Document Document Title
US09406874B2 Magnetic memory cells and methods of formation
Methods of forming magnetic memory cells are disclosed. Magnetic and non-magnetic materials are formed into a primal precursor structure in an initial stress state of essentially no strain, compressive strain, or tensile strain. A stress-compensating material, e.g., a non-sacrificial, conductive material, is formed to be disposed on the primal precursor structure to form a stress-compensated precursor structure in a net beneficial stress state. Thereafter, the stress-compensated precursor structure may be patterned to form a cell core of a memory cell. The net beneficial stress state of the stress-compensated precursor structure lends to formation of one or more magnetic regions, in the cell core, exhibiting a vertical magnetic orientation without deteriorating a magnetic strength of the one or more magnetic regions. Also disclosed are memory cells, memory cell structures, semiconductor device structures, and spin torque transfer magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) systems.
US09406871B2 Magnetoresistive element and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element is disclosed. The magnetoresistive element includes a reference layer, a tunnel barrier layer, a storage layer. The storage layer includes a first region and a second region provided outside the first region to surround the first region, the second region including element included in the first region and another element being different from the element. The magnetoresistive element further includes a cap layer including a third region and a fourth region provided outside the third region to surround the third region, the fourth region including an element included in the third region and the another element.
US09406868B2 Manufacturing method for piezoelectric resonator device
A manufacturing method for a piezoelectric resonator device includes sequential steps of: (i) laminating a metal film constituted by at least two types of metals on at least one of a substrate of a joining region of a piezoelectric resonator plate, a substrate of a region of an upper lid member, and a substrate of a region of a lower lid member; (ii) promoting metal diffusion inside the metal film by heat processing; and (iii) roughening a surface of the substrate of the at least one of the piezoelectric resonator plate, the upper lid member, and the lower lid member by performing wet etching with an etchant caused to penetrate into the metal film and thereby forming a large number of micropores in the surface of the substrate of the at least one of the piezoelectric resonator plate, the upper lid member, and the lower lid member.
US09406866B2 Piezoelectric device with piezoelectric ceramic layer having AG segregated in voids in sintered body of perovskite composition
A piezoelectric device is provided with: a piezoelectric ceramic layer that is obtained by firing a piezoelectric ceramic composition which contains a perovskite composition and an Ag component; and a conductor layer that sandwiches the piezoelectric ceramic layer, wherein Ag is segregated in voids in a sintered body of the perovskite composition in the piezoelectric ceramic layer. The piezoelectric ceramic composition preferably contains a perovskite composition which is represented by (Pba.Rex){Zrb.Tic,.(Ni1/3Nb2/3)d.(Zn1/3Nb2/3)e}O3 (wherein Re represents La and/or Nd, and a-e and x satisfy the following conditions 0.95≦a≦1.05, 0≦x≦0.05, 0.35≦b<0.45, 0.35≦c≦0.45, 0≦d≦0.10, 0.07≦e≦0.20 and b+c+d+e=1) and 0.05-0.3% by mass of an Ag component in terms of oxides relative to the perovskite composition.
US09406865B2 Composite piezoelectric laterally vibrating resonator
A resonator is described. The resonator includes multiple electrodes. The resonator also includes a composite piezoelectric material. The composite piezoelectric material includes at least one layer of a first piezoelectric material and at least one layer of a second piezoelectric material. At least one electrode is coupled to a bottom of the composite piezoelectric material. At least one electrode is coupled to a top of the composite piezoelectric material.
US09406863B2 Device and method for bracing electromechanical composite high-frequency vibration systems (VFHS)
The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating electromechanical composite high-frequency oscillations includes, with a composite high-frequency oscillation system having at least one oscillation-generating element and at least one bracing element for applying pressure to the oscillation-generating element, wherein the bracing element is positioned outside of the material cross-section of at least one oscillation-generating element.
US09406862B2 Elastic wave device including multilayer metal film
An elastic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate including a primary surface and a first electrode which is provided on the primary surface of the piezoelectric substrate, which includes a first multilayer metal film including at least three metal films laminated in a bottom-to-top direction, and which includes at least an IDT film. The first multilayer metal film includes a Ti film as the topmost film and has a crystal orientation oriented in a predetermined direction so that the normal line direction of the plane of a Ti crystal of the Ti film coincides with the Z axis of a crystal of a piezoelectric body defining the piezoelectric substrate.
US09406860B2 Wafer level package structure for temperature sensing elements
A wafer level package structure for temperature sensing elements, which includes a wafer cover and a substrate. The wafer cover is formed of infrared penetrable material. The wafer cover has a plurality of package walls, and the plurality of package walls form a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves in the wafer cover. The substrate includes a plurality of chip areas, a plurality of soldering areas, and a plurality of pin areas. The plurality of chip areas are disposed a temperature sensing chip respectively and correspond to the plurality of first grooves respectively and the plurality of soldering areas solder with respect to the plurality of package walls, such that the plurality of chip areas and the plurality of first grooves form a plurality of vacuum sealed spaces respectively.
US09406854B2 Wafer level packaging of electronic devices
Aspects of the invention include an electronic device comprising a first contact point; a metal pad disposed to provide electrical connection to the first contact point; a substrate comprising a first face and a second face opposing the first face of the substrate, the first face of the substrate adjacent a face of the electronic device; and a VIA passing through the substrate from the second face of the substrate to the metal pad, the VIA exhibiting: a pass through extending through the substrate from the first face to the second face; a metal layer disposed within the pass through arranged to provide electrical connectivity to the metal pad from an area adjacent the second face of the substrate; and an electrically insulating first passivation layer disposed between the metal layer and the substrate arranged to provide electrical insulation between the substrate and the metal layer.
US09406850B2 Remote phosphor light emitting devices having transparent features
A substrate including phosphor is remotely illuminated by an LED. Optical radiation that emerges through the substrate is measured. Portions of the substrate, such as raised features on the substrate, are then selectively removed responsive to the measuring, so as to obtain a desired optical radiation. In removing portions of the substrate, holes may be drilled through the substrate to provide a separate path for light from the LED that does not pass through the phosphor. Alternatively, a separate LED may be provided outside the dome.
US09406845B2 Nitride semiconductor structure
A nitride semiconductor structure including a substrate, a first type nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate, an active layer disposed between the substrate and the first type nitride semiconductor layer and a second type nitride semiconductor layer disposed between the substrate and the active layer is provided. The active layer includes a first multiple quantum well structure including a plurality of first quantum well layers and a plurality of first barrier layers staggered with each other, and a second multiple quantum well structure including a plurality of second quantum well layers and a plurality of second barrier layers staggered with each other. A second type dopant is doped into at least one of the second barrier layers, and a concentration of the second dopant in the second barrier layer is higher than that of the second dopant in the second type nitride semiconductor layer.
US09406842B2 Flip chip light emitting diode packaging structure
A flip chip light emitting diode (LED) packaging structure, including a substrate, an LED chip including a P electrode and a N electrode. A protruding platform is formed in a center of the substrate. The protruding platform includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion electrically insulating from each other. The P electrode and the N electrode is conductively fixed to the protruding platform by solder, and a bottom edge of the P electrode and the N electrode are beyond a top edge of the protruding platform.
US09406841B2 Light emitting device manufacturing method and light emitting device
To improve efficiency when manufacturing a light emitting device formed using a mask to form regions corresponding to pixels on a substrate, provided is a method including, after forming a pattern on a substrate with a first light emitting material that emits light of a first spectrum, through a first opening and one or more second openings of a mask, moving the mask in a longitudinal direction of the first opening by a distance that is less than the width of the first opening in the longitudinal direction of the first opening and greater than or equal to the width of the one or more second openings in the longitudinal direction of the first opening, and then forming a pattern with a second light emitting material that emits light of a second spectrum, through the first opening and the one or more second openings of the mask.
US09406840B2 Semiconductor layer including compositional inhomogeneities
A device comprising a semiconductor layer including a plurality of compositional inhomogeneous regions is provided. The difference between an average band gap for the plurality of compositional inhomogeneous regions and an average band gap for a remaining portion of the semiconductor layer can be at least thermal energy. Additionally, a characteristic size of the plurality of compositional inhomogeneous regions can be smaller than an inverse of a dislocation density for the semiconductor layer.
US09406838B2 Light-emitting device
According to one embodiment, a light-emitting element comprises: a first electrically-conductive semiconductor layer, a second electrically-conductive semiconductor layer; and an active layer which is disposed between the first electrically-conductive layer and the second electrically-conductive layer, and in which a well layer and a barrier layer are alternately laminated at least once. The active layer comprises: a first region which is disposed between a neighboring barrier layer and well layer, and linearly reduces the energy band gap; and a second region which is disposed between a neighboring well layer and barrier layer, and linearly increases the energy band gap. In the well layer, at least one first region and second region neighboring the same well layer have mutually different thicknesses.
US09406833B2 Neutron-detecting apparatuses and methods of fabrication
Neutron-detecting structures and methods of fabrication are provided which include: a substrate with a plurality of cavities extending into the substrate from a surface; a p-n junction within the substrate and extending, at least in part, in spaced opposing relation to inner cavity walls of the substrate defining the plurality of cavities; and a neutron-responsive material disposed within the plurality of cavities. The neutron-responsive material is responsive to neutrons absorbed for releasing ionization radiation products, and the p-n junction within the substrate spaced in opposing relation to and extending, at least in part, along the inner cavity walls of the substrate reduces leakage current of the neutron-detecting structure.
US09406831B2 Avalanche photodiode semiconductor structure having a high signal-to-noise ratio and method for manufacturing such a photodiode
A semiconductor structure, and method for manufacturing, of avalanche photodiode type for receiving electromagnetic radiation in a given wavelength range and including a first semiconductor area configured for absorption of the electromagnetic radiation, a second area configured for providing a multiplication of carriers, and a third semiconductor area in contact with the second semiconductor area. The second area includes at least two subparts with the second subpart configured to have a mean carrier multiplication rate that is more substantial than that of the first subpart.
US09406823B2 Methods for fabricating self-aligning semiconductor hetereostructures using nanowires
Methods for fabricating self-aligned heterostructures and semiconductor arrangements using silicon nanowires are described.
US09406818B2 Chip package and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing chip package includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chips. An outer spacer and a plurality of inner spacers are formed on the semiconductor wafer. A protection lid is formed and disposed on the outer spacer and the inner spacers. A plurality of cavities is formed on each of the semiconductor chips from a lower surface thereof to expose the conductive pad disposed on the upper surface of the semiconductor chip. A plurality of conductive portions is formed and fills each of the cavities and electrically connected to each of the conductive pads. A plurality of solder balls is disposed on the lower surface and electrically connected to each of the conductive portions. The semiconductor chips are separated by cutting along a plurality of cutting lines between each of the semiconductor chips.
US09406814B2 Non-volatile memory device
According to one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a first stacked electrode provided above a underlying layer, a second stacked electrode juxtaposed with the first stacked electrode above the underlying layer, a plurality of first semiconductor layers piercing the first stacked electrode in a direction perpendicular to the underlying layer, and a second semiconductor layer piercing the second stacked electrode in a direction perpendicular to the underlying layer. The device further includes a memory film provided between the first stacked electrode and the first semiconductor layers, and between the second stacked electrode and the second semiconductor layer, and a link part provided between the underlying layer and the first stacked electrode, and between the underlying layer and the second stacked electrode. The link part is electrically connected to one end of each of the first semiconductor layers and one end of the second semiconductor layer.
US09406811B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a charge storage layer formed on first and second insulating layers
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a semiconductor layer with a main surface, a first insulating layer formed on the main surface of the semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer formed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer formed on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode formed on the second insulating layer. At least one inelastic scattering film that reduces energy of electrons by scattering is contained in at least one of the charge storage layer and second insulating layer.
US09406808B2 Semiconductor device, display device, and electronic appliance
In a channel protected thin film transistor in which a channel formation region is formed using an oxide semiconductor, an oxide semiconductor layer which is dehydrated or dehydrogenated by a heat treatment is used as an active layer, a crystal region including nanocrystals is included in a superficial portion in the channel formation region, and the rest portion is amorphous or is formed of a mixture of amorphousness/non-crystals and microcrystals, where an amorphous region is dotted with microcrystals. By using an oxide semiconductor layer having such a structure, a change to an n-type caused by entry of moisture or elimination of oxygen to or from the superficial portion and generation of a parasitic channel can be prevented and a contact resistance with a source and drain electrodes can be reduced.
US09406806B2 Semiconductor element and display device using the same
A semiconductor having an active layer; a gate insulating film in contact with the semiconductor; a gate electrode opposite to the active layer through the gate insulating film; a first nitride insulating film formed over the active layer; a photosensitive organic resin film formed on the first nitride insulating film; a second nitride insulating film formed on the photosensitive organic resin film; and a wiring provided on the second, nitride insulating film. A first opening portion is provided in the photosensitive organic resin film, an inner wall surface of the first opening portion is covered with the second nitride insulating film, a second opening portion is provided in a laminate including the gate insulating film, the first nitride insulating film, and the second nitride insulating film inside the first opening portion, and the semiconductor is connected with the wiring through the first opening portion and the second opening portion.
US09406801B2 FinFET
A fin type transistor includes a dielectric layer on a substrate surface which serves to isolate the gate of the transistor from the substrate. The dielectric layer includes a non-selectively etched surface to produce top portions of fin structures which have reduce height variations across the wafer. The fin type transistor may also include a counter doped region at least below the S/D regions to reduce parasitic capacitance to improve its performance.
US09406798B2 Strained semiconductor using elastic edge relaxation of a stressor combined with buried insulating layer
An SOI wafer contains a compressively stressed buried insulator structure. In one example, the stressed buried insulator (BOX) may be formed on a host wafer by forming silicon oxide, silicon nitride and silicon oxide layers so that the silicon nitride layer is compressively stressed. Wafer bonding provides the surface silicon layer over the stressed insulator layer. Preferred implementations of the invention form MOS transistors by etching isolation trenches into a preferred SOI substrate having a stressed BOX structure to define transistor active areas on the surface of the SOI substrate. Most preferably the trenches are formed deep enough to penetrate through the stressed BOX structure and some distance into the underlying silicon portion of the substrate. The overlying silicon active regions will have tensile stress induced due to elastic edge relaxation.
US09406797B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit with dislocations
A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The method includes proving a substrate. The substrate includes a gate stack over the substrate and source/drain regions separated by the gate stack. A first dislocation with a first pinch-off point is formed within the source/drain region with a first depth. A second dislocation with a second pinch-off point is formed within the source/drain region at a second depth. The second depth is substantial smaller than the first depth.
US09406796B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a second conductivity type back gate electrode formed within a body area, and electrically connected with the body area, and performs bidirectional current control in a direction from a drain area to a source area and in a direction from the source area to the drain area. A sheet resistance of the back gate electrode is lower than a sheet resistance of the body area. The source area and the back gate electrode are disposed apart from each other with a clearance sufficient for preventing a breakdown phenomenon caused between the source area and the back gate electrode when a maximum operation voltage is applied between the source area and the drain area.
US09406795B2 Trench gate MOSFET
A trench gate MOSFET is provided. An epitaxial layer is disposed on a substrate. A body layer is disposed in the epitaxial layer. The epitaxial layer has a first trench therein, the body layer has a second trench therein, and the first trench is disposed below the second trench. A first insulating layer is disposed on a surface of the first trench. A second insulating layer is disposed in the first trench. A first conductive layer is disposed between the first and second insulating layers. A second conductive layer is disposed in the second trench. A third insulating layer is disposed between the second conductive layer and the body layer and between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. A dielectric layer is disposed on the epitaxial layer and covers the second conductive layer. Two doped regions are disposed in the body layer respectively beside the second trench.
US09406793B2 Semiconductor device with a vertical channel formed through a plurality of semiconductor layers
Semiconductor devices and manufacturing methods are provided for making channel and gate lengths independent from lithography. Also, semiconductor devices and manufacturing methods are provided for increasing resistivity between drain and channel to allow for higher voltage operation. For example, a semiconductor device includes a first doped layer implanted in a semiconductor substrate forming one of a source or a drain and a gate metal layer disposed over the first doped layer. The semiconductor device further includes a second doped layer disposed over the gate metal forming the other the source or the drain, where the first doped layer, the gate metal layer and the second doped layer form a vertical stack of layers of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device further includes a conduction channel formed in a trench that extends vertically through the vertical stack of layers and terminates at the semiconductor substrate.
US09406791B2 Transistors, semiconductor devices, and methods of manufacture thereof
Transistors, semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor over a workpiece. The transistor includes a sacrificial gate material comprising a group III-V material. The method includes combining a metal (Me) with the group III-V material of the sacrificial gate material to form a gate of the transistor comprising a Me-III-V compound material.
US09406786B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, a metal oxide film for preventing electrification which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor film and covers a source electrode and a drain electrode is formed. Then, oxygen is introduced (added) to the oxide semiconductor film through the metal oxide film and heat treatment is performed. Through these steps of oxygen introduction and heat treatment, impurities such as hydrogen, moisture, a hydroxyl group, or hydride are intentionally removed from the oxide semiconductor film, so that the oxide semiconductor film is highly purified. Further, by providing the metal oxide film, generation of a parasitic channel on a back channel side of the oxide semiconductor film can be prevented in the transistor.
US09406784B1 Method of manufacturing isolation structure and non-volatile memory with the isolation structure
A method of manufacturing an isolation structure suitable for a non-volatile memory is provided. A substrate is provided. A dielectric layer, a conductive layer, and a hard mask layer are sequentially formed on the substrate. The hard mask layer and the conductive layer are patterned to form a first trench which exposes the dielectric layer. A first liner is formed on the substrate. The first liner and the dielectric layer that are exposed by the first trench are removed to expose the substrate. A spacer is formed on sidewalls of the conductive layer and the hard mask layer. The substrate is partly removed to form in a second trench with use of the conductive layer and the hard mask layer with the spacer as a mask. An isolation layer is formed in the second trench. The distance between the conductive layers is greater than the width of the second trench.
US09406782B2 Structure and method for FinFET device
A method for fabricating a fin-type field-effect transistor (FinFET) device includes forming a first fin structure over a substrate, forming a dielectric layer over the first fin structures, forming a trench with a vertical profile in the dielectric layer, depositing conformably a first semiconductor material layer over sidewalls and bottom of the trench, depositing a second semiconductor material layer over the first semiconductor material layer to filling in the remaining trench, recessing the dielectric layer to laterally expose the first semiconductor material layer and etching the exposed first semiconductor material layer to reveal the second semiconductor material layer.
US09406775B1 Method for creating self-aligned compact contacts in an IC device meeting fabrication spacing constraints
Methods for forming a self-aligned gate-cut in close proximity to a gate contact and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a substrate with silicon fins and a metal gate with a nitride-cap perpendicular to and over the fins, with source/drain regions, each with an oxide-cap, on the fins on opposite sides of the gate; forming parallel dielectric lines, separated from each other, perpendicular to and over the gate; forming a photoresist over the parallel dielectric lines, forming an opening in the photoresist exposing a nitride-cap between two fins; removing the exposed nitride-cap exposing an underlying metal gate; removing the exposed metal gate and a remainder of the photoresist; forming low-k dielectric lines between the parallel dielectric lines; removing sections of the parallel dielectric lines; forming perpendicular interconnects between the low-k dielectric lines; removing a remainder of the parallel dielectric lines forming trenches; and filling the trenches with metal.
US09406767B1 POC process flow for conformal recess fill
A method of filling trenches between gates includes forming a first and a second dummy gate over a substrate, the first and second dummy gates including a sacrificial gate material and a hard mask layer; forming a first gate spacer along a sidewall of the first dummy gate and a second gate spacer along a sidewall of the second dummy gate; performing an epitaxial growth process to form a source/drain on the substrate between the first and second dummy gates; disposing a conformal liner over the first and second dummy gates and the source/drain; disposing an oxide on the conformal liner between the first and second dummy gates; recessing the oxide to a level below the hard mask layers of the first and second dummy gates to form a recessed oxide; and depositing a spacer material over the recessed oxide between the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate.
US09406765B1 Hybrid dielectric non-volatile memory with nano particles (Si/SiO2 core/shell) as charge trapping layer
Si/SiO2 core/shell nanostructures with sizes below 30 nm as trapping points in UV curable hybrid organic-inorganic gate dielectrics are presented in order to investigate printable nano floating gate transistors. Not only does the novelty of this invention comes from fabricating high-quality hybrid organic/inorganic gate dielectric layer by Sol-Gel process at low temperature but also incorporating the monolayer of high-density of Si nanoparticles (NPs) without obvious interface defects and keeping the quality of dielectric layers. Fixed-charge trapping defects are successfully removed from hybrid dielectrics by UV curing together with low temperature thermal curing and mobile charges solely related to Si/SiO2 core/shell nanostructures on charge trapping layer clearly demonstrate memory effects on printable device. Thin/uniform SiO2 shell on each Si NP functions as tunneling layer of flash memory devices, significantly simplifying the fabrication of printable nano floating gate memory device.
US09406763B2 Stress-reduced field-effect semiconductor device and method for forming therefor
A field-effect semiconductor device is provided. The field-effect semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body with a first surface defining a vertical direction. In a vertical cross-section the field-effect semiconductor device further includes a vertical trench extending from the first surface into the semiconductor body and comprising a field electrode, a cavity at least partly surrounded by the field electrode, and an insulation structure substantially surrounding at least the field electrode. An interface between the insulation structure and the surrounding semiconductor body is under tensile stress and the cavity is filled or unfilled so as to counteract the tensile stress.
US09406762B2 Semiconductor device with junction termination extension
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including silicon carbide; a drift layer disposed over the substrate including a drift region doped with a first dopant and conductivity type; and a second region, doped with a second dopant and conductivity type, adjacent to the drift region and proximal to a surface of the drift layer. The semiconductor device further includes a junction termination extension adjacent to the second region with a width and discrete regions separated in a first and second direction doped with varying concentrations of the second dopant type, and an effective doping profile of the second conductivity type of functional form that generally decreases away from the edge of the primary blocking junction. The width is less than or equal to a multiple of five times the width of the one-dimensional depletion width, and the charge tolerance of the semiconductor device is greater than 1.0×1013 per cm2.
US09406759B2 Methods for forming nanocrystals with position-controlled dopants
A doping method using a three-step synthesis to make high-quality doped nanocrystals is provided. The first step includes synthesizing starting host particles. The second step includes dopant growth on the starting host particles. The third step includes final shell growth. In one embodiment, this method can be used to form Mn-doped CdS/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals. The Mn dopant can be formed inside the CdS core, at the core/shell interface, and/or in the ZnS shell. The subject method allows precisely controlling the impurity radial position and doping level in the nanocrystals.
US09406757B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type made of SiC having an Si surface; a gate trench dug down from the surface of the semiconductor layer; a gate insulating film formed on a bottom surface and a side surface of the gate trench so that the ratio of the thickness of a portion located on the bottom surface to the thickness of a portion located on the side surface is 0.3 to 1.0; and a gate electrode embedded in the gate trench through the gate insulating film.
US09406755B2 Smart semiconductor switch
A semiconductor device comprises semiconductor substrate including vertical transistor and with dopants of a first type. Each transistor cell of transistor has body region formed in substrate and with dopants of second type. The body regions form first pn-junctions with substrate. A first well region is formed in substrate and with dopants of a second type forming a second pn-junction with substrate. Switch connects this first well region to body regions. A second well region is formed in the substrate and with dopants of a second type to form third pn-junction with substrate. Detection circuit is integrated in the second well region and to detect whether the first pn-junctions are reverse biased. The switch connects or disconnects the first well region(s) and the body regions of the transistor cell, and is opened, when the first pn-junctions are reverse biased, and closed, when the first pn-junctions are not reverse biased.
US09406752B2 FinFET conformal junction and high EPI surface dopant concentration method and device
A method of forming a source/drain region with an abrupt, vertical and conformal junction and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a gate electrode over and perpendicular to a semiconductor fin; forming first spacers on opposite sides of the gate electrode; forming second spacers on opposite sides of the fin; forming a cavity in the fin adjacent the first spacers, between the second spacers; partially epitaxially growing source/drain regions in each cavity; implanting a first dopant into the partially grown source/drain regions with an optional RTA thereafter; epitaxially growing a remainder of the source/drain regions in the cavities, in situ doped with a second dopant; and implanting a third dopant in the source/drain regions.
US09406751B2 Method for making strained semiconductor device and related methods
A method for making a semiconductor device is provided. Raised source and drain regions are formed with a tensile strain-inducing material, after thermal treatment to form source drain extension regions, to thereby preserve the strain-inducing material in desired substitutional states.
US09406750B2 Output capacitance reduction in power transistors
Technologies are described for reduction of an output capacitance of a transistor. In some examples, spacing of source-to-drain metallization may be increased and a sealed air-gap may be employed in an elongated trench in the drain region to reduce a dielectric constant of a portion of the body region and thereby the output capacitance of the transistor. In other examples, a planar area component of a body-drain junction may be reduced by forming a spherical cavity at a bottom portion of the body-drain junction and sealing the cavity with a low dielectric constant material. In further examples, a sealed cavity may be formed in an epitaxial region below the body region through formation and removal of selective buried oxide islands. In yet other examples, the output capacitance may be reduced through removal of areas in the drain region of the transistor that do not contribute to the current flow.
US09406749B2 Method of manufacturing a horizontal gate-all-around transistor having a fin
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a fin. The fin extends from the substrate and is formed with a hole therethrough. The hole is defined by a confronting pair of wall parts. One of the wall parts is more arcuate than the other of the wall parts. A method for fabricating the semiconductor structure is also disclosed.
US09406739B2 Inductor system and method
A system and method for providing and manufacturing an inductor is provided. In an embodiment similar masks are reutilized to form differently sized inductors. For example, a two turn inductor and a three turn inductor may share masks for interconnects and coils, while only masks necessary for connections between the interconnects and coils may need to be newly developed.
US09406738B2 Inductive structure formed using through silicon vias
An inductor for an integrated circuit can include a first turn comprising a first through silicon via (TSV) coupled to a second TSV. The inductor can include a third TSV coupled to the second TSV.
US09406733B2 Pixel structure
A pixel structure, including a data line, a scan line, at least one active device, a first auxiliary electrode, and a light emitting device, is provided. The at least one active device is electrically connected with the data line and the scan line, and each active device includes a gate, a channel layer, a source, and a drain. The first auxiliary electrode is electrically insulated from the active device. The light emitting device is disposed above the first auxiliary electrode, wherein the light emitting device includes a first electrode layer, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is electrically connected with the first auxiliary electrode. The light emitting layer is disposed on the first electrode layer. The second electrode layer is disposed on the light emitting layer, wherein the second electrode layer is electrically connected with the active device.
US09406732B2 Organic light emitting diode display device and fabricating method thereof
An OLED display device is discussed which can include: a first substrate defined into an emission region and a non-emission region; a first electrode formed on the first substrate; a bank pattern configured to expose a part of the first electrode corresponding to the emission region; an organic emission layer formed on the exposed part of the first electrode corresponding to the emission region; a second electrode which includes a first conductive layer formed on the organic emission layer and a second conductive layer formed on the second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is formed from an alloy of magnesium (Mg) and silver (Ag), and the second conductive layer is formed from silver (Ag). Such an OLED display device allows the second electrode to include the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. As such, a large-sized display device with low resistance and high transmittance can be realized.
US09406731B2 Display device
A display device includes an element substrate including a display area where a plurality of self-light-emitting elements are formed, and a driver IC disposed outside the display area in the element substrate. A first metal layer is disposed on the reverse side of the element substrate at a position opposite to the display area. A second metal layer is disposed with a space between the first metal layer and the second metal layer on the reverse side of the element substrate at a position opposite to the driver IC.
US09406726B2 Dual-mode pixels including emissive and reflective devices, and dual-mode display using the pixels
A dual-mode display including a substrate and a multiple sub-pixels on the substrate, in which each sub-pixel includes, a color selection reflector, and an optical shutter disposed on the color selection reflector, and an emissive devised disposed on the shutter, wherein the emissive device includes a cathode and an anode, and the cathode and the anode include a carbon-based material including graphene sheets, graphene flakes, and graphene platelets, and a binary or ternary transparent conductive oxide including indium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide.
US09406722B2 Solid-state imaging device and method of manufacturing the same
A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a pixel unit formed on the semiconductor substrate; and a peripheral circuit unit formed on the semiconductor substrate, at a periphery of the pixel unit, in which the pixel unit includes: a photoelectric conversion film which converts incident light into charges; and a floating diffusion which holds the charges, the peripheral circuit unit includes a transistor including a gate electrode and two source and drain diffusion regions, and the two source and drain diffusion regions have a higher impurity concentration than an impurity concentration of the floating diffusion.
US09406716B2 Infrared reflection/absorption layer for reducing ghost image of infrared reflection noise and image sensor using the same
An image sensor includes a photosensing element for receiving infrared (IR) radiation and detecting the IR radiation and generating an electrical signal indicative of the IR radiation. A redistribution layer (RDL) is disposed under the photosensing element, the RDL comprising pattern of conductors for receiving the electrical signal. An IR reflection layer, an IR absorption layer or an isolation layer is disposed between the photosensing element and the RDL. The IR reflection layer, IR absorption layer or isolation layer provides a barrier to IR radiation such that the IR radiation does not impinge upon the RDL. As a result, a ghost image of the RDL is not generated, resulting in reduced noise and improved sensitivity and performance of the image sensor.
US09406715B2 Image sensor device
An image sensor device comprises an isolation well region within a substrate. A gate stack is over the isolation well region on the first surface of the substrate. The gate stack has an edge. A doped isolation feature is within the substrate between the isolation well region and the gate stack. The doped isolation feature surrounds an active area. The gate stack is over the active area. The doped isolation feature extends from the edge of the gate stack under the gate stack.
US09406710B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a spacer, a doped region, and a deep trench isolation (DTI). The silicon substrate has a deep trench. The spacer is formed on an upper portion of the sidewall of the deep trench. The doped region is formed on a lower portion of the sidewall of the deep trench. The deep trench isolation is formed in the deep trench.
US09406709B2 Methods for fabricating and using nanowires
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and devices relating to fabricating one or more nanowires are disclosed. One method for fabricating a nanowire includes: selecting a particular wavelength of electromagnetic radiation for absorption for a nanowire; determining a diameter corresponding to the particular wavelength; and fabricating a nanowire having the determined diameter. According to another embodiment, one or more nanowires may be fabricated in an array, each having the same or different determined diameters. An image sensor and method of imaging using such an array are also disclosed.
US09406707B2 Solid-state image pickup element and image pickup apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including: a photoelectric conversion region; a transistor; an isolation region of a first conductivity type configured to isolate the photoelectric conversion region and the transistor from each other; a well region of the first conductivity type having the photoelectric conversion region, the transistor, and the isolation region of the first conductivity type formed therein; a contact portion configured to supply an electric potential used to fix the well region to a given electric potential; and an impurity region of the first conductivity type formed so as to extend in a depth direction from a surface of the isolation region of the first conductivity type in the isolation region of the first conductivity type between the contact portion and the photoelectric conversion region, and having a sufficiently higher impurity concentration than that of the isolation region of the first conductivity type.
US09406706B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
It is an object to provide a manufacturing method of a structure of a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, in which threshold voltage at which a channel is formed is positive and as close to 0 V as possible. A protective insulating layer is formed to cover a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer that is dehydrated or dehydrogenated by first heat treatment, and second heat treatment at a temperature that is lower than that of the first heat treatment, in which the increase and decrease in temperature are repeated plural times, is performed, whereby a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, in which threshold voltage at which a channel is formed is positive and as close to 0 V as possible without depending on the channel length, can be manufactured.
US09406701B2 Array substrate and method for fabricating the same, and display device
The present invention provides an array substrate comprising a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of oxide thin film transistors, the plurality of data lines and the plurality of gate lines intersect with each other in different planes to divide the array substrate into a plurality of pixel units, in each of which the oxide thin film transistor is provided, the array substrate further comprises a metal oxide layer provided at least below a portion of the data line overlapping with the gate line, and an upper surface of the metal oxide layer is in contact with a lower surface of the data line. The present invention further provides a method for fabricating the array substrate and a display device comprising the array substrate.
US09406699B2 Semiconductor device, and display device and electronic device having the same
An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can suppress characteristic deterioration in each transistor without destabilizing operation. In a non-selection period, a transistor is turned on at regular intervals, so that a power supply potential is supplied to an output terminal of a shift register circuit. A power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor. Since the transistor is not always on in a non-selection period, a shift of the threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. In addition, a power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor at regular intervals. Therefore, the shift register circuit can suppress noise which is generated in the output terminal.
US09406698B2 Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device in which reliability of a display element is improved is provided. Alternatively, a display device in which reliability of a transistor is improved is provided. Alternatively, a display device in which an increase in an area of a periphery region is suppressed is provided. A display device includes a display region including a display element between a first flexible substrate and a second flexible substrate in which the display region is surrounded by a first continuous sealant, the first sealant is surrounded by a second continuous sealant, and the second sealant is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and on at least one of a side surface of the first substrate and a side surface of the second substrate.
US09406696B2 High-frequency device including high-frequency switching circuit
A high-frequency device having a switching circuit including a semiconductor substrate; a first high-frequency input/output terminal; a second high-frequency input/output terminal; a control signal input terminal; a power terminal; a ground terminal; an insulating portion disposed on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a voltage-applying electrode for applying a predetermined positive voltage from the power electrode to the semiconductor substrate, wherein the switching circuit includes a field-effect transistor disposed in an active region of the semiconductor substrate.
US09406694B1 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a metal layer containing boron, a semiconductor film extending in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the metal layer extends, a charge storage film provided between the semiconductor film and the metal layer, a first dielectric film provided between the charge storage film and the metal layer, and a nitride film provided between the first dielectric film and the metal layer. The nitride film includes a first titanium nitride film provided in contact with the first dielectric film, a second titanium nitride film provided in contact with the metal layer, and an amorphous nitride film provided between the first titanium nitride film and the second titanium nitride film.
US09406688B2 Vertical structure non-volatile memory device having insulating regions that are formed as air gaps
A vertical structure non-volatile memory device includes semiconductor regions that vertically extend on a substrate, a plurality of memory cell strings that vertically extend on the substrate along sidewalls of the semiconductor regions and include a plurality of memory cells and at least one or more first selection transistors, which are disposed on sides of the memory cells and are adjacent to one another. A plurality of wordlines is connected to the memory cells of the memory cell strings. A first selection line is connected to the selection transistors of the memory cell strings and insulating regions are formed as air gaps between the first selection transistors of the adjacent memory cell strings.
US09406687B1 Integration of memory devices with different voltages
Device and method for forming a device are presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with at least a memory cell region having first and second sub-regions and a logic region having input/output (I/O) region and core region. First voltage memory cell is formed in the first sub-region and second voltage memory cell is formed in the second sub-region of the memory cell region of the same substrate. The first voltage memory cell operates in a first voltage and the second voltage memory cell operates in a second voltage which is higher than the first voltage. Each of the first and second voltage memory cells includes a split gate having first and second gates. The first gate is a storage gate having a control gate over a floating gate and the second gate is a wordline. Logic I/O device is formed in the I/O region and logic core device is formed in the core region.
US09406685B2 Flash memory unit and memory array, and programming, erasing and reading method thereof
A flash memory unit, a memory array and operation methods thereof are provided. The flash memory unit includes a semiconductor substrate, a first and a second bit line structures, a word line structure, a first and a second float gates, and a first and a second control gates. The semiconductor substrate has doping wells formed therein, constituting a source and a drain. The first and second bit line structures are respectively connected with the source and the drain. The word line structure is disposed between the first and second bit line structures. The first float gate is disposed between the first bit line structure and the word line, and the second float gate is disposed between the second bit line structure and the word line. The first control gate is disposed on the first float gate, and the second control gate is disposed on the second float gate.
US09406684B2 Semiconductor device including an electrode lower layer and an electrode upper layer and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a ferroelectric film and an electrode stacked on the ferroelectric film. The electrode has a multilayer structure of an electrode lower layer in contact with the ferroelectric film and an electrode upper layer stacked on the electrode lower layer. The electrode upper layer is made of a conductive material having an etching selection ratio with respect to the materials for the ferroelectric film and the electrode lower layer. The upper surface of the electrode upper layer is planarized.
US09406676B2 Method for forming single diffusion breaks between finFET devices and the resulting devices
A method includes forming a fin in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of sacrificial gate structures are formed above the fin. A selected one of the sacrificial gate structures is removed to define a first opening that exposes a portion of the fin. An etch process is performed through the first opening on the exposed portion of the fin to define a first recess in the fin. The first recess is filled with a dielectric material to define a diffusion break in the fin. A device includes a fin defined in a substrate, a plurality of gates formed above the fin, a plurality of recesses filled with epitaxial material defined in the fin, and a diffusion break defined at least partially in the fin between two of the recesses filled with epitaxial material and extending above the fin.
US09406672B2 Capacitor arrays for minimizing gradient effects and methods of forming the same
Methods of forming semiconductor devices. The method includes forming a capacitor array comprising a plurality of cells in a two-dimensional grid. The step of forming includes forming a plurality of operational capacitors in a first subset of the plurality of cells along a diagonal of the array, the plurality of operational capacitors comprising a first operational capacitor formed in a cell at a first edge of the capacitor array and at a first edge of the diagonal of the capacitor array. The step of forming also includes forming a plurality of dummy patterns about the plurality of operational capacitors in the capacitor array in a second subset of the plurality of cells to achieve symmetry in the grid about the diagonal. The method also includes electrically coupling each one of the plurality of operational capacitors to another one of the plurality of operational capacitors.
US09406670B1 System comprising a semiconductor device and structure
A semiconductor device, including: a first layer including first transistors, the first transistors are interconnected by at least one metal layer including copper or aluminum; a second layer including second transistors, the first layer is overlaid by the second layer, where the second layer includes a plurality of through layer vias having a diameter of less than 200 nm, where the second transistors include a source contact, the source contact including a silicide, and where the silicide has a sheet resistance of less than 15 ohm/sq.
US09406663B2 Semiconductor devices
Semiconductor devices include a first gate pattern provided on the first active region, a second gate pattern over the first active region, a third gate pattern over the second active region, and a fourth gate pattern over the second active region. The second gate pattern is parallel to the first gate pattern in a first direction. The third gate pattern has an asymmetric shape to the first gate pattern with respect to the first direction, and the fourth gate pattern is parallel to the third gate pattern in the first direction, and has an asymmetric shape to the second gate pattern with respect to the first direction. MOS transistors having good properties may be provided in a narrow horizontal area. The MOS transistors may be used in highly stacked semiconductor devices.
US09406658B2 Embedded component device and manufacturing methods thereof
An embedded component device includes an electronic component including an electrical contact, an upper patterned conductive layer, a dielectric layer between the upper patterned conductive layer and the electronic component, a first electrical interconnect, a lower patterned conductive layer, a conductive via, and a second electrical interconnect. The dielectric layer has a first opening exposing the electrical contact, and a second opening extending from the lower patterned conductive layer to the upper patterned conductive layer. The first electrical interconnect extends from the electrical contact to the upper patterned conductive layer, and fills the first opening. The second opening has an upper portion exposing the upper patterned conductive layer and a lower portion exposing the lower patterned conductive layer. The conductive via is located at the lower portion of the second opening. The second electrical interconnect fills the upper portion of the second opening.
US09406655B2 Light emitting diode packaging structure and liquid crystal display device
A light emitting diode packaging structure is disclosed, which has a first cup, a second cup, and a holder carried the first cup and the second cup; a blue light emitting chip is placed in the first cup, which is filled with a red emitting phosphor mixed with silicone, and a green light emitting chip is placed in the second cup, which is filled with a silicone, such that the energy consumption of G light caused by the red emitting phosphor absorbing G light in the conventional art can therefore be solved, and the lighting efficiency of the LED is increased.
US09406654B2 Package for high-power LED devices
Packages for LED-based light devices include interface structures that can facilitate heat transfer from the package to a heat sink. The package can include multiple LEDs mounted on a ceramic substrate that provides electrically conductive pathways between the LEDs and metal contact pads at a peripheral region of a top surface of the substrate. A bottom surface of the substrate can be patterned with a plate, such as a thick supporting plate, made of metal and/or other materials with high thermal conductivity, that can be attached to an external heat sink.
US09406651B2 Chip stack with oleic acid-aligned nanotubes in thermal interface material
The chip stack of semiconductor chips with enhanced cooling apparatus includes a first chip with circuitry on a first side and a second chip electrically and mechanically coupled to the first chip by a grid of connectors. The chip stack further includes a thermal interface material pad between the first chip and the second chip. The thermal interface material pad comprises a plurality of nanotubes containing a magnetic material, aligned parallel to mating surfaces of the first chip and the second chip, wherein a hydrophobic tail of oleic acid is wrapped around each one of the plurality of nanotubes and a hydrophilic acid head of the oleic acid is attached to the magnetic material.
US09406649B2 Stacked multi-chip integrated circuit package
A multi-chip integrated circuit (IC) package is provided which is configured to protect against failure due to warpage. The IC package may comprise a substrate, a level-one IC die and a plurality of level-two IC dies. The level-one IC die having a surface that is electrically coupled to the substrate. The plurality of level-two IC dies is stacked above the level-one IC die. The plurality of level-two IC dies may each have an active surface that is electrically coupled to the substrate. The plurality of level-two IC dies may be arranged side by side such that the active surfaces of the plurality of level-two IC dies are positioned substantially in a same plane. Relative to a single die configuration, the level-two IC dies are separated thereby inhibiting cracking, peeling and/or other potential failures due to warpage of the IC package.
US09406642B1 Integrated circuit packaging system with insulated trace and method of manufacture thereof
An integrated circuit packaging system and method of manufacture thereof includes: a substrate; a plain trace on the substrate; an insulated trace on the substrate; an insulation layer on the insulated trace, the insulation layer at least partially covers the insulated trace; and a semiconductor device over the substrate, the semiconductor device has a plain bump attached on the plain trace and an inner bump attached on the insulated trace, and the plain bump is mounted adjacent to the insulation layer.
US09406640B2 Flip chip bonder and method of correcting flatness and deformation amount of bonding stage
Provided is a flip chip bonder including: a base (12); a bonding stage (20); a plurality of vertical-position adjustment support mechanisms (30) attached to the base (12), and respectively configured to support, in a vertical direction, the bonding stage (20) at a plurality of supporting points being provided on a lower surface (22) of the bonding stage (20), and to adjust positions of the supporting points in the vertical direction; and a leaf spring mechanism (40) configured to connect the base (12) with the bonding stage (20). The leaf spring mechanism (40) restrains movement of the bonding stage (20) relative to the base (12) in an X axis along a surface (21) of the bonding stage (20) and a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis, and allows first twisting about the X axis and second twisting about the Y axis of the bonding stage (20) relative to the base (12), and movement of the bonding stage (20) relative to the base (12) in the vertical direction. This provides the flip chip bonder with improved bonding quality and increased bonding speed.
US09406638B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. A carrier is removed after a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die are stacked on each other, and then a first encapsulant is formed, so that the carrier may be easily removed when compared to approaches in which a carrier is removed from a wafer having a thin thickness.
US09406635B2 Semiconductor light emitting device and semiconductor light emitting device package using the same
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a multi-region solder pad. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a light emitting diode (LED) chip having a first surface on which first and second electrodes are disposed and a second surface opposing the first surface. A passivation layer is disposed on a surface of the LED chip such that bonding regions of the first and second electrodes are exposed through the passivation layer. A solder pad is disposed in each respective bonding region and has a plurality of separated regions. A solder bump is disposed in each respective bonding region and covers the plurality of separated regions of the respective solder pad. In the semiconductor light emitting device, separation between the solder pad and the solder bump may thereby be effectively prevented by ensuring that an interface between a solder pad and a solder bump is not entirely damaged.
US09406634B2 Package structure and method of forming the same
A package includes a first work piece with a metal trace on a surface of the first work piece, wherein the metal trace has a first axis, wherein the first work piece is rigid, and an entirety of the metal trace is on the first work piece. The package further includes a second work piece with a plurality of elongated bumps, wherein at least one of the plurality of elongated metal bumps has a second axis and at least another of the plurality of elongated metal bumps has a third axis, wherein the second and the third axes are not the same and the second axis is at a non-zero angle from the first axis, wherein the plurality of elongated bumps are electrically connected to the metal trace.
US09406628B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device in which reliability of a bonding pad to which a conductive wire is bonded is achieved. A bonding pad having an OPM structure is formed of an Al—Cu alloy film having a Cu concentration of 2 wt % or more. By increasing the Cu concentration, the Al—Cu alloy film forming the bonding pad is hardened. Therefore, the bonding pad is difficult to be deformed by impact in bonding of a Cu wire, and deformation of an OPM film as following the deformation of the bonding pad can be reduced. In this manner, concentration of a stress on the OPM film caused by the impact from the Cu wire can be reduced, and therefore, the breakage of the OPM film can be prevented.
US09406626B2 Semiconductor device and method fabricating the same
According to an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first seal ring and a first circuit. The first circuit includes a first capacitor and a first inductor connected in series. The first circuit is connected between the first seal ring and a ground.
US09406622B2 Electronic circuit and semiconductor component
A circuit board according to an embodiment is one in which a plurality of electronic components is mounted on a printed wiring board. The circuit board includes a semiconductor component that is mounted on the printed wiring board, and the semiconductor component includes a semiconductor device and a first EBG structure formed on or above the semiconductor device. An operating frequency of the semiconductor device exists outside a cutoff band of the first EBG structure, and the first EBG structure is connected to a ground or a power supply of the printed wiring board.
US09406614B2 Material and process for copper barrier layer
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a first dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate. The first dielectric material layer is patterned to form a plurality of vias therein. A metal layer is formed on the first dielectric material layer, wherein the metal layer fills the plurality of vias. The metal layer is etched such that portions of the metal layer above the first dielectric material layer are patterned to form a plurality of metal features aligned with the plurality of vias respectively. A self-assembled monolayer film is formed on surfaces of the plurality of metal features.
US09406612B2 Semiconductor device having groove-shaped via-hole
The semiconductor device has insulating films 40, 42 formed over a substrate 10; an interconnection 58 buried in at least a surface side of the insulating films 40, 42; insulating films 60, 62 formed on the insulating film 42 and including a hole-shaped via-hole 60 and a groove-shaped via-hole 66a having a pattern bent at a right angle; and buried conductors 70, 72a buried in the hole-shaped via-hole 60 and the groove-shaped via-hole 66a. A groove-shaped via-hole 66a is formed to have a width which is smaller than a width of the hole-shaped via-hole 66. Defective filling of the buried conductor and the cracking of the inter-layer insulating film can be prevented. Steps on the conductor plug can be reduced. Accordingly, defective contact with the upper interconnection layer and the problems taking place in forming films can be prevented.
US09406611B2 Semiconductor device having groove-shaped via-hole
The semiconductor device has insulating films 40, 42 formed over a substrate 10; an interconnection 58 buried in at least a surface side of the insulating films 40, 42; insulating films 60, 62 formed on the insulating film 42 and including a hole-shaped via-hole 60 and a groove-shaped via-hole 66a having a pattern bent at a right angle; and buried conductors 70, 72a buried in the hole-shaped via-hole 60 and the groove-shaped via-hole 66a. A groove-shaped via-hole 66a is formed to have a width which is smaller than a width of the hole-shaped via-hole 66. Defective filling of the buried conductor and the cracking of the inter-layer insulating film can be prevented. Steps on the conductor plug can be reduced. Accordingly, defective contact with the upper interconnection layer and the problems taking place in forming films can be prevented.
US09406608B2 Dummy metal structure and method of forming dummy metal structure
Methods for forming a dummy metal structure between dies on a semiconductor wafer and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments may include forming metal interconnection layers extending from a substrate of a semiconductor wafer to a top metal interconnection layer of the semiconductor wafer between a plurality of die regions, each of the metal interconnection layers including a plurality of dummy vertical interconnect accesses (VIAs) and a plurality of dummy metal lines, with the plurality of dummy metal lines laterally connecting the plurality of dummy VIAs within each respective metal interconnection layer, and a plurality of dummy VIAs within a first metal interconnection layer vertically connecting a plurality of dummy metal lines within the first metal interconnection layer to a plurality of dummy metal lines within a second metal interconnection layer, and the second metal interconnection layer being below the first metal interconnection layer.
US09406606B2 Semiconductor device having a reduced area and enhanced yield
A device includes a first power supply line supplying a first voltage, first, second, and third nodes, a selection circuit connected between the first power supply line and the first node, a first anti-fuse connected between the first node and the second node, and a second anti-fuse connected between the first node and the third node. The second node and the third node are not connected to each other.
US09406603B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is disclosed in which an implant board and a semiconductor element of a semiconductor mounting board are bonded and electrically connected through implant pins and which can be manufactured with high productivity. Implant pins are bonded to a semiconductor element and/or a circuit pattern of a semiconductor mounting board through cylindrical terminals press-fitted into the other ends of the implant pins. Press-fitting depth L2 of each of the implant pins into corresponding cylindrical terminals is adjustable, so that total length of the implant pin and cylindrical terminal which are press-fitted to each other matches up with the distance between the semiconductor element and/or the circuit pattern on the semiconductor mounting board and an implant board.
US09406602B2 Electronic device
In a conventional electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same, reduction in cost of the electronic device is hindered because resin used in an interconnect layer on the solder ball side is limited. The electronic device includes an interconnect layer (a first interconnect layer) and an interconnect layer (a second interconnect layer). The second interconnect layer is formed on the undersurface of the first interconnect layer. The second interconnect layer is larger in area seen from the top than the first interconnect layer and is extended to the outside from the first interconnect layer.
US09406600B2 Printed circuit board and stacked semiconductor device
A semiconductor package includes an interposer and a semiconductor element mounted on one surface of the interposer. A plurality of lands are formed on another surface of the interposer. A plurality of lands are formed on a surface of a printed wiring board opposed to the another surface of the interposer. The plurality of lands on the printed wiring board are divided into a first land group including lands connected to the plurality of lands formed on the another surface of the interposer via solder and a second land group including lands connected to an insulating member of the interposer via solder. The second land group is provided in a region opposed to a center region of the another surface of the interposer. The first land group is provided around the second land group so as to surround the second land group.
US09406599B2 Wiring substrate and method for manufacturing wiring substrate
A wiring substrate includes an insulating layer, a wiring layer, a via wiring, and a solder resist layer. The wiring layer includes a pad body that constitutes a part of a pad and a wiring pattern including an upper surface. The pad includes the pad body, a first metal layer formed on an upper surface of the pad body and including an embedded part embedded in the insulating layer and a projecting part including upper and side surfaces and projecting from the upper surface of the insulating layer, and a second metal layer including an upper surface and covering the upper and side surfaces of the projecting part. The upper surface of the pad body and the upper surface of the wiring pattern are on the same plane. The upper surface of the second metal layer is positioned lower than the upper surface of the solder resist layer.
US09406594B2 Leadframe based light emitter components and related methods
Leadframe based light emitter components and methods are provided. In some aspects, a leadframe based light emitter component includes a leadframe element, an electrical device connected to a portion of the leadframe element, and a molded cup encasing portions of the leadframe element and the electrical device connected thereto. A method of providing a leadframe based light emitter component includes providing a leadframe element, connecting an electrical device to a portion of the leadframe element, and molding a body over portions of the leadframe element and the electrical device.
US09406590B2 Chip package and manufacturing method thereof
A chip package is provided. The chip package comprises a semiconductor chip, an isolation layer, a redistributing metal layer, and a bonding pad. The semiconductor chip has a first conducting pad disposed on a lower surface, and a first hole corresponding to the first conducting pad. The first hole and the isolation layer extend from an upper surface to the lower surface to expose the first conducting pad. The redistributing metal layer is disposed on the isolation layer and has a redistributing metal line corresponding to the first conducting pad, the redistributing metal line is connected to the first conducting pad through the opening. The bonding pad is disposed on the isolation layer and one side of the semiconductor chip, wherein the redistributing metal line extends to the bonding pad to electrically connect the first conducting pad to the bonding pad. A method thereof is also provided.
US09406586B2 Cooling jacket and electronic device having the same
A cooling jacket includes: first and second pipe portions through which a coolant flows; and a main portion connected with side surfaces of the first and second pipe portions, defining, with a single member, a flow path through which the coolant flows, and cooling an object to be cooled.
US09406585B2 Liquid-cooled-type cooling device
A liquid-cooled-type cooling device includes a casing which has a cooling-liquid inlet formed at a rear end portion of the casing and a cooling-liquid outlet formed at a front end portion of the casing. A corrugated fin for forming a plurality of flow channels through which a cooling liquid flows from the rear side toward the front side is disposed within the casing to be located between the cooling-liquid inlet and the cooling-liquid outlet. A heat-generating-body mounting region is provided on an outer surface of a top wall of the casing. Projections which come into contact with front and rear end portions of the corrugated fin to thereby position the corrugated fin in the front-rear direction are provided on an inner surface of the bottom wall of the casing at positions shifted, in the left-right direction, from an inner surface region corresponding to the heat-generating-body mounting region.
US09406573B2 Exposure mask fabrication method, exposure mask fabrication system, and semiconductor device fabrication method
An exposure mask fabrication method includes measuring and storing defect position data, for each EUV exposure mask blank, that indicates the position of at least one defect in each of plural EUV exposure mask blanks, inputting pattern data defining a figure pattern to be written, searching, when the figure pattern is written, in plural EUV exposure mask blanks, an EUV exposure mask blank where the figure pattern can be arranged such that the number of defects not located in a light shielding region is less than or equal to a threshold value, based on the arrangement position of the figure pattern in the pattern data, using the defect position data for each EUV exposure mask blank, and writing the figure pattern on a searched EUV exposure mask blank such that the number of defects not located in the light shielding region is less than or equal to the threshold value.
US09406567B1 Method for fabricating multiple transistor devices on a substrate with varying threshold voltages
Fabrication of a first device on a substrate is performed by exposing a first device region, removing a portion of the substrate to create a trench in the first device region, forming a screen layer with a first dopant concentration in the trench on the substrate, and forming an epitaxial channel on the screen layer having a first thickness. On or more other devices are similarly formed on the substrate independent of each other with epitaxial channels of different thicknesses than the first thickness. Devices with screen layers having the same dopant concentration but with different epitaxial channel thicknesses have different threshold voltages. Thus, a wide variety of threshold voltage devices can be formed on the same substrate. Further threshold voltage setting can be achieved through variations in the dopant concentration of the screen layers.
US09406559B2 Semiconductor structure and method for forming the same
A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a gate structure over a substrate and forming source and drain regions adjacent to the gate structure. The method also includes forming a first ILD layer surrounding the gate structure over the source and drain regions and forming a contact modulation structure over the gate structure. The method also includes etching the first ILD layer and the contact modulation structure to form a first contact trench over the source and drain regions and a second contact trench over the gate structure. The method further includes forming a first contact in the first contact trench and a second contact in the second contact trench. In addition, the first ILD layer has a first etching rate and the contact modulation structure has a second etching rate that is less than the first etching rate.
US09406558B2 Cu wiring fabrication method and storage medium
Cu wiring fabrication method for fabricating Cu wiring with respect to substrate having interlayer dielectric film having trench formed thereon, includes: forming barrier film on surface of the trench; forming Ru film on surface of the barrier film by CVD; burying the trench by forming Cu film or Cu alloy film on the Ru film; forming Cu film or Cu alloy film at corners of bottom of the trench while re-sputtering the formed Cu film or Cu alloy film in a condition where first formed Cu film or Cu alloy film re-sputtered by an ion action of the plasma generation gas; and subsequently burying the Cu film or the Cu alloy film in the trench in condition where the Cu film or the Cu alloy film is formed on field portion of the substrate, and reflows in the trench by an ion action of the plasma generation gas.
US09406557B2 Copper wiring forming method with Ru liner and Cu alloy fill
Provided is a method of forming a copper (Cu) wiring in a recess formed to have a predetermined pattern in an insulating film formed on a surface of a substrate. The method includes: forming a barrier film at least on a surface of the recess, the barrier film serving as a barrier for blocking diffusion of Cu; forming a Ru film on the barrier film by Chemical Mechanical Deposition (CVD); forming a Cu alloy film on the Ru film by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) to bury the recess; forming a Cu wiring using the Cu alloy film buried in the recess; and forming a dielectric film on the Cu wiring.
US09406555B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
A method for forming an interconnect device is provided by the present disclosure. The method includes providing a dielectric layer on a substrate, forming openings in the dielectric layer to expose a portion of a surface of the substrate at a bottom of each opening and forming a metal layer to fill up the openings. The method also includes forming a semiconductor cover layer on the metal layer and on the dielectric layer, and performing a thermal annealing reaction to convert portions of the semiconductor cover layer that are on the metal layer into a metal capping layer. The method further includes performing a nitridation process on the metal capping layer and a remaining semiconductor cover layer to convert the metal capping layer into a metal nitride capping layer and the remaining semiconductor cover layer into a semiconductor nitride layer.
US09406551B2 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate, and method for manufacturing semiconductor devices integrated in a semiconductor substrate
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and forming, when seen in a cross-section perpendicular to the first surface, cavities in the semiconductor wafer at a first distance from the first surface. The cavities are laterally spaced from each other by partition walls formed by semiconductor material of the wafer. The cavities form a separation region. The method further includes forming a semiconductor layer on the first surface of the semiconductor wafer, and breaking at least some of the partition walls by applying mechanical impact to the partition walls to split the semiconductor wafer along the separation region.
US09406549B2 Planarization process
A planarization process, the process including performing first sputtering on a material layer, with an area of the material layer which has a relatively low loading condition for sputtering shielded by a first shielding layer, removing the first shielding layer, and performing second sputtering on the material layer to planarize the material layer.
US09406543B2 Semiconductor power devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor power device includes a substrate, a plurality of gate electrode structures, a floating well region and a termination ring region. The substrate has a first region and a second region. A plurality of gate electrode structures is formed on the substrate, each of the gate electrode structures extends from the first region to the second region and includes a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode and a connecting portion, the first and second gate electrodes extend in a first direction, and the connecting portion connects end portions of the first and second gate electrodes to each other. The floating well region is doped with impurities between the gate electrode structures in the first region of the substrate, and the floating well region has a first impurity concentration and a first depth. The termination ring region is doped with impurities in the second region of the substrate, is spaced apart from the gate electrode structures, and has a ring shape surrounding the first region, and has the first impurity concentration and the first depth. The semiconductor power device may have a high breakdown voltage.
US09406542B2 Retention device and retention method
A holding device including a first sucking section for sucking a wafer (substrate) from a side on which a dicing tape (supporting film) is adhered; a structure that supports a dicing frame (frame part) and covers a first region which (i) is on a surface of the dicing tape to which surface the wafer is not adhered and (ii) is between the wafer and the dicing frame; and a second sucking section for sealing a boundary between the structure and at least one of the dicing frame and the first region.
US09406540B2 Self-bias calculation on a substrate in a process chamber with bias power for single or multiple frequencies
Methods for calculating a self-bias on a substrate in a process chamber may include measuring a DC potential of a substrate disposed on a substrate support of a process chamber while providing a bias power from a power source to a cathode at a first frequency; measuring a voltage, current and phase shift at a matching network coupled to the power source while providing the bias power; calculating an effective impedance of the cathode by determining a linear relationship between a calculated voltage and the measured DC potential of the substrate; calculating a first linear coefficient and a second linear coefficient of the linear relationship between the calculated voltage and the measured DC potential of the substrate; and calculating a self bias on the substrate by utilizing the first linear coefficient, second linear coefficient, measured DC potential of the substrate, effective impedance, and measured phase shift.
US09406538B2 Indexed inline substrate processing tool
In some embodiments, an indexed inline substrate processing tool may include a substrate carrier having a base and pair of opposing substrate supports having respective substrate support surfaces that extend upwardly and outwardly from the base; and a plurality of modules coupled to one another in a linear arrangement, wherein each module of the plurality of modules comprises an enclosure having a first end, a second end, and a lower surface to support the substrate carrier and to provide a path for the substrate carrier to move linearly through the plurality of modules, and wherein at least one module of the plurality of modules comprises: a window disposed in a side of the enclosure; a heating lamp coupled to the side of the enclosure; a gas inlet disposed proximate a top of the enclosure; and an exhaust disposed opposite the gas inlet.
US09406529B1 Formation of FinFET junction
A finFET structure, and method of forming such structure, in which a germanium enriched nanowire is located in the channel region of the FET, while simultaneously having silicon-germanium fin in the source/drain region of the finFET.
US09406527B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method and related semiconductor wafer
A method for processing a wafer (in a process of manufacturing semiconductor devices) may include the following steps: using a first slurry set to perform a first chemical mechanical polishing process on the wafer, wherein the wafer includes a plurality of metal gate structures; using a second slurry set to perform a second chemical mechanical polishing process on the wafer, wherein a concentration of a slurry material in the second slurry set is less than a concentration of the slurry material in the first slurry set; performing a cleaning process on the wafer; and providing an anti-reflective coating on the wafer.
US09406521B1 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same, the semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of fin shaped structures and an insulating layer. The substrate has a fin field-effect transistor (finFET) region, a first region, a second region and a third region. The first region, the second region and the third region have a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, respectively, where the first surface is relatively higher than the second surface and the second surface is relatively higher than the third surface. The fin shaped structures are disposed on a surface of the fin field-effect transistor region. The insulating layer covers the first surface, the second surface and the third surface.
US09406515B2 Laser annealing device including tunable mask and method of using the same
A laser annealing device for compensating wafer heat maps and its method are disclosed. A laser annealing device comprises a pump laser source array including of a plurality of pump laser sources for irradiating a tunable mask, each pump laser source emitting pump laser, an annealing laser source for emitting annealing laser and irradiating the tunable mask, and a tunable mask for transmitting at least part of the annealing laser after being irradiated by the pump laser.
US09406503B2 Decreasing the critical dimensions in integrated circuits
A method for lithographic patterning of a substrate is described. The method comprises obtaining a substrate to be patterned. It further comprises subsequently performing at least twice the following cycle: applying a lithographical patterning process of a thermally shrinkable metal-oxide layer for forming a metal-oxide pattern, and thermally shrinking the metal-oxide pattern. The different metal oxide patterns formed during the at least two cycles are positioned in proximity to each other such that the shrunk metal-oxide patterns form together an overall pattern to be transferred to the substrate. After performing the cycle at least twice, the overall pattern is transferred to the substrate.
US09406499B2 Semiconductor wafer structure
A semiconductor structure includes a wafer including a first surface and a periphery, a plurality of protrusions protruded from the first surface and a plurality of recesses spaced from each other by the plurality of protrusions, and each of the plurality of recesses is extended from the periphery of the wafer and is elongated across the first surface of the wafer.
US09406497B2 High intensity discharge lamp
The invention describes a high intensity gas-discharge lamp comprising a discharge vessel (5, 5′) enclosing a fill gas in a discharge chamber (2) and comprising a pair of electrodes (3, 3′, 4, 4′) extending into the discharge chamber (2), and wherein the fill gas includes a halide composition comprising a halide of sodium and, optionally, scandium iodide to a total proportion of at least 30 wt %, and a halide of terbium and/or gadolinium to a proportion of at least 5 wt %.
US09406493B2 Electrostatic mass spectrometer with encoded frequent pulses
A method, apparatus and algorithms are disclosed for operating an open electrostatic trap (E-trap) or a multi-pass TOF mass spectrometer with an extended flight path. A string of start pulses with non equal time intervals is employed for triggering ion packet injection into the analyzer, a long spectrum is acquired to accept ions from the entire string and a true spectrum is reconstructed by eliminating or accounting overlapping signals at the data analysis stage while using logical analysis of peak groups. The method is particularly useful for tandem mass spectrometry wherein spectra are sparse. The method improves the duty cycle, the dynamic range and the space charge throughput of the analyzer and of the detector, so as the response time of the E-trap analyzer. It allows flight extension without degrading E-trap sensitivity.
US09406492B1 Electrospray ionization interface to high pressure mass spectrometry and related methods
An electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometer analysis systems include an ESI device with at least one emitter configured to electrospray ions and a mass spectrometer in fluid communication with the at least one emitter of the ESI device. The mass spectrometer includes a mass analyzer held in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber is configured to have a high (background/gas) pressure of about 50 mTorr or greater during operation. During operation, the ESI device is configured to either; (a) electrospray ions into a spatial region external to the vacuum chamber and at atmospheric pressure, the spatial extent being adjacent to an inlet device attached to the vacuum chamber, the inlet device intakes the electrosprayed ions external to the vacuum chamber with the mass analyzer and discharges the ions into the vacuum chamber with the mass analyzer; or (b) electrospray ions directly into the vacuum chamber with the mass analyzer.
US09406490B1 Determination of metal and metalloid concentrations using ICPMS
A system for determining an analyte by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) includes a sample introduction device having a heated cyclonic spray chamber. The system is configured to introduce sample that includes a metal and/or a metalloid having an organic interferent. The system also includes an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry device with a collision/reaction cell configured to receive a mixture of gases including both ammonia and hydrogen. A method includes introducing a sample to plasma to produce a characteristic spectrum associated with an elemental composition of the sample. The method also includes introducing both ammonia and hydrogen to a collision/reaction cell to remove carbon-based interferences to detection of the sample prior to determining the elemental composition of the sample.
US09406489B2 Investigating chemical-based events that occur in vehicles
A method and apparatus for investigating a chemical-based event inside a vehicle without significant delay. A number of samples of air are collected at a number of locations inside the vehicle in response to a detection of the chemical-based event inside the vehicle. A number of chemical profiles for the number of samples are generated on-site using a portable chemical profiling device. A probable cause of the chemical-based event is identified using at least one of the number of chemical profiles.
US09406488B2 Enhanced photoelectron sources using electron bombardment
A method of achieving heightened quantum efficiencies and extended photocathode lifetimes is provided that includes using an electron beam bombardment to activate color centers in a CsBr film of a photocathode, and using a laser source for pumping electrons in the color centers of the photocathode.
US09406483B1 Method and device for characterizing an electron beam using an X-ray detector with a patterned aperture resolver and patterned aperture modulator
A device for detecting X-rays radiated out of a substrate surface, said device comprising at least one X-ray detector, a resolver grating and a modulator grating, said resolver grating with at least one opening facing towards said X-ray detector is arranged in front of said X-ray detector. Said modulator grating is provided between said resolver grating and said substrate at a predetermined distance from said resolver grating and said substrate, where said modulator grating having a plurality of openings in at least a first direction, wherein said x-rays from said surface is spatially modulated with said modulator grating and resolver grating.
US09406473B2 Circuit breaker terminal shield
A circuit breaker includes: a main body housing circuit-breaking parts; a terminal portion exposed outside the main body; a lug-type terminal block attached to the terminal portion and connecting a wire to the terminal portion; and an insulating member provided between the lug-type terminal block and the main body.
US09406472B2 Planar cavity MEMS and related structures, methods of manufacture and design structures
Planar cavity Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structure are provided. The method includes forming at least one Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) cavity having a planar surface using a reverse damascene process.
US09406470B2 Tri-stable flexure mechanism
Embodiments of a tri-stable flexure mechanism are described where a resilient component is present that serves as both a structural component in the kinematic chain of the mechanism and as energy storing component of the mechanism. The resilient component maintains a movable arm and an input link in either a first stable state or a second stable state when the ends of the resilient component are held in place so that the resilient component has a state of high elastic strain energy. In a third stable state, where the resilient component is in a relaxed state of lower elastic strain energy, the mechanism may be in a tripped state distinct from the closed and open states.
US09406468B2 Relay
A relay in which a relay body and a light source are incorporated in a case, the light source emitting light in conjunction with operation of the relay body, wherein a light guide is provided inside an outer surface of the case, the light guide is configured to take in the light emitted from the light source, to guide the light to a portion parallel to a top panel of the case, and to spread the light in the portion parallel to the top panel, and an optical pattern is provided in at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the portion parallel to the top panel, the optical pattern is configured to output, the light guided in the light guide to the portion parallel to the top panel, to outside the case from a top surface of the top panel.
US09406466B2 Expansion chambers for circuit breakers
Embodiments include a circuit breaker having first and second electrical contacts, the contacts adapted to generate an electrical arc during separation, at least one of the first and second electrical contacts being a movable electrical contact. The circuit breaker also includes an expansion chamber disposed adjacent to at least one of the first and second electrical contacts such that an arcing space is defined by the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact when the first and second electrical contacts are separated. The expansion chamber includes an opening configured to permit air flow between the arcing space and a chamber of the expansion chamber.
US09406465B1 Polarity insensitive arc quench
Circuit interrupter having an arc extinguisher which functions to arrest an arc between its contacts regardless of the polarity of the contacts. The circuit interrupter includes one or more permanent magnets configured to drive an arc into the arc extinguisher. The arc extinguisher may include two arc paths, each including arc splitter plates. The two arc paths may be adjacent, each extending in a parallel direction. The arc paths may alternatively be non-adjacent, each extending in a perpendicular direction.
US09406462B2 Truss interconnect
An interconnect for transferring signals herein includes one or more signal contacts to transfer the power or data to or from an integrated truss system. An interconnect may be configured to transfer power or data between layers of the integrated truss system or within the same layer of the integrated truss system. An interconnect may be configured with one or more compression mechanisms that secure the interconnect in the integrated truss system.
US09406460B2 Push switch
A push switch of the present invention includes a case in which a concave portion is formed. The push switch of the present invention includes a movable member formed so as to be convex upward and arranged in the concave portion. The push switch of the present invention includes a protecting sheet provided above the movable member so as to cover the concave portion, the protecting sheet having an adhesive formed on a lower surface thereof. The push switch of the present invention is provided with an intermediate sheet between a lower surface of the adhesive and an upper surface of the movable member.
US09406458B2 Switching device and related power distribution system
An exemplary switching device for an electric circuit, including at least one contact movable between a closed position in which it is coupled to a corresponding fixed contact and an open position in which it is spaced away from said corresponding fixed contact. A main shaft suitable for rotating about an axis and operatively connected to said at least one movable contact so as to cause with its rotation the movement of said at least one movable contact between the open and closed positions. The switching device includes a locking device which has one or more parts coupled to and which is configured for directly acting on the main rotating shaft and locking said at least one movable contact in the open position.
US09406457B2 Electronic switching module for a power tool
An electronic power apparatus includes a housing, a pair of input power pins and a pair of output power pins, and power components mounted on a power circuit board and electrically connected to the input power pins and the output power pins to modulate a supply of power from the input power pins to the output power pins. A control unit of the electronic power apparatus is arranged on a control circuit board disposed at a distance from the power circuit board inside the housing. A user-actuated input unit of the electronic power apparatus includes a variable-speed actuator having a first portion at least partially arranged outside the housing to be engageable by a user and a second portion movably arranged between the power circuit board and the control circuit board.
US09406456B2 Smart electrical switch with audio capability
In one embodiment the present disclosure relates to providing wireless speaker functionality in an electrical switch assembly, such as a light switch located in the wall of a building. The switch assembly includes a faceplate with a touch-sensitive speaker grille covering a sizeable portion of the faceplate. The disclosed designs enables the grille portion of the faceplate to provide sound transmission and electrical switch control, thereby allows for a larger speaker to be placed centrally in the junction box, while maintaining full electrical switch functionality. In some embodiments illumination components (e.g. electroluminescent regions) are arranged on a circuit board with a plurality of openings designed to align with the grille. The illumination components can illuminate regions of the faceplate, indicating the current state of one or more electrical switches.
US09406450B2 Energy storage devices with at least one porous polycrystalline substrate
In one embodiment, a structure for a energy storage device may include at one polycrystalline substrate. The grain size may be designed to be at least a size at which phonon scattering begins to dominate over grain boundary scattering in the polycrystalline substrate. The structure also includes a porous structure containing multiple channels within the polycrystalline substrate.
US09406445B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor with enhanced wet-to-dry capacitance
A capacitor for use in relatively high voltage environments is provided. During formation, anodization may be carried out in a manner so that the dielectric layer possesses a relatively thick portion that overlies an external surface of the anode and a relatively thin portion that overlies an interior surface of the anode. In addition to employing a dielectric layer with a differential thickness, the solid electrolyte is also formed from the combination of pre-polymerized conductive polymer particles and a hydroxy-functional nonionic polymer.
US09406443B2 Ceramic electronic component
In a ceramic electronic component, when a distance between a first end surface and an edge of a portion of a first baked electrode layer disposed on a second principal surface in a length direction is A, a distance between the first end surface and an effective region in the length direction is B, and a distance between the first end surface and an edge of a portion of a first resin-containing electrode layer disposed on the second principal surface in the length direction is C, A
US09406442B2 Micro- and nanoscale capacitors that incorporate an array of conductive elements having elongated bodies
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement micro- and nanoscale capacitors that incorporate a conductive element that conforms to the shape of an array elongated bodies. In one embodiment, a capacitor that incorporates a conductive element that conforms to the shape of an array of elongated bodies includes: a first conductive element that conforms to the shape of an array of elongated bodies; a second conductive element that conforms to the shape of an array of elongated bodies; and a dielectric material disposed in between the first conductive element and the second conductive element, and thereby physically separates them.
US09406439B2 Process for forming a ceramic oxide material with a pyrochlore structure having a high dielectric constant and implementation of this process for applications in microelectronics
The invention relates to a process for forming a lead-based ceramic oxide dielectric material comprising at least one pyrochlore crystalline phase, which process comprises the following steps: a) a step of depositing at least one amorphous layer of said lead-based ceramic oxide material on a substrate; and b) a crystallization annealing step carried out on said amorphous layer at a temperature not exceeding 550° C., by means of which a lead-based ceramic oxide dielectric material comprising at least one pyrochlore phase is obtained. Application to the fabrication of capacitors on integrated circuits.
US09406436B2 Non-ferrite structures for inductive power transfer
An inductive power transfer apparatus suitable for producing a magnetic field for inductive power transfer is disclosed. The apparatus has three or more coils arranged such that when energized with a power source, magnetic fields produced by each coil augment each other on a first surface and substantially weaken each other on a second surface. The first and second surfaces have an obverse relationship to each other. Also disclosed is a roadway inductive power transfer module suitable for producing a magnetic field for inductive power transfer to a vehicle using the roadway, and an Inductive power transfer apparatus suitable for receiving a magnetic field for inductive power transfer.
US09406430B2 Reactor
A reactor using a composite magnetic core in which a ferrite core and a soft magnetic metal core are combined. The reactor is composed of a pair of yoke portion magnetic portions composed of a ferrite core, winding portion core(s) disposed between the opposite planes of the yoke portion cores, and coil(s) wound around the winding portion core(s). The winding portion core(s) is/are made of a soft magnetic metal core, and the cross sectional area of the part for winding the coil of the winding portion core is substantially constant. When the cross sectional area of the part for winding the coil of the winding portion core is set as S1, and the area of the parts opposite to the yoke portion cores in the winding portion core(s) is set as S2, the area ratio S2/S1 is set to be 1.3 to 4.0.
US09406427B2 Transformer devices
A planar transformer or balun device, having small trace spacing and high mutual coupling coefficient, and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed. The method may comprise providing a first and a second inductor on a primary and a second substrate respectively, interleaving at least partially the first inductor with the second inductor, coupling the primary and the secondary substrates to form a unitary structure, and providing electrical contacts to couple the first and second inductors with another device or circuit.
US09406424B2 System and method for moving an object
An improved system and method for moving an object includes a first correlated magnetic structure associated with a first object and a second correlated magnetic structure associated with a second object. The first and second correlated magnetic structures are complementary coded to achieve a peak attractive tensile force and a peak shear force when their code modulos are aligned thereby enabling magnetic attachment of the two objects whereby movement of one object causes movement of the other object as if the two objects were one object. Applying an amount of torque to one correlated magnetic structures greater than a torque threshold causes misalignment and decorrelation of the code modulos enabling detachment of the two objects. The number, location, and coding of the correlated magnetic structures can be selected to achieve specific torque characteristics, tensile force characteristics, and shear force characteristics.
US09406413B2 Flame-retardant resin composition for aluminum electric wire and aluminum electric wire using same
The invention relates to a flame-retardant resin composition for an aluminum electric wire, the resin composition comprising: a base resin containing (A) 75 to 95 parts by weight of a resin composition containing 45 to 65 parts by weight of an olefin-based resin having a tensile modulus of 1000 to 1500 MPa, 10 to 30 parts by weight of an olefin-based resin having a D hardness of 40 to 55, and 5 to 15 parts by weight of a maleic acid-modified resin and (B) 5 to 25 parts by weight of a flexible resin, and (C) 90 to 150 parts by weight of magnesium hydroxide blended into 100 parts by weight of the base resin.
US09406412B2 Variable pin-hole type collimator and radiation imaging device using the same
The present invention relates to a variable pin-hole type collimator applied to a radiation imaging device. The variable pin-hole type collimator comprises: a hole forming module having a plurality of apertures which are stacked in a direction of irradiation such that each aperture defines a penetrating-space through which radiation passes; a plurality of driving modules which are configured that each driving module varies each penetrating-space of the aperture independently; and a collimating controller to control the driving modules such that each penetrating-space of the aperture varies independently and the hole forming module forms a pin-hole through which radiation passes. Therefore, a collimator having various types can be embodied by the variation of the pin-hole shape.
US09406411B2 Automatic calibration for device with controlled motion range
An apparatus includes a portion that moves along a guided path and a displacement gauge that outputs readings based on the portion's position on the guided path. The apparatus additionally includes an intermediate limit switch that is activated in response to the portion being moved to an intermediate position on the guided path. The apparatus also includes a processing device configured to calibrate the apparatus based on a first reading corresponding to a first position on the guided path and a second reading corresponding to a second position on the guided path. The processing device verifies the calibration based on a third reading corresponding to the intermediate position.
US09406406B2 Control rod with outer hafnium skin
A control rod is used to control the reaction of a nuclear reactor. The control rod comprises one or more internal rodlet(s) and a hafnium skin that serves as the outermost layer, rather than a stainless steel cladding. Several variations on rodlets are contemplated. The rodlets are made of hafnium or Ag—In—Cd. The resulting control rod, due to the lack of a stainless steel cladding, has a greater rod reactivity worth, increased weight, and high flexibility.
US09406399B2 Bidirectional shift register and image display device using the same
A display device including a bidirectional shift register circuit, including: a plurality of cascade-connected register circuits; various circuits for setting various nodes to various voltage levels responsive to various signals input to various terminals; and an output circuit which outputs the clock pulse as an output pulse when the voltage of the first node is high level, wherein, at the forward shift operation, the bottom dummy register circuit is not input the reset signal and the first node of the bottom dummy register circuit is reset if the initial reset circuit of the bottom dummy register circuit receives the backward trigger signal, and wherein, at the backward shift operation, the top dummy register circuit is not input the reset signal and the first node of the top dummy register circuit is reset if the initial reset circuit of the top dummy register circuit receives the forward trigger signal.
US09406398B2 Driver circuit, display device including the driver circuit, and electronic appliance including the display device
An object of the present invention is to provide a driver circuit including a normally-on thin film transistor, which driver circuit ensures a small malfunction and highly reliable operation. The driver circuit includes a static shift register including an inverter circuit having a first transistor and a second transistor, and a switch including a third transistor. The first to third transistors each include a semiconductor layer of an oxide semiconductor and are depletion-mode transistors. An amplitude voltage of clock signals for driving the third transistor is higher than a power supply voltage for driving the inverter circuit.
US09406396B2 Intrinsic memory block health monitoring
A memory system or flash card may monitor the health of memory and the user data stored by detecting and storing a number of bits in error for each block. This detection can be used to determine where user data should be programmed and which blocks should be cycled. The erratic bits are detected after a programming and the listing for each block is updated. When the erratic bits exceed a threshold for a particular block, that block may be cycled or retired.
US09406393B2 Nonvolatile memory devices and program verification methods using one verification voltage to verify memory cells having different target states
A program verification method is for a nonvolatile memory device which programs a plurality of memory cells. The program verification method includes applying a plurality of verification voltages, and determining whether programming of memory cells, having different target threshold voltage distributions, from among the plurality of memory cells is completed based on one of the plurality of verification voltages.
US09406390B2 Storage device and reliability verification method
A method controlling the execution of a reliability verification operation in a storage device including a nonvolatile memory device includes; determining whether a read count for a designated unit within the nonvolatile memory device exceeds a count value limit, and upon determining that the read count exceeds the count value limit, executing the reliability verification operation directed to the designated unit, wherein the count value limit is based on at least one of read count information, page bitmap information and environment information stored in the storage device.
US09406383B2 Non-volatile memory device and method of programming the same
A non-volatile memory device includes a first word line, a second word line, first memory cells, second memory cells, and an address decoder. The second word line is adjacent to the first word line. The first memory cells are connected to the first word line. The second memory cells are connected to the second word line. The second memory cells are connected to the first memory cells, respectively. The address decoder applies a first voltage to the first word line and applies a second voltage to the second word line in an over program period of the first memory cells. The first voltage is higher than a program voltage of the first and second memory cells. The second voltage is lower than a pass voltage of the first and second memory cells.
US09406382B2 Single poly EEPROM device
The present invention proposes a single poly EEPROM cell including a first control gate capacitor, a first tunnel gate capacitor, a first sense transistor, and a first selection transistor. In a single poly EEPROM cell according to the present invention, a Fowler Nordheim (FN) tunneling method is used in order to increase the recognition distance of an RFID tag chip in mode. In a single poly EEPROM device including a single poly EEPROM cell, the single poly EEPROM cell includes a first control gate capacitor MC1, a first tunnel gate capacitor MC2, a first sense transistor MN1, and a first selection transistor MN2, and the first sense transistor MN1 and the first selection transistor MN2 share a P type well PW.
US09406378B2 Phase change memory with mask receiver
Technology for writing data to a phase change memory array is disclosed. In an example, a method may include identifying mask logic for masking cells in the phase change memory array and routing the mask logic to the cells. The method may further include routing input data to the cells. Set and reset pulses for the cells may be selectively prevented or inhibited based on the mask logic.
US09406373B2 Memory array and method of operating the same
A memory array includes an array of memory cells. The memory array further includes at least two read tracking cells in a read tracking column. The memory array further includes a read tracking circuit coupled to the at least two read tracking cells, wherein the read tracking circuit is configured to generate a global tracking result signal based on outputs from the at least two read tracking cells. The memory array further includes memory control circuitry, wherein the memory control circuitry is configured to reset a memory clock based on the global tracking result signal.
US09406371B1 Semiconductor devices and semiconductor systems including the same
A semiconductor device includes an output controller and a data strobe signal generator. The output controller generates a period signal and a control clock signal according to a read operation signal generated to execute a read operation, an internal clock signal generated in synchronization with a clock signal, and an expansion control signal. The data strobe signal generator generates a data strobe signal according to the control clock signal during a period that the period signal is enabled. The period that the period signal is enabled expands according to the expansion control signal.
US09406364B2 Codec to reduce simultaneously switching outputs
Embodiments of an apparatus and method for encoding data are disclosed that may allow for reduced simultaneous switching output noise. The apparatus may include a row decode circuit, a column decode circuit, and a memory array. The row decode circuit and column decode circuits may be configured to decode a first portion and a second portion, respectively, of a given data word of a first plurality of data words, where each data word may include N data bits, and where N is an integer greater than one. The memory array may be configured to store a second plurality of data words where each data word may include M data bits, and where M is an integer greater than N. The memory array may be further configured to retrieve a given data word of the second plurality of data words dependent upon the decoded first and second portions.
US09406363B2 Memory apparatus and system with shared wordline decoder
A memory device includes wordline decoder circuits that share components between adjacent memory blocks. The wordline decoder circuits include multiple levels, where at least one level is split, driving half of the wordlines in one adjacent memory block and driving half of the wordlines in another adjacent memory block. Memory blocks have every other wordline coupled to one adjacent decoder circuit, and the remaining wordlines coupled to another adjacent decoder circuit.
US09406354B1 System, apparatus, and method for an offset cancelling single ended sensing circuit
A read circuit for a memory cell may include an integrated logic circuit for sensing a current change. The integrated logic sensing circuit may be an offset cancelling single ended integrated logic sensing circuit. The circuit may include an offset canceling single ended sensing circuit coupled to a supply voltage, an offset canceling single ended sense amplifier circuit having a sense amplifier input coupled to the offset canceling single ended sensing circuit and a sense amplifier output, and a cell array coupled to a sensing circuit output and a ground.
US09406353B2 Sense amplifiers, memories, and apparatuses and methods for sensing a data state of a memory cell
Sense amplifiers, memories, and apparatuses and methods for sensing a data state of a memory cell are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a differential amplifier configured to amplify a voltage difference between voltages applied to first and second amplifier input nodes to provide an output. The example apparatus further includes first and second capacitances coupled to the first and second amplifier input nodes. A switch block coupled to the first and second capacitances is configured to couple during a first phase a reference input node to the first and second capacitances and to the first amplifier input node. The switch block is further configured to couple during the first phase an output of the amplifier to the second amplifier input node to establish a compensation condition. During a second phase, the switch block couples its input nodes to the first and second capacitances.
US09406350B2 Portable storage device that can check memory free space
A portable storage device is provided with a memory part, a free space detecting part, a vibration detecting part, a reporting part, and a controller. The memory part stores data. The free space detecting part detects a free space of the memory part. The vibration detecting part detects vibration. The reporting part reports the free space. The controller performs writing and reading of data for the memory part. If vibration is detected by the vibration detecting part, the controller causes the reporting part to report corresponding to the detection result of the free space of the memory part by the free space detecting part.
US09406347B2 Semiconductor wafer and method of fabricating an IC die
There is provided a semiconductor wafer comprising a plurality of replicated IC modules. Each replicated IC module is capable of forming an individual IC die. The semiconductor wafer further comprises inter-module cross-wafer electrical connections, and the replicated IC modules are further arranged to be cut into IC dies comprising multiple replicated IC modules.There is further provided a method of fabricating an IC die. The method comprises fabricating such a semiconductor wafer, determining a required configuration of replicated IC modules, identifying inter-module boundaries along which to cut the semiconductor wafer to achieve the required configuration of replicated IC modules, and cutting the semiconductor wafer along the identified inter-module boundaries to produce at least one IC die comprising the required configuration of replicated IC modules.
US09406346B2 Smart bridge for memory core
An apparatus includes a first semiconductor device including a NAND flash memory core. The apparatus also includes a second semiconductor device including periphery circuitry associated with the NAND flash memory core.
US09406343B1 Method of tracking for animation insertions to video recordings
A method of capturing specific locations on a movie set with unseen markers that transfer information to the film recorder consistently and continuously during a shoot is provided. Such markers are provided in strategic locations as the bases for introductions of 3D animations in post-processing with continuous transmission of signals indicating such locations to a receiver mounted on and integrated within a camera (that also continuously sends location and movement signals for complete recordation of the film set during filming). In such a manner, the tracking devices do not have to be processed from the resultant film and the need for multiple shots of the same set is avoided. The film method, as well as a movie set utilizing such markers for such a purpose in conjunction with a properly outfitted camera, are encompassed within the overall invention.
US09406339B2 Method and apparatus for creating a custom track
A method and system for creating and editing video and/or audio tracks is described. The method includes providing at least one artist, venue, and track available for selection and providing at least one clip associated with the at least one artist, venue, and track. The method also includes allowing a user to create a custom track from the at least one clip. The system includes a plurality of video cameras for recording a live performance at a plurality of positions. The system also includes at least one server for storing a plurality of video clips created from the plurality of video cameras and an application stored on the at least one server for allowing a user to access the plurality of video clips via the Internet.
US09406338B2 Method and apparatus for creating a custom track
A method and system for creating and editing video and/or audio tracks is described. The method includes providing at least one artist, venue, and track available for selection and providing at least one clip associated with the at least one artist, venue, and track. The method also includes allowing a user to create a custom track from the at least one clip. The system includes a plurality of video cameras for recording a live performance at a plurality of positions. The system also includes at least one server for storing a plurality of video clips created from the plurality of video cameras and an application stored on the at least one server for allowing a user to access the plurality of video clips via the Internet.
US09406337B2 Disk array device, a failure path specifying method and a program thereof
The object of the present invention is to provide a disk array device, a failure path specifying method and a program thereof capable of specifying a physical interconnection path where failures occurred.
US09406336B2 Multi-sensor event detection system
A sensor event detection system including a motion capture element with a memory, sensor, microprocessor, first communication interface and another sensor. The sensor captures values associated with an orientation, position, velocity and acceleration of the motion capture element. The first communication interface receives other values associated with a temperature, humidity, wind and elevation, and the other sensor locally captures the other values. The microprocessor collects data that includes sensor values from the sensor, stores the data in the memory, and recognizes an event within the data to determine event data. The microprocessor correlates the data or event data with the other values to determine a false positive event or a type of equipment the motion capture element is coupled with, or a type of activity indicated by the data or event data, and transmits the data or event data associated with the event via the first communication interface.
US09406335B2 Monitoring of residual encrypted data to improve erase performance on a magnetic medium
In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; store an indicator of the physical position on the magnetic medium and/or a memory coupled thereto; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium and program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by the processor to cause the processor to: read an indicator of a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of an encrypted data set; and cause obscuring of an unencrypted data set positioned after the physical position without overwriting the encrypted data set.
US09406334B2 Method of detecting tampering of data in tape drive, and file system
A method of detecting whether data in a tape drive used in a file system is tampered is described according to one embodiment. The method includes: (a) preparing a first tape cartridge including a tape on which multiple files and archival records of index information are stored in a WORM partition, and index information is stored in the R/W partition; (b) reading and comparing the index information of the R/W partition and the last index information of the WORM partition; and (c) when these two pieces of index information do not match, determining that the index information of the R/W partition is tampered when these two pieces of index information do not match.
US09406333B1 Disk drive having a stationary plate between disks with grooves adjacent fastener holes
A disk drive includes a disk drive base having a bottom surface, and a rotatable spindle. A first disk is mounted coaxially on the rotatable spindle, closer to the bottom surface than a second disk. A first stationary plate is affixed to the disk drive base by a plurality of fasteners, and extends between the first and second disks in an overlap region that spans at least 75 degrees of the circumference of each of the first and second disks. The first stationary plate includes a first plurality of fastener holes extending through the first stationary plate in a direction that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the spindle. The first stationary plate includes a first plurality of grooves that are elongated orthogonally to the axis of rotation and adjacent to corresponding ones of the first plurality of fastener holes.
US09406332B2 Optical information recording medium
An optical information recording medium includes at least one recording layer. The recording layer includes a recording material comprising a polymer compound to which a one-photon absorption dye is bonded, and a coupling strength Δ2 between the one-photon absorption dye and the polymer compound in the recording material is higher than a coupling strength estimated to be exerted between the same one-photon absorption dye and the same polymer compound if the one-photon absorption dye is dispersed in the polymer compound in the recording material.
US09406330B1 Method for HDD disk defect source detection
Systems and methods for defect source detection in HDD are provided. The system may include one or more disk processing stations, a disk, a disk defector detector, and a disk defect source detector. This system may be provided in a disk manufacturing environment. The disk defect source detector may be configured to identify a processing station as a source of disk defects by overlaying a disk defect image with a station defect pattern image.
US09406328B2 Soft magnetic underlayer having high temperature robustness for high areal density perpendicular recording media
In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes: a substrate; and a soft magnetic underlayer structure positioned above the substrate, where the soft magnetic underlayer includes: a coupling layer; a first soft underlayer positioned above the coupling layer; and a second soft underlayer positioned below the coupling layer, where a difference between a magnetic flux density of the soft magnetic underlayer structure at 25° C. and a magnetic flux density of the soft underlayer structure at 85° C. is less than or equal to about 10% of the magnetic flux density of the soft magnetic underlayer structure at 25° C.
US09406325B2 Slider cleaning and carrier tray
A tray for retaining sliders, such as during washing and/or transporting process steps. The tray has a planar body comprising a top surface having a plurality of cavities therein, an opposite bottom surface having a plurality of recesses therein, and a perimeter. Each cavity is oppositely aligned with a respective recess, with each cavity and its respective recess connected by a passage through the body.
US09406322B2 Graded side shield gap reader
Embodiments of the present invention generally include magnetoresistive heads, such as read heads, having a sensor structure and side shields disposed adjacent to the sensor structure. The distance between the side shields and the sensor structure increase in a direction from an ABS in the off-track direction. The magnetoresistive heads may include tapered surfaces on the side shields or sensor structure, or may include stepped surfaces on the side shields or sensor structure.
US09406317B1 Perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) write head with improved shapes of side shield and main pole
A perpendicular magnetic recording writer is disclosed with a side shield separated from a write pole side by a gap layer at an air bearing surface (ABS) where the side shield has a first sidewall facing the write pole with an end at height (h1) from the ABS, and a second sidewall at height h1 that is parallel to the ABS. The write pole side is curved such that a first portion proximate to the ABS is at an angle of 0 to 40 degrees with respect to a center plane formed orthogonal to the ABS, and a second section proximate to a corner where the curved side connects with a flared main pole side is formed substantially parallel to the second sidewall. When h1 is 30-80 nm, and the corner is 80-150 nm from the ABS, overwrite is improved while cross-track field gradient is enhanced.
US09406312B2 Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method, encoder and encoding method, decoder and decoding method, and program
Methods and apparatus for performing signal processing. The signal processing comprises demultiplexing input encoded data into data including information for a segment including frames and coefficient information for a coefficient selected in the frames of the segment, and low band encoded data, decoding the low band encoded data to produce a low band signal, selecting a coefficient of a frame to be processed from a plurality of the coefficients based on the data, calculating a high band sub-band power of a high band sub-band signal of each sub-band constituting a high band signal of the frame to be processed based on a low band sub-band signal of each sub-band constituting the low band signal of the frame to be processed and the selected coefficient, and producing the high band signal of the frame to be processed based on the high band sub-band power and the low band sub-band signal.
US09406309B2 Method and an apparatus for generating a noise reduced audio signal
A method and apparatus are provided for generating a noise reduced output signal from sound received by a first microphone. The method includes transforming the sound received by the first microphone into a first input signal and transforming sound received by a second microphone into a second input signal. The method includes calculating, for each of a plurality of frequency components, an energy transfer function value as a real-valued quotient by dividing a temporally averaged product of an amplitude of the first input signal and the second input signal by a temporally averaged absolute square of the second input signal, calculating a gain value as a function of the calculated energy transfer function value, and generating the noise reduced output signal based on the product of the first input signal and the calculated gain value at each of the plurality of frequency components.
US09406307B2 Method and apparatus for polyphonic audio signal prediction in coding and networking systems
A method, device, and apparatus provide the ability to predict a portion of a polyphonic audio signal for compression and networking applications. The solution involves a framework of a cascade of long term prediction filters, which by design is tailored to account for all periodic components present in a polyphonic signal. This framework is complemented with a design method to optimize the system parameters. Specialization may include specific techniques for coding and networking scenarios, where the potential of each enhanced prediction is realized to considerably improve the overall system performance for that application. One specific technique provides enhanced inter-frame prediction for the compression of polyphonic audio signals, particularly at low delay. Another specific technique provides improved frame loss concealment capabilities to combat packet loss in audio communications.
US09406302B2 Method and apparatus for processing a multi-channel audio signal
The invention relates to a method for processing a multi-channel audio signal which carries a plurality of audio channel signals. The method comprises determining a time-scaling position using the plurality of audio channel signals and time-scaling each audio channel signal of the plurality of audio channel signals according to the time-scaling position to obtain a plurality of time scaled audio channel signals.
US09406300B2 Accessing an automobile with a transponder
An automobile to detect a signal, having a security code, from a mobile transponder within range of the automobile is disclosed. The automobile may determine that the security code is valid to process an audible command from a user. The audible command may correspond to an automobile function. The automobile may also determine if the audible command matches a voiceprint of the user and process the automobile function accordingly. The automobile function may provide customized user settings for utilization of the automobile.
US09406296B2 Two way automatic universal transcription telephone
A two-way automatic transcription telephone, which can operate over analog and/or digital networks and, during a telephone call, is able to automatically transcribe in real time incoming voice signals and/or outgoing voice signals of the telephone into associated text that can be displayed on a display of the telephone. The incoming and outgoing voice signals are transcribed based on settings received by the telephone via its input keyboard or touch screen input.
US09406287B2 Portable component marimba
A portable component marimba comprising a frame having two opposing sections facing each other. A resonator support rack held in place by gravity extends between the two frame sections. A resonator assembly having a linearly arranged series of resonators extends between the two frame sections and is engaged with the resonator support rack by means of two lateral support brackets. A tone bar assembly extends between the two frame sections and includes a linear series of tone bars interconnected by two lateral laces and is supported by a tone bar support rack. The laces may be tied off on cleats located on the crossbeams. The tone bar support rack may include dampening lace support brackets. The resonator assemblies may incorporate balanced resonators. The tone bars may include sustained dampeners.
US09406286B1 Drum apparatus and method of use
A drum apparatus comprising at least a front wall, a snare bar rotatably installed substantially parallel to and offset from the front wall inner surface and having at least one snare wire extending substantially vertically therefrom so as to be adjacent to and selectively in contact with the front wall inner surface, and a rocker assembly comprising a lever mechanically coupled to the snare bar at a first end of the lever and further comprising an actuator leg pivotally coupled to and extending downwardly from an opposite second end of the lever pivotally installed within the drum apparatus on a support post coupled to the lever intermediate the first and second ends thereof, whereby the drum apparatus is shifted between first and second operational modes by selectively positioning the drum apparatus either substantially flat or tipped back so as to raise or lower the actuator leg.
US09406282B2 Display protection for invalid timing signals
A device includes a timing test circuit. The timing test circuit receives a timing signal related to the display of an image on a display. The timing test circuit also determines if the timing signals are invalid. Moreover, the timing test circuit transmits a fault indication when the timing signals are determined to be invalid.
US09406280B2 Image display device, image display system, and method of controlling image display device
A projector capable of outputting an image to an electronic apparatus is provided, wherein the image is obtained by drawing a picture corresponding to a coordinate input from an electronic apparatus having a touch panel, or a coordinate input from an indicating body on an input image. The projector includes a video signal acquisition section adapted to obtain a first image, a first coordinate data acquisition section adapted to obtain first coordinate data from a tablet terminal having a touch panel, an image data acquisition section adapted to obtain image data representing a second image obtained by drawing a picture, which corresponds to the first coordinate data, on the first image, and an image data output section adapted to output the image data, which is obtained by the image data acquisition section, to the tablet terminal.
US09406271B2 Liquid crystal display device with gate-in-panel structure
An LCD device with a GIP structure is disclosed. The LCD device includes: a liquid crystal display panel with an active area used to display images; a gate driving circuit formed on a side edge of the liquid crystal display panel and configured to apply scan signals to the active area; a start pulse line configured to transfer a start pulse to the gate driving circuit; and a static electricity preventer disposed on the start pulse line adjacent to the gate driving circuit and configured to prevent static electricity from being induced in the start pulse line.
US09406269B2 System and method for pulse width modulating a scrolling color display
A method of organizing and ordering pulse width modulation image data is disclosed, so that it may be displayed on the pixels of a scrolling color display. The method includes a method of formatting received image data into a different form suitable for driving a pulse width modulated display and a method of distributing image data across a series of different image modulation segments to minimize flicker and gray scale errors. The method includes means for reducing lateral field effects between adjacent pixels in different data states.
US09406268B2 Method for driving information processing device and program and information processing device
In order to reduce the frequency of rewriting pixels, gray scales of image signals input to a plurality of pixels provided in a display portion are checked before displaying each image. Specifically, in the case where image signals having medium gray scale levels are input to many of the plurality of pixels, display is performed by normal driving (for example, driving in which rewriting pixels is performed at a frequency higher than or equal to 60 times per second); otherwise, display is performed by driving with a small number of frequencies of rewriting pixels (for example, driving in which rewriting pixels is performed at a frequency lower than or equal to once per second). With this method, an information processing device which can reduce users' eye strain and perform eye-friendly display can be provided.
US09406267B2 Polarity inversion driving method, driving apparatus and liquid crystal display device
A polarity inversion driving method, a driving apparatus and a liquid crystal display device, for attenuating the flickers due to POL inversion. The polarity inversion driving method is used for inversion of polarity of pixels on the liquid crystal panel, and comprises: generating a polarity inversion reference signal for reflecting selection of polarity of each row of pixels on the liquid crystal panel; generating a control signal comprising control levels generated in m frames, where m is an integer higher than or equal to two, wherein width of the control level in each of the m frames is gradually increased in chronological order to be equal to a time length of one frame; as an alternative, the width of the control level in each of the m frames is gradually decreased in chronological order from the time length of one frame to zero; and generating a polarity inversion signal from the polarity inversion reference signal and the control signal.
US09406265B2 Display apparatus and method of driving the display apparatus
A display apparatus having an edge determiner configured to determine an edge area of the moving object based on moving direction and moving speed corresponding to the moving vector. The display apparatus also includes a gamma output controller configured to output normal high data of a high gamma curve and normal low data of a low gamma curve as gamma data of input data corresponding to a remaining area except for the edge area, and to output enhanced high data of the high gamma curve and enhanced low data of the low gamma curve as gamma data of input data corresponding to the edge area, in both time division method and space division method based on a spatiotemporal sequential pattern.
US09406263B2 Method and apparatus for controlling a backlight brightness according to average grayscales
A method of processing a display signal includes: obtaining the average of grayscales of at least one display zone in a previous frame of image and a current frame of image respectively; comparing in magnitude the average of grayscales of at least one display zone in the current frame of image with the average of grayscales of the corresponding display zone in the previous frame of image; and outputting a backlight control value to increase or reduce the brightness of an illuminating element corresponding to the display zone when the average of grayscales of the at least one display zone in the current frame of image is larger or smaller than the average of grayscales of the corresponding display zone in the previous frame of image.
US09406262B2 Mobile electronic device with luminance control according to surrounding brightness and contact
A luminance control device and method are disclosed. A surrounding brightness of a touch panel is measured to obtain a measured surrounding brightness. A luminance of the touch panel is controlled during a first time period starting from when the measured surrounding brightness changes from a first condition to a second condition, during which the measured surrounding brightness decreases by an amount equal to or greater than a threshold value. The luminance of the touch panel is maintained at a first luminance corresponding to the first condition when the measured surrounding brightness changes from the second condition to the first condition. The luminance of the touch panel is controlled to change to a second luminance corresponding to the second condition, when the measured surrounding brightness has not changed from the second condition to the first condition.
US09406261B2 Stage circuit and scan driver using the same
A stage circuit and a scan driver, the stage circuit including a switch unit configured to selectively electrically couple a first node to one of a first input terminal and a second input terminal, a first driver coupled to the first node, to a second node, to a third node, to a first clock terminal, and to a second clock terminal, and a second driver coupled to the second node, to the third node, to a third clock terminal, and to a common terminal, and configured to output a scan signal to an output terminal.
US09406259B2 Pixel circuits, organic electroluminescent display panels and display devices
A pixel circuit, an organic electroluminescent display panels and a display device is configured to improve image brightness uniformity in the displaying region of the display device. The pixel circuit comprises a capacitor (CST), a light emitting device (D1), a driving control sub-module (1), a charging and resetting sub-module (2), and a light-emitting control sub-module (3). A first terminal of the capacitor (CST) serves as a first node (A), and a second terminal of the capacitor (CST) servers as a second node (B). A first terminal (x) of the light emitting device (D1) is connected to a fifth terminal (e′) of the light emitting control sub-module (3), and a second terminal (y) of the light emitting device is connected to a second reference signal terminal (Vref2). When the charging and resetting sub-module (2) is turned on, the data signal is written to the first node (A), and the first terminal and third terminal of the driving control sub-module (2) are shorted, which can reset the voltage of the second node (B) and charge the capacitor (CST). When the light emitting control sub-module (3) is turned on, the driving control sub-module (1) and the light emitting device (D1) are connected and the light emitting device (D1) is driven to emit light.
US09406257B2 Display device and method for driving same
In a display device, a signal line drive circuit applies an initialization voltage to control terminals of drive transistors from corresponding video signal lines, and applies a reset potential to first terminals of the drive transistors from corresponding reset lines to initialize the drive transistor, and the initialization voltage is set to a lower value as a voltage value of the gradation voltage signal written after offset cancellation for offset-canceling a threshold value of the drive transistor is higher.
US09406254B2 Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a timing controller and a data driver. The timing controller to output a first control value including information on low gray scale values, a second control value including information on high gray scale values, and a third control value including information on subfields, corresponding to input data. The data driver to control the gray scale value of a pixel in a plurality of subfields in one frame based on the first, second and third control values. The pixel is driven in an analog manner when the gray scale value based on whether the first or second control value is output, and is driven in a digital manner when the gray scale value corresponds to an emission time during a predetermined subfield among the plurality of subfields.
US09406247B2 Magnetic sign holder and system
A magnetic sign holder and system including a substantially flat accommodating portion formed of a ferromagnetic material to accommodate the magnetic sign, and one or more mounting brackets extending from one or more sides of the accommodating portion to affix the holder to a supporting member.
US09406245B2 Patient medicine identity display
A patient medication identity display is provided that a matrix of medication slides for displaying a patient's medications in a manner so as to eliminate confusion and avoid preventable prescription errors and consequent harm to patients.
US09406243B2 Device and method for tapering medications in post-operative patients
A device and method of tapering medication in a post-operative patient is provided. The system includes a stationary base having indicia thereon representative of a defined period of time; a first circular wheel concentrically positioned on the stationary base, the first circular wheel representative of a first medication being taken by a patient; and a pin coupling the substantially circular wheel to said stationary base to permit the wheel to rotate 360 degrees about said base. The method of tapering medication includes gradually increasing the time intervals that medication is administered to a post-operative patient.
US09406236B1 Multi-user disparate system communications manager
A computer-based communications management system for managing multiple requests made by different users, in abstract or generalized formats, for data to be provided by various systems of interest. This computerized system is programmed to perform operations which ensure that requests from different users do not interfere with each other and that all information requested from the systems of interest is retrieved without missing or additional (i.e., not requested) information. Additionally, the system accommodates the functional differences between various systems of interest, and also uses relevant related data from other systems of interest to achieve greater data usefulness.
US09406233B2 Apparatus and method for warning of dangerous passing of vehicle
An apparatus for warning of dangerous passing of a vehicle may include: a vehicle information collector configured to collect vehicle information containing one or more of vehicle speed, traveling direction, and location; a vehicle information transmitter/receiver configured to transmit the vehicle information collected through the vehicle information collector, and receive other vehicle information transmitted from other vehicles; a controller configured to determine the direction of a lane change signal when the lane change signal is inputted, and determine whether to output a warning based on the vehicle information collected through the vehicle information collector and the other vehicle information received through the vehicle information transmitter/receiver; and a warning output unit configured to output a warning according to the determination of the controller.
US09406230B2 Drive control apparatus
This drive control apparatus, includes: a traveling speed detection portion that detects a traveling speed of an own vehicle; an object detection portion that detects an object around an own vehicle and obtains an object detection result; a time-to-collision calculation portion that calculates time to when the object and the own vehicle collide against each other based on the traveling speed and the object detection result; and an alarm portion that raises an alarm to a driver based on the time to collision, in which the alarm portion: obtains reference alarm start time that is preset as a reference value for starting the alarm, and a predetermined distance that is preset as a minimum value of an error in distance perception of the driver; adds time obtained by dividing the predetermined distance by the traveling speed and raises the alarm to the driver.
US09406229B2 Travel lane advisor
A traffic flow advisory system includes a locating device for identifying a position of a driven vehicle. A communication device exchanges vehicle position data, speed data, and heading data with remote vehicles. A processor constructs a traffic flow rate in a plurality of road lanes based on the position data and speed data. A human machine interface indicates to a driver of the driven vehicle the traffic flow rate of each of the road lanes.
US09406217B2 Convertible wireless remote control
The invention provides a convertible wireless remote control suitable for controlling a computer of a media management system offering an integrated multimedia experience. The invention controls the media management system wirelessly with a small amount of buttons but is convertible to offer expanded and/or changed functionality to the user, as desired.
US09406215B2 Security system health monitoring
An apparatus and method for determining at least one operational condition of a premises based system including at least one premises device. The apparatus includes a processor configured to perform a diagnostic procedure. The diagnostic procedure includes determining operational data of the premises based system, the operational data indicating at least one of a premises device and the apparatus is operating outside a failure range and performing predictive analysis based at least in part on the received operational data. The predictive analysis indicates whether the at least one of premises device and apparatus is likely to operate within the failure range within a predefined period of time. The diagnostic procedure includes causing a notification alert to be transmitted to at least one of a user interface device and remote monitoring center based on the predictive analysis.
US09406214B2 Communicating within a wireless security system
Techniques are provided that enable a wireless security system that is designed to detect and receive wireless transmissions in one protocol, to use sensor-transmitters that operate in a different protocol. The techniques involve, generally, the use of an integration device, and in some implementations, first enrolling sensor-transmitters of a first protocol into the integration device, along with device type information for the sensor-transmitters. Thereafter, during system operation, transmissions with message packets in the first message packet protocol are received by the integration device, recognized as having been previously enrolled, and a message packet in a second message packet protocol that includes device type information is then formulated and transmitted by the integration device, for receipt by a system control device for the wireless security system. In some scenarios, an enrollment process need not be done in the integration device, and the integration device is utilized in the communication process.
US09406213B2 Notification engine
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing recommendations to users. One of the methods includes receiving data indicating a selection, by a user, of a notification option relating to a first entity, adding the first entity to an interest list for the user, determining, based at least on adding the first entity to the interest list for the user, to provide a notification relating to an entity, and providing, based on determining to provide the notification relating to the entity, the notification.
US09406210B2 Apparatus and method for supporting safe living
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for supporting a safe living. An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for supporting a safe living that includes: an information receiving unit configured to receive information on a sensor, information on a device and information on a user; a pattern information generating unit configured to generate condition pattern information by use of sensing value information measured by the sensor and operation state information of the device; a condition assessing unit configured to assess a current condition by comparing the condition pattern information with the sensing value information and the operation state information; a profile unit configured to search for a control service of the device corresponding to the current condition; and a condition handling unit configured to perform a proper control the device corresponding to the current condition based on the control service.
US09406208B2 Mobile cash transport system with tampering triggered ink deployment
A device designed to transport paper currency in a protected fashion. While being transported, the device monitors for tampering or break-in attempts and subsequently generates warning notifications, devalues currency with indelible ink, or sounds an alarm depending on configuration and the type of tampering detected. Further, techniques are described for transferring indelible ink efficiently and reliably to a cash compartment area of the transport case.
US09406204B2 POS control system, control method of a POS control system, and printing device
A POS control system 1 has a POS terminal 8 that transmits print control data; a printer 12 including a print unit 41, a print control unit 29 that controls the print unit 41 based on the print control data, and a print data communication unit 26 that transmits the print control data by a first WebSocket connection CT1; and a print data process unit 51 that executes a process based on the received print control data.
US09406196B2 Real-time interactive wagering on event outcomes
Systems and methods for real-time interactive wagering on event outcomes are presented. Clients are first qualified and given wagering limits before being allowed to interactively wager on event outcomes. Event outcomes may be based on, for example, financial markets and indices, sporting and entertainment events, casino games, casino performances, and natural phenomena such as weather and earthquakes. Events on which wagers can be placed include both those with known and unknown outcome probabilities, and wagers can be a fixed-odds type or a spread-bet type. Wager transactions, including acceptances and confirmations, are executed in real time. Clients can customize displays of events on which they are authorized to wager. Real-time client credit management, automatic dealer hedging, automatic price-spread adjustments, and automatic client and dealer defined wagering limits are also provided.
US09406195B2 System and method of securing reveals of outcomes of real world wagers
The invention relates to systems and methods of placing real-world wagers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and securing reveals of the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media such that if the reveals give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may provide an outcome of a real-world wager to be transmitted securely, such that it will be known whether the outcome was viewed by the user and/or the system. For example, the system may enable a wagering outcome to be encrypted, transmitted and later revealed securely, where an indication is provided if the outcome had been earlier revealed or inspected.
US09406192B2 Gaming device having wager dependent bonus game play
In one embodiment of the present invention, the player must wager a number of paylines to qualify for one of a plurality of bonus games. The highest required number of paylines qualifies the player to play the main or most elaborate bonus game. The main or first bonus game preferably has the highest average payout per credit wagered. This provides an incentive to the player to play the highest required number of paylines. In an embodiment, any number of paylines less than the highest required number or max lines qualifies the player to play a second bonus game. The second bonus game has an average payout per credit wagered that is slightly less than the main bonus game. This allows the incentive or disparity between payouts to be set by the game designer so that the player not wagering max lines or the highest required number is not overly disadvantaged.
US09406191B2 Gaming device for wagering on multiple game outcomes
Systems and methods for wagering on game outcomes allow a player to wager on game outcomes resulting from linked gaming devices linked to a primary gaming device being played by the player. A primary game display shows game plays and outcomes and allows wagering on a primary game and a linked game display shows game plays and outcomes and allows wagering on linked games. Both the primary and linked gaming devices may be the same type of gaming device, or they may be two different types of gaming devices, such as gaming devices for playing slot games, card games, keno, and the like. Further, either or both of the primary and linked games may allow bonus game outcomes resulting in a bonus game having bonus game awards.
US09406187B2 Networked vendor for workplace or controlled environment
Aspects of the invention described herein provide an apparatus and method for networked vending. According to embodiments described herein, a vending machine is provided that may be installed and managed by the venue in which it is installed. Consumers may purchase vending products from the vending machine using cashless accounts managed by an external device in communication with the vendor. The venue may manage the inventory for the vending machine by placing orders for single product inserts to be loaded in the vending machine.
US09406186B2 System and method for providing limited access to data
A system and computer-implemented method for providing access to data of a first party including receiving information for identifying the first party, authenticating the first party using the received information for identifying the first party and generating a first read-only personal identification number (PIN). The first read-only PIN is associated with a first set of access rights for the data of the first party and provided to a second party. The first read-only PIN is stored with the first set of access rights in a computer database. A third party receives the first read-only PIN from the second party, authenticates the received first read-only PIN using the stored first read-only PIN and provides the second party with access to at least a portion of the data of the first party using the first set of access rights associated with the first read-only PIN if the received first read-only PIN is authenticated.
US09406185B2 Financial self-service device, banknote recognition module thereof and recognition method therefor
A recognition module comprises a detection unit for real-time detection and control of a banknote moving state, wherein at least one group of the through-beam sensors comprises a first sensor and two second sensors, the first sensor whereof is arranged on a midline of a banknote transmission channel, and the two second sensors are arranged at the upstream position of the banknote moving direction relative to the first sensor and are symmetrically distributed on the two sides of the midline of the banknote transmission channel. The condition for judging whether a start signal of an image data acquisition unit is effective is whether a banknote-triggered insertion event is detected by the first sensor; and the condition for judging whether an end signal of the acquisition unit is effective is whether a banknote-exit completion event is detected by three through-beam sensors.
US09406174B2 Systems and methods for monitoring protection devices of an industrial machine
A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system.
US09406172B2 Method for automatic extrapolation of designs across apparel and accessory sizes and types
A method for modifying the dimensions of a design pattern embedded on a garment is disclosed. Original dimensions of the apparel and new dimensions according to which the apparel is to be modified are determined. A coordinate pair indicating the center point of the design pattern is determined. Two delta factors, one corresponding to height and the other corresponding to the width are determined. The delta factors indicate the difference, in terms of height and width respectively, between the original dimensions of the garment, and the dimensions to which the garment is purported to be modified. Subsequently, one of the delta factors is selected depending upon the nature of modification, and provided as an input to an affine transformation operation, along with the coordinate pair. The dimensions of the design pattern are modified based on the affine transformation operation and the selected delta factor and coordinate pair.
US09406171B2 Distributed aperture visual inertia navigation
A system and method for visual inertial navigation for augmented reality are described. In some embodiments, at least one camera of a wearable device generates a plurality of video frames. At least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors of the wearable device generates IMU data. Features in the plurality of video frames for each camera are tracked. The plurality of video frames for each camera are synchronized and aligned based on the IMU data. A dynamic state of the wearable device is computed based on the synchronized plurality of video frames with the IMU data for each camera. Augmented reality content is generated and positioned in a display of the wearable device based on the dynamic state of the wearable device.
US09406169B2 System and method for data compression and grid regeneration
System and method for compressing electronic data such as, for example topological data (altitude/depth) or geospatial data (latitude/longitude) with constrained loss of fidelity. With respect to altitude/depth data, the system and method allow for a mixture of shoreline and deep water to be thinned within the same mesh without appreciable loss of information in either region. System and method retain underlying grid values, opening RTIN functionality for any sphere where original grid positions must be preserved. System and method provide for encryption/decryption of electronic data.
US09406167B2 3D laser ablation tomography
A laser ablation tomography system includes a specimen stage for supporting a specimen. A specimen axis is defined such that a specimen disposed generally on the axis may be imaged. A laser system is operable to produce a laser sheet in a plane intersecting the specimen axis and generally perpendicular thereto. An imaging system is operable to image the area where the laser sheet intersects the specimen axis.
US09406164B2 Apparatus and method of multi-view rendering
Provided is an apparatus and method of multi-view rendering. A method of multi-view rendering includes rendering one or more 3D objects based on a first viewpoint, transforming pixel values of pixels of the first viewpoint, which are obtained by the rendering of the 3D objects, into pixel values of pixels based on a second viewpoint that is different from the first viewpoint, detecting an occlusion region that is a remaining region other than a region represented by the pixel values obtained by the transforming of the pixel values in an image based on the second viewpoint, and rendering the detected occlusion region based on the second viewpoint.
US09406161B1 Curve reparameterization
In various embodiments, one or more control structures having sufficient detail or resolution to generate complex deformations of a computer generated model can be bound to the model. These control structures can be bound to the model in a fixed reference pose and used as intermediate control structures for controlling a variety of deformations. In one aspect, to facilitate articulation of all or a portion of the model, a set of one or more intermediate control structures may be reparameterized using one or more additional control structures. An additional control structure can be bound to an intermediate control structure dynamically at pose time. An additional control structure bound to an intermediate control structure may include only enough detail or resolution required for specific subsets of the deformations that may be produced by the intermediate controls structure.
US09406159B2 Print-ready document editing using intermediate format
A computer implemented method to modify an intermediate representation of graphics data written in a page description language is described. The method renders the graphics data to produce a print preview representation stored as intermediate graphics data in an intermediate graphics format. A modifying operation for modifying graphics content of the print preview representation is detected, and the method determines whether the print preview representation contains information about the graphics data required to perform the modifying operation based on a class of the modifying operation and a content of the print preview representation affected by the detected modifying operation. Where the print preview representation contains information required to perform the modifying operation, the print preview representation is modified, and otherwise the method utilizes the graphics data written in the page description language to apply the modifying operation. An apparatus, storage medium and printer using the method(s) are also discussed.
US09406158B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and recording medium that creates a composite image in accordance with a theme of a group of images
In an image processing apparatus, an image acquiring section acquires a group of candidate images for use in creating a recommended composite image to be proposed to a user; an image analysis information acquiring section acquires image analysis information on each image of the group of candidate images; a theme determining section determines a theme of the group of candidate images based on the image analysis information on each image of the group of candidate images; a template selecting section selects a template for use in creating a recommended composite image based on the theme of the group of candidate images; and a layout section creates a recommended composite image in which images of the group of candidate images are laid out in the template.
US09406150B2 Concept for encoding data defining coded orientations representing a reorientation of an object
Embodiments of the present invention provide an encoder for encoding data defining coded orientations representing a reorientation of an object based on spatio-temporal data representing a time series of orientations of the object. The encoder includes a deriver, a selector, and a coder. The deriver is configured for deriving a plurality of components describing an orientation change difference between a last coded orientation change from a second last coded orientation to a last coded orientation, and a current orientation change from the last coded orientation to a current orientation of the object. The selector is configured for selecting a component of the plurality of components describing the orientation change difference. The coder is configured for coding the current orientation of the object based on the select component of the plurality of components describing the orientation change difference, thereby defining a current coded orientation.
US09406146B2 Quantitative perfusion analysis
A system is disclosed for quantitative analysis of perfusion images comprising image elements having intensity values associated therewith. The system comprises a frequency distribution computing subsystem (1) for computing a plurality of frequency distributions of the intensity values of at least part of the images. The system comprises a perfusion information extractor (2) for extracting information relating to perfusion from the plurality of frequency distributions. The perfusion information extractor (2) comprises a shift detector (3) for detecting a shift of the intensity values of the frequency distribution. The perfusion information extractor (2) is arranged for extracting the information relating to perfusion, based on the detected shift. A user interface element (8) enables a user to indicate a boundary between the core region and the rim region by a single degree of freedom. A vesselness subsystem (9) associates a vesselness value with an image element.
US09406145B2 Mobile radar and visual tracking coordinate transformation
A system for generating video data comprising a mobile radar system operating on a processor and configured to generate vertically tilted radar frame data for a plurality of vehicles. A mobile video system operating on a processor and configured to generate video data of the plurality of vehicles. A dynamic plane rotation system operating on a processor and coupled to the mobile radar system and configured to map the vertically tilted radar frame data onto a flat plane parallel to a roadway to generate mapped data.
US09406137B2 Robust tracking using point and line features
Disclosed embodiments pertain to apparatus, systems, and methods for robust feature based tracking. In some embodiments, a score may be computed for a camera captured current image comprising a target object. The score may be based on one or more metrics determined from a comparison of features in the current image and a prior image captured by the camera. The comparison may be based on an estimated camera pose for the current image. In some embodiments, one of a point based, an edge based, or a combined point and edge based feature correspondence method may be selected based on a comparison of the score with a point threshold and/or a line threshold, the point and line thresholds being obtained from a model of the target. The camera pose may be refined by establishing feature correspondences using the selected method between the current image and a model image.
US09406135B2 Device and method for estimating head pose
Provided is a device and method for estimating a head pose which may obtain an excellent head pose recognition result free from the influence of an illumination change, the device including a head area extracting unit to extract a head area from an input depth image, a head pitch angle estimating unit to estimate a pitch angle of a head in the head area, a head yaw angle estimating unit to estimate a yaw angle of the head in the head area, and a head pose displaying unit to display a head pose based on the estimated pitch angle of the head and the estimated yaw angle of the head.
US09406133B2 System and method for real-time image registration
A method for image registration includes the steps of: providing a computer and an imager; acquiring and processing a reference image frame including a plurality of reference strips; acquiring and correcting a target frame by the steps of: acquiring one or more target frame strips of the target frame; comparing the one or more target frame strips in real-time to one or more corresponding strips of the reference frame based on a calculated registration of a specific target frame strip from a previous target frame; correcting a registration of the one or more target frame strips; repeating steps until a last strip of the target frame; repeating the steps of acquiring and correcting a target frame until a last target frame is acquired; and saving processed image based on a plurality of corrected target frames to a non-volatile memory. A system to perform the method is also described.
US09406130B2 Determining an anatomical atlas
A data processing method for determining atlas data and comprises information on a description of an atlas image of a general anatomical structure. The method performed by a computer comprises: acquiring patient data which comprise a description of a set of images of an anatomical structure of a set of patient images and each patient image is associated with image representation parameters; acquiring model data which comprise information on a description of a model image of a model of an anatomical structure of a patient; determining matching transformations which are constituted to respectively match the set of patient images of the set of patients to the model image by matching images associated with the same parameter set; determining an inverse average transformation by applying an inverting and averaging operation to the determined matching transformations; and determining the atlas data.
US09406128B2 X-ray dose distribution calculation for a computed tomography examination
The invention relates to an apparatus (18) for calculating an x-ray dose distribution within an object for a computed tomography examination. A primary flux determination unit (15) determines firstly a primary flux distribution within the object, wherein then this determined primary flux distribution is used as an initial total flux distribution by a total flux determination unit (16) while applying a six-flux model algorithm. This allows the determination of the total flux distribution to start with a relatively good first approximation of the total flux distribution such that the six-flux model algorithm can determine the total flux distribution very fast. The determined total flux distribution is finally used by a dose distribution determination unit (17) for determining a total dose distribution. The apparatus allows therefore for a very fast determination of x-ray dose distributions for computed tomography examinations.
US09406124B2 Method of analyzing an image
An image is segmented by subjecting the image to an iterative thresholding operation, and a hierarchical representation of clusters is obtained by analyzing the results of each of the iterative thresholding steps to find clusters of adjacent image elements. A type class is assigned to a leaf cluster of the hierarchical representation and the assigned class is propagated towards the top of the hierarchical representation. Then a mask is generated marking the locations of image elements contained in the top ancestral clusters of a specific type.
US09406118B2 Stain image color correcting apparatus, method, and system
Provided is an image processing apparatus including: a characteristic amount calculator for calculating a first characteristic amount for each pixel constituting a stained sample image; a component ratio calculator for calculating a component ratio of constituent elements in a target pixel, based on the calculation results; a reference value storage portion for storing a reference value of a second characteristic amount of each of the constituent elements; a constituent element correction coefficient calculator for calculating a constituent element correction coefficient, based on the reference value and the second characteristic amount of each of the constituent elements; a target pixel correction coefficient calculator for calculating a target pixel correction coefficient, based on the component ratio and the constituent element correction coefficient thus calculated; and a characteristic amount corrector for correcting the second characteristic amount, based on the calculation results.
US09406111B2 Image display apparatus and image display method
An image display apparatus that displays an image on the basis of input image signals corresponding to sub-pixels forming one pixel includes a shift-amount storing unit that stores shift amounts of display positions of the sub-pixels relative to given reference positions in a display image, an image-signal correcting unit that corrects the input image signals according to the shift amounts, and an image display unit that displays an image on the basis of the image signals corrected by the image-signal correcting unit.
US09406099B2 Methods and systems for maintaining state in a virtual machine when disconnected from graphics hardware
The present disclosure is directed towards methods and systems for maintaining state in a virtual machine when disconnected from graphics hardware. The virtual machine is one of a plurality of virtual machines hosted by a hypervisor executing on a computing device. A control virtual machine may be hosted by a hypervisor executing on a computing device. The control virtual machine may store state information of a graphics processing unit (GPU) of the computing device. The GPU may render an image from a first virtual machine. The control virtual machine may remove, from the first virtual machine, access to the GPU. The control virtual machine may redirect the first virtual machine to a GPU emulation program. The GPU emulation program may render the image from the first virtual machine using at least a portion of the stored state information.
US09406094B2 Method and apparatus for delivering power using external data
A control system for an energy storage system located behind a utility meter uses a unique, feedback-based, communication and control method to reliably and efficiently maximize economic return of the energy storage system. Operating parameters for the energy storage system are calculated at an external, centralized data center, and are selected to prevent electrical power demand of an electric load location from exceeding a specified set-point by discharging energy storage devices, such as DC batteries, through a bidirectional energy converter during peak demand events. The control system can operate autonomously in the case of a communications failure.
US09406093B2 Determining an image layout
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing multiple image elements that have an ordered sequence. From the ordered sequence of image elements, multiple clusters of image elements are determined, where each cluster has one or more image elements arranged in a line. The image elements within each cluster are scaled to have substantially the same first dimension while maintaining their original aspect ratios and being arranged to maintain the ordered sequence. Each of the clusters has substantially the same second dimension. A cost for each cluster, based on a cost function, is determined. A graph based on the clusters that maintains the ordered sequence is accessed. The graph includes multiple paths that each represent a layout of the image elements and have a total cost based on the costs of the clusters along the path. The path with a lowest total cost is identified to determine a preferred layout.
US09406090B1 Content sharing system
A method and apparatus for sharing captured media data via a social networking service is described herein. The method includes receiving a list of one or more media data files captured via a mobile (i.e., portable) computing device, the list to include, for each of the media data files, data identifying one or more real-world experiences of a user of the social networking service associated with the respective media data file. The method also includes transmitting information for providing an interface to the mobile computing device to enable the user to share one or more of the media data files in the social network with one or more other users by identifying each media data file with the data identifying a corresponding real-world experience. Furthermore, the method allows for the sharing of data related to the context of each corresponding real-world experience.
US09406088B2 System and method for displaying market data in an electronic trading environment
A trading interface is provided for displaying market data related to a tradeable object being traded at an electronic exchange. According to one example embodiment, market data related to a tradeable object is displayed in relation to a value axis, such as a price axis. As new market data is received, the displayed market data is updated and may be repositioned so that a trader can view current market conditions in a viewable portion of the interface. The interface also includes a number of market movement indicators that assist a trader in tracking market movement. These viewable references allow a trader to navigate and immediately understand the “real” direction of the market activity despite any underlying adjustment of the viewable area of the trading interface.
US09406084B2 Methods for submitting a food order remotely
One variation of the method for submitting a food order remotely includes: generating a graphical icon representative of a food item and a customization option for the food item selected by a customer; associating the icon with a payment option; associating the icon with a store location to fulfill the food item; displaying the icon on a display of a mobile computing device; and, in response to receiving a selection of the icon, submitting a food order including the food item, the customization option, and the payment option to the store location.
US09406081B2 Methods and systems for contact importing using a mobile device
Techniques to allow a social networking system to import contact information from an external system. In one embodiment, a QR code is provided to a non-mobile computing device to allow a log in to an external system by a user using a mobile computing device. Information from the external system is received after authentication of the user with the external system. The information includes address book information of the user. The address book information includes contact information maintained by the external system. Invitations are provided to a selection of the new contacts to join the social network of the user.
US09406073B2 System and method for facilitating the exchange of user traffic between web sites
System and methods for facilitating link exchange partnerships between Webmasters in which an approximately equal and optimal amount of user traffic is sent between the web sites. Specifically, the method of creating a link exchange partnership and fulfilling of its obligations includes providing a Webmaster the opportunity to propose link exchange partnerships with other Webmasters, giving the Webmaster on the receiving end of the link exchange partnership proposal the opportunity to accept or decline the request, determining the maximum amount of user traffic that two Webmasters can agree to send to each other while still accounting for each of the Webmasters other link exchange partnerships, and displaying Partner Widgets on both Webmasters' web sites that display links to the other web site's content to a determined percentage of each web site's users with the intention that the displaying of the links will result in an approximately equal and optimal amount of user traffic directed from one web site to the other web site.
US09406072B2 Demographic and media preference prediction using media content data analysis
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for predicting data. A name or title is obtained from a taste profile. There is an index into a data set based on the name or title, and a set of terms and corresponding term weights associated with the name or title are retrieved. A sparse vector is constructed based on the set of terms and term weights. The sparse vector is input to a training model including target data. The target data includes a subset of test data which has a correspondence to a predetermined target metric of data. A respective binary value and confidence level is output for each term, corresponding to an association between the term and the target metric.
US09406070B2 Apparatus and method for managing advertisement application
A method and apparatus for managing an advertisement application in a mobile advertising system is provided. When an advertisement application for representing an advertisement is installed in an advertisement-receiving terminal, a registration request for the installed advertisement application is made. The advertisement-receiving terminal assigns an application Identifier (ID) to the advertisement application in response to the registration request, and stores a profile of the advertisement application in association with the assigned application ID.
US09406068B2 Method and system for submitting media for network-based purchase and distribution
Methods and systems for submitting media to a media distribution site are disclosed. The submission of media to the media distribution site is able to be performed by numerous submitters in a uniform and computer-assisted manner. The submitted media can then be encoded in a largely automated manner at the media distribution site into a suitable digital form and then made available for online purchase and distribution.
US09406065B2 Customer token preferences interface
Embodiments are directed to token management. Embodiments initiate presentation of a digital wallet management interface including initiating presentation of a digital wallet; initiating presentation of an original token associated with the digital wallet; initiating presentation of a toggle switch comprising a first position and a second position and associated with the original token and configured for graphical manipulation by the user between the first position and the second position, wherein the first position corresponds to the original token being available for use as a payment credential; and where the second position corresponds to the original token being unavailable for use as a payment credential.
US09406062B2 Authentication method and system
Provide herein is a method and system capable of authenticating transactions involving at least one service provider and one or more users who are each in electronic communication. This electronic communication can be, for example, SMS, MMS, e-mail, or online account messaging. It is an aspect of certain embodiments where the transaction is an authentication and/or verification of an entity. Examples of such entities are products, actions and users.
US09406060B2 Receipt data processing device and method for processing receipt data
According to one embodiment, a receipt data processing device includes a data generating section, an output section, and a converting section. The data generating section is configured to generate receipt data of a first data format including information about an item purchased by a customer. The output section is configured to output the receipt data to at least one of a printing device and an external device that is different from the printing device. The converting section is configured to convert a data format of the receipt data from the first data format to a second data format that is different from the first data format when the receipt data is output to the external device.
US09406058B1 Self-service kiosk for assaying precious metals in the form of a jewelry and payment in exchange for the same
An apparatus for automatically assaying an item made of at least one precious metal and selectively offering payment in exchange includes a user interface and control circuit; a trolley for carrying and moving the item within the apparatus; a first camera to image the item; an electronic weighing scale, and an x-ray fluorescence engine. The trolley carrying the item moves onto the weighing scale to establish a weight of the item and moves the item into the x-ray fluorescence engine to perform an x-ray fluorescence assay of the item at a location determined through image processing a visual survey of the item performed by the first camera. The user interface and control circuit creates an offer of purchase of the item based on weight and x-ray fluorescence assay of the item.
US09406053B2 Mobile check issue capture system and method
A system and method is presented for assembling information contained within a financial instrument for subsequent verification of the financial instrument, wherein the financial instrument includes an identifier corresponding to a payee of the financial instrument. An imaging device, such as, for example, a mobile phone or the like, is used to obtain an image of the financial instrument prior to the financial instrument being transferred to the payee. Information is extracted from the image of the financial instrument, and the information is transferred to a storage area that is separate and remote from the imaging device.
US09406045B2 Fitness activity monitoring systems and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods for tracking the location of an individual during a fitness activity are disclosed. A method of tracking a participant engaged in a fitness activity includes determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity based on data received at a portable fitness device used by the participant; determining a location of a spectator during the fitness activity based on data received at a mobile spectator device used by the spectator; from a server, sending an alert to a spectator at a spectator device during the fitness activity indicating that the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator; and sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.
US09406043B1 Techniques for peer-to-peer communication
Techniques for peer-binding are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for peer-binding includes: receiving event information associated with an event detected on Web content associated with a trusted script executing on a first client computing device; and in response to a request, retrieving the received event information and sending the retrieved event information to a second client computing device. The second client computing device is peer-bound with the first client computing device via the trusted script associated with the Web content.
US09406035B2 System and method of communications
The present invention relates to a system and method of providing communications for a mobile vehicle, comprising: a) providing the vehicle with the ability to communicate using a number of different communications methods; b) establishing a list of parameters, said list of parameters defining a set of criteria for determining the preferred attributes of the communications method to be used at any given time; and c) selecting a communications method based on said list of parameters.
US09406034B2 Merger integration toolkit system and method for milestone tracking
The present invention provides for a method and a computer system for providing functionality for electronically managing and supporting a merger integration of businesses, using software and other computer-implemented tools. In one aspect of the invention, the method and system provide program milestone tracking for an integration of businesses, where the businesses are subject to a merger or acquisition. The system provides a collaboration environment computer program for assisting a group of individuals performing the integration of businesses. The collaboration environment computer program provides administrative controls and communication among the group of individuals. A project management computer program assists the group of individuals and is configured to manage project schedules, budgets, and timeframes. A program milestone component is established and configured to facilitate creating and tracking program milestones for the collaboration environment computer program. The program milestone component also configured to interface the collaboration environment computer program and the project management computer program such that the collaboration environment computer program directly links to the project management computer program and receive program milestone updates.
US09406031B2 Providing social impact information associated with identified products or businesses
Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatuses for capturing a real-time video stream using a mobile computing device, determining, using a computing device processor, which images from the real-time video stream are associated with goods and businesses consistent with a predetermined social impact, and presenting on a display of the real-time video stream, one or more indicators, each indicator being associated with an image determined to be consistent with a predetermined social impact.
US09406030B2 System and methods for computerized machine-learning based authentication of electronic documents including use of linear programming for classification
Electronic document classification comprising providing training documents sorted into classes; linear programming including selecting inputs which maximize an output, given constraints on inputs, the output maximized being a difference between: a. first estimated probability that a document instance will be correctly classified, by a classifier corresponding to given inputs, as belonging to its own class, and b. second estimated probability that document instance will be classified, by the classifier, as not belonging to its own class; and classifying electronic document instances into classes, using a preferred classifier corresponding, to the inputs selected by the linear programming. A computerized electronic document forgery detection method provides training documents and uses a processor to select value-ranges of non-trivial parameters, such that selected values-range(s) of parameters are typical to an authentic document of given class, and atypical to a forged document of same class.
US09406025B2 Touch prediction for visual displays
Touch events can be predicted relative to a visual display by maintaining a database of aggregated touch event history data relative to the visual display and from a plurality of touch screen devices. The database can be queried according to a set of input parameters defining an environment for use of the visual display. The results from the querying of the database can be analyzed to predict a set of touch events within the environment and based upon inferences obtained from the results. A representation of the set of touch events can be displayed along with the visual display.
US09406019B2 Normalization of predictive model scores
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for score normalization. One of the methods includes receiving initial training data, the initial training data comprising initial training records, each initial training record identifying input data as input and a category as output. The method includes generating a first trained predictive model using the initial training data and a training function. The method includes generating intermediate training records by inputting input data of the initial training records to a second trained predictive model, the second trained predictive model generated using the training function, each intermediate training record having a score. The method also includes generating a score normalization model using a score normalization training function and the intermediate training records.
US09406017B2 System and method for addressing overfitting in a neural network
A system for training a neural network. A switch is linked to feature detectors in at least some of the layers of the neural network. For each training case, the switch randomly selectively disables each of the feature detectors in accordance with a preconfigured probability. The weights from each training case are then normalized for applying the neural network to test data.
US09406016B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring network traffic
A system that collects data from monitored network traffic. The system inputs, in parallel, the data through inputs of a neural network. The system compares an output of the neural network, generated in response to the inputted data, to at least one predetermined output. If the output of the neural network corresponds to the at least one predetermined output, the system provides a notification relating to the data.
US09406014B2 Top gated method for manufacturing a data carrier
A method for manufacturing a portable data carrier includes the steps of: providing a carrier band having an upper side and a lower side disposed opposite the upper side including a contact field formed with at least one contact area; arranging a semiconductor circuit on the lower side of the carrier band and electroconductively connected with the corresponding contact area; and carrying out an injection molding process on the lower side a potting compound formed around the semiconductor circuit and having outer dimensions according to a portable data carrier standard specification. An injection channel for injecting the potting compound is arranged on a side of the potting compound mold parallel to the lower side, and after the injection of the potting compound a depression remains in the finished data carrier due to the injection channel. A portable data carrier includes the features and is used as a subscriber identity module.
US09406006B2 Power controlling device, image processing apparatus, computer readable medium, and power controlling method
A power controlling device includes a detecting unit that detects a person in a detection area, a first imaging unit that takes an image of the person in a detecting range in an operating state, a second imaging unit that takes an image of a face of the person for use in user authentication in an operating state, and a power controller that supplies power to and brings the first imaging unit into the operating state if the person is detected, supplies power to and brings a processing unit that performs a process into an operating state if the approach of the person is determined on the basis of the taken image of the person, and supplies power to an brings the second imaging unit into the operating state during a period from the detection of the person to the shift of the processing unit to the operating state.
US09406001B2 Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image forming method, and recording medium
The present invention includes: an image size detection section detecting an image size according to image data including a photograph; a paper size detection section detecting a paper size for printing the image; and an enlarging/reducing unit carrying out an enlarging/reducing process to the image data, the enlarging/reducing unit comparing the image size with the paper size and carrying out the enlarging/reducing process by selecting, between a first enlarging/reducing ratio which is a first ratio of a short side length of the paper to a short side length of the image and a second enlarging/reducing ratio which is a second ratio of a long side length of the paper to a long side length of the image, one of the first enlarging/reducing ratio and the second enlarging/reducing ratio which one is to be reduced by a ratio greater than a ratio by which the other one is to be reduced.
US09405998B2 Display control apparatus, image forming apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium for displaying an image portion nearest a pointed blank portion
A display control apparatus includes an image display that displays a document image representing a document file; an accepting unit that accepts an operation to point a portion in the document image displayed in the image display; an extracting unit that, upon acceptance of the operation to point the portion in the document image by the accepting unit, extracts each image portion surrounded by pixels other than white pixels from the entire document image if a ratio of the white pixels in the pixels in the document image is higher than or equal to a predetermined threshold value in an area of a predetermined size centered at the pointed portion; and a display controller that performs control so as to display information concerning the image portion having the shortest distance from the portion, among the image portions extracted by the extracting unit, in the image display.
US09405991B2 Histogram methods and systems for object recognition
A multidimensional histogram is used to characterize an image (or object), and is used to identify candidate matches with one or more reference images (or objects). An exemplary implementation employs hue information for two of the dimensions, and a second derivative function based on luminance for a third dimension. The simplicity and speed of the detailed arrangements make them well suited for use with cell phones and other mobile devices, which can use the technology for image/object recognition, e.g., in visual search applications.
US09405990B2 X-ray diffraction imaging system with signal aggregation across voxels containing objects and method of operating the same
A method of performing a security inspection of a container including a plurality of objects includes irradiating the container with polychromatic x-rays, reconstructing a 4-D voxelized representation defining a momentum transfer spectrum, and generating a 3-D image by determining a single value at each voxel as a function of the momentum transfer spectrum. The method further includes segmenting the voxels into segments of contiguous voxels that map onto at least one object. The method also includes computing an aggregated momentum transfer spectrum over at least a portion of the contiguous voxels through at least one of aggregating the spectra of the contiguous voxels for each segment and defining a supervoxel that includes voxels with the object exclusively and voxels in a neighborhood, regardless of association with the object. The method further includes classifying the object as one of a threat and a non-threat based on the aggregated momentum transfer spectrum.
US09405989B2 Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus capable of reducing the amount of memory required for intra-frame prediction is provided. The apparatus includes a processing unit that performs sampling on pixels adjacent to a current block for intra-frame prediction according to a block size of the current block. The processing unit further performs interpolation by using the pixels being sampled to reconstruct the adjacent pixels. The processing unit further performs the intra-frame prediction by using the adjacent pixels being reconstructed to generate a predicted image.
US09405988B2 License plate recognition
A license plate recognition and image review system and processes are described. The system includes grouping of images that are determined to be of the same vehicle, using an image encoded database such that verification of a license plate read is done through comparison of images of the actual vehicle to images from the encoded database and testing of the accuracy of a manual review process by interspersing previously identified images with real images being reviewed in a batch process.
US09405986B2 Apparatus and method for recognizing objects using filter information
An object recognition method using filter information includes acquiring object image information including an object of interest, acquiring filter information for recognizing the object of interest from the object image information, and recognizing the object of interest using the filter information. An object recognition apparatus using filter information including an object information acquiring unit to acquire object image information comprising an object of interest, a filter information input unit to acquire filter information, an output unit to output the image information and the filter information, and a controller to recognize the object of interest in the object image information using the filter information.
US09405984B2 Logistics methods for portable, mobile processing of lottery and contest tickets
A method for portable lottery ticket sales and redemptions by mobile vendors is provided wherein the vendor have an existing credit or debit card processing interchange. The vendor is provided with a portable local processor having a memory, and with a local printer connected to the local processor. The local processor is in wireless communication with a network. A bank identification number (BIN) is assigned to lottery tickets sold or redeemed by the vendor that is unique to lottery tickets in the vendor's existing credit or debit card processing interchange. The unique lottery BIN is also associated with a lottery data blob provided on the lottery ticket. The BIN and lottery data blob are entered into the vendor's existing credit or debit card barcode protocol to initiate transfer of the lottery data to a lottery central site via the interchange, wherein a processor within the interchange recognizes the unique lottery BIN and initiates special routing to and further processing of the lottery data at the lottery central site outside of the interchange's debit or credit card data transfer and processing procedures.
US09405979B2 Systems and methods for automated cloud-based analytics and 3-dimensional (3D) display for surveillance systems
Systems and methods for cloud-computing network with distributed input devices and a cloud-based analytics platform for automatically analyzing received 2-Dimensional (2D) video and/or image inputs for generating 3-Dimensional (3D) surveillance data and providing 3D display for a target surveillance area.
US09405970B2 System and method for object recognition and tracking in a video stream
Provided is a system and method for object detection and tracking in a video stream. Frames of the video stream are divided into regions of interest and a probability that the region contains at least a portion of an object to be tracked is calculated for each region of interest. The regions of interest in each frame are then classified based on the calculated probabilities. A region of interest (RI) frame is then constructed for each video frame that reports the classification of regions of interest in the video frame. Two or more RI frames are then compared in order to determine a motion of the object. Also provided is a system executing the presently described method, as well as a device including the system. The device may be for example, a portable computer, a mobile telephone, or an entertainment device.
US09405962B2 Method for on-the-fly learning of facial artifacts for facial emotion recognition
A method for determining a facial emotion of a user in the presence of a facial artifact includes detecting Action Units (AUs) for a first set of frames with the facial artifact; analyzing the AUs with the facial artifact after the detection; registering the analyzed AUs for a neutral facial expression with the facial artifact in the first set of frames; predicting the AUs in a second set of frames; and determining the facial emotion by comparing the registered neutral facial expression with the predicted AUs in the second set of frames.
US09405959B2 System and method for classification of objects from 3D reconstruction
System and method for detecting and classifying man-made objects on the seafloor using 3D reconstruction techniques. Enhanced sea floor object detection with classification is provided that is as good as provided by short range optical imagery. This approach eliminates the step of passing off identification to humans, and enhances the speed, accuracy, and safety of present operations in mine detection and neutralization.
US09405958B2 Cell analysis method, cell analysis device, and cell analysis program
Provided is a cell analysis method in a cell analysis device D that uses an optical path length image of a cell colony formed of a large number of cells to analyze the cell colony, the method comprising: acquiring the optical path length image of the cell colony by an acquisition unit of the cell analysis device; extracting a circular shape corresponding to a cell nucleus of the cell in the acquired optical path length image by an extraction unit of the cell analysis device extracts; comparing an inner optical path length of the extracted circular shape and an outer optical path length of the extracted circular shape by a comparison unit of the cell analysis device extracts; and analyzing the cell colony based on the comparison result by analysis unit of the cell analysis device.
US09405954B2 Imaging apparatus and medical equipment
A light receiving section includes light receiving elements. A light source section includes a light emitting section that illuminates the subject and transmissive sections. The light emitting section is provided with a first translucent layer, which includes a light emitting layer, and a reflection layer and a semi-transmissive reflection layer interposing the first translucent layer, so that a resonance structure is formed. Each of the transmissive sections includes a second translucent layer, and a first semi-transmissive reflection layer and a second semi-transmissive reflection layer, which are opposed each other interposing the second translucent layer, so that a resonance structure that resonates incident light from the subject side is formed. A resonance length between the reflection layer and the semi-transmissive reflection layer in the light emitting section is more than a resonance length between the first semi-transmissive reflection layer and the second semi-transmissive reflection layer in the transmissive section.
US09405953B2 System and method of using an electric field device
A biometric scanner having an electric field device and a method of using that scanner are disclosed. The electric field device (a) has no electric field generator or an electric field generator that is prevented from providing an electric field to a biometric object, such as a finger, and (b) has an electric field sensor array comprised of a plurality of electric field sensors. Capacitance readings from the sensor array are used to generate values that are attributed to locations corresponding to the sensors.
US09405947B2 Emulated radio frequency identification
A mobile communication device is equipped with hardware and/or software components to enable the device to output a data in a form of a radio frequency signal, emulating outputting of the data by either an active or a passive RFID transponder. The data may be a security key or an identifier. Emulation of an active RFID transponder includes facilitating selection of the data and instruction to output by a user. Emulation of a passive RFID transponder includes detecting for proximal presence of a RFID reader. Either case, provision of the data to the mobile communication device may include provision of associated signal attribute(s).
US09405946B2 Judgment apparatus, judgment system, and judgment method
A judgment apparatus includes a storage configured to store first reference data representing data that a detector should output in a first area when a detection target passed the first area, and second reference data representing data that the detector should output in the first area when the detection target passed a second area being different from the first area; and a processor to perform processes of: obtaining data from the detector outputting, in a time-series manner, data according to a detection condition of the detection target passing the first area or the second area; judging a degree of similarity between data obtained by the obtaining and the first and second reference data stored in the storage; and judging whether or not the detection target passed the first area, based on the judgment result by the judging the degree of similarity.
US09405943B2 Radio frequency identification readers, methods and computer program products for adjusting a query command slot-counter parameter Q
RFID readers and methods for adjusting a query command slot-count parameter Q for use by radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader in an RFID tag inventory round are provided. A method for adjusting a query command slot-count parameter Q for use by an RFID tag reader includes setting an initial value for Q for a first inventory round, issuing a query command to a population of RFID tags, and monitoring replies from the population of RFID tags. The value of Q is decreased by a first amount if no reply is received, and the value of Q is increased by a second amount different from the first amount if a tag collision reply is received.
US09405941B2 Simultaneous programming of selected tags
An apparatus and method for simultaneous programming of data to individually addressed Tags. Tags contain a being addressed indicator that allows for processing of simultaneous programming commands. Specified Tags are individually pre-addressed to receive simultaneous programming. Tag data is programmed simultaneously for all Tags in a specified group of Tags. Data is individually verified for each specified Tag in the group of Tags.
US09405936B2 Code integrity protection by computing target addresses from checksums
A method of obscuring software code including a plurality of basic blocks, including: calculating, by a processor, a checksum value of the current basic block and a pointer to the end of the current basic block; determining a preceding basic block for the current basic block; inserting the checksum value for the current basic block into the preceding basic block; and inserting instructions into the preceding basic block to determine a pointer to the beginning of the current basic block based upon the checksum value of the current basic block.
US09405931B2 Protected information stream allocation using a virtualized platform
A protected stream manager includes one or more subsystems to receive a content stream in a virtual environment, obfuscate the content stream, and prioritize use of a processor to process the content stream.
US09405930B2 User-controlled centralized privacy marketplace system
A system for managing personal information of a user includes: a personal information database including personal information records of the user including data associated with the user, wherein a user is associated with a data policy including at least one permission for an accessing party to interact with a personal information record; and a data access module that receives and responds to requests from an accessing party, wherein a request may be one of: a read request specifying a personal information record to be read; and a write request specifying a personal information to be written to a personal information record to be written, wherein in response to a write request, the data access module responds with the a personal information record to be read, or updates the personal information record to be written in the personal information database, if permitted by the personal information record the privacy policy.
US09405927B2 Tri-module data protection system specification
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for protecting data: by separating limited data from the data storage on a primary host, and retaining only header information and the header information key at the primary host, and without the inclusion of any header information or identification of data, sending and storing the limited data at a secondary host, wherein retaining that limited portion of the data, and generating a limited data key to identify the limited portion of the data, and storing and connecting the generated key with the limited data, and sending and storing the limited data key to a tertiary host, wherein the limited data key being stored and connected with the header information key. Furthermore, to provide means for strong validation as well as header information key synchronization, a plurality of predetermined code set values being contained in data tables at each host, from which a different code value being used for each transmission of data sent and received. Upon receiving each code, the code set validation process executes by means of matching the received code, followed by sending the next code within the code set, for every transmission leg, by consecutively pointing to the correct code value in the code set subsequently required of the data operation. The code set furthermore providing the key synchronization of the data header key, that value also being referenced in like manner for the exclusive use of linking data at the primary and tertiary hosts.
US09405926B2 Systems and methods for jurisdiction independent data storage in a multi-vendor cloud environment
The present invention relates to a cloud based system for providing data security. The system comprises a processor which receives a data file from a user. The data file is directed to a first file location and encrypted and segmented into a plurality of data blocks. The plurality of data blocks is then assigned with a unique identifier and redirected to a plurality of cloud based storage providers. The plurality of cloud based storage providers are located in a plurality of jurisdictions. Each of the plurality of data blocks is then assigned a second file location. The unique identifier and the file locations of each of the plurality of data blocks is updated in the system.
US09405925B2 Content item encryption on mobile devices
Applications are stored on removable storage of a mobile device in an encrypted form to provide isolation and piracy protection. In one implementation, each application is encrypted using its own associated encryption key that is generated based on an identifier of the application and a master key that is associated with a trusted platform module of the mobile device. In another implementation, each application is encrypted using two associated encryption keys. One key is used to encrypt binary data associated with the application such as source code, and the other key is used to encrypt application data such as graphics and configuration files. The encryption keys are each generated using the identifier of the application, the master key, and identifiers of the folders where the corresponding data types are stored on the mobile device. The removable storage includes SD cards formatted using the FAT or exFAT file systems.
US09405922B2 Computer-implemented method for role discovery and simplification in access control systems
A method includes selecting a first biclique role in a plurality of roles and finding all roles in the plurality that have a set of vertices of a second type that is a subset of a set of vertices of the second type in the first role; removing each of the subsets from the set of vertices of the second type corresponding to the first role; and reassigning the vertices of the first type to the roles such that original associations between the vertices of the first type and the vertices of the second type are maintained.
US09405920B1 Data integrity verification
A system performs cryptographic operations utilizing information usable to verify validity of plaintext. To prevent providing information about a plaintext by providing the information usable to verify the validity of the plaintext, the system provides the information usable to verify validity of the plaintext to an entity on a condition that the entity is authorized to access the plaintext. The information usable to verify validity of the plaintext may be persisted in ciphertext along with the plaintext to enable the plaintext to be verified when decrypted.
US09405919B2 Dynamic encryption keys for use with XTS encryption systems employing reduced-round ciphers
One feature pertains to encrypting data to improve data confidentiality. In one aspect, a modified form of XTS encryption is provided for use with reduced-round block ciphers. A data unit index of data to be applied to the reduced-round cipher is encrypted under a secret key to generate or otherwise obtain a modified secret key for applying to the reduced-round cipher. That is, data to be encrypted by the reduced-round cipher is not encrypted under a static key but is instead encrypted under a dynamic key that varies according to the index of the data. If an attacker were to derive the value of the key applied to the reduced-round cipher by analyzing data encrypted by the cipher, the attacker would only obtain the dynamic key corresponding to one particular data unit index, rather than a global static key applied to an entire address space. Decryption procedures are also described.
US09405918B2 Viewer-based device control
A computing device can monitor the gaze direction of people around the device to determine whether any unintended viewers are viewing content displayed on the device. A user can activate a privacy mode of the device, such that when an unintended viewer is detected the device can take an appropriate action. In some cases the device can notify the primary user of the device using audible, visual, or tactile alerts. In other cases, the device can modify the display of content such that the unintended viewer is unable to decipher or view the content, or is otherwise notified of the detection.
US09405916B2 Automatic correction of security downgraders
Methods and systems for automatic correction of security downgraders. For one or more flows having one or more candidate downgraders, it is determined whether each candidate downgrader protects against all vulnerabilities associated with the candidate downgrader's respective flow. Candidate downgraders that do not protect against all of the associated vulnerabilities are transformed, such that the transformed downgraders do protect against all of the associated vulnerabilities.
US09405915B2 Techniques for correlating vulnerabilities across an evolving codebase
Methods, apparatus, and systems for characterizing vulnerabilities of an application source code are disclosed. Steps for characterizing vulnerabilities include traversing a representation of the application source code, generating a signature of a potential vulnerability of the application source code, and determining characteristics of the potential vulnerability based on a correlation between the generated signature of the potential vulnerability and previously stored signatures of potential vulnerabilities.
US09405913B2 Method for defending against cold-boot attacks on a computer in a self-service terminal
A method to defend effectively against cold-boot attacks includes checking state data stored in a state memory to which the system software has access. At least two of the state data items are checked (111; 112) to determine deviations from parameters that are defined for a normal state of the computer. If deviations from the parameters are determined for at least two of the checked state data items, at least subareas of the main memory are cleared or overwritten (120); otherwise, the main memory is not cleared or overwritten (130); then, the system startup of the computer is carried out by means of the configured system software (140).
US09405910B2 Automatic library detection
The automated, real-time detection of specific blocks of code within a larger body of source code is described. Specific implementations relate to the detection of known code libraries in web page code to improve the efficiency of the generation of polymorphic transformations of the web page code for the purpose of impeding automated cyber-attacks.
US09405909B2 Non-transitory computer-readable recording medium and information processing apparatus including shared library that prevents unauthorized use
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium includes a shared library that is executed by a processor. The shared library includes a preprocessing function and a function. The function causes the processor to execute a process if a value, as an execution result of the preprocessing function, is valid, and not to execute the process if the value is invalid. The preprocessing function causes the processor to acquire encrypted unique information from the storage device, to decrypt the unique information, to acquire, from the storage device, specific information that specifies an application using the shared library, and to return the value that is valid or invalid based on a comparison between the specific information and the decrypted unique information.
US09405906B1 System and method for enhancing static analysis of software applications
In a system for determining components of a software application from binary code thereof, one or more binary files are read without loading any component/object in the files in an execution environment that can execute the software application. A component in one of the files, designated as a primary component, is visited to identify a path specifying origin of a secondary component that is associated with the primary component, and the identified path is stored. Analysis of the path can indicate whether the secondary component is provided by the developer of the software application or by a different entity.
US09405899B2 Software protection mechanism
Techniques for detecting malware activity are described. In some examples, a method for monitoring executing software for malware may include monitoring behavior of software during execution. Based on comparison of the monitored behavior and corresponding expected behavior derived from analysis of the software, it may be determined that the monitored behavior deviates from the expected behavior in accordance with a predetermined trigger. An appropriate action may be initiated in response.
US09405889B2 Device, method, and system for augmented reality security
Devices and methods for authenticating a user of a mobile computing device to a content server include establishing a communication session between a target computing device and the content server that is identified by a session ID. The target computing device generates a pairing token using the session ID, which pairing token may be a two-dimensional bar code such as a quick response (“QR”) code, and presents the pairing token to the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device captures the pairing token and authenticates the user of the mobile computing device to an authentication server. The target computing device receives an authentication token from the authentication server in response to the mobile computing device successfully authenticating the user to the authentication server. The target computing device accesses content on the content server using the authentication token. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09405883B2 Power rail for preventing DC electromigration
A method is disclosed that includes the operations outlined below. A first criteria is determined to be met when directions of a first current and a second current around a first end and a second end of a metal segment respectively are opposite, in which the metal segment is a part of a power rail in at least one design file of a semiconductor device and is enclosed by only two terminal via arrays. A second criteria is determined to be met when a length of the metal segment is not larger than a electromigration critical length. The metal segment is included in the semiconductor device with a first current density limit depending on the length of the metal segment when the first and the second criteria are met.
US09405881B2 Cycle accurate state analysis with programmable trigger logic
In one embodiment, cycle-accurate information may be collected by stopping an input clock associated with a functional block of a SoC using a programmable trigger signal. The programmable trigger signal may also stops a root clock of the SoC. Cycle-accurate information may be collected regarding the functional block and at least one other functional block of the SoC at the time of the programmable trigger signal. The collected information may be outputted and used to debug the SoC in a time-efficient manner.
US09405877B1 System and method of fast phase aligned local generation of clocks on multiple FPGA system
An apparatus and method for fast phase aligned local generation of design clocks on a multiple FPGA system via clock generator replication is described. The apparatus includes a reference clock that generates a clock signal have a reference frequency and a plurality of programmable logic devices. Each programmable logic device includes phase locked loop circuitry that receives the clock signal from the reference clock and generates a local reference clock signal having a frequency based on the reference frequency and a clock generator that receives the local reference clock signal and generates local design clocks based on the local reference clock signal. Because each local design clock generator is synchronized by the same reference clock over a low skew line, the edges of the local design clocks are aligned.
US09405876B2 Systems and methods for solving computational problems
Solving computational problems may include generating a logic circuit representation of the computational problem, encoding the logic circuit representation as a discrete optimization problem, and solving the discrete optimization problem using a quantum processor. Output(s) of the logic circuit representation may be clamped such that the solving involves effectively executing the logic circuit representation in reverse to determine input(s) that corresponds to the clamped output(s). The representation may be of a Boolean logic circuit. The discrete optimization problem may be composed of a set of miniature optimization problems, where each miniature optimization problem encodes a respective logic gate from the logic circuit representation. A quantum processor may include multiple sets of qubits, each set coupled to respective annealing signal lines such that dynamic evolution of each set of qubits is controlled independently from the dynamic evolutions of the other sets of qubits.
US09405875B1 Simulating effects of temperature on acoustic microwave filters
A method of designing an acoustic microwave filter comprises generating a proposed filter circuit design having an acoustic resonant element with a defined admittance value, introducing a lumped capacitive element in parallel and a lumped inductive element in series with the resonant element, selecting a first capacitance value for the capacitive element and a first inductance value for the inductive element, thereby creating a first temperature modeled filter circuit design, simulating the first temperature modeled filter circuit design at a first operating temperature, thereby generating a first frequency response, selecting a second capacitance value for the capacitive element and a second inductance value for the inductive element, thereby creating a second temperature modeled filter circuit design, simulating the second temperature modeled filter circuit design at a second operating temperature, thereby generating a second frequency response, and comparing the first and second frequency responses to the frequency response requirements.
US09405873B2 Method for improved accuracy of a substrate parasitic-resistance extraction in a circuit simulation
By considering a Deep Nwell diffusing into a Pwell region, accuracy of a substrate parasitic-resistance extraction is improved. A well region of a semiconductor integrated circuit where a Pwell and a Deep Nwell are formed in a substrate is divided into two or more meshes each including two or more resistor segments and a substrate noise is analyzed based thereon. In this regard, parallel components of resistors coupling the Pwell with the substrate are deleted in accordance with a state of the Deep Nwell diffusing into the Pwell region, so that an arithmetic processing unit executes a process for expressing a rise in the resistance value. By deleting the parallel components of the resistors coupling the Pwell with the substrate, the rise in the resistance value caused by the Deep Nwell can be reflected in the substrate parasitic-resistance extraction. Therefore, the accuracy of the substrate parasitic-resistance extraction can be improved.
US09405871B1 Determination of path delays in circuit designs
Determining delays of paths in a circuit design includes determining whether or not each path of the plurality of paths matches a path definition of a plurality of path definitions in a path database. For each path that matches a path definition, a first path delay value associated with the matching path definition is read from the path database and associated with the matching path of the circuit design. For each path that does not match any of the path definitions, respective element delay values of elements of the path are read from an element database. A second path delay value of the non-matching path is computed as a function of the respective element delay values, and the second path delay value is associated with the path. The first and second path delay values are output along with information indicating the associated paths.
US09405869B2 Rubber product elastic response performance prediction method, design method, and elastic response performance prediction apparatus
An elastic response performance prediction method that employs a finite element analysis method to predict an elastic response performance expressing deformation behavior of a rubber product. The elastic response performance of the rubber product is predicted by employing a constitutive equation that expresses temperature and strain dependence of strain energy in the rubber product expressed using a parameter representing intermolecular interaction.
US09405863B1 System and method for dynamic modeling of biochemical processes
Aspects of the disclosure pertain to a system and method for dynamic modeling of biochemical processes. The system and method allow for the models to be created collectively by the world-wide scientific community, while also providing a user-friendly system/method for promoting ease of building, simulation and analysis of the models.
US09405861B2 Method of modeling an illumination device
This invention relates to a method of designing an illumination device, wherein a light source unit is modeled with a set of rays. Therein, each ray is assigned a light power and is further characterized by a light volume, which specifies how “spread out” the light is in area and angle. In this way, a selection of rays with respect to their “density” becomes possible, and an optical system can be optimized for a transmission of those rays providing the most light per volume.
US09405860B1 Content addressable memory in which keys are embedded in comparators
A content addressable memory (CAM) system can include a comparator core in which all of the keys of the CAM are embedded in comparator blocks. A search key can be provided to each of the comparator blocks, which can compare the search key to its embedded key and determine whether the search key matches the embedded key. The comparator blocks can be organized into paged sets in the comparator core such that only one of the comparator blocks in each paged set is selected and compares its embedded key to the search key at any given time. The comparator block selected in each paged set can be incremented until the search key has been compared to the keys embedded in all of the comparator blocks of the comparator core.
US09405856B2 Task-oriented query-completion suggestions with shortcuts
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing task-oriented query-completion suggestions are provided. A portion of a search query is received, for instance, via a query-input region or search box presented in association with a general web search domain. As the portion of the search query is received, it is determined that the received search query portion is suggestive of a task-oriented user intent. Also determined are query-completion suggestions that are associated with the task-oriented user intent of which the search query portion is suggestive. The determined query-completion suggestions are then provided to the user. As query-completion suggestions are surfaced with input of short character sequences that are associated with task-oriented user intents, users can quickly be provided the relevant, rich content for completing their intended tasks.
US09405855B2 Processing diff-queries on property graphs
A system, computer-implemented method, and a computer-readable medium for determining why a query returns a null set in a database management system. When the database management system receives a query graph, database management system compares the query graph to the data graph. Based on the comparison, database management system identifies a discovered component of the query graph and a missing component of the query graph, wherein the missing query component indicates a reason for the null set.
US09405854B2 Event stream processing partitioning
In an example embodiment, event stream processing is performed by first parsing an input query into a directed acyclic graph (DAG) including a plurality of operator nodes. Then a grouping of one or more of the operator nodes is created. One or more partitions are created, either by the user or automatically, in the DAG by forming one or more duplicates of the grouping. A splitter node is created in the DAG, the splitter node splits data from one or more event streams and distributes it among the grouping and the duplicates of the grouping. Then, the input query is resolved by processing data from one or more event streams using the DAG.
US09405850B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, control methods therefor, and storage medium
This invention aims to improve the response characteristics of screen display in an information (image) processing apparatus capable of displaying a screen based on screen data provided from a Web server. The image processing apparatus transmits cache data, which is stored in association with content data acquired from a Web server, to a cache management server together with a user ID in logout of a user. The cache management server stores the cache data, which is received from the image processing apparatus, in association with the user ID. When the user then logs in to any image processing apparatus, the cache management server retrieves the cache data, which is stored in association with the user ID transmitted from the image processing apparatus, and transmits the retrieved cache data to the image processing apparatus.
US09405849B1 Inducing command inputs from property sequences
A method identifies pairs of first and second command inputs from respective user device sessions for which the first and second operation data are indicative of a first operation failure and a second operation success. The first operation data indicate a first operation performed on data from a first resource property in response to the first command input, and the second operation data indicate a second operation performed on data from a second resource property in response to the second command input. They system determines, from the identified pairs of first and second command inputs, command inputs for which a parsing rule that is associated with the second operation is to be generated.
US09405848B2 Recommending mobile device activities
Techniques for recommending mobile device activities, such as accessing mobile applications and/or mobile Web pages, are described. Some embodiments provide an Activity Recommendation System (“ARS”) configured to recommend relevant activities for a user to perform with a mobile device, based on context of the mobile device. In one embodiment, the ARS recommends mobile applications based content items (e.g., Web pages, images, videos) that are being currently accessed via the mobile device. The ARS may process information about mobile applications and content items to determine semantic information, such as entities and/or categories referenced or associated therewith. The ARS may then use the semantic information to determine mobile applications that have semantic information that is at least similar to that of a content item accessed via a mobile device.
US09405847B2 Contextual grouping of a page
A method includes generating, for a page comprising a plurality of elements, a contextual grouping of at least one of the plurality of elements based on an object model of the page. A method includes generating a user interface for a non-sighted user based on a page, the user interface comprising at least one contextual grouping generated based on an object model of the page. A method includes identifying a page to be analyzed, the page based on a document object model (DOM) and having a plurality of elements configured to be visually arranged when the page is generated for display. The method includes processing the identified page based on the DOM to include each of the plurality of elements in at least one contextual group associated with the page. The method includes facilitating navigation of the page by a non-sighted user using the at least one contextual group.
US09405846B2 Publish-subscribe based methods and apparatuses for associating data files
Various methods and apparatuses are provided which may be implemented using one or more computing devices within a networked computing environment to employ publish-subscribe techniques to associate subscriber encoded data files with a set of publisher encoded data files.
US09405842B2 Execution screen publication device, execution screen publication method, client device, and cloud computing system
A content selection unit refers to a content information database, which stores content provided to a plurality of client devices and information related to provision of the content, linking the content with the information to one another, and selects, based on the information acquired by referring to the content information database, a predetermined number of content items from the content currently provided to at least one of the plurality of client devices. A user selection unit refers to the content information database and selects, for each content item selected by the content selection unit, a user who is executing the selected content. A publication unit publicizes moving images showing a screen in which the content currently executed by the user selected by the user selection unit is being executed such that the screen is viewable on a network, cyclically switching from one content item to another.
US09405841B2 Dynamic search suggestion and category specific completion
Methods and systems for providing dynamic and category specific search suggestions are provided. According to one embodiment, a partial search query entered by a user can be used to determine a set of relevant search queries, which can be displayed as search suggestions within a search query suggestion window. Each query in the list can be associated with at least one specific category. According to various embodiments, the set of relevant queries and associated categories are dynamically updated as the user modifies the partial search query. Furthermore, each category is selectable by the user such that a detailed list of items associated only with the selected category can be displayed to the user.
US09405840B2 Using social signals to rank search results
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for using social signals to rank local search results. Local entity website addresses are matched with social network addresses and social network profiles are matched with local entity index records. Once it is known that a particular address or local entity index record aligns with a particular social network address or profile, interest signals associated with the social network are utilized to rank the particular address or local entity index record among other search results. In this way, the social network popularity of an entity may be taken into account in determining whether to provide information about the entity as a search result. Additionally, ranking may be improved for entities having incomplete or erroneous information available in association with a social network and for entities having a strong social network presence but a limited web presence.
US09405839B2 Requesting web pages and content rating information
A method and an apparatus request web pages and content rating information thereof have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request from a user for a web page, retrieving content rating of the web page in response to the request, and fetching the web page substantially simultaneously with the retrieving of the content rating in response to the request. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.
US09405834B1 System and method for identifying search results satisfying a search query
A computer-implemented method for identifying related search queries is performed on a server. The method includes receiving a search query from a user, identifying a set of ranked search results satisfying the search query, and identifying, using historical search query data, at least one last related search query in at least one chain of related search queries that is related to the search query and that includes at least one search result that was selected by users who issued the search query, each respective related search query in the at least one chain of related search queries except for the at least one last related search query in the at least one chain of related search queries violating a search result selection criterion. The method further includes returning the set of ranked search results and the at least one last related search query to the user.
US09405832B2 Application search query classifier
A user can input a search query. By assessing terms in the search query, the search query can be categorized (e.g., as a navigational, functional or browse query). The categorization can depend on an analysis of terms in the search query, a preliminary search, and/or empirical data tied to previous and similar searches. For example, searches estimated to be directed to finding a specific app can be categorized as navigational, based on capitalized letters, quotation marks, a short number of words in the query, and a tight distribution of apps typically downloaded subsequent to viewing results from the search. Based on the categorization, a search strategy can be identified. Search strategies can differentially weight and/or use text-based strategies.
US09405828B2 System and method for phonetic searching of data
A method of phonetically searching media information comprises receiving a plurality of search queries from one or more client systems and providing a phonetic representation of each search query. One or more search jobs are instantiated, each search job comprising a plurality of tasks, each task being arranged to sequentially read a block from an archive file. The archive file is stored within a distributed filing system (DFS) in which sequential blocks of data comprising the archive file are replicated to be locally available to one or more processors from a cluster of processors for executing the tasks. Each block stores index files corresponding to a plurality of source media files, each index file containing a phonetic stream corresponding to audio information for a given source media file. Each task obtains phonetic representations of outstanding search queries for a block and sequentially searches the block for each outstanding search query.
US09405827B2 Playlist generation of content gathered from multiple sources
Embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism for automatically creating a playlist for a user. In particular, data indicating music played by other users in the user's social network is collected. Music is then selected from this data and gathered from a music service in which the user subscribes, such as iTunes, Yahoo Music, etc. The service then builds the playlist with the gathered music.
US09405826B1 Systems and methods for digital signal processing
Systems and methods are provided for audio processing. A system includes: a component manager and a pipeline manager. The component manager is configured to communicate with a host system and manage one or more components for processing an audio stream. A component is associated with one or more audio processing functions. The pipeline manager is configured to manage one or more connections among the components. The connections indicate a processing flow involving the components.
US09405825B1 Automatic review excerpt extraction
Disclosed are various embodiments for extracting a representative review excerpt from a plurality of reviews associated with an item available for purchase in an electronic commerce system. A review extractor identifies a lexicon appearing in the reviews and associates each of the reviews with at least one category where the categories are based on the identified common lexicon. The review extractor then ranks the categories according to a ranking of attributes specified by consumer preferences. Upon ranking the categories, the review extractor then extracts a representative review excerpt based on a correlation between the number of reviews associated with each category and the ranking of that category as indicated by the consumer preferences.
US09405822B2 Queries of a topic-based-source-specific search system
Approaches for facilitating queries of a topic-based-source-specific search system are disclosed. In certain implementations, an input relating to a query may be received. Suggested ones of predefined sources and suggested ones of information items of the predefined sources may be determined based on the input. A set of suggestions including a group of suggestions relating to the suggested sources and a group of suggestions relating to the suggested information items may be provided for presentation on a user interface. In some implementations, metadata that indicates first, second, or other attributes relating to the predefined sources or the information items may be stored in association with the predefined sources or the information items. A second input relating to the query may be received responsive to providing the set of suggestions. A presentation of a comparison between the first attribute and the second attribute may be provided based on the second input.
US09405820B2 System and method for parallel searching of a document stream
A system and method for searching a document for a query pattern. A plurality of streams may be stored each including a linear sequence of nodes. Each stream may be associated with nodes having a common label in a data tree of the document. A query pattern may be searched for in the streams by executing a plurality of threads. Each of two or more of the threads may be used to search different sub-streams of the plurality of streams. Each of the different sub-streams searched for by each thread in each stream may be uniquely correlated with one or more disjoint sub-trees of a partition of the tree into a plurality of sub-trees. The two or more of the plurality of threads may be executed in parallel. A result of the query pattern search may be generated using at least one of the threads.
US09405819B2 Efficient indexing using compact decision diagrams
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing an inverted index of a searchable set of objects including key words. The inverted index includes multiple lists each corresponding to a particular key word and identifying a particular subset of the objects including the particular key word. The method includes generating a binary decision diagram (BDD) for each of one or more of the lists. The BDD corresponds to the particular key word of the list, and each decision node of the BDD represents an object in the searchable set of objects including the particular key word of the list. The method includes storing each of one or more of the lists as its BDD. Storage of the BDD facilitates more efficient storage of the inverted index.
US09405814B1 Apparatuses, methods and systems for a global data exchange
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A GLOBAL DATA EXCHANGE (hereinafter “GDE”) implement efficient and scalable monitoring, regulation, and allocation of computational processing, data, labor, and/or the like resources within an enterprise. In some embodiments, the GDE may provide a plurality of universal variables allocable to tables and/or fields across multiple, otherwise disparate database systems, facilitating integrability and exchange of data therebetween. In some implementations, the universal variables may be selectively chosen for broad applicability to a vast swath of enterprise data types and organizations, and may themselves be organized in accordance with a hierarchical schema facilitating business understanding and decision making. The GDE may further facilitate, in various implementations, report generation, data updating, and cohesion between different enterprise functions, systems, and applications through the use of universal variables and economical interface features.
US09405811B2 Systems and methods for interest-driven distributed data server systems
Systems and methods for interest-driven business intelligence systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In one embodiment, an interest-driven distributed data server system includes a processor, an interest-driven distributed data server application, aggregate data storage, and a data source directory, wherein the interest-driven distributed data server application configures the processor to obtain reporting data requirements, determine at least one data dimension using the reporting data requirements, identify at least one data source identified that can provide data associated with the data dimension, generate data source job data, transmit the data source job data to at least one data source, and receive job response data, store the received job response data in the aggregate data storage, build reporting data based on the reporting data requirements, and transmit the reporting data.
US09405809B2 Displaying visited document data
For displaying visited document data, code stores visited document data comprising a visited document address and a visited document description for each document visited. In addition, the code displays on the display one or more of a first visited document address and a first visited document description with a search result in response to a portion of the visited document address matching a portion of a search result address.
US09405805B2 Identification and ranking of news stories of interest
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for ranking news articles. A plurality of news articles referenced in one or more hub pages are identified, where each of the hub pages include respective references to one or more of the news articles. A score component is derived for a news article from a measure of a prominence of the news article in the hub pages that includes a reference to the news article.
US09405804B1 Identification of subgroup interests
This specification describes technologies relating to identification of interests of a subgroup of a larger group of users. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include receiving data reflecting characteristics for users in a set of users of a social networking platform, wherein the data reflects endorsements of pages hosted on the social networking platform. A subset of the users within the set is identified by excluding users in the set with characteristics that do not match filter criteria. For each of some of the pages endorsed by members of the subset, a measure of the likelihood of a user in the subset endorsing the page relative to the likelihood of other users in the set endorsing the page is calculated. One or more content items are selected based on the measures and data specifying the selected content items is transmitted.
US09405795B2 Stream data processing server and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a stream data processing program
A stream data processing server for processing stream data comprising a stream data processing module for cutting the plurality of pieces of data that are included within a processing range as a target out of the stream data by using a sliding window, and executing analyzing processing for the cut out plurality of pieces of data, the stream data processing module having an approximate expression; the approximate expression calculating module being configured to: determine one of the time stamps of the cut out plurality of pieces of data as a time origin; modify the time stamps of the cut out plurality of pieces of data to relative time values in relation to the determined time origin; and use the modified time stamps and the values of the plurality of pieces of data to calculate the approximate expression.
US09405794B2 Information retrieval system
An information retrieval system converts unstructured ad-hoc search queries into structured search instructions that retrieve data in a structured relational database or an unstructured database. Data from the database is uploaded into a distributed in-memory database system. Tokens are automatically generated based on attributes, measures, and other metadata extracted from the relational database. The tokens are then compared with the non-structured ad-hoc user search queries. The information retrieval system uses the tokens to identify or predict what structured data is associated with user search queries. The tokens guide the user through a set of search terms that the system then uses to generate the structured query instructions. The structured query instructions retrieve specific data and answers from in the database system.
US09405791B2 Remotely updated toolbar language translation service
A translation service provided by a browser toolbar may be automatically updated. In one implementation, a device may obtain a version identifier corresponding to a first configuration file, stored locally by the device, that includes configuration options relating to a language translation service provided by a browser toolbar implemented by the device. The device may request a version identifier corresponding to a second configuration file, stored at an update server and determine whether the second configuration file is different than the first configuration file. The device may download the second configuration file when the second configuration file is different than the first configuration file may update operation of the language translation service based on the obtained options.
US09405787B2 Distributed anonymization system, distributed anonymization device, and distributed anonymization method
The present invention provides a distributed anonymization device capable of executing a distributed anonymization process without the risk of leaking data of users to other parties. This distributed anonymization device is provided with: a storing means for storing a user identifier and personal information in association with one another; a setting means for setting, as a dummy identifier, the identifier that does not correspond to the user identifier from among all of the externally-notified identifiers; a separating means for separating all the identifiers including the dummy identifier into groups; a transmitting means for transmitting to another device, the separation information indicating the content of the identifiers in each group; and a determining means for determining, each of groups, whether the proportion of identifiers in the abovementioned distributed anonymization device and the other device satisfy a predetermined anonymity index.
US09405780B2 System and method for providing a global universal search box for the use with an enterprise crawl and search framework
Described herein are systems and methods for providing an enterprise crawl and search framework, including features such as use with middleware and enterprise application environments, pluggable security, search development tools, user interfaces, and governance. The system includes an enterprise crawl and search framework which abstracts an underlying search engine, provides a common set of APIs for developing search functionalities, and allows the framework to serve as an integration layer between one or more enterprise search engines and one or more enterprise applications. A computing environment can be used to display a global universal search box. A user can input search queries into the search box, which are then executed against crawled and/or searched data provided by the framework, and results, in the form of data represented by those searchable objects to which the user has entitlement to view, are returned dynamically, to update the contents of the search box.
US09405779B2 Search engine for a knowledge management system
A system includes a memory operable to store a search index. The system also includes a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to receive a search request relating to information stored in an ontology. The processor is further operable to parse the search request to determine a search type. The processor is further operable to query, based at least in part on the search type, one or more of the search index and the ontology.
US09405778B2 Content generation service for software testing
A method includes receiving a request to generate data which describes the data. A database of seed content and an algorithms database are searched. If both seed content and an algorithm are found, the algorithm is applied to the seed content, thereby generating data. Some embodiments may include advertising a content generation service. Users may register for the service.
US09405777B2 Registry emulation
A method for running a software application on a computer having an operating system that provides a local database containing consistent configuration data to be accessed by programs running on the computer. The method includes providing a file containing further configuration data required by the application, which further data are not stored in the local database. A request by the application to access the local database is intercepted, and an item of the further configuration data is returned from the file to the application, responsive to the request.
US09405776B2 Remote backup and restore
In one embodiment of the present invention, a data-backup method includes partitioning a fingerprint namespace among a cluster of backup servers, the fingerprint namespace comprising fingerprints for representing units of data, each backup server of the cluster of backup servers managing units of data having fingerprints corresponding to an assigned partition of the fingerprint namespace. The method further includes receiving backup information from a client computing device for a block of data comprising units of data, the backup information including at least a fingerprint for each of the units of data and client-specific backup information. In addition, the method includes, utilizing the fingerprint for each of the units of data, deduplicating the units of data in parallel at the cluster of backup servers in accordance with the partitioning step, the deduplicating step comprising identifying ones of the units data already stored by the cluster of backup servers.
US09405775B1 Ranking videos based on experimental data
A system and method for ranking additional videos based on experiment data. The system includes an additional video request retrieval unit to receive a request for a plurality of additional videos, and a number of the plurality of additional videos based on a video being served; an additional video database to retrieve the plurality of additional videos based on the video, and to retrieve a relevance ranking for each of the plurality of additional videos, a monetization ranking for each of the plurality of additional videos, and a likelihood ranking for each of the plurality of additional videos, the likelihood ranking being sourced from the experimental data; a weighting/ranking unit to assign a score for each of the plurality of videos based on the retrieved rankings from the additional video database; and an additional video selection unit to select the number of the plurality of videos based the score.
US09405772B2 Actionable search results for street view visual queries
A server system receives a visual query and information about the current location of the querying device. The server system sends the query and location information to a visual query search system and receives one or more search results in accordance with the visual query and the location information. From the one or more search results, the server system identifies an entity in the visual query. The server system further identifies a client-side action corresponding to the identified entity and creates an actionable search result element configured to launch the client-side action. For example, if the identified entity were a restaurant the actionable search result elements could include buttons to initiate a telephone call, to read reviews, to map the address, or to make a reservation. If the actionable search result is selected, the client system launches the client-side action in an application distinct from the visual query client application.
US09405771B2 Associating metadata with images in a personal image collection
Various technologies pertaining to assigning metadata to images in a personal image collection of a user based upon images and associated metadata assigned thereto that are accessible to the user by way of a social network application are described. An account of the user in a social network application is accessed to retrieve images and metadata that is accessible to the user. A face recognition algorithm is trained based upon the retrieved images and metadata, and the trained face recognition algorithm is executed over the personal image collection of the user, where the personal image collection of the user is external to the social network application.
US09405766B2 Prioritized data synchronization with host device
Improved techniques and apparatus for managing data between a host device (e.g., host computer) and a media device are disclosed. The data being managed can, for example, pertain to media data for media assets. The managing of the media data thus can involve transfer of media assets between the host device and the media device. In one embodiment, the transfer of media assets between a host device and a media device can be referred to as synchronization.
US09405764B1 Method for cleaning a delta storage system
A computer-implemented method for performing garbage collection in a delta compressed data storage system selects a file recipe to traverse to identify live data chunks and a chunk identifier from the file recipe. The chunk identifier is added to a set of live data chunks. Delta references in the file recipe corresponding to the chunk identifier are added to the set of live data chunks. Data chunks in a data storage system not identified by the set of live data chunks are discarded.
US09405763B2 De-duplication systems and methods for application-specific data
Content-aware systems and methods for improving de-duplication, or single instancing, in storage operations. In certain examples, backup agents on client devices parse application-specific data to identify data objects that are candidates for de-duplication. The backup agents can then insert markers or other indictors in the data that identify the location(s) of the particular data objects. Such markers can, in turn, assist a de-duplication manager to perform object-based de-duplication and increase the likelihood that like blocks within the data are identified and single instanced. In other examples, the agents can further determine if a data object of one file type can or should be single-instanced with a data object of a different file type. Such processing of data on the client side can provide for more efficient storage and back-end processing.
US09405749B2 Methods and data structures for improved searchable formatted documents including citation and corpus generation
Computer searchable annotated formatted documents are produced by correlating documents stored as a photographic or scanned graphic representations of an actual document (evidence, report, court order, etc.) with textual version of the same documents. A produced document will provide additional details in a computer data structure that supports citation annotation as well as other types of analysis of a document. The computer data structure also supports generation of citation reports and corpus reports. A computer method of creating searchable annotated formatted documents including citation and corpus reports by correlating and correcting text files with photographic or scanned graphic of the original documents. Data structures for correlating and correcting text files with graphic images. Generation of citation reports, concordance reports, and corpus reports. Data structures for citation reports, concordance reports, and corpus reports generation.
US09405746B2 User behavior models based on source domain
A method for tailoring content in a web page is provided. There is a relationship between the source domain a user comes from and the behavior pattern of a user on a website. To predict the behavior patterns of a particular user coming from a particular source domain, first a large dataset is compiled from user logs. Second, session analysis is performed on the dataset to identify sessions, session characteristics, page view categories, and source categories. Third, sessions are clustered and analyzed to determine how the behavior changes according to a source category. Fourth, a mapping between source categories and behavior patterns is generated. When a user requests a page view from a source domain, if the source domain is mapped to a source category, then a tailored version of the page view is presented to the user based on the mapping between source categories and behavior patterns.
US09405740B2 Document enhancement system and method
A system, apparatus and method for enhancing documents, including using a graphical capture device, are described herein.
US09405736B1 Method and system for automatically downloading and storing markup language documents into a folder based data structure
The present invention is directed to a system and method for processing a markup language file having one or more portions. Specifically, the system downloads a first markup language file using the hyper text transfer protocol and references the first markup language file by its uniform resource location or by a name of a local file on a system on which a user is operating. The first markup language is parsed for one or more portions of the first markup language file. Each portion of the first markup language file is stored into a directory structure containing folders, subfolders, and files complying with the structure of the first markup language file.
US09405725B2 Writing message to controller memory space
An embodiment may include circuitry that may write a message from a system memory in a host to a memory space in an input/output (I/O) controller in the host. A host operating system may reside, at least in part, in the system memory. The message may include both data and at least one descriptor associated with the data. The data may be included in the at least one descriptor. The circuitry also may signal the I/O controller that the writing has occurred.
US09405722B2 Method and apparatus for form filling
In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, every time a user submits a form the client software tries to match the submitted information with the stored profile of that user. If a match is discovered, the program tags the field of the recognized data with a corresponding type. The resulting profile can be used after that to help all subsequent users to fill the same form.
US09405721B2 Apparatuses and methods for performing a databus inversion operation
Apparatuses and methods for performing a data bus inversion operation (DBI) are described. An example apparatus includes a DBI circuit configured to, in parallel, determine preliminary DBI bits based on a block of data. Individual preliminary DBI bits are associated with respective sub-blocks of the block of data. The DBI circuit is further configured to serially determine DBI bits based on the preliminary DBI bits. Individual ones of the DBI bits are associated with respective ones of the sub-blocks. The DBI circuit is further configured to invert bits of individual sub-blocks responsive to the respective associated DBI bits having a particular logical value to provide DBI data. The apparatus further includes data outputs configured to serially output sub-blocks of the DBI data and the DBI bits.
US09405720B2 Managing wait states for memory access
A latch signal is received from a non-volatile memory device that is indicative of a current access time for the non-volatile memory device. The access time represents an amount of time required for the non-volatile memory device to make data available responsive to a request for data. A bus system clock signal is received. The latch signal is evaluated and a wait state for the non-volatile memory device is adjusted based on the evaluation. The wait state represents a number of cycles of the bus system clock used by a central processing unit for an access of the non-volatile memory device. A bus system data ready signal that is triggered based on the adjusted wait state is produced. The bus system data ready signal, when triggered, indicates that data is available responsive to the request.
US09405719B2 Circuitry to generate and/or use at least one transmission time in at least one descriptor
An embodiment may include circuitry that may generate and/or use, at least in part, at least one descriptor to be associated with at least one packet. The at least one descriptor may specify at least one transmission time at which the at least one packet is to be transmitted. The at least one transmission time may be specified in the at least one descriptor in such a manner as to permit the at least one transmission time to be explicitly identified based at least in part upon the at least one descriptor. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US09405715B2 Host computer and method for managing SAS expanders of SAS expander storage system
In a method for managing serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) expanders using a host computer, the host computer connects to an SAS expander storage system through a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) card. The SAS expander storage system includes a first switch device, a first SAS expander, a second SAS expander, a second switch, a flash memory, and hard disk drives. The method controls the first switch device to switch the RAID card from the first SAS expander to the second SAS expander when the first SAS expander fails to function, controls the second switch device to switch the flash memory from the first SAS expander to the second SAS expander, and controls the first switch device to connect each of the hard disk drives to the second SAS expander.
US09405712B2 On-chip traffic prioritization in memory
According to one embodiment, a memory device is provided. The memory device includes a processing element coupled to a crossbar interconnect. The processing element is configured to send a memory access request, including a priority value, to the crossbar interconnect. The crossbar interconnect is configured to route the memory access request to a memory controller associated with the memory access request. The memory controller is coupled to memory and to the crossbar interconnect. The memory controller includes a queue and is configured to compare the priority value of the memory access request to priority values of a plurality of memory access requests stored in the queue of the memory controller to determine a highest priority memory access request and perform a next memory access request based on the highest priority memory access request.
US09405711B2 On-chip traffic prioritization in memory
According to one embodiment, a method for traffic prioritization in a memory device includes sending a memory access request including a priority value from a processing element in the memory device to a crossbar interconnect in the memory device. The memory access request is routed through the crossbar interconnect to a memory controller in the memory device associated with the memory access request. The memory access request is received at the memory controller. The priority value of the memory access request is compared to priority values of a plurality of memory access requests stored in a queue of the memory controller to determine a highest priority memory access request. A next memory access request is performed by the memory controller based on the highest priority memory access request.
US09405708B1 Preventing attacks that rely on same-page merging by virtualization environment guests
In a virtualization environment, a guest process may protect itself from potential timing side-channel attacks by other guest processes on the same host machine by taking steps to avoid same-page merging for memory pages that it accesses. Pages that include critical code (e.g., cryptographic functions) or sensitive data (e.g., cryptography keys) may be designated as important pages to protect from such attacks. A placeholder location of a specified size for storing a non-deterministic value (e.g., a random or pseudorandom number) may be inserted into these pages when instantiated, making them unlikely to match pages accessed by other guests. Therefore, the host machine may be unlikely to identify them as pages for which there is a same-page merging opportunity. The values in the placeholder locations may be updated periodically or in response to certain events (e.g., context switches between guests or the detection of same-page merging).
US09405704B2 Establishing a point-in-time copy relationship between source logical addresses and target logical addresses
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for establishing a point-in-time copy relationship between source logical addresses and target logical addresses. A point-in-time (PiT) copy establish command specifies a source set comprising a subset of source logical addresses in at least one storage and a target set comprising a subset of target logical addresses in the at least one storage. The source set of source logical addresses are copied to the target set of target logical addresses. The source logical addresses map to source tracks and wherein the target logical addresses map to target tracks. Copy information is generated indicating whether the source logical addresses in the source set have been copied to the target set. Complete is returned to the PiT copy establish command after generating the copy information and before copying all the source logical addresses to the target logical addresses.
US09405702B2 Caching TLB translations using a unified page table walker cache
A core executes memory instructions. A memory management unit (MMU) coupled to the core includes a first cache that stores a plurality of final mappings of a hierarchical page table, a page table walker that traverses levels of the page table to provide intermediate results associated with respective levels for determining the final mappings, and a second cache that stores a limited number of intermediate results provided by the page table walker. The MMU compares a portion of the first virtual address to portions of entries in the second cache, in response to a request from the core to invalidate a first virtual address, based on a match criterion that depends on the level associated with each intermediate result stored in an entry in the second cache, and removes any entries in the second cache that satisfy the match criterion.
US09405694B2 Caching data between a database server and a storage system
Techniques are provided for using an intermediate cache between the shared cache of an application and the non-volatile storage of a storage system. The application may be any type of application that uses a storage system to persistently store data. The intermediate cache may be local to the machine upon which the application is executing, or may be implemented within the storage system. In one embodiment where the application is a database server, the database system includes both a DB server-side intermediate cache, and a storage-side intermediate cache. The caching policies used to populate the intermediate cache are intelligent, taking into account factors that may include which object an item belongs to, the item type of the item, a characteristic of the item, or the type of operation in which the item is involved.
US09405693B2 Non-volatile memory cache performance improvement
In order to provide a more efficient persistent storage device, one or more long-term storage media are included along with a non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, one portion of the non-volatile memory is used as a write buffer and a read cache for writes and reads to the long-term storage media. Interfaces are provided for controlling the use of the non-volatile memory as a write buffer and a read cache. Additionally, a portion of the non-volatile memory is used to provide a direct mapping for specified sectors of the long-term storage media. Descriptive data regarding the persistent storage device is stored in another portion of the non-volatile memory.
US09405691B2 Locating cached data in a multi-core processor
Techniques described herein are generally related to managing cached memory addresses in a multi-core processor device that has a plurality of cores and a plurality of caches. Communication between the plurality of caches of and a main memory may be monitored. One or more memory addresses cached by the plurality of cores may be identified based on the monitored communications. A probabilistic memory address distribution table of the locations of the one or more memory addresses cached by the plurality of core may be generated and location of a given memory address can be predicted based upon the probabilistic memory address distribution table.
US09405688B2 Method, apparatus, system for handling address conflicts in a distributed memory fabric architecture
Method, apparatus and system for handling address conflicts in distributed memory fabrics. Memory access requests originating from caching agents and Input/Output (I/O) agents in a computer system are serviced concurrently through use of a distributed memory fabric architecture employing parallel pipelines while maintaining memory coherency for cachelines associated with the caching agents and enforcing memory access ordering for memory access requests originating from I/O agents.
US09405683B2 Processor and memory control method for allocating instructions to a cache and a scratch pad memory
A processor and a memory management method are provided. The processor includes a processor core, a cache which transceives data to/from the processor core via a single port, and stores the data accessed by the processor core, and a Scratch Pad Memory (SPM) which transceives the data to/from the processor core via at least one of a plurality of multi ports.
US09405677B2 Dynamic tuning of internal parameters for solid-state disk based on workload access patterns
A system and method for tuning a solid state disk memory includes computing a metric representing a usage trend of a solid state disk memory. Whether one or more parameters need to be adjusted to provide a change in performance is determined. The parameter is adjusted in accordance with the metric to impact the performance of running workloads. These steps are repeated after an elapsed time interval.
US09405670B2 Wear leveling method and apparatus
The present invention discloses a wear leveling method; the method determines a pool mask for each physical block based on an erase number of each physical block. For different erase numbers, masks of the physical blocks are determined as cool pool mask CPM, normal pool mask NPM or hot pool mask HPM. When the pool mask of one physical block is changed from NPM to HPM, data of any physical block of which the pool mask is CPM is copied to the physical block of which the pool mask is HPM, and the physical block of which the pool mask is CPM is recycled as a garbage block. The present invention discloses a wear leveling apparatus, the method and apparatus can reduce additional wear caused by the wear leveling.
US09405668B1 Data storage device initialization information accessed by searching for pointer information
A data storage device including non-volatile storage is initialized from initialization information stored in an information initialization area. A pointer area is also provided on the non-volatile storage for storing initialization pointer information. Pointer information includes a sequence identifier. A processor is configured to read the storage locations in the pointer area and used the information to locate and read initialization information from the located initialization information area to initialize the data storage device. In one embodiment, sequence identifiers are examined to locate most recent sequence identifier for initialization. In other embodiments, more than one initialization area and/or pointer area may be used for robustness.
US09405663B2 Generating an optimized test suite from models for use in a software testing environment
Generating an optimized test suite for use in a software testing environment. This invention relates to software testing systems, and more particularly to generating an optimized test suite for using in a software testing system. The principal object of this invention is to propose a method and system for generation of an optimized test suite using a sequential process with a combination of custom and generic optimization techniques.
US09405662B2 Process for displaying test coverage data during code reviews
Provided are methods and systems for monitoring code changes sent for review during the code review process, and performing test coverage calculations on the code changes to generate corresponding test coverage data. A code coverage service monitors code changes input to a code review system and automatically performs test coverage calculations on any code change determined to have significantly evolved as a result of the code review process. The code coverage service provides a notification of the resulting test coverage data (e.g., test coverage number) to various users and/or systems associated with the code change, including the code reviewer, the author of the code, the code review system, other notification systems, and/or any combination thereof. The test coverage data can be utilized in a comprehensive assessment of the code health of the relevant code involved.
US09405651B1 Apparatus and method for processing log file data
A computer implemented method includes receiving a log file with a textual description of the operation of a system. The textual description is converted to event waveforms, where each event waveform has a time axis and event indicia. A representation of the event waveforms is supplied.
US09405650B2 Peripheral component health monitoring apparatus
An apparatus for monitoring the health of a peripheral component of an information handling system. An aggregation logic circuit coupled to a communication path provides data communication with each of a plurality of electrical circuits disposed on the peripheral component, the aggregation logic circuit providing a feedback signal representative of the health of the peripheral component during operation of the peripheral component.
US09405648B2 Built-in self-test circuit and semiconductor device including the same
A built-in self-test circuit includes a command storage unit that stores commands inputted from an external device, an input/output control unit that controls the command storage unit to sequentially store the commands and sequentially output stored commands as internal commands in a test operation, and a command decoder unit that decodes the internal commands outputted from the command storage unit and outputs a test command.
US09405644B2 Redundant automation system
A redundant automation system having a plurality of automation devices which are connected to one another comprises a plurality of master devices and a slave device. Each of the plurality of automation devices processes a control program in order to control a technical process. At least one of the plurality of automation devices operates as a slave and at least two of the plurality of automation devices, each operates as a master. The plurality of master devices is each configured to run a respective master program and to process processing sections of the respective master program of the respective master program, and the slave device is configured to process a corresponding slave control program for each master control program run by the plurality of master devices and, if one of the plurality of master devices fails, to assume the function of the failed master.
US09405641B2 System and method for providing server application services with high availability and a many-to-one hardware configuration
A suite of network-based services, such as the services corresponding to the server application distributed by Microsoft® SharePoint™, may be provided to users with high availability. The suite of network-based services may include browser-based collaboration functions, process management functions, index and search functions, document-management functions, help and help search functions, and/or other functions. A plurality of computing devices functioning as servers may be backed up by a single computing device.
US09405639B2 Systems and methods for retrieving data
Apparatus and methods, such as those that read data from non-volatile integrated circuit memory devices, such as NAND flash. For example, disclosed techniques can be embodied in a device driver of an operating system. Errors are tracked during read operations. If sufficient errors are observed during read operations, the block is then retired when it is requested to be erased or a page of the block is to be written. One embodiment is a technique to recover data from uncorrectable errors. For example, a read mode can be changed to a more reliable read mode to attempt to recover data. One embodiment further returns data from the memory device regardless of whether the data was correctable by decoding of error correction code data or not.
US09405638B2 Fault detection method, gateway, user equipment, and communications system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a fault detection method, including discovering that a fault occurs in a DNS server or a service server related to a UE; performing, by a gateway, fault detection on the DNS server or the service server; and, after the fault is rectified, instructing the UE to establish a connection to the DNS server or the service server. Correspondingly, the embodiments of the present invention further provide a gateway, a UE, and a communications system, thereby avoiding frequent air interface release and connections, and frequent bearer deactivation and activation, which reduces the signaling overhead of the system, and enhances stability of a mobile network.
US09405635B2 Multi-source restore in an information management system
According to certain aspects, an information management system may identify a set of secondary storage computing devices residing in a secondary storage subsystem, wherein each of at least two storage devices that each store a separate copy of a first file is associated with at least one of the secondary storage computing devices in the set. The system may also select a subset of the set of secondary storage computing devices based on stored selection criteria. The system can, using a first secondary storage computing device, initiate a restore operation of a first copy of the first file stored in a first storage device associated with at least the first secondary storage computing device and, using a second secondary storage computing device, initiate a restore operation of a second copy of the first file stored in a second storage device associated with at least the second secondary storage computing device.
US09405630B2 Methods and apparatus to perform site recovery of a virtual data center
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform site recovery of a virtual data center are disclosed. An example method includes discovering a work item to be included in a protection group associated with a recovery plan. The work item is not included in the protection group prior to execution of the site recovery workflow and the work item is discovered during execution of a site recovery workflow. The method also includes causing an operation of the site recovery workflow to be performed on the work item, and storing, in a persistable data container, a work item identifier identifying the work item. A result indicating the outcome of the operation performed on the work item is also stored. In some examples, the persistable data container is accessible to a status output device.
US09405628B2 Data migration using multi-storage volume swap
In one embodiment of the present description, data is migrated to a replacement source storage unit of a storage subsystem while being mirrored from the original source storage unit of a storage subsystem to an original target storage unit of a storage subsystem, and the original source storage unit and the replacement storage unit are swapped in a multi-storage volume swap to write updates to the replacement source storage unit instead of the original source storage unit, in input/output operations issued by at least one host. Further, data stored in the replacement source storage unit, is mirrored from the replacement source storage unit to the original target unit. Other aspects are described.
US09405626B1 At risk data caching (ARDC)
A method, computer program product, and computing system for sensing the occurrence of an degraded condition within a data stripe of a RAID array. The data strip includes one or more valid data portions, one invalid data portion, and a parity portion. A request to write updated content to a target data portion within the data stripe is received, wherein the target data portion is one of the valid data portions. The valid data portions and the parity portion are read from the data stripe. The invalid data portion is reconstructed using the valid data portions and the parity portion, thus generating a reconstructed data portion. The reconstructed data portion is stored within a mirrored cache memory system. The parity portion is updated to define the updated content, thus defining an updated parity portion. The updated parity portion is written to the data stripe and the updated content is written to the target data portion within the data stripe.
US09405625B2 Optimizing and enhancing performance for parity based storage
A mechanism is provided for optimizing and enhancing performance for parity based storage, particularly redundant array of independent disk (RAID) storage. The mechanism optimizes a repetitive pattern write command for performance for storage configurations that require parity calculations. The mechanism eliminates the need for laborious parity calculations that are resource intensive and add to IO latency. For repetitive write commands that span across the full stripe of a RAID5 or similar volume, the mechanism calculates parity by looking at the pattern and the number of columns in the volume. The mechanism may avoid the XOR operation altogether for repetitive pattern write commands. The mechanism may enhance secure delete operations that use repetitive pattern write commands by eliminating data reliability operations like parity generation and writing altogether.
US09405624B2 On-die error detection and correction during multi-step programming
An apparatus having a memory and a controller is disclosed. The memory is configured to (i) program a protected lower unit in a lower page of a location, (ii) generate a corrected lower unit by correcting the protected lower unit using a first error correction code and (iii) program a protected upper unit in an upper page of the location based on the corrected lower unit. The controller is configured to generate the protected upper unit by encoding an upper write data item using a second error correction code. The controller is on a separate die as the memory.
US09405623B2 Method of, and apparatus for, layout rectification of erasure encoded storage systems
There is provided a method of recovering configuration metadata from an erasure encoded RAID array. The RAID array includes raw data including a plurality of codewords encoded using Reed-Solomon encoding. The codewords include message data and checksum data, and the configuration metadata includes parameters relating to the layout of the RAID array. The method includes reading, from the RAID array, raw data including message data and checksum data. Then a set of linear equations are defined using the message data and checksum data. The linear equations are then solved and then, from the solved linear equations, one or more parameters relating to the layout of the RAID array are determined.
US09405621B2 Green eMMC device (GeD) controller with DRAM data persistence, data-type splitting, meta-page grouping, and diversion of temp files for enhanced flash endurance
A controller for a Super Enhanced Endurance Device (SEED) or Solid-State Drive (SSD) increases flash endurance using a DRAM buffer. Host accesses to flash are intercepted by the controller and categorized as data types of paging files, temporary files, meta-data, and user data files, using address ranges and file extensions read from meta-data tables. Paging files and temporary files are optionally written to flash. Full-page and partial-page data are grouped into multi-page meta-pages by data type in the DRAM before storage by lower-level flash devices such as eMMC, UFS, or iSSD. Caches in the DRAM buffer for storing each data type are managed and flushed to the flash devices by the controller. Write dates are stored for pages or blocks for management functions. A spare/swap area in DRAM reduces flash wear. Reference voltages are adjusted when error correction fails.
US09405618B2 Marker programming in non-volatile memories
A method and a memory controller for accessing a non-volatile memory are disclosed. The method includes reading a first memory region of the non-volatile memory, ascertaining whether the first memory region contains a predetermined data pattern wherein the predetermined data pattern has no influence on resulting error correcting data determined for at least the first memory region. The method evaluating a data status for a second memory region of the non-volatile memory on the basis of a presence of the predetermined data pattern in the first memory region, wherein the data status indicates at least one of whether valid data is present within the second memory region and whether the second memory region is writable.
US09405616B2 Reliability metric for decoding hypothesis
A reliability metric is used for determining whether to prune a decoding hypothesis. For example, a reliability metric can be generated for each possible hypothesis generated during blind decoding operations. The reliability metric can then be used in a pruning process whereby a determination to prune a given hypothesis is based on whether the corresponding reliability metric is above or below a reliability metric threshold. In some aspects, the reliability metric is based on the correlation between the symbols of a hypothesis and re-encoded symbols that are based on the hypothesis, whereby the correlation is normalized using an estimated power parameter that is independent of the hypothesis. Through the use of the reliability metric, decoding may be achieved with a low probability of false passes (in the case of noise) and a low probability of missed detection (in the case of a real signal).
US09405615B2 Method of operating nonvolatile memory device comprising resistance material
A method of operating a nonvolatile memory device comprises applying a read current with a first level to a nonvolatile memory cell comprising a variable resistance material, determining read data based on the applied read current, checking a syndrome corresponding to the read data to determine whether the read data is pass or fail, changing the read current from the first level to a second level, which is different from the first level, according to the determination of whether the read data is pass or fail, and performing a read-retry operation comprising applying the read current of the second level to the nonvolatile memory cell.
US09405614B2 Method and system for reducing write-buffer capacities within memristor-based data-storage devices
One example disclosed in the application is an electronic data-storage device comprising one or more arrays of memory elements. The data-storage device also includes an error-control-coding encoder that encodes received data and a READ/WRITE controller that writes encoded data received from the error-control-coding encoder to a number of memory elements by applying the switching-inducing force or gradient to the one or more arrays of memory elements until more than a maximum-allowed number of WRITE requests have been queued to the WRITE-request buffer, until feedback signals indicate that the WRITE operation has completed, or until the switching-inducing force or gradient has been applied for a maximum application time.
US09405607B2 Memory controller utilizing an error coding dispersal function
A memory controller comprises at least a memory control processing module and/or a distributed storage processing module. A method begins by the memory control processing module receiving a memory access request regarding a data segment. The method continues with the memory control processing module interpreting the memory access request to determine whether an error coding dispersal function of the data segment is applicable. The method continues with the memory control processing module sending the memory access request to the distributed storage processing module when the error coding dispersal function is applicable. The method continues with the distributed storage processing module performing the error coding dispersal function on the data segment to produce an error coded processed data segment. The method continues with the distributed storage processing module sending the error coded processed data segment to the memory control processing module.
US09405606B2 Clustered filesystems for mix of trusted and untrusted nodes
A cluster of computer system nodes share direct read/write access to storage devices via a storage area network using a cluster filesystem. At least one trusted metadata server assigns a mandatory access control label as an extended attribute of each filesystem object regardless of whether required by a client node accessing the filesystem object. The mandatory access control label indicates the sensitivity and integrity of the filesystem object and is used by the trusted metadata server(s) to control access to the filesystem object by all client nodes.
US09405602B1 Method for application notification and tasking
A method for notifying and tasking computer applications hosted by an application execution system by computer applications external to the application execution system is provided. An external computer application may use an external Task queue API to add tasks to the internal application's task queue. The internal application can then see the tasks and act upon the tasks at a convenient, non-busy time for the internal application. An intermediary subscription system may manage an internal application's event subscriptions. When an event occurs, the intermediary subscription system may add a task to the subscribing internal application's task queue. A second intermediate system manages the access control list of an internal application's task queue. This system restricts access to the task queue to only those external applications that are explicitly granted permission in the internal application's task queue configuration file.
US09405600B2 Electronic device to provide notification of event
An electronic device may be provided that includes logic, at least partially implemented in hardware, to detect an occurrence of a blocking instance at the electronic device, and store information related to an event received at the electronic device, the event received during the blocking instance, in response to the occurrence of the blocking instance at the electronic device.
US09405599B2 Methods and apparatus to detect uninstallation of an on-device meter
Example methods and apparatus to detect uninstallation of an on-device meter are disclosed. An example method includes identifying, at a second application on a mobile device, a first notification that the first application is to be uninstalled. A prompt is displayed asking whether the second application is to be uninstalled in response to the first notification. An uninstallation notification is transmitted to a remote data collector, the uninstallation notification including an identifier to identify at least one of the mobile device associated with the uninstallation or a user of the mobile device.
US09405598B2 Retrospective event processing pattern language and execution model extension
A novel and useful method, system and framework for extending event processing pattern language to include constructs and patterns in the language to support historical patterns and associated retrospective event processing that enable a user to define patterns that consist of both on-line streaming and historical (retrospective) patterns. This enables entire functions to be expressed in a single pattern language and also enables event processing optimization whereby function processing is mapped to a plurality of event processing agents (EPAs). The EPAs in turn are assigned to a physical processor and to threads within the processor.
US09405597B1 Centralized throttling service
A method and system are provided that may centralize the management of applications that access the data of social networks via API calls. A central service may generate tokens at a generation rate that permit an application to access an API. The tokens may be distributed to queues associated with certain content types. The relative distribution of tokens to each queue may be determined by rules. A queue may release tokens to applications that function to access the content type associated with the queue. The token generation rate and rules may be selected to prevent violation of the rate limits for the API.
US09405592B2 Workload balancing to handle skews for big data analytics
Data partitions are assigned to reducer tasks using a cost-based and workload balancing approach. At least one of the initial data partitions remains unassigned in an unassigned partitions pool. Each reducer while working on its assigned partitions makes dynamic run-time decisions as to whether to: reassign a partition to another reducer, accept a partition from another reducer, select a partition from the unassigned partitions pool, and/or reassign a partition back to the unassigned partitions pool.
US09405591B2 Method for dynamic load balancing in campus deployments
A method is described for dynamically assigning tasks to entities of different types within a network system based on preferences to perform the tasks on particular entities and/or network/device conditions. This ability to dynamically assign processing of tasks between disparate devices in a network system provides a more efficient network configuration and utilization of resources while not compromising throughput, overall network security, and/or network flexibility.
US09405588B2 Cloud resource allocation system and method
Assigning virtual machines to host machines in a cloud computing arrangement includes at least one of several techniques that facilitate reducing or minimizing the number of host machines serving virtual machines. One technique includes using place holders in place of a virtual machine that vacates a host machine. The place holders indicate the type of vacated virtual machine and are replaced with a new virtual machine request of a corresponding type. Another technique includes a greedy assignment algorithm for identifying a host machine for a new virtual machine request that will yield an optimized increment to a value of a function that corresponds to a current cloud resource allocation. One technique includes using a modified version of a derivative of the function used in the greedy assignment algorithm, with the modification depending on a number of virtual machines in the cloud system at the time of the new request.
US09405587B2 Automated capacity provisioning method using historical performance data
The method may include collecting performance data relating to processing nodes of a computer system which provide services via one or more applications, analyzing the performance data to generate an operational profile characterizing resource usage of the processing nodes, receiving a set of attributes characterizing expected performance goals in which the services are expected to be provided, and generating at least one provisioning policy based on an analysis of the operational profile in conjunction with the set of attributes. The at least one provisioning policy may specify a condition for re-allocating resources associated with at least one processing node in a manner that satisfies the performance goals of the set of attributes. The method may further include re-allocating, during runtime, the resources associated with the at least one processing node when the condition of the at least one provisioning policy is determined as satisfied.
US09405585B2 Management of heterogeneous workloads
Systems and methods for managing a system of heterogeneous workloads are provided. Work that enters the system is separated into a plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of high-level quality of service goals is gathered. At least one of the plurality of high-level quality of service goals corresponds to each of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of control functions are determined that are provided by virtualizations on one or more containers in which one or more of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads run. An expected utility of a plurality of settings of at least one of the plurality of control functions is determined in response to the plurality of high-level quality of service goals. At least one of the plurality of control functions is exercised in response to the expected utility to effect changes in the behavior of the system.
US09405582B2 Dynamic parallel distributed job configuration in a shared-resource environment
Dynamically adjusting the parameters of a parallel, distributed job in response to changes to the status of the job cluster. Includes beginning execution of a job in a cluster, receiving cluster status information, determining a job performance impact of the cluster status, reconfiguring job parameters based on the performance impact, and continuing execution of the job using the updated configuration. Dynamically requesting a change to the resources of the job cluster for a parallel, distributed job in response to changes in job status. Includes beginning execution of a job in a cluster, receiving job status information, determining a job performance impact, requesting a changed allocation of cluster resources based on the determined job performance impact, reconfiguring one or more job parameters based on the changed allocation, and continuing execution of the job using the updated configuration.
US09405580B2 Method of sequencing on a multicore processor
The present invention relates to the field of real-time executives and their adaptation for secure execution on a multicore processor. There is defined, in addition to the level of certification intrinsic to each task, a level of security relating to the criticality of the execution of the instance of the task in its context and by a method of sequencing distributed over the various cores which make it possible to exchange, during each time interval, the information relating to the level of certification and to the level of security of each of the tasks getting ready to be launched. A decision is then taken on each core for launching the task envisaged as a function of the relevant information received from the other cores.
US09405575B2 Use of multi-thread hardware for efficient sampling
This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable media for utilizing an unused hardware thread of a multi-core microcontroller of a graphical processing unit (GPU) to gather sampling data of commands being executed by the GPU. The multi-core microcontroller may include two or more hardware threads and may be responsible for managing the scheduling of commands on the GPU. In one embodiment, the firmware code of the multi-core microcontroller which is responsible for running the GPU may run entirely on one hardware thread of the microcontroller, while the second hardware thread is kept in a dormant state. This second hardware thread may be used for gathering sampling data of the commands run on the GPU. The sampling data can be used to assist developers identify bottlenecks and to help them optimize their software programs.
US09405573B2 System and method for process run-time prediction
Various embodiments provide process run-time prediction for processes running on server computers. In one embodiment, process run-time of a process is determined by building a database with a history of users, command lines and runtime associated with each command line, and comparing the process with stored records of completed processes in the database. In some embodiments, in response to a determination that the time interval of a process is likely to intersect a planned maintenance period on a server computer, a maintenance notification can be sent to a user of the process and therefore allow the affected process to be migrated to unaffected server computer(s).
US09405569B2 Determining virtual machine utilization of distributed computed system infrastructure
Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a resource management node having a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes computer readable program code that when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform operations. The operations include, for each of a plurality of guest virtual machines (VMs) of a VM cluster provided by computer operations of a physical machine among a plurality of physical machines within a distributed computing system, determining a productivity metric for the guest VM based on resources of the physical machine that are used by the guest VM. The operations further include for each of the guest VMs, determining, based on the productivity metric for the guest VM, an infrastructure value that indicates how much infrastructure of the distributed computing system is attributed to providing the guest VM.
US09405568B2 Multi-tenant network stack
Multi-tenant network stack techniques are described. In an implementation, a host instantiates an instance of virtual machine that is configured to serve networks service to multiple tenants and corresponding virtual networks. To do so, a framing layer of the virtual machine may be configured to obtain configuration data indicative of topology for a multi-tenant virtual networking environment from a virtual switch of a host device. The framing layer uses the configuration data to construct routing compartments and interfaces as abstractions of each virtual network in accordance with the topology. The routing compartments are isolated from each other and provide a mechanism for applications to process network input/output (I/O) in the context of a specific tenant or virtual network. The single virtual machine is able to provide services and applications to serve multiple tenants that are independent of the underlying virtualization technology.
US09405564B2 System and method for targeting commands to concurrent computing units executing a concurrent computing process
A graphical user interface for a concurrent computing environment that conveys the concurrent nature of a computing environment and allows a user to monitor the status of a concurrent process being executed on multiple concurrent computing units is discussed. The graphical user interface allows the user to target specific concurrent computer units to receive commands. The graphical user interface also alters the command prompt to reflect the currently targeted concurrent computing units.
US09405563B2 Resource management method and apparatus for virtual machine system, and virtual machine system
An embodiment of the present invention provides a resource management method for a virtual machine system, where the method includes: obtaining, by a virtual resource management platform, a QoS constraint parameter of a virtual machine cluster and a current operating status statistical indicator of the virtual machine cluster, and according to the QoS constraint parameter of the virtual machine cluster and the current operating status statistical indicator of the virtual machine cluster, adjusting physical resources scheduling policy of a physical device platform or performing physical resource scheduling on the physical device platform. The method may ensure QoS of a cloud application.
US09405562B2 Set top box application in a concurrent dual environment
A set top box or like device utilizing virtualization techniques to isolate secure device resources from an untrusted software framework incorporated in the device. In one implementation, a first virtual machine container is provided for secure execution of a traditional set top box application, while a second virtual machine container is utilized to host a software framework or untrusted portions of a software framework. A secure access client/server interface is provided to support interactions between the first and second virtual machine containers. The software framework may comprise, for example, an Android framework supported by an underlying Linux operating system environment and isolated in a Linux resource container. Virtual container constructs in various embodiments may employ varying levels of hardware sandboxing, including use of dedicated processing resources in multi-processor environments. In further embodiments, the software framework may be partitioned into trusted and untrusted portions that are executed in separate virtual containers.
US09405561B2 Method and system for memory overlays for portable function pointers
A system and method for implementing memory overlays for portable pointer variables. The method includes providing a program executable by a heterogeneous processing system comprising a plurality of a processors running a plurality of instruction set architectures (ISAs). The method also includes providing a plurality of processor specific functions associated with a function pointer in the program. The method includes executing the program by a first processor. The method includes dereferencing the function pointer by mapping the function pointer to a corresponding processor specific feature based on which processor in the plurality of processors is executing the program.
US09405557B2 Method and apparatus for providing a remote control user interface
A method and an apparatus are provided for providing a remote User Interface (UI) to a terminal in a remote UI system. The method includes downloading, by the first terminal, an application from a remote server; driving the application; requesting a new application from the remote server; receiving the new application from the remote server; driving the new application; requesting a second terminal to a change the control UI according to the new application; receiving a message requesting a new control UI for controlling the new application from the second terminal; and providing the new control UI for controlling the new application to the second terminal in response to the message.
US09405556B2 Dynamic addition and removal of operating system components
Systems, computer program products and computer program products for facilitating the dynamic addition and removal of operating system components on computing devices based on application or user interaction over time are disclosed. Such systems, computer program products and computer program products provide one or more API intercept layers, a rules engine and a hydrate engine that facilitates the ability to dynamically rehydrate or hydrate operating system components. In an embodiment, a minimal (or core) operating system image on a computing device is deployed. Then, required components may be dynamically added (i.e., “streamed” or “rehydrated”) from storage, a server or cloud service as required by an executing application program on the computing device. In another embodiment, a totally complete operating system image is deployed on a computing device. Then, unused components may be dynamically removed (i.e., “dehydrated”) from the computing device over time based on application or user interaction.
US09405554B2 Method for initializing expended modules in programmable logic controller system
A method for initializing expended modules in PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) system is provided in which an initialization request signal is generated and transmitted to a plurality of expended modules, when one basic unit initializes a plurality of expended modules, and an initialization completion signal is sequentially transmitted by the plurality of expended modules, when the initialization is completed, whereby the initialization time can be optimized, the method including performing an initialization operation after generating, by a basic unit, an initialization request signal and transmitting the initialization request signal to a plurality of expended modules, and determining that the initialization operation is completed, when an initialization completion signal is received from the expended modules connected to the basic unit.
US09405549B2 Deadlock avoidance method and deadlock avoidance mechanism
A processor core interrupt control circuit issues a request signal for requesting cancellation of a coprocessor instruction being executed at a coprocessor. A program control circuit issues interrupt processing after issuance of the cancellation request. A coprocessor computation control circuit retains the execution state of the coprocessor instruction. Upon receiving the processing cancellation request signal, a coprocessor interrupt control circuit performs cancellation or holding of the coprocessor instruction on the basis of execution state information retained by the coprocessor computation control circuit. The coprocessor interrupt control circuit evicts the execution state of the coprocessor instruction in the case of holding, and restores the execution state of the coprocessor instruction that had been evicted after completion of the interrupt processing.
US09405548B2 Prioritizing instructions based on the number of delay cycles
Methods, systems, and computer program products may provide delay-identification in data processing systems. An apparatus may include a delay-identification unit having a delay counter, a threshold register, a delay register, and a delay detector. The delay detector may be configured to start the delay counter in response to detecting that one group of instructions is delayed, and stop the delay counter in response to detecting that the one group of instructions is no longer delayed. The delay detector may additionally be configured to compare the number of cycles counted by the delay counter with a threshold number of cycles in the threshold register, and store at least one effective address of one of the instructions of the one group of instructions when the number of cycles counted by the delay counter is greater than the threshold number of cycles stored in the threshold register.
US09405539B2 Providing vector sub-byte decompression functionality
Methods, apparatus, instructions and logic provide SIMD vector sub-byte decompression functionality. Embodiments include shuffling a first and second byte into the least significant portion of a first vector element, and a third and fourth byte into the most significant portion. Processing continues shuffling a fifth and sixth byte into the least significant portion of a second vector element, and a seventh and eighth byte into the most significant portion. Then by shifting the first vector element by a first shift count and the second vector element by a second shift count, sub-byte elements are aligned to the least significant bits of their respective bytes. Processors then shuffle a byte from each of the shifted vector elements' least significant portions into byte positions of a destination vector element, and from each of the shifted vector elements' most significant portions into byte positions of another destination vector element.
US09405538B2 Functional unit having tree structure to support vector sorting algorithm and other algorithms
An apparatus is described having a functional unit of an instruction execution pipeline. The functional unit has a plurality of compare-and-exchange circuits coupled to network circuitry to implement a vector sorting tree for a vector sorting instruction. Each of the compare-and-exchange circuits has a respective comparison circuit that compares a pair of inputs. Each of the compare-and-exchange circuits have a same sided first output for presenting a higher of the two inputs and a same sided second output for presenting a lower of the two inputs, said comparison circuit to also support said functional unit's execution of a prefix min and/or prefix add instruction.
US09405533B2 Unmanned vehicle systems and methods of operation
The present invention is directed to unmanned vehicle (UV) systems and methods. A method may include capturing data with at least one UV proximate an area of interest. The method may also include processing the data at a computing device. In addition, the method may include at least storing the processed data, sharing the processed data with another device, combining the processed data with related historical data, developing a model based at least partially on the processed data, determining at least one future task to be performed by the UV based at least partially on the processed data, or any combination thereof.
US09405531B2 Methods for building application intelligence into event driven applications through usage learning, and systems supporting such applications
Certain example embodiments relate to application intelligence gathering systems and/or methods, e.g., in connection with Event Driven Applications and/or the like. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to the effective recording of application evolution and usage information for usage learning and/or event auditing purposes. With respect to usage learning, certain example embodiments may help to capture data on the usage patterns and/or apply learning algorithms that work on the captured data to provide required intelligence to the application. With respect to event auditing, certain example embodiments may help to identify the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “how”, and/or “why” of particular operations. Application intelligence optionally may be used in determining application “hotspots” or commonly used features that could help in areas such as application maintenance, performance tuning, and/or the like.
US09405519B2 Method and system for register clearing in data flow analysis in decompilation
A method and a system for register clearing in data flow analysis in decompilation are provided. The method includes: reading all function statements in a code file; sequentially judging each of the read function statements, and creating a binary tree and inputting the function statement into the binary tree in a case that the function statement includes a register name; sequentially judging each of the function statements including the register name, and performing an elimination process on the created binary tree to remove the register name from the binary tree in a case that the function statement includes a right child end tag of the binary tree, to generate a simplest binary tree; and generating a function statement in high-level language based on the simplest binary tree. All function statements can be read at a time and multiple reading and writing are avoided in the invention. In addition, a binary tree is created based on the read function statement and an elimination process is performed on the binary tree, so the function statement not including the register name can be obtained conveniently and quickly, which improves the execution efficiency.
US09405516B2 Recursive expression simplification
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for recursive expression reduction. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of identifying a candidate loop, where the candidate loop includes at least one or more reduction variables and reduction operations; altering grouping of loop invariants and loop variants within the candidate loop; and performing recursive expression simplification for an inner loop, wherein the inner loop is located within the candidate loop.
US09405515B1 Computing systems utilizing controlled dynamic libraries and isolated execution spaces
Systems and methods for providing dynamic libraries in safety critical computing environments are disclosed. Controlled dynamic libraries and isolated execution spaces are utilized. In some embodiments, the controlled dynamic libraries and isolated execution spaces are implemented in full compliance with rules and standards established by aviation regulatory and government agencies, allowing systems utilizing the controlled dynamic libraries to be certifiable for avionics.
US09405512B2 Rejuvenation of legacy code into resources-oriented architectures
A method for building a web-based application may include defining a scope of the web-based application, via a programming module, based on a plurality of parameters of a non-web-based application, and defining an error-handling mechanism based on an error-handling mechanism of the non-web-based application. The method may further include defining a plurality of resources for the web-based application, defining the mechanism of function for each resource of the plurality of resources, and generating the web-based application.
US09405511B2 S12 TX FIR architecture
A FIR transmit architecture uses multiple driver divisions to allow signals with different delays to be summed into the output signal by the driver itself. The architecture includes a first multiplexer, a plurality of delay cells, a plurality of sign blocks, a switch block, a second multiplexer, and a plurality of drivers.
US09405510B2 Random number generator
A random number generator includes oscillating units configured to generate entropy sources and amplify the generated entropy sources, an entropy source combination unit configured to receive the entropy sources output from the oscillating units and combine the entropy sources to increase entropy, a sampling unit configured to sample a signal output from the entropy source combination unit in response to a sampling clock, and a clock generator and control unit configured to control the oscillating units and generate the sampling clock.
US09405504B2 Information communication terminal and dialogue presentation method
An information communication terminal includes the followings. An input receiving unit receives an input from a user. A communication unit obtains presentation information corresponding to an input by the user from a server according to a dialog scenario, every time the input is received. A dialog processing unit presents the user with the presentation information obtained by the communication unit. A communication state determination unit determines a communication state between the communication unit and the server. When the communication state determination unit makes a first determination that the communication is deteriorated during a dialog, the dialog processing unit causes the communication unit to obtain, as candidate presentation information, at least one presentation information with a possibility of being presented to the user after the first determination according to the dialog scenario.
US09405503B2 Audio-visual navigation and communication dynamic memory architectures
According to one embodiment, a plurality of spatial publishing objects (SPOs) is provided in a multidimensional space in a user interface. Each of the plurality of spatial publishing objects is associated with digital media data from at least one digital media source. The user interface has a field for the digital media data. A user is provided via the user interface with a user presence that is optionally capable of being represented in the user interface relative to the plurality of spatial publishing objects. The digital media data associated with the at least one spatial publishing object are combined to generate a media output corresponding to the combined digital media data.
US09405499B2 Zero client device with integrated wireless capability
System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.
US09405498B2 Communication apparatus, terminal apparatus, image processing system, and communication method
A communication apparatus includes a first communication unit, a second communication unit, and a communication-apparatus-side controller. The first communication unit wirelessly communicates with plural terminal apparatuses, the number of which is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of connections allowed. The second communication unit wirelessly communicates with a connection-requesting terminal apparatus that attempts to wirelessly communicate with the first communication unit. The communication-apparatus-side controller transmits, to the connection-requesting terminal apparatus via the second communication unit, information indicating that wireless communication via the first communication unit is not available in a case where the number of connections established for wireless communication via the first communication unit has reached the predetermined maximum number of connections allowed.
US09405489B2 System and method for routing and specifying print jobs utilizing product characteristics
A scoring and weighting system and method for providing print device selection on the basis of product characteristics that are specified for a print product is provided. The system determines the properties of one or more printing devices in relation to the product characteristics. The printing devices have one or more print mediums for providing the print product. A score is derived by determining a status respecting the conformity of the one or more print mediums to the product characteristics and evaluating the one or more printing devices' properties. Associating that score with each of the one or more printing device. Also, associating the print product with a print job and utilizing the score to route the print job to one of the one or more printing devices to produce the print product on one of the one or more print mediums.
US09405488B1 System and method for storage management
A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving, on an active storage processor from a passive storage processor, a join request indicator. The join request indicator indicates that the passive storage processor wants to transition to an active status. The active storage processor and the passive storage processor are both coupled to a data array. A status change indicator is provided from the active storage processor to the passive storage processor, wherein the status change indicator indicates that the passive-to-active transition of the passive storage processor has been initiated. A first data array status indicator is received on the active storage processor from the passive storage processor, wherein the first data array status indicator indicates the status of the data array as seen by the passive storage processor. A second data array status indicator is generated on the active storage processor, wherein the second data array status indicator indicates the status of the data array as seen by the active storage processor.
US09405486B2 Fractal layout of data blocks across multiple devices
A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for mapping block numbers within a region to physical locations within a storage system. Block numbers are mapped within a region according to a fractal-based space-filling curve. If the region is not a 2k by 2k square, then the region is broken up into one or more 2k by 2k squares. Any remaining sub-region is centered within a 2k by 2k square, the 2k by 2k square is numbered using a fractal-based space-filling curve, and then the sub-region is renumbered by assigning numbers based on the order of the original block numbers of the sub-region.
US09405485B2 Method and apparatus for writing data to a flash memory
The system and apparatus for managing flash memory data includes a host transmitting data, wherein when the data transmitted from the host have a first time transmission trait and the address for the data indicates a temporary address, temporary data are retrieved from the temporary address to an external buffer. A writing command is then executed and the temporary data having a destination address are written to a flash memory buffer. When the flash memory buffer is not full, the buffer data are written into a temporary block of the flash memory. The writing of buffer data into the temporary block includes using an address changing command, or executing a writing command to rewrite the external buffer data to the flash memory buffer so that the data are written into the temporary block.
US09405484B2 System of managing remote resources
A system of managing remote resources that includes a local storage associated with a local storage manager constituting a local storage system. A remote storage associated with a remote storage manager constituting a remote storage system. The local storage system is associated with the remote storage system by means of a first link. The local storage system is configured to send through the first link I/O remote commands complying with the SCSI protocol, for execution in the remote storage system. The system includes a second link associating the local storage system and the remote storage system. The local storage manager being responsive to remote storage management commands and being configured to send through the second link corresponding cross-storage-remote management commands that comply with the SCSI protocol, for execution in the remote storage.
US09405482B2 Filtered reference copy of secondary storage data in a data storage system
The data storage system according to certain aspects can filter secondary copies of data (e.g., backups, snapshots, archives, etc.) generated by multiple client computing devices into a single, filtered, global reference copy. A reference copy may be a filtered view or representation of secondary storage data in a data storage system. A reference copy may include a data structure that includes references to a subset of secondary storage data that meets certain filtering criteria. The filtering criteria may be specified by users according to user preference. Data included in a reference copy may be stored in native format (e.g., format of the application that generated the data) and be accessible through the application associated with the data.
US09405477B2 Method and system for maintaining release consistency in shared memory programming
A method and system for maintaining release consistency in shared memory programming on a computing device having multiple processing units includes, in response to a page fault, initiating a transfer, from one processing unit to another, of data associated with more than one but less than all of the pages of shared memory.
US09405476B2 Systems and methods for a file-level cache
A multi-level cache comprises a plurality of cache levels, each configured to cache I/O request data pertaining to I/O requests of a different respective type and/or granularity. The multi-level cache may comprise a file-level cache that is configured to cache I/O request data at a file-level of granularity. A file-level cache policy may comprise file selection criteria to distinguish cacheable files from non-cacheable files. The file-level cache may monitor I/O requests within a storage stage, and may service I/O requests from a cache device.
US09405475B2 Multi-interface memory with access control
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to a multi-channel memory device and methods of selecting one or more channels of same.
US09405473B2 Dense tree volume metadata update logging and checkpointing
The embodiments described herein are directed to efficient merging of metadata managed by a volume layer of a storage input/output (I/O) stack executing on one or more nodes of a cluster. The metadata managed by the volume layer, i.e., the volume metadata, is illustratively organized as a multi-level dense tree metadata structure, wherein each level of the dense tree metadata structure (dense tree) includes volume metadata entries for storing the volume metadata. The volume metadata entries of an upper level of the dense tree metadata structure are merged with the volume metadata entries of a next lower level of the dense tree metadata structure when the upper level is full. The volume metadata entries of the merged levels are organized as metadata pages and stored as one or more files on the SSDs.
US09405470B2 Data processing system and data processing method
A data processing system includes multiple data processing apparatuses; a peripheral apparatus; memory that is shared by the data processing apparatuses and the peripheral apparatus; peripheral memory provided corresponding to the peripheral apparatus; and a memory managing unit that secures in any one among the memory and the peripheral memory, an area for a thread that is based on thread information, the area being secured based on the thread information that is read out from a heap area that sequentially stores the thread information that is executed at any one among the data processing apparatuses and the peripheral apparatus.
US09405468B2 Stacked memory device control
A system for memory device control may include a stacked memory device and a memory controller. The stacked memory device may include a stack of chips connected to a package substrate by electrical interconnects. The stack may include a plurality of memory chips, a primary control chip, and a secondary control chip. The primary and secondary control chips may be electrically connected to the plurality of memory chips by an internal data bus. The primary control chip may have logic to provide an interface between the internal data bus and a first external data bus. The secondary control chip may have logic to provide an interface between the internal data bus and a second external data bus.
US09405465B2 Resizing predictive keyboard
Systems and methods for keypad button resizing are disclosed. In some implementations, a keypad including multiple characters is displayed on a display of a touchscreen device. A selection of one of the multiple characters on the keypad is received. For each character in the multiple characters on the keypad, a likelihood value that the character is a next character to be typed is predicted and a button size for the character is selected based on the predicted likelihood value. The keypad is modified based on the selected button size for each character. The modified keypad is displayed on the display of the touchscreen device.
US09405462B2 Interaction method between electronic papers, machine-readable storage medium and electronic paper
A method and apparatus for performing interaction between electronic papers is provided. A first electronic paper recognizes installation of a binder on the first electronic paper. The first electronic paper sets an interaction mode according to the installation of the binder on the first electronic paper. The first electronic paper establishes a communication connection with a second electronic paper on which the binder is also installed. The first electronic paper performs data communication with the second electronic paper according to the interaction mode.
US09405455B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication; a touchscreen configured to display information; and a controller that partitions the touchscreen into a first region and second region, displays a chat window for displaying chatting contents included in a chatting session with at least one counterpart terminal in the first region, displays data different than the chat window in the second region, receives a touch input applied to a first point inside the second region and a second point inside the first region, and transmits data in the second region to the at least one counterpart terminal.
US09405454B2 Method and system for displaying screens on the touch screen of a mobile device
A method for displaying screens on the touch screen of a mobile device includes displaying, on a first screen, at least two or more object items and an object item group within which at least two or more object items are arranged at a first set interval and rearranging and displaying the object items included in the object item group at a second set interval when an input is received that displays the object item group. When a touch or drag gesture is applied to the group of object items displayed at the first set interval, the object items are then displayed at a second set interval on the screen of a mobile device.
US09405453B1 User interface mechanics
Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced user interface mechanics are presented. In one arrangement, a scrollable list of content items may be displayed. Input associated with a scroll command may be received. Then, based on the scroll command, a scrollable refresh trigger may be displayed. Subsequently, the scrollable list of content items may be refreshed in response to determining, based on the scroll command, that the scrollable refresh trigger has been activated. In at least one instance, it may be determined that the scrollable refresh trigger has been activated in response to determining that the scroll command was completed while the scrollable refresh trigger was fully displayed.
US09405446B1 Efficient and interactive presentation of item images
Systems and methods are provided for generating and updating an efficient configuration for display of item images, in order to present the contents of a collection of item images to a user in a space-efficient and visually pleasing manner. For example, an initial configuration can be generated including thin slices of each image. The thin slices can be symmetrically cropped versions of the corresponding image designed to still convey a high degree of detail about the depicted item. When a user interacts with the thin slices, for example, by hovering a cursor or through a touch event, the initial configuration can be updated to gradually expand slices and contract full size images based on the user input.
US09405445B2 Apparatus and methods for routing
An electronic navigational system may automatically develop nautical routes, may retrieve previously-developed nautical routes, or may combine previously developed route(s) or route segment(s) with an automatically developed route or route segment(s).
US09405441B2 Pool data storage system and method
Disclosed herein is a system that includes a server hosting a pool data receiving and storage service. The system further includes a database in communication with the server. Still further, the system includes a user communication device in communication with the server having an interface configured interact with the pool data receiving and storage service hosted by the server, the interface configured to receive a manual user input of a pool related data, the interface configured to transmit the pool related data to the server. The pool related data corresponds to chemical levels in a pool. The pool data receiving and storage service of the server is configured to receive the pool related data from the user communication device and store the pool related data in the database. The interface of the user communication device is configured to access the pool related data through communication with the server.
US09405438B2 Multimedia control center
Techniques and systems for centralized access to multimedia content stored on or available to a computing device are disclosed. The centralized access can be provided by a media control interface that receives user inputs and interacts with media programs resident on the computing device to produce graphical user interfaces that can be presented on a display device.
US09405436B2 Standardized visual indicators in electronic media
Methods and systems for associating a standardized electronic icon with a user and displaying the icon with electronic communications of the user are disclosed. A computer implemented method includes: determining one or more icons to associate with an individual when the individual creates an electronic message; and at least one of selectively and automatically appending at least one of the one or more icons that are associated with the individual to the electronic message. The at least one of the one or more icons is subsequently displayed with the electronic message to a recipient to provide information about the individual to the recipient.
US09405430B2 Menu tree visualization and navigation
A method and program that improves the efficiency of menu tree visualization and navigation in graphical user interfaces. Menu items are displayed as call-out shaped objects each made up of a call-out bubble and its leading arm. The leading arm connects the call-out bubble with the higher level menu item, the context-menu reference point or any other reference point on the user-interface screen. Menu lists are displayed as sets of similar-sized call-out shapes, which can be arranged in a variety of ways. A menu item can be selected by selecting either the leading arm or the call-out bubble of a call-out shape. The selection of a menu item through the selection of its leading arm significantly reduces the distance over which the pointer has to be moved for menu tree navigation. This is because the leading arm of each of the call-out shapes in any menu item list is close to the pointer's position immediately following the preceding selection process.
US09405429B1 Collecting items with multi-touch gestures
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for collecting content items displayed on a user device and combining them into a folder using a multiple finger gesture. The user device may also use a multiple finger gesture to disassociate the content items from the folder. In other embodiments, the user device may use a combination of gestures and voice commands to collect or disassociate content items.
US09405427B2 Adaptive user interface using machine learning model
Techniques for social networking systems and methods for testing and applying user interfaces are disclosed herein. The method includes steps of presenting a user interface including a new user interface feature to a group of test users, collecting response data from the test users experiencing the user interface, performing analytics on the response data, and determining at least one interface rule of applying user interface features for a user depending on one or more user attributes of the user based on the analytics using a machine learning model.
US09405426B2 Method and system for providing an adaptive input user interface for data entry applications
Embodiments are described for a system and method for adapting an online user input form that provides user input to a web-based application. A method comprises defining one or more attributes related to one or more fields of the online user input form, obtaining historical data comprising past user input to related user input forms, calculating historical most common values for each attribute of the one or more attributes; and modifying the one or more fields of the online user input form in accordance with the calculated historical average values. The attributes may include at least one of the size, location, and datatype of each field of the form. The method may be implemented through an application programming interface for implementation through server-side and client-side processes that are written in a web-browser compatible markup language.
US09405423B2 Article with electrically-conductive silver connector wire pattern
Electrically-conductive articles are prepared to have electrically-conductive silver metal electrode grids and electrically-conductive silver connector wire patterns (BUS lines) on one or both supporting sides of a transparent substrate. The electrically-conductive silver connector wire patterns are designed with at least one silver main wire that comprises two or more adjacent silver micro-wires in bundled patterns. These bundled patterns and silver micro-wires are designed with specific dimensions and configurations to provide optimal fidelity (or correspondence) to the mask image used to provide such images in a silver halide emulsion layer. The electrically-conductive articles are provided by imagewise exposure, development, and fixing of corresponding silver halide-containing conductive film element precursors containing photosensitive silver halide emulsion layers. The electrically-conductive articles can be used are parts of various electronic devices including touch screen devices.
US09405422B2 Conductive sheet, manufacturing method of conductive sheet, and touch panel
The conductive sheet includes a support and a conductive portion which is disposed on the support and composed of thin conductive wires containing metal silver and gelatin, in which gelatin is substantially not contained between the thin conductive wires on the support, and a volume ratio (A/B) of a volume A of the metal silver to a volume B of the gelatin in the thin conductive wires is 0.3 to 10.0. In the conductive sheet, the occurrence of ion migration between thin conductive wires is further inhibited. A manufacturing method of the conductive sheet and a touch panel including the conductive sheet are also provided.
US09405420B2 Method for controlling a touch panel having button electrodes and sensing electrodes in a same conductive layer
A method for controlling a touch panel is disclosed. A first driving signal is applied to the driving electrodes to obtain a number of first electrical signals corresponding to a number of conductive stripes of touch panel. The first electrical signals are converted into a number of first digital signals by digital analog conversion with a first factor. A second driving signal is applied to a number of driving electrodes to obtain a number of second electrical signals corresponding to a number of button electrodes of the touch panel. The second electrical signals are converted into a number of second digital signals by digital analog conversion with a second factor. The second factor is smaller than the first factor.
US09405418B2 Touch device
A touch device includes a first conducting layer, a second conducting layer, and a resistance reduction layer. The first conducting layer is insulated to the second conducting layer to form a touch sensing structure. The resistance reduction layer is coupled to the first conducting layer. A combination of the resistance reduction layer and the first conducting layer has a resistance that is less than an intrinsic resistance of the first conducting layer.
US09405415B2 Targeted transcapacitance sensing for a matrix sensor
Embodiments described herein include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a matrix. The processing system performs absolute capacitive sensing with the matrix of sensor electrodes. When an area of interest is detected using the absolute capacitive sensing techniques, the processing system performs targeted transcapacitance sensing using a selected subset of the sensor electrodes in the area of interest.
US09405414B2 Method of sensing a touch and touch sensing system
A method of sensing a touch is provided, the method including: generating, at a pressure detector, a first sensing signal by detecting a pressure of a touch input by a user; generating, at a position detector, a second sensing signal by detecting a position of the touch input by the user; and removing a noise of the second sensing signal based on the first sensing signal.
US09405405B2 Optical projection and image sensing apparatus
An optical projection and image sensing apparatus including a light source, a light valve, a first lens set, a sensing module, and a beam splitter is provided. The light valve is used to convert an illumination light from the light source to an image light beam. The first lens set is used to project the image light to display an image on a screen, and the sensing module is used to sense a sensing light from the image on the screen. The beam splitter is disposed on the optical paths of the image light and the sensing light from the image on the screen. One of the sensing module and the light valve is disposed on the optical path of the sensing light passing through the beam splitter, and the other is disposed on optical path of the sensing light reflected by the beam splitter.
US09405402B2 Systems and methods for parallax compensation
An electronic device may include a touch screen electronic display configured to offset and/or shift the contact locations of touch implements and/or displayed content based on one or more calculated parallax values. The parallax values may be associated with the viewing angle of an operator relative to the display of the electronic device. In various embodiments, the parallax value(s) may be calculated using three-dimensional location sensors, an angle of inclination of a touch implement, and/or one or more displayed calibration objects. Parallax values may be utilized to remap contact locations by a touch implement, shift and/or offset displayed content, and/or perform other transformations as described herein. A stereoscopically displayed content may be offset such that a default display plane is coplanar with a touch surface rather than a display surface. Contacts by a finger may be remapped using portions of the contact region and/or a centroid of the contact region.
US09405401B2 Edge-by-edge integration and conversion
An apparatus includes a transmission system configured to transmit a drive signal to a touch screen device. The apparatus also includes a reception system configured to integrate an output signal received from a touch screen device in response to the drive signals and to filter the integrated output signal to suppress noise in the output signal, wherein the reception system is configured to integrate the output signal for a period of time that is less than or equal to a signal period corresponding to the drive signal.
US09405399B2 Touch prediction for visual displays
Touch events can be predicted relative to a visual display by maintaining a database of aggregated touch event history data relative to the visual display and from a plurality of touch screen devices. The database can be queried according to a set of input parameters defining an environment for use of the visual display. The results from the querying of the database can be analyzed to predict a set of touch events within the environment and based upon inferences obtained from the results. A representation of the set of touch events can be displayed along with the visual display.
US09405395B2 Wall-mounted control system for a portable touch screen device
Presented is a wall-mounted control system for a portable touch screen device. The control system includes a housing, a touch screen mounting member moveably coupled to the housing and configured to releasably hold the portable touch screen device, a processor configured for providing an interface between the portable touch screen device and one or more remote systems, a docking connector configured for electrically mating with the portable touch screen device and establishing electrical communication between the processor and the portable touch screen device, and a communication circuitry configured for establishing communication between the processor the one or more remote systems.
US09405394B2 Application operation evaluating apparatus and application operation evaluating method
An application operation evaluating apparatus, includes a detecting unit that detects pressing force obtained by a plurality of sensors provided at an application target surface in accordance with an application operation to the application target surface; an estimating unit that estimates a pressed position of the application operation on the application target surface based on pressing forces respectively applied to the sensors obtained by the detecting unit; a load distribution generating unit that generates load distribution in accordance with the application operation based on the pressing force obtained by the detecting unit and the pressed position obtained by the estimating unit; and a display unit that displays the load distribution obtained by the load distribution generating unit on a screen.
US09405393B2 Information processing device, information processing method and computer program
Provided is an information processing device including a detection area determination unit configured to determine whether a contact position of an input object is in a contact determination area which is a part of a detection area of a detection unit based on a detection signal from the detection unit that detects contact of the input object with a contact detection surface, a manipulation determination unit configured to determine manipulation content from movement of the input object when the detection area determination unit determines that the input object is in contact with an inside of the contact determination area, and an event issuing unit configured to issue an event according to the manipulation content determined by the manipulation determination unit.
US09405392B2 Display device having partial panels and driving method thereof
Disclosed are a display device comprising panel portions and a driving method thereof, which are capable of dividing the display panel into two or more panel portions and adding a touch mode between the display modes of each panel portion, thereby improving the frequency of the touch sensing or the touch report rate. The display device comprising panel portions and the driving method thereof can reduce the pulse width of the signals from 4H 8phase to 2H 4phase by using an oxide TFT and maintain or reduce the number of the signal lines applied to the gate driver of the partial display panel, thereby having the advantages in terms of the bezel.
US09405391B1 Rendering content around obscuring objects
Techniques for reflowing content on a handheld electronic device are described herein. For example, content may be rendered on a display of a handheld electronic device. A user may grasp the device. In some cases, grasping the device may cause at least a portion of the rendered content to be obscured. The device may reflow the rendered content. For example, the device may reflow the content around the grasp of the user to enable the rendered content to be viewed without the user's grasp being altered.
US09405390B2 Object selection for computer display screen
Embodiments relate to selecting an object to display from an information processing device connected in a manner enabling the exchange of data to a touch panel having a display function. An aspect includes entering a trajectory extension mode in response to the user moving a finger over the touch panel at a speed equal to or greater than a predetermined speed. Another aspect includes extending and displaying a trajectory of the finger in response to the speed of the moving finger detected in the trajectory extension mode. Yet another aspect includes placing an object located at an end point of the extended trajectory on the touch panel in a selected state.
US09405389B2 Noise reduction through democratic alpha smoothing
An iterative exponential moving average algorithm generates a smoothed output data stream from a noisy input data stream. A smoothing factor used in calculating the exponential moving average is updated with each iteration of the exponential moving average algorithm based on a cumulative vote value, which is based, at least in part, on an estimated state of the input data stream.
US09405375B2 Translation and scale invariant features for gesture recognition
Methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure are presented for recognizing a gesture of a gesture object in a plurality of recorded data objects, with the recorded data objects being recorded over time. In some embodiments, a method includes computing at least one set of gesture angles using the plurality of recorded data objects, wherein each of the gesture angles in the at least one set comprises an angle measurement between two positions of the gesture object, the two positions recorded in successive data objects in the plurality of recorded data objects, and recognizing the gesture based on the at least one set of gesture angles. In some embodiments, the method includes recognizing the gesture is based further on comparing the at least one set of gesture angles to a gesture model.
US09405365B2 Systems and methods for identifying gaze tracking scene reference locations
A system is provided for identifying reference locations within the environment of a device wearer. The system includes a scene camera mounted on eyewear or headwear coupled to a processing unit. The system may recognize objects with known geometries that occur naturally within the wearer's environment or objects that have been intentionally placed at known locations within the wearer's environment. One or more light sources may be mounted on the headwear that illuminate reflective surfaces at selected times and wavelengths to help identify scene reference locations and glints projected from known locations onto the surface of the eye. The processing unit may control light sources to adjust illumination levels in order to help identify reference locations within the environment and corresponding glints on the surface of the eye. Objects may be identified substantially continuously within video images from scene cameras to provide a continuous data stream of reference locations.
US09405363B2 Audio, video, simulation, and user interface paradigms
Consumer electronic devices have been developed with enormous information processing capabilities, high quality audio and video outputs, large amounts of memory, and may also include wired and/or wireless networking capabilities. Additionally, relatively unsophisticated and inexpensive sensors, such as microphones, video camera, GPS or other position sensors, when coupled with devices having these enhanced capabilities, can be used to detect subtle features about users and their environments. A variety of audio, video, simulation and user interface paradigms have been developed to utilize the enhanced capabilities of these devices. These paradigms can be used separately or together in any combination. One paradigm automatically creating user identities using speaker identification. Another paradigm includes a control button with 3-axis pressure sensitivity for use with game controllers and other input devices.
US09405362B2 System and method for interfacing between a mobile device and a personal computer
A system and method are provided for interfacing between a mobile device and a PC. The mobile device utilizes a connection with the PC for taking advantage of the larger display and input devices such as the keyboard on the PC to improve the user interface (UI). This also enables the user to take advantage of the mobile device's wireless connectivity at the same time, e.g. where the PC does not have the same connectivity.
US09405361B2 Flexible portable device
A flexible portable device is disclosed. The flexible portable device includes a display unit for displaying an image, a communication unit for performing communication with an external device, a sensor unit for sensing user input or an environment of the flexible portable device, and a control unit for controlling the flexible portable device and the units of the flexible portable device, wherein the sensor unit includes a motion sensor unit for sensing motion of the flexible portable device and/or motion with respect to the flexible portable device, the flexible portable device has at least one flexible area which is bendable, and the motion sensor unit is located at a first area at which influence on the motion sensor unit when the flexible area is bent is avoided or minimized.
US09405359B2 Plane-characteristic-based markerless augmented reality system and method for operating same
A marker-less augmented reality system that may extract a plurality of planes included in an image generated by a camera, based on three-dimensional (3D) information of the image, and may estimating a pose of the camera based on a correspondence among the plurality of planes extracted, and an operating method thereof.
US09405358B2 Reducing power consumption of uncore circuitry of a processor
In one embodiment, a multi-core processor includes multiple cores and an uncore, where the uncore includes various logic units including a cache memory, a router, and a power control unit (PCU). The PCU can clock gate at least one of the logic units and the cache memory when the multi-core processor is in a low power state to thus reduce dynamic power consumption.
US09405357B2 Distribution of power gating controls for hierarchical power domains
An integrated circuit device includes a first module disposed within a first power domain, a second module disposed in a second power domain that is a sub-domain of the first power domain, first power gating logic, and second power gating logic. The first power gating logic generates a first virtual power supply for the first module. The second power gating logic is powered by the first virtual power supply for generating a second virtual power supply for the second power domain.
US09405352B2 Battery module, computer system having the same, and control method of the computer system
A computer system is provided. The computer system includes a device which operates according to a clock frequency, a battery unit, which comprises a plurality of battery cells, for supplying power to the device, a temperature sensor provided at a location outside of the battery unit for detecting a temperature of the battery cells, a current sensor coupled to the battery unit for detecting a value of a current supplied from the battery unit to the device, and a controller, which is coupled to the temperature sensor and the current sensor, configured to control the clock frequency of the device according to the detected temperature and the detected current value, wherein the controller is configured to decrease the clock frequency if the detected temperature is greater than a first reference value or if the detected current value is greater than a second reference value.
US09405350B2 Memory control device, semiconductor device, and system board
According to an embodiment, a memory control device controls a memory from/to which data are read/written by a processor. The memory control device includes a clock switcher and a control signal switcher. The clock receives as input a first clock and a second clock at a higher frequency than the first clock, supplies the first clock to the memory until the second clock becomes stable, and supplies the second clock after the second clock has become stable. The a control signal switcher starts supplying, to the memory, a first control signal for initializing the memory to a state allowing reading/writing of data by the processor while the first clock is being supplied to the memory, and supplies, to the memory, a second control signal according to the reading/writing of data by the processor, after the second clock is supplied to the memory and the memory is initialized.
US09405348B2 System and method for managing energy consumption in a compute environment
Disclosed are systems and methods of performing a power cap processing in a compute environment. The method includes determining of one of committed resources and dedicated resources in a compute environment exceed a threshold value for a job. If a determination is yes that the threshold value is exceeded, then the method includes preempting processing of the job in the compute environment by performing one of migrating the job to a new compute resources and performing a power reduction action associated with the job, such as slowing down a processor associated with a job or cancelling the job. When such a power state reduction action is taken, reservations associated with other jobs may also be adjusted.
US09405345B2 Constraining processor operation based on power envelope information
In an embodiment, a processor includes at least one core to execute instructions and a power controller coupled to the core. The power controller may include a power envelope control logic to receive a plurality of power envelope parameters and to enable a power consumption level of the processor to exceed a power burst threshold for a portion of a time window. This portion may be determined according to a length of the time window and a duty cycle, where the power envelope parameters are programmed for a system including the processor and include the power burst threshold, the time window, and the duty cycle. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09405336B1 Silent computers having external heat sinks and portable raid docks
The present disclosure provides silent computers having external heat sinks, which rarely turns on mechanical fans. The silent computers could utilize common components to keep lower costs, or be customized to improve cooling efficiency. The present disclosure also provides portable RAID docks to multiple whole IOPS performance of storage system.
US09405335B1 Heat pipe cooling arrangement
A method of using a heat pipe to spot cool a component in a computer case involves disposing an evaporator portion of the heat pipe to be laterally or horizontally adjacent to, but not in direct contact with, the component in the computer case. The method further involves thermally coupling the laterally adjacent component and the evaporator portion of the heat pipe with a bridging heat transfer component.
US09405333B1 Method and system for rugged tablet PC based modular data acquisition
A Method and system to produce a rugged modular data acquisition tablet computer comprised of a rugged tablet PC that uses a fluid ingress resistant interface plate to attach a data acquisition chassis that accepts attachably detachable expansion modules that provide data acquisition and customized computing functionality.
US09405326B2 Connecting device, electronic equipment and notebook computer with connecting device
The present invention provides a connecting device and electronic equipment with the connecting device. The connecting device includes a first fixed component; a mobile component mounted on the first fixed component; a rotational component connected to the first fixed component by the mobile component, wherein the rotational component could move horizontally with respect to the first fixed component by the mobile component; and a second fixed component connected to the rotational component, wherein the second fixed component could rotate with respect to the first fixed component by the rotational component. The connecting device could achieve the two operations of moving horizontally and rotating synchronously.