最新美国发明专利第2016-07-26期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09401349B2	Stack of integrated-circuit chips and electronic device A stack of chips is formed by a first integrated-circuit chip and a second integrated-circuit chip. The chips have opposing faces which are separated from each other by an interposed spacer. The spacer is fastened by adhesion to only one of the opposing faces. The opposing faces are fastened to each other by a local adhesive which is separate from spacer.
US09401348B2	Method of making a substrate structure having a flexible layer There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device including: a heat dissipation structure including one or more of materials among a metal, a ceramic, a semiconductor, and a resin; a flexible insulating layer directly in contact with the heat dissipation structure; a conductive layer laminated on the flexible insulating layer; and a light emitting device mounted on the conductive layer, wherein the light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer; and first and second electrodes connected to the first and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers, respectively, and the first electrode includes a plurality of conductive vias connected to the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer through the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer and the active layer.
US09401346B2	Optical bus in 3D integrated circuit stack An optical bus of an integrated circuit comprises: a polymer waveguide, a micromirror, and an optical coupler. The polymer waveguide is disposed in a via formed through at least one die layer of the integrated circuit comprising an active circuit. The micromirror is disposed adjacent to the via and optically coupled to the polymer waveguide. The optical coupler is connected to the polymer waveguide to couple the active circuit to the optical bus. A stacked integrated circuit is described comprising such an optical bus. A method of fabricating a rear 45° micromirror on a silicon substrate that can be used in the optical bus is also described. Furthermore, alignment/lock mechanisms for use in a stacked integrated circuit comprising first and second silicon substrates are described.
US09401339B2	Wafer level packages having non-wettable solder collars and methods for the fabrication thereof Wafer level packages and methods for producing wafer level packages having non-wettable solder collars are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes forming solder mask openings in a solder mask layer exposing regions of a patterned metal level underlying the solder mask layer. Before or after forming solder mask openings in the solder mask layer, non-wettable solder collars are produced extending partially over the exposed regions of the patterned metal level. Solder balls are deposited onto the non-wettable solder collars and into the solder mask openings such that circumferential clearances are provided around base portions of the solder balls and sidewalls of the solder mask layer defining the solder mask openings.
US09401338B2	Electronic devices with embedded die interconnect structures, and methods of manufacture thereof An embodiment of an electronic device includes an IC die with a top surface and a bond pad exposed at the top surface. A stud bump (or stack of stud bumps) is connected to the bond pad, and the stud bump and die are encapsulated with encapsulant. A trench is formed from a top surface of the encapsulant to the stud bump, resulting in the formation of a trench-oriented surface of the stud bump, which is exposed at the bottom of the trench. An end of an interconnect is connected to the trench-oriented surface of the stud bump. The interconnect extends above the encapsulant top surface, and may be coupled to another IC die of the same electronic device, another IC die that is distinct from the device, or another conductive feature of the device or a larger electronic system in which the device is incorporated.
US09401335B2	Semiconductor device and electronic apparatus A semiconductor device that is connected to a wiring substrate includes a semiconductor substrate, a circuit provided on the semiconductor substrate, a connection terminal, and a guard ring that is provided on a peripheral region. In the semiconductor device, the guard ring includes a plurality of wiring layers, and a wiring layer included in the guard ring, which is the farthest from the semiconductor substrate, corresponds to a wiring layer closer to the semiconductor substrate relative to a wiring layer of the connection terminal.
US09401328B2	Electric contact structure having a diffusion barrier for an electronic device and method for manufacturing the electric contact structure An electric contact structure includes a first structural layer; a second structural layer made of dielectric material extending over the first structural layer; and an intermediate layer made of conductive material extending between the first structural layer and the second structural layer. A trench extends in the second structural layer delimited laterally by a wall of the second structural layer and at the bottom by a surface region of the intermediate layer. A diffusion barrier extends in the trench covering the surface region of the intermediate layer and the wall of the second structural layer. The diffusion barrier is a TiW—TiN—TiW tri-layer.
US09401321B2	Display device A display device includes, on a substrate, light emitting elements each formed by sequentially stacking a first electrode layer, an organic layer including a light emission layer, and a second electrode layer and arranged in first and second directions which cross each other, a drive circuit including drive elements that drive light emitting elements, and a wiring extending in the first direction, and an insulating layer disposed in a gap region sandwiched by the light emitting elements neighboring in the second direction and having a recess or a projection. The wiring is disposed in an overlap region overlapping with the recess or the projection in the insulating layer in a thickness direction, in the gap region, and the second electrode layers in the light emitting elements neighboring in the second direction are separated from each other by the recess or the projection in the insulating layer.
US09401320B2	Combined substrate A combined substrate includes a first substrate having multiple first metal posts, a second substrate having multiple second metal posts such that the second metal posts are positioned to oppose the first metal posts, respectively, and multiple solder structures interposed between the first metal posts and the second metal posts, respectively. The first metal posts and/or the second metal posts have recessed surfaces formed such that the solder structures are formed on the recessed surfaces, respectively.
US09401318B2	Quad flat no-lead package and manufacturing method thereof A quad flat no-lead package includes an encapsulant, and a plurality of chip pads, a plurality of bond pads and a chip disposed in the encapsulant. Each chip pad is connected to at least one of the chip pads adjacent thereto by a first extending portion. The chip pads and the bond pads are arranged in an array. The chip pads are disposed at the center of the array and the bond pads are disposed around the chip pads. Each of the bond pads and at least one of the bond pads or one of the chip pads adjacent thereto each has a second extending portion formed therebetween and corresponding to each other. Every two of the second extending portions corresponding to each other are separated by a groove. The chip is mounted on a top surface of the chip pads and is electrically coupled to the bond pads.
US09401317B2	Heat sink mount and assembly An assembly for a heat sink having a contact plate with opposing first and second faces, a plurality of fins extending from the first face of the contact plate, and a plurality of gaps between the fins. A retaining device has a first pair of opposing sides and a second pair of opposing sides, the first and second pairs of opposing sides surrounding an opening, the first pair of opposing sides having primary framing members, at least some of the primary framing members having a first end at a respective side and a distal free end, with at least one engagement member positioned proximate the distal free ends. The primary framing members define a receiving space for the heat sink. A metal spring is configured in a closed shape cross-section for engagement with the retaining device. The metal spring has a pair of elongated sides, a pair of truncated sides and heat sink engagement regions. The heat sink engagement regions are positioned against the contact plate when the metal spring is engaged with the retaining device, to urge the contact plate towards the engagement members. The assembly is particularly well suited for use with ball grid array packages to interface electronic components in such packages with the heat sink.
US09401313B2	Automated optical inspection of unit specific patterning A method of automated optical inspection (AOI) for a plurality of unique semiconductor packages can comprise providing a plurality of semiconductor die formed as a reconstituted wafer. A plurality of unit specific patterns can be formed by forming a unit specific pattern over each of the plurality of semiconductor die, wherein each of the unit specific patterns is customized to fit its respective semiconductor die. A plurality of images can be acquired by acquiring an image for each of the plurality of unit specific patterns. A plurality of unique reference standards can be created by creating a unique reference standard for each of the plurality of unit specific patterns. Defects can be detected in the plurality of unit specific patterns by comparing one of the plurality of unique reference standards to a corresponding one of the plurality of images for each of the plurality of unit specific patterns.
US09401311B2	Self aligned structure and method for high-K metal gate work function tuning A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the device. The method includes: forming a STI in a substrate having a nFET and a pFET region; depositing a high-k layer and a TiN layer; depositing a polycrystalline silicon layer; forming a block level litho layer; removing a portion of the polycrystalline silicon layer; removing the block level litho layer; forming a first protective layer; depositing a fill layer above the pFET region; removing the first protective layer; cutting the TiN layer and the high-k layer to expose a portion of the STI; depositing a second protective layer on the STI; removing the fill layer; removing the TiN layer above the pFET region; treating the high-k layer with a work function tuning process; removing the polycrystalline silicon layer and TiN layer; and depositing a metal layer on the high-k layer and the second protective layer.
US09401309B2	Multiheight contact via structures for a multilevel interconnect structure Contact openings extending to sacrificial layers located at different depths can be formed by sequentially exposing a greater number of openings in a mask layer by iterative alternation of trimming of a slimming layer over the mask layer and an anisotropic etch that recesses pre-existing contact openings by one level. In one embodiment, pairs of an electrically conductive via contact and electrically conductive electrodes can be simultaneously formed as integrated line and via structures. In another embodiment, encapsulated unfilled cavities can be formed in the contact openings by non-conformal deposition of a material layer, electrically conductive electrodes can be formed by replacement of portions of the sacrificial layers, and the electrically conductive via contacts can be subsequently formed on the electrically conductive electrodes. Electrically conductive via contacts extending to electrically conductive electrodes located at different level can be provided with self-aligned insulating liner.
US09401305B2	Air gaps structures for damascene metal patterning A pattern of parallel lines defines first regions where no conductive material is to be located, a distance between adjacent lines in the first regions being smaller than a predetermined distance, and defines second regions where conductive material is to be located, a distance between adjacent lines in the second regions being larger than the predetermined distance. A subsequent layer caps air gaps between lines in the first regions. Conductive material is then deposited and planarized to form lines of conductive material in the second regions.
US09401300B1	Media substrate gripper including a plurality of snap-fit fingers One aspect of an assembly configured to grip a substrate includes a gripper including a first finger and a second finger, a first chuck body snap-fit to the first finger, and a second chuck body snap-fit to the second finger.
US09401293B2	Polishing apparatus and polishing method A polishing apparatus for polishing a substrate includes a polishing table holding a polishing pad, a top ring configured to press the substrate against the polishing pad, and first and second optical heads each configured to apply the light to the substrate and to receive reflected light from the substrate. The polishing apparatus also includes spectroscopes each configured to measure at each wavelength an intensity of the reflected light received, and a processor configured to produce a spectrum indicating a relationship between intensity and wavelength of the reflected light. The first optical head is arranged so as to face a center of the substrate, and the second optical head is arranged so as to face a peripheral portion of the substrate.
US09401290B2	Semiconductor apparatus and method for producing the same A method for producing a semiconductor apparatus with a mold including an upper mold half and a lower mold half, includes: an arranging step of arranging on one of the upper mold half and the lower mold half of the mold a substrate on which a semiconductor device is mounted, the mold being kept at a room temperature or heated to a temperature up to 200° C., and arranging on the other of the upper mold half and the lower mold half a substrate on which no semiconductor device is mounted; an integrating step of integrating the substrate on which the semiconductor device is mounted and the substrate on which no semiconductor device is mounted by molding a thermosetting resin with the mold on which the substrates are arranged; and a step of dicing the integrated substrates taken out of the mold to obtain an individualized semiconductor apparatus.
US09401286B2	Plasma processing apparatus Disclosed is a plasma processing device that provides an object to be treated with plasma treatment. A wafer as an object to be treated, which is attached on the upper surface of adhesive sheet held by a holder frame, is mounted on a stage. In a vacuum chamber that covers the stage therein, plasma is generated, by which the wafer mounted on the stage undergoes plasma treatment. The plasma processing device contains a cover member made of dielectric material. During the plasma treatment on the wafer, the holder frame is covered with a cover member placed at a predetermined position above the stage, at the same time, the wafer is exposed from an opening formed in the center of the cover member.
US09401282B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, cleaning method, substrate processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable recording medium Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which efficiently removes a high permittivity film (high-k film). The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: (a) supplying a processing gas containing an organic compound into a process chamber to form a predetermined film on a substrate; (b) supplying a first cleaning gas into the process chamber with the substrate being unloaded from the process chamber to remove films adhered to an inner wall of a reaction tube defining the process chamber and members disposed in the process chamber; (c) supplying a modifying gas into the process chamber after performing (b) to modify a carbon-containing film remaining in a nozzle of the members configured to supply the processing gas; and (d) supplying a second cleaning gas into the process chamber to remove a film obtained by modifying the carbon-containing film in (c).
US09401280B2	Semiconductor process A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A first gate is formed on a substrate, wherein the first gate includes a stacked gate on the substrate and a cap on the stacked gate. A spacer material is formed to conformally cover the first gate and the substrate. The spacer material is etched to form a spacer on a side of the first gate and a block on the other side of the first gate corresponding to the side. A material covers the substrate, the block, the first gate and the spacer, wherein the top surface of the material is a flat surface. The block, the spacer and the material are pulled down with the same pulling selectivity so that an assisting gate is formed from the block and a selective gate is formed from the spacer.
US09401268B2	Mass spectrometer with optimized magnetic shunt The present invention relates to a mass spectrometer device comprising a source of ions, an electrostatic sector, a non-scanning magnetic sector arranged downstream of the electrostatic sector, for separating ions originating at the source of ions according to their mass-to-charge ratios, and a detection means. A magnetic shunt is arranged in the drift space between the electrostatic sector and the magnetic sector. The proposed position of the magnetic shunt enhances the resolving power of the mass spectrometer device.
US09401261B2	Ozone supplying apparatus, ozone supplying method, and charged particle beam drawing system An ozone supplying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is an ozone gas supplying apparatus which supplies an ozone gas to a vacuum apparatus. The ozone supplying apparatus includes an ozone generator configured to generate the ozone gas, a first flow controller configured to control a flow rate of the ozone gas generated by the ozone generator, a second flow controller configured to control a flow rate of the ozone gas supplied to the vacuum apparatus, and a main pipe provided on a secondary side of the first flow controller and on a primary side of the second flow controller, with the ozone gas being introduced into the main pipe at such a flow rate that an internal pressure of the main pipe is controlled to be lower than atmospheric pressure by the first flow controller.
US09401258B2	Fuse structure A fuse structure comprises a first conductive layer on a first level. The first conductive layer comprises a fuse line extending in a first direction. The fuse line has a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a fuse link portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion. The first conductive layer also comprises lines parallel to the fuse line, the lines being aligned in the first direction and being separated from one another by a first distance measured in the first direction. The fuse structure also comprises a second conductive layer on a second level different from the first level and coupled with the first conductive layer. The second conductive layer has parallel lines extending in a second direction, the parallel lines being separated by a second distance measured in a third direction orthogonal to the second direction.
US09401254B2	Electronic leakage reduction techniques Electronic leakage reduction techniques are provided, whereby a device is configured to detect characteristics of an appliance and its power supply when the appliance is off or otherwise placed in a mode for reduced power use by said appliance, and whereby voltage and power provided to the appliance are then substantially reduced. In other aspects of the disclosed technology, user behavior may also manually control power delivered to the appliance, for example, with a switch. In still other aspects of the disclosed technology, a device is configured to detect characteristics of an appliance and its power supply when the appliance is on or otherwise placed in a mode for higher power use by said appliance, and increases power to the appliance.
US09401251B2	Molded case circuit breaker A circuit breaker includes a housing and a line strap at least partially disposed within the housing. The line strap has a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, a first side surface and an opposing second side surface. A line strap insulator is positioned within the housing and has a first sidewall and a second sidewall. Each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall extend from a point above the line strap top surface to a point below the line strap bottom surface. The line strap insulator is fabricated from an electrically insulative material.
US09401250B2	Electronic switching module for a power tool An electronic power apparatus includes a housing, a pair of input power pins and a pair of output power pins mounted on a power circuit board, and power components mounted on the power circuit board and electrically connected to the input power pins and the output power pins to modulate a supply of power from the input power pins to the output power pins. A control unit of the electronic power apparatus is arranged on a control circuit board disposed at a distance from the power circuit board inside the housing. The output power pins project through corresponding through-holes through the control circuit board to an outside part of the housing, the output pins having at least one side protrusion arranged to spatially support the control circuit board with respect to the power circuit board inside the housing.
US09401248B2	Actuator device with improved tactile characteristics The invention relates to an actuator device (400) comprising an active layer (410) having directly or indirectly a skin layer (420) on top that can be touched by when in use by a user. The configuration of the active layer (410) can controllably be changed in an extension direction (x, y), and the skin layer (420) comprises a plurality of elevations (E) and intermediate recesses (R). Due to its structure, the skin layer (420) does not hinder conformation changes of the active layer (410) in the extension direction, while it provides favorable tactile characteristics of the actuator device (400). The active layer (410) may particularly comprise an electroactive polymer (EAP). The skin layer (420) may be composed of a plurality of grains isolated from each other, or it may comprise a thin surface layer (421) that is stiffer than the active layer (410).
US09401243B2	Planar transformer The present invention relates to a planar transformer, the transformer including a core provided to induce formation of a magnetic field, a bobbin coupled to a core, at least one primary winding interposed between the core and the bobbin to supply a power signal, a first insulation unit provided to the at least one primary winding to insulate the at least one primary winding, at least one secondary winding provided to the first insulation unit and insulated by the first insulation unit to transform the power signal, and a second insulation unit provided to the at least one secondary winding to insulate the at least one secondary winding.
US09401233B2	Water blocking structure for insulation-coated wire and wire harness A water blocking structure for an insulation-coated wire includes a heat-shrinkable tubular protective member that is closed at one end and that accommodates an intermediate portion of an insulation-coated wire that is bent in a folded-backward direction, and a resin material that is accommodated in the protective member and that penetrates the intermediate portion of the insulation-coated wire. A slit portion is formed by a cutting instrument in a coating of the insulation-coated wire within a region where the intermediate portion is bent in the folded-backward direction, and a water blocking agent penetrates the intermediate portion via this slit portion.
US09401232B2	Conductive water-borne coatings and methods for enhancing coating conductivity The present disclosure is directed to conductive, translucent water-borne conductive coatings comprising a water-borne lubricant coating base material, an amount of PEDOT:PSS solution, and an amount of metal-containing nanowire, methods for making the same, and articles coated with such coatings.
US09401228B2	Standing wave nuclear fission reactor and methods Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactor cores, nuclear fission reactors, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of managing excess reactivity in a nuclear fission reactor.
US09401225B2	Timing-drift calibration The disclosed embodiments relate to components of a memory system that support timing-drift calibration. In specific embodiments, this memory system contains a memory device (or multiple devices) which includes a clock distribution circuit and an oscillator circuit which can generate a frequency, wherein a change in the frequency is indicative of a timing drift of the clock distribution circuit. The memory device also includes a measurement circuit which is configured to measure the frequency of the oscillator circuit. Additionally, the memory system contains a memory controller which can transmit a request to the memory device to trigger the memory device to measure the frequency of the oscillator circuit. The memory controller is also configured to receive the measured frequency from the memory device and uses the measured frequency to determine the timing drift in the memory device.
US09401222B1	Determining categories for memory fail conditions Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, program products, and systems for testing a memory cell arrangement. Embodiments of the present invention can determine categories of memory fail conditions by checking memory cells of with a sequence of test parameter configurations for a malfunction using test parameters, storing for test parameter configurations for which a malfunction is detected, and assigning the respective test parameter configuration with a bit fail count comprising the number of malfunctioning memory cells. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to create a relational data structure representing test parameter configurations and can combine one or more test parameter configurations and can create a representation of the bit fail counts of the respective test parameter configurations.
US09401220B2	Multi-phase gate driver and display panel using the same A multi-phase gate driver includes a start/end signal generator circuit and X shift register modules. The start/end signal generator circuit is configured to sequentially output N start signals and N end signals according to a first control signal, a second control signal and N groups of clock signals. Each start and end signals have a delay relative to the previous one. Each group of clock signals includes a first clock signal and a second clock signal, which are inverted to each other. The X shift register modules are electrically coupled to the start/end signal generator circuit and each includes N shift register units. The Mth shift register unit of the first shift register module outputs a gate signal according to the Mth group of clock signals, the Mth start signal, and the gate signal outputted from the Mth shift register unit in the second shift register module.
US09401218B2	Fuse circuit and semiconductor apparatus including the same A fuse circuit includes an E-fuse array including a plurality of E-fuse elements configured to store fuse data; a latch block including a plurality of latch groups configured to latch the fuse data read from the E-fuse array; and a control block configured to output latch reset signals corresponding to the plurality of latch groups in response to an apparatus reset signal and a clock signal, wherein the control block sequentially enables the latch reset signals.
US09401214B2	Three-dimensional memory device and operating method of a storage device including the same A storage device is provided. The storage device includes a memory controller and at least one nonvolatile memory device including memory blocks having a pipe-shaped bit cost scalable (PBiCS) structure. Each of the memory blocks penetrates word lines stacked on a substrate in the form of plates and includes a first pillar, a second pillar, and a back-gate. The second pillar includes a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, and a charge storage layer. The back-gate includes a pillar connection portion to connect the first and second pillars to each other and is disposed between the substrate and the word lines. The memory controller includes an adjacent cell management unit configured to control the at least one nonvolatile memory device such that a program operation, an erase operation or a read operation is performed on memory cells adjacent to the back-gate, unlike the other memory cells.
US09401211B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming memory cells which share a data storage layer; performing a first strong program operation on first memory cells, arranged in a checker board pattern among the memory cells; performing a first annealing process after the first strong program operation; performing a second strong program operation on second memory cells arranged in a reverse checker board pattern among the memory cells, and performing a slight program operation on the first memory cells; and performing a second annealing process after the second strong program operation and the slight program operation.
US09401197B2	Memory devices, systems and methods employing command/address calibration During a command/address calibration mode, a memory controller may transmit multiple cycles of test patterns as signals to a memory device. Each cycle of test pattern signals may be transmitted at an adjusted relative phase with respect to a clock also transmitted to the memory device. The memory device may input the test pattern signals at a timing determined by the clock, such as rising and/or falling edges of the clock. The test pattern as input by the memory device may be sent to the memory controller to determine if the test pattern was successfully transmitted to the memory device during the cycle. Multiple cycles of test pattern transmissions are evaluated to determine a relative phase of command/address signals with respect to the clock for transmission during operation of the system.
US09401195B2	Self-referenced sense amplifier for spin-torque MRAM Circuitry and a method provide a plurality of timed control and bias voltages to sense amplifiers and write drivers of a spin-torque magnetoresistive random access memory array for improved power supply noise rejection, increased sensing speed with immunity for bank-to-bank noise coupling, and reduced leakage from off word line select devices in an active column.
US09401191B2	Semiconductor memory apparatus A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a driving current control block configured to sense a resistance value of a dummy memory element, and generates a write driver control signal; and a write driving block configured to provide a driving voltage to a memory cell array in response to a write driver enable signal and the write driver control signal.
US09401190B1	High speed FPGA boot-up through concurrent multi-frame configuration scheme Systems and methods are provided herein for implementing a programmable integrated circuit device that enables high-speed FPGA boot-up through a significant reduction of configuration time. By enabling high-speed FPGA boot-up, the programmable integrated circuit device will be able to accommodate applications that require faster boot-up time than conventional programmable integrated circuit devices are able to accommodate. In order to enable high-speed boot-up, dedicated address registers are implemented for each data line segment of a data line, which in turn significantly reduces configuration random access memory (CRAM) write time (e.g., by a factor of at least two).
US09401176B2	Optimum tape layout selection for improved error correction capability According to one embodiment, a system for selecting an optimum tape layout to store data on a tape medium includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to compute a set of all minimum distances corresponding to a plurality of data set layouts, wherein each minimum distance is computed between a location of a first codeword interleave (CWI) and locations of all other CWIs in a common sub data set (SDS), and calculate a first performance metric associated with each possible set of parameters using the set of all minimum distances for the plurality of data set layouts, the parameters being associated with at least a tape drive and the tape medium. More systems, methods, and computer program products for selecting optimum tape layouts to store data on tape media are described in accordance with other embodiments.
US09401175B1	Preamplifier crosstalk correction in array reader magnetic recording system An apparatus for correcting crosstalk in an array reader magnetic recording system includes an array reader comprising a number of read heads operable to read data from a magnetic storage medium, a preamplifier configured to amplify the signals from the read heads, and a crosstalk correction circuit configured to reduce crosstalk between signals from the read heads.
US09401169B1	Implementing enhanced ultrafast touchdown measurement scheme using thermal and voltage actuation for hard disk drives A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing touchdown measurement using thermal and voltage actuation for hard disk drives (HDDs). The touchdown measurement uses a constant power applied to a thermal flyheight control (TFC) and an electrostatic voltage bias pulse is applied between the slider body and the disk to actuate the slider into contact with the disk.
US09401166B2	Methods and apparatus for improved pattern detection Improved pattern detection is provided for a predefined pattern in data. A detection threshold employed by a Euclidean detector to detect a pattern (such as a Servo Address Mark) may be adjusted based upon data gathered that corresponds to an indication of a detected pattern by one of a plurality of pattern detectors.
US09401164B1	Device for measuring a gram load A gram load measurement assembly is configured to measure the gram load of a head stack assembly (HSA) of a disk drive being manufactured using the HSA's suspension tabs, thereby avoiding contact with the Air Bearing Surface (ABS) of the HSA's sliders when checking the gram load forces after the installation of the Head Gimbal Assembly (HGA) installation on the actuator assembly.
US09401163B2	Multi-stack reader with split middle shield A reader includes top and bottom reader stacks disposed between a top and bottom shield. The top and bottom reader stacks are offset relative to each other in a downtrack direction. Top side shields surround the top reader stack in a crosstrack direction, and bottom side shields surround the bottom reader stack in the crosstrack direction. A split middle shield is between the top and bottom reader stacks and the top and bottom side shields. The split middle shield includes top and bottom portions separated by an isolation layer, the top and bottom portions respectively coupled to the top and bottom reader stacks.
US09401161B1	Magnetic read head with multiple read transducers each having different design characteristics Data is read from a track of a magnetic recording medium via multiple read transducers located at different positions on a read head. The multiple read transducers are substantially positioned over the track when reading the track. The multiple read transducers have different design characteristics manifesting in differences in at least one of magnetic and electrical behavior of the multiple read transducers. One or more signals originating from the multiple read transducers are combined to assist in decoding the data.
US09401158B1	Microphone signal fusion Provided are systems and methods for microphone signal fusion. An example method commences with receiving a first and second signal representing sounds captured, respectively, by internal and external microphones. The second signal includes at least a voice component. The first signal and the voice component are modified by at least human tissue. The first and second signals are processed to obtain noise estimates. The first signal is aligned with the second signal. The second signal and the aligned first signal are blended based on the noise estimates to generate an enhanced voice signal. The internal microphone is located inside an ear canal and sealed for isolation from acoustic signals outside the ear canal. The external microphone is located outside the ear canal. All of parts of the processing, blending and aligning of the systems and method may be performed on a subband basis in the frequency domain.
US09401154B2	Systems and methods for recognizing sound and music signals in high noise and distortion A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.
US09401152B2	System for maintaining reversible dynamic range control information associated with parametric audio coders On the basis of a bitstream (P), an n-channel audio signal (X) is reconstructed by deriving an m-channel core signal (Y) and multichannel coding parameters (α) from the bitstream, where 1≦m
US09401151B2	Parametric encoder for encoding a multi-channel audio signal The invention relates to a parametric audio encoder, comprising a parameter generator, the parameter generator being configured to determine a first set of encoding parameters and reference audio signal values, wherein the reference audio signal is another audio channel signal or a downmix audio signal derived from at least two audio channel signals of the plurality of multi-channel audio signals, to determine a first encoding parameter average based on the first set of encoding parameters of the audio channel signal, to determine a second encoding parameter average based on the first encoding parameter average of the audio channel signal and at least one other first encoding parameter average of the audio channel signal, and to determine the encoding parameter based on the first encoding parameter average of the audio channel signal and the second encoding parameter average of the audio channel signal.
US09401149B2	Image display apparatus and method of controlling the same Provided are an image display apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The image display apparatus enabling voice recognition includes: a first voice inputter which receives a user-side audio signal; an audio outputter which outputs an audio signal processed by the image display apparatus; a first voice recognizer which recognizes the user-side audio signal received through the first voice inputter; and a controller which decreases a volume of the audio signal output through the audio outputter to a predetermined level if a voice recognition start command is received.
US09401148B2	Speaker verification using neural networks Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for inputting speech data that corresponds to a particular utterance to a neural network; determining an evaluation vector based on output at a hidden layer of the neural network; comparing the evaluation vector with a reference vector that corresponds to a past utterance of a particular speaker; and based on comparing the evaluation vector and the reference vector, determining whether the particular utterance was likely spoken by the particular speaker.
US09401145B1	Speech analytics system and system and method for determining structured speech A method for converting speech to text in a speech analytics system is provided. The method includes receiving audio data containing speech made up of sounds from an audio source, processing the sounds with a phonetic module resulting in symbols corresponding to the sounds, and processing the symbols with a language module and occurrence table resulting in text. The method also includes determining a probability of correct translation for each word in the text, comparing the probability of correct translation for each word in the text to the occurrence table, and adjusting the occurrence table based on the probability of correct translation for each word in the text.
US09401142B1	System and method for validating natural language content using crowdsourced validation jobs Systems and methods of validating transcriptions of natural language content using crowdsourced validation jobs are provided herein. In various implementations, a transcription pair comprising natural language content and text corresponding to a transcription of the natural language content may be gathered. A first group of validation devices may be selected for reviewing the transcription pair. A first crowdsourced validation job may be created for the first group of validation devices. The first crowdsourced validation job may be provided to the first group of validation devices. A vote representing whether or not the text accurately represents the natural language content may be received from each of the first group of validation devices. A validation score may be assigned to the transcription pair based, at least in part, on the votes from each of the first group of validation devices.
US09401140B1	Unsupervised acoustic model training An unsupervised acoustic modeling service for speech recognition is disclosed. A computing device may be present in a listening zone, such as a household or office, and may receive an audio signal that may include speech. In some instances, the speech is not directed to the computing device. Speech recognition results may be generated from the audio signal, using an acoustic model, and the results used to update the acoustic model. For example, the acoustic model may be updated to reflect a particular speaker's pronunciation of certain sound units, such as phonemes. By using speech that is not necessarily directed to the computing device, more data may be available for updating an acoustic model.
US09401127B2	Image processing method and anti-saturation method for image data and image processing device The image processing method includes: analyzing an image frame to obtain an original gain value corresponding to grayscale values of the image frame, wherein the original gain value is greater than 1; obtaining a lookup table recording conversion relationship between default grayscale values and default gain values, wherein the lookup table is used for performing anti-saturation processing on image data of the image frame; according to the original gain value, performing anti-saturation processing for the image frame by using the lookup table to obtain an adjusted conversion relationship of the image frame, wherein the adjusted conversion relationship defines a conversion relationship between different grayscale values of the image frame and corresponding adjusted gain values; and performing gain processing on image data of the image frame according to the adjusted conversion relationship.
US09401122B2	Display panel A display panel includes a display area including a gate line and a data line, a gate driver integrated on a substrate and connected to one end of the gate line, the gate driver including a plurality of a stage, a signal line connected to the stages; and a blocking member disposed on the signal line and overlapped with the signal line, the blocking member including a plurality of an opening.
US09401121B2	Network visualization through augmented reality and modeling A user equipment (UE) comprising a display, an input device configured to receive user input, a visual input configured to capture motion or stop photography as visual data, and a processor coupled to the display, input device, and visual input and configured to, receive visual data from the visual input, overlay a model comprising network data onto the visual data to create a composite image, wherein the model is aligned to the visual data based on user input received from the input device, and transmit the composite image to the display.
US09401119B2	Display device and display method Upon each detection of an image switch by a display switch detection portion (27) included in a display control circuit (200), a selection frequency determination portion (23) makes a determination for each row corresponding to a scanning signal line as to whether or not the row includes any pixel with a middle tone. Further, a scanning signal output control portion (26) performs drive control such that any scanning signal line corresponding to a row without such a pixel is selected at intervals of one frame period. This results in reduced power consumption in selecting the scanning signal lines.
US09401116B2	Image display apparatus and control method for same An image display apparatus includes: an illumination unit having a light source block including a plurality of light sources; a display unit which displays an image on the basis of an image signal; a plurality of measurement units which measure the brightness of light arriving from the light source block, at a plurality of measurement positions; a storage unit which stores brightness information relating to an initial brightness of light arriving from the light source block, at at least the plurality of measurement positions; a setting unit which adjusts alight emission amount of the light source block on the basis of the brightness information, and measurement results when the light source block is lit; and a correction unit which corrects the image signal on the basis of the brightness information, the measurement results, and the adjusted light emission amount of the light source block.
US09401110B2	Organic light emitting display and degradation compensation method thereof An organic light emitting display includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a compensation area setting unit for selecting an additional compensation requirement area, that is more excessively degraded than an average degradation, based on degradation detection data indicating a degradation degree of organic light emitting diodes formed in the pixels, an edge information extraction unit that analyzes input image data corresponding to the additional compensation requirement area and obtains edge information of an input image, a compensation gain calculation unit for differentially calculating a compensation gain to be applied to compensation data in each of the compensation blocks belonging to the additional compensation requirement area based upon an amount of edge information; and a data modulation unit producing modulation image data to be displayed on the display panel.
US09401108B2	Organic light emitting display and method of driving the same A data driver supplies a data signal to a display panel to control luminance of a plurality of pixels. The data signal comprises a plurality of frames, and each of the frames comprises a plurality of sub-frames. Each of the sub-frames comprises an addressing time, followed by an emission time, followed by an erase time. Subpixels each include a first scan line switch controlled by the first scan line signal to turn on during the addressing time of each sub-frame and to turn off during the emission time and the erase time of each sub-frame. A second scan line switch is controlled by a second scan line signal to provide a discharge path to discharge the storage capacitor during the erase time of each sub-frame.
US09401103B2	LED-array light source with aspect ratio greater than 1 An LED light source for use in LED lighting fixtures, the LED light source comprising a submount including an LED-populated area which has an aspect ratio greater than 1, an array of LEDs on the LED-populated area, and a lens on the submount over the LED-populated area. Various embodiments facilitating preferential-side lighting, such as for roadway uses, are also disclosed.
US09401095B2	Information processing system, information processing method, and program Provided is an information processing system including a position management unit configured to manage positions of avatars operated by users in a virtual space, a schedule management unit configured to manage a schedule of communication of the users, and a control unit configured to cause communication between terminals used by the users who are scheduled to have the communication to be established when the avatars of the users who are scheduled to have the communication gather in a predefined place in the virtual space and to cause at least one of an image and a voice to be transmitted and received.
US09401093B2	Procedure for the detection and display of artificial obstacles for a rotary-wing aircraft A procedure for the detection and display of the ground and of obstacles through the use of detection means installed onboard a vehicle, which detection means send measurement signals toward the ground and receive a plurality of elementary plots (Pe). The procedure makes it possible to create a grid of the ground along a horizontal plane, with each ground cell (Ms(i,j)) consisting of an elementary plot (Pe) having a minimum altitude Zmin(i,j)), and with each other elementary plot (Pe) corresponding to the ground cell (Ms(i,j)) and having a different altitude (Zn(i,j)), thereby forming an obstacle plot (Pon(i,j)). Each newly received elementary plot (Pe) is then compared against the corresponding ground cell (Ms(i,j)) and processed according to its altitude (Zn(i,j)). The ground cells (Ms(i,j)) and/or the obstacle plots (Pon(i,j)) are displayed on display means in order to indicate to the pilot of the vehicle the potential obstacles other than the ground.
US09401091B2	System and method for displaying In-Trail Procedure (ITP) allocations on an aircraft cockpit display A system and method for increasing the vertical situational awareness of a pilot of a host aircraft, comprises rendering symbology on a vertical situation display of the host aircraft, the symbology comprising (1) a traffic scenario including at least the host aircraft and a second aircraft, the second aircraft involved in an ITP transition, and (2) flight level allocation data assigned to the second aircraft by air traffic control.
US09401090B2	Collision avoidance system for vehicles A collision avoidance system uses map information to manage power. The collision avoidance system operates at a first communications range when a vehicle is determined, based upon the map information, to be in a relatively low collision risk scenario. When the collision avoidance system determines that the vehicle is approaching a situation of increased collision risk, such as an intersection, the communications is increased. The communications range may be increased by increasing the power to the antenna system or using antenna diversity techniques.
US09401088B2	Method for predicting a travel time for a traffic route A system for predicting a travel time for a traffic route is disclosed. The traffic route comprises one or more road segments. A predicted travel time for each of those segments is calculated based, in part, on traffic speed data for each of the one or more road segments. A total travel time is then calculated for the route, the total travel time including a predicted travel time for each of the one or more road segments.
US09401082B2	Offender monitor with orientation-based monitoring A portable device, for example an offender monitor, can incorporate a location detector and an orientation detector. The orientation detector, for example an accelerometer, can provide orientation information. The location detector, for example a GPS receiver, can acquire location readings that the device transmits over a cellular network. The portable device can control the location detector based on the orientation information. For example, the device can acquire more location readings when the orientation information indicates that a person wearing the portable device is reclined than when the person is upright.
US09401080B2	Method and apparatus for synchronizing video frames An approach is provided for synchronizing video frames. Video proxies corresponding to a video master are generated. Each of the video proxies is frame-accurate with respect to the video master. The video proxies are distributed to multiple applications and/or devices that are configured to collaboratively use the video proxies. The approach also allows the user to move a session from one device to another device, while preserving frame accuracy.
US09401076B2	Game machine, method of controlling computer, and storage medium A game machine uses a lottery region containing the cells, provides a game opportunity that changes symbols on the cells by causing the symbols of a symbol group to appear on the portion of the cells, determines by lottery, at least a portion of the symbols which should constitute the symbol group, causes at least the portion of the symbols constituting the symbol group to appear in the lottery region based on a lottery result so as to change at least the portion of the symbols arranged on the cells by moving the symbol group including the symbol determined by the lottery result on a movement path containing two directions and stopping the symbol group so that at least the portion of the symbols of the symbol group is arranged on the cells, and determines a prize winning based on the symbols arranged on the cells by the symbol group.
US09401070B1	Gaming system and method for identifying and handling strictly fractional credit portions A gaming system and method for identifying and handling strictly fractional credit portions. The system and method is used in games that offer credit values that do not fall within a recognized denomination. For example, a game in which 1 credit is equal to 0.1¢ or another acceptable fractional value. The strictly fractional credit portions are subject to a secondary or special game procedure prior to cash-out by the player that guarantees a specified theoretical return to the player, while at the same time allowing for an exciting game experience upon cash out.
US09401063B2	All-in-one proximity payment device with local authentication A personal powered proximity payment device that can be owned by or issued to an individual user is provided. The device is a non-ISO card device that includes an internal dual-mode (contact and contactless) chip card coupled to a display and a robust PIN entry or biometric reading means. The device provides proximity payment functions, and optional proximity payment on/off and local pre-purchase account holder verification functions to the individual user.
US09401062B2	Automatic transaction device and automatic transaction method The objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic transaction device capable of suppressing wasteful operation of the automatic transaction device when a shutter failure has occurred. The present invention is an automatic transaction device that performs transactions related to cash, and is characterized by including: a deposit/withdrawal slot for depositing/withdrawing cash; an opening/closing member that is capable of opening and closing the deposit/withdrawal slot by way of movement; an opened/closed detection unit that detects the opened/closed state of the opening/closing member; and a control unit that opens and closes the opening/closing member at the time of a reset operation of the automatic transaction device to perform operation verification processing, causes detection of the opened/closed state of the opening/closing member after the operation verification processing, and if it is determined that the opened/closed state is abnormal, aborts the transaction.
US09401061B2	Banknote processing device and circulating cash box mechanism thereof A recycling cash box mechanism of a banknote processing device includes a box body and a transmission mechanism configured to be connected to the box body, the transmission mechanism includes a banknote receiving vane wheel configured to be located at a banknote dispensing/receiving port of the recycling cash box mechanism, and a banknote dispensing roller wheel configured to be located opposite to a banknote stacking plate of the box body, and the banknote dispensing roller wheel is configured to be located at a lateral portion of the banknote receiving vane wheel to form a banknote blocking mechanism.
US09401057B2	Assessment of electronic sensor data to remotely identify a motor vehicle and monitor driver behavior A computing device is connected to a motor vehicle's diagnostic port or communication port to acquire vehicle sensor data, for example from various pressure, temperature, oxygen, fuel and other sensors typically installed on a motor vehicle for other reasons. Acquired sensor data is wirelessly transmitted to a remote server where the acquired sensor data can be compared to a database of stored sensor data to identify the motor vehicle. Additional functionality is described that leverages uploaded sensor data. Sensor data may be uploaded to the server in near-real time, and/or buffered locally and uploaded by periodic or episodic, push or pull communication protocols.
US09401053B2	Fault notifications for vehicles Methods and systems are provided for providing fault notifications for vehicles. A notification unit is configured to provide a notification when a fault is detected for a vehicle. A processor is coupled to the notification unit, and is configured to provide instructions to the notification unit to provide the notification when the fault is detected, and restrict operation of the vehicle, when the fault is detected, until an action is taken in response to the notification.
US09401051B2	Mechanism for dynamically propagating real-time alterations of medical images Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and a mechanism for manipulating images generated by radiotherapy machines used in radiation diagnostic and treatment applications. In one embodiment, a method is provided for intelligent automatic propagation of real-time alterations across graphical structures of an image by mapping the relativity between the structures; determining the correlation between the structures and a manually edited structure; referencing a deformation map that maps a correspondence for each point in the original structure with a point in the edited structure and applying a similar relative change throughout the remaining structures in the image.
US09401044B1	Method for conformal visualization Provided is a method for obtaining a conformal mapping of first image data corresponding to a source mesh to a target mesh, by generating a template of the source mesh and a template of the target mesh, processing the generated source mesh template and the generated target mesh template to obtain a conformal mapping from the source mesh to the target mesh, mapping the first image data corresponding to the source mesh to second image data corresponding to the target mesh according to the obtained conformal mapping, and outputting a mapped texture corresponding to the mapped second image data to the display corresponding to the target mesh.
US09401040B2	Image processing apparatus and imaging processing method Disclosed herein are an imaging processing apparatus for representing an object realistically, and an imaging processing method thereof. The image processing apparatus includes: a volume data generator configured to generate volume data of an object; a volume renderer configured to project the volume data to a first plane with respect to a user's viewpoint, and to acquire a projection image, wherein the volume renderer determines a value of each pixel of the projection image based on respective distances between first surface points and second surface points, the first surface points being points that are shown from the user's viewpoint from among points constituting a surface of the volume data, the second surface points being points that are shown from a position of virtual light from among the points constituting the surface of the volume data.
US09401036B2	Photographing apparatus and method The present disclosure provides an image obtaining method, a photographing apparatus and a storage medium. The image obtaining method includes the following operations: obtaining a plurality of images of a target scene at more than one focal lengths; processing a first image to obtain a reference image, wherein in the plurality of images, an image with a predetermined viewing angle is a standard image, and remaining images are first images, and image of the target scene in the reference image has same size as image of the target scene in the standard image; and substituting a clear area in the reference image for a corresponding area in the standard image.
US09401033B2	Method and system for arbitrary-resolution transforms of frequency-space and inverse frequency-space data A method and system for arbitrary-resolution and parallelizable data processing, reconstruction, and deconstruction, uses arbitrary frequency-space (FS) or inverse frequency-space (IFS, such as image, audio, or video space) sample points in N dimensions. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a subset of optionally pre-processed and/or pre-conditioned N-dimensional FS data (or IFS data) is acquired (102) by a processing device (360), the data is optionally transformed (115) by “region scaling factors”, and the data is optionally reduced (116) in numerical significant digits. A “horizontal key” of data elements is calculated (120) on a processor (361), preferably in parallel, for each of an arbitrary set of x-coordinates in IFS (or FS). IFS “color” data (or FS data) are calculated (130) on a processor (361), preferably in parallel, at the x-coordinates corresponding to the horizontal keys. The IFS coordinates (or the FS coordinates) are arbitrary, and the reconstruction's calculated IFS data (or the deconstruction's calculated FS data) are optionally rotated or transposed (141) (such as for display purposes), and are thus formed (150) in a memory (363) or on an output device (365). The method can be applied to other subsets, such as in the N-dimensional case.
US09401032B1	Image-based color palette generation A color palette can be a collection of representative colors each associated with a weight or other metadata. A computing system may generate a color palette based on palette generation criteria, which may facilitate or control a palette generation process. Illustratively, the palette generation process may include image pre-processing, color distribution generation, representative color identification, palette candidate generation and palette determination. Representative colors with associated weight can be identified from a distribution of colors depicted by the color image, multiple palette candidates corresponding to the same color image can be generated based on various palette generation criteria, and a color palette can be identified therefrom.
US09401027B2	Method and apparatus for scene segmentation from focal stack images A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate scene segmentation from focal stack images. The method may include receiving a set of focal stack images, calculating a focal measure for each of a plurality of pixels of the set of focal stack images, and grouping each of a plurality of pixels for which the focal measure was calculated into a plurality of super pixels. The method may also include calculating a focal measure for each of the plurality of super pixels, segmenting a respective focal stack image based on the focal measure of each of the plurality of super pixels, calculating a color probability for each of the plurality of super pixels, and segmenting each focal stack image based on color probability of each of the plurality of super pixels.
US09401025B2	Visual and physical motion sensing for three-dimensional motion capture A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.
US09401024B2	Measuring device for determining the spatial position of an auxiliary measuring instrument A positioning method continuously determines the spatial position of an auxiliary measuring instrument having several auxiliary-point markings in a fixed, known spatial distribution relative to one another. Camera images of the auxiliary-point markings are continually recorded using a camera having a surface sensor that includes pixels, and read-out processes are continually performed by reading out the pixels with regard to a respective current exposure value. Image positions of the imaged auxiliary-point markings in the respective current camera image are determined, with which the current spatial position of the auxiliary measuring instrument is derived. Respective current areas of interest on the surface sensor are continually set using image positions determined in at least one previously recorded camera image. The current image positions are determined using exclusively only at most those current exposure values that are received by pixels of the surface sensor lying within the currently set areas of interest.
US09401023B2	Clothing image processing system, control method for clothing image processing system, clothing image processing device, control method for clothing image processing device, program, and information recording medium A first size adjusting unit adjusts a size of a first clothing image which is an image of a first piece of clothing worn on an upper half of a body based on a width of a shoulder part of the first piece of clothing in the first clothing image. A second size adjusting unit adjusts a size of a second clothing image which is an image of a second piece of clothing worn on a lower half of a body based on a width of a waist part of the second piece of clothing in the second clothing image. A display control unit causes a display to display a screen on which the first piece of clothing and the second piece of clothing are vertically displayed, based on the first clothing image and the second clothing image.
US09401021B1	Method and system for identifying anomalies in medical images especially those including body parts having symmetrical properties Method for locating anomalous features in medical images in which medical images are supplied by an external source. A sequence of specific measurements is executed on the supplied data to obtain image-related metrics. The metrics are compared to corresponding values in a database resulting in an anomalous/not anomalous determination. Anomalous determinations are presented to the test operator for analysis along with supplemental historical data. In application to all types of medical imagery, potential anomalies are located resulting in an efficient and accurate diagnosis. For a body part having symmetrical properties, as a pre-screening stage, a line of symmetry for the body part is determined and symmetric regions of the body part on opposite sides of the determined line of symmetry are analyzed for differences. The metric comparison using the database is performed between both symmetric regions only when differences between the symmetric regions of the subject medical image are present.
US09401015B2	Defect classification method, and defect classification system In automatic defect classification, a classification recipe must be set for each defect observation device. If a plurality of devices operate at the same stage, the classification class in the classification recipes must be the same. Problems have arisen whereby differences occur in the classification class in different devices when a new classification recipe is created. This defect classification system has a classification recipe storage unit; an information specification unit, the stage of a stored image, and device information. A corresponding defect specification unit specifies images of the same type of defect from images obtained from different image pickup devices at the same stage. An image conversion unit converts the images obtained from the different image pickup devices at the same stage into comparable similar images; and a recipe update unit records the classification classes in the classification recipes corresponding to the specified images of the same type of defect.
US09401012B2	Method for correcting purple distortion in digital images and a computing device employing same A computing device and a method for correcting color distortion are provided, in particular for correcting purple flare. A digital image has an array of pixels each represented by a green (G), a red (R) and a blue (B) primary color, and for each pixel, the computing device establishes a minimum value between the R and B intensity values, and compares the minimum value and the G intensity value. The original R, G and B intensity values are maintained if the G intensity value is equal or greater than the minimum value. The R and B intensity values are attenuated by an adjustment value if the G intensity value is less than the minimum value. The adjustment value is calculated as the difference of the minimum value and the G intensity value.
US09401011B2	Systems and methods for removing defects from images A method is described to increase the efficiency of the removal of defects from document images by reorienting the conceptual framework within which an image is filtered. Rather than arbitrarily applying a filter to an entire landscape of a document image, the disclosure describes a methodology by which a document image is separated into regions of darkness and regions of light, or viewed alternatively, regions of darkness and regions of lack of darkness. Filtering is then adaptively applied to each region to remove defects.
US09401010B2	Enhancing perceived sharpness of images A method of enhancing the perceived sharpness of an image by controlling a spatial interpolation process. A pixel value spatial gradient measure is formed and used to generate a map of modified pixel positions. In this map, the pixel spacing is reduced when the gradient measure is high. By using this map of modified pixel positions to control an otherwise conventional interpolation process, an output image is formed having a perceived sharpness which is greater than that of the unmodified output of the interpolation process.
US09401007B2	Image providing system, apparatus for same, and image providing method An image providing system includes: a terminal to run at least one application, to request an image from a service device, to determine whether the application supports all screen densities, to extract and transmit a resolution value of an area for displaying the image when all screen densities are supported, and to extract and transmit screen density information supported in the application when not all screen densities are supported; a service device to resize the image to match at least one resolution, to check a resolution value of the terminal and provide the image resized to match the checked resolution value to the terminal when the image is requested from the terminal, and when only screen density information is transmitted from the terminal, to calculate a resolution value from the screen density information and provide the image resized to match the calculated resolution value to the terminal.
US09401006B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium A demosaicing unit interpolates mosaic image data of each pixel of interest so as to reproduce colors missing at each pixel by interpolation using neighboring pixels. In the demosaicing unit, an interpolation unit performs an interpolation process in a plurality of prescribed directions using neighboring pixels in the prescribed directions. An evaluation unit evaluates image data in each prescribed directions interpolated by the interpolation unit. A spurious resolution area judgment unit judges whether a pixel is in a spurious resolution area, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, based on a saturation detected from image data subjected to an interpolation process performed so as to preserve an edge component. An image generation unit selects image data to be interpolated for each pixel based on a result of the evaluation by the evaluation unit and a result of the judgment by the spurious resolution area judgment unit, and generates interpolated image data.
US09401004B2	State shadowing to support a multi-threaded driver environment One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for tracking and filtering state change methods provided to a graphics pipeline. State shadow circuitry at the start of the graphics pipeline may be configured in different modes. A track mode is used to capture the current state by storing state change methods that are transmitted to the graphics pipeline. A passthrough mode is used to provide different state data to the graphics pipeline without updating the current state stored in the state shadow circuitry. A replay mode is used to restore the current state to the graphics pipeline using the state shadow circuitry. Additionally, the state shadow circuitry may also be configured to filter the state change methods that are transmitted to graphics pipeline by removing redundant state change methods.
US09401003B2	Just-in-time processing of images Technology is disclosed for processing an image just-in-time, e.g., upon receiving a request for an image (“the technology”). Various embodiments of the technology include processing one or more original images based on a recipe and attributes of the end user device on which the image is viewed to generate a rendered image. A recipe can specify various image processing operations such as a target size, resolution, or color pattern of the image to be rendered, a target portion of the image to be highlighted or cropped etc. In some embodiments, the recipe and the one or more original images can be provided by a client who wishes to publish the rendered image. The end user device attributes such as a type of the end user device, a display size, a display resolution, ambient lighting etc. are also considered for rendering the image.
US09401000B2	Protecting content on a mobile device from mining Systems and methods prevent or restrict the mining of content on a mobile device. For example, a method may include determining that content to be displayed on a screen includes content that matches a mining-restriction trigger, inserting a mining-restriction mark in the content that protects at least a portion of the content, and displaying the content with the mining-restriction mark on the screen. As another example, a method may include identifying, by a first application running on a mobile device, a mining-restriction mark in frame buffer data, the mining-restriction mark having been inserted by a second application, and determining whether the mining-restriction mark prevents mining of content. The method may also include preventing mining when the mining-restriction mark prevents mining and, when the mining-restriction mark does not prevent mining, determining a restriction for the data based on the mining-restriction mark and providing the restriction with the data for further processing.
US09400999B2	Detecting, classifying, and enforcing policies on social networking activity Technology is disclosed for detecting, classifying, and/or enforcing policies on social networking activity. The technology can store a content policy, classify content posted to a social network, determine that the classification corresponds to the content policy, and apply an action specified by the content policy to the posted content.
US09400998B2	Consistent interface for message-based communication arrangement, organisational centre replication request, and payment schedule A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a message-based communication arrangement, an organizational center replication request, and a payment schedule business object.
US09400988B2	Media content based advertising A method of selecting a promotional content for media content items. The method comprises providing a database hosting a plurality of uniform resource locators (URLs) each of a web document through which at least one of a plurality of media content items being available for presentation, receiving an ad request for embedding an in stream advertisement in a media content item, analyzing the ad request to extract a video content URL of a certain web document through which the media content item is made available for presentation, matching between the video content URL and at least one of the plurality of URLs to acquire at least one identifier of the media content item, selecting an in stream advertisement based on the at least one identifier, and responding to the ad request with an indication of the in stream advertisement.
US09400987B2	System and method for deriving income from URL based context queries A system and method for deriving income from URL based context queries. A URL based user context query is received over a network from a user, wherein the user context comprises at least one user context criteria. A query is formulated based on the context criteria so as to search for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data, topical data and context query bid data that is available via the network and relates to the context so as to identify entries in a context query bid database that relate to user context criteria. A dynamic webpage is generated having content relating to the query and advertisements associated with the selected bid are inserted into the webpage. The dynamic webpage is transmitted to the user. The advertiser associated with the selected bid is charged a fee when a user interface event relating to the dynamic webpage occurs.
US09400982B2	Real time television advertisement shaping A multimedia client receives, over a subscription multimedia network, television content for presentation to a viewer, where the television content includes an advertising break and identifies a keyword associated with the television content. The multimedia client sends, over the subscription multimedia network, the keyword to an advertisement server and receives from the advertisement server, an advertisement corresponding to the keyword. The multimedia client then provides, for display to the viewer, the advertisement within the advertising break.
US09400978B2	Methods and systems for selecting accounts and offers in payment transactions Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct payment transactions at merchant locations including brick and mortar locations and remote locations as well as for person to person transactions.
US09400973B2	Persistent formatting for interactive charts User requested format alterations to interactive chart elements, comprising, but not limited to, legends, axes, gridlines, data labels, axes labels, error bars, and datapoints, whether they be represented as points, bars, pie wedges, etc., are persisted in spite of chart navigations, underlying data changes and/or format alterations. Interactive chart element format persistence is maintained by the association and storing of data identifying a format change on the data and index rule for the respective chart element.
US09400972B2	Weighting social network relationships based on communications history A method may include receiving or retrieving session information associated with one or more electronic communications that occurred outside of the social network site and included users of the social network site, comparing the session information with information associated with the users of the social network site, selecting one of the users as a user of the social network site and one or more of the users as one or more connections of the selected user of the social network site, based on the comparing, generating a weighted social graph for the selected user of the social network site, based on the session information, generating social network information based on the weighted social graph, and providing the social network information to at least one of the selected user of the social network site or the selected one or more connections of the user of the social network site.
US09400968B2	Three-dimensional indexing protocol The disclosure includes a system and method for indexing synthetically modified images of a high quality image. An image recognition application receives images of a product, crops background regions from the images, scales the image based on a minimum value among width and height of the image and generates multiple image sizes, blurs the images, brightens the image and indexes the images as being associated with the product. The images can be of box-shaped packages that include four or six images or cylindrical packages that include, for example, eight images of the packages. The images can be indexed in a k-dimensional tree for faster retrieval.
US09400965B2	Platform for modeling and embedding business scenarios in bar codes According to some embodiments, a business bar code application may execute at a mobile user device associated with a user. The user may initiate a capture of an image of a bar code, and responsive to said capturing, information about the user may be automatically fetched. Information associated with the bar code may be transmitted to a remote business bar code server. The business bar code server may automatically determine a business model associated with the received bar code information and interact with an enterprise system to execute a business process workflow for the user in accordance with the determined business model.
US09400964B2	Method for predicting asset availability The present invention is directed to a method for predicting asset availability in a supply chain, whereby assets are typically reusable assets such as packaging or bins which are expensive components yet hard to track. The present invention provides a mechanism for passively sensing when an asset enters or leaves a particular location in the supply chain and updates a database accordingly. This location and timing information is thereafter used in the present invention to model future movement of the assets for use in predicting whether a sufficient amount of the assets will be present at any particular location in the supply chain at any particular point in the future. An alert is generated if the modeling determines an insufficient amount is modeled to be present at the particular location. This allows a decision maker to make adjustments to ensure a sufficient amount of assets will be present at the particular location.
US09400959B2	Method and system for detecting duplicate travel path information Methods and systems for detecting a likelihood that a travel path is a correct travel path of a user using possible duplicate travel path information. A set of travel paths comprising at least two travel paths is obtained. Any paths that break up more than one reservation are removed. Each travel path is broken into at least one leg. Each leg in each travel path is compared to each leg in every other travel path to determine whether any travel paths are duplicates. A likelihood that each of the at least two travel paths is the correct travel path is determined using information about whether any of the at least two travel paths are duplicates.
US09400958B2	Techniques for display of information related to policies Techniques for displaying information. Policy violations are identified, based at least in part on data stored in a data store. For the policy violations, a plurality of semantic objects related to the violations are identified. Arrangements of graphical objects are displayed where the graphical objects represent the identified semantic objects and where the arrangement indicates one or more relationships between pairs of the semantic objects.
US09400942B2	System and method for estimating/determining the date of a photo Undated photos are organized by estimating the date of each photo. The date is estimated by building a model based on a set of reference photos having established dates, and comparing image characteristics of the undated photo to the image characteristics of the reference photos. The photo characteristics can include hues, saturation, intensity, contrast, sharpness and graininess as represented by image pixel data. Once the date of a photo is estimated, it can be tagged with identifying information, such as by using the estimated date to associate the photo with a node in a family tree.
US09400940B2	Method of processing images, notably from night vision systems and associated system The general field of the invention is that of the methods of processing an initial digital image IIN(p) made up of pixels (p). The method according to the invention comprises the following successive steps: Step 1: calculating the logarithm of the initial image in order to obtain a first intermediate image Log(IIN(p)); Step 2: filtering said first intermediate image using a low-frequency filter in order to obtain a second intermediate image BF(p); Step 3: determining the value of the minimum intensity and the value of the maximum intensity in the low-frequency image; Step 4: calculating a third intermediate image Log(IOUT(p)) using the following linear combination: Log(IOUT(p))=[Log(IIN(p)−BF(p)]·[K1·BF(p)+K2]+K3·BF(p)+K4 K1, K2, K3 and K4 being constants; Step 5: calculating the final image IOUT(p) by applying the exponential function to the third intermediate image.
US09400939B2	System and method for relating corresponding points in images with different viewing angles A system, method and computer program product for relating corresponding points in images with an overlapping scene. An example method includes generating transformed images of a target image using different image transformations for each of transformed images. Texture descriptors are extracted for feature points in the transformed images and a reference image. Matched feature points are identified and inliers from matched feature points are selected. An aligning transformation is generated using the inliers for at least one of the transformed images. A panorama image is created with the target image and reference image after the images are aligned.
US09400933B2	Method, apparatus, and computer program product for the identification and packaging of medication Provided herein are a method and apparatus for identifying and labeling medications in overpack containers, and more specifically, to identifying a medication and generating information relating to the medication to be included on a label for an overpack container of the medication. In particular, methods may include receiving an article at an imaging station, capturing images of the article from a plurality of positions about the imaging station, receiving the article into a container, and identifying the article from at least one of the captured images. The at least one of the captured images may include identifying indicia. Methods may also include generating information related to the identified article in response to identifying the article, and causing the information related to the identified article to be presented on a label associated with the container. Generating information related to the identified article may include generating destination information associated with the article.
US09400929B2	Object detection device and method for detecting an object by performing a raster scan on a scan window An object detection device includes a raster scan execution unit that executes a raster scan on an input image using a scan window in order to detect an object within the input image which is input by an image input unit, a scan point acquisition unit that acquires scan points of the scan window which are positions on the input image during the execution of the raster scan, and a size-changing unit that changes a relative size of the input image with respect to the scan window. When the relative size is changed by the size-changing unit, an offset is given to the starting positions of the scan points after the change with respect to the starting positions of the scan points before the change.
US09400927B2	Information processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium An information processing apparatus includes: an arrangement unit that arranges documents within a multidimensional space in accordance with features of the documents; a clipping unit that clips a region in which the documents are distributed, from the multidimensional space in which the documents are arranged by the arrangement unit; an extraction unit that extracts a vector indicating a closed curved surface which is the region clipped by the clipping unit; and a retrieval unit that retrieves information corresponding to the vector extracted by the extraction unit, from a storage unit that stores the vector in the multidimensional space in association with information indicating meaning of the vector.
US09400919B2	Learning deep face representation Face representation is a crucial step of face recognition systems. An optimal face representation should be discriminative, robust, compact, and very easy to implement. While numerous hand-crafted and learning-based representations have been proposed, considerable room for improvement is still present. A very easy-to-implement deep learning framework for face representation is presented. The framework bases on pyramid convolutional neural network (CNN). The pyramid CNN adopts a greedy-filter-and-down-sample operation, which enables the training procedure to be very fast and computation efficient. In addition, the structure of Pyramid CNN can naturally incorporate feature sharing across multi-scale face representations, increasing the discriminative ability of resulting representation.
US09400917B2	Real-time dynamic reference image generation for range imaging system A dynamic reference range image generation method comprises providing a reference range image, to be dynamically updated, composed of pixels, each of which contains a reference range value. An acquired range image is provided, the pixels of which contain each a measured range value, the measured range values being updated at a predetermined rate. Pixels of the acquired range image containing an invalid measured range value are accordingly marked. The measured range value of each pixel of the acquired range image not marked as containing an invalid measured range value is compared with the reference range value of the corresponding pixel of the reference range image. The reference range value of that pixel of the reference range image is updated e.g. to the measured range value or to an average of the measured range value and one or more prior measured range values if a) the measured range value is considered less than the reference range value and has remained substantially constant for a first time period, or if b) the measured range value is considered greater than the reference range value and has remained substantially constant for a second time period smaller than the first time period. If neither of conditions a) and b) is fulfilled, the reference range value is kept substantially constant instead.
US09400916B1	System and method for detecting an organic body for authentication Methods, systems, and programming for user identification and authentication are presented. In one example, an apparatus for user authentication is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a surface on which an object is placed; a light source configured for providing light illuminating a first portion of the surface; a brightness measuring unit configured for measuring brightness distribution in a second portion of the surface, wherein the brightness distribution is caused by the object that spreads the light from the first portion to the second portion; and a determiner configured for determining whether the object is an organic body part based on the brightness distribution.
US09400914B2	Method and electronic device for generating fingerprint enrollment data A method and electronic device for generating fingerprint enrollment data are provided. The method includes the steps of capturing first input data, wherein the first input data is divided into a plurality of first blocks and each of the first blocks has an index value; capturing second input data, wherein the second input data is divided into a plurality of second blocks and each of the second blocks has the index value; comparing and combining the first input data with the second input data to generate a comparison result; accumulating the index values of the first blocks and the second blocks in an area of overlapping between the first input data and second input data; and generating prompting information according to the comparison result.
US09400913B2	Optical fingerprint recognition apparatus In accordance with an embodiment, the prism is made slimly to correct the distortion of the fingerprint image such as trapezoidal distortion or the like. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the optical fingerprint recognition apparatus of a compact size. Further, the imaging lens is arranged to have a de-centering amount and/or a tilt angle with respect to the optical axis, which leads to an effect to implement resolution approaching the diffraction limit.
US09400906B2	Automatic data collection apparatus and method Machine-readable symbol readers and/or scan engines may subtractively impose an aiming pattern on an illumination field produced by a source of light or illumination. An optical component with a mask or filter are interposed in an optical path extending outwardly from the source of light or illumination. The mask or filter may have a defined shape or configuration to subtractively produce an aiming pattern with a desired shape or configuration. The mask or filter may, or may not, be wavelength selective or spectral. A wavelength selective mask or filter may produce an aiming pattern of a defined color, different from a color of an illumination field. Such may eliminate the need for a separate, distinct source of light or illumination for an aiming beam subsystem. The described structures and methods may reduce size, reduce parts count, and/or simplify manufacture.
US09400905B2	Safety system and method A safety system for a boat includes a base unit securable to the boat and operably connected to one or more of the boat steering, engine and throttle controls. The base unit comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader and speed measuring means. The safety system also includes a portable unit securable to a person on the boat, with the portable unit comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transmitter. The RFID reader and RFID transmitter are adapted to wirelessly communicate with one another when the portable unit is within a predetermined range of the base unit. There is also described a method of controlling a boat.
US09400904B2	System for aligning a handheld RFID reader The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for providing a visible feedback based on an alignment or a link quality between an external reader and a tag. The external reader transmits power to the tag with a radio frequency electromagnetic signal. The tag may rectify the radio frequency electromagnetic signal and create a rectified voltage. This rectified voltage may be used to power various components of the tag. Once it receives power from the reader, the tag may communicate information back to the external reader. The information communicated back to the reader is communicated by modulating an antenna impedance of the tag. By modulating the impedance, the tag will backscatter radiation transmitted by the reader. The reader is able to create a visual output based on determining the alignment or link quality from the reader to the tag based on the backscatter radiation it receives from the tag.
US09400892B2	Apparatus and method to secure an electronic storage using a secure element A secure integrated circuit (IC) to provide access to an electronic storage, the secure IC including a memory and a processor. The processor may generate a first key and a second key, and enable storing the first key in the memory and storing the second key in a device memory of a device. The processor may then receive the second key from the device when the device wants to access the electronic storage, and grant the device access to the electronic storage by using the first key and the second key received from the device.
US09400889B2	Apparatus and method for developing secure software A computer readable medium includes executable instructions to analyze program instructions for security vulnerabilities. The executable instructions convert diverse program instruction formats to a common format. A system model is derived from the common format. A static analysis is performed on the system model to identify security vulnerabilities. Security vulnerabilities are then reported.
US09400886B1	System and method for using snapshots for rootkit detection A system, method and computer program product for identifying malicious code running on a computer, including an operating system running on the computer with a data storage device; and a trusted software component running simultaneously with the operating system. An online snapshot process of a current state of the data storage device copies data blocks from the storage device to intermediate storage. Processes running under the control of the operating system have access to the data storage device. A scanning procedure runs under control of the trusted software component that has access to data representing the snapshot of the data storage device from the trusted software component. The scanning procedure analyzes the snapshot of the data storage device for the malicious code, and, in response to a “write” directed to a data block in the snapshot area of the storage device, that data block is written to the intermediate storage.
US09400885B2	Computer security systems and methods using virtualization exceptions Described systems and methods enable a host system to efficiently perform computer security activities, when operating in a hardware virtualization configuration. A hypervisor exposes a virtual machine on the host system. In some embodiments, the hypervisor further configures a processor of the host system to generate a virtualization exception in response to detecting a memory access violation, and to deliver such exceptions to a computer security program operating within the virtual machine. The hypervisor may further set access permissions to a section of memory containing a part of a function targeted for hooking, so that an attempt to execute the respective target function triggers a virtualization exception. Some embodiments thus achieve hooking of the target function without resorting to conventional methods, such as patching, inline hooking, and MSR hooking.
US09400884B2	Mapping a user's specific password and username pair to a temporary user's favorite password and username pair A system for automatically completing fields in online forms, such as login forms and new user registration forms, which employs a Master Cookie File containing sets of records associated with the user, his or her accounts or web sites, and registered values associated with form tags (e.g. username, password, address, email, telephone, etc.). When the user encounters another form, the MCF is automatically searched for matching values and form tags, primarily from the same account or web site, or alternatively from other accounts or sites. A flowing pop-up menu is displayed nearby the form fields from which the user can select values to automatically complete the form. Automatic account information updating, value expiration management, mapping of favorite values, and sharing of values are optional, enhanced functions of the invention.
US09400877B2	Server device and service provision method A server device is provided, which includes a reception unit receiving device identification information of a client device and user identification information of a user of the client device from the client device; a device determination unit determining whether or not it is possible to grant the user authorization to use a service on the basis of the device identification information; a user determination unit determining whether or not it is possible to grant the user the authorization to use on the basis of the user identification information; and a transmission unit transmitting information on the authorizable services of the services, for which it is determined that it is possible to grant the user the authorization to use on the basis of the device identification information and the user identification information, to the client device.
US09400876B2	Content data management system and method Embodiments of the present invention provide a simplified authentication transaction for reconnecting a storage device to a host apparatus that has completed authentication in the past. According to one embodiment, an authentication log is recorded in the host. Plural units of this log information are recorded in the storage device. At the time of transferring a content decryption key and usage rules between the host and the storage device, the decryption key and usage rules are recorded into the host as a log for the transfer. The used authentication log is recorded into the storage device as RAPDI. If RAPDI indicates the authentication log in the simplified authentication transaction, recovery transaction is permitted. The host device deletes/invalidates or holds the log for the transfer in accordance with non-permission/permission. In the case of permission, the key and usage rules are recovered by using a log for the transfer prior to the simplified authentication transaction.
US09400874B2	Systems and methods for viewing patient data Methods of measuring features of a digitally generated waveform include communicating patient data to a device that is remote from a source of the patient data, generating the waveform on a touch-screen display of the device, and measuring along an axis of the waveform. The measuring includes generating a first point corresponding to the waveform based on contact with the touch-screen display, generating a second point corresponding to the waveform based on contact with the touch-screen display, automatically measuring a distance between the first point and the second point along the axis upon generation of the second point, and displaying a value corresponding to the distance on the touch-screen display.
US09400870B2	Method and apparatus for the progressive loading of medical multidimensional images into a medical application A method includes a) loading a first number n of image sets with an image size ky, the ky images of which are distributed in a regular manner over a volume, which is to be loaded in its entirety as a result; b) loading a number nx of image sets starting with a factor x=1, with the images loaded in total being distributed in a regular manner over the volume; c) determining a camera distance and voxel size based on the number of images loaded, a camera distance and voxel size being suitable as parameters for a volume rendering; and d) repeating the two preceding steps b) and c) while increasing the number of image sets with a factor x=x+1, until all the images of the volume have been loaded in their entirety and/or until the step sequence ends.
US09400865B2	Extracting comprehensive design guidance for in-line process control tools and methods Methods and systems for extracting comprehensive design guidance for in-line process control of wafers are provided. One method includes automatically identifying potential marginalities in a design for a device to be formed on a wafer. The method also includes automatically generating information for the potential marginalities. The automatically generated information is used to set up process control for the wafer.
US09400863B2	Color-insensitive rules for routing structures Methodologies and an apparatus enabling a generation of color undeterminable polygons in IC designs are disclosed. Embodiments include: determining a plurality of first routes extending horizontally in an IC design, each of the plurality of first routes being placed on one of a plurality of equally spaced vertical positions of the IC design; determining whether a second route overlaps one of the vertical positions of the plurality of equally spaced vertical positions; and selecting a design rule for the second route based on the determination of whether the second route overlaps.
US09400862B2	Cells having transistors and interconnects including nanowires or 2D material strips An integrated circuit design tool includes a cell library. The cell library includes entries for a plurality of cells, entries in the cell library including specifications of particular cells in a computer executable language. At least one entry in the cell library can comprise a specification of physical structures and timing parameters of a plurality of transistors and an interconnect; wherein a transistor in the plurality has a channel comprising one or more nanowires or 2D material strips arranged in parallel, and the interconnect comprises one or more nanowires or 2D material strips arranged in parallel and connected to terminals of more than one of the transistors in the plurality of transistors. An integrated circuit including the plurality of transistors and the interconnect is described.
US09400854B2	Aerospace joggle on multiple adjacent web faces with intersecting runouts Methods for CAD modeling and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving a CAD model including a selection of multiple adjacent web faces of the CAD model and at least one datum plane of the CAD model that intersects the web faces, receiving a selection of a joggle side of the CAD model with respect to the datum plane, and receiving an offset direction and an offset depth value corresponding to each selected web face. The method includes creating at least one joggle feature in the CAD model by moving a portion of each of the selected web faces on the joggle side of the CAD model according to the respective offset directions and the depth values, including creating at least one runout for each selected web face at the datum plane, to produce a modified CAD model. The method includes storing the modified CAD model. The multiple adjacent web faces can include intermediate web faces.
US09400853B2	System and method for identifying under-defined geometries due to singular constraint schemes Systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying under-defined geometries due to singular constraint schemes. A method includes receiving a CAD model having a plurality of geometries and determining the degrees of freedom for each of the geometries. The method includes identifying a number of constraints on each of the geometries and identifying any of the geometries that are under-defined and any of the geometries that are well-defined. The method includes identifying any of the under-defined geometries that are under-defined due to singular (UDS) and storing a UDS indicator for each of the geometries identified as UDS. The method can include identifying geometries computed from these UDS geometries (CFS) and storing a CFS indicator for each of the geometries identified as CFS.
US09400849B1	Scalable system for determining short paths within web link network Systems and methods for finding multiple shortest paths. A directed graph representing web resources and links are divided into shards, each shard comprising a portion of the graph representing multiple web resources. Each of the shards is assigned to a server, and a distance table is calculated in parallel for each of the web resources in each shard using a nearest seed computation in the server to which the shard was assigned.
US09400841B2	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.
US09400834B2	Efficient detection of information of interest using mode-based graph clustering One embodiment of the present invention provides a computing system. The computing system includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method. The method comprises assigning a vertex identifier of a first vertex to a second vertex in a graph based on an edge between the first vertex and the second vertex. The vertices represent elements in a data set, the edge represents a type and strength of relationship between the vertices. The method further comprises provisionally assigning each vertex to a vertex cluster associated with the vertex identifier, and converging the assignments based on a measure of cluster quality associated with all the vertex clusters. Each vertex cluster represents information of interest in the data set. One measure of clustering quality is called “modularity.”
US09400831B2	Providing information recommendations based on determined user groups Classifying a user into a user group is described, including: obtaining action record information associated with a user with respect to a plurality of information categories; determining a preference value for at least one of the plurality of information categories based at least in part on the action record information; determining a demand preference dispersion value for the user based at least in part on the preference value, wherein the demand preference dispersion value represents a degree to which the user has dispersed interest across the plurality of information categories; and determining whether the user is to be associated with a demand-focused user group based at least in part on the demand preference dispersion value.
US09400830B2	Key figure data filters in OLAP with hierarchies A system and method of key figure data filters are presented. The key figure data filters are implemented in an analytical engine of a business warehouse system. The key figure data filters employ conditions, which can be expressed as a kind of selection that describe a set. A key figure data algorithm can be implemented by the analytical engine using the conditions, yet still respect hierarchies in the business warehouse database.
US09400829B2	Efficient distributed lock manager A system for managing a cluster of databases that process shared data, the system including a cluster of database nodes, each node including a memory, and a processor configured to, when it is determined that: (i) a lock on a resource is required by a particular node or process, and (ii) no other lock conflicts with this particular lock, send an asynchronous lock taken (ALT) message to a distributed lock manager (DLM); and without receiving a response or permission from the DLM, taking the lock for a resource for the particular node or process.
US09400821B2	Memory bus protocol to enable clustering between nodes of distinct physical domain address spaces A system and method for transferring data and messages between nodes in a cluster is disclosed. Each node in the cluster is a separate physical domain but is connected to other nodes in the cluster through point-to-point high speed links. Each side of a link is coupled to a coprocessor which facilitates the movement of data between and among the nodes. Because each physical domain is separate from any other domain, the coprocessor in a physical domain uses a certificate, called and RKey, to obtain permission to transfer data to another physical domain. When an RKey is received from another physical domain, the coprocessor in the receiving domain validates the key and obtains the physical addresses associated with the key so that it can provide or accept the remote data. Data transfers between pairs of remote nodes in the cluster are permitted as well.
US09400819B2	Updating object attributes in a lock-coupled namespace traversal A deferred mechanism of rolling attribute changes to objects at transaction commit time is described. To support rolling updates, attributes are categorized into three types—increment, decrement or replace. Since transactions are committed in order, the update process uses a notification list of dependent transactions to propagate attribute changes as a function of attribute category or type. Shadow based file-systems (with or without object versioning) realize efficiency gains by employing the deferred mechanism.
US09400818B2	Highly scalable tree-based trylock A tree-based trylock technique for reducing contention on a root trylock includes attempting to acquire a trylock at each node of a tree-based hierarchical node structure while following a traversal path that begins at a leaf node, passes through one or more of internal nodes, and ends at a root node having the root trylock. The trylock acquisition operation succeeds if each trylock on the traversal path is acquired, and fails if any trylock on the traversal path cannot be acquired. A trylock housekeeping operation releases all non-root trylocks visited by the trylock acquisition operation, such that if the trylock acquisition operation succeeds, only the root trylock will be remain acquired at the end of the operation, and if the trylock acquisition operation fails, none of the trylocks will be remain acquired at the end of the operation.
US09400813B2	Data alignment technology Correspondence is determined among i) groups in a first version of one or more groups of related tables and ii) groups in a second version of one or more groups of related tables. The tables have schema and table names and determining the correspondence includes matching groups that have matching tables, wherein the matching tables have matching schema and table names. A user interface is displayed, including first and second portions. A group name list is displayed for the one or more groups of the first version in the first user interface portion and of the second version in the second portion. A list of one or more tables within each respectively displayed group is displayed. Within each group of the first version the one or more table names are in visual alignment with respective matching one or more table names of the respective corresponding group of the second version.
US09400812B2	Method and mechanism for determining life intervals for a key in an index Disclosed is a mechanism, system, interface, and process to determine one or more life intervals when given a key. In addition, one or more life intervals can be determined for each key within a range of keys. This type of process is useful for auditing purposes or if it is desire to implement a query upon past versions when a key or range of keys is specified for the data for which past versions is desired. This facilitates algorithms, mechanisms, and processes to implement a query upon past versions.
US09400809B2	Visual restrictions for image searches A method and apparatus are provided for performing an image search based on a search query having a portion P1 and a portion P2. Based on the first search query, a second search query is generated that includes a portion P3 and the portion P2 such that the second search query is broader in scope than the first search query, while still retaining the portion P2 of the first query. A first image search is then performed for the first search query to obtain a first set of search results and a second image search is performed for the second search query to obtain a second set of search results. Consequently, an image from the first set of search results is selected for presentation to a user, wherein the selection is based on content of the second set of search results.
US09400808B2	Color description analysis device, color description analysis method, and color description analysis program The present invention provides a color description analysis device which converts a natural language description as a description regarding colors expressed in a natural language into data representing distribution of values in a prescribed color space, comprising color ratio determining means which determines the ratio of each area occupied by each color included in the natural language description in the whole area of an image as the object of the natural language description by use of words and phrases indicating relationship between colors and included in the natural language description.
US09400804B2	File management system, method and computer program A file management system that transmits a record file of voice data or image data created by a local device to a center device over a network and manages the record file in the center device. A first device creates the record file and attribute information indicating the attribute about the record file, stores the record file in a first storage unit, and transmits the attribute information to the second device through the network. A second device receives the attribute information transmitted from the first device and stores it in a second storage unit. The second device receives the record file transmitted from the first device according to transfer condition that is beforehand determined and store it in the second storage unit. A terminal may acquire the record file by using the attribute information.
US09400802B2	System and method for providing a unified storage system that supports file/object duality Methods and systems that permit file protocols and object protocols to co-exist using a file namespace and an object namespace in a unified storage system are disclosed. Data stored in the unified storage system are file-objects that preserve the behaviors expected by both file clients and object clients.
US09400800B2	Data transport by named content synchronization A collection-synchronizing system synchronizes a local data collection with a remote device. During operation, the system can detect the remote device, and receives collection summaries for one or more data collections stored at the remote device. A collection summary can include at least one additive hash value that represents one or more content items of a data collection. Then, for a data collection that exists at the local device and the remote device, the system compares a remote additive hash value for the remote data collection with a local additive hash value for the local data collection. If the system determines that the local additive hash value does not match the remote additive hash value, the system synchronizes structured names for the data collection at the local device and the remote device.
US09400794B2	Group management apparatus, substrate processing system and method of managing files of substrate processing apparatus There is provided a group management apparatus connected to a substrate processing apparatus configured to store at least a configuration file, the group management apparatus including a controller configured to: receive a command for generating a file group for the configuration file; receive the configuration file and at least one associated file related to the configuration file from the substrate processing apparatus according to the command for generating the file group; and generate the file group including the configuration file and the associated file received from the substrate processing apparatus and store the file group in a state where an output is possible.
US09400793B2	Model for generating custom file plans towards management of content as records Convenient approach for managing records with respect to entities based on file plans. In an embodiment, historical data representing policies previously selected is maintained. The historical data is then used to generate custom file plans containing policies most likely to be used by a corresponding user. A list in such custom file plan may have more relevant policies prioritized higher. A user may thus conveniently select a desired policy, and associate the selected policy with a set of entities to cause the selected policies to be applied against management of the set of entities.
US09400791B2	Bi-directional widget for recording user feedback Embodiments of the present invention provide a simple, bi-directional control that allows the user to express one of two opposing opinion on a particular item and make a comment. For example, the user may be provided a bi-direction widget that indicates whether a user loves or hates a particular subject.
US09400789B2	Associating resources with entities Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for associating resources with entities. One of the methods includes clustering a plurality of first documents into one or more first document groups, wherein each of the one or more first document groups is associated with a proper name of an author; receiving a query that specifies a particular proper name of a particular author; generating a result list of one or more documents that satisfy the query, the documents being listed in order of rank; ranking the one or more first document groups based on the one or more documents that satisfy the query; and providing the one or more first document groups, wherein the one or more first document groups are presented in an order based on the ranking.
US09400788B2	Message translations Systems for translating text messages in an instant messaging system comprise a translation engine for translating text messages into a preferred language of a recipient of the text messages. The systems are preferably configured to send and receive the text messages and to determine whether the text messages that are received in a source language are in the preferred language of the recipients so that the text messages are displayed in the preferred language of the recipients of the text messages. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US09400785B2	Methods for translating a device command An item of information (212) is transmitted to a distal computer (220), translated to a different sense modality and/or language (222), and in substantially real time, and the translation (222) is transmitted back to the location (211) from which the item was sent. The device sending the item is preferably a wireless device, and more preferably a cellular or other telephone (210). The device receiving the translation is also preferably a wireless device, and more preferably a cellular or other telephone, and may advantageously be the same device as the sending device. The item of information (212) preferably comprises a sentence of human of speech having at least ten words, and the translation is a written expression of the sentence. All of the steps of transmitting the item of information, executing the program code, and transmitting the translated information preferably occurs in less than 60 seconds of elapsed time.
US09400776B1	Adaptive column selection Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for adaptive column selection. One of the methods includes obtaining a size of a display area. The method includes obtaining column descriptors, each column descriptor identifying a column and a column width. The method includes determining a set of columns to present, including comparing the column width of a column to an available size remaining, and including the column in the set in response to determining that the column size is less than the available size. The method includes calculating an aggregate width of all the columns in the set. The method includes allocating a portion of the size to each column in the set of columns based on a ratio of width of the respective column and the aggregate width. The method also includes presenting the columns in the set of columns on the display area.
US09400775B2	Document data entry suggestions A document having multiple data entry areas can be presented, and a list of suggestions for a designated data entry area can be generated. Generating the list can include analyzing a first set of data previously entered into one or more data entry areas of the document other than the designated data entry area and analyzing a second set of data including data outside the first set of data. The list of suggestions can be presented without having received manual entry of data in the designated data entry area, and user input selecting one of the suggestions can be received. Data represented by the selected suggestion can be entered in the data entry area in response to receiving the user input selecting the selected suggestion.
US09400774B1	Multi-page website optimization Webpages are optimizing through the use of experiments that compare the responses of viewers that are either presented with the original webpage or a variant thereof. One or more variants are first defined through the use of a browser-based editor application that initially examines the webpage for a snippet of code. The snippet can be added to the webpage, if missing, and the webpage returned to the editor application. Changes made to the webpage to define a variant are saved in variation code. When the webpage is later requested by multiple viewers, in each instance the viewer receives the webpage with the snippet, the snippet instructs the browser to download a file, and the instructions of the file determine whether the viewer will see the variant or the original webpage. Tracking viewer responses to the webpage and the variant allow a statistical basis for comparison to be developed.
US09400772B2	Method and device for selecting a word to be defined in mobile communication terminal having an electronic dictionary A method and device for selecting a word to be defined in a mobile communication terminal having an electronic dictionary function. The method includes selecting a word in a displayed text document in response to a first input, displaying the selected word in a search window, searching for the displayed word in response to a request to search for the displayed word, displaying information resulting from the search, and terminating display of the information and displaying the text document.
US09400767B2	Subgraph-based distributed graph processing Embodiments relate to subgraph-based distributed graph processing. An aspect includes receiving an input graph comprising a plurality of vertices. Another aspect includes partitioning the input graph into a plurality of subgraphs, each subgraph comprising internal vertices and boundary vertices. Another aspect includes assigning one or more respective subgraphs to each of a plurality of workers. Another aspect includes initiating processing of the plurality of subgraphs by performing a series of processing steps comprising: processing the internal vertices and boundary vertices internally within each of the subgraphs; detecting that a change was made to a boundary vertex of a first subgraph during the internal processing; and sending a message from a first worker to which the first subgraph is assigned to a second worker to which a second subgraph is assigned in response to detecting the change that was made to the boundary vertex of the first subgraph.
US09400766B2	Determining combinations of odors to produce a target olfactory pleasantness An apparatus comprises a decoder and an actuator. The decoder is configured to receive a signal comprising a target olfactory pleasantness, to determine one or more combinations of odors which produce the target olfactory pleasantness, and to select a given one of the combinations of odors. The actuator is coupled to the decoder and configured to utilize the given combination of odors to produce an odor with the target olfactory pleasantness.
US09400760B2	Information processor with tightly coupled smart memory unit An information processor includes a plurality of first processing units; and a direct memory access unit coupled to at least one first processing unit. The information processor includes at least one first memory unit coupled to the direct memory access unit. The first memory unit includes a second memory unit. The first memory unit includes a second processing unit for processing data stored in the second memory unit. The second memory unit is adapted to be accessed by at least one first processing unit through the direct memory access unit, and the second processing unit is separate from the plurality of first processing units and the direct memory access unit. The first memory unit includes at least one register to be accessed by the at least one first processing unit and the second processing unit. The second processing unit is for receiving operation instructions from the at least one register.
US09400753B2	Control system, control method, and computer program product According to an embodiment, a control system includes a detector, an estimating unit, a determining unit, and a controller. The detector detects an idle state. The estimating unit estimates an idle period. When the idle state is detected, the determining unit determines whether a first power consumption when writeback of data which needs to be written back to a main storage device is performed and supply of power to a cache memory is stopped, is larger than a second power consumption when writeback of the data is not performed and supply of power is continued for the idle period. The controller stops the supply of power to the cache memory when the first power consumption is determined to be smaller than the second power consumption and continues the supply of power when the first power consumption is determined to be larger than the second power consumption.
US09400752B1	Store forwarding cache A load request is received to retrieve a piece of data from a location in memory and the load request follows one or more store requests in a set of instructions to store a piece of data in the location in memory. One or more possible locations in a cache for a piece of data corresponding to the location in memory is determined. Each possible location of the one or more possible locations in the cache is determined. It is then determined if at least one location of the one or more possible locations contains data to be stored in the location in memory. Data in one location of the at least one location is loaded, the data in the one location is from a store request of the one or more store requests and the store request is closest in the set of instructions to the load request.
US09400751B2	Counter-based wide fetch management Embodiments relate to counter-based wide fetch management. An aspect includes assigning a counter to a first memory region in a main memory that is allocated to a first application that is executed by a processor of a computer. Another aspect includes maintaining, by the counter, a count of a number of times adjacent cache lines in the cache memory that correspond to the first memory region are touched by the processor. Another aspect includes determining an update to a data fetch width indicator corresponding to the first memory region based on the counter. Another aspect includes sending a hardware notification from a counter management module to supervisory software of the computer of the update to the data fetch width indicator. Yet another aspect includes updating, by the supervisory software, the data fetch width indicator of the first memory region in the main memory based on the hardware notification.
US09400747B2	Batch command techniques for a data storage device A data storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. A method includes sending a memory command from the controller to the non-volatile memory. The memory command indicates multiple sense operations to be performed at a single plane of the non-volatile memory.
US09400744B2	Magnetic random access memory journal for multi-level cell flash memory A flash memory system comprises a logic block interface operable to receive a write command from a host computer, the write command specifying data and a write destination address in a flash memory device, the flash memory device operable to store data at a complementary address corresponding to the specified write destination address. The system further comprises a journal communicatively coupled to the flash memory device and the logic block interface operable to temporarily store data from the complementary address of the flash memory device, and to provide the stored data in the journal to be restored to the flash memory device at the complementary address in the event of an error occurring while executing the write command.
US09400743B2	Electronic control apparatus and data rewriting system An electronic control apparatus includes: a plurality of processing devices each having a rewritable non-volatile memory and each executing a predetermined process in accordance with stored data that is stored in the non-volatile memory, wherein one of the processing devices extracts, from rewriting data transmitted from an external rewriting apparatus and including a plurality of individual rewriting data each corresponding to one of a plurality of dedicated address ranges, one of the individual rewriting data which corresponds to one of the dedicated address ranges that is individually allocated in advance for the one of the processing devices, and rewrites the stored data that is stored in the non-volatile memory of the one of the processing devices by using the one of the individual rewriting data.
US09400739B2	Capacity forecasting based on capacity policies and transactions According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system and technique for capacity forecasting is disclosed. The system includes a host having a processor unit and a memory. Resource data stored associated with an environment is stored in the memory, the resource data comprising inventory information of applications, processing resources and storage resources of the environment. A ledger module is executable by a processor unit to: create a capacity-associated transaction; identify and link at least one of an application, processing resource and storage resource to the transaction from the resource data; determine an initiation time and duration associated with the transaction; and forecast a change in capacity of at least one linked storage resource for the transaction and a time of the change in capacity.
US09400738B2	Generation of automated unit tests for a controller layer system and method A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving, by a computing device, a selection of one or more files for which to have one or more automated unit tests generated for an application under test. An action in the application under test is received while the application under test is used. Behavior data of how the application under test responds to the action is tracked. An automated unit test of the one or more automated unit tests is generated for underlying code of the application under test invoked when receiving the action based upon, at least in part, the behavior data of how the application under test responds to the action.
US09400736B2	Transformation of a program-event-recording event into a run-time instrumentation event Embodiments of the invention relate to transforming a program-event-recording event into a run-time instrumentation event. An aspect of the invention includes a method for transforming a program-event-recording event into a run-time instrumentation event. The method includes enabling run-time instrumentation for collecting instrumentation information of an instruction stream executing on a processor. The method also includes detecting, by the processor, a program-event-recording (PER) event, the PER event associated with the instruction stream executing on the processor. The method further includes writing a PER event record to a collection buffer as a run-time instrumentation event based on detecting the PER event, the PER event record identifying the PER event.
US09400733B2	Pattern matching framework for log analysis A pattern matching framework for log analysis is described. In one or more implementations, one or more inputs are received via a user interface of a computing device that describe a filter pattern that specifies data that is to be matched and extracted from a log and a projection pattern that specifies how at least a portion of the data extracted using the filter pattern is to be output. A query is formed from the filter pattern and the projection pattern by the computing device that is configured to analyze the log.
US09400731B1	Forecasting server behavior In a computing environment, common attributes of one or more computing resources are identified for which a predicted probability of an event associated with the one or more computing resources is to be determined. A first predicted probability of the event based on data associated with actual occurrences of the events is calculated. A second predicted probability of the event is calculated based on updated data associated with the event.
US09400729B2	System and method for determining topology of monitored entities Devices and methods may allow for a first process associated with a probe process to receive a message transmitted across a network from a second process, the message including data and an identifier for the second process. The probe process may transmit identifiers for the first and second process to a server. A server may receive a message from a probe process including entity identifiers, and update a record recording a connection between the entities.
US09400727B2	Agentless recording for virtual machine consoles A virtual machine console is recorded. A method for monitoring a virtual machine may comprise monitoring a virtualization environment, detecting a new virtual machine and associated console, creating an additional instantiation of the console by generating a reflection of the console on a video capture device and recording a real time video of an image of the additional instantiation of the console on the video capture device. Prior to recording, the image may be analyzed to determine a change and the recording of the image can be triggered based upon the analysis.
US09400725B2	Testing framework for control devices The present disclosure generally relates to the automated testing of a system that includes software or hardware components. In some embodiments, a testing framework generates a set of test cases for a system under test using a grammar. Each test case may perform an action, such as provide an input to the system under test, and result in an output from the system under test. The inputs and outputs are then compared to the expected results to determine whether the system under test is performing correctly. Specifically, the system under test may be analyzed to determine whether it is capable of properly processing control instructions and input signals and/or generating expected output control signals and additional control/feedback information. The data can then be interpreted in the grammar system and/or used as input to a fault isolation engine to determine anomalies in the system under test.
US09400724B2	Federating and protecting multiple big data sources combined with enterprise data sources for BI In an embodiment, a method provides first and second storage pools having a plurality of corresponding storage blocks to a storage solution. The method monitors each storage block of the first plurality for an indication of failure by either (a) simultaneously writing a same data to a storage block of the first plurality and a corresponding storage block of the second plurality and, if writing the same data to the corresponding storage block of the second plurality completes before writing the same data to the storage block of the first plurality, indicating the first plurality of storage to be failed or (b) employing an internal procedure of the storage solution. The method, upon determining the indication, replaces the storage block with an unused storage block from a plurality of backup storage blocks or declaring the entire storage solution at a lower performance level.
US09400722B2	Method of providing high integrity processing A method of providing high integrity communication in a high integrity processing system having at least two redundant application processors in a non-lockstep configuration where the redundant application processors are running the same application and where the redundant application processors are connected to at least one input/output processor by a communication channel.
US09400718B2	Multi-tenant disaster recovery management system and method for intelligently and optimally allocating computing resources between multiple subscribers A Multi-Tenant Disaster Recovery Management System and method for intelligently and optimally allocating computing resources between multiple subscribers, the system comprising: one or more Multi-Tenant Disaster Recovery Management Server logically connected to one or more Production Site and one or more cloud based Disaster Recovery Site; a Network connecting said Multi-Tenant Disaster Recovery Management Server with said Production Site and said cloud based Disaster Recovery Site, wherein said Multi-Tenant Disaster Recovery Management Server is provided with at least one Disaster Recovery (DR) Manager Module, at least one Drill Scheduler Module, at least one Drill Executor Module, at least one WS Interface Module, at least one Usage Monitor Module and at least one Report Manager Module.
US09400714B2	Wirelessly communicating a data file A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module sending a plurality of undecodeable portions of a plurality of data files via a public wireless communication network to one or more targeted devices of a private wireless communication network. The method continues with the DS processing module sending data content indicators regarding the plurality of data files and in response to a selection of a data file of the plurality of data files based on a corresponding one of the data content indicators, sending, via the private wireless communication network, one or more encoded data slices of each of one or more sets of encoded data slices of the data file such that, for each of the one or more sets of encoded data slices, the one or more targeted devices obtains at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices to decode the data file.
US09400713B2	System and method for pre-encoding of data for direct write to multi-level cell memory A method and system for reducing data transfers between memory controller and multi-level cell (MLC) non-volatile memory during programming passes of a word line (WL) in the non-volatile memory. The system includes a controller and non-volatile memory having multiple WLs, each WL having a plurality of MLC memory cells. The controller stores received data in volatile memory until a target WL amount of data is received. The controller pre-encodes the received data into direct WL programming data for each programming pass necessary to program a target MLC WL. All direct WL programming data for all programming passes are stored in the volatile memory before programming. Different portions of direct WL programming data are transmitted from the controller to the non-volatile memory each pass. The received data may be deleted from the volatile memory before transmitting at least a portion of the direct WL programming data to the non-volatile memory.
US09400706B2	Method and device for monitoring an adaptive network An adaptive network has respective network nodes and network connections between the network nodes, the network nodes each having a transceiver which is coupled with a respective network connection. The respective transceiver is designed for providing a mean error value (MSE_i) which is representative of deviations of a received signal from predefined reference signal values. In a reference operating state of the adaptive network, a respective reference error value (MSE_REF) is determined as a function of the mean error value (MSE_i) provided by the respective transceiver. In at least one predefined operating state of the adaptive network, a respective actual error value (MSE_AV) is determined as a function of the mean error value (MSE_i) provided by the respective transceiver. As a function of the respective reference error value (MSE_REF) and the assigned actual error value (MSE_AV), it is determined whether a fault is present in the respective network connection which is coupled with the respective transceiver.
US09400705B2	Hardwired remapped memory Subject matter disclosed herein relates to on-the-fly remapping a memory device by hardware-switching data paths to locations of the memory device.
US09400704B2	Implementing distributed debug data collection and analysis for a shared adapter in a virtualized system A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing distributed debug data collection and analysis for a hardware I/O adapter, such as, a Single Root Input/Output Virtualization (SRIOV) adapter in a virtualized system. A predetermined event triggers a base error collection sequence. Adapter driver data is collected and virtual function (VF) device drivers are locked out responsive to triggering the base error collection sequence. Adapter debug data is collected and the adapter is reinitialized including an indication to VF drivers if VF error data is to be collected. The virtual function (VF) device drivers are unlocked allowing the VF device drivers to commence recovery of a respective virtual function (VF).
US09400703B2	Method and system for transforming input data streams A system and method for processing an input data stream in a first data format of a plurality of first data formats to an output data stream in a second data format of a plurality of second data formats. A plurality of input connector modules receive respective input data streams and at least one input queue stores the received input data streams. A plurality of job threads is operatively connected to the at least one input queue, each job thread formatting a stored input data stream to produce an output data stream. At least one output queue stores the output data streams from the plurality of job threads. A plurality of output connector modules is operatively connected to the at least one output queue, the output connector modules supplying respective output data streams.
US09400697B2	Multi-dimensional computing and communication resource allocation using bin-packing with per-branch combination tries A recursive solution to a bin-packing algorithm provides efficient allocation of computing or communications resources to resource consumers in a computer or network system. The algorithm determines resource requirement vectors for the consumers that specify amounts of multiple resource types required for each consumer, thereby forming a multi-dimensional bin-packing problem. The algorithm assigns the resource consumers to corresponding groups of computing or communication resources by recursively exploring partial solutions that assign the consumers to the groups by extending the partial solutions via recursion until the requirements in the resource requirement vectors are met. The bin-packing algorithm tests resource requirements vectors for remaining unassigned ones of the resource consumers for both assignment and non-assignment to a current individual group of computing or communications resources in a current partial solution until the current partial solution becomes a complete solution that satisfies the requirement vectors for the plurality of resource consumers.
US09400695B2	Low latency rendering of objects A system is disclosed for rendering low latency resource objects by providing the latest position data from a central processing unit for the low latency resource object right before a graphic processing unit is to render the low latency resource object.
US09400693B2	Controlling application programs based on memory usage of a process and right of application programs to use display unit An apparatus includes a monitoring unit configured to monitor memory usage of a process in which multiple application programs are running, and a control unit configured to terminate one or more of the application programs when the memory usage of the process exceeds a first threshold.
US09400689B2	Resource allocation/de-allocation and activation/deactivation A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for managing resources in a server environment. In an embodiment, the method includes determining to prepare one or more virtual resources for activation of one or more allocated host resources, based, at least in part, on virtual resource definitions. The one or more allocated host resources and the one or more virtual resources are activated. Activation of the one or more virtual resources is finalized, wherein finalizing the activation includes updating the virtual resource definitions.
US09400688B2	Resource restriction systems and methods Resource restrictions are associated with a user identifier. A resource restriction agent receives operating system calls related for resources and provides resource request data to a resource agent. The resource agent determines whether the resource is restricted based on the resource request data and resource restriction data and generates access data based on the determination. The resource restriction agent grants or denies the system call based on the access data.
US09400686B2	Process grouping for improved cache and memory affinity A multiprocessor computer system and method for use therein are provided for assigning processes to processor nodes. The system can determine a first pair of processes and a second pair of processes, each process of the first pair of processes executing on different nodes and each process of the second pair of processes executing on different nodes. The system can determine a first priority value of the first pair of processes, based at least in part on a first resource access rate of the first pair of processes; and determine a second priority value of the second pair of processes, based at least in part on a second resource access rate of the second pair of processes. The system can determine the first priority value is greater than the second priority value; and determine to reassign a first process of the first pair of processes to a first node, wherein a second process of the first pair of processes is executing on the first node.
US09400684B2	Electronic apparatus, recording medium, and method for generating workflow An electronic apparatus generates a workflow for processing data with a plurality of functions in combination. The electronic apparatus includes a function accepting unit and a workflow generating unit. The functions accepted include an edit function that edits data based on settings and an execution result notification function that indicates an execution result obtained from the functions executed before the execution result notification function in the workflow. The execution result notification function indicates that it can accept a return instruction, and upon acceptance of the return instruction, the execution result notification function returns the execution position to the function specified by the accepted return instruction. After the execution position is returned in response to the return instruction, the settings of at least one of the edit functions located between the function specified by the return instruction and the execution result notification function in the workflow can be changed.
US09400682B2	Ranking and scheduling of monitoring tasks Systems, methods, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for dynamically ranking and scheduling monitoring tasks. Dynamically ranking and scheduling monitoring tasks can include determining an updated ranking for each of a number of monitoring tasks, where the updated ranking can include analyzing historical measurements of each of the number of monitoring tasks. An order of execution can be scheduled for each of the number of monitoring tasks based on the updated ranking for each of the number of monitoring tasks.
US09400681B1	Managing scheduled tasks within a virtual space Tasks scheduled to be performed at future times within a virtual space may be managed. Selections of one or more tasks performable within the virtual space may be received. The one or more tasks may include a first task associated with a first duration. The first task may be scheduled to be performed at a first time. The first time may be the first duration later than a time of receipt of the selection of the first task. Managing the scheduling of the first task may include one or more of (1) delaying performance of the first task so that the first task is scheduled to be performed at a time later than the first time, (2) advancing performance of the first task so that the first task is scheduled to be performed at a time before the first time, or (3) canceling performance of the first task.
US09400680B2	Transportation network micro-simulation with pre-emptive decomposition In a parallel computing method performed by a parallel computing system comprising a plurality of central processing units (CPUs), a main process executes. Tasks are executed in parallel with the main process on CPUs not used in executing the main process. Results of completed tasks are stored in a cache, from which the main process retrieves completed task results when needed. The initiation of task execution is controlled by a priority ranking of tasks based on at least probabilities that task results will be needed by the main process and time limits for executing the tasks. The priority ranking of tasks is from the vantage point of a current execution point in the main process and is updated as the main process executes. An executing task may be pre-empted by a task having higher priority if no idle CPU is available.
US09400677B2	Adaptive handling of priority inversions using transactions An operating system of a data processing system receives a request from a first process to acquire an exclusive lock for accessing a resource of the data processing system. A second priority of a second process is increased to reduce total execution time. The second process is currently in possession of the exclusive lock for performing a transactional operation with the resource. The second priority was lower than a first priority of the first process. The operating system notifies the second process to indicate that another process is waiting for the exclusive lock to allow the second process to complete or roll back the transactional operation and to release the exclusive lock thereafter.
US09400673B2	Placement of virtual CPUS using a hardware multithreading parameter A cloud manager monitors available resources on host computer systems, including a number of hardware threads supported by CPUs on the host computer systems. The cloud manager receives a request to provision a virtual machine (VM) that includes a hardware multithreading parameter that specifies whether hardware multithreading is allowed on the host computer system. The cloud manager then selects a host computer system for the VM taking the hardware multithreading parameter into consideration. The VM is then placed on the selected host computer system using the hardware multithreading parameter.
US09400667B2	String cache file for optimizing memory usage in a Java virtual machine A method, system and computer program product for optimizing memory usage associated with duplicate string objects in a Java virtual machine. The method comprises scanning a heap of the Java virtual machine at the end of the start-up process of the virtual machine to identify duplicate strings associated with the virtual machine, storing the identified strings in a string cache file, and determining whether a new string that needs to be created during start-up already exists in the string cache file. The duplicate strings are added to an interned strings table. A reference to a duplicate string is returned if a string to be created is already in the string cache file.
US09400661B2	Embedded user interface A system to provide embedded user interface (UI) may comprise a request collector to receive a request directed at a host application from a user interface (UI), a response collector to receive a response from the host application, and a response dispatcher to dispatch the response to the UI via the asynchronous communication channel. The request and the response may be communicated via an asynchronous communication channel.
US09400660B1	Customizing user interfaces of native applications for portable electronic devices The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates use of a native application for a portable electronic device. During operation, the system obtains one or more custom views for a user interface of the native application. The one or more custom views may include a set of user-interface components, a layout of the user-interface components, and/or a configuration of a user-interface component from the set of user-interface components. Next, the system enables use of the one or more custom views with the native application independently of a platform of the native application.
US09400659B2	Graphical user interface window attachment A method includes identifying a first graphical application window and a second graphical application window. The first graphical application window and the second graphical application windows are each associated with separate applications. An attachment relationship may be defined between the first and second graphical application windows. A command may be received to manipulate the first graphical application window. A correlating command then manipulates the second graphical application window according to the attachment relationship between the first window and the second window, such that a spatial relationship between the first and second graphical application windows is maintained.
US09400657B2	Dynamic management of a transaction retry indication Embodiments relate to dynamic management of a transaction retry indication. One aspect is a system that includes a transactional facility configured to support transactions that effectively delay committing stores to memory or results to an architectural state until transaction completion, and a processor configured to identify a transaction abort reason associated with an aborted transaction of an initiating program. Transaction success and transaction abort history are tracked. Based on determining by the processor that the transaction abort reason was caused by the initiating program, a retry indication is assigned based on a static mapping of the transaction abort reason. Based on determining by the processor that the transaction abort reason was not caused by the initiating program, the retry indication is assigned based on a retry process using the transaction abort reason, the transaction abort history, and a current processor configuration.
US09400656B2	Chaining between exposed vector pipelines Embodiments include a method for chaining data in an exposed-pipeline processing element. The method includes separating a multiple instruction word into a first sub-instruction and a second sub-instruction, receiving the first sub-instruction and the second sub-instruction in the exposed-pipeline processing element. The method also includes issuing the first sub-instruction at a first time, issuing the second sub-instruction at a second time different than the first time, the second time being offset to account for a dependency of the second sub-instruction on a first result from the first sub-instruction, the first pipeline performing the first sub-instruction at a first clock cycle and communicating the first result from performing the first sub-instruction to a chaining bus coupled to the first pipeline and a second pipeline, the communicating at a second clock cycle subsequent to the first clock cycle that corresponds to a total number of latch pipeline stages in the first pipeline.
US09400652B1	Methods and apparatus for address translation functions Techniques are described for efficient reordering of data and performing data exchanges within a register file or memory, or in general, any device storing data that is accessible through a set of addressable locations. An address translator is placed in the path of all or a selected set of address busses to a storage device to provide a programmable and selectable means of translating the storage device addresses. An effect of this translation is that the data stored in one pattern may be accessed and stored in another pattern or accessed, processed and stored in another pattern. The address translation operation may be carried out in a single cycle, does not involve the physical movement of data in swap operations, allows data to effectively be ordered more efficiently for algorithmic processing and therefore saves power.
US09400648B2	Software upgrade analysis system A system may include computer code for analyzing an upgrade from a first version to a second version of a software program that has been customized without performing the upgrade. The system may provide default state information of default program objects. The default program objects would be included in a default installation of the second version of the software program. The computer code may retrieve current state information of current program objects from an application database. The software program that has been customized may include the current program objects. The system may generate upgrade information based on a comparison between the current state information and the default state information. The upgrade information may identify a subset of the current program objects that would be impacted by the upgrade.
US09400647B2	Application discovery and integration using semantic metamodels A metamodel selector may determine a semantic metamodel for at least two software applications, the semantic metamodel including a description of semantics, processes, and data that are applicable to the at least two software applications. A metadata manager may determine application metadata describing an application of the at least two applications. A transformation engine may transform the application metadata into an application-specific metamodel instance of the semantic metamodel, and an integration engine may integrate the at least two software applications, based on the application-specific metamodel instance.
US09400642B2	Self-updating application agent Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described herein that are configured to enable a self-update. In some example embodiments, a method is provided that comprises receiving a communication from a data center update module, the communication comprising an expected agent version identifier. The method of this embodiment may also include determining whether the expected agent version identifier is equal to a current agent version identifier. The method of this embodiment may also include causing an application agent to perform a self-update in an instance in which the expected agent version identifier is not equal to a current agent version identifier.
US09400637B1	Solution modeling and analysis toolset for enterprise software architecture Modeling an enterprise architecture includes associating a plurality of desired business capabilities with a plurality of requirements and associating each of a plurality of technology components with one or more of the plurality of requirements, based on a respective technology supporting the one or more requirements. Then a model may be constructed that includes linking each of the technology components with one or more of the desired business capabilities based on the associating of the plurality of desired business capabilities with the plurality of requirements and the associating of each of the plurality of technology components with one or more of the plurality of requirements.
US09400632B2	Playback according to playback responsibility in stereo pair Systems and methods are provided for audio device playback failure recovery and redistribution. The systems and methods may be configured to render an audio content according to a first playback responsibility that involves rendering both (a) a left channel of an audio content and (b) a right channel of the audio content, detect an instruction to form a stereo pair with another network device; render the audio content according to a second playback responsibility that involves rendering one of (a) the left channel of the audio content or (b) the right channel of the audio content; while rendering the audio content according to the second playback responsibility, detect a failure of the another network device; and render the audio content according to the first playback responsibility.
US09400631B2	Multifunctional media players According to embodiments of the invention, systems, methods and devices are directed to multifunctional media players that allow multiple musicians to play musical instruments at the same time in different locations. Various embodiments of the invention implement several novel features, including, in one embodiment, an orchestra system that includes a system configured to provide a plurality of multifunctional media players playing various songs. Each multifunctional media player includes a picture capturing device and a sound recorder as communication means to control synchronization among other said multifunctional media players.
US09400629B2	Tape measure with audio recorder The present invention is a tape measure in combination with a data transceiver, a headset, and a cell phone. The invention includes a data transceiver with a housing that can be mounted to a tape measure, where the housing features numerous selectors including at least one record button and one playback button. The present invention further involves the transceiver in communication with a first user cell phone for instructing recordation of verbal analog data received from a head set when a record button is depressed. The cell phone also includes an application for converting verbal information into digital data using voice recognition software, communicating and storing the digital data, and communicating analog data. The present invention alternatively allows for playback of the recorded data to the headset when a playback button is depressed. Another embodiment allows for communication between the cell phones of a first and a second user and an associated headset.
US09400628B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and program There is provided an information processing apparatus including a transmission processing section which performs short-range one-to-one communication with a communication partner device, a reception processing section, a received data processing section which acquires information obtained by communication with the communication partner device, a display section which displays the information, and a display processing section which executes processing of displaying the information based on a content of the information.
US09400627B2	Display including signal transmission scheme using optical interconnection and electrical interconnection A display employing a signal transmission scheme using an optical interconnection together with an electrical interconnection is provided. The display includes a screen including a plurality of sub displays configured to display information, a plurality of sub signal processors electrically connected to the plurality of sub displays, the sub signal processors being configured to perform conversion between an optical signal and an electrical signal, and a main signal processor optically connected to at least a portion of the plurality of sub signal processors.
US09400621B2	Information providing apparatus, terminal device, information providing system, and computer readable medium An information providing apparatus includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit receives, from a terminal device connected to the information providing apparatus via a communication path, operation state information indicating an operation state of the terminal device. If it is determined, based on the operation state information, that the terminal device is in a specific operation state associated with an image processing operation, the transmitting unit transmits to the terminal device one or plural pieces of specific information associated with an image processing operation executable after the specific operation state has been completed. When transmitting the plural pieces of specific information to the terminal device, the transmitting unit transmits the plural pieces of specific information to the terminal device in accordance with priorities. The priorities are assigned to the plural pieces of specific information in accordance with the specific operation state.
US09400620B2	Storage system A storage system includes a plurality of data disks that store information, and a parity disk that corresponds to a disk group including some of the plurality of data disks and stores parity information generated on the basis of data of the data disks included in the corresponding disk group. Any of the data disks is included in a plurality of the disk groups.
US09400616B2	Methodology for manipulation of SATA device access cycles Controlling accesses to target devices such as disk drives by modifying the duty cycle profile of those devices to improve device reliability is disclosed. The utilization of a target device is monitored, and if a device is being overused, that device is given a rest period by reserving it for a special initiator that does not send any commands to the device for a certain period of time. This reduced utilization has the effect of increasing the reliability of the target device. This period of time also adds a delay to the processing of commands for the target device being overutilized so that the device becomes less responsive. This performance penalty creates pressure on system administrators to reduce the number of commands sent to that target device and/or move data to proper devices (that can handle the high number of accesses).
US09400614B2	Method and system for programmable sequencer for processing I/O for various PCIe disk drives Disclosed is a system and method for using a programmable sequencer to produce a required command for a particular standard, or format, being used by the PCIe disk drive. A PCIe disk drive may support a different standard, or format. A mix of any number of different standards, or formats, is permitted in the system and method. For each message, a different set of instructions can be selected for the conversion process.
US09400613B1	Intelligent pairing for snapshot based backups This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for intelligent pairing for snapshot based backups. In some embodiments, this includes according to rules, obtaining a list of available devices in a storage group using a snapshot method, among the list of available devices, generating a list of currently paired devices with a source using the snapshot method, generating a list of unrelated but available devices using the source, the list of currently paired devices, and the list of available devices, if the list of currently paired devices is not empty, selecting one or more target devices from the list of currently paired devices and pairing the one or more target devices with the source, otherwise, selecting the one or more target devices from the list of unrelated but available devices and pairing the one or more target devices with the source.
US09400610B1	Method for cleaning a delta storage system A computer-implemented method and system for performing garbage collection in a delta compressed data storage system selects a file recipe to traverse to identify live data chunks and selects a chunk identifier from the file recipe. The chunk identifier is added to a set of live data chunks. Delta references in an entry of an index corresponding to the chunk identifier are added to the set of live data chunks. Data chunks in a data storage system not identified by the set of live data chunks are then discarded.
US09400605B2	Efficient management of a virtual tape library cluster Various embodiments for managing a virtual tape library cluster are provided. A virtual tape library system is enhanced by representing virtual tape resources in cluster nodes with a unique serial number. A least utilized cluster node is determined. One of the virtual tape resources represented within the least utilized cluster node is selected.
US09400604B2	Write procedure using estimated best setting in first run In one general embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a write operation to be performed in a tape drive; determining a capacity margin ratio of the tape drive; determining an optimum a write procedure based at least in part on the capacity margin ratio; and invoking the optimum write procedure in response to determining the optimum write procedure. The optimum write procedure is selected from the group consisting of: a backhitch write procedure, a same wrap backhitchless flush (SWBF) write procedure, and a recursively accumulating backhitchless flush (RABF) write procedure. Systems and computer program products configured to perform similar techniques are also disclosed.
US09400601B2	Techniques for paging through digital content on touch screen devices Techniques are disclosed for providing a page flipping mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the page flipping mode by performing an activation gesture, which causes the device to display a magazine page flipping mode or a fast page flipping mode. The page flipping modes may show paginated content such as an opened book or magazine in a single stack or side-by-side layout. The fast page flipping modes may show a single page lying relatively flat or somewhat curled with the edges of subsequent pages visible at the right edge of the page. A page flipping gesture may prompt an animation showing one or more pages folding up to display subsequent pages to the user. In some cases, the number of pages being flipped and/or the speed at which the pages are flipped, is dependent upon the speed and/or length and/or duration of the page flipping gesture.
US09400600B2	Method, apparatus, and graphical user interface for providing visual effects on a touchscreen display A graphical user interface, method and apparatus for providing visual effects on a touchscreen display, including: displaying a first screen; detecting a multi-point touch on the first screen; detecting a first touch event based on the multi-point touch; turning the first screen into a garbage object in response to the first touch event; and removing the garbage object by moving the garbage object to a trash bin icon.
US09400598B2	Fast and smooth scrolling of user interfaces operating on thin clients Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a user interface for scrolling through lists of information on user interfaces.
US09400597B2	Presenting dynamic grids Grids are commonly used to provide an environment for users to orient objects within a drawing program. The properties of a grid are usually defined and set at the time the grid is created and do not change. An effective way to provide a useful grid that can adapt to objects a user has drawn is provided herein by presenting a dynamic grid on a display. The dynamic grid may adjust grid properties, such as the position of the origin, the angle of the grid, the size of gridline spacing, the coordinate mode, etc. The new grid properties are adjusted to accommodate what the user may draw next, based upon what the user previously drew.
US09400590B2	Method and electronic device for displaying a virtual button A method for using a pen in an electronic device is provided, including: detecting a pen use event; and responsive to the pen use event, displaying, on a display of the electronic device, at least one virtual button which performs the same function as a physical button that is part of the electronic device; wherein the physical button of the electronic device comprises at least one of a mechanical switch and an optical switch.
US09400589B1	Circular rotational interface for display of consumer credit information A credit score user interface that may comprise a circular visual interface to view a consumer's credit information is disclosed herein. Sections of the circular visual interface may correspond to credit categories, where each section is sized according to the impact of the associated credit category on the consumer's credit score. One of the category sections may be selected, and credit information about a specific consumer that is related to that section may be displayed. The selected credit category may change based on touch input. A change in selection may cause new credit information related to the newly selected credit category to be displayed about the specific consumer.
US09400586B2	Graphical user interface having an attached toolbar for drag and drop editing in detail-in-context lens presentations Detail-in-context techniques are described. In an implementation, an original image is distorted to produce a distorted region for a selected object at a first position in an original image displayed on a display screen. The distorted region magnifies at least a portion of the object. A signal is received to drag the object and the distorted region from the first position to a second position. A signal is received to drop the object at the second position. The distorted region is removed from the original image after the object is dropped at the second position.
US09400581B2	Touch-sensitive button with two levels A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
US09400578B2	Touch panel, touch screen apparatus, and method of driving the touch panel A touch panel configured to drive a liquid crystal according to a voltage difference between first and second electrodes. The touch panel includes at least one display unit configured to generate an image voltage and apply the image voltage to the first electrode. The image voltage corresponds to image data to be displayed in response to activation of a display gate line. The touch panel further includes at least one sensing unit configured to sense, in response to activation of a sensor gate line, a voltage variation of the second electrode to determine whether a finger capacitance is generated by a physical touch on the touch panel.
US09400575B1	Finger detection for element selection A user can use a finger, or other such object, to provide input to a computing device. The finger does not have to contact the device, but can be positioned and/or oriented in such a way that the device can determine an input that the user is attempting to provide, such as an element or icon that the user is intended to select. One or more cameras can capture image information, which can be analyzed to attempt to determine the location and/or orientation of the finger. If the finger is at least partially outside a field of view of the camera(s), the device can use a sensor (e.g., EMF) to attempt to determine a location of at least a portion of the finger, which can be used with the image information to determine the location and/or orientation of the finger. Other estimation processes can be used as well.
US09400574B2	Interactive touch system and light source device An interactive touch system includes a display device, a light source device and an invisible light detecting device. The display device is adapted to provide an image beam to a display surface. The light source device includes a light-emitting element and a light-guide element. The light-guide element has a conical surface and a cylindrical curved surface facing the conical surface. The curvature center of at least partial section of the cylindrical curved surface is not located on the central axis of the conical surface. The light-emitting element is adapted to emit an invisible light beam toward the conical surface, and the invisible light beam is reflected by the conical surface and the cylindrical curved surface to be diverged and range over the display surface. When an object moves to the display surface, the invisible light beam is reflected by the object to be detected by the invisible light detecting device.
US09400570B2	Stylus with inertial sensor A stylus may have an elongated body with opposing first and second ends. Electronic equipment may have a touch sensor that receives electromagnetic signals from one or more electrodes at the first end. The stylus may have a six-axis inertial sensor at the second end. Force sensors may be located at the first and second ends. User input from the force sensors, the inertial sensor, and other input-output devices may be used to supply the stylus with mode change commands. In response to the mode change commands the stylus may transition between operating modes such as a touch sensor mode and one or more inertial sensor modes. Inertial sensor data may be used to allow the stylus to operate as a joystick, a rotational controller, an air mouse, or other input devices in addition to serving as a touch sensor input device.
US09400569B2	Three dimensional building blocks Methods, systems, and products describe physical structures for interactive computer displays. A tangible, three-dimensional structure has an interior and an exterior surface. A bundle of optical fibers propagates light through the interior to the exterior surface of the three-dimensional structure. A magnet in the three-dimensional structure produces an attractive force, and a marker on the exterior surface identifies the three-dimensional structure and the magnet.
US09400568B2	Method for operating image display apparatus An image display apparatus and a method for operating the image display apparatus are disclosed. The method for operating an image display apparatus includes displaying at least one object on a display, displaying a pointer on the display, accumulating a movement value of a remote controller during a predetermined period, detecting reference coordinates of the displayed at least one object, correcting the accumulated movement value based on the reference coordinates if the reference coordinates are detected, and changing the location of the pointer based on the corrected value and displaying the pointer.
US09400564B2	Interactive vehicle window display system with a safe driving reminder system A system for a vehicle includes a user identification subsystem operable to detect a driver; and an interactive display subsystem operable to generate output for display on a vehicle window based on detection of the driver, the output associated with a reminder specific to a questionable driving habit of the driver.
US09400561B2	Method of operating gesture based communication channel and portable terminal system for supporting the same Methods and apparatus are provided for operating a close proximity communication channel based on a gesture. A gesture event is generated on a touch screens of a portable terminal. The portable terminal includes a close proximity communication module. The portable terminal generates a context message corresponding to the gesture event. The context message is transmitted to at least one other portable terminal. The close proximity communication channel is established based on the context message.
US09400553B2	User interface programmatic scaling Embodiments that relate to scaling a visual element displayed via a display device are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes receiving and using gaze tracking data to determine gaze locations at which a user is gazing on the display device. Depth tracking data is received and used to determine that a user's pointer is at a predetermined location. In response, a locked gaze location on the screen is locked, where the locked gaze location includes at least a portion of the visual element. In response to locking the locked gaze location, the visual element is programmatically scaled by a predetermined amount to an enlarged size. A user input selecting the visual element is then received.
US09400550B2	Apparatus and method providing viewer feedback of observed personal user data In one or more embodiments described herein, there is provided an apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code. The memory and the computer code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to be able to determine a graphical indicator for display to the originator of personal user data. The graphical indicator is a graphical representation of a determined interest value of one or more viewers to the personal user data. This determined interest value is generated using feedback signalling representative of the feedback provided by changes in facial expression of respective viewers to viewing said personal user data.
US09400549B2	Method and system for a new-era electronic book Different methods and systems for a new-era electronic book are disclosed. In one embodiment, the content of the book can be presented by an electronic book device. The device includes a display to present the content to a user; a sensor to sense the user; and a processor. The processor can become aware of an attribute of the user, and change a portion of the content of the electronic book to be presented accordingly. In one embodiment, the attribute is not a behavior of the user. For example, the attribute can be a location of the user. The book can include a story and a non-story theme. The story theme can convey a concept, and the non-story theme can include scenes, scripts and/or props. The portion changed can be the story or the non-story theme, or both.
US09400545B2	Method, apparatus, and system for energy efficiency and energy conservation including autonomous hardware-based deep power down in devices Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for energy efficiency and energy conservation including enabling autonomous hardware-based deep power down of devices are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a device, a static memory, and a power control unit coupled with the device and the static memory. The system further includes a deep power down logic of the power control unit to monitor a status of the device, and to transfer the device to a deep power down state when the device is idle. In the system, the device consumes less power when in the deep power down state than in the idle state.
US09400540B2	Event based dynamic power management An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method of event based dynamic power management. The method includes responding to receiving an indication of an event that is external to a hardware block engine by adjusting the power to the hardware block engine, if the event indicates that the power to the hardware block engine should be adjusted. The method may include receiving a second event that is external to the hardware block engine. The method may include determining whether or not the power should be adjusted to the hardware block engine based on the event and the second event. If it is determined that the power should be adjusted, then the power may be adjusted to the hardware block based on the event and second event. A method of monitoring a component and sending an indication of an event that the component will not require a hardware block engine is disclosed.
US09400537B2	Power supply impedance optimizing apparatus In a power supply impedance optimizing apparatus, first and second noise detecting circuits detect noises of first and second power supplies by magnetic field coupling between bonding wires of the first and second power supplies and bonding wires for first and second noise detection. A noise determining circuit determines a noise level using a frequency component in each of one or more frequency ranges as extracted from each of the noises of the first and second power supplies. The noise determining circuit controls ON/OFF state of the first switch connected between pads of the first and second power supplies and the second switch connected between pins of the first and second power supplies based on a determination result of the noise level.
US09400535B2	Power supply circuit for central processing unit A power supply circuit applied to a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, a control circuit, a first switch circuit, a second switch circuit, a first compensation circuit, a second compensation circuit, a first power circuit, and a second power circuit. When the computer is turned on, the PWM controller regulates duty cycles of pulse signals and outputs the regulated pulse signals to the first and second power circuits according to a first compensation signal, to provide a stable voltage to the CPU. When the computer is in a standby mode, the PWM controller regulates duty cycles of pulse signals and outputs the regulated pulse signals to the first power circuit according to a second compensation signal, to provide a stable voltage to the CPU.
US09400527B2	Mobile terminal device and a chassis A mobile terminal device that includes a frame that supports a structure of the mobile terminal, a button that fits with a hole in the frame, a gasket that contacts with the button, a first area of which contacting with the button being configured to move when the button is pushed, and a second area of which being fixed to the frame by an adhesive, processing circuitry, and a switch that contacts with the gasket, and moves and applies current to the processing circuitry when the gasket moves in response to the button being pushed.
US09400524B2	Metal ceramic chassis for portable devices An information handling system chassis is built at least in part from ceramic elements. For example, a transparent aluminum oxide ceramic portion covers a touchscreen to provide a rigid outer surface for accepting end user inputs. As another example, a ceramic chassis element has a ceramic material formed around a metal material of similar substance with bonding of the ceramic to the underlying material enhanced with oxidation of the outer surface of the metal material.
US09400523B2	Information device An information device includes: a first housing and a second housing coupled through a hinge mechanism, the second housing being openable to a angle from a closed state where the second housing overlaps with the first housing; a third housing attached to a surface of the second housing on a first housing side through a movement mechanism capable of moving the third housing with respect to the second housing from an overlapped state with the second housing; a first display screen provided on a surface of the third housing on the first housing side; and at least one unit selected from a group of a second display screen, an input mechanism, an output mechanism and an input-output mechanism, the surface being exposed when the third housing is moved with respect to the second housing in a state where the second housing is opened with respect to the first housing.
US09400521B2	Flexible portable electronic device Flexible portable electronic device capable of elaborating information, including a flexible body arranged to be capable of being secured to a part of the user's body, the flexible body including a lower flexible band and an upper flexible band. The flexible portable electronic device includes an electronic assembly for processing information, the electronic assembly for processing information including at least a first electronic component with a substantially flat surface, housed between the upper flexible band and the lower flexible band of the flexible body. The first electronic component is secured on only one portion of the surface thereof to one of the upper or lower flexible bands.
US09400520B2	Tablet terminal attachment Provided is an attachment for use with tablet terminals which prevents a tablet terminal from unexpectedly popping up and allows a user to soon find the tablet terminal in a bag. An attachment for use with tablet terminals includes a terminal holding part configured to detachably hold a tablet terminal without hindering the user from operating the touchscreen surface of the tablet terminal and a ring insertion part which allows the terminal holding part to be held on a personal organizer including a ring.
US09400519B2	Computer housing A multipart computer housing is described. The multipart computer housing includes at least a structural support layer and a body. The body includes at least an outer layer formed of lightweight flexible material and an inner layer attached to the outer layer. The inner layer is connected to the support layer forming a load path between the inner layer and the structural support layer. A load applied to the multipart computer housing is transferred by way of the load path to the support layer without substantially affecting the outer layer.
US09400518B2	Temporary frequency adjustment of mobile device processors based on task migration Systems and methods for temporarily adjusting the frequency of processors are disclosed. A computing device may include a plurality of processors that are each configured to execute one or more tasks at a corresponding one of a plurality of frequencies. A scheduling component migrates tasks between the processors to balance a load that is processed by the plurality of processors. A governor component includes a frequency adjustment component to control a frequency of each of the processors and a frequency synchronization component that detects when the scheduling component is migrating one of the tasks from a source processor to a destination processor. The synchronization component increases, based upon a frequency of the source processor, a frequency of the destination processor.
US09400515B2	Voltage regulator and electronic apparatus A voltage regulator is provided which can suppress an occurrence of overshooting in an output voltage at the time of starting a power source with a source voltage or the like. The voltage regulator includes an error amplifier circuit, an overshooting control circuit that is connected to the gate of an output transistor, and an ON/OFF circuit that controls ON and OFF states of at least the error amplifier circuit. Here, the ON/OFF circuit controls the overshooting control circuit so as to turn on the output transistor when a predetermined time passes after at least the error amplifier circuit is turned on at the time of starting the voltage regulator.
US09400514B2	Current control for output device biasing stage Circuits and methods to control current through a device biasing an output device in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage are disclosed. The circuits and methods are applicable to e.g. LDOs, amplifiers, or buffers. A control loop detects if the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage and regulates the drain-source voltage of the biasing device. The disclosure reduces power consumption in a driver stage in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage.
US09400513B2	Cascode circuit An electronic circuit includes a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device includes a load path and an internal voltage divider with a voltage divider tap. The second semiconductor device includes a load path and a control node. The first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device have their load paths connected in series. The voltage divider tap of the first semiconductor device is coupled to the control node of the second semiconductor device.
US09400510B2	Phase change material evaporator charging control An evaporator has a manifold and a plurality of refrigerant tubes extending downward in the direction of gravity from the manifold. The evaporator includes at least one PCM housing engaging the upper portion of the refrigerant tube for storing a phase change material. When operating in a first operating mode, heat is transferred from the phase change material to the refrigerant to freeze and cool the phase change material. When operating in a second operating mode, heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the frozen phase change material to condense the refrigerant. The condensed refrigerant falls downwardly through the tubes and receives heat from a flow of air to cool the air and evaporate the refrigerant. The evaporated refrigerant rises upwardly back to the low pressure of the cold manifold.
US09400508B2	Periodicity disturbance suppression device and periodicity disturbance suppression method In a torque ripple suppression control effected by a periodicity disturbance observer, it is necessary to consider plant fluctuation and fluctuation of plant characteristics caused by over time usage. Thus, improvement for robustness to an identification model error has been required. For fulfilling this requirement, there is provided a system that includes a phase correction amount calculation portion 11 that derives a phase correction amount by calculating a phase of a vector trajectory drawn by a frequency component of the periodicity disturbance, a gain correction amount calculation portion 12 that derives a gain correction amount by calculating a progress speed of the vector trajectory drawn by the frequency component of the periodicity disturbance and comparing the calculated progress speed with a threshold value and a rotation vector calculation portion 13 that derives a system identification model correction value by multiplying the phase correction amount by the gain correction amount and corrects the system identification model of a periodicity disturbance observer portion 14 based on the system identification model correction value.
US09400503B2	Mobile human interface robot A method of object detection for a mobile robot includes emitting a speckle pattern of light onto a scene about the robot while maneuvering the robot across a work surface, receiving reflections of the emitted speckle pattern off surfaces of a target object in the scene, determining a distance of each reflecting surface of the target object, constructing a three-dimensional depth map of the target object, and classifying the target object.
US09400502B2	Control of a personal transporter based on user position An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.
US09400501B2	Simultaneous localization and mapping for a mobile robot A method of simultaneous localization and mapping includes initializing a robot pose and a particle model of a particle filter. The particle model includes particles, each having an associated map, robot pose, and weight. The method includes receiving sparse sensor data from a sensor system of the robot, synchronizing the received sensor data with a change in robot pose, accumulating the synchronized sensor data over time, and determining a robot localization quality. When the accumulated sensor data exceeds a threshold accumulation and the robot localization quality is greater than a threshold localization quality, the method includes updating particles with accumulated synchronized sensor data. The method includes determining a weight for each updated particle of the particle model and setting a robot pose belief to the robot pose of the particle having the highest weight when a mean weight of the particles is greater than a threshold particle weight.
US09400498B2	Tactical robot controller An unmanned systems operator control system includes a hand held controller with a set of switches and control enumeration software specially configured to report a superset of virtual switches based on the physical switches. A core unit includes a first unmanned system control application subscribing to a first switch subset of the superset and outputting commands controlling a first unmanned system based on activation of the set of switches. A second unmanned system control application subscribes to a second switch subset of the superset and outputs commands controlling a second unmanned system based on activation of the set of switches. A mode switching subsystem is configured, in a first state, to map the set of switches to the first switch subset and, in a second state, to map the set of switches to the second switch subset.
US09400496B2	Numerical controller with inter-path waiting function A pre-read/analysis process is carried out to analyze a code in a block, and whether or not the analyzed data contains an inter-path waiting code is determined. When the block contains an inter-path waiting code, the pre-read/analysis process is suspended, and whether or not a preset specified condition is met is judged. When the specified condition is met, inter-path waiting is started. When the inter-path waiting is established, code analysis data created before creation of execution data is discarded, and a pre-read/analysis process on the next block is immediately started.
US09400495B2	Industrial automation equipment and machine procedure simulation For machine procedure simulation, a synchronization module stores a plurality of equipment procedures in a procedure database. Each equipment procedure corresponds to an equipment instance of a plurality of equipment instances and each equipment instance corresponds to an equipment reference code. The synchronization module further synchronizes the plurality of equipment procedures to a mobile device. A retrieval module receives a first equipment reference code at the mobile device and retrieves a first equipment procedure indexed to the first equipment reference code. The first equipment procedure includes a machine simulation for the first equipment instance. A training module receives a procedure step directed to the machine simulation. In addition, the training module displays an operator simulation interacting with the machine simulation in response to the procedure step.
US09400492B2	Motor control device A motor control device includes a model control system that controls a motor machine model position using a target value (a position instruction after differentiation) related to a position instruction, and a feedback control system that controls a motor position using the target value (a position instruction after differentiation) related to the position instruction and an amount of control (model position) of the model control system. The feedback control system controls the motor position using the amount of control (model position) of the model control system at all times.
US09400488B2	Mechanical winding device for a watch An automatic winding device for a spring of a watch movement including a weight fixed on a support via a bearing including a ring which drives, in only one direction of rotation called the winding direction, a transmission gear in order to wind the mainspring, this winding device wherein, on the one hand, the bearing is of the one-way type and blocks the rotation of the weight in the opposite direction to the winding direction, called the blocking direction and wherein, on the other hand, the device includes a means for decoupling the weight from said bearing in at least the blocking direction when the weight exerts on the bearing a torque higher than a desired value.
US09400481B2	Latch mechanism for a fuser assembly having a heat transfer roll A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic imaging device which transfers heat from overheated portions of the fuser assembly to portions having lesser temperatures. The fuser assembly includes a heating member; a backup roll disposed proximate to the heating member so as to form a fuser nip therewith; a heat transfer device in contact with backup roll; a positioning mechanism coupled to the heat transfer device for positioning the heat transfer device in a first position in which the heat transfer device contacts the backup roll and in a second position in which the heat transfer device is spaced apart from the backup roll; and a latch mechanism for latching the heat transfer device in the second position.
US09400479B1	Waste toner container and image forming apparatus A waste toner container includes a waste toner container body and a dust collector. The waste toner container body has a first end and stores waste toner discharged from an apparatus body. The dust collector is disposed on a first end side of the waste toner container body, allows passage therethrough of air to be exhausted from the apparatus body, and traps dust that enters the dust collector together with an airflow.
US09400477B2	Cleaning device, device to be cleaned, cleaning member, and image forming apparatus A cleaning device includes a cleaning member that includes a cleaning portion that cleans a light transmission member, which has a substantially elongated shape and which transmits light, and a support portion that supports the cleaning portion and a wall portion that is disposed on one end side of the light transmission member in a longitudinal direction of the light transmission member and that has a surface that is formed along a direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the light transmission member. The cleaning member and the wall portion each have a configuration in which when an end of the cleaning member makes contact with the wall portion and is pressed, the support portion is bent in a convex manner toward a side opposite to a side on which the light transmission member is disposed.
US09400474B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus including an apparatus main body including an inner wall that defines an accommodation portion, photoconductive drums arranged in parallel at intervals in a predetermined direction toward a first side from a second side, in the accommodation portion, chargers disposed corresponding to the photoconductive drums, respectively, each charger charging a corresponding one of the photoconductive drums, a frame body configured to support the photoconductive drums and the chargers and be accommodated in the accommodation portion, a regulating member disposed between the inner wall and a first-side end portion of the frame body in the predetermined direction, the regulating member configured to apply an urging force to the frame body and regulate an air current, and a pressing member configured to press the frame body against the urging force of the regulating member and regulate a movement of the frame body relative to the apparatus main body.
US09400473B1	Variable capacity paper tray A media supply device includes a tray feeding printable media into a printing device. The tray has a first section sized for a first size of printable media and a second section sized for a second size of printable media. The first section is within the second section. The tray has a base with a first end and a second end. A first endwall is perpendicularly connected to the first end of the base. A second endwall is perpendicularly connected to the second end of the base. Sidewalls having a top edge are connected to edges of the base between the first endwall and the second endwall. The top edge of the sidewalls is a first height above the base in the first section and a second height above the base in the second section. The first and second heights are different.
US09400469B2	Image forming apparatus and method of warning life of charging roller in image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a charging roller, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sampling part, a life consumption degree calculating part and a warning processing part. The sampling part executes temperature/humidity inputting process inputting temperature of the temperature sensor and humidity of the humidity sensor. The life consumption degree calculating part calculates a life consumption degree of the charging roller from a last time to a present time in the temperature/humidity inputting process by applying respective representative values of last and present inputted temperature and humidity into a model formula. The warning processing part outputs a warning when an addition value of the life consumption degrees exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The life consumption degree calculating part uses the model formula deriving larger life consumption degree in a case where the representative value of the temperature and the representative value of the humidity are respectively larger.
US09400466B2	Image forming apparatus including a rotatable cam configured to move a shutter member An image forming apparatus includes a movable image-bearing member, a sensor opposed to the image-bearing member, a shutter member arranged between the image-bearing member and the sensor and capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, a rotatable cam configured to move the shutter member, and an execution portion configured to selectively execute a first mode in which the shutter member is opened or closed by rotating the cam within a first phase range and a second mode in which the shutter member is vibrated by rotating the cam at least through a second phase range different from the first phase range.
US09400461B1	Fixing device and image forming apparatus A fixing device includes a heating unit that heats an unfixed image on a recording medium, which is deformed by heating, and hence fixes the unfixed image; and a transport member that closely contacts a no-image surface of the recording medium and transports the recording medium while causing a close contact force to act on the recording medium against a deformation force, which is generated at the recording medium by the heating of the heating unit. The close contact force of the recording medium with respect to the transport member is larger than the deformation force generated at the recording medium.
US09400454B1	Imaging system oil management An oil routing system has a first fluid transport device to transport clean oil from an oil recycling apparatus of an imaging system to a first storage tank, the oil having been recycled after use in the imaging system by the recycling apparatus, a second fluid transport device to transport clean oil to a second storage tank, and a third fluid transport device. The clean oil is to be stored in the first storage tank and second storage tank as clean oil, and the third fluid transport device to return clean oil from the first storage tank to the imaging system for reuse, wherein of the first and second storage tanks, the oil routing system routes clean oil to the imaging system for reuse only from the first storage tank.
US09400452B2	Image forming unit having image carrier, developer carrier that supplies developer to image carrier and developer supply member that supplies developer to developer carrier, and image forming apparatus having image carrier, developer carrier that supplies developer to image carrier and developer supply member that supplies developer to developer carrier An image forming unit includes a first developer supply member that is arranged inside a developer container and supplies a developer to a developer carrier, a seal member of which a fixed end is fixed on a case.The case has a first wall part that extends from the fixed end obliquely downward with respect to a vertical direction and a second wall part that continues from the first wall part and extends along an outer peripheral surface of the first developer supply member, and a first distance between an inner peripheral surface of the first wall part and the outer peripheral surface of the first developer supply member becomes smaller with increasing distance from the fixed end of the seal member.
US09400450B2	Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus incorporating same A toner cartridge includes a toner container to store toner and two rotary agitation members to rotate to agitate toner in the toner container. The toner container has two arc-shaped portions adjacent to each other at an inner bottom wall of the toner container. The two rotary agitation members has edges to rotate along the two arc-shaped portions with rotation phases thereof shifted from each other. The two rotary agitation members are placed with rotation trajectories thereof partially overlapping each other.
US09400445B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an exposing device including: light sources including light emitting portions and respectively for photoconductors; a deflector for deflecting light from each light emitting portion; optical systems each for using the deflected light to form an image on the photoconductor; and a first beam detector for detecting reference light deflected by the deflector. A storage stores parameters respectively for the light emitting portions. Each of the parameters relates to a writing time extending from the detection of the reference light to emission of light for exposing a surface of the photoconductor from the light emitting portion. A controller controls the timing of emission of light from each light emitting portion for exposing the surface of the photoconductor, based on a result of the detection of the reference light and a corresponding one of the parameters.
US09400440B2	Styrene/acrylate and polyester hybrid toner The present disclosure describes toner particles that have polyester resin and styrene/acrylate resin in the core.
US09400437B2	Position measurement apparatus and exposure apparatus which measure position of object using reference mark, and method of manufacturing device A position measurement apparatus that measures a position of an object using a reference mark includes a first illumination optical system configured to illuminate the object using measurement light from a light source which emits light of a first wavelength band, a second illumination optical system configured to illuminate the reference mark using reference light of a second wavelength band, and a position measurement unit configured to detect light from the object and light from the reference mark and to obtain the position of the object based on the detection result, and the second wavelength band of the reference light is set between an upper limit and a lower limit of the first wavelength band of the measurement light from the light source.
US09400436B2	Detection device, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method using same A detection device that detects a mark provided on the back side of an object, the detection device includes a first detection unit configured to detect the mark from a surface side of the object; a second detection unit configured to detect a surface position of the object; and a processing unit. The processing unit determines a thickness of the object based on a difference between a first focus position acquired with reference to the position of the mark detected by the first detection unit and a second focus position acquired with reference to the surface position detected by the second detection unit.
US09400431B2	Supporting assembly with a rolling ball disposed directly below supporting rods and method for using the same A supporting assembly configured to support a plurality of tubes includes a first supporting rod, a second supporting rod opposite to the first supporting rod, a bridging member, and a rolling member. The first supporting rod includes several first parallel recesses. The bridging member is connected to one end of the first supporting rod or one end of the second supporting rod. The rolling member is received by the bridging member.
US09400425B2	Apparatus and method for cleaning photomask This invention relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning a photomask. This apparatus, suitable for use in removing an adhesive residue from a photomask, includes a photomask disposed such that a surface thereof on which an adhesive residue is left behind is directed downwards, a metal plate formed adjacent to the adhesive residue, and a laser generator for irradiating a laser onto the metal plate so that the adhesive residue is removed by heat generated from the metal plate.
US09400423B2	Manufacturing method for photomask A manufacturing method for a photomask for wafer processing includes a step of forming a groove on the front side of a light shielding plate in an area where light is to be passed. The groove has a depth not reaching the back side of the light shielding plate. A uniting step applies a bonding agent capable of transmitting light to the front side of the light shielding plate after performing the groove forming step and next attaching a transparent plate through the bonding agent to the front side of the light shielding plate to thereby unite the light shielding plate and the transparent plate. A grinding step holds the transparent plate on a chuck table after performing the uniting step. The back side of the light shielding plate is ground until the groove is exposed to the back side of the light shielding plate.
US09400417B2	Projector suspension device A projector suspension device for a projector comprises a base to be fixed to a surface on which the projector projects an image, a support member extending from the base and configured to support the projector, and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a tilt of the projector.
US09400416B2	Illumination light source device including a reflecting-transmitting element, projection device including the illumination light source device and method to control the projection device An illumination light source device includes a reflection-transmission wheel provided on a light-path from an excitation light source and having a transmission region that transmits an excitation light and a reflection region reflecting the excitation light, a fluorescent wheel provided on at least one of the reflection light-path and the transmission light-path and having a fluorescent body emitting fluorescence when excited by the excitation light, and a control section turning-on the excitation light source while the boundary of the transmission region and the reflection region traverses the light-path, in order to provide an illumination light source device capable of preventing a deterioration of the fluorescent body, whereby improving a color reproducibility by use of the color mixture occurred at the boundary region between the transmission light-path and the reflection light-path effectively and improving the brightness of image.
US09400415B2	Image displaying device and method An image displaying device includes a light diffuser and an image superposing unit. The light diffuser includes an incident side and an emergent side. The image superposing unit emerges therefrom a plurality of image lights, and superposes the plurality of image lights onto the incident side, wherein the plurality of superposed image lights pass through the light diffuser, and the light diffuser only displays an image corresponding to one of the plurality of image lights in an observation direction on the emergent side.
US09400411B2	Multiple glazing having variable diffusion by liquid crystals, and method for manufacturing same A liquid-crystal multiple glazing including a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet that is sealed by a sealing gasket, first and second electrodes with first and second electricity supply zones, a liquid-crystal layer, between 15 and 60 μm, with spacers, the first glass sheet protruding by a first protruding side and including the first electricity supply zone, electrical cabling with a first cabling input with a first electrically insulating polymer material, a third glass sheet laminated with the second glass sheet, the third glass sheet protruding from the second glass sheet by a side covering the first electrically insulating material, referred to as the first covering side.
US09400407B2	Display panel A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate and an electrode layer including at least a first part and a second part. The first part includes a first connecting electrode and a plurality of first branch electrodes disposed along a direction and spaced from each other by a first distance (T). When a light passes through the first branch electrodes, a brightness distribution is generated. The centers of two adjacent ones of the bright textures are separated by a second distance (P). The first connecting electrode is connected with the first branch electrodes. The first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode of the second part are corresponding to each other and separated by a spacing (S). S, T and P satisfy the following equation: 1 2 ⁢ a · ( b + P · m 2 + 1 4 · T 2 P ) - 1.5 ≤ S ≤ 1 2 ⁢ a · ( b + P · m 2 + 1 4 · T 2 P ) + 1.5 , a= 1/12, b=¼, m= 1/10, and S, T and Pin unit of micrometer.
US09400405B2	Shadow casting alignment technique for seamless displays A method for aligning optical layers of a multi-layer display includes displaying a dark screen image on each of a plurality of transmissive pixel arrays separated from each other by spacing regions. The transmissive pixel arrays are disposed on a display layer of the multi-layer display. The display layer is illuminated with a plurality of illumination sources of an illumination layer disposed behind the display layer. Each of the illumination sources corresponds to one of the transmissive pixel arrays to illuminate the corresponding one of the transmissive pixel arrays. An illumination pattern is cast onto a screen layer disposed in front of the display layer. The illumination pattern includes bright regions due to overlapping illumination cast from adjacent ones of the transmissive pixel arrays. The bright regions of the illumination pattern cast onto the screen layer are analyzed to identify misalignments between the display layer and the illumination layer.
US09400395B2	Controllable waveguide for near-eye display applications A near-eye display includes an image generator that generates angularly related beams over a range of angles for forming a virtual image and a waveguide that propagates the angularly related beams over a limited range of angles. An input aperture of the waveguide includes a plurality of controllable components that are selectively operable as diffractive optics for injecting subsets of the angularly related beams into the waveguide. An output aperture of the waveguide includes a plurality of controllable components that selectively operable as diffractive optics for ejecting corresponding subsets of the angularly related beams out of the waveguide toward an eyebox. A controller synchronizes operation of the controllable components of the output aperture with the propagation of different subsets of angularly related beams along the waveguide for ejecting the subsets of angularly related beams out of the waveguide for presenting the virtual image within the eyebox.
US09400394B2	Illumination system An illumination system including at least one light source such as an electroluminescent element, e.g. a light emitting diode (LED), and at least one optical element whose surface is structured by diffraction and/or refraction type optical microstructures. In order to shape the beam, the optical element includes at least two sections whose optical microstructures and therefore optical properties are different from one another. The pattern of the microstructures in each of the at least two sections is, at least over a predetermined angular range, rotationally symmetric with respect to the optical axis or another symmetry axis.
US09400392B2	Moire reducing optical substrates with irregular prism structures An optical substrate has a structured surface that enhances brightness and reduces moire effect. The optical substrate has a three-dimensionally varying, structured light output surface that comprises an irregular prismatic structure. The irregular prismatic structure may be viewed as comprising longitudinal prism blocks or rows thereof, arranged laterally defining peaks and valleys. Adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley may be parallel or non-parallel, in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner. The lateral adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley are not parallel. The adjacent irregular prism blocks may be irregular longitudinal sections having the same length, or random or quasi-random irregular sections having different lengths. The facets of each prism block may be flat, or curved (convexly and/or concavely).
US09400390B2	Peripheral lighting for head worn computing Aspects of the present invention relate to head worn computing lighting systems and stray light control.
US09400385B2	Volumetric heads-up display with dynamic focal plane A heads-up display device for displaying graphic elements in view of a user while the user views an environment through a display screen. The heads-up display device includes at least one projector that projects a graphic element on a frontal focal plane in view of the user while the user views the environment through the display screen, and at least one projector that projects a graphic element on a ground-parallel focal plane in view of the user while the user views the environment through the display screen. The projector that projects the graphic element on the frontal focal plane is mounted on an actuator that linearly moves the projector so as to cause the frontal focal plane to move in a direction of a line-of-sight of the user. The projector that projects the ground-parallel focal plane is fixedly arranged such that the ground-parallel focal plane is static.
US09400383B2	Light blocking plate and lens assembly including the same A light blocking plate is adapted for being installed on a lens wherein the lens has an optical portion and a positioning portion surrounding the optical portion. The light blocking plate includes an annular body which is formed with a through hole at a central portion thereof. The annular body has a first face and a second face. The annular body has an inner rim and an outer rim. The through hole is defined by the inner rim. One of the first face and the second face is adapted for being disposed on the positioning portion of the lens. The inner rim is formed with a plurality of notches so that the inner rim has a contour which is not smooth circular. Thus, halo disturbance can be reduced.
US09400373B2	Optical imaging lens assembly An optical imaging lens assembly, sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, comprising: the first lens element with positive refractive power, the second lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, the third lens element with positive refractive power, the fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, the fifth lens element with refractive power having a concave image-side surface, and both object-side surface and image-side surface being aspheric, wherein a stop and an image sensor disposed on an image plane are also provided. By such arrangements, the image pickup optical system satisfies conditions related to shorten the total length and to reduce the sensitivity for use in compact cameras and mobile phones with camera functionalities.
US09400372B2	Imaging lens and imaging apparatus equipped with the imaging lens An imaging lens is substantially constituted by five lenses, including: a positive first lens having a convex surface toward the object side; a negative second lens of a meniscus shape with a concave surface toward the object side; a positive third lens of a meniscus shape with a convex surface toward the object side; a positive fourth lens of a meniscus shape with a concave surface toward the object side; and a negative fifth lens having a concave surface toward the image side, the surface thereof toward the image side being of an aspherical shape having at least one inflection point within a range from an intersection of a principal light ray at a maximum angle of view with the surface toward the image side inwardly toward the optical axis in the radial direction, provided in this order from the object side. The imaging lens satisfies a predetermined conditional formula.
US09400368B2	Lens structure A lens structure is provided. The lens structure comprises a first barrel, at least one guider and a second barrel. The first barrel has a first groove, and comprises a first pin. The guider is slidably set to the first groove. The guider comprises a main body, a first limiting portion and a second limit portion. The main body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first limiting portion is connected to the main body and located between the first end and the second end. The second limiting portion is connected to the second end. The second barrel moves with the guider through the first limiting portion and has a second groove to which the first pin of the first barrel is set.
US09400364B2	Multiport optical fiber terminal A multiport optical fiber connection terminal with a compact footprint has a configuration that allows for easy accessibility and interconnection of cables, while providing several mounting options and including storage space within the terminal. The terminal may include cable connectors that are configured to allow for weather proof installation of pre-terminated fiber optic cables with the terminal ports.
US09400362B2	Fiber optic cable A cable includes a jacket defining an exterior of the cable and a rigid tube. The cable further includes densely-packed strength members on the outside of the rigid tube, compressed between the rigid tube and the jacket, and loosely-packed strength members on the inside of the rigid tube. Further the cable includes a core that is interior to the tube.
US09400361B2	Photo-electric converting module with locating pole An optical-electric converting module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and an optical-electric coupling element. The PCB includes a supporting surface, at least one laser diode, and at least one photo diode. The at least one laser diode and the at least one photo diode are positioned on the supporting surface and electrically connected to the PCB. The supporting surface defines at least one locating hole. The optical-electric coupling element includes a lower surface facing the supporting surface. The optical-electric coupling element defines a first cavity in the lower surface. The optical-electric coupling element includes at least one locating pole extending from the lower surface. The optical-electric coupling element is detachably connected to the supporting surface through the engagement of the at least one locating pole and the least one first locating hole, with each laser diode and each photo diode being received in the first cavity.
US09400360B2	Modified transistor outline (TO)-can assembly for use in optical communications and a method A modified TO-can assembly is provided that has greater versatility with respect to spatial constraints than known TO-can assemblies and that is suitable for use in a wider range of applications than known TO-can assemblies. The modified TO-can assembly has a receptacle that has been modified to receive an optical fiber through its side instead of through its end. Within the TO-can assembly, the optical path is folded in order to couple the light between the optoelectronic component of the TOSA or ROSA and the end of the optical fiber. The combination of these features provides the modified TO-can assembly with a compact profile that makes it more versatile with respect to spatial constraints and therefore suitable for use in a wider range of applications.
US09400359B1	Optical transmitter package structure An optical transmitter package structure, comprising: a base, a circuit substrate, and a cylindrical light-coupling mechanism. The optical transmitter package structure of the present invention has following advantageous effects: once the packaging process of the optical transmitter of the present invention is completed, the resulting structure is compact and airtight. Consequently, the optical transmitter is well protected against moisture during use and has a long service life; the optical transmitter of the present invention has a sturdy overall structure which is resistant to damage by improper operation during assembly.
US09400357B2	Optical connector An optical connector includes a first housing, a first ferrule which is embedded in the first housing, a second housing which is detachably fitted to the first housing; and a second ferrule which is embedded in the second housing and is butt-jointed to the first ferrule when the second housing is fitted to the first housing, and the first housing includes a tubular outer housing, and a tubular inner housing which is accommodated in the outer housing to be movable in a center axis direction of the outer housing and which accommodates the first ferrule.
US09400356B2	Fiber pigtail with integrated lid A mechanism is provided for a fiber pigtail. The fiber pigtail includes a single mode fiber optic ribbon having a section of polymer ribbon removed to expose bare fibers, a fiber optic ferrule in contact with the single mode fiber optic ribbon at one distal end, and an integrated polymer lid permanently attached to the bare fibers of the single mode fiber optic ribbon at another distal end of the single mode fiber optic ribbon.
US09400354B2	Waveguide polarization rotator and method of construction thereof An embodiment waveguide polarization rotator includes an optical waveguide and an overlay strip. The optical waveguide has an input end and an output end oppositely disposed thereon. The optical waveguide is operable to receive, at the input end, an input optical signal having a mode having an input polarization. The optical waveguide is further operable to generate, at the output end, an output optical signal having an output polarization orthogonal to the input polarization. The overlay strip is disposed over and non-orthogonally crosses the optical waveguide. The overlay strip has a first end laterally offset from the optical waveguide by a first offset distance and a second end laterally offset from the optical waveguide by a second offset distance.
US09400353B2	Silicon-based photonic crystal fluorescence enhancement and laser line scanning instrument A silicon-based photonic crystal includes a silicon substrate, a first dielectric with a grating structure formed therein, and a second dielectric with a higher index of refraction that covers at least a portion of the grating structure. The first dielectric can be formed on the silicon substrate, or a Fabry-Perot optical cavity can be formed between the silicon substrate and the first dielectric. An instrument can excite a fluorophore coupled to the photonic crystal by focusing collimated incident light that includes the fluorophore's excitation wavelength to a focal line on the surface of the photonic crystal such that the focal line is substantially parallel to the grating direction and can detect fluorescence radiation emitted by the fluorophore in response to the incident light. To provide for fluorescence enhancement, the excitation wavelength and/or emission wavelength of the fluorophore can couple to an optical resonance of the photonic crystal.
US09400351B2	Multi-core fiber A multi-core fiber (1) is a multi-core fiber including 10 or greater of even numbered cores and a cladding surrounding the core. In the even numbered cores, a half of cores (11a) are disposed in such a manner that centers are located on the apexes of a regular polygon (RP) whose center is at an origin point (O) in a cladding (20). In the even numbered cores, other cores (11b) are disposed in a manner that centers are located on perpendicular bisectors (LV) of the edges of a regular polygon on the inner side of the regular polygon (RP). The other cores (11b) are disposed in a specific range in the regular polygon (RP).
US09400345B2	Circular polarizing plate and organic electroluminescence panel There is provided a circularly polarizing plate that can prevent light leakage in an organic EL panel and can suppress the warping of the panel to reduce reflection unevenness in a panel surface. A circularly polarizing plate according to an embodiment of the present invention is used in an organic EL panel, and includes a polarizer and a retardation film directly bonded to the polarizer. In-plane retardations of the retardation film satisfy a relationship of Re(450)
US09400343B1	Highly durable hydrophobic antireflection structures and method of manufacturing the same Durable hydrophobic antireflection structures for optical elements, optical windows, and front sheets of encapsulated photovoltaic and photonic devices are disclosed which can minimize reflection losses over the entire accessible portion of the solar spectrum simultaneously provide self-cleaning and finger-print-free surface. Reduced reflectance and self-cleaning surfaces are resulted from coating the front sheet of encapsulated device with combination of nonporous and porous nanostructured materials such as silicon dioxide nanorods and PTFE. Step-graded antireflection structures can exhibit excellent omnidirectional performance, significantly outperforming conventional quarter wavelength and low-high-low refractive index coatings. Methods of constructing nanostructured durable optical coatings with hydrophobic surfaces are disclosed that can cover large-area ridged and flexible substrates.
US09400340B2	Sourceless density measurements with neutron induced gamma normalization Methods, systems, devices, and products for estimating at least one parameter of interest of a volume of an earth formation, including density, porosity, and fluid saturation of the volume. Methods may include normalizing radiation information relating to radiation emissions from a spatially distributed nuclear source and indicative of a property of the earth volume using a correction factor determined using an estimated lithology of the volume. The nuclear source may be in the volume. Radiation emissions may be generated by neutron irradiation of at least one nuclide in the volume. The correction factor may be determined using any of nuclear density of the at least one nuclide; an estimated concentration of the at least one nuclide in the volume; or a parameter relating to concentration of the nuclide in the volume. The emissions may include gamma rays.
US09400335B2	X-ray radiation detector and CT system A direct-converting x-ray radiation detector is disclosed for detecting x-ray radiation, at least including a semiconductor used to detect x-ray radiation and at least one electrode attached to the semiconductor. In an embodiment, the semiconductor and the at least one electrode are electrically conductively connected and the at least one electrode is designed to be transparent and electrically conductive. A CT system is further disclosed, at least including the direct-converting x-ray radiation detector.
US09400334B2	Scintillator array, a scintillator, a radiation detection apparatus including the scintillator array or scintillator, and processes of forming the same A scintillator can include a photosensor surface and a side surface adjacent to the photosensor surface. The photosensor surface can be adapted to provide scintillating light to a photosensor. In an embodiment, the scintillator can have grooves along the side surface, wherein the grooves have lengths extending in a direction toward the photosensor surface. In another embodiment, the scintillator can include a reflector and a clear adhesive between the scintillator and reflector. In a particular embodiment, the reflector is substantially white and has a gloss value of at least 50. The scintillator can be in the form of a scintillator element of an array or in the form of a single scintillator. The scintillator can be coupled to a photosensor within a radiation detection apparatus. For an array, a process of forming the array can include forming grooves along one or more side surfaces during a fabrication process.
US09400333B2	Survey meter A survey meter according to the present invention is a portable radiation measurement device. The survey meter comprises a tip portion, an intermediate portion, and a grip portion. A display unit is provided on the top surface of the intermediate portion. The tip portion extends to the intermediate portion with a bent portion therebetween. The tip portion forms an inclined portion. The grip portion has a constricted portion. A radiation detection unit is provided inside the tip portion and is formed by a plurality of sensors arranged in the right-left direction.
US09400329B2	System for mapping and tracking ground targets A system for autonomously mapping and tracking of ground targets at a location of interest has been disclosed. The system comprises at least one user control center in operative communication with one or more data relay satellites in Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO), the data relay satellites in operative communication with one or more UAVs and/or SAR satellites with on-board different imaging sensors to obtain various types of imagery data from the ground targets. The data relay satellites target specific constant communication with the user control center and the UAVs and SAR satellites for continuous feedback and control. Moreover, the system process all raw data obtained from the UAVs and SAR satellites to produce 2D and 3D Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and high resolution images, which are displayed on the user control center and/or selected mobile handheld devices.
US09400320B2	Methods and apparatus for efficient transport and management of a positioning and timing almanac A method and apparatus for reporting almanac versions and almanac identification by a mobile station to a server is provided. The server compares the almanac version and almanac identification held by the mobile station with almanac versions and almanac identifications held by the server. The server then sends instructions to the mobile station to match the server versions of the almanac versions and almanac identifications for the almanac versions and almanac identifications that the mobile station should hold.
US09400317B2	MR scan selection for PET attenuation correction A method of attenuation correction for a positron emission tomography (PET) system includes obtaining PET scan data representative of a volume scanned by the PET system, obtaining a plurality of magnetic resonance (MR) scan data sets representative of the volume, each MR scan data set being acquired in a respective time period during acquisition of the PET scan data by the PET system, detecting motion of the volume that occurred during the acquisition of the PET scan data based on an assessment of the plurality of MR scan data sets, the PET scan data, or the plurality of MR scan data sets and the PET scan data, determining attenuation correction data from the plurality of MR scan data sets based on the detected motion for alignment of the attenuation correction data and the PET scan data, and correcting the PET scan data with the attenuation correction data.
US09400314B2	Extended systems and methods for testing power supplies A system and method for testing multiple power supplies. Multiple power supplies are received including a power-end and an adapter end for connection to a power supply tester. Programmable loads and test parameters are configured for the power supply tester in response to a user selection. The multiple power supplies are automatically tested utilizing the test parameters. Performance characteristics of the multiple power supplies are measured during testing. The performance characteristics of the multiple power supplies are recorded. Results indicating whether each of the multiple power supplies passed the testing are displayed utilizing one or more displays and light emitting diodes.
US09400313B2	Method and device for determining the actual capacity of a battery A method and a device for determining the actual capacity of a battery uses a set of characteristic curves, wherein at the start of a discharge process the initial voltage of the battery, the magnitude of the discharge current and the temperature of the battery are determined. From this, by comparison with the data provided in the set of characteristic curves, a characteristic curve is selected and an initial state of the battery is determined. At the end of the discharge process, the final voltage of the battery is measured. The final voltage is compared, at the end of the discharge, with the voltage expected based on the selected characteristic curve and, in the event that the final voltage is smaller than the voltage expected based on the discharge process, it is determined that the actual capacity of the battery is smaller than the available capacity assumed at the start of the discharge process.
US09400312B2	Battery system and method for determining battery module voltages A battery system comprises at least two modules which include a plurality of battery cells, with each module being associated with a cell voltage detection unit which is connected to a central controller via a common communication bus. Each module additionally includes a module voltage detection unit which is connected to the central controller and is configured to separately detect the voltage of the associated module.
US09400311B1	Method and system of collective failure diagnosis for multiple electronic circuits In order to detect and locate defects, or faults, in a plurality of chips or other circuits sharing a common design, said chips are each tested for incorrect outputs, or failures, in response to inputs. The incorrect outputs are then collectively diagnosed in a single simulation by simulating a series of suspected fault candidates on a simulated chip of the chip design, and afterward comparing the incorrect outputs generated by each fault candidate to the incorrect outputs of the individual chips, to determine if a fault candidate generates all failures for a chip and no others. The test inputs and expected outputs may be predetermined through Automatic Test Pattern Generation. The fault candidates may be determined by use of a backtrace process such as back cone tracing. The failures may be recorded in association with a measure point, the input pattern that resulted in the failure, and the failure value.
US09400309B2	Electric connecting apparatus An apparatus includes a probe card having a probe board with a conductive path electrically connected to a tester and probes enabling to respectively contact connection pads of a semiconductor wafer on a chuck top and moving relatively to the chuck top, and an elastic heat conducting member arranged between a working surface of the chuck top or the semiconductor wafer on the working surface and the probe board. The elastic heat conducting member can abut on the working surface of the chuck top or the semiconductor wafer on the working surface and the probe board when the probes do not abut on the respective corresponding connection pads and is elastically deformable not to prevent abutment between the probes and the respective corresponding connection pads.
US09400308B2	Multi-domain heterogeneous process-voltage-temperature tracking for integrated circuit power reduction The systems and method described herein provide efficient (e.g., low power and low area) techniques to track performance in numerous supply domains with heterogeneous circuits that are used in a large system-on-a-chip integrated circuit (SoCs). The heterogeneous circuits can include circuits made with different devices, different cell libraries, and different hard macros that are in different power supply domains. Performance measurements from performance sensors (or process-voltage-temperature (PVT) sensors) that are spread about the SoC are collected and processed to determine voltage levels for each of the supply domains. A single controller can receive can determine voltage levels for a whole SoC. The performance sensors are connected to the controller by a scan chain. The techniques are flexible and can be easily adapted for use in SoCs with different power supply domains and types of circuits.
US09400296B2	Tracking energy consumption using a boost-buck technique The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.
US09400295B2	Method and devices for non-intrusive power monitoring A method and device are disclosed for estimating a power demand level of an active circuit on a power supply line. A ripple amplitude and a ripple frequency associated with operation of the active circuit may be monitored on the power supply line. The ripple amplitude and ripple frequency may be compared with corresponding references. The ripple amplitude and ripple frequency may be associated with an estimated power demand level of the active circuit on the power supply line based on the comparison. A ripple generator generates a controlled ripple on the power supply line for calibration.
US09400292B2	Electrical current sensor with grounded magnetic core An electrical current transducer comprising a housing, at least one magnetic core comprising an air gap and defining a central passage configured to receive a primary conductor carrying a primary current to be measured through the central passage, a magnetic field detector positioned at least partially in the air gap, and a grounding element. A lateral surface of the magnetic core is positioned against the grounding element without direct fixed attachment between the magnetic core and the grounding element, and the grounding element overlaps the magnetic core to an extent configured to ensure that a capacitive coupling (C3) between the magnetic core and the grounding element is greater than a capacitive coupling (C2) between the magnetic core and the magnetic field detector.
US09400288B2	Packaging system and process for inertial sensor modules using moving-gate transducers A sensor device includes a first CMOS chip and a second CMOS chip with a first moving-gate transducer formed in the first CMOS chip for implementing a first 3-axis inertial sensor and a second moving-gate transducer formed in the second CMOS chip for implementing a second 3-axis inertial sensor. An ASIC for evaluating the outputs of the first 3-axis inertial sensor and the second 3-axis inertial sensor is distributed between the first CMOS chip and the second CMOS chip.
US09400286B2	Apparatus and method for analyzing samples A sample analyzer comprises a reaction tray, a sample/reagent tray, and a probe. The reaction tray performs a first number of stops and rotations during an operating cycle, wherein the first number is configured to cause each of the reaction vessels to stop once at a position for the test before any of the number of the reaction vessels stops at the position for a second time. The sample/reagent tray rotates one of a sample container and reagent containers to a sample/reagent retrieving position during an operating cycle. The probe dispenses test sample(s), first reagent, and second reagent during different periods in different stop periods during an operating cycle. A method for analyzing samples is also disclosed.
US09400285B2	Automated diagnostic analyzers having vertically arranged carousels and related methods Example automated diagnostic analyzers and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. An example apparatus described herein includes a first carousel rotatably coupled to a base and having a first axis of rotation. The example apparatus includes a second carousel rotatably coupled to the base and vertically spaced over the first carousel such that at least a portion of the second carousel is disposed over the first carousel. In the example apparatus, the second carousel has a second axis of rotation and a plurality of vessels. The example apparatus also includes a pipetting mechanism offset from the second axis of rotation. The example pipetting mechanism is to access the first carousel and the second carousel.
US09400281B2	Method of screening of therapeutic agents for K-Ras mutant driven cancers Provided are compounds for inhibiting Snail-p53 binding and therapeutic agents for cancer including the compounds as an effective component. The Snail-p53 binding inhibitors induce expression of p53 in K-Ras mutant cell lines, thereby enabling effective treatment or prevention of K-Ras mutant cancer, such as, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, cholangioma, and colon cancer, of which diagnosis or treatment is not easy.
US09400280B2	Piperidine derivatives and methods of treating hepatitis B infections Provided herein are compounds useful for the treatment of HBV infection in a subject in need thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of inhibiting, suppressing, or preventing HBV infection in the subject.
US09400275B2	Method for producing microcarriers and for performing biological assays The method according to the invention consists in providing a wafer having a bottom layer, a top first sacrificial layer and an insulating layer, structuring the first sacrificial layer to form a three dimensional structure onto which a first structural layer is deposited to define a corresponding three dimensional structure on the bottom surface of the first structural layer. The method consists also in forming a second three dimensional structure on the upper surface of the first structural layer.
US09400270B2	Testing water contamination in geographic areas One example of testing for water contamination in geographic areas to determine a risk of water contamination includes determining a risk of water contamination. A computer system receives identification of a geographic area in which a risk of water contamination is to be determined. In response, the system determines a number of potential complaints of water contamination in the geographic area by applying the number of one or more correlated sources of water contamination located in the geographic area. The system determines a risk factor representing a risk of water contamination in the geographic area based, in part, on the number of potential complaints. The system can provide the risk factor as the risk of water contamination in the geographic area.
US09400268B2	Method for reducing suppressor noise An electrolytic method for suppressing liquid eluent containing previously separated sample analyte anions, counterions to the sample anions, and non-sample anions suppressible to weak acids in an electrolytic device comprising a housing defining at least a sample stream flow channel and an ion receiving flow-through channel separated by an ion exchange bather. The sample stream flow channel includes an upstream channel portion and a downstream channel portion. A first current is applied across the upstream channel portion for substantially completely suppression. A second current is applied across the downstream channel portion at a magnitude of less than 10% of the magnitude of the first current.
US09400266B2	Gas chromatograph with improved operation A gas chromatograph includes a sample inlet configured to receive a sample of interest and a carrier gas inlet configured to receive a carrier gas. A plurality of fluid flow valves are operably coupled to the sample inlet and the carrier gas inlet. A detector is operably coupled to the plurality of fluid flow valves and is configured to provide an analytic indication relative to the sample of interest. A controller is operably coupled to the plurality of fluid flow valves and is coupled to memory storing user-configurable information that is accessed by the controller to affect operation of the gas chromatograph.
US09400264B2	Ultrasonic test equipment and evaluation method thereof An ultrasonic test equipment includes: a signal generating mechanism that generates a voltage waveform; an ultrasonic transmitting mechanism that excites ultrasonic vibrations having a lower frequency than a predetermined frequency to an object to be tested; an ultrasonic receiving mechanism that receives an ultrasonic response from the object to be tested; an AD converting mechanism that digitizes the received ultrasonic waveform; an analyzing mechanism that performs frequency analysis of the digital ultrasonic waveform digitized by the AD converting mechanism; an evaluating mechanism that extracts a variation of a nonlinear ultrasonic component from a frequency component of the digital ultrasonic wave obtained by the frequency analysis, compares the variation with defect data information in a defect information database, identifies a physical quantity of defect information of the object to be tested, and evaluates a defect in the object to be tested; and a control mechanism that partly or entirely controls a measurement system.
US09400263B2	Robot for inspecting pipelines Provided herein is a robot for inspecting pipelines as it moves along an outer surface of a pipeline, the robot comprising: a plurality of body parts detachably provided along a longitudinal direction of the pipeline; a connector configured to connect adjacent body parts, and to distance one of the connected body parts away from the pipeline so that the plurality of body parts may cross an obstacle; and a controller configured to control the connector to lift one of the body parts to cross an obstacle, with another body part secured to the pipeline.
US09400256B2	Thermographic inspection techniques A system may include a thermal camera and a computing device configured to receive master image data representative of a geometry and thermal response of at least one of a theoretical component, a fabricated gold standard component, or an average of a plurality of components; receive, from the thermal camera, thermographic image data representative of a thermal response of a tested component; morph the thermographic image data to substantially align with the three-dimensional image data and produce morphed thermographic image data; and output a representation based on the morphed thermographic image data for display.
US09400255B2	X-ray fluorescence spectrometer comprising a gas blowing mechanism An X-ray fluorescence spectrometer includes: a sample stage configured to place a sample thereon; an X-ray source configured to irradiate the sample with primary X-rays; a detector, which is configured to detect fluorescent X-rays produced from the sample irradiated with the primary X-rays, and which includes an X-ray incident window formed by a window material through which fluorescent X-rays is transmittable; and a gas blowing mechanism configured to blow a gas to at least one of an outer surface of the X-ray incident window and the sample stage.
US09400252B2	Method and device for the quantitative LIBS measurement of bio-molecular targets on a biochip A process, for the quantitative analysis by optical emission spectroscopy of a plasma induced by a laser beam of at least one target included in a biochip, involves the use of an adjuvant allowing the formation of a dry matrix capable of being ablated simultaneously with the at least one target, the dry matrix being configured to improve the analytical properties of plasma, the adjuvant having an emission spectrum whose lines have wavelengths distinct from the wavelengths of the spectral lines used for the quantitative analysis of said at least one target.
US09400251B2	Fine particle measuring apparatus A fine particle measuring apparatus is provided. The fine particle measuring apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect light emitted from a fine particle and a processing unit having a memory device storing instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to calculate a corrected intensity value of the detected light and generate spectrum data based on the corrected intensity value.
US09400250B2	Method for analyzing mushrooms The invention discloses a method for rapidly quantitative and qualitative analyzing active ingredients of mushrooms. The method for analyzing mushrooms uses a 3-D fluorescence-detecting system to analyze a sample of mushrooms, with an excitation wavelength and an emission wavelength being 250 nm and 310 nm, respectively.
US09400247B2	Automatic analyzer An automatic analyzer has a multi-wavelength light source that irradiates a reaction cuvette containing a liquid mixture of a sample to be analyzed and a reagent. A transmitted-light quantity detector detects the amount of light transmitted through the reaction cuvette and internal contents of the reaction cuvette. A single-wavelength light source irradiates the reaction cuvette with single-wavelength light; and a transmitted-light quantity detector detects the amount of single-wavelength light scattered from the reaction cuvette. A memory stores the results of the transmitted-light quantity detection and the scattered-light quantity detection; and the deterioration states of the single-wavelength light source, multi-wavelength light source, and reaction cuvette are determined in accordance with measurement results of cell blank measurements conducted on the reaction cuvette where a predetermined reference solution is stored to detect the amount of light transmitted through and the amount of light scattered from.
US09400241B2	Solute concentration measurement device and related methods A solute concentration measurement device is disclosed. The device may comprise a filter membrane, an exchange chamber, a sensing chamber, a separator, and a sensor. The device may be configured to be placed in fluid communication with a sample solution containing a solute and a solvent. The filter membrane may provide selective fluid communication between the solution and the exchange chamber. The separator may separate the exchange chamber from the sensing chamber and cause a change in a condition of the sensing chamber corresponding to a change of a condition of the exchange chamber. The sensor may sense the condition pertaining to the sensing chamber and calculate the concentration of the sample solution corresponding to this change.
US09400240B2	Nuclear density gauges including a material property function for measuring a construction material The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for measuring the density of a material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge includes a nuclear density gauge for measuring the density of a material. A radiation source adapted to emit radiation into a material and a radiation detector operable to produce a signal representing the detected radiation. A first material property calculation function may calculate a value associated with the density of the material based upon the signal produced by the radiation detector. The material property gauge includes an electromagnetic moisture property gauge that determines a moisture property of the material. An electromagnetic field generator may generate an electromagnetic field where the electromagnetic field sweeps through one or more frequencies and penetrates into the material. An electromagnetic sensor may determine a frequency response of the material to the electromagnetic field across the several frequencies.
US09400238B2	Shearing force test device A shearing force test device comprises a substrate mounted with an elastomer having a free end capable of moving toward or away from the substrate; the free end is connected with a test head; the elastomer is installed with two U-shaped elastic arms arranged at a distance and capable of mutually neutralizing horizontal position offsets; the free ends of the two U-shaped elastic arms are connected together; the test head is fixedly installed on the free end; the two U-shaped elastic arms are provided with the fixed end of the elastomer there between; the fixed ends of the two U-shaped elastic arms are connected together, and are fixedly connected with the substrate; and the other ends of the two U-shaped elastic arms away from the free ends are fixedly connected together via a connecting plate.
US09400235B2	Alkyl amines improve detection of components of formaldehyde-fixed biological samples Alkyl amines act to release formaldehyde cross-linking that occurs in biological samples. Thus, contacting alkyl amines to formaldehyde fixed samples is a useful way to render biological components of the samples, including nucleic acids or proteins, more accessible to detection and characterization.
US09400234B2	Automated pelletized sample decanting apparatus and methods An automated sample tube decanting system having one or more decanting grippers, a decant waste receptacle, a transporter, and means for rotating the decanting gripper. Each decanting gripper has a respective holder configured to selectively mate with a respective interface on a tube strip. The one or more decanting grippers are rotatable between a first position in which the tube strip is upright and a second position in which the tube strip is inverted. The transporter is configured to move the one or more decanting grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the decant waste receptacle.
US09400232B2	Epicycloidal measurement shaft A measuring rod capable of receiving a plurality of instrumentation cables transmitting data to a data processing device, includes a section of epicycloidal shape.
US09400231B2	Engine bench system Provided is an engine bench system capable of performing a racing test with good precision. A test body is separated into an engine main body and intermediate coupling body for connecting a crankshaft and an output shaft of the dynamometer. The engine bench system is provided with: a shaft torque sensor for detecting torsional torque; a shaft torque command generation apparatus for calculating a dynamo-side shaft torque command value by summing an engine-side shaft torque command value, and a torque value proportional to the moment of inertia of the intermediate coupling body; and a shaft torque controller for generating a torque control signal on the basis of the dynamo-side shaft torque command value and the output value of the shaft torque sensor.
US09400230B2	Device for testing loading performance of wheelchair motor A device for testing loading performance of a wheelchair motor, comprising a pedestal. A torque-speed transducer is fixed on the pedestal, one end being connected to a wheelchair motor to be tested while the other end thereof being connected to an adjustable magnetic powder brake. A pneumatic quick-clamping device is provided on the pedestal connected to the output shaft of the wheelchair motor to be tested, the pneumatic quick-clamping device being used for connecting and fixing the wheelchair motor to be tested, and comprising a support platform, a motor connecting plate and a plurality of cylinders. The support platform is supported and mounted above the pedestal through cylindrical bodies. The motor connecting plate is fixed with the wheelchair motor to be tested. The downward movement of the piston rods can compress the compression heads onto the motor connecting plate to compress and fix the motor connecting plate, thus to fix the wheelchair motor to be tested.
US09400225B1	Pressure gauge structure A pressure gauge structure contains: a hollow case, a pushing device, a display unit, and a receiving bag. The hollow casing includes a bow-shaped frame, a support rack disposed below the bow-shaped frame, and a film defined between the bow-shaped frame and the support rack. The pushing device includes an insulation plate and includes a push bolt contacting with a bottom end of the insulation plate and inserting through a screwing post, wherein between the insulation plate and the film is defined a chamber, and the screwing post is screwed with a bottom end of the support rack. The display unit is mounted on the film, and the receiving bag is fixed between the film and the insulation plate to hold fluid with a certain density, the push bolt has a protruded rib extending outward from one end thereof and abuts against the screwing post.
US09400223B2	Retrievable pressure sensor The present invention relates to a retrievable pressure sensor for in situ measurement of pressure in a process fluid in a pipe/chamber. The pressure sensor comprising a pressure-transferring device and an outer sensor part having a pressure sensing element attached at a distance from the pipe/chamber where the pressure is to be measured. The pressure-transferring device comprises a first device for sealing attachment in an opening in a wall of the pipe/chamber where the pressure is to be measured, and has a first separation diaphragm for separating between the process fluid and the pressure-transferring fluid. The pressure-transferring device further comprises a second device for attachment at a distance from the pipe/chamber where the pressure is to be measured. The pressure-transferring device comprises a first cavity with a pressure-transferring fluid, wherein the first cavity comprising a capillary tube for pressure transferring connection between the first device and the second device.
US09400220B2	Method for detecting focus plane based on Hartmann wavefront detection principle The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting focus plane based on Hartmann wavefront detection principle, the function of which is to detect the position of a silicon wafer in a photolithograph machine in real time so as to accomplish adjustment of the leveling and focus of the silicon wafer. By utilizing microlens array to detect the wavefront carrying information about the position of the silicon wafer based on the Hartmann wavefront detection principle, the spherical wavefront is divided by the respective subunits of the microlens array and is imaged on the respective focus planes of the subunits. If the silicon wafer is located on the focal plane, the incident wavefront for the microlens array is a planar wavefront so that the diffraction light spots are on the focus of the respective subunits of the microlens array; and if the silicon wafer is defocused, the incident wavefront for the microlens array is a spherical wavefront so that the diffraction light spots are shifted on the focus plane of the microlens array. Based on Hartmann wavefront detection principle, the detection of the spherical wavefront may be implemented by the microlens array shifting the imaged light spots for the plane wavefront and the spherical wavefront, so as to accomplish the defocusing measurement for the silicon wafer. The system for detecting focus plane has a simple configuration, a higher accuracy and efficiency, so it is applied to measurement for detecting the focus plane in various types of photolithography machines in a high accuracy and in real time.
US09400219B2	Metallic layer-by-layer photonic crystals for linearly-polarized thermal emission and thermophotovoltaic device including same Metallic thermal emitters consisting of two layers of differently structured nickel gratings on a homogeneous nickel layer are fabricated by soft lithography and studied for polarized thermal radiation. A thermal emitter in combination with a sub-wavelength grating shows a high extinction ratio, with a maximum value close to 5, in a wide mid-infrared range from 3.2 to 7.8 μm, as well as high emissivity up to 0.65 at a wavelength of 3.7 μm. All measurements show good agreement with theoretical predictions. Numerical simulations reveal that a high electric field exists within the localized air space surrounded by the gratings and the intensified electric-field is only observed for the polarizations perpendicular to the top sub-wavelength grating. This result suggests how the emissivity of a metal can be selectively enhanced at a certain range of wavelengths for a given polarization.
US09400218B2	Bolometer having frequency detection A bolometer including: at least one electromechanical microsystem or nanosystem, the microsystem or nanosystem including a support and a mobile mass hung from beams above the support, the mobile mass forming an absorber of optical flux; actuation electrodes configured to set the mobile mass in vibration and arranged laterally relative to the mobile mass; and detection electrodes to detect variation in vibration frequency of the mobile mass arranged laterally relative to the mobile mass.
US09400216B2	Detector Embodiments of the present invention relate to a detector (100) suitable for attaching to a light fitting. The detector comprises a passive infra red sensor (102) and a clip (128) suitable for suspending the detector from a light fitting.
US09400212B2	Smart pixel addressing A display unit has modular groups of light emitting elements or pixels. A light emitting element in the display unit can be used as a light receptor for accepting control information without needing to connect the display unit to a network or a controller.
US09400209B2	Device for measuring the relative alignment of two articles, and vibration measurement device An alignment device with one or two optoelectronic transmitting and/or receiving units and an evaluation unit. At least one optoelectronic transmitting and/or receiving unit contains an inclinometer. Furthermore, the transmitting and/or receiving unit is connected to a vibration sensor which can be the inclinometer. Both the result of the alignment process and also the result of the vibration measurement are communicated to the user as an easily understandable characteristic on a display of the evaluation unit. For vibration measurement at a non-rotating part of a machine, an accelerometer/inclinometer sensor may be used for measuring acceleration forces resulting from machine vibrations to be measured and for measuring gravity and an electronic evaluation unit determining the orientation of the sensor with regard to gravity from a stationary component of the sensor output and determining sensor orientation from evaluation of non-stationary components of sensor output.
US09400207B2	Sensor mounting bracket The invention relates to a symmetrical sensor mounting bracket assembly comprising a first sensor mounting bracket and a second sensor mounting bracket combined together, one above the other in parallel orientation; at least one sensor attachment fixture configured to facilitate attachment of the bracket to a sensor mounting fixture and at least one mounting element configured to facilitate attachment of the bracket to a load bearing plate or a sensor support structure.
US09400206B2	Weight detection sensor and vehicle seat apparatus including plural strain detection elements A weight detection sensor disposed in a fixing unit fixing a seat side fixing member to a floor side fixed member and measuring a load of a passenger sitting in the seat, includes: a strain body fixed to both end portions of a mounting surface formed on one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member and arranged in the fixing unit; a connection member fixed to a central portion of the strain body in a vertical direction and fixed to the other one of the floor side fixed member and the seat side fixing member; a strain detection element unit including first to fourth strain detection elements; and a Wheatstone bridge circuit where the first and third strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other and the second and fourth strain detection elements are arranged on sides facing each other.
US09400203B2	Vibratory flow meter and zero check method A vibratory flow meter (5, 300) is provided. The vibratory flow meter (5, 300) includes a flow meter assembly (10, 310) including at least two vibration sensors (170L and 170R, 303 and 305) that generate at least two vibrational signals and meter electronics (20, 320) that receives the at least two vibrational signals, generate a new time difference (Δt) using multiple time difference measurements obtained for a flow material, and determine if the new time difference (Δt) is within predetermined bounds of an old time difference (Δt0).
US09400198B2	Flow sensor and control system of internal combustion engine In a flow sensor, an upstream heating element and a downstream heating element are disposed, respectively, upstream and downstream in a flow direction of a fluid so as to undergo mutual thermal interference. By controlling heating currents flown through the respective heating elements, an average temperature control portion maintains an average temperature of the two heating elements at a temperature predetermined degrees higher than a temperature of the fluid detected by a fluid temperature detection portion while a voltage ratio control portion performs control so that a temperature difference or a ratio of applied voltages between the two heating elements takes a predetermined value. A detection signal corresponding to a flow direction of the fluid is obtained from a state of the control on the heating currents and whether a flow direction of the fluid is forward or backward is determined.
US09400197B2	Fluid flow sensor A fluid flow sensor that utilizes hot-wire anemometry and is a small, light weight, cost effective, easily manufactureable, and low power consuming device. The fluid flow sensor operates by exposing a hot wire loop to a fluid stream such that the amount of heat lost to fluid convection is a function of one or more fluid-related parameters (e.g., fluid speed, fluid type, fluid density, etc.). The heat loss affects the resistance in the wire loop, which can then be used to estimate the fluid speed or other fluid-related parameter. According to an exemplary embodiment, the fluid flow sensor includes one or more wire loops that are made from pre-formed wires and are wire bonded, micro-welded or otherwise non-monolithically attached to a substrate that may or may not include embedded sensor circuitry.
US09400189B2	Systems and methods for generating electronic map displays with points-of-interest information Methods and systems are provided for generating an electronic map display. In one implementation, a method is provided for determining a route distance based on information for a route, comparing the route distance with a distance threshold, generating a list of points of interest (POIs) when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the list of POIs identifying POIs that are located along the route, grouping the POIs into one or more buckets based on location, calculating POI densities of the buckets based on the POIs included in each corresponding bucket, ranking the buckets based on the POI densities, providing POI information associated with the POIs included in the ranked buckets, wherein the POI information is provided based on the ranking of the buckets, and generating an electronic map display with the POI information.
US09400188B2	Activating a function of a vehicle multimedia system A vehicle multimedia system simplifies a user's interaction with the system. A user may access a specific media unit by actuating a switch corresponding to a media unit. A preference unit detects the user's selection of the media unit and selects an end item based on a programmed criterion. The preference unit may automatically activate the end item. The preference unit may be overridden by the user when a switch corresponding to the selected media unit is actuated multiple times. The preference unit may also manage data lists and data packets that store the information used for the criterion comparison.
US09400187B2	Autonomous driving vehicle, autonomous driving management apparatus, and method of controlling the same An autonomous driving vehicle, an autonomous driving management apparatus, and a method of controlling the same. The autonomous driving vehicle includes: a wireless communication unit configured to receive position information about the vehicle; a storage unit configured to store an electronic map; an input unit configured to receive a destination; a driving unit configured to adjust a travelling speed and a travelling direction; and a controller configured to search for a path from a point corresponding to the position information to a point corresponding to the destination in the electronic map, and control the vehicle to travel the approved section through the driving unit when receiving an approval of an occupation right for one or more sections included in the path through the wireless communication unit.
US09400186B1	Integration of historical user experience analytics into route recommendations Situational traveler experiences are collected over time from a number of diverse travelers. The situational traveler experiences are associated with one or more locations traversed by the number of diverse travelers using previous travel route recommendations. Contextual categories of the situational traveler experiences are identified. Historical analytics are performed on the collected situational traveler experiences within the contextual categories of the situational traveler experiences. A historically-contextual travel route suggestion, derived from the historical analytics performed on the collected situational traveler experiences within the contextual categories of the situational traveler experiences, is provided as part of a new travel route recommendation requested by a new traveler.
US09400185B2	Destination prediction apparatus It is an object of the present invention to predict a destination easily, and a destination display method for displaying a predicted destination. The destination prediction apparatus of the present invention includes: a behavior history acquiring unit that acquires, the behavior history; a visit history acquiring unit that acquires the visit history; a similar behavior date-and-time extractor that performs a similarity determination between a behavior within a predetermined period prior to a present date and time and a behavior in another period with reference to the behavior history and that extracts a date and time of the behavior in another period determined to be similar as a similar behavior date and time from the behavior history; and a destination candidate extractor that extracts, as a destination candidate, a location visited within a predetermined period before or after the similar behavior date and time from the visit history.
US09400184B2	Method for preparing and displaying timetable information The invention relates to a method for conditioning and displaying timetable information in a transport network that has a plurality of stops for scheduled means of transport. The approach of a portable appliance to a stop is sensed on the basis of position-dependent data from the portable appliance. At least one future departure time of a scheduled means of transport at the stop is ascertained. The departure time is output on the portable appliance.
US09400179B2	Propagation velocity compensated position measurement sensor A position sensing system including a waveguide, a magnet movable relative to the waveguide, and a compensator configured to compensate for a change in propagation velocity of the waveguide in determining a position of the magnet relative to the waveguide. The compensator coupled to the waveguide and configured to receive a pulse, an end of line pulse corresponding to the pulse transmitted through the waveguide, and a reflected pulse corresponding to a reflection of the pulse at a point in the waveguide. The compensator configured to determine the point based at least in part on the pulse, the end of line pulse, and/or the reflected pulse.
US09400178B2	Method for optimising a measurement cycle A method is described for calculating an optimum stand-off distance for surface position measurements to be acquired by a coordinate positioning apparatus including a measurement probe. The coordinate positioning apparatus may include a machine tool and the measurement probe may include a touch trigger probe having a deflectable stylus. The method includes the step of calculating an optimum stand-off distance using at least one measured acceleration characteristic of the coordinate positioning apparatus. In this manner, measurement cycle times may be optimised.
US09400173B2	Translatable media stack height sensor assembly A translatable media height sensor assembly for measuring a media stack in an imaging forming device. The assembly includes a support and drive and insertion assemblies mounted thereon. Insertion assembly includes a translatable plunger having mounted thereon a sensor and a translatable probe. At a home position, the sensor is actuated by a flag on the support placing sensor output in a first state. During measurement, drive assembly translates insertion assembly toward a media stack and the sensor output changes to a second state and a counter is started. The probe initially encounters the media stack and stops while plunger continues to translate. As the plunger reaches the media stack, the probe engages the sensor causing the sensor output to again change state and stops the counter. The insertion assembly retracts back to the home position where the flag actuates the sensor causing the sensor output to change state.
US09400171B2	Optical wear monitoring A gas turbine includes first and second parts having outer surfaces located adjacent to each other to create an interface where wear occurs. A wear probe is provided for monitoring wear of the outer surface of the first part, and includes an optical guide having first and second ends, wherein the first end is configured to be located flush with the outer surface of the first part. A fiber bundle includes first and second ends, the first end being located proximate to the second end of the optical guide. The fiber bundle includes a transmit fiber bundle comprising a first plurality of optical fibers coupled to a light source, and a receive fiber bundle coupled to a light detector and configured to detect reflected light. A processor is configured to determine a length of the optical guide based on the detected reflected light.
US09400170B2	Automatic measurement of dimensional data within an acceptance region by a laser tracker An automatic method for measuring three-dimensional coordinates by a laser tracker includes determining whether a retroreflector is accessible within an acceptance region of an inspection location and, if not, taking corrective action.
US09400168B2	Device for distance measurement A device for interferential distance measurement that includes a measurement reflector having a surface and a light source emitting a beam parallel to the surface. The device includes a splitter element including a splitter grating that is disposed perpendicular to the surface, wherein the splitter grating receives the beam and splits the beam into a measurement beam and a reference beam, wherein the measurement beam acts at least twice upon the measurement reflector along a path of the measurement beam. The device including a combining element, at which the measurement beam and the reference beam enter into interferential superposition to form interfering measurement and reference beams. The device further includes a detector arrangement, by way of which a scanning signal pertaining to a distance between the measurement reflector and a component of said device in a measuring direction can be generated from the interfering measurement and reference beams.
US09400163B2	Method and apparatus for processing a length of material An apparatus for processing a length of material, comprises at least one processor configured to: receive a signal indicating manual designation of a point along the length of material as a first end point; receive at least one signal from at least one distance measuring device associated with a timber-working head, the signal indicating the distance between the first end point and a second end point on the length of material; and determine the actual length of material to be processed. An associated method is disclosed.
US09400162B2	Device for measuring an internal or external profile of a tubular component A device includes a first sensor for making a radial measurement of a tubular component and a support which can drive the first sensor in a circular trajectory in a predefined plane orthogonal to the principal axis of the component. The support includes a principal body that can be attached to the component by a releasable attachment mechanism and a rotary shaft onto which an arm carrying the first sensor is attached to allow displacement of the first sensor in a circular trajectory inside or about the component. The device further includes a second sensor for measuring an angular position of the first sensor for each of its radial measurements, the radial and angular measurements obtained allowing the profile of the component in the predefined plane to be determined.
US09400158B2	Tactics support apparatus and tactics support method A tactics support apparatus includes an operation unit configured to calculate a friendly military power necessary for each of defense areas which are set between an enemy and a target of the enemy based on a total quantified military power of deployed movable weapons of the enemy and a friend, and determine friendly movable weapons to be deployed in each of the defense areas. An output unit is configured to visibly output deployment positions of the friendly movable weapons.
US09400154B2	Apparatus and method for releasably mounting an accessory to an object such as for releasably mounting an arrow quiver to an archery bow A releasable mount comprising two mounting posts that releasably engage into notches in the ends of a resilient, generally C-shaped bracket. The releasable mount is particularly useful to releasably mount an archery accessory such as an arrow quiver to an archery bow, tree or tree stand or the like. The arrow quiver may include a hood having an arrow retaining insert for receiving an arrow with a single-point or a 2-4 bladed broadhead. The quiver may also include an arrow gripper having a plurality of fingers whose sides define expandable oval slots between adjacent fingers into which the arrows are loaded.
US09400152B1	Pull through gun cleaning device with one or more cylindrical double coned sheathed pressure sections A pull through gun cleaning device includes a plurality of cylindrical double coned pressure sections having a longitudinal tunnel disposed therein. A cable member is threaded through the tunnel of each cylindrical double coned pressure section. A tubular woven sheath is disposed over each cylindrical double coned pressure section disposed along the cable member, and the cable member to form a pull cord. A total length of the pull cord is configured such that where the plurality of cylindrical double coned pressure sections are inserted into one end of a barrel, the pull cord extends past another end of the barrel. Each of the plurality of cylindrical double coned pressure sections provides a radial force pressing the tubular woven sheath of each cylindrical double coned pressure section of the plurality of cylindrical double coned pressure sections against an inside surface or a rifling of the barrel.
US09400151B1	Semi-automatic firearm suppressor Embodiments of the invention relate to a dynamic suppression mechanism for a semi-automatic firearm. An axial mass is positioned adjacent to multiple dynamic volume chambers, which are aligned within a housing. An aperture is provided within the mass and aligned chambers to accommodate the projectile. As the projectile travels through the aperture across the length of the housing, each of the chambers is subject to a dynamic expansion and contraction, with the dynamic volume change absorbing byproduct of the traveling projectile.
US09400149B2	Top loading shotgun A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, and a magazine. The magazine includes a cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship. The magazine is positioned above the barrel and extends forward from the receiver. Shell guide grooves are formed by internal surfaces in the receiver which engage and guide each shell in a feed pathway towards the lower part of the receiver for chambering. A portion of the guide grooves may be arcuately shaped to rotate and reposition the shell for loading by the bolt into the chamber. In one embodiment, the receiver and magazine may be formed as a unitary integral structure formed as either a single piece or in half sections coupled together.
US09400146B1	Method for forming cylindrical armor elements Methods for forming armored glass cylinders suitable for improving resistance of armor to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats. Cool a cylindrical glass or ceramic element to a temperature below that of a cylindrical casing, place the cylindrical glass or ceramic element into the cylindrical casing while the cylindrical glass or ceramic element is cool, and seal the cylindrical casing and allow the temperature of the cylindrical glass or ceramic element to rise, such that the cylindrical casing compresses the cylindrical glass or ceramic element. Alternately, heat a metal cylindrical casing, press glass or ceramic into the cylinder while the metal cylinder is at an elevated temperature, seal the metal cylindrical casing while metal cylindrical casing is at an elevated temperature, and allow the metal cylinder to cool, such that when cooled, the cylindrical casing will compress the glass in all directions.
US09400145B2	Flexible multi-tube cleaning lance positioner guide apparatus A guide tube pitch adjustment apparatus for aligning distal ends of lance guide tubes in registry with tube openings in a heat exchanger tube sheet is disclosed. A guide tube pitch clamp assembly carried within and supported from a housing. The pitch clamp assembly has at least two V-blocks fastened to a threaded rod. One V-block is fastened to a portion of the threaded rod having right hand threads, and another V-block is fastened to another portion of the threaded rod having left hand threads. Each of the V-blocks supports a portion of one of the guide tubes, and a cross bar clamp within the housing is oriented to span across the V-blocks and adjustably hold the portions of the guide tubes in a spaced relationship such that spacing between the distal ends of adjacent guide tubes may be adjusted by rotation of the threaded rod.
US09400143B2	Device for reducing the vibrations of a tube bundle of a heat exchanger inside its shell The present invention relates to a device for reducing the vibrations of a tube bundle of a heat exchanger inside its shell, wherein this device allows a secure and quick insertion after the bundle has been manufactured. This easy insertion after manufacturing the bundle allows the high temperatures to which the bundle is subjected for the attachment by means of brazing to not affect the properties of the device, particularly the elasticity achieved by means of tempering, for example.
US09400141B2	Plate heat exchanger with strengthening sheet The invention refers to a plate heat exchanger comprising a first end plate (1), a second end plate (2) and a number of heat exchanger plates (3), forming first plate interspaces (I) and second plate interspaces (II), in alternating order. The heat exchanger plates comprise a first outermost plate pair (5), a second outermost plate pair (6) and intermediate plate pairs (7). The first end plate and the heat exchanger plates comprise first porthole areas (11, 12) for first porthole channels (13, 14) for the formation of inlet and outlet for a first medium to and from the first plate interspaces, and second porthole areas (21, 22) for the formation of second porthole channels (23, 24) for inlet and outlet for a second medium to and from the second plate interspaces. The first porthole areas of the heat exchanger plates of the second outermost plate pair form portholes and the second porthole areas of these heat exchanger plates are closed.
US09400140B2	Cooling tower with automatic hydraulic balancing A cooling tower including a hot-water basin comprising a first cooling cell and a second cooling cell; and at least one means for controlling fluid communication between the first and second cooling cells is provided. A method of maintaining the efficiency of a cooling tower and a method of servicing a cooling tower are also provided.
US09400139B2	Device for the closed-loop control of process gases in a plant for producing directly reduced metal ores A device for closed-loop control of process gases (11) in a plant (8) for producing directly reduced metal ores includes at least one reduction unit (10), an appliance upstream of the reduction unit (10) for separating gas mixtures (18), a gas purification appliance (13) connected downstream of the reduction unit (10) for rate control of process gases (11). Process gases (11) are obtained by recycling from the production process itself and from a plant for pig iron generation (1) via a supply conduit (16). An open-loop pressure control appliance (15) upstream of a junction of the supply conduit (16) into a return conduit (14) for the process gases (11) such that a pressure level for the appliance for separating gas mixtures (18) is kept constant and the process gases (9,11) are controlled in a closed-loop manner in a plant for producing directly reduced metal ores (8).
US09400132B2	Refrigerator, insulated door mounted on an insulated cabinet of a refrigerator, and article dispenser for mounting within one or more recesses of an inner wall of a refrigerator door A refrigerator may include an insulated cabinet configured to preserve food, an insulated door mounted on the insulated cabinet, the insulated door being configured to close the insulated cabinet, the insulated door including an inner wall, the inner wall including one or more recesses, and an article dispenser including a dispensing portion and a mounting portion on a back side of the dispensing portion, the mounting portion being configured to removably mount the dispensing portion within the recesses, the dispensing portion being configured to store one or more articles and dispense the articles according to a user's demand.
US09400131B2	Atmospheric water generation systems and methods Systems and methods for generating liquid water include multiple atmospheric water generation devices adapted to produce liquid water from atmospheric humidity, used in conjunction with a turbine. The turbine is usable to simultaneously provide power to the devices, while the air intake thereof is used to move air associated with the devices, enabling a generally continuous supply of atmospheric air to be processed while reducing the accumulation of heat associated with the devices.
US09400128B2	Temperature control device and temperature element A temperature element may be provided with: a combination of a p type semiconductor and an n type semiconductor disposed separated from each other; a metal well, which has a mounting part on which a container for DNA samples is directly mounted and which is connected to both the p type semiconductor and the n type semiconductor individually; an electrode and heat dissipating plate that is connected to the p type semiconductor and to which a voltage is applied by a temperature control section; and an electrode and heat dissipating plate that is connected to the n type semiconductor and to which a voltage is applied by the temperature control section. The shape of the metal well is formed into substantially the same shape as the outside shape of the container for DNA samples.
US09400127B2	Method and system for magnetic semiconductor solid state cooling Cryogenic electronics based upon semiconductive devices, superconductive devices, or a combination of the two present opportunities for a wide variety of novel, fast, and low power devices. However, such cryogenic electronics require cooling which is typically achieved through fluid refrigerants such as liquid nitrogen or liquid helium. Solid state refrigeration based upon adiabatic demagnetization in paramagnetic salts offers one alternative but requires that the solid state cooler and cryogenic electronic circuits be different physical elements. The inventors present solid state cooling for semiconductor materials including but not limited to silicon. Beneficially active electronic devices can be integrated monolithically with solid state semiconductor coolers exhibiting magnetic cooling within the whole substrate or predetermined regions of the substrate. Alternatively, active devices may be formed with semiconductor layers integral to them that exhibit magnetic cooling.
US09400125B2	Process and apparatus for transferring heat from a first medium to a second medium The invention relates to a process and apparatus (1) for transferring heat from a first relatively cold medium to a second relatively hot medium, comprising a gastight rotor (4) rotatably mounted in a frame (2), and, mounted inside the rotor (4), a compressor (10), a first heat exchanger (8) for transferring heat from the fluid to the second medium and located relatively far from the axis of rotation of the rotor (4), an expansion chamber (11) for expanding the fluid, and a channel (14) for conveying the expanded fluid from the expansion chamber (11) to the compressor (10), wherein the first heat exchanger (8) is thermally insulated from the channel (14).
US09400124B2	Systems and methods for potable water production Systems and methods are disclosed for water collection from atmospheric moisture in large quantities in uncontrolled outdoor environments where the temperature may be cold and humidity levels low. To extract water from air when the dew point is low, a heat exchanger cools to a point where water vapor is deposited on its surface as ice. The heat exchanger then cycles through a heating phase to melt the ice and generate liquid water. The accumulation of frost is advantageous. Frost accumulation enables water collection when the dew point is low. Disclosed variations enhance efficiency and environmental tolerance.
US09400123B1	Panel array cleaning apparatus Apparatus for cleaning an array of panels includes a chassis, a fluid delivery system, a brush and a swivel mechanism. The fluid delivery system is adapted to apply fluid to an array of panels while the chassis is being moved over the array. The brush is disposed to brush the array of panels while the chassis is being moved over the array. The swivel mechanism is adapted to couple a handle to the chassis for enabling a person to use the handle to move the chassis over the array of panels while from time-to-time varying the angle at which the handle is disposed relative to the chassis. The fluid delivery system includes a plurality of nozzles disposed for applying fluid to particular portions of the array of panels before movement of the brush over the particular portions of the array while the chassis is being moved over the array, regardless of the direction from which the chassis is being moved over the array.
US09400121B2	Solar thermal lamps and globes for heating water in a water tank A solar thermal lamp used for heating water inside a tank. The thermal lamp includes a transparent glass bulb with a threaded male coupling for attaching to a female coupling in the tank. The lamp also includes a heat tube with an enlarged water heating condenser. The condenser is received inside the tank. The heat tube can include a copper coil, copper fins, a glass coil, a copper lamp, a glass lamp, and the like for receiving solar energy and conducting the heat to the heating condenser for heating the water inside the tank. Also, the invention can be in the form of a solar thermal globe. The solar globe is self-contained and includes a water tank. Another embodiment of the globe tracks with the daily movement of the sun and change with seasons.
US09400120B2	Startup control apparatus of air conditioner An air conditioner performs startup control in which compressor capacity is reduced as measured indoor temperature approaches a set temperature. A desired time of day is set directly or indirectly. A startup control apparatus of the air conditioner measures an inflection point occurrence time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when measured indoor temperature exhibits an inflection point. Alternatively, the startup control apparatus measures a control parameter lowering arrival time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when a control parameter transmitted to the compressor decreases to a prescribed value. A scheduled operation start time of the air conditioner is set as a time of day that is the desired time of day set moved forward by the inflection point occurrence time or the control parameter lowering arrival time. Operation of the air conditioner is started when the scheduled operation start time arrives.
US09400114B2	Combustor support assembly for mounting a combustion module of a gas turbine A gas turbine comprises a compressor discharge casing that is coupled to an outer turbine shell. The compressor discharge casing includes a combustor opening that extends through the compressor discharge casing and an outer mating surface that circumferentially surrounds the combustor opening. The outer turbine shell defines an inner mating surface. A combustion module extends through the combustor opening. The combustion module includes a forward end that is circumferentially surrounded by a mounting flange and an aft end that is circumferentially surrounded by an aft frame. The mounting flange extends circumferentially around the combustor opening. The mounting flange is coupled to the outer mating surface of the compressor discharge casing and the aft frame is coupled to the inner mating surface of the outer turbine shell.
US09400112B2	Method for disassembling a bundled tube fuel injector A method for disassembling a bundled tube fuel injector includes decoupling an aft plate from a fuel distribution module of the bundled tube fuel injector, where the aft plate is disposed at a downstream end of the bundled tube fuel injector. The method also includes removing the aft plate from the bundled tube fuel injector to expose a portion of a plurality of pre-mix tubes so as to allow for inspection repair and/or replacement of one or more of the plurality of pre-mix tubes.
US09400109B2	Heater and glow plug including the same A heater of the present invention includes an insulating base, a resistor embedded in the insulating base, a lead embedded in the insulating base. One end of the lead is joined to the resistor, and the other end is led out as a terminal portion on the surface of the insulating base. The lead in longitudinal section has at least two bent portions. The bent portions in cross-section each have an aspect ratio larger than the aspect ratio of the terminal portion.
US09400108B2	Acoustic damping system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine An acoustically dampened gas turbine engine having a gas turbine engine combustor with an acoustic damping resonator system is disclosed. The acoustic damping resonator system may be formed from one or more resonators positioned within the gas turbine engine combustor at an outer housing forming a combustor basket and extending circumferentially within the combustor. The resonator may be positioned in a head region of the combustor basket. In one embodiment, the resonator may be positioned in close proximity to an intersection between the outer housing and an upstream wall defining at least a portion of the combustor. The acoustic damping resonator system may mitigate longitudinal mode dynamics thereby increasing an engine operating envelope and decreasing emissions.
US09400106B2	CO2 recovery system and recovery method for moisture containing CO2 gas A CO2 recovery system 10A has a CO2 recovery unit 11, a compression unit 12, and a condensed-water supply line 65A that supplies condensed water 64 to an absorbent regenerator 14. The CO2 recovery unit 11 includes a CO2 absorber 13 and the absorbent regenerator 14. The compression unit 12 has a first compressor 61-1 to an nth compressor 61-n that compress CO2 gas 56 emitted from the absorbent regenerator 14, a first separator 63-1 to an nth separator 63-n that reduce moisture in the CO2 gas 56, and a first heat exchanger 66-1 that performs heat exchange between the CO2 gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 and the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1.
US09400091B2	Moisture resistant polyimide compositions The invention relates to a moisture resistant composition comprising: a) from 20 to 80 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of a polyetherimide copolymer made from a monomer mixture comprising 3,3′ bisphenol-A dianhydride (BPADA), and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS); b) from 5 to 75 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of polyetheretherketone (PEEK); and c) from 0 to 30 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of a filler. The invention relates to a reflector substrate comprising a moisture resistant layer metalized with a reflective layer, wherein the moisture resistant layer comprising the moisture resistant composition. The invention relates to a method for producing a metalized coating without a primer comprising applying a reflective layer directly to a moisture resistant layer in the absence of a primer, wherein the moisture resistant layer comprises the moisture resistant composition.
US09400085B2	Method, system, and apparatus for flood control A dynamic fluid flow control structure is provided that allows precise control over fluid flow using a series of two or more orifices, at least one of which may be reconfigured to change its flow characteristics. A flood control system and a flood control process are provided that emulate a preset discharge profile over time. Some versions of the structure, process, and system can be used to provide controlled storm discharge patterns in a developed area that emulate the natural pre-development discharge patterns.
US09400084B2	Lubrication device and protective cover for a lubrication device A lubrication device is provided comprising a lubricant container (1) for containing a lubricant, an outlet opening and an adjustable release mechanism. The outlet opening is provided at a first end of the lubricant container (1) for releasing the lubricant. The adjustable release mechanism comprises, at a second end of the lubricant container (1), an insert (5) which is rotatable relative to the lubricant container (1) for setting a release rate of the lubricant. The lubrication device (1) further comprises a protective cap (6) comprising a hard cover (7). The hard cover (7) covers the insert (5) and the second end of the lubricant container (1). The hard cover (7) has a smooth outer surface and an inner surface comprising engaging means (9) for engaging with the insert (5), such that the protective cap (6) is rotatable together with the insert.
US09400072B2	Maritime supply line The invention relates to a maritime supply line with at least two line elements which respectively comprise a jacket pipe, at least two inner lines which are arranged in the jacket pipe and a connecting element arranged at least at one end of the line element for the formation of a watertight connection to a line element to be connected. It is provided according to the invention that the connecting element comprises a connecting flange with a radially projecting collar, on which a radially projecting collar of a connecting flange of the line element to be connected can be placed. For the formation of the watertight connection the two radially projecting collars are incorporated by at least one tensioning clamp and are axially tensioned against each other.
US09400066B2	Fixture device for an aircraft tubing A device to attach an aircraft's piping that includes a clamping ring made up of two jaws shaped into a gliding arc breaker separator and including at least one transverse support cut-out for at least one tube.
US09400065B2	Rapid deployment frac water transfer system A method of and apparatus for the rapid deployment of a fracturing water transferring system, along with the rapid picking up and storage of such system after use. In different embodiments the method in includes the use of a tensioning system to retrieve one or more segments of lay flat hose.
US09400060B2	Gas line control system and modular variable pressure controller A pneumatically controlled assembly, system, method and device for the regulation of pressure of a gas as it flows in a pressurized line and including at least one loading valve which is set to respond to variations in pressure in conjunction with a pneumatically actuated process control valve so as to effectively regulate and maintain pressure of the gas in the pressurized line.
US09400058B2	Pinch valve A part of an air tube having flexibility is surrounded by a casing, and the air tube inside the easing is pushed for deformation at a nearly right angle against the pipe axis by a male screw screwed to a female screw of the casing to change a cross sectional area of a passage inside the air tube. A first casing part and a second casing part are overlapped with each other, and openably connected by a hinge, and the overlap state of both the casing parts and is maintained by engaging a claw part with the hole. Opposite surfaces and of both the casing parts and are provided with support grooves and for supporting the outer peripheral surface of the air tube.
US09400055B2	Bladder accumulator volume indicating device A mechanical seal support system includes a bladder accumulator with a first connection to the top of the bladder accumulator and a second connection to the bottom of the bladder accumulator with a device that is responsive to the pressures at each of the first and second connections of the bladder accumulator for providing an output determined by the difference between the pressures. The mechanical seal support system further includes a display for displaying the output in a manner indicative of the volume of the fluid in the bladder accumulator relative to a predetermined volume.
US09400054B2	Mechanical seal device A mechanical seal device includes a rotary ring 7 which is fixed to a rotary shaft 300, a fixed ring 4 which is slidably in contact with the rotary ring 7 and forms an annular seal surface S, a bellows 5 which supports the fixed ring 4 so as to bias the fixed ring 4 toward the rotary ring 7, a spring 6 which biases the fixed ring 4 toward the rotary ring 7, and a seal cover 2 which is attached to a housing 200, supports the bellows 5 such that an outer peripheral surface of the bellows 5 is on the inside A of the housing 200 relative to the seal surface S, and supports the spring 6 at a position located on the outside B of the housing 200 relative to the seal surface S and side by side with the bellows 5.
US09400053B2	Mechanical seal with PFA bellows A mechanical seal has a stationary face and rotating assembly adjacent to the stationary face. The rotating assembly includes an upper bellows ring, a lower bellows ring and a runner between the lower bellows ring and the stationary face. A bellows extends between the upper bellows ring and the lower bellows ring. In preferred embodiments, the bellows is constructed from a perfluoroalkoxy polymer and is secured within the upper bellows ring and the lower bellows ring by a selected locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may include the use of crimp rings configured for a press fit engagement within the upper and lower bellows rings. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may employ locking rings configured for threaded engagement with the upper and lower bellows rings.
US09400051B2	Cold operation mode control for an IVT A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
US09400050B2	Method for switching a hybrid drive from one operating mode to another operating mode, and a hybrid vehicle A method is provided for switching a drive of a hybrid vehicle from one operating mode to another operating mode. The drive includes an internal-combustion engine, at least one propulsion-generating electric machine and a transmission. The transmission can be shifted by a selecting device to be actuated by a driver into different operating states. The operating modes are distinguishable according to the ratio of drive power generated by the electric motor to the drive power generated by the internal-combustion engine. The drive is controlled by a drive control unit as a function of a drive prompt specified by the driver by an accelerator element and the selecting device, and according to different drive state and/or vehicle parameters. The drive is switchable from one operating mode to another operating mode by actuating the selecting device.
US09400048B2	Planetary drive A planetary drive having at least one set of first planetary gears on a planet carrier, which gears are disposed radially spaced apart from a central axis and of which every first planetary gear is in toothed engagement with a first central gear, wherein the central gear has the central axis as the axis of rotation thereof, and wherein each of the first planetary gears is respectively mounted on a pin so as to be rotatable about an axis of symmetry of the pin, wherein the pin has internally a lubricating channel extending along the axis of symmetry of the pin and is mounted at least on one side at the end in a planet carrier, and wherein the pin is seated at least on one side at the end of a cup-shaped sleeve seated in the planet carrier.
US09400046B2	Chain guide and chain transmission device A chain guide includes roller element bearings adapted to guide, while rolling, a timing chain through which torque is transmitted. The chain guide further includes a guide base arranged along one side of the timing chain and having an opposed pair of side plates. Each side plate is formed with plural shaft engaging portions arranged so as to lie on a circular arc. The chain guide further includes roller shafts having their ends supported by the respective shaft engaging portions, and rotatably supporting the roller element bearings. An oil guide hole is formed in a wall surface of each shaft engaging portion facing the end surface of the roller shaft so as to extend through the side plate to its outer side surface.
US09400044B2	Mechanically actuated positive locking differential A differential comprises a first side gear and a second side gear facing the first side gear. A pinion gear set can be between the first side gear and the second side gear. A cam plate comprises a ramped side facing a ramped side of the first side gear. A first lock plate comprises a first side abutting a second side of the cam plate. The first lock plate further comprises a toothed side. A second lock plate comprises a toothed side facing the toothed side of the first lock plate.
US09400041B2	Ball screw assembly having a tunnel raceway A tunnel raceway type ball screw assembly includes a screw nut having an inner thread groove, a screw shaft inserted through the screw nut and including outer grooves, a mounting groove extending across the outer grooves and a first reflow groove in radial communication with the mounting groove, and a reflow component mounted in the mounting groove of the screw shaft and including a rolling groove connected with the outer grooves to form an outer thread that defines with the inner thread groove a spiral channel therebetween and a second reflow groove that defines with the first reflow groove a reflow channel therebetween in communication with the spiral channel. Thus, multiple balls can be cycled in the spiral channel and the reflow channel.
US09400040B2	Actuator with multi-stage gears An actuator with multi-stage gears includes a worm gear shaft driving assembly having a worm gear shaft, an electric motor having a transmission shaft, an annulus gear arranged between the worm gear shaft and the transmission shaft, and a plurality of multi-stage gears. The annulus gear includes an inner gear and a moving end actuated cooperatively with the inner gear on two ends thereof. The moving end is connected to and driving the worm gear shaft to rotate; each multi-stage gear is arranged between the transmission shaft and the inner gear; each multi-stage gear includes a first and a second outer diameter portions. The outer circumferential edges of the first and second outer diameter portions includes a helical gear engaged with the transmission shaft and a spur gear engaged with the inner gear respectively. Therefore, the actuator has merits of simplified components and reduced volume.
US09400038B2	Camshaft with an axially displaceable cam pack A camshaft includes a carrier shaft to be mounted rotatably along a shaft axis and at least one cam pack or package axially displaceably disposed on the carrier shaft. The cam pack includes at least two cams and at least one adjusting member for axial adjustment of the cam pack. The cams and the at least one adjusting member are connected to one another in an axially adjacent configuration and can be mounted axially displaceably as a composite structure in a direct configuration on the carrier shaft by a rolling element guide with rolling elements. A cam pack or package and a method for producing a camshaft are also provided.
US09400036B2	Dual clutch powershifting transmission A dual clutch transmission is provided with first and second coaxial input shafts, at least one mainshaft, and an output shaft that are coaxial with one another. The transmission has a countershaft offset from the first input shaft that supports seven countershaft gear elements drivably connected to respective gear elements on the first and second input shafts and the at least one mainshaft thereby forming seven forward gear meshes for the transmission. The seven forward gear meshes provide at least nine forward gear ratios for the transmission. The transmission is powershiftable between consecutive gear ratios of the at least nine gear ratios such that no torque interrupt occurs during sequential shifts.
US09400035B1	Cycloid transmission with an adjustable ring Examples are provided that describe a cycloid transmission with an adjustable ring. An example cycloid transmission includes a disc and a motor shaft attached to the disc. The motor shaft is capable of rotating the disc around an outer ring of rollers. The outer ring of rollers surrounds the disc. As the disc is rotated, contact is made between the disc and the outer ring of rollers. A cycloid transmission also comprises an adjustable ring that is interposed between the motor shaft and the disc. A circumference of the adjustable ring can be adjusted in order to cause expansion of a radius of the disc. This expansion will result in increased contact of the disc with the outer ring of rollers and thereby lower backlash during rotation of the disc.
US09400033B2	Method for producing a link-plate chain A method for providing a link-plate chain having increased strength by stretching the chain between a pair of spaced, rotatable conical pulleys, wherein the link-plate chain is stretched in opposite directions of rotation of the conical pulleys. The opposite stretching operations impart deformation forces on at least the link-plates and/or rocker pressure pieces that interconnect link plates of the link-plate chain. The deformation forces cause parts of the chain to undergo plasticization regions of the chain components and that result in increased chain strength.
US09400029B2	Damper unit for vessel propulsion apparatus, propeller for vessel propulsion apparatus, and vessel propulsion apparatus A damper unit includes a first damper arranged to transmit a torque around a rotation axis transmitted from an input member side to an output member side, an intermediate member arranged to transmit a torque around the rotation axis transmitted from the first damper to the output member side, and a second damper arranged to transmit a torque around the rotation axis transmitted from the intermediate member to the output member side, wherein at least a portion of the second damper is disposed on a straight line that passes through the first damper and is parallel or substantially parallel to the rotation axis.
US09400027B2	Coned disc spring An elliptical coned disc spring can be accommodated in a rectangular installation space, can yield non-linear load characteristics, and can reduce stress differences between a bending part at a long radial part side and a bending part at a short radial part side. An elliptical coned disc spring has a body in which an outer circumference is an ellipse in a disc shape. A hole is formed at the center of the body. The hole may have various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, etc. The body has a long radial part 111 and a short radial part. A plate width of the long radial part is set to be greater than a plate width of the short radial part (that is, a>b).
US09400024B2	Railway vehicle brake disc A railway vehicle brake disc which can reduce aerodynamic sound raised high speed running, improve cooling performance during braking, and improve durability comprises a donut-shaped disc section having a sliding surface on a front surface side, a plurality of fin sections, each convexly provided in a rear surface of the disc section in a radial pattern, and a bolt hole passing through the disc section and the fin section. The disc section is mounted on a wheel in a state where the fin sections contact a plate section of the wheel using a bolt inserted into the bolt hole. The fin section has a groove formed along a circumferential direction in at least one of an area on an inner peripheral side and an area on an outer peripheral side of the bolt hole when viewed in a radial direction of the disc section.
US09400019B2	Friction ring, synchronizer unit, and gear changing transmission for a vehicle The invention relates to a friction ring for a synchronizer unit (2) of a gear changing transmission, which friction ring includes a conical friction ring body (3) having an inner friction surface (301) and an outer installation surface (302) preferably configured as a further friction surface which friction surface (301) and installation surface (302) respectively bound the friction ring body (3) in a radial circumferential direction (U) extending perpendicular to a axial friction ring axis (4) in which the inner friction surface (301) conically extends along the friction ring axis (4) at a pre-determinable friction angle (α1) and the outer installation surface (302) also conically extends along the friction ring axis (4) at a pre-determinable installation angle (α2) respectively. In accordance with the invention the friction angle (α1) is different from the installation angle (α2). Furthermore, the invention relates to a synchronizer unit (2), as well as to a gear changing transmission for a vehicle.
US09400018B2	Flutter reducing wet clutch friction plate The present invention provides improved clutch plates for use in wet friction pack clutches and brakes which exhibit greatly reduced flutter particularly at high rotational speeds. Friction clutches and brakes include a first plurality of circular clutch plates or discs coupled to a first member comprising a metal core plate having bands of friction material affixed to both faces. These clutch plates are interleaved with a second plurality of circular metal reaction plates which are coupled to a second member. The metal core plate of the first plurality of clutch plates includes a plurality of radial slots spaced about the core plate which extend inwardly a portion of the radial width of the clutch core plate. Different numbers of slots, different spacings and different configurations of slots provide reduced plate flutter with varying thicknesses of core plates and ranges of rotational speeds.
US09399998B1	Ceiling fan with air ionizing fan blades The ceiling fan with air ionizing fan blades includes at least one air ionizing member secured to a top surface of a fan blade, and which electrostatically purifies air regardless of whether the ceiling fan is operating. The air ionizing member is integrated along a top surface as well as a leading edge of the fan blade, and shall collect particulates thereon for later removal. The air ionizing member is in wired communication with an electrical source that provides a high voltage needed for the air ionizing member to generate negative ions. The air ionizing member includes an electrostatically charged plate that produces positively or negatively charged gas ions that particulates stick to in a manner similar to static electricity. The air ionizing member may be a permanent fixture of or a removable component to the respective fan blade.
US09399993B2	Vane compressor having a vane supporter that suppresses leakage of refrigerant To allow a bush to stably rotate about a bush center, an end of a vane portion that is close to an inner circumferential surface center is always positioned on the inner side with respect to the bush center. Thereby, in a vane compressor a vane is stably supported, wear at a tip of the vane is suppressed, loss due to sliding on bearings is reduced by supporting a rotating shaft portion with a small diameter, and accuracy in outside diameter and center of rotation of a rotor portion is increased.
US09399992B2	Pump controller system and method A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
US09399989B2	System and method for a pump with onboard electronics Embodiments of the present invention provide pumps with features to reduce form factor and increase reliability and serviceability. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide features for gentle fluid handling characteristics. Embodiments of the present invention can include a pump having onboard electronics and features to prevent heat from the onboard electronics from degrading process fluid or otherwise negatively impacting pump performance. Embodiments may also include features for reducing the likelihood that fluid will enter an electronics housing.
US09399987B2	Method for performing open-loop/closed-loop control of the boosting of a braking force of a brake system, brake booster, and control unit The invention relates to a method for controlling/regulating the boosting of a brake force of a brake system (1), in particular of a power-assisted brake system (1) of a motor vehicle, wherein the brake system (1) comprises a brake force booster (100) having an actuator (130) by means of which a variable additional force (F100) can be imparted to a master brake cylinder (200) of the brake system (1), wherein if a relatively high additional force (F100) is demanded, a partial volume of a brake fluid is discharged from a brake circuit (300) of the brake system (1) in such a way that the actuator (130) of the brake force booster (100) can be placed relatively quickly into a position in which it can impart a greater additional force (F100) to the master brake cylinder (200). The invention also relates to a brake force booster for boosting a brake force of a brake system (1), in particular of a power-assisted brake system (1) of a motor vehicle, having a gearing (120) which can be driven by an electric motor (110), wherein the gearing (120) has an actuator (130) by means of which a piston (210) of a master brake cylinder (200) can be actuated, and wherein the gearing (120) is a cam mechanism (120), in particular an asymmetrical cam mechanism (120), having a control surface (125) or a control groove.
US09399986B2	Devices and systems for isolating biomolecules and associated methods thereof A device, a system, and a method for isolating biomolecules from biological materials are provided. The device comprises a quartz-based solid phase extraction matrix comprising one or more reagents impregnated therein; and an electroosmotic pump (EOP) operationally coupled to the quartz-based solid phase extraction matrix to elute the nucleic acids, wherein the EOP comprises a plurality of electroosmotic membranes comprising one or more positive electroosmotic membranes and one or more negative electroosmotic membranes disposed alternatively and a plurality of electrodes comprising one or more cathodes and one or more anodes, wherein at least one cathode is disposed on one side of one of the membranes and at least one anode is disposed on another side of that membrane and at least one cathode or anode is disposed between a positive electroosmotic membrane and a negative electroosmotic membrane.
US09399983B2	Wind turbine blade with cross-sectional sensors A wind turbine blade extending along a longitudinal axis from a root end to a tip end and in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the transverse plane having a main axis extending through an elastic center point, wherein the wind turbine blade comprises a sensor system including a first sensor set for measuring a first bending moment in a first sensor position at a first distance from the root end, the first sensor set comprising a first primary sensor for measuring a primary component and a first secondary sensor for measuring a secondary component, wherein a first primary sensor axis in the transverse plane is oriented in a direction defined by the first primary sensor and the elastic center point, and a first secondary sensor axis in the transverse plane is oriented in a direction defined by the first secondary sensor and the elastic center point, and wherein an angle between the first primary sensor axis and the first secondary sensor axis is in the range from 50° to 130°.
US09399982B2	Auto-gyro rotor flying electric generator (FEG) with wing lift augmentation A flying electric generator for obtaining power from wind currents which includes a fuselage having fore and aft portions and an intermediate portion, a rotor assembly including at least two forward rotors mounted on a pair of forward extending support arms extending from the fuselage and at least two rear rotors mounted to a pair of rearward extending support arms extending from the fuselage and at least one first forward wing mounted to a forward portion of the fuselage and extending outwardly on opposite sides of the fuselage and at least one second rear wing mounted to a rear portion of the fuselage and extending outwardly on opposite side of the fuselage.
US09399979B2	Ignition system An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition transformer with two primary windings. The ignition system is designed to generate, for a given ignition event, a unipolar current through the secondary winding by way of a control circuit that is configured to first energize and deenergize the first primary winding to establish a first electrical arc across the spark-plug electrodes and, when the current in the secondary winding reaches, or drops below, a current threshold, repeatedly energizes and deenergizes the second primary winding to establish a plurality of second current pulses across the electrodes in order to maintain the burn phase.
US09399975B2	Solenoid fluid injector with corrosion prevention structure A fluid injector includes a valve structure movable in the passageway between a first position and a second position. The valve structure includes a hollow tube having a longitudinal axis and a valve member connected to an end of the tube by a weld, with a weld zone being defined inside of the tube generally adjacent to the weld. The tube has surfaces defining a through-hole that is disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The through-hole permits the fluid to enter an interior of the tube. Corrosion prevention structure is disposed in the tube between the through-hole and the valve member to prevent the fluid in the tube from accessing the weld zone.
US09399972B2	Air filter arrangement; assembly; and, methods An air filter media construction or arrangement is disclosed. The air filter media construction or arrangement includes facing media secured to fluted media. A preferred projection/receiver arrangement is described. Also, a useful seal arrangement is described. Air cleaner assemblies, methods of assembly and use are also provided.
US09399970B2	Combination pressure- and vacuum-based EVAP leak detection method A method and system for conducting leak detection in an evaporative emission control system. The method performs a pressure-based leak test at selected intervals. The pressure-based test includes pressurizing the system, using a pump. Then, the system monitors pressure for a selected period. If system pressure falls below a threshold value during the selected period, the system identifies an initial leak. Upon identifying the initial leak, the system substitutes a vacuum-based leak test at each selected interval. The vacuum-based test includes evacuating the system, using the pump. The system then monitors system pressure for a selected period. If system pressure rises above a threshold value during the selected period, then the system identifies a subsequent leak. Upon receiving notification that the initial leak has been repaired, the system returns to pressure-based leak testing. Where a single pump is used, that pump is configured both for system pressurization and evacuation.
US09399965B2	Method and system for control of emissions in exhaust aftertreatment system A system includes a controller configured to compare a nitrogen oxides (NOX) concentration within treated exhaust gases from a combustion engine after flowing through a first catalyst assembly and a second catalyst assembly relative to a NOX threshold value, to determine a change in O2 concentration within the treated exhaust gases between the first and second catalyst assemblies upstream of a location of oxidant injection into the treated exhaust gases, and to adjust an air-fuel ratio of the combustion engine based on the change in O2 concentration in the treated exhaust gases if the NOX concentration is greater than the NOX threshold value.
US09399964B2	Multi-level skip fire In one aspect, a method for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine is described. The engine is operated in a skip fire manner such that selected skipped working cycles are skipped and selected active working cycles are fired to deliver a desired engine output. A particular level of torque output is selected for each of the fired working chambers. Various methods, arrangements and systems related to the above method are also described.
US09399959B2	System and method for adjusting a torque capacity of an engine using model predictive control A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a desired capacity module, an anticipated torque request module, and an engine actuator module. The desired capacity module generates a desired torque capacity of an engine at a future time based on a present torque request and a maximum torque output of the engine. The anticipated torque request module generates an anticipated torque request based on the desired torque capacity. The engine actuator module controls an actuator of the engine at a present time based on the anticipated torque request.
US09399958B2	Specifying method of EGR rate in internal combustion engine and control apparatus of internal combustion engine To accurately specify an EGR rate from an output value of an in-cylinder pressure sensor, a specifying method of an EGR rate in an internal combustion engine of the present invention acquires an output value of an in-cylinder pressure sensor at an intake stroke to calculate comparison data related to an in-cylinder pressure at the intake stroke from the acquired sensor output value. An output value of the in-cylinder pressure sensor at an exhaust stroke of the same cycle is also acquired to calculate comparison data related to the in-cylinder pressure at the exhaust stroke from the acquired sensor output value. Two comparison data are compared to specify the EGR rate of an air-fuel mixture provided for combustion from a difference between the values.
US09399957B2	Air intake apparatus for internal combustion engine A variable intake air device forms a long port and a short port in each of branches of an intake air manifold. The variable intake air device switches between the long port and the short port. A gas introduction device draws gas into each of the branches. When the engine is in a high load region, the variable intake air device uses the long port, when an engine rotation speed is less than a predetermined rotation speed, and uses the short port, when the engine rotation speed is greater than or equal to the predetermined rotation speed. When the engine is in a low load region, the variable intake air device switches between the long port and the short port according to the engine rotation speed.
US09399947B2	Internal combustion engine with pilot and main injection An internal combustion engine with at least two rotatable bodies each defining at least one combustion chamber of variable volume and, for each rotatable body: a pilot subchamber, a pilot fuel injector having a tip in communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element positioned to ignite fuel within the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector spaced apart from the pilot fuel injector. The engine includes a common first fuel conduit in fluid communication with each main fuel injector, and a common second fuel conduit in fluid communication with each pilot fuel injector. First and second pressure regulating mechanisms which are settable at different pressure values from one another respectively regulate a fuel pressure in the first and second conduits. A method of combusting fuel in an internal combustion engine is also provided.
US09399944B2	Control device for multi-cylinder internal combustion engine Provided is a control device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, including: a supercharger to be driven by exhaust gas energy; and a fuel injection control unit, in which the fuel injection control unit sets a fuel injection amount for one cylinder so that an air/fuel ratio in the one cylinder is richer than a theoretical air/fuel ratio, and exhaust gas exhausted when the one cylinder is in an exhaust stroke and scavenging gas scavenged during a valve overlap period from another cylinder which is in an intake stroke when the one cylinder is in the exhaust stroke are mixed in an exhaust pipe so as to attain an air/fuel ratio facilitating combustion.
US09399938B2	Exhaust gas treatment device An exhaust gas treatment device (1) includes a combustion waste gas inlet pipe (2), an outlet pipe, an essentially gas-tight inner housing (7) fluidically connected with the inlet pipe and fluidically connected with the outlet pipe. The inner housing receives a particle filter (4). A connection element (9) is arranged in a connection area (8) of the inner housing. The connection area fluidically faces the outlet pipe (3), for mechanically connecting the particle filter with the inner housing. An oxidation catalytic converter (5) is arranged upstream of the particle filter in the inner housing for catalyzing an oxidation reaction of the combustion waste gas. A counterpressure monitoring point (10, 11, 12) is provided fluidically between the oxidation catalytic converter and the connection element for measuring a counterpressure exerted by the particle filter during the operation of the treatment device. An internal combustion engine (24) is provided with the treatment device.
US09399937B2	Operating method for an exhaust aftertreatment system and exhaust aftertreatment system An operating method of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system including at least a particulate filter for retaining soot from the exhaust gas of an engine and a deNOx catalytic converter for reducing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas of the engine is provided. Operation regimes of the particulate filter and of the deNOx catalytic converter are synchronized with respect to each other for performing regeneration of the particulate filter while the catalytic converter provides a nitrogen oxide conversion efficiency above a predetermined limit.
US09399935B2	Oil pan inner tank valve structure In an oil pan inner tank valve structure, a disc-shaped float valve is arranged below a valve port that provides fluid communication between the inside and outside of a bottom wall of an inner tank, and a lower cover is arranged below the float valve. In addition, a center recess is depressed at a lower surface center of the float valve, and a lateral movement restricting pin is upright from the lower cover and is constantly engaged with the center recess by recess/protrusion engagement. The lower cover restricts a vertically movable range of the float valve. In addition, the lateral movement restricting pin restricts lateral movement of the float valve so that a top portion of an upper surface bulged portion vertically constantly faces an area inside a valve seat.
US09399934B2	UAV engine lubrication system incorporating an electric oil pump and lubrication oil heating capability An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engine (40) lubrication system and lubrication oil heating strategy uses a solenoid actuated electric oil pump (10,42) to deliver lubrication oil to the engine from a lubrication oil reservoir (12,44) by energizing and de-energizing the solenoid (18) to operate a pump mechanism of the electric oil pump. A controller (ECU) (100) can control operation of the electric oil pump, the solenoid maintained energized for a required period of time to cause heating of the oil without continuously pumping the oil. An electric oil pump control strategy can maintain engine speed dependent minimum oil delivery rates, can heat the electric oil pump and oil through extended energized (ON) time of the solenoid, and, by varying the turn on time of the electronic oil pump based on sensed ambient temperature, long time periods can be used to ensure oil delivery for cold temperatures, and shorter times are permitted when necessary in order to reach maximum oil flow rate.
US09399930B2	ORC heat engine An ORC heat engine including a working fluid circuit having an evaporator for heating and evaporating a working fluid, a condenser for cooling and condensing the working fluid, and a positive displacement expander-generator having an inlet in fluid communication with the evaporator and an outlet in fluid communication with the condenser. The ORC heat engine further includes a control system coupled to the positive displacement expander-generator having a switch and driving means, the switch being switchable between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the switch is coupled to the driving means, and the positive displacement expander-generator is drivable by the driving means, and in the second state the switch is not coupled to the driving means or the driving means is switched off, and the positive displacement expander-generator is not drivable by the driving means.
US09399928B2	Steam power plant with heat reservoir and method for operating a steam power plant A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the low-pressure passage (VW1 to VW2), a heat reservoir (A) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (A) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the low-pressure preheater passage (VW1 to VW2) into the condensate line that contacts the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.
US09399926B2	Belly band seal with circumferential spacer A circumferentially extending sealing band is located within sealing band receiving slots formed in adjacent turbine engine disks. The sealing band includes a plurality of seal strips forming overlap joints defined by overlapping end portions, each formed by a tongue portion extending from a seal face of one seal strip past a seal face of the adjacent seal strip, along a radially inward facing side of the adjacent seal strip. A joint gap is defined within at least one overlap joint between the seal face of the one seal strip and the seal face of the adjacent strip, and a spacer is affixed to the one seal strip and is located at a position within the joint gap between the seal faces to limit circumferential movement of the seal faces toward each other.
US09399922B2	Non-integral fan blade platform Described are a gas turbine engine fan blade platform, related rotor assembly and gas turbine engine, as well as a method of assembling the same. The platform has a forward portion proximal to an axis of rotation, an aft portion, and a transition portion between the forward and aft portions. The forward portion has a forward interface surface facing axially forward, the aft portion has an aft interface surface facing radially outward, and the transition portion has at least one mounting feature. For the method of assembly, an aft support is installed on a fan disk and booster spool assembly. A plurality of fan blades are installed into a fan disk, followed by installing a fan platform between adjacent blades and securing the mounting features to the disk, thereby filling the annulus of the fan disk. Finally, a forward support is installed on the fan disk.
US09399921B2	Hub piloting diameter with relief cuts A hub for mounting propeller blades has a plurality of mount locations for receiving propeller blades at a radially outer location. The hub has a piloting diameter centered on a center axis. The hub has a plurality of openings to receive a drive member for transmitting rotation/torque from an adapter. There are reliefs cut into the piloting diameter at locations circumferentially aligned with the openings.
US09399919B2	Extension tip sleeve for wind turbine blade A wind blade is provided. The wind blade includes a body having an aerodynamic contour extended between a blade root and a blade tip. The wind blade also includes an extension tip sleeve arranged over the blade tip. The extension tip sleeve further includes a first portion having an extension blade and one or more structural ribs arranged on a pressure side of the wind blade. The extension tip sleeve also includes a second portion having a support structure located on a suction side of the wind blade. Furthermore, the wind blade includes a fairing having an airfoil shape for covering the one or more structural ribs, and the support structure of the extension tip sleeve.
US09399911B2	Method for determining weight concentration of clay in a sample of a porous medium For the purpose of determining a weight concentration of a clay material in a porous medium sample, a specific active surface area of the clay material and an initial specific active surface area of the porous sample are measured. A water solution of the clay material is pumped through the sample and a specific active surface area of the sample of the porous medium is measured after the pumping. Then, the weight concentration of the clay material is calculated.
US09399910B2	Inspection system and method for use in underground boring operations An inspection system and method for use in underground utility construction, especially underground boring operations, is provided. The inspection system generally includes a sensor, a sensor carrier apparatus, and an output device. The sensor is employed to obtain inspection data regarding the condition of a tunnel created in an underground boring operation. The sensor carrier is adapted to incorporate the sensor and connect to means for transporting the sensor through the tunnel. The output device receives an output signal from the sensor corresponding to the inspection data and presents it to an operator for interpretation and/or otherwise documents and/or records the inspection data.
US09399908B2	Systems and method for separating dimethyl ether from oil and water A system is provided for removing dimethyl ether (DME) from oil, water or brine and gas that includes a gas-oil-water separation module, a DME absorber, a water stripper, a liquid-liquid extractor, a water source, and an oil stripper, and a process is provided for separating DME from a mixture of DME, crude oil, water or brine, and a gas containing alkane hydrocarbons. A DME lean oil containing at most 1 ppmwt may be produced by the process.
US09399904B2	Oil recovery system and method A system and process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation. An oil recovery formulation that is first contact miscible with a liquid petroleum composition that is comprised of at least 15 mol % dimethyl sulfide is introduced together with steam or hot water into a subterranean oil-bearing formation comprising heavy oil, extra heavy oil, or bitumen, and oil is produced from the formation.
US09399903B2	Method and system for enhancing oil recovery (EOR) by injecting treated water into an oil bearing formation A process and a system for enhancing recovery of oil from an oil-bearing formation are provided in which water having a total dissolved solids content is filtered to remove some solids in a filter assembly, the filtered water is treated to remove some ions in a capacitive deionization assembly, and the filtered deionized water is injected into the oil-bearing formation to mobilize crude oil and enhance oil recovery from the formation.
US09399902B2	Expandable screen completion tool An expandable screen comprises a first end comprising a first coupling mechanism, a second end comprising a second coupling mechanism, a wire wrap section extending between the first end and the second end, and a plurality of rods coupled to the wire wrap section. The wire wrap section is coupled to the first and the second end, and the wire wrap section is configured to radially expand. The plurality of rods is configured to control spacing between adjacent wire edges upon radial expansion of the wire wrap section.
US09399901B2	Characterizing flow production A method for characterizing flow production of a well. The method includes generating a plurality of dimensionless decline curves from a mathematical model that characterizes an expected flow production of the well and generating an overlay curve based on production data pertaining to the well. After generating the mathematical model and the overlay curve, the method compares the overlay curve to the plurality of dimensionless decline curves. The method then calculates a reservoir effective drainage area for the well based on the comparison.
US09399897B2	Orientation of downhole well tools A method of orienting a well tool can include setting down weight on an orienting device, thereby securing in position an engagement member that was previously free to displace circumferentially in the device, and after the securing, engaging the engagement member with an orienting profile. Another method of orienting a well tool can include compressing the orienting device between sections of a tool string, thereby securing in position an engagement member that was previously free to displace circumferentially in the device, the securing step including deforming a structure of the orienting device, and after the securing, engaging the engagement member with an orienting profile.
US09399895B2	Coiled tubing injector head with chain guides In an injector head (30) for handling tubing for insertion into and retrieval from a wellbore, a non-gripping portion of the path (22) of each chain loop (12), which is otherwise susceptible to oscillations when running in at least certain conditions, is constrained by a chain guide (44). The chain guide allows the chain to move freely as it is driven by the sprockets (16) in a loop, but dampens or prevents development of oscillations in the chain loop (12) when moving along one or more sections of its path in which it is not otherwise be pressed against tubing or constrained by sprockets or tensioners.
US09399893B2	Stoppers for structures attached to hybrid riser towers A coated or sleeved pipe for a hybrid riser tower is disclosed. The pipe has at least one stop formation that is integral with or attached to an external coating or sleeve of the pipe. The stop formation is arranged to restrain movement along the pipe of a structure attached to the pipe, such as a guide frame.
US09399889B2	Animal crate The present disclosure provides a door assembly for an animal enclosure. The assembly includes a door frame having a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires that define an opening for an animal to pass therethrough. The assembly also includes a door configured to move between an open position and a close position relative to the door frame. A latch is pivotably coupled to the door and includes a mechanism that is removably coupled to the door frame. The assembly further includes a first vertical wire and a second vertical wire of the door. A first guide wire and a second guide wire are coupled to the door frame. The first vertical wire is coupled to and moves along the first guide wire between the open and close positions, and the second vertical wire is coupled to and moves along the second guide wire between the open and close positions.
US09399888B2	Methods and apparatus to control an architectural opening covering assembly Methods and apparatus to control an architectural opening covering assembly are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein includes determining a position of a covering of an architectural opening covering assembly. The example method further includes determining a speed at which the covering is to move via a motor based on the position and a period of time. The example method also includes operating a motor to move the covering at the speed.
US09399883B2	Automatically operated door system for an aircraft toilet An automatically operated door system for an aircraft toilet is provided. The system has a folding door and a door frame. The folding door is arranged in the door frame to be movable between a closed door position and an open door position. The system also has a drive apparatus for moving the folding door between the closed door position and the open door position, a guiding member connected to the drive apparatus and a displacement element arranged on the folding door. The guiding member engages the displacement element to transfer the driving force of the drive apparatus to the displacement element; accordingly, the folding door is moved from the closed door position into a pre-folded door position.
US09399879B2	Vehicle compartment door handle assembly A handle assembly is provided for a door of a vehicle storage or baggage compartment and includes a latch module press fit onto the housing of the assembly. The handle assembly also includes a lock assembly with a security plate to preclude unauthorized manipulation of the lock arm. In one embodiment, a position switch is associated with the latch rotor to sense the unlatched position of the rotor. A remote control power unit may also be provided on the handle assembly for locking and unlocking the latch module via a key fob or other access system user interface. An LED may be associated with the power unit to indicate locking and unlocking events, or other vehicle status information. The mounting bracket of the assembly may be selected from interchangeable brackets for manual or power actuation of the lock assembly.
US09399877B2	Robotic pool cleaning apparatus Robotic apparatus cleans swimming pools and has road and pulley wheels with belts thereon, on opposite sides and drive motors that rotate a wheel on each side to move the frame along a pool surface. Pairs of outside wheels have friction surfaces to engage pool surfaces to also moving the frame. Forward and rearward brush assemblies are driven to brush the pool surface. Oppositely facing and angled duck bill valves allow water into free volumes in the frame and are covered by a filter bag for filtering out debris under the action of a dual pump assembly that pumps water out through a pair of outlet opening in a top of the frame. A computer processor controls the drive motors and pump assembly to move the frame along programmed paths and rechargeable batteries power the drive motors, pump assembly and computer processor.
US09399875B2	Brake system of wire reel in reinforcing bar binding machine A reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with a feed device for feeding a wire from a wire reel rotatably mounted on a binding machine body, a braking device for braking a rotation of the wire reel, and a control device that starts a braking to the rotation of the wire reel by the braking device after the wire is fed to a predetermined amount by the feed device.
US09399870B2	Roofing shingle system and shingles for use therein A roofing system and roofing shingles for use therein are disclosed. The roofing system comprises a multiplicity of courses of roofing shingles having a headlap portion, a buttlap portion, a lateral leading edge, and a lateral trailing edge, wherein the headlap portion has a width that is less than a width of the buttlap portion defining a reduced-width headlap, wherein the lateral trailing edge of a shingle in a course partially overlaps and partially abuts the lateral leading edge of an adjacent previously installed shingle to form an interlocking edge between adjacent shingles in the course, and wherein the lateral edge includes a trailing edge projection having a weather edge, a rear edge, and a variable breadth that increases toward the rear edge of the trailing edge projection.
US09399869B2	Apparatus and method for connecting a segmental coupler to a steel plate or anchor casting An duct coupler apparatus for sealing a bore of an anchor includes a coupler having an inner wall and a sealing mechanism affixed to the inner wall of the coupler. The sealing mechanism includes a shaft and sealing element affixed adjacent an end of the shaft. The sealing element is selectively movable between a retracted condition and an extended condition. The extended condition is adapted to be in sealing relation with an inner wall of the bore of the steel structure. The apparatus includes a nut threadedly affixed to the shaft so as to bear against the sealing element. The nut is rotatable on the shaft so as to urge against the sealing element so as to cause the sealing element to be in the extended or expanded condition.
US09399864B2	Aerogel blanket and method of production A method of making a nonwoven wet laid aerogel blanket is provided. The aerogel blanket can exhibit improved thermal conductivity, lower corrosivity, lower dust production and a uniform structure. The blanket can be made from an aerogel floc that is formed from a slurry of aerogel particles.
US09399860B2	Powered hygiene shower spray system A powered hygiene shower spray system is provided. The system has a slide bar housing adapted for mounting to a shower chamber substrate. A moving head or spray nozzle is provided that is movable along said slide bar housing. A hose is in fluid communication between a water supply and the spray nozzle when the spray nozzle is moveably present. A control panel accepts user input as to a parameter of the spray nozzle. A drive mechanism is provided for moving the spray nozzle without user manual manipulation of the spray nozzle.
US09399858B2	Hybrid intake screen assembly An intake screen assembly including an intake member, a screen support member, and a screen member coupled to the screen support member. The screen member may be formed from a material, such as copper-nickel, that is different from a material, such as stainless steel, used to form the intake member and/or the screen support member. The intake screen assembly may include corrosion protection members for preventing contact between the components of the screen assembly that are formed from dissimilar materials. The assembly may be formed by coupling the screen support member to the intake member, and coupling the screen member to the screen support member.
US09399856B2	Hydraulic working machine A hydraulic working machine has an assist electric motor connected to an engine and a hydraulic pump. The emissions of air pollutants in the exhaust gas from the engine are minimized regardless of fluctuations in the load torque of the hydraulic pump. A specific revolution speed suitable for reducing the emissions of air pollutants is stored, and an engine is controlled using the specific revolution speed as a target revolution speed. The absorption torque of a hydraulic pump is subjected to high-pass filtering whereby a high-frequency component devoid of a trend component is obtained. Target assist torque is computed from the high-frequency component, and the assist electric motor is subjected to power running/generation control accordingly. A specific output torque range suitable for reducing the emissions of air pollutants is stored, and the target assist torque is corrected so that the trend component does not exceed the specific output torque range.
US09399855B2	Construction machine The construction machine includes a floor plate, a seat and a control box provided on the floor plate, a support plate having an end portion, in a left-right direction, configuring a supporting end portion, on which the control box is mounted, a second slide rail that extends in a front-rear direction and is attached to a lower surface side of the support plate, and a reinforcing block that extends in a direction crossing the second slide rail in a plan view. The reinforcing block has a portion extending toward an end surface of a supporting end portion from a position in an area of the second slide rail in a plan view, and the portion being attached to the supporting end portion of the support plate.
US09399851B2	Piling apparatus and process for installation of pile assembly The invention relates to a piling apparatus for pile assembly comprises at least one walled pipe (26), a clamping frame (29) having a clamping mechanism to link to a walled pipe (26) which has been inserted into the earth, a pressing stand (24) linked to the clamping frame (29), pressing cylinders (35) having one end linked to the base of pressing stand (24), another end linked to a holding clamp (18). The holding clamp (18) is used to clamp over the material, so as to force at least one material to travel throughout the interior of the walled pipe (26) by using the friction between the walled pipe (26) which has been inserted into the ground with the ground served as a counterpoise components of the apparatus are constructed to press a pressing force against material, formed by pressing cylinders (35) applied to material by means of the holding clamp (18), and a reactive force transferred via the pressing stand (24), the clamping mechanism, the clamping frame (29) to the walled pipe (26) and balanced by the friction between the walled pipe (26) and the ground. The invention further relates to an installation process for pile assembly.
US09399850B2	Device having a hydraulic drive for civil engineering A device having a hydraulic drive for civil engineering work has least one shaft that can be rotated by a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor is operated by fluid of a hydraulic circuit that is supplied by a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic motor has a changeable displacement, and means for changing the volume stream are provided. A sensor for measuring the fluid pressure is disposed in the hydraulic circuit, and is connected with a control and regulation unit, by way of which the displacement of the hydraulic motor is adjustable, and by way of which the means for a change in the volume stream can be turned on. The control and regulation unit is set up so that in the event of a pressure drop in the hydraulic circuit, a reduction in the displacement of the hydraulic motor as well as a reduction in the volume stream is brought about.
US09399849B2	Stabilizing support for a downspout extension A stabilizing support for a downspout extension includes an engagement portion that has a first axis and a second axis. The stabilizing support also includes an attachment portion that is connected to the engagement portion for securing the engagement portion relative to a surface. The attachment portion allows the engagement portion to be secured in one of two orientations, with one of the first axis and the second axis generally perpendicular to the surface.
US09399843B2	Automotive road milling machine In an automotive road milling machine (1) for milling ground surfaces (3), with a machine frame (2), a milling drum (4) with a quick-change system arranged at the machine frame (2) in a drum housing (11), a driving device (6) for driving the milling drum (4), a reduction gear (8) arranged between the driving device (6) and the milling drum (4), where the milling drum (4) is arranged between drum housing walls (12,13) of the drum housing (11) running orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the milling drum (4), where the quick-change system is provided with a basic drum body (14) and at least one milling tube element (10) capable of being pushed onto the basic drum body (14), where the drum housing wall (13) opposite the drive-side drum housing wall (12) is easily removable for the quick exchange of alternatively usable milling tube elements (10), it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the housing (9) of the reduction gear (8) is attached to the machine frame (2) in a torsionally rigid fashion, inside the machine frame (2), between the driving device (6) and the drum housing wall (12) at the drum housing (11).
US09399841B2	Method for producing water-disintegrable paper A method of producing water-disintegrable paper, including: using a base-paper supplied with no water to emboss the base-paper sheet in a non-wet state to form a bulking unit, made up of a plurality of uneven elements, on the base-paper sheet; supplying the water-soluble binder to the base-paper sheet from outside of a face of the base-paper sheet after the embossing process to impregnate the water-soluble binder into the base-paper sheet; drying the base-paper sheet after the binder impregnation process; folding the base-paper sheet after the drying process; and supplying an aqueous chemical and/or a crosslinker to the base-paper sheet before or after the folding process to impregnate the aqueous chemical into the base-paper sheet.
US09399839B2	Fruit fiber processing system and method A system and method of manufacturing a fiber for use in manufacturing products including providing a feedstock including fiber derived from edible fruit of a plant. An agent that degrades pectin may be applied to the feedstock to form a feedstock mixture. The feedstock mixture may be agitated, and solution including the fiber from the feedstock mixture may be removed. The fiber may be isolated from the solution.
US09399836B2	Biomass treatment for hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion A selective removal chlorine and phosphorus that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolyzis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
US09399834B1	Odor removal assembly An odor removal assembly comprising a flexible bag that, when open, allows a user to place items into the bag's interior, and when closed, prevents a user from placing items into the interior of the bag. The bag may include a fastening mechanism for closing the bag. The assembly includes an ozone generator that generates ozone and expels the ozone through a conduit that extends between an outlet of the ozone generator and the interior of the bag. The assembly may also include an ozone destruction catalyst for removing ozone from the interior of the bag. In various embodiments, the odor removal assembly includes an automatic shutoff system for preventing the ozone generator from generating ozone gas if: the ozone level exceeds a pre-determined level outside of the bag, if the ozone level exceeds a pre-determined level within the interior of the bag, and/or if the bag is open.
US09399833B1	Clothing iron having a contouring arch gripping member A clothing iron configured to operate from a motor vehicle power supply having a port to electrically connect to a removable DC cable with a cigarette lighter plug. The clothing iron has an improved arched hand grip having a primary gripping member with a contouring arch extending from a first end of the primary gripping member to a second end of the primary gripping member, a secondary gripping member with a contouring arch extending from a first end of the secondary gripping member to a second end of the secondary gripping member. The gripping members are pivotally connected to a fulcrum point. A primary housing is connected to an end of the primary gripping member. At least one thermally conductive plate is connected to the primary housing. A secondary housing is connected to an end of the secondary gripping member. A capturing structure is connected to the secondary housing.
US09399831B2	Sewing machine and non-transitory computer- readable medium storing sewing machine control program A sewing machine includes a carriage, a storage portion, a display portion, and a control device. A plurality of types of an embroidery frame is configured to be removably mounted on the carriage. The embroidery frame is capable of holding a work cloth. The carriage is capable of moving the embroidery frame parallel to two intersecting axes. The storage portion is configured to store a plurality of sizes of the work cloth that respectively correspond to the plurality of types of the embroidery frame. The display portion is configured to display information relating to at least sewing. The control device is configured to read, from the storage portion, the sizes of the work cloth that respectively correspond to the types of the embroidery frame. The control device is also configured to cause the display portion to display the sizes of the work cloth that have been read.
US09399828B2	Method and apparatus for extracting and removing rare earth metal ions from plating solution In an extraction tank, a plating solution containing rare earth metal ions is treated with an extracting solution of an extractant in a water-insoluble organic solvent. Extraction treatment is carried out by atomizing the extracting solution through a lower nozzle into the plating solution in the tank lower zone, and atomizing the plating solution through an upper nozzle into the extracting solution in the tank upper zone, for thereby bringing the plating solution in contact with the extracting solution to extract rare earth metal ions from the plating solution into the extractant for removal.

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