| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09401937B1 |
Systems and methods for facilitating communications amongst multiple users
A system can be provided that allows a user of a device to easily navigate through other users connected on a network. More particularly, the system can present or otherwise display indicators representing other users, and can allow a user of the device to manipulate (e.g., via scrolling, panning, gesturing, and the like) the display to traverse through the various indicators. In at least one embodiment, a level or a mode of communication between on the device and the devices represented by the indicators can be modified (e.g., upgraded or downgraded) depending on whether those indicators are currently being displayed in a display area of the device. This can simplify and maintain stability in the management of a large scale system of users. |
| US09401936B2 |
Communication management system, communication management method, and computer program product
A communication management system manages communication terminals transmitting and receiving communication data. The system includes a session management unit configured to manage session identifying information and terminal identifying information in an associated manner, the session identifying information being used to identify a communication session being performed among a plurality of communication terminals and the terminal identifying information being used to identify each of the communication terminals; a receiving unit configured to receive, from a conversion system, terminal identifying information about a communication terminal that is being in communication, the conversion system mutually converting a communication scheme of communication data transmitted from one communication terminal and a communication scheme of communication data transmitted from another communication terminal; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the conversion system, session identifying information that is associated with the received terminal identifying information in the session management unit. |
| US09401934B2 |
Establishing sessions with defined quality of service
The present invention allows different types of communication applications to cooperate with an associated communication client to facilitate communications having a defined quality of service. The communication client may establish an authorized virtual circuit having a defined quality of service through a network using a first session establishment protocol on behalf of the communication application. Once the authorized virtual circuit is established, the communication application may establish one or more communication sessions, which may support different types of multimedia services, through the virtual connection. In one embodiment, the virtual connection extends through the local access network, which may be supported by an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). The communication client may use the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as the first session establishment protocol to establish the virtual circuit through the local access network. |
| US09401933B1 |
Classification of security policies across multiple security products
A management entity connects with multiple security devices across a network. Each security device operates in accordance with one or more security policies. The management entity imports, over the network, data describing the security policies from the multiple security devices. The management entity classifies the imported security policies into security policy classifications based on commonality in information included in the security policies across the multiple security devices. |
| US09401928B2 |
Data stream security processing method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention provide a data stream security processing method and apparatus. In the embodiments of the present invention, security levels of data streams are determined according to different feature information of the data streams, and forwarding paths corresponding to the data streams are determined according to the security levels, where a forwarding path may go through a security device to implement a corresponding security function of the forwarding path, thereby improving data stream forwarding security and lightening load of a central controller. |
| US09401923B2 |
Electronic system for detecting and preventing compromise of vehicle electrical and control systems
A method for detecting threats or attacks on an automobile network, the automobile network connected to a plurality of electronic components and an attack monitoring unit including a processor, the method including: monitoring, by the processor of the attack monitoring unit, data messages transmitted on the automobile network; determining, by the processor of the attack monitoring unit, whether at least one data message among the data messages transmitted on the mobile network is a threat to one or more of the plurality of electronic components on the automobile network; and when it is determined, by the processor, that the at least one data message is a threat, performing at least one action based on the threat. |
| US09401922B1 |
Systems and methods for analysis of abnormal conditions in computing machines
Systems and methods are provided for detecting an anomalous condition in a virtual computing environment having a virtualization control system coupled to a physical server, disk drive, and networking resources, where the virtualization control system is configured to partition the physical resources into virtual resources including virtual processor, memory, and storage resources for a plurality of virtual servers. Contents of a plurality of virtual memory storage locations are determined, where the virtual memory storage locations span multiple virtual servers. A runtime state of the virtual environment is determined based on the contents of the virtual memory storage locations. The runtime state of the virtual environment is verified for correctness or compared with a baseline state to identify a deviation from the baseline state, and a corrective action is performed when the discrepancy meets a predetermined criteria. |
| US09401921B2 |
Insuring integrity of remote procedure calls used in a client and server storage system
A system and method generates a message integrity check. The message integrity check value is computed by hashing one or more block checksums from procedure specific parameters of an RPC and then encrypting the resulting hash value. The computed message integrity check is appended to the RPC to thereby provide a level of security approaching or equal to the level of Integrity defined by the RPCSEC_GSS protocol specification. |
| US09401919B2 |
Web form protection
A request for a web page is received and the requested web page is retrieved. The web page is modified to obfuscate a set of form attribute values into a corresponding set of obfuscated form attribute values. The modified web page is transmitted to the requesting device. The modified web page does not include the set of form attribute values in their original form. Form data for the set of obfuscated form attribute values is received from the requesting device. The set of obfuscated form attribute values is deobfuscated thereby revealing the original set of form attribute values. The form data for the set of original form attribute values is further processed. |
| US09401912B2 |
Late binding authentication
A late-binding token (LBT) is securely generated and provided to a device application. When the LBT is presented and validated, a resource associated with the presentation is bound to the LBT and authenticated for access to a service and provided valid credentials for accessing that service. |
| US09401911B2 |
One-time password certificate renewal
Embodiments are directed to providing a certificate extension to an authentication certificate, to validating an authentication certificate request and to implementing authentication certificates that include certificate extensions. In an embodiment, a computer system accesses an authentication certificate request that is to be sent to a validation server for validation and to a certificate authority for issuance of an authentication certificate. The computer system appends an extension to the authentication certificate request. The extension includes origination information about the authentication certificate. The computer system then sends the authentication certificate request with the appended extension to the validation server for validation. |
| US09401905B1 |
Transferring soft token authentication capabilities to a new device
A technique transfers soft token authentication capabilities from an old device to a new device. The technique involves receiving a transfer initiation message from the old device while the old device is currently provisioned with the soft token authentication capabilities. The transfer initiation message includes new device binding information obtained by the old device from the new device. The technique further involves providing a reply message to the old device in response to the transfer initiation message. The reply message directs the old device to supply an authentication code to the new device, the authentication code being based on the new device binding information. The technique further involves receiving, from the new device, a provisioning message including the authentication code, and provisioning the new device with the soft token authentication capabilities in response to receipt of the provisioning message from the new device. |
| US09401904B1 |
Security migration in a business intelligence environment
In various implementations, local identifiers associated with users may be utilized to enable access one or more functions in a Business Intelligence (BI) Environment. A mapping may be generated to associate local identifiers and users. The mapping may be utilized to enable access in the BI environment by retrieving the local identifier from a mapping and enabling access in the BI environment based on the local identifier. In various implementations, a user may access the system as another user. |
| US09401897B2 |
System and method for monitoring secure data on a network
A system and method for monitoring secure digital data on a network are provided. An exemplary network monitoring system may include a network device in communication with a user and a network. Further, a server may be in communication with the network. A browser and monitoring program may be stored on the network device, and the network device may receive secure digital data from the network. The browser may convert the secure digital data or a portion thereof into source data, and the monitoring program may transfer the source data or a portion thereof to the server. In an exemplary embodiment, the monitoring program may include a service component and an interface program. |
| US09401892B2 |
Method for addressing messages in a computer network
In a method for addressing messages in a computer network in which two different types of address are used, wherein at least one first network element (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) uses exclusively a first type of address, at least one second network element (14, 15, 16, 17, 18) uses exclusively a second type of address and at least one third network element (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) uses both types of address, at least one third network element (9) is a communication terminal which, besides its function as a communication terminal, also performs a function as an address converter for messages for which said communication terminal is neither the original sender nor an ultimate recipient. |
| US09401890B2 |
Method and a network element for content based addressing in a data transfer network
In a content addressable network, a hash result of a data item, which is a part of or relating to an entity to be accessed via the network, constitutes (401, 402) at least a part of an L3 network layer, e.g. IP, destination address and/or a protocol layer below L3, e.g. Ethernet, destination address of a protocol data unit, e.g. a data packet, frame, or cell. The entity to be accessed can be e.g. a data file, a hierarchical data structure, or a process to be controlled via the network. There is no need to retrieve e.g. an Ethernet address, or e.g. an IP-address, on the basis of the hash result of the data item, because the hash result itself is used as the address. Hence, in the content addressable network, the step for address retrieval on the basis of the hash result becomes needless. |
| US09401884B2 |
Conversation explorer with split navigation user interface
According to some embodiments, a method and system provides receiving a list of a plurality of conversations, each of the conversations associated with a common set of characteristics and each of the conversations having associated conversation details; presenting at least a portion of the list of the plurality of conversations in a user interface, each of the conversations included in the presented portion of the list being separately represented; receiving a selection of a plurality of the conversations included in the presented portion of the list; and presenting, simultaneously and grouped together in the user interface, conversation details associated with each of the selected plurality of the conversations, separate and apart from the presented portion of the list. |
| US09401874B2 |
Minimizing coverage holes in a communication network
Access point functionality of a network device may be disabled, resulting in a coverage hole in a communication network and affecting performance of a client device. Various techniques can be implemented for detecting and minimizing coverage holes. In one embodiment, the network device can selectively establish a communication link with the client device depending on whether the client device is in a coverage hole and depending on whether the client device can detect another access point in the communication network. In some embodiments, the client device can determine that it is in a coverage hole in response to detecting a reserved SSID and can accordingly notify a central coordinator of the communication network. In some embodiments, the central coordinator can identify the network device (with disabled access point functionality) that can eliminate the coverage hole and can cause the network device to enable its access point functionality. |
| US09401869B1 |
System and methods for sharing memory subsystem resources among datacenter applications
Systems and methods for mapping applications onto system resource of a computing platform are discussed. The computing platform may receive, using control circuitry, a request to run a plurality of applications on a computing platform having a plurality of system resources. The computing platform may determine a plurality of mapping configurations for the plurality of applications onto the plurality of system resources. The computing platform may execute the plurality of applications with each of the plurality of mapping configurations. The computing platform may determine at least one performance metric based on the executed plurality of applications for each of the plurality of mapping configurations. The computing platform may select a selected mapping configuration among the plurality of mapping configurations based on at least one determined performance metric. |
| US09401868B2 |
Method of traffic engineering for provisioning routing and storage in content-oriented networks
A transceiver configured to receive and transmit data in a content oriented network (CON), and a processor configured to obtain a jointly provisioned routing and storage solution resolved according to an aggregated data flow equation generating a conventional data flow of content on a link to a destination, and an aggregated data flow of the content on the link, and a storage indicator, and to determine whether to store and transmit the data. |
| US09401866B2 |
Data packet routing
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or system are provided for routing a data packet. Because the data packet may correspond to a source device having an address on a first network that may be similar to an address of a second device on a second network, the data packet may be translated to create a transformed data packet that may be distinguishable from data packets of the second device. For example, the data packet may be translated from a first address format, such as IPv4, to a second address format, such as IPv6, to create a transformed data packet. The transformed data packet may comprise a prefix that may distinctly identify the source device during routing. In this way, the transformed data packet may be identifiable as corresponding to the source device during routing through a network to a destination device. |
| US09401865B2 |
Network appliance redundancy system, control apparatus, network appliance redundancy method and program
A network appliance redundancy system includes: a first switch arranged upstream of two different models of network appliances each of which switchably operates in an active system and a standby system; a second switch arranged downstream of the two different models of network appliances; and a control apparatus comprising a translation rule management unit learning a header translation rule(s) of a network appliance operating in the active system on the basis of header information of a packet transmitted from the first switch and header information of a packet received by the second switch via the network appliance operating in the active system and instructing, when the appliances in the active and standby systems are switched, the second switch to rewrite header information on the basis of the header translation rule(s) so as to obtain the same output packet as that from the network appliance operating in the active system. |
| US09401860B2 |
High performance quality-of-service packet scheduling for multiple packet processing engines
A system and method is provided for optimizing network traffic. The system includes a packet engine of a plurality of packet engines configured to acquire a data packet, to store the data packet in a queue, and to provide a request including a packet token representing the data packet, information regarding the size of the data packet, and a connection token. The system also includes a packet scheduler configured to receive the request; schedule the data packet using the connection token and the information regarding the size of the data packet; and provide the packet token and a notification to the packet engine for allowing the packet engine for transmitting the data packet. |
| US09401858B2 |
Loop avoidance during network convergence in switched networks
Various techniques can be used to avoid loops during network convergence after a topology change such as a failure. For example, a method can involve detecting a failure that disrupts an existing forwarding path between a node and a destination node; calculating at least one updated forwarding path from the node to the destination node; identifying a maximum time for at least a portion of the network to reach a post-convergence state with respect to the failure; until the maximum time has elapsed at the node, explicitly specifying at least a portion of the updated forwarding path in packet headers of any packets being sent from the node to the destination node; and after the maximum time has elapsed at the node, non-explicitly specifying the portion of the updated forwarding path in packet headers of any additional packets being sent from the node to the destination node. |
| US09401857B2 |
Coherent load monitoring of physical and virtual networks with synchronous status acquisition
Embodiments relate to creating a coherent load or congestion map that displays the simultaneous activity of all queues of physical and virtual switches and adapters in a network without forcing clock synchronization. An aspect includes sampling, by a central processing device, a status of all queues in a plurality of elements in a network. The sampled data flows are received from the plurality of elements in the network and an image is created of the network. The image includes the status of all sampled queues in the plurality of elements at a point in time. Accordingly, a load map is created without synchronizing clocks of the plurality of elements. The load map is assembled using segments of the image of the network. |
| US09401854B2 |
System and method for slow link flap detection
A method and apparatus of a device that monitors a link for a slow link flap event is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device detects a link flap in a current time interval of a link that couples a pair of devices. In addition, the current time interval is one of a plurality of time intervals that are used to monitor the link for a slow link flap. Furthermore, a slow link flap event results from detecting a maximum number of link flap violations over the plurality of time intervals. The device additionally increments a number of detected link flaps for the current time interval. If the number of detected link flaps for the current time interval is greater than a maximum number of slow link flap violations, the device marks the current time interval as a possible slow link flap interval. In addition, if the total number of intervals among the current time interval and one or more preceding time intervals, which are marked as possible slow flap intervals, equals the maximum number of slow flap intervals, the device brings the link down. |
| US09401849B2 |
Network construction support system and method
A network management apparatus is configured to manage a network apparatuses and to store the work information and an augmented reality presenting apparatus. A tag is added to the network apparatuses and each of the network cables, and each of the tags is provided with a visible object that conforms to the tag information that includes an ID of a target to which the tag has been added. The network management apparatus transmits the guide information that includes the information that indicates the contents of a work for the work target based on the tag information of the work target or the tag shot image of the work target and the work information to the augmented reality presenting apparatus. The augmented reality presenting apparatus associates a guide that is based on the guide information with an input image from the shooting device, and displays the guide and the input image. |
| US09401848B2 |
Stateless flexible boot control
Techniques are provided herein for optimizing boot order for devices in a data center environment. These techniques may be embodied as a method, apparatus and instructions in a computer-readable storage media to perform the method. A computing apparatus having connectivity to a network receives a service profile boot policy from a management device in the network. The service profile boot policy includes attributes identifying boot devices hosted by the computing apparatus. Data representing the service profile boot policy is stored and an order of boot devices hosted by the computing apparatus is generated. The order is generated according to the attributes of the service profile boot policy. Boot devices are excluded from the order according to the attributes of the service profile boot policy. |
| US09401847B2 |
Registering a common information model provider to a common information model object manager
A mechanism is provided for registering a Common Information Model (CIM) provider to at least one Common Information Model Object Manager (CIMOM). The CIMOM pre-stores at least one class definition. The CIMOM sends information to the Common Information Model (CIM) provider in order for the CIM provider to determine the at least one CIMOM existing in a network. The CIMOM sends the at least one class definition stored in the CIMOM in order for the CIM provider to determine if the CIMOM comprises a class definition suitable for the CIM provider to operate. Responsive to the CIM provider determining that the CIMOM comprises a suitable class definition, the CMOM registers the CIM provider by recording an identifier of the CIM provider under the name of the class definition suitable to the CIM provider in the at least one CIMOM. |
| US09401846B2 |
Information handling system configuration identification tool and method
A tool for communicating configuration information includes an analysis tool to determine changes to the configuration of an information handling device. The analysis tool develops a set of configuration tags to identify the configuration changes by identifying a subset of tables or other information, such as Extensible Markup Language (XML) pairs, associated with a configuration management database (CMDB) and by identifying values for each table to reflect the configuration of the information handling device. The analysis tool encodes the configuration tags into an information string. Because the information string is encoded and does not represent the complete configuration of the information handling system configuration, it can be easily and accurately communicated to a technical support center by a user, thereby reducing potential communication problems and improving technical support. |
| US09401845B2 |
Vehicle setting profile system
A system for transferring driver profile settings has a communication interface, processor, storage device, and program in the storage device. The communication interface allows for network communications. The processor couples to the interface. Execution of the program from storage by the processor configures the system to perform functions. The system allows for transfer of a driver profile from the storage device to a vehicle for application on the vehicle. The driver profile specifies one or more preference settings for one or more configurable components of a vehicle. |
| US09401844B2 |
Methods and apparatus to dynamically control connectivity within virtual private networks
Methods and apparatus to dynamically control connectivity within VPNs are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes a route server for storing an indication in an entry for a first pair of provider edge routers in a virtual private network (intra-VPN) connectivity database, the intra-VPN connectivity database including entries for a plurality of pairs of provider edge routers. The indication to define an additional connectivity for the first pair of provider edge routers beyond connectivity defined in a virtual private network routing and forwarding table associated with a first provider edge router of the first pair of provider edge routers. The first pair of provider edge routers including a second provider edge router to which the first provider edge router is to be communicatively coupled. |
| US09401841B2 |
Promulgating information on websites using servers
A method uses web servers to promulgate information from one server to another, instead of promulgating the information by the user to each server individually. A first server receives a first request for promulgating web-information from a user, locally promulgates the web-information, and sends a second request to at least one second website server to instruct the second website server to locally promulgate the web-information. The selection of the second server is done according to a preset configuration file which includes a relationship mapping between the first website server and the second website server. The relationship mapping may provide the user information related to the second website server based on the user information related to the first website server. The present disclosure further discloses a communication apparatus and a communication system. |
| US09401838B2 |
Network event capture and retention system
Methods and apparatus are provided to monitor and analyze activity occurring on a networked computer system. In some embodiments, a method is provided for capturing, in a data structure, at least a portion of a notification describing a network event provided by a node on a computer network, identifying a data element (e.g., an IP address of the node) within the notification, and updating an index and/or summary based on the data element. The data structure may be stored in a file system maintained on a site, and sites may exchange information related to the notification data stored on each. In some embodiments, a query which is issued to a site may be processed using data transferred from other sites, and/or may be split into one or more additional queries which may be transmitted for processing to other sites. |
| US09401836B2 |
Methods and apparatus for configuring multiple logical networks of devices on a single physical network
Methods and apparatus for configuring multiple logical networks that share a common transmission medium are presented. According to an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for configuring multiple logical networks of devices on a single physical network includes a transceiver configured to exchange information with devices connected to a shared bus of the physical network. The apparatus includes logic configured to assign a network number to a new logical network when the apparatus is first activated on the shared bus, the assigned network number being different from network numbers associated with other logical networks using the shared bus. |
| US09401832B2 |
Long-range nodes with adaptive preambles for coexistence
Wireless protocols in the unlicensed spectrum are developed for different requirements in terms of transmit range and power, which makes it difficult for multiple nodes having disparate transmit ranges to coexist in the same unlicensed spectrum. A short-range wireless node uses adaptive preambles to signal presence to long-range wireless nodes outside of its transmit range. In addition, a long-range wireless node detects an adapter preamble and backs-off transmissions for reservation period dedicated to short-range nodes. |
| US09401831B2 |
Apparatus and method for removing DC offset in wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for removing a Direct Current (DC) offset at a receiving terminal in a wireless communication system are provided. In the method, a frame is divided into at least two time resource blocks. Resource allocation information is used to discriminate between at least one time resource block of a data-unmapped interval and at least one time resource block of a data-mapped interval. The DC offset is measured during the data-unmapped interval. The DC offset is compensated during the data-unmapped interval on a time resource block basis by using the measured DC offset. |
| US09401825B1 |
Apparatus and method for channel estimation
A channel estimation apparatus includes a de-map circuit to map multiple preambles corresponding to multiple channels into real part (I) and imaginary part (Q) in QPSK coordinate. The costas channel estimation circuit receives the real part (I) and the imaginary part (Q) to operate corresponding to one of the BPSK structure and the QPSK structure to proceed calculation of (Q−I)*Sign (I+Q) or Q*Sign (I)−I*Sign (Q) for outputting an output value, wherein Sign(x) represents a sign circuit taking a sign of the x value. The loop filter circuit filters the output value under time domain. The smooth circuit receives the output of the loop filter circuit to perform smooth processing under frequency domain and then feeds back the same to the de-map circuit to continue channel estimation of a next loop, wherein the phases of the preambles are adjusted according to a direction of the output value approaching to zero. |
| US09401824B1 |
Method and apparatus of channel estimation in multi-user massive MIMO systems
The presently claimed invention provides a method of channel estimation in a multi-user massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output system. Candidate pilots are selected for each user equipment based on their spatial correlation matrices. Through determining the similarity of spatial correlation matrices among different user equipments, shared pilots among them can be found, and a base station can transmit a union set of pilots for channel estimation. The present invention is able to provide high channel estimation accuracy and reduce training signal resource. |
| US09401823B2 |
System and method for radio frequency carrier aggregation
A system and method for aggregation of a plurality of wireless communication signals in a common radio frequency transmitter. A multiple subchannel multiplexed (MSM) signal within a frequency band, and having a communication protocol with pilot signals estimating a channel state and efficient signal demodulation with a mobile receiver is combined with another signal. An automated digital processor at the transmitter modifies the MSM to meet at least one fitness criterion of the combined signal, selected from among alternatives that will maintain good reception of all transmitted signals within system protocols, without requiring transmitting additional side information specifying the modification. The range of alternates include modifications that disrupt the pilot signals. The fitness criterion may include minimizing the peak-to-average power ratio of the combination, and a signal modification may comprise a cyclic permutation of a portion of the time-domain representation of a signal, while maintaining compatibility with prior pilot signals. |
| US09401821B2 |
Powered device, power supply system, and operation mode selection method
A powered device, a power supply system and an operation mode selection method are provided. The power supply system includes a power sourcing equipment and the powered device. The powered device is electrically connected to the power sourcing equipment through an internet cable. The powered device includes a sensing module and a controlling module. The sensing module receives an internet signal from the power sourcing equipment through the internet cable, and outputs a switching signal according to the internet signal. The controlling module is used for selecting an operation mode of the powered device according to the switching signal. |
| US09401816B2 |
Protection ring in an automotive network
A system and method to provide a protection ring in an Audio Visual Bridging (AVB) network is provided. The method includes the steps of monitoring a first status of links coupled to a plurality of devices in a ring network, receiving a second status of links of other devices in the ring network, and signaling devices in the ring network to generate a logical loop-free topology based upon a stored static physical configuration, the first status of the links and the second status of links of other network devices in the ring network. The method also includes the step of determining an allocation of flows to links based on stored flow characteristics. Determining an allocation of flows to links includes programming a transmit scheduler to provide a first percentage of bandwidth for Audio Video Bridging (AVB) flows while reserving a second percentage of bandwidth for non-AVB flows. The method further includes programming a forwarding unit to forward flows to their destination based on the logical loop-free topology. |
| US09401814B2 |
House monitoring system
In a monitoring system, a master device that is connected to a fixed telephone network so as to perform calls to other fixed telephones sets a power supply device to an operation mode in a case where a mobile phone terminal is located within a wireless communication range of the master device, and sets the power supply device to an operation stop mode in a case where the mobile phone terminal is not located within the wireless communication range of the master device. A power supply device is connected to an electric apparatus disposed in a house, supplies power to the electric apparatus in a case where the operation mode is set by the master device, and does not supply power to the electric apparatus in a case where the operation stop mode is set by the master device. |
| US09401813B2 |
Media stream monitor
A stream monitor can request a streaming media server to send stream records associated with streams currently being served. The stream monitor uses the stream records to test streams being served by the streaming media server. The stream monitor can concurrently test multiple streams for connection errors, silence errors, metadata errors, and other errors. |
| US09401805B2 |
Encrypting device, encrypting method, and recording medium
k bits from the least significant bit of the current secret key are retrieved, obtaining a binary window sequence. A binary bit string of concatenation of the random number to the more significant bits of the window sequence is obtained if the most significant bit of the window sequence is 0, subtracting a bit string from the current secret key to obtain a new secret key, or the bit string of a complement of the base number for the window sequence in binary system is calculated if the most significant bit of the window sequence is 1, obtaining a bit string by adding a minus sign to a bit string obtained by concatenating the random number to the more significant bits of the bit string, subtracting the bit string from the current secret key to obtain a new secret key. |
| US09401804B2 |
Leakage resilient garbled circuit generation using reduced memory hardware token
A garbled circuit is generated for a client in a leakage-resilient manner with a reduced memory requirement. The garbled circuit is used for secure function evaluation between the client and a server. The garbled circuit is generated with a reduced storage requirement by obtaining a token from the server; querying the token gate-by-gate, wherein for each gate of the garbled circuit, the token generates new wire garblings and stores them with the client using a Stream Cipher and interacts with the leakage-protected area to generate a garbled table for the gate; and receiving the garbled circuit from the token. The token comprises a leakage-protected area. The Stream Cipher is leakage-resilient and can be a symmetric-key cryptographic primitive that has a secret key as an input and generates an unbounded stream of pseudorandom bits as an output. The number of evaluations of the Stream Cipher is kept to a substantial minimum. For example, the Stream Cipher can execute with a same key only twice, such as only once for an encryption and only once for a decryption. |
| US09401803B2 |
Flexible scrambler/descrambler architecture for a transceiver
An apparatus is provided. A polynomial register having a plurality of bits is provided, where the polynomial register is configured to store a user-defined polynomial. A transceiver is coupled to a first bus, a second bus, and the polynomial register. The transceiver includes a self-synchronous scrambler that is configured to generate a scrambled signal from a first signal using the user-defined polynomial and a self-synchronous descrambler that is configured to generate a descrambled signal from a second signal using the user-defined polynomial. |
| US09401798B1 |
Frequency domain multiplexer
An apparatus includes an antenna, a first transceiver circuit, a second transceiver circuit, a first filter coupled between the antenna and the first transceiver circuit and configured to pass a first signal and attenuate a second signal, and a second filter coupled between the antenna and the second transceiver circuit and configured to pass the second signal and attenuate the first signal. The first signal has a first frequency and the second signal has a second frequency. The first transceiver circuit, the second transceiver circuit, and the first filter are integrated in a system on chip (SOC). |
| US09401796B2 |
Channel quality indicator reporting
A method, computer program and apparatus operate when resuming data transmission/reception upon activiation of a serving cell, or after a long in-device coexistence interference avoidance gap, to determine whether to report to a network access node an in-device coexistence interference indicator value and send the in-device coexistence interference indicator value to the network access node, The in-device coexistence interference indicator value is reported to the network access node for a certain period if any periodic channel quality indication resource is configured for the cell, or if an aperiodic channel quality indication for the cell is requested from the network access node. |
| US09401794B2 |
Method and apparatus for acquiring control information in wireless communication system
A method for acquiring control information in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: receiving E-PDCCH (Enhanced-Physical Downlink Control Channel) configuration information from a base station (BS); and transmitting a confirmation response for the E-PDCCH configuration information. The terminal performs blind decoding for downlink control information in a common search space on a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) resource region and a search space on the E-PDCCH during a predetermined period after transmitting the confirmation response. |
| US09401791B2 |
Method for transmitting signal using plurality of antenna ports and transmission end apparatus for same
A method for transmitting a signal by using a plurality of antenna ports and a transmission end apparatus for same are disclosed. A method for transmitting the signal using the plurality of antenna ports, according to the present invention, comprises the following steps: transmitting a control channel to a reception end through a first antenna using a first resource domain; and transmitting a data channel to the reception end through the plurality of antenna ports including first antenna port using a second resource domain, wherein the second resource domain and the first resource domain have identical time domains but different frequency domains, and wherein from the time and frequency domains that belong to the first resource domain, the data channel is not transmitted through at least one antenna port from the antenna ports excluding the first antenna port. |
| US09401788B2 |
Reference signal generation method and apparatus
The present invention relates to a reference signal generation method and apparatus. In the reference signal generation method, cyclic shift values of a reference signal for a channel, output in a single frame, are calculated for respective slots constituting the single frame. The calculated cyclic shift values are stored. Base signal sequence phases of the reference signal for the channel, output in the single frame, are calculated for respective slots. The calculated base signal sequence phases are stored. A total phase of the reference signal is calculated based on the cyclic shift values and the base signal sequence phases previously stored for respective slots. A reference signal sequence is generated based on the calculated total phase. |
| US09401784B2 |
Time and frequency acquisition and tracking for OFDMA wireless systems
Obtaining a timing reference in wireless communication is facilitated when desiring to communicate with a weak serving base station (such as an evolved NodeB) in the presence of a stronger interfering base station. The user equipment (UE) may track a stronger interfering base station's timing, or the UE may track a timing that is derived by a composite power delay profile (PDP) from multiple base stations. The composite PDP may be constructed by adjusting individual base station PDPs according to a weighting scheme. The timing obtained in such a manner may be used for estimation of the channel of the interfering base station and cancelling interfering signals from the base station. It may also be used to estimate the channel of the serving base station after adding a backoff. The UE may track a stronger interfering base station's frequency, or the UE may track a composite frequency. |
| US09401780B2 |
Method for transmitting control information in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method for receiving Acknowledgement/Negative Acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) information at a base station in a wireless communication system. The method according to one embodiment includes transmitting a plurality of transport blocks through a plurality of downlink carriers to a user equipment. Each of the plurality of downlink carriers carries two or more transport blocks. The method according to the embodiment further includes, after transmitting the plurality of transport blocks, receiving the ACK/NACK information through one uplink carrier from the user equipment. The ACK/NACK information includes ACK/NACK bits corresponding to the plurality of transport blocks, and the ACK/NACK bits are concatenated in accordance with an index order of the downlink carriers and an index order of the two or more transport blocks associated with each of the downlink carriers. |
| US09401779B2 |
Method for transmitting control information in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method for transmitting ACK/NACK (Acknowledgement/Negative ACK) signals in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a plurality of data blocks from a base station; generating ACK/NACK signals corresponding to the plurality of data blocks; allocating resources for transmitting ACK/NACK signals, wherein the resources are allocated independently per slot; and transmitting the ACK/NACK signals through one uplink component carrier by using the allocated resources. Preferably, the step of allocating resources includes allocating the resources to minimize the difference in the number of the ACK/NACK signals transmitted per slot. |
| US09401778B2 |
Transmission device and distortion compensation method
A storage unit stores a first lookup table including a plurality of correction coefficients for I codes, and stores a second lookup table including a plurality of correction coefficients for Q codes. Each of the correction coefficients for I codes and each of the correction coefficients for Q codes are complex numbers. A distortion compensation unit compensates, with one of the plurality of correction coefficients for I codes, distortion of an I code of a transmission signal to generate a first input signal, outputs the first input signal to an SCPA for I codes. The distortion compensation unit compensates, with one of the plurality of correction coefficients for Q codes, distortion of a Q code of the transmission signal to generate a second input signal, and outputs the second input signal to an SCPA for Q codes. |
| US09401772B2 |
Communication system, control device, forwarding node, communication control method, and program
A communication system includes a control device that determines packet processing rules; a forwarding node that processes a received packet using a processing rule that includes one of a plurality of processing rules transmitted from the control device and that corresponds to the received packet; a comparison unit that compares a first value with a second value wherein the first value is calculated from a first processing rule group held in the forwarding node and the second value is calculated from a second processing rule group determined by the control device for transmission to the forwarding node; and a confirmation unit that confirms if the forwarding node and the control device are synchronized based on the comparison result. |
| US09401767B2 |
Optically powered media converter
An optically powered media conversion device for performing optical to electrical conversion is disclosed. The conversion device includes at least one optical coupler for receiving at least one optical signal comprising at least one wavelength, wherein the at least one optical coupler extracts energy from the at least one optical signal, and at least one detector for extracting data from the at least one optical signal and converting the optical signal to an electrical signal using a photovoltaic process. The conversion device further includes a transmitter for converting an electrical signal to an optical signal and transmitting the optical signal to a first device. |
| US09401765B2 |
Frequency offset estimation circuit and frequency offset estimation method
A frequency offset estimation circuit estimates a frequency offset that indicates a difference between a carrier frequency of a received optical signal and a frequency of a local oscillation light used to recover a transmission signal from the received optical signal. The frequency offset estimation circuit includes: a phase difference detector configured to detect a phase difference due to the frequency offset between a first symbol and a second symbol that is transmitted after the first symbol by a specified symbol interval based on a phase of the first symbol and a phase of the second symbol; an estimator configured to estimate the frequency offset based on the phase difference detected by the phase difference detector; and a symbol interval controller configured to specify the symbol interval based on the frequency offset estimated by the estimator. |
| US09401761B2 |
Method and device for determining whether a configuration of an optical transmission interface has to be adjusted
A method for determining whether a configuration of an optical transmission interface of a first device has to be adjusted for transmitting an optical signal to a second device via an optical band-pass filter, the second device including an optical reception interface configured to enable receiving optical signals output by the optical band-pass filter and transmitted by the first device on a carrier wavelength when the carrier wavelength is included in the passband of the optical band-pass filter. A monitoring device performs: obtaining an information representative of a signal temporal shape corresponding to a symbol of an optical signal received by the second device, from the first device, via the optical band-pass filter; determining whether the configuration of the optical transmission interface of the first device has to be adjusted, on the basis of the information representative of the signal temporal shape. |
| US09401758B2 |
Unmanned air vehicle with autonomous air traffic control communications capability
An exemplary method is implemented by an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for providing voice communications to an air traffic control (ATC) station. Two-way first voice communications are supported with a human operator at a control station that is in control of the UAV over a digital radio frequency (RF) link. Two-way second voice communications are supported with a controller at the ATC station over an analog RF link. The first and second voice communications are coupled to each other so that two-way voice communications are provided between the human operator and the controller. A determination is made that the first communications with the human operator is not operative. Based on this determination, autonomous voice announcements of flight parameters of the UAV are generated, and transmitted via the analog radio frequency link to the ATC station. |
| US09401755B2 |
Terminal station apparatus, base station apparatus, transmission method and control method
A terminal apparatus is disclosed wherein even in a case of applying SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO at the same time, the inter-sequence interference in a plurality of pilot signals used by the same terminal can be suppressed to a low value, while the inter-sequence interference in pilot signal between terminals can be reduced. In this terminal apparatus: a pilot information deciding unit decides, based on allocation control information, Walsh sequences of the respective ones of first and second stream groups at least one of which includes a plurality of streams; and a pilot signal generating unit forms a transport signal by using the decided Walsh sequences to spread the streams included in the first and second stream groups. During this, Walsh sequences orthogonal to each other are established in the first and second stream groups, and users are allocated on a stream group-by-stream group basis. |
| US09401751B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting demodulation pilots in a multi antenna wireless communication system
Multiple antennas employed at transmitting and receiving nodes can significantly increase a MIMO system capacity, especially when the geometry of the receiving node is high. The transmitting node can determine geometry by transmitting common pilots (which may include legacy and non-legacy common pilots) and receiving feedback from the receiving node based on the common pilots. The geometry can also be determined through measuring uplink signals from the receiving node. If the geometry is high enough, the transmitting node may transmit demodulation pilot(s) in addition to the common pilots. The demodulation pilot transmission may be concurrent with data transmission. The receiving node can use the demodulation pilot(s) to estimate the channel for demodulating the data received from the transmitting node. The transmitting node may notify the receiving node to monitor for the demodulation pilot(s) through a configuration message sent over a control channel. |
| US09401749B2 |
Method for codebook enhancement for multi-user multiple-input multiple-output systems
A wireless terminal is capable of receiving a pilot signal from a base station; and determining a precoding matrix as a linear combination of two matrices V1 and V2 based on the received pilot signal. In one implementation, the two matrices V1 and V2 are sub-matrices of a matrix U of a codebook, the linear combination is u:=(V1+αV2)/√{square root over (1+|α|2)} and α is one of a real-valued number and a complex-valued number. The wireless terminal is also capable of transmitting a representation of at least a portion of the precoding matrix to the base station. |
| US09401745B1 |
Wireless communication link using near field coupling
A memory device may include an array of closely spaced memory integrated circuits that communicate wirelessly over at least two frequencies using near field coupling. |
| US09401743B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data from a camera to another electronic device
A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player. |
| US09401741B2 |
Methods and systems for mitigating signal interference
A received signal that includes a target signal and an interference signal is sampled in space and time and then filtered into a matched-filtered signal and into a mis-matched-filtered signal, which is orthogonal to, or nearly orthogonal to, the matched-filtered signal The interference signal is present in both the matched-filtered signal and the mis-matched-filtered signal, whereas the target signal is present in only the matched-filtered signal. In the mis-matched-filtered signal, the interference signal is different from the matched-filtered signal in the temporal property, but is the same as the matched-filtered signal in the spatial property. After the matched-filtered signal and the mis-match-filtered signals have been obtained for the signals received by each antenna element of an array of antenna elements, they are processed to obtain a result vector, W, that is a representation of the target signal without the interference. |
| US09401740B2 |
Training sequences and channel estimation method for spread spectrum based systems
A method of a transmitter, includes multiplying a data sequence by a first code, and multiplying a training sequence by a second code that is orthogonal to the first code. The method further includes adding the multiplied data and training sequences, and transmitting, to a receiver, the added data and training sequences. |
| US09401737B1 |
Circuits and methods for generating oscillating signals
Embodiments of the present invention may be used to generate oscillating signals. One embodiment of the present invention includes a circuit that receives a differential signal to be divided. The circuit converts the differential signal into an injection signal. The injection signal is coupled to an oscillator, and the oscillator generates an output signal having a frequency that is a fraction of the frequency of the differential input signal. In another embodiment, the present invention includes a MIMO wireless communication system. The MIMO system may use the divider circuit to divide a local oscillator signal with reduced common mode distortion. |
| US09401734B2 |
Wireless communication system and communication device
In a wireless communication system, transmitters that transmit data, receivers that receive data, and repeaters that relay data communicate with one another in a wireless manner. The transmitter wirelessly communicates with the receiver by using first slave-device identification information for performing communication as a slave device of the receiver. The receiver wirelessly communicates with the transmitter by using first master-device identification information for performing communication as a master device of the transmitter, and wirelessly communicates with the repeater by using second slave-device identification information for performing communication as a slave device of the repeater. The repeater wirelessly communicates with the receiver by using second master-device identification information for performing communication as a master device of the receiver. |
| US09401733B2 |
Electronic device enclosure
An electronic device enclosure which includes a front surface, a back surface opposite to the front surface, and a lateral edge connected with the front surface, wherein a part of the front surface is sloped towards the back surface to define a slope area that extends to the lateral edge, wherein the electronic device enclosure is provided with at least one attachment located in the slope area and at least one connecting port located away from the slope area, whereby the use of the enclosure can be effectively achieved. |
| US09401732B2 |
Receiver and receiving method of receiver
Embodiments of the present invention provide a receiver and a receiving method of the receiver, so that monolithic integration of multiple receiving channels can be implemented. The receiver includes: a zero intermediate frequency channel, performing in-phase/quadrature (IQ) down conversion on a radio frequency signal at a first frequency band using a frequency division or frequency multiplication signal of a first oscillation signal; and a superheterodyne channel, performing down conversion on a radio frequency signal at a second frequency band using the frequency division or frequency multiplication signal of the first oscillation signal, where the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band. According to the embodiments of the present invention, a zero intermediate frequency channel and a superheterodyne channel use a same oscillation signal or a same frequency division or frequency multiplication signal of the oscillation signal, thereby monolithic integration of multiple receiving channels can be implemented. |
| US09401730B2 |
Two way radio and peripheral devices
A two way radio includes a first push to talk button and a second push to talk button. The first push to talk button is configured to cause transmission of a first signal on a first channel. The second push to talk button is configured to cause transmission of a second signal on a second channel. The first and second channels are in a single radio network. A radio peripheral device for operation with a two-way radio includes a connector configured to be connected to the two-way radio; a speaker configured to output audio based on a received audio signal that is received from the two-way radio via the connector; a microphone; a first push-to-talk button configured to provide a first indication to the two-way radio; and a second push-to-talk button configured to provide a second indication to the two-way radio. |
| US09401729B2 |
Maintaining running disparity while utilizing different line-codes
Methods and systems for encoding a frame utilizing at least two line-codes having different minimal Hamming distances. The method includes maintaining over the frame absolute value of running disparity lower than or equal to K, while: encoding a first part of the frame utilizing a first line-code having a binary code word length N′ and a minimal Hamming distance D′; and encoding a second part of the frame utilizing a second line-code having a binary code word length N″ and a minimal Hamming distance D″ lower than D′. Where the value of K is lower than both N′/2 and N″/2. |
| US09401725B2 |
Suppressing offset, offset drift, and 1/f noise during analog/digital conversion
A circuit arrangement is provided for suppressing offset, offset drift, and 1/f noise during analog/digital conversion. The arrangement includes an analog/digital converter configured to convert an analog input signal into output data, an inverter configured to invert the input signal, a switching element connected upstream of the analog/digital converter and downstream of the inverter and configured to periodically change over between the input signal and the inverted input signal at a predefinable switching frequency, and a switchable negator circuit connected downstream of the analog/digital converter and configured to periodically negate the output data from the analog/digital converter at the switching frequency, the output data being negated when the inverted input signal is applied to the analog/digital converter. An analog/digital converter is also provided with suppression of offset, offset drift, and 1/f noise during analog/digital conversion. A gradient amplifier having a circuit arrangement or an analog/digital converter is also provided. |
| US09401721B1 |
Reference voltage generation and tuning
A data recovery circuit includes a comparator for providing a comparator output signal in response to a difference in voltage between a data input signal and the reference voltage, a sampling circuit for sampling the comparator output signal to provide a sample signal, a summing circuit for providing an up signal in response to an average of logic high values of the sample signal exceeding logic low values of the input samples signal, and a down signal in response to an average of the low logic values of the sample signal exceeding the logic high values of the sample signal, a counter for counting up in response to activations of the up signal and counting down in response to activations of the down signal to provide a count signal, and a reference voltage generator for generating the reference voltage in response to the count signal. |
| US09401718B1 |
Heterogeneous programmable device and configuration software adapted therefor
A method of configuring a programmable integrated circuit device with a user logic design includes analyzing the user logic design to identify unidirectional logic paths within the user logic design and cyclic logic paths within the user logic design, assigning the cyclic logic paths to logic in a first portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a first data rate, assigning the unidirectional logic paths to logic in a second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a second data rate lower than the first data rate, and pipelining the unidirectional data paths in the second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device to compensate for the lower second data rate. A programmable integrated circuit device adapted to carry out such method may have logic regions operating at different rates, including logic regions with programmably selectable data rates. |
| US09401717B2 |
Flexible, space-efficient I/O circuitry for integrated circuits
Flexible, space-efficient I/O architectures for integrated circuits simplify circuit design and shorten design times. In one aspect, cells for power supply pads are eliminated, in part by locating ESD protection circuitry for these pads underneath the pads themselves, leaving only signal I/O buffers. Pads coupled to the signal I/O buffers may be defined as either signal I/O pads or power supply pads in accordance with customization circuitry. Customization circuitry also provides for flexible bank architectures, where signal I/O buffers within a bank share power supply requirements that may be different from power supply requirements of signal I/O buffers of another bank. The number of banks and the number of signal I/O buffers belonging to each bank is flexibly defined. Customization circuitry also provides for flexible pad options, whereby the IC pads may be configured for different packaging technology, for example, for wire bonding for flip-chip bonding, or for other types of bonding. |
| US09401716B2 |
Logic gate using schmitt trigger circuit
Logic gates using Schmitt trigger circuits are provided. An AND gate using the Schmitt trigger circuit includes: a NAND gate configured to receive two input signals, perform a NAND logic operation, and output a first output signal; and a DTMOS inverter configured to invert the first output signal, and output the inverted first output signal as a second output signal, and a threshold voltage of the NAND gate is controlled using the second output signal. A OR gate using the Schmitt trigger circuit includes: a NOR gate configured to receive two input signals, perform a NOR logic operation, and output a first output signal; and a DTMOS inverter configured to invert the first output signal, and output the inverted first output signal as a second output signal, and a threshold voltage of the NOR gate is controlled using the second output signal. |
| US09401710B2 |
Active diode having improved transistor turn-off control method
An active diode that features improved control of transistor turn-off is provided. Such an active diode may include a comparator to compare voltages between opposite ends of a parasitic diode, and a gate driver to control a gate terminal of the transistor according to the comparison result of the comparator. Furthermore, the active diode may further include an off-timing controller to control the transistor to be turned off at a point in time when voltages of the opposite ends of the parasitic diode turn positive. Thus, the active diode may be turned off when required. |
| US09401709B2 |
Control circuit for management engine interface
A control circuit includes a platform controller hub (PCH), a basic input/output system (BIOS), an electronic switch, and first and second resistors. A management engine interface is loaded in the PCH. The BIOS is connected to the PCH to control the signals output from a general input/output (GPIO) pin of the PCH. A power supply is connected to a serial pin of the PCH through the electronic switch. The GPIO pin of the PCH controls on or off of the electronic switch. |
| US09401705B2 |
Gate driving device
The present invention copes with fluctuations in a power supply voltage when a capacitor for coping with fluctuations in the power supply voltage has been omitted and also cases in which the power supply voltage is constantly low, thereby ensuring driving of an active element. A gate driving device of an IGBT includes: a first switch portion which turns on the IGBT; a second switch portion which turns off the IGBT; a current control portion which controls the outflow of charge on the gate to a ground line such that current is constant; a first protection circuit which suppresses outflow of gate current to the power supply line; and a second protection circuit which detects a prescribed fluctuation in an internal power supply voltage Vdc, and interrupts the connection between the current control portion and the ground line. |
| US09401701B1 |
Time signal generating circuit and time signal generating method
A time signal generating circuit and a time signal generating method are provided. The time signal generating method includes following steps: getting a first phase signal and a second phase signal, wherein the first phase signal is related to a first phase current and the second phase signal is related to a second phase current; sampling and holding the first phase signal to generate a first signal and sampling and holding the second phase signal to generate a second signal; using an error amplifier to generate a balance signal according to the first signal and the second signal; and generating a time signal according to the balance signal. The present invention is capable of avoiding the imbalance of each phase current caused by the offset values between different elements in conventional technology. |
| US09401692B2 |
Acoustic resonator having collar structure
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator structure comprises a first electrode disposed over a substrate, a first piezoelectric layer disposed over the first electrode, a second electrode disposed over the first piezoelectric layer, and a collar structure disposed around a perimeter of an active region defined by an overlap between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the piezoelectric layer. |
| US09401687B2 |
Voice alarm amplifier
An emergency message output amplifier includes a plurality of audio output channels. Channels can be combined together to increase output power, and can be isolated from respective output speakers in response to detected faults and then disabled. The functional amplifier can be activated by itself and output current can be monitored to lower the output level enough to enable the amplifier to properly drive the existing load. |
| US09401679B1 |
Apparatus and method for improving power supply rejection ratio
A compensation capacitor can be added to an amplifier for stability. Disclosed are systems and methods for improving the power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) performance of an amplifier in the presence of one or more compensation capacitors. |
| US09401678B2 |
Output impedance compensation of a pseudo-envelope follower power management system
A switch mode power supply converter, a parallel amplifier, and a parallel amplifier output impedance compensation circuit are disclosed. The switch mode power supply converter provides a switching voltage and generates an estimated switching voltage output, which is indicative of the switching voltage. The parallel amplifier generates a power amplifier supply voltage at a power amplifier supply output based on a combination of a VRAMP signal and a high frequency ripple compensation signal. The parallel amplifier output impedance compensation circuit provides the high frequency ripple compensation signal based on a difference between the VRAMP signal and the estimated switching voltage output. |
| US09401677B2 |
Split transformer based digitally controlled oscillator and DC-coupled buffer circuit therefor
A novel and useful LC-tank digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) incorporating a split transformer configuration. The LC-tank oscillator exhibits a significant reduction in area such that it is comparable in size to conventional ring oscillators (ROs) while still retaining its salient features of excellent phase noise and low sensitivity to supply variations. The oscillator incorporates an ultra-compact split transformer topology that is less susceptible to common-mode electromagnetic interference than regular high-Q LC tanks which is highly desirable in SoC environments. The oscillator, together with a novel dc-coupled buffer, can be incorporated within a wide range of circuit applications, including clock generators and an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) intended for wireline applications. |
| US09401669B2 |
Motor controller for synchronously controlling multiple motors
A motor controller includes: a converter for converting an alternating current to a direct current; a first inverter for converting the direct current in a direct-current link of the converter to an alternating current for driving a first motor; a second inverter for converting the direct current in the direct-current link to an alternating current for driving a second motor; a power-failure detection unit for detecting a power failure on the side with the alternating-current power supply; and a command creation unit for creating a drive command for each of the first inverter and the second inverter when no power failure has occurred, while creating a drive command for the first inverter and also creating a drive command for the second inverter by using position feedback information of the first motor driven according to the drive command for the first inverter, when a power failure has occurred. |
| US09401662B2 |
Inverter with an AC interface for the connection of AC modules
An inverter for feeding a grid-compatible AC voltage into a grid is described, wherein the inverter includes an inverter bridge for converting a DC voltage to a first AC voltage and a grid interface between the inverter bridge and the grid for converting the first AC voltage to the grid-compatible AC voltage for feeding into the grid. An AC interface via which an AC module for feeding into the grid can be connected, is arranged between the inverter bridge and the grid interface. |
| US09401660B2 |
Monolithic AC/DC converter for generating DC supply voltage
An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a rectifier/regulator circuit coupled to receive an ac source voltage and output a regulated dc voltage. The rectifier/regulator circuit includes first and second switching elements that provide charging current when enabled. The first and second switching elements do not provide charging current when disabled. A sensor circuit is coupled to sense the regulated dc voltage and generate a feedback control signal coupled to the rectifier/regulator circuit that enables the first and second switching elements when the regulated do voltage is above a target voltage, and disables the first and second switching elements when the regulated do voltage is below the target voltage. |
| US09401656B2 |
Method of controlling power conversion apparatus
A voltage of a reactor is detected. a correction is made on the basis of the voltage of the reactor so that a first voltage control rate command which is a ratio of an amplitude of an AC voltage to an average value of a DC voltage increases as a harmonic component of the DC voltage becomes higher and the first voltage control rate command decreases as an amplitude of an alternating current outputted from the power converter becomes larger, to generate a second voltage control rate command. A switching signal which is generated on the basis of the second voltage control rate command is given to the power converter. |
| US09401651B2 |
Transformer sub-circuit
A transformer sub-circuit for use in an electrically operated vehicle includes a bridge circuit which has at least four MOSFETs and capacitors connected in parallel with the MOSFETs, and an inductor connected to the bridge circuit for use as a primary side of a transformer. A control device or controller for the inverter is configured to cause switching of the MOSFETs in such a way that operation is performed at a frequency that is higher than the resonance frequency. |
| US09401649B2 |
Switching converter
When a current detection voltage VCS that corresponds to a voltage drop across a detection resistor RCS exceeds a first threshold value VADIM, a current limit comparator asserts a reset pulse. A zero current detection circuit generates a set pulse configured as an instruction to turn on a switching transistor. A logic circuit generates an output pulse S14 according to the reset pulse and the set pulse. When the current detection signal VCS exceeds a second threshold value VTH, a second comparator asserts a comparison signal. An abnormal state detection period is set to a first time period from a time point at which the switching transistor turns on. When the comparison signal is asserted in the abnormal state detection period, an abnormal state detection circuit judges that an abnormal state has occurred. |
| US09401646B2 |
Power converter having a synchronous rectifier
In an aspect, the present invention provides a high frequency switching power converter. The high frequency switching power converter may include a plurality of soft-switchable power cells flexibly connected to receive an input signal in series and provide an output. The high frequency switching power converter may further include a controller for configuring the flexible connection and for controlling the power cells to receive the input signal. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of power cells may be separately controllable by the controller. Further, a portion of the plurality of power cells may be arranged with parallel outputs. Additionally, at least one of the plurality of cells may include one or more switched capacitors. In another embodiment, the at least one of the plurality of cells may include at least one switched capacitor and a DC/DC regulating converter. |
| US09401645B1 |
Electrical voltage converter circuits
The preferred embodiments of the present invention change the switching circuits in switched-mode voltage converter circuits. Instead of switching at full amplitude of input voltage, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide partial voltage switching signals to the electrical filters. The resulting voltage converter circuits operates at better power efficiency while achieving significantly better space and cost efficiency. |
| US09401638B2 |
System and method for single phase transition for multiphase DCDC converters
A DCDC converter includes a controller, an up/down counter, a first power stage and a second power stage. The controller generates an up/down control signal. The up/down counter generates a first power stage control signal and a second power stage control signal based on the up/down control signal. The first power stage generates a first output current at a first phase and at a first voltage based on the first power stage control signal. The second power stage generates a second output current at a second phase based on the second power stage control signal. The up/down counter modifies the first power stage control signal to control the first power stage such that the first output current attenuates from a first power stage output to a secondary first power stage output. The controller can further output a control signal to modify the first voltage of the first power stage. |
| US09401637B2 |
Switching regulator with adaptive PWM/PFM modulator
A switching regulator controller for a buck switching regulator incorporates a multi-mode adaptive modulator configured to automatically select between a first operation mode and a second operation mode as a function of the output voltage being generated. In one embodiment, the switching regulator controller compares the output voltage to a comparator reference voltage and is configured to operate in a selected operation mode based on the output voltage. In this manner, a single switching regulator controller can be used in multiple instances of an electronic system to supply circuitry that may have different operational requirements. In one embodiment, the switching regulator controller is configured to operation in a PWM/PFM mode and a PWM mode as a function of the output voltage, which indicates the circuit application to which the switch regulator controller is used to supply. |
| US09401631B2 |
Brushless DC motor with permanent magnet rotor
The brushless DC motor of the present invention comprises a permanent magnet rotor rotating coaxially with and inside of the stator containing the electric windings, separated by a radial, axially extending gap. The rotor can be formed of four or more permanent, e.g., ferrite ceramic magnets, spaced substantially equidistantly circumferentially around the rotor and extending radially along the axial length of the rotor. The preferred ferrite magnets are substantially corrosion resistant, and thus durable in the wet rotor environment, in which it may be used, sufficient to withstand the effects of even hot salt water. Preferably, four of the permanent magnets are bar magnets, i.e., rectangular in cross-section, extending radially and perpendicularly to the adjacent magnets. Most preferably, the bar magnets are separated by generally wedge-shaped, or quadrant-shaped, sections of magnetic material. The permanent magnets are polarized so that the north-south flux lines extend transversely to each adjacent magnet, most preferably forming a so-called Halbach Array. This brushless DC motor is especially useful for driving wet rotor pumps, wherein the particular combination of elements forming the rotor results in a highly efficient, effective and durable motor. |
| US09401630B2 |
Cooling stator windings of an electric machine
In an electric machine, there may be lubrication and cooling needs, such as lubricating bearings and cooling coils of the electric machine. When lubricant is used for both, it is desirable to prioritize the lubrication to the bearings. By providing check valves between a pressurized oil manifold and the cooling coils, lubricant is diverted to the coils only when pressure in the system is sufficient to satisfy both lubrication and cooling. In some embodiments, an oil gallery is provided on an outside surface of a back iron of the stator of the electric machine and orifices are provided in the back iron so that oil drips onto the coils of the electric motor. In some embodiments, the current commanded to the electric motor is based on whether or not lubricant (or other coolant) is being provided to the coils. |
| US09401627B2 |
Redundant power supply system providing alternate standby
A redundant power supply system providing alternate standby includes at least one primary power supply, at least one secondary power supply and a power integration panel. Each primary power supply receives a first power ON/OFF signal and starts to output a primary duty power. Each secondary power supply receives a second power ON/OFF signal and starts to output a secondary duty power. The power integration panel is electrically connected to the primary power supply and the secondary power supply and has a standby mode to receive a power ON/OFF signal from a motherboard and output alternately at a selected time interval the first power ON/OFF signal to the primary power supply or the second power ON/OFF signal to the secondary power supply to make the primary power supply and the secondary power supply on standby alternately. |
| US09401620B2 |
Charging battery unit and electronic device with the same
A charging battery unit includes a receiving unit and a battery. The receiving unit includes a fixing member and a coil fixed on the fixing member. The coil receives external electromagnetic signals to generate induction currents. The battery is electrically connected to the coil and receives the induction currents generated by the coil. The present disclosure also relates an electronic device with the charging battery unit. |
| US09401613B2 |
Integrated electronics for perpetual energy harvesting
An apparatus for perpetually harvesting ambient near ultraviolet to far infrared radiation to provide continual power regardless of the environment, incorporating a system for the harvesting electronics governing power management, storage control, and output regulation. The harvesting electronics address issues of efficiently matching the voltage and current characteristics of the different harvested energy levels, low power consumption, and matching the power output demand. The device seeks to harvest the largely overlooked blackbody radiation through use of a thermal harvester, providing a continuous source of power, coupled with a solar harvester to provide increased power output. |
| US09401608B2 |
System for vehicle jump starting
The invention provides a system for jump starting vehicle batteries in which the service end of each of two jumper cables has a self-adjusting locking clamp, and each jumper cable is segmented into two parts that are joined by a plug and socket configured such that the cable parts cannot be incorrectly joined or will be relatively harmless if incorrectly joined. Auxiliary wiring is provided for recharging free-standing source batteries that are used for jump-starting. The system enhances user safety, simplifies making and breaking of electrical connections, and facilitates the use of back-up batteries. |
| US09401606B2 |
System and method for providing active power balancing
According to one embodiment, a system for actively balancing power between several power units is disclosed. Each of the power units includes a corresponding group of cascoded energy cells. The system for actively balancing power comprises a group of buck/boost circuits used in each of the power units for maintaining an internal power balance among the corresponding group of cascoded energy cells, and an energy distribution circuit for responding to a respective energy need in each of the power units. The energy distribution circuit is configured to transfer energy between the power units to balance power among the power units according to their respective energy needs. In one embodiment, a method for actively balancing power between several power units comprises maintaining the internal power balance among the group of cascoded energy cells within each of the power units, and transferring energy between the power units as needed. |
| US09401605B2 |
System and method for reducing harmonic distortion
A method is disclosed including but not limited to supplying a voltage waveform from a higher power electrical bus to a lower power electrical bus; sensing on the lower power electrical bus, a deviation from a sinusoidal voltage waveform in the voltage waveform supplied from the higher power electrical bus; generating a correction current to adjust the deviation in the voltage on the lower power bus to a substantially sinusoidal voltage waveform; and filtering the correction current to substantially attenuate the correction current from propagating through the filter from the lower power electrical bus to the higher power electrical bus. A system is disclosed for performing the method. |
| US09401602B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
An ESD protection circuit includes a resistive element, a capacitive element, a protecting element, and a controller. The resistive element, the protecting element, and the controller are provided in an element formation layer. At least part of the capacitive element includes an interconnect capacitor provided in a plurality of interconnect layers. When viewed in plan, at least part of a capacitance formation region in which the interconnect capacitor is provided overlaps at least part of an element formation region in which the resistive element, the protecting element, and the controller are provided. |
| US09401600B2 |
Overvoltage protection circuit, overvoltage protection method and panel driving circuit
The present invention provides an overvoltage protection circuit, an overvoltage protection method and a panel driving circuit, wherein, the overvoltage protection circuit adjusts drive output voltage of LED strings coupled with a main IC and a secondary IC and includes a main IC overvoltage triggering circuit and a secondary IC overvoltage triggering circuit, wherein, the main IC overvoltage triggering circuit connected respectively in series with said main IC and several LED strings, said secondary IC overvoltage triggering circuit connected respectively in series with the secondary IC and several LED strings, overvoltage protection triggering points are set respectively in the main IC and the secondary IC, and the voltage value of the overvoltage protection's triggering point of the secondary IC is less than that of the main IC. |
| US09401598B2 |
Control unit for a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a control unit for a motor vehicle. Said control unit comprises a voltage converter which has an inlet for a direct voltage network. Said voltage converter is designed to generate a direct voltage smaller than an input voltage on the inlet for the direct voltage network and the direct voltage is emitted on the outlet side. According to the invention, the voltage converter comprises an inverter and a transformer which is connected to said inverter. Said voltage converter also comprises an inlet for a discharge signal and is designed to discharge by means of the inverter an intermediate circuit capacitor which is connected to the inlet of the direct voltage network in accordance with the discharge signal, and to reduce a working frequency of the inverter, in particular, compared to the frequency with no discharge signal. |
| US09401597B2 |
Method and device for discharging an intermediate circuit of a power supply network
The present invention relates to a method (100) and a device for discharging an intermediate circuit (9) of a power supply network (10), in particular a high-voltage network, wherein a consumer (7) can be connected to the power supply network (10). A first (11) and a second (12) discharge circuit for discharging the intermediate circuit (9) are provided. In a first step, the intermediate circuit (9) is discharged at least partially by means of the first discharge circuit (11) and, in a subsequent second step (104), the intermediate circuit (9) is further discharged (104) by means of the second discharge circuit (12). |
| US09401595B2 |
Electricity leakage warning
The invention discloses an electric leakage warning and protection circuit which includes a zero-sequence transformer, a overcurrent sensor and a zero line electricity leakage sensor are sequentially arranged and connected with a first control module, the first control module is further connected with a control end of a first silicon controlled rectifier, the first silicon controlled rectifier and a tripping coil are serially connected with each other and are jointly arranged between an anode and a cathode of the power module, an electric leakage display circuit is provided with a second silicon controlled rectifier and a first light emitting diode, the second silicon controlled rectifier is serially connected with the first light emitting diode, and a control end of the second silicon controlled rectifier is connected with the second control module. The electricity leakage warning and protection circuit has advantages of implementing electricity leakage warning and automatic tripping protection, so that the safety is greatly improved. |
| US09401592B2 |
Discharge circuits of discharge paths for electromagnetic interference filters
A discharge circuit for an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter is provided. The discharge circuit includes a switch circuit, a control circuit, and a detection circuit. The switch circuit is coupled to an X-capacitor of the EMI filter. The control circuit is coupled to the switch circuit and configured to turn on the switch circuit in a predetermined period to provide a discharge path. The detection circuit is coupled to the discharge path. In the predetermined period, the detection circuit detects whether a cross point occurs between a discharge voltage signal on the discharge path and a reference voltage signal to generate a detection signal which is provided to the control circuit. When the detection circuit detects that the cross point does not occur, the control circuit continuously turns on the switch circuit according to the detection signal after the predetermined period has elapsed. |
| US09401590B2 |
Heat sink for contactor in power distribution assembly
An electrical contactor assembly is provided including an electrical bus bar and at least one electrical contactor. The electrical bus bar includes a layer of insulation, a layer of copper, and a composite core having at least one wire embedded therein. The wire is configured to locally reduce thermal strain. The at least one electrical contactor is mounted to the layer of copper through an opening in the layer of insulation. The electrical contactor and the bus bar are thermally and electrically connected. |
| US09401589B2 |
Cable bend limiter
A cable bend limiter provides one or more joints including alternating sleeves and outer ball sections enclosing inner ball sections. Friction is controlled by washers at, or low friction surface treatments on, either side of the outer ball sections. |
| US09401588B2 |
Universal phase dimming module
A universal load control module includes a power supply that operates over a wide voltage range, a microcontroller, and one or more functional control blocks. A functional control block includes a dimmer circuit for controlling a lighting load that provides reverse phase cut mode dimming, forward phase cut mode dimming, and hybrid phase cut mode dimming, as well as thermal protection. One or more universal control modules are housed in a cabinet that includes a cabinet control module. The cabinet includes additional thermal protection measures. |
| US09401585B2 |
Corona ignition device
A corona ignition device for igniting fuel in an internal combustion engine by means of a corona discharge. The corona ignition device comprises a central electrode, an insulator into which the central electrode is plugged, a housing into which the insulator is plugged, a coil body onto which a coil from a winding wire is wound, which coil is connected to the central electrode, and a contact element that is located in a recess of the coil body and contacts the wire. It is provided that the contact element has a slot that runs in the longitudinal direction of the coil body, and the coil body has an opening in a side wall of the recess, wherein the wire is fed through the opening in the side wall of the recess and is held in the slot of the contact element. |
| US09401584B1 |
Laser diode device with a plurality of gallium and nitrogen containing substrates
In an example, the present invention provides a gallium and nitrogen containing multilayered structure, and related method. The structure has a plurality of gallium and nitrogen containing semiconductor substrates, each of the gallium and nitrogen containing semiconductor substrates (“substrates”) having a plurality of epitaxially grown layers overlaying a top-side of each of the substrates. The structure has an orientation of a reference crystal direction for each of the substrates. The structure has a first handle substrate coupled to each of the substrates such that each of the substrates is aligned to a spatial region configured in a selected direction of the first handle substrate, which has a larger spatial region than a sum of a total backside region of plurality of the substrates to be arranged in a tiled configuration overlying the first handle substrate. The reference crystal direction for each of the substrates is parallel to the spatial region in the selected direction within 10 degrees or less. The structure has a first bonding medium provided between the first handle substrate and each of the substrate while maintaining the alignment between reference crystal orientation and the selected direction of the first handle substrate; and a processed region formed overlying each of the substrates configured concurrently while being bonded to the first handle substrate. Depending upon the embodiment, the processed region can include any combination of the aforementioned processing steps and/or steps. |
| US09401583B1 |
Laser structure on silicon using aspect ratio trapping growth
A method of forming a laser on silicon using aspect ratio trapping (ART) growth. The method may include; forming a first insulator layer on a substrate; etching a trench in the first insulator layer exposing a top surface of the substrate; forming a buffer layer in the trench using ART growth; forming a laser on the buffer layer, the laser includes at least an active region and a top cladding layer; and forming a top contact on the top cladding layer and a bottom contact on the substrate. |
| US09401582B2 |
Lasers with beam-shape modification
A beam control structure for semiconductor lasers that allows modification of the shape of a beam allowing, for example, higher coupling into an optical fiber. The structure may comprise one or more of a tilted patio, a staircase, a reflective roof, and a reflective sidewall. |
| US09401579B2 |
Pulsed laser sources
Modelocked fiber laser resonators may be coupled with optical amplifiers. An isolator optionally may separate the resonator from the amplifier. A reflective optical element on one end of the resonator having a relatively low reflectivity may be employed to couple light from the resonator to the amplifier. Enhanced pulse-width control may be provided with concatenated sections of both polarization-maintaining and non-polarization-maintaining fibers. Apodized fiber Bragg gratings and integrated fiber polarizers may also be included in the laser cavity to assist in linearly polarizing the output of the cavity. Very short pulses with a large optical bandwidth may be obtained by matching the dispersion value of the grating to the inverse of the dispersion of the intra-cavity fiber. Frequency comb sources may be constructed from such modelocked fiber oscillators. Low dispersion and an in-line interferometer that provides feedback may assist in controlling the frequency components output from the comb source. |
| US09401578B2 |
Device for fixing an electrical connection terminal to a support
A fixing device for fixing an electrical connection terminal to a support having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and defining a through hole of a first diameter. The fixing device comprises: a ring including a receiving portion partially defining an axial recess and insertable in the through hole; a dowel including an insert portion axially insertable into the recess of the ring and a locking portion axially spaced from the insert portion, the dowel partially defining an axial bore including an internal thread, and in the locking portion the internal thread of the bore is a distorted locking thread; and a fixing screw including a threaded shank engagable with the dowel. Tightening of the fixing screw draws the insert portion of the dowel axially into the recess of the ring, thereby radially expanding the ring into press-fit engagement with the through hole. |
| US09401572B1 |
Positioning of contacts in audio jack
An electronic device may include an audio jack allowing a peripheral audio output device to be connected to the electronic device by inserting the plug into the jack. The jack may include a receptacle that extends into the housing. A plurality of contacts may be included in the receptacle, arranged along a longitudinal direction of the receptacle. A latch may be installed in the receptacle, at an intermediate location between the proximal end and the distal end of the receptacle, to secure a position of the plug in the receptacle. A detect contact may be positioned at the distal end of the receptacle, separate from the latch. The detect contact may be actuated by the distal end of the tip of the plug to indicate that the plug is fully inserted in the receptacle. Upon actuation of the detect contact, the device may transfer audio output functionality to the peripheral device connected to the device by the plug inserted in the jack. |
| US09401571B2 |
Coaxial connector and camera module having the same
A coaxial connector includes: an inner conductive terminal; an outer conductive terminal in which the inner conductive terminal is accommodated; and a connector housing that holds the inner conductive terminal and the outer conductive terminal in a state in which the inner conductive terminal is accommodated in the outer conductive terminal. The connector housing includes a first housing part having a first dielectric constant and a second housing part which has a second dielectric constant different from the first dielectric constant and is formed so as to fill a gap between the inner conductive terminal and the outer conductive terminal with at least a portion of the second housing part, and the second housing part is disposed at a position in which impedance between the inner conductive terminal and the outer conductive terminal approaches a predetermined value. |
| US09401566B2 |
Charging plug with contact-free switch device
The invention relates to a charging plug for connection to a charging socket of a device which is intended to be charged, for example, a motor vehicle which is at least partially driven by electrical energy, or a device which provides charging energy. In order to prevent the charging plug from prematurely becoming defective as a result of corrosion or electro migration, there is provision according to the invention for a switching device of the charging plug to be arranged partially inside and partially outside an enclosed conduction chamber. |
| US09401556B2 |
Connector
A connector is mateable with a mating connector which includes a mating contact having a mating contact point. The connector comprises a contact and a holding member which holds the contact. The contact has a contact portion. When the connector and the mating connector are mated with each other, the mating contact point slides on and is in contact with the contact portion. The contact portion has a first plated layer as its outermost layer and a second plated layer located under the first plated layer. The first plated layer is made of silver or silver alloy and has Vickers hardness not more than 90 Hv. The second plated layer is made of silver or silver alloy and has Vickers hardness not less than 100 Hv. |
| US09401555B2 |
Electrical connector and method of electrically coupling first and second electrical terminals of first and second battery cells to one another
An electrical connector includes a first terminal assembly having a first pin assembly with a first plurality of pins and a second plurality of pins is provided. The electrical connector includes a first end cap attached to the first terminal assembly to urge a first electrical terminal against the first plurality of pins such that the first plurality of pins extend through and contact the first electrical terminal. The electrical connector includes a second terminal assembly having a first pin assembly with a first plurality of female pins and a second plurality of pins. The electrical connector includes a second end cap attached to the second terminal assembly to urge a second electrical terminal against the second plurality of pins of the first pin assembly of the second terminal assembly such that the second plurality of pins of the first pin assembly of the second terminal assembly extend through and contact the second electrical terminal. |
| US09401550B2 |
Connector
Socket terminals include flat bar-like connection pieces that are in conductive contact with plug terminals, and the plug terminals include fork-shaped terminal portions that are in conductive contact with the socket terminals through the flat bar-like connection pieces. Plate surfaces of the plug terminals extend in a height direction and are fixed to a plug housing. Furthermore, fork-shaped terminal portions include contact recesses having openings in plate edges on a socket terminal insertion side. Contact projections of the contact recesses hold the flat bar-like connection pieces of the socket terminals that have been inserted through the openings in between in a direction (an up-down direction) that extends along the plate surfaces of the plug terminals. |
| US09401548B2 |
Crimp terminal
A crimp terminal includes a bottom portion. A pair of conductor press-fastening portions respectively extend from opposite side edges of the bottom portion. A serration is formed in a face of the bottom portion on which a conductor of a wire is to be placed. The serration extends in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the placed conductor. A direction indication mark portion is provided on the face of the bottom portion. The direction indication mark portion is indicative of a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the serration. |
| US09401547B2 |
Multimode antenna structure
A multimode antenna structure is provided for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in a communication device. The antenna structure includes a plurality of antenna ports for coupling to the circuitry; a plurality of antenna elements, each operatively coupled to a different one of the antenna ports; and a plurality of connecting elements. The connecting elements each electrically connect neighboring antenna elements such that the antenna elements and the connecting elements are arranged about the periphery of the antenna structure and form a single radiating structure. Electrical currents on one antenna element flow to connected neighboring antenna elements and generally bypass the antenna ports coupled to the neighboring antenna elements such that an antenna mode excited by one antenna port is generally electrically isolated from a mode excited by another antenna port at a given desired signal frequency range, and the antenna structure generates diverse antenna patterns. |
| US09401545B2 |
Multi polarization conformal channel monopole antenna
A conformal channel monopole antenna system includes: a housing; a cavity formed within the housing; and a substrate covering the cavity. The substrate includes a first elongated radiating element coupled to two opposing sides of the top surface of the housing at two opposing ends in a first direction; a second elongated radiating element coupled another two opposing sides of the top surface of the housing at two opposing ends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a first feed port at one end of the first elongated radiating element; and a second feed port at one end of the second elongated radiating element. The first elongated radiating element is configured to radiate a first type of polarization and the second elongated radiating element is configured to radiate a second type of polarization simultaneously with the first type of polarization. |
| US09401542B2 |
Antenna arrangement
Apparatus, methods, computer software and computer program products are provided for tuning a user equipment antenna to simultaneously operate at more than one resonant frequency by combining a first electrical load and a first frequency selective component to tune the antenna to a first resonant frequency with respect to signals in a first frequency range, and combining a second electrical load and a second frequency selective component to tune the antenna to a second resonant frequency with respect to signals in a second frequency range. The first electrical load, the second electrical load, the first frequency selective component and the second frequency selective component act to tune the antenna to operate simultaneously at the first resonant frequency and the second resonant frequency. |
| US09401539B2 |
Integrated antenna with the device housing
A hinge antenna comprises a major conductor, a first rotating element and a second rotating element. The stretching arms on both sides of the major conductor are assembled to the first rotating element and the second rotating element, respectively. The first rotating element further comprises a torque device and a first vice conductor, and the second rotating element further comprises a signal feeding line, a connection device, and a second vice conductor. The signal feeding line is electrically connected to the connection device and the second vice conductor, by which a high frequency signal can be passed to the major conductor, and then passed to the torque device on the other side and the first vice conductor. The aforementioned configuration is utilized to form an antenna loop. In addition, the configuration of this antenna can be applied to a foldable electronic device. |
| US09401538B2 |
Structurally integrated antenna aperture electronics attachment design
An antenna electronics attachment system is disclosed. The antenna electronics attachment system includes a structural honeycomb panel having an array of cells. The antenna electronics attachment system further includes a nutplate coupled to a mounting plate via a plurality of embedded fastening structures. The mounting plate is shaped to fit substantially precisely to a cell of the structural honeycomb panel. The antenna electronics attachment system also includes an electronic component coupled to the nutplate. And, the antenna electronics attachment system further includes mechanical-electronic coupling means operable for change-out while in-service of the electronic component. |
| US09401536B2 |
Dual band antenna configuration
A dual band antenna configuration constituted of: a waveguide extending from a proximal section to a high frequency band section; a first high frequency band port extending from the high frequency band section of the waveguide; a first low frequency band port extending, from an outer surface of a low frequency section of the waveguide, along a first radial path; a second low frequency band port extending, from the outer surface of the low frequency section of the waveguide, along a second radial path, the second radial path orthogonal to the first radial path; and a 180 degree hybrid coupler, wherein a first port of the 180 degree hybrid coupler in electrical communication with the first low frequency band port and a second port of the 180 degree hybrid coupler, different than the first port thereof, in electrical communication with the second low frequency band port. |
| US09401531B2 |
High-frequency signal transmission line and electronic device
A high-frequency signal transmission line includes a dielectric body including a plurality of dielectric sheets. A signal line is provided in the dielectric body. A connector is mounted on a first main surface of the dielectric body and electrically connected to the signal line. A ground conductor is provided on a second main surface side of the dielectric body, compared with the signal line, and faces the signal line across the dielectric sheet. In the ground conductor, conductor-missing portions are provided in which no conductors are provided in at least portions of regions overlapping with the signal line in planar in connection portions. Adjustment conductors are provided in the second main surface of the dielectric body, and overlap with at least portions of the conductor-missing portions in the planar view. |
| US09401524B2 |
Compliant stack for a planar solid oxide fuel cell
A fuel cell stack formed of repeating cell units is provided wherein each cell unit includes a fuel cell having an anode side and a cathode side; an anode side frame; a cathode side frame; a bipolar plate having an anode side interconnect adjacent to the anode side frame and a cathode side interconnect adjacent to a cathode side frame of an adjacent cell unit; a cathode side seal between the fuel cell and the cathode side frame; and an anode side seal between the fuel cell and the anode side frame, wherein at least one of the anode side interconnect, cathode side interconnect, anode side seal and cathode side seal are compliant. |
| US09401517B2 |
Multi-stream heat exchanger for a fuel cell system
A multi-stream heat exchanger includes at least one air preheater section, at least one cathode recuperator section, and at least one anode recuperator section, wherein each section is a plate type heat exchanger having two major surfaces and a plurality of edge surfaces, a plurality of risers through at least some of the plates, and a plurality of flow paths located between plates. The cathode recuperator section is located adjacent to a first edge surface of the anode recuperator, and the air preheater section is located adjacent to a second edge surface of the anode recuperator section. |
| US09401516B2 |
Fuel cell
A fuel cell that includes a membrane electrode assembly having an electrolyte, an anode catalyst, and a cathode catalyst; and a plurality of frame-gaskets is provided. Each of the frame-gaskets may be disposed between an anode-side separator and the membrane electrode assembly or between a cathode-side separator and the membrane electrode assembly. Additionally, the membrane electrode assembly is provided with an aperture which is used to combine the membrane electrode assembly with the frame-gasket assembly. |
| US09401515B2 |
Fuel cell and fuel cell stack
A fuel cell includes a separator having a circular disk. On one surface of the circular disk, a fuel gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to an anode is provided, and on the other surface of the circular disk, an oxygen-containing gas channel for supplying air to a cathode is provided. The fuel gas channel has an end point disposed at the outer circumferential end of the anode. A fuel gas discharge channel is connected to the end point of the fuel gas channel, such that the consumed fuel gas is emitted from a position spaced outwardly from an outer circumferential portion of the electrolyte electrode assembly. |
| US09401514B2 |
Fuel cell separator and method for surface treatment of the same
The present invention provides a fuel cell separator and a method for surface treatment of the same, in which ionized nanoparticles are attached to the surface of a separator to form fine projections such that the surface of the separator exhibits superhydrophobicity. For this purpose, the present invention provides a method for surface treatment of a fuel cell separator which provides nanoparticles for forming fine projections on the surface of the separator to a discharge electrode and ionizes the nanoparticles by an arc discharge generated in the discharge electrode. The ionized nanoparticles are then attached to the surface of the separator by an electric field generated by applying a high voltage between the separator and the discharge electrode, thereby forming fine projections for imparting superhydrophobicity. |
| US09401509B2 |
Cathode
The present invention provides novel cathodes having a reduced resistivity and other improved electrical properties. Furthermore, this invention also presents methods of manufacturing novel electrochemical cells and novel cathodes. These novel cathodes comprise a silver material that is doped with a high valence early transition metal species. |
| US09401495B2 |
Luminescent element and lighting device using the same
A luminescent element includes a first electrode layer, a functional layer including an emitting layer and being disposed on the first electrode layer, a conductive layer permitting transmission of light and being disposed on the functional layer, and a first patterned electrode and a second patterned electrode each having an opening and being disposed on the conductive layer to be separated from each other. The conductive layer extends from a first area in which the first patterned electrode is disposed on the conductive layer to a second area in which the second patterned electrode is disposed on the conductive layer. |
| US09401494B2 |
Display panel, display unit, and electronic apparatus
There are provided a display panel, a display unit, and an electronic apparatus that make it possible to reduce a leakage current arising between adjacent pixels. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels at a display region. Each of the pixels has an organic EL device, and a pixel circuit that drives the organic EL device. The organic EL device has an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an organic layer that is provided between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. A side surface of the anode electrode is structured in such a manner that the cross-sectional area of the anode electrode on the side of the cathode electrode is larger than that of the anode electrode on the opposite side of the cathode electrode. |
| US09401492B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, display device, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a light-emitting element, including: a cathode; an anode; and a light-emitting unit, in which the light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting layer, a second light-emitting layer, and a third light-emitting layer, which are laminated from the anode side to the cathode side, in which each of the first, second, and third light-emitting layers is configured to contain a luminescent material, a host material, and an assist dopant material, and in which, when the contents of the assist dopant materials contained in the first, second, and third light-emitting layers are respectively expressed by CAssist(EML1), CAssist(EML2) and CAssist(EML3), the following Relational Expression (A) is satisfied: CAssist(EML1)≧CAssist(EML2)>CAssist(EML3)≧0 (A). |
| US09401487B2 |
Channel layer for stretchable transistors
Provided are a material for forming a channel layer for a stretchable TFT, a method of preparing a channel layer for a stretchable TFT, a channel layer for a stretchable TFT, and a stretchable TFT. The material for forming the channel layer for the stretchable TFT includes an elastomer, an organic semiconductor material and a solvent. By mixing an elastomer and an organic semiconductor material and forming a thin film, a channel layer having an excellent conductivity and stretchability may be obtained. |
| US09401484B2 |
Organic light-emitting device having increased electron transport ability of an electron transport region
An organic light-emitting device including a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and an organic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the organic layer including an emission layer, a hole transport region between the first electrode and the emission layer, the hole transport region including at least one selected from a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer, and a buffer layer, and an electron transport region between the emission layer and the second electrode, the electron transport region including at least one selected from a hole blocking layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer, wherein the emission layer includes a compound represented by Formula 1 as described herein; and at least one of the hole blocking layer, the electron transport layer, and the electron injection layer in the electron transport region includes at least one compound represented by Formulae 2, 3, 4, or 5, as described herein. |
| US09401478B2 |
Method for manufacturing transistor and transistor
A method for manufacturing a transistor includes: forming a base film for supporting a catalyst for electroless plating; forming a resist layer having an opening portion corresponding to source and drain electrodes onto the base film; causing the base film within the opening portion to support the catalyst for electroless plating and performing a first electroless plating; removing the resist layer; performing a second electroless plating on a surface of an electrode which is formed by the first electroless plating and forming the source and drain electrodes; and forming a semiconductor layer in contact with surfaces of the source and drain electrodes, the surfaces facing each other, wherein an energy level difference between a work function of a material which is used for the second electroless plating and an energy level of a molecular orbital which is used for electron transfer in a material of the semiconductor layer is less than an energy level difference between a work function of a material which is used for the first electroless plating and the energy level of the molecular orbital. |
| US09401477B2 |
Organic EL panel and method for manufacturing same
An organic EL panel including an organic light-emitting layer with a miniaturized structure formed by a wet process, allowing for excellent light-emitting characteristics, and a method for manufacturing the same. Specifically, the display panel includes: a substrate; first electrodes arranged above the substrate along a first and second direction intersecting with each other; a first, second, and third organic light-emitting layer arranged above the first electrodes so as to be adjacent to each other in the second direction, and each containing an organic light-emitting material corresponding to a different emission color; a first bank separating the first and the second layer; a second bank separating the second and the third layer; and a second electrode disposed above the first, the second, and the third layer and being different in polarity from the first electrodes. The first and the second bank are different in width along the second direction. |
| US09401476B2 |
Methods of forming memory structures
Some embodiments include memory structures having a diode over a memory cell. The memory cell can include programmable material between a pair of electrodes, with the programmable material containing a multivalent metal oxide directly against a high-k dielectric. The diode can include a first diode electrode directly over one of the memory cell electrodes and electrically coupled with the memory cell electrode, and can include a second diode electrode laterally outward of the first diode electrode and not directly over the memory cell. Some embodiments include memory arrays comprising the memory structures, and some embodiments include methods of making the memory structures. |
| US09401473B2 |
Compact RRAM structure with contact-less unit cell
A RRAM device having a diode device structure coupled to a variable resistance layer is disclosed. The diode device structure can either be embedded into or fabricated over the substrate. A memory device having an array of said RRAM devices can be fabricated with multiple common bit lines and common word lines. |
| US09401471B2 |
Electromechanical transducing device and manufacturing method thereof, and liquid droplet discharging head and liquid droplet discharging apparatus
A manufacturing method of an electromechanical transducing device includes forming a vibration plate on a substrate; forming a first electrode made of a metal on the vibration plate; forming a second electrode made of an electrically conductive oxide on the first electrode; coating a surface modification material and carrying out surface modification of only the first electrode; forming an electromechanical transducing film on the second electrode; and forming a third electrode made of an electrically conductive oxide on the electromechanical transducing film. |
| US09401470B2 |
Electrical contacts to a ring transducer
Various embodiments include apparatus and methods of providing a piezoelectric element having a surface front surface to operate as an active surface of a transducer on which a number of separate electrodes are disposed such that the electrodes on the front surface provide an effectively flat surface to the transducer. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US09401467B2 |
Light emitting device package having a package body including a recess and lighting system including the same
Provided are a light emitting device (LED) package and a lighting system including the same. The LED package comprises a package body comprising a recess in an upper portion thereof, and an LED chip provided in the recess of the package body. The LED package has a structure in which the LED chip may be buried into a recess formed on a planar surface on the upper portion of the package body such that a bottom surface of the recess lies below the planar surface. Thus, a main path through which heat generated from the LED chip is transmitted may be expanded from a bottom surface of the LED chip up to a lateral surface thereof to widen a dissipation area, thereby improving thermal emission efficiency. |
| US09401466B2 |
Method for manufacture of wire bondable and solderable surfaces on noble metal electrodes
The present invention relates to a method for manufacture of wire bondable and solderable surfaces on noble metal electrodes. The noble metal electrodes are activated by depositing a seed layer of palladium or a palladium alloy layer by electroless plating at 60 to 90° C. Next, an intermediate layer is deposited onto the seed layer followed by deposition of the wire bondable and/or solderable surface finish layer(s) onto the intermediate layer. This method is particularly suitable in the production of optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs). |
| US09401461B2 |
LED chip design for white conversion
A light emitting diode is disclosed, together with associated wafer structures, and fabrication and mapping techniques. The diode includes an active portion, a raised border on the top surface of the active portion and around the perimeter of the top surface of the active portion, a resin in the space defined by the border and the top surface of the active portion, and phosphor particles in the resin that convert the frequencies emitted by the active portion. |
| US09401459B2 |
Phosphor and light-emitting device
A high-brightness phosphor having high-temperature characteristics and long-term reliability, and a white light-emitting device using this phosphor are provided. The phosphor contains a silicate phosphor (A) having a peak wavelength of at least 525 nm but not higher than 535 nm and fluorescence intensity of at least 250% but not higher than 270%; an oxynitride phosphor (B) having a peak wavelength of at least 540 nm but not higher than 545 nm and fluorescence intensity of at least 260% but not higher than 280%; and an nitride phosphor (C) having a peak wavelength of at least 615 nm but not higher than 625 nm, wherein the amount of the silicate phosphor (A) is at least 20% but not higher than 35% by mass, the amount of the oxynitride phosphor (B) is at least 50% but not higher than 70% by mass, and the amount of the nitride phosphor (C) is at least 10% but not higher than 20% by mass. |
| US09401457B2 |
Method for forming current diffusion layer in light emitting diode device and method for fabricating the same
A method of forming a current diffusion layer is provided that comprises providing an epitaxial wafer. The method further comprises depositing ITO source material on the epitaxial wafer to form a base ITO layer by a direct current electron gun and depositing ZnO source material, during simultaneous deposition of the ITO source material, on the base ITO layer to form a ZnO doped ITO layer by a pulse current electron gun. The ZnO source material is deposited at a deposition rate higher than the rate at which the ITO source material is deposited. Generation and termination of current may be controlled by adjusting a duty cycle of pulse current provided by the pulse current electron gun and result in discontinuous deposition of the ZnO source material. The method further comprises depositing the ITO source material on the ZnO doped ITO layer to cover the ZnO doped ITO layer and form a finished ITO layer. |
| US09401453B2 |
White nanoLED without requiring color conversion
A nano-LED containing an array of nano-pillars of different diameters that are distributed over an emission area of an LED chip is capable of emitting broadband and white or nearly white light. Since each pillar emits light at a different wavelength according to its diameter and strain state, the overall emission spectral characteristics of the device is a combination of individual spectrum, giving rise to broadband emission. The spectral shape can be tailored for different shades of white emission, by controlling the distribution of the different diameter nano-pillars. The nano-pillars are patterned by nanosphere lithography. |
| US09401450B2 |
Solar cell emitter region fabrication using ion implantation
Methods of fabricating solar cell emitter regions using ion implantation, and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a method of fabricating alternating N-type and P-type emitter regions of a solar cell involves forming a silicon layer above a substrate. Dopant impurity atoms of a first conductivity type are implanted, through a first shadow mask, in the silicon layer to form first implanted regions and resulting in non-implanted regions of the silicon layer. Dopant impurity atoms of a second, opposite, conductivity type are implanted, through a second shadow mask, in portions of the non-implanted regions of the silicon layer to form second implanted regions and resulting in remaining non-implanted regions of the silicon layer. The remaining non-implanted regions of the silicon layer are removed with a selective etch process, while the first and second implanted regions of the silicon layer are annealed to form doped polycrystalline silicon emitter regions. |
| US09401442B2 |
Textured micrometer scale templates as light managing fabrication platform for organic solar cells
A three-dimensional, microscale-textured, grating-shaped organic solar cell geometry. The solar cells are fabricated on gratings to give them a three-dimensional texture that provides enhanced light absorption. Introduction of microscale texturing has a positive effect on the overall power conversion efficiency of the devices. This grating-based solar cell having a grating of pre-determined pitch and height has shown improved power-conversion efficiency over a conventional flat solar cell. The improvement in efficiency is accomplished by homogeneous coverage of the grating with uniform thickness of the active layer, which is attributed to a sufficiently high pitch and low height of the underlying gratings. Also the microscale texturing leads to suppressed reflection of incident light due to the efficient coupling of the incident light into modes that are guided in the active layer. |
| US09401440B2 |
Solar cell and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are a solar cell, and a method of fabricating the same. The solar cell includes: a back electrode layer disposed on a support substrate; a light absorbing layer disposed on the back electrode layer; a front electrode layer disposed on the light absorbing layer; a connecting wire extending through the light absorbing layer and electronically connecting the back electrode layer with the front electrode layer; and a side insulating part formed on a side surface of the connecting wire. |
| US09401439B2 |
Enhanced systems and methods for using a power converter for balancing modules in single-string and multi-string configurations
Apparatuses and methods include a solar array having one or more string buses of series-connected solar modules. The current outputs from the solar modules on each string bus can be balanced along with the voltage output from the string buses. Local management units coupled between the solar modules and the string buses are configured to control the voltage output from each solar module. When the solar modules on each string are balanced, and when the string buses are balanced (or before the solar modules and string buses are balanced), an inverter or other device connected to the solar array can find the array's maximum power point via a maximum power point tracking algorithm. |
| US09401437B2 |
Partially-sprayed layer organic solar photovoltaic cell using a self-assembled monolayer and method of manufacture
The fabrication and characterization of large scale inverted organic solar array fabricated using all-spray process is disclosed. Solar illumination has been demonstrated to improve transparent solar photovoltaic devices. The technology using SAM has potential to revolute current silicon-based photovoltaic technology by providing a complete solution processable manufacturing process. The semi-transparent property of the solar module allows for applications on windows and windshields. The inventive modules are more efficient than silicon solar cells in artificial light environments. This significantly expands their use in indoor applications. Additionally, these modules can be integrated into soft fabric substances such as tents, military back-packs or combat uniforms, providing a highly portable renewable power supply for deployed military forces. |
| US09401435B2 |
Reconfigurable electronic devices and operation method thereof
Provided is a reconfigurable electronic device which is implemented by forming independent upper gates and lower gates, wherein in comparison with an existing reconfigurable electronic device having the same function, a degree of integration is greatly increased, a non-volatile memory function is included in the device, and in operation of a reconfigurable circuit based on an independent lower electrode array, dynamic parasitic component is decreased and a complexity of wire lines can be reduced, so that power consumption can be reduced. In addition, in comparison with an existing reconfigurable electronic device, the device exhibits remarkably excellent performance in terms of various characteristics such as diversity of functions of a multi-functional device, alignment margin in process, performance of implementation of infinitesimal electrical doping in a channel, compatibility with bottom-up and top-down method in process, and compatibility with a 1D or 2D material. |
| US09401425B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure comprises: a substrate (130), a support structure (131), a base region (100), a gate stack, a spacer (240), and a source/drain region, wherein the gate stack is located on the base region (100), and the base region (100) is supported on the substrate (130) by the support structure (131), wherein the sidewall cross-section of the support structure (131) is in a shape of a concave curve; an isolation structure (123) is formed beneath the edges on both sides of the base region (100), wherein a portion of the isolation structure (123) is connected to the substrate (130); a cavity (112) is formed between the isolation structure (123) and the support structure (131); and there exists a source/drain region at least on both sides of the base region (100) and the isolation structure (123). Accordingly, a method for manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also disclosed. |
| US09401414B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a NMOS gate structure over a substrate. The method further includes forming an amorphized region in the substrate adjacent to the NMOS gate structure. The method also includes forming a lightly doped source/drain (LDD) region in the amorphized region. The method further includes depositing a stress film over the NMOS gate structure, performing an annealing process, and removing the stress film. |
| US09401413B2 |
Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device has a barrier layer formed on a channel layer, an n type diffusion preventing layer formed on the barrier layer and containing aluminum, and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the diffusion preventing layer. The semiconductor device further has a p type cap layer formed on the diffusion preventing layer sandwiched between the source electrode and the drain electrode and a gate electrode formed on the cap layer. The diffusion preventing layer has an aluminum composition ratio greater than the aluminum composition ratio of the barrier layer. |
| US09401411B2 |
SiC semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
In some aspects of the invention, a layer containing titanium and nickel is formed on an SiC substrate. A nickel silicide layer containing titanium carbide can be formed by heating. A carbon layer precipitated is removed by reverse sputtering. Thus, separation of an electrode of a metal layer formed on nickel silicide in a subsequent step is suppressed. The effect of preventing the separation can be further improved when the relation between the amount of precipitated carbon and the amount of carbon in titanium carbide in the surface of nickel silicide from which the carbon layer has not yet been removed satisfies a predetermined condition. |
| US09401410B2 |
Poly sandwich for deep trench fill
A semiconductor device is formed by forming a deep trench in a substrate and a dielectric liner on sidewalls of the deep trench. A first undoped polysilicon layer is formed on the semiconductor device, extending into the deep trench on the dielectric liner, but not filling the deep trench. Dopants are implanted into the first polysilicon layer. A second layer of polysilicon is formed on the first layer of polysilicon. A thermal drive anneal activates and diffuses the dopants. In one version, the dielectric liner is removed at the bottom of the deep trench before the first polysilicon layer is formed, so that the polysilicon in the deep trench provides a contact to the substrate. In another version, the polysilicon in the deep trench is isolated from the substrate by the dielectric liner. |
| US09401407B2 |
Transistor
An object is to provide a transistor having a novel electrode structure capable of substantially maintaining on-state current while parasitic capacitance generated in an overlap portion between a source electrode layer (a drain electrode layer) and a gate electrode layer is reduced. Parasitic capacitance is reduced by using a source electrode layer and a drain electrode in a comb shape in a transistor. Curved current flowing from side edges of electrode tooth portions can be generated by controlling the width of an end of a comb-shaped electrode layer or the interval between the electrode tooth portions. This curved current compensates for a decrease in linear current due to a comb electrode shape; thus, on-state current can be kept unchanged even when parasitic capacitance is reduced. |
| US09401405B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, an initial buffer layer disposed on the silicon substrate and including aluminum nitride (AlN), and a semiconductor device layer disposed on the initial buffer layer and including a semiconductor compound. There is no SiN between the initial buffer layer and the silicon substrate, and a silicon lattice of the silicon substrate directly contacts a lattice of the initial buffer layer. |
| US09401404B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method
A semiconductor device is disclosed comprising: a substrate having a surface comprising germanium; a layer of gallium on said surface; and a layer of gallium arsenide on the gallium covered surface. The semiconductor heterostructure of gallium arsenide on germanium is fabricated by the steps of: protecting by a shutter a surface comprising germanium in an environment having a partial pressure of arsenic less than 10−8torr; epitaxially growing a layer of gallium on the said surface immediately after exposure of said surface; and epitaxially growing a layer of gallium arsenide on the gallium covered surface. |
| US09401403B2 |
Nitride semiconductor structure
A nitride semiconductor structure of the present disclosure comprises a semiconductor substrate, and a layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and comprising plural nitride semiconductor layers. The semiconductor substrate has, from a side thereof near the layer comprising the plural nitride semiconductor layers, a surface region and an internal region in this order. The surface region has a resistivity of 0.1 Ωcm or more, and the internal region has a resistivity of 1000 Ωcm or more. |
| US09401400B2 |
Single electron transistor device
A transistor device is provided that includes a gate electrode disposed between source and drain electrodes and overlying a quantum dot structure realized by a modulation doped quantum well structure. A potential barrier surrounds the quantum dot structure. The transistor device can be configured for operation as a single electron transistor by means for biasing the gate and source electrodes to allow for tunneling of a single electron from the source electrode through the potential barrier surrounding the quantum dot structure and into the quantum dot structure, and means for biasing the gate and drain electrodes to allow for selective tunneling of a single electron from the quantum dot structure through the potential barrier surrounding the quantum dot structure to the drain electrode, wherein the selective tunneling of the single electron is based upon spin state of the single electron. |
| US09401399B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate including a main surface. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, and a gate electrode. The source region and the drain region are disposed along a first direction, the first direction being parallel to the main surface. The channel region has a shape of a ridge extending along the first direction, the ridge including a top side and a first and a second sidewalls. The gate electrode is disposed at the first sidewall of the channel region, and the gate electrode is absent from the second sidewall of the channel region. |
| US09401397B1 |
Reduction of defect induced leakage in III-V semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a p-doped layer formed on the substrate having a dislocation density exceeding 108 cm−2. An n-type layer is formed on or in the p-doped layer. The n-type layer includes a II-VI material configured to tolerate the dislocation density to form an electronic device with reduced leakage current over a device with a III-V n-type layer. |
| US09401394B2 |
Method of manufacturing display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, a signal transmission line, a pad and a buffer. The pixels display an image. The signal transmission line is electrically connected to at least one of the pixels to transmit a signal. The pad is electrically connected to the signal transmission line. The pad has greater width than the signal transmission line. The buffer is disposed between the signal transmission line and the pad. A first end of the buffer adjacent to the pad is wider than a second end of the buffer adjacent to the signal transmission line. |
| US09401387B2 |
Method for operating an organic optoelectronic component
A method is specified for operating an organic optoelectronic component, which has at least one organic light-emitting element having an organic functional layer stack with at least one organic light-emitting layer between two electrodes and at least one organic light-emitting element having an organic light-detecting layer. These elements are arranged on a common substrate in laterally adjacent area regions. The at least one organic light-detecting element detects ambient light, which is incident onto the organic optoelectronic component. The intensity of the light emitted by the at least one organic light-emitting element is regulated depending on a signal of the at least one organic light-detecting element with a characteristic signal form. |
| US09401386B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate including a plane portion expanding in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a pillar portion formed on an upper surface of the plane portion and extending in a stacking direction, a first gate electrode formed on a first gate insulating layer on a lower side surface of the pillar portion, and extending in the first direction, a second gate electrode formed on a second gate insulating layer on an upper side surface of the pillar portion, and extending in the second direction, a variable-resistance element formed on an upper surface of the pillar portion, and an interconnection formed on an upper surface of the variable-resistance element. |
| US09401384B2 |
Method of preparing self-aligned isolation regions between sensor elements
A method of preparing self-aligned isolation regions between two neighboring sensor elements on a substrate includes patterning an oxide layer to form an opening between the two neighboring sensor elements on the substrate. The method further includes performing a first implant to form a deep doped region between the two neighboring sensor elements, wherein a top portion of the deep doped region is below a top surface of the substrate. The method further includes performing a second implant to form a shallow doped region between the two neighboring sensor elements, wherein a bottom portion of the shallow doped region overlaps with the top portion of the deep doped region. |
| US09401383B2 |
Photoconductive element for radiation detection in a radiography imaging system
This disclosure is directed at a photoconductive element for a digital X-ray imaging system which consists of a detector element comprising a semiconducting layer for absorbing photons, an insulator layer on at least one surface of said semiconducting layer and at least two electrodes on one surface of said insulator layer; and a switching element wherein at least one layer within said switching element is in the same plane as at least one said layer within said detector element. |
| US09401380B2 |
Backside structure and methods for BSI image sensors
A back side image sensor and method of manufacture are provided. In an embodiment a bottom anti-reflective coating is formed over a substrate, and a metal shield layer is formed over the bottom anti-reflective coating. The metal shield layer is patterned to form a grid pattern over a sensor array region of the substrate, and a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer are formed to at least partially fill in openings within the grid pattern. |
| US09401375B2 |
Display panel and display device
A display panel and a display are disclosed. A display panel has an active area and a peripheral area disposed adjacent to the active area and comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer and an organic layer. The second substrate is disposed opposite the first substrate. The first insulating layer is disposed on the side of the first substrate facing the second substrate. The organic layer covers the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer covers the organic layer and includes at least a first opening which is disposed in the peripheral area and exposes the organic layer. |
| US09401372B1 |
Dual isolation on SSOI wafer
A method of forming fins in a dual isolation complimentary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device that includes a p-type field effect transistor device (pFET) and an n-type field effect transistor (nFET) device and a CMOS device with dual isolation are described. The CMOS device includes an n-type field effect transistor (nFET) region, the nFET region including one or more fins comprised of strained silicon, the one or fins in the nFET region being formed on an insulator. The CMOS device also includes a p-type field effect transistor (pFET) region, the pFET region including one or more fins comprised of silicon (Si) or silicon germanium (SiGe) on epitaxially grown silicon and including a shallow trench isolation (STI) fill to isolate the one or more fins of the pFET region from each other. |
| US09401370B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A three-dimensional non-volatile memory device that may increase erase operation efficiency during an erase operation using Gate-Induced Drain Leakage (GIDL) current and a method for fabricating the three-dimensional non-volatile memory device. The non-volatile memory device includes a channel structure formed over a substrate including a plurality of inter-layer dielectric layers and a plurality of channel layers that are alternately stacked, and a first selection gate and a second selection gate that are disposed on a first side and a second side of the channel structure, wherein the first selection gate and the second selection gate are disposed on sidewalls of the multiple channel layers, respectively, wherein a work function of a material forming the first selection gate is different from a work function of a material forming the second selection gate. |
| US09401368B2 |
Memory device and method for forming the same
Various embodiments provide memory devices and methods for forming the same. A substrate is provided, the substrate having one or more adjacent memory cells formed thereon. Each memory cell includes a gate structure, a control gate layer, and a first mask layer. A portion of the control gate layer is removed, to reduce a size of an exposed portion of the control gate layer in a direction parallel to a surface of the substrate. An electrical contact layer is formed on an exposed sidewall of the control gate layer and an exposed surface of the substrate. A barrier layer is formed on a sidewall of the memory cell. A conductive structure is formed on the substrate. The conductive structure has a significantly larger distance from control gate layer than from the gate structure, and the barrier layer forms an isolation layer between the conductive structure and the control gate layer. |
| US09401367B2 |
Nonvolatile memory cell with improved isolation structures
An array of floating gate transistors of a non-volatile memory, NVM, cell includes floating gate transistors separated from one another by high-concentration dopant impurity regions and without using shallow trench isolation (STI) or field oxide (FOX) isolation structures. The array is formed over a substrate portion that includes a continuous and planar upper surface. The high-concentration dopant impurity regions are formed in a P-field region and are formed of the same dopant impurity species as the P-field region but of a higher concentration. The floating gate transistors are split-gate floating gate transistors in some embodiments. |
| US09401361B2 |
Semiconductor arrangement having first semiconductor device over first shallow well having first conductivity type and second semiconductor device over second shallow well having second conductivity type and formation thereof
A semiconductor arrangement and method of formation are provided. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first semiconductor device adjacent a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device includes a first gate over a first shallow well in a substrate. A first active area is in the first shallow well on a first side of the first gate. The second semiconductor device includes a second gate over a second shallow well. A third active area is in the second shallow well on a first side of the second gate. The second shallow well abuts the first shallow well in the substrate to form a P-N junction. The P-N junction increases capacitance of the semiconductor arrangement, as compared to a device without such a P-N junction. |
| US09401355B2 |
Semiconductor device including a diode arranged in a trench
One embodiment of an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor body. In the semiconductor body a first trench region extends into the semiconductor body from a first surface. The integrated circuit further includes a diode including an anode region and a cathode region. One of the anode region and the cathode region is at least partly arranged in the first trench region. The other one of the anode region and the cathode region includes a first semiconductor region adjoining the one of the anode region and the cathode region from outside of the first trench region. |
| US09401354B1 |
Display panel having a reduced dead space
A display panel includes a substrate including a display area displaying an image and a peripheral area. A plurality of shorting bar connection parts are formed in the peripheral area. A plurality of step adjustment parts are formed on the plurality of shorting bar connection parts. A plurality of pad parts are formed on the plurality of step adjustment parts. Each of the pad parts is connected to a first end of the shorting bar connection parts through a first contact hole. A plurality of shorting bar pads is formed on the plurality of shorting bar connection parts. Each of the shorting bar pads is connected to a second end of the shorting bar connection parts through a second contact hole. The plurality of shorting bar connection parts are formed in lower regions of the plurality of pad parts. The shorting bar connection parts overlap each other. |
| US09401351B2 |
Electronic device for ESD protection
An electronic device includes a thyristor having an anode, a cathode, a first bipolar transistor disposed on the anode side. A second bipolar transistor is disposed on the cathode side. These two bipolar transistors are nested and connected between the anode and the cathode. A MOS transistor is coupled between the collector region and the emitter region of the second bipolar transistor. The transistor has a gate region connected to the cathode via a resistive semiconductor region incorporating at least a part of the base region of the second bipolar transistor. |
| US09401347B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming a shielding layer over a semiconductor die disposed in a cavity of an interconnect structure and grounded through the die TSV
A semiconductor device has an interconnect structure with a cavity formed partially through the interconnect structure. A first semiconductor die is mounted in the cavity. A first TSV is formed through the first semiconductor die. An adhesive layer is deposited over the interconnect structure and first semiconductor die. A shielding layer is mounted over the first semiconductor die. The shielding layer is secured to the first semiconductor die with the adhesive layer and grounded through the first TSV and interconnect structure to block electromagnetic interference. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the shielding layer and electrically connected to the interconnect structure. A second TSV is formed through the second semiconductor die. An encapsulant is deposited over the shielding layer, second semiconductor die, and interconnect structure. A slot is formed through the shielding layer for the encapsulant to flow into the cavity and cover the first semiconductor die. |
| US09401345B2 |
Semiconductor device package with organic interposer
A method of making an integrated circuit package, such as a ball grid array, includes providing a flexible tape that has first and second sets of bond pads on respective first and second surfaces thereof. A carrier is attached to the first surface of the flexible tape. Then conductive pillars are formed on the second set of bond pads and an intermediate layer of polymeric compound is deposited on the second surface of the flexible tape. After the compound has cured, a surface of the intermediate layer is ground to expose ends of the conductive pillars to form a sub-assembly comprising the flexible tape and the intermediate layer. Then the carrier is removed from the sub-assembly, thereby creating an interposer. The interposer is attached to a substrate and at least one die is attached to the interposer. |
| US09401343B2 |
Method of processing a semiconductor wafer
A method of processing a semiconductor wafer includes forming semiconductor dies in the semiconductor wafer, each die having an active region containing devices of an integrated circuit and an edge region surrounding the active region, adjacent ones of the dies being separated by a scribe line. The method further includes forming interconnect wiring over the active region of each semiconductor die in an interlayer dielectric, forming ancillary wiring over the edge region of each die in the interlayer dielectric, forming a passivation on the interlayer dielectric, forming bond pads over the interconnect wiring of each die, the bond pads of each die being in electrical connection with the interconnect wiring of that die, and forming additional bond pads over the ancillary wiring of each semiconductor die, the additional bond pads of each die being in electrical connection with the interconnect wiring of that die. |
| US09401342B2 |
Semiconductor package having wire bond wall to reduce coupling
A system and method for a package including a wire bond wall to reduce coupling is presented. The package includes a substrate, and a first circuit on the substrate. The first circuit includes a first electrical device, a second electrical device, and a first wire bond array interconnecting the first electrical device and the second electrical device. The package includes a second circuit on the substrate adjacent to the first circuit, the second circuit includes a second wire bond array interconnecting a third electrical device and a fourth electrical device. The package includes a wire bond wall including a plurality of wire bonds over the substrate between the first circuit and the second circuit. The wire bond wall is configured to reduce an electromagnetic coupling between the first circuit and the second circuit during an operation of at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit. |
| US09401334B1 |
Preventing unauthorized use of integrated circuits for radiation-hard applications
An integrated circuit, a method of forming an integrated circuit, and a semiconductor are disclosed for preventing unauthorized use in radiation-hard applications. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit comprises a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure, a radiation insensitive sub-circuit, and a radiation sensitive sub-circuit. The SOI structure comprises a silicon substrate, a buried oxide layer, and an active silicon layer. The radiation insensitive sub-circuit is formed on the active layer, and includes a partially depleted transistor. The radiation sensitive sub-circuit is formed on the active layer, and includes a fully depleted transistor, to prevent operation of the radiation sensitive sub-circuit under specified radiation conditions. Each of the partially depleted transistor and the fully depleted transistor includes a channel region formed in the active silicon layer, and the channel regions of the partially depleted transistor and the fully depleted transistor have substantially the same thickness but different doping concentrations. |
| US09401332B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and alignment mark of semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method can include forming a stacked layer in a memory cell region and a mark region, forming a first mask layer above the stacked layer, and forming a second mask layer above the first mask layer; forming the second mask layer into first mask pattern features and forming a first alignment mark pattern feature; forming second mask pattern features and then removing the first mask pattern features; opening part of the second mask pattern features and forming a third mask layer having an opening; removing part of the second mask pattern features; removing the third mask layer; forming a fourth mask layer; etching the first mask layer; removing the fourth mask layer and then removing the second mask pattern features; and etching the stacked layer. |
| US09401330B1 |
IC package with non-uniform dielectric layer thickness
An integrated circuit (IC) package substrate with non-uniform dielectric layers is disclosed. The IC package substrate is a multilayer package substrate that has dielectric layers and metal layers stacked up alternately. The dielectric layers in the package substrate have different thickness. The metal layers may be ground, signal or power layers. A thicker dielectric layer is placed in between a signal layer and a power layer in the package substrate. The thicker dielectric layer may be at least twice as thick as other dielectric layers in the package substrate. The thicker dielectric layer may provide better impedance control in the package substrate. |
| US09401326B1 |
Split contact structure and fabrication method thereof
A split contact structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a major surface; a first upwardly protruding structure disposed on the major surface; a first cell contact region in the major surface and being close to the first upwardly protruding structure; a second upwardly protruding structure disposed on the major surface; a second cell contact region in the major surface and being close to the second upwardly protruding structure; a first patterned layer stacked on the first upwardly protruding structure; a second patterned layer stacked on the first upwardly protruding structure; a first contact structure disposed on a sidewall of the first upwardly protruding structure and being in direct contact with the first cell contact region; and a second contact structure disposed on a sidewall of the second upwardly protruding structure and being in direct contact with the second cell contact region. |
| US09401325B2 |
Planar polysilicon regions for precision resistors and electrical fuses and method of fabrication
A semiconductor structure providing a precision resistive element and method of fabrication is disclosed. Polysilicon is embedded in a silicon substrate. The polysilicon may be doped to control the resistance. Embodiments may include resistors, eFuses, and silicon-on-insulator structures. Some embodiments may include non-rectangular cross sections. |
| US09401324B2 |
Semiconductor device having an on die termination circuit
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a transistor formed on a semiconductor chip, a lower-layer wiring connected to a diffusion layer of the transistor, and drawn outside the diffusion layer, and an upper-layer wiring drawn out from a pad electrode formed on the semiconductor chip, connected to the lower-layer wiring, and having resistivity lower than that of the lower-layer wiring. |
| US09401319B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided, in which a first lead (11) is joined with the bottom electrode (23) of a MOS-FET (21) with first solder (51), the top electrode (22) of the MOS-FET is joined with an internal lead (31) with second solder (52), the internal lead is joined with a projection (61) of a second lead with third solder (53), and the first lead, second lead, MOS-FET and internal lead are integrally molded using sealing resin (41), wherein the first solder and second solder include support members (54) and (55), respectively, located thereinside and positions of the internal lead and MOS-FET are stabilized by self-alignment. |
| US09401316B2 |
Electronic devices with improved thermal performance
Electronic devices with improved thermal performance, such as thermal dissipation, of flip chip packages that include one or more flip chip dies are disclosed. In some embodiments, a thermal collection layer can be formed on a surface of a flip chip die. The thermal collection layer can be configured to dissipate heat generated by the flip chip die. In some variations, the thermal collection layer can be constructed using materials having high thermal conductivity. |
| US09401314B2 |
Method of testing semiconductor device
A method of testing a semiconductor device having a substrate in and on which a cell structure and a termination structure are formed, the cell structure having a main current flowing therethrough, the termination structure surrounding the cell structure, the method includes a first test step of testing dielectric strength of the semiconductor device, a charge removal step of, after the first test step, removing charge from a top surface layer of the termination structure, the top surface layer being located on the substrate and formed of an insulating film or a semi-insulating film, and a second test step of, after the charge removal step, testing dielectric strength of the semiconductor device. |
| US09401307B2 |
Method forming through-via using electroless plating solution
The present invention provides a method for forming a through-via, including the steps of (1) forming an alloy film as a diffusion-preventive layer that prevents diffusion of copper, in an area on a side wall of a hole formed in a substrate that extends from an entrance of the hole to a central part of the hole, by use of an electroless cobalt plating solution or an electroless nickel plating solution containing at least cobalt ion or nickel ion, a complexing agent, a reductant, and a pH adjusting agent; (2) forming an alloy film as a diffusion-preventive layer in an area on the side wall of the hole formed in the substrate that extends from the central part of the hole to a bottom of the hole, by use of an electroless cobalt plating solution or an electroless nickel plating solution containing at least the cobalt ion or the nickel ion, the complexing agent, the reductant, the pH adjusting agent, and an amino group-containing polymer; and (3) stacking a copper seed layer on the diffusion-preventive layer formed in each of steps (1) and (2) by use of an electroless copper plating solution. |
| US09401306B2 |
Self-aligned capillarity-assisted microfabrication
A manufacturing process, which we term Self-Aligned Capillarity-Assisted Lithography for manufacturing devices having nano-scale or micro-scale features, such as flexible electronic circuits, is described. |
| US09401304B2 |
Patterning method for low-k inter-metal dielectrics and associated semiconductor device
Semiconductor fabrication techniques and associated semiconductor devices are provided in which conductive lines are separated by a low dielectric constant (low-k) material such as low-k film portions or air. An insulation layer such as SiO2 is etched to form raised structures. The structures are slimmed and a low-k material or sacrificial material is deposited. A further etching removes the material except for portions on sidewalls of the slimmed structures. A metal barrier layer and seed layer are then deposited, followed by a metal filler such as copper. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) removes portions of the metal above the raised structures, leaving only portions of the metal between the raised structures as spaced apart conductive lines. The sacrificial material can be removed by a thermal process, leaving air gaps. The raised structures provide strength while the air gap or other low-k material reduces capacitance. |
| US09401302B2 |
FinFET fin bending reduction
An embodiment method of controlling fin bending in a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming an isolation region over a substrate, performing a first annealing process, the first annealing process including a first wet anneal, a second wet anneal, and a first dry anneal. In an embodiment, the first annealing process is followed by a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process, an etching process, and a second annealing process for the isolation region. |
| US09401297B2 |
Electrostatic chuck mechanism and charged particle beam apparatus
Proposed are an electrostatic chuck mechanism and a charged particle beam apparatus including a first plane that is a plane of a side in which a sample is adsorbed, a first electrode to which a voltage for generating an adsorptive power between the first plane and the sample is applied, and a second electrode that is arranged in a position relatively separated from the sample toward the first plane and through which a virtual line that is perpendicular to the first plane and contacts an edge of the sample passes, wherein the first plane is formed so that a size in a plane direction of the first plane is smaller than that of the sample. |
| US09401294B2 |
Compact substrate transport system
A substrate processing system including a load port module configured to hold at least one substrate container for storing and transporting substrates, a substrate processing chamber, an isolatable transfer chamber capable of holding an isolated atmosphere therein configured to couple the substrate processing chamber and the load port module, and a substrate transport mounted at least partially within the transfer chamber having a drive section fixed to the transfer chamber and having a SCARA arm configured to support at least one substrate, the SCARA arm being configured to transport the at least one substrate between the at least one substrate container and the processing chamber with but one touch of the at least one substrate, wherein the SCARA arm comprises a first arm link, a second arm link, and at least one end effector serially pivotally coupled to each other, where the first and second arm links have unequal lengths. |
| US09401291B2 |
Coating apparatus
A coating apparatus includes: a slit nozzle including a retention chamber that retains the coating material; a moving mechanism that moves the slit nozzle; a pressure regulation unit that regulates a pressure inside the retention chamber; and a control unit that controls the moving mechanism and the pressure regulation unit to relatively move the slit nozzle with respect to the substrate while changing the pressure inside the retention chamber toward an atmospheric pressure from a negative pressure, wherein the control unit is configured to control the pressure regulation unit so that a change in the pressure inside the retention chamber in a start zone including a coating start position and an end zone including a coating end position becomes slower than a change in the pressure inside the retention chamber in a middle zone except the start zone and the end zone. |
| US09401288B2 |
Low CTE interposer
An interconnection component includes a first support portion has a plurality of first conductive vias extending therethrough substantially perpendicular to surfaces thereof such that each via has a first end adjacent a first surface and a second end adjacent a second surface. A second support portion has a plurality of second conductive vias extending therethrough substantially perpendicular to surfaces thereof such that each via has a first end adjacent the first surface and a second end adjacent the second surface. A redistribution layer is disposed between the second surfaces of the first and second support portions, electrically connecting at least some of the first vias with at least some of the second vias. The first and second support portions can have a coefficient of thermal expansion (“CTE”) of less than 12 parts per million per degree, Celsius (“ppm/° C.”). |
| US09401284B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate comprised by gallium arsenide; an active layer provided on the substrate; a first nickel-plated layer provided on a lower face of the substrate facing the active layer; a copper-plated layer provided on a lower face of the first nickel-plated layer; and a second nickel-plated layer provided on a lower face of the copper-plated layer. |
| US09401279B2 |
Transistor gate and process for making transistor gate
A transistor gate is formed of a stack of layers including a polysilicon layer and a tungsten layer separated by a barrier layer. A titanium layer reduces interface resistance. A tungsten liner reduces sheet resistance. The tungsten liner, a tungsten nitride barrier layer, and the tungsten layer may be formed sequentially in the same chamber. |
| US09401278B2 |
Apparatus and methods for improving the intensity profile of a beam image used to process a substrate
Methods and apparatuses are provided for improving the intensity profile of a beam image used to process a semiconductor substrate. At least one photonic beam may be generated and manipulated to form an image having an intensity profile with an extended uniform region useful for thermally processing the surface of the substrate. The image may be scanned across the surface to heat at least a portion of the substrate surface to achieve a desired temperature within a predetermined dwell time. Such processing may achieve a high efficiency due to the large proportion of energy contained in the uniform portion of the beam. |
| US09401276B2 |
Apparatus for forming porous silicon layers on at least two surfaces of a plurality of silicon templates
An apparatus for forming porous silicon layers on at least two surfaces of a plurality of silicon templates in a batch electrochemical anodic etch process is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of edge-sealing template mounts operable to prevent formation of porous silicon at the edges of a plurality of templates. An electrolyte is disposed among the plurality of templates. The apparatus further comprises a power supply operable to switch polarity, change current intensity, and control etching time to produce the porous silicon layers. |
| US09401273B2 |
Atomic layer deposition of silicon carbon nitride based materials
A process for depositing a silicon carbon nitride film on a substrate can include a plurality of complete deposition cycles, each complete deposition cycle having a SiN sub-cycle and a SiCN sub-cycle. The SiN sub-cycle can include alternately and sequentially contacting the substrate with a silicon precursor and a SiN sub-cycle nitrogen precursor. The SiCN sub-cycle can include alternately and sequentially contacting the substrate with carbon-containing precursor and a SiCN sub-cycle nitrogen precursor. The SiN sub-cycle and the SiCN sub-cycle can include atomic layer deposition (ALD). The process for depositing the silicon carbon nitride film can include a plasma treatment. The plasma treatment can follow a completed plurality of complete deposition cycles. |
| US09401272B2 |
Cleaning method, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A cleaning method includes (a) providing a process chamber after forming an oxide film on a substrate in the process chamber formed by a reaction tube and a manifold supporting the reaction tube by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including supplying a source gas to the substrate through a first nozzle in the manifold extending upward to an inside of the reaction tube, and supplying an oxidizing gas to the substrate through a second nozzle in the manifold extending upward to the inside of the reaction tube; and (b) cleaning an inside of the process chamber. The step (b) includes a first cleaning process of supplying a hydrogen fluoride gas into the reaction tube through the second nozzle; and a second cleaning process of supplying a hydrogen fluoride gas onto an inner wall surface of the manifold through a third nozzle disposed in the manifold. |
| US09401271B2 |
Susceptor assemblies for supporting wafers in a reactor apparatus
Apparatus and methods for wafer processes such as etching and chemical vapor deposition processes are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a susceptor and a ring disposed beneath the susceptor to influence a thickness of the deposited epitaxial layer. |
| US09401270B2 |
Semiconductor cleaner systems and methods
In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a EUV cleaner system and process for cleaning a EUV carrier. The euv cleaner system comprises separate dirty and cleaned environments, separate cleaning chambers for different components of the double container carrier, gripper arms for picking and placing different components using a same robot handler, gripper arms for holding different components at different locations, horizontal spin cleaning and drying for outer container, hot water and hot air (70 C) cleaning process, vertical nozzles and rasterizing megasonic nozzles for cleaning inner container with hot air nozzles for drying, separate vacuum decontamination chambers for outgassing different components, for example, one for inner and one for outer container with high vacuum (e.g., <10−6 Torr) with purge gas, heaters and RGA sensors inside the vacuum chamber, purge gas assembling station, and purge gas loading and unloading station. |
| US09401266B2 |
Filament for mass spectrometric electron impact ion source
The invention provides a cathode system for an Electron Ionization (EI) source comprising a filament and current supply posts, the current supply posts dividing the filament into segments and each current supply post supplying or returning the current for at least two segments of the filament. Each filament segment is connected, for instance by spot welding, to the supply posts delivering the heating current. The filament segments may be arranged in a row, or substantially parallel to each other. Filament segments arranged in a row may form a closed loop, for instance, a ring. Other embodiments encompass the filament shape of a helical coil. |
| US09401265B2 |
Method and device for polarizing a DBD electrode
The invention relates to a device for treating the surface of a substrate by means of dielectric barrier discharge for generating a filamentary plasma, including a reaction chamber comprising a mixture having a composition such that, when in contact with the plasma, the mixture decomposes and generates species capable of deposition in the form of a layer mostly or totally on the substrate, wherein at least two electrodes area provided in said chamber, with one electrode being subjected to a high AC voltage, and are arranged on either side of the substrate, at least one dielectric barrier (DBD) arranged between said at least two electrodes, and a THT/HF transformer comprising a secondary circuit, in which a direct current (DC) power source is provided in series in the secondary circuit such that the chemical species generated in the plasma in the form of electrically positive or negative ions are selectively attracted by the target substrate inserted in the reaction chamber and arranged between said at least two electrodes, and repelled by electrodes having a corresponding charge. |
| US09401263B2 |
Feature etching using varying supply of power pulses
Etching a feature of a structure by an etch system is facilitated by varying supply of radio frequency (RF) power pulses to the etch system. The varying provides at least one RF power pulse, of the supplied RF power pulses, that deviates from one or more other RF power pulses, of the supplied RF power pulses, by at least one characteristic. |
| US09401262B2 |
Multi-source plasma focused ion beam system
The present invention provides a plasma ion beam system that includes multiple gas sources and that can be used for performing multiple operations using different ion species to create or alter submicron features of a work piece. The system preferably uses an inductively coupled, magnetically enhanced ion beam source, suitable in conjunction with probe-forming optics sources to produce ion beams of a wide variety of ions without substantial kinetic energy oscillations induced by the source, thereby permitting formation of a high resolution beam. |
| US09401260B2 |
Adjustable mass resolving aperture
Embodiments of the invention relate to a mass resolving aperture that may be used in an ion implantation system that selectively exclude ion species based on charge to mass ratio (and/or mass to charge ratio) that are not desired for implantation, in an ion beam assembly. Embodiments of the invention relate to a mass resolving aperture that is segmented, adjustable, and/or presents a curved surface to the oncoming ion species that will strike the aperture. Embodiments of the invention also relate to the filtering of a flow of charged particles through a closed plasma channel (CPC) superconductor, or boson energy transmission system. |
| US09401253B2 |
Quenching chamber of a medium-voltage switch disconnector
A quenching chamber in medium-voltage switch disconnectors includes a body made of a gassing material that is of a solid shape similar to a rectangular prism. The chamber includes an arcing knife channel and an arc chamber hollowed in the body and is fitted with an arcing contact unit located in a socket. The arc chamber extends directly along the arcing knife channel from a back wall of the chamber and is connected with the inside of the arcing knife channel through a gap that forms a flat funnel. The height of the funnel decreases with an increase in the distance to the arcing knife channel. The width of the gap is less than the width of the arcing knife channel measured in a plane perpendicular to the side walls of the body. |
| US09401252B2 |
Wireless light switch system and method, remote switch device, and load controller device
A wireless load control system is provided including one or more wireless switch components and one or more load controller components optionally in one-to-one, many-to-many, many-to-one, and one-to-many wireless communication with each other. A wireless switch assembly includes a base and a corresponding rocker shell that together define an enclosure for a control circuit and at least one elastically deformable actuator, the actuator being movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. |
| US09401249B2 |
Tap changer
An on-load tap changer is provided and includes a plurality of modules disposed in an interior space of a tank and arranged in a side-by-side manner. Each module has a bypass switch assembly and a vacuum interrupter assembly mounted to a first side of a board. The bypass switch assembly is actuated by rotation of a bypass cam and the vacuum interrupter assembly is actuated by rotation of an interrupter cam. A transmission system rotates the bypass cam and the interrupter cam. The transmission system is mounted on a second side of the board. |
| US09401246B2 |
Lithium ion capacitors and methods of production
A lithium-ion capacitor may include a cathode, an anode, a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, a lithium composite material, and an electrolyte solution. The cathode and anode may be non-porous. The lithium composite material comprises a core of lithium metal and a coating of a complex lithium salt that encapsulates the core. In use, the complex lithium salt may dissolve into and constitute a portion of the electrolyte solution. |
| US09401245B2 |
Process for producing solution having electrically conductive polymer dispersed therein, and electrolytic capacitor
A method for producing a conductive polymer dispersion liquid includes preparing an emulsion of a polyanion adsorbed on a conductive polymer precursor monomer by emulsifying a blended liquid obtained by blending the conductive polymer precursor monomer, the polyanion, and an aqueous solvent; and forming a dispersoid of a conductive polymer by chemical oxidative polymerization with addition of an oxidant to the emulsion. Furthermore, by using this conductive polymer dispersion liquid to provide an electrolytic capacitor, the ESR of the capacitor can be reduced. |
| US09401241B2 |
Solenoid coil for hazardous locations
A solenoid coil assembly for hazardous environments comprises a solenoid coil and an enclosure entirely filled with encapsulation material. The encapsulation material leaves zero or almost zero volume in the enclosure for hazardous material to accumulate in any amount that could explode. This allows the solenoid coil assembly to be constructed without the usual industry standard flame paths. Additionally, the enclosure may be made of physically rigid and strong material such as metal or the like to better withstand harsh and corrosive conditions within hazardous environments without being explosion proof. The walls of such an enclosure need only have a moderate thickness and weight relative to enclosures that are explosion proof, as there is no meaningful risk of an explosion occurring within the enclosure. The combination of a rugged exterior and a zero-volume interior allows the solenoid coil assembly to reduce weight and cost while providing superior environmental protection. |
| US09401240B2 |
Integrated passive iron shims in silicon
A magnetic apparatus having at least one magnetic shim situated between faces of two permanent magnets. The magnetic shim helps to make the magnetic field that is accessible between the two permanent magnets a more uniform field. The magnetic shim is constructed on a thinned semiconductor wafer, such as silicon, by photolithographically defining locations on the wafer where magnetic material, such as iron or iron-nickel materials, are deposited. The shim can additional have photolihographically defined coil regions, in which conductive material such as copper can be deposited. Current contacts are provided to allow currents to be passed through the coil regions. Protective layers can be deposited to protect the deposited metals from mechanical or environmental damage. |
| US09401239B2 |
Electrical component for attachment to paper and other substrates and magnetic attachment mechanism
An electrical component for attachment to paper and other substrates comprises, according to one embodiment, a functional electronic part including one or more support pillars on an underside thereof. Each of the support pillars comprises: a channel extending therethrough from a top opening to a bottom opening, where the top opening of the channel is adjacent to the functional electronic part; and a magnet moveably positioned in the channel in electrical contact with the functional electronic part, where the bottom opening of the channel has a width smaller than a maximum lateral dimension of the magnet. |
| US09401238B2 |
Coil terminal and electromagnetic relay
A coil terminal has a winding section comprising an end of coiled wire wound therearound. The winding section is bent relative to a remaining section of the coil terminal. The winding section has a proximal wire engagement portion and a distal wire engagement portion spaced away from each other in a longitudinal direction of the winding section, and an intermediate region disposed between the proximal wire engagement portion and the distal wire engagement portion. The wire end is extended in the intermediate region without being wound around the intermediate region. |
| US09401235B2 |
Sintered ferrite magnet and its production method
A sintered ferrite magnet having a main phase composed of ferrite having a hexagonal, M-type magnetoplumbite structure, a grain boundary phase containing Si and Ca with a lower atomic ratio of La than in said main phase, and a third phase containing La at a higher atomic ratio than in said main phase, and a method for producing a sintered ferrite magnet having said third phase by calcining starting materials with more La than Ca, adding more than 1% and 1.8% or less by mass of SiO2 and 1-2% by mass (calculated as CaO) of CaCO3 to the calcined body, and pulverizing, molding and sintering it. |
| US09401234B2 |
Over-current protection device
An over-current protection device comprises a PTC device, first and second electrodes, a first welding metal plate and a second welding metal plate. The PTC device comprises a first conductive layer, at second conductive layer and a PTC polymeric material layer laminated therebetween. The first electrode electrically connects to the first conductive layer. The second electrode electrically connects to the second conductive layer and is separated from the first electrode. The first welding metal plate is formed on an upper surface of the device and connects to the first electrode. The second welding metal plate is formed on the upper surface or a lower surface of the device and connects to the second electrode. The first and second welding metal plates are placed at two opposite ends of the strip-like structure, and each of them has a thickness sufficient to withstand spot-welding without significant resultant damage to the PTC device. |
| US09401231B2 |
Method for producing highly conformal transparent conducting oxides
A method for forming a transparent conducting oxide product layer. The method includes use of precursors, such as tetrakis-(dimethylamino) tin and trimethyl indium, and selected use of dopants, such as SnO and ZnO for obtaining desired optical, electrical and structural properties for a highly conformal layer coating on a substrate. Ozone was also input as a reactive gas which enabled rapid production of the desired product layer. |
| US09401229B2 |
Inspection apparatus for penetration pipe of nuclear reactor head
An inspection apparatus for a penetration pipe of a nuclear reactor head comprising: a body; a probe module installed at the body and having a probe which is inserted in the penetration pipe to inspect damage of the penetration pipe; a fixing module installed along a longitudinal direction of the body and having an expanding cylinder which is inserted in the penetration pipe to support an inner diameter of the penetration pipe; and a rotating module installed in the longitudinal direction of the body and having an expanding cylinder which is inserted in the penetration pipe to support the inner diameter of the penetration pipe. |
| US09401226B1 |
MRAM initialization devices and methods
A device includes a redundant region of a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) array that includes first memory cells. The device includes a data region of the MRAM array that includes second memory cells. The device includes a fail address region of the MRAM array, a first row of the fail address region including validity data, wherein the validity data includes multiple validity indicators, a last row indicator, or both. |
| US09401223B2 |
At-speed test of memory arrays using scan
A method and apparatus for conducting at-speed testing of a memory array in an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes a memory array and a plurality of input circuits coupled to provide input signals into the memory array. Each of the plurality of input circuits includes an input flip-flop having a data output coupled to a corresponding input of the memory array, selection circuitry configured to select a data path to a data input of the input flip-flop and a data path shift register coupled to control a state of a selection signal provided to the selection circuitry, wherein the data path shift register includes a plurality of multiplexers. When operating the IC in a test mode, the plurality of input circuits is configured to provide input signals into the memory array at an operational clock speed of the IC. |
| US09401213B1 |
Non-volatile memory apparatus and operation method thereof
A NVM apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The NVM apparatus includes a NVM cell, a programming voltage generator, a WL-voltage generator and a CSL-voltage generator. A control terminal, and a first and second terminals of the NVM cell are electrically connected to a word line, a bit line and a common source line, respectively. The programming voltage generator provides a programming voltage to the bit line and detects a current thereof. The WL-voltage generator provides a WL-voltage to the word line, where a switch of the WL-voltage is a word line high voltage to a word line low voltage. The CSL-voltage generator provides a CSL-voltage to the common source line. According to the current of the bit line, the WL-voltage generator dynamical adjusts the word line low voltage, or the CSL-voltage generator dynamically adjusts the CSL-voltage. |
| US09401212B2 |
Mitigation of data retention drift by programming neighboring memory cells
A method includes, in a plurality of memory cells that share a common isolation layer and store in the common isolation layer quantities of electrical charge representative of data values, assigning a first group of the memory cells for data storage, and assigning a second group of the memory cells for protecting the electrical charge stored in the first group from retention drift. Data is stored in the memory cells of the first group. Protective quantities of the electrical charge that protect from the retention drift in the memory cells of the first group are stored in the memory cells of the second group. |
| US09401210B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and programming method thereof including common source line feedback during program and verification operation
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array, an address decoder, an input/output circuit, a CSL driver, and control logic. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory blocks each having a plurality of strings that are formed in a direction perpendicular to a substrate and are connected between bit lines and a common source line. The CSL driver sets up the common source line with a predetermined voltage and supplies or drains charge to or from the common source line using a voltage level of the common source line as a feedback signal. |
| US09401206B2 |
Semiconductor memory having both volatile and non-volatile functionality comprising resistive change material and method of operating
A semiconductor memory cell including a capacitorless transistor having a floating body configured to store data as charge therein when power is applied to the cell, and a non-volatile memory including a bipolar resistive change element, and methods of operating. |
| US09401201B1 |
Write driver for memory
A memory and a method for operating a memory are provided. The memory includes a memory cell configured to be powered from a first voltage source, a bitline, and a write driver configured to write to the memory cell through the bitline, the write driver comprising a pull-up circuit to pull up bitline voltage towards a second voltage source while using the first voltage source to limit the bitline voltage, the first and second voltage sources being in different voltage domains. |
| US09401200B1 |
Memory cells with p-type diffusion read-only port
A memory cell includes a bistable element and two p-channel transistors (i.e., first and second p-channel transistors). The bistable element includes a plurality of inverting circuits and at least one data storage node. The bistable element may be formed in a first region on the substrate that is partially formed by a p-type diffusion region and an n-type diffusion region. The first and second p-channel transistors are coupled serially. The first p-channel transistor may also have its gate terminal coupled to the at least one data storage node of the bistable element. A method of manufacturing the memory cell includes forming a bistable element having at least first and second data storage nodes, forming a write-only port of the memory cell over an n-type diffusion region and forming a read-only port of the memory cell over a p-type diffusion region. |
| US09401194B2 |
Fast programming of magnetic random access memory (MRAM)
A method of programming a MTJ includes selecting a MTJ that is coupled to an access transistor at the drain of the access transistor. The gate of the access transistor is coupled to a selected word line (WL), the selected WL is substantially at a first voltage, Vdd; whereas the WLs that are not coupled to the MTJ are left to float. A second voltage, Vx, is applied to the unselected bit lines (BLs) and further applied to a source line (SL), the SL being coupled to the source of the access transistor. A third voltage, Vdd or 0 Volts, is applied to a selected BL, the selected BL is coupled the MTJ. The first voltage is applied to a SL, the SL is coupled to the source of the access transistor thereby causing the WL to boot above the first voltage. |
| US09401193B2 |
Memory device refreshing word line accessed in previous write operation
A memory device includes a memory bank including a plurality of word lines, and a word line controller capable of activating a first word line, which is accessed during a previous write operation, among the plurality of word lines, while activating a second word line corresponding to an input address among the plurality of word lines, during an active operation. |
| US09401192B2 |
Ferroelectric memory device and timing circuit to control the boost level of a word line
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a word line decoder, a time determination signal generation circuit, and a timing circuit. The memory cell array is configured to include a plurality of memory cells, and the word line decoder is configured to control selection and a voltage level of a word line connected to each of the memory cells. The time determination signal generation circuit is configured to generate a time determination signal indicating a determination time, the determination time being a reference by which a change in a command is determined, and the timing circuit is configured to determine the change in the command from the time determination signal and generate a control signal which controls whether or not a selected word line is pre-charged. |
| US09401189B1 |
Methods and apparatus for performing runtime data eye monitoring and continuous data strobe calibration
Integrated circuits may include memory interface circuitry operable to communicate with system memory. The memory interface circuitry may receive data (DQ) and data strobe (DQS) signals from system memory during read operations. The memory interface circuitry may include startup calibration circuitry and runtime calibration circuitry. The startup calibration circuitry may be used upon device startup to perform a one-time data de-skew and DQ/DQS centering. The runtime calibration circuitry may include at least two data sampling circuits, a first of which is used in active mode to latch incoming data and a second of which is used in redundant mode to obtain data eye boundary information on a continuous basis. The received DQS signal may be adjusted based on the obtained eye boundary information so that DQS properly positioned within the data eye periodically or on an as-needed basis. |
| US09401183B2 |
Stacked integrated memory device
A Three-Dimensional Structure (3DS) Memory allows for physical separation of the memory circuits and the control logic circuit onto different layers such that each layer may be separately optimized. One control logic circuit suffices for several memory circuits, reducing cost. Fabrication of 3DS memory involves thinning of the memory circuit to less than 50 μm in thickness and bonding the circuit to a circuit stack while still in wafer substrate form. Fine-grain high density inter-layer vertical bus connections are used. The 3DS memory manufacturing method enables several performance and physical size efficiencies, and is implemented with established semiconductor processing techniques. |
| US09401181B2 |
Electronic device with locking structure for storage device
A locking structure for detachably mounting a storage device to a casing of an electronic device includes a carrier fixed in the casing which defines a plurality of slots. a fixing member is also included, and an enclosure defining a plurality of positioning shafts corresponding to the slots which are configured to hold the storage device. A rotating frame is connected with the enclosure and a handle is connected with the rotating frame, the rotating frame including a hook engaged with the fixing member. When the handle is pulled to disengage the shafts from the slots and detach the hook from the fixing member, the storage device can be removed from the electronic device. |
| US09401180B2 |
High resolution tape directory (HRTD) stored at end of data in an index partition
In one embodiment, a tape drive system includes a file system adapted for enabling sequential access to data on a tape medium, a file access controller adapted for managing the data, the file access controller including logic adapted for writing a file on the tape medium, logic adapted for writing a pointer of the written file in an index of the tape medium, wherein the pointer is managed by the file access controller, logic adapted for creating a high resolution tape directory (HRTD) including detailed location information of data on the tape medium, and logic adapted for storing the HRTD as part of end of data (EOD) of the index when a tape cartridge housing the tape medium is unloaded. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described according to more embodiments. |
| US09401178B2 |
Event analysis system
Enables event analysis from sensors including environmental, physiological and motion capture sensors. Also enables displaying information based on events recognized using sensor data associated with a user, piece of equipment or based on previous motion analysis data from the user or other user(s) or other sensors. Enables intelligent analysis, synchronization, and transfer of generally concise event videos synchronized with motion data from motion capture sensor(s) coupled with a user or piece of equipment. Enables creating, transferring, obtaining, and storing concise event videos generally without non-event video. Events stored in the database identifies trends, correlations, models, and patterns in event data. Greatly saves storage and increases upload speed by uploading event videos and avoiding upload of non-pertinent portions of large videos. Creates highlight and fail reels filtered by metrics and can sort by metric. Compares motion trajectories of users and objects to optimally efficient trajectories, and to desired trajectories. |
| US09401177B2 |
Video editing method and digital device therefor
A method for editing the playback speed of a partial sequence of video and a digital device therefor are disclosed. A video editing method includes providing a timeline interface corresponding to a video sequence, receiving a first user input for specifying a first location on the timeline interface and a second user input for specifying a second location on the timeline interface, setting an editing interval between the first location and the second location of the timeline interface, receiving a third user input with respect to the editing interval, adjusting at least one of the thickness and length of the editing interval in response to the third user input, and editing playback attributes of the partial sequence based on the adjusted thickness and length of the editing interval. |
| US09401171B2 |
Magnetic recording medium and method of manufacturing the same
An aspect of the present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium, which comprises a nonmagnetic layer containing a nonmagnetic powder and a binder and a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder in this order on a nonmagnetic support, wherein the nonmagnetic layer has a thickness of equal to or less than 300 nm; a composite elastic modulus as measured on a surface of the magnetic layer ranges from 6.0 to 8.0 GPa; the magnetic layer comprises an abrasive with a specific surface area by BET method ranging from 14 m2/g to 40 m2/g; and a surface abrasive occupancy on a surface of the magnetic layer ranges from 0.2% to 2%. |
| US09401170B1 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording medium with epitaxial exchange coupling layer
FePt-based perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media including an epitaxial exchanged coupling layer (EECL) between FePtX magnetic recording layers. The degree of exchange coupling may be modulated by the EECL while the texture is transferred between the magnetic recording layers. With an EECL of proper composition and thickness, the FePt-based composite media has high anisotropy field and low saturation magnetic field. |
| US09401167B2 |
Processing servo data from two or more read transducers co-located on a slider
Two or more signals are read from two or more respective tracks of a disk drive recording medium using respective two or more read transducers co-located on a slider. The slider is aligned to the two or more tracks in response to the correlation between the two or more signals. |
| US09401165B1 |
Method and system to monitor magnetic head loading and unloading stability for a data storage system
A method and system to monitor stability of magnetic head loading and unloading beside media for a data storage system is described. A shock sensor is utilized to detect shock during preloading of a magnetic head beside recording media, during loading of a magnetic head beside recording media, during pre-unloading of a magnetic head from the recording media, and/or during unloading of a magnetic head from the recording media. In an aspect, a desired pitch static attitude (PSA) and roll static attitude (RSA) of a slider is determined. In an aspect, the stability of a magnetic head is assessed and screened while on the fly and during head gimbal assembly (HGA) design and testing to improve overall data storage device reliability. |
| US09401162B1 |
Read sensor with free layers of different widths sandwiching a SAF structure for extremely high resolution
A read sensor that includes an air bearing surface and a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure. The read sensor also includes a first free layer (FL) above the SAF structure and a second FL below the SAF structure. The first FL and the second FL have differing widths at the bearing surface. The first FL, the second FL and the SAF structure are configured to provide a reader resolution that corresponds to a difference between a first width of the first FL and a second width of the second FL. |
| US09401160B2 |
Methods and voice activity detectors for speech encoders
Voice activity detectors and related methods are provided. Methods include receiving a frame of the input signal; determining a first SNR of the received frame; comparing the determined first SNR with an adaptive threshold; and detecting whether the received frame comprises voice based on the comparison. The adaptive threshold is at least based on total noise energy of a noise level, an estimate of a second SNR and on energy variation between different frames. |
| US09401159B2 |
Voice remote control
A device may include a display and logic. The logic may be configured to receive a selection of a first control action associated with an application stored in the device, provide a number of choices associated with the first control action, and receive a word or a phrase to use as a voice command corresponding to the first control action, wherein the word or phrase is selected from the choices. The logic may also associate the word or phrase with the first control action, receive voice input from a user, identify the voice input as corresponding to the word or phrase, and perform the first control action based on the identified voice input. |
| US09401156B2 |
Adaptive tilt compensation for synthesized speech
There is provided a method of using an adaptive tilt compensation by a speech decoder. The method comprises receiving a bit stream including a plurality of parameters representative of a speech signal; identifying an adaptive code vector and a fixed code vector using the plurality of parameters; scaling the adaptive code vector and the fixed code vector to generate a scaled adaptive code vector and a scaled fixed code vector; summing the scaled adaptive code vector and the scaled fixed code vector to generate a synthesized output; calculating a first reflection coefficient based on the plurality of parameters representative of the speech signal; multiplying the first reflection coefficient by a factor to generate a tilt factor; and applying the tilt factor to the synthesized output based on an encoding bit rate. |
| US09401155B2 |
Vector quantizer
Vector Quantizer and method therein for efficient vector quantization, e.g. in a transform audio codec. The method comprises comparing an input target vector s with a plurality of centroids, each centroid representing a respective class of codevectors in a codebook. Further, a starting point for a search related to the input target vector in the codebook is determined, based on the result of the comparison. The codevectors in the codebook are sorted according to a distortion measure reflecting the distance between each codevector and the centroids of the classes. The Vector Quantizer and method enables that the class of codevectors comprising the most probable candidate codevectors in regard of the input vector. s may be searched first. |
| US09401153B2 |
Multi-mode audio recognition and auxiliary data encoding and decoding
Audio signal processing enhances audio watermark embedding and detecting processes. Audio signal processes include audio classification and adapting watermark embedding and detecting based on classification. Advances in audio watermark design include adaptive watermark signal structure data protocols, perceptual models, and insertion methods. Perceptual and robustness evaluation is integrated into audio watermark embedding to optimize audio quality relative the original signal, and to optimize robustness or data capacity. These methods are applied to audio segments in audio embedder and detector configurations to support real time operation. Feature extraction and matching are also used to adapt audio watermark embedding and detecting. |
| US09401144B1 |
Voice gestures
A voice gesture is determined from characteristics of an audio signal based on sound uttered by a user. The voice gesture may represent a command or parameters or a command, and may be context sensitive. Upon determining a command and parameters of the command based on the received voice gesture, the command is executed in accordance with the determined parameters. The command may modify any number of attributes within an environment including, but limited to, an image projected within the environment. |
| US09401143B2 |
Cluster specific speech model
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving data representing acoustic characteristics of a user's voice; selecting a cluster for the data from among a plurality of clusters, where each cluster includes a plurality of vectors, and where each cluster is associated with a speech model trained by a neural network using at least one or more vectors of the plurality of vectors in the respective cluster; and in response to receiving one or more utterances of the user, providing the speech model associated with the cluster for transcribing the one or more utterances. |
| US09401139B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a feedback matching a meaning of a natural language is outputted in the course of outputting a sound corresponding to the natural language by sentence unit. The present invention includes a display unit configured to display a text by sentence unit, an audio output module configured to output a synthetic sound generated from converting the text to a sound, and a controller configured to generate the synthetic sound, extract a meaning of the text, and control a feedback matching the meaning of the text to be outputted while the synthetic sound is outputted via the audio output module. |
| US09401138B2 |
Segment information generation device, speech synthesis device, speech synthesis method, and speech synthesis program
A segment information generation device includes a waveform cutout unit cuts out a speech waveform from natural speech at a time period not depending on a pitch frequency of the natural speech. A feature parameter extraction unit extracts a feature parameter of a speech waveform from the speech waveform cut out by the waveform cutout unit. A time domain waveform generation unit generates a time domain waveform based on the feature parameter. |
| US09401136B2 |
Noise reducing device
A noise reducing device for an apparatus provided with a plurality of discharge passages and that is to be used for reducing noise originating from discharge gas discharged from the discharge passages. The noise reducing device including: (a) a plurality of primary sound reducers that are connected to the plurality of discharge passages of the apparatus; and (b) a secondary sound reducer that accommodates a part of each of the plurality of primary sound reducers including at least a discharge port and that includes a space that allows the discharge gas that has passed through the primary sound reducers and been discharged from the discharge ports to pass therethrough, and a system-to-outside discharge unit that allows the discharge gas that has passed through the space to be discharged to outside of the system. |
| US09401134B2 |
Acoustic-electric stringed instrument with improved body, electric pickup placement, pickup switching and electronic circuit
An electric-acoustic stringed instrument has a removable, adjustable and acoustic artwork top with a decorative bridge and tailpiece; a mounting system for electric string vibration pickups that allows five degrees of freedom in placement and orientation of each pickup anyplace between the neck and bridge; a pickup switching system that provides K*(K−1)/2 series-connected and K*(K−1)/2 parallel-connected humbucking circuits for K matched single-coil pickups; and an on-board preamplifier and distortion circuit, running for over 100 hours on two AA cells, that provides control over second-and third-harmonic distortion. The switched pickups, and up to M=12 switched tone capacitors provide up to M*K*(K−1) tonal options, plus a linear combination of linear, near second-harmonic and near-third harmonic signals, preamp settings, and possible additional vibration sensors in or on the acoustic top. |
| US09401133B2 |
Adjustable, floor-mounted electric guitar effect performance and storage apparatus
Embodiments are directed to an adjustable, floor-mounted electric guitar effect performance and storage apparatus for providing easier access to effect pedals and/or floorboards used by guitarists on stage during practices and/or performances. The apparatus includes two platforms, a lower and an upper, each of which is capable of holding various configurations of electric guitar effect pedals and/or floorboards. The upper platform is extendible and retractable by pushing or pulling with one's foot to gain access to pedals on the lower platform. Extension and retraction (gliding back and forth) is made possible by the use of standard drawer slides, installed in reverse, allowing the upper platform to move away and reveal the lower platform. In addition, the height of the upper platform can be adjusted for performance or storage. |
| US09401132B2 |
Networks of portable electronic devices that collectively generate sound
Systems and methods for collectively generating sound are provided. A sound composition can include multiple component pieces and those component pieces can be divided amongst devices so that the devices can collectively generate the sound composition. For example, each component piece may be assigned to a different device and the each device may provide its assigned component pieces in a synchronized manner so that the overall sound composition is collectively generated. By generating a sound composition in this manner, the network may create new and exciting spatial effects. |
| US09401130B2 |
Electronic device with enhanced method of displaying notifications
There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode. |
| US09401126B2 |
Display driver for pentile-type pixels and display device including the same
A display driver includes a video data conversion unit, a data compression unit, a memory unit, and a data restoration unit. The video data conversion unit converts first video data that includes RGB data to second video data that includes pentile data. The data compression unit compresses at least a portion of the second video data. The memory unit stores at least the compressed second video data. The data restoration unit restores the compressed second video data. |
| US09401125B2 |
Display apparatus and display apparatus control method
A display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a backlight coupled to the LCD panel. The LCD apparatus is capable of being operated in a plurality of modes. The gradation values of the image data is adjusted in accordance with gradation ranges, each gradation range having an upper limit gradation value and a lower limit gradation value. The first converted image data is then scaled by applying a scaling factor, followed by adjustment of backlight brightness. The frame rate of the LCD apparatus is also adjusted to implement the operation mode. |
| US09401124B2 |
Rendering method
As to enhance the rendering while minimizing needed computation time, the method comprises the steps of determining noise information, said noise information being representative of noise level estimated for at least a part of said image; the noise information being determined for the achromatic component of the image; sampling said part of the image according to said noise information; and rendering said at least a part of the image according to said sampling. |
| US09401120B2 |
GOA circuit of LTPS semiconductor TFT
The present invention provides a GOA circuit of LTPS semiconductor TFT, employed for backward scan transmission, comprising a plurality of GOA units which are cascade connected, and N is set to be a positive integer and an Nth GOA unit utilizes a plurality of N-type transistors and a plurality of P-type transistors and the Nth GOA unit comprises a transmission part (100), a transmission control part (200), an information storage part (300), a data erase part (400), an output control part (500) and an output buffer part (600). The transmission gate is employed to perform the former-latter stage transferring signal, and the NOR gate logic unit and the NAND gate logic unit are employed to convert the signals, and the sequence inverter and the inverter are employed to save and transmit the signals to solve the issues that the stability of the circuit is poor, and the power consumption is larger as concerning the LTPS with single type TFT elements, and the problem of TFT leakage of the single type GOA circuit to optimize the performance of the circuit. The ultra narrow frame or frameless designs can be realized. |
| US09401114B2 |
Image display apparatus, display control apparatus thereof, and scaler chip image
A display control apparatus applied for an image display apparatus having a plurality of display regions is provided. The display regions are respectively corresponding to a plurality of backlight modules and the luminance of the backlight modules are independently controlled. The display control apparatus includes a backlight control unit. The backlight control unit receives a first image data to generate a plurality of local backlight control signals accordingly. The local backlight control signals are used for controlling the luminance of the backlight modules. The backlight control unit divides the first image data to be a plurality of local image data respectively corresponding to the display regions. Furthermore, the backlight control unit generates one of the local backlight control signals according to one of the local image data respectively. |
| US09401112B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
An organic EL display device includes an emission driver that has an ON-control transistor (T1e) and an OFF-control transistor (T2e) for each emission line. The ON-control transistor (T1e) in the i-th row has its gate terminal and drain terminal connected to the scanning line (Si+1) in the (i+1)th row whereas its source terminal is connected to the emission line (EMi) in the i-th row. The OFF-control transistor (T2e) in the i-th row has its gate terminal connected to the scanning line (Si−1) in the (i−1)th row, whereas its drain terminal is connected to the emission line (EMi) in the i-th row, and its source terminal is connected to a LOW level logic power supply line (VSS). |
| US09401111B2 |
Display device and drive method thereof
A pixel circuit 10 is provided with TFTs 12 and 13 and an organic EL element 15 on a current path connecting a power supply line VPk and an electrode having a common potential Vcom. A display device 100 simultaneously performs initialization to pixel circuits 10 in a plurality of rows, simultaneously perform threshold detection to the pixel circuits 10 in the plurality of rows, sequentially writes data to the pixel circuits 10 row by row, and makes the organic EL elements 15 included in the pixel circuits 10 in the plurality of rows emit light in the same period. In a period from completion of threshold detection to start of light emission, the TFTs 11 and 13 are controlled to an off state, and a potential VP_C which is substantially equal to the common potential Vcom is applied to the power supply line VPk. Consequently, leak current flowing through the TFTs 12 and 13 can be suppressed, and the fluctuation in the node potential in the pixel circuit 10 in a standby period can be prevented. |
| US09401107B2 |
Image data processing method and device thereof
An image data processing method and a device thereof are disclosed, and the method includes: receiving and executing a gamma correction process for first red, green and blue sub-pixel image data to obtain second red, green and blue sub-pixel image data; generating a first white sub-pixel image data, and third red, green and blue sub-pixel image data according to the second red, green and blue sub-pixel image data; and obtaining fourth red, green and blue sub-pixel image data and a second white sub-pixel image data through an inverse gamma conversion process. |
| US09401105B2 |
Display device and method of operating the same
A display device is provided which includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels; a gate driving unit configured to drive gate lines; a data driver configured to drive data lines; and a timing controller configured to generate a plurality of control signals for controlling the gate driving unit and the data driver. The timing controller converts the data signals into an image data signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, a vertical synchronization signal, and a data enable signal, a pulse width of each of the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals corresponding to an aspect ratio of the data signals or a size of a black image display area. The timing controller generates the plurality of control signals according to the image data signal, the data enable signal, and pulse widths of the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal. |
| US09401102B2 |
Sign including a plurality of symbol portions
A sign is provided capable of increasing strength. A sign includes plural symbol portions arrayed in an array direction. Blank regions with an enclosed shape, and blank regions with an opened shape opening in the array direction, are formed inside the symbol portions. Reinforcement portions are provided at the blank regions. The symbol portions are coupled together by coupling portions, and the coupling portions are provided such that an array width direction position of the coupling portions coincides with an array width direction position of the reinforcement portions. |
| US09401099B2 |
Dedicated on-screen closed caption display
Methods and apparatus for displaying closed-captioning content on a display device. In response to determining that closed-captioning is desired, a display area of the display device is partitioned into non-overlapping portions. A first portion of the display area is configured to display the closed-captioning content and a second portion of the display area is configured to display a computer desktop. The closed-captioning content may be transformed by replacing at least some text in the closed-captioning content with at least one symbol based, at least in part, on a context of the at least some text in the closed-captioning content. |
| US09401098B2 |
Performance monitoring systems and methods
Systems and methods for recommending a health-related action to a user using a portable electronic device are disclosed. The method may include receiving data corresponding to a user's first health-related action, storing data in a memory, receiving an indication that the user is engaging in a second health-related action, determining that the second health-related action corresponds to the first health-related action based on the indication, and displaying a recommendation for the second health-related action based on the data corresponding to the user's first health-related action. |
| US09401097B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing emotion expression service using emotion expression identifier
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for providing an emotion expression service using an emotion expression identifier. The method includes collecting emotion evaluations of users about content related to a word or a phrase, the emotion evaluations being performed by the users after the users view the content, and displaying an emotion expression identifier representing the collected emotion evaluations of the users in the vicinity of the word or the phrase. The method and apparatus enable a user to intuitively identify emotion expressions of other users (netizens) in relation to a word or phrase such on a Web page such as a portal site. |
| US09401092B2 |
System and method for airport control using wake duration
A system and method for airport control at an airport having one or more runways. The system and method can receive information related to aircraft utilizing the airport, determine wake duration, and determine an aircraft separation time for one or more runways based on a wake duration of an aircraft. |
| US09401089B2 |
Road weather hazard system
A method and system for assessing road conditions is provided. The method includes determining a road hazard condition for a road segment that may include a precipitation type, a pavement condition, and a visibility level. The precipitation type may be determined using radar data, satellite cloud classification data, weather station air temperature data, wiper status, mobile air data, speed ratio, or headlight status. The pavement condition may be determined using pavement temperature, precipitation type, automatic brake system status, traction status or a stability control observation, and a yaw rate. The visibility level may be determined using wind speed, relative humidity, percentage of fog lights on, percentage of high beams on, speed ratio, station visibility, station-reported visibility type, wildfire existence, wind direction, a dust existence indicator. |
| US09401085B2 |
Control of devices through the use of different communication interfaces
A method and a device for determining what commands can be used to operate a receiving device (110) when a user operates a control device (105). After such a determination is made, a first command is transmitted to the receiving device from the control device (105) over a first communication interface and a second command is transmitted to the receiving device (110) over 5 a second communication interface. The communication interface that is selected depends on whether the control device can control the operation of the receiving device (110) with such a command directly or whether an intervening device (130/140) is required to translate the command from a first format to a second format. |
| US09401083B2 |
Remote control system for electric devices, signal conversion device, and control method for signal conversion devices
The invention discloses a remote control system for electric devices, a signal conversion device, and a control method for signal conversion devices. The signal conversion device may control an electric device according to a remote control signal including an identification code and a control command. The signal conversion device may include a wireless receiving module, a control module, and a wireless transmission module. The wireless receiving module may receive the remote control signal. The control module may determine whether the identification code matches a default identification code stored in the signal conversion device, to decide whether to convert the control command to a control signal. The wireless transmission module may transmit the control signal to the electric device such that the electric device operates according to the control signal. |
| US09401079B2 |
Method and apparatus of converting control tracks for providing haptic feedback
Disclosed are systems and methods for converting a control track designed for use with a number and/or type of haptic output devices to be used with other numbers and/or types of haptic output devices. For example, a computing device may convert the control track into another control track that can be applied to other types and/or numbers of haptic output devices. The converted control track may be compatible for use with a smartphone or other system that includes a different number and/or type of haptic feedback devices than the system for which the haptic track was originally designed. In this manner, the user of the smartphone or other system may experience haptic feedback using a device that is different from another haptic feedback system for which the control track was originally designed for use. The conversion may occur locally at the smartphone or other system and/or remotely at another device. |
| US09401078B2 |
Systems and methods for muting visual indicators in an information handling system
A chassis may include a plurality of slots each configured to receive a module having one or more information handling resources, wherein each slot is configured to electrically and communicatively couple the module to other components of the chassis. The chassis may also include a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of slots. The controller may be configured to receive an electrical signal indicative of a user action associated with the chassis. The controller may also be configured to, responsive to the electrical signal: cause a first visual indicator associated with a first module received in the chassis to indicate a selection; for a period of time following receipt of the electrical signal, cause at least one second visual indicator of modules received in the chassis to mute; and at the conclusion of the period of time, cause the at least one second visual indicator to unmute. |
| US09401077B2 |
Mobile phone ATM processing methods and systems
Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct transactions with ATM devices. |
| US09401075B2 |
Gaming system, method and device including player/dealer role reversal for modified blackjack game
A modified version of a Blackjack game includes a plurality of Blackjack rules including at least one player rule and at least one dealer rule. The modified Blackjack game includes at least one deck of cards, a plurality of participant hands formable from the deck, and a plurality of game administrator hands formable from the deck. A game outcome can be produced by applying the player rule to at least one of the game administrator hands, and by applying the dealer rule to at least one of the participant hands. |
| US09401073B2 |
Electronic gaming device with skill-based tournament functionality
Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods utilizing in tournament game play. An electronic gaming device may include a plurality of reels. One or more paylines may be formed on at least a portion of the plurality of reels. The electronic gaming device may include a memory and one or more processors. The memory may include one or more tournament game structures with one or more skill-based tournament game play structures. The one or more processors may initiate the one or more tournaments based on one or more tournament game structures. The one or more tournaments may be at least based in part on one or more skill-based tournament game plays. |
| US09401067B2 |
Gaming information integration system
The present application provides a game playing information integration system which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, particularly fixed customers, and thereby capable of effectively introducing a gaming machine to invoke demands of players as users and managers of gaming facilities in a well-balanced manner from a result obtained by logically analyzing the gaming machine. (a) Game playing period at one time of each player in gaming machine unit, (b) change in balance over time of player in a game playing period, (c) operation time of the gaming machine unit, and (d) data relating to profit of a shop side by the gaming machine are generated, the degree of satisfaction of player is computed based on (a) and (b), and the degree of satisfaction of a shop side is computed based on (c) and (d). |
| US09401066B2 |
Gaming system and method providing a collection game
A gaming system and method providing a collection game independent from the primary games of a gaming system. In one embodiment, the collection game includes a plurality of elements and a winning element combination. During play of the collection game, randomly or upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the gaming system releases one of the plurality of elements to players. The gaming system repeats the process of releasing elements until one of the players collects all of the elements of the winning element combination. The first player to collect all of the elements of the winning element combination wins an award or prize. |
| US09401065B2 |
System and method for remote rendering of content on an electronic gaming machine
A gaming system is described. The gaming system can include one or more host devices and EGM clients that communicate with one another over a network. Various non-gaming applications can be maintained on the host device. In response to a request received from an EGM client, a non-gaming application program can be executed on the host device. Content from the non-gaming application can be converted to a media stream that is sent to the EGM client for output. The media stream can be processed using a codec executed on the EGM. Input data associated with the content can be received at the EGM and sent to the host device. The content from the non-gaming application executed on the host can be adjusted in response to the input data received from the EGM. |
| US09401060B2 |
Device for dispensing coins
A device for dispensing coins includes a rotatingly-driven rotary disk, a coin container arranged above the rotary disk, through which coins are fed to a top side of the rotary disk, and a coin discharge. A wiper device is also includes and comprises at least one elastic wiper arm arranged above and at a distance from the top side of the rotary disk and turning with the rotary disk. |
| US09401056B2 |
Vehicular simulation
Vehicle profiles allow drivers of vehicles to select any vehicle they desire to simulate. A graphical dashboard may be reconfigured to assume a graphical interface of any vehicle. A prospective buyer of an electric vehicle may configure the dashboard of a conventional, internal combustion vehicle to visually simulate an electric vehicle. |
| US09401055B2 |
Electronic control apparatus
An electronic control apparatus includes a controller, a storage, a calculator, and an estimator. The estimator estimates a potential travelling pattern of a vehicle based on a vehicle state during a start-up period. The start-up period is a preliminarily determined period of time right after a turning on of an ignition switch and the potential travelling pattern is an estimated travelling pattern under which the vehicle travels after an elapse of the start-up period. The estimator estimates the potential travelling pattern of the vehicle based on database-stored reference information that indicates a relationship between the vehicle state during the start-up period and an actual travelling pattern of the vehicle after the elapse of the start-up period. When the estimator estimates that the potential travelling pattern of the vehicle is the short distance travel, the controller forcibly starts the malfunction diagnostic before the predetermined diagnostic start condition is satisfied. |
| US09401050B2 |
Recalibration of a flexible mixed reality device
The technology provides embodiments for recalibration of outward facing cameras supported by a see-through, head mounted, mixed reality display system having a flexible portion between see-through displays for the eyes. Each outward facing camera has a fixed spatial relationship with a respective or corresponding see-through display positioned to be seen through by a respective eye. For front facing cameras, the fixed spatial relationship allows a predetermined mapping between positions on an image sensor of each camera and positions on the respective display. The mapping may be used to register a position of a virtual object to a position of a real object. A change in a first flexible spatial relationship between the outward facing cameras can be automatically detected. A second spatial relationship between the cameras is determined. A registration of a virtual object to a real object may be updated based on the second spatial relationship. |
| US09401048B2 |
Methods and apparatus for augmented reality target detection
Systems and methods are disclosed for target-based AR devices to perform low-power front-end passive scanning of targets to alert users to AR content linked to any image targets the users may be viewing. Passive scanning by AR devices relieves users of the need to manually activate a camera for AR image target identification, and helps to identify image targets the users may be unknowingly viewing. To conserver power, AR devices may autonomously activate a camera to perform an exploratory scan when the AR devices detect from users' movement patterns that users may be interested in certain targets or is in a state of attentiveness. AR devices may identify one or more image targets from the exploratory scans. If users elect to interact with the AR content, AR devices may activate the camera to perform a full capture or real-time tracking of the image targets to augment the AR content. |
| US09401045B2 |
Graphically representing content relationships on a surface of graphical object
A collection of data stored in a computer-readable storage medium is provided, and a plurality of portions of the collection are associated with corresponding identifiers that are associated with positions of an object to be rendered. User selections of positions on the surface of the object are received. The portions associated with the user selected position are determined, and the portions are displayed at their respective position on the surface of the object. The selected portions can be displayed as being connected by graphical elements. |
| US09401043B2 |
Photon beam diffusion
An efficient numerical method for accurately rendering translucent materials using photon beam diffusion is provided that can account for multilayer materials and directional incident and exitant effects at the surface. In an embodiment, refracted incident light is represented continuously as a photon beam instead of as discrete photons. An integration scheme for calculating a radiant exitance value at a point on the surface of the translucent material is disclosed that uses importance sampling and evaluates a radiant function at a limited number of points along the beam. |
| US09401042B2 |
Method and apparatus for imaging a three dimensional target object using incident radiation
A method of providing image data for constructing an image of a region of a three dimensional target object, comprising providing, from a radiation source, incident radiation directed at a target object, detecting an intensity of radiation scattered by the target object, and determining image data for each of a respective plurality of slices within the target object each indicating one or more characteristics of the target object at a respective depth within the target object, wherein the image data is determined based on the detected intensity of radiation via an iterative process wherein running estimates of the image data for each of the plurality of slices are updated step by step. |
| US09401041B2 |
Multi view synthesis method and display devices with spatial and inter-view consistency
An embodiment of the invention is a method that provides common data and enforces multiple view consistency. In a preferred embodiment, a coordinate alignment matrix is generated after initial warped views are formed. The matrix is used efficiently to repair holes/occlusions when synthesizing final views. In another preferred embodiment, a common background layer is generated based upon initial warped views. Holes are repaired on the common background layer, which can then be used for synthesizing final views. The cost of the latter method is sub-linear, meaning that additional views can be generated with lesser cost. Preferred methods of the invention also use a placement matrix to generate initial warped views, which simplifies warping to a lookup operation. |
| US09401038B2 |
Information processing apparatus, generation method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus analyzes an importance distribution in a render target range for which a three-dimensional scene is to be rendered in a perspective for generating a map for use in rendering the three-dimensional scene. The apparatus acquires eigenvectors of the importance distribution by performing principal component analysis on the distribution. In a case where the eigenvectors of the distribution satisfies a predetermined condition, the apparatus rotates the importance distribution such that a direction defined by the eigenvector is to be a predetermined direction, and determines the number of pixels assigned to each partial region based on the rotated distribution. |
| US09401035B2 |
Text rendering method with improved clarity of corners
A method determines a contribution of an object to an intensity value of a current pixel that is partially covered by the object by calculating an entry location and exit location for an edge of the object in the current pixel, the entry and exit locations being located on boundaries of the current pixel with different orientations. The method determines an intensity value for at least one neighboring pixel located adjacent to the current pixel, the neighboring pixel being selected based on the calculated entry and exit locations, and then determines an intensity value of the current pixel using the determined intensity value of the at least one neighboring pixel as a contribution of the object at the current pixel. |
| US09401030B2 |
Image processing system for soil characterization
A system processes images of soil using image processing techniques that help to reveal soil characteristics and differences between soil characteristics. The characteristics may be indicative of soil type, and the differences between soil characteristics help to identify where soil types change in a field. The system may determine management zones for a field based on the soil characteristics, e.g., by identifying multiple regions within a field, each management zone corresponding to similar soil characteristics. The system may communicate the management zones to devices in the field, to land appraisers, or to customers who use the results to manage the soil, as just a few examples. |
| US09401029B2 |
Moving object detection method
A moving object detection method according to an embodiment performs a stacking process step of: dividing captured images into p groups each including m successive images; and for each group, applying a stacking method to the m images. Subsequently, for each group, the method extracts a candidate for space debris based on an evaluation value for space debris detection, which is obtained from pixel values at the same pixel positions overlapping one another across the m images superposed one another. Thereafter, the method judges whether the extracted candidate for the space debris in each group is chosen as a final candidate for the space debris based on the coincidence or proximity in terms of the movement direction and the moving velocity. |
| US09401028B2 |
Method and system for video-based road characterization, lane detection and departure prevention
A method and system for video-based road departure warning for a vehicle on a road, is provided. Road departure warning involves receiving an image of a road in front of the vehicle from a video imager, and detecting one or more road markings in the image corresponding to markings on the road. Then, analyzing the characteristics of an image region beyond the detected markings to determine a rating for drivability of the road corresponding to said image region, and detecting the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the markings on the road based on the detected road markings. A warning signal is generated as function of said lateral offset and said rating. |
| US09401022B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating spanning tree, method and apparatus for stereo matching, method and apparatus for up-sampling, and method and apparatus for generating reference pixel
A method and apparatus for generating a spanning tree, a method and apparatus for stereo matching, a method and apparatus for up-sampling, and a method and apparatus for generating a reference pixel are disclosed, in which a spanning tree may be generated by reference pixels, stereo matching or up-sampling may be performed based on the generated spanning tree, and a reference pixel may be generated based on a stereo video. |
| US09401018B2 |
Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method for acquiring a measurement value of a ROI
Provided are an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a method of operating the same. A method of operating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes displaying an ultrasonic image in a first region of a display unit, selecting a region of interest (ROI) in the ultrasonic image, displaying a scan conversion image and a certain magnification in a second region, and acquiring a measurement value of the ROI on a basis of the scan conversion image. The scan conversion image is generated by enlarging or reducing an image corresponding to the selected ROI at the certain magnification. A resolution of the scan conversion image is equal to or higher than a resolution of the ultrasonic image. |
| US09401017B2 |
Systems and methods for semi-automated segmentation of medical images
Systems and methods for segmenting a medical image are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving an image acquired from at least a portion of a subject's anatomy, selecting a first point within a target structure identified on the image, and determining a second and a third point associated with extents of a target biological tissue, the first, second and third points defining a sector described by the first point, a central angle and a subtended arc. The method also includes determining a plurality of arc points along the subtended arc, and extending a plurality of linear segments along directions determined by the first point and the plurality of arc points. The method further includes determining an intensity profile along each linear segment to identify boundaries of the target biological tissue, and generating a contour of the target biological tissue using the identified boundaries. |
| US09401016B2 |
Using high resolution full die image data for inspection
Methods and systems for determining a position of inspection data with respect to a stored high resolution die image are provided. One method includes aligning data acquired by an inspection system for alignment sites on a wafer with data for predetermined alignment sites. The predetermined alignment sites have a predetermined position in die image space of a stored high resolution die image for the wafer. The method also includes determining positions of the alignment sites in the die image space based on the predetermined positions of the predetermined alignment sites in the die image space. In addition, the method includes determining a position of inspection data acquired for the wafer by the inspection system in the die image space based on the positions of the alignment sites in the die image space. |
| US09401014B2 |
Methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data
Various methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data are provided. One computer-implemented method for binning defects detected on a wafer includes comparing portions of design data proximate positions of the defects in design data space. The method also includes determining if the design data in the portions is at least similar based on results of the comparing step. In addition, the method includes binning the defects in groups such that the portions of the design data proximate the positions of the defects in each of the groups are at least similar. The method further includes storing results of the binning step in a storage medium. |
| US09401013B2 |
Method of design-based defect classification and system thereof
There is provided an inspection method capable of classifying defects detected on a production layer of a specimen. The method comprises: obtaining input data related to the detected defects; processing the input data using a decision algorithm associated with the production layer and specifying two or more classification operations and a sequence thereof; and sorting the processed defects in accordance with predefined bins, wherein each bin is associated with at least one classification operation, wherein at least one classification operation sorts at least part of the processed defects to one or more classification bins to yield finally classified defects, and wherein each classification operation, excluding the last one, sorts at least part of the processed defects to be processed by one or more of the following classification operations. |
| US09401005B2 |
Image processing circuit, image processing method, and display device using the same
An image processing circuit includes a determination unit configured to classify the input image data into a first image area being a gradation area, a second image area being a non-gradation area, or a third image area being an intermediate area between the gradation area and the non-gradation area; a first pixel interpolation unit configured to generate a first output pixel value interpolated by applying a theoretically calculated coefficient to a pixel value of the input image data; a second pixel interpolation unit configured to generate a second output pixel value interpolated by applying a coefficient obtained by learning to the pixel value of the input image data; and a mixing unit configured to output the first output pixel value, the second output pixel value, or a third output pixel value, obtained by processing the first and second output pixel values, according to a classification result of the determination unit. |
| US09400997B2 |
Driving computer displays with customization options and collecting customization specifications
A product image depicting a customizable product with one or more annotations is displayed. Each annotation of the one or more annotations identifies an attribute group location upon the customizable product that represents an attribute group comprising one or more attributes of the customizable product that may be customized. A selection of a particular attribute group location of the attribute group location identified by the one or more annotations is received. The particular attribute group location represents a particular attribute group. In response to receiving the selection, information relating to one or more attributes included in the particular attribute group is displayed. An attribute selection shape comprising a plurality of regions, each of which represent an attribute of the particular attribute group may be displayed. |
| US09400996B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting an image in a network environment
Systems and methods for collecting, selecting, and displaying an image or image set in a network based environment are described. The systems and methods can collect multiple images for any given item from multiple sources, select a desired image (or set of images) that best depicts that item, and then display that selected image (or image set) in the network based environment. The desired image (or image set) that best depicts the item can be selected using any number or combination of pre-selected criteria. By using the pre-selected criteria, the process needs no manual intervention, and can therefore be automated or semi-automated to save both time and cost. |
| US09400995B2 |
Recommending content information based on user behavior
Content recommendation includes: determining a plurality of user behavior categories pertaining to a plurality of user behaviors by a plurality of users within a period of time, and a plurality of user behavior frequencies corresponding to the plurality of user behavior categories; determining whether the number of user behavior categories exceeds a preset category threshold; in the event that the number of user behavior categories exceeds the preset threshold, excluding one or more user behavior categories such that the number of remaining user behavior categories does not exceed the preset threshold; determining, based at least on the remaining user behavior categories and corresponding user behavior frequencies, user preference data comprising frequency distribution information of a plurality of pieces of content information targeted by user behaviors in the remaining user behavior categories; and recommending content information to a user based on the user preference data. |
| US09400993B2 |
Virtual reality system including smart objects
Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media that may be used to generate a virtual reality simulation of a shopping environment are provided. One method includes generating one or more smart objects from a set of simulation data describing the shopping environment. The method further includes generating the virtual reality simulation that includes the one or more smart objects and presenting the virtual reality simulation to the simulation participant on a virtual reality display platform. The virtual reality display platform includes one or more touch screen display devices. The method further includes, each time the participant touches the one or more touch screen display devices on an area in which one of the smart objects is displayed, generating a touching record indicating that the participant touched the respective one of the smart objects. The method further includes storing each generated touching record in a memory. |
| US09400985B2 |
Techniques for wireless communication of proximity based content
A system and method for communication of proximity based content is disclosed between a mobile computing device having a Short Range Communication (SRC) device and a Proximity Short Range Communication (PSRC) device associated with a location or object using near field magnetic induction. The SRC device and/or the PSRC device can include at least two antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity. The method comprises defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by a magnetic induction diversity communication range of at least one of the SRC and PSRC devices. A proximity signal is communicated in the proximity boundary between the SRC device and the PSRC device. At least one action is performed by the mobile computing device or the PSRC device when the proximity signal is detected between the SRC device and the PSRC device. |
| US09400984B2 |
Methods and apparatus to access media
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to share media are disclosed. An example system includes an application program distribution interface to download an application program to a user device, the application program to receive user input from a first user. The example system also includes a query interface to receive representative information and an indication of a second user from the user device. The example system also includes a media content recognizer to identify the media content based on the representative information, a media access provider to selectively provide the second user with access to the media content, and an audience-interest interface to credit audience-interest to the media content when the second user is provided access to the media content. |
| US09400981B2 |
Micro video assistant
A method for retrofitting a vending machine with a video communications device includes securing a video communications device with a mounting feature of the video communications device removably coupled with a mounting location on a vending machine. The video communications device includes a video communications module for real-time interactions with a ticket office. The video communications module includes a display, a camera, a speaker, and a microphone. The video communications device includes a video communication device communications interface. The method includes electronically coupling the video communications device with a power supply of the vending machine and communicatively coupling the video communications device with the vending machine such that functions of the vending machine are controllable using the video communications device. The method includes communicatively coupling the video communications device with the ticket office for real-time video communications with the ticket office. |
| US09400975B2 |
Evaluating user contacts on an electronic communication network
A system for evaluating network users comprises one or more processors communicatively coupled to one or more memories operable to receive, over a network comprising a plurality of network users, electronic first user content generated by a first user, provide the first user content over the network to a second user, receive, over the network, a second user response to the first user content generated by the second user, determine a second user response delay time for the second user response, wherein the second user response delay time is associated with the amount of time between when the first user content was provided over the network and when the second user response was received, and generate a first list of network users that have responded to first user content, wherein the first list is organized based at least in part on the second user response delay time. |
| US09400974B2 |
Systems and methods for annotating and sending electronic documents
According to one embodiment, a method is provided that can comprise receiving, by a server computer system from a user operating a client computing device, an electronic document and user input for adding one or more electronic annotations to the electronic document. The method can further comprise generating, by the server computer system, an annotated version of the electronic document that includes the one or more electronic annotations based on the user input. The server computer system can then send the annotated version of the electronic document to a recipient designated by the user. |
| US09400971B1 |
Reading station structures
In some examples, a reader system is provided for managing inventory items in an inventory system. The reader system may be configured to read tags associated with items stowed in an inventory holder. The inventory holder may be detachably coupled to a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder to a first position near an antenna of the reader system and the tags may begin to be read. While reading or at other times in the reading process, the mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder relative to the antenna. The identified tags may be compared to a manifest list of items expected to be stowed in the inventory holder. |
| US09400967B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for portable device location
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to a network of RFID readers which detect a location of an RFID transmitter coupled to a portable device. The network of RFID readers transmits the location to a user. The RFID transmitter couples to any personal device and broadcasts a unique ID. The nearest RFID reader(s) receive the unique ID and alert a server in communication with the network of RFID readers. The server calculates the distance of the RFID transmitter from each RFID reader receiving the unique ID. The server triangulates the location of the RFID transmitter when three or more RFID readers are receiving the unique ID. The server then securely transmits the location of the RFID transmitter to the user of the portable device. The user receives the transmission through a secure receiver. |
| US09400963B1 |
Task prioritization based on users' interest
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for prioritizing tasks associated with a group of users based on number of times the users have monitored the status of a task. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for task prioritizing, the tasks may be prioritized based on the number of users associated with a task, the importance of each user associated with a task, and the way the task was identified. |
| US09400962B2 |
Architecture for distributed, parallel crawling of interactive client-server applications
In one embodiment, a distributed computing system includes a first worker node configured to execute a first job, a second worker node configured to execute a second job, and a master node including a processor coupled to a memory. The first job indicates a first portion of an interactive client-server application to be crawled. The second job indicates a second portion of an interactive client-server application to be crawled. The second worker node and the first worker node are configured to execute their respective jobs in parallel. The second job indicates a second portion of an interactive client-server application to be crawled. The master node is configured to assign the first job to the first worker node, assign the second job to the second worker node, and integrate the results from the first worker node and the second worker node into a record of operation of the application. |
| US09400960B2 |
Methods for verifying satisfaction of prognostic algorithm requirements for a component having multiple failure modes
Methods for verifying satisfaction of prognostic algorithm requirements for a component of a certain device of interest are provided. A method according to an example of an embodiment of the invention can include providing a prognostic algorithm requirements statement for a preselected component contained in each of a plurality of a certain type device, receiving field data indicating a number of premature component failures and a total number of replacements including both due to premature failures and scheduled maintenance, determining a probability density function providing a probability of failing to replace the prematurely failed components, determining a confidence value indicating a level of confidence that failure avoidance requirements provided in the prognostic algorithm statement are being met, and verifying whether or not the prognostic algorithm requirements provided in the prognostic algorithm requirements statement are being satisfied according to a preselected minimum level of confidence. |
| US09400954B2 |
Multi-scale spatio-temporal neural network system
Embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-scale spatio-temporal neural network system. One embodiment comprises a neural network including multiple heterogeneous neuron populations that operate at different time scales. Each neuron population comprises at least one digital neuron. Each neuron population further comprises a time scale generation circuit that controls timing for operation of said neuron population, wherein each neuron of said neuron population integrates neuronal firing events at a time scale corresponding to said neuron population. The neural network further comprises a plurality of synapses interconnecting the neurons, wherein each synapse interconnects a neuron with another neuron. At least one neuron receives neuronal firing events from an interconnected neuron that operates at a different time scale. |
| US09400953B1 |
Laser processing enabling radio frequency identification (RFID) customization
Methods, algorithms, processes, circuits, and/or structures for laser patterning suitable for customized RFID designs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of laser patterning of an identification device can include the steps of: (i) depositing a patternable resist formulation on a substrate having configurable elements and/or materials thereon; (ii) irradiating the resist formulation with a laser tool sufficiently to change the solubility characteristics of the resist in a developer; and (iii) developing exposed areas of the resist using the developer. Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously provide a relatively low cost and high throughput approach for customized RFID devices. |
| US09400952B2 |
Tamper-proof quality management barcode indicators
A tamper-proof barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of time and temperature thresholds following actuation thereof, including a first barcode including a first colorable area and being machine-readable before exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, a second barcode including a second colorable area and not being machine-readable before exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, a coloring agent located at a first location on the indicator, a coloring agent pathway operative to allow the coloring agent to move, at a rate which is at least partially a function of time, from the first location to the first and second colorable areas simultaneously for simultaneous coloring thereof upon exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, thereby causing the first barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing the second barcode to become machine-readable, and a tamper-proof actuator element operative to actuate the indicator. |
| US09400950B2 |
Integrated circuit card socket having a terminal with a loop-shaped portion
An integrated circuit (IC) card socket includes a frame having a fixing portion and a connector. The connector includes a first portion fixed by the fixing portion, a second portion connected to one end of the first portion to contact a motherboard, and a third portion connected to another end of the first portion. The third portion has a shape of at least a portion of a loop, and a portion of the third portion contacts an IC card moving toward the third portion. |
| US09400948B2 |
Image processing for rendering an indexed color image
An image processing method includes receiving image data including a color lookup table, and rendering the image data without referring to the color lookup table for each pixel when a combination of color values defined in the color lookup table is a predetermined combination. |
| US09400945B2 |
System and method of fast object detection using parts to whole fragment detection
A system and method may compare an image vector representing an image feature of a first image fragment of an image to database vectors representing the image feature of database image fragments of database images. It may be determined based on the comparison a first matching database vector of the database vectors which most closely, among the database vectors, describes the first image feature represented by the image vector. The system or method may determine, using a data structure in conjunction with the first matching database vector and previously matched database vectors, a second of the database vectors which includes the first matching database vector and the previously matched database vectors and most closely describes a second image fragment including the first image fragment. The system or method may determine an object feature based on the second database vector. |
| US09400943B2 |
Identifying IoT devices/objects/people using out-of-band signaling/metadata in conjunction with optical images
The disclosure relates to identifying an object associated with a nearby Internet of Things (IoT) device. In an aspect, a device receives identifying information associated with the nearby IoT device, detects a nearby object in a field of view of a camera application, determines whether or not the nearby object is associated with the nearby IoT device based on the received identifying information, and based on the nearby object being associated with the nearby IoT device, determines that the nearby object corresponds to the object associated with the nearby IoT device. |
| US09400941B2 |
Method of matching image features with reference features
A method of matching image features with reference features comprises the steps of providing a current image, providing a set of reference features, wherein each of the reference features comprises at least one first parameter which is at least partially indicative of a position and/or orientation of the reference feature with respect to a global coordinate system, wherein the global coordinate system is an earth coordinate system or an object coordinate system, or at least partially indicative of a position of the reference feature with respect to an altitude, detecting at least one feature in the current image in a feature detection process, associating with the detected feature at least one second parameter which is at least partially indicative of a position and/or orientation of the detected feature, or which is at least partially indicative of a position of the detected feature with respect to an altitude, and matching the detected feature with a reference feature by determining a similarity measure. |
| US09400937B2 |
Method and apparatus for segmentation of foreground objects in images and processing thereof
In an example embodiment, a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes facilitating capture of at least one image of a scene including a foreground object by at least one rolling shutter sensor. The at least one image includes a pattern in an image region of the foreground object comprising a series of alternate dark and bright pixel regions. The at least one image is captured by setting exposure time of the sensor as equal or less than a read-out time of a set of pixel rows of a plurality of pixel rows, and by facilitating a repeating sequence of ON and OFF of flash such that flash is ON while capturing the set of pixel rows, and OFF while capturing subsequent set of pixel rows. The method includes determining a contour of the foreground object in the at least one image based on the pattern. |
| US09400932B2 |
Identification method and apparatus utilizing the method
An identification method and an apparatus utilizing the method are disclosed. The disclosed method comprises capturing a first examining image at a first direction, performing a face detection process on the first examining image to identify a first face image in the first examining image, detecting a number of straight lines which are within a detecting image block of the first examining image but outside the first face image, comparing the number of straight lines with a quantity threshold to obtain a first judgment value, and judging if the first face image pass an examination at least according to the first judgment value. |
| US09400928B2 |
Method of compensating for signal degradation in transmission systems
A method for compensating for transmission channel distortion effects for a data signal transmitted from a first computing device via the transmission channel to a second computing device is provided. The method includes combining the data signal with a reference marker, the reference marker including predetermined signal parameters, to create a composite data signal, transmitting the composite data signal from the first computing device to the second computing device, extracting the reference marker and the data signal from the received composite data signal received at the second computing device, analyzing the signal parameters of the extracted reference marker, comparing the analyzed signal parameters of the extracted reference marker with the predetermined signal parameters of the reference marker in order to determine transmission channel distortions, and adjusting the extracted data signal based on the determined transmission channel distortions in order to compensate for transmission channel distortion effects. |
| US09400925B2 |
Pose-aligned networks for deep attribute modeling
Technology is disclosed for inferring human attributes from images of people. The attributes can include, for example, gender, age, hair, and/or clothing. The technology uses part-based models, e.g., Poselets, to locate multiple normalized part patches from an image. The normalized part patches are provided into trained convolutional neural networks to generate feature data. Each convolution neural network applies multiple stages of convolution operations to one part patch to generate a set of fully connected feature data. The feature data for all part patches are concatenated and then provided into multiple trained classifiers (e.g., linear support vector machines) to predict attributes of the image. |
| US09400922B2 |
Facial landmark localization using coarse-to-fine cascaded neural networks
The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by performing facial landmark localization in a coarse-to-fine manner with a cascade of neural network levels, and enforcing geometric constraints for each of the neural network levels. In one approach, the neural network levels may be implemented with deep convolutional neural network. One aspect concerns a system for localizing landmarks on face images. The system includes an input for receiving a face image, and an output for presenting landmarks identified by the system. Neural network levels are coupled in a cascade from the input to the output for the system. Each neural network level produces an estimate of landmarks. The estimate of landmarks is more refined than an estimate of landmark of a previous neural network level. |
| US09400920B2 |
Display screen controlling apparatus in mobile terminal and method thereof
A method for controlling a display screen of a mobile terminal includes acquiring a first image and a second image distinguished from the first image, using a cut-off filter provided in the camera attached to a front of the mobile terminal to cut off one of R (Red), G (Green) and B (Blue) signals, recognizing an object comprising a user's face or gesture based on the first image and second image, and controlling on/off of the display screen provided in the mobile terminal based on the result of the recognition. |
| US09400911B2 |
Fingerprint sensor and integratable electronic display
A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display. |
| US09400910B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data embedded into the surface of a 3D printed object
A computer implemented method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data embedded into the surface of a 3D printed object is described. The method and apparatus develops an electronic file used for printing a 3D object which embeds as structure into the 3D object, a 3D symbol matrix representative of data to be printed concurrently with the 3D object, such as a 3D barcode. A selected symbology is used for making the symbol matrix in accordance with the type of printing process to be used to print the 3D object. |
| US09400909B2 |
Method and apparatus for identification
A method and system for reading an identifier from an object having a portion of a repeating image imparted thereon. The system preferably includes an imaging apparatus for imaging a portion of the repeating image from the object, the repeating image repeating in the direction of continuous travel of one or more objects through a printing location, at least the portion of the repeating image being printed to each of a plurality of objects, including the object, as the plurality of objects reach the printing location. The system further preferably includes a comparator for comparing one or more expected attributes of the imaged repeating image with one or more corresponding actual attributes of the imaged repeating image. |
| US09400907B2 |
User interface for an optical code scanner
An optical code scanner is presented that includes an improved user interface and an improved external computer interface. The user interface includes illumination devices that illuminate an air gap between the edges of a weigh plate and the top surface of the optical code scanner. The illumination devices provide guidance to the operator that allows the operator to optimize scanning performance. The external computer interface exposes controls that allow an external computer to determine what information is displayed to an operator. |
| US09400903B2 |
Communication method, device, and system
The present invention relates to a communication method, device, and system. The communication method include using low-frequency alternating magnetic field signals to control a communication distance between a first radio frequency (RF) device and second RF device. The communication device receives and uses a first low-frequency alternating magnetic field signal transmitted from a second RF device to control the communication distance to the second RF device. The communication system includes a first RF device and a second RF device. The first RF device generates and transmits a first low-frequency alternating magnetic field signal and receives a second low-frequency alternating magnetic field signal, and the second RF device generates and transmits the second low-frequency alternating magnetic field signal and receives the first low-frequency alternating magnetic field signal. The first RF device and the second RF device control the communication distance using the first and second low-frequency alternating magnetic field signals. |
| US09400901B2 |
Method for operating a communication system
A method for operating a communication system comprises a transponder having at least one antenna, in particular in the form of a portable data carrier, and a reading device having at least one antenna. The reading device is configured to exchange data with the transponder. An exchange of data between the transponder and the reading device is possible within a predetermined range. A measurement and evaluation is effected of the time of a command transmitted from the reading device to the transponder and the receipt of a corresponding response of the transponder by the reading device. In so doing, a processing is effected of a card-individual length of time T_icc, wherein the card-individual length of time T_icc specifies how long the transponder takes for the receipt and the processing of a command received from the reading device and the sending of a corresponding response. |
| US09400900B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to RFID tag-based user assertions
An apparatus includes a display and one or more user-assertable surfaces. When asserted by a user, such a surface selectively couples a corresponding near-field RFID tag to a far-field component such that information stored by the near-field RFID tag is transmitted via the far-field component. The display, in turn, presents at least some information that the apparatus receives via an RFID transceiver. Depending upon the design this RFID transceiver can be the same as the aforementioned near-field RFID tag or can comprise a different RFID tag (such as but not limited to a far-field RFID tag). By one approach the aforementioned user-assertable surfaces comprise discrete push buttons. When the far-field component comprises a far-field antenna, asserting such a push button can serve to place the corresponding near-field RFID tag into operable proximity to the far-field antenna. |
| US09400899B2 |
Socket for card
A socket coupled to an electronic device is provided. The socket includes a socket housing having a card containing space, a first tension rib, protruding in a direction of the card containing space in the socket housing, for supporting a first card contained in the card containing space, and a second tension rib, protruding in the direction of the card containing space in the socket housing, for supporting a second card having a size different from that of the first card contained in the card containing space. Accordingly, the electronic device may effectively utilize a space and may be slimmed down. |
| US09400895B2 |
Mechanisms for locking computing devices
Various systems and methods for locking computing devices are described herein. In an example, a portable device comprises an electro-mechanical lock; and a firmware module coupled to the electro-mechanical lock, the firmware module configured to: receive an unlock code; validate the unlock code; and unlock the electro-mechanical lock when the unlock code is validated. In another example, device for managing BIOS authentication, the device comprising an NFC module, the NFC module comprising an NFC antenna; and a firmware module, wherein the firmware module is configured to: receive an unlock code from an NFC device via the NFC antenna; validate the unlock code; and unlock a BIOS of the device when the unlock code is validated. |
| US09400890B2 |
Method and devices for selective RAM scrambling
A method for selectively scrambling data within a memory associated with a computing device based on data tagging. The computing device may define security domains that are protected. Data generated by an application may be packaged as a data bus transaction having tagging information describing the application and/or the data. The data bus transaction may be transmitted over a bus of the computing device to a memory, such as internal memory, where the computing device may compare the tagging information to stored information describing security domains. When the data is determined to be protected based on the tagging information, the computing device may perform scrambling operations on the data. In an aspect, the tagging information may describe a virtual machine used to execute various applications on a processor. In another aspect, the tagging information may define destination memory addresses or content protection bit values. |
| US09400888B1 |
Systems and methods for mitigating effects of an unresponsive secure element during link establishment
A method of communicating with a secure element (SE) is described. The method includes transmitting successive RSET frames from a single wire protocol (SWP) interface to an SE, the successive RSET frames including RSET frame retransmissions. The method also includes counting a number of successive RSET frame retransmissions due to a timer expiring. The method further includes generating a firmware interrupt in response to determining that the count has reached a threshold. The method additionally includes deactivating the SWP interface based on the firmware interrupt. |
| US09400881B2 |
Converged logical and physical security
A security management system that includes a hierarchical security platform, converged IT and physical security management, unified credentialing, credential issuance and incident(s) management. An exemplary aspect of the invention also relates to physical and logical security management and information technology/network security management, with a credential issuance and integrity checking system as well as associated readers and printers of the credential. Still further aspects of the invention relate to obtaining, assembling and analyzing one or more of data, video information, image information, biometric information, sensor information, terrorist information, profile information, and/or other types of information to provide a comprehensive platform for all aspects of security management. A toolkit is also provided that allows complete management, integration, scalability, interoperability and centralized control of all aspects of security including personnel credentialing, personnel management, personnel tracking, task management, security system integration, security information exchange and scalability. |
| US09400880B2 |
Method and apparatus for biometric-based security using capacitive profiles
A biometric security method and apparatus for a capacitive sensor system is provided herein, where the method may include capturing a set of raw capacitive frames for a body part via the capacitive sensor system, wherein each raw capacitive frame includes a distribution of a plurality of capacitance levels measured from the body part; creating a capacitive profile based on the set of raw capacitive frames; comparing a first value in the capacitive profile to a second value in a biometric template generated from an enrolled body part, wherein the first value and the second value are located at a similar location with respect to the capacitive profile; and, generating an authentication signal based on a difference between the first value and the second value. |
| US09400879B2 |
Method and system for providing authentication through aggregate analysis of behavioral and time patterns
A method and a system for evaluating identification of a user based on behavioral patterns and time patterns, including an analysis component for analyzing data; an authentication component for authenticating the analyzed data; and a behavioral biometric device for collecting behavioral biometric data related to the user, the authentication component and the analysis component operably connected at least with the behavioral biometric device; wherein the behavioral biometric data is matched against previously obtained or expected behavioral biometric data stored in a first database component of the analysis component in order to progressively, continuously, and incrementally evaluate the identification of the user to determine a confidence factor. |
| US09400878B2 |
Context analysis at an information handling system to manage authentication cycles
Context captured with sensors of an information handling system is applied to selectively lock access to currently unlocked information, with conditions for locking access based upon the context. Nervous states enforce locking of selected information based upon the confidence of the security of the information under sensed external conditions. Increased sensitivity for locking access includes reduced timeouts to a lock command, increased response to sensed conditions, and more rapid response where unlocked access is to sensitive information. |
| US09400873B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for dispensing oral medications
A pill dispenser includes a housing, a pill-dispensing mechanism, a receptacle, a pill-viewing camera, an identifying camera, one or more processors, and a storage medium (e.g., a memory). The pill-dispensing mechanism is coupled to an opening of the housing. The first pill-viewing camera is positioned to capture an image of the receptacle, and the identifying camera is positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing. The one or more processors are in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera. The storage medium stores processor-executable instructions for: instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill; instructing the pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill to determine a presence of the pill; instructing the pill-viewing camera to capture a second image to determine an absence of the pill; and instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image. |
| US09400871B1 |
Selecting content for devices specific to a particular user
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting content for user devices specific to a particular user. The aspects generally relate to providing related content items to a particular user across multiple different user devices, such as mobile devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, and televisions. The selection of the content items for a particular user and the device to which the content items are to be sent are based one or more of the following factors: user history data, subject matter category duration, frequency duration adjustment, behavioral duration adjustment, and device prioritization. |
| US09400869B2 |
Server device, image transmission method, terminal device, image reception method, program, and image processing system
In some embodiments, methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting, via at least one network, a request to another apparatus for still image data generated from moving image data, the request comprising at least one criterion, and receiving still image data generated from moving image data matching the at least one criterion in the request. In further embodiments, methods and apparatus are provided for receiving the request via at least one network, using the at least one criterion in the request to obtain still image data generated from moving image data, and responding to the request by transmitting the obtained still imagedata. |
| US09400868B2 |
Method computer program and system to analyze mass spectra
A method, computer program and system to identify peaks generated by different physical ions in a solution including substances by analyzing mass and intensity coordinates of all peaks in a set of mass spectra measured with errors for a certain concentration c of the solution is here disclosed. The peaks in different mass spectra are associated to a same ion if they are sufficiently ‘close’ according to specific discrimination criteria that go beyond the proximity of mass values. |
| US09400858B1 |
Virtual verification machine for a hardware based verification platform
Essential information for system operations, memory analysis, and design signal analysis is captured while a hardware based verification platform is performing emulation and testing. This recorded information is then accessible via a memory device and can be used to perform offline debugging with a virtual verification machine (VVM). Users can then release the shared resources and run operation commands to control replay of the design test or emulation in offline mode. Users can access any point in time of the recorded emulation in order to perform detailed design analysis and debugging operations. Offline analysis and debugging may include running certain design cycles, rerunning the emulation until the design reaches a certain state, evaluating memory contents in the design, evaluating design signals for any node in the design, etc. |
| US09400857B2 |
Method and system for forming patterns using charged particle beam lithography
A method for mask data preparation (MDP) is disclosed, in which a set of shots is determined that will form a pattern on a reticle, where the determination includes calculating the pattern that will be formed on a substrate using an optical lithographic process with a reticle formed using the set of shots. A method for optical proximity correction (OPC) or MDP is also disclosed, in which a preliminary set of charged particle beam shots is generated using a preliminary mask model, and then the shots are modified by calculating both a reticle pattern using a final mask model, and a resulting substrate pattern. A method for OPC is also disclosed, in which an ideal pattern for a photomask is calculated from a desired substrate pattern, where the model used in the calculation includes only optical lithography effects and/or substrate processing effects. |
| US09400855B2 |
Method, computer program product and apparatus for providing a building options configurator
A method for providing an options configurator may include receiving an indication of a hierarchical structure of building plan options applicable to an enterprise, enabling a user to define option sets including selected ones of the building plan options, enabling the user to associate different ones among the option sets with corresponding different entities within the enterprise based on distinguishing characteristics of the respective different entities, and providing for generation of building information models and their derivatives based on selected options within an option set. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided. |
| US09400852B2 |
Communication method of content requester, intermediate node, and content owner in content centric network
Communication method of a content requester, an intermediate node of one or more intermediate nodes, and a content owner in a content centric network are provided. A communication method of a content requester in a content centric network (CCN) includes, where the CCN includes the content requester, one or more intermediate nodes, and a content owner, generating a content request packet including a cache token, the cache token being used to determine one or more of the intermediate nodes in which to store content requested from the content owner, and transmitting the generated content request packet to the intermediate nodes and the content owner. |
| US09400851B2 |
Dynamic content caching
A system for caching content including a server supplying at least one of static and non-static content elements, content distinguishing functionality operative to categorize elements of the non-static content as being either dynamic content elements or pseudodynamic content elements, and caching functionality operative to cache the pseudodynamic content elements. The static content elements are content elements which are identified by at least one of the server and metadata associated with the content elements as being expected not to change, the non-static content elements are content elements which are not identified by the server and/or by metadata associated with the content elements as being static content elements, the pseudodynamic content elements are non-static content elements which, based on observation, are not expected to change, and the dynamic content elements are non-static content elements which are not pseudodynamic. |
| US09400844B2 |
System for finding website invitation cueing keywords and for attribute-based generation of invitation-cueing instructions
A system for identifying keywords which may include a non-acquiescence information collector operative to collect information indicating, for each individual website from among a multiplicity of websites, at least one keyword which brought at least one user into contact with said individual website but did not result in a defined criterion for acquiescence of a user to at least one suggestion presented by said website; and a negative keyword definer operative to define at least one specific keyword which brought at least one user into contact with a specific website but did not result in a transaction between said user and said website, as a negative keyword for said specific website. Positive keyword extraction based on aggregation of visitor acquiescence information may be provided. Paradigm structuring may include template generation of invitations and/or attribute based generation of invitation cueing sets. |
| US09400843B2 |
Adjusting stored query relevance data based on query term similarity
Techniques are described to improve search results using a panel. A search engine deploys one or more network traffic monitors. Traffic monitors analyze network traffic and find HTTP requests made to search engines. When a search query is spotted, the traffic monitor records the sequence of user requests, including search engine, search terms, and sites visited. A sequence of queries where a user visits one search engine, enters a query, visits zero or more sites from the results listings, and visits a second search engine, enters a query and visits one or more websites and stops searching is used to determine whether to increase or decrease a relevance value between a search term and the sites visited. |
| US09400842B2 |
Method for selection of a document shot using graphic paths and receiver implementing the method
A method for selection of shots represented by identifiers displayed in a navigation menu. A document is divided into shots. Several attributes such as the moment of appearance of the shot in the document are assigned to each shot. The navigation menu disposes the identifiers according to a first axis according to the moment of appearance of the associated shot and according to a second axis according to the value of a second attribute according to a criterion other than the moment of appearance. A third attribute is determined for each shot according to a criterion other than the two first criteria, the shot identifiers having the same value as this third attribute are connected graphically. In this way the user perceives the value of several attributes associated with each shot and can easily select the shot that interests him. A display device able to display the navigation menu. |
| US09400840B2 |
Combining topic suggestions from different topic sources to assign to textual data items
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage media for combining topic suggestions from different topic sources to assign to textual data items. In some implementations, a first automated topic source provides one or more first topic suggestions to associate with a textual data item. Each first topic suggestion has a respective first characteristic, which can be adjusted. A second automated topic source provides one or more second topic suggestions to associate with the textual data item. Each second topic suggestion has a respective second characteristic, which can be adjusted. The first and second topic suggestions are combined to define a combined list. A reference value is determined or retrieved to impact ordering of the topic suggestions in the combined list. |
| US09400838B2 |
System and method for searching for a query
A search system for searching for electronic documents, and providing a search result in response to a search query is provided. The search system includes a processor, a user interface module adapted to receive a search query from a user, the search query having at least one search query term, and a query processing module that analyzes the search query term to identify candidate synonym words. The query processing module also determines which of the candidate synonym words are equivalent terms to the search query term, and in a same sense as the search query term. In addition, the search system includes a search engine that executes a search based on the search query term and the equivalent terms. |
| US09400836B2 |
External evaluation processes
System and method to manage external data in a product creation process is provided. The method comprises receiving a first product structure from a central module, storing the first product structure in the data storage system, performing, evaluations on the first product structure and storing results of the evaluations in the data storage system. The results of the evaluations are transmitted to a central module. |
| US09400835B2 |
Weighting metric for visual search of entity-relationship databases
The semantics of a relational database may be modeled using an entity-relationship (ER) diagram that represents entities and the relations between the entities. Systems and methods are provided for automatically composing meaningful thumbnails/composited images or visuals from ER diagrams and their associated databases by using the semantics of the underlying data model. First, the most meaningful relations in which a given data element participates are extracted. Second, composited images are composed depicting these relations using a domain-specific visual language and rendering techniques based on the relative weighting of the relations. |
| US09400832B1 |
Dynamic bitwise sharding of live stream comment groups
Groups of users accessing content are generated and modified to allow the users to more easily interact with each other. A number of groups and a maximum number of users in a group are received and used to generate shards. In one embodiment, the number of shards generated is based on the number of groups received. Each shard is associated with a unique shard identifier. In one embodiment, a user is associated with a shard when the user accesses content. For example, when a comment is received from a client device associated with a user, a user identifier is determined and associated with a shard. Using the shards, groups of users are generated. In one embodiment, a substring of the shard identifiers associated with the shards is determined and users associated with shard identifiers having the same substring of the shard identifier are included in a group. |
| US09400822B2 |
API version testing based on query schema
In one embodiment, a method includes generating a first query requesting a data structure of a specific data type, retrieving the data structure of the specific data type from one or more hierarchical graphs using the first query, retrieving one or more data items from the hierarchical graphs using the data structure, and validating the retrieved data items by determining whether the data structure corresponds to the retrieved data items. |
| US09400817B2 |
In-place index repair
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for sorting a disarranged index keys in an index. First an operation is performed on a table that includes an index set on at least one column, where the operation causes the index keys in the index to become disarranged. The disarranged index keys are rearranged into a proper order using an in-place index sort. To rearrange the index keys in the index, a determination is made whether the index is a tail-end index and whether the index is a fixed-size index. Based on the determination, the in-place index sort is performed on the index, where the in-place index sort arranges the index keys in the index into the proper order. |
| US09400816B1 |
System for indexing collections of structured objects that provides strong multiversioning semantics
A multiversioned position-space indexing system is disclosed. The system includes data structures for maintaining a multiversioned position space including a multi-versioned filter merge list which represents many versions of a changing position space in a very compact form and a position shift map which describes how to translate stored positions in many different log-structured merge tree layers into logical positions at a particular timestamp. Each log-structured merge tree layer can be divided into two sublayers: a final sublayer and a correction sublayer. The final sublayer contains index entries added after the layer's start timestamp and remain live as of the layer's final timestamp as well as deletion makers for index entries that were inserted before the layer's start timestamp, but deleted before the layer's final timestamp. The correction layer contains index entries that were both created and deleted between the start and end timestamps of the layer. |
| US09400815B2 |
Method of two pass processing for relational queries in a database system and corresponding database system
Certain example embodiments concern a computer-implemented method of processing a relational query in a database system. The relational query addresses a plurality of data objects linked by one or more relationships. For each data object addressed by the relational query, at least one result is computed in accordance with at least one index structure, with the index structure being stored in a storage device of the database system. The results computed are merged in accordance with at least one translation data structure to produce a final result of the relational query, with the translation data structure representing the one or more relationships between the data objects and being stored in a memory of the database system. |
| US09400814B2 |
Hierarchy nodes derived based on parent/child foreign key and/or range values on parent node
Nodes of a tree are dynamically generated. A user may specify that a node should have a separate child node for each unique value that occurs in a particular column of a relational table. A user may specify that a node should have a separate child node for each range of values in a user-specified set of ranges. Child nodes of a particular node may be dynamically determined and displayed by querying one or more relational tables for records that satisfy all of the criteria that are implied by that particular node and that particular node's parents. As a result of the foregoing techniques, users are not forced to create a tree node-by-node; instead, users can specify criteria based on which a whole level of nodes should be created, and a whole level of nodes may be added to a tree based on those criteria. |
| US09400811B2 |
Systems and methods for increasing the scalability of software-defined networks
A computer-implemented method for increasing the scalability of software-defined networks may include (1) maintaining a set of databases collectively configured to (i) store a set of flow entries that direct network traffic within a software-defined network and (ii) facilitate searching the set of flow entries based at least in part on at least one key whose size remains substantially constant irrespective of the number of flow entries within the set of flow entries, (2) detecting a request to perform an operation in connection with a flow of data packets within the software-defined network, (3) identifying at least one attribute of the flow of data packets in the request, and then (4) searching, using the attribute of the flow of data packets as a database key, at least one database within the set of databases to facilitate performing the operation. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed. |
| US09400806B2 |
Image triggered transactions
In one example, a method for image triggered transactions includes capturing an image of a document with an imaging device and searching a database for a template matching the captured image. If a matching template is found for the captured image, then retrieving pre-authored tasks associated with the captured image, extracting fields from the image related to the tasks, processing the extracted fields to obtain content to complete the tasks; and executing the selected task. If a matching template is not found for the captured image, then an authoring application is launched to add the captured image as a new template and author tasks associated with the captured image. |
| US09400799B2 |
Data block migration
Techniques and mechanisms are provided for migrating data blocks around a cluster during node addition and node deletion. Migration requires no downtime, as a newly added node is immediately operational while the data blocks are being moved. Blockmap files and deduplication dictionaries need not be updated. |
| US09400798B2 |
Information processing devices that merge files, information processing methods for merging files, and computer-readable media storing instructions that instruct information processing devices to merge files
An information processing devices transmits a request including identifying information that identifies the information processing device. The information processing device receives a first file and first location information that represents a location of a first terminal device. The information processing device receives a second file and second location information that represents a location of a second terminal device. The information processing device determines a positional relationship between the first and second terminal devices based on the first and second location information. The information processing device merges the first and second files in an arrangement based on the positional relationship between the first and second terminal devices. Some information processing devices receive a first file request and particular identifying information identifying a particular terminal device. The information processing devices transmit a second file request and a particular response including a particular file in response to receiving the first file request. |
| US09400797B2 |
Systems and methods for recovered data stitching
Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for combining recovered portions of a data set. In one particular case, a system is disclosed that includes a stitching circuit and a data recovery circuit. The stitching circuit is operable to: receive a data set including at least a first fragment and a second fragment; replicate data from at least one of the first fragment and the second fragment as stitching values; and aggregate the first fragment with the second fragment with the stitching values between the first fragment and the second fragment to yield a combined data set. The data recovery circuit is operable to process the combined data set to yield an original data set. |
| US09400796B2 |
Systems and methods for efficient data searching, storage and reduction
Systems and methods enabling search of a repository for the location of data that is similar to input data, using a defined measure of similarity, in a time that is independent of the size of the repository and linear in a size of the input data, and a space that is proportional to a small fraction of the size of the repository. The similar data segments thus located are further analyzed to determine their common (identical) data sections, regardless of the order and position of the common data sections in the repository and input, and in a time that is linear in the segment size and in constant space. |
| US09400792B1 |
File system inline fine grained tiering
A technique for managing storage tiering in a data storage apparatus operates at a fine level of granularity in response to write requests as blocks are allocated for writing. As write requests arrive or are otherwise processed by the data storage apparatus, the data storage apparatus identifies a quality of service to be provided for satisfying each write request and allocates a set of blocks from storage devices of storage tiers that provide the identified quality of service. The data storage apparatus may then store the information specified in the write request in the newly allocated blocks. |
| US09400787B2 |
Language segmentation of multilingual texts
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method for segmenting a multi-language text. An exemplary method comprises determining an initial probability distribution for sentences in the multi-language text, the initial probability distribution indicating the likelihood of each sentence being in each of a set of languages. A probability of language transitions across sentences may be learned based on the initial probability distribution. Additionally, a highest probability language sequence of sentences in the multi-language text may be determined based on a combination of the probability of language transitions and the prior probability distribution provided by an initial model. Further, web documents are annotated at a sentence by sentence level such that each sentence of a web document is labeled in a given language according to the highest probability language determined. |
| US09400786B2 |
Computer-implemented method, computer software and apparatus for use in a translation system
A computer-implemented method for use in natural language translation comprises performing in software processes, the steps of: comparing source material with stored material in a first natural language, said stored material having previously been translated from said first natural language to at least a second natural language, identifying at least a part of said source material which has a relationship with at least a part of said stored material, outputting said identified part of source material and said identified part of stored material in a form suitable for review by a user, and replacing said identified part of source material with said identified part of stored material to assist full translation of said source material from said first natural language to at least said second natural language. |
| US09400784B2 |
Integrated application localization
Integrated application localization techniques are described in which support for application localization is provided as an integrated component of a development environment. Localizations for selected languages/locales integrate with application builds in the development environment so that updates are synchronized with project resources for multiple languages. This involves creating and employing localization files corresponding to source content of a project using a designated file format suitable to enable translations. Localization files that are created in the designated format may be exposed in various ways for translation via the system, a developer, a translation service, or other selected translation sources. A single multilingual resource file for an application is then generated to contain resources in multiple languages based on translations made available through the translation sources. |
| US09400781B1 |
Automatic cognate detection in a computer-assisted language learning system
According to an aspect, a first word in a first language and a second word in a second language in a bilingual corpus are stemmed. A probability for aligning the first stem and the second stem and a distance metric between the normalized first stem and the normalized second stem are calculated. The first word and the second word are identified as a cognate pair when the probability and the distance metric meet a threshold criterion and stored as a cognate pair in a set of cognates. A candidate sentence in the second language is retrieved from a corpus. The candidate sentence is filtered by the active vocabulary of a user in the second language and the set of cognates. A sentence quality score is calculated for the candidate sentence; and the candidate sentence is ranked for presentation to the user based on the sentence quality scorer. |
| US09400779B2 |
Method and system for classifying reviewers' comments and recommending related actions in idea-generating social media platforms
A system and method for classifying comments are disclosed. The method includes receiving a collection of comments. Each of the comments in the collection includes text in a natural language and is associated with a previously-submitted idea submission which includes a description of an idea. The method further includes natural language processing each of the comments to identify dependencies (syntactic and/or semantic relations between text elements) in at least a part of the comment. Based on the identified dependencies, the comments are each automatically classified into one (or more) of a plurality of comment classes. The comment classes may include a first class for reaction to the content of the idea, a second class for expression of a commenter's judgment of an idea's value, and a third class for reaction to an idea generation process in which the associated idea submission is made. Information based on the assigned comment classes is output. For example, actions are proposed to use the comments according to their class. |
| US09400778B2 |
System for identifying textual relationships
A computer-implemented method identifies textual statement relationships. Textual statement pairs including a first and second textual statement are identified, and parsed word group pairs are extracted from first and second textual statements. The parsed word groups are compared, and a parsed word score for each statement pair is calculated. Word vectors for the first and second textual statements are created and compared. A word vector score is calculated based on the comparison of the word vectors for the first and second textual statements. A match score is determined for the textual statement pair, with the match score being representative of at least one of the parsed word score and the word vector score. |
| US09400773B2 |
Document processing method and system
The present invention provides a document processing method and system which implement display that improves efficiency and usability of edit operations when inserting, moving, or copying and pasting data, by taking full advantage of the feature of retaining data and set values hierarchically in the system. In document processing for editing a document consisting of multiple sets of original data, when a user moves a graphic object which represents a desired original by dragging it on the document in order to move or copy the desired original data to a certain position on the document, the present invention detects the boundary between originals in the document, nearest to the position of the cursor dragging the graphic object which represents the desired original, and displays an identifiable mark on the boundary between originals in the document. |
| US09400769B2 |
Document layout system
A method for generating a document, comprising providing a set of content items in a first configuration for the document, using a processor, generating alignment data representing a measure for the alignment of the content items in the first configuration, using the alignment data to determine if the content items are aligned with one another within a predefined threshold measure for alignment for the document, and a document layout system comprising a processing module configured to generate a document layout. |
| US09400765B2 |
Tool service life sensor with wireless connectivity
Apparatus for calculating service life expectancy of wellbore intervention tools comprising one or more sensors, power means, control means and wireless connectivity means. Also a method of the measuring and calculating the service life expectancy of wellbore intervention tools using this apparatus. |
| US09400763B2 |
PCI express expansion system
Expansion boxes have been traditionally used to provide additional expansion slots to those that are provided in the computer system. As the speed of expansion busses has increased, it has become increasingly difficult to provide an expansion box and interconnect to that expansion box that is reliable and low cost. For example, PCI Express Gen 3 provides a very high speed interconnect, allowing data rates up to 32 GBytes/sec in some configurations. Various techniques to maintain the signal integrity of this expansion bus, even over distances greater than 1 meter, are disclosed. Some of these techniques include proper selection of cable impedance, proper selection of PC board materials, and specific PC layout guidelines. |
| US09400761B2 |
Management method for computer system, computer system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
A management system according to an example of the invention selects a standby combination candidate of an arrangement position candidate of a standby computer and an arrangement position candidate of a standby I/O adapter. The management system specifies a plurality of active combinations of an arrangement position of an active computer and an arrangement position of an active I/O adapter. The management system selects a switch method applicable between the standby combination candidate and each of the plurality of active combinations from a plurality of switch methods. The management system determines a priority of the selected switch method by referring to priority information associating each of the plurality of switch methods and the priority. The management system evaluates the standby combination candidate based on the determined priority of the selected switch method. |
| US09400757B2 |
Automatically changing application priority as a function of a number of people proximate to a peripheral device
A method is provided including running an application on a computer having a display, wherein the application requires external network access. The method further includes determining a number of people gathered around the computer, and automatically changing the network priority of the application as a function of the number of people determined to be gathered around the computer. The number of people gathered around the computer is preferably determined using a facial recognition module to analyze an image captured by a camera of the computer or using a speech recognition module to analyze sound captured by a microphone of the computer. |
| US09400756B2 |
Adapter for personal electronic devices and methods of use thereof
An adapter for converting signals in a first format to signals in a second format for enabling a personal electronic device such as laptop computer, tablet computer, smartphone and the like, to communicate with a contactless smart card reader via another adapter. Embodiments include an adapter for enabling a personal electronic device to communicate, via communication channel comprising data signals over universal serial bus (USB) channel, with a contactless smart card reader. |
| US09400749B1 |
Host interleaved erase operations for flash memory controller
This disclosure provides for host-controller cooperation in managing NAND flash memory. The controller maintains information for each erase unit which tracks memory usage. This information assists the host in making decisions about specific operations, for example, initiating garbage collection, space reclamation, wear leveling or other operations. For example, metadata can be provided to the host identifying whether each page of an erase unit has been released, and the host can specifically then command each of consolidation and erase using direct addressing. By redefining host-controller responsibilities in this manner, much of the overhead association with FTL functions can be substantially removed from the memory controller, with the host directly specifying physical addresses. This reduces performance unpredictability and overhead, thereby facilitating integration of solid state drives (SSDs) with other forms of storage. The disclosed techniques are especially useful for direct-attached and/or network-attached storage. |
| US09400748B2 |
System and method for data inversion in a storage resource
A method may comprise receiving a page of data to be stored on a storage resource. The method may also comprise determining, for each particular inversion mode of a plurality of inversion modes, the number of bits of the page of data to be inverted to store a representation of the page of data in accordance with the particular inversion mode. The method may additionally comprise determining a selected inversion mode from the plurality of inversion modes for the page of data, the selected inversion mode comprising the inversion mode for which the least number of physical bit transitions are required to store the representation of the page of data in accordance with the selected inversion mode. The method may further comprise storing the representation of the page of data in a data memory in accordance with the inversion mode. |
| US09400741B1 |
Reclaiming space from file system hosting many primary storage objects and their snapshots
Reclaiming storage from a file system hosting of storage objects includes assigning objects and respective files to version sets, each version set containing a primary object and respective snapshots. Each block of storage is associated with the version set of the file(s) that contain the block. Blocks residing in an extent that is to be reclaimed are identified, and for each block (i) an offset is obtained that specifies a location of the block in a file, (ii) files whose objects are assigned to the version set associated with the block are identified, (iii) a block pointer at the location in each of the identified underlying files is examined, and for each file whose block pointer points to the block, updating the block pointer to point to a new block location outside of the extent, to which the block is moved. |
| US09400734B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for generating event codes including event source
Apparatuses and methods implemented therein are disclosed for generating event codes that include the source of the events that caused the generation of the event codes. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a memory, a processor, logic element and an event generator. The memory is configured to store instructions corresponding to a scheduler and instructions corresponding to a first thread and a second thread. The processor is configured to execute instructions corresponding to the scheduler wherein the scheduler selects a one of the first or second thread wherein the processor executes instructions corresponding to the selected one of the first or second thread. The logic element is configured to receive an identifier corresponding to the selected thread and a received asynchronous event. The logic element produces a concatenated event identifier comprising the thread identifier and the received asynchronous event. |
| US09400730B2 |
Virtual machine system and method of measuring processor performance
In a virtual machine system where a first stage VM and a second stage VM generated on the first stage VM are executed, a processor is configured to perform a first determination as to whether to physically instruct to start execution caused by a virtual execution start of the second stage VM and a second determination as to whether a physical end is detected as a result of a virtual end of the second stage VM, and calculate an execution time of the second stage VM based on results of the first determination and the second determination. |
| US09400723B2 |
Storage system and data management method
A storage system is provided with a plurality of physical storage devices, a cache memory, a control device that is coupled to the plurality of physical storage devices and the cache memory, and a buffer part. The buffer part is a storage region that is formed by using at least a part of a storage region of the plurality of physical storage devices and that is configured to temporarily store at least one target data element that is to be transmitted to a predetermined target. The control device stores a target data element into a cache region that has been allocated to a buffer region (that is a part of the cache memory and that is a storage region of a write destination of the target data element for the buffer part). The control device transmits the target data element from the cache memory. In the case in which a new target data element is generated, the control device executes a control in such a manner that the new target data element has a high tendency to be stored for a buffer region in which the transmitted target data element has been stored and to which a cache region has been allocated. |
| US09400716B2 |
Method for handling interrupted writes using multiple cores
An apparatus including a storage array, a primary controller, a secondary controller and a solid state device. The storage array may be configured to be accessed by a plurality of controllers. A first of the plurality of the controllers may be configured as the primary controller configured to read and write to and from the storage array during a normal condition. A second of the plurality of the controllers may be configured as the secondary controller configured to read and write to and from the storage array during a fault condition. The solid state device may be configured to (i) store data and (ii) be accessed by the storage array and the secondary controller. |
| US09400715B1 |
System and method for interconnecting storage elements
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data. The method further includes splitting the data into a plurality of fixed-size blocks. Each block comprises a plurality of bytes. In addition, the method includes, for each block of the plurality of fixed-size blocks, calculating an error-correction byte. The method also includes appending the error-correction byte to the block as one of the plurality of bytes. Moreover, the method includes calculating, as part of the block, a parity bit for each of the plurality of bytes. Furthermore, the method includes separating the block into a plurality of bit streams that are perpendicular to the plurality of bytes. Each bit position of the block corresponds to one of the plurality of bit streams. Also, the method includes causing the plurality of bit streams to be stored on a plurality of storage elements in a bit-striped fashion. |
| US09400711B2 |
Content addressable memory with error detection
A content addressable memory (CAM) includes a first entry which includes one or more bits, a second entry which includes one or more bits, first comparison circuitry configured to compare each bit of a comparand to a corresponding bit of the one or more bits of the first entry and to provide a hit/miss indicator in response thereto, and second comparison circuitry configured to compare each bit of the one or more bits of the first entry to a corresponding bit of the one or more bits of the second entry and to provide a fault indicator in response thereto. |
| US09400707B2 |
Error detection or correction of stored signals after one or more heat events in one or more memory devices
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for error detection or correction of stored signals in memory devices. An example method includes determining whether to perform error correction operations on contents of a non-volatile memory array. Determining whether to correct can include determining whether a level of errors in pre-programmed signals in the non-volatile memory array exceeds a bit error rate threshold, where the pre-programmed signals are different from the contents of the non-volatile memory array, and performing error correction on the contents of the non-volatile memory array if the level of errors exceeds the bit error rate threshold. |
| US09400702B2 |
Shared virtual memory
Embodiments of the invention provide a programming model for CPU-GPU platforms. In particular, embodiments of the invention provide a uniform programming model for both integrated and discrete devices. The model also works uniformly for multiple GPU cards and hybrid GPU systems (discrete and integrated). This allows software vendors to write a single application stack and target it to all the different platforms. Additionally, embodiments of the invention provide a shared memory model between the CPU and GPU. Instead of sharing the entire virtual address space, only a part of the virtual address space needs to be shared. This allows efficient implementation in both discrete and integrated settings. |
| US09400699B2 |
Data communication between modules
A method is proposed for exchanging a data set between a transmitting module, associated with a first domain, and a destination module associated with a second domain. The transmitting module and the destination module are adapted to be loaded into a browser module having access to a local database for recording data and accessing the data recorded by one or more modules belonging to a single browsing domain and to any module loaded in the browser module that is also associated with said single browsing domain. The method comprises the following steps: storage, by a storage module associated with a third domain, of the data set in the local database; requesting a receiving module, associated with the third browsing domain, to read the data set; reading, by the receiving module, of the data set in the local database. |
| US09400698B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus and portable cloud computing system
A portable electronic apparatus includes an operating system comprising an application layer, an application framework layer, a libraries layer and a kernel layer. The application layer includes a cloud user interface allowing a user to perform an interactive function. The application framework layer includes a plurality of cloud components and at least a cloud service. The libraries layer includes a plurality of cloud managers. The kernel layer includes a cloud server driver, which is connected to the cloud managers to start the cloud service, so that the cloud service calls one of the cloud components according to the interactive function. By such configuration, the portable electronic apparatus of this invention can carry a private cloud to provide the service of a portable personal cloud. |
| US09400696B2 |
Execution of real time applications with an automation controller
A method and system are provided for performing the computational execution of automation tasks with automation devices by combining one or more central processing units (CPU) and one or more Graphics Processing Units (GPU). The control tasks and/or control algorithms are executed by the single-core or multi-core control unit (CPU) and a multi-core-graphics processor (GPU) or both in parallel at the same time. |
| US09400694B2 |
Prioritizing instances of programs for execution based on input data availability
Systems and methods provide an extensible, multi-stage, realtime application program processing load adaptive, manycore data processing architecture shared dynamically among instances of parallelized and pipelined application software programs, according to processing load variations of said programs and their tasks and instances, as well as contractual policies. The invented techniques provide, at the same time, both application software development productivity, through presenting for software a simple, virtual static view of the actually dynamically allocated and assigned processing hardware resources, together with high program runtime performance, through scalable pipelined and parallelized program execution with minimized overhead, as well as high resource efficiency, through adaptively optimized processing resource allocation. |
| US09400692B2 |
System and method for managing the allocating and freeing of objects in a multi-threaded system
A memory management system for managing objects which represent memory in a multi-threaded operating system extracts the ID of the home free-list from the object header to determine whether the object is remote and adds the object to a remote object list if the object is determined to be remote. The memory management system determines whether the number of objects on the remote object list exceeds a threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, the system batch-removes the objects on the remote object list and then adds those objects to the appropriate one or more remote home free-lists. |
| US09400691B2 |
Process allocation management apparatus, system and method
In the present invention, a management apparatus includes a unit configured to store management information including a throughput of each of a plurality of computers, a unit configured to acquire a request value which includes a throughput that is required for executing a program from a program execution computer to which execution of a program has been assigned among a plurality of computers, a selecting unit configured to select a computer of a throughput compliant with the request value from among a plurality of computers, and a switchover control unit configured to allocate the program allocated to the program execution computer to the selected computer. |
| US09400685B1 |
Dividing, scheduling, and parallel processing compiled sub-tasks on an asynchronous multi-core processor
An asynchronous multiple-core processor may be adapted for carrying out sets of known tasks, such as the tasks in the LAPACK and BLAS packages. Conveniently, the known tasks may be handled by the asynchronous multiple-core processor in a manner that may be considered to be more power efficient than carrying out the same known tasks on a single-core processor. Indeed, some of the power savings are realized through the use of token-based single core processors. Use of such token-based single core processors may be considered to be power efficient due to the lack of a global clock tree. |
| US09400679B2 |
Methods for selectively enabling and disabling hardware features
In one embodiment, a method includes defining a hardware feature policy for one or more hardware components of a system; and enabling and/or disabling one or more hardware features of one or more of the hardware components based on the hardware feature policy, where the hardware feature policy comprises instructions to enable and/or disable access to the one or more hardware features based on one or more criteria selected from the group consisting of: a feature access schedule; a volume feature access group; a job feature access group; and an user feature access group. |
| US09400675B1 |
Tagging virtual machine instances based on commands
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a method of receiving a first command for a virtual machine (VM) instance. This includes performing automatic command line parsing on the first command. This can further include associating, based on automatic command line parsing, a first tag with the VM instance. This can further include causing the first tag to be displayed as associated with the VM instance. |
| US09400674B2 |
Managing virtual machine instances utilizing a virtual offload device
Generally described, the present application relates to systems and methods for the managing virtual machines instances using a physical computing device and an offload device. The offload device can be a separate computing device that includes computing resources (e.g., processor and memory) separate from the computing resources of the physical computing device. The offload device can be connected to the physical computing device via a bus interface. The bus interface can be a high speed, high throughput, low latency interface such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface. The offload device can be used to offload virtualization and processing of virtual components from the physical computing device, thereby increasing the computing resources available to the virtual machine instances. |
| US09400666B2 |
Fault tolerant system and method for performing fault tolerant
A fault tolerant system includes a primary virtual machine that is formed on a primary machine in which a primary hypervisor runs, and is configured to input virtual interrupt based on an external interrupt from the primary hypervisor to a primary guest OS, and a secondary virtual machine that is formed on a secondary machine in which a secondary hypervisor runs, and is configured to input the virtual interrupt to a secondary guest OS on the basis of timing information on the virtual interrupt transmitted from the primary virtual machine. The primary virtual machine is configured to transmit the timing information on the virtual interrupt including the number of branch instructions executed by the primary guest OS before inputting the virtual interrupt, and including an execution suspension position when inputting the virtual interrupt to the secondary virtual machine. |
| US09400663B2 |
Managing middleware using an application manager
A method, system, and computer program product for managing a managing a middleware architecture is disclosed. As such, a plurality of specification levels can be managed concurrently within a same runtime. An application manager and a set of runtime execution stacks are established to form a middleware. The application manager is configured to establish an interface to the set of runtime execution stacks. The runtime execution stacks are configured to run independent of one another using representative specification technology runtimes. A request to start an application is received. The application includes an application manifest. A particular runtime execution stack of the set of runtime execution stacks on which to run the application is determined. The determination is made based on the application manifest and the representative specification technology runtimes. Using the particular application runtime execution stack, the application is started. |
| US09400654B2 |
System on a chip with managing processor and method therefor
A system on a chip comprises a managing processor for controlling operations of the system on a chip. The managing processor comprises a core monitor control logic circuit operable to: receive at least one instruction; determine whether the instruction is an activation instruction; determine whether the managing processor is in or transitioning to an idle state; and transition the managing processor from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to the instruction being an activation instruction and the managing processor being in or transitioning to an idle state. |
| US09400651B2 |
Early issue of null-predicated operations
In an embodiment, a processor includes an issue circuit configured to issue instruction operations for execution. The issue circuit may be configured to monitor the source operands of the instruction operations, and to issue instruction operations for which the source operands (including predicate operands, as appropriate) are resolved. Additionally, the issue circuit may be configured to detect a null predicate that indicates that none of the vector elements will be modified by a corresponding instruction operation. The issue circuit may be configured to issue the corresponding instruction operation with the null predicate even if other source operands are not yet resolved. |
| US09400650B2 |
Read and write masks update instruction for vectorization of recursive computations over interdependent data
A processor executes a mask update instruction to perform updates to a first mask register and a second mask register. A register file within the processor includes the first mask register and the second mask register. The processor includes execution circuitry to execute the mask update instruction. In response to the mask update instruction, the execution circuitry is to invert a given number of mask bits in the first mask register, and also to invert the given number of mask bits in the second mask register. |
| US09400649B2 |
Annotating a generator output stream
A method for automatically and transparently annotating document source code, the method including: receiving an output stream produced by a source code of a generator; wrapping the output stream to produce a copy of the output stream; automatically annotating the copy with source information, wherein the source information maps a relationship between data in the output stream and the source code of the generator; and storing the source information on a memory device. |
| US09400645B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a social networking application updater
The apparatuses, methods and systems for application update includes determining a module dependency graph for a current version of the application, when an indication to generate an updated version of the application is received. A code database is queried to obtain all version numbers for dependent modules identified in the module dependency graph. Recent versions of all dependent modules are selected for an updated version of the application to generate an initial set of dependent modules for the application. Specification attributes for the recent version of the dependent modules are obtained and verified to determine if they are compatible with the updated version of the application. When it is determined that a specific dependent module is not compatible, a different version number for the specific dependent module is selected and the initial set is modified by replacing the recent version with the different version number to generate a modified set. The verification is performed iteratively till all dependent modules are compatible with the updated version of the application. The updated version is compiled using the modified set. The compiling results in transferring a user from the current version to the updated version while the user is using the application. |
| US09400644B2 |
Dynamic update of applications as code is checked-in
Software receives a message from a client device requesting an update check for an app deployed on the client device. The message includes a version number for the app. The software determines that a count of messages requesting an update check for the app exceeds a specified number. The software obtains an executable for the app from an app database, using the received version number. The software generates a dependency analysis by scanning the executable. The dependency analysis includes a version number for at least one dependent code module. The software determines that the app is updatable by comparing the version number in the dependency analysis with a version number for source code for the dependent code module. The software creates an updated app using newer source code for the dependent code module, using a developer specification as to compilation type, and transmits the updated app to the client device. |
| US09400640B2 |
Web-based point of sale builder
This invention provides a system and a method for online, web-based point of sale (POS) building and configuration, which can assist non-expert business operators in building, editing and testing a point of sale system to manage their businesses. The business operations range from a single branch to a large chain of stores or branches. The key advantages of the Web-based POS builder are that it is completely built on the foundation of the Web. The POS builder is accessible anywhere in the world. It can be used by a person of any skill level. The POS builder builds, edits, and tests new POS terminals in real time. |
| US09400639B2 |
Generating programs using context-free compositions and probability of determined transformation rules
There is provided a method and system for generating a program. The method includes detecting a number of steps for performing a task on a computing device and detecting an example relating to each of the steps, wherein the example includes input data and corresponding output data relating to the step. The method also includes, for each example, determining a rule that transforms the input data to the corresponding output data based on cues including textual features within the input data and the corresponding output data. The method further includes generating a program for performing the task based on the rules. |
| US09400638B2 |
Reactive expression generation and optimization
Reactive programming is facilitated. Reactive expressions can be generated automatically from non-reactive expressions or in other words standard expressions. Additionally or alternatively, reactive expressions can be optimized in a number of different ways to minimize computational work. |
| US09400635B1 |
Methods and apparatus for performing dynamic data alignment for floating-point operations
An integrated circuit is provided that performs floating-point operations involving at least two successive computational steps. Two floating-point numbers entering any additional computational step after the first computational step are aligned dynamically by shifting the mantissa of the floating-point number with the greater exponent to the left and the mantissa of the floating-point number with the smaller exponent to the right. The number of left shift bits is dependent on the magnitude of the difference between the two floating-point exponents and the number of leading zeroes in the mantissa with the greater exponent. The number of right shift bits is dependent on the magnitude of the difference between the two floating-point exponents and the number of left shift bits. |
| US09400634B2 |
Systems and methods for communicating notifications and textual data associated with applications
Embodiments are provided for communicating notifications and other textual data associated with applications installed on an electronic device. According to certain aspects, a user can interface with an input device to send (218) a wake up trigger to the electronic device. The electronic device retrieves (222) application notifications and converts (288) the application notifications to audio data. The electronic device also sends (230) the audio data to an audio output device for annunciation (232). The user may also use the input device to send (242) a request to the electronic device to activate the display screen. The electronic device identifies (248) an application corresponding to an annunciated notification, and activates (254) the display screen and initiates the application. |
| US09400626B2 |
Retrieving data from a posting server for printing
A printing control server includes an acquisition section and a printing control section. The acquisition section is configured to acquire posting data containing a specific character string in a posted content from a service offering server which provides a posting service. The printing control section is configured to make a printing device execute printing based on the posting data acquired. |
| US09400624B2 |
Paper profile and reading systems
Methods, systems, computer readable media and other means for generating a profile for a particular type of media are provided. The profile represents a set of preferred printing parameters to be used to achieve a target print quality for a reference printing device. The profile may be used by other non-reference printing devices in order to optimize printing for that type of media. For each non-reference printing device, an offset may be established that represents the differences between the non-reference and the reference printing devices. A processor of the non-reference printing device may identify the type of media and the profile for that media and then adjust the printing parameters for the non-reference printing device based on the profile and the offset in order to optimize the print quality. The profile may also include a parameter that is based on a temperature coefficient associated with the type of printer. |
| US09400623B2 |
Print server for acquiring print job by email, printing system, and printing method
A print server includes a job acquisition unit that acquires a print job, a job holding unit that holds the acquired print job, a transmission unit that transmits an email containing a URL for instructing execution of the held print job to an address corresponding to the print job, and an execution control unit that, in response to an access of the URL, communicates with a printing apparatus and causes the printing apparatus to execute printing that is based on the held print job. |
| US09400615B2 |
Priority command queues for low latency solid state drives
A method, apparatus, and system of a priority command queues for low latency solid state drives are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of a storage system includes a command sorter to determine a target storage device for at least one of a solid state drive (SSD) command and a hard disk drive (HDD) command and to place the command in a SSD ready queue if the SSD command is targeted to a SSD storage device of the storage system and to place the HDD command to a HDD ready queue if the HDD command is targeted to an HDD storage device of the storage system, a SSD ready queue to queue the SSD command targeted to the SSD storage device, and a HDD ready queue to queue the HDD command targeted to the HDD storage device. |
| US09400612B2 |
Computer system and computer system management method
A computer system in which one or more host computers 30 having a FC (Fibre Channel) node port and one or more storage apparatuses 40 having a FC node port are coupled via a FC fabric. The storage apparatus acquires first information related to access control for controlling access to a relevant storage apparatus by the host computer. The storage apparatus, based on the first information, creates second information for defining the host computer that is able to access the relevant storage apparatus, and registers this second information in the fabric. |
| US09400609B1 |
Data transformation during recycling
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for transforming data in a file system. As part of a recycling process, a determination is made that transformations should be attempted. A data block is determined to be in use by at least one user of the storage system. If a transformation should be attempted on the data block is determined. Parameters associated with the performance of the file system can be used in this determination. A type of transformation to be done is determined. The data block is transformed based upon the selected transformation. The transformed data block is written to the storage system. As part of the recycling process, the transformation requires no additional input/output requests. |
| US09400606B2 |
System and method for efficient buffer management for banked shared memory designs
A system and method for efficient buffer management for banked shared memory designs are provided. In one embodiment, a controller within the switch is configured to manage the buffering of the shared memory banks by allocating full address sets to write sources. Each full address set that is allocated to a write source includes a number of memory addresses, wherein each memory address is associated with a different shared memory bank. A size of the full address set can be based on a determined number of buffer access contenders. |
| US09400599B2 |
Method for changing object position and electronic device thereof
An apparatus and a method for editing an object in an electronic device are provided. In the method, when a first event occurs depending on detected touch information of at least one object among a plurality of objects displayed on a display unit, a movement interval is determined depending on a characteristic of the first event. A position of the at least one object is changed depending on a movement interval corresponding to the characteristic of the first event. |
| US09400596B2 |
User-centric widgets and dashboards
User-centric widgets and dashboards are automatically modified to reflect a user's goals and needs. |
| US09400594B1 |
Organizational system and method for collecting, structuring, linking, and presenting disparate information
The present invention will provide a system that organizes content based on time, location, involved entities, and events, and relates this information to the user in an easy to read and intuitive display. This is accomplished by utilizing a data acquisition module, a link generation module, a conflicts module, a graphical data intersection module, a data filtering module, a mapping module, a presentation module, and a data integration module. These modules allow for a user to input events information into an easy to manipulate multiple interactive timeline display. |
| US09400593B2 |
Distributed scripting for presentations with touch screen displays
A live presentation may be prepared and displayed by providing a primary scripting room for preparing a presentation script and a control computer in the primary scripting computer for use by a control operator to view and/or edit possible contributions to the presentation script and for saving the presentation script being preparing. At least one remote scripting room may be connected to the primary scripting room by network to form a virtual scripting room therewith. A remote computer may be provided in the remote scripting room for operation by a contributor to provide possible contributions to the presentation script viewable by the remote operator. At least portions of the saved scripted presentation may be presented on a display computer as the live presentation. |
| US09400592B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for digital-marking-surface space and display management
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems, methods and apparatus for digital-marking-surface spatial management of content units and display of content units. Some aspects relate to diagrammatic gestures that invoke content-unit spatial separation on a digital marking surface. Some aspects relate to the generation and display of a transformed view of content units on a digital marking surface. |
| US09400588B2 |
Supporting display of context menus in both cascaded and overlapping styles
A computing system provided according to an aspect of the present invention contains a server system operable to send a same hierarchical menu to client systems which display the sub-menus of the hierarchical menu in a overlapping style or a cascading style. As a result, the implementation of server systems supporting such client systems may be simplified. According to another aspect, an event handler is also implemented on the server system, to process the events generated by client system displaying menus in both the overlapping style and the cascading style. According to yet another aspect, a server system stores a in-memory representation of a context menu, and thereafter serves requests from different clients for the same hierarchical menu based on such in-memory representation. |
| US09400585B2 |
Display management for native user experiences
In some remote application execution environments, a client device (e.g., to which application output is sent and where user interaction is performed) may include native control elements for touch input such as virtual keyboards, virtual pickers and the like. When the server device detects an editable/control field of a remoted application receiving focus, the server may instruct the client to activate a native control element for user interaction. The client may determine the manner in which to modify an application display to resolve potential display conflicts. For example, a native control element may obscure or hide portions of the remoted application on the client display. Modifying the application display may include panning the display, zooming into or out of portions of the display, adapting the display for scrolling and the like. The remote computing device may also transmit values for populating a native control element. |
| US09400584B2 |
Alias selection in multiple-aliased animations
A computer system determines that various user interface (UI) elements are to be moved to a different position within the UI. The computer system initiates a first animation that creates first and second aliases for each UI element that is to be moved. The computer system then receives an input that interrupts the initiated first animation. The input indicates that at least one of the UI elements that is being moved during the first animation is to be moved to a different position. The computer system then determines which of the first and second aliases is optimal for use as a starting point for a second animation based on various visibility factors, and initiates a second animation at the determined optimal alias. The second animation uses the determined optimal alias as a starting point and a third, different alias as an end point. |
| US09400583B2 |
Sensor electrode routing for an integrated device
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide shield electrodes for shielding one or more conductive routing traces from one or more receiver electrodes in an input device comprising a display device integrated with a sensing device to reduce the capacitive coupling between the conductive routing traces and the receiver electrodes. The shield electrode may be configured to reduce the effect of an input object on the capacitive coupling between the conductive routing traces and the receiver electrodes. In other embodiments, end portions of common electrodes shield the receiver electrodes from the conductive routing traces, thereby reducing the capacitive coupling between the receiver electrodes and the conductive routing traces. |
| US09400580B2 |
Touch panel and method of fabricating the same
A touch panel can include a substrate; driving lines on the substrate along a first direction, each of the driving lines including first driving electrodes, second driving electrodes and first connecting patterns; and sensing lines on the substrate along a second direction, each of the sensing lines including first sensing electrodes, second sensing electrodes and second connecting patterns, wherein each of the first connecting patterns connects the first driving electrodes adjacent thereto, and the second driving electrodes overlap and contact the first driving electrodes, and wherein each of the second connecting patterns connects the first sensing electrodes adjacent thereto, and the second sensing electrodes overlap and contact the first sensing electrodes. |
| US09400577B2 |
Capactive touch panel
A touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes a first conductive pattern, a first insulation layer, a second conductive pattern, a first metal electrode, a second metal electrode, and a second insulation layer. The first conductive pattern is formed on a transparent substrate. The first insulation layer is formed on the first conductive pattern. The second conductive pattern is formed on the first insulation layer. The first metal electrode is connected to one end of the first conductive pattern. The second metal electrode is connected to one end of the second conductive pattern. The second insulation layer is formed on the second conductive pattern, the first metal electrode or the second metal electrode. |
| US09400576B2 |
Touch sensor arrangements for organic light-emitting diode displays
Displays such as organic light-emitting diode displays may be provided with touch sensing capabilities. A touch sensor may be formed from electrodes located on a thin-film encapsulation layer or one or more sides of a polarizer. A single-sided or double-sided touch sensor panel may be attached to the upper or lower surface of a polarizer. Control circuitry may be used to provide control signals to light-emitting diodes in the display using a grid of control lines. The control lines and transparent electrode structures such as indium tin oxide structures formed on a thin-film encapsulation layer or polarizer may be used as electrodes for a touch sensor. Displays may have active regions and inactive peripheral portions. The displays may have edge portions that are bent along a bend axis that is within the active region to form a borderless display. Virtual buttons may be formed on the bent edge portions. |
| US09400572B2 |
System and method to assist reaching screen content
A device and method include detecting a position of a finger positioned proximate a touch screen of a hand held device, the touch screen having a target available for selection via the finger, comparing the detected position of the finger to a selection range, and moving a target on the touch screen responsive to the comparison. |
| US09400566B2 |
Driving method for display panel
A driving method for a display panel is provided. The display panel includes at least a first common signal line, at least a second common signal line and a plurality of pixels arranged as a pixel array. The pixel array includes a first pixel row and a second pixel row electrically connected to the first common signal line and the second common signal line, respectively. The driving method includes steps of: generating a first AC common signal; generating a second AC common signal, wherein the first AC common signal and the second AC common signal are inverse to each other; and providing the first and second AC common signal to the first and second pixel rows through the first and second common signal lines, respectively, by way of N-frame switch, wherein N is a positive integer. |
| US09400565B2 |
Keyboard with sensing switch function
A keyboard with a sensing switch function includes a press key module provided for a user to input a keyboard signal, a micro control unit electrically coupled to the press key module for receiving a switching signal to determine the output priority of each output port and deliver the keyboard signal, and plural output ports for transmitting the keyboard signal via a cable or wireless transmission. The keyboard also includes a sensing module with plural light sensors for sensing a change of light to generate a switching signal, and a display module with plural indicating lamps having a quantity equal to the quantity of the output ports, and the indicating lamps are switched according to the output mode. After obtaining the output priority, the output port outputs the keyboard signal to an external device. |
| US09400559B2 |
Gesture shortcuts
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for gesture shortcuts. A user's movement or body position is captured by a capture device of a system, and is used as input to control the system. For a system-recognized gesture, there may be a full version of the gesture and a shortcut of the gesture. Where the system recognizes that either the full version of the gesture or the shortcut of the gesture has been performed, it sends an indication that the system-recognized gesture was observed to a corresponding application. Where the shortcut comprises a subset of the full version of the gesture, and both the shortcut and the full version of the gesture are recognized as the user performs the full version of the gesture, the system recognizes that only a single performance of the gesture has occurred, and indicates to the application as such. |
| US09400558B2 |
Providing an elevated and texturized display in an electronic device
A multi-touch display layer may have a texturizing polymer layer. The texturizing polymer layer may elevate a surface portion of the texturizing polymer layer to a level to texturize information displayed on the multi-touch display layer. A gesture may be detected for the elevated surface portion. |
| US09400556B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device 100 includes a touch panel 102 for accepting a touch operation by a user to detect a touch position, a vibrating section 203 for vibrating the touch panel 102 in a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode, and a vibration control section 301 for controlling the vibration of the vibrating section 203. The number of vibration nodes occurring on the touch panel 102 in the first vibration mode is different from the number of vibration nodes occurring on the touch panel 102 in the second vibration mode. The vibration control section 301 vibrates the touch panel 102 in at least one of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode depending on the touch position of the user. |
| US09400555B2 |
System and method for synchronization of haptic data and media data
Embodiments of the present invention relate to computer systems for transmitting or receiving and playing a plurality of data streams, where at least one of the data streams includes video data packets and/or audio data packets and at least one other data stream includes further data packets that are synchronized with the video and/or audio data packets. In particular embodiments, the further data stream includes haptic data packets that include haptic command data generated in real time with the video and/or audio data streams, where the haptic command data is provided to a haptic output device configured to replicate or approximate sensations through the output of one or more mechanical forces in synchronization with the playing of video and/or audio from the video and/or audio data streams. |
| US09400552B2 |
Apparatus and method for checking gaze object
An apparatus for checking a gaze object includes an eye detector configured to detect eyes from a captured image of a user who stares at objects while the objects displayed on a display move at certain frequencies, a frequency converter configured to check a motion of the detected eyes and convert the motion of the eyes into an eye moving frequency, and a discriminating unit configured to compare the eye moving frequency and moving frequencies of the objects and discriminate an object at which the user stares depending upon whether or not the eye moving frequency is identical with the moving frequencies of the objects. |
| US09400551B2 |
Presentation of a notification based on a user's susceptibility and desired intrusiveness
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for causing presentation of a notification on a display based on the user's susceptibility to notice the notification and the desired intrusiveness of the presentation of the notification. A method may include determining that a notification should be presented to a user on a display. The method further includes determining a susceptibility level pertaining to the likelihood the user will notice the notification. The method further includes causing presentation of the notification on the display based at least in part on the susceptibility level and an intrusiveness level for presentation of the notification. The intrusiveness level pertains to how intrusive presentation of the notification should be to the user's experience. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided. |
| US09400547B2 |
Processing device and method thereof
According to some embodiments, there is provided a communication device including: a processing unit and a notifying unit. The processing unit receives an acquisition request of first information from a requester and determines based on a predetermined condition whether or not the first information needs to be acquired from an acquisition destination of the first information. The notifying unit notifies a first response to the requester when the processing unit determines that the first information needs to be acquired, the first response containing an instruction of transitioning to a low power consumption status. |
| US09400546B1 |
Low-power implementation of Type-C connector subsystem
Techniques for low-power implementation of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connector subsystem are described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) chip device comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C subsystem. The Type-C subsystem is configured to operate an Ra termination circuit that consumes no more than 100 μA of current after the Ra termination circuit is applied to a Vconn line of the Type-C subsystem, and/or to operate one or more standby reference circuits in a deep-sleep state of the device to perform detection on a Configuration Channel (CC) line of the Type-C subsystem, where the device consumes no more than 100 μA of current in the deep-sleep state. |
| US09400544B2 |
Advanced fine-grained cache power management
Methods and apparatuses for reducing leakage power in a system cache within a memory controller. The system cache is divided into multiple sections, and each section is supplied with power from one of two supply voltages. When a section is not being accessed, the voltage supplied to the section is reduced to a voltage sufficient for retention of data but not for access. The cache utilizes a maximum allowed active section policy to limit the number of sections that are active at any given time to reduce leakage power. Each section includes a corresponding idle timer and break-even timer. The idle timer keeps track of how long the section has been idle and the break-even timer is used to periodically wake the section up from retention mode to check if there is a pending request that targets the section. |
| US09400543B2 |
Communication system and communication node
A main body ECU as a slave node includes a switch. The switch is under OFF state when a prohibition signal is outputted from a verification ECU as a master node and under ON state when the prohibition signal is not outputted. The switch is inserted in a reception path between a receive port of a microcomputer of the main body ECU and a receiver of a transceiver that is connected with a communication bus. When the switch is under OFF state, a reception signal outputted by the transceiver is not inputted into the microcomputer of the main body ECU. Therefore, the microcomputer is not activated even if an activation frame is transmitted to the communication bus; this enables the main body ECU to maintain a sleep mode. |
| US09400538B2 |
Information handling system docking with cable based power and video management
A docking station connects through a docking port and docking cable with an information handling system to support communication between the information handling system and docking station peripherals. The docking cable includes an integrated input device, such as a mechanical button or fingerprint scanner, which accepts an end user input to command a power state transition at the information handling system, such as a transition between an on state and a reduced power state. The power state transition is sent directly from the integrated input device to the information handling system or, alternatively, from the integrated input device to the docking station and then from the docking station to the information handling system. |
| US09400536B2 |
Electronic device capable of automatically resetting and automatic resetting method thereof
The present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of automatically resetting, which includes a main circuit system and an external circuit system. The main circuit system is able to send out a power supply state signal according to the voltage thereof and an activation state signal according to whether the main circuit system is properly activated. The external circuit system is able to receive the power supply state signal and the activation state signal, switch a switch between a turned-on state and a turned-off state for automatically cutting off electricity supplied to the main circuit system through the switch while the main circuit system is improperly activated and then supplying electricity to the main circuit system thereafter. Thus, whenever the electronic device is improperly activated, the electricity supplied to the main circuit system can be automatically cut off and then restored to reset the main circuit system automatically. |
| US09400533B2 |
Electrical connector having a housing with a retaining device for securing a bracket
An electrical connector assembly comprises an electrical connector and a bracket for retaining a fan. The electrical connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of contacts received in the housing and a retaining device retained on one end of the housing. Said retaining device includes a locking portion, one end of the housing defines an outside face, the locking portion located at an interior of the outside face. It can reduce the installation space of fixing the bracket. |
| US09400531B2 |
Notebook computer
The present invention relates to a notebook computer, comprising a computer main body and a screen movably connected to the computer main body. A cavity and an expansion card press mechanism is provided inside the computer main body. A popup box is further provided on one side of the computer main body. The expansion card press mechanism comprises press blocks capable of moving forward and backward in an installation direction of an expansion card. The press blocks press the expansion card. The cavity is provided with an opening which is disposed at a position on an end face of the computer main body. The popup box is movably connected to the computer main body and provided with an antenna. |
| US09400522B2 |
Multiple display portable terminal apparatus with position-based display modes
A portable terminal apparatus is provided, which includes a first cabinet having a first display surface, a second cabinet having a second display surface, a support mechanism which supports the first and second cabinets to be switchable between first and second arrangement states which are different in a relative position between the first and second display surfaces, and a control unit which controls a display mode of the first and second display surfaces according to the switching between the first and second arrangement states. |
| US09400517B2 |
Snubber circuit for a hand held power tool
A hand held power tool including a trigger, a motor, an output unit driven by the motor, a switch bridge, and a snubber circuit. The switch bridge is operable to selectively provide power to the motor to drive the output unit in response to activation of the trigger. The snubber circuit is electrically connected in parallel across the switch bridge. The snubber circuit is operable to store energy when power is being provided to the motor, and release the energy when power is not being provided to the motor. |
| US09400516B2 |
Voltage converting device
A voltage converting device includes first and second stage circuits for converting a differential voltage to an output signal that has a magnitude smaller than the differential voltage. The second stage circuit includes input transistors for receiving voltages from the first stage circuit, output transistors for outputting the output signal, and a clamp module to clamp voltages at the input transistors of the second stage circuit. |
| US09400509B2 |
Method for heating and/or cooling agricultural related feed additives
A hydronic system for heating and/or cooling fluid feed additives passing through a delivery line is disclosed. The system includes a hydronic heating system which will heat fluid passing through a closed loop radiant line which is closely positioned adjacent a portion of the delivery line extending between the fluid delivery system and the target destination. The system also includes a cooling system which will cool the fluid circulating through the radiant line to cool the delivery line and the fluid feed additive therein. The system of this invention prevents the fluid feed additive from freezing during the cold months and cools the same during warm months. |
| US09400505B2 |
Self-stabilizing skateboard
An electric vehicle may comprise a board including first and second deck portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a ride, a wheel assembly disposed between the deck portions and including a ground-contacting element, a motor assembly mounted to the board and configured to rotate the ground-contacting element around an axle to propel the electric vehicle, at least one sensor configured to measure orientation information of the board, and a motor controller configured to receive orientation information measured by the sensor and to cause the motor assembly to propel the electric vehicle based on the orientation information. The electric vehicle may include exactly one ground-contacting element, and the motor may be a hub motor. |
| US09400504B2 |
Mobile robot
A control device for a mobile robot, the robot comprising a camera and a communication unit, comprises a display unit displaying an image corresponding to the image taken by the camera and transmitted by the communication unit, and a user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a position of a pointer on the image displayed by the display unit, and the user interface comprises a selection unit allowing the user to select a position of the pointer on the image displayed by the display unit, the control device further comprising a computation unit and a communication system, the computation unit being configured to compute displacement commands and send them through the communication system to the robot, said displacement commands being computed to make the robot move to a physical position corresponding to the pointer's position selected by the user on the image. |
| US09400500B2 |
Autonomous vehicle refueling locator
An automated driving system can determine, based on input from one or more sensors disposed on an autonomous vehicle, a required fuel level to complete a planned vehicle path and a current fuel level for the autonomous vehicle. If the current fuel level is below the required fuel level, the automated driving system can identify one or more refueling stations and send an indication to a driver of the autonomous vehicle requesting selection of one of the identified refueling stations. If a refueling station selection is received, the automated driving system can update the planned vehicle path to include a stop at the selected refueling station. If a refueling station selection is not received, the automated driving system can determine a critical fuel level. If the current fuel level falls below the critical fuel level, the automated driving system can drive the autonomous vehicle to a proximate refueling station. |
| US09400497B2 |
Numerical control device
A numerical control device that controls, in a machine tool, driving of a motor based on a machining program is provided. The numerical control device includes a position-command generating unit configured to generate a position command to the motor and a mark-command generating unit configured to generate a mark command for machining of a mark indicating that an abnormality occurs in the machining. The mark-command generating unit sequentially stores information concerning a moving route of the tool by the machining and generates, when an alarm is raised because the abnormality is detected, as the mark command, a moving command for moving the tool in a direction opposite to a direction during the machining while correcting a position of the tool in a tool axis direction with respect to a position during the machining, and the position-command generating unit generates the position command based on the mark command. |
| US09400494B2 |
Communication device for a motor vehicle
A communication device for a motor vehicle includes a first control unit (BDC), a second control unit (SAS), a control unit arrangement (SGA), a first data bus (SB), to which the first control unit (BDC) and the control unit arrangement (SGA) are connected for the exchange of data, as well as a second data bus (AB), to which the second control unit (SAS) and the control unit arrangement (SGA) are connected for the exchange of data. The control unit arrangement includes at least a first sensor control unit (SSG1) for controlling a first sensor and a second sensor control unit (SSG2) for controlling a second sensor. The first and the second sensor have mutually overlapping sensor acquisition ranges. The first and the second sensor control unit can exchange at least preprocessed sensor data by way of a third data bus (PB). The first and the second sensor control unit are constructed to be operated in a master-slave operation with respect to at least one functionality. By way of the first sensor control unit as the master of a first functionality (F1), first data (DFC), which are provided by the first control unit at the first data bus, are processed for the control unit arrangement. By way of the second sensor control unit as the master of a second functionality (F2), first application data (AD1) for the second control unit are provided at the second data bus. |
| US09400491B2 |
Stabilized deteministic optimization based control system and method
The embodiments described herein include one embodiment that provides a control method, including determining a first stabilizing feasible control trajectory of a plurality of variables of a controlled process, determining a second stabilizing feasible control trajectory for the plurality of variables for a second time step subsequent to the first time step, determining a first cost of applying the first feasible control trajectory at the second time step, determining a second cost of applying the second feasible control trajectory at the second time step, comparing the first and second costs, selecting the first feasible control trajectory or the second feasible control trajectory based upon the comparison in a predetermined time frame, and controlling the controlled process by application of the selected control trajectory. |
| US09400486B2 |
Spatial light modulator, holographic three-dimensional image display including the same, and method for modulating spatial light
A spatial light modulator includes a variable refractive index layer that has a refractive index which is variable based on one of an optical signal and an electrical signal, a metal layer that is disposed on the refractive index-change layer, and a high refractive index layer on the metal layer. Light incident on the metal layer causes generation of a surface plasmon at an interface between the variable refractive index layer and the metal layer. |
| US09400483B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming unit
Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above. |
| US09400480B2 |
Image forming apparatus having belt unit and supporting member
In an image forming apparatus, both a drum cartridge and a developer cartridge are detachably supported by a supporting member. The drum cartridge has an abutment portion. The developer cartridge includes a developer gripping portion. The developer gripping portion has a moving portion. The moving portion moves between a protruding position and an accommodated position. When the drum cartridge is mounted to the supporting member the abutment portion abuts against the moving portion to cause the moving portion to move to the accommodated position. When the drum cartridge is removed from the supporting member, abutment of the abutment portion against the moving portion is released to cause the moving portion to move to the protruding position. |
| US09400478B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method and non-transitory computer-readable storage device having image forming program
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charge eliminating device eliminating charges on the photosensitive member, a charging device charging the photosensitive member, a developing device attaching charged developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the charged photosensitive member and developing the electrostatic latent image, and a control device configured to switch a luminescence intensity of the charge eliminating device between a first luminescence intensity and a second luminescence intensity, the second luminescence intensity being lower than the first luminescence intensity, and to adjust a density of an image, which is obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image by the developing device, in response to the luminescence intensity being switched from the first luminescence intensity to the second luminescence intensity or from the second luminescence intensity to the first luminescence intensity. |
| US09400475B2 |
Power supply device to selectively output power and transfer device to transfer a toner image to a sheet
A transfer device includes a direct-current (DC) power supply configured to output a DC voltage; an alternating-current (AC) power supply configured to selectively output a superimposed voltage in which an AC voltage is superimposed on the DC voltage output from the DC power supply or the DC voltage output from the DC power supply; and a transfer unit configured to transfer a developer to a sheet using the voltage output from the AC power supply. |
| US09400472B2 |
Belt conveyance apparatus including a belt and a driving roller in an image forming apparatus or system
A belt conveyance apparatus including a driving roller to rotate and drive a belt, a first detector to detect surface speed of the belt, and a second detector to detect rotation speed of the driving roller. There is a first calculator to calculate a first deviation from target speed based on the surface speed and the target speed, and a memory to store a correction value corresponding to the first deviation. A second calculator calculates a second deviation from the target speed corrected by the first deviation based on the target speed, the first deviation and the rotation speed of the driving roller. A controller controls the rotation speed of the driving roller based on the second deviation. There is also a switch to switch the first deviation to the correction value stored in the memory when controller judges that the first detector is abnormal. |
| US09400470B1 |
Lifespan determination device and image forming apparatus
A lifespan determination device determines a lifespan of a fixing unit including a heating member and a pressing member and fixing a toner image onto a sheet passing through a feed area therebetween. The device includes a counting unit, a determining unit, and a notifying unit. The counting unit includes counters for respective sheet widths and adds, to a count value of a counter corresponding to a sheet width of the fed sheet, a count value obtained by multiplying the number of fed sheets having the sheet width by a first weight coefficient corresponding to a degree of damage given to the fixing unit by the fed sheet. The determining unit determines whether or not a count value of any one of the counters has reached a predetermined value. The notifying unit provides a notification indicating that the lifespan is reached if the count value has reached the predetermined value. |
| US09400468B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing premature or unnecessary replacement of a consumable used in an image production device
A method and apparatus for preventing premature or unnecessary replacement of a consumable used in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include sensing the removal of the consumable from the image production device, determining if the removed consumable's life span is greater than a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold relating to the consumable's expected life span, wherein if it is determined that the removed consumable's life span is not greater than the predetermined threshold, sending a notification to a user at a user interface for the user to enter an identification code, receiving an identification code at the user interface, determining if the correct identification code has been entered, wherein if it is determined that the correct identification code has been entered, permitting operation of the image production device, otherwise, preventing operation of the image production device. |
| US09400458B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus includes a CPU capable of executing neutralization control in which, prior to image formation, a potential difference between a voltage applied to a transfer roller by a transfer power supply and a voltage applied to a neutralization needle by a neutralization power supply is gradually increased, and a value of the potential difference when the value detected by the neutralization current meter exceeds a threshold is stored, and in which, during image formation, a value of the voltage applied by the neutralization power supply is controlled based on the stored potential difference and the value of an image formation voltage applied by the transfer power supply. |
| US09400456B2 |
Belt conveyor unit and image forming apparatus
An inclined flange roller is located outward of an end portion of a tension roller in the belt width direction. The inclined flange roller includes a flange surface capable of being in contact with the edge portion of a belt in a region in which the belt is wound around the tension roller and a roller surface capable of being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt between the flange surface and an end portion of the tension roller in the belt width direction. |
| US09400449B1 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming unit, a developing unit, replenishing unit, and a control unit. The latent image forming unit forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image information signal on an image carrier. The developing unit develops the electrostatic latent image using a two-component developer in which magnetic carriers are mixed with toner to form a visible image. The replenishing unit replenishes the toner to the developing unit. The control unit controls switching between first processing, which includes idling processing for replenishing at least part of residual toner, which is to be replenished to the developing unit and remains without being replenished to the developing unit, to the developing unit and stirring the toner within the developing unit, and second processing, which includes the idling processing and density correction processing for correcting a density of the toner within the developing unit. |
| US09400448B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a surface of a development roller and shell layers of toner particles being formed from a thermosetting resin
An image forming apparatus uses a developer containing toner particles. The image forming apparatus includes a toner-particle bearing member for bearing the toner particles. Each toner particle includes a toner core containing a binder resin and a shell layer coating a surface of the toner core. The toner-particle bearing member includes a substrate and a surface layer coating a surface of the substrate. The surface layer and the shell layer are each formed from a resin containing a thermosetting resin. |
| US09400444B2 |
Image forming apparatus with improved timing for emitting beam detect light beam
An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a charging unit; a light scanning apparatus configured to emit a light beam to scan the photosensitive member to form a latent image; and a developing unit configure to develop the latent image. The light scanning apparatus includes a light source, a rotary polygon mirror, a light receiving unit, and a signal generating unit. An incident timing when the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror enters the light receiving unit after the photosensitive member is charged by the charging unit and after a voltage is applied to a toner carrying member by the developing unit is identified based on the number of second signals generated by the signal generating unit between the first signal and the first signal generated by the light receiving unit before the photosensitive member is charged and before the voltage is applied to the toner carrying member. |
| US09400443B2 |
Image forming method and image forming apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image pattern including an image portion and a non-image portion
In an image forming method for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image pattern including an image portion and a non-image portion by exposing a surface of an image bearer with light based on the image pattern, the image portion has a plurality of pixels, the pixels constituting the image portion but not adjacent to at least a non-image portion are exposed with a first optical output that is higher than a given optical output obtained when the entire pixels corresponding to the image portion are exposed over a given time period. |
| US09400441B2 |
Electrostatic imaging member and methods for using the same
Embodiments pertain to a method of creating an electrostatic latent image through use of an electrostatic latent image generating device comprising a single exposing device for selectively exposing a surface of the electrostatic imaging member to light, and a single electrostatic charging device for charging the surface of the electrostatic imaging member, wherein the exposing device is located before the electrostatic charging device such that the exposing the surface of the electrostatic imaging member to light precedes the charging the surface of the electrostatic imaging member and wherein charge is not accepted by the exposed surface of the electrostatic imaging member and the charge is accepted by the unexposed surface of the electrostatic imaging member. |