective antennas. |
| US09402276B1 |
System and method for wrist band transmitter and system thereof
A light weight transmission device providing an identification signal is disclosed. In one aspect, the device comprises a gating device for controlling the transfer of information to the transmitter, a data retaining device, in communication with the gating device, receiving and storing the information for a known period of time, and a controller, in communication with the gating device, providing a signal to the gating device to enable transfer of the retained information to the transmitter at a known time and for a known period of time. |
| US09402272B2 |
Electronic device having a cellular communication mode and a radio communication mode
An electronic device having a cellular communication mode and a radio communication mode, the electronic device including first transceiver means, operable in the cellular communication mode, for transmitting a message via a cellular network, the message including information for enabling a radio communication mode of a further electronic device; and second transceiver means, operable in the radio communication mode, for communicating with the further electronic device when in the radio communication mode. |
| US09402257B2 |
Enabling half-duplex operation
Half-duplex (HD) operations enable low cost implementations of LTE terminals. Traditionally, HD operations may be linked to a particular frequency band which may not allow a mix of full-duplex (FD) and HD terminals in the same frequency band. Therefore, certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for enabling coexistence, in a given frequency band, of HD and FD terminals, by introducing frequency bands designated for HD operation and overlapping existing frequency bands designated for FD operation. |
| US09402255B2 |
Timing advance configuration for multiple uplink component carriers
The invention relates methods for time aligning uplink transmissions by a mobile terminal in a mobile communication system, and to methods for performing a handover of a mobile terminal to a target aggregation access point. The invention is also providing apparatus and system for performing these methods, and computer readable media the instructions of which cause the apparatus and system to perform the methods described herein. In order to allow for aligning the timing of uplink transmissions on uplink component carriers, where different propagation delays are imposed on the transmissions on the uplink component carriers, the inventions suggests to time align the uplink component carriers based on a reference time alignment of a reference cell and a reception time difference or propagation delay difference between the downlink transmissions in the reference cell and the other radio cells, the uplink component carriers of which need to be time aligned. |
| US09402246B2 |
Communication system, base station, mobile station, method for mobile station, and method for communication system
A device and method in which a plurality of Zadoff-Chu sequences is allocated to a frame, a value of a parameter in the Zadoff-Chu sequence is different among the plurality of Zadoff-Chu sequences, and the Zadoff-Chu sequence allocated to the frame is different among a plurality of cells. |
| US09402243B2 |
Systems and methods for fast initial network link setup
Systems and methods for communicating in a wireless communication system are described. Various processes for reducing the initial link set up time are described. In one aspect, a method in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting a message advertising wireless communication from an access point. The method further includes receiving a plurality of access requests from a plurality of devices. The method further includes determining demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests. The method further includes modifying a broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication based on the determined demand. |
| US09402240B2 |
Method of operation in wireless local area network system and apparatus supporting the same
A method of operating in a wireless local area network system is provided. The method includes receiving a channel usage response from an access point, the channel usage response comprising channel usage information and transmit power regulation information, the channel usage information being for coexistence with an infrastructure network, and operating by using the channel usage information. The channel usage information includes at least one channel entry field indicating at least one recommended channel and a usage mode field indicating usage of the at least one recommended channel listed in the at least one channel entry field. The transmit power regulation information includes a plurality of maximum transmit power fields. Each of maximum transmit power field specifies a maximum transmit power limit for transmission on a corresponding channel bandwidth. |
| US09402236B2 |
Base station apparatus
A method of transmission power control is performed by a radio device along with another radio device being connected to a radio control device, the radio device forming a second cell overlaid with a first cell which is formed by the another radio device and a first frequency band is used. The method comprises monitoring a failure state of the other radio device, and reducing transmission power of radio waves to be transmitted to the second cell when the failure state of the another radio device is detected. |
| US09402232B2 |
Cell reselection enhancement for power saving LTE devices
A method of cell reselection enhancement is proposed. A UE obtains parameters for extended cell reselection (ECR) in a mobile communication network. The UE goes to sleep and then wakes up periodically to monitor a paging channel. The UE either applies a normal paging cycle having a normal paging cycle length or applies a power-saving paging cycle having a very long paging cycle length. The UE performs cell selection if normal paging cycle is applied. The UE performs cell reselection based on the ECR parameters if the power-saving paging cycle is applied, and if the ECR parameters are still valid based on a list of conditions. In one novel aspect, the network provides the ECR parameters for a wider area for the UE such that the UE can still use cell reselection after waking up from a very long sleep to reduce power consumption. |
| US09402230B2 |
Signal encoding method and device, method for encoding joint feedback signal
A method, a user equipment and a base station are provided. The method is for transmitting Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request-Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information in a communication system in which two carriers are configured, which includes: a user equipment encodes a codeword of the two carriers. The codeword represents encoded HARQ-ACK information of a first carrier and a second carrier according to a specific encoding scheme of dual-carrier configured with Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (DC-MIMO). The user equipment then transmits the encoded codeword of the two carriers to a base station. Therefore, bit error ratio (BER) and detection error cost are decreased, power overhead is saved, and a cubic metric (CM) value of the system is not affected, thereby enhancing the performance of the system. |
| US09402228B2 |
Mechanisms for roaming between 3GPP operators and WLAN service providers
Embodiments describe methods, apparatuses and logic for a user equipment (UE) to connect to an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) based on credentials from a UE's home third generation partnership project (3GPP) network. In some embodiments, the UE may receive selection policy parameters from the WLAN including a network access identifier (NAI) realm. The UE may also receive selection policy parameters from the 3GPP network. The UE may compare the selection policy parameters of the WLAN with the selection policy parameters of the 3GPP network and discover roaming relationships between service providers and the relative priorities of different networks, and create a network list based on the comparison. The UE may then associate with an AP of the WLAN based on the prioritized network list. |
| US09402224B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for neighbor discovery
A method for neighbor discovery including: transmitting a neighbor detection message according to a neighbor VLAN information table, where the neighbor VLAN information table includes neighbor VLAN information; receiving a neighbor response message with which a terminal responds; acquiring a MAC address of the terminal according to the neighbor response message. With the method, numerous invalid detections, heavy apparatus load and large CPU resource consumption caused by traversing a public network VLAN and a private network VLAN to conduct neighbor detection decease. |
| US09402221B2 |
Targeting wireless consumers through FEMTOCELLS, WI-FI access points and PICOCELLS
The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can leverage Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) features to facilitate more efficient or more robust communication with a femtocell network. In particular, features such as a UMTS localized common pilot channel along with various UTRAN features can enable communications to be directed to specific targets such as to a specific home nodeB (HNB) or to a specific mobile device served by the HNB, while also reducing macro network load. |
| US09402220B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus is capable of sharing connection information for connecting to a specific communication line with another apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes a first communication unit configured to communicate with a base station through the specific communication line, a second communication unit configured to perform communication different from the communication performed by the first communication unit, a detection unit configured to detect, via the second communication unit, whether the another apparatus is operating, and a controller configured to control communication performed by the first and second communication units. The controller controls, on the basis of a detection result from the detection unit, whether to perform communication through the specific communication line by the first communication unit. |
| US09402215B1 |
Resource block allocation to avoid interference
A first indicator of a first distance between an access node and a first sub-cell access node is determined. The first sub-cell access node is located in a coverage area of the access node. Based on the first indicator of the first distance, a first allocation of air-interface resource blocks to be used by both the access node and the first sub-cell access node is selected. |
| US09402207B2 |
Priority based service selection methods and apparatus
Wireless communication techniques are provided to receive a service priority scheme selection and determine, during reception of a first service, whether or not to switch to a second service, based on the received service priority scheme selection. Devices, systems and methods can be configured to implement the techniques for service priority scheme selection. |
| US09402204B2 |
Wireless communication system with selectively sized data transport blocks
A wireless transmit receive unit and methods for code division multiple access telecommunications are disclosed that process data in a physical layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The physical and MAC layers communicate data between each other via transport channels. The transport channels are associated with logical channels. Logical-channel data for the transport channels is provided in data units having a bit size evenly divisible by an integer N. The respective logical channels associated with a transport channel utilize MAC headers that have a selected modulo N bit size such that there is bit alignment of the MAC headers of all the logical channels associated with a particular transport channel. |
| US09402198B2 |
Communication device and method of determining communication method
A network in which two or more communication schemes coexist, in which a wireless control device identifies a communication scheme of a frame transmitted by a wireless terminal device, making reception possible. The wireless control device, upon detecting a receive signal strength of receive data, determines a signal strength at a non-overlapping frequency band of each communication scheme and thereby judges the communication scheme of the receive data. |
| US09402195B2 |
Operation of base station in a cellular communications network
In one embodiment, a method of forming a neighbor cell list in a base station of a cellular communications network comprises, at periodic intervals, and for specified durations: requesting the or each wireless device that is in connected mode with the base station to report a unique identifier for each other base station that it is able to detect; receiving reports from the or each wireless device that is in connected mode with the base station; and operating with a neighbor cell list compiled on the basis of the received reports. |
| US09402188B2 |
Geo-location error correction for small cell placement
To effectively plan small cell placement within a current macro cell network, it is necessary to identify the traffic hotspots. Small cells can be placed in hotspot locations in order to effectively offload traffic from the corresponding macro cell. Hotspots can be identified based on information about traffic from/to mobile users, particularly, the observed User Equipment (UE) locations and amount of data transmitted from/to the UEs. Provided are systems and methods for accounting for geo-location errors in identifying hotspots and determining small cell placement. |
| US09402184B2 |
Associating services to perimeters
In some implementations, a method includes receiving, from a user of a first device, a request to enable access, through a second device, to a server resource account of an enterprise. The first device includes a first enterprise perimeter including an internal resource and a first enterprise identifier and configured to prevent external resources from accessing the internal resource. A request is wirelessly transmit, to the second device, to the second device for a second enterprise identifier assigned to a second enterprise perimeter included in the second device. Whether to grant access to the internal resource is determined based on a first enterprise identifier assigned to the first device and a second enterprise identifier assigned to the second device. |
| US09402180B2 |
Method for initiating an OTA session
The invention relates to a method for initiating an OTA session in a mobile radio communication network at the request of a user of a mobile terminal. The OTA session is established between the mobile terminal and a remote OTA server, the mobile terminal including a security element such as a UICC card. According to the invention, the method comprises: i) entering a special code using the man/machine interface of said mobile terminal; ii) said security element intercepting said special code; and iii) opening said OTA session between said mobile terminal and said remote server in a secure mode. |
| US09402173B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing access to emergency service providers
A method and apparatus of communication via a hand held device that includes receiving an indication at the device to initiate an emergency call via a wireless network; determining whether the device is configured with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, wherein the SIM card includes a plurality of numbers; and sequentially calling the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card based on the determination that the device is configured with the SIM card. Further, the method and apparatus include detecting an emergency indication; connecting to a wireless network; and establishing a communication with one or more emergency service providers based at least in part on detecting the emergency indication, wherein the communication is established via the wireless network. |
| US09402172B2 |
Message combination method and device
The method comprises: receiving a first message, and determining that the first message carries a sub-message identifier, the sub-message identifier being used for indicating that the first message is one of several sub-messages comprising a short message; according to the first message, allocating a storage space to the short message, the number of the storage units contained in the storage space being equal to the number of the sub-message contained in the short message, the storage units contained in the storage space having a location order; according to the first message and the sub-message identifier of at least one second message subsequently received, storing the first message and the at least one second message subsequently received into corresponding storage units in the storage space; and combining the sub-message stored in the storage units in the storage space. |
| US09402168B2 |
Output of messages received by a first receiving appliance and by a second receiving appliance
In a motor vehicle, messages received by a first receiving appliance and messages received by a second receiving appliance are joined to form a common message base and are output in combined form. |
| US09402167B2 |
Notification handling system and method
A notification handling system determines a notification type for a notification received at a first device of a group of associated devices. The system determines at least a second device from the group that has a capability related to the notification type and accordingly routes the notification to the second device. The second device may be paired to the first device via a wireless link. The notification handling system also augments the notification with additional information for the second device based on the capability of the second device. The augmented information is obtained by extracting data from the notification and augmenting the notification based on the extracted data. The notification handling system may also send or receive a global notification dismissal that dismisses the notification from all associated devices that may have received the notification. |
| US09402166B1 |
Method and apparatus for assigning a talk group to a radio within a communication system
A method and apparatus for assigning a talk group to a radio within a communication system is provided herein. During operation a router receives a communication from a radio over a channel. The communication uses a first talk group that is not assigned to the channel. In response, the router will forward identification information for the user over the channel using a pre-arranged second talk group. Once communication is received using the second talk group (at, for example a console), the receiver will program the radio with an appropriate talk group. |
| US09402153B2 |
Identifying and locating users on a mobile network
A system and method of locating “friends” having mobile devices connected to a network and associated with a user account is disclosed. The method includes sending a request to a mobile device, the mobile device determining its present geographic location and responding to the requestor with this information. This information may be in the form of a coordinate location such as a GPS location or it may be in the form of a name that the mobile device owner assigned to a particular area (e.g., “home”). Having this location information, a user is able to view the location of the friend that is associated with the mobile device. |
| US09402151B2 |
Method for recognizing position of mobile robot by using features of arbitrary shapes on ceiling
The present invention provides a method for recognizing a position of a mobile robot by using arbitrarily shaped ceiling features on a ceiling, comprising: a providing step of providing a mobile robot device for recognizing a position by using arbitrarily shaped ceiling features on a ceiling which includes an image input unit, an encoder sensing unit, a computation unit, a control unit, a storage unit, and a driving unit; a feature extraction step of extracting features which include an arbitrarily shaped ceiling feature from an outline extracted from image information inputted through the image input unit; and a localization step of recognizing a position of the mobile robot device by using the extracted features, wherein, in the feature extraction step, a descriptor indicating the characteristics of the arbitrarily shaped ceiling feature is assigned. |
| US09402149B2 |
Tethering providing system and method using short distance communication
Provided are a tethering providing system and method using short distance communication. More particularly, second short distance communication tethering between a vehicle terminal device and a communication terminal device is set in accordance with whether first short distance communication is established, activated when the vehicle terminal device and the communication terminal device are re-connected through the first short distance communication, and deactivated when the first short distance communication is terminated, thereby providing high-speed data connection through the second short distance communication tethering while reducing battery consumption of the communication terminal device. |
| US09402144B2 |
Apparatus for changing an audio scene and an apparatus for generating a directional function
An apparatus for changing an audio scene has a direction determiner and an audio scene processing apparatus. The audio scene has at least one audio object having an audio signal and associated meta data. The direction determiner determines a direction of a position of the audio object with respect to a reference point based on the meta data of the audio object. Further, the audio scene processing device processes the audio signal, a processed audio signal derived from the audio signal or the meta data of the audio object based on a determined directional function and the determined direction of the position of the audio object. |
| US09402143B2 |
Method for processing an audio signal, audio playback system, and processing unit for processing audio signals
Method of processing an audio signal, audio reproduction system, and processing unit for conditioning audio signals. The audio signal includes at least first and second channels, the first channel being time-delayed by a predetermined delay factor, and a volume level of the first channel being attenuated by a predetermined attenuation factor. This attenuated and time-delayed first channel is added to the second channel to provide a second channel of the audio signal intended for reproduction. |
| US09402138B2 |
MEMS device and method of manufacturing a MEMS device
A method for manufacturing a MEMS device is disclosed. Moreover a MEMS device and a module including a MEMS device are disclosed. An embodiment includes a method for manufacturing MEMS devices includes forming a MEMS stack on a first main surface of a substrate, forming a polymer layer on a second main surface of the substrate and forming a first opening in the polymer layer and the substrate such that the first opening abuts the MEMS stack. |
| US09402136B2 |
Sound generator and electronic apparatus using the same
Provided are a sound generator and an electronic apparatus using the same. The sound generator includes a vibrating body, an exciter that is attached to the vibrating body and bends to vibrate the vibrating body in the thickness direction of the vibrating body by vibrating the exciter itself, an enclosure that is joined to the vibrating body and forms a first space enclosed together with the vibrating body, and a duct that connects between the first space and the external space. A spacing between the vibrating body and the surface of the enclosure facing the vibrating body is smaller than ½ of the length of the wavelength of resonance having the lowest frequency in the bending vibration of the vibrating body. |
| US09402132B2 |
Limiting active noise cancellation output
In general, techniques are described for limiting active noise cancellation output. As one example, an apparatus comprising one or more processors may perform the techniques. The one or more processors may be configured to, when an estimated noise level increases, dynamically lowering application of active noise cancellation to at least a portion of an audio signal to obtain at least a portion of an active noise cancelled version of the audio signal. |
| US09402131B2 |
Push-pull microphone buffer
A buffer is coupled to an acoustic motor. The buffer has an input and an output. The input has an input voltage and the output has an output voltage. The buffer is coupled to a load. The buffer includes an input transistor and push-pull transistor circuitry. The input transistor has a gate, a source, and a drain, a gate-to-source capacitance, and an area. The push-pull transistor circuitry is coupled to the input transistor. Under a first set of operating conditions, the gate to source voltage of the input transistor remains constant and the output voltage is a buffered copy of the input voltage. Under a second set of operating conditions, the push-pull transistor circuitry selectively sinks or sources additional current to the load so that linearity of buffer operation is provided. A gate-to-drain capacitance of the input transistor is buffered allowing the area of the input transistor to be increased without reducing the gain of the motor. |
| US09402129B2 |
Audio control method and audio player using audio control method
An audio control method of an audio player, the audio player includes an audio playing unit having a first channel and a second channel, and an audio control system executed by a processor of the audio player. The audio control system includes an audio playing module, a detection module and a channel adjustment module. The audio playing module plays an audio file and outputs audio signals of the audio file through the audio playing unit, the audio signals have a first channel signals and a second channel signals. The detection module detects whether the first channel signals and the second channel signals are normally played. The channel adjustment module combines one of the first and second channel signals to another of the first and second channel signals, to form combination signals, and plays the combination signals through the first or the second channel. |
| US09402127B2 |
Earphone
An earphone includes a shell and a thermoacoustic chip. The shell defines a first space. The thermoacoustic chip is disposed in the space of the shell. The thermoacoustic chip includes a speaker and a capsule defining a second space to accommodate the speaker. The speaker includes a substrate, a sound wave generator, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are spaced from each other and electrically connected to the sound wave generator. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The capsule has at least one through hole and at least two connectors. The sound wave generator is opposite to the at least one through hole. Two of the at least two connectors are electrically connected with the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US09402126B2 |
Earphone with passive radiator
An earphone includes a housing having a sound-emitting hole, a speaker mounted in the housing, and a passive radiator mounted in between the sound hole and the speaker driver and including a vibrating diaphragm main body and a weight embedded in the vibrating diaphragm main body or bonded to the top or bottom surface of the vibrating diaphragm main body. The mounting arrangement of the passive radiator optimizes the sound performance of the earphone. The weight of the passive radiator is firmly connected with the vibrating diaphragm main body so that severe vibration of the vibrating diaphragm main body does not cause disconnection of the weight. |
| US09402122B2 |
Protective enclosure for electronic device
A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. A securing mechanism secures the first member with the second member. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to connect an electrical source to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member. |
| US09402121B2 |
Wearable electronic device
Hands-free electronic devices and electronic functions that can be worn on the surface of the body in a biologically fit manner are described. The embodiments provide a convergence between electronic products, and biological, anatomical, and biomechanical aspects of the human body while providing hands-free and interchangeable wearable electronic apparatuses that can interact with human senses and physiology of a human body in a practical manner. |
| US09402117B2 |
Wearable directional microphone array apparatus and system
A wearable microphone array apparatus and system used as a directional audio system and as an assisted listening device. The present invention advances hearing aids and assisted listening devices to allow construction of a highly directional audio array that is wearable, natural sounding, and convenient to direct, as well as to provide directional cues to users who have partial or total loss of hearing in one or both ears. The advantages of the invention include simultaneously providing high gain, high directivity, high side lobe attenuation, and consistent beam width; providing significant beam forming at lower frequencies where substantial noises are present, particularly in noisy, reverberant environments; and allowing construction of a cost effective body-worn or body-carried directional audio device. |
| US09402111B2 |
Television audience measurement method and apparatus
Television transmissions are received at multiple locations across a large area. Advertisements are identified, harvested and tagged from within in the television transmissions. The advertisements are made into smaller representations (“fingerprinted”) and are assigned identifiers and media plans are determined for the advertisements. Smart TVs use the advertisement representations to identify advertisements in television content received by the smart TVs. The smart TVs report the advertisement identifiers and identifiers of shows in the television content received by the smart TVs. The television content and advertisements as rendered by the smart TVs are categorized as live, timeshifted, on-demand, over-the-top, and the like. The advertisements are categorized as occurring in national or regional ad slots. The data from the smart TVs is used to determine ad impressions, gross rating points, and target rating points. |
| US09402102B2 |
System and method for using television schedule information
A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule. |
| US09402097B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
[Object]To provide an information processing apparatus capable of using an application seamlessly executable across channels of different broadcast stations.[Solving Means]Identification information “common” that is common to all business operators can be set as an organization ID for specifying a business operator providing an application. In addition, when the common identification information “common” is set as an organization ID of an acquired XML-AIT, an application controller (508) does not judge that an activation of an application corresponding to the XML-AIT is unpermitted based on the organization ID. Accordingly, it becomes possible to use an application seamlessly executable across channels of different broadcast stations, such as an application for a rating survey. |
| US09402095B2 |
Method and apparatus for calibrating an audio playback system
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate calibration of an audio playback system with a video presented upon a display. In the context of a method, an image including a display from a first location is received. The method also includes determining a dimension of the display within the image and determining an angle of the display based upon the dimension of a display determined within the image and the first location. The method further includes permitting an audio playback system associated with the display to be calibrated, such as with a video to be presented upon the display, based upon the determined angle. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided. |
| US09402093B2 |
Systems and methods for temporary access to media content
Methods, systems, and/or devices for providing temporary access to media content are described herein. In one aspect, a server provides authorization to a transportation service provider for accessing one or more media items associated with an account of a user for a media content provider. The server provides the authorization in response to the user reserving a vehicle through the transportation service provider. Additionally, the server receives a first request (e.g., a request initiated by a mobile device of the user) to present a first media item of the one or more media items at a media presentation system of a reserved vehicle provided by the transportation service provider. In accordance with the authorization, the server sends a portion of the first media item for presentation at the media presentation system. |
| US09402088B2 |
Low complex deblocking filter decisions
The present disclosure relates to deblocking filtering, which may be advantageously applied for block-wise encoding and decoding of images or video signals. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an improved memory management in an automated decision on whether to apply or skip deblocking filtering for a block and to selection of the deblocking filter. The decision is performed on the basis of a segmentation of blocks in such a manner that memory usage is optimized. Preferably, the selection of appropriate deblocking filters is improved so as to reduce computational expense. |
| US09402085B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing video signal
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a video signal, which can increase the accuracy of the motion vector prediction through motion vector scaling which takes a difference in the temporal distance between reference pictures into consideration. To this end, the present invention provides a video signal processing method and a video signal processing apparatus using the same, and the method comprises the steps of: scaling at least one neighboring partition motion vector for a motion vector prediction of the current partition; scaling the neighboring partition motion vector, which has been selected, when the reference picture of the neighboring partition motion vector is different from the reference picture of the current partition; acquiring a motion vector prediction value of the current partition using the scaled motion vector; and acquiring a motion vector of the current partition using the motion vector prediction value. |
| US09402078B2 |
Method for decoding chroma image using luma quantization
Provided is a method that derives a chroma intra prediction mode of a prediction unit, determines a size of a current chroma block using luma transform size information, generates a chroma prediction block of the current chroma block using the chroma intra prediction mode, generates a chroma residual block of the current chroma block using the chroma intra prediction mode and a chroma quantization parameter, generates a chroma reconstructed block adding the chroma prediction block and the chroma residual block, and the chroma quantization parameter is generated using a luma quantization parameter and information indicating the relationship between the luma quantization parameter and the chroma quantization parameter. Therefore, the coding efficiency is improved by adjusting the chroma quantization parameter per picture. Also, the amount of bits for transmitting the luma and chroma quantization parameters is reduced by encoding the luma quantization parameter using neighboring luma quantization parameters. |
| US09402077B2 |
Image processing system, image processing method and program
There is provided an image processing system and an image processing method able to suppress block distortion in the case of decoding image data encoded in unit of blocks. A controlling unit selects a filtering content to be applied to the block image data based on the encoding types of the block image data to be filtered, and a filtering unit applies filtering to the block image data to be processed according to the filtering content selected by the controlling unit. |
| US09402076B2 |
Video buffering operations for random access in video coding
A system and method for processing video data having a first random access point (RAP) picture. An access unit having a first random access point (RAP) picture is received in a video bitstream. A subsequent access unit having a RAP picture that does not initialize the hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) is also received and, based on one or more random access skipped leading (RASL) pictures for the subsequent access unit not being present in the video bitstream, a picture buffer removal time for a picture buffer is shifted earlier based on a picture buffer removal delay offset. |
| US09402075B2 |
Image coding method, image decoding method, image decoding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, and image coding-decoding apparatus
An image coding method includes: generating a predicted block; calculating a residual block; calculating quantized coefficients by performing transform and quantization on the residual block; calculating a coded residual block by performing inverse quantization and inverse transform on the quantized coefficients; generating a temporary coded block; determining whether or not an offset process is required, to generate first flag information indicating a result of the determination; executing the offset process on the temporary coded block when it is determined that the offset process is required; and performing variable-length coding on the quantized coefficients and the first flag information. |
| US09402074B2 |
Multimedia quality monitoring method, and device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a multimedia quality monitoring method, and a device. The method includes: determining reference quality of multimedia according to reference video quality and reference audio quality of the multimedia; acquiring multimedia distortion quality after at least one of video distortion and audio distortion of the multimedia occurs; and determining quality of the multimedia according to the reference quality of the multimedia and the multimedia distortion quality. Therefore, accuracy of a multimedia quality monitoring result is improved. |
| US09402071B2 |
Display device
The display device includes a display panel on which sub-pixel pairs are arranged in a lateral direction, and a parallax barrier shutter panel on which sub-openings that can be changed between a light transmittance state and a light-shielding state are arranged in a lateral direction. Arbitrary allocated number of adjacent sub-openings among the plural sub-openings belonging to a reference parallax barrier pitch are put into a light transmittance state, and the remaining sub-openings are put into a light-shielding state, so that a general opening is formed on the parallax barrier shutter panel. A sub-opening pitch of the sub-opening on the boundary part between the adjacent common driving areas is different from the sub-opening pitch of the other sub-openings. |
| US09402069B2 |
Depth measurement apparatus, imaging apparatus, and method of controlling depth measurement apparatus
A depth measurement apparatus including ranging pixels each having photoelectric conversion units for receiving light fluxes that have respectively passed through first and second pupil regions, a reading unit shared by the photoelectric conversion units, and a control unit for controlling the ranging operation wherein a signal charge accumulated in one of the photoelectric conversion units is output as a first signal and a second signal obtained by adding a signal charge accumulated in the other photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal is output, the signal charge accumulated in the other photoelectric conversion unit is acquired based on a difference between the first and second signals after noise reduction, and the signal charge of the photoelectric conversion unit receiving flux with a higher transmittance is read first. |
| US09402068B2 |
Lens system for 3D video taking
A system which has two lens devices 10R and 10L and in which a baseline length of the lens devices 10R and 10L can be changed is equipped with a knob 60 for commanding of the degree of three-dimensionality; and a baseline length calculation unit 52 for calculating a baseline length that is most suitable to produce 3D video data that conforms to shooting conditions, being dependent on a subject to be shot by camera devices 20R and 20L, of the camera devices 20R and 20L to which the two lens devices 10R and 10L are attached with the degree of three-dimensionality specified by the knob 60 using information indicating the degree of three-dimensionality specified by the knob 60 and the shooting conditions, and outputting information of the calculated baseline length. |
| US09402065B2 |
Methods and apparatus for conditional display of a stereoscopic image pair
Apparatus and methods for conditional display of a stereoscopic image pair on a display device are disclosed. Particularly, some implementations include receiving a first image and a second image, determining a vertical disparity between the first image and the second images, and displaying a stereoscopic image pair if the vertical disparity is below a threshold. Some implementations provide for correcting the vertical disparity by generating at least one corrected image, and generating the stereoscopic image pair based on the corrected image. Some implementations may evaluate the quality of the stereoscopic image pair, and display either a two dimensional image or the stereoscopic image pair based on the evaluation. |
| US09402064B1 |
Systems and methods for operation of recording devices such as digital video recorders (DVRs)
A system, method, and computer program product according to one embodiment includes initiating a request by a first recording device to record a contiguous television program; sending the request to a local recording system; storing the representation of at least a portion of the contiguous television program on the local recording system; outputting an indication of the television program on a list of recorded programs; receiving a request to upload the television program to the first recording device via selection of the indication from the list; and uploading the representation of at least a portion of the contiguous television program from the local recording system to the first recording device. |
| US09402059B2 |
Microscope
A microscope is provided. The microscope includes: a detection section for detecting the measurement light; a first image acquisition section emitting the visible light onto a detection surface to obtain an optical image; and a switch mirror or beam splitter disposed on a light path, along which the measurement light from the analysis position of the sample is guided to the detection section. The microscope further includes a second image acquisition section that is disposed in a position apart from the light path of the detection section for obtaining an optical image of a large area which includes the analysis position of the sample, wherein the optical image of the large area is larger than an optical image of an area, which includes the analysis position of the sample, obtained by the first image acquisition section. |
| US09402051B2 |
Apparatus and method for simultaneous live recording through and projecting live video images onto an interactive touch screen
A system and method for point to point video enable communication and the provisioning of at least one commodity. The communication between two remote devices may include both video and audio and may be activated by use of at least one touch screen associated with a device for provisioning the at least one commodity, such as, for example, a vending machine. |
| US09402050B1 |
Media content creation application
In some embodiments an apparatus includes a processor included within a compute device, operatively coupled to a memory, and is configured to execute an application module and a recording module. The application module is configured to receive, at a compute device, an indication of a user selection of a video request from a list of video requests. The video request is associated with a list of characteristics and is associated with a video request identifier. The application module is configured to, based on the video request identifier, define a video recording environment in accordance with the list of characteristics. The recording module is configured to record, during a time and using a camera integrated with the compute device, a video such in accordance with the list of characteristics. The application module is configured to associate the video with a relationship indicator indicative of the relationship between the video and the video request. The application module is configured to send, to a server device from the compute device, a copy of the video including the relationship indicator such that the server (1) stores a copy of the video and (2) associates, based on the relationship indicator, the video with other videos that each have a relationship with the video request. |
| US09402048B2 |
Image control device, image control system, and digital camera
The invention is provided with: an acquisition unit that acquires, from an external machine, image data as well as time data when an image based on the image data has been displayed on the external machine; a data memory unit that stores, for each unit of the image data, the image data and the time data acquired in the acquisition unit; and a prioritization determination unit that determines, on the basis of the time data, a prioritization of the image data stored in the data memory unit. |
| US09402047B2 |
Method and apparatus for image display
A display method and display apparatus are provided. The method includes receiving information about video content that is displayed by an external device, displaying the video content displayed by the external device on a screen of the display apparatus, based on the received information, receiving a first input regarding the displayed video content from a user of the display apparatus, displaying at least one first image on a first area of the screen, based on information received for a predetermined period of time in response to receiving the first input, and displaying a second video content on a second area of the screen, based on information received after the receiving of the first input. |
| US09402045B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying electronic program guide information
The present invention provides a logically organized electronic program guide separated into categories. Each category has a theme. Inside each theme-based category there is a listing of television programming. In this way, the subscriber can locate a desired theme and then determine a desired program from the list in the category. |
| US09402044B2 |
Pixel processing circuitry
The invention concerns a method of processing pixel values comprising: during a first read phase, generating a first digital value as a function of pixel values by controlling, based on first and second control signals and a first set of increment rates, the rate that a first counter (220-i) is incremented; and during a second read phase, generating a second digital value as a function of pixel values by controlling, based on first and second control signals and a second set of increment rates, the rate that said first counter (220-i) is incremented, the first and second sets of increment rates each defining an increment rate for each of a plurality of states of the first and second control signals, wherein said first set of increment rates is different from said second set of increment rates. |
| US09402042B2 |
Time delay and integration scanning using a CCD imager
A method for operating a focal plane array in a Time Delay Integration (TDI) mode, the method including: shifting a number of rows during TDI integration, wherein the number of rows shifted is less than a total number of rows of the focal plane array; and reading out a number of rows equal to the total number of rows of the focal plane array minus the number of rows shifted, leaving behind the partially-integrated rows. |
| US09402039B2 |
Dual conversion gain high dynamic range sensor
A method of reading out a pixel includes resetting a photodetector of the pixel. Light incident on the photodetector is then integrated for a single exposure of a single image capture. A floating diffusion node of the pixel is then reset. The floating diffusion is set to low conversion gain and a low conversion gain reset signal is sampled from the floating diffusion node. The floating diffusion is set to high conversion gain and a high conversion gain reset signal is sampled from the floating diffusion node. Charge carriers are transferred from the photodetector to the floating diffusion node and a high conversion image signal is then sampled from the floating diffusion node. The floating diffusion is set to low conversion gain. Charge carriers are transferred again from the photodetector to the floating diffusion node and a low conversion image signal is sampled from the floating diffusion node. |
| US09402035B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining exposure setting
A device and method for determining exposure settings in a camera is disclosed. The method comprises capturing an image frame using an image sensor, the exposure of the capturing is based on an initial exposure value setting, determining a temporary exposure value by finding an exposure value that results in a substantially optimum value when applied to a total cost calculation, calculating a saturated pixels cost related to the saturated pixels for the captured image at the temporary exposure value, determining a next exposure value by finding a decrease in exposure value, in relation to the temporary exposure value, for which decrease a change in total cost for non-saturated pixels, in relation to the total cost for non-saturated pixels at the temporary exposure value, is substantially equal to the saturated pixel cost calculated at the temporary exposure value, using this determined next exposure value for capturing a new image frame. |
| US09402033B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and control method therefor
An image sensing apparatus that carries out image sensing continuously and inputs a plurality of images, having a digital signal processing circuit that detects, at each input image, from image data thereof, an object that satisfies a preset condition, a first exposure value determination unit that calculates a first exposure value from the image data, a second exposure value determination unit that calculates a second exposure value based on the detected object, and a selection unit that selects either the first exposure value, the second exposure value, a currently set exposure value, or an exposure value calculated based on a luminance of an area referenced when calculating a currently set exposure value as an exposure value to be used for a next image sensing based on object detection results obtained by the digital signal processing circuit. |
| US09402031B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a positive first unit, a zooming lens group constituted by at least two lens units having a zooming function and a function of correcting image plane variation with zooming, and a last lens unit disposed on the most image side having an imaging effect and not moving for zooming. The first unit includes a negative first sub unit not moving for focusing, a second sub unit moving during focusing, and a positive third sub unit not moving for focusing. The first sub unit is composed of one or more concave lenses, and the third sub unit is composed of one or more convex lenses. Of the first and third sub units, the refractive powers, the average Abbe constants and the paraxial converted beam heights at the telephoto end are appropriately set. |
| US09402030B2 |
Information processing apparatus and storage medium for displaying image on a display region
There is provided a display control device including a recognition unit configured to recognize a display region in a display unit which is visible from outside, an image generation unit configured to generate an image to be displayed in accordance with the display region recognized by the recognition unit, and a display control unit configured to control the display unit to display, on the display region, the image generated by the image generation unit. |
| US09402029B2 |
Image processing apparatus capable of specifying positions on screen
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus including: an obtaining unit which obtains an image; a first display control unit which displays the image on a display region of a display unit, the image being obtained by the obtaining unit; a rendering unit which performs rendering in the image based on an operation for an operation unit by a user, the image being displayed on the display region by the first display control unit; a specifying unit which specifies a first region closed by a boundary line rendered by the rendering unit; and a second display control unit which displays, on the display region, at least either one of an image of the first region specified by the specifying unit and an image of a second region other than the first region in the obtained image in a display mode capable of discriminating the at least either one image. |
| US09402027B2 |
Power supplying method and apparatus
A power supplying method and apparatus. The power supplying apparatus includes: a detection module, connected to a detection pin group of a camera module, and configured to generate a recognition signal according to a detected detection signal on the detection pin group of the camera module; a power supply recognition module, connected to the detection module, and configured to recognize a type of the camera module according to the recognition signal, to determine power supply information corresponding to the type of the camera module; a power-on control module, connected to the power supply recognition module and a power supply module, and configured to control a power supply time sequence of at least three power supply units and a power supply voltage of each of the power supply units, so that the at least three power supply units supply power to the camera module. |
| US09402024B2 |
Imaging device and image processing method
According to the present invention, even if variation (estimation variation) is caused in a subject distance estimated at the time of imaging when restoration processing of a taken image is performed using a restoration filter corresponding to the subject distance, since an optimal restoration filter that conforms to a subject distance taking into account the maximum infinity-side estimation variation and does not cause overcorrection is selected, it is possible to prevent resolution degradation due to overcorrection and achieve the improvement of resolution by the restoration filter. |
| US09402016B1 |
Electronic device mount
An electronic device that mounts onto a bicycle frame or handlebar to permit video recording with a smart phone while riding. The present electronic device mount includes a housing assembly having a lateral door to receive the smart phone therethrough. The housing assembly has a front window to permit viewing of the smart phone's screen, and an opening on a rear wall that is cooperatively positioned to coincide with the smart phone's video camera. The rear opening has a mirror housing with an interior mirror disposed at a predetermined angle to redirect the video recording from the smart phone to capture the route of the rider. A swivel mechanism connects the housing assembly with the mounting assembly to permit the user to adjust a position of the housing assembly according to the view the user wants to see on the screen of the phone. |
| US09402009B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image control method, and recording medium storing image control program
An image processing apparatus includes a facsimile communication unit; a mail communication unit; an outputting unit; an external power source processing unit to operate the image processing apparatus using external power supplied from an external power source; a power-storing source processing unit to operate the image processing apparatus using stored power stored in a power-storing unit; a power source detection unit to detect whether the apparatus is operated with the external power or the stored power to output a detection result; and a facsimile data output control unit to transmit, when the facsimile communication unit receives facsimile data, the facsimile data to a destination address via e-mail with the mail communication unit based on the detection result indicating that the stored power is supplied, and to output the image of the facsimile data based on the detection result indicating that the external power is supplied. |
| US09402007B2 |
Image reading device, image forming apparatus
To downsize a housing and reduce a possibility that different parts of a cable contact with each other, an image forming apparatus includes a first reading unit configured to move between a movement start position and a movement end position; a second reading unit configured to move at a speed half of a moving speed of the first reading unit in conjunction with movement of the first reading unit; a control portion disposed below the first reading unit and more on the movement end position side than a movement range of the second reading unit; a cable connected from the first reading unit to the control portion via the second reading unit; and a guide member that is formed to project from the second reading unit toward the first reading unit and supports part or all of the cable between the first reading unit and the second reading unit. |
| US09402004B2 |
Method and system for managing data usage for a service across multiple devices
An approach for managing the amount of data spent by one or more user devices on one or more services is described. A data usage analysis platform receives an input for specifying a data budget associated with a service, wherein the service operates on one or more devices. The data usage analysis platform also monitors data usage data associated with the service across the one or more devices. Still further, the data usage analysis platform presents a report of the data usage data with respect to the data budget. |
| US09402002B1 |
Open API for toll free data on demand
A network device receives registration information for a vendor application that selectively provides access to toll-free data for users. The registration information include a vendor account to which data charges can be billed. In response to the registration information, the network device sends a token corresponding to the vendor application. The network device receives, from a vendor device, an application programming interface (API) call that includes the token, a data flow identifier, and flow information. The flow information identifies a particular data flow directed to a copy of the vendor application residing on a user device. The network device validates the token; causes data charges for particular data packets, corresponding to the flow information, to be billed to the vendor account; and sends, to the vendor device, a response to the API call that includes the data flow identifier. |
| US09402001B2 |
Separate billing system for BYOD service and separate billing method for data service
A separate billing system for BYOD service includes a business service server configured to provide a business service, a terminal configured to request a business service from the business service server, a billing policy server configured to store billing policy information, a BYOD service gateway configured to control the terminal to transmit and receive data with the business service server via an access device, and generate billing data according to the transmission and reception, and a separate billing server configured to analyze the billing data based on the billing policy information, and generate separate billing information. |
| US09402000B2 |
Metering traffic for a mobile device
The claimed subject matter provides a method for split billing. The method includes receiving a requested token. The requested token specifies conditions under which network traffic is allowed to be billed against a third party for content requested from a mobile computing device. The method also includes matching network traffic between the mobile computing device and a content provider to the specified conditions. The method further includes metering the matched network traffic to a billing account for the third party. |
| US09401996B2 |
Synchronizing audio signal sampling in a wireless, digital audio conferencing system
A digital audio conferencing system has a fixed base station that is in communication with a far end (R.E.) system over a communication network. The base station is associated with a wireless loudspeaker and one or more wireless microphones. The base station operates to receive F.E. audio signals to be played by the wireless loudspeaker, and it operates to remove acoustic echo picked up by the wireless microphones. A first clock controlling F.E. audio signal sampling at the base station, and a second clock controlling audio signal sampling and at a wireless microphone are synchronized to one master, reference clock that controls the operation of the base station. Acoustic echo included in an audio signal picked up by a wireless microphone is removed by AEC functionality running in the base station. |
| US09401993B1 |
Automatic language selection for interactive voice response system
An interactive voice response (IVR) system performs automatic language selection without requiring the caller to provide a manual language selection input. The IVR system receives an incoming call along with appropriate caller identification. The IVR system sends a request for the caller's language preference information either to the caller's device or to a service provider that hosts the caller's account. After receiving the caller's language preference information, the IVR system selects a language for the caller and provides an IVR menu tree using the selected language. The selected language is persisted as the caller's preferred language at either the IVR system or at a service provider for future use. |
| US09401992B2 |
Systems and methods for selectively routing calls to a call center
Systems and methods of routing calls may include receiving a plurality of calls, and for each of the plurality of calls, determining a threshold time that may be a maximum service time for the call, estimating an expected service time for the call, comparing the threshold time with the expected service time for the call, and assigning the call into one of a plurality of queues based upon the comparing. The method of routing may further include prioritizing the plurality of queues based upon the expected service time for each call in each of the plurality of queues, directing each call in a first queue of the plurality of queues to a first group of agents, and providing a callback prompt to each call in a second queue of the plurality of queues, wherein a priority of the first queue is higher than a priority of the second queue. |
| US09401987B2 |
Systems and methods to provide connections to users in different geographic regions
Systems and methods to provide anonymous communication connections between customers in different countries/regions and service providers. Different call-in references are configured for customers residing in different regions and/or having different language preferences. Different prices are computed for foreign customers based on a single price of a service provider and the call-in references used by the customers to initiate the anonymous connections to take into account of the international/long distance call charges. Currency conversion is performed based on exchange rates in backend payment management. Location information of service providers and customers is provided in a configurable way, based on preference, service category, without compromising privacy. Comments, feedback, and/or ratings of the service providers can be filtered for presentation to the customers, based on the location information of the service providers and/or the customer, or based on the location selection of the customers, to increase relevancy to the respective customers. |
| US09401986B2 |
Unique global identifier header for minimizing prank emergency 911 calls
A prank call server that performs 911 prank call filtering over a 911 emergency call system, prior to routing a 911 call to a PSAP. The inventive prank call server identifies prank calling devices, regardless of current service subscription, by retrieving and analyzing emergency call data pertaining to detected prank 911 calls. The prank call server assigns a unique global identifier to each 911 call detected on the 911 emergency call system. Unique global identifiers enable a PSAP to uniquely identify prank 911 calls that are identified thereon. A PSAP transmits a prank call signal and a relevant unique global identifier to the prank call server, for each prank 911 call that is detected. A prank call signal/unique global identifier combination triggers the prank call server to store all available call data for a referenced prank 911 call in to a prank call database, for subsequent prank call filtering analysis. |
| US09401985B2 |
Vehicle event recorder mobile phone mount
A phone vehicle event recorder mount for holding a mobile phone. The phone vehicle event recorder mount comprises an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive a connection indication of whether the mobile phone is connected to the mount. The processor is configured to determine whether the mobile phone is connected to the mount based on the connection indication, wherein the mobile phone is connected to the mount in the event that the mobile phone is placed in the mount. |
| US09401984B1 |
Method and apparatus for preventing misdials and unintended activation of a portable wireless communication device
A method and apparatus operate a user portable wireless communication device on a wireless wide area network. The user portable wireless communication device can include a first side and a user input located on the first side, where the user input can include a user actuation input. The device can include a second side orthogonal to the first side and a side touch sensor on the second side. The device can also include a controller coupled to the user input and the side touch sensor. The controller can be configured to detect whether a user is touching the side touch sensor, configured to enable the user actuation input when the user is touching the side touch sensor, and configured to disable the user actuation input of the user input when the user is not touching the side touch sensor. |
| US09401983B2 |
Chemical alert system using a protable device with integrated chemical sensor
A chemical alert system for generating an alarm is described including a portable electronic device, preferably with telecommunication capabilities to allow for data and/or voice communication via private or public networks, and at least one chemical sensor integrated with the housing of the portable device and controlled by a chemical sensor processing unit, further comprising an alert discriminator receiving input based on measurements of the chemical sensor, performing a test on the input and based on an outcome of the test initiating the transfer of measurements of the chemical sensor to a remote processing facility. |
| US09401980B2 |
Method for communication with a portable communication device implemented at a base
A portable communication device equipped with a screen and a random access memory is described. The device can receive a data stream through a radio link and can automatically display information from the data stream on the display screen, without any user's request, where a part of this information is stored in the random access memory during a period of time that is longer than the duration of display. The device can also display information from the data stream on the display screen, upon user's request, where this information is stored in the random access memory during the duration of display only. Also described is a base able to communicate with such a portable communication device. |
| US09401977B1 |
Remote sensing device, system, and method utilizing smartphone hardware components
A remote sensing device, system and method is described. The remote sensing device includes an enclosure, a smartphone, and a microcontroller. The smartphone is fixedly coupled to the enclosure. The microcontroller is communicatively coupled to the smartphone. The microcontroller includes a power management module, a controller, and a wireless sensor network. The power management module is electrically coupled to an auxiliary battery that powers the smartphone. The controller is communicatively coupled to smartphone and the controller controls the power management module. The wireless sensor network includes a wireless communication interface that is different from the smartphone wireless communication interface. The remote sensing system includes a remote sensing component, a network module such as a web application server, and a database. The network module is communicatively coupled to the wide area network and receives sensor signal output and a timestamp from the smartphone. The database logs the sensor signal output communicated by the smartphone. |
| US09401976B1 |
Virtual memory protocol segmentation offloading
Methods and systems for a more efficient transmission of network traffic are provided. According to one embodiment, payload data originated by a user process running on a host processor of a network device is fetched by an interface of the network device by performing direct virtual memory addressing of a user memory space of a system memory of the network device on behalf of a network interface unit of the network device. The direct virtual memory addressing maps physical addresses of various portions of the payload data to corresponding virtual addresses. The payload data is segmented by the network interface unit across one or more packets. |
| US09401973B2 |
Systems and methods for transmitting data
A server is in communication with a plurality of clients being executed by a host. The server is configured to receive a message from a first client of the plurality of clients. The message indicates that the first client currently has focus, wherein the message is transmitted by the first client with a first cookie. The server is configured to identify that a second client of the plurality of clients utilizes a second cookie that matches the first cookie, wherein the second client is currently receiving data from the server using a low-latency update mechanism. The server is also configured to downgrade the second client from the low-latency update mechanism to a high-latency update mechanism, wherein the high-latency update mechanism is configured to enable the second client to conduct a poll of the server periodically for updates. |
| US09401969B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and administration server
A system and method for information processing is provided. In an embodiment of the present system and method, a connection target apparatus is detected at an information processing apparatus. Upon detection, the information processing apparatus generates apparatus information and transmits the apparatus information to a server via a communication path. Based on the apparatus information, the server generates connection information and transmits the connection information to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus may use the connection information to establish communication with the connection target apparatus via another communication path. |
| US09401967B2 |
Inline wire speed deduplication system
Systems for performing inline wire speed data deduplication are described herein. Some embodiments include a device for inline data deduplication that includes one or more input ports for receiving an input data stream containing duplicates, one or more output ports for providing a data deduplicated output data stream, and an inline data deduplication engine coupled to one or more input ports and one or more output ports to process input data containing duplicates into output data which is data deduplicated, where the inline data deduplication engine has an inline data deduplication bandwidth of at least 4 Gigabytes per second. |
| US09401962B2 |
Traffic steering system
A method including receiving a session request to establish a network connection with a network; sending a session response to establish the network connection with the network; obtaining, by a traffic steering system, user profile information associated with a user sending the session request; and routing the network connection to a requested user destination via the traffic steering system based on the user profile information, wherein the user profile information includes user-specific preferences. |
| US09401961B2 |
Cloud-enhanced traffic controller
Embodiments include a method for controlling a traffic signal with a cloud-enhanced traffic controller. The method includes receiving the cloud-enhanced traffic controller comprising a memory storing a connection agent and a unique identification assigned to the cloud-enhanced traffic controller and connecting the cloud-enhanced traffic controller to the traffic signal and to a communications network, wherein based upon detecting that the cloud-enhanced traffic controller is connected to the communications network, the connection agent establishes a secure connection to a web service. The method also includes transmitting the unique identification and a status information of the cloud-enhanced traffic controller to the web service. |
| US09401959B1 |
Network folder resynchronization
Resynchronization of folders shared among multiple client devices over a network is provided. Metadata and hash values stored on the client device are moved from a metadata database to a resynchronization database, and the data in the metadata database is deleted. Metadata is created for locally stored synchronized files. For each file, the created metadata is compared to the metadata stored in the resynchronization database. If the metadata matches, hash values are retrieved from the resynchronization database and stored with the created metadata in the metadata database. If the metadata does not match, hashes for the file are created and stored with the created metadata in the metadata database. A synchronization operation may be performed which consists of comparing the files stored on the client to the synchronized versions on a host server and updating or adding files that are not present or not up to date. |
| US09401958B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for migrating user service
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for migrating a user service, and relate to the field of communications, so that a user service is uninterrupted and service data of a user is not lost in a process of migrating an application program. The method includes: saving a user request link message sent by a client; after freezing an application program, saving socket status information corresponding to each current user link, and saving data packets in a socket input buffer and a socket output buffer that correspond to each current user link; and sending the user request link message to a standby server, so that the standby server generates a server socket according to the user request link message; and sending socket status information corresponding to the user link, and the data packets to the standby server, so that the standby server updates the server socket and buffer data. |
| US09401956B2 |
Systems and methods for performing group actions based on machine-readable codes
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can receive from a user a machine-readable code associated with a group. The group can be identified based on the machine-readable code. A set of current members of the group can be identified. The user can be provided with access to the set of current members of the group. In some instances, an identifier for the user can be received. The user can be added, based on the identifier, to the set of current members of the group. The current members can be provided with access to the set of current members including the user. |
| US09401955B2 |
Method of integrating network storage spaces and control system thereof
A method of integrating a plurality of network storage spaces includes: receiving data in a single user interface; dividing the data into a plurality of sub-data, wherein the plurality of sub-data correspond to the plurality of network storage spaces, respectively; and uploading each of the plurality of sub-data to a corresponding network storage space among the plurality of network storage spaces. |
| US09401954B2 |
Scaling a trusted computing model in a globally distributed cloud environment
A distributed cloud environment system comprising: a repository; a plurality of cloud managed nodes with a client program interface; a plurality of service management components with a service management component interface; a central trusted computing platform service in communication with the repository, the plurality of cloud managed nodes and the plurality of service management components, comprising: a first interface for communication with the client program interface in each of the plurality of cloud managed nodes through a first single touch point; and a second interface for communication with the service management component interface for the plurality of service management components through a second single touch point. The central trusted computing platform service manages interaction of the plurality of service management components with the plurality of cloud managed nodes, and the interaction of the plurality of cloud managed nodes with the repository. |
| US09401953B2 |
Intelligent high-volume cloud application programming interface request caching
A system for processing requests handled by an application programming interface is disclosed. The system may receive a plurality of requests which call functions that are hosted by the application programming interface. Once the plurality of requests are received, the system may group a subset of the requests into a pool of requests if the subset of requests call similar functions hosted by the application programming interface. Additionally, the system may combine a set of requests from the pool of requests into a set of calls if the set of requests in the pool of requests are received by the system during a specified time interval. Furthermore, the system may include pushing the set of calls to a database to obtain a result set for the set of requests in the set of calls. The system may then receive the result set in response to the set of calls. |
| US09401943B2 |
Real-time customizable media content filter
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an approach is provided in which a processor receives a media stream that includes media content. The processor selects a media stream segment included in the media stream, and generates annotated data based upon a portion of the media content included in the selected media stream segment. The processor, in turn, compares the annotated data with obfuscation preferences that correspond to prohibited content, and modifies the media stream segment in response to the comparison. |
| US09401940B2 |
Terminal provided with networking module and method for receiving and transmitting data using the same
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for receiving data includes receiving, via a communication unit of a terminal, at least one of displayable data and soundable data from an external device, wherein the external device includes at least one of a touch-sensitive unit, a first displaying unit and a first speaker, wherein the communication unit connects to the Internet and includes at least one of a cabled communication unit and a wireless communication unit, and wherein the displayable data is displayed on the first displaying unit of the external device, and the soundable data is outputted through the first speaker of the external device, and outputting signals associated with the received at least one of displayable data and soundable data to a connectable output unit, wherein the connectable output unit includes at least one of a second speaker and a second displaying unit. |
| US09401938B2 |
Efficiently accessing web conferences from a mobile device
A technique for joining a web conference on a mobile device includes running a program on the mobile device that displays a list of web conference invitations for web conferences scheduled to be held at or near the current time, receiving a user selection of one of the listed web conference invitations, and initiating a web conference for the selected web conference invitation using a web conference client installed on the mobile device. The technique enables mobile users to join web conferences quickly and with few manual operations. |
| US09401935B2 |
System and method for determining trust for SIP messages
A method for performing initial registration is provided. The method includes receiving a server timeout message, the server timeout message including at least a field set to a value equal to a value received during a first registration. The method further includes initiating restoration procedures by performing an initial registration. |
| US09401929B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for tagging content on uncontrolled Web application
Communications by a device in a private network to a site operating outside of the network can be programmatically inspected. Unstructured data, including messages and application content, originating from outside of the network may be dynamically converted to structured data that can be tagged. Interactions and activities can be monitored and processed differently according to internal policies and/or business rules. For example, at least a portion of the structured data can be modified prior to forwarding to the device, access by the device to at least a portion of the structured data can be blocked or limited, access by the device to one or more features associated with the structured data can be blocked or limited, etc. |
| US09401925B1 |
Systems and methods for detecting security threats based on user profiles
A computer-implemented method for detecting security threats based on user profiles may include 1) identifying behavior on a computing system that is potentially indicative of a security threat, 2) identifying a user profile for a user of the computing system that estimates a level of the user's technical sophistication, 3) comparing the identified behavior with the estimated level of the user's technical sophistication, and 4) determining whether the identified behavior indicates a security threat based at least in part on the comparison of the identified behavior with the estimated level of the user's technical sophistication. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09401920B2 |
Black core network system and method
In a network having an encryptor device having an encryption module, a plaintext interface and a ciphertext interface, wherein the encryption module encrypts data transferred from the plaintext interface to a black network through the ciphertext interface and decrypts data transferred from the ciphertext interface to a plaintext network through the plaintext interface, wherein the plaintext interface can be connected through the plaintext link to a plaintext network and wherein the ciphertext interface can be connected through a ciphertext link to a black network, a system and method for reflecting a link failure. A link failure is detected at the ciphertext interface and the link failure is reflected to the plaintext interface. |
| US09401915B2 |
Secondary device as key for authorizing access to resources
A secondary device may be used to provide access to resources to a primary device. Upon receiving an authorization indication at a device, a registration key based on the authorization indication, a user identifier, and a property of the device may be created. Upon determining whether access to at least one resource is permitted according to the registration key the device may be permitted to access the at least one resource. |
| US09401913B2 |
Updating stored passwords
A device may include an authentication server and a server. The authentication server may receive a first form of a password from a client device in accordance with an authentication protocol, and authenticate the client device based on a comparison of the first form to a value derived from a second form of the password stored in a password database, where the comparison fails when the first form is not comparable to a value derived from the second form. The server may establish a secure connection to the client, receive a plain-text password from the client device over the secure connection, authenticate the client device by comparing a value derived from the plain-text password with a value derived from the second form, and update the password database with a third form of the password that permits the authentication server to successfully authenticate the client device when the authentication server receives the first form. |
| US09401908B1 |
Authentication interworking in communications networks
A system performs authentication for real-time communications (RTC). The system receives a request from a browser application for web authentication of a user. The system then performs the web authentication by a security provider by reaching a first resource, where the security provider determines a security principal for the user. Subsequently, the system executes a security Groovy script to obtain an identity mapping from a second resource different than the first resource, where the identity mapping maps the security principal to an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) identity. The system then provides the identity mapping to a runtime Groovy script. |
| US09401902B2 |
Method for exchanging strong encryption keys between devices using alternate input methods in wireless personal area networks (WPAN)
A method for exchanging strong encryption keys between devices using alternate input methods. At least two devices that want to communicate with one another are set in key exchange mode. The at least two devices are to communicate with one another using a short range radio or personal area network. The at least two devices negotiate with one another to determine which of the at least two devices will generate an encryption key, wherein device A represents the negotiated device and device B represents the non-negotiated device. Device A generates the encryption key and transmits the encryption key to device B using an out-of band transmission channel. The out-of-band transmission channel may be transmitting the encryption key via audio tones. A validation process determines whether the transmission of the encryption key via the out-of-band transmission channel was successful. If the encryption key has been successfully validated, the at least two devices are enabled to automatically accept communications between them over the short range radio or personal area network. |
| US09401901B2 |
Self-configuring wireless network
Methods, systems, and apparatus, are provided for wireless networking. In some implementations, a self-configuring wireless system includes at least one wireless network device; and an access point device; wherein the access point device and the at least one wireless network device are preconfigured with a common key so as to enable the access point device to establish a secure wireless network with the at least one network device using the common key upon powering up the access point device and the at least one wireless network device at a user site. |
| US09401898B2 |
System and method for wireless data protection
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for wireless data protection utilizing cryptographic key management on a primary device and a backup device. A system encrypts a file with a file key and encrypts the file key twice, resulting in two encrypted file keys. The system encrypts each file key differently and stores a first file key on the primary device and transmits one of the encrypted file keys in addition to the encrypted file to a backup device for storage. On the backup device, the system associates the encrypted file key with a set of backup keys protected by a user password. In one embodiment, the system generates an initialization vector for use in cryptographic operations based on a file key. In another embodiment, the system manages cryptographic keys on a backup device during a user password change. |
| US09401896B2 |
Systems and methods for authenticating and protecting the integrity of data streams and other data
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a recipient of a cryptographically-signed electronic communication to verify the authenticity of the communication on-the-fly using a signed chain of check values, the chain being constructed from the original content of the communication, and each check value in the chain being at least partially dependent on the signed root of the chain and a portion of the communication. Fault tolerance can be provided by including error-check values in the communication that enable a decoding device to maintain the chain's security in the face of communication errors. In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for enabling secure quasi-random access to a content file by constructing a hierarchy of hash values from the file, the hierarchy deriving its security in a manner similar to that used by the above-described chain. The hierarchy culminates with a signed hash that can be used to verify the integrity of other hash values in the hierarchy, and these other hash values can, in turn, be used to efficiently verify the authenticity of arbitrary portions of the content file. |
| US09401894B2 |
Proximity signature for secure communication with implantable medical device
Systems, devices and methods employing coded magnetic fields or transfer of encryption key information via proximity telemetry are described. The systems, methods and devices help prevent or reduce unintended or unintentional distance telemetry communication between an external medical device and an implantable medical device. |
| US09401893B2 |
System and method for providing data security in a hosted service system
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for protecting sensitive data in a hosted service system. The system includes a host system and the host system includes a key management system (KMS) and a metadata service system (MSS). The KMS and the MSS are communicatively coupled to each other. The system further includes a database management system (DBMS) having a database, a query pre-parser, and a results handler. The query pre-parser and the results handler are communicatively coupled to the KMS and the MSS, and the system also includes a processing application adapted to process at least some data received from a tenant system. |
| US09401888B2 |
Internet protocol mapping resolution in fixed mobile convergence networks
Techniques for facilitating operation of a communication device having a first internet protocol (IP) address in a first network and a second IP address in a second network include detecting a presence of a network address translation (NAT) table; implementing, when the NAT table is present, a message exchange protocol to obtain a mapping between the first IP address and the second IP address; and reporting, in a communication message, the mapping between the first IP address and the second IP address. In one operational scenario, the first network is a 3 GPP network and the second network is a broadband fixed network such as a DSL or a cable modem network. |
| US09401887B2 |
Identifying content in an incoming message on a social network
Identifying content in an incoming message on a social network includes categorizing a sender-recipient relationship between a sender and a recipient of an incoming message in an activity stream in a display. |
| US09401883B2 |
Email tags
Email tags are described. In embodiments, email messages are received for distribution to client devices that correspond to respective recipients of the email messages. Email routing decisions are applied to route an email message to an email folder for a recipient of the email message, where the email folder may include an email inbox, a junk folder, or a user-created folder. The email message is then tagged with an email tag to generate a tagged email message. The email tag includes a routing description that indicates why the email message was routed to the particular email folder. |
| US09401882B2 |
Sending an out-of-facility notification based on aggregated content from a task management system
Historical content corresponding to activity of a user in at least one social networking service is aggregated. The historical content indicates a plurality of collaboration partners with whom the user collaborated via the at least one social networking service in an occupation context. Based on the aggregated historical content, at least one of the collaboration partners can be identified as at least one priority collaboration partner. Whether the user currently is not in a facility where the user works can be automatically determined. Responsive to determining that the user is not in the facility where the user works, a message indicating that the user is not in the facility where the user works can be automatically sent to the at least one priority collaboration partner. |
| US09401878B2 |
Packet synchronization switching method and gateway device
A gateway device includes plural electronic circuit boards with redundant structures, between first and second networks, which are different. The gateway device receives data provided through the first network and, after applying data processing, outputs data to the second network. Data processing reference timings and time information, which are common in the gateway device, are shared, the data processing is executed in synchronization with the reference timings, and synchronized packets are provided. System switching between the electronic circuit boards is executed in accordance with the time information. Thus, packet outputs are synchronously switched. |
| US09401876B2 |
Method of data delivery across a network fabric in a router or Ethernet bridge
The invention provides an Ethernet bridge or router comprising a network fabric adapted to provide interconnectivity to a plurality of Ethernet ports, each of the Ethernet ports being adapted to receive and/or transmit Ethernet frames, and wherein the Ethernet bridge or router further comprises an encapsulator connected to receive Ethernet Protocol Data Units from the Ethernet ports, wherein the encapsulator is operable to generate a Fabric Protocol Data Unit from a received Ethernet Protocol Data Unit, the Fabric Protocol Data Unit comprising a header portion, and a payload portion which comprises the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit concerned, and wherein the encapsulator is operable to transform Ethernet destination address information from the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit into a routing definition for the network fabric, and to include this routing definition in the header portion of the Fabric Protocol Data Unit. Also provided is a method of data delivery across a network. |
| US09401872B2 |
Virtual link aggregations across multiple fabric switches
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch is configurable to be a member of a first fabric switch. The switch includes a link aggregation module. During operation, the link aggregation module marks an ingress-switch field of a frame with a virtual switch identifier. This virtual switch identifier is associated with the switch and a second switch, which is a member of a second fabric switch, and is from a range of identifier associated with the first fabric switch and the second fabric switch. Each of the first fabric switch and the second fabric switch is operable to accommodate a plurality of switches and operate as a single switch. |
| US09401870B2 |
Information processing system and method for controlling information processing system
An information processing system includes plural information processing apparatuses, plural storage devices, a load-balancing control device, and an allocation control device. Each of the plural storage devices is allocated to one of the plural information processing apparatuses. The load-balancing control device is configured to receive an access request, and issue an instruction for performing processing based on the received access request to one of the plural information processing apparatuses. The allocation control device is configured to reallocate, when a failure occurs in a first apparatus of the plural information processing apparatuses, first storage devices to a proper substitute apparatus among the plural information processing apparatuses. The first storage devices have been allocated to the first apparatus. The proper substitute apparatus is different from the first apparatus. |
| US09401863B2 |
Dynamic source route computation to avoid self-interference
In a multiple interface, low power and lossy network comprising a plurality of devices, interface options for a source route to minimize self-interferences are desired. The ability to request a interface technology for a device to use with neighboring devices allows multiple transmissions to occur simultaneously without interfering with each other. A root phase device obtains interface option information from the devices. Each device in a network path determines the interface options available, such as powerline communications (“PLC”) and radio frequency (“RF”). The device transmits the interface options to the parent device. The parent device transmits the interface options up the network path toward the root phase device, which collects the interface options and determines transmission routes to any needed endpoint device. The transmission route will comprise the device routes and a interface option for each hop from a parent device to a child device. |
| US09401861B2 |
Scalable MAC address distribution in an Ethernet fabric switch
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a notification mechanism. The notification mechanism constructs a single message that contains a locally learned MAC address associated with a local device, a TRILL RBridge identifier associated with the switch, and an identifier of an interface associated with the MAC address. In some embodiments, the switch includes a data structure and an entry management mechanism. The data structure stores device information learned at a remote switch, wherein the device information includes a MAC address of a device, a TRILL RBridge identifier associated with the remote switch, an identifier of an interface coupled to the device, and a type indicator of the MAC address. The entry management mechanism manages an entry in the data structure based on the RBridge identifier and the interface identifier. |
| US09401859B2 |
Method to setup protocol independent multicast trees in the presence of unidirectional tunnels
Embodiments of the invention are directed to establishing a PIM tree to a source that is reachable over a unicast tunnel in a packet switched network. Advantageously, a Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) Vector TLV to establish a PIM tree may be used in cases where there is an absence of source reachability in the core of a network. |
| US09401856B2 |
Latency monitoring function
A network comprising a latency monitoring point adapted to calculate a forward latency of a path between a master node and a slave node on the basis of time stamps which are exchanged periodically between said master node and said slave node by a time alignment protocol used in said network. |
| US09401853B2 |
Determining sampling rate from randomly sampled events
Mechanisms are provided for determining an event rate. The mechanisms sample a sequence of events to generate a set of sampled events. At least a subset of the sampled events have associated event sequence values indicating a position of the sampled event within the sequence of events. The mechanisms group the sampled events into a plurality of event groups based on a common characteristic of the events. The mechanisms determine, for each event group, sequence values of sampled events associated with the event group. The mechanisms calculate, for each event group, an estimated event rate based on the sequence values of the sampled events associated with the event group and the total number of events in the sequence of events. |
| US09401852B2 |
Resource allocation for migration within a multi-tiered system
A method and system for intelligent tiering is provided. The method includes receiving a request for enabling a tiering process with respect to data. The computer processor retrieves a migration list indicating migration engines associated with the data. Additionally, an entity list of migration entities is retrieved and each migration entity is compared to associated policy conditions. In response, it is determined if matches exist between the migration entities and the associated policy conditions and a consolidated entity list is generated. |
| US09401851B2 |
Network management system
A system may be configured to store a set of service-level agreements (“SLAs”) associated with a subscriber. The system may receive key performance indicator (“KPI”) information for traffic that traverses one or more nodes of a network; forecast, based on the SLA information and the KPI information, a violation of the particular SLA; take corrective action, based on the forecasting; and output, to the subscriber, derived information based on the KPI information. The derived information may be outputted after taking the corrective action, and may indicate that the particular SLA was not violated. The derived information may be outputted at a slower rate than a rate at which the KPI information is received by the system. |
| US09401850B2 |
Cognitive radio system and cognitive radio carrier device
A method for receiving data on a mobile device includes accessing information identifying a number of collaborator devices and receiving respective portions of the data from each of the number of collaborator devices. The respective portions depend on at least one of (a) throughputs between the mobile device and the number of collaborator devices and (b) potential debits charged by the number of collaborator devices. The receiving occurs via mobile-to-mobile connections between the mobile device and the number of collaborator devices. The received respective portions of data are stored at the mobile device. Content is generated on a display of the mobile device based on the stored respective portions of the data. |
| US09401842B2 |
Method and device for configuring terminal devices
A method for configuring terminal devices is provided. The method includes sending a first message containing parameter values to a first terminal. The first terminal includes a data structure containing designations for each parameter value. The method includes storing, in response to receiving the first message, the parameter values in associated elements of the data structure. The method includes reading the data structure. The method includes determining the associated elements by determining the associated designations of the associated elements; or, comparing the data structure and an initial data structure before sending the first message. The first terminal contains the initial data structure. The method includes generating a second message including instructions for storing a parameter value in a second terminal. The instructions are generated as a result of evaluating the data structure. The instructions include the determined associated designations. The method includes sending the second message to the second terminal. |
| US09401839B2 |
Generation and control of network events and conversion to SCADA protocol data types
A system and method is disclosed for receiving a network event in a network format, mapping the network event into a format expected by a central monitoring system, and communicating the mapped network event to the central monitoring system. The system may employ a variety of communication protocols and physical architectures. The system may include an access controller that may connect a plurality of intelligent electronic devices and may be the primary interface with an information system or central monitoring system. The access controller may include a programmable logic engine in compliance with the IEC-61131-3 standard. The access controller may further be configured to implement rules designed to govern actions taken as a result of network information. |
| US09401835B2 |
Data integration on retargetable engines in a networked environment
Techniques are disclosed for data integration on retargetable engines in a networked environment. The networked environment includes data processing engines of different types and having different sets of characteristics. A request is received execute a data flow model in the networked environment. The data flow model includes data flow objects. A first data processing engine is programmatically selected based on a predefined set of criteria and the sets of characteristics of the data processing engines. The data flow model is executed using the selected data processing engine and responsive to the request. |
| US09401829B2 |
Method for generating a filter bank for receiving a signal modulated by continuous phase modulation, and method for receiving said signal
A method for generating a filter bank for receiving a signal modulated by continuous phase modulation, the modulated signal being able to be broken down as a sum of a plurality of amplitude-modulated signals, each amplitude-modulated signal being expressed by a product between a complex pseudo-symbol and a temporal component with a waveform predefined according to the parameters of the modulation, includes: evaluating, over a duration (T) that is equal to the duration of a symbol, all waveforms of the signal from the parameters of the continuous phase modulation and the breakdown in the form of a sum of a plurality of amplitude-modulated signals, retaining all evaluated waveforms that are different from one another, constructing a filter bank made up of a plurality of filters whose temporal responses are equal to the retained waveforms, which are limited to a duration equal to the duration of a symbol. |
| US09401828B2 |
Methods and systems for low-power and pin-efficient communications with superposition signaling codes
A communication system uses a bus to transmit information, by receiving signals and mapping them to a second set of signals representing codewords of a superposition signaling code, and transmitting the second set of signals. The superposition signaling code can comprise more than one layer. The pin-efficiency can be larger than 1. The system may encode bits into a codeword of a superposition signaling code that is defined by two basis vectors of predetermined size and then have two encoders for permutation modulation codes defined by the basis vectors. The bits of information are divided into a first part representing a predetermined number of bits and a second part representing a predetermined number of bits, with the parts provided to the respective encoding circuits and their outputs combined by a superposition. |
| US09401827B2 |
Semiconductor device and information processing system
A semiconductor device capable of determining plural transfer speeds with a small-scale circuit, and an information processing system having the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device has a frequency determining circuit that receives a data signal on which plural transfer speeds can be set and that determines a transfer speed of the data signal. The frequency determining circuit latches the data signal at each of plural timings continuing with a predetermined interval, detects how many times a data switching occurs consecutively, based on the latched plural data, and determines the transfer speed of the data signal from the result of the detection. |
| US09401822B2 |
Software architecture system and method for operating an appliance exposing key press functionality to a network
A network control system for an appliance has a software operating layer that is responsive to a plurality of appliance function calls. A physical user interface on the appliance is capable of generating directly some of the appliance function calls. A virtual user interface connected remotely over the network is also configured to invoke some of the appliance function calls. But the virtual user interface can further invoke one or more of the function calls that the physical user interface cannot generate directly. |
| US09401819B2 |
Instant message (IM) routing to a virtual user consisting of a group of possible sub-users associated with a common IM identity
Disclosed are a method, apparatus and system for instant message routing. The method includes: receiving a communication request from a source client to a destination client; acquiring the context associated with the source client and the destination client; and selecting a sub-user of the destination client for communication using a policy according to the context. When a source client requests communication with a virtual user, the method can route the communication request using a policy according to the context, to a sub-user of the virtual user which once communicated with the source client. |
| US09401818B2 |
Scalable gateways for a fabric switch
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a gateway subgroup module, a tunnel management module, and a packet processor. The gateway subgroup module operates the switch in conjunction with a remote switch to form a gateway subgroup. The switch and the remote switch actively operate as tunnel gateways. The tunnel management module maintains a data structure indicating whether a tunnel source subnet is associated with the gateway subgroup. The packet processor decapsulates a tunnel-encapsulated packet in response to a tunnel source subnet of the tunnel-encapsulated packet being associated with the gateway subgroup. |
| US09401815B2 |
System and method for electrical device control
The disclosed subject matter provides a method for installing and controlling a plurality of electrical devices such as lighting, air-conditioning, heating, and access control. The control may be from a plurality of sensors, so that one or more device can be controlled according to a sensor. Sensor types include dimmers, occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, daylight sensors, On/Off touch sensors, other sensor types, or a combination of sensors. |
| US09401812B1 |
Message presence
A presence system is used to monitor the presence state of an electronic message originated by a sender and addressed to a recipient. The presence system includes a presence user agent and a presence server. The presence user agent is coupled to a communication network to receive the electronic message, register the electronic message with the presence server as a message presentity, determine presence information for the message presentity and provide the presence information to the presence server. The presence information defines a presence state of the message, in which the presence state identifies a processing state of the electronic message by the recipient. The presence server is also coupled to the communication network to provide the presence information in real-time to watchers of the message presentity. |
| US09401809B2 |
Composite system, method, and storage medium
In a composite system that includes a main system that operates with a main program and a plurality of sub-systems that operate both with sub-programs and under the control of the main system attachably and detachably connected with each other via a predefined bus, the main system transfers each fragment of divided target data to the sub-system, and the sub-system includes a receiving buffer that can read and write the fragment of data received from the main system temporarily. An encrypting process can be executed with the main system and the sub-system regardless of the size of target data to be encrypted, the size of memory in the sub-system, and data transfer capability between the main system and the sub-system even if the size of the target data in the main system is bigger than the size of the receiving buffer in the sub-system. |
| US09401808B2 |
Measuring device, information processor, key management device, and consumption calculating system
A measuring device has a consumption measurer to measure a consumption of at least one target equipment at every unit time within a predetermined measurement area, a consumption storage to store the measured consumption, a secret key storage to store a secret key shared with a key management device, an encryption key updater to update an encryption key at every predetermined period based on the secret key and time information, an encryption key storage to store the encryption key, an encryptor to generate encrypted data by encrypting the consumption using the encryption key stored in the encryption key storage, an encrypted data storage to store the encrypted data, and a communication controller to control transmission of the encrypted data, which is stored in the encrypted data storage, to a total consumption detecting device. |
| US09401802B2 |
Side channel power attack defense with pseudo random clock operation
Apparatus and methods are provided for defending an electronic circuit secret algorithm and secret parameter values against a side-attack. In an example, a method can include receiving first one or more parameters for altering a clock signal of the electronic device at a non-volatile memory register, and altering a frequency of the clock signal of the electronic device during execution of an authentication routine according to the first one or more parameters. |
| US09401801B1 |
Multi-chip TX beamforming for per-packet switching with reduced LO leakage
A wireless communications device that produces phase-synchronized local oscillator (LO) signals. The device includes a first transceiver chain to receive a first timing signal and a second transceiver chain to receive the first timing signal and a second timing signal. The first transceiver chain includes a first frequency divider to convert the first timing signal to a first LO signal. The second transceiver chain includes a multiplexer to select one of the timing signals based at least in part on a mode select signal. A second frequency divider in the second transceiver chain converts the selected timing signal to a second LO signal, and a phase alignment circuit aligns a phase of the second LO signal with a first alignment signal. The first alignment signal is activated, for a limited duration, in response to a change in state of the mode select signal. |
| US09401800B1 |
Clock data recovery system for Serdes
A clock data recovery system is provided. A CTLE generates a first equalized signal. An adder superposes the first equalized signal and a feedback equalization signal and generates a superposed signal. A first error slicer slices the superposed signal according to a clock signal and a reference voltage and generates a first error signal. A second error slicer slices the superposed signal according to the clock signal and a second slicing voltage. A data slicer slices the superposed signal according to the clock signal and a third slicing voltage and generates a data signal. A CDR circuit generates the clock signal. An adaptive filter receives the data signal and the first error signal, and generates the reference voltage and a DFE coefficient set. A DFE receives the data signal and the DFE coefficient set, and generates the feedback equalization signal. |
| US09401793B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding uplink control information
A method for encoding uplink control information comprises: determining the number of bits of the first uplink control information and the number of bits of second uplink control information; determining a second parameter for channel encoding of the first uplink control information according to the number of bits of the first uplink control information and the number of bits of the second uplink control information; determining the number of encoding symbols or the number of encoding bits of the first uplink control information according to the second parameter and the number of bits of the first uplink control information; encoding the first uplink control information according to the number of encoding symbols or the number of encoding bits of the first uplink control information. |
| US09401790B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink signal in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting an uplink signal at a UE in a wireless communication system includes, when a virtual cell ID for a reference signal for demodulation of a physical uplink channel is provided, generating a sequence of the reference signal on the basis of the virtual cell ID, and transmitting the generated reference signal to an eNB. A sequence hopping pattern of the reference signal can be determined on the basis of the virtual cell ID. |
| US09401786B2 |
Wireless station, data transmission method, and wireless communication system
A wireless station includes: a transmitter configured to transmit data to a terminal device by at least one of a first wireless communication method using a reserved first wireless resource, the first wireless communication method using a reserved second wireless resource being a different frequency band from the first wireless resource, and a second wireless communication method; and a processor coupled to the transmitter and configured to: perform transmission of the data by the first wireless communication method using the first wireless resource prioritized over at least one of the first wireless communication method using the second wireless resource and the second wireless communication method, and perform, when the remaining first wireless resource has become less than or equal to a first threshold value, transmission of the data by the at least one of the first wireless communication method using the second wireless resource and the second wireless communication method. |
| US09401783B1 |
Transmission of data to multiple nodes
Methods and systems are described for determining and transmitting at least one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol that may comprise data associated with multiple nodes such as a first node and a second node. Each OFDM symbol may be determined using weights, time-frequency channels, and/or tones that are determined based at least in part on transmissions from the first node and the second node. |
| US09401782B2 |
Test system and a test method for determining processing parameters of audio and/or video data
The test system according to the invention for determining processing parameters of audio and/or video data in a mobile-radio device with a test device (10) comprising an audio/video unit (11) which stores the audio/video data and outputs them as audio and/or video data-packets. Moreover, the test device (10) comprises a mobile-radio unit (12), which is connected to the audio/video unit (11), whereas the mobile-radio unit (12) is embodied for the transmission of the audio and/or video data via a mobile-radio interface (17) to a mobile-radio device (30) under test; a detection unit (13), which is connected to the mobile-radio device (30) under test and is embodied in order to detect audio and/or video data; and an analysis unit (14), which is connected to an analysis interface (15) between the audio/video unit (11) and the mobile-radio unit (12) and to the detection unit (13). |
| US09401781B2 |
HARQ acknowledgment channel coding for 4-carrier HSDPA MIMO
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is at least a method, computer program, and apparatus for operating a receiver using at least four carriers to receive transport blocks from a transmitter, to compose a first codeword to acknowledge at least one of a reception and a lack of reception of individual transport blocks in a first part of the at least four carriers, to compose a second codeword to acknowledge at least one of a reception and a lack of reception of individual transport blocks in a second part of the at least four carriers, and to transmit the first codeword and the second codeword to the transmitter during one slot. |
| US09401777B2 |
Communication apparatus for communicating data conveyed by a plurality of transport channels
A communication apparatus for communicating data conveyed by a plurality of transport channels, the data of the transport channels being multiplexed into at least one multiplexing frame, includes a processing unit. The processing unit transforms an input data block of an initial size into an output data block of a final size in accordance with a rate matching ratio of the final size to the initial size, transmits information on a maximum payload of the at least one multiplexing frame the communication apparatus can send, receives a first parameter relative to the rate matching ratio, and calculates the final size, according to the initial size of the input data block, the first parameter, a second parameter and the maximum payload of the at least one multiplexing frame. The second parameter is representative of a maximum puncture rate and is a predefined parameter for calculating the final size. |
| US09401776B2 |
Transmission method, transmission apparatus, reception method and reception apparatus
All data symbols used in data transmission of a modulated signal are precoded by hopping between precoding matrices so that the precoding matrix used to precode each data symbol and the precoding matrices used to precode data symbols that are adjacent to the data symbol in the frequency domain and the time domain all differ. A modulated signal with such data symbols arranged therein is transmitted. |
| US09401774B1 |
Limited wavelength all-to-all wavelength routing network configuration
A network configuration provides arbitration-free all-to-all connection between the nodes of the network utilizing wavelength routing devices and utilizing a limited number of wavelengths for routing optical signals to the nodes of the network. |
| US09401769B2 |
Methods for calibrating receive signal strength data in wireless electronic devices
A wireless electronic device may include wireless communications circuitry and processing circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may receive radio-frequency signals from external communications circuitry in a number of frequency channels of a communications band. The processing circuitry may gather received signal quality data such as receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) values from the radio-frequency signals received in each of the frequency channels. The processing circuitry may accumulate respective probability distributions of gathered RSSI values for each frequency channel and may compare each of the probability distributions to generate RSSI offset values for each frequency channel. The processing circuitry may gather additional RSSI values in one or more frequency channels and may adjust the additional RSSI values based on the associated RSSI offset values. The processing circuitry may use the adjusted RSSI values to determine an accurate location of the wireless electronic device. |
| US09401766B2 |
Quantum communication network
A quantum communication system comprising a receiver and a plurality of transmitters, said receiver comprising a detector sub-system, each of said transmitters being configured to emit pulses of radiation, said detector subsystem comprising at least one detector, said detector being configured to detect said light pulses, the system comprising a timing control module, said timing control module being configured to control the number of light pulses received by the detector sub-system, such that just one light pulse from one transmitter reaches the detector sub-system at any one time, the timing control module also allowing the transmitter which sent said pulse to be identified. |
| US09401764B2 |
Optical network unit
The present invention provides an apparatus, in particular an optical network unit, which comprises a first part operably coupled to an arm of an optical fiber network, the first part comprises an optical module including an optical-electric interface and/or an electric-optical interface locked on a preset wavelength band, and an interface module, and at least one second part operably coupled to a network entity of a communication network, each comprising a control unit, a signal processing unit and an interface module. One of the control units of the at least one second part is set by a optical line terminal of the optical fiber network as a master control unit configured to tune and control the optical module of the first part. The first part and the at least one second part are wireless coupled with respect to each other via the interface modules. |
| US09401763B2 |
Simulcast mesh dimmable illumination source
An LED illumination device is configured to receive coded messages by at least one of radio signals in free space, electrically conducted signals by wire, and light wave propagated signals in free space, process the coded messages, and transmit the coded messages by two or more of radio signals in free space, electrically conducted signals by wire, and light wave propagated signals in free space. |
| US09401762B2 |
Identifying a location in a network where noise is generated
Configurations and processes for detecting a location at which noise is being generated in a network are disclosed. A device for identifying a location in a network at which noise is being generated may include: an acquiring unit for acquiring amplitude fluctuations in signals transmitted from a first device via a second device in the network; and a detecting unit for detecting a noise-generating device that is transmitting signals containing noise on the basis of the amplitude fluctuations acquired by the acquiring unit. |
| US09401760B2 |
Diagnostic port for inter-switch link testing in electrical, optical and remote loopback modes
A diagnostic testing utility is used to perform single link diagnostics tests including an electrical loopback test, an optical loopback test, a link traffic test, and a link distance measurement test. To perform the diagnostic tests, two ports at each end of a link are identified and then statically configured by a user. The ports will be configured as D_Ports and as such will be isolated from the fabric with no data traffic flowing through them. The ports will then be used to send test frames to perform the diagnostic tests. |
| US09401746B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method, and signal processing program
To obtain a high-quality enhanced signal, there is provided an apparatus including a transformer that transforms a mixed signal, in which a first signal and a second signal coexist, into a phase component for each frequency and one of an amplitude component and a power component for each frequency, an amplitude analyzer that derives a predetermined frequency at which one of the amplitude component and the power component matches a predetermined condition, a change amount generator that generates a change amount of the phase component at the predetermined frequency by using a series of data with a cross-correlation weaker than that of the phase components, a phase controller that controls the phase component at the predetermined frequency by using the change amount provided from the change amount generator, and an inverse transformer that generates an enhanced signal by using the phase component having undergone control processing by the phase controller. |
| US09401744B2 |
Data exchange initiated by tapping devices
A user can initiate the transmission of data on a mobile device by making physical contact with another device. The physical contact can be any type of physical touch that is referred to as a “tap” or “tapping.” When a tap is detected by a device, the device may initiate near field communication (NFC) with the other tapping device. NFC may be used to communicate data between the two devices, or NFC may be used to exchange sufficient information to allow the devices to establish a communication channel via another communication link. In some embodiments, an NFC-enabled mobile device can be used to gather group data relating to users having mobile devices that are within NFC range of one another and which initiate the aggregation of group data by the tapping of three or more devices. |
| US09401739B2 |
RF device and method with improved active load modulation capability
There is described an RF bidirectional communication device utilizing active load modulation, the device comprising (a) a resonance circuit including an antenna (326), and (b) a control unit (322) for controlling communication of the device, including switching between a transmission mode and a receiving mode, wherein the control unit is adapted to (c) modify a configuration of the resonance circuit such that the resonance circuit has a first resonance frequency (f0) when the device is in the transmission mode and a second resonance frequency (f0+Δf) when the device is in the receiving mode, and (d) modify the configuration of the resonance circuit such that a Q-factor of the resonance circuit is periodically decreased while the device is in the transmission mode. There is also described a corresponding method and a system comprising a RF device and a reader/writer device. Furthermore, there is described a computer program and a computer program product. |
| US09401736B2 |
Radio communication apparatus, radio communication system, and radio communication method
A radio communication apparatus includes antennas, transceiver units respectively connected to the antennas, and a radio control unit that controls the transceiver units, simultaneously inputs same transmission data to the transceiver units, and instructs, every switching cycle of frequency hopping, the transceiver units to start check processing for an idle state of frequency channels. The transceiver units respectively include hopping control units that switch the frequency channels every fixed time in synchronization with a communication partner and control such that each of the transceiver units uses a different frequency at the same hour. When determining that a frequency channel is in an idle state before a predetermined time elapses from the start of the check processing for an idle state, the transceiver units transmit the transmission data to the communication partner using the frequency channel. |
| US09401735B2 |
Soft changing of mobile communication system
A subscriber identity is changed for a mobile terminal (10) through the initiation of a sending of an instruction to the mobile terminal (10), via a first mobile communication system (18, 30) to which the mobile terminal is attached, to change subscriber identity from a first subscriber identity (IMSI1) used in the first mobile communication system to a second subscriber identity (IMSI2) for use in a second mobile communication system, and the initiation, after obtaining knowledge of the mobile terminal having attached to the second mobile communication system based on the second subscriber identity, a detachment procedure in the first mobile communication system in relation to the first subscriber identity. The mobile terminal (10) receives the instruction to change, attaches to the second mobile communication system based on the second subscriber identity and detach from the first mobile communication system after having attached to the second mobile communication system. |
| US09401728B2 |
Test signal generator for sigma-delta ADC
The test signal generator generates an analog and digital test signals to test a sigma-delta ADC which has an analog portion succeeded by a digital decimation filter. The test signal generator supplies a first digital test signal having a first particular number of bits N and a first particular bit rate RN corresponding to digital signals occurring after the digital decimation filter. A digital sigma-delta modulator converts the first digital test signal into a second digital test signal having a second particular number of bits M |
| US09401726B2 |
Background calibration of time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters
A robust and fast background calibration technique for correction of time-interleaved ADC offset, gain, bandwidth, and timing mismatches is proposed. The technique combines the use of a calibration signal and a reference ADC. The calibration signal enhances robustness and makes the technique independent of the input signal's statistics. The reference ADC speeds up convergence and enables the use of a small amplitude calibration signal that does not significantly reduce the input signal dynamic range. The calibration signal can be subtracted or filtered from the ADC output and is therefore invisible to the ADC user. |
| US09401724B1 |
Frequency synthesizers with amplitude control
A frequency synthesizer device provides amplitude control. Using switch circuit operating in a first mode, a charge voltage is applied to an oscillator circuit that an inductive-capacitive (LC) tank circuit. The LC tank circuit has a capacitive element, and an inductive element that is connected to the capacitive element. Using the switch circuit operating in a second mode, the LC tank circuit is enabled to oscillate. Using driver circuits that are response to a voltage applied to the tank circuit, current is reinforced in the LC tank, and the reinforcement is based upon a transconductance gain of the driver circuits. Using a calibration circuit, an amplitude of an output signal from the oscillator circuit is detected. In response to the detected amplitude, the transconductance gain is adjusted by enabling or disabling auxiliary circuits from plurality of auxiliary circuits. |
| US09401720B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for clock and/or data recovery
In order to provide a circuit arrangement (100) and also a method for clock and/or data recovery (CDR) having low power consumption, having low power loss and also having scalability of the power loss from the clock and/or data recovery at the data rate, at least one frequency regulation circuit and at least one phase regulation circuit are proposed, wherein firstly only the frequency regulation circuit is active for the purpose of setting the frequency on the basis of the data rate that can be applied to the data input and then changeover to the phase regulation circuit occurs for the purpose of ascertaining the phase difference between the data input and the clock input. |
| US09401719B2 |
Oscillator circuit and method of providing temperature compensation therefor
An oscillator circuit comprising at least a first component arranged to be statically calibrated to calibrate the oscillator circuit to achieve a symmetrical frequency/temperature profile for the oscillator circuit. The oscillator circuit further comprises at least one further component arranged to be dynamically calibrated to enable an oscillating frequency of the oscillator circuit to be dynamically adjusted, and at least one temperature compensation component arranged to receive at least one temperature indication for the oscillator circuit and to dynamically adjust the at least one further component based at least partly on the at least one received temperature indication. In some examples, the at least one temperature compensation component is arranged to dynamically adjust the at least one further component based on a standardized temperature compensation scheme. |
| US09401715B1 |
Conditional pulse generator circuit for low power pulse triggered flip flop
An electronic device includes a pulsed latch circuit configured to latch a data input signal to an output based upon receipt of a pulse signal. A pulse generation circuit is configured to compare the data input signal and an output signal at the output of the pulsed latch circuit, and to generate the pulse signal based upon a mismatch therebetween in response to a clock signal. |
| US09401714B2 |
Programmable logic device
To obtain a PLD that achieves high-speed configuration capable of dynamic configuration, consumes less power, and has a short startup time and a PLD that has a smaller number of transistors or a smaller circuit area than a PLD using an SRAM as a configuration memory, a plurality of logic elements arranged in an array and a switch for selecting electrical connection between the logic elements are provided. The switch includes a first transistor including a multilayer film including an oxide layer and an oxide semiconductor layer, a node that becomes floating when the first transistor is turned off, and a second transistor in which electrical continuity between a source and a drain is determined based on configuration data held at the node. |
| US09401713B2 |
Keyboard assembly including an electromagnet
A keyboard assembly includes a plurality of keys, a key actuation mechanism to move at least one of the keys, the key actuation mechanism including an electromagnet, and a controller to selectively control the electromagnet to cause the at least one key to move between a raised position and a retracted position. |
| US09401711B2 |
Driver output with dynamic switching bias
A circuit of an output stage of a push-pull driver having dynamic biasing may include a stacked configuration of field effect transistors (PFETs) having a first PFET, a second PFET, and a third PFET, whereby the first PFET is connected to a first supply voltage, the third PFET is connected to an output of a switchable voltage bias generator circuit, and the second PFET is electrically connected between the first PFET and the third PFET. A transmission gate may be connected to a second supply voltage, whereby the transmission gate electrically connects the second supply voltage to an electrical connection between the first PFET and the second PFET based on a first operating state for preventing a voltage breakdown condition associated with the stacked configuration of PFETs. The third PFET is bias controlled via the switching of the output of the switchable voltage bias generator circuit. |
| US09401708B2 |
Gate drive unit and method for controlling a gate drive unit
A gate drive unit includes a charging device, a switch, and a timing module. The charging device is conductively coupled with an electrical energy source and a power switch between the electric energy source and the charging device. The switch closes to transfer electrical energy from the energy source to the charging device. The timing module is configured to close the switch to direct the electrical energy from the electrical energy source to the charging device for a designated charging time period in order to charge the charging device with the electrical energy while the power switch is in an OFF state. The timing module opens the switch to cause the electrical energy stored in the charging device to be transferred out of the charging device in the form of a trigger current that is conducted to a gate terminal of the power switch to activate the power switch to an ON state from the OFF state. |
| US09401706B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for providing switching with a T-coil circuit
Techniques and mechanisms for switching between a plurality of inputs each to receive a respective analog signal to be transmitted. In an embodiment, switch circuitry comprises a first input to receive a first signal, a second input to receive a second signal, and one or more T-coil circuits including a first T-coil circuit. A first configuration of the switch circuitry includes a first signal path via a first switch coupled between the first input and a primary input node of the first T-coil circuit. A second configuration of the switch circuitry includes a second signal path via a second switch coupled between the second input and a secondary input node of the first T-coil circuit. In an embodiment, control logic transitions the switch circuitry among a plurality of configurations including the first configuration and the second configuration. |
| US09401704B2 |
Active matrix panel, detection apparatus and detection system
An active matrix panel includes a gate line connected to control electrodes of a plurality of transistors; and a drive circuit supplying the gate line with a conducting voltage and a non-conducting voltage. The drive circuit includes a shift register including a plurality of shift register unit circuits connected to each other, and a demultiplexer including a plurality of demultiplexer unit circuits into which output signals of the shift register unit circuits are input. The demultiplexer unit circuit includes a first transistor for supplying the gate line with the conducting voltage, and a second transistor for supplying the gate line with the non-conducting voltage. The first transistor is changed from a non-conducting state into a conducting state when the second transistor is in the conducting state. |
| US09401697B2 |
Device for generating an alternating voltage difference between the reference potentials of electronic systems
The present invention relates to a device for generating an alternating voltage difference between a first and second reference potential. The device comprises: an oscillator electrically referenced to the first reference potential; and a voltage follower/amplifier device electrically referenced to the second reference potential and having an input connected to the oscillator and an output connected to the first reference potential such that it can impose an alternating voltage difference, which depends on the signal generated by the oscillator, between said first and second reference potentials. The invention also relates to a system that uses the device and to a method for generating an alternating voltage difference between a first and second reference potential. |
| US09401696B1 |
Boosting varactor capacitance ratio
A voltage controlled oscillator comprises a negative resistance, a first inductor, a fixed capacitor, and a frequency control component. The frequency control component comprises at least one varactor and at least a second inductor connected in series with the at least one varactor. A magnitude of an inductance of the second inductor is selected such that the frequency control component has an effective capacitance range larger than a capacitance range of the at least one varactor. |
| US09401695B2 |
Immittance conversion circuit and filter
An immittance conversion circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and includes: a conversion target circuit configured to amplify or attenuate a signal with desired frequency and gain characteristics, and output the resultant signal; a difference signal detection circuit configured to supply the input terminal of the conversion target circuit with a signal of a difference between signals generated at the first and second terminals; an immittance conversion drive circuit configured to perform differential output processing to generate a voltage of a difference between a correction voltage and the signal outputted from the conversion target circuit, and output feedback signals to an immittance conversion generation circuit; and the immittance conversion generation circuit having an immittance conversion generation action to generate, at each of the first and second terminals, a signal of currents or voltages of the corresponding inputted feedback signal and the signal inputted to the first or second terminal. A signal of a difference between the signals generated at the first and second terminals is inputted to the immittance conversion drive circuit as the correction voltage. |
| US09401694B2 |
Operational transconductance amplifier, operational transconductance amplifier-capacitor filter and high order reconfigurable analog filter
An operational transconductance amplifier includes a fully-differential amplifying circuit, a bias driving circuit, and a common mode feedback circuit. The fully-differential amplifying circuit is configured for receiving a differential input voltage and providing a differential output voltage. The fully-differential amplifying circuit includes a plurality of diffusor-differential-pair circuits. The bias driving circuit is configured for providing at least one first bias current to drive the fully-differential amplifying circuit and adjust the transconductance of the transconductance amplifier. The common mode feedback circuit is configured for stabilizing the differential output voltage. An operational transconductance amplifier-capacitor (OTA-C) filter and a high order filter are disclosed herein as well. |
| US09401693B2 |
Methods and apparatus for temperature control of devices and mechanical resonating structures
Methods and apparatus for temperature control of devices and mechanical resonating structures are described. A mechanical resonating structure may include a heating element and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may sense the temperature of the mechanical resonating structure, and the heating element may be adjusted to provide a desired level of heating. Optionally, additional heating elements and/or temperature sensors may be included. |
| US09401691B2 |
Acoustic resonator device with air-ring and temperature compensating layer
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device includes a substrate defining a cavity, a bottom electrode formed over the substrate and at least a portion of the cavity, a piezoelectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer. An air-wing and an air-bridge are formed between the piezoelectric layer and the top electrode, the air-wing having an inner edge that defines an outer boundary of an active region of the BAW resonator device. The BAW resonator device further includes a temperature compensation feature having positive temperature coefficient for offsetting at least a portion of a negative temperature coefficient of the piezoelectric layer. The temperature compensation feature extends outside the active region by a predetermined length. |
| US09401689B2 |
Tunable diplexers in three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (IC) (3DIC) and related components and methods
Tunable diplexers in three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (IC) (3DIC) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the tunable diplexer may be formed by providing one of either a varactor or a variable inductor in the diplexer. The variable nature of the varactor or the variable inductor allows a notch in the diplexer to be tuned so as to select a band stop to eliminate harmonics at a desired frequency as well as control the cutoff frequency of the pass band. By stacking the elements of the diplexer into three dimensions, space is conserved and a variety of varactors and inductors are able to be used. |
| US09401686B2 |
Volume control assembly
A volume control assembly includes a housing that may be positioned proximate an external electronic device. A processor is coupled to the housing. A loud actuator is coupled to the housing and the processor. The loud actuator determines a maximum volume of an audio signal. A quiet actuator is coupled to the housing and the processor. The quiet actuator determines a minimum volume of the audio signal. An amplifier is coupled to the housing and the processor. The amplifier amplifies the audio signal above the minimum volume and below the maximum volume. An input is coupled to the housing, the processor and the external electronic device. The input receives the audio signal from the external electronic device. An output is coupled to the housing, the processor and the external electronic device. The audio signal is directed to the external electronic device between the minimum and maximum volume. |
| US09401685B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting automatic gain control
Automatic gain control systems disclosed herein can incorporate a confidence metric that can estimate the accuracy of gain adjustments calculated by an automatic gain control module. The confidence metric may be based on a percentage of valid audio samples in a given period of time. Based on the confidence metric, the AGC response may be reduced, delayed, frozen, or otherwise altered from the baseline gain adjustment. Time-averaging process may be used to estimate the input signal power level and determine an appropriate baseline gain adjustment. Additionally, weighting functions can be adjusted to prevent overestimation of the signal power. |
| US09401683B2 |
Vehicular active sound effect generating apparatus
A sound effect generating apparatus includes a delay unit for giving a delay to a sound effect output from a rear speaker depending on either an accelerator opening change which represents a change per unit time in an accelerator opening or the accelerator opening itself. |
| US09401680B2 |
Temperature dependent amplifier biasing
An apparatus includes a first bias circuit configured to generate a first current that varies with temperature according to a first slope. The apparatus also includes a second bias circuit configured to generate a second current that varies with temperature according to a second slope. The apparatus further includes a low noise amplifier including a transconductance stage that is responsive to an output of the first bias circuit. The apparatus also includes a load coupled to an output of the low noise amplifier and responsive to an output of the second bias circuit. |
| US09401676B2 |
Solar photovoltaic-thermal collector assembly and method of use
A solar collector assembly includes a photovoltaic panel having first and second sides, a frame, and a first gas-filled chamber on the first side of the photovoltaic panel. The first gas-filled chamber is at least partially defined by a portion of the frame and by a portion of the first side of the photovoltaic panel. A gas functions as a heat exchange fluid and collects heat from solar energy and/or heat generated by the photovoltaic panel. The photovoltaic panel accumulates and converts solar energy to electrical energy. The solar collector assembly may include a second gas-filled chamber provided on the second side of the photovoltaic panel. The second gas-filled chamber is at least partially defined by a portion of the frame and by a portion of the second side of the photovoltaic panel. Solar collector systems and methods of generating electrical energy and/or thermal energy are also described. |
| US09401672B2 |
Brushless motor driving circuit and brushless motor driving system
The brushless motor driving circuit includes a peak hold circuit that outputs a second voltage obtained by holding a peak of a first voltage that is based on a detected voltage responsive to a voltage drop in the detecting resistor. The brushless motor driving circuit includes a filter circuit that outputs a third voltage, which is a direct-current component of the second voltage. The brushless motor driving circuit includes a differential voltage detecting circuit that outputs a first differential voltage between the second voltage and the third voltage. The brushless motor driving circuit includes a computing circuit that calculates a second differential voltage between the analog voltage and a fourth voltage responsive to the first differential voltage, and outputs a speed control signal responsive to the second differential voltage. |
| US09401670B2 |
Electric pump
An electric pump includes a pump body, a sensorless brushless motor, and a control portion controlling the motor to perform a constant current control and a constant voltage control to discharge a necessary discharge amount of an operation fluid from the pump body, the control portion controlling the motor to switch from the constant current control to the constant voltage control at a predetermined temperature of the operation fluid and at a predetermined motor applied voltage. The control portion controls the motor to switch from the constant current control to the constant voltage control at a motor applied voltage which is higher than the predetermined motor applied voltage when a temperature of the operation fluid is lower than the predetermined temperature to discharge the necessary discharge amount of the operation fluid from the pump body. |
| US09401668B2 |
Materials for electroadhesion and electrolaminates
An electroadhesive device includes an outer surface adapted to interface with a surface of a foreign substrate, a plurality of electrodes, and a semi-conductive insulation material disposed adjacent to at least one of the electrodes. Each electrode has a respective conductive volume and is configured to apply a voltage at a respective location of the outer surface, and the difference in voltage between applied voltages includes an electrostatic adhesion voltage that produces an electrostatic force between the device and the substrate that is suitable to maintain a current position of the device relative to the substrate. The insulation material can be polyurethane or any other suitable material having a resistance of about 109 to 1012 ohms*m. The insulation material effectively operates to expand the conductive volume of the electrodes when they are actuated. |
| US09401666B2 |
Vibration actuator, and lens barrel and camera provided with same
A vibration actuator that is easy to manufacture and has good driving performance, and a lens-barrel and a camera provided with the same. The vibration actuator is provided with an oscillator that generates oscillations; and a relative movement member that is pressure contacts the oscillator, and moves relative to the oscillator due to the oscillation. Either a contact face of the oscillator with respect to the relative movement member or a contact face of the relative movement member with respect to the oscillator is a thermosetting resin film that is formed of polyamide-imide resin and fluororesin, and the other contact face is an anodic oxide film. |
| US09401664B2 |
Circuits and techniques for interfacing with an electrical grid
Circuit topologies and control methods for a multi-phase grid interface are described. In at least one embodiment, a power conversion circuit is provided that includes an inverter stage, a transformer stage, and a cycloconverter stage. The cycloconverter stage may include one cycloconverter circuit for each of multiple phases associated with a multi-phase grid. In some embodiments, each cycloconverter circuit may include first and second half-bridge circuits coupled back-to-back. |
| US09401659B2 |
High voltage analog switch
A high voltage analog switch can be used in medical ultrasound applications. The high voltage analog switch can pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without necessarily having any high voltage power supplies. The high voltage analog switch can include three output switches, with one of the output switches having a clamp circuit for ensuring that transistors of an output switch on an input end of the high voltage analog switch remain OFF when the high voltage analog switch is OFF. |
| US09401657B2 |
Input voltage sensor responsive to load conditions
A power converter controller includes a switch driver circuit coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to control a transfer of energy from an input of the power converter to an output of the power converter. An input sense circuit is coupled to receive an input sense signal representative of the input of a power converter. A sense enable circuit is coupled to receive the drive signal to generate a sense enable signal to control the input sense circuit in response to the drive signal. The sense enable signal is coupled to control the input sense circuit to sense the input sense signal continuously in response to a first load condition, and sense the input sense signal only during a fraction of a switching period of the power switch in response to a second load condition. |
| US09401647B2 |
Switching mode power supply and the control method thereof
A switching mode power supply, having: a power switch; an energy storage component coupled to the power switch; a current sense resistor configured to generate a current sense signal; a mode select resistor configured to generate a mode select resistor; a ZCD (Zero Cross Detecting) circuit configured to generate a ZCD signal; and a control circuit configured to provide a switch control signal to control the on and off of the power switch, the control circuit having a multi-function pin configured to receive the mode select signal, the current sense signal and the ZCD signal. |
| US09401642B2 |
Switching power-supply device
A switching power-supply device configured to convert and output a first direct voltage supplied to a second direct voltage by alternately turning on and off a first switching element and a second switching element includes: an inductor; a detection unit; a reference voltage generation unit; a comparison unit; a driving unit; a driving signal generation unit; and a power supply circuit, the driving unit turns on the first switching element during a period where the driving signal is supplied, the reference voltage generation unit comprises: a capacitor; a superimposing unit; a charging-and-discharging unit; and a first charging current control unit, and the first charging current control unit charges the capacitor with the first charging current until regeneration of the inductor is completed and charges the capacitor with the second charging current after the regeneration of the inductor is completed until the driving signal is outputted. |
| US09401641B2 |
Systems and methods for self-calibration of a voltage regulator
A method may include causing a first test current to be delivered for a period of time from a phase of a voltage regulator to a load coupled to the voltage regulator, the phase configured to deliver electrical energy to the load. The method may also include measuring a first measured output current associated with the first test current. The method may further include causing a second test current to be delivered from the phase to the load for the period of time, the second test current differing from the first test current by a known offset. The method may additionally include measuring a second measured output current associated with the second test current. The method may also include calculating the respective gain and the respective offset of the phase based on the first measured output current, the second measured output current, the period of time, and the known offset. |
| US09401640B2 |
Voltage droop control in a voltage-regulated switched mode power supply
A switched mode power supply (SMPS) comprising a controller configured to control switching of the SMPS to regulate an output voltage at an output of the SMPS based on a feedback signal that indicates the output voltage, and a voltage droop control circuit. The voltage droop control circuit comprises a voltage droop control signal generator that detects a voltage drop across a component of the SMPS that is indicative of a current flowing through the output of the SMPS during operation. The voltage droop control signal generator is an active device arranged to generate, based on the detected voltage drop, an output voltage droop control signal for causing the controller to adjust the regulation of the output voltage. The voltage droop control circuit further comprises a reference voltage generator arranged to bias at least one of the first and second inputs of the voltage droop control signal generator. |
| US09401639B2 |
Injection locked phasing for a peak-valley multiphase regulator
A system and method capable of injection locking the phases of a peak-valley multiphase regulator includes comparing an output voltage error signal with a ramp control signal and providing a corresponding slope reset signal, using transitions of the slope reset signal to develop a equally spaced high side ramp signals and equally spaced low side ramp signals, and injecting a corresponding one of the high side signals and a corresponding one of the low side ramp signals into each of the phases which correspondingly develop equally spaced pulse control signals for multiphase operation. Such injection locking allows the additional phases to operate out of phase with the first phase and allows operation at high duty cycles. |
| US09401635B2 |
Switching power supply for a load in stanby mode
A switching power supply includes power factor correction circuitry and a standby output converter. One or more loads may be coupled to one or more outputs of the switching power supply. The switching power supply is configured to disable the power factor correction circuitry under some load conditions and to enable the power factor correction circuitry under other load conditions. As a consequence, power that would have been drawn by the power factor correction circuitry is conserved when the power factor correction circuitry is disabled. |
| US09401628B2 |
Permanently excited synchronous machine with ferrite magnets
A permanently excited synchronous machine includes a stator; a winding system arranged in grooves of a laminated core of the stator and forming winding overhangs on end faces of the laminated core, and a rotor connected in fixed rotative engagement to the shaft and having ferrite magnets which extend axially beyond the end faces of the laminated core. The rotor electromagnetically interacts with the stator across an air gap there between during operation of the permanently excited synchronous machine to cause a rotation about an axis of rotation. A flux concentration element is provided radially across each of the ferrite magnets of a magnetic pole and bundles magnetic field lines of the ferrite magnet onto an axial length of the laminated core of the stator. The flux concentration elements and held by a fixing element on the ferrite magnets of a magnetic pole. |
| US09401624B2 |
Charging device, electronic equipment, and charging situation notifying method
A charging system 100 includes an electronic equipment 1 and a charging device 2. The charging device 2 includes a control unit 22 that controls a magnetic field generated from a variable magnetic field generating unit 25 which generates a variable magnetic field, and the control unit 22 controls a strength of the magnetic field generated from the variable magnetic field generating unit 25, in accordance with a remaining capacity or an available charging free capacity in a battery 11 of the electronic equipment 1 receiving a power transmitted from a feed circuit 21. |
| US09401621B2 |
Wireless charging dock with auto-positioning
A wireless charging system may auto-position an electronic device for charging. A docking station may include a transmission source providing wireless charging to the electronic device when the device is moved into charging range by motion elements configured to move the electronic device along one or more docking surfaces of the docking station. In some embodiments, position sensors may detect the presence and location of the electronic device. A control unit may operate the motion elements to move the electronic device toward the charging area. |
| US09401619B2 |
Charging device
A charging device includes a power converting unit and a power output unit. The power converting unit comprises a first conductive pin, a second conductive pin, and a converter. The first conductive pin and the second conductive pin are electrically connected to an alternating current (AC) power. The converter converts the AC power to a direct current (DC) power and outputs the DC power. The power output unit is electrically connected to the converter via a number of cables, and outputs the DC power to an electronic device. The power output unit comprises a first switch and a second switch. When the electronic device separates from the power output unit, the first switch controls the converter to stop receiving the AC power. When the electronic device is completely charged, the second switch controls the converter to stop receiving the AC power. |
| US09401616B2 |
Battery pack, energy storage system including battery pack, and method of charging battery pack
A battery pack including: a battery including a battery cell; a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the battery; a cell voltage measuring unit for measuring a cell voltage of the battery cell and generating cell voltage data including a cell voltage value; a temperature measuring unit coupled to the temperature sensor, the temperature measuring unit being for generating temperature data including a temperature value corresponding to the temperature of the battery detected by the temperature sensor; and a control unit for determining a maximum charging current value (MCCV) of a charging current for charging the battery based on the cell voltage data and the temperature data. The control unit is for transmitting the MCCV to a charging apparatus for supplying the charging current to the battery pack. The charging apparatus is for controlling the charging current supplied to the battery pack to have a value below the MCCV. |
| US09401612B2 |
Pulsed level shift and inverter circuits for GaN devices
GaN-based half bridge power conversion circuits employ control, support and logic functions that are monolithically integrated on the same devices as the power transistors. In some embodiments a low side GaN device communicates through one or more level shift circuits with a high side GaN device. Both the high side and the low side devices may have one or more integrated control, support and logic functions. Some devices employ electro-static discharge circuits and features formed within the GaN-based devices to improve the reliability and performance of the half bridge power conversion circuits. |
| US09401611B2 |
Recharging of a pool of batteries
Method for recharging a pool of batteries from a recharging device (10) comprising several recharging terminals (14) supplied electrically from at least one energy production source (11), characterized in that it comprises the following steps: Estimation of the future production of energy, i.e. the predicted energy Epredicted and the predicted power Ppredicted(t) as a function of time t, in the course of a reference period by at least one energy production source; Estimation of the energy need Σi Ei(t) for the recharging of the batteries present in the recharging device; Computation of a dummy power Pdummy which is less than or equal to the predicted power and able to address all or part of this energy need in a dummy period which may or may not be distinct from the reference period; Scheduling of the rechargings of the batteries present in the recharging device over this dummy period. |
| US09401609B2 |
Portable power transfer device
A portable power transfer device has input connectors and output connectors which can be used to transfer power from a first electronic device to a second electronic device. The connectors are housed in a main enclosure, which also has an auxiliary USB port. An internal power source is also housed in the main enclosure. The second electronic device can be charged through an output connector or a USB cable connected to the auxiliary USB port by draining power from the first electronic device or from the internal power source. A voltage regulation circuit is electrically connected between the input connectors and the output connectors, as well as between the auxiliary port and the input connectors. The voltage regulation circuit ensures a desirable output voltage. In addition to power transfer, the power transfer device enables data transfer when using USB connectors and ports to connect the first electronic device and the second electronic device. |
| US09401603B2 |
Protection circuit and input circuit suitable for integrated circuit
An input circuit suitable for an integrated circuit (IC) and a protection circuit in the input circuit are provided. The protection circuit includes a transistor, a voltage selector, an inverter, a resistor and a switch circuit. The transistor is coupled to an input end of the protection circuit. The voltage selector is coupled to the transistor and the input end of the protection circuit, and outputs a lower one of a voltage at the input end of the protection circuit and a ground voltage to the transistor. The inverter is coupled to the transistor. The resistor is coupled between a power supply voltage and the inverter. The switch circuit is coupled to the inverter, a preset voltage and an output end of the protection circuit and is controlled by the inverter to connect the preset voltage to the output end or to switch the output end to a floating state. |
| US09401601B2 |
Circuit designs for induced transient immunity
A circuit for protecting a voltage supply to a sensor from a transient event is provided. The circuit includes at least one buffer capacitor configured to provide output during the transient event, the output substantially equivalent to output of a regulated supply during normal operation of the sensor. A method of fabrication and a sensor are disclosed. |
| US09401599B2 |
Disconnection of a string carrying direct current power
A direct current (DC) power combiner operable to interconnect multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings is disclosed. The DC power combiner may include a device adapted for disconnecting at least one photovoltaic string from the multiple interconnected photovoltaic strings, each photovoltaic string connectible by a first and second DC power line. The device may include a differential current sensor adapted to measure differential current by comparing respective currents in the first and second DC power lines. A first switch is connected in series with the first DC power line. A control module is operatively attached to the differential current sensor and the first switch. The control module may be operable to open the first switch when the differential current sensor measures the differential current to be greater than a maximum allowed current differential, thereby disconnecting the photovoltaic string from the interconnected photovoltaic strings. |
| US09401596B2 |
Device for actuating actuators in a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a device for actuating actuators in a motor vehicle having an at least partially metallic housing (MG) in which an electric circuit is arranged, which has at least one high-voltage-generating circuit (HES) for generating an output voltage (UHS) which is higher than a voltage which is considered safe for people, from the on-board motor vehicle power system voltage. The electric circuit has a monitoring circuit (UES) which has a first input (E1) which is connected to a reference voltage (Vref), and has a second input (E2) which is connected to the at least partially metallic housing (MG), and the output (A) of which is operatively connected to the high-voltage-generating circuit (HSS) in such a way that in the case of a differential voltage at the two inputs (E1, E2) which is higher than a predefined value, the high-voltage-generating circuit (HSS) is deactivated or the output voltage (UHS) thereof is limited to a value of at maximum the voltage which is considered safe for people. |
| US09401594B2 |
Surge protection for differential input/output interfaces
An integrated circuit device (200) includes a first and second differential I/O pins (TRXP/TRXN) and a surge protection circuit. The surge protection circuit includes a protection transistor, a positive surge detection circuit, and a negative surge detection circuit. The protection transistor is connected between the first and second I/O pins and has a gate to receive a control signal (CTRL). The protection transistor is turned on to connect the I/O pins together if the positive surge detection circuit detects a positive surge energy on either of the I/O pins and/or if the negative surge detection circuit detects a negative surge energy on either of the I/O pins. The surge protection circuit provides increased protection for Ethernet device against undesirable energy in a manner that does not adversely affect the performance of the device. |
| US09401593B2 |
Device for monitoring and protecting the power supply of electrical equipment and method for implementing said device
A device for monitoring and protecting electrical equipment, placed in series on a power supply line between an electrical power source and the equipment, includes: at least one voltage regulator for regulating a power supply voltage of the equipment, at least one current limiter, coupled to the voltage regulator to reduce the power supply voltage of the equipment if a power supply current absorbed by the equipment exceeds an upper operating value, at least one crowbar short-circuit device, adapted to be activated when the input voltage exceeds a safety limit value, higher than the upper operating value, and to cause a fuse placed in series between the power source and the equipment, to blow, and calculating and storage elements adapted to generate a clock and to log a date of occurrence of a fault and the operating parameters of the power supply for the equipment in a non-volatile memory. |
| US09401591B2 |
Wiring structure of electric wire
A wiring structure of electric wire is provided in which the efficiency of wiring electric wires can be improved and the wiring space can be saved. The wiring structure of electric wire includes an electric wire having a U-shaped excessive part provided in its middle part along the relatively-moving direction of two structures, and a longitudinally-appended spring member provided longitudinally along the electric wire. Fixing positions P1 and P2 of opposite ends of the electric wire are set to offset positions which are deviated in position respectively in two directions perpendicular to the relatively-moving direction of the two structures, and an elastic rod member which has a circular or regular polygonal cross section, having a property of non-biased bending in direction, is used as the longitudinally-appended spring member. |
| US09401580B1 |
Optical source with passive pulse shaping
The invention relates to sources of sub-picosecond optical pulses based on single-pass or double-pass optical amplifiers with an optical gain bandwidth in the 2-20 nm range. A passive pulse shaping filter is provided in front of the optical amplifier for pre-shaping seed optical pulses so as to passively pre-compensate for the gain narrowing effect in the optical amplifier. The passive pulse shaping filter may be based on a reflective thin film filter, which may be coupled to a mirror in a multi-pass configuration. |
| US09401574B2 |
Information handling system multi-axis power adapter
An information handling system power adapter removably couples with a multi-axis plug that rotates between storage, wall socket and power strip positions. The storage position rotates prongs that insert into a power socket so the prongs are retracted into the power adapter, rotates prongs to plug into a wall socket so that the power adapter aligns parallel to the wall having the wall socket, and rotates the prongs to plug into a power strip socket so that the power adapter aligns perpendicular to the power strip having the socket. The multi-axis plug inserts into a power cable receptacle of the power adapter so that an end user may selectively remove the multi-axis plug and insert a power cable that terminates at a plug to connect the power adapter with a power socket through the power cable. |
| US09401568B1 |
Connecting device and electronic device
A connection device apparatus including a housing having tubular rectangle shape and a support portion integrally formed with the housing, a shell having a body portion with tubular rectangle shape, wherein the shell is supported by the support portion of the housing, and the body portion of the shell is provided with a first plurality of comb-teeth which project from an end side of an upper face of the body portion, a shield member configured to surround an end portion of the first plurality of comb-teeth of the body portion of the shell, and wherein the shield member is connected with the end portion of the first plurality of comb-teeth and the ground of the printed-circuit board, and a plurality of terminals arranged within the shell and supported by the support portion of the housing. |
| US09401565B2 |
Plug connector
Plug connector for an electrical and/or optical plug connection, wherein the plug connector comprises a first plug component and a second plug component, the first plug component has an elongate plug-in portion and the second plug component has an elongate receiving jacket portion with an insertion opening, and, in a position in which the first and second plug components are completely plugged one into the other, the plug-in portion is inserted into the receiving jacket portion through the insertion opening; the plug connector also comprises locking means including a locking pin for locking together the first and second plug components the locking pin being located inside the receiving jacket portion and/or the plug-in portion in the completely plugged-in position and being movable between the locking position and the unlocking position on a path of movement with a tangential component, viewed from the longitudinal center line. |
| US09401563B2 |
Cable header connector
A cable header connector includes a contact module having a support body and a plurality of cable assemblies held by the support body and arranged in a column. The cable assemblies each have a contact terminated to a cable and a ground shield coupled to and providing electrical shielding for the contact sub-assembly. The support body has contact channels extending along respective contact channel axes which are parallel to each other, and at least one cable channel intersecting the contact channels. The cables extend through the contact channels and through the at least one cable channel to an outside of the support body. The cables emerging from the support body at corresponding cable exits at respective angles to the contact channel axes. |
| US09401562B2 |
Down the bore with open windows and manufacturing thereof
An implantable medical device connector assembly and method of manufacture include a molded, insulative shell having an inner surface forming a connector bore, a circuit member including one or more traces extending through apertures in the connector shell. One or more conductive members, positioned along the connector bore, are electrically coupled to the traces. The sealing members are positioned between the conductive members. |
| US09401561B2 |
Methods and apparatus for terminating wire wound electronic components to a header assembly
An exemplary header insert assembly, and methods of manufacture and use thereof. In one embodiment, the header insert assembly comprises a connector insert assembly having an insert body assembly consisting of an insert body element. The insert body element includes an electronic component receiving cavity that is configured to receive any number of electronic components. The insert body assembly also includes a wire termination feature that includes termination slots that position the wire ends of the wire wound electronic components adjacent to a substrate to which the wire ends are ultimately to be secured. The wire ends are then secured to the substrate using, for example, a mass termination technique. The aforementioned header insert assembly can then be optionally inserted into a single or multi-port connector assembly. Methods of manufacturing the aforementioned single or multi-port connector assemblies are also disclosed. |
| US09401554B2 |
Connector
A connector includes a terminal, a housing configured to hold the terminal and having an insertion port for a flat conductor and a fitting chamber where the flat conductor and the terminal are in conductive contact, and an engaging projection with which the flat conductor engages in a removing direction inside the fitting chamber. The flat conductor includes an engaging recess provided in a side edge portion along an inserting direction in the fitting chamber and having an engaging edge portion configured to abut on and engage with the engaging projection in the removing direction, and a projecting piece part located between the engaging edge portion and a distal end part of the flat conductor. The fitting chamber has an escape space. When the flat conductor is removed, the projecting piece part abuts on the engaging projection, and is displaced in the inserting direction to enter the escape space. |
| US09401552B2 |
Managed connectivity in electrical systems and methods thereof
An electrical connector arrangement includes a storage device coupled to a connector housing. The storage device is configured to store physical layer information pertaining to the electrical connector arrangement. The storage device also has contacts that enable the physical layer information to be read from the storage device by a media reading interface. A connector assembly includes at least one receptacle assembly; a printed circuit board; and a media reading interface. |
| US09401549B2 |
Method of curing a coating agent on a crimp terminal
A wire-equipped crimp terminal includes a wire, a crimp terminal and a coating agent. The wire has a conductor exposed from an insulative sheath. The crimp terminal has a crimping piece which is press-deformed to embrace the conductor. The coating agent is coated to a first part of the crimp terminal. A recess is formed at a non-coating part of the crimp terminal where the coating agent is not coated. The coating agent is cured by irradiating light or an electron beam to the first part in a state where a part of the coating agent flowing out from the first part is received in the recess. |
| US09401540B2 |
Spatial location presentation in head worn computing
Aspects of the present invention relate to the stabilization of head-worn micro-Doppler antennas. |
| US09401535B2 |
Multiple way waveguide power module
Example power modules are described. In one implementation, a power module includes four RF signal ports that are electromagnetically coupled to a fifth RF signal port, which is substantially perpendicular to a geometric plane containing the four RF signal ports. Each of the four RF signal ports includes a waveguide and a reactive element extending into the waveguide. A termination port is electromagnetically coupled to the four RF signal ports and is substantially perpendicular to a geometric plane containing the four RF signal ports. The termination port is substantially coaxial with the fifth RF signal port. |
| US09401530B2 |
Storage battery recycling apparatus
Disclosed herein is a storage battery recycling apparatus in which a pulse current is applied to polar plates or electrodes of a storage battery functioning as a secondary cell through the SCR phase control so as to remove sulfate formed in a film or membrane on the electrodes of the storage battery, thereby recovering the performance of the storage battery in a deteriorated state. The inventive storage battery recycling apparatus includes: a transformer unit 200 for transforming a commercial AC power voltage supplied thereto from an external power source through a power input unit 100; an SCR driving unit 400 for converting the AC power voltage transformed by the transformer unit 200 into a voltage having a pulse waveform through the SCR phase control; an output terminal 500 adapted to be in close contact with the electrodes of the storage battery for supplying the converted pulse voltage outputted from the SCR driving unit 400 to the electrodes of the storage battery so as to charge the storage battery; an SCR controller 300 for controlling the operation of the SCR driving unit 400; a setting unit 600 and a display unit 650 for setting and displaying the operational environment of the storage battery recycling apparatus; a voltage detecting unit 900 and a current detecting unit 950 for detecting the voltage and current of the storage battery; and a microcomputer 700 for controlling the operation of each of the constituent elements. |
| US09401529B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolytic solution and battery including a heteropolyacid and/or a heteropolyacid compound
A nonaqueous electrolytic solution includes: a solvent, an electrolyte salt, a polyacid and/or a polyacid compound, and a monofluorophosphate and/or a difluorophosphate. |
| US09401528B2 |
Layered materials with improved magnesium intercalation for rechargeable magnesium ion cells
Electrochemical devices which incorporate cathode materials that include layered crystalline compounds for which a structural modification has been achieved which increases the diffusion rate of multi-valent ions into and out of the cathode materials. Examples in which the layer spacing of the layered electrode materials is modified to have a specific spacing range such that the spacing is optimal for diffusion of magnesium ions are presented. An electrochemical cell comprised of a positive intercalation electrode, a negative metal electrode, and a separator impregnated with a nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing multi-valent ions and arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode active material is described. |
| US09401527B2 |
Electrolyte-positive electrode structure, and lithium ion secondary battery comprising the same
There are provided an electrolyte-positive electrode structure which comprises a thin solid electrolyte and can develop excellent capacity and output, and a lithium ion secondary battery comprising the same. An electrolyte-positive electrode structure 7 comprises: a positive electrode 4 comprising a positive electrode active material layer 3 formed on a current collector 2; and a solid electrolyte 6 containing inorganic particles having lithium ion conductivity, an organic polymer, and a polymer gel, in which the organic polymer binds the inorganic particles and can be impregnated with the polymer gel, and the polymer gel holds an electrolyte solution and is impregnated into the organic polymer, wherein the positive electrode active material layer 3 is integrated with the solid electrolyte 6 using the organic polymer as a medium. |
| US09401525B2 |
Power storage device and manufacturing method thereof
A power storage device having a small thickness is manufactured. A manufacturing method of the power storage device includes: forming a first layer and a second layer over a first substrate; forming a first insulating layer, a positive electrode and a negative electrode over the second layer; forming a solid electrolyte layer over the first insulating layer, the positive electrode, and the negative electrode; forming a sealing layer to cover the solid electrolyte layer; forming a planarization film and a support over the sealing layer; separating the first layer and the second layer from each other so that the second layer, the positive electrode, the negative electrode, the solid electrolyte layer, the sealing layer, the planarization film, and the support are separated from the first substrate; attaching the separated structure to a second substrate which is flexible; and separating the support from the planarization film. |
| US09401520B2 |
Fuel cell system and method for stopping operation of fuel cell system
In a method for stopping an operation of a fuel cell system, supply of a fuel gas to an anode side of a fuel cell provided in the fuel cell system is stopped. A fuel exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell is recirculated to the anode side of the fuel cell. An oxidant-exhaust-gas discharge path through which an oxidant exhaust gas is to be discharged from the fuel cell is sealed at a downstream position of a connecting portion at which the oxidant-exhaust-gas discharge path is connected to an oxidant-exhaust-gas recirculation path. The oxidant exhaust gas is recirculated to a cathode side of the fuel cell through the oxidant-exhaust-gas recirculation path. Recirculation of the fuel exhaust gas is stopped. Recirculation of the oxidant exhaust gas is stopped. An oxidant-gas supply path through which an oxidant gas is to be supplied to the fuel cell is sealed. |
| US09401519B2 |
Control device for fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes, an oxidant feeder configured to supply an oxidant to a fuel cell, an oxidant passage which communicates with the fuel cell, a bypass passage which branches from the oxidant passage and along which part of the oxidant flows so as to bypass the fuel cell, a bypass valve which is provided in the bypass passage, an oxidant quantity-of-flow control unit which is configured to supply the quantity of flow of the oxidant corresponding to an amount of electricity required by the fuel cell, and an oxidant quantity-of-flow control unit for a sound vibration mode configured to supply a constant quantity of flow of the oxidant, and further includes a bypass valve control unit configured to control the bypass valve according to a requirement of the fuel cell when the oxidant quantity-of-flow control unit for the sound vibration mode controls the oxidant feeder. |
| US09401512B2 |
Method for manufacturing an electrode/proton-exchange membrane assembly
A method for manufacturing a membrane/electrode assembly, including depositing an electrocatalyst ink on one face of a support so as to form an electrode on the support and fixedly attaching the support and the electrode formed on a proton-exchange membrane by adhesion. The method also includes withdrawing a part of the support so as to uncover at least one median part of the formed electrode. |
| US09401503B2 |
Sealing frame for use in a battery
A battery includes at least two sealing frames and at least one cell. The sealing frames include a base body defining an opening wherein the base body includes a first sealing surface embodied to be elastically compressible and positioned against opposite sides of a tapered area of the at least one cell. |
| US09401502B2 |
Battery pack
In some example embodiments, a battery described herein includes a plurality of foldable cells, that when folded takes the form of an asymmetric battery that can utilize available space within a portable electronic device and further is configured to present a curved form factor. In some example embodiments, the apparatus includes a first set of cells and a second set of cells. The first set of cells and the second set of cells are disposed on a sheet that is foldable such that the first set of cells and the second set of cells form a folded battery configuration. |
| US09401500B2 |
Battery package filled with phase change material and battery using the same
A battery and battery package is disclosed which improves a battery's heat dissipation capability by using an aluminum material and a phase change material capable of maintaining a suitable temperature through phase change according to a temperature in order to prevent a battery from being deteriorated in terms of performance. More specifically, battery package has a top case and a bottom case as a battery cell case for housing a battery cell. The top and bottom cases are adhered to each other, and either or both the top and bottom cases includes: a top sheet plate repeatedly undulated at predetermined intervals to form a plurality of unidirectionally extended convex parts to be filled with a phase change material; a bottom sheet plate formed in a flat shape and adhered to the top sheet plate; and a phase change material filled in between the convex parts and the bottom sheet plate. |
| US09401499B2 |
Electrode assembly and secondary battery having the same
A secondary battery includes a jelly roll including a positive and negative electrode plates respectively having positive and negative electrode non-coating portions and at least one separator; positive and negative electrode terminals each having a contact portion, an electrode terminal and an extending portion; elastic members respectively provided between the positive and negative electrode non-coating portions and the contact portions; an outer case that accommodates the jelly roll and the terminal portions in the state that the outer case is connected to the negative electrode terminal portion; a cap plate that seals the outer case; a support portion that supports and insulates the contact portion of each of the terminal portions respectively provided at both ends of the jelly roll; and a positive lead provided in the state that the positive electrode lead is insulated from the cap plate, and electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal portion. |
| US09401498B2 |
Light-emitting device, lighting device, substrate, and manufacturing method of substrate
To provide a substrate which is light and has high reliability and high light extraction efficiency from an organic EL element. To provide a substrate which includes a protective layer in a resin layer, an uneven structure on a light incident surface, and an opening which surrounds the uneven structure and through which the protective layer is exposed. To provide a light-emitting device which includes a resin layer provided with an uneven structure on a light incident surface over a protective layer, and a light-emitting element in the protective layer and a counter substrate which are bonded with a sealant. The protective layer and the resin layer have a property of transmitting visible light. The light-emitting element includes a light-transmitting first electrode over a resin layer, a layer containing a light-transmitting organic compound over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the layer containing a light-transmitting organic compound. |
| US09401497B2 |
Metal-based particle assembly
Provided are a metal-based particle assembly comprising 30 or more metal-based particles separated from each other and disposed in two dimensions, the metal-based particles having an average particle diameter of 200 to 1600 nm, an average height of 55 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio, as defined by a ratio of the average particle diameter to the average height, of 1 to 8, the metal-based particle assembly having a scattering intensity ratio S1/S0 of not less than 0.15, S1 representing a scattering intensity at a maximum wavelength of a peak having a highest peak intensity in a scattering spectrum of light scattered at an angle of 30° from light incident on a surface of the metal-based particle assembly along a normal to the surface, S0 representing a scattering intensity of the peak for a reference system made of a barium sulfate layer, and an optical device including the assembly. |
| US09401493B2 |
Organic electroluminescent element, method for manufacturing same, and organic electroluminescent display device
An organic EL element (1) according to the present invention is such that a positive and negative charge transport layer (30) is interposed between a cathode (20) and an anode (10). The positive and negative charge transport layer (30) is composed of a single host material and has a light-emitting region (33) which is doped with a light-emitting dopant. The positive and negative charge transport layer (30) further has at least one of the following blocking regions: an electron blocking region (32), provided closer to the anode (10) than the light-emitting region (33), having a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital lower than that of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the light-emitting region (33); and a hole blocking region (34), provided closer to the cathode (20) than the light-emitting region (33), having a highest occupied molecular orbital higher than that of the highest occupied molecular orbital of the light-emitting region (33). |
| US09401490B2 |
Transparent conductive film, electronic device, and method for manufacturing electronic device
The present invention provides a transparent conductive film which is low in terms of surface resistivity and high in terms of transparency.The transparent conductive film according to the present invention includes an adhesive conductive layer in openings of a conductive metal mesh layer provided on at least one surface of a transparent base material, wherein the conductive layer is composed of a conductive adhesive composition containing (A) a water-soluble vinyl polymer, (B) an organic additive, and (C) a conductive organic polymer compound, the organic additive (B) is at least one member selected among water-soluble polyhydric alcohols, water-soluble pyrrolidones, and hydrophilic aprotic solvents, and the conductive organic polymer compound (C) is at least one member selected among polyanilines, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, and derivatives thereof. In addition, the present invention provides an electronic device having the foregoing transparent conductive film and a method for manufacturing an electronic device including forming a photoelectric conversion layer on an anodic layer and sticking the conductive layer of the transparent conductive film and a surface of the photoelectric conversion layer to each other at a temperature at which the foregoing conductive adhesive composition is softened or higher. |
| US09401489B2 |
Attachment of conducting graphene electrode layer to an organic polymer
A method of attaching reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide to a polymer layer that includes: forming a polymer layer having a hydrophobic, exterior surface; subjecting the hydrophobic, exterior surface of the polymer layer to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) exposure to change the hydrophobic, exterior surface to a hydrophilic, exterior surface; and applying reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide to the hydrophilic surface of the polymer layer. The UV/O3 exposure reduces the contact angle of droplets on the exterior surface of the polymer layer so that greater amounts of reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide can be applied to the surface. |
| US09401485B2 |
Flexible display substrate, the manufacturing method thereof and a flexible display device
The present invention provides a flexible display substrate, the manufacturing method thereof and a flexible display device, relates to the field of flexible display technology, and can solve the technical problems that the existing flexible display substrate is easy to be damaged during deforming, has small amount of deformation, degraded display performance or high costs, or has difficulty in manufacturing process. The flexible display substrate according to the present invention comprising a hard material layer disposed at the fragile positions of the flexible display substrate. The manufacturing method for the flexible display substrate according to the present invention comprises forming a pattern of a hard material layer. The flexible display device of the present invention comprises the flexible display substrate mentioned above. The present invention is applicable to flexible display devices such as flexible organic electroluminescent display device, flexible electrophoretic display device, or liquid crystal display device. |
| US09401483B2 |
Light-emitting element, display module, lighting module, light-emitting device, display device, electronic device, and lighting device
A light-emitting element with improved heat resistance is provided without losing its advantages such as thinness, lightness, and low power consumption. A light-emitting element is provided which includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, in which the EL layer includes a layer containing a condensed aromatic compound or a condensed heteroaromatic compound, and a layer containing 2,9-bis(naphthalen-2-yl)-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (abbreviation: NBPhen) in contact with the layer containing the condensed aromatic compound or the condensed heteroaromatic compound. |
| US09401481B2 |
Compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
Compounds represented by Formula 1 and organic light-emitting devices including an organic layer including the compounds are disclosed. |
| US09401480B2 |
Electrically conducting thin films and methods of making same
The present invention relates conductive nanostructured copolymer materials, such as thin film. In particular, the nanostructured copolymer material comprises plurality of chains substantially parallel to each other, each conductive chain comprising a plurality of conductive polyacetylene polymer blocks positioned along the chain and a plurality of polar poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer blocks in between the polyacetylene polymer blocks to form a pattern of alternatively repeating polyacetylene polymer blocks and poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer blocks and a ratio of polyacetylene polymer to poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer to provide the nanostructured copolymer material with conductivity of at least 1 S/cm. In some aspects, the invention relates to photoelectric devices comprising a nanostructured copolymer material and capable to convert light to electrical current. |
| US09401479B2 |
Method of manufacturing display apparatus including touch pattern unit
A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes: joining a first thin-film glass substrate onto a first carrier substrate; providing a touch pattern unit on a surface of the first thin-film glass substrate, which is opposite to a surface facing the first carrier substrate; separating the first thin-film glass substrate from the first carrier substrate; turning over the first thin-film glass substrate and joining the turned over first thin-film glass substrate onto the first carrier substrate; joining a second thin-film glass substrate onto a second carrier substrate; providing a display unit between the surface of the first thin-film glass substrate opposite to the surface on which the touch pattern unit is provided and a surface of the second thin-film glass substrate, which is opposite to a surface facing the second carrier substrate; and removing the first carrier substrate and the second carrier substrate. |
| US09401475B1 |
Method for silver deposition for a non-volatile memory device
A method of depositing a silver layer includes forming a plurality of openings in a dielectric layer to expose a top surface of a structure comprising a resistive memory layer on top of a p-doped silicon-containing layer on top of a conductive structure, depositing a first metal layer comprising a tungsten layer overlying the top surface of the structure, wherein a first metal material of the first metal layer contacts a resistive memory material of the resistive memory layer and exposing the first metal layer in a bath comprising a solution of silver species having an alkaline pH for a predetermined time to form a silver metal layer from the silver species from the solution overlying the resistive memory material, wherein the silver species is reduced by the first metal material, and wherein the first metal material is solubilized while forming the silver metal layer. |
| US09401469B2 |
Thin-film piezoelectric material element, method of manufacturing the same, head gimbal assembly, hard disk drive, ink jet head, variable focus lens and sensor
A thin-film piezoelectric material element includes a lower electrode film, a piezoelectric material film, and an upper electrode film, the lower electrode film, the piezoelectric material film and the upper electrode film are laminated sequentially. An upper surface of the piezoelectric material film is a concavity and convexity surface having a convex part and a concave part, the convex part is a curved surface convexly projected, and the concave part is a curved surface concavely hollowed, the upper electrode film is formed on the concavity and convexity surface. The thin-film piezoelectric material element has a stress balancing film formed with a material having an internal stress capable of cancelling an element stress, the stress balancing film is formed on the upper electrode film. |
| US09401465B2 |
Light emitting diode having mirror protection layer and method for manufacturing mirror protection layer
The present invention includes an N-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a P-type semiconductor layer, a metal mirror layer, a protection adhesive layer and a metal buffer layer that are sequentially stacked. The protection adhesive layer is selected from a group consisting of a metal oxide and a metal nitride, fully covers one side of the metal mirror layer away from the P-type semiconductor layer, and includes a plurality of conductive holes. The metal buffer layer penetrates through the conductive holes to be electrically connected to the metal mirror layer. After forming the metal mirror layer on the P-type semiconductor layer, the protection adhesive layer that fully covers the metal mirror layer is directly formed to thoroughly protect the metal mirror layer by using the protection adhesive layer, thereby maintaining a reflection rate of the metal mirror layer and ensuring light emitting efficiency of a light emitting diode. |
| US09401464B2 |
Display apparatus with self-luminous display panel
A display apparatus having a self-luminous display panel is provided. The self-luminous display panel including: a first electrode layer; a second electrode layer; a substrate which is disposed on a light-emitting surface of the second electrode layer; a light emitting layer which is interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and generates light based on holes and electrons transmitted by voltages applied to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; and a linear grid layer which is interposed between the substrate and the second electrode layer, and including linear grids arranged at a predetermined pitch in order to polarize and filter light generated by the light emitting layer and emitted through the substrate. |
| US09401462B2 |
Light emitting device exhibiting excellent heat resistance and good color reproducibility through fluorescent material arrangement
A light emitting device comprising: a base; a light emitting element arranged on a surface of the base; a first resin layer arranged to surround a side portion of the light emitting element and to be spaced apart from the side portion; and a second resin layer arranged on the surface of the base, the second resin layer being present at least on a top of the light emitting element, on a top of the first resin layer, and in an area between the light emitting element and the first resin layer, wherein the first resin layer comprises a light transmissive resin and a first fluorescent material, wherein the second resin layer comprises a light transmissive resin and a second fluorescent material, and wherein the second fluorescent material exhibits higher heat resistance than that of the first fluorescent material. |
| US09401460B2 |
Light emitting element
The light emitting element of the embodiment includes an anode; a cathode; a visible light emitting layer provided between the anode and the cathode and emitting visible light; and a carrier trapping layer containing a thiadiazole based compound represented by the following formula (1). [In formula (1), A indicates a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group which may have a substituent, an arylamino group, or a triaryl amine, and B indicates a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group which may have a substituent, an arylamino group, or a triaryl amine, or may form a ring.] |
| US09401449B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing an inorganic thin-film solar cell, and method for controlling same
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an inorganic thin-film solar cell, the apparatus including: a substrate stage which is mounted in a chamber and in which a solar cell substrate is disposed; and an inorganic powder supply unit including a nozzle configured to discharge an inorganic powder aerosol containing an inorganic powder onto the substrate stage in a supersonic flow so as to form a solar cell layer on the solar cell substrate, and an inorganic powder supply portion configured to supply the inorganic powder aerosol to the nozzle. |
| US09401447B2 |
Semiconductor light-receiving element and method for manufacturing same
The present invention pertains to a semiconductor light-receiving element and a method for manufacturing the same, enabling operation in a wide wavelength bandwidth and achieving fast response and high response efficiency. A PIN type photodiode made by sequentially layering on top of the substrate a Si layer of a first conductivity type, a non-doped Ge layer and a Ge layer of a second conductivity type that is the opposite type of the first conductivity type and a Ge current-blocking mechanism is provided in at least part of the periphery of the PIN type photodiode. |
| US09401446B2 |
Silicon solar cell and method of manufacturing the same
A silicon solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The silicon solar cell includes a silicon semiconductor substrate doped with first conductive impurities, an emitter layer doped with second conductive impurities having polarities opposite polarities of the first conductive impurities on the substrate, an anti-reflective layer on an entire surface of the substrate, an upper electrode that passes through the anti-reflective layer and is connected to the emitter layer, and a lower electrode connected to a lower portion of the substrate. The emitter layer includes a first emitter layer heavily doped with the second conductive impurities and a second emitter layer lightly doped with the second conductive impurities. A surface resistance of the second emitter layer is 100 Ohm/sq to 120 Ohm/sq. |
| US09401445B2 |
Adhesive for solar battery back sheets
An adhesive for solar battery back sheets obtainable by mixing (A) a urethane prepolymer having an isocyanate group at the end with (B) a polyol, wherein the urethane prepolymer (A) is obtainable by a reaction of a hydroxyl group-containing compound with an isocyanate compound, and the hydroxyl group-containing compound comprises a polycaprolactone polyol. Also, cured reaction products of the adhesive. Also, a solar battery back sheet and a solar cell module comprising the adhesive. |
| US09401436B2 |
Multiple control transcap variable capacitor
A novel semiconductor variable capacitor is presented. The semiconductor structure is simple and is based on a semiconductor variable MOS capacitor structure suitable for integrated circuits, which has at least three terminals, one of which is used to modulate the equivalent capacitor area of the MOS structure by increasing or decreasing its DC voltage with respect to another terminal of the device, in order to change the capacitance over a wide ranges of values. Furthermore, the present invention decouples the AC signal and the DC control voltage minimizing the distortion and increasing the performance of the device, such as its control characteristic. The present invention is simple and only slightly dependent on the variations due to the fabrication process. It exhibits a high value of capacitance density and, if opportunely implemented, shows a quasi linear dependence of the capacitance value with respect to the voltage of its control terminal. |
| US09401433B1 |
P-type metal oxide semiconductor material and transistor
A p-type metal oxide semiconductor material is provided, which is composed of AlxGe(1-x)Oy, wherein 0 |
| US09401429B2 |
Semiconductor structure and process thereof
A semiconductor structure includes a fin-shaped structure and a gate. The fin-shaped structure is located in a substrate, wherein the fin-shaped structure has a through hole located right below a suspended part. The gate surrounds the suspended part. Moreover, the present invention also provides a semiconductor process including the following steps for forming said semiconductor structure. A substrate is provided. A fin-shaped structure is formed in the substrate, wherein the fin-shaped structure has a bottom part and a top part. A part of the bottom part is removed to form a suspended part in the corresponding top part, thereby forming the suspended part over a through hole. A gate is formed to surround the suspended part. |
| US09401428B2 |
Semiconductor devices including gate pattern, multi-channel active pattern and diffusion layer
A semiconductor device includes a gate pattern on a substrate, a multi-channel active pattern under the gate pattern to cross the gate pattern and having a first region not overlapping the gate pattern and a second region overlapping the gate pattern, a diffusion layer in the multi-channel active pattern along the outer periphery of the first region and including an impurity having a concentration, and a liner on the multi-channel active pattern, the liner extending on lateral surfaces of the first region and not extending on a top surface of the first region. Related fabrication methods are also described. |
| US09401427B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode formed on a silicon substrate via a gate insulation film in correspondence to a channel region, source and drain regions of a p-type diffusion region formed in the silicon substrate at respective outer sides of sidewall insulation films of the gate electrode, and a pair of SiGe mixed crystal regions formed in the silicon substrate at respective outer sides of the sidewall insulation films in epitaxial relationship to the silicon substrate, the SiGe mixed crystal regions being defined by respective sidewall surfaces facing with each other, wherein, in each of the SiGe mixed crystal regions, the sidewall surface is defined by a plurality of facets forming respective, mutually different angles with respect to a principal surface of the silicon substrate. |
| US09401424B2 |
High performance stress-enhanced MOSFETs using Si:C and SiGe epitaxial source/drain and method of manufacture
Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method of forming a semiconductor device may include forming a stressing layer on a substrate. The method may include doping the stressing layer with dopants. The method may include forming a silicide layer on the stressing layer. Moreover, the stressing layer may include a first lattice constant different from a second lattice constant of the substrate. |
| US09401422B2 |
Trench DMOS device with reduced gate resistance and manufacturing method thereof
A trench-type DMOS device includes a substrate as a public drain region, an active region and a voltage-dividing ring formed on the substrate, and a first dielectric layer formed on the substrate. Multiple trenches are located on the first dielectric layer, and the trenches extend from the surface of the first dielectric layer into the interior of the substrate. The trenches comprise at least one first trench distributed in the active region and a second trench outside the active region. A gate oxide layer is formed in the trench and polycrystalline silicon is filled to form a gate. The active region further comprises a source electrode region and a P-type heavily doped region under the source electrode region. A second dielectric layer covers the first dielectric layer and the multiple trenches. A metal layer covers the second dielectric layer to form a first electrode region and a second electrode region. |
| US09401421B2 |
Switching device
A switching device provided herewith includes first to fourth semiconductor layers and a gate electrode. The second semiconductor layer is of a first conductive type or an un-dope type and located on the first semiconductor layer. A hetero junction is formed between the first and the second semiconductor layers. The third semiconductor layer is of a second conductive type and located on the second semiconductor layer. The fourth semiconductor layer is of a second conductive type and located on the third semiconductor layer. A hetero junction is formed between the third and the fourth semiconductor layers. The gate electrode electrically connected to the fourth semiconductor layer. |
| US09401419B2 |
Spin transport device
A spin transport device includes a semiconductor layer 3, a first ferromagnetic layer 1 provided on the semiconductor layer 3 via a first tunnel barrier layer 5A, and a second ferromagnetic layer 2 provided on the semiconductor layer 3 via a second tunnel barrier layer 5B to be spaced from the first ferromagnetic layer 1, and the semiconductor layer 3 includes a first region RI broadening in a direction away from the first ferromagnetic layer 1 along a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction from the first ferromagnetic layer 1, and a second region R12 extending in a direction toward the second ferromagnetic layer 2 along the direction orthogonal to the thickness direction from the first ferromagnetic layer 1. The second region R12 has a relatively higher impurity concentration than the first region R1. |
| US09401418B2 |
Method of manufacturing thin film transistor and organic light emitting diode display
A method of manufacturing transistor having a first and second thin film transistor by creating the second thin film transistor by forming a second gate of the second thin film transistor on a substrate, depositing an insulating layer and a semiconductor layer in order to cover the second gate. A photoresist layer is deposited above the semiconductor layer and exposed. The semiconductor layer and the insulating layer are etched, thereby forming a second active layer of the second thin film transistor and a first connection window disposed above the second gate. A second source and a second drain of the second thin film transistor is deposited above the insulating layer and the second active layer. The present method enables the manufacturing of an organic light emitting diode display. The method reduces the times of using a photomask, thereby saving the manufacture time, improving the productivity and economizing the manufacture cost. |
| US09401417B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an epitaxial layer within a source/drain region of a semiconductor substrate, forming a fluorine-containing layer on the surface of the epitaxial layer, forming a metal gate structure within the gate region after the step of forming the fluorine-containing layer, forming an interlayer dielectric to cover the semiconductor substrate, the epitaxial layer and the metal gate structure, forming a contact hole penetrating the interlayer dielectric to expose a portion of the epitaxial layer, forming a metal silicide layer on or in the epitaxial layer on a bottom of the contact hole so that the fluorine-containing layer is disposed on the periphery of the metal silicide layer. |
| US09401416B2 |
Method for reducing gate height variation due to overlapping masks
A method includes forming at least one fin in a semiconductor substrate. A placeholder gate structure is formed above the fin. The placeholder gate structure includes a placeholder material and a cap structure defined on a top surface of the placeholder material. The cap structure includes a first cap layer disposed above the placeholder material and a second cap layer disposed above the first cap layer. An oxidization process is performed on at least a portion of the second cap layer to form an oxidized region above a remaining portion of the second cap layer. A portion of the oxidized region is removed to expose the remaining portion. The remaining portion of the second cap layer is removed. The first cap layer is removed to expose the placeholder material. The placeholder material is replaced with a conductive material. |
| US09401415B2 |
Fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device and method for forming the same
Embodiments for forming a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure are provided. The FinFET device structure includes a fin structure extending above a substrate and a gate dielectric layer formed over the fin structure. The FinFET device structure also includes a gate electrode formed on the gate dielectric layer. The FinFET device structure further includes a number of gate spacers formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode. The gate spacers are in direct contact with the fin structure. |
| US09401412B2 |
Methods of fabricating diodes with multiple junctions
An embodiment of a method of fabricating a diode having a plurality of regions of a first conductivity type and a buried region of a second conductivity type includes performing a first dopant implantation procedure to form the buried region, performing a second dopant implantation procedure to form an intermediate region of the plurality of regions, and performing a third dopant implantation procedure to form a contact region of the plurality of regions. The second and third dopant implantation procedures are configured such that the intermediate region is electrically connected with the contact region. The first, second, and third dopant implantation procedures are configured such that the buried region extends laterally across the contact region and the intermediate region to establish first and second junctions of the diode, respectively, and such that the first junction has a lower breakdown voltage than the second junction. |
| US09401408B2 |
Confined early epitaxy with local interconnect capability
A non-planar semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, multiple raised semiconductor structures coupled to the substrate and surrounded at a lower portion thereof by a layer of isolation material, gate structure(s) and confined epitaxial material above active regions of the raised structures, the confined epitaxial material having recessed portion(s) therein. Dummy gate structures surrounding a portion of each of the raised structures are initially used, and the confined epitaxial material is created before replacing the dummy gate structures with final gate structures. The structure further includes silicide on upper surfaces of a top portion of the confined epitaxial material, and contacts above the silicide, the contacts including separate contacts electrically coupled to only one area of confined epitaxial material and common contact(s) electrically coupling two adjacent areas of the confined epitaxial material. |
| US09401401B2 |
Semiconductor device
There are provided a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a source region disposed apart from a drain region, a first body region surrounding the source region, a deep well region disposed below the drain region, and a second body region disposed below the first body region. A bottom surface of the second body region is not coplanar with a bottom surface of the deep well region, and the first body region has a different conductivity type from the second body region. |
| US09401398B2 |
Semiconductor device including transistor
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a first region including: a first semiconductor layer; a first semiconductor region; a second semiconductor region; a third semiconductor region having higher impurity concentration than the first semiconductor region; a first electrode; a second electrode; an insulating film; a third electrode; a fourth electrode, a second region including a pad electrode, and the third region including: the first semiconductor layer; the first semiconductor region; a third semiconductor region; the first electrode; the second electrode; and a first insulating layer. |
| US09401391B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and fabrication method for the same
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and fabrication method for the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a first substrate including a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area, wherein the non-display area includes first and second non-display areas and a second substrate formed over the first substrate. The OLED display also includes a dummy electrode formed in the non-display area, an insulating layer formed over the dummy electrode, and a sealant substantially sealing the first and second substrates and formed over the insulating layer in the non-display area. The insulating layer has at least one first through-hole and at least one second through-hole respectively formed in the first and second non-display areas. The sealant is at least partially filled in the first and second through-holes so as to directly contact the dummy electrode. |
| US09401390B2 |
Array substrate, method for fabricating the same, and OLED display device
This invention provides an array substrate, a method for fabricating the same, and an OLED display device, which can solve the technical problem that the existing OLED display device has low luminous efficiency. Each pixel unit of the array substrate comprises: a TFT drive layer; an OLED further away from the substrate than the TFT drive layer and driven by it, the OLED sequentially comprises a first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a transparent second electrode, wherein the first electrode is a reflection layer, or the first electrode is transparent and has a reflection layer disposed thereunder; a transflective layer further away from the substrate than the OLED and forming a microcavity structure with the reflection layer; and a color filter film disposed between the OLED and the transflective layer and located in the microcavity structure. The present invention is particularly suitable for a WOLED display device. |
| US09401385B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
The inventive concepts provide a semiconductor memory device including variable resistance memory elements. The semiconductor memory device may include a first bit line disposed at a first height from a semiconductor substrate, a second bit line disposed at a second height, which is different from the first height, from the semiconductor substrate, a first variable resistance memory element connected to the first bit line, and a second variable resistance memory element connected to the second bit line. The first and second variable resistance memory elements may be disposed at substantially the same height from the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09401379B2 |
Image sensor module and method for producing such a module
An image sensor module includes an image sensor bearer and an image sensor, the image sensor bearer being fashioned as an injection-molded circuit bearer, and the image sensor being situated on the image sensor bearer, and the image sensor bearer including at least one holding device that is integrally formed on the image sensor bearer. |
| US09401378B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method for manufacturing solid-state imaging device
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion, and an amplifying transistor. The photoelectric conversion element photoelectrically convert incident light into electric charges with an amount corresponding to an amount of the incident light, and accumulates the electric charges. The floating diffusion accumulates the electric charges read out from the photoelectric conversion element. The amplifying transistor includes a gate electrode connected to the floating diffusion, and outputs a signal based on the amount of the electric charges accumulated in the floating diffusion. The amplifying transistor includes a first concentration region disposed in at least a part of the maximum region of the depletion layer and a second concentration region disposed at a deeper position than the first concentration region, and has higher impurity concentration than that of the first concentration region. |
| US09401376B2 |
Thin film transistor and active matrix organic light emitting diode assembly and method for manufacturing the same
The present application provides a thin film transistor, an active matrix organic light emitting diode assembly and a method for manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor includes: a substrate; a buffer layer on the substrate; a semiconductor layer on the buffer layer, including a source region, a drain region and a channel region; a first gate insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer; a second gate insulating layer foot on the first gate insulating layer, a width of the second gate insulating layer foot being smaller than a width of the first gate insulating layer; and a gate electrode on the second gate insulating layer foot; wherein a part of the first gate insulating layer that is on the semiconductor layer has a flat upper surface. The present application may obtain better implantation profiles of source region and drain region, thereby obtaining better uniformity in TFT performance. |
| US09401373B2 |
Multi-fin finFETs with merged-fin source/drains and replacement gates
A semiconductor structure including semiconductor fins, a gate over a middle portion of the semiconductor fins, and faceted semiconductor regions outside of the gate separated from gaps may be formed. The semiconductor structure may be formed by forming fins on a semiconductor substrate where each fin has a pair of sidewalls aligned parallel to the length of the fin, growing dummy semiconductor regions on the sidewalls of the fins, forming a sacrificial gate that covers a center portion of the fins and the dummy semiconductor regions, removing portions of the dummy semiconductor regions not covered by the sacrificial gate, and growing faceted semiconductor regions on the sidewalls of the portions of the fins not covered by the sacrificial gate. The faceted semiconductor regions may intersect to form gaps between the faceted semiconductor regions and the gate. |
| US09401369B1 |
Memory device and method for fabricating the same
A memory device comprises plural of silicon-containing layers, string select lines (SSLs), strings, bit lines, metal strapped word lines and plural sets of multi-plugs structure. The silicon-containing layers stacked at a substrate. The SSLs are disposed on the silicon-containing layers and extend along a first direction. The strings are perpendicular to the silicon-containing layers and the SSLs and electrically connected to the SSLs. The bit lines are disposed on the SSLs extending along a second direction and electrically connected to the strings. The plural sets of multi-plugs structure are arranged along the first direction, so as to make the strings disposed between two adjacent sets of multi-plugs structure, wherein each set of multi-plugs structure has plural plugs each corresponding to and connected with one of the silicon-containing layers. Each of the metal strapped word lines is connected to the plugs that are connected to the identical silicon-containing layer. |
| US09401366B1 |
Layout pattern for 8T-SRAM and the manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a layout pattern of an 8-transistor static random access memory (8T-SRAM), at least including a first diffusion region, a second diffusion region and a third diffusion region disposed on a substrate, a critical dimension region being disposed between the first diffusion region and the third diffusion region. The critical dimension region directly contacts the first diffusion region and the third diffusion region, a first extra diffusion region, a second extra diffusion region and a third extra diffusion region disposed surrounding and directly contacting the first diffusion region, the second diffusion region and the third diffusion region respectively. The first, the second and the third extra diffusion region are not disposed within the critical dimension region. |
| US09401364B2 |
Semiconductor device, electronic component, and electronic device
A semiconductor device has a function of storing data and includes an output terminal, a first terminal, a second terminal, a first circuit, and second circuits. The first circuit has a function of keeping the potential of the output terminal to be a high-level or low-level potential. The second circuits each include a first pass transistor and a second pass transistor which are electrically connected in series, a first memory circuit, and a second memory circuit. The first and second memory circuits each have a function of making a potential retention node in an electrically floating state. The potential retention nodes of the first and second memory circuits are electrically connected to gates of the first and second pass transistors, respectively. A transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer may be provided in the first and second memory circuits. |
| US09401363B2 |
Vertical transistor devices, memory arrays, and methods of forming vertical transistor devices
A vertical transistor device includes a line of active area adjacent a line of dielectric isolation. A buried data/sense line obliquely angles relative to the line of active area and the line of dielectric isolation. A pair of gate lines is outward of the buried data/sense line and obliquely angle relative to the line of active area and the line of dielectric isolation. A vertical transistor channel region is within the active area between the pair of gate lines. An outer source/drain region is in the active area above the channel region and an inner source/drain region is in the active area below the channel region. The inner source/drain region is electrically coupled to the buried data/sense line. Other devices and structures are contemplated, as are methods of forming a plurality of vertical transistor devices. |
| US09401352B2 |
Field-effect device and manufacturing method thereof
Embodiments relate to a field-effect device that includes a body region, a first source/drain region of a first conductivity type, a second source/drain region, and a pocket implant region adjacent to the first source/drain region, the pocket implant region being of a second conductivity type, wherein the second conductivity type is different from the first conductivity type. The body region physically contacts the pocket implant region. |
| US09401344B2 |
Substrates with transferable chiplets
A method for fabricating a substrate having transferable chiplets includes forming a photo-sensitive adhesive layer on a process side of a source substrate including active components or on a patterned side of a transparent intermediate substrate. The transparent intermediate substrate is brought into contact with the source substrate to adhere the active components on the process side to the patterned side of the transparent intermediate substrate via the photo-sensitive adhesive layer therebetween. Portions of the source substrate opposite the process side thereof are removed to singulate the active components. Portions of the photo-sensitive adhesive layer are selectively exposed to electromagnetic radiation through the transparent intermediate substrate to alter an adhesive strength thereof. Portions of the photo-sensitive adhesive layer having a weaker adhesive strength are selectively removed to define breakable tethers comprising portions of the adhesive layer having a stronger adhesive strength. The breakable tethers physically secure the active components to the transparent intermediate substrate. Related devices are also discussed. |
| US09401341B2 |
Electronic devices and components for high efficiency power circuits
An electronic component includes a III-N transistor and a III-N rectifying device both encased in a single package. A gate electrode of the III-N transistor is electrically connected to a first lead of the single package or to a conductive structural portion of the single package, a drain electrode of the III-N transistor is electrically connected to a second lead of the single package and to a first electrode of the III-N rectifying device, and a second electrode of the III-N rectifying device is electrically connected to a third lead of the single package. |
| US09401340B2 |
Semiconductor device and ceramic circuit substrate, and producing method of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises a circuit layer composed of a conductive material, and a semiconductor element mounted on the circuit layer, wherein an underlayer having a porosity in the range of 5 to 55% is formed on one surface of the circuit layer, a bonding layer composed of a sintered body of a bonding material including an organic substance and at least one of metal particles and metal oxide particles is formed on the underlayer, and the circuit layer and the semiconductor element are bonded together via the underlayer and the bonding layer. |
| US09401337B2 |
Molding structure for wafer level package
Apparatus, and methods of manufacture thereof, in which a molding compound is formed between spaced apart microelectronic devices. The molding compound comprises micro-filler elements. No boundary of any of the micro-filler elements is substantially parallel to a substantially planar surface of the molding compound, or to a substantially planar surface of any of the microelectronic devices. |
| US09401336B2 |
Dual layer stack for contact formation
A semiconductor structures includes a contact fabricated utilizing a multi material trench-layer. The multi material trench layer is utilized to form a contact trench and the contact trench is utilized to form the contact therein. The trench-layer includes a lower barrier trench layer and an upper photoprocessing layer. The photoprocessing layer is utilized pattern and form contact trench. The barrier layer protects an electroplating conductive layer utilized in forming the contact from corrosion that may occur during the removal of the photoprocessing layer. |
| US09401333B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a circuit substrate, a semiconductor element, a sealing resin layer, and a conductive shielding layer. The circuit substrate includes an insulating layer, a plurality of interconnections forming first interconnection layers provided on an upper surface side of the insulating layer, a plurality of interconnections forming second interconnection layers provided on a lower surface side of the insulating layer, and a plurality of vias penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface of the insulating layer. The semiconductor element is mounted on the upper surface side of the circuit substrate. The conductive shielding layer covers the sealing resin layer and part of an end portion of the circuit substrate. Any of the plurality of vias and the conductive shielding layer are electrically connected. |
| US09401331B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming a vertical interconnect structure for 3-D FO-WLCSP
A semiconductor device is made by forming a first conductive layer over a carrier. The first conductive layer has a first area electrically isolated from a second area of the first conductive layer. A conductive pillar is formed over the first area of the first conductive layer. A semiconductor die or component is mounted to the second area of the first conductive layer. A first encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and around the conductive pillar. A first interconnect structure is formed over the first encapsulant. The first interconnect structure is electrically connected to the conductive pillar. The carrier is removed. A portion of the first conductive layer is removed. The remaining portion of the first conductive layer includes an interconnect line and UBM pad. A second interconnect structure is formed over a remaining portion of the first conductive layer is removed. |
| US09401329B2 |
Interconnect structure and method of forming the same
An interconnect structure and a method of forming an interconnect structure are disclosed. The interconnect structure includes a lower etch stop layer (ESL); an upper low-k (LK) dielectric layer over the lower ESL; a first conductive feature in the upper LK dielectric layer, wherein the first conductive feature has a first metal line and a dummy via contiguous with the first metal line, the dummy via extending through the lower ESL; a first gap along an interface of the first conductive feature and the upper LK dielectric layer; and an upper ESL over the upper LK dielectric layer, the first conductive feature, and the first gap. |
| US09401323B1 |
Protected through semiconductor via (TSV)
A semiconductor structure having a through semiconductor via (TSV) which includes a semiconductor wafer of a semiconductor material and having a front side and a back side; front end of the line (FEOL) components; an insulative annulus extending from the front side to the back side, the insulative annulus having a center including the semiconductor material such that the semiconductor material in the center of the insulative annulus is recessed from the back side to form a recess; a metal filling the recess; a through silicon via (TSV) extending in a straight line from the metal-filled recess, through the center of the semiconductor material in the center of the insulative annulus and into the FEOL components such that there is semiconductor material between the TSV and the insulative annulus. |
| US09401322B2 |
Semiconductor devices and structures thereof
A structure having air gaps between interconnects is disclosed. A first insulating material is deposited over a workpiece, and a second insulating material having a sacrificial portion is deposited over the first insulating material. Conductive lines are formed in the first and second insulating layers. The second insulating material is treated to remove the sacrificial portion, and at least a portion of the first insulating material is removed, forming air gaps between the conductive lines. The second insulating material is impermeable as deposited and permeable after treating it to remove the sacrificial portion. A first region of the workpiece may be masked during the treatment, so that the second insulating material becomes permeable in a second region of the workpiece yet remains impermeable in the first region, thus allowing the formation of the air gaps in the second region, but not the first region. |
| US09401315B1 |
Thermal hot spot cooling for semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device package which includes a semiconductor package, a semiconductor device joined to the semiconductor package; and a lid to be placed over the semiconductor device and joined to the semiconductor package. The lid includes: a block of a first material having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface facing the semiconductor device, the block having perforations extending between the first surface and the second surface; inserts for filling the perforations, each of the inserts being made of a second material, at least one of the inserts protrudes beyond the second surface towards the semiconductor device; and a bonding material to bond the inserts to the block so that the at least one of the inserts protrudes beyond the second surface towards the semiconductor device. Also included is a method of assembling a semiconductor device package. |
| US09401312B1 |
TSV redundancy scheme and architecture using decoder/encoder
A method of redirecting signal bits associated with or corresponding to defective TSVs of a TSV array to a row or a column of redundant TSVs in the TSV array using a 2:4 Decoder and 4:2 Encoder and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a TSV array between a bottom die and a top die of a 3D IC stack, the TSV array having a row and a column of redundant TSVs; identifying a defective TSV of the TSV array; determining whether to shift a signal bit associated with or corresponding to the defective TSV in a first and/or a second direction towards the row or the column of redundant TSVs; and shifting the signal bit in the first and/or the second direction until the signal bit has been redirected to the row or the column of redundant TSVs. |
| US09401310B2 |
Method to form trench structure for replacement channel growth
Embodiments may include a method of semiconductor patterning including forming a first trench bordered by a first spacer material. The method may involve forming a second trench bordered by a second spacer material formed conformally around the first spacer material. The method may include filling the second trench with a semiconductor material. |
| US09401308B2 |
Packaging devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and packaging methods
Packaging devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and packaging methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a first substrate including a post passivation interconnect (PPI) structure including a PPI pad disposed thereon, and a second substrate including a contact pad disposed thereon. A conductive bump is coupled between the PPI pad and the contact pad. A molding material is disposed over portions of the PPI structure proximate the conductive bump. A top surface of the molding material contacts the conductive bump at a height of the conductive bump having a width C, and the contact pad has a width B. A ratio R of C:B comprises about 1.0 or greater. |
| US09401303B2 |
Handler wafer removal by use of sacrificial inert layer
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture and, more particularly, to the temporary bonding of a semiconductor wafer to handler wafer during processing. The semiconductor wafer may be temporarily bonded to the handler wafer by forming a sacrificial layer on a surface of a handler wafer, forming a first dielectric layer on a surface of the sacrificial layer, forming a second dielectric layer on a surface of a semiconductor wafer, and directly bonding the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer to form a bonding layer. After the semiconductor wafer is processed, it may be removed from the handler wafer along with the bonding layer by degrading the sacrificial layer with infrared radiation transmitted through the handler wafer. |
| US09401301B2 |
Semiconductor device having a gate that is buried in an active region and a device isolation film
A semiconductor device includes an active region with a first gate trench formed when a gate region is etched to a first depth, a device isolation film defining the active region and including a second gate-trench formed when a gate region is etched to a second depth, a gate buried below the first gate trench and the second gate trench, and a source plug and a drain plug formed when a conductive material is deposited in a source region and a drain region of the active region. |
| US09401299B2 |
Support for semiconductor substrate
A moveable semiconductor substrate support includes a control device receiving data from one or more sensors and providing control signals to one or more actuators. The control device is coupled to and moves with the moveable substrate support to facilitate flexible and complex operation of the substrate support itself. |
| US09401298B2 |
Method and device for transferring a chip to a contact substrate
A method and device for transferring a chip (18) situated on a transfer substrate (26) to a contact substrate (50), and for contacting the chip with the contact substrate, in which the chip, the back side (19) of which is attached adhesively to a support surface of the transfer substrate facing the contact substrate, is charged with laser energy from behind through the transfer substrate, and the chip contacts (59, 60) thereof that are arranged opposite a contact surface (58) of the contact substrate are brought into contact with substrate contacts (56, 57) arranged on the contact surface by means of a pressing device (45, 46) from behind through the transfer substrate, and a thermal bond is created between the chip contacts and the substrate contacts. |
| US09401296B2 |
Vacuum robot adapted to grip and transport a substrate and method thereof with passive bias
A vacuum robot adapted to grip and transport a substrate. The robot includes a robot drive coupled to an arm and having an end-effector adapted to support the substrate. A robot gripper system includes a front support having at least one hard stop, a movable contact element coupled to the end-effector, a bias device and at least one actuator coupled to the end-effector configured to move the contact element between a release position and a grip position. The bias device is configured to passively bias the contact element in the grip position such that the contact element contacts an edge of the substrate to urge the substrate against the at least one hard stop to secure the substrate in the grip position and to passively bias the contact element in the release position such that the contact element is retained in the release position. |
| US09401295B2 |
Load port apparatus and clamping device to be used for the same
To suppress deformation of a portion to be clamped even when a load applied to the portion to be clamped is increased at the time of fixing a front opening unified pod (FOUP), a clamping arm pivotable between a retracting position and a clamping position about a rotational axis inclined relative to a bottom surface of the FOUP is arranged. The clamping arm is housed in a housing depression so that the clamping arm at the retracting position is situated below a surface of a mount base, and at the clamping position, protrudes from the surface of the mount base and becomes engageable with the portion to be clamped. |
| US09401292B2 |
Transporting device for substrate of liquid crystal display and using method thereof
A transporting device for transporting substrate of liquid crystal display and using method thereof are provided. The transporting device comprises a fixing arm, at least two forks mounted on the fixing arm, laser emitting devices respectively mounted on the forks that are used to carry two ends of the substrate, laser sensors mounted on the fixing arm and corresponding to the laser emitting devices, a processor mounted on the fixing arm and connected to the laser sensors, and air damping devices mounted below the forks that are used to carry two ends of the substrate. The droop amount and the vibration of the fork can be measured when the transporting device is carrying a substrate, and it can be determined whether the droop amount and the vibration are abnormal. If they are abnormal, the laser emitting device will be started up to alleviate the vibration of the fork. |
| US09401289B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of backgrinding and singulation of semiconductor wafer while reducing kerf shifting and protecting wafer surfaces
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor wafer with an interconnect structure formed over a first surface of the wafer. A trench is formed in a non-active area of the semiconductor wafer from the first surface partially through the semiconductor wafer. A protective coating is formed over the first surface and into the trench. A lamination tape is applied over the protective coating. A portion of a second surface of the semiconductor wafer is removed by backgrinding or wafer thinning to expose the protecting coating in the trench. A die attach film is applied over the second surface of the semiconductor wafer. A cut or modified region is formed in the die attach film under the trench using a laser. The semiconductor wafer is expanded to separate the cut or modified region of the die attach film and singulate the semiconductor wafer. |
| US09401287B2 |
Methods for packaging integrated circuits
Techniques for packaging an integrated circuit include attaching a die to a conductive layer before forming dielectric layers on an opposing surface of the conductive layer. The conductive layer may first be formed on a carrier substrate before the die is disposed on the conductive layer. The die may be electrically coupled to the conductive layer via wires or solder bumps. The carrier substrate is removed before the dielectric layers are formed. The dielectric layers may collectively form a coreless package substrate for the integrated circuit package. |
| US09401285B2 |
Chemical mechanical planarization topography control via implant
Systems and methods for chemical mechanical planarization topography control via implants are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes increasing the content of at least one of silicon or germanium in at least select regions of a dielectric material thereby reducing the material removal rate for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process at the select regions, and removing material from the dielectric material using the CMP process. In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes increasing content of at least one of boron, phosphorus, or hydrogen in at least select regions of a dielectric material thereby increasing the material removal rate of a CMP process at the select regions, and removing material from the dielectric material using the CMP process. |
| US09401283B2 |
Substrate treatment method
A substrate treatment method includes the steps of: supporting a substrate with a support member; arranging an extension surface such that the extension surface laterally surrounds one major surface of the substrate supported by the support member and extends continuously to the major surface of the substrate supported by the support member; rotating the substrate supported by the support member; and etching the substrate by supplying an etching liquid onto the major surface of the substrate supported by the support member, wherein the extension surface has higher affinity for the etching liquid than the major surface of the substrate supported by the support member. |
| US09401281B1 |
Mask set for fabricating integrated circuits and method of fabricating integrated circuits
A mask set is described. In one implementation, the mask set includes: a first plurality of base layer masks, where each base layer mask of the first plurality of base layer masks includes a plurality of base layer tiles of a first tile size; a first plurality of top layer masks, where each top layer mask of the first plurality of top layer masks includes a plurality of first top layer tiles of the first tile size; and a second plurality of top layer masks, where each top layer mask of the second plurality of top layer masks includes a plurality of second top layer tiles of a second tile size; where the second tile size is different from the first tile size. Also, a method of fabricating a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs) is described. |
| US09401277B2 |
Substrate processing with reduced warpage and/or controlled strain
Provided are systems and methods for processing the surface of substrates that scan a laser beam at one or more selected orientation angles. The orientation angle or angles may be selected to reduce substrate warpage. When the substrates are semiconductor wafers having microelectronic devices, the orientation angles may be selected to produce controlled strain and to improve electronic performance of the devices. |
| US09401275B2 |
Word line with multi-layer cap structure
Word lines are formed from a stack of layers that includes a metal (e.g. tungsten) layer with an overlying multi-layer cap structure. The multi-layer cap structure includes a layer with a low etch rate to protect metal from damage during anisotropic etching. The multi-layer cap structure includes a layer with stress (e.g. tensile) that is opposite to the stress of the metal (e.g. compressive) to provide low combined stress. |
| US09401274B2 |
Methods and systems for dopant activation using microwave radiation
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a source/drain (S/D) junction. The S/D junction is associated with the substrate and includes a semiconductor material. The semiconductor material includes germanium and has a percentage composition of the germanium between about 50% and about 95%. |
| US09401269B2 |
Socket and discharge lamp
A socket includes a main body section, a terminal provided in the main body section and assuming a cylindrical shape, a lead wire being welded to an end face provided at one end portion of the terminal, and an insulating section provided on the inside of the terminal, including a hole section through which the lead wire is inserted, and containing resin. When the cross sectional dimension of the lead wire is represented as W and the opening dimension of the hole section on the end face side is represented as “a”, the socket satisfies the following expression: 1.5 W≦a≦2.5 W. |
| US09401267B2 |
Use of cryogenic ion chemistry to add a structural characterization capability to mass spectrometry through linear action spectroscopy
The present invention relates to mass spectrometry and infrared spectrometry and in particular, to a method of providing highly resolved infrared spectra of mass-selected, complex (e.g., biopolymer, polypeptide, organic chemical, an organometallic compound, a carbohydrate, a polynucleotide or oligonucleotide compound) ions to be obtained in a general fashion. |
| US09401264B2 |
Control of impedance of RF delivery path
A plasma system includes an RF generator and a matchbox including an impedance matching circuit, which is coupled to the RF generator via an RF cable. The plasma system includes a chuck and a plasma reactor coupled to the matchbox via an RF line. The RF line forms a portion of an RF supply path, which extends between the RF generator through the matchbox, and to the chuck. The plasma system further includes a phase adjusting circuit coupled to the RF supply path between the impedance matching circuit and the chuck. The phase adjusting circuit has an end coupled to the RF supply path and another end that is grounded. The plasma system includes a controller coupled to the phase adjusting circuit. The controller is used for changing a parameter of the phase adjusting circuit to control an impedance of the RF supply path based on a tune recipe. |
| US09401259B2 |
Radiation generating tube, and radiation generating apparatus and radiation imaging system using the same
Provided is a radiation generating tube in which an insulating tube is prevented from being damaged by heat generation of a target or an electron emitting source during drive. Extending portions extending along an outer periphery of an insulating tube are provided to a cathode and an anode, respectively, and the insulating tube is joined to the extending portions to enhance the strength of joint portions. At the same time, the insulating tube can be deformed easily by setting a tube wall thickness of the insulating tube at a central portion in a longitudinal direction to be smaller than a tube wall thickness of an opening end, and thus the concentration of thermal stress on the joint portions caused by an increase in temperature of the cathode and the anode is alleviated. |
| US09401257B2 |
Circuit protection device
A circuit protection device includes a conductive layer which is connected to first and second terminals. A spring is electrically connected to the first and second terminals. When an over-voltage or over-temperature condition occurs within a charging circuit, one or more heat generating resistive elements melts material associated with one or more of the ends of the spring thereby releasing the spring to create an open circuit. |
| US09401256B2 |
Electromagnetic relay
An electromagnetic relay has an iron core having legs at both ends and a coil wound therearound to form an electromagnet, a movable iron piece that pivotally supports a pivoting shaft along one leg of the iron core and causes a tip of a pivoting arm extended from a side edge of the pivoting shaft toward the other leg of the iron core to face the other leg of the iron core in a contactable and separable manner, and a card whose side facing the movable iron piece is in contact with the pivoting arm of the movable iron piece. The movable iron piece that pivots based on the excitation and degaussing of the electromagnet presses the card to drive a contact mechanism. |
| US09401255B2 |
Drive device for opening/closing body
An opening/closing-body drive device is achieved, in which a malfunction, caused by the electrical contacts of the relay switch freezing, can be reliably prevented from occurring. The control unit 60 includes a freeze determiner 61 which determines that the relay switch(es) is frozen when an opening/closing-body drive motor 27a does not drive a specified amount in accordance with opening/closing operational conditions of a back door 3 and when the temperature of the control unit 60 that is detected by a temperature detector 80 is lower or equal to a predetermined value; and a freeze releaser 62 which releases a frozen state of the relay switch(es) by intermittently supplying electric current for a predetermined number of times to the relay switch(es) without supplying a drive current to said opening/closing-body drive motor 27a, when said freeze determiner 61 determines that the relay switch(es) is frozen. |
| US09401247B2 |
Negative electrode for power storage device and power storage device
Provided is a negative electrode for a power storage device in which charge/discharge capacity is high and deterioration in battery characteristics due to charge/discharge is small. The negative electrode for a power storage device includes a negative electrode active material having a plurality of protrusions and a bar which serves as a connecting bridge over a first protrusion and a second protrusion among the plurality of protrusions. The bar is provided in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a current collector is bent. An axis of the first protrusion and an axis of the second protrusion are oriented in the same direction. Further, a graphene covering a side surface of the protrusion or covering the side surface of the protrusion and a top surface of the bar may be provided. |
| US09401244B2 |
Conductive paste, multilayer ceramic electronic component, and method for manufacturing same
A conductive paste that includes a (meth)acrylic resin serving as a binder resin, an organic solvent, and a metal powder. The (meth)acrylic resin has a glass transition point Tg in the range of −60° C. to 120° C., a hydroxyl group content in the range of 0.01% to 5% by weight per molecule, an acid value in the range of 1 to 50 mgKOH/g, and a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 10,000 to 350,000 Mw. |
| US09401242B2 |
Composite electronic component and composite electronic component manufacturing method
A composite electronic component includes a multilayer body, coils, an antistatic element and outer electrodes. The multilayer body is configured by laminating insulator layers. The coils are provided on the upper surfaces of the insulator layers. The antistatic element is connected to the coils and includes ground electrodes. The outer electrodes are connected to the coils. The upper surfaces of the insulator layers on which the coils are provided do not intersect with the ground electrodes. |
| US09401237B1 |
Core passage step apparatus and methods
A bobbin apparatus for a magnetic component includes a core passage having one or more core passage steps located therein. The core passage steps provide one or more gaps between a core disposed in the core passage and the bobbin body. A potting material may be disposed in the gap or gaps in some applications to enhance heat transfer and/or to improve magnetic component performance by reducing effects of fringing flux on inner windings. A method of assembling a magnetic component to include one or more gaps between the core and bobbin core passage is also provided. |
| US09401236B2 |
Magnetic actuator
Magnetic actuator includes a pole body having at least one magnetic region and at least one nonmagnetic region, the nonmagnetic region providing a magnetic isolation of the magnetic region. The pole body is developed as a one-piece component, and the magnetic regions and the nonmagnetic regions of the pole body are connected in a continuous material manner, using a two-component metal powder injection molding process. |
| US09401230B2 |
Cu-Ni-Si-Co copper alloy for electronic materials and manufacturing method thereof
Cu—Ni—Si—Co copper alloy strip having excellent balance between strength and electrical conductivity which can prevent the drooping curl is provided. The copper alloy strip for an electronic materials contains 1.0-2.5% by mass of Ni, 0.5-2.5% by mass of Co, 0.3-1.2% by mass of Si, and the remainder comprising Cu and unavoidable impurities, wherein the copper alloy strip satisfies both of the following (a) and (b) as determined by means of X-ray diffraction pole figure measurement based on a rolled surface: (a) among a diffraction peak intensities obtained by β scanning at α=20° in a {200} pole figure, a peak height at β angle 145° is not more than 5.2 times that of standard copper powder; (b) among a diffraction peak intensities obtained by β scanning at α=75° in a {111} pole figure, a peak height at β angle 185° is not less than 3.4 times that of standard copper powder. |
| US09401227B2 |
Post package repair device
A post package repair device may include a plurality of bank groups, each of the plurality of bank groups including fuses indicating repair information, configured to share a predetermined number of fuses. The post package repair device may include a resource detection unit configured to determine the availability of the fuses from among the plurality of bank groups. |
| US09401224B2 |
Monitoring device of integrated circuit
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of data input/output pads configured to transmit and receive data to and from memory cells, an alert pad configured to output data error information while the data is transmitted and received, and a monitoring device configured to output the data error information to the alert pad in a first mode and to output monitoring information to the alert pad in a second mode. |
| US09401221B2 |
Sampling circuit
Sampling is continuously performed at high speed with a simple sampling circuit including a polarity switcher to invert or non-invert the polarity of an input signal; an integrating circuit to integrate the signal output from the polarity switcher to output integrated values corresponding to the amount of charge stored in a capacitor; a computing section configured to compute a sampling value every sampling period in such a manner that a difference between one of the integrated values output from the integrating circuit at the start of the sampling period and another one of the integrated values output from the integrating circuit at the end of the sampling period is multiplied by a sign corresponding to the polarity set by the polarity switcher; and a control section configured to control the polarity switcher to alternately invert the polarity of the input signal every sampling period in synchronization with a sampling cycle. |
| US09401219B2 |
Electronic fuse semiconductor device for selecting failed redundancy word lines
A semiconductor device with a fuse controller and a fuse array. The fuse controller may be configured to generate internal address signals according to a level combination of repair data and may generate first and second voltage control signals in response to a rupture control signal that is enabled to rupture a predetermined fuse set for selecting a failed redundancy word line, in a test mode. The fuse array may include a plurality of fuse sets including the predetermined fuse set. Each of the plurality of fuse sets may be selected according to a level combination of the internal address signals, and the fuse array ruptures the predetermined fuse set for selecting the failed redundancy word line in response to the first and second voltage control signals to output fuse data. |
| US09401217B2 |
Flash memory with improved read performance
A non-volatile memory device includes an array of memory cells and a plurality of word lines and voltage supply lines. Each memory cell of the array is coupled to one of the word lines. Each of the plurality of voltage supply lines is coupled to a first voltage supply terminal of a subset of memory cells of a plurality of subsets of memory cells of the array. Each subset includes a plurality of memory cells. A voltage switch supplies a respective one of a plurality of aged voltages to each of the plurality of subsets of memory cells in the memory array on respective ones of the voltage supply lines. The aged voltage supplied to a first of the plurality of subsets of memory cells is different than the aged voltage supplied to a second of the plurality of subsets of memory cells. |
| US09401216B1 |
Adaptive operation of 3D NAND memory
In a nonvolatile memory block that contains separately-selectable sets of NAND strings, a bit line current sensing unit is configured to sense bit line current for a separately-selectable set of NAND strings of the block. A bit line voltage adjustment unit is configured to apply a first and second bit line voltages to separately-selectable sets of NAND strings that have bit line currents greater and less than the minimum current respectively, the second bit line voltage being greater than the first bit line voltage. |
| US09401215B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method for driving the same
A method for driving a nonvolatile memory device includes performing an erase operation with respect to a plurality of memory cells, stopping the erase operation by a suspend command, calculating a residual time of the erase operation that has not yet been performed, performing a first operation, comparing a first vacant time between a completion time point of the first operation and a start time point of a second operation with the residual time, performing the erase operation that has not yet been performed if the residual time is equal to or shorter than the first vacant time, and performing the second operation if the residual time is longer than the first vacant time. |
| US09401209B2 |
Three-dimensional semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device is provided including first and second cell strings formed on a substrate, the first and second cell strings jointly connected to a bit line, wherein each of the first and second cell strings includes a ground selection unit, a memory cell, and first and second string selection units sequentially formed on the substrate to be connected to each other, wherein the ground selection unit is connected to a ground selection line, the memory cell is connected to a word line, the first string selection unit is connected to a first string selection line, and the second string selection unit is connected to a second string selection line, and wherein the second string selection unit of the first cell string has a channel dopant region. |
| US09401208B2 |
Magnetic random access memory cell with a dual junction for ternary content addressable memory applications
An MRAM cell including a first tunnel barrier layer between a soft ferromagnetic layer having a free magnetization and a first hard ferromagnetic layer having a first storage magnetization; a second tunnel barrier layer between the soft ferromagnetic layer and a second hard ferromagnetic layer having a second storage magnetization; the first storage magnetization being freely orientable at a first high predetermined temperature threshold and the second storage magnetization being freely orientable at a second predetermined high temperature threshold; the first high predetermined temperature threshold being higher than the second predetermined high temperature threshold. The MRAM cell can be used as a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) and store up to three distinct state levels. The MRAM cell has a reduced size and can be made at low cost. |
| US09401207B2 |
Pseudo SRAM using resistive elements for non-volatile storage
A memory device includes a first select transistor having a first current electrode coupled to a first bit line, a control electrode and a second current electrode. A second select transistor has a first current electrode coupled to a second bit line, a control electrode and a second current electrode. A first bi-directional resistive element has a cathode coupled to the second current electrode of the first select transistor and an anode coupled to an internal node. A second bi-directional resistive element has a cathode coupled to the internal node and an anode coupled to the second current electrode of the second select transistor. A third transistor has a first current electrode coupled to a third bit line, a second current electrode coupled to the internal node, and a control electrode coupled to a word line. |
| US09401205B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a semiconductor memory unit. The semiconductor memory unit includes a plurality of first lines extending in a first direction, a plurality of second lines extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a plurality of memory cells provided between the first lines and the second lines at intersections of the first lines and the second lines. Each of the memory cells includes a variable resistance element coupled to and disposed between a corresponding second line and first and second selection elements, the first selection element coupled to and disposed between the variable resistance element and a corresponding first line, and the second selection element coupled to and disposed between the variable resistance element and the corresponding first line. The first selection element allows a bidirectional current flow therethrough, and the second selection element allows a unidirectional current flow therethrough. |
| US09401204B2 |
Electronic device and method for operating electronic device
An electronic device comprising a semiconductor memory unit that may a variable resistance element configured to be changed in its resistance value in response to current flowing through both ends thereof; an information storage unit configured to store switching frequency information corresponding to a switching frequency which minimizes an amplitude of a voltage to be applied to both ends of the variable resistance element to change the resistance value of the variable resistance element and switching amplitude information corresponding to a minimum amplitude; and a driving unit configured to generate a driving voltage with the switching frequency and the minimum amplitude in response to the switching frequency information and the switching amplitude information and apply the driving voltage to both ends of the variable resistance element. |
| US09401203B1 |
Memory driving circuit
A memory driving circuit includes a current source configured to output a second current, a first switching unit configured to undergo switching to connect to the current source selectively to output the second current, a voltage generating unit configured to provide a reference voltage, a capacitive energy storage unit configured to store energy according to the reference voltage, a third switching unit configured to undergo switching to connect the voltage generating unit and the capacitive energy storage unit selectively, a second switching unit configured to undergo switching to connect the capacitive energy storage unit selectively to output a third current, and a current output terminal configured to output the second current, the third current, or the sum of the second current and the third current. |
| US09401202B2 |
Array voltage regulating technique to enable data operations on large memory arrays with resistive memory elements
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to semiconductors and memory technology, and more particularly, to systems, integrated circuits, and methods to preserve states of memory elements in association with data operations using variable access signal magnitudes for other memory elements, such as implemented in third dimensional memory technology. In some embodiments, a memory device can include a cross-point array with resistive memory elements. An access signal generator can modify a magnitude of a signal to generate a modified magnitude for the signal to access a resistive memory element associated with a word line and a subset of bit lines. A tracking signal generator is configured to track the modified magnitude of the signal and to apply a tracking signal to other resistive memory elements associated with other subsets of bit lines, the tracking signal having a magnitude at a differential amount from the modified magnitude of the signal. |
| US09401199B2 |
Eight transistor soft error robust storage cell
A storage cell is provided with improved robustness to soft errors. The storage cell comprises complementary core storage nodes and complementary outer storage nodes. The outer storage nodes act to limit feedback between the core storage nodes and are capable of restoring the logical state of the core storage nodes in the event of a soft error. Similarly the core storage nodes act to limit feedback between the outer storage nodes with the same effect. This cell has advantages compared with other robust storage cells in that there are only two paths between the supply voltage and ground which limits the leakage power. An SRAM cell utilizing the proposed storage cell can be realized with two access transistors configured to selectively couple complementary storage nodes to a corresponding bitline. A flip-flop can be realized with a variety of transfer gates which selectively couple data into the proposed storage cell. |
| US09401198B1 |
Non-volatile dynamic random access memory (NVDRAM)
A NVDRAM includes a first NV element coupled to a first terminal of a second NV element at a transfer node. A volatile cell has a transfer transistor coupled to the transfer node and has a storage node. A first NV line is coupled to the second terminal of the first NV element. Circuitry applies an alternated signal to the transfer node, couples the second terminal of the second non-volatile element to a second NV line, and applies a program signal across the first and second NV lines during a program mode that establishes a logic state. The circuitry applies a read signal across the first and second NV lines, couples the second terminal of the second NV element to the second NV line, and replaces the alternated signal with floating during a restore mode that loads the logic state into the storage node. |
| US09401196B1 |
Dual mode ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) cell apparatus and methods with imprinted read-only (RO) data
Read-only (“RO”) data to be permanently imprinted in storage cells of a memory array are written to the memory array. One or more over-stress conditions such as heat, over-voltage, over-current and/or mechanical stress are then applied to the memory array or to individual storage cells within the memory array. The over-stress condition(s) act upon one or more state-determining elements of the storage cells to imprint the RO data. The over-stress condition permanently alters a value of a state-determining property of the state-determining element without incapacitating normal operation of the storage cell. The altered value of the state-determining property biases the cell according to the state of the RO data bit. The bias is detectable in the cell read-out signal. A pre-written ferroelectric random-access memory (“FRAM”) array is baked. Baking traps electric dipoles oriented in a direction corresponding to a state of the pre-written data and forms am RO data imprint. |
| US09401188B2 |
Devices and systems including enabling circuits
Examples of devices and systems including enabling circuits are described. Two voltage supplies may be used to operate different portions of the devices, including peripheral circuits and I/O circuits. When the voltage supply to the peripheral circuits of one or more devices is disabled, the I/O circuits of that device may be disabled. In some examples, power may advantageously be saved in part by eliminating or reducing a DC current path through the I/O circuits. |
| US09401187B2 |
Integrated circuit and precharge/active flag generation circuit
An integrated circuit includes a first stage including first logic gates each of which performs a first logic operation on a corresponding signal among first to Nth signals and a first bit of a binary code, and a second stage including second logic gates each of which performs a second logic operation on corresponding output signals of the first logic gates and is reset based on a second bit of the binary code. |
| US09401186B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and data transmission
A semiconductor memory apparatus may include a data pad and a shared transmission line. The shared transmission line may be configured to transmit data received through the data pad to a data alignment unit in a write operation, and transmit data outputted from a pipe latch unit to the data pad in a read operation. |
| US09401185B1 |
Sense amplifier and semiconductor device including the same
A sense amplifier may include an amplifying section configured to amplify data of a segment line pair when an enable signal is activated and output amplified data to a local line pair, and including latches electrically coupled in a cross-coupled type. The sense amplifier may include a switching section configured to selectively electrically couple the segment line pair and the local line pair in response to an input/output switch signal. |
| US09401184B1 |
Memory system and method for power management
A memory system and method for power management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a variable credit value that indicates an amount of power currently available for memory operations in the memory system, wherein for each update cycle of the variable credit value, the variable credit value is reduced by a computed consumed energy value for that update cycle; receives a request to perform a memory operation; determines if the variable credit value is greater than a minimum value required to perform the memory operation; and grants the request to perform the memory operation only if it is determined that the variable credit value is greater than the minimum value. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09401182B2 |
Rack mount device
A rack mount device comprising: a housing; first and second drawer sections to be withdrawable from the housing; storage sections provided in the first and second drawer sections, each of storage sections including memory devices; a control module to control the memory devices; a connection cable to couple an external connection terminal of the housing and the control module and include an excess length portion corresponding to movement of the control module; a cable protective tube to be inserted by the excess length portion, one end of the cable protective tube fixed in a vicinity of a connection portion to the control module of the connection cable, another end of the cable protective tube fixed on a bottom plate side of the housing, the cable protective tube including a folded-up section which moves along with the drawing operation; and a cable protective tube deformation device to move the folded-up section. |
| US09401179B2 |
Continuing media playback after bookmarking
One embodiment provides a method, including: identifying, using a processor, a consumer of media content; detecting, using data derived from a device selected from the group consisting of an image capture device and an audio capture device, a trigger event associated with the consumer; and creating, using a processor, a bookmark at a location in the media content associated with the detection of the trigger event. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09401174B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-path preamplifier fault processing
Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for utilizing multiple data streams for data recovery from a storage device. |
| US09401173B2 |
System and method for using stainless steel as a data archiving medium
An apparatus, method, and computer readable medium for writing data on a highly indestructible material is disclosed. A laser may write data on a first side of a highly indestructible material. The data may then be marked as non-rewriteable. The data may also be written on a second side of the highly indestructible material, with the second side being opposite the first side. The highly indestructible material may comprise a stainless steel storage medium. |
| US09401172B2 |
Optical disc medium and optical disc device
An optical disc medium includes a land and a groove at which information can be recorded. A predetermined number of address information units which record address information of the land or groove are provided in a circumferential direction of the optical disc medium. The address information unit of the land includes three or more address recording areas capable of recording address information. The address information is recorded on one area selected from among the three or more address recording areas. The address information unit of the land has address information which is recorded, in the same modulation, on the side of the inner adjacent groove and on the side of the outer adjacent groove. The one area to be selected from among the three or more address recording areas for recording the address information of the land is different among three address information units adjacently arranged in a radial direction. |
| US09401168B1 |
Control device for accessing a storage medium
A disk apparatus control device including an A/D converting section that samples an analog current amount signal indicating a current amount for a drive current of a motor that moves a head for accessing a storage disk of a disk apparatus, and converts the analog current amount signal into a digital current amount signal indicating the current amount. The device can further include a control signal generating section that, according to digital control, generates a digital control signal corresponding to a manipulation amount of the drive current, based on a difference between the current amount indicated by the digital current amount signal and a target value for the current amount of the drive current. Additionally, the device can include a D/A converting section that converts the digital control signal into an analog control signal, and outputs the analog control signal to a drive current generating section that generates the drive current. |
| US09401157B2 |
Customizable system and device for defining voice dimensions and methods of use
The disclosure provides a customizable system for modifying voice dimensions. The system comprises a program interface located on an electronic device. The program interface is used to manipulate user input from one or more individuals relating to voice parameters. Instructions are then created by the program interface that allow for one or more individuals to modify the voice dimensions of the one or more individuals by following the instructions.The disclosure further provides a method for modifying an individual's voice dimensions. The method comprises identifying one or more dimensions in an individual's vocal dimensions that are to be modified. On an electronic device, a voice exercise is created by selecting at least one parameter that modifies the one or more dimensions in an individual's voice. Instructions created by the electronic device that are based on the selection of at least one parameter are then followed by the individual. |
| US09401150B1 |
Systems and methods to detect lost audio frames from a continuous audio signal
A method to detect audio frame losses over a link to a device under test (DUT), such as a User Equipment (UE), includes preparing an input sequence, combining the input sequence into an input audio signal, submitting the input audio signal to an encoder, transporting the encoded signal over the link, obtaining a continuous output audio signal from decoding the transported signal, decomposing the continuous output audio signal into an output sequence, and determining one or more lost frames based on a comparison of one or more characteristics of the input sequence and the output sequence. Preparing the input sequence can include preparing a sequence of a plurality of input snippets, each input snippet having one or more audio characteristics, the preparing such that consecutive input snippets have one or more audio characteristics that differ by a predetermined measure. |
| US09401147B2 |
Disambiguating input based on context
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a mobile computing device, ambiguous user input that indicates more than one of a plurality of commands; and determining a current context associated with the mobile computing device that indicates where the mobile computing device is currently located. The method can further include disambiguating the ambiguous user input by selecting a command from the plurality of commands based on the current context associated with the mobile computing device; and causing output associated with performance of the selected command to be provided by the mobile computing device. |
| US09401146B2 |
Identification of communication-related voice commands
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for obtaining audio data corresponding to an utterance; transmitting the audio data corresponding to the utterance; receiving an indication that that utterance likely includes a communication-related voice command; in response to receiving the indication that the utterance likely includes the communication-related voice command, applying at least a language model to a representation of the audio data corresponding to the utterance, to identify data referencing a contact; and transmitting the data referencing the contact. |
| US09401141B2 |
Computer system having voice-control function and voice-control method
The invention discloses a computer system having voice-control function. The computer system includes a voice-recognition module, a shared memory, a microcontroller, a power-management module and a central processing unit. The voice-recognition module receives an external voice signal via a microphone and determines whether the external voice signal corresponds to an operation instruction. The shared memory is used for storing shared state information. The microcontroller is used for setting the shared state information according to the operation instruction when the external voice signal corresponds to the operation instruction. The power-management module generates a power-management signal according to the shared state information in the shared memory. When the power-management module transmits the power-management signal, the central processing unit executes a processing operation corresponding to the operation instruction according to the shared state information in the shared memory. |
| US09401135B2 |
Transducer with dry adhesive couplant
A transducer for stimulating an article under test with ultrasonic vibration may include a transducer body having a transmitting face and configured to generate ultrasonic vibration through the transmitting face, and an couplant mounted on the transmitting face, the couplant having a multiplicity of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes extending therefrom in a direction substantially normal to the transmitting face. |
| US09401131B2 |
Guitar-securing device
Guitar-securing device characterized in that it comprises an element for fastening to a surface, which has an arm, a structural element, connected to said arm, and that runs via the rear part of the guitar, said structural element having at least a first element for connection to a first stud for a strap of said guitar and/or an element for joining to the neck of the guitar. |
| US09401129B2 |
Image projection device
An image projection device includes: a drive controller that causes generation of light of a specified color tone by a combination of light to be transmitted by a liquid crystal panel to project image data onto a projection plane; an image capturing controller that receives a synchronization signal that specifies a period in which the liquid crystal panel does not transmit light from the drive controller and causes capturing of an image of the projection plane according to the period that is specified by the synchronization signal; an illuminated image detector that detects, from the captured image of the image data, an illuminated image that is illuminated by an illuminating device on the projection plane; and an illuminated image generator that generates projection image data obtained by combining given image data in a position in which the illuminated image is detected. |
| US09401128B1 |
Dynamic update of display pixels
A system and method of driving images on displays includes receiving image content in a processing unit. When a peak data condition is identified, pixel rows of at least one display are updated in a non-sequential order in response to identifying the peak data condition. |
| US09401123B2 |
Request signal of an image program according to specific input sources based on the received list to the external display devices
A display device having a network function according to an exemplary embodiment is configured to include: a network interface unit that performs data communication with external displays through a network; and a controller that transmits access request signals to the external display devices through the network interface unit and receives a list of input sources information that access is permitted based on the access permission or not according to the access request, wherein the controller transmits a request signal of an image program according to specific input sources based on the received list to the external display devices. |
| US09401118B2 |
Display apparatus having reduced vertical flickering lines
A display apparatus includes: a plurality of pixel blocks, each pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks including a first pixel electrode connected to a first switching element and a second pixel electrode connected to a second switching element; gate lines which extend along a first direction and include a first gate line connected to the first switching element and a second gate line connected to the second switching element; and data lines which extend along a second direction intersecting the first direction. A gate voltage is applied to the first gate line before the second gate line, and the first pixel electrode of each of the pixel blocks displays a same color. |
| US09401117B2 |
Mobile terminal and resolution compatibility method thereof
This specification relates to a mobile terminal capable of being compatible with market applications with various LCD resolutions, and an LCD resolution compatibility method thereof. When resolution of a market application is different from LCD resolution, the application image is displayed on a window based on virtual WVGA resolution and then enlarged or reduced based on an actual LCD resolution to be finally displayed on a display unit. This provides an effect of displaying the application image with the same figure as displayed on the WVGA LCD and text and lines more clearly irrespective of an actual LCD size. In addition, a set value for a resolution compatibility mode of an application downloaded from a market may be provided to a user at a specific time point (upon downloading or purchasing), based on usage patterns of a plurality of users and versions of applications. |
| US09401115B2 |
Liquid crystal display with a higher luminance sub-pixel including controllable light emission subsections
A liquid crystal display includes: a light source section including emission subsections; a LCD panel including pixels each having sub-pixels for four colors of R, G, B, and Z, and modulating light from the emission subsections based on input image signals for three colors of R, G, and B; and a display control section including a partitioning-drive processing section, driving the emission subsections with an emission pattern signal, and driving the four sub-pixels with partitioning-drive image signals for the four colors. The partitioning-drive processing section generates pixel signals for the four colors through performing a first color-conversion based on the input image signals, generates the emission pattern signal from pixel signals for the three colors, primary partitioning-drive image signals for the three colors from both the input image signals and the emission pattern signal, and the partitioning-drive image signals through performing a second color-conversion on the primary partitioning-drive image signals. |
| US09401113B2 |
Low color shift multi-view display device and display method thereof
According to various embodiments of the invention, gamma curves for multiple pixel groups can be calibrated using look-up tables or by using reference voltage groups provided by gamma voltage generators so that the pixels can display multiple images with correct gray levels at different view angles. Therefore, color shift can be avoided or lessened without necessarily using extra circuitry on the display panel. Also, any related light transmittance or light utilization efficiency reduction may be decreased or eliminated. |
| US09401106B2 |
Color compensation device and display device using the same, and color compensation method
A color compensation method is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes predetermining target color coordinates, measuring luminance and chromaticity from an image displayed on a display panel, and calculating compensation color coordinates by using the target color coordinates and the device color coordinates. The method also includes generating compensation data by using the target color coordinates, the device color coordinates, and the compensation color coordinates, receiving an external video signal, and converting the RGB data of the external video signal into the RGB data of the compensation color coordinates by using the compensation data corresponding to the RGB data of the external video signal. The compensation color coordinates are determined according to the values of the target color coordinates and the device color coordinates. |
| US09401104B2 |
Polishing composition for edge roll-off improvement
The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition including (a) an abrasive comprising wet-process silica particles, (b) a water-soluble polymer, (c) an oxidizing agent, (d) a chelating agent, (e) a pH-adjusting agent, and (f) an aqueous carrier, wherein the pH of the polishing composition is about 1 to about 7. The invention also provides a method of polishing a substrate, especially a nickel-phosphorus substrate, with the polishing composition. |
| US09401101B2 |
Tag and associated securing means and method
The invention provides a tag (10), such as an identity tag, comprising a body (12) having a first securing means (20) and a second securing means (30) provided distal to the first securing means (20), wherein the first securing means (20) comprises a slot (22a) for receipt of at least a portion of a security fastening therethrough. Also provided is a method of attachment of such a tag to a material. |
| US09401100B2 |
Selective map marker aggregation
The selective aggregation of marker objects on a map is disclosed. A plurality of marker objects is received in response to a query. The marker objects are each defined by a set of coordinates to a specific location on the map. The map is segregated into a plurality of bounding areas each defined by a set of bounding coordinates. A bounding area count of the number of marker objects having coordinates within a first one of the bounding areas is generated. The bounding area count is compared to a predetermined threshold. If the bounding area count is greater, a first aggregate marker is displayed in the first one of the bounding areas of the map. Otherwise, each of the marker objects within the first one of the bounding areas of the map is displayed. The marker objects are positioned according to the set of coordinates associated therewith. |
| US09401096B1 |
Chord playing attachment apparatus
A removable chord playing attachment and related method is disclosed. The chord playing attachment may be attached to a guitar or similar stringed instrument, and the user may use the chord playing attachment to learn to play the instrument. The present invention discloses a design that does not function as a capo, which allows the user play chords in standard keys. The present invention includes a specially configured nut or connector or anchor that forms a removable connection with a chord playing unit. The present invention encourages novices to learn to play the instrument in stages and eventually remove the invention entirely. A companion teaching manual is also disclosed. |
| US09401094B2 |
Method for assisting the piloting of an aircraft on the ground and system for its implementation
A method for assisting the piloting of an aircraft on the ground comprises the steps of obtaining a panoramic view of at least one area adjacent to the aircraft, isolating an image corresponding to a part of the panoramic view and which is selected according to an orientation desired by the pilot, and displaying the image on a display device visible by the pilot. A system for the implementation of the method is also provided. |
| US09401087B2 |
Vehicle-related messaging methods and systems
Vehicle-related messaging methods and systems are disclosed herein. In one of the methods, a telematics unit disposed in a vehicle detects that the vehicle is no longer in operation. Upon making the detection, the telematics unit automatically transmits a message to a device, where the message includes a suggestion, a recommendation, an indication, or a notification pertaining to a vehicle utility. An application resident on the device, or on a cloud computing system in communication with the device, presents the message on the device by displaying i) the suggestion, the recommendation, the indication, or the notification and ii) a plurality of actionable items associated with the suggestion, the recommendation, the indication, or the notification. |
| US09401086B2 |
Automatic update of crowd and traffic data using device monitoring
A first mobile monitoring system includes one or more mobile monitoring devices, a network, a server and a storage memory. The server is implemented to analyze the collected signals and the traffic information to identify at least one traffic flow according to travel routes of the one or more wireless devices; determine whether the identified at least one traffic flow exceeds an updating threshold based on the collected signals; derive at the server when the traffic flow exceeds the updating threshold, an updating priority indicating an order in which the traffic flows are processed based on the collected signals; and update a dynamic traffic transportation plan map based on the at least one traffic flow, the updating threshold and the updating priority. |
| US09401084B2 |
Assisting use of control devices with different electronic devices
A remote determines an acknowledgement is not received for a command transmitted to a first device, broadcasts a discovery message, receives a response from a second device that received the discovery message and a proximity signal from the remote, and configures itself to control the second device. The remote may also transmit an acknowledgement to the second device. The second device may notify the first device. In various implementations, configuration information in the response may include pairing information and the remote may unpair itself from the first device and pair with the second device. In some implementations, the remote may include a table for controlling devices and the remote may utilize an entry in the table for the second device instead of the first device. In various implementations, the remote may receive responses to the discovery message from multiple devices and may select one to configure itself to control. |
| US09401081B2 |
Vehicle communication device
A vehicle communication device includes: a communication line establishment device that establishes a communication line with a mobile communication terminal; a manipulation state information transmission device that transmits manipulation state information indicating a manipulation state of a vehicular accessory to the mobile communication terminal; an output timing specifying information generation device that generates output timing specifying information for specifying separation of the mobile communication terminal from the vehicle as an output timing for the mobile communication terminal to output the manipulation state information; and an output timing specifying information transmission device that transmits the output timing specifying information to the mobile communication terminal. |
| US09401074B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for a bingo game having special ball functions
Systems, apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture provide for a bingo game including at least one special ball having an associated special function. In one embodiment, one or more special functions may have persistent effects on one or more bingo spaces (e.g., of a bingo card) and/or may be combined with the effects one or more other special functions. |
| US09401072B2 |
Player reward program with loyalty-based reallocation
A gaming machine coupled to at least one server via a network includes a display device configured to display a game to a player playing on the gaming machine, and a controller coupled to the display device. The controller detects an award trigger during play of the game, and awards a token upon detection of the award trigger, wherein the token includes an activation date, an expiration date, and a value that is unknown to the player at the time of being awarded. In response to a redemption request by the player, the controller determines a redemption status of the token and, based on the redemption status, awards the token value to the player or notifies the player that the token is expired. |
| US09401071B2 |
Casino game with pay line multipliers
A poker machine apparatus has a pay line multiplier that is randomly selected for each active pay line. The pay line multiplier varies for each round of play. An extra wager may be required from the player to activate this feature during the play of a casino game. A player makes a wager to activate at least two pay lines to be played in the casino game. For each active pay line, a multiplier is randomly selected from a group of various multipliers and the selected multiplier is assigned to the activated pay line. The casino game is then played to achieve an outcome on each pay line. Each pay line that has a winning outcome has any associated award increased by the multiplier for that pay line. |
| US09401069B2 |
Gaming system, gaming device, and method for enabling a current bet to be placed on a future play of a wagering game
The gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provide an opportunity for a player to place a replay wager for a group or set of a plurality of plays of a wagering game. In one embodiment, the replay wager activates a replay feature which the player can use a designated number of times (such as one time) over the plurality of plays of the wagering game. The player's use of the replay feature causes the gaming system to redisplay the previous play of the wagering game, and provide any awards associated with the previous play of the wagering game. After the player uses the replay feature over each of the designated number (such as one) of the plurality of plays of the wagering game, the player cannot use the replay feature for any of the remaining plays of the plurality of plays of the wagering game. |
| US09401068B2 |
Publisher/subscriber architecture across networks
A publisher-subscriber architecture with standardized and/or dynamic event/message look up can be implemented on wagering game establishment networks to establish a robust and flexible reporting and reacting mechanism. This publisher subscriber architecture is extendible to allow processes to publish and subscribe to other processes in different network through an intermediary publisher/subscriber or publisher/subscriber manager. |
| US09401064B2 |
Multi-wheel system and method
A system and method for use in one or more casino establishments for offering a game of chance with multiple wheels. A player may bet on one or more of the wheels to win an award. The resulting pay is based on the combination of the final position of the wheels after they come to a stop. The award may be the cumulative value for winning outcomes on each of the wheels, it may be a set outcome depending on the combination of symbols on a win line across the wheels, or it may include special awards such as multipliers and wild card wins depending on the wheel configuration. The system and method are offered on an electronic multi-wheel gaming system with multiple player terminals connected to a set of electro-mechanical wheels or video wheels displayed on a screen, but may also be deployed in other forms such as on a live table game with a live operator of mechanical wheels, or on a general purpose computing device connected to a network. |
| US09401059B2 |
System and method for secure voting
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for conducting an election. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for ensuring integrity of an electronic ballot. The method can include creating electronic ballots for voters based on votes received from the voters; digitally signing the electronic ballots; storing the signed electronic ballots; retrieving the signed electronic ballots from storage; verifying the digital signatures on the retrieved electronic ballots; and presenting the voters with validation pages derived from the retrieved electronic ballots, the validation pages including a user interface element for the voters to confirm that the retrieved electronic ballots accurately reflect their vote. |
| US09401058B2 |
Zone based presence determination via voiceprint location awareness
A speech from a speaker proximate to one or more microphones within an environment can be received. The microphones can be a directional microphone or an omni-directional microphone. The speech can be processed to produce an utterance to determine the identity of the speaker. The identity of the speaker can be associated with a voiceprint. The identity can be associated with a user's credentials of a computing system. The credentials can uniquely identify the user within the computing system. The utterance can be analyzed to establish a zone in which the speaker is present. The zone can be a bounded region within the environment. The zone can be mapped within the environment to determine a location of the speaker. The location can be a relative or an absolute location. |
| US09401054B2 |
Vehicle test sequence cost optimization method and apparatus
A method for optimizing a test sequence to diagnose a failure mode of a device, such as a vehicle, is provided. At least one symptom of a fault of the device is received, and a plurality of taxonomies is generated. The taxonomies include a device component taxonomy, a fault taxonomy, and a diagnostic taxonomy, and each taxonomy has a plurality of nodes. At least one diagnostic test sequence, based on the symptom and the taxonomies, is generated, costs associated with the diagnostic test sequence are determined, and a cost optimal test sequence, based on the costs and the diagnostic test sequence, is generated. |
| US09401052B2 |
Road toll system linking on board unit with vehicle
A road toll system comprises a vehicle-mounted unit comprising a satellite navigation system implementing a position tracking function; transmitting means for transmitting position or route information to a remote server; and a unique identification device for attaching to the vehicle, and associated with the satellite navigation receiver. The road toll system function is enabled only when the identification device is present. The identification device comprises an electronic device which is adapted to alter by detachment or attempted detachment such as to prevent the road toll system function being enabled. This system increases the security of this type of system and makes fraudulent use of the system increasingly difficult. |
| US09401049B2 |
Augmented reality system using moving ceiling transparent display for ship and method for enabling same
In an augmented reality system using a moving ceiling transparent display for a ship, according to the present invention, the moving ceiling transparent display is movably installed on the ceiling of a steering house of the ship, and the system comprises: a recognition portion for recognizing the location of the ship and the direction of the head and the pupils of a sailor; a reception portion for receiving external image data from an external landscape database with respect to an external landscape, in accordance with the location of the ship and the direction of the head and the pupils of the sailor; a matching portion for adjusting a match between the external image data, which is received by the receiving portion, and an actual external image through the window; and an output portion for outputting through the transparent display information on the external image data, which is adjusted through the matching portion, on the location of the actual external image. |
| US09401047B2 |
Enhanced visualization of medical image data
Described herein is a technology for enhanced visualization of medical image data. In one implementation, a region of interest is identified in a first set of images along at least one viewing direction. Based on the first set of images, a second set of images is reconstructed to include at least one selectively enhanced rendering of the region of interest. The selectively enhanced rendering may include a three-dimensional rendering or any other type of enhanced rendering to facilitate detection of abnormalities. |
| US09401046B2 |
Micropolygon splatting
Micropolygon splatting may involve tessellating by subdividing a mesh until triangle edges are shorter than 0.75 pixels. In some cases, rasterizing the primitive may be avoided. |
| US09401039B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, program, and integrated circuit
A depth image conversion unit moves an edge location in an input depth image towards a background. A pixel shift unit generates an image from a different viewpoint by horizontally shifting coordinates of each pixel in an image based on a converted depth image. A pixel interpolation unit interpolates a missing pixel region yielded by pixel shifting. |
| US09401034B2 |
Tessellation of two-dimensional curves using a graphics pipeline
Methods, systems, and computer-storage media for efficiently tessellating two dimensional (2-D) curves using a graphics pipeline running on a graphics processing unit (GPU) are provided. A central processing unit (CPU) converts a geometry having one or more 2-D curves into an intermediate tessellation having at least one Bezier fan with a fan origin and four control points. The intermediate tessellation is sent on to the graphics pipeline. A hull shader in the graphics pipeline is configured to approximate the Bezier fan curve by subdividing the curve into a defined number of triangles based on a maximum value of a width or a height of a bounding box containing the four control points of the Bezier fan. A domain shader in the graphics pipeline is configured to determine a vertex position for each of the defined triangles along the curve of the Bezier fan. |
| US09401031B2 |
Method and module for acquiring position information of transform block
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for acquiring position information of a transform block. The method includes: obtaining a splitting manner of an image block; obtaining splitting direction information according to the splitting manner of the image block and a splitting layer number of a transform block, or obtaining splitting direction information according to the splitting manner of the image block and a numerical relationship between a width and a height of a transform block; and obtaining position information of a post-splitting transform block according to the splitting direction information. In embodiments of the present invention, splitting direction information is obtained directly according to a splitting manner of an image block and a layer number, and then, size information of a transform block is coded according to the splitting direction information, thereby effectively reducing complexity of a coding process. |
| US09401026B2 |
Method and apparatus for image segmentation algorithm
Cluster centers of an image are initialized. The image includes a plurality of pixels. Pixels of the plurality of pixels in a pattern are labeled. The cluster centers are recomputed based on the labeling of the plurality of pixels. |
| US09401020B1 |
Multi-modality vertebra recognition
Systems, methods and computer program products to perform multi-modality vertebrae recognition are provided. Aspects of the present disclosure disclosed and described herein enable a multi-modality vertebrae recognition engine that recognizes vertebrae by using a three-stage recognition approach: landmark detection, global shape registration, and local pose adjustment. These stages cover the matching from local to global spine structures. The three stages are implemented by three modules in the hierarchical deformable model, the local appearance module, global geometry model, and local geometry model. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the overall workflow can be understood as a three-stage top-down registration. The goal of the registration is: 1) to align the global shape of the spine model, and 2) to align the vertebrae poses with the local image structures around identified landmarks. |
| US09401019B2 |
Imaging tomosynthesis system, in particular mammography system
An imaging tomosynthesis system, in particular a mammography system, includes a computer system which generates x-ray projections of an examination object from a plurality of projection angles. The system further reconstructs a stack of tomosynthetic slice images, generates at least one overview image of density values of an examination object from the tomosynthetic image data, selects characteristic density values in the stack at at least one plane position, and determines the geometric level of the at least one selected characteristic density value. The overview image is then displayed with a color value correlated to the geometric level of the at least one characteristic density value. |
| US09401009B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing quality of 3D image
A method of enhancing a quality of a 3 dimensional (3D) image includes classifying an input 3D image into a plurality of sub-areas based on noise characteristics of the plurality of sub-areas of the input 3D image, denoising each of the plurality of sub-areas of the input 3D image by using different denoising methods according to noise characteristics of each of the classified plurality of sub-areas and obtaining a second 3D image after the denoising, and enhancing a contrast ratio of the second 3D image after the denoising. |
| US09401008B2 |
Method for identifying and extracting a linear object from an image
A method for identifying and extracting a linear object from an image is disclosed. The method comprises: acquiring an original image to be processed, wherein the original image is taken by a camera, received through network transmission or copied from a compact disc or a removable disk; preprocessing the original image to obtain an enhanced image; extracting an edge information image from the enhanced image; then extracting linear features by performing, on the edge information image, a linear feature extracting transform improved with a cluster operator; finally; identifying and extracting the linear object by distinguishing the linear object from other linear features by considering characteristics of the linear object to be identified and extracted. According to the invention, a linear feature extracting transform improved with a cluster operator is constructed from a distribution of edge pixels in the edge information image along a 2-dimensional direction, which makes it possible to extract, rapidly and accurately, weak linear objects such as power lines from images having complicated background and sub-pixels. |
| US09401002B2 |
Method for inserting, in the fourier domain, a digital watermark in an image and corresponding method for detecting a digital watermark in an image to be analyzed
A method is provided for inserting a digital watermark in an image by an insertion device. Inserting includes: applying a Fourier transform to the image, delivering a 2D Fourier spectrum; inserting the watermark in the Fourier spectrum delivering a modified Fourier spectrum; and applying an inverse Fourier transform to the modified Fourier spectrum delivering a watermarked image. The watermark includes a set of watermarking coefficients each associated with a distinct determined position of a given quadrant among the quadrants of the Fourier domain, the spectral coordinates u and v of which, measured along the two axes of coordinates of the given quadrant and starting from the continuous component and expressed in percentage of the dimensions U and V of the given quadrant, are such that: u>66%×U and v>66%×V. The set of positions associated with the watermarking coefficients defines a convex pattern in the given quadrant. |
| US09401001B2 |
Full-color visibility model using CSF which varies spatially with local luminance
The present disclosure relate generally to color science and digital watermarking. A full color visibility model has been developed which has good correlation to subjective visibility tests for color patches degraded with a watermark. A relatively better correlation can be achieved with a model that applies a luminance correction to the contrast sensitivity functions (CSF). The model can be applied during the watermark embed process, using a pyramid based method, to obtain equal visibility. Better robustness and visibility can be obtained with equal visibility embed than uniform strength embed. Of course, other features, combinations and claims are disclosed as well. |
| US09400994B2 |
Customized impulse shelves
A method for providing an item suggested by a retailer to a user prior to an upcoming transaction at a point of sale terminal includes detecting a presence of the user at an item impulse device in a facility of retailer, wherein the item impulse device is located proximate to the point of sale terminal. When the presence of the user is detected at the item impulse device and prior to the upcoming transaction a purchase history of the user and one or more items the user currently possesses are obtained. The item suggested the retailer for the user to purchase is determined based on at least one of the purchase history and the one or more items the user currently possesses. A notification indicating the item suggested by the retailer is generated and provided to the user. |
| US09400992B2 |
Populating a software catalogue with related product information
A method and system for populating a software catalogue in software applications which monitor the presence of software products on a plurality of computers. The proposed method aims at populating a software catalogue with a limited manual intervention of an administrator. The present invention reduces the cost of producing and maintaining a comprehensive knowledge base (the catalogue) which contains definitions of software products and the related signature. Information about software products and their related signature is obtained through a process using some special files (e.g. XML files) which contains information and/or pointers to other products. |
| US09400990B2 |
System for managing electric energy grid-vehicle exchange devices
A system for managing electric energy exchange devices is disclosed. The system comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a set of predefined parameters for electric energy exchange for a vehicle using an electric energy exchange device for a time increment. The set of predefined parameters comprises price levels associated with levels of customers. The processor is further configured to receive a set of transaction specific parameters. The processor is configured to determine a price for electric energy exchange based at least in part on the set of predefined parameters and the set of transaction specific parameters. The processor is configured to determine whether a level of a customer meets predefined parameters for free electric energy exchange. The processor is configured to, in the event the level of the customer meets the predefined parameters for free electric energy exchange, provide for free electric exchange. |
| US09400989B2 |
Systems and methods for living user reviews
Systems and methods for creating an opinion timeline. Users are able to submit ongoing reviews for products and services based on extended use, new revelations, additional features, upgrades and the like. Users can be notified of upgrades or improvements and are requested to provide another review of the product or service which is tied to the original review. Users can also update their review of the product or service based on a change in mind. The opinion timeline can be applied to reviews of products, television shows, music, etc. |
| US09400986B2 |
Determining community gatekeepers in networked systems
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for determining community gatekeepers in networked systems are provided herein. A method includes identifying a plurality of groups of nodes in a network system, wherein each of the plurality of groups of nodes includes a given node; measuring a marginal contribution made by the given node to a centrality metric associated with each of the identified plurality of groups of nodes in the network system; and deriving a centrality metric of the given node by averaging the marginal contribution made by the given node across each of the identified plurality of groups of nodes in the network system. |
| US09400983B1 |
Method and system for implementing behavior isolating prediction model
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method and system for isolating variables in a behavior prediction model comprises: identifying a plurality of groups comprising a first group of variables and a second group of variables; building a model, using a computer processor, for capturing an effect of the first group of variables in predicting behavior for customers; building a subsequent stage of the model, using a computer processor, on a second group of variables to neutralize the effect of the first group of variables; displaying results of the model wherein the results minimize the effect of the first group of variables in predicting behavior at a user interface; and identifying a response based on the results for a segment of the customers. |
| US09400980B2 |
Transferring account information or cash value between an electronic transaction device and a service provider based on establishing trust with a transaction service provider
Methods and systems are provided for supporting electronic transactions, including transactions that are provided with per-user, per-device and per-domain security across domains of multiple service providers. |
| US09400979B2 |
Transactional security over a network
A system and method facilitating purchase transactions over a computer network, including the purchase of electronically storable items. The embodiments herein encrypt “customer identifier string” in an encryption stream and cause the encryption stream to be transferred from the customer to a merchant in the purchase transaction. A verification entity receives the encryption stream which is sent by the merchant for identity verification and payment authorization. Then, the verification entity verifies the identifiers contained in the encryption stream and transfers an identity verification and payment authorization from the verification entity to the merchant. |
| US09400977B2 |
User device enabling access to payment information in response to mechanical input detection
In certain embodiments, an electronic device can include a secure element that detects a mechanical input. The mechanical input can correspond to an instruction to transmit securely stored payment information to another device and/or to release such information to an application on the device (e.g., for use in an in-app commerce transaction). This feature can inhibit or prevent unauthorized transmission of payment information. When the mechanical input is detected, payment information can be transmitted to a point of sale (POS) terminal (e.g., via near-field communication) or released to an app on the device. Further, a user can either use default payment information or interact with the device (before or after providing the mechanical input) to select appropriate payment information for a transaction. For example, the user can select between credit cards, debit cards and/or stored-value cards (e.g., transit card). |
| US09400976B1 |
Systems and methods for one-click financials
A system, method and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing services provided on behalf of a user through the invocation of a user profile. A service provision management system comprises a user profile registry, which further comprises a plurality of user profiles, each of which is associated with a user. A first user profile is compared to a second user profile within a user interface and recommended modifications to the first user profile are generated in response to user input. The user makes modifications to user information and service provider information contained in the first user profile. Upon invocation of the user profile, service provider instructions, which comprise service execution information, are issued to a service provider to provide a service on behalf of said user. |
| US09400970B2 |
Automatically identifying a capacity of a resource
A method and associated systems for automatically identifying critical resources in an organization. An organization creates a model of the dependencies between pairs of resource types, wherein that model describes how the organization's projects and services are affected when a resource type becomes unavailable. This model may include a system of directed graphs. This model may be used to automatically identify a resource type as critical if unacceptable cost is incurred by resuming projects and services rendered infeasible when the resource type is disrupted. The model may also be used to automatically identify a first resource type as critical for a second resource type when disruption of the first resource type forces the available capacity of the second resource type to fall below a threshold value. |
| US09400969B2 |
Target decoding and robot positioning in a storage library
Systems and methods are described for automatic calibration of robotic mechanism functions according to accurate decoding and locating of target features using spot scanning. For example, a robotic mechanism in a storage library has one or more integrated scanners that can acquire contrast and/or topographic scan data from a scan window that represents a profile of the scan window expected to have one or more target feature sets. The scan data can be decoded according to predefined target masks (e.g., target type-specific fit tables) at a number of decode threshold levels to estimate target feature values, which can be used to converge on (or otherwise generate) a purported target definition with purported feature values. The purported target definition can be used to facilitate various functions, such as automatic calibration of robotic mechanism positioning and object identification. |
| US09400966B2 |
Monitoring temperature-sensitive cargo with automated generation of regulatory qualification
Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo. |
| US09400961B2 |
Message mechanism for workflow interfacing
A simple message mechanism serves to interface applications within content management system. The message management mechanism operates by extracting at least one selected parameter during execution of at least one task (e.g., application) during content workflow. The operator is then notified of whether the at least one task executed successfully in accordance with the extracted parameter. |
| US09400957B2 |
Method for quantum computation by perturbing dangling bond electronic states
A quantum device is provided that includes controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds extending from a surface of a semiconductor material. Each of the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds has a separation of at least one atom of the semiconductor material. At least one electrode is provided for selectively modifying an electronic state of the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds. By providing at least one additional electron within the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds with the proviso that there exists at least one unoccupied dangling bond for each one additional electron present, the inventive device is operable at least to 293 degrees Kelvin and is largely immune to stray electrostatic perturbations. Room temperature operable quantum cellular automata and qubits are constructed therefrom. |
| US09400956B2 |
Answer interactions in a question-answering environment
In a question-answering (QA) environment, a first answer sequence is identified. As identified, the first answer sequence includes a first answer and a second answer. A corpus is analyzed using the first answer and the second answer. Based on the analysis, a set of influence factors corresponding to both the first answer and the second answer are identified. A first answer relationship between the first answer and the second answer is then generated based on the set of influence factors. |
| US09400955B2 |
Reducing dynamic range of low-rank decomposition matrices
Features are disclosed for reducing the dynamic range of an approximated trained artificial neural network weight matrix in an automatic speech recognition system. The weight matrix may be approximated as two low-rank matrices using a decomposition technique. This approximation technique may insert an additional layer between the two original layers connected by the weight matrix. The dynamic range of the low-rank decomposition may be reduced by applying the square root of singular values, combining them with both low-rank matrices, and utilizing a random rotation matrix to further compress the low-rank matrices. Reduction of dynamic range may make fixed point scoring more effective due to smaller quantization error, as well as make the neural network system more favorable for retraining after approximating a neural network weight matrix. Features are also disclosed for adjusting the learning rate during retraining to account for the low-rank approximations. |
| US09400951B2 |
Dot pattern
To realize a dot pattern which can be read even by a frame buffer of which algorithm for search is simple and of which resolution is low without sacrificing an information dot for defining a direction of a block. There is provided a dot pattern, wherein a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block having a predetermined information dot arranged thereon; a plurality of virtual reference points to be defined is arranged from the reference points (for example, a central point of a grid area); an information dot is arranged, of which information is defined by a distance and a direction from the virtual reference point; and at least the information dot at the predetermined position is made into a direction dot showing the direction of the block by a direction from the virtual reference point. |
| US09400949B2 |
Display device and image forming apparatus capable of switching a display language of an authentication screen to a display language of a user
In a state in which an authentication screen in any one display language of a plurality of display languages is displayed, every time a predetermined number of characters are input to an ID input field, an ID including the characters input to the ID input field in order from a first-input is retrieved from user data. Ids, obtained as a result of the retrieval, are set as candidate IDs. When all display languages selected by users having the candidate IDs are the same, the display language selected by the users having the candidate IDs is set as a first display language. When a display language of an authentication screen, which is being displayed, does not coincide with the first display language, an authentication screen in the first display language is displayed in place of the authentication screen, which is being displayed. |
| US09400947B2 |
Printing control method, printing control apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium
A printing control method for printing an image onto a recording medium including inputting data to be used for printing a page, setting a position and a size of a margin for a plurality of pages represented by the input data, according to an instruction from a user, and causing a print device to print an image including the plurality of pages and in which the binging margin with the set width is arranged at the set position, onto the recording medium in a direction determined according to the width of the margin. |
| US09400946B2 |
Image forming apparatus with code image position determination
Provided is an image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit that forms a test image for correction of a position of an image on the recording medium, a reading unit that reads an image from the recording medium on which the test image is formed, a transport unit that transports the recording medium, and a correction unit that corrects the position of the image, wherein the test image includes a first mark that is provided at a distance determined from the first reference line, a second mark that is provided at the distance from a second reference line set with respect to a second side, and a code image that is provided at a position determined with respect to the first mark and the second mark, and that indicates information for correction of the position of the image by the correction unit. |
| US09400944B2 |
Space dilating two-way variable selection
A method of identifying a set of parameters representative of a data set is provided. An eigen decomposition of a covariance matrix is calculated to form a decomposed matrix and an eigenvalue vector. The covariance matrix is calculated for a matrix of data including a plurality of data values for each of a plurality of parameters. The decomposed matrix includes a number of eigenvectors equal to a number of the plurality of parameters with each eigenvector including a coefficient for each parameter. The eigenvalue vector includes an eigenvalue defined for each eigenvector. A first matrix is created by rank ordering the coefficient within each parameter of the plurality of parameters for each of the plurality of parameters. A score is determined for each parameter using the created first matrix and the eigenvalue vector. A parameter set is identified based on the determined score for each parameter. |
| US09400936B2 |
Methods and systems for vehicle tag number recognition
Methods and systems for tag recognition in captured images. A candidate region can be localized from regions of interest with respect to a tag and a tag number shown in the regions of interest within a side image of a vehicle. A number of confidence levels can then be calculated with respect to each digit recognized as a result of an optical character recognition operation performed with respect to the tag number. Optimal candidates within the candidate region can be determined for the tag number based on individual character confidence levels among the confidence levels. Optimal candidates from a pool of valid tag numbers can then be validated using prior appearance probabilities and data returned, which is indicative of the most probable tag to be detected to improve image recognition accuracy. |
| US09400935B2 |
Detecting apparatus of human component and method thereof
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of detecting a human component from an input image. The apparatus includes a training database (DB) to store positive and negative samples of a human component, an image processor to calculate a difference image for the input image, a sub-window processor to extract a feature population from a difference image that is calculated by the image processor for the positive and negative samples of a predetermined human component stored in the training DB, and a human classifier to detect a human component corresponding to a human component model using the human component model that is learned from the feature population. |
| US09400931B2 |
Providing subject information regarding upcoming images on a display
Methods are described for presenting in an user interface information regarding the subject faces that will appear in upcoming images. In general, many of the images available to display will be comprised of images containing subject faces. Based on a subject affinity score between the viewer and the subjects, an image affinity is computed. Based on the image affinity scores, images are selected for presentation on the display. As images are displayed, the system analyzes one or more upcoming images to determine information to display. As each image is displayed, subject information comprising the subject's face is presented in an area of the display adjacent to the current image. |
| US09400930B2 |
Hybrid photo navigation and mapping
Embodiments disclosed obtain a plurality of measurement sets from a plurality of sensors in conjunction with the capture of a sequence of exterior and interior images of a structure while traversing locations in and around the structure. Each measurement set may be associated with at least one image. An external structural envelope of the structure is determined from exterior images of the structure and the corresponding outdoor trajectory of a UE. The position and orientation of the structure and the structural envelope is determined in absolute coordinates. Further, an indoor map of the structure in absolute coordinates may be obtained based on interior images of the structure, a structural envelope in absolute coordinates, and measurements associated with the indoor trajectory of the UE during traversal of the indoor area to capture the interior images. |
| US09400926B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus determines an orientation of an image according to acquired image information. The image processing apparatus includes an image information acquiring unit, a character string extracting unit, and an image orientation determining unit. The image information acquiring unit acquires image information. The character string extracting unit extracts a character string existing in a rectangular region surrounded by ruled lines or ruled lines and a periphery of the image in a partial area that is a part of the image and that meets a predetermined condition. The image orientation determining unit determines an orientation of the image according to a direction of the character string extracted by the character string extracting unit. |
| US09400924B2 |
Object recognition method and object recognition apparatus using the same
An object recognition method and an object recognition apparatus using the same are provided. In one or more embodiments, a real-time image including a first object is acquired, and a chamfer distance transform is performed on the first object of the real-time image to produce a chamfer image including a first modified object. Preset image templates each including a second object are acquired, and the chamfer distance transform is performed on the second object of each preset image template to produce a chamfer template including a second modified object. When the difference between the first modified object and the second modified object is less than a first preset error threshold, the object recognition apparatus may operate according to a control command corresponding to the preset image template. |
| US09400923B2 |
Patient interface identification system
The present invention relates to a patient interface identification system for identifying a patient interface that is suited for a face (16) of a user (18), comprising: a receiving unit (12) for receiving a test picture (14) including the face (16) of the user (18); a database (22) for storing reference picture including faces of other users, wherein each reference picture is referenced to a patient interface advice; a processing unit (24) for comparing the received test picture (14) with at least a subset of said reference pictures stored in the database (22), wherein comparing said test picture (14) with said subset of reference pictures includes a comparison of image based features of the user's face (16) and the other users' faces; and a user interface (26) for communicating a patient interface advice including information related to a patient interface that is suited for the face (16) of the user (18), which patient interface advice is based on the comparison of said test picture (14) with the subset of reference pictures stored in the database (22). |
| US09400921B2 |
Method and system using a data-driven model for monocular face tracking
A method and system using a data-driven model for monocular face tracking are disclosed, which provide a versatile system for tracking three-dimensional (3D) images, e.g., a face, using a single camera. For one method, stereo data based on input image sequences is obtained. A 3D model is built using the obtained stereo data. A monocular image sequence is tracked using the built 3D model. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) can be applied to the stereo data to learn, e.g., possible facial deformations, and to build a data-driven 3D model (“3D face model”). The 3D face model can be used to approximate a generic shape (e.g., facial pose) as a linear combination of shape basis vectors based on the PCA analysis. |
| US09400918B2 |
Compact face representation
A deep learning framework jointly optimizes the compactness and discriminative ability of face representations. The compact representation can be as compact as 32 bits and still produce highly discriminative performance. In another aspect, based on the extreme compactness, traditional face analysis tasks (e.g. gender analysis) can be effectively solved by a Look-Up-Table approach given a large-scale face data set. |
| US09400915B2 |
Methods and systems for capturing biometric data
A method of capturing biometric data is provided that includes activating a security application in a device. The security application is activated by an operator of the device and is configured to cause the device to display an outline image. Moreover, the method includes displaying the outline image in a stationary position on a display of the device, positioning desired biometric data proximate the device such that the desired biometric data appears as a biometric image on the device display, and monitoring the outline and biometric images shown on the device display. Furthermore, the method includes positioning the device and the desired biometric data to better align the outline and biometric images when the outline and biometric images do not align and capturing the desired biometric data from an individual after approximately aligning the outline image with the biometric image. |
| US09400912B2 |
Capacitive fingerprint sensor and fingerprint sensing method thereof
A capacitive fingerprint sensor is provided. The capacitive fingerprint sensor includes a sensing array, an insulating surface disposed on the sensing array, and a readout module. The sensing array includes a plurality of sensing units, and each of the sensing units includes a sensing capacitor and a reference capacitor. When a finger contacts the insulating surface, the readout module obtains a sensing time interval corresponding to the sensing capacitor of each of the sensing units and a reference time interval corresponding to the reference capacitor of each of the sensing units during a sensing period. The readout module provides a sensing output according to the sensing time interval and the reference time interval to indicate a fingerprint ridge or a fingerprint valley of the finger. |
| US09400908B2 |
Imaging apparatus having lens element
There is provided in one embodiment an imaging apparatus having a lens assembly. The lens assembly can comprises a lens element having a first light transmissive substrate and a second light transmissive substrate, the first light transmissive substrate including a first electrode, the second light transmissive substrate including a second electrode. The lens element can further comprise liquid crystal material intermediate the first light transmissive substrate and the second light transmissive substrate. |
| US09400902B2 |
Multi-modal entity tracking and display
A multi-modal entity tracking and display system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a tracking infrastructure comprising at least one data receiver is configured to detect a tracked entity comprising a first asset class using a first sensing technology and a second sensing technology. The at least one tracking data receiver is further configured to generate a tracking data report conveying a location of the tracked entity. A multi-modal entity tracker is configured to receive and store the tracking data report. The multi-modal entity tracker is further configured to receive and store a second tracking data report of a second tracked entity comprising a second asset class which is conveyed via the tracking infrastructure. |
| US09400898B2 |
Device and method for determining redundancies in near field communication tag detection
A device and method for determining redundancies in near field communication tag detection are provided. A device comprising: a sensor configured to receive NFC tag identifiers from at least one near field communication (NFC) tag; and, a processor configured to: compare a first NFC tag identifier to a second NFC tag identifier, both the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier having been received by the sensor within a given time period; when the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier are the same, infer that the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier are associated with a single NFC tag; and when the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier are not the same, infer that the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier are associated with two different NFC tags. |
| US09400897B2 |
Method for classifying parking scenarios for a system for parking a motor vehicle
A method for classifying parking scenarios for an assistance system for parking a motor vehicle wherein a predetermined number of parking scenarios are defined, each parking scenario is described by a predetermined number of typical parking scenario criteria, and the criteria are based at least on parking space-specific parameters. The method includes determination of data from the environment of the motor vehicle by means of an environment sensor system in the motor vehicle, determination of the parking space-specific parameters from the environment data, examining the criteria of each parking scenario on the basis of the parking space-specific parameters, and classifying each parking scenario on the basis of the examined criteria. |
| US09400896B2 |
Portable computer and security operating method thereof
A portable computer and security operating method thereof are provided to secure the portable computer in a power-off mode. The portable mainly includes a computer host, a system BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), an EC (Embedded Controller), an EC BIOS, one or more input device and a power device, all of which are in bus connection or circuit connection with each other. The EC includes a KBC (Keyboard Controller) and remains activated when the portable computer is in the power-off mode. Meanwhile, the EC is adapted so that in the power-off mode of the portable computer and upon receipt of a security signal, the EC executes a power-off-mode security routine of the EC BIOS to lock the portable computer in the power-off mode. |
| US09400894B1 |
Management of log files subject to edit restrictions that can undergo modifications
Systems and methods for applying edit restrictions, modifying a file subject to edit restrictions, and obtaining a modified file that is subject to edit restriction in the file's original form are disclosed. Restriction metadata files may be used to identify restrictions to which a particular file is subject and the content of the file that is subject to each restriction. Difference data files may contain the unmodified data that is subject to the edit restriction before any modification of the file is done so that the file may be re-created after modification. |
| US09400893B2 |
Multi-user login for shared mobile devices
In particular embodiments, two or more users are provided with personalized experiences while using a shared mobile computing device. A login interface is presented for a plurality of users of the shared mobile computing device. When an indication of a login action by a first user of the plurality of users is detected, access to restricted information associated with any other user of the plurality of users is disabled. Cached information associated with the first user is retrieved from a local data store. A personalized user interface is then presented, based on the cached information. Updates to information and/or content may be cached and/or stored remotely. When an indication of a logout action by a first user of the plurality of users is detected, particular information and/or content is flushed from the local data store. |
| US09400891B2 |
Owner controlled transmitted file protection and access control system and method
A system that encrypts a file sent by an owner and embeds it with encrypted policy rules. The policy rules are one or more ‘access rules’ and ‘use rules’ that determine how the file is accessed and used. The rules may be changed and may be location, time and date sensitive. The file may be sent to a recipient or stored in a file accessed by the recipient may accessed. The recipient registers with the system and assigned an ID. Using the ‘access rule’, the owner assigns a particular recipient ID to the file. A reader program generates a request to a management server to access and use the file. The management server reviews the policy rules to determine if they are satisfied. If the rules are satisfied, a digital certificate is sent to the recipient that allows the file to be accessed and used according to the policy rules. |
| US09400887B2 |
Program analysis/verification service provision system, control method for same, computer readable non-transitory storage medium, program analysis/verification device, program analysis/verification tool management device
A program analysis/verification service provision system (1) includes: a tool registration/search section (313) for extracting, from a plurality of program analysis/verification tools (virtual machines) stored in a tool storage section (320), a virtual machine (T) in which a program analysis/verification tool for use in analysis/verification of a target program (P) has been installed and set; and a virtual machine execution environment section (120) for analyzing/verifying the target program (P) with use of the virtual machine (T) thus extracted. |
| US09400883B2 |
Authentication mechanism
A computer-implemented method for preventing password leakage into a non-password field includes detecting that a user of an electronic device has entered a character in a non-password field appearing on a display associated with the electronic device. The character is echoed to at least the display, and stored to provide a stored character string. The stored character string is compared to a set of valid entries for the non-password field, when length of the stored character string reaches a predetermined threshold value. An alert is transmitted when the stored character string fails to match at least a substring of an element of the set of valid entries for the non-password field. |
| US09400882B2 |
Method and system for maintaining login preference information of users in a network-based transaction facility
The present invention relates to various aspects for maintaining and utilizing login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility. In one embodiment, user interface information is communicated to a client via a communications network. The user interface information includes information concerning a plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility. The user interface information also specifies a login interface that facilitates user input of login preference information pertaining to each of the plurality of features. Further, the login preference information is received from the client via the communications network and utilized to control user access to any of the plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility via the communications network. |
| US09400875B1 |
Content routing with rights management
The transfer of protected content from a content source to a remote packet-based device is effected. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a network-based server implements a routing application at a user's content or content source to respond to content requests from remote packet-based devices to facilitate the transfer of protected content. The content is transferred in accordance with applicable rights associated with the content. In some instances, the content is transferred in a protected format; in other instances, the content is transferred in a re-protected format; and in other instances, the content is not transferred as requested, where rights associated with the content prohibit or otherwise restrict the transfer. |
| US09400872B2 |
Metrics assessment system for health, fitness and lifestyle behavioral management
A software and hardware system is described that enables effective lifestyle management by providing a dynamic assessment of a user's physical and behavioral metrics via a high feedback ratio interface. |
| US09400867B2 |
Method and system for monitoring and reporting equipment operating conditions and diagnostic information
A method and system (20) is provided for condition based monitoring reliability maintenance capabilities for an asset (70), such as one or more machines, by establishing a network including of a sensor (60) or a plurality of sensors installed, temporarily or in generally fixed locations, on asset (70), wherein sensor (60) provides time sequenced operational information in the form of data based on vibrations, temperature, electrical signals, or other operating conditions. Sensors (60) are connected to a local controller (40) which transmits the data via a local or wide area network (45), either through wired or wireless communication paths, in data packets, each containing divided portions of the operational information. The data packets are mapped and stored into multiple, dedicated databases for ease of retrieving and analyzing the data. Preferably, a cloud-based storage arrangement (120) is employed to storing the mapped data. |
| US09400866B2 |
Layout modification method and system
A method comprises providing a non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium storing a partial netlist of at least a portion of a previously taped-out integrated circuit (IC) layout, representing a set of photomasks for fabricating an IC having the IC layout such that the IC meets a first specification value. A computer identities a proper subset of a plurality of first devices in the IC layout, such that replacement of the proper subset of the first devices by second devices in a revised IC layout satisfies a second specification value different from the first specification value. At least one layout mask is generated and stored in at least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium, accessible by a tool for forming at least one additional photomask, such that the set of photomasks and the at least one additional photomask are usable to fabricate an IC according to the revised IC layout. |
| US09400864B2 |
System and method for maintaining slack continuity in incremental statistical timing analysis
A method and a system of maintaining slack continuity in incremental statistical timing analysis includes using a computer to forward propagating both scalar and statistical arrival times in a single timing environment; computing for a timing end point one or more projected statistical slack value; computing a scalar reverse engineered required arrival time from the projected statistical slack value; back propagating the scalar reverse engineered required arrival time using scalar delay values, measuring a resulting slack and performing a redesign based on the reverse engineered scalar required arrival time and resulting slack; and incrementally re-executing selected steps to re-compute a new scalar reverse-engineered required arrival time and new resulting slack. |
| US09400861B2 |
Method of optimizing the design of an electronic device with respect to electromagnetic emissions based on frequency spreading introduced by software, computer program product for carrying out the method and associated article of manufacture
There is described a method of optimizing the design of an electronic device with respect to electromagnetic emissions based on frequency spreading. With the method, a designer can, for example, perform a transient simulation on the device only once, and then add frequency spreading with specific parameters by simulation. The resulting frequency spread signal can be observed. The designer can thus evaluate the reduction in electromagnetic emission level, and repeat this process by iteratively applying frequency spreading each time with specific parameters but without having to modify the schematic of the device and to perform another simulation of the device. The method according to this innovation is extremely rapid as the simulation of the design does not need to be repeated at each run of the frequency spreading simulation. |
| US09400860B2 |
Multi-FPGA prototyping of an ASIC circuit
Technology is disclosed for designing a prototype including a plurality of programmable chips for modelling a logic design comprising a hierarchy of logic modules. An example method includes: creating a new hierarchy of logic modules on the basis of the hierarchy of the logic modules of the logic design, by flattening the modules that cannot be preserved according to design constraints; partitioning the new hierarchy of logic modules into regions each comprising one or a plurality of programmable chips, while minimizing: inter-region communications in a manner correlated to the physical connections available between each pair of programmable chips; and the number of crossings of programmable chips of a critical combinatorial path; and establishing a routing of the signals between programmable chips using the physical resources available. |
| US09400856B2 |
System and method for generating a lighting plan
A system and method for enabling users to generate a lighting plan is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes obtaining map data from a mapping source, the map data enabling generation of a map at a location of interest; obtaining lamp data, the lamp data including lamp specification data including parameters corresponding to attributes of lamps of a plurality of lamps; using a data processor to provide a user interface with which a user can perform a graphical drag-and-drop operation to select a first lamp from among the plurality of lamps and position the first lamp in a position on the map; and generating a lighting plan based on the attributes and position of the first lamp. |
| US09400850B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a tailored user interface associated with a web page
Exemplary systems and methods for providing a tailored user interface associated with a web page are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a user interface computing system identifying, from computing code representative of a web page and based on a predefined element selection heuristic, one or more select elements of the web page and generating a user interface including data representative of the one or more select elements for display on a display screen, the user interface having a presentation scheme that is different from a presentation scheme of the web page and that is tailored to facilitate interaction with the data representative of the one or more select elements by a user utilizing a set of user inputs. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09400848B2 |
Techniques for context-based grouping of messages for translation
A computer-implemented technique includes receiving, at a server, a first request from a computing device to translate a web page from a source language to a target language. The technique includes generating, at the server, an image for each of a plurality of messages from the web page to obtain a plurality of images in response to the first request. A specific image (i) represents at least a specific portion of the web page and (ii) includes at least a specific message of the plurality of messages. The technique includes grouping, at the server, the plurality of messages based on contexts of their images to obtain one or more groups of messages. A translation service provider then translates the one or more groups of messages to obtain a plurality of translated messages. The technique also includes transmitting, from the server, the plurality of translated messages to the computing device. |
| US09400847B1 |
Method and system for pagination of content
Embodiments of methods and systems for incorporating user generated content into a web page are disclosed. Certain embodiment may allow a different amount of user-generated content to be incorporated into a set of web pages associated with the same product. More particularly, according to one embodiment, a first amount of user-generated content can be presented on an initial web page associated with the product and a different amount of user generated content can be presented on subsequent pages. Moreover, in other embodiments, differing sort orders may be utilized in conjunction with the initial web page and subsequent pages with the result that the user-generated content is incorporated into the initial web page according to a first sort order and user generated content is incorporated into subsequent web pages according to a different sort order. |
| US09400846B2 |
Method and system for managing information in an on-line community
A method and system for managing information in an on-line community is described. One embodiment assigns, in an information management system, a distinct domain to each member of the on-line community, each member of the on-line community being associated with a client computer that is connected with the information management system over a network, each distinct domain being capable of hosting at least one on-line information archive associated with the member assigned to that distinct domain; associates with each on-line information archive at least one member-configurable data entry form, each member-configurable data entry form associated with a given on-line information archive defining a format of a specific type of information item that may be posted to that on-line information archive, each member-configurable data entry form associated with the given on-line information archive including a name and at least one form field, the name being specifiable by the member of the on-line community associated with the given on-line information archive, the at least one form field being definable and configurable by the member of the on-line community associated with the given on-line information archive; and sets access permissions for each on-line information archive in accordance with preferences of the member associated with that on-line information archive, the access permissions specifying which members of the on-line community are permitted to access that on-line information archive and to what extent each of those members is permitted to access that on-line information archive. |
| US09400845B2 |
Providing intelligent service provider searching and statistics on service providers
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of discovering new service providers includes: displaying a graphical user interface that enables a user to enter current search data to perform a search for service providers of a service, performing a search using the current search data to generate a list of service providers that provide the service, and filtering out the service providers from the list that were previously employed by a given entity. |
| US09400839B2 |
Enhanced keyword find operation in a web page
An enhanced find operation on a web page includes: activating an enhanced find operation on a web page and obtaining an entered keyword; obtaining one or more keywords on the web page related to the entered keyword and one or more categories associated with the one or more related keywords; displaying the one or more categories associated with the one or more related keywords with contents of the web page; detecting a selection of one of the one or more categories; and enhancing a display on the web page of the one or more related keywords associated with the selected category. Events for an activation of a find operation on the web page are monitored. In response to detecting the activation of the find operation, the find operation is intercepted, and the enhanced find operation is activated instead. |
| US09400837B2 |
Real-time text indexing
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with real-time text indexing are described. One example method includes receiving a document for indexing in a search system that includes a mature index and indexing the received document in a staging index. The staging index may be stored in direct access memory associated with query processing that does not degrade query performance even when postings become fragmented. The staging index and the mature text index are accessed to process queries on the search system. The example method may also include periodically merging the staging index into the mature index based on query feedback. |
| US09400833B2 |
Generating electronic summaries of online meetings
An improved technique of organizing content of online meetings involves generating an electronic summary based on a textual metadata derived from content presented in an online meeting. An online meeting server collects content such as audio, video, and slide files presented in a particular online meeting. From metadata associated with such content, the online meeting server generates an electronic summary of the particular online meeting which includes a textual description of the content. The online meeting server then stores the electronic summary and the content presented in the particular online meeting in a repository that is configured to store content from other online meetings. |
| US09400828B2 |
Hierarchical chunking of objects in a distributed storage system
Placement of object replicas in a distributed storage system includes, at a first instance, opening a journal for storage of object chunks. An object is received, which comprises one or more chunks. Each chunk comprises one or more storage blocks. The blocks for a single chunk are stored in a single journal. Global metadata for the object is stored, which includes a list of chunks for the object. Local metadata for the chunk is stored, which includes a block list identifying each block of the plurality of blocks. The local metadata is associated with the journal. The journal is later closed. The journal is subsequently replicated to a second instance. The global metadata is updated to reflect the replication, whereas the local metadata is unchanged by the replication. |
| US09400827B2 |
Enhanced database scheme to support advanced media production and distribution
An enhanced database system and method for media production and distribution enables the aggregation of assets using external unique IDs. The use of the external IDs allows the searching of Media Asset Management database to be performed without any prior knowledge of the actual database. The search configuration defines a set of search environment parameters that are imported into the search database during a configuration stage and which are used by the search services to provide client applications with an interface to create, validate, and execute queries. |
| US09400826B2 |
Method and system for aggregate content modeling
A method for content extraction and modeling by a computer system for incorporating the content into a domain model including the steps of extracting by an acquisition module content stored on a computer readable medium of at least one data source, determining whether the content is structured or unstructured; wherein structured content has a first content model associated therewith defining at least a format of the structured content and unstructured content has no model associated therewith. Upon a condition in which the content is structured, incorporating the structured content into the domain model; and, upon a condition in which the content is unstructured, determining by the computer system a second content model to transform the unstructured content into newly structured content and incorporating the newly structured content into the domain model. |
| US09400825B2 |
Pivot analysis method using condition group
A pivot analysis method using a condition group is applicable to a front end processing device and includes the following steps. A file name processing interface is presented according to a plurality of file names. A file name selection value is received via a first sub interface of the file name processing interface. A range setting value is received via a second sub interface of the file name processing interface. A file name computing value is received via a third sub interface of the file name processing interface. A file name processing value generated by integrating the file name selection value, the file name range setting value and the file name computing value, is outputted. A multidimensional array is received to present a pivot analysis table. |
| US09400824B2 |
Systems and methods for sorting data
Systems and methods for sorting data are disclosed. In some implementations, a method of sorting a set of data includes, at a computing device including one or more processors and memory, formatting the set of data for display using a first data column and a second data column. The first data column includes a first plurality of values; the first plurality of values is user-visible; the second data column includes a second plurality of values; and the second plurality of values is also user-visible. In some implementations, the method further includes, causing the set of data to be displayed in a sort order in accordance with a third plurality of sort parameters. The third plurality of sort parameters is calculated in accordance with (i) the first plurality of data values and (ii) the second plurality of data column; and the third plurality of sort parameter is user-invisible. |
| US09400823B2 |
Stream data processing method on recursive query of graph data
A stream data processing computer comprises: a query execution module to receive an input stream of stream data, manage execution order of operators for executing a query, and output an output stream, the operators including static recursive execution modules, a judge operator, and a dynamic recursive execution module; and a memory including a temporal store to store data generated in executing the query. The static recursive execution modules are configured to conduct a recursive number of static recursive execution of the query. The judge operator is configured to determine whether a preset condition is met after the recursive number of static recursive execution of the query. The dynamic recursive execution module is configured, if the preset condition is not met, to continue execution of the query by dynamic recursive execution from a last result of a last module of the static recursive execution modules, based on a dynamic recursive value. |