| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09419494B2 |
Induction machine power connection box including power supply for auxiliary devices including auxiliary cooling fans
An alternating current (AC) induction machine, such as a medium voltage induction motor, includes an auxiliary electrical connection box that is incorporated in the terminal box or within separate auxiliary electrical connection boxes that, are coupled to the machine's incoming power source. The box includes power conversion transformers or bridges that respectively convert the incoming AC power to other AC voltages or direct current (DC) useful for operating auxiliary devices proximal the machine. The connection box avoids the need to run separate power lines to induction machines necessary for operating auxiliary devices. Exemplary auxiliary devices include external auxiliary AC powered cooling fans for medium voltage AC motors. The auxiliary connection box may reconfigurable in the field and/or be pre-configured to provide one or more common auxiliary device output power sources. |
| US09419491B2 |
Motor connecting member and motor device
A motor connecting member, which connects a motor winding and a terminal block, includes a terminal to be connected to the terminal block, a winding connecting portion to be connected to the motor winding, and an extended portion extending between the terminal and the winding connecting portion. The extended portion is made by plastically deforming a single wire having a circular cross section, and is bent in a predetermined shape fitted for connection between an end of the motor winding connected with the winding connecting portion and the terminal block. |
| US09419490B2 |
Method for connecting wire material and twisted wire, and stator of electric motor or generator
The present invention is directed to connection technology for providing a sufficient connection strength in bonding a wire material and a twisted wire each having a large diameter when directly bonding the wire material, which is used for a stator of an electric motor and a generator, and the twisted wire serving as a lead wire by ultrasonic bonding. A twisted wire having a plurality of core wires is hardened by ultrasonic vibration using a pressurized vibration tool when the twisted wire is connected to a wire material. After that, the twisted wire is reversed such that the hardened surface thereof faces the wire material and then comes into contact with the wire material. In this state, ultrasonic waves are applied to the hardened surface from the opposite side using the vibration tool, thereby connecting the hardened surface of the twisted wire and the wire material. |
| US09419482B2 |
Motor and rotor thereof
A rotor having an improved structure capable of achieving enhanced durability is disposed in a motor, the rotor including a sleeve having a shaft hole, through which a motor shaft extends, rotor cores spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction of the rotor, and permanent magnets each disposed between adjacent ones of the rotor cores such that the permanent magnets are arranged in a radial manner about the sleeve. First and second cover plates may be disposed at opposite sides of the permanent magnets in an axial direction. Each of the first and second cover plates may include a shaft receiving hole to receive the motor shaft. The rotor may include a plurality of support members each having a magnet support portion arranged to support an outer end of a corresponding one of the permanent magnets in a radial direction of the rotor. |
| US09419481B2 |
Rotary electric machine
A rotary electric machine includes a rotor, and a stator. The rotor includes poles having slots and magnets. Each of the slots includes a first housing hole, a pair of second housing holes, a pair of first ribs, a pair of second ribs, and an area of a first space. The first housing hole is disposed near an outer periphery of the rotor to be substantially parallel with an outer peripheral surface of the rotor. The pair of second housing holes are provided symmetrically with respect to the first housing hole to be inclined toward the outer periphery away from the first housing hole. The pair of first ribs are each provided between the first housing hole and each of the pair of second housing holes. The pair of first ribs are each provided between the first housing hole and each of the pair of second housing holes. |
| US09419475B2 |
UPS systems with modular block architectures
A UPS system includes a power distribution assembly having a plurality of side faces and comprising an AC input and an AC output and at least two UPS assemblies having respective side faces confronting respective ones of the side faces of the power distribution assembly, each of the at least two UPS assemblies comprising a plurality of converter modules and an interconnection module configured to switchably couple AC inputs and AC outputs of the converter modules to respective ones of the AC input and the AC output of the power distribution assembly through conductors passing through the confronting side faces. The conductors may couple the power distribution assembly to the at least two UPS modules without the use of conduit and/or cable trays. |
| US09419469B2 |
High efficiency wireless charging system and its control method
A control method for a wireless charging system has steps of performing impedance matching on an antenna of the wireless charging system; tracing an optimal frequency point by sending a sensing signal with a default transmission frequency, and calculating a transmission efficiency of the sensing signal; determining whether the transmission efficiency meets a transmission requirement. When the transmission efficiency does not meet the transmission requirement, repeats the previous steps with another default transmission frequency until the transmission efficiency meeting the transmission requirement. When the transmission efficiency meeting the transmission requirement, the default transmission frequency is defined as the optimal frequency point for charging. Setting the optimal frequency point as an operating frequency of the wireless charging system for charging The optimal frequency point defined by the above steps can maintain high efficiency of the wireless charging system against the variable transmitting distances. |
| US09419466B2 |
Battery pack, battery apparatus including the same, and cell balancing method thereof
A battery pack includes: a cell module including a plurality of battery cells; and a coil unit installed on one side of the cell module and having coils stacked therein, the coils being connected to the respective battery cells. |
| US09419464B2 |
Wireless charging system
Disclosed herein is a wireless charging system that includes a transmission device including a primary coil and a reception device including a secondary coil, wherein the transmission device determines the presence or absence of the reception device upon receiving the remaining amount of current supplied from the primary coil to the secondary coil, and controls a voltage input to the primary coil based on the determination results. The wireless charging system can generate a sensing signal for determining the presence and absence of the reception device by measuring the amount of current applied from the transmitter coil to the receiver coil through the detection unit. Thus, the receiver controller of the wireless charging system can accurately determine whether to transmit power by comparing the sensing signal provided from the detection unit with a reference signal, thus reducing power consumption. |
| US09419456B2 |
Battery pack-to-universal serial bus power devices
A device includes a battery pack receptacle that removably connects to a battery pack used for a cordless device. A universal serial bus (USB) port is connected to the battery pack receptacle. The battery pack is used as a power source for the USB port. An attachment device is connected to the battery pack receptacle that attaches the battery pack receptacle to a utility bag. |
| US09419455B2 |
Multimode battery charger
A multimode battery charger circuit supporting switch mode and linear mode charging operations. In various embodiments, the multimode battery charging circuit includes mode control circuitry, a linear gate driver, a pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit, a programmable constant current control loop circuit, and a programmable constant voltage control loop circuit. In operation, the mode control circuitry receives a charge mode indication signal corresponding to a desired charge mode. Based on this signal, the mode control circuitry enables either the linear gate driver or PWM control circuit to provide control signals to output transistors coupled between an adapter power port and a battery pack, thereby supporting a plurality of charging modes. In some embodiments, one or more of the output transistors are formed on a common substrate with the multimode battery charger circuit. |
| US09419454B2 |
Battery pack-to-universal serial bus power devices
A device includes a battery pack receptacle that removably connects to a battery pack used for a cordless device. A universal serial bus (USB) port is connected to the battery pack receptacle. The battery pack is used as a power source for the USB port. An attachment device is connected to the battery pack receptacle. that attaches the battery pack receptacle to a utility bag. The attachment device is configured for attaching the battery pack receptacle to a platform. |
| US09419453B2 |
Effective charging by multiple contact points
A charging coupling for connecting a robotic garden tool with a charging device may facilitate the charging of a battery of the robotic garden tool. The charging coupling may include a first charging contact and a second charging contact. The first charging contact may be a charging plate or a charging rod. The second charging contact may be provided with a row of resilient contact bars. The arrangement of the first charging contact and the second charging contact may be configured such that the resilient contact bars are pressed against the charging plate to provide multiple contact points. |
| US09419446B2 |
Adaptive battery pack-to-universal serial bus power devices
A battery pack receptacle removably connects to a particular one of multiple battery pack adapters for particular battery packs used for cordless power tool devices. A universal serial bus (USB) receptacle is connected to the battery pack receptacle. The battery pack is used as a power source for the USB receptacle. Each of the multiple battery pack adapters is configured for a different type of battery pack. |
| US09419441B2 |
Method of balancing an electrical network comprising several generators, distributors and installations
A method of balancing an electrical distribution system including several generators implements a network divided into several subnetworks powered by ring-like swappers. The balancing of the network between the various generators available is obtained through switchings of subnetworks selected as a function of the order of switching of the swappers. |
| US09419438B2 |
Power-line communication coupling
In some embodiments, a system includes a power system coupled to a power bus, and a power line communication (PLC) gateway coupled in series with the power bus. In other embodiments, a system includes first and second power circuits coupled in series with a power bus, and first and second power-line communication circuits coupled in series with the power bus. In additional embodiments, a system includes a power converter coupled to a power bus and having one or more switching frequencies, and a power-line communication circuit coupled to the power bus and having one or more communication frequencies, where at least one of the switching frequencies is substantially greater than at least one of the communication frequencies. |
| US09419431B2 |
Short-circuit protection system for power converters
One example includes a power converter system. The system includes a switching circuit configured to activate at least one power supply switch in response to a driver signal to provide an output voltage at an output based on an input voltage at an input and based on an inductor current associated with an inductor. The at least one power supply switch includes a parasitic diode that interconnects the inductor and the output. The system also includes a short-circuit protection system configured to detect a short-circuit condition and to deactivate the at least one power supply switch in response to the detection of the short-circuit condition to provide the inductor current from the inductor to the output through the parasitic diode in response to the deactivation of the at least one power supply switch. |
| US09419430B1 |
System for monitoring and modeling operation of a transformer
A system and method for assessing and modeling operation of a transformer includes a controller connected to a power transformer. The controller is configured to calculate theoretical information related to operation of the power transformer, assess information related to actual operation of the power transformer, and manipulate one of more parameters associated with one or more equations used to calculate the theoretical information so that the calculated theoretical information more closely approximates the information associated with the actual operation of the power transformer. In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to automatically manipulate the parameters associated the theoretical calculation of operation of the power transformer although the controller may also be configured to request user confirmation of manipulation of one or more of the parameters of the equations associated with the theoretical calculations related of expected actual operation of the power transformer. |
| US09419420B1 |
Right angle conduit body with offset split
A right angle conduit fitting for right angle wiring through a wall includes an offset split along a transverse axis defined by the edges of male and female body portions mated together. The offset split provides the male body portion and the female body portion independent rotation from each other and from internal wiring thus allowing the wiring to be disturbed as the male body portion and female body portion may be threaded onto respective conduits and into mating alignment with each other. |
| US09419415B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug includes an insulator with a through hole, a center electrode disposed at a tip end side of the through hole, a metal terminal nut disposed at a rear end side of the through hole, a resistor disposed in a position between the center electrode and the metal terminal nut inside of the through hole and apart from the center electrode, and a conductive seal that is disposed between the resistor and the center electrode inside of the through hole and contacts both the center electrode and the resistor. A contact surface between the resistor and the conductive seal includes at least one point where a distance in the central axis direction from a virtual plane that includes a rear end of the resistor and is vertical to the central axis is local maximum, and include at least one point where the distance is local minimum. |
| US09419412B2 |
Integrated laser and method of fabrication thereof
There is provided an integrated laser. The integrated laser includes a semiconductor waveguide having a first section, a second section and a third section. The integrated laser further includes an active region formed on the third section of the semiconductor waveguide, the active region configured for generating light, and a coupler formed on the second section of the semiconductor waveguide, the coupler configured for coupling said light between the semiconductor waveguide and the active region. In particular, the first section comprises a multi-branch splitter having a ring structure formed between two branches of the multi-branch splitter for emission wavelength control of the integrated laser. Preferably, the multi-branch splitter is a Y-branch splitter and the ring structure is formed in a space between two branches of the Y-branch splitter. There is also provided a method of fabrication thereof, an integrated tunable laser and an integrated tunable laser system. |
| US09419410B2 |
Optical semiconductor device and method for controlling driving circuit
An optical semiconductor device includes: an electric-optic conversion element that is provided with a diode; and a driving circuit that drives the diode in a forward direction, the driving circuit including a first switching circuit that is provided with a first switch, and a second switching circuit that is provided with a second switch, wherein the first switching circuit constitutes a first signal line that charges the electric-optic conversion element with an electric charge by bringing the first switch into an ON state and the second switch into an OFF state, and the second switching circuit constitutes a second signal line that discharges the electric charge stored in the electric-optic conversion element by bringing the second switch into an ON state and the first switch into an OFF state. |
| US09419406B2 |
Laser oscillator provided with blower
A laser oscillator which can estimate the rotation speed of a blower in an idle state at cheaper cost and higher precision. The laser oscillator is comprised of a resonator part, laser medium flow path, blower, drive part, controller, manometer which measures the pressure of the laser medium at a predetermined position of the laser medium flow path, and rotation speed estimating part which uses the pressure of the laser medium which is measured by the manometer and a predetermined relationship between the pressure of the laser medium and the blower rotation speed at a certain position as the basis to estimate the rotation speed of the blower. The controller controls the drive part so as to restart operation of the blower at the rotation speed which is estimated by the rotation speed estimating part when the power supply to the blower is stopped and the blower is idling. |
| US09419403B2 |
Transceiver system
A transceiver for a two-connector system includes a circuit board, at least one cable attached to the circuit board, and a housing arranged to contain the circuit board. The two-connector system includes a front connector and a back connector. When the transceiver is connected to the two-connector system, a front edge of the circuit board is arranged to engage with the front connector and an intermediate portion of the circuit board is arranged to engage with the back connector. |
| US09419400B2 |
Method of manufacturing a chained terminal
The invention provides a terminal chain so that a terminal can be connected with a signal conductor only by being press-formed by dies. A rectangular piece (12) is jointed to an end part extending in the longitudinal direction of a carrier (11). The rectangular piece (12) is placed in dies (40, 50) for press-forming. A signal conductor W1 exposed at one end of a wire W is placed on the rectangular piece (12). The rectangular piece (12) is press-formed by the dies (40, 50) to enclose the signal conductor W1. A terminal (20) which is connected with the signal conductor W1 is formed. The contacting position of the carrier (11) and the terminal (20) is disconnected. |
| US09419398B2 |
Adaptive energy transfer system and method
Systems and methods of the invention relate to transferring energy from a vehicle to a device via a track circuit. Embodiments of the present invention include a power source of a vehicle that can be utilized to transfer energy through a track circuit to a device coupled thereto. The track circuit can include a section of track having a first pair of insulated joints located on a first rail and a second pair of insulated joints on a second rail, each pair separated by a distance. Moreover, a signal can be communicated to the vehicle based on receipt of the transferred energy. |
| US09419389B2 |
Coaxial cable connector having electrical continuity member
A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body; a post engageable with the connector body, wherein the post includes a flange; a nut, axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the nut includes an internal lip, and wherein a second end portion of the nut corresponds to the portion of the nut extending from the second end of the nut to the side of the lip of the nut facing the first end of the nut at a point nearest the second end of the nut, and a first end portion of the nut corresponds to the portion of the nut extending from the first end of the nut to the same point nearest the second end of the nut of the same side of the lip facing the first end of the nut; and a continuity member disposed within the second end portion of the nut and contacting the post and the nut, so that the continuity member extends electrical grounding continuity through the post and the nut is provided. |
| US09419387B2 |
Plug for DC appliance
A plug for a DC appliance includes an input unit including anode and cathode terminals, an output unit including anode and cathode terminals to allow a DC current input through the input unit to be output to an electric device, a connection unit to interconnect the input unit and the output unit, a rectifier unit coupled between anode and cathode terminals of the input unit to rectify the input DC current, an inductor unit connected in series to the rectifier unit so that an internal current of the plug is gradually increased in response to an increase of the input DC current, and a condenser unit connected in series to the inductor unit, which is charged with voltage in response to a current passing through the inductor unit, and discharges the charged voltage to the output unit when the input of the DC current from the input unit is interrupted. |
| US09419379B2 |
Connector having a recessed concave section in a surface between a pair or partition walls between adjacent terminals
A connector includes a plurality of terminals, a connector housing, a pair of partition walls and a concave section. The connector housing includes a base section on which the terminals are erected. The partition walls are erected on a bottom surface of the base section so as to intersect with a straight line connecting base end sections of a pair of the terminals adjacent to each other. The concave section is recessed into the bottom surface of the base section so as to intersect with a straight line connecting base end sections of the partition walls at adjacent side end edges of the partition walls. |
| US09419372B2 |
Vented set screw for implantable medical device
A vented set screw is used to secure a connection between an implantable medical device and an implantable lead. The vented set screw includes one or more venting channels that allow liquid and/or gas to flow out of the implantable medical device when the implantable lead is being inserted into the implantable medical device and secured during an implantation procedure. This prevents pressure from building up at the connection, thereby ensuring proper performance of sensing and/or therapy delivery functions of the implantable medical device. |
| US09419371B2 |
Electrical device cover assembly with cord retention
A weatherproof cover assembly for an electrical wiring device such as an electrical receptacle includes a base having a front face and an opening in the front face for receiving the face of the electrical wiring device. A cover is hinged to the base to pivot between an open position and a closed position covering the electrical wiring device. The cover assembly includes a first cord retention member proximate a first side of the cover assembly 10 having an opening with a dimension for gripping an electrical cord and a second cord retention member proximate a second side of the cover assembly with an opening with a dimension for gripping the electrical cord. The cord retention member can be a hook formed on the base and spaced outwardly from the cover or a slot formed in the peripheral edge of the cover. |
| US09419370B1 |
Sealed electrical connector assembly
A connector assembly comprises front and rear connector bodies, a wire grommet with wire passages, and a nut. Tightening the nut forces a rearward portion of the grommet into a tapered segment of a passage through the rear connector body and a forward portion of the rear connector body into a front passage of the front connector body, thereby radially compressing the grommet and sealing the wires passing therethrough. |
| US09419367B2 |
Pluggable connector having multiple housing shells
Pluggable connector including a contact array of electrical contacts for engaging corresponding contacts of a communication component. The pluggable connector also includes a connector housing having a mating end configured to mate with the communication component. The connector housing includes a first housing shell and a second housing shell that oppose each other and are coupled together to define a housing cavity therebetween. The contact array is disposed within the housing cavity. The first housing shell includes a plug collar that surrounds the contact array at the mating end. The plug collar has a leading edge and a back edge. The second housing shell interfaces with the back edge of the plug collar such that the plug collar extends from the second housing shell to the mating end. |
| US09419363B2 |
Device for electrically connecting an electric power supply source to an electric appliance, corresponding electric appliance and electric connection method
This device (4) for electrically connecting an electric power supply source (8) such as a battery to an electric appliance (2), is characterized in that it comprises: at least two conductive elements (16, 18) in tended for electrically connecting the electric power supply source (8) to the electric appliance (2), each conductive element (16, 18) defining an aperture (58, 60); a shell (10) capable of receiving the conductive elements, the shell comprising a first half-shell (12) and a second half-shell (14), the shell defining at least two slots (42, 44) capable of receiving the conductive elements and of maintaining said conductive elements substantially parallel to each other, the shell further comprising at least one locking member (46) capable of engaging into the apertures of the conductive elements and of maintaining said conductive elements engaged in said slots of the shell. Application to a linear actuator intended to receive a removable tool. |
| US09419355B2 |
Display module with dual power lines
A display module includes a display panel, a driver integrated circuit, a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a drive signal wiring and a power wiring. The driver integrated circuit applies power and a drive signal to the display panel. The FPC is electrically connected between the driver integrated circuit and a PCB. The drive signal wiring is extended from the FPC to the display panel through the driver integrated circuit and may transmit the drive signal to the display panel. The power wiring transmits the power to the display panel. The power wiring includes a first power line extended from the FPC to the driver integrated circuit, and a second power line extended from the first power line to the display panel. The second power line does not intersect the drive signal wiring, and a ground slit is not generated. |
| US09419348B2 |
Connecting arrangement with a crimp connector and a wire fixed in place to the crimp connector
The connection refers to a connecting arrangement with a crimp connector (2) and a wire (3) fixed in place to the crimp connector. The crimp connector encompasses two clamping plates (4, 5) executed as one piece that, in a mounted state, clamp the wire (3) between them and while doing, so fix the wire (3) firmly in place with a force acting in longitudinal axial load direction (B). At least in the mounted state, the inner surfaces of the clamping plates face one another and are at least partially executed as level clamping surfaces (4a, 5a). In the mounted state, the clamping surfaces (4a, 5a) of the clamping plates (4, 5) make contact with one another, whereby an area of the wire section (3′) is pressed partially inside the one clamping plate and partially inside the other clamping plate (4, 5). At least one clamping plate (4, 5) has at least one back gripping surface (8) colliding with its clamping surface (4a, 5a) facing against the load direction (B) and extending transversally to the load direction (B), whereby the clamping surface (4a, 5a) of the other clamping plate (4, 5) extends beyond the back gripping surface (8) against the load direction (B). |
| US09419346B2 |
High isolation antenna structure on a ground plane
In accordance with one example, an antenna structure includes a three-dimensional dipole antenna having a first arm and a second arm that are suspended above a ground plane. One or more three-dimensional monopole antennas have corresponding monopole elements positioned in a plane of symmetry between the arms of the dipole. Other examples are disclosed. |
| US09419341B2 |
RF system-in-package with quasi-coaxial coplanar waveguide transition
An IC package includes an IC die disposed at a first surface of a substrate, which includes a signal via extending between first and second metal layers. The first metal layer is proximate to the first surface and includes a first coplanar waveguide. The first coplanar waveguide has a first signal line coupling a die bump to the signal via and has a first ground plane co-planar with the first signal line. The second metal layer is proximate to a second surface and includes a second coplanar waveguide that has a second signal line coupling the signal via to a launcher element and has a second ground plane co-planar with the second signal line. The IC package further includes a waveguide channel aperture comprising a region surrounding the launcher element and which is substantially devoid of conductive material and a via fence disposed at a perimeter of the first region. |
| US09419340B2 |
Ultra wide band antenna
An ultrawideband antenna for use in communications equipment, comprising a first folded branch antenna element with an electrical connection at a first end and a second folded branch antenna element with an electrical connection at a first end. The folded branch antenna elements are of a triangular shape, or a combination of polygonal shapes. By using the present invention, the volume of an antenna is reduced and the ultra wide bandwidth can be achieved. |
| US09419339B2 |
Package structures including discrete antennas assembled on a device
Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods and structures may include forming a package structure comprising a discrete antenna disposed on a back side of a device, wherein the discrete antenna comprises an antenna substrate, a through antenna substrate via vertically disposed through the antenna substrate. A through device substrate via that is vertically disposed within the device is coupled with the through antenna substrate via, and a package substrate is coupled with an active side of the device. |
| US09419338B2 |
Antenna apparatus
An antenna apparatus having a radiating plate, a ground layer, a dielectric layer, and a parasitic antenna is provided. The dielectric layer is disposed between the radiating plate and the ground layer, wherein the radiating plate is parallel to the ground layer, and the parasitic antenna is connected with the ground layer and perpendicular to the ground layer. |
| US09419335B2 |
Electromagnetic wave propagation disruption device and method for producing same
An electromagnetic wave propagation disruption device with a metamaterial structure including: a plurality of conductive elements arranged on a top face of a substrate; a plurality of interconnection networks electrically interconnecting at least some of these conductive elements, wherein these networks are not electrically connected to each other. At least two of these networks are dimensioned differently to each other, thus involving that distances between interconnected conductive elements are different from one network to another, to generate phase shifts, between the conductive elements interconnected thereby, different from one network to the other. A ground plane with holes is arranged on a bottom face of the substrate and metallic vias are formed in the substrate, each of them including an upper end in contact with a conductive elements and a lower end arranged facing one of the holes of the ground plane, with no electrical contact with the ground plane. |
| US09419330B1 |
System for airborne communications
The invention achieves high Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) data rates over long wireless links by employing large ground relay MIMO antenna arrays and conformal airborne MIMO antenna arrays. Antenna transceiving element layouts and polarizations are optimized for enhanced channel capacity. |
| US09419326B2 |
Antenna pattern frame, method and mold for manufacturing the same, method for manufacturing an electronic device case, and electronic device
An antenna pattern frame includes: a radiator having an antenna pattern part for receiving an external signal; a radiator frame having the radiator injection-molded to have the antenna pattern part formed thereon and including the antenna pattern part buried at an inner side of an electronic device; and an over-mold part injection-molded together with the radiator frame and over-molded to be formed on the antenna pattern part in order to prevent the antenna pattern part from becoming separated from the radiator frame. |
| US09419324B2 |
Delay line having plural open stubs and complementary slots arranged to have parallel portions and non-parallel portions
A basic cell of a microwave group delay line is disclosed for tuning the electromagnetic signal propagation delay time from signal source (1) to output (5), wherein two pairs of unequal-length stubs ((L1b, L1b), (L2b, L2b)) are placed on both sides of the main transmission path (2) in the signal layer and two pairs of complementary slot-lines ((L1t, L1t), (L2t, L2t)) are placed on both sides of the main transmission path (2) in ground plane for microstrip structure. Unequal-length stubs are placed in central layer and complementary slot-lines are placed in either outer conductor ground planes for strip-line structure. The characteristic impedances (Z0, 2Z1b, 2Z2b, 2Z1t, 2Z2t) of transmission paths are selected to control group delay time and minimize reflection of signals from signal source to output. A cascade connection of the basic cell forms a delay line system. |
| US09419309B2 |
Apparatus for preventing deterioration of storage capacity of rechargeable battery, regenerating the same, and measuring storage quantity
Provided is an apparatus in which an electrode insulation inactivating layer on the basis of charge and discharge which is a cause for deterioration of storage capacity of a rechargeable battery is regenerated by thermo-mechanical effects caused by dielectric relaxation loss, individual frequencies of dielectric relaxation loss of rechargeable batteries in general are automatically searched by an increase in high-frequency dependent charging current, the insulation layer is selectively decomposed, termination of charge of the storage battery is additionally known by connecting or disconnecting a frequency of dielectric relaxation loss, and electric current conductance at a frequency of dielectric relaxation loss gives a storage quantity which is a state of charge. |
| US09419307B2 |
Organic electrolyte and organic electrolyte storage battery
An organic electrolyte improves the organic electrolyte storage battery of an electric vehicle in the initial storage capacity that affects the possible cruising range. The electrolyte includes a compound represented by formula (1) below and a compound represented by formula (2) below: wherein R1 to R5 are each independently hydrogen, an alkyl group, a halogenated alkyl group, or halogen, R6 is an alkylene group or a halogenated alkylene group and R7 is a group having a symmetrical structure about R6 as the rotational axis; R1—R2—R3 (2) wherein R2 is a vinyl group, a cyclic carbonic acid ester group, cyclic sulfite group, chain carbonic acid ester group or chain sulfite group, or —SO3—, R1 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl group, a halogenated alkyl group, or a vinyl, phenyl or cyclohexyl group, and when R2 is —SO3—, R1 and R3 may bond to each other to form a ring. |
| US09419306B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte and nonaqueous secondary battery using same
The invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte for batteries and a nonaqueous secondary battery using the same which maintains small internal resistance and high electric capacity in high temperature storage. The nonaqueous electrolyte has an electrolyte salt, a compound of general formula (1), and a compound of general formula (2) dissolved in an organic solvent. The ratio of the compound of formula (2) to the sum of the compound of formula (1) and the compound of formula (2) is 0.1 to 8 mass %. In the formulae, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represent C1-C8 alkyl. |
| US09419304B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a flat electrode assembly including a positive electrode and a negative electrode; a bottomed prismatic hollow outer can storing the flat electrode assembly and a nonaqueous electrolyte and having an opening portion; and a sealing plate sealing the opening portion of the hollow outer can. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains at least one of a lithium salt having an oxalate complex as an anion and lithium difluorophosphate (LiPF2O2). The outer surface area of a battery outer body including the hollow outer can and the sealing plate is 350 cm2 or more. With this configuration, the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery has excellent battery characteristics. |
| US09419303B2 |
Electric vehicle propulsion system and method utilizing solid-state rechargeable electrochemical cells
A vehicle propulsion system comprising a plurality of solid state rechargeable battery cells configured to power a drivetrain. In accordance with once aspect of the invention, a transportation system that is powered at least in part by electricity stored in the form of rechargeable electrochemical cells. According to an embodiment of the present invention, these cells are combined in series and in parallel to form a pack that is regulated by charge and discharge control circuits that are programmed with algorithms to monitor state of charge, battery lifetime, and battery health. |
| US09419302B2 |
Electrode constituent member for battery module
An electrode constituent member for a battery module includes a current-carrying member including an internal connection portion relative to a tab-shaped terminal of an electricity-storage cell, and an external connection portion exposed to an outside of the battery module; a fastener member for fastening a member electrically connecting electrodes of a plurality of battery modules to the external connection portion of the current-carrying member; and an insulating member positioned between the external connection portion of the current-carrying member and the electricity-storage cell. In an inner side of the external connection portion, clamp portions receiving the insulating member in between are formed. In the clamp portions and the insulating member, respectively, engagement portions, engaging with each other when the insulating member is received, are formed. |
| US09419301B2 |
Electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cells, membrane electrode assembly having said electrolyte membrane, and solid polymer fuel cell
An electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell includes a reinforce membrane made of nonwoven fibers and an electrolyte provided in a space among the nonwoven fibers. The nonwoven fibers have a non-uniform mass distribution in a plane of the electrolyte membrane. A mass of the nonwoven fibers per unit area in a region corresponding to at least part of a peripheral portion of a fuel cell-use gasket frame is greater than a mass of the nonwoven fibers per unit area in a region corresponding to a center portion of the gasket frame. The electrolyte membrane for solid polymer fuel cell is attached to the fuel cell-use gasket frame. |
| US09419300B2 |
Proton conducting materials
The description includes materials that may be useful for fuel cell applications such as in the manufacture of fuel cell electrodes, proton exchange membranes (PEM), as catalyst additives or in tie layers designed to be thermally and chemically robust while operating within a fuel cell's harsh environment at higher temperatures and to conduct protons, with significantly higher levels of bound acidic groups, while in a low hydration state. Methods of making the materials are also described. |
| US09419297B2 |
Fuel cell module
A fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, an annular second area around the first area where a heat exchanger is provided, an annular third area around the second area where a reformer is provided, an annular fourth area around the third area where an evaporator is provided, and a first partition member provided between the first area and the second area. The first partition member has a combustion gas hole for allowing the combustion gas to flow from the first area to the second area. A baffle circular member is provided inside the first partition member, between the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor. |
| US09419294B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling operation of redox flow battery
A method and apparatus for controlling operation of a redox flow battery. The method of controlling operation of a redox flow battery includes obtaining a diffusivity of anolyte ions with respect to a separator, obtaining a diffusivity of catholyte ions with respect to the separator, determining electrolyte diffusivities depending upon a state of charge value of the redox flow battery based on the diffusivity of the anolyte ions and the diffusivity of the catholyte ions, determining a minimum state of charge value and a maximum state of charge value of the redox flow battery based on the electrolyte diffusivities, and setting operating conditions of the redox flow battery based on the minimum state of charge value and the maximum state of charge value. The method and apparatus for controlling operation of a redox flow battery can prevent reduction in capacity of the redox flow battery. |
| US09419290B2 |
Fuel cell and method for sealing a coolant chamber of a bipolar plate of a fuel cell
A method for sealing a coolant chamber (5) of a bipolar plate (1) of a fuel cell (20), the fuel cell (20) having at least one membrane-electrode unit (21) and the bipolar plate (1) having a first bipolar plate half (2) and a second bipolar plate half (3), at least one of the bipolar plate halves (2, 3) having a coolant distributing structure (4) and the coolant chamber (5) that is formed at least by the coolant distributing structure (4) being formed between the bipolar plate halves (2, 3). |
| US09419289B2 |
Alkaline battery operational methodology
Methods of using specific operational charge and discharge parameters to extend the life of alkaline batteries are disclosed. The methods can be used with any commercial primary or secondary alkaline battery, as well as with newer alkaline battery designs, including batteries with flowing electrolyte. The methods include cycling batteries within a narrow operating voltage window, with minimum and maximum cut-off voltages that are set based on battery characteristics and environmental conditions. The narrow voltage window decreases available capacity but allows the batteries to be cycled for hundreds or thousands of times. |
| US09419287B2 |
Low cost synthesis of single material bifunctional nonprecious catalyst for electrochemical devices
A bifunctional catalyst for catalyzing both an oxygen reduction reaction and an oxygen evolution reaction is provided, wherein the catalyst comprises a doped graphene backbone having thiol functional groups. A method for producing a bifunctional catalyst is also provided. |
| US09419281B2 |
Carbon negative electrode material for lithium secondary battery, production method thereof and lithium secondary battery using the same
A carbon negative electrode material for a lithium secondary battery includes: a core carbon material; and a coated layer covering the core carbon material and comprising a carbon coating material and carbon fiber. |
| US09419273B2 |
Alkaline storage battery, positive electrode material for alkaline storage battery, and method for manufacturing positive electrode material for alkaline storage battery
A positive electrode material for an alkaline storage battery includes nickel hydroxide. Zn and an A element are held in solid solution in a crystallite of the nickel hydroxide, the A element being at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Mn, and Mo. The content of the A element, [A]/([Ni]+[A]+[Zn]), is 5 to 16% (where [A] represents the molarity of the A element,[Ni] represents the molarity of nickel, and [Zn] represents the molarity of zinc in the crystallite). [Zn]/([Ni]+[A]+[Zn]) is 1 to 10%. The nickel hydroxide includes α-phase nickel hydroxide and β-phase nickel hydroxide. |
| US09419270B2 |
Positive electrode for rechargeable lithium battery and rechargeable lithium battery
Disclosed is a positive electrode according to one embodiment of the present invention that includes a current collector and a positive active material layer on the current collector, wherein the positive active material layer includes a positive active material and activated carbon coated with a fibrous carbon material. |
| US09419266B2 |
Polyolefin resin porous film, and non-aqueous electrolyte cell separator using same
This polyolefin resin porous film can be easily produced, and when used as a non-aqueous electrolyte cell separator, can suppress clogging and can evince a high cell output. The polyolefin resin porous film is a porous film having a polyolefin resin as the primary component and is characterized by the average flow diameter pressure (PAP) being 1500-2500 kPa, the bubble point pressure (PBP) being 300-1500 kPa, and the ratio (Pa/PAP) of the air permeability (Pa) and the bubble point pressure (PBP) being no greater than 0.35 sec/(100 ml·kPa). |
| US09419263B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack includes battery modules. The battery modules are arranged adjacent to each other in a vehicle anteroposterior direction in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of each battery module corresponds to a vehicle width direction. Bus bars for electrically connecting in series positive and negative electrode terminals of the adjacent battery modules include outer bus bars in an outer part in the vehicle width direction, and inner bus bars in a center part in the vehicle width direction. The outer bus bars are provided so as not to protrude from upper faces of the battery modules thereby to interconnect the electrode terminals of the adjacent battery modules, and the inner bus bars are provided so as to pass above the upper faces of the battery modules thereby to interconnect the electrode terminals of the adjacent battery modules. |
| US09419262B2 |
Battery module
A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, an end plate at a side of the plurality of battery cells, a bottom plate at a bottom of the plurality of battery cells, and a reinforcing member at a first surface of the bottom plate. |
| US09419261B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules; a housing accommodating the plurality of battery modules therein, and having an opened top; a controller on the plurality of battery modules inside the housing; and an isolation portion located between the plurality of battery modules and the controller. |
| US09419260B2 |
Battery device and electronic apparatus
A battery charger includes a battery attachment section configured to have a rechargeable battery releasably attached thereto. The battery attachment section includes a flat attachment surface having a width corresponding to a width of a bottom surface of a case of the battery to be charged and a length greater than a length of the bottom surface of the case of the battery to be charged; a plurality of locking hooks provided on the attachment surface; a charger terminal configured to contact a terminal of the battery to be charged, the charger terminal including a plurality of plate-shaped contact pieces configured to be inserted into engaging grooves of the battery to be charged; and an attachment projection adjacent to the attachment surface and configured to secure the battery to the charger. |
| US09419259B2 |
High thermal conductivity battery assembly
The invention relates to a battery assembly with high thermal conductivity. The battery assembly comprises a metal case having a hollow accommodation cavity formed therein, a plurality of battery cells installed parallel to one another within the metal case, and a common electrode for connection to the other electrode in each of the battery cells. Each of the battery cells has two electrodes, with one of the electrodes that corresponds to those of the rest of the battery cells being connected in a thermally conductive manner to the metal case. The invention takes advantage of high thermal conductivity of metallic material and dissipates heat by connecting the metal case to the battery electrodes. The invention further comprises fixation troughs formed on the metal case, thereby reducing the size of the assembly. |
| US09419257B2 |
High voltage battery for vehicle
A high voltage battery includes an electrode assembly. A pouch-shaped case is sealed by an edge portion to cover the electrode assembly and has an open inlet formed at one side of the case to allow an electrolyte to be injected to the case therethrough. An outlet is connected to the inlet and discharges gas generated inside the case outside a vehicle. |
| US09419256B2 |
Battery unit with peripheral bracket and internal support body
A battery unit includes a battery cell that charges and discharges electric power; and a bracket that has an outer peripheral wall portion surrounding an outer peripheral side of the battery cell, and a support body which is provided inside the outer peripheral wall portion and supports the battery cell, wherein two battery cells are inserted from a front surface side and a back surface side of the bracket into the outer peripheral wall portion and are mounted on both side surfaces of the support body. |
| US09419251B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention discloses a display device and a method of manufacturing the display device to solve a problem in the prior art that the light transmittance of the displaying light in the display device is very low. In the present invention, the display device comprises a first substrate formed with at least one metal pattern thereon, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a polarizer provided on an outer side of the second substrate far away from the first substrate. An area of an overlapping region between the metal pattern and a pixel display zone is less than an area of the pixel display zone. The polarizer comprises a light absorption layer fully covering the at least one metal pattern. An area of an overlapping region between the light absorption layer of the polarizer and the pixel display zone is less than the area of the pixel display zone. In the present invention, it increases the light transmittance of the displaying light in the OLED display device. |
| US09419249B2 |
Light extraction product for semiconductor light emitting device and light emitting device
A light extraction product (1) for a semiconductor light emitting device is provided with a concavo-convex structure layer (11), provided with a concavo-convex structure (11a) on a surface thereof, having a first refractive index (n1) and a light extraction layer (12), provided on the convex portion of the concavo-convex structure (11a), having a second refractive index (n2), where in a first light extraction layer (12a) a distance Lcv between an average position Sh of tops of the convex-portions and a convex-portion upper interface average position Scv of the first light extraction layer (12a) meets equation (1) 10 nm≦Lcv≦5000 nm, in the concavo-convex structure (11a) a convex-portion average height H meets equation (2) 10 nm≦H≦5000 nm, an average pitch P meets equation (3) 50 nm≦P≦5000 nm, and the distance Lcv and the convex-portion average height H meet equation (4) 50 nm≦Lcv+H≦6000 nm. It is possible to improve light extraction efficiency from the semiconductor light emitting device using the light extraction product (1), and further to enhance long-term reliability of the semiconductor light emitting device. |
| US09419246B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus having increased light efficiency
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a capping layer above an organic emission layer, an encapsulating layer encapsulating the capping layer and the organic emission layer, and a deposition layer above the capping layer and below the encapsulating layer, the deposition layer including a surface on which a plurality of cylinders are located. |
| US09419244B2 |
Organic light-emitting element and method of producing an organic light-emitting element
An organic light-emitting component includes a substrate on which a functional layer stack is applied, the stack including a first electrode, an organic functional layer stack thereover including an organic light-emitting layer and a translucent second electrode thereover, and a translucent halogen-containing thin-film encapsulation arrangement over the translucent second electrode, wherein a translucent protective layer having a refractive index of more than 1.6 is arranged directly on the translucent second electrode between the translucent second electrode and the thin-film encapsulation arrangement. |
| US09419243B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display, an electronic device including the same, and method of manufacturing said organic light-emitting diode display
Provided is an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display including: a first plastic layer; a first barrier layer formed on the first plastic layer; a first intermediate layer formed on the first barrier layer; a second plastic layer formed on the intermediate layer; an OLED layer formed on the second plastic layer; and a thin-film encapsulation layer encapsulating the OLED layer. |
| US09419240B2 |
Organic light emitting transistor and display device having the same
An organic light emitting transistor includes a substrate, a first insulating layer on the substrate, an auxiliary gate electrode between the substrate and the first insulating layer, the auxiliary gate electrode corresponding to a first area, a switching gate electrode between the substrate and the first insulating layer, the switching gate electrode corresponding to a second area defined adjacent to at least one side of the first area, the switching gate electrode being insulated from the auxiliary gate electrode, a source electrode on the first insulating layer, the source electrode corresponding to the second area, a semiconductor layer on the first insulating layer, the semiconductor layer corresponding to at least the first area and the semiconductor layer being connected to the source electrode, a drain electrode corresponding to at least the first area, and a light emitting layer interposed between the drain electrode and the semiconductor layer. |
| US09419239B2 |
Composite material, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, lighting device, and organic compound
A composite material including an organic compound and an inorganic compound, which has a high carrier-transport property; a composite material having an excellent property of carrier injection to an organic compound; a composite material in which light absorption due to charge transfer interaction is unlikely to occur; and a composite material having a high visible-light-transmitting property are provided. A composite material which includes an organic compound and an inorganic compound exhibiting an electron-accepting property with respect to the organic compound, in which the rings of the organic compound are all benzene rings and the number of the benzene rings of the organic compound is greater than or equal to 4 and less than or equal to 25, is provided. |
| US09419238B2 |
PIN-type organic light emitting diode
Provided is a PIN type organic light emitting diode that includes a first electrode of a first electrode type, a first transport layer of a first type of charge carrier, an emission layer, a second transport layer of a second type of charge carrier, and a second electrode of a second type of electrode. At least one of the transport layers includes at least two elementary transport layers and each elementary transport layer of the same transport layer has, in relation to an adjacent elementary transport layer, a decreasing mobility of charge carriers a farther distance from the emission layer, and consequently providing a decreasing conductivity based on a distance of the elementary transport layer from the adjacent electrode, with the elementary transport layers of the same transport layer having the same dopant concentration. |
| US09419236B2 |
Photovoltaic textiles
A tape structure and related circuit configurations for textile systems to establish electrical characteristics of textiles. The textiles incorporate charge carrying components, such as photovoltaic components, in contact with conductive layers in a single tape structure to improve electrical properties without compromising physical characteristics of the textiles. The textiles include photovoltaic tapes, each having an optically transparent layer, a photovoltaic layer, a first electrically conducting layer, a second electrically conducting layer and an insulating substrate located between the first electrically conducting layer and the second electrically conducting layer. |
| US09419233B2 |
Polymers, their preparation and uses
A polymer containing an optionally substituted repeat unit of formula (I) wherein each R is the same or different and represents H or an electron withdrawing group, and each R1 is the same or different and represents a substituent. |
| US09419224B2 |
Fluoro group-containing compound, fluoro group-containing polymer, organic light emitting device including the polymer, and method of manufacturing the device
A fluoro group-containing compound, a fluoro group-containing polymer, an organic light emitting device including the polymer, and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting device are provided. |
| US09419223B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device is provided. The organic light-emitting display device includes a plurality of first electrodes, wherein each first electrode corresponds to a sub-pixel. The display device also includes a pixel-defining layer comprising a plurality of first openings exposing at least a portion of the first electrodes, and a plurality of inlets disposed on an upper surface of the pixel-defining layer. The display device further includes an intermediate layer disposed on the exposed portion of the first electrodes and the inlets, and an opposite electrode disposed on the intermediate layer and the pixel-defining layer, wherein the inlets are selectively disposed between adjacent sub-pixels emitting light of a same wavelength. |
| US09419222B2 |
Reusable encapsulation layer support plate and method of encapsulating OLED substrate
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a reusable encapsulation layer support plate comprising: a support plate body, the top of the support plate body being arranged with at least one first opening for accommodating an encapsulation layer; a cavity arranged within the support plate body, the cavity being filled with a porous material, and the top of the cavity having at least one second opening; wherein the first opening is connected with and arranged opposite to the second opening, and the top surface of the porous material is parallel and level with the bottom surface of the first opening. The encapsulation layer support plate can avoid crash of OLED substrate, realize effective OLED encapsulation, and can be reused as far as possible. The embodiments of the present invention further disclose a method of encapsulating an OLED substrate using the encapsulation layer support plate. |
| US09419219B2 |
Resistive RAM devices and methods
The present disclosure includes a high density resistive random access memory (RRAM) device, as well as methods of fabricating a high density RRAM device. One method of forming an RRAM device includes forming a resistive element having a metal-metal oxide interface. Forming the resistive element includes forming an insulative material over the first electrode, and forming a via in the insulative material. The via is conformally filled with a metal material, and the metal material is planarized to within the via. A portion of the metal material within the via is selectively treated to create a metal-metal oxide interface within the via. A second electrode is formed over the resistive element. |
| US09419214B2 |
Target, method for producing the same, memory, and method for producing the same
A target including: at least one refractory metal element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, and lanthanoids; at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ge, Zn, Co, Cu, Ni, Fe, Si, Mg, and Ga; and at least one chalcogen element selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te. And a method for producing the target. |
| US09419213B2 |
Directly heated RF phase change switch
An RF switch is provided with a direct heating method. The RF switch is comprised of two RF electrodes disposed on opposing sides of a phase change element. Depending on the state of the phase change material, the RF electrodes form a conductive path through the phase change material for an RF signal. To control the state of the phase change material, the RF switch further includes a heater formed from two heater electrodes. The two heater electrodes are configured to draw a current through the phase change element in a direction transverse to the conductive path. |
| US09419210B2 |
Spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy multilayers
The present invention is directed to a spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) element comprising a composite free layer including one or more stacks of a bilayer unit that comprises an insulator layer and a magnetic layer with the magnetic layer having a variable magnetization direction substantially perpendicular to a layer plane thereof; a magnetic pinned layer having a first fixed magnetization direction substantially perpendicular to a layer plane thereof; a tunnel barrier layer formed between the composite free layer and the magnetic pinned layer; and a magnetic fixed layer coupled to the magnetic pinned layer through an anti-ferromagnetic coupling layer. The magnetic fixed layer has a second fixed magnetization direction that is substantially perpendicular to a layer plane thereof and is substantially opposite to the first fixed magnetization direction. |
| US09419205B2 |
Methods for manufacturing carbon ribbons for magnetic devices
In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a magnetic memory device, comprising: depositing a carbon layer comprising amorphous carbon on a substrate; annealing the carbon layer to activate dopants contained therein; and selectively etching portions of the carbon layer to forms lines of spaced apart carbon conductors. |
| US09419204B2 |
Piezoelectric material
A lead-free piezoelectric material that does not undergo depolarization in a wide operating temperature range and has a good piezoelectric constant is provided. A piezoelectric material include a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00≦a≦1.01, 0.125≦x≦0.175, and 0.055≦y≦0.090) as a main component, and manganese incorporated in the perovskite-type metal oxide. The manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.10 parts by weight or less on a metal basis. |
| US09419200B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator and recording head
There is provided a piezoelectric actuator configured to displace to project toward a pressure chamber to apply pressure to a liquid inside the pressure chamber, the piezoelectric actuator including: a vibration plate having a compressive stress; a piezoelectric layer having a pulling stress; and an individual electrode. The compressive stress of the vibration plate has a magnitude which is not less than a threshold value at which an extreme point is generated in a relationship between a compliance of the piezoelectric actuator and a displacement volume of the pressure chamber in a case that an electric voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator, the displacement volume converting from increasing to decreasing relative to increase in the compliance at the extreme point; and the thickness of the piezoelectric actuator is not less than a first thickness corresponding to a compliance allowing the extreme point to generate. |
| US09419188B2 |
LED luminous structure for backlight source
Disclosed is an LED luminous structure for backlight source with good light emitting efficiency and color light rendering and capable of preventing oxidation or affects overall light quality. The LED luminous structure includes a base, a blue LED chip, a green LED chip, a red phosphor and an encapsulation. The blue and green LED chips are installed on the base, and the red phosphor absorbs is excited by a light emitted from the blue LED chip to produce a red light. The encapsulation is for packaging the aforementioned components. The red phosphor has a particle size of 20-30 μm, and the encapsulation has a moisture permeability of 10-20 g/m2.24h and an oxygen permeability smaller than 1000 cm3/m2.24h.atm to lower the chance of oxidizing the red phosphor and improve the stability, brightness and color gamut of the LED luminous structure by limiting the range of the particle size. |
| US09419183B2 |
Nanowire sized opto-electronic structure and method for manufacturing the same
An opto-electric structure includes a plurality of nano elements arranged side by side on a support layer, where each nano element includes at least a first conductivity type semiconductor nano sized core, and where the core and a second conductivity type semiconductor form a pn or pin junction. A first electrode layer that extends over the plurality of nano elements and is in electrical contact with at least a portion of the second conductivity type semiconductor, and a mirror provided on a second conductivity type semiconductor side of the structure. |
| US09419181B2 |
Electrode, an electronic device, and a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic device
According to various embodiments, an electrode may include at least one layer including a chemical compound including aluminum and titanium. |
| US09419178B2 |
Light-emitting device, light-emitting device package, and light unit
A light-emitting device, according to one embodiment, comprises: a transparent conductive oxide film; an active layer which comes into contact with a lower surface of the transparent conductive oxide layer; a first conductive semiconductor layer which comes into contact with a lower surface of the active layer; a reflective electrode which is electrically connected to the first conductive semiconductor layer; and a first electrode electrically connected to the transparent conductive oxide layer. |
| US09419177B2 |
Compositions, devices and methods for optimizing photosynthetically active radiation
Compositions, devices, and methods for optimizing photosynthetically active radiation by utilizing a composition comprising a quantum confinement material having an emission spectra of between 300 nm and 545 nm, and a quantum confinement material having an emission spectra of between 545 nm and 750 nm where the composition may be embedded in and/or coated on one or more transparent surfaces. |
| US09419175B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type; a light emitting layer; a conductive metal layer; and a first stress application layer. The first semiconductor layer contains a nitride semiconductor crystal and receives tensile stress in a (0001) plane. The second semiconductor layer contains a nitride semiconductor crystal. The light emitting layer has an average lattice constant larger than a lattice constant of the first semiconductor layer. The conductive metal layer has a thermal expansion coefficient larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of a nitride semiconductor crystal. The first stress application layer is provided between the second semiconductor layer and the light emitting layer. The first stress application layer relaxes tensile stress applied from the metal layer to the second semiconductor layer. |
| US09419165B2 |
Laser processing for high-efficiency thin crystalline silicon solar cell fabrication
A method for making a back contact solar cell. Base isolation regions are formed in a crystalline silicon back contact solar cell substrate having a substrate thickness in the range of approximately 1 micron to 100 microns. Pulsed laser ablation of a substance on the crystalline silicon back contact solar cell substrate is performed to form base openings, wherein the substance is at least one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon oxynitride, or silicon carbide. Emitter regions are selectively doped and base regions are selectively doped. Contact openings are formed for the selectively doped base regions and the selectively doped emitter regions. Metallization is formed on the selectively doped base regions and the selectively doped emitter regions. |
| US09419159B2 |
Semiconductor light-detecting element
Prepared is an n− type semiconductor substrate 1 having a first principal surface 1a and a second principal surface 1b opposed to each other, and having a p+ type semiconductor region 3 formed on the first principal surface 1a side. At least a region opposed to the p+ type semiconductor region 3 in the second principal surface 1b of the n− type semiconductor substrate 1 is irradiated with a pulsed laser beam to form an irregular asperity 10. After formation of the irregular asperity 10, an accumulation layer 11 with an impurity concentration higher than that of the n− type semiconductor substrate 1 is formed on the second principal surface 1b side of the n− type semiconductor substrate 1. After formation of the accumulation layer 11, the n− type semiconductor substrate 1 is subjected to a thermal treatment. |
| US09419157B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method and designing method thereof, and electronic device
A solid-state imaging device including pixel photododes on a light-receiving surface of a substrate; a first insulating film on the substrate covering a multilayer wiring on and in contact with the substrate. The first insulating film comprises material of a first refractive index lower than a refractive index of the substrate for at least bottom and top surface portions of the first insulating film. A second insulating film with a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index is on the first insulating film. A third insulating film with a third refractive index higher than the second refractive index is on the second insulating film. For each pixel, a color filter is on the third insulating film. |
| US09419154B2 |
Interdigitated electrode formation
The disclosed technology generally relates to photovoltaic devices and methods of fabricating photovoltaic devices, and more particularly relates to interdigitated back contact photovoltaic cells and methods of fabricating the same. In one aspect, a method of forming first and second interdigitated electrodes on a semiconductor substrate comprises providing a dielectric layer on the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate. The method additionally comprises providing a metal seed layer on the dielectric layer. The method additionally comprises patterning the metal seed layer by laser ablation, thereby separating it into a first seed layer and a second seed layer with a separation region interposed therebetween, wherein the first seed layer and the second seed layer are interdigitated and electrically isolated from each other. The method further comprises thickening the first seed layer and the second seed layer by plating, thereby forming the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US09419150B2 |
Photosensor
For a photosensor, an array substrate is provided, wherein the edge of a photodiode is enclosed by the opening edge of a contact hole formed on a drain electrode. |
| US09419148B2 |
Diode with insulated anode regions
A diode is integrated on a semiconductor chip having anode and cathode surfaces opposite to each other. The diode comprises a cathode region extending inwardly from the cathode surface, a drift region extending between the anode surface and the cathode region, and a plurality of anode regions extending from the anode surface in the drift region. The diode further comprises a cathode electrode coupled with the cathode region, and an anode electrode that contacts one or more contacted anode regions of said anode regions and is electrically insulated from one or more floating anode regions of the anode regions. The diode is configured so that charge carriers are injected from the floating anode regions into the drift region in response to applying of a control voltage exceeding a threshold voltage. |
| US09419147B2 |
Electronically controlled squishable composite switch
A method and apparatus for making analog and digital electronics which includes a composite including a squishable material doped with conductive particles. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device has a channel made from the composite, where the channel forms a primary conduction path for the device. Upon applied voltage, capacitive actuators squeeze the composite, causing it to become conductive. The squishable device includes a control electrode, and a composite electrically and mechanically connected to two terminal electrodes. By applying a voltage to the control electrode relative to a first terminal electrode, an electric field is developed between the control electrode and the first terminal electrode. This electric field results in an attractive force between the control electrode and the first terminal electrode, which compresses the composite and enables electric control of the electron conduction from the first terminal electrode through the channel to the second terminal electrode. |
| US09419146B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A region containing a high proportion of crystal components and a region containing a high proportion of amorphous components are formed separately in one oxide semiconductor film. The region containing a high proportion of crystal components is formed so as to serve as a channel formation region and the other region is formed so as to contain a high proportion of amorphous components. It is preferable that an oxide semiconductor film in which a region containing a high proportion of crystal components and a region containing a high proportion of amorphous components are mixed in a self-aligned manner be formed. To separately form the regions which differ in crystallinity in the oxide semiconductor film, first, an oxide semiconductor film containing a high proportion of crystal components is formed and then process for performing amorphization on part of the oxide semiconductor film is conducted. |
| US09419143B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device with a structure in which an increase in the number of oxygen vacancies in an oxide semiconductor layer can be suppressed and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes an oxide insulating layer; intermediate layers apart from each other over the oxide insulating layer; a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the intermediate layers; an oxide semiconductor layer that is electrically connected to the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer and is in contact with the oxide insulating layer; a gate insulating film over the source electrode layer, the drain electrode layer, and the oxide semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode layer that is over the gate insulating film and overlaps with the source electrode layer, the drain electrode layer, and the oxide semiconductor layer. |
| US09419142B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a photocatalytic layer and an organic compound layer in contact with the photocatalytic layer over a substrate having a light transmitting property; forming an element forming layer over the substrate having the light transmitting property with the photocatalytic layer and the organic compound layer in contact with the photocatalytic layer interposed therebetween; and separating the element forming layer from the substrate having the light transmitting property after the photocatalytic layer is irradiated with light through the substrate having the light transmitting property. |
| US09419138B2 |
Embedded carbon-doped germanium as stressor for germanium nFET devices
Carbon-doped germanium stressor regions are formed in an nFET device region of a germanium substrate and at a footprint of a functional gate structure. The carbon-doped germanium stressor regions are formed by an epitaxial growth process utilizing monomethylgermane (GeH3—CH3) as the carbon source. The carbon-doped germanium stressor regions that are provided yield more strain in less volume since a carbon atom is much smaller than a silicon atom. |
| US09419132B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device can ensure predetermined current capacity under maintaining breakdown voltage characteristics and can promote size reduction. A first n-type offset-diffusion-region is disposed inside a p-type well region. In the first n-type offset-diffusion-region, a LOCOS film is disposed on the surface layer of a part sandwiched between an n+-type drain region and n+-type source region. In the first n-type offset-diffusion-region, a gate electrode is disposed on the part sandwiched between the LOCOS film and the n+-type source region. In the first n-type offset-diffusion-region, impurity concentration is lower at the part beneath the gate electrode than at the part beneath the LOCOS film. Inside the first n-type offset-diffusion-region, a second n−-type offset-diffusion-region is disposed at apart located toward the n+-type source region through the LOCOS film so as to be separated from the LOCOS film by a distance x. |
| US09419131B2 |
Semiconductor device having vertical channel transistor and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device having a substrate; a plurality of pillar structures, wherein each pillar structure includes an active pillar disposed over the substrate; a gate electrode surrounding an outer wall of the active pillar; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer insulating adjacent pillar structures; a gate contact penetrating the ILD layer and configured to connect to a sidewall of the gate electrode; and a word line connected to the gate contact. |
| US09419130B2 |
Semiconductor device and integrated circuit
A semiconductor device in a semiconductor substrate includes a first drain region and a second drain region, a first drift zone and a second drift zone, at least two gate electrodes in the semiconductor substrate, and a channel region between the gate electrodes. The first drift zone is arranged between the channel region and the first drain region, and the second drift zone is arranged between the channel region and the second drain region. The second drain region is disposed on a side of the gate electrode, the side of the gate electrode being remote from the side of the first drain region. |
| US09419127B2 |
Semiconductor device including switching devices in an epitaxial layer
A semiconductor device includes switching devices in an epitaxial layer on a silicon substrate. Diffusion regions of different conductivity types are provided. In some instances, an electrode layer makes ohmic contact with the epitaxial layer and extends to, and makes ohmic contact with, a diffusion region electrically connected to the epitaxial layer. In some instances, diffusion regions of different conductivity types are arranged alternately one by one outward away from the epitaxial layer side. |
| US09419124B2 |
Insulating gate AlGaN/GaN HEMT
AlGaN/GaN HEMTs are disclosed having a thin AlGaN layer to reduce trapping and also having additional layers to reduce gate leakage and increase the maximum drive current. One HEMT according to the present invention comprises a high resistivity semiconductor layer with a barrier semiconductor layer on it. The barrier layer has a wider bandgap than the high resistivity layer and a 2DEG forms between the layers. Source and drain contacts contact the barrier layer, with part of the surface of the barrier layer uncovered by the contacts. An insulating layer is included on the uncovered surface of the barrier layer and a gate contact is included on the insulating layer. The insulating layer forms a barrier to gate leakage current and also helps to increase the HEMT's maximum current drive. The invention also includes methods for fabricating HEMTs according to the present invention. In one method, the HEMT and its insulating layer are fabricated using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). In another method the insulating layer is sputtered onto the top surface of the HEMT in a sputtering chamber. |
| US09419123B1 |
Field effect power electronic device and method for fabricating the same
In a method for fabricating a field effect power electronic device, an epi layer is formed on a substrate defined by a device isolation area and a device operation area. A mask pattern is formed which covers the epi layer in the device operation area and has openings positioned at a predetermined distance along a first direction. An inside of the epi layer having the mask pattern formed thereon is formed as an active area, and a non-active area is formed by implanting ions into an inside of the epi layer having the mask pattern not formed thereon. The mask pattern is removed. Source and drain electrodes are formed, in a second direction, on the epi layer in the device operation area with the non-active area interposed therebetween. A gate electrode is formed on the epi layer in the device operation area between the source electrode and the drain electrode. |
| US09419120B2 |
Multichannel devices with improved performance
A transistor device is provided that comprises a base structure, and a superlattice structure overlying the base structure and comprising a multichannel ridge having sloping sidewalls. The multichannel ridge comprises a plurality of heterostructures that each form a channel of the multichannel ridge, wherein a parameter of at least one of the heterostructures is varied relative to other heterostructures of the plurality of heterostructures. The transistor device further comprises a three-sided gate contact that wraps around and substantially surrounds the top and sides of the multichannel ridge along at least a portion of its depth. |
| US09419115B2 |
Junctionless tunnel fet with metal-insulator transition material
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) structure, which can include: a doped semiconductor layer having a substantially uniform doping profile; a first gate structure positioned on the doped semiconductor layer; and a second gate structure positioned on the doped semiconductor layer, the second gate structure including a metal-insulator transition material and a gate dielectric layer separating the metal-insulator transition material from the doped semiconductor layer. |
| US09419111B2 |
Multi-fin FINFET device including epitaxial growth barrier on outside surfaces of outermost fins and related methods
A multi-fin FINFET device may include a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor fins extending upwardly from the substrate and being spaced apart along the substrate. Each semiconductor fin may have opposing first and second ends and a medial portion therebetween, and outermost fins of the plurality of semiconductor fins may comprise an epitaxial growth barrier on outside surfaces thereof. The FINFET may further include at least one gate overlying the medial portions of the semiconductor fins, a plurality of raised epitaxial semiconductor source regions between the semiconductor fins adjacent the first ends thereof, and a plurality of raised epitaxial semiconductor drain regions between the semiconductor fins adjacent the second ends thereof. |
| US09419107B2 |
Method for fabricating vertically stacked nanowires for semiconductor applications
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for forming nanowire structures with desired materials for three dimensional (3D) stacking of fin field effect transistor (FinFET) for semiconductor chips. In one example, a method of forming nanowire structures on a substrate includes performing an ion implantation process to dope dopants into a suspended nanowire structure on a substrate, the suspended nanowire includes multiple material layers having a spaced apart relationship repeatedly formed in the suspended nanowire structure, wherein the material layer predominantly comprises a first type of atoms formed therein, the dopants including a second type of atoms into the suspended nanowire structure, oxidating surfaces of the multiple material layers, and converting the first type of atoms in the material layer to the second type of atoms from the dopants doped therein. |
| US09419105B2 |
Method for processing substrate and method for fabricating apparatus
A method for processing a substrate, the substrate comprising an organic film pattern, the method comprising: a fusion/deformation step of fusing said organic film pattern to deform the fused organic film pattern and a third removal step of removing at least a part of the fused and deformed organic film pattern. |
| US09419104B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a P-well and an N-well disposed in the semiconductor substrate, a source disposed in the N-well and a drain disposed in the P-well, a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure disposed in the P-well, a gate structure disposed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein a portion of the gate structure extends into the semiconductor substrate and is disposed in a location corresponding to the STI structure. |
| US09419103B2 |
Stress modulation in field effect transistors in reducing contact resistance and increasing charge carrier mobility
Field-effect transistor and method of fabrication are provided for, for instance, providing a gate structure disposed over a substrate. The fabricating method further includes forming a source and drain region within the substrate separated by a channel region, the channel region underlying, at least partially, the gate structure. Forming further includes implanting at least one dopant at a pre-selected temperature into the source and drain region to facilitate increasing a concentration of the at least one dopant within the source and drain region, where the implanting of the at least one dopant at the pre-selected temperature facilitates reducing contact resistance of the source and drain region and increasing charge carrier mobility through the channel region. |
| US09419101B1 |
Multi-layer spacer used in finFET
A method of forming spacers and the resulting fin-shaped field effect transistors are provided. Embodiments include forming a silicon (Si) fin over a substrate; forming a polysilicon gate over the Si fin; and forming a spacer on top and side surfaces of the polysilicon gate, and on exposed upper and side surfaces of the Si fin, the spacer including: a first layer and second layer having a first dielectric constant, and a third layer formed between the first and second layers and having a second dielectric constant, wherein the second dielectric constant is lower than the first dielectric constant. |
| US09419099B2 |
Method of fabricating spacers in a strained semiconductor device
The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming a gate stack over a silicon substrate, forming dummy spacers on sidewalls of the gate stack, isotropically etching the silicon substrate to form recess regions on either side of the gate stack, forming a semiconductor material in the recess regions, the semiconductor material being different from the silicon substrate, removing the dummy spacers, forming spacer layers having an oxide-nitride-oxide configuration over the gate stack and the semiconductor material, and etching the spacer layers to form gate spacers on the sidewalls of the gate stack. |
| US09419097B2 |
Replacement metal gate dielectric cap
A method for manufacturing a field effect transistor includes chelating a molecular mask to a replacement metal gate in a field effect transistor. The method may further include forming a patterned dielectric layer on a bulk dielectric material and a gate dielectric barrier in one or more deposition steps. The method may include removing the molecular mask and exposing part of the gate dielectric barrier before depositing a dielectric cap that touches the gate dielectric barrier and the replacement metal gate. |
| US09419095B2 |
Method for manufacturing dummy gate in gate-last process and dummy gate in gate-last process
A method for manufacturing a dummy gate in a gate-last process and a dummy gate in a gate-last process are provided. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate; growing a gate oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate; depositing bottom-layer amorphous silicon on the gate oxide layer; depositing an ONO structured hard mask on the bottom-layer amorphous silicon; depositing top-layer amorphous silicon on the ONO structured hard mask; depositing a hard mask layer on the top-layer amorphous silicon; forming photoresist lines on the hard mask layer, and trimming the formed photoresist lines so that the trimmed photoresist lines a width less than or equal to 22 nm; and etching the hard mask layer, the top-layer amorphous silicon, the ONO structured hard mask and the bottom-layer amorphous silicon in accordance with the trimmed photoresist lines, and removing the photoresist lines, the hard mask layer and the top-layer amorphous silicon. |
| US09419094B2 |
Semiconductor device including a gate electrode on a protruding group III-V material layer and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including a group III-V barrier and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, the semiconductor device including: a substrate, insulation layers formed to be spaced apart on the substrate, a group III-V material layer for filling the space between the insulation layers and having a portion protruding higher than the insulation layers, a barrier layer for covering the side and upper surfaces of the protruding portion of the group III-V material layer and having a bandgap larger than that of the group III-V material layer, a gate insulation film for covering the surface of the barrier layer, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulation film, and source and drain electrodes formed apart from the gate electrode. The overall composition of the group III-V material layer is uniform. The barrier layer may include a group III-V material for forming a quantum well. |
| US09419093B2 |
Method of forming a high electron mobility transistor
A method of forming a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes forming a second III-V compound layer on a first III-V compound layer, forming a source feature and a drain feature on the second III-V compound layer, depositing a p-type layer on a portion of the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature, and forming a gate electrode on the p-type layer. A carrier channel is located between the first III-V compound layer and the second III-V compound layer. |
| US09419090B2 |
Interconnect structures and fabrication method thereof
An interconnect structure is provided. The interconnect structure includes a substrate; and at least a first interconnect component having a first contact region and a second interconnect component having a second contact region. The interconnect structure also includes an interlayer dielectric layer formed on the semiconductor substrate at a same layer as the first interconnect component and the second interconnect component. Further, the interconnect structure includes an interconnect line layer electrically connecting the first contact region and the second contact region formed inside the interlayer dielectric layer. |
| US09419089B1 |
Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a semiconductor structure, which includes a substrate, at least two gate structures disposed on the substrate, a first recess, disposed in the substrate between two gate structures, the first recess having a U-shaped cross section profile, and a second recess, disposed on the first recess, the second recess having a polygonal shaped cross section profile, and has at least two tips on two sides of the second recess, the first recess and the second recess forming an epitaxial recess. |
| US09419088B2 |
Low resistance polysilicon strap
A low resistance polysilicon (poly) structure includes a first poly coupled to a substrate and having a sidewall. A second poly is separated from the sidewall of the first poly and the substrate by a programming oxide. The first poly and the second poly have substantially a same planarized height above the substrate. The first poly extends from a device region to a strap region, and extends substantially parallel to a first length of the second poly. A second length of the second poly extends away from the first poly in the strap region and includes a salicide. A first diffusion region crosses the first poly and the second poly in the device region. A masked width of the first length of the second poly is defined by an etched spacer. A low resistance contact is coupled to the second length of the second poly in the strap region. |
| US09419086B2 |
Recessed contact to semiconductor nanowires
A semiconductor nanowire device includes at least one semiconductor nanowire having a bottom surface and a top surface, an insulating material which surrounds the semiconductor nanowire, and an electrode ohmically contacting the top surface of the semiconductor nanowire. A contact of the electrode to the semiconductor material of the semiconductor nanowire is dominated by the contact to the top surface of the semiconductor nanowire. |
| US09419081B2 |
Reusable substrate bases, semiconductor devices using such reusable substrate bases, and methods for making the reusable substrate bases
Reusable substrate bases for producing multilayer semiconductor devices are provided, as well as free-standing semiconductor devices and reusable substrate bases produced for the multilayer semiconductor devices. The reusable substrate bases comprise a Si-based substrate, a transition lattice overlayed thereon, and a sacrificial ZnO-based layer overlayed on the transition lattice. The transition lattice comprises alternating transition layers of aluminum nitride (AlN) and GaN or Al-doped GaN. The multilayer semiconductor devices comprise the aforesaid reusable substrate bases and a semiconductor stack which comprises a pair of p-n junction forming layers. Methods for producing the multilayer semiconductor devices, the reusable substrate base, as well as free standing semiconductor devices detached from the reusable substrate bases, are also provided. |
| US09419080B2 |
Semiconductor device with recombination region
A semiconductor device includes a pn junction between a drift zone and a charge-carrier transfer region in a semiconductor body. An access channel provides a permanent charge carrier path connecting the drift zone with a recombination region through a separation region between the drift zone and the recombination region. The access channel adjusts a plasma density in the drift zone and the recombination region. |
| US09419077B2 |
Semiconductor devices including protruding insulation portions between active fins
A semiconductor device can include a field insulation layer including a planar major surface extending in first and second orthogonal directions and a protruding portion that protrudes a particular distance from the major surface relative to the first and second orthogonal directions. First and second multi-channel active fins can extend on the field insulation layer, and can be separated from one another by the protruding portion. A conductive layer can extend from an uppermost surface of the protruding portion to cross over the protruding portion between the first and second multi-channel active fins. |
| US09419074B2 |
Non-planar semiconductor device with aspect ratio trapping
As disclosed herein, a semiconductor device with aspect ratio trapping including, a bulk substrate, a plurality of isolation pillars formed on the bulk substrate, wherein one or more gaps are formed between the isolation pillars, an oxide layer formed by epitaxy on the bulk substrate, between the isolation pillars, wherein the oxide layer partially fills the gaps between the isolation pillars, one or more fins formed over the oxide layer between the isolation pillars, such that the one or more fins fill the gaps between the isolation pillars, wherein the oxide layer electrically isolates the one or more fins from the bulk substrate. The size of the gaps between the isolation pillars is selected to statistically eliminate defects caused by a lattice mismatch between the bulk substrate and the oxide layer. The semiconductor device may also contain an aspect-ratio trapping layer between the bulk substrate and oxide layer. |
| US09419070B2 |
Composite reconstituted wafer structures
A reconstituted electronic device comprising at least one die and at least one passive component. A functional material is incorporated in the substrate of the device to modify the electrical behavior of the passive component. The passive component may be formed in redistribution layers of the device. Composite functional materials may be used in the substrate to forms part of or all of the passive component. A metal carrier may form part of the substrate and part of the at least one passive component. |
| US09419067B2 |
Display panel and manufacturing method thereof
A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a quarter wavelength phase retarder, and a linear polarizer. The first substrate has a light emitting element disposed on the first substrate. The opposite panel is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The quarter wavelength phase retarder is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The linear polarize is disposed at a side of the second substrate opposite to the quarter wavelength phase retarder. |
| US09419063B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display having high aperture ratio and method for manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a substrate in which an emission area and a non-emission area are defined, an OLED disposed in the emission area. The OLED display further includes a thin film transistor disposed in the non-emission area, a first insulation layer overlapping the thin film transistor in the non-emission area, a first storage capacitance electrode disposed in the emission area on the first insulation layer, a second insulation layer disposed to cover the first storage capacitance electrode and the thin film transistor except a portion of the thin film transistor, said portion of the thin film transistor being exposed through the second insulation later. The OLED display further includes an organic protective layer disposed on the second insulation layer, and an anode electrode of the OLED disposed on the second insulation layer, the anode electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor. |
| US09419062B2 |
Organic light emitting display devices
An organic light emitting display device includes a plurality of first electrodes, a pixel defining layer, a first intermediate layer, a fluorine-containing layer, an emitting layer and a second electrode. The first electrodes are spaced apart from each other on a substrate. The pixel defining layer is disposed on the substrate. The pixel defining layer partially exposes the first electrodes. The first intermediate layer is disposed on the substrate, the pixel defining layer and the exposed first electrodes. The fluorine-containing layer is formed on a portion of the first intermediate layer overlapping an upper surface of the pixel defining layer. The fluorine-containing layer includes fluorine diffused from the pixel defining layer or the first intermediate layer. The emitting layer is at least partially disposed on a portion of the first intermediate layer not including the fluorine-containing layer thereon. The second electrode is disposed on the emitting layer. |
| US09419060B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device including first and second substrates having an emission region and a transparent region and disposed to face each other, a light emission layer formed on the emission region of the first substrate, a barrier formed to cover the light emission layer and a variable light shield layer formed in the barrier within the transparent region of the first substrate. |
| US09419057B2 |
Resistive random access memory device and manufacturing methods
A resistive memory storage device includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode and a plurality of composite material layers disposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. Each composite material layer includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is a metal-based high-K dielectric material layer having a first metal element, and the second layer is a metal layer having the first metal element. |
| US09419054B2 |
Phase-change device, related manufacturing method, and related electronic device
A method for manufacturing a phase-change device may include the following steps: preparing a substrate; preparing a first dielectric layer, which may be positioned on the substrate; preparing a first electrode, which may be positioned in the first dielectric layer; forming a phase-change material layer, which may overlap the first electrode; processing (e.g., etching) the phase-change material layer to form a phase-change member, which may be electrically connected to the first electrode; forming an etch-stop layer, which may overlap and/or cover the phase-change member; forming an intermediary layer, which may be positioned on the etch-stop layer; forming a second dielectric layer, which may be positioned on the intermediary layer; and forming a second electrode, which may extend through the second dielectric layer, the intermediary layer, and the etch-stop layer and may be electrically connected to the phase-change member. |
| US09419053B2 |
Resistive random access memory structure and method for operating resistive random access memory
A resistive random access memory (RRAM) structure including a first transistor, a second transistor and a RRAM cell string is provided. The first transistor and the second transistor are cascaded by electrically connecting a first terminal of the first transistor and the second transistor. The RRAM cell string includes a plurality of memory cells connected with each other and is electrically connected to a second terminal of the first transistor. |
| US09419049B2 |
Optical assembly including plenoptic microlens array
An optical assembly includes a solid spacing layer between a plenoptic microlens array (MLA) and a pixel-level MLA, avoiding the need for an air gap. Such an assembly, and systems and methods for manufacturing same, can yield improved reliability and efficiency of production, and can avoid many of the problems associated with prior art approaches. In at least one embodiment, the plenoptic MLA, the spacing layer, and the pixel-level MLA are created from optically transmissive polymer(s) deposited on the photosensor array and shaped using photolithographic techniques. Such an approach improves precision in placement and dimensions, and avoids other problems associated with conventional polymer-on-glass architectures. Further variations and techniques are described. |
| US09419044B2 |
Image sensor pixel having storage gate implant with gradient profile
A pixel cell includes a storage transistor disposed in a semiconductor substrate. The storage transistor includes a storage gate disposed over the semiconductor substrate, and a storage gate implant that is annealed and has a gradient profile in the semiconductor substrate under the storage transistor gate to store image charge accumulated by a photodiode disposed in the semiconductor substrate. A transfer transistor is disposed in the semiconductor substrate and is coupled between the photodiode and an input of the storage transistor to selectively transfer the image charge from the photodiode to the storage transistor. The transfer transistor includes a transfer gate disposed over the semiconductor substrate. An output transistor is coupled to an output of the storage transistor to selectively transfer the image charge from the storage transistor to a read out node. The output transistor includes an output gate disposed over the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09419042B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus and electronic device
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a semiconductor base; a photodiode created on the semiconductor base and used for carrying out photoelectric conversion; a pixel section provided with pixels each having the photodiode; a first wire created by being electrically connected to the semiconductor base for the pixel section through a contact section and being extended in a first direction to the outside of the pixel section; a second wire made from a wiring layer different from the first wire and created by being extended in a second direction different from the first direction to the outside of the pixel section; and a contact section for electrically connecting the first and second wires to each other. |
| US09419039B2 |
Photodiode insulation structure
A structure of insulation between photodiodes formed in a doped semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type extending on a doped semiconductor substrate of the second conductivity type, the insulating structure including a trench crossing the semiconductor layer, the trench walls being coated with an insulating layer, the trench being filled with a conductive material and being surrounded with a P-doped area, more heavily doped than the semiconductor layer. |
| US09419038B2 |
Photoelectric conversion apparatus and imaging system using the same
In a photoelectric conversion apparatus including charge storing portions in its imaging region, isolation regions for the charge storing portions include first isolation portion each having a PN junction, and second isolation portions each having an insulator. A second isolation portion is arranged between a charge storing portion and at least a part of a plurality of transistors. |
| US09419037B2 |
Imaging apparatus
Provided is an imaging apparatus having a plurality of light receiving parts for each one microlens in order for capturing a three-dimensional image, while being capable of obtaining a more natural image when creating a two-dimensional image. The imaging apparatus includes: a microlens array (2) having a plurality of microlenses (20) regularly aligned two-dimensionally; an imaging lens for imaging light from a subject onto the microlens array (2); and a plurality of light receiving parts (22L, 22R) disposed for each of the plurality of microlenses (20). The plurality of light receiving parts (22L, 22R) associated with each microlens (20) receive the light from the subject that has been imaged onto the microlens and subject the light to photoelectric conversion. The imaging lens has a pupil which is disposed as being out of conjugation with a light receiving plane of the light receiving parts (22L, 22R). |
| US09419036B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device includes: light-receiving elements; and first dispersive elements on a light-incident side of the light-receiving elements. Each first dispersive element includes first and second light transmissive film materials. The second light transmissive film material has a refractive index that is lower than that of the first light transmissive film material in a first wavelength range and higher than that of the first light transmissive film material in a second wavelength range longer in wavelength than the first wavelength range. A volume occupation ratio of the first light transmissive film material in each dispersive element increases from one end towards the other end of the dispersive element in a direction parallel to a light-receiving surface, while a volume occupation ratio of the second light transmissive film material in the dispersive element increases from the other end towards the one end in the direction. |
| US09419034B2 |
Image sensor module and method for adjusting focus of image sensor module
An image sensor module includes a substrate, an image sensor mounted on the substrate, a holder position on the substrate, a lens barrel for holding a lens module and at least one spring. The spring is positioned between the holder and the lens barrel, and the spring exerts forces on the holder and the lens barrel; and the lens barrel has at least one hole, and a screw penetrates through the hole and is screwed into the holder. |
| US09419032B2 |
Wafer level camera module with molded housing and method of manufacturing
A disclosed method of manufacturing a camera module includes providing an optical assembly, providing an integrated circuit image capture device (ICD), fixing the optical assembly directly to the ICD, then forming a housing directly over the optical assembly. The method further includes forming the housing over the ICD and the optical assembly via transfer molding. The method further includes forming solder balls on the rear surface of the ICD so as to enable the camera module to be reflow soldered to a host device. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the method includes providing a second ICD, providing a second optical assembly, providing a housing substrate, fixing the first optical assembly over the first ICD, fixing the second optical assembly over the second ICD, and forming the housing substrate over both the first and second optical assemblies. The alternative method further includes separating the housing substrate in to a first portion formed over the first optical assembly and second portion formed over the second optical assembly, providing a second housing substrate, and forming the second housing substrate over the first and second portions. |
| US09419026B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
An active matrix display device having a pixel structure in which pixel electrodes, gate wirings and source wirings are suitably arranged in the pixel portions to realize a high numerical aperture without increasing the number of masks or the number of steps. The device comprises a gate electrode and a source wiring on an insulating surface, a first insulating layer on the gate electrode and on the source wiring, a semiconductor layer on the first insulating film, a second insulating layer on the semiconductor film, a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode on the second insulating layer, a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the semiconductor layer together, and a pixel electrode connected to the semiconductor layer. |
| US09419023B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a first substrate arranged with a plurality of pixels on a first surface, the plurality of pixels having a display element including a transistor, and a first wiring connected to the transistor, a through electrode arranged in a first contact hole reaching the first wiring from a second surface facing the first surface of the first substrate, a second wiring connected with the through electrode, a first insulation film arranged covering the second wiring on the second surface of the first substrate, and a terminal connected with a second wiring via a second contact hole arranged in the first insulation film. |
| US09419022B1 |
TFT array substrate
The present invention provides a thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate. The TFT array substrate is structured to change the way that sub-pixels are arranged so that during a displaying period of a frame of image, the sub-pixels that have inconsistent brightness/darkness become alternate with each other spatially so that a displaying defect of vertical bright/dark lines can be improved and the overall resistance of the data line can be reduced to thereby reduce resistance-capacitance delay and prevent incorrect charging at a tail end of a scan line or a data line. |
| US09419017B2 |
Active matrix substrate, display device, and short circuit defect correction method for active matrix substrate
A slit-shaped repair hole (27S) for repairing a short circuit defect of adjacent pixel electrodes (27) is provided straddling a storage capacitance wiring line (22CsL) at at least one intersection of the edges of the pixel electrode (27) and the storage capacitance wiring line (22CsL). |
| US09419015B1 |
Method for integrating thin-film transistors on an isolation region in an integrated circuit and resulting device
Methods for integrating core and I/O components in IC devices utilizing a TFT I/O device formed on STI regions, and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include forming STI and FinFET regions in a Si substrate, the FinFET region having first and second adjacent sections; forming a nitride layer and a silicon layer, respectively, over the STI region and both sections of the FinFET region; removing a first section of the silicon and nitride layers through a mask to expose the first FinFET section; implanting the exposed FinFET section with a dopant; removing remaining sections of the mask; removing a second section of the silicon and nitride layers through a second mask to expose the second FinFET section; implanting the second FinFET section with another dopant; removing remaining sections of the second mask; and forming a TFT on the remaining silicon layer, wherein the TFT channel includes the silicon layer. |
| US09419003B1 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof
An SRAM cell includes a first vertical pull-up transistor stacked atop a first vertical pull-down transistor, and a second vertical pull-up transistor stacked atop a second vertical pull-down transistor. The gates of the first vertical pull-up transistor and the first vertical pull-down transistor are coupled by a first via, while the gates of the second vertical pull-up transistor and the second vertical pull-down transistor are coupled by a second via. Gates of the first vertical pull-up transistor and a first vertical pass-gate transistor are coupled by a first conductive trace, while gates of the second vertical pull-up transistor and a second vertical pass-gate transistor are coupled by a second conductive trace. The gate of the first vertical pull-up transistor is coupled to the second conductive trace by a third via, while the gate of the second vertical pull-up transistor is coupled to the first conductive trace by a fourth via. |
| US09419001B1 |
Method for forming cell contact
A method for forming a cell contact. A substrate having first and second protruding structures is prepared. An etch stop layer is deposited over the substrate. A sacrificial layer is deposited on the etch stop layer. The sacrificial layer is recessed. Spacers are formed on the top surface of the sacrificial layer. A portion of the sacrificial layer not covered by the spacers is etched away, thereby forming a recess. A gap filling material layer is deposited into the recess. An upper portion of the gap filling material layer and the spacers are removed to expose the top surface of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed to form contact holes. A punch etching process is performed to remove the etch stop layer from bottoms of the contact holes. The contact holes is filled up with a conductive material layer. |
| US09418989B2 |
Semiconductor device and display device
A semiconductor device including a circuit which does not easily deteriorate is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch. A first terminal of the first transistor is connected to a first wiring. A second terminal of the first transistor is connected to a second wiring. A gate and a first terminal of the second transistor are connected to the first wiring. A second terminal of the second transistor is connected to a gate of the first transistor. The first switch is connected between the second wiring and a third wiring. The second switch is connected between the second wiring and the third wiring. The third switch is connected between the gate of the first transistor and the third wiring. |
| US09418988B2 |
Gate electrode and gate contact plug layouts for integrated circuit field effect transistors
A four transistor layout can include an isolation region that defines an active region, the active region extending along first and second different directions. A common source region of the four transistors extends from a center of the active region along both the first and second directions to define four quadrants of the active region that are outside the common source region. Four drain regions are provided, a respective one of which is in a respective one of the four quadrants and spaced apart from the common source region. Finally, four gate electrodes are provided, a respective one of which is in a respective one of the four quadrants between the common source region and a respective one of the four drain regions. A respective gate electrode includes a vertex and first and second extending portions, the first extending portions extending from the vertex along the first direction and the second extending portions extending from the vertex along the second direction. |
| US09418987B2 |
Transistor with threshold voltage set notch and method of fabrication thereof
A structure and method of fabrication thereof relate to a Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) design, allowing CMOS based devices to have a reduced σVT compared to conventional bulk CMOS and can allow the threshold voltage VT of FETs having dopants in the channel region to be set much more precisely. A novel dopant profile indicative of a distinctive notch enables tuning of the VT setting within a precise range. This VT set range may be extended by appropriate selection of metals so that a very wide range of VT settings is accommodated on the die. The DDC design also can have a strong body effect compared to conventional bulk CMOS transistors, which can allow for significant dynamic control of power consumption in DDC transistors. The result is the ability to independently control VT (with a low σVT) and VDD, so that the body bias can be tuned separately from VT for a given device. |
| US09418986B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is improved in reliability. A power MOSFET for switching, and a sense MOSFET for sensing a current flowing in the power MOSFET, which is smaller in area than the power MOSFET, are formed in one semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is mounted over a chip mounting portion, and sealed in a resin. To first and second source pads for outputting the current flowing in the power MOSFET, a metal plate is bonded. A third source pad for sensing the source voltage of the power MOSFET is at a position not overlapping the metal plate. A coupled portion between a source wire forming the third pad and another source wire forming the first and second pads is at a position overlapping the metal plate. |
| US09418980B2 |
Light-emitting diode device
A light-emitting diode device includes a carrier having at least one cavity, a light-emitting diode chip is arranged in a manner at least partly recessed in the at least one cavity, and an ESD protection element, which is formed by a partial region of the carrier. Furthermore, a light-emitting diode device includes a carrier having at least one cavity, a light-emitting diode chip arranged on the carrier, and an electrical component arranged at least partly recessed in the at least one cavity. Furthermore, the light-emitting diode device includes an ESD protection element, which is formed by a partial region of the carrier. |
| US09418979B2 |
Light emitting diodes and a method of packaging the same
Disclosed herein is a method of assembling an array of light emitting diode (LED) dies on a substrate comprising: positioning dies in fluid; exposing the dies to a magnetic force to attract the dies onto magnets that are arranged at pre-determined locations either on or near the substrate; and forming permanent connections between the dies and the substrate thereby constituting an array of LED dies on a substrate. |
| US09418978B2 |
Method of forming package-on-package (PoP) structure having a chip package with a plurality of dies attaching to first side of an interposer with a die formed thereon
A package-on-package (PoP) structure comprises a first package and a second package. The first package comprises a first die, a second die, and a core material. The core material has a first surface and a second surface. A first redistribution layer (RDL) is on the first surface, and a second RDL is on the second surface. The first die is disposed in the core material between the first surface and the second surface. The second die is coupled to one of the first RDL and the second RDL. The second package comprises a third die and an interposer. The interposer has a first side and a second side. The third die is coupled to the second side of the interposer. The first package is coupled to the second package by first electrical connectors coupled to the second side of the interposer and the first RDL. |
| US09418977B2 |
Package-on-package semiconductor device
Exemplary methods of forming the semiconductor device, encompasses forming a first package with at least one first die on a packaging substrate that is removably coupled to a carrier. Forming a thermal contact pad on the first die package, with or without a surrounding seal ring, and bonding a second die package to the first die package where the thermal contact pad is between the two packages. Electrically coupling the first die package to the second die package with a set of conductive elements and removing the carrier from the first package. |
| US09418973B2 |
Light emitting device package
A light emitting device package is provided. The light emitting device package may include a main body having a cavity including side surfaces and a bottom, and a first reflective cup and a second reflective cup provided in the bottom of the cavity of the main body and separated from each other. A first light emitting device may be provided in the first reflective cup, and a second light emitting device may be provided in the second reflective cup. |
| US09418968B2 |
Semiconductor device including semiconductor chips mounted over both surfaces of substrate
A semiconductor chip 10 flip-chip mounted on a first surface 32 of a wiring substrate 30, a semiconductor chip 20 flip-chip mounted on a second surface 33 of the wiring substrate 30, a sealing resin 71 covering the semiconductor chip 10, a sealing resin 72 covering the semiconductor chip 20, a plurality of conductive posts provided to penetrate through the sealing resin 72, and a plurality of solder balls mounted on second ends of the plurality of conductive posts exposed from the sealing resin 72 are provided; and the mounting directions of the semiconductor chips 10 and 20 are mutually different by 90°. Both of the planar shapes of the semiconductor chips 10 and 20 are rectangular shapes, the semiconductor chip 10 is mounted so that the long sides thereof are parallel to the long sides of the wiring substrate 30, and the semiconductor chip 20 is mounted so that the long sides thereof are perpendicular to the long sides of the wiring substrate 30. |
| US09418963B2 |
Methods for wafer bonding, and for nucleating bonding nanophases
Substrates may be bonded according to a method comprising contacting a first bonding surface of a first substrate with a second bonding surface of a second substrate to form an assembly, and compressing the assembly in the presence of an oxidizing atmosphere under suitable conditions to form a bonding layer between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first bonding surface comprises a polarized surface layer; the second bonding surface comprises a hydrophilic surface layer; the first and second bonding surfaces are different. |
| US09418960B2 |
Semiconductor chip and semiconductor package
The driver semiconductor package includes a base substrate. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip mounted on the base substrate. The semiconductor chip includes a core region disposed in a center part of the semiconductor chip, an internal circuit being provided in the core region. The semiconductor chip includes a plurality of IO cell regions disposed in a line along a side of the semiconductor chip, a differential circuit being provided in each of the plurality of IO cell regions. The semiconductor chip includes a non-inverting pad electrode disposed above each of the IO cell regions and electrically connected to a non-inverting terminal of the differential circuit. The semiconductor chip includes an inverting pad electrode disposed above each of the IO cell regions and connected to an inverting terminal of the differential circuit. |
| US09418954B2 |
Integrated circuit chip assembled on an interposer
A device includes a chip assembled on an interposer. An electrically-insulating layer coats an upper surface of the interposer around the chip. First metal lines run on the upper surface of the interposer and are arranged between conductive elements of connection to the chip. An end of each first metal line is arranged to extend beyond a projection of the chip on the interposer. A thermally-conductive via connects the end of the first metal line to a heat sink supported at an upper surface of the device. |
| US09418952B2 |
Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof
Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate, and a passivation layer disposed over the substrate and a first portion of the contact pad. A post passivation interconnect (PPI) line is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled to a second portion of the contact pad. A PPI pad is disposed over the passivation layer. A transition element is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled between the PPI line and the PPI pad. The transition element comprises a first side and a second side coupled to the first side. The first side and the second side of the transition element are non-tangential to the PPI pad. |
| US09418947B2 |
Mechanisms for forming connectors with a molding compound for package on package
The described embodiments of mechanisms of forming connectors for package on package enable smaller connectors with finer pitch, which allow smaller package size and additional connections. The conductive elements on one package are partially embedded in the molding compound of the package to bond with contacts or metal pads on another package. By embedding the conductive elements, the conductive elements may be made smaller and there are is gaps between the conductive elements and the molding compound. A pitch of the connectors can be determined by adding a space margin to a maximum width of the connectors. Various types of contacts on the other package can be bonded to the conductive elements. |
| US09418945B2 |
Integrated circuit for generating or processing a radio frequency signal
An integrated circuit includes a signal line for carrying a radio frequency signal; a coupling line inductively coupled to the signal line for delivering an induced signal in dependence on the radio frequency signal; a connecting line connected to a pick-off point of the coupling line for picking off the induced signal from the coupling line; and a conductive part for shielding the coupling line against electromagnetic interference and for enhancing inductive coupling between the signal line and the coupling line. The conductive part may have a uniform flat surface facing the coupling line. The signal line may extend parallel to the surface. The coupling line may extend parallel to the signal line and may be arranged between the surface and the signal line. |
| US09418939B2 |
Contact structure for NAND based non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacture
A NAND-based non-volatile memory contact structure includes a trench located adjacent to layered alternating conducting and insulating layers, the layers lining sides and bottom of the trench. A portion of the trench is removed to expose a surface in which electrical connections to the conducting layers are provided on one level. |
| US09418934B1 |
Structure and fabrication method for electromigration immortal nanoscale interconnects
After forming a trench opening including narrow trench portions spaced apart by wide trench portions and forming a stack of a first diffusion barrier layer and a first liner layer on sidewalls and a bottom surface of the trench opening, a reflow process is performed to fill the narrow trench portions but not the wide trench portions with a first conductive material layer. A stack of a second diffusion barrier layer and a second liner layer is formed on portions of the first liner layer and ends of the first conductive material layer exposed by the wide trench portions. A second conductive material layer is deposited to fill the wide trench portions. Portions of the second diffusion barrier layer and the second liner layer located between the first conductive material layer and the second conductive material layer act as vertical blocking boundaries to prevent the electromigration of metal atoms. |
| US09418932B1 |
Integrated circuit system with tunable resistor and method of manufacture thereof
An integrated circuit system, and a method of manufacture thereof, includes: an integrated circuit substrate; and a discretized tunable precision resistor having a total resistance including: a resistor body over the integrated circuit substrate, interconnects directly on the resistor body, metal taps directly on the interconnects and at opposing sides of the resistor body, and conductive metal strips over the interconnects, wherein the total resistance is a function of an active resistor length of the resistor body between a pair of the metal taps in contact with two of the conductive metal strips. |
| US09418931B2 |
Package structure and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a package structure includes the following steps. A substrate including a core layer, first and second patterned metal layers is provided. The first and second patterned metal layers are respectively disposed on two opposite surfaces of the core layer. A through cavity penetrating the substrate is formed. The substrate is disposed on a tape carrier. A semiconductor component is disposed in the through cavity. An inner wall of the through cavity and a side surface of the semiconductor component define a groove. The filling compound is dispensed above the groove. A heating process is performed for the filling compound to flow toward the tape carrier and comprehensively fill the groove. First and second stacked layers are respectively laminated onto the first and second patterned metal layers and cover at least a part of the semiconductor component. |
| US09418929B1 |
Integrated circuit with sewn interconnects
A packaged integrated circuit (IC) device includes a flexible substrate having contact pads, an IC die mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the contact pads, and conductive threads sewn into the substrate. The conductive threads have proximal ends electrically connected to corresponding ones of the contact pads with conductive bumps. The conductive threads eliminate the need for a complicated multi-layer substrate structure for interconnect fan-out so the substrate may be formed of a variety of materials such as cloth or paper. |
| US09418926B1 |
Package-on-package semiconductor assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same
Package-on-package systems for packaging semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, a package-on-package system comprises a first semiconductor package device and a second semiconductor package device. The first package device includes a base substrate including a first side having a die-attach region and a peripheral region, a first semiconductor die attached to the base substrate at the die-attach region, wherein the first semiconductor die has a front side facing the first side of the base substrate and a backside spaced apart from the first side of the base substrate by a first distance, and a high density interconnect array in the perimeter region of the base substrate outside of the die-attach region. The interconnect array has a plurality of interconnects that extend from the first side of the base substrate by a second distance greater than the first distance. The second semiconductor device package is electrically coupled corresponding individual interconnects. |
| US09418925B2 |
Electronic component and method for electrically coupling a semiconductor die to a contact pad
In an embodiment, an electronic component includes a dielectric core layer, one or semiconductor dies comprising a first major surface, a first electrode arranged on the first major surface and a second major surface that opposes the first major surface. One or more slots are arranged within the dielectric core layer adjacent the semiconductor die and a redistribution structure electrically couples the first electrode to a component contact pad arranged adjacent the second major surface of the semiconductor die. The semiconductor die is embedded in the dielectric core layer and a portion of the redistribution structure is arranged on side walls of the slot. |
| US09418924B2 |
Stacked die integrated circuit
An apparatus relates generally to an integrated circuit package. In such an apparatus, a package substrate has a first plurality of via structures extending from a lower surface of the package substrate to an upper surface of the package substrate. An die has a second plurality of via structures extending to a lower surface of the die. The lower surface of the die faces the upper surface of the package substrate in the integrated circuit package. The package substrate does not include a redistribution layer. The die and the package substrate are coupled to one another. |
| US09418918B2 |
Lead for connection to a semiconductor device
There is disclosed a lead for connection to a semiconductor device die, the lead comprising a clip portion. The clip portion comprises a major surface having two or more protrusions extending therefrom for connection to a bond pad of the semiconductor device die. |
| US09418914B2 |
Package substrates, semiconductor packages having the package substrates
Package substrates, semiconductor packages including the package substrates, and methods for fabricating the semiconductor packages are provided. A package substrate may include a core including a first surface on which a semiconductor chip is disposed and a second surface opposite the first surface. The package substrate may also include a metal pad on the second surface of the core. The metal pad may include a saline water corrosion resistant surface. |
| US09418912B2 |
Methods of forming serpentine thermal interface material and structures formed thereby
Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods may include forming a thermal interface material comprising a thermally conductive serpentine foil located between a first and a second interface material. The serpentine foil may be in a parallel position or a rotated position, in embodiments. |
| US09418910B2 |
Semiconductor device
A circuit pattern is bonded to a top surface of a ceramic substrate. A cooling body is bonded to an undersurface of the ceramic substrate. An IGBT and a FWD are provided on the circuit pattern. A coating film covers a junction between the ceramic substrate and the circuit pattern, and a junction between the ceramic substrate and the cooling body. A mold resin seals the ceramic substrate, the circuit pattern, the IGBT, the FWD, the cooling body, and the coating film etc. The ceramic substrate has higher thermal conductivity than the coating film. The coating film has lower hardness than the mold resin and alleviates stress applied from the mold resin to the ceramic substrate. The circuit pattern and the cooling body includes a groove contacting the mold resin without being covered with the coating film. |
| US09418909B1 |
Stacked silicon package assembly having enhanced lid adhesion
A method and apparatus are provided which improve the adhesion of a lid to an IC die of an IC (chip) package. In one embodiment, a chip package assembly is provided that includes an IC die, a package substrate and a lid. The IC die is coupled to the package substrate. The lid has a first surface and a second surface. The second surface of the lid faces away from the first surface and towards the IC die. The second surface of the lid has a plurality of engineered features. The adhesive couples the plurality of engineered features of the lid to the IC die. |
| US09418899B1 |
Method of multi-WF for multi-Vt and thin sidewall deposition by implantation for gate-last planar CMOS and FinFET technology
A method of forming RMG multi-WF layers for an nFET and pFET, and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a Si fin; forming a nFET RMG trench and a pFET RMG trench; forming a first Ti layer in the nFET and pFET RMG trenches; implanting N2 in the first Ti layer vertically at a 0° implant angle in the pFET RMG trench; annealing the N2 implanted first Ti layer to form a TiN layer in the pFET RMG trench; stripping un-reacted Ti of the first Ti layer; forming a second Ti layer in the nFET and pFET RMG trenches; implanting Al or C in the second Ti layer vertically at 0°; annealing the Al or C implanted second Ti layer to form TiAl or TiC at a bottom of the nFET and pFET RMG trenches, respectively; and filling the nFET and pFET RMG trenches with Al or W. |
| US09418895B1 |
Dies for RFID devices and sensor applications
Deep reactive ion silicon etching of a device wafer, laser-induced release of individual dies, and individual placement of the dies on flexible substrates facilitate formation of circuits having relatively large external inductors for powering devices such as RFID devices. Small flexible tabs enable die-inductor connection. The absorption properties of both an adhesive layer and an ablation layer may be employed to facilitate debonding of individual dies from a glass handler without damaging integrated circuits associated with the dies. Die packs including cavities for accepting individual dies facilitate fabrication processes using dies having small dimensions. |
| US09418894B2 |
Electronic die singulation method
In one embodiment, die are singulated from a wafer having a back layer by placing the wafer onto a carrier substrate with the back layer adjacent the carrier substrate, forming singulation lines through the wafer to expose the back layer within the singulation lines, and applying a pressure substantially uniformly along the second major surface to batch separate the layer of material in the singulation lines. In one embodiment, a fluid filled vessel can be used to apply the pressure. |
| US09418889B2 |
Selective formation of dielectric barriers for metal interconnects in semiconductor devices
A dielectric diffusion barrier is deposited on a substrate that has a via and an overlying trench etched into an exposed layer of inter-layer dielectric, wherein there is exposed metal from the underlying interconnect at the bottom of the via. In order to provide a conductive path from the underlying metallization layer to the metallization layer that is being formed over it, the dielectric diffusion barrier is formed selectively on the inter-layer dielectric and not on the exposed metal at the bottom of the via. In one example a dielectric SiNC diffusion barrier layer is selectively deposited on the inter-layer dielectric using a remote plasma deposition and a precursor that contains both silicon and nitrogen atoms. Generally, a variety of dielectric diffusion barrier materials with dielectric constants of between about 3.0-20.0 can be selectively formed on inter-layer dielectric. |
| US09418888B2 |
Non-lithographically patterned directed self assembly alignment promotion layers
A method of an aspect includes forming a directed self assembly alignment promotion layer over a surface of a substrate having a first patterned region and a second patterned region. A first directed self assembly alignment promotion material is formed selectively over the first patterned region without using lithographic patterning. The method also includes forming an assembled layer over the directed self assembly alignment promotion layer by directed self assembly. A plurality of assembled structures are formed that each include predominantly a first type of polymer over the first directed self assembly alignment promotion material. The assembled structures are each adjacently surrounded by predominantly a second different type of polymer over the second patterned region. The first directed self assembly alignment promotion material has a greater chemical affinity for the first type of polymer than for the second different type of polymer. |
| US09418887B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a first insulating film, forming a first mask extending in first direction on the first insulating film, etching the first insulating film using the first mask, resulting in trenches extending in a first direction, forming a second mask on the trenches and the first mask, etching the first insulating film using the second mask and the first mask to form contact openings extending from the trenches. |
| US09418880B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for treating substrate
Provided is a substrate treating apparatus, which includes a process chamber providing a space in which a substrate is treated, an exhausting pipe connected to the process chamber, and providing a passage through which gas is discharged from the process chamber to an outside thereof, a pump installed on the exhausting pipe, and a valve installed on the exhausting pipe between the process chamber and the pump, and opening and closing the passage. The valve includes a first plate provided with exhausting holes, and a first driver moving the first plate such that the exhausting holes are located within the passage or outside the passage. |
| US09418878B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming adhesive material to secure semiconductor die to carrier in WLCSP
A semiconductor device is made by providing a temporary carrier and providing a semiconductor die having a plurality of bumps formed on its active surface. An adhesive material is deposited as a plurality of islands or bumps on the carrier or active surface of the semiconductor die. The adhesive layer can also be deposited as a continuous layer over the carrier or active surface of the die. The semiconductor die is mounted to the carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the die and carrier. The adhesive material holds the semiconductor die in place to the carrier while depositing the encapsulant. An interconnect structure is formed over the active surface of the die. The interconnect structure is electrically connected to the bumps of the semiconductor die. The adhesive material can be removed prior to forming the interconnect structure, or the interconnect structure can be formed over the adhesive material. |
| US09418876B2 |
Method of three dimensional integrated circuit assembly
A method of fabricating a three-dimensional integrated circuit comprises attaching a wafer to a carrier, mounting a plurality of semiconductor dies on top of the wafer to form a wafer stack. The method further comprises forming a molding compound layer on top of the wafer, attaching the wafer stack to a tape frame and dicing the wafer stack to separate the wafer stack into a plurality of individual packages. |
| US09418875B2 |
Substrate including a dam for semiconductor package, semiconductor package using the same, and manufacturing method thereof
A substrate for a semiconductor package includes a substrate body having a first surface and a second surface which faces away from the first surface, and formed with at least one bump land on the first surface, and a dam formed and projected over an edge of the first surface of the substrate body, and having an underfill member discharge unit. |
| US09418874B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor package
A semiconductor package is provided, including: a carrier; at least an interposer disposed on the carrier; an encapsulant formed on the carrier for encapsulating the interposer while exposing a top side of the interposer; a semiconductor element disposed on the top side of the interposer; and an adhesive formed between the interposer and the semiconductor element. By encapsulating the interposer with the encapsulant, warpage of the interposer is avoided and a planar surface is provided for the semiconductor element to be disposed thereon, thereby improving the reliability of electrical connection between the interposer and the semiconductor element. |
| US09418872B2 |
Packaged microelectronic components
A microelectronic component package includes a plurality of electrical leads which are coupled to a microelectronic component and which have exposed lengths extending outwardly beyond a peripheral edge of an encapsulant. A plurality of terminals may be positioned proximate a terminal face of the encapsulant and these terminals may be electrically coupled to the same leads. This can facilitate connection of the microelectronic component to a substrate using the leads as a conventional leaded package. The terminals, however, can facilitate stacking of the leaded package with one or more additional microelectronic components, e.g., a BGA package. |
| US09418868B1 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor device with reduced trench distortions
A method includes forming a material layer over a substrate, forming a first hard mask (HM) layer over the material layer, forming a first trench, along a first direction, in the first HM layer. The method also includes forming first spacers along sidewalls of the first trench, forming a second trench in the first HM layer parallel to the first trench, by using the first spacers to guard the first trench. The method also includes etching the material layer through the first trench and the second trench, removing the first HM layer and the first spacers, forming a second HM layer over the material layer, forming a third trench in the second HM layer. The third trench extends along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and overlaps with the first trench. The method also includes etching the material layer through the third trench. |
| US09418866B2 |
Gas treatment method
A gas processing method is described. A workpiece is mounted on a platform in a chamber on which a silicon oxide film is formed on a surface of the workpiece; HF gas and a NH3 gas, as reaction gases, are discharged onto the workpiece on the platform from a plurality of gas discharge holes of a shower plate; and a treatment for causing a reaction between the reaction gases and the silicon oxide film on the surface of the workpiece is performed. Subsequently, the reaction product resulting from the treatment is heated and removed by decomposition, whereby etching is performed. The shower plate is divided into a plurality of regions in correspondence with the workpiece, and the gas discharge holes in one or more of the regions are blocked to control a distribution of at least one of the HF gas and the NH3 gas. |
| US09418865B2 |
Wet etching of silicon containing antireflective coatings
Provided are methods for processing semiconductor substrates or, more specifically, etching silicon containing antireflective coatings (SiARCs) from the substrates while preserving silicon oxides layers disposed on the same substrates. An etching solution including sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid may be used for these purposes. In some embodiments, the weight ratio of sulfuric acid to hydrofluoric acid in the etching solution is between about 15:1 and 100:1 (e.g., about 60:1). The temperature of the etching solution may be between about 30° C. and 50° C. (e.g., about 40° C., during etching). It has been found that such processing conditions provide a SiARC etching rate of at least about 50 nanometers per minute and selectivity of SiARC over silicon oxide of greater than about 10:1 or even greater than about 50:1. The same etching solution may be also used to remove photoresist, organic dielectric, and titanium nitride. |
| US09418864B2 |
Method of forming a non volatile memory device using wet etching
In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. A high-k dielectric is deposited of over a semiconductor body, and a portion of the high-k dielectric is wet etched an etchant selected from the group consisting of hot phos, piranha, and SC1. |
| US09418863B2 |
Method for etching etching target layer
Disclosed is an etching method for etching an etching target layer. The etching method includes: a first step of depositing a plasma reaction product on a mask layer made of an organic film formed on the etching target layer; and after the first step, a second step of etching the etching target layer. The mask layer includes a coarse region in which a plurality of openings are formed, and a dense region surrounding the coarse region. The mask layer exists more densely in the dense region than in the coarse region. The coarse region includes a first region and a second region positioned close to the dense region compared to the first region. In the second step of the etching method, a width of the openings in the first region becomes narrower than a width of the openings in the second region. |
| US09418857B2 |
Sensor component for a gas and/or liquid sensor, production method for a sensor component for a gas and/or liquid sensor, and method for detecting at least one material in a gaseous and/or liquid medium
A sensor component is described for a gas and/or liquid sensor having a substrate having at least one first printed conductor and a second printed conductor, which are fashioned such that a voltage can be applied, and having at least one sensitive semiconductor material, additionally including at least one trench a contact segment of the first printed conductor and a contact segment of the second printed conductor being situated on two inner side surfaces at a distance from one another, and the at least one sensitive semiconductor material being filled into the at least one trench in the form of at least one particle, grain, and/or crystal, at least between the first contact segment of the first printed conductor and the first contact segment of the second printed conductor. Also described is a production method for a sensor component for a gas and/or liquid sensor. In addition, also described is a method for detecting at least one material in a gaseous and/or liquid medium. |
| US09418855B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A halogen element-containing metal material and a nitrogen-containing material are alternately supplied to a process chamber with a flow rate of an inert gas supplied to the process chamber together with the nitrogen-containing material during the supplying of the nitrogen-containing material to the process chamber being more increased than a flow rate of the inert gas supplied to the process chamber together with the metal material during the supplying of the metal material to the process chamber. |
| US09418852B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that sufficiently activates a deep ion injection layer and fully recovers lattice defects generated in the ion injection process. Laser light pulses are successively emitted to form substantially CW (continuous wave) laser light. This feature of the invention stably performs activation of a deep ion injection layer at about 2 μs with few defects. |
| US09418850B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for forming a semiconductor device
A method includes forming an emitter at the first side of a semiconductor substrate by doping, wherein the dopant concentration is higher in the emitter than in the edge region; growing an oxide layer on the first side by annealing, wherein the oxide layer has a first thickness in a first region covering the emitter, and a second thickness in a second region covering the edge region. The first thickness is larger than the second thickness. Heavy metal ions are implanted through the first side with a first energy, and with a second energy, wherein the first energy and the second energy are different, such that the implanted heavy metal concentration in the edge region is higher than in the emitter due to an absorption of the oxide layer covering the emitter, resulting in a lower charge carrier lifetime in the edge region than in the emitter. |
| US09418849B2 |
Cavity structure using patterned sacrificial layer
A method includes forming a sacrificial layer over a bottom substrate. The sacrificial layer is patterned based on a desired etching distance. A top layer is formed over the sacrificial layer. At least one release hole is formed through the top layer. The sacrificial layer is etched through the at least one release hole. |
| US09418845B2 |
Method for forming semiconductor device with SEG film active region
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. A barrier film is formed in a device separating structure, and the device separating structure is etched at a predetermined thickness to expose a semiconductor substrate. Then, a SEG film is grown to form an active region whose area is increased. As a result, a current driving power of a transistor located at a cell region and peripheral circuit regions is improved. |
| US09418843B2 |
Method for manufacturing ordered nanowire array of NiO doped with Pt in situ
The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing ordered nanowires array of NiO doped with Pt in situ, comprising: growing a Ni layer on a high-temperature resistant and insulated substrate; applying a photoresist on the Ni layer, pattering a pattern region of the ordered nanowires array by applying electron beam etching on the photoresist, growing Ni on the pattern region of the ordered nanowires array, peeling off the photoresist by acetone and etching the surface of the Ni layer by ion beam etching so as to etch off the Ni layer grown on the surface of the substrate and to leave the Ni on the pattern region of the ordered nanowires array to form the ordered Ni nanowires array; dipping the ordered Ni nanowires array into a solution of H2PtCl6 so as to displace Pt on the Ni nanowires array by a displacement reaction; and oxidizing the Ni nanowires array attached with Pt in an oxidation oven to obtain the ordered nanowires array of NiO doped with Pt. The present invention is simple and practical and the sensitivity and reliability of the doped sensor on the gas of CO and H2 are greatly improved. |
| US09418839B2 |
Method for the fabrication and transfer of graphene
Provided herein are processes for transferring high quality large-area graphene layers (e.g., single-layer graphene) to a flexible substrate based on preferential adhesion of certain thin metallic films to graphene followed by lamination of the metallized graphene layers to a flexible target substrate in a process that is compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing, providing an environmentally benign and scalable process of transferring graphene to flexible substrates. |
| US09418838B2 |
Electronic device and method for fabricating the same
An electronic device with improved variable resistance characteristics and a method for fabricating the same are provided. In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method for forming an electronic device with a semiconductor memory includes forming a crystalized doped layer over a substrate; forming a barrier layer over the doped layer; forming a metal layer over the barrier layer; and reacting the barrier layer with a portion of the metal layer. The electronic device and the method of fabricating the same according to embodiments of the disclosed technology may have improved variable resistance characteristics. |
| US09418837B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method and substrate treatment system
A semiconductor device manufacturing method that includes: forming a gate insulating film containing a hafnium oxide and a zirconium oxide on a workpiece having a source, a drain and a channel; and subjecting the gate insulating film to a crystallization heat treatment at a temperature of 600 degrees C. or less is provided. The gate insulating film subjected to the crystallization heat treatment has a relative permittivity of 27 or more. |
| US09418835B2 |
Methods for manufacturing semiconductor devices
The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having silicon nitride with a tensile stress, the method comprising: c1) introducing and pre-stabilizing NH3 gas and N2 gas; c2) introducing silane; c3) igniting the gases by a radio-frequency source; c4) depositing SiN; and c5) processing the SiN by using a nitrogen ion implantation. According to the present disclosure, the nitrogen content in the SiN film can be enhanced by the nitrogen ion implantation and impinging, thereby increasing the density of the film. In this way, the acid resistance of the SiN with tensile stress is enhanced, so that the SiN with tensile stress may be integrated in a dual-strained liner of a gate-last process, so as to effectively improve the properties and reliability of the device. |
| US09418832B2 |
Method of forming a dielectric film
A method for flowable oxide deposition is provided. An oxygen source gas is increased as a function of time or film depth to change the flowable oxide properties such that the deposited film is optimized for gap fill near a substrate surface where high aspect ratio shapes are present. The oxygen gas flow rate increases as the film depth increases, such that the deposited film is optimized for planarization quality at the upper regions of the deposited film. |
| US09418828B2 |
Characterization of petroleum saturates
A method for characterizing the saturates portion of a petroleum or hydrocarbon sample that includes compounds with boiling points of 1000° F. (538° C.) or higher includes use of laser desorption ionization (LDI) to desorb and vaporize petroleum saturates into the gas phase. After ionization, the saturate compounds cations can be detected using mass spectrometry. The mass spectrum generated from the ionized saturated compounds is then characterized by assigning molecular formulas to any “detected” masses that exhibit a peak with an intensity greater than a defined signal to noise threshold. After making the molecular assignments, the abundance of each assigned molecule can be determined based on the signal magnitude of the peaks in the mass spectrum. The assigned molecules and the corresponding abundances can then be grouped based on a variety of factors. |
| US09418825B2 |
Method and device for mass spectrometry
A mass spectrometry is equipped with a liquid specimen supply part which supplies a liquid specimen sandwiched between bubbles, an ion source part ionizes the specimen, and a mass spectrometry part which detects ions separated in accordance with mass. In particular the ion source part is configured so as to include a liquid supply tube for transporting a specimen from the liquid specimen supply part, a degassing/liquid retention part in which bubbles are removed, a spraying part which ionizes the specimen, and a high-voltage power supply part which applies a high voltage to the spraying part. The device is further characterized in that after removing the bubbles, a Taylor cone is formed from the resultant pre-solution, and the specimen is ionized thereafter. Thus, the ionization of an intended specimen is stabilized, and the measurement reproducibility is improved. |
| US09418823B2 |
Sputtering apparatus
A magnetron assembly for a rotary target cathode comprises a rigid support structure, a magnet bar structure movably attached to the rigid support structure, and at least one actuation mechanism coupled to the rigid support structure and configured to change a distance of the magnet bar structure from a surface of a rotatable target cylinder. The magnetron assembly also includes a position indicating mechanism operative to measure a position of the magnet bar structure relative to the surface of the rotatable target cylinder. A communications device is configured to receive command signals from outside of the magnetron assembly and transmit information signals to outside of the magnetron assembly. |
| US09418820B2 |
Cold plasma treatment devices and associated methods
A cold plasma helmet application device for delivery of cold plasma benefits to the head of a patient. An appropriate gas is introduced into a helmet receptacle within a containment dome of the helmet. The gas is energized by one or more dielectric barrier devices that receive energy from a pulsed source. The dielectric barrier devices can be configured to match the treatment area. Such a device and method can be used to treat large surface areas treatment sites associated with the head, head trauma, brain cancer, the control of brain swelling with closed head injury or infection, as well as treating male pattern baldness. |
| US09418816B2 |
X-ray tube and X-ray CT device
Disclosed is an X-ray tube that has a simple configuration and is capable of irradiating multiple different X-rays while switching them at a high rate, as well as an X-ray CT device using the X-ray tube. The X-ray tube comprises first and second electron generators, a deflection means, and a target. The deflection means switches the direction in which first and second electron beams are transmitted between first and second directions. The target comprises first, second, third, and fourth surfaces. The first surface receives a first electron beam transmitted toward the first direction and irradiates a first X-ray toward the irradiation field. The second surface receives a second electron beam transmitted toward the first direction and irradiates a second X-ray toward a direction different from the irradiation field. The third surface receives a first electron beam transmitted toward the second direction and irradiates the first X-ray toward a direction different from the predetermined irradiation field. The fourth surface receives a second electron beam transmitted in the second direction and irradiates the second X-ray toward the irradiation field. |
| US09418815B2 |
Tubular permanent magnet used in a multi-electron beam device
There provided a device for effectively drawing a fine pattern using a permanent magnet. The device has an outer cylinder 201 composed of a cylindrical ferromagnet with a Z axis as a central axis, a cylindrical permanent magnet 202 located inside the outer cylinder and polarized along the Z axis direction, a correction coil 204 located inside the cylindrical permanent magnet with a gap from the cylindrical permanent magnet, for adjusting a magnetic field strength generated by the cylindrical permanent magnet along the Z axis direction, and a coolant passage 203 located in the gap between the cylindrical permanent magnet and the correction coil, for allowing a coolant to flow therethrough and controlling temperature changes in the cylindrical permanent magnet. |
| US09418812B2 |
Electric fuse
An electric fuse includes a conductive material formed on a top surface of an insulating material. The conductive material includes a wiring portion, and first and second terminal portions arranged in two ends of the wiring portion so that the wiring portion is located between the first and second terminal portions. The first terminal portion, the wiring portion, and the second terminal portion are lined up in a first direction. The first and second terminal portions each have a width larger than a width of the wiring portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The electric fuse includes a film including an opening which exposes a region between the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion. The film is formed above at least a part of the wiring portion and has a tensile stress. |
| US09418809B2 |
Electronic switch having an in-line power supply
A two-wire smart load control device, such as an electronic switch, for controlling the power delivered from a power source to an electrical load comprises a relay for conducting a load current through the load and an in-line power supply coupled in series with the relay for generating a supply voltage across a capacitor when the relay is conductive. The power supply controls when the capacitor charges asynchronously with respect to the frequency of the source. The capacitor conducts the load current for at least a portion of a line cycle of the source when the relay is conductive. The load control device also comprises a bidirectional semiconductor switch, which is controlled to minimize the inrush current conducted through the relay. The bidirectional semiconductor switch is rendered conductive in response to an over-current condition in the capacitor of the power supply, and the relay is rendered non-conductive in response to an over-temperature condition in the power supply. |
| US09418805B2 |
Terminal structure of main circuit part of vacuum circuit breaker
A terminal structure of main circuit part of vacuum circuit breaker includes a cylindrical terminal having a circular heat fin unit at its inner surface and an air-flow path formed perpendicular to each other at upper and lower portion thereof and a bar type terminal heat diffusion fins at upper, lower and side surfaces thereof to facilitate heat discharging generated at an inner space of the main circuit of the vacuum circuit breaker. |
| US09418801B2 |
Light-induced luminous keyboard
A light-induced luminous keyboard includes a keyboard main part, a power supply, and a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit parallel to each other. The above circuits include two transistors and a negative coefficient photoresistor. While being played in a decreasing light intensity environment, the light-induced luminous keyboard has an increased resistance of a negative coefficient photoresistor and thus an increased voltage is divided for the negative coefficient photoresistor, the point that the base of the first transistor is connected with the first circuit is in a high level, thus the first transistor is available, the point that the base of the second transistor is connected with the second circuit is drawn down to zero volt, the second transistor is available, the luminous apparatus is turned on and the keyboard illuminates. Therefore, automatic illumination of the keyboard is implemented dependent on environmental light intensity. |
| US09418797B2 |
Electromagnetic switch
Two protrusions are disposed on the fixed contact along a lateral direction on a contacting surface. The two protrusions are disposed in a longitudinal direction with a predetermined interval on the contacting surface, and a planar portion is formed between the two protrusions. A single projection that intersects perpendicular to the two protrusions disposed on a first fixed contact and another single projection that intersects perpendicular to the two protrusions disposed on a second fixed contact are disposed on a movable contact. Thereby, when the movable contact contacts to a pair of fixed contacts, since the protrusions disposed on the fixed contact and the projections disposed on the movable contact contacts only at intersections of each other, a contacting surface pressure is increased and a crushing force for ice frozen on a surface of the fixed contact becomes large. |
| US09418795B2 |
Method and apparatus for capacitors having engineered electrodes with very high energy density
An apparatus and associated method for an energy-storage device (e.g., a capacitor) having a plurality of electrically conducting electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a non-electrically conducting region, and wherein the non-electrically conducting region further includes a non-uniform permittivity (K) value. In some embodiments, the method includes providing a substrate; fabricating a first electrode on the substrate; and fabricating a second electrode such that the second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a non-electrically conducting region, wherein the non-electrically conducting region has a non-uniform permittivity (K) value. The capacitor devices will find benefit for use in electric vehicles, of all kinds, uninterruptible power supplies, wind turbines, mobile phones, and the like requiring wide temperature ranges from several hundreds of degrees C. down to absolute zero, consumer electronics operating in a temperature range of −55 degrees C. to 125 degrees C. |
| US09418792B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes ceramic grains forming a dielectric layer of the multilayer ceramic capacitor, which ceramic grains contain a coarse ceramic grain SPr having a coarse grain size Dcoa that satisfies the condition of Tmin ≦Dcoa ≦Tmax where Tmax is the maximum thickness of the dielectric layer and Tmin is the minimum thickness of the dielectric layer. The multilayer ceramic capacitor is capable of inhibiting deterioration of capacitance and capacity-temperature characteristics even when the internal electrode layer is made thin. |
| US09418791B1 |
Folded stack segmented film capacitor
A folded stack, segmented capacitor having a continuous capacitor base element which is folded two or more times, in one or more first stack folds and one or more second stack folds, to form three or more stack layers. Each of the stack layers has a primary electrode, which may be a continuous metallic film, and a segmented secondary electrode comprised of a plurality of secondary electrode elements electrically connected to a conductor element by a fuse element. The primary electrode is separated from the segmented secondary electrode and the plurality of secondary electrode elements by a continuous primary dielectric element. The secondary electrode elements are separated from the conductor element by a conductor insulation layer. The fuse elements pass through the conductor insulation layer from the secondary electrode elements to the conductor element. |
| US09418789B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component
A multilayer ceramic electronic component may include: a ceramic body including an active part in which dielectric layers and internal electrodes are alternately disposed, an upper cover part disposed on an upper portion of the active part, and a lower cover part disposed on a lower portion thereof; a first dummy electrode disposed between a central portion of the upper or lower cover part in a length direction and one end surface of the cover part in the length direction; and a second dummy electrode disposed between the central portion of the upper or lower cover part in the length direction and the other end surface of the cover part in the length direction, and spaced apart from the first dummy electrode. |
| US09418787B2 |
Apparatus and method for winding poles of cores for electric dynamo machines
Apparatus and method for winding coils (B) of conductor wire (W) around respective poles (10c) of a core (10) of a component of a electric dynamo machine, wherein a dispenser arm (11) rotates around the poles to deliver the wire (W) to form wire turns; a first wire guide (32) is positioned and moved during winding adjacent to an axial end (A) of a pole (10c) being wound; a second wire guide (36) is positioned and moved in a first slot (10a) adjacent to the pole (10c) being wound; a third wire guide (37) is positioned and moved in a second slot (10b) adjacent to the pole (10c) being wound. A termination member (80) is capable of achieving connection of the coil leads to termination structures (91) of the core (FIG. 5). |
| US09418782B1 |
Efficient power supply for an electromagnetic flow meter
A DC-DC power converter used in an electromagnetic flowmeter supplies a constant current from a capacitive output to an excitation coil during a measurement portion of the operating cycle. During a relatively longer charging portion of the operating cycle the capacitive output is charged from an unregulated supply. When the unregulated supply voltage of the of the DC-DC converter is less than the regulated output voltage repeated high voltage pulses are generated by the excitation coil to charge the output capacitor. |
| US09418778B2 |
Method of manufacturing a feedthrough
A hermetic feedthrough for an implantable medical device includes an insulator, a conduit configured to conduct electricity through the insulator, and a ferrule coupled to the insulator. The insulator is formed from a ceramic material and the conduit and insulator have a co-fired bond therebetween, which hermetically seals the conduit with the insulator. The insulator is elongate and has opposing ends that include flat surfaces and the ferrule includes a frame for receiving the insulator. |
| US09418777B2 |
Method of electrically conductively connecting two superconductive cables
A method is disclosed for electrically conductively connecting two superconductive cables. The ends of the two cables are arranged next to each other and parallel to one another, in such a way that their free ends point in the opposite direction, and their conductors are located at least approximately on the same level next to each other. Two conductors of the two cables are electrically conductively connected to each other through electrical contact elements (10, 11, 12). The screens (6) of the two cables (1, 2) are connected through by separate contact elements (13, 14, 15) and the two cable ends are treated in this manner for constructing a transmission length for electrical energy are arranged jointly in a housing (16) of a cryostat so that during operation of the transmission length, a flowable cooling agent with electrically insulating properties flows through a housing (16) of a cryostat. |
| US09418776B2 |
Oxide superconductor wire and superconducting coil
An oxide superconductor wire includes: a superconductor laminate that comprises a substrate which is formed in a tape shape and an intermediate layer, an oxide superconductor layer, and a metal stabilizing layer which are laminated on the substrate; and an insulating coating layer that covers an outside surface of the superconductor laminate, Also, either the entire outside surface or the entire inside surface of the insulating coating layer is coated with a coating layer formed of a fluororesin. |
| US09418772B2 |
Binder resin composition for electrode, electrode mixture paste, and electrode
The present invention relates to a binder resin composition for an electrode, including a polyamic acid and a solvent, wherein the polyamic acid is (i) a polyamic acid which includes a tetracarboxylic acid component including 10 to 100 mol % of 4,4′-oxydiphthalic acid and 90 to 0 mol % of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid and/or pyromellitic acid and a diamine component including an aromatic diamine having 1 to 4 aromatic rings, (ii) a polyamic acid which includes a tetracarboxylic acid component including 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and a diamine component including 10 to 90 mol % of p-phenylene diamine and 90 to 10 mol % of 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether, or (iii) a polyamic acid which includes a tetracarboxylic acid component including 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and a diamine component including 40 mol % or more of a bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl] compound. |
| US09418770B2 |
Large area deposition and doping of graphene, and products including the same
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to the use of graphene as a transparent conductive coating (TCC). In certain example embodiments, graphene thin films grown on large areas hetero-epitaxially, e.g., on a catalyst thin film, from a hydrocarbon gas (such as, for example, C2H2, CH4, or the like). The graphene thin films of certain example embodiments may be doped or undoped. In certain example embodiments, graphene thin films, once formed, may be lifted off of their carrier substrates and transferred to receiving substrates, e.g., for inclusion in an intermediate or final product. Graphene grown, lifted, and transferred in this way may exhibit low sheet resistances (e.g., less than 150 ohms/square and lower when doped) and high transmission values (e.g., at least in the visible and infrared spectra). |
| US09418768B2 |
Radiographic image conversion panel and radiographic image detector
An object of the invention is to provide radiographic image conversion panels which realize high levels of brightness and sharpness when used as scintillator panels and which also ensure sufficient strength resisting pressure applied in the film thickness direction. A radiographic image conversion panel of the invention includes a support and a scintillator layer disposed on the support. The scintillator layer includes a plurality of columnar crystals containing a phosphor. The plurality of columnar crystals have root portions, and the root portions are spaced apart from one another. |
| US09418760B2 |
Integrated circuit and method for testing semiconductor devices using the same
An integrated circuit includes first to third failure information storage units, an input selection unit suitable for alternately storing plural pieces of failure information in the first and second failure information storage units generated whenever each of a plurality of tests is performed on a device under test (DUT), and a storage selection unit suitable for relocating the plural pieces of failure information from the first or second failure information storage unit that was not selected by the input selection unit, to the third failure information storage unit while excluding overlapping failure information from relocating. |
| US09418759B2 |
Assist circuits for SRAM testing
Assist circuits for SRAM memory tests allow voltage scaling in low-power SRAMs. Word line level reduction (WLR) and negative bit line (NBL) boost assist techniques improve read stability and write margin of SRAM core-cells, respectively, when the memory operates at a lowered supply voltage. Assist circuits are activated at particular points in the memory cell circuit. The assist circuits are selectively activated for modifying the voltage along particular circuit elements to identify the potential defects that might be otherwise masked until substantially large. A March test invokes elements for activating the assist circuits to identify defects and indicate functional fault models (FFMs) associated with the defects. |
| US09418754B2 |
Anti-fuse type one-time programmable memory cell and anti-fuse type one-time programmable memory cell arrays
An anti-fuse type OTP memory cell includes a first anti-fuse transistor having a first channel width, a first selection transistor sharing a first active region with the first anti-fuse transistor and having a second channel width that is greater than the first channel width, a second anti-fuse transistor sharing a program gate with the first anti-fuse transistor and having a third channel width, and a second selection transistor sharing a second active region with the second anti-fuse transistor and having a fourth channel width that is greater than the third channel width. |
| US09418753B2 |
Method of operating memory controller and data storage device including memory controller
In one embodiment, the method includes determining, at the memory controller, a status of a selected page of memory based on a program/erase cycle count for a block of the memory. The block of the memory includes the selected page. The program/erase cycle count indicates a number of times the block has been erased. The status is selected from a plurality of status states. The status states include a normal state, a weak state and a bad state. |
| US09418746B2 |
Storage devices and methods of operating storage devices
A storage device includes a nonvolatile memory having a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller to control the nonvolatile memory. The operating method of the storage device includes reading previously programmed memory cells among the memory cells of the nonvolatile memory and determining a time after erase of the previously programmed memory cells, programming selected memory cells of the nonvolatile memory, and programming meta data including a time after erase of the selected memory cells, based on the determined time after erase of the previously programmed memory cells. |
| US09418744B2 |
System and method to reduce disturbances during programming of flash memory cells
An improved control gate decoding design may reduce disturbances during the programming of flash memory cells. In one embodiment, a control gate line decoder is coupled to a first control gate line associated with a row of flash memory cells in a first sector and to a second control gate line associated with a row of flash memory cells in a second sector. |
| US09418743B1 |
3D NAND memory with decoder and local word line drivers
A memory device includes a plurality of stacks of conductive strips, a plurality of conductive vertical structures arranged orthogonally to the plurality of stacks, memory elements in interface regions at cross-points between side surfaces of the plurality of stacks and the plurality of conductive vertical structures, multiples pluralities of conductive lines, and control circuitry. The plurality of stacks of conductive strips alternate with insulating strips, including at least a bottom layer of conductive strips, a plurality of intermediate layers of conductive strips, and a top layer of conductive strips. A first plurality of conductive lines electrically couple to the top layer of the conductive strips. A second plurality of conductive lines and a third plurality of conductive lines electrically couple to the plurality of intermediate layers. The control circuitry causes the first plurality of conductive lines to select at least a first particular stack in the plurality of stacks, the second plurality of conductive lines to select at least the first particular stack in the plurality of stacks, and the third plurality of conductive lines to select at least one particular layer in the plurality of intermediate layers. |
| US09418741B1 |
Content addressable memory with search line test circuitry
A content addressable memory (CAM) and methods of operating a CAM are provided. The method for operating a CAM includes: during a first mode, performing a search function in a CAM bit array, the search result output at a match port of the CAM bit array; and during a second mode, columnwise reading data in the CAM bit array, the read column data output at the match data port of the CAM bit array. The method may include writing the CAM bit array with a predetermined data pattern. The method may further include providing an indication of pass/fail based upon comparing the read column data with expected data. |
| US09418739B2 |
Memory devices and methods of operating the same
Methods of operating a memory device include; applying a first set write voltage to a selected first signal line connected to a selected memory cell, applying a first inhibition voltage to non-selected first signal lines connected to non-selected memory cells, and controlling a first voltage of a selected second signal line connected to the selected memory cell to be less than the first set write voltage, and a difference between the first inhibition voltage and the first voltage is less than a threshold voltage of the selection element. |
| US09418737B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of controlling the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array; and a control circuit that controls a voltage applied to this memory cell array. The memory cell array includes: a first wiring line; a second wiring line intersecting the first wiring line; and a memory cell disposed at an intersection of these lines and including a variable resistance element. In a rewrite operation of the memory cell, the control circuit repeatedly perform a pulse application operation and a verify operation, the pulse application operation applying a pulse voltage to the memory cell, and the verify operation applying a first voltage to the memory cell to determine whether the rewrite operation has been completed or not. The control circuit is configured to, in a read operation from the memory cell, apply a second voltage to the memory cell. The second voltage has a voltage value larger than the first voltage. |
| US09418735B2 |
Memory device with reduced neighbor memory cell disturbance
In one embodiment, an apparatus, such as a memory device, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a memory cell, digit line driver, access line driver, clamping element, and control circuit. The memory cell and clamping element can be both coupled to a digit line. The control circuit can be configured to cause the clamping element to clamp the voltage of the digit line for a period of time while the digit line driver is caused to bias the digit line at a voltage level sufficient to enable selection of the memory cell. In addition, the control circuit can be configured to cause the access line driver to bias an access line coupled to memory cell when the voltage of the digit line is at the voltage level sufficient to enable selection of the memory cell. |
| US09418734B2 |
Multi-function resistance change memory cells and apparatuses including the same
Various embodiments comprise apparatuses including drive circuitry to provide signal pulses of a selected time duration and/or amplitude to a number of memory cells. The memory cells may include an array of resistance change memory cells to be electrically coupled to the drive circuitry. The resistance change memory cells may be programmed for a range of retention time periods and operating speeds based on the received signal pulse. Additional apparatuses and methods are described. |
| US09418731B1 |
Memory management method, memory storage device and memory control circuit unit
A memory management method, a memory storage device and a memory control circuit unit are provided. The method comprises: obtaining a first threshold voltage distribution of memory cells; grouping the first threshold voltage distribution to a plurality of first threshold voltage groups; obtaining a second threshold voltage distribution of the memory cells; grouping the second threshold voltage distribution to a plurality of second threshold voltage groups; allocating a memory cell among the memory cells to a virtual block if a threshold voltage pair of the memory cell belongs to a specific group of the first threshold voltage groups and a specific group of the second threshold voltage groups, such that the first memory cell is operated under a specific-level cell mode. Accordingly, the reliability of memory cells may be improved without significantly sacrificing the capacity of the rewritable non-volatile memory module. |
| US09418728B2 |
Dual-port static random-access memory cell
The present disclosure provides a static random access memory (SRAM) cell comprising a first inverter including a first pull-up (PU) device, a first pull-down (PD) device, and a second PD device; a second inverter cross-coupled to the first inverter, the second inverter including a second PU device, a third PD device, and a fourth PD device; first and second pass gate (PG) devices coupled to the first inverter to form a first port; and third and fourth PG devices coupled to the second inverter to form a second port. The first and second PG devices, the first PD device of the first inverter, and the third PD device of the second inverter are configured on a first active region. The third and fourth PG devices, the second PD device of the first inverter, and the fourth PD device of the second inverter are configured on a second active region. |
| US09418727B2 |
Five transistor SRAM cell
A five transistor static random-access-memory (SRAM) cell is disclosed which can be made part of an SRAM array to provide an improved reduction in size. The cell includes two cross-coupled inverters, each having two complementary transistors, and an n-channel transistor switch connected to a bit line (BL) and a word line (WL). The p-channel element of one of the inverters is connected to a power supply, and the p-channel transistor of the other inverter is coupled to a write bit line (WBL). By varying the voltage levels on the BL and WBL lines the biasing of the individual n-channel transistors of each of the inverters can be changed based on the data to be written to the cell. Various biasing systems are presented such that the SRAM cell memory state can be changed without requiring larger transistor elements to overpower the cell state. |
| US09418724B2 |
Memory and memory system including the same
A memory includes a first cell array including a plurality of first memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines, a bit line selection unit configured to select one or more bit lines among a plurality of bit lines based on repair information, a second cell array including a plurality of second memory cells connected to the plurality of word lines and the plurality of bit lines, wherein a group of the plurality of second memory cells connected to a corresponding word line stores the number of activations of the corresponding word line when the one or more connected bit lines are selected and an activation number update unit configured to update a value stored in the second memory cells, which are connected to the one or more selected bit lines and the activated word line among the plurality of word lines. |
| US09418722B2 |
Prioritizing refreshes in a memory device
A method and apparatus for refreshing a row of a memory device prior to a scheduled refresh. A memory array may include a plurality of memory cells. The memory array may be configured to be refreshed at a first refresh time interval. The memory device may also include an intermediate refresh circuit. The intermediate refresh circuit may be configured to detect a triggering event and request a refresh for a row of the memory array in response to detecting a triggering event. |
| US09418720B1 |
Pattern matching device
According to an embodiment, a pattern matching device includes unit cells, a circuit, and a measuring unit. Each unit cell includes a first magnetization reversal element used to store input data and including a first magnetic layer in which a direction of magnetization is variable, a second magnetization reversal element used to store template data and including a second magnetic layer in which a direction of magnetization is variable, and a spin-torque oscillator provided therebetween. The circuit applies a current to a selected spin-torque oscillator to acquire a high frequency signal from the selected spin-torque oscillator. The measuring unit measures a degree of matching between the input data and the template data based on the high frequency signal. |
| US09418716B1 |
Word line and bit line tracking across diverse power domains
A bit line and word line tracking circuit is provided that accounts for the power-supply-voltage-dependent delays in a memory having a logic power domain powered by a logic power supply voltage and a memory power domain powered by a memory power supply voltage. |
| US09418715B1 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a buffer block configured to generate a strobe signal by buffering an external strobe signal inputted through a first pad, output the strobe signal to a first node of a first input/output line, generate data by buffering external data inputted through a second pad, and output the data to a second node of a second input/output line; a first channel configured to store the data loaded on the second input/output line in synchronization with the strobe signal loaded on the first input/output line; and a second channel configured to store the data loaded on the second input/output line in synchronization with the strobe signal loaded on the first input/output line. |
| US09418713B2 |
Apparatus and method for sense amplifying
A sense amplifier includes four sub-circuits: pre-charge, sense enable, sense output, and buffer. The pre-charge sub-circuit provides a voltage between zero volts and the positive power supply (denoted VDD) to the sense enable sub-circuit. The sense enable sub-circuit is configured to adjust the received voltage based on the sensed value of bit lines and sends the adjusted voltage to the sense output sub-circuit. The sense output sub-circuit removes interference, inverts and amplifies the adjusted voltage, and sends an output voltage to the buffer sub-circuit. The buffer sub-circuit amplifies the output voltage of the sense output sub-circuit and provides it to an output bus. |
| US09418703B2 |
Method of and system for automatic compilation of crowdsourced digital media productions
A method of and system for automatic compilation of crowdsourced digital media productions is presented. A system for automated compilation of a digital media program includes interfaces that receive audio/video information, associated temporal information, associated digital device metadata, and media characteristic preference information. The system includes a repository for the digital media input and associated digital device metadata. The system further includes a module that analyzes digital device metadata associated with individual digital media inputs from at least two different recording devices and selects between overlapping portions of the media inputs based on comparing digital device metadata associated with the individual digital media inputs with the media characteristic preference information. The system also includes a digital media editor module that compiles the selected portions of the individual digital media inputs into a digital media program and an output interface that provides access to the digital media program. |
| US09418700B2 |
Bad block management mechanism
A system includes a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) device and controller logic that detects a bad block within the device, retires the bad block and replaces the bad block with a replacement block by assigning the address of the bad block to the replacement block. |
| US09418697B2 |
Radial channel with fluid reservoir
Provided is an apparatus, including a stationary component; a rotatable component, wherein the stationary component and the rotatable component are positioned for relative rotation; a first sealing means positioned in a radial channel at a first axial end of the rotatable component; a second sealing means positioned in an axial channel at a second axial end of the rotatable component; and a fluid reservoir adjacent to the first sealing means and extending radially outward from the first sealing means, wherein the fluid reservoir is positioned radially outward from the pump seal, and wherein the fluid reservoir extends radially outward from the pump seal. |
| US09418696B2 |
Fast-access self-repairing tape library using mobile robots
Various methods for threading a tape on the one or more reels onto the tape drive. A method according to one embodiment uses a mobile robot to thread a tape on the one or more reels onto the tape drive. A method according to another embodiment includes threading a tape across a tape drive by moving at least one of a tape reel and a take up reel coupled to the tape. A method according to yet another embodiment includes threading the tape across a tape drive using at least one of rollers and cylinders. |
| US09418693B2 |
High density granular perpendicular recording media for mechanical reliability and corrosion resistance
An embodiment of the invention relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprising (1) a substrate, (2) an interlayer comprising hexagonal columns and (3) a magnetic layer, wherein the magnetic layer is deposited applying a bias voltage to the substrate such that the magnetic layer comprises magnetic grains having substantially no sub-grains within the magnetic layer, and the magnetic layer has perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. |
| US09418692B2 |
Method of fabricating graded media
A magnetic data storage medium includes an ion doped magnetic recording layer having a continuous grading of coercivity or anisotropy. The medium also includes an ion-doped overcoat having an ion density that is at a maximum substantially at the interface with the recording layer and has a continuous grading of ion density between the overcoat and the recording layer. The coercivity is at a minimum substantially at the interface. |
| US09418691B2 |
Heat assisted media recording apparatus with laser diode mode hopping suppression
An apparatus includes a slider body, a laser diode, an optical path, and a heating element. The laser diode is configured to produce energy and is subject to temperature changes as a result of producing energy. The optical path within the slider body is configured to deliver the energy to heat a magnetic recording medium. The heating element is disposed along a length of the optical path within the slider body and is configured to control a temperature of the optical path to mitigate temperature-induced mode hopping of the laser diode. |
| US09418690B1 |
Repeated runout (RRO) zero phase start (ZPS)
Systems, methods, apparatus, and techniques are provided for producing an estimate of a digital sequence. A continuous-time signal is obtained. The continuous-time signal is sampled with an oversampling factor to produce a discrete-time signal corresponding to the continuous-time signal. A phase offset estimate of the continuous-time signal is produced based on the discrete-time signal. The discrete-time signal is interpolated based on the phase offset estimate to produce an interpolated discrete-time signal. The interpolated discrete-time signal is processed to produce an estimate of a digital sequence. |
| US09418689B2 |
Data storage device generating an operating seek time profile as a function of a base seek time profile
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of tracks. An operating seek time profile is generated as a function of a base seek time profile, wherein the seek time profiles define a seek time to seek the head radially over the disk by a seek length. A seek operation is executed to seek the head by a target seek length by at least generating a target seek time based on the target seek length and the operating seek time profile, and seeking the head the target seek length based on the target seek time. |
| US09418684B2 |
Magnetic read head with separately addressable read transducers
A read head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The read transducers have a cross track width, wr, and a center-to-center separation distance between the two read transducers either greater than 3wr or the distance of two tracks of an associated medium in the cross track direction. |
| US09418678B2 |
Sound processing device, sound processing method, and program
A sound processing device includes: a nonlinear processing unit that outputs a plurality of sound signals including sound sources existing in predetermined areas by performing a nonlinear process for a plurality of observed signals that are generated by a plurality of sound sources and are observed by a plurality of sensors; a signal selecting unit that selects a sound signal including a specific sound source from among the plurality of sound signals output by the nonlinear processing unit and the observed signal including the plurality of sound sources; and a sound separating unit that separates a sound signal including the specific sound source that is selected by the signal selecting unit from the observed signal selected by the signal selecting unit. |
| US09418677B2 |
Noise suppressing device, noise suppressing method, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing noise suppressing program
There is provided a noise suppressing device for suppress a noise component included in an input signal. The noise suppressing device comprises: a noise estimating unit configured to estimate a noise spectrum based on an input spectrum obtained by performing a frequency analysis on the input signal; a speech-likelihood calculating unit configured to calculate speech-likelihood based on the input spectrum and the noise spectrum; a suppression-gain calculating unit configured to calculate first suppression gain based on the input spectrum and the noise spectrum; a suppression-gain combining unit configured to calculate third suppression gain by combining the first suppression gain and second suppression gain, which is provided as a predetermined constant value or provided by smoothing the first suppression gain, based on the speech-likelihood; and a multiplying unit obtaining an output spectrum by multiplying the input spectrum by the third suppression gain. |
| US09418674B2 |
Method and system for using vehicle sound information to enhance audio prompting
Sound related vehicle information representing one or more sounds may be received in a processor associated with a vehicle. The sound related vehicle information may or may not include an audio signal. An audio signal output to a passenger may be modified based on the sound related vehicle information. |
| US09418673B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for certifying a voice profile when transmitting text messages for synthesized speech
A mechanism is provided for authenticating and using a personal voice profile. The voice profile may be issued by a trusted third party, such as a certification authority. The personal voice profile may include information for generating a digest or digital signature for text messages. A speech synthesis system may speak the text message using the voice characteristics, such as prosodic characteristics, only if the voice profile is authenticated and the text message is valid and free of tampering. |
| US09418671B2 |
Adaptive high-pass post-filter
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of speech processing included receiving a coded audio signal having coding noise. The method further includes generating a decoded audio signal from the coded audio signal, and determining a pitch corresponding to the fundamental frequency of the audio signal. The method also includes determining the minimum allowable pitch and determining if the pitch of the audio signal is less than the minimum allowable pitch. If the pitch of the audio signal is less than the minimum allowable pitch, applying an adaptive high pass filter on the decoded audio signal to lower the coding noise at frequencies below the fundamental frequency. |
| US09418667B2 |
Apparatus for processing a mix signal and method thereof
A method and apparatus for processing a signal, and more particularly, to an apparatus for processing a mix signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which a mix signal such as an audio signal and a video signal can be encoded/decoded. The present invention includes receiving at least one of a mix signal and source signals and generating a unified side information corresponding to a unified source signal using the mix signal and the at least one of the source signals, wherein the unified source signal is generated by grouping at least one source signal. |
| US09418665B2 |
Method for controlling device and device control system
A device control system includes an ambient sound obtainer that obtains ambient sound around the plurality of devices at a first time, an operation state obtainer that obtains the operation states of the plurality of devices at the first time from the plurality of devices through a network, and a database manager that stores the operation states at the first time obtained by the operation state obtainer and the ambient sound obtained by the ambient sound obtainer at the first time in a database while associating the operation states and the ambient sound with each other. |
| US09418660B2 |
Crowd sourcing audio transcription via re-speaking
Speech audio that is intended for transcription into textual form is received. The received speech audio is divided into first speech segments. A plurality of speakers is identified. A speaker is configured for repeating in spoken form a first speech segment that the speaker has listened to. A subset of speakers is determined for sending each first speech segment. Each first speech segment is sent to the subset of speakers determined for the particular first speech segment. The second speech segments are received from the speakers. The second speech segment is a re-spoken version of a first speech segment that has been generated by a speaker by repeating in spoken form the first speech segment. The second speech segments are processed to generate partial transcripts. The partial transcripts are combined to generate a complete transcript that is a textual representation corresponding to the received speech audio. |
| US09418656B2 |
Multi-stage hotword detection
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for multi-stage hotword detection are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, by a second stage hotword detector of a multi-stage hotword detection system that includes at least a first stage hotword detector and the second stage hotword detector, audio data that corresponds to an initial portion of an utterance. The actions further include determining a likelihood that the initial portion of the utterance includes a hotword. The actions further include determining that the likelihood that the initial portion of the utterance includes the hotword satisfies a threshold. The actions further include, in response to determining that the likelihood satisfies the threshold, transmitting a request for the first stage hotword detector to cease providing additional audio data that corresponds to one or more subsequent portions of the utterance. |
| US09418653B2 |
Operation assisting method and operation assisting device
An operation assisting method comprising comparing input spoken voices with a preliminarily stored keyword associated with an operation target and determining whether or not the keyword is spoken, determining whether or not similarity between or among the input spoken voices falls within a predetermined range. In a case where it is determined that the keyword is not spoken, determining whether or not eyes of a user are directed at the operation target, and in a case of the similarity falling within the predetermined range, determining that the keyword is spoken, in a case of being determined that the eyes of the user are directed at the operation target. |
| US09418649B2 |
Method and apparatus for phonetic character conversion
A method and apparatus for improved approaches for uttering the spelling of words and phrases over a communication session is described. The method includes determining a character to produce a first audio signal representing a phonetic utterance of the character, determining a code word that starts with a code word character identical to the character, and generating a second audio signal representing an utterance of the code word, wherein the first audio signal and the second audio signal are provided over a communication session for detection of the character. |
| US09418647B2 |
Communication in pipes using acoustic modems that provide minimal obstruction to fluid flow
A plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices are used to communicate data along a tubulation, such as a well. The phased array acoustic communication devices employ phased arrays of acoustic transducers, such as piezoelectric transducers, to direct acoustic energy in desired directions along the tubulation. The system is controlled by a computer-based controller. Information, including data and commands, is communicated using digital signaling. |
| US09418646B2 |
Metamaterial
A metamaterial (400) for attenuating acoustic transmission comprises a plurality of layers (410). Each layer (410) comprises a transmission structure (420) and a resonator (450), coupled to the transmission structure (420). The transmission structure (420) in a layer (410) is coupled to the transmission structures (420) of the layers (410) neighboring said layer (410). The resonator (450) in a layer (410) is coupled to the transmission structure (420) of the layers (410) neighboring said layer (410). |
| US09418644B2 |
Pitch detection
A string vibration pickup device and methods for using same. The device includes a sensor configured to engage a string to detect vibrations. A pickup base having a pickup in communication with the sensor receives electrical signals indicative of sensed vibrations for the string. |
| US09418638B2 |
Music score display device, music score display method, and program storage medium
The CPU in a music score display device includes: a source region setting unit that sets a source region based on a desired portion designated in a music score displayed on a screen, the source region of the music score being an object to be enlarged and displayed; a display destination region setting unit that sets a display destination region of the screen, the display destination region corresponding to the source region; and a display control unit that extracts the music score in the source region, and enlarges and displays the extracted music score in the display destination region on the screen. |
| US09418637B1 |
Methods and systems for visual music transcription
Methods, systems, and techniques for visual automatic transcription of music played on a musical keyboard instrument. The system receives a video input of the musical instrument being played. A transcribing application detects a keyboard section of a background frame of the video input by detecting a shape of the keyboard and the presence of keys in the shape. The keys are detected in the background image and the positional information and associated musical notes of each key is determined. A difference image is obtained by subtracting the background image from the current frame. A musical note is determined for the pressed key based on the positional information and associated musical notes of the keys in the background image. |
| US09418630B2 |
Image display system, image display apparatus, and control method thereof
Upon receiving a communication switching instruction from a first wireless access point used for communication with an image processing apparatus, an image display apparatus disconnects communication with the first wireless access point. Simultaneously, the image display apparatus transmits, to a second wireless access point, a link request to establish communication with the second wireless access point of a new communication destination included in the switching instruction. The image display apparatus displays, on a display unit, a captured image continuously acquired from am image capturing unit until switching from the first wireless access point to the second wireless access point finishes as communication destination switching. |
| US09418629B2 |
Optical illumination mapping
Techniques for augmenting an appearance of a first object. Embodiments include capturing a visual scene for display. Here, the visual scene includes a physical object and wherein the visual scene is captured using one or more camera devices. The physical object is identified as a first predetermined object type, based on one or more object identifiers associated with the physical object. Embodiments also retrieve visual characteristics information corresponding to the first predetermined object type. A sequence of frames that includes the first object is then rendered for display, where the appearance the first object in the rendered sequence of frames is augmented based on the retrieved visual characteristics information and an appearance of the physical object in the captured visual scene. |
| US09418627B2 |
Inflatable display device
An inflatable display device is provided. The inflatable display device includes an inflatable support device, and a plurality of illumination sources, each of the illumination sources secured to the inflatable support device. The illumination sources are arranged in a preconfigured pattern on the inflatable support device, the preconfigured pattern resulting in the appearance of a continuous display. Another inflatable display device includes a cast silicon material, and a plurality of illumination sources, the illumination sources positioned within the cast silicon material. The cast silicon material forms an inflatable structure having a predetermined three dimensional configuration. Another inflatable display device includes an inflatable support device, a plurality of illumination sources, each of the illumination sources secured to the inflatable support device, and a control system coupled to the illumination sources. The control system coordinates operation of the plurality of illumination sources to form the appearance of a continuous display. |
| US09418624B2 |
Image output apparatus, control method for image output apparatus, and program
An image output apparatus, according to the present invention, for outputting images to a display apparatus including an image processing unit capable of performing image quality adjustment processing differently depending on types of images, comprises a selection unit that selects images to be output to the display apparatus according to a user operation, and a control unit that gives a predetermined notice when the number of types of images selected by the selection unit is greater than a maximum adjustable number, which is the number of types of images on which the image processing unit can perform image quality adjustment processing in parallel. |
| US09418623B2 |
Backlight unit with over-current detection and display device having the same
A backlight unit includes a power converter configured to generate a light source driving voltage in response to a voltage control signal, a plurality of light emitting diode strings, where each of the light emitting diode strings receives the light source driving voltage through a first terminal thereof, a plurality of transistors corresponding to the light emitting diode strings, where each of the transistors includes: a first electrode connected to a second terminal of a corresponding light emitting diode string thereof; a second electrode; and a control electrode, and a controller connected to the control electrode and the second electrode, where the controller outputs a plurality of current control signals to control electrodes of the transistors and generate the voltage control signal, where the controller generates an over-current detection signal when any one of the current control signals has a pulse width less than a predetermined reference width. |
| US09418619B2 |
Image display device
There is provided an image display device, in which a pixel includes sub-pixels of four or more colors that include a color in addition to the three primary colors, and which can display a high-quality image in which false colors or artifacts are suppressed. The image display device includes a pixel area in which a plurality of pixels P are arranged in a matrix shape, and each of the pixels P includes m (m is an integer which is equal to or greater than 4) sub-pixels SP. When it is assumed that the colors of the m sub-pixels SP included in one pixel are C1, C2, . . . , and Cm, the m sub-pixels SP which are sequentially arrayed from an arbitrary position include all of the colors of C1, C2, . . . , and Cm in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in the pixel area. |
| US09418616B2 |
Technique for storing shared vertices
A graphics processing unit includes a set of geometry processing units each configured to process graphics primitives in parallel with one another. A given geometry processing unit generates one or more graphics primitives or geometry objects and buffers the associated vertex data locally. The geometry processing unit also buffers different sets of indices to those vertices, where each such set represents a different graphics primitive or geometry object. The geometry processing units may then stream the buffered vertices and indices to global buffers in parallel with one another. A stream output synchronization unit coordinates the parallel streaming of vertices and indices by providing each geometry processing unit with a different base address within a global vertex buffer where vertices may be written. The stream output synchronization unit also provides each geometry processing unit with a different base address within a global index buffer where indices may be written. |
| US09418614B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus and method for controlling the same
There is provided a liquid crystal display apparatus capable of preventing image degradation when driving a liquid crystal panel. In the liquid crystal display apparatus, a control unit, when there are more pixels indicating the first gradation than the second gradation, controls the supply state of the pixel voltage simultaneously supplied to the plurality of pixel electrodes to prolong the time period between the timing of changing the supply state of the pixel voltage corresponding to the first gradation and the timing of changing the supply state of the pixel voltage corresponding to the second gradation so as to become longer than that when there are fewer pixels indicating the first gradation than the second gradation. |
| US09418613B2 |
GOA circuit of LTPS semiconductor TFT
The present invention provides a GOA circuit of LTPS semiconductor TFT, employed for forward scan transmission, comprising a plurality of GOA units which are cascade connected, and N is set to be a positive integer and an Nth GOA unit utilizes a plurality of N-type transistors and a plurality of P-type transistors and comprises a transmission part (100), a transmission control part (200), an information storage part (300), a data erase part (400), an output control part (500) and an output buffer part (600). The transmission gate is employed to perform the former-latter level transferring signal, and the NOR gate logic unit and the NAND gate logic unit are employed to convert the signals, and the sequence inverter and the inverter are employed to save and transmit the signals to solve the issues that the stability of the circuit is poor, and the power consumption is larger as concerning the LTPS with single type TFT elements, and the problem of TFT leakage of the single type GOA circuit to optimize the performance of the circuit. The ultra narrow frame or frameless designs can be realized. |
| US09418609B2 |
Display apparatus having display driving unit on lower part
A display apparatus having a display driving unit on a lower part is provided. The LCD display apparatus includes a signal processing unit which performs video decoding, video scaling, and conversion into high-quality video on an input video; and a driving unit which is disposed closer to a lower end of the LCD display apparatus than to an upper end of the LCD display apparatus, and drives a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel to display a video output from the signal processing unit on the LCD panel. |
| US09418606B2 |
Gate driving circuit of display panel and display screen with the same
A gate driving circuit drives a plurality of gate lines arranged in a display panel. The gate driving circuit includes a shift register having at least two stages of shift register units, and a gate enable circuit. Each shift register unit includes a gate signal output terminal configured to output a gate signal. The gate enable circuit includes a plurality of gate enable units. Each gate enable unit corresponds to one of the shift register units and includes an input terminal connected to the gate signal output terminal of the corresponding shift register unit, an output terminal connected to a corresponding one of the gate lines, and an enable signal input terminal configured to receive an enable signal. Each gate enable unit is configured to selectively output the gate signal of the corresponding shift register unit to the corresponding gate line based on the state of the received enable signal. |
| US09418602B2 |
Electric optical apparatus, driving method thereof and electronic device
An electric optical apparatus including a display section in which an electric optical material is pinched between a pair of substrates and a plurality of pixels is arranged, wherein the display section is provided with a scanning line, a data line and a power-supply line that are connected to each of the pixels, and each of the pixels is provided with a pixel electrode, a driving transistor that is connected between the pixel electrode and the power-supply line, a capacitance for modulation that is connected between a gate of the driving transistor and the data line, a maintenance capacitance that connects one side electrode to the gate of the driving transistor, and a transistor for correction that is connected to a diode and in which one side terminal thereof is connected to the gate of the driving transistor. |
| US09418599B2 |
Driving circuit of liquid crystal display device and method for driving the same
A driving circuit of a liquid crystal display device and a method for driving the same, which are capable of reducing manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display device and reducing a luminance deviation so as to improve image quality, are disclosed. The driving circuit of the liquid crystal display device includes an LED backlight which includes a plurality of LED modules arranged in a plurality of division areas and generates light, an internal photosensor which is mounted in any one of the plurality of division areas, for detecting a luminance value, a controller which generates and outputs a plurality of control signals for changing respective luminance values of the plurality of division areas according to the luminance value detected by the internal photosensor, and a plurality of LED drivers which drive the plurality of LED modules according to the plurality of control signals. |
| US09418598B2 |
Colour display
A color sequential display method and apparatus that reduces or eliminates color breakup. In a given frame an illumination source provides a first illumination color in a first subframe, a second illumination color in a third subframe, and both the first and second illumination colors simultaneously in a second subframe to provide a third mixed illumination color. A pixel is driven either: (a) during the first subframe to display the first color; or (b) during the third subframe to display the second color; or (c) at least during the second subframe to display the third color. |
| US09418597B2 |
Pixel, display device and driving method thereof
A pixel, a display device using the pixel and a method of driving the display device are provided. The pixel may include an organic light emitting diode, a driving circuit for generating and transmitting driving current depending on data signals to the organic light emitting diode, and at least one switch connected between a power wire for applying a first voltage to the organic light emitting diode and a data line for transmitting the data signals. The at least one switch may include a compensating circuit for electronically connecting the power wire to the data line for a predetermined period to transmit the first voltage through the data line. |
| US09418593B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display including pixels, a scan driver, a data driver, a control line driver, and a compensation unit. The pixels are positioned in an area defined by data lines, scan lines, and control lines, and each includes an organic light emitting diode. The scan driver drives the scan lines. The data driver drives the data lines. The control line driver drives the control lines. The compensation unit extracts threshold voltage information of a driving transistor included in each pixel during a sensing period. In the organic light emitting display, the compensation unit supplies a preset voltage to a gate electrode of the driving transistor so that a second current flows during the sensing period, and supplies a reference voltage to a drain electrode of the driving transistor during the period in which the second current flows. |
| US09418587B2 |
Compensation technique for color shift in displays
A system for maintaining a substantially constant display white point over an extended period of operation of a color display formed by an array of multiple pixels in which each of the pixels includes multiple subpixels having different colors, and each of the subpixels includes a light emissive device. The display is generated by energizing the subpixels of successively selected pixels, and the color of each selected pixel is controlled by the relatives levels of energization of the subpixels in the selected pixel. The degradation behavior of the subpixels in each pixel is determined, and the relative levels of energization of the subpixels in each pixel are adjusted to adjust the brightness shares of the subpixels to compensate for the degradation behavior of the subpixels. The brightness shares are preferably adjusted to maintain a substantially constant display white point. |
| US09418579B2 |
Electronic billboard
An electronic billboard includes a base, bracket, a display and a touch device. The bracket is removable and mounted to the base. The display is removable and mounted to the bracket. The display includes a slot and a receiving portion configured to receive a host. The touch device is received in the slot. |
| US09418578B2 |
Signboard device
A signboard device is configured by combining a dynamic-image block for displaying a dynamic image and a plurality of light-source blocks each provided with a light source emitting light forward. The signboard device is configured so that, when seen along a front-rear direction, the length from the top edge to the bottom edge of each of the light-source blocks is the same as or n times or 1/n times (n being an integer) the length from the top edge to the bottom edge of the dynamic-image block, and the length from the left edge to the right edge of each of the light-source blocks is the same as or m times or 1/m times (m being an integer) the length from the left edge to the right edge of the dynamic-image block. |
| US09418571B2 |
Apparatus and method for training movements to avoid injuries
This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for training a user, such as an athlete, a performer and/or any other suitable person, how to avoid injuries to the body, particularly so that there is no need for rehabilitation of an injured body part. At least two parameters of performance are compared to each other and/or to given data or other information, for example information taken from a database. For example, the at least two parameters can include two different distances that are measured and compared with respect to each other. A computer or other processor can run algorithms and/or any other suitable functions to calculate how the user should make a next movement in an accident avoidance training session. One or more next movements can be communicated in a wired manner, a wireless manner and/or any other suitable communication manner. The next movement can be displayed on a graphical user interface device and/or on any other suitable display. |
| US09418565B2 |
Extensible exam language (XXL) protocol for computer based testing
A memory stores a plurality of first data structures, which includes element specific data objects indicating a classification of at least one of the plurality of segments of the test definition language, and second data structures, which include attribute specific data objects indicating at least one attribute of the segments of the test definition language implemented by a computer. A method for computer-based testing includes authoring a test specification and content of the at least one test using a test definition language, compiling the test specification and content of the at least one test to create a compiled test specification and content, which includes validating the test specification and content, storing the compiled test specification and content to a resource file, and retrieving the compiled test specification and content from the resource file during delivery of the test. |
| US09418563B2 |
Method and device for automatically managing the separation between two aircraft following one another
The invention relates to a method and device for automatically managing the separation between two aircraft following one another. The device (1) comprises a means (6, 7) for automatically calculating, prior to performing a function to acquire and maintain separation, orders for controlling speed that enable a trailing aircraft to acquire and maintain a time separation relative to a target aircraft preceding the former. |
| US09418562B2 |
Onboard weather radar flight strategy system with bandwidth management
This disclosure is directed to devices, systems, and methods for enabling and operating an onboard weather display system with managed bandwidth. In one example, a method includes receiving, by a hub system, initial sets of data from one or more aircraft. The method further includes receiving secondary sets of data from the aircraft, wherein the secondary sets of data are related to a significant weather condition. The method further includes transmitting an initial data stream to a particular aircraft, wherein the initial data stream is based at least in part on the initial sets of data from the one or more aircraft. The method further includes transmitting, in response to a request from the particular aircraft, a secondary data stream based at least in part on the secondary sets of data related to the significant weather condition. |
| US09418549B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing position of vehicle
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for recognizing a position of a vehicle to notify the position to a driver. The vehicle position recognizing apparatus includes a WiFi module configured to receive signals from a plurality of WiFi APs, a WPS module configured to measure RSSI values of the signals received by the WiFi module, and estimate a position of a vehicle, and a WPS correction controller configured to correct the RSSI values measured by the WPS module to recognize the position of the vehicle. |
| US09418548B2 |
Display control device, display control method, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and projecting device
A display control device includes a controller that, if an obtainer obtains first-segment speed limit information, controls a displayer so that it creates a first predetermined image, indicating a first-segment speed limit, and displays the first predetermined image on a display medium, and includes a determiner that, if second-segment length information is obtained after the first-segment speed limit information has been obtained, determines whether the second-segment length is shorter than a threshold. The controller makes a switchover from control under which the displayer creates the first predetermined image and displays it on the display medium to control under which the displayer creates a second predetermined image, indicating a second-segment speed limit, and displays the second predetermined image on the display medium in different control ways depending on whether the second-segment length is shorter than the threshold. |
| US09418547B2 |
Adaptive driver assistance alerts functionality
A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a plurality of lights linearly arranged substantially around an interior perimeter of the vehicle. A controller is controllably coupled to the plurality of lights, such that the controller is operable to control the plurality of lights. A hazard detection system is communicatively coupled to the controller. The controller includes a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for causing the controller to illuminate at least one of the plurality of lights corresponding to a location of a hazard detected by the hazard detection system. |
| US09418546B1 |
Traffic detection with multiple outputs depending on type of object detected
A multi-object zonal traffic detection framework analyzes temporal and spatial information from one or more sensors in a classification engine that identifies and differentiates objects within a single identified traffic detection zone. The classification engine applies a whole scene analysis and an adaptive background zone detection model to classify cars, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians, incidents, and other objects within the single identified traffic detection zone and generates counts for each object type for traffic system management. |
| US09418539B2 |
Remote control apparatus and electronic device remotely controlled by the same
A remote control apparatus including: a storage unit for storing message set information constituting information about one or more message sets each including one or more messages including different control requests; a control unit for generating binary code data each corresponding to the one or more messages each corresponding to the different control requests; and a communication interface unit for transmitting the binary code data to a controlled apparatus, wherein transmitted and received data amounts are minimized. |
| US09418536B1 |
Hand-washing compliance system
A hand-washing compliance system can include: a sensor mounted to a chassis, the sensor configured to detect sensor readings; a processor coupled to the chassis and connected to the sensor with a communication conduit, the processor configured to: calculate movement estimations based on differences between the sensor readings at discrete times; count a number of crosses based on how often the movement estimations: are calculated above an upper threshold and are calculated below a lower threshold in consecutive movement calculations, are calculated below the lower threshold and are calculated above the upper threshold in the consecutive movement calculations, or a combination thereof, decrement a countdown timer based on the number of crosses being above a cross-threshold, and pause the countdown timer based on the number of crosses being below the cross-threshold; and a housing mounted to the chassis enclosing the processor and at least partially enclosing the sensor. |
| US09418535B1 |
Hand-wash monitoring and compliance system
A method and apparatus for monitoring hand-washing compliance can include: detecting sensor readings; calculating movement estimations based on differences between the sensor readings; counting a number of crosses based on how often the movement estimations: are calculated above an upper threshold and are calculated below a lower threshold in consecutive movement calculations, are calculated below the lower threshold and are calculated above the upper threshold in the consecutive movement calculations, or a combination thereof; decrementing a countdown timer based on the number of crosses being above a cross-threshold; and pausing the countdown timer based on the number of crosses being below the cross-threshold. |
| US09418533B2 |
Time-based multivariable secure facility alarm system
An exemplary embodiment provides for a computer-implemented method that generates a time-based multivariable secure facility alarm. The method includes selecting a person for alert monitoring, alert monitor criteria pertaining to the person and alarm notification rules. When an occurrence that satisfies the alert monitor criteria are detected, an alarm notification, based upon the alarm notification rules, is generated. The method's alert monitor criteria include at least two events and a time period such that the alert monitor criteria is satisfied when the at least two events occur within the time period. Additionally, at least one event of the at least two events is a non-telephonic event. |
| US09418524B2 |
Enhanced signal amplitude in acoustic-magnetomechanical EAS marker
Systems (100) and methods (600, 1800) for making a marker. The methods comprise: obtaining a resonator material which has been annealed under a tensile force selected to provide a maximum resonant amplitude at a bias field; providing by a bias material of the marker an operating bias field with a value less than a value of the bias field; forming a first housing portion from a flexible material so as to have a planar shape; and forming a second housing portion from the flexible material so as to comprise a cavity in which the resonator and bias materials can be housed when the second housing portion is coupled to the first housing portion. The cavity is defined by two opposing short sidewalls, two opposing elongate sidewalls (OESW) and a bottom sidewall. Each of OESW is stiffened by forming a plurality of first stiffener edge features along an exterior surface thereof. |
| US09418515B2 |
Gaming systems and methods for providing random rewards based on gaming activities
Systems and methods for use in providing a random reward associated with at least one game are disclosed. One exemplary method includes receiving, by a gaming server, data representative of gaming activity of a player of the at least one game, providing, by the gaming server, a code associated with the random reward, wherein the code is representative of an entry to win the random reward, receiving, by the gaming server, data representative of a text message including the code, determining whether the player won the random reward based on the received code, and providing a notification indicating whether the player won the random reward. |
| US09418510B2 |
Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing a game having a dynamic award scheme
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide gaming systems, gaming devices and methods which have casual games with dynamic award schemes. Each game has a designated number of elements such as positions, moveable elements, or the combination of positions and moveable elements. For each play of the wagering game, the gaming system: receives a wager from a player; determines a number of the designated number of elements which will function as or be designated as payout elements; determines which of the designated number of elements to make the payout elements; for each payout element, determines the payout value associated with that payout element; and (e) determines a game ending condition. The gaming system enables the player to play the wagering game in accordance with the predetermined rules of the wagering game. This includes enabling the player to employ the elements until the game ending condition occurs. For each payout element, if the payout element is employed in that play of the wagering game in a designated manner in accordance with the predetermined rules of the wagering game, the gaming system provides the player the payout value associated with that payout element. |
| US09418507B2 |
Gaming system and method providing a group award presentation of a plurality of similar or identical awards
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a group award presentation of a plurality of similar or identical awards. Generally, the gaming system employs the group award presentation to display a plurality of similar or identical awards for a play of a game as a group rather than separately displaying each individual award. In one embodiment, the group award presentation includes a simultaneous display of the awards associated with a plurality of displayed instances of a winning symbol combination, wherein such awards are simultaneously displayed as a group of awards. In another embodiment, the group award presentation includes a simultaneous display of the awards associated with a plurality of displayed instances of a plurality of winning symbol combinations, wherein such awards are simultaneously displayed as a group of awards, and wherein those winning symbol combinations are associated with a same award. |
| US09418503B2 |
3D printing vending machine
A vending machine for creating a three-dimensional object having an enclosure having an exterior and interior. The interior receives and houses at least one three-dimensional printer. An interface for accepting an instruction associated with an object to be printed and transmitting the instruction to the printer. A storage section for storing a printed object that provides access to the printed part but limits or prohibits access to the interior. |
| US09418502B2 |
Commodity storage device
A commodity storage device has commodity storage columns defining respective commodity storage passages, in each of which commodities are stored upright in a line. The commodity storage device includes first gate members, each of which is provided turnably in such a manner as to enter and retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage; second gate members, each of which is provided so as to be able to turn in conjunction with the corresponding first gate member in such a manner as to enter and in conjunction with the corresponding first gate member in such a manner as to enter and retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage; and flapper members, each of which is provided turnably on a side wall forming the corresponding commodity storage passage in such a manner as to enter and retreat form the commodity storage passage. |
| US09418499B2 |
Method for checking value documents
The invention relates to a method for checking value documents by which the similarity of the intensity spectrum of a value document to be checked to a reference spectrum can be tested. To check the similarity of the intensity spectrum recorded from the value document to be checked to the reference spectrum, not the recorded intensity spectrum itself is compared with the reference spectrum, but rather a corrected intensity spectrum adapted to the reference spectrum, which arises from the recorded intensity spectrum by a linear correction. The correction parameters of the linear correction function are ascertained by adapting the linearly corrected intensity spectrum to the reference spectrum. Through the adapting it is achieved that fluctuations of the recorded intensity spectrum that are due to measuring technology are compensated at least partly. |
| US09418494B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing real-time information using analysis factor based on road and traffic conditions
Provided is an apparatus and method for providing real-time information using an analysis factor of road and traffic conditions. The real-time information service apparatus may include a calculating unit to calculate at least one of a topographical factor related to a road and a behavioral factor related to a speed, and a providing unit to provide real-time notification information to a driver based on at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor. The real-time notification information may include at least one of a light signal of an indicator lamp, an alarm signal, a video signal, and an audio signal. |
| US09418493B1 |
Methods and systems for data analytics
A method includes receiving a stream of sensor data regarding operating conditions of a vehicle, and processing first and second data sets of the stream of sensor data in time and frequency domains. The method also includes identifying differences within and between processing results from processing the first and second data sets, and determining that at least one difference in the identified differences is greater than or equal to one or more predefined thresholds. Further, the method includes, based on determining the at least one difference in the identified differences being greater than or equal to the one or more predefined thresholds, recording one or more processing results corresponding to the identified at least one difference in a data index map (DIM), and analyzing contents of the DIM to evaluate operating conditions of the vehicle. |
| US09418491B2 |
Method and system for automatically identifying a driver by creating a unique driver profile for a vehicle from driving habits
A method and system for automatically creating a unique driver profile for a vehicle from driving habits. A unique driver profile is created with a portable on-board diagnostic series 2 (OBD-2) apparatus and/or linked and/or standalone network device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, wearable device, etc.). The unique driver profile is created from the accepted plural signals including time and geo-location data based on driving habits of the driver. The unique driver profile information is recorded on the apparatus and/or network device, downloaded at a later time or sent in real-time to check and verify an identity of the driver. The unique driver profile helps confirm an identity of the driver of the vehicle based on unique driving habits of the driver. |
| US09418490B2 |
Data display with continuous buffer
A graphical user interface that is capable of being used on a computing device, such as a vehicle diagnostic tool. The graphical user interface includes various buttons that when actuated causes the vehicle diagnostic tool to perform a corresponding functionality such as read diagnostic trouble codes and collect and display a data stream of diagnostic data of a vehicle. The graphical user interface also displays buffered data in a data window and the data may be moved using various input buttons. |
| US09418489B2 |
Providing cellular data to a vehicle over different data channels
A method and a system for providing vehicle data services to communication devices located at a remote vehicle. The method includes the steps of: establishing data communication between a telematics backend system and one of a plurality of communication devices located at the remote vehicle; determining at the telematics backend system an access point name (APN) for at least one of the plurality of communication devices, a type of vehicle services data for the at least one of the plurality of communication devices, or both; and based on the determined APN, the type of vehicle services data, or both, transmitting from or receiving at the telematics backend the vehicle services data according to a network traffic shaping scheme. |
| US09418486B2 |
Method and apparatus for rendering hybrid multi-view
A method and apparatus for generating a multi-view image, the method including determining an input image for generating multi-view images, and selecting a total of stereo images or one of stereo images to be the input image based on a presence of a distortion between the stereo images. |
| US09418477B2 |
Rendering damaged-enhanced images in a computer simulation
Method and computer system for rendering damaged-enhanced images in a computer simulation comprising a computer generated environment. During the computer simulation, determining coordinates of a virtual impact having an effective radius on 3D polygon mesh(es) of the computer generated environment, identifying rendering faces of the 3D polygon mesh(es) affected by the virtual impact, clipping at runtime the affected rendering faces to a mathematically-defined subtraction shape computed considering the effective radius, computing newly formed 3D polygon mesh(es) and rendering at least one damaged-enhanced image for display comprising a subset of rendering faces of the newly formed 3D polygon mesh(es) using a visual texture, the subset being determined from a field of view of the computer simulation. |
| US09418476B2 |
Mesh quality improvement in computer aided engineering
A method, for use in meshing a CAD domain in a computer-aided design (CAD) or computer-aided engineering (CAE) system, comprises carrying out a procedure comprising: obtaining a set of mesh elements by extracting, from a previously-generated mesh of the CAD domain which has undergone a mesh element optimization process in respect of interior elements of the previously-generated mesh, mesh elements which do not satisfy a preselected mesh quality metric; decomposing the set of mesh elements into connected sub-meshes; carrying out a serial mesh element optimization process in respect of each sub-mesh independently and in parallel, under the condition that boundary nodes of sub-meshes are not moved, to obtain optimized sub-meshes; and obtaining an optimized mesh of the CAD domain by integrating the optimized sub-meshes into the previously-generated mesh. |
| US09418471B2 |
Compact depth plane representation for sort last architectures
In accordance with some embodiments, a full per sample coverage mask may be used for a subset of the pixels in the tile, thereby enabling pixels that belong to multiple depth ranges to be handled. This makes the depth bounds a tighter fit for the true depth range of the tile and improves hierarchical depth culling efficiency when MSAA is used. |
| US09418469B1 |
Generating video content
Improved techniques for generating video content are disclosed. In some embodiments, a frame is first rendered using a first rendering option. It is then determined whether the frame is an independent frame (I-frame) or a predictive frame (P-frame). In the event that the frame is an I-frame, the frame is rendered using a second rendering option. In the event that the frame is a P-frame, the frame as rendered by the first rendering option and a previous frame as rendered by the first rendering option are used to determine prediction error. The first rendering option comprises a lower computational complexity than the second rendering option. |
| US09418468B2 |
Method and device for elastic registration between a two-dimensional digital image and a slice of a three-dimensional volume with overlapping content
A method and device for elastic registration of a two-dimensional source digital image of an object of interest with a slice of a three dimensional target volume of the object of interest is provided which defines a Markov Random Field framework having at least one undirected pairwise graph superimposed a two-dimensional image domain having at least a set of regular vertices and at least a set of edges, and defines a grid of control points, each control point corresponding to a vertex of the set of regular vertices, and a neighborhood system of edges associated with vertices. The method also defines a set of multi-dimensional labels of a discrete space to apply a displacement to each control point, the control point displacement defining a transformation adapted to obtain a plane slice of the target volume and an in-plane deformation transformation of the source digital image. |
| US09418461B2 |
Character string placement device
Disclosed is a character string placement device including an evaluation function calculator that calculates a plurality of evaluation function values, each of which shows an evaluation of placement of a character string placed at each of a plurality of candidate points on a node series; and a minimum evaluation function value storer that determines at which of the plurality of candidate points to place the character string on a basis of comparison between the plurality of evaluation function values calculated by the evaluation function calculator. The evaluation function calculator includes: a character gap function calculator that calculates a character gap function value; an angle function calculator that calculates an angle function value; and an evaluation function value calculator that calculates the evaluation function value of the character string placed at each of the plurality of candidate points based on the character gap function value and the angle function value. |
| US09418458B2 |
Graph image representation from convolutional neural networks
A method for producing a graph representation of an input image, the method including the procedures of applying convolutional layers of a trained convolutional neural network on the input image, defining a receptive field of a last convolutional layer of the trained convolutional neural network as a vertex of the graph representation, defining a vector of a three dimensional output matrix of the last convolutional layer that is mapped to the receptive field as a descriptor for the vertex and determining an edge between a pair of vertices of the graph representation by applying an operator on a pair of descriptors respective of the pair of vertices. |
| US09418456B2 |
Data visualization system and method
A data visualization system comprising: a data retrieval module arranged to retrieve data from a data storage module in communication with the data visualization system, wherein the retrieved data includes data sets for representation in a tree map; a tree map generation module arranged to generate a tree map based on the retrieved data, wherein the tree map generation module is further arranged to: i) sort the retrieved data sets according to the size of the data sets; ii) define an area for generating multiple rectangles, each rectangle representing one of the data sets, wherein the area is defined to allow the data sets to be spatially arranged within the area; iii) accumulate data points for data within the data sets to generate a rectangle that has dimensions that fall within pre-defined parameters; iv) generate a rectangle for each data set; and v) orientate the rectangle such that its orientation is only changed if the rectangle does not fit in the available area. |
| US09418452B2 |
Print medium displaying illusion image and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium holding illusion image data
The present invention obtains subband signals by performing a multiresolution decomposition by a wavelet frame with orientation selectivity or a filterbank with orientation selectivity that is a set of an approximate filter with no orientation and a plurality of detail filters with respective orientations on image data, and, when an image is reconstructed by summing the obtained subband signals, generates reconstructed image data that creates a floating illusion by attenuating or amplifying a subband signal corresponding to at least one of detail filters with a predetermined orientation relative to a floating direction, in which an image is desired to be floated due to an illusion, among the detail filters. |
| US09418451B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus, substance identifying method, and image processing apparatus
An X-ray CT apparatus of an embodiment displays an image of the inside of an object based on projection data obtained by scanning the object, and comprises a generator, a converter, an image forming part and an identifier. The generator scans the object with each of X-rays of different energy levels and generates multiple projection data. The converter converts the multiple projection data into multiple new projection data corresponding to multiple reference substances. The image forming part reconstructs each of the multiple new projection data converted by the converter, thereby forming multiple reference substance images corresponding to the multiple reference substances. The identifier identifies a target substance based on a correlation of pixel values in the multiple reference substance images. |
| US09418448B2 |
Devices, terminals and methods for image processing
Devices, terminals and methods are provided for image processing. For example, a raw image is loaded to be viewed, the raw image being selected by a user terminal; a first image to be displayed is obtained by analyzing and encoding the raw image, the first image being of a predetermined image format; one or more preset image display parameters are acquired; a quality score of the first image is obtained by performing quality analysis and calculation for the first image using the preset image display parameters; and the first image and the quality score of the first image are displayed to the user terminal. |
| US09418445B2 |
Real time processing of video frames
A method and system for real time processing of a sequence of video frames. A current frame in the sequence and at least one frame in the sequence occurring prior to the current frame is analyzed. The sequence of video frames is received in synchronization with a recording of the video frames in real time. The analyzing includes performing a background subtraction on the at least one frame, which determines a background image and a static region mask associated with a static region consisting of a contiguous distribution of pixels in the current frame, which includes executing a mixture of 3 to 5 Gaussians algorithm coupled together in a linear combination by Gaussian weight coefficients to generate the background model, a foreground image, and the static region. The static region mask identifies each pixel in the static region upon the static region mask being superimposed on the current frame. |
| US09418444B2 |
Real time processing of video frames
A method and system for real time processing of a sequence of video frames. A current frame in the sequence and at least one frame in the sequence occurring prior to the current frame is analyzed. The sequence of video frames is received in synchronization with a recording of the video frames in real time. The analyzing includes performing a background subtraction on the at least one frame, which determines a background image and a static region mask associated with a static region consisting of a contiguous distribution of pixels in the current frame. The static region mask identifies each pixel in the static region upon the static region mask being superimposed on the current frame. A status of a static object is determined as either an abandoned status if the static object is an abandoned object or a removed status if the static object is a removed object. |
| US09418440B2 |
Image segmenting apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus has: a segmenting unit for segmenting an input image into a plurality of areas on the basis of a similarity of pixels; an acquiring unit for acquiring sizes of the segmented areas; a selecting unit for selecting one of a plurality of discriminating methods of discriminating, with respect to adjacent areas among the plurality of areas, on the basis of an acquired size of each of the adjacent areas, whether or not the adjacent areas are connecting targets by using different kinds of features; an extracting unit for extracting, from the adjacent areas, the feature of the kind which is used in the selected discriminating method; a connecting unit for connecting the adjacent areas determined as the connecting targets by the selected discriminating method; and a classifying unit for classifying a kind of connected area. |
| US09418436B2 |
Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtainment unit that obtains an image; an information obtainment unit that obtains embedment information that is to be embedded into a region within the image obtained by the image obtainment unit; a depth information obtainment unit that obtains depth information indicating a depth value of each pixel in the image obtained by the image obtainment unit; and an embedment region determination unit that determines, using the depth information, an embedment region into which the embedment information is to be embedded. |
| US09418435B2 |
Three-dimensional measurement method
A field of view available for stereo measurement is expanded using a field of view other than a common field of view. To this end, a plane (plane e) including a corresponding point (xa) on a sensor plane of a first camera, which corresponds to a feature point (X), a focal position (F1) of the first camera, and a focal position (F2) of the second camera is calculated; a first line (straight line E) that is a line of intersection of the plane (plane e) and a plane including a sensor plane of the second camera is calculated; a second line (straight line G) including a corresponding point group on the sensor plane of the second camera, which corresponds to a feature point group, is calculated; an intersection of the first and second lines is calculated as a corresponding point (xb) on the plane including the sensor plane of the second camera, which corresponds to the feature point (X); and three-dimensional coordinates of the feature point (X) are calculated based on the corresponding points (xa, xb). |
| US09418434B2 |
Method for detecting 3D geometric boundaries in images of scenes subject to varying lighting
Three-dimensional (3D) geometric boundaries are detected in images of a scene that undergoes varying lighting conditions caused by light sources in different positions, from a set of input images of the scene illuminated by at least two different lighting conditions. The images are aligned, e.g., acquired by a stationary camera, so that pixels at the same location in all of the input images correspond to the same point in the scene. For each location, a patch of corresponding pixels centered at the location is extracted from each input image. For each location, a confidence value that there is a 3D geometric boundary at the location is determined. |
| US09418432B2 |
Imaging system with depth estimation mechanism and method of operation thereof
A system and method of operation of an imaging system includes: a capture module for receiving an input sequence with an image pair, the image pair having a first image and a second image and for determining a first patch from the first image and a second patch from the second image; an iteration module for generating an iteration map from the first patch of the first image and the second patch of the second image; and a position module for generating a final depth map from the iteration map and for determining a focus position from the final depth map. |
| US09418431B2 |
Straightness measurements of linear stock material
Methods and systems for determining information about an object are described. In one aspect, a method includes illuminating an object with a plurality of lines of light, the lines being spaced-apart along an axis, and acquiring a sequence of images of the lines of light while rotating the object about the axis. The method further includes, for each image, determining a location of an extremum for each of the lines of light. Furthermore, the method includes establishing a reference line based on the location of the extrema for a first plurality of the lines, calculating a deviation between the extrema of a second plurality of the lines and the reference line, and determining information about the shape of the object based on the calculated deviations. |
| US09418430B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing a north reference for inertial measurement units using scene correlation
A scene correlation-based target system and related methods are provided. A reference image depicts a remotely-positioned object having identifiable characteristics, wherein a reference directional vector is established relative to the reference image. A target image of a general vicinity of the remotely-positioned object has an unknown directional vector, the target image having at least a portion of the identifiable characteristics. An inertial measuring unit has a scene correlation system, wherein the scene correlation system matches the portion of the identifiable characteristics of the target image with the identifiable characteristics of the reference image, wherein a slew angle between the reference image and the target image is calculated. A target image directional vector is derived from the calculated slew angle and the reference directional vector. |
| US09418429B2 |
Method for recognizing object using covariance descriptor and apparatus thereof
Disclosed are object recognizing method and apparatus. The method may comprise extracting a feature point of an object to be recognized in an input image; generating a plurality of feature images by extracting orientation information of a region adjacent to the feature point and normalizing the region based in the orientation information; deriving a covariance descriptor based on the feature images; and recognizing the object in the input image by comparing the covariance descriptor with a reference covariance descriptor stored in advance. Thus, the object can be recognized fast and robustly to changes on the size of the input image, rotations of the input image, and illumination, whereby the recognition performance can be enhanced. |
| US09418423B2 |
Motion correction and normalization of features in optical coherence tomography
An optical coherence tomography system is provided. The system includes an OCT imager; a two-dimensional transverse scanner coupled to the OCT imager, the two-dimensional transverse scanner receiving light from the light source and coupling reflected light from a sample into the OCT imager; a computer coupled to receive 3D OCT data from the OCT imager, the computer further processes the 3D OCT data; wherein the processing the 3D OCT data includes: correcting motion artifacts in baseline mode; generating reference data in baseline mode; performing segmentation to identify volumes of interest; extracting feature information, the feature information including reflectivity, texture, or the combination thereof. |
| US09418422B2 |
Skin image analysis
Method of processing an image of the skin is disclosed. The method comprises the receipt of skin image data, the generation of simulated images with artificial transformation and the analysis of the simulated images to form a vector from extracted features. |
| US09418421B1 |
Automation of biopsy specimen handling
The current disclosure is directed to the field of pathology, and the automated handling of biological specimens from containers containing clear solutions wherein the biological specimens reside. A computer-implemented method is disclosed for extracting specimens from such containers via an extraction device attached to a robotic arm. The robotic arm is controlled by a robotic system controller. The three-dimensional location of all specimens are estimated using image analysis techniques using images obtained from a plurality of imaging systems. Image analysis is used to simultaneously guide the extraction device and track the location of specimens inside the container. |
| US09418412B2 |
Inspection system
An imaging module takes an image of an area which includes the tipping paper, the filter and the cigarette roll of a smoking article seated on the rolling drum. A processing module processes the image taken by the imaging module. The area of the image taken by the imaging module is divided into a first area in which the tipping paper is positioned and a second area in which the filter is positioned. The processing module determines a defect by detecting the image on the first area and the second area. |
| US09418410B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method thereof
An image processing method includes dividing an image into one or more regions, obtaining a region-based histogram smoothing function for processing the image to have a uniform number of pixels based on a pixel value for each of the divided region, obtaining a global smoothing function for an entire image using the obtained region-based histogram smoothing function, obtaining a local smoothing function for each pixel of the image using the region-based histogram smoothing function applied to a region in a block, and obtaining a sum of weight values of the global smoothing function and the local smoothing function, and determining the pixel value, based on the obtained sum of the weight values. |
| US09418408B1 |
Dynamic range optimization
A dynamic range optimization display system includes at least one processor coupled with a non-transitory processor-readable medium storing processor-executable code for causing the at least one processor to receive the input image data, generate a histogram of the input image based on the input pixel intensity values, modify the histogram to adjust the brightness and contrast of an output image, integrate the histogram to create a cumulative histogram, select a sequence of knots for an intensity transfer function, determine an input intensity for each knot, determine an output intensity for each knot, determine an output pixel intensity value for each pixel of the plurality of pixels by linearly interpolating the output pixel intensity value between output intensities of two bounding knots using an interpolant, and provide output image data to a display where the output image data is indicative of an output image having the determined output pixel intensity values. |
| US09418407B2 |
Detecting glare in a frame of image data
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for detecting glare in a frame of image data. A frame of image data is preprocessed. A set of connected components in the preprocessed frame is determined. A set of statistics is calculated for one or more connected components in the set of connected components. A decision for the one or more connected components is made, using the calculated set of statistics, if the connected component is a light spot over text. Whether glare is present in the frame is determined. |
| US09418406B2 |
Anisotropy in resolution spatial filter image processing apparatus, and information processing method
An information processing method includes calculating a second spatial filter having a size of the number of elements larger than a blur size of an image using a finite first spatial filter having an anisotropy in resolution of the image and a finite filter in which a value of a total sum of elements is zero and at least two elements have a non-zero value, and generating a plurality of spatial filters having a predetermined number of elements or less from the second spatial filter. |
| US09418402B2 |
System for improving foggy luminance image using fog reduction estimation model
The present invention provides a method for providing an image having visibility which is improved by removing fog or smoke from an image of which the quality is reduced due to the fog or the smoke. To this end, the present invention provides an estimation model used for obtaining, from an input image, an image from which the fog is removed, calculates a transmission rate indicating a ratio by which the fog is included in the original image by using the estimation model, and obtains an image of which the fog is removed using the calculated transmission rate. The method proposed in the present invention does not commonly use a filter and only uses calculation of a pixel unit, so that a back lighting effect is not generated, real time processing is possible due to a small amount of calculation, and a good image is obtained even by performing a process using only a luminance image. Therefore, the method can be applied to all multimedia devices in which real time processing is required, such as a monitoring system, a black box, a digital camera, etc. |
| US09418401B2 |
Masking tool
A system for controlling effects performed on an image includes a digital camera having a display that displays the image. Masking tools position graphical representations on the display to define a portion of the image that is altered when the effects are subsequently applied to the image. The several masking tools may be combined to form a single masking tool. |
| US09418395B1 |
Power efficient detection of watermarks in media signals
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to implement power efficient detection of watermarks in media signals are disclosed. Example watermark detection methods disclosed herein include operating a watermark detector in a first operating mode to search for a first watermark in a media signal. Such disclosed example methods also include, in response to detecting the first watermark, determining whether the first watermark satisfies a first condition. Such disclosed example methods further include, in response to determining the first watermark satisfies the first condition, operating the watermark detector in a second operating mode in which the watermark detector cycles between a sleep interval and an active interval to detect a second watermark at a second location in the media signal relative to a first location of the first watermark in the media signal. |
| US09418392B2 |
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. |
| US09418391B2 |
System for influencer scoring and methods thereof
Systems and methods for leveraging social media data by entities to identify key influencers are disclosed. Monitoring criteria is based on a selected subject-matter. The analysis permits quantification of influencers and takes into account the conversari platforms and the published platforms in the social media. |
| US09418387B1 |
Employee customizable payroll processing
Various embodiments are related to apparatuses and methods related to payroll processing. An employee can designate a customized payroll pay period, and each employee can designate a different payroll pay period. For example, the employee can designate to receive payroll payments on any frequency supported by the employer, including receiving a daily payroll payment on each day that the employee works. The employee's employer can make payroll payments according to the employee's designation. Further, when the employer is a merchant that makes sales each day using, for example, a point of sale system, the employer can electronically pay the employee using funds from the day's sales. For example, the employee can work on a selected day, and can receive an electronic payroll payment at the end of the shift. The employee can immediately use the just received electronic payment funds to purchase a good from a second merchant. |
| US09418383B1 |
System and method for determining and monitoring auto insurance incentives
A computer system or computer-implemented method may provide incentives to an insured customer for receiving sensor data indicating risk-reducing and risk-increasing behavior during the policy term. In-vehicle sensors or other devices may gather information about the vehicle and its use during the policy term and send the information to a back-end system for analysis. Based on this analysis, the back-end system may determine that the received information is indicative of risk-reducing or increasing behavior. Upon confirmation that the information indicates risk-reducing or increasing behavior, the back-end system may perform one or more actions defined by a set of rules to establish an incentive or disincentive for the customer corresponding to the behavior. For example, the system may modify the customer's insurance policy data, send an e-mail, letter, gift card, coupon, points, or other incentive or disincentive for the customer based on the analysis. |
| US09418382B2 |
System and method for computing trip score using geo-spatial information
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for pricing an insurance premium based on a vehicle trip similarity score. The system includes a computer memory and a processor in communication with the computer memory. The computer memory stores telematics data received from a sensor within a vehicle. The telematics data includes at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data. The processor is configured to compute a similarities score based on the telematics data. The processor is also configured to determine a price, price adjustment, or any other benefit for automobile insurance based on the similarities score. |
| US09418381B2 |
Method and system for notifying customers of transaction opportunities
A standalone notification system, including a notification server which generates electronic messages to registered customers upon their request or upon a host business request. The customer provides the system with his/her messaging identification (“ID”), e.g. e-mail address, GSM (global system for mobile communications) or other mobile phone numbers that are able to accept, e.g., short message service (“SMS”) messages, facsimile number, and/or telephone number. Customers can register with the host notification server without having any relationship, banking or otherwise, with the host. Customers can choose between different notification channels such as e-mail, SMS message, fax or pager. |
| US09418377B2 |
System and method for visualizing property based listing on a mobile device
A system and method for visualizing property based listing on a mobile device may include grouping a plurality of property listings into at least one property listing group, the plurality of property listings selected based on a search area associated with a location of a mobile device; displaying, on the mobile device, a first group of the at least one property listing group overlaid on a live view of a camera of the mobile device, the displayed location of the first group based on an orientation of the mobile device; displaying a details interface overlaid on the live view, the details interface including attribute data of a first property listing of the first group; receiving a user interaction with the details interface; and displaying attribute data from a second property listing of the first group based on the user interaction. |
| US09418372B2 |
Advertising, discovering, and using services through virtual access point interfaces
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that provides a service on a first electronic device. During operation, the system uses a virtual access point interface and a discovery protocol to advertise the service on the first electronic device. The virtual access point interface may enable discovery of the service by a second electronic device without an infrastructure connection between the first and second electronic devices. Next, the system uses the virtual access point interface to establish a wireless peer-to-peer connection between the first electronic device and a second electronic device. Finally, the system provides the service to the second electronic device through the wireless peer-to-peer connection. |
| US09418371B2 |
Automated system for adapting market data and evaluating the market value of items
A system including a remotely-located service provider server receives or retrieves price data sets responsive to one or more product specification data sets. A metrics application invokes an evaluation service that causes the metrics application to obtain metric data including market reference price data for items responsive to attributes of an item identified in a price data set. Attributes for each responsive item are evaluated to dynamically discover relations within the attribute data. One or more adjustment values are generated and applied to the market reference price data for a responsive item that differs from the item identified in the price data set, transforming the market reference price data into transaction-specific market reference price metric data values that are used to generate one or more evaluation metrics. At least a subset of the price data sets and the one or more evaluation metrics are communicated to a buyer-agent computing device. |
| US09418370B2 |
Obtaining event reviews
Embodiments generally relate to obtaining event reviews. In one embodiment a method includes receiving location data corresponding to a location of a device and receiving temporal data corresponding to a time when the device was at the location. The method also includes obtaining event information based on the location data and the temporal data, and generating a user interface on the device to permit reviews of an event associated with the event information. The method also includes generating one or more prompts based on the location data and the temporal data. |
| US09418369B2 |
System and method for automating proactive communication
A system and method for automating proactive communication. The information for the desired contacts may be accepted from a user. A selection of contact communication frequency preferences may be received from a user. An automatic communication to one of the desired contacts may be initiated. The user may be allowed to cancel the automatic communication, in response to receiving a notification that the communication is about to begin. A response indicative of the communication status may be received. Rules and preferences may be optimized based upon the received response. |
| US09418367B2 |
Context-aware code provisioning for mobile devices
A simplification of the process of deploying public services for mobile users Particular refinements in this vein involve the dynamic configuration of client software using available context information and the optimization of software provisioning based on historical usage information, which includes services accessed together with the location and time of access. |
| US09418365B2 |
Systems and methods for using social network data to determine payment fraud
A computer-implemented method for analyzing potentially fraudulent e-commerce payment transactions utilizing social media data is provided. The method uses a fraud monitoring device in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving a request to assess the fraud risk of an online transaction initiated by a cardholder using a payment card and accessing a social media account associated with the cardholder. The social media account includes a circle of friends, where each friend in the circle of friends is associated with a social media account. The method also includes determining one or more historical transactions associated with at least one friend in the circle of friends, calculating a social risk score for the cardholder based in part on the determined one or more historical transactions, and transmitting a consolidated risk assessment of the online transaction based in part on the social risk score. |
| US09418364B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributed transactions in a data communication network
A method and transaction orchestrator node for executing a global transaction in a transaction execution system. The transaction execution system is involving at least one reliable transaction executing instance supporting a reserve/commit protocol and one unreliable transaction executing instance that does not support a reserve/commit protocol. The transaction orchestrator node is receiving a global transaction initiation message involving plural sub transactions for execution by the involved corresponding transaction executing instances and sending a prepare transaction message to involved reliable transaction executing instances for corresponding sub transactions. Upon receiving confirmation of all prepare transaction messages the transaction orchestrator node is sending an execution message to the involved unreliable transaction executing instance for a corresponding sub transaction. If the execution message is successful the transaction orchestrator node is sending a commit prepared transaction to the involved reliable transaction executing instances for the corresponding sub transactions. |
| US09418362B2 |
Amplifying radio frequency signals
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for amplifying Radio Frequency (RF) signals. In some implementations, a system includes a first interface, a second interface, secure memory, a user-interface module, a processing module, and am amplification module. The first interface connects to a microSD slot of a mobile host device. The second interface includes an internal antenna for wirelessly communicating with retail terminals. The secure memory stores user credentials and a payment application used to execute financial transactions with the retail terminals. The processing module executes the payment application using the user credentials in response to at least a transaction request received by the RF module and transmits at least one transaction response to the retail terminal based, at least in part, on the executed payment application. The amplification module connected to a lead of the antenna and is configured to amplify at least received RF signals. |
| US09418359B2 |
Settlement terminal device
A settlement terminal device of this disclosure includes a settlement processing unit that performs a settlement process and a power supply unit that supplies power stored in a battery to the settlement processing unit. The settlement processing unit detects in advance a state where a battery residual capacity is equal to or less than a predetermined value when performing the settlement process, and sets a first detection threshold value for a first settlement mode requiring a first power consumption level which is greater than a second detection threshold value for a second settlement mode requiring a second power consumption level which is lower than the first power consumption level. |
| US09418357B2 |
Task prioritization and optimization using interconnected data sources
A computer identifies a location that is associated with a task, included in a first list of tasks, based on a first information. The computer determines a first travel time from a second location that is associated with a mobile device to the first location based on a second information. The second information indicates an amount of travel time that is associated with a route from the second location to the first location. The computer generates a plurality of permutations of the tasks included in the first list of tasks. The computer selects a permutation from the plurality of permutations based on the first travel time. The computer generates a second list of tasks using the selected permutation. The organization of the tasks included in the second list of tasks reduces the travel time that is required to complete those tasks. |
| US09418354B2 |
Facilitating user incident reports
With a computer processor, access is obtained to a sorted global tuple list of incident types, each tuple of which includes at least an incident identifier, a corresponding incident type, a corresponding context, and a corresponding impact factor. The latter specifies importance of solving the corresponding incident type in the corresponding context. Each tuple of the global tuple list is sorted by decreasing order of impact factor. At the computer processor, context information is obtained for at least one remote computing device; based on the context information and the sorted global tuple list, the computer processor sends, over a telecommunications infrastructure, data which causes an incident reporting display on the remote computing device to be re-ordered in accordance with the impact factors as they are ranked in accordance with the context information for the at least one remote computing device. |
| US09418350B2 |
Contact center delivery in-building homing service
The delivery of goods to a customer comprises a substantial portion of human activity. To correct address errors and/or to more precisely locate delivery locations, systems are provided to assist human, human operated vehicle, or autonomous vehicles to locate a delivery point. Often the location of a delivery point is inaccurate or imprecise. GPS and other coordinate systems often fail or are imprecise without an unobstructed view of the sky. Even with coordinates available, the delivery point may be different from the coordinates or, more commonly, coordinates that are different from some standard point within a postal address associated with the coordinates. Providing a delivery system that utilizes a broadcasted identifier, such as an identifier associated with the order of the item, the delivery of the item may be made proximate to the source of the broadcasted identifier or further refined using the broadcasted identifier as a reference. |
| US09418347B2 |
Integrated display of data metrics from different data sources
Systems and methods for are disclosed for providing integrated display of data metrics from different data sources. In some embodiments, an icon representing a de-limited data file can be positioned on a graphical interface that displays first metrics data for a first time period. An integration module can respond to the positioning of the icon by determining that the de-limited data file includes second metrics data for a second time period at least partially overlapping with the first time period. The integration module can update the graphical interface to display at least some of the second metrics data from the delimited data file with the first metrics data. The first metrics data and the second metrics data can be displayed for at least an overlapping portion between the first and second time periods. |
| US09418345B1 |
Self-service vending system for electric convenience vehicles
Systems and methods for self service vending of electric convenience vehicles (ECVs) are disclosed. Various embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein allow convenient rental of ECVs to visitors of large venues without requiring dedicated service personnel. In one embodiment, a self service vending system may include a charging station configured to charge an ECV, a locking mechanism configured to lock the ECV, and a terminal configured to process a reservation of the ECV and to provide a code for operating the ECV based on the reservation. In some embodiments, a self service vending system may include a docking station. Embodiments may further include a reservation management system. Computer systems implementing methods of self service vending of ECVs are also disclosed. |
| US09418344B2 |
In-store communication, service and data collection system
An apparatus and method to improve the handling of in-store customer requests for assistance, generate feedback and use data generated by customer requests for assistance. A customer input device, such as a placard, hand-held or cart carried mobile device, enables customers to request assistance and immediately and easily grade the assistance they receive. In one embodiment, the communication from such customer input device is automatically routed to individual(s) having responsibility for the department from which the customer's request for assistance has emanated. In other aspects, the response times, self expressed customer satisfaction scores and subsequent sales results are compiled and collated to improve customer service, and enable management to develop an appropriate reward or sanction system for sales employees. In still another embodiment, the customer request is associated with a musical chime or other identifying information that assists the customer representative in identifying the location of the customer. |
| US09418343B2 |
Multistage learner for efficiently boosting large datasets
Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems for using a multistage learner for efficiently boosting large datasets in a machine learning system. A method may include obtaining a first plurality of examples for a machine learning system and selecting a first point in time. Next, a second point in time occurring subsequent to the first point in time may be selected. The machine learning system may be trained using m of the first plurality of examples. Each of the m examples may include a feature initially occurring after the second point in time. In addition, the machine learning system may be trained using n of the first plurality of examples, and each of the n examples may include a feature initially occurring after the first point in time. |
| US09418341B1 |
Determining quality signals for electronic mail offer campaigns
A method for determining quality signals for offer campaigns comprises an offer system that receives information submitted by users, and analyzes it to learn features of each user and detect patterns. The offer system clusters the users, and transmits an offer to a limited number of users in each user cluster. It receives notification that a user interacted with the offer and determines a conversion rate for each cluster. If the conversion rate exceeds a pre-defined threshold, the offer system transmits the offer to the remaining users in the cluster. Alternatively, the features of the users are rendered into a multi-dimensional graph that plots the distribution of the users. The offer system marks a representation of each user that interacts with the offer on the graph to determine groupings of users. The offer system transmits the offer to the remaining users in each group. |
| US09418339B1 |
Systems and methods for time series analysis techniques utilizing count data sets
Systems and methods are included for adjusting a set of predicted future data points for a time series data set including a receiver for receiving a time series data set. One or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable storage mediums containing instructions may be utilized. A count series forecasting engine, utilizing the one or more processors, generates a set of counts corresponding to discrete values of the time series data set. An optimal discrete probability distribution for the set of counts is selected. A set of parameters are generated for the optimal discrete probability distribution. A statistical model is selected to generate a set of predicted future data points. The set of predicted future data points are adjusted using the generated set of parameters for the optimal discrete probability distribution in order to provide greater accuracy with respect to predictions of future data points. |
| US09418335B1 |
Method and apparatus for selecting links to include in a probabilistic generative model for text
A method may include receiving, at one or more processors, a current model. The current model may include a group of nodes representing words, at least one cluster of nodes representing related words, and a group of links. Each link may connect two nodes of the group of nodes. Each link may include a corresponding weight. The method may further include applying, by one or more processors, a set of training documents to the model to produce new weights for the group of links to create a new model; and making, by one or more processors, the new model the current model. |
| US09418332B2 |
Post ghost plasticity
Methods and apparatus are provided for inferring and accounting for missing post-synaptic events (e.g., a post-synaptic spike that is not associated with any pre-synaptic spikes) at an artificial neuron and adjusting spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) accordingly. One example method generally includes receiving, at an artificial neuron, a plurality of pre-synaptic spikes associated with a synapse, tracking a plurality of post-synaptic spikes output by the artificial neuron, and determining at least one of the post-synaptic spikes is associated with none of the plurality of pre-synaptic spikes. According to certain aspects, determining inferring missing post-synaptic events may be accomplished by using a flag, counter, or other variable that is updated on post-synaptic firings. If this post-ghost variable changes between pre-synaptic-triggered adjustments, then the artificial nervous system can determine there was a missing post-synaptic pairing. |
| US09418330B2 |
System and method for enhancing user accessibility in a virtual universe
A system and method to enhance user accessibility in a virtual universe and, in particular, to enhance user accessibility by providing information and/or actions to users participating in the virtual universe. The system comprises an assignment engine configured to assign an accessibility unit to an item within a virtual universe and a detection engine configured to detect a triggering event, which triggers the accessibility unit. The system also comprises an accessibility action engine configured to provide at least one of information and an action to a user when the accessibility unit is triggered. |
| US09418326B1 |
Enhanced quick response codes
A method for validating a quick response code includes steps or acts of: receiving a captured enhanced quick response code that included a static component and a dynamic component; validating the quick response code in the static component using the auxiliary data in the dynamic component; and returning a token when the quick response code is validated. |
| US09418324B2 |
Control device for controlling printing based on a first and second period
A control device functions as a print data acquisition unit which acquires print data including first page data, second page data, and third page data, and a print control unit which executes a print control using the print data to control a print execution section. The print control unit cancels the printing in response to a user instruction while the printing is performed. The print control includes a period control of controlling a first period from a start of printing using the first page data to a start of printing using the second page data and a second period from the start of printing using the second page data to a start of printing using the third page data, wherein the first period is determined by using a first delay period and longer than the second period. |
| US09418323B2 |
Ghosting compensation in relief images for directional prints
A method is provided for combining two source images in a relief image. Structural elements are applied that allow a first image to be observed in a first viewing direction and a second image in a second viewing direction. The method reduces a ghosting effect by a) printing a test relief image wherein the two source images comprise patches with a number of basic colors having a predefined amount of colorant; b) measuring for each patch an observed color in each of the viewing directions; c) scaling the source images such that an image element matches a size of a structural element in the relief image; d) selecting a structural element from the test relief image, wherefore the color differences between the image elements of the scaled source images and the patch color becomes minimal, and e) composing a relief image from the selected structural elements. |
| US09418316B1 |
Sharpness-based frame selection for OCR
A process for training and optimizing a system to select video frames for optical character recognition (OCR) based on feature metrics associated with blur and sharpness. A set of image frames are subjectively labelled based on a comparison of each frame before and after binarization to determine to what degree text is recognizable in the binary image. A plurality of different sharpness feature metrics are generated based on the original frame. A classifier is then trained using the feature metrics and the subjective labels. The feature metrics are then tested for accuracy and/or correlation with subjective labelling data. The set of feature metrics may be refined based on which metrics produce the best results. |
| US09418314B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method and control program thereof, and communication terminal and control method and control program thereof
A medical article and m-number of first local features which are respectively constituted by a feature vector of 1 dimension to i dimensions of m-number of feature points in an image of the medical article are stored in association with each other, n-number of feature points are extracted from an image in a captured video, n-number of second local features respectively constituted by a feature vector of 1 dimension to j dimensions are generated, a smaller number of dimensions among the number of dimensions i and the number of dimensions j is selected, and an existence of the medical article in the image in the video is recognized when it is determined that a prescribed ratio or more of the m-number of first local features up to the selected number of dimensions corresponds to the n-number of second local features up to the selected number of dimensions. |
| US09418313B2 |
Method for searching for a similar image in an image database based on a reference image
A method for extracting characteristic points from an image, includes extracting characteristic points from a first image, generating for each characteristic point a descriptor with several components describing an image region around the characteristic point, and comparing two by two the descriptors of the first image, the characteristic points whose descriptors have a proximity between them greater than an ambiguity threshold, being considered ambiguous. |
| US09418307B2 |
Method and apparatus for smoothing image
A method and apparatus for smoothing an image representing foreground or background. The method comprises: dividing the image in a specified granularity; for a block divided containing a blank pixel and a non-blank pixel, modifying a value of the blank pixel to a value obtained from a value of the non-blank pixel to obtain a filled block; obtaining the block smoothed by performing singular value decomposition on a matrix of pixels of the filled block, wherein values in the matrix of pixels of the block smoothed is calculated as a product of the obtained singular value, a left singular vector, and a transpose of a right singular vector; and for each of the non-blank pixels in the block smoothed, restoring the values of the non-blank pixels to initial values before the filling step, so as to obtain a reconstructed block. |
| US09418305B1 |
Segmentation free approach to automatic license plate recognition
A segmentation free method and system for automatic license plate recognition. An OCR classifier can be swept across an image of a license plate. Characters and their locations can be inferred with respect to the image of the license plate using probabilistic inference based on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). A language model can be combined with a license plate candidate from the HMM to infer the optimal or best license plate code. The language model can be configured by employing a corpus of license plate codes, wherein the corpus includes a distribution representative of training sets and tests sets. |
| US09418304B2 |
System and method for recognizing text information in object
A method for recognizing a text block in an object is disclosed. The text block includes a set of characters. A plurality of images of the object are captured and received. The object in the received images is then identified by extracting a pattern in one of the object images and comparing the extracted pattern with predetermined patterns. Further, a boundary of the object in each of the object images is detected and verified based on predetermined size information of the identified object. Text blocks in the object images are identified based on predetermined location information of the identified object. Interim sets of characters in the identified text blocks are generated based on format information of the identified object. Based on the interim sets of characters, a set of characters in the text block in the object is determined. |
| US09418292B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for restricting overlay of an augmentation
Methods and apparatuses are provided for restricting overlay of an augmentation. A method may include evaluating a feature space representation of an image for presence of a predefined feature pattern. The method may further include recognizing, based at least in part on the evaluating, that the predefined feature pattern is present in the feature space representation of the image. The method may additionally include, in response to recognizing that the predefined feature pattern is present in the feature space representation of the image, restricting overlay of an augmentation on a portion of the image corresponding to the recognized predefined feature pattern. Corresponding apparatuses are also provided. |
| US09418291B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
A pattern light projection unit which stores information on pattern light including information on line patterns projects pattern light including line patterns having at least two lines and at least one reference line pattern serving as a reference of the line patterns on an object in accordance with the information on pattern light. An image pickup unit captures an image of the object to which the pattern light is projected.An information processing apparatus detects the reference line pattern and the line patterns from the captured image, and establishes correspondence between the information on the line patterns stored in the pattern light projection unit and the line patterns detected from the captured image in accordance with the topological positional relationship between the detected reference line pattern and the line patterns so as to identify the line patterns. |
| US09418288B2 |
Golf club selection support apparatus and selection support method
A selection support apparatus acquires a plurality of types of characteristic data representing a swing characteristic of a testing golfer based on a test shot result of a golf club. The apparatus determines a swing type of the testing golfer out of swing types classified in advance based on at least one of the plurality of types of characteristic data. The apparatus calculates a recommended value for the testing golfer in association with a characteristic value that characterizes a component of a golf club based on at least one of the plurality of types of characteristic data. The apparatus selects, based on the swing type of the testing golfer, the recommended value, and component information representing a correspondence between components, the swing types, and the characteristic value, a recommended component from the components listed in the component information. |
| US09418287B2 |
Object detection apparatus
An object detection apparatus mounted in a system for detecting a target object in various changing environmental conditions. In the apparatus, an acquirer acquires either or both of information indicative of an external environment around the system and information indicative of an operating state of the system. A determiner determines an environmental condition with respect to an input image according to the acquired information. A setter sets, for each of plural image recognition methods each being a combination of one of the plural image recognition dictionaries and one of the plural image recognition techniques, a weighting factor according to the environmental condition determined by the determiner. A detector detects the object in the input image by applying each of the plural image recognition methods to the input image to obtain recognition results reflecting the weighting factors, and collectively evaluating the recognition results. |
| US09418281B2 |
Segmentation of overwritten online handwriting input
Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems for identifying a candidate character cut for an overwritten character. A method may include providing a handwriting input area. The handwriting input area may be divided into multiple sections and a first portion of the multiple sections may be located in an end point region. A first handwritten input comprising a first stroke that ends in a section located in the end point region may be received. A second handwritten input comprising a second stroke that begins in a section that is not located in the end point region may be received. As a result, a first candidate character cut may be identified between the first stroke and the second stroke. |
| US09418270B2 |
Terminal with flicker-corrected aimer and alternating illumination
An indicia reading terminal is disclosed that eliminates unwanted flickering effects in an illuminated screen reading mode, among other advantageous features. The indicia reading terminal, in response to a screen reading signal, is operative to activate a screen reading cycle. In the screen reading cycle, an imaging subsystem is activated at least once at the same time that an illumination subsystem is activated for one of a plurality of active illumination periods, for a first illuminated exposure period. The imaging subsystem is activated at least once while the illumination subsystem is not activated, for a first unilluminated exposure period, which is longer than the first illuminated exposure period. An aimer subsystem is activated for a plurality of active aimer periods when neither the imaging subsystem or the illumination subsystem is activated, wherein intervals of time between the active aimer periods are equal, within nominal tolerances. |
| US09418269B2 |
Laser scanning indicia reading terminal having variable lens assembly
There is described a laser scanning indicia reading terminal comprising a variable setting imaging lens having a first setting at which the terminal has a first plane of optimum focus and a second setting at which the terminal has a second plane of optimum focus. According to one embodiment a first predetermined scanning width can be associated to the first lens setting and a second scanning width can be associated to the second lens setting such that the terminal with the lens setting set to the first setting scans to a first width and with the lens setting set to a second setting scans to a second width. In addition to or in place of the scan width operational parameters different operational parameters can be associated to the respective first and second lens settings. |
| US09418261B2 |
Registering of a transponder tag via an alternating electromagnetic field
A transmitter circuit generates an electric source signal, and emits a corresponding alternating electromagnetic field. A receiver antenna registers the alternating electromagnetic field and any modifications thereof due the presence of a tag unit within a range of operation. The receiver antenna is arranged relative to the transmitter antenna and a potential tag unit, such that a portion of the emitted alternating electromagnetic field reaches the receiver antenna unmodified irrespective of whether or not a tag unit is present within the range of operation. A receiver circuit connected to the receiver antenna produces an electric detection signal in response to the alternating electromagnetic fields. Based on the electric detection signal, a processing unit discriminates identification data of any tag unit having modified the alternating electromagnetic field by utilizing an aiding signal component originating from the unmodified portion of the alternating electromagnetic field. |
| US09418257B2 |
Offline mode for tag transmission reports
Methods and systems for forwarding tag transmission reports are provided. A mobile device may receive a wireless transmission from a tag and store data received from the tag, a location of the mobile communication terminal and a timestamp of the wireless transmission. The storing may be performed while the mobile device is in an application offline mode with respect to communication with a server that receives the data, location and timestamp. Tag data, the location and the timestamp may be sent in a tag transmission report to another computing device responsive to a determination by the mobile device that the other computing device is in an application online mode capable of presently communication with the server. The online computing device may send the tag transmission report from the offline mobile device to the server. |
| US09418254B2 |
Integrated circuit film and method for manipulating the same
An integrated circuit film comprising a circuit board and a control circuit is provided. The circuit board has an IC-installation part and a contact part and having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The contact part comprises a first set of pads and a second set of pads. The first set of pads are located on the first surface for communicating with an electrical communication device. The second set of pads are located on the second surface for communicating with a smart card. The control circuit is mounted on the IC-installation part for communicating with the electrical communication device through one of the first set of pads configured in accordance with a single wire protocol (SWP), a communication protocol. |
| US09418253B2 |
Transponder unit, system and method for contactless data transmission
In various embodiments, a transponder unit for the contactless transmission of modulated data to a reader is provided. The transponder unit may include: a clock generator configured to generate a clock signal and to synchronize the clock signal in a synchronization mode, on the basis of a signal received from the reader; and a modulator configured to take the clock signal from the clock generator as a basis for modulating data; wherein the modulator is configured to send a signal for starting the synchronization mode to the clock generator. |
| US09418250B2 |
Tamper detector with hardware-based random number generator
A system includes a tamper detector that includes a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) for generating pseudorandom coded detection signals as a function of seed values and a generator polynomial. The generator polynomial is loaded from a controller to the LFSR via software, and the seed values are directly loaded from a hardware-based random number generator to the LFSR. The tamper detector has output and input elements for connection to ends of a tamper detection circuit, wherein the detection circuit is linked with a physical closure surrounding an electronic circuit. The detection signals are applied to the output element and incoming signals are received from the tamper detection circuit at a comparator via the input element. Comparison of the incoming signals with the coded detection signals is performed to detect interference with the detection circuit in an attempt to tamper with the electronic circuit. |
| US09418248B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and method
An image forming apparatus is connectable to an external storage device and includes an authentication data generating section and a writing section. Upon occurrence of a prescribed event, the authentication data generating section generates authentication data and transmits the generated authentication data to a server. Once the external storage device is connected, the writing section obtains first data relating the event according to whether or not the authentication data transmitted to the server is stored in the external storage device and writes the obtained first data into the external storage device. |
| US09418239B2 |
File access using counter locking mechanism
In an embodiment, a method is provided for accessing a file node. In this method, a file access request specifying a file node to be accessed by way of a file system is received at a server from a client device. A counter is referenced to identify that the file node is being accessed in response to a different file access request. The counter is configured to track whether the file node is being accessed. The file node is provided to the client device when the counter indicates a termination of access to the file node resulting from the different file access request. |
| US09418238B2 |
Search system, search method of search system, and information processing device
A searchable encryption resistant to frequency analysis. A conversion rule management device generates a conversion rule table associating a search keyword with a conversion keyword group. Based on the conversion rule table, a data registration device generates registration data associating encrypted data with an encrypted keyword, and registers the registration data in a server device. An information processing device obtains from the conversion rule table a conversion keyword group associated with a specified search keyword, generates an encrypted keyword group, and requests a data search by specifying the encrypted keyword group. Using as a search key an encrypted keyword included in the encrypted keyword group, the server device searches for encrypted data associated with the search key, and returns searched encrypted data. The information processing device decrypts the searched encrypted data, and outputs as a search result search data obtained by decryption. |
| US09418235B2 |
Hierarchical pre-fetch pipelining in a hybrid memory server
A method, hybrid server system, and computer program product, prefetch data. A set of prefetch requests associated with one or more given datasets residing on the server system are received from a set of accelerator systems. A set of data is prefetched from a memory system residing at the server system for at least one prefetch request in the set of prefetch requests. The set of data satisfies the at least one prefetch request. The set of data that has been prefetched is sent to at least one accelerator system, in the set of accelerator systems, associated with the at least one prefetch request. |
| US09418234B2 |
Providing isolated entropy elements
Embodiments of the invention relate to providing isolated entropy elements for a virtual machine to increase entropy in a computing environment. At least one virtual machine is deployed on a hypervisor. The hypervisor generates entropy elements based on triggers related to a virtual machine. Identifiers are assigned to the entropy elements based on the triggers and the virtual machine. Use of the entropy elements is restricted for the virtual machine based on the assigned identifiers. The increase in entropy through providing isolated entropy elements for a virtual machine deployed on a hypervisor reduces the success of external attacks on data residing within the computing environment. |
| US09418233B2 |
Information processing device for handling privacy information, information processing system for handling privacy information, and information processing method and program for handling privacy information
An information processing device for handling privacy information includes: a similar user extraction means for extracting a set of other user's identifiers that is similar to a user identifier inputted by a user when a conflict takes place between a policy inputted by a user, who is a privacy information holder, and a policy of services that is already set for each of service providers, who is a privacy information user; and a policy recommendation means for acquiring a set of policies based on the set of extracted user identifiers and a service identifier inputted by the user and outputting thereof. |
| US09418225B2 |
Transmitting device and method of overlaying signals with the device
A transmitting device that transmits data signals into a primary electricity grid, wherein the transmitting device connects to a power input of a computer system and overlays signals returned by the computer system into the primary electricity grid by modulating random data signals onto a line connected to the power input of the computer system. |
| US09418220B1 |
Controlling access to memory using a controller that performs cryptographic functions
A system includes a memory and a controller. The controller controls access to the memory and is adapted to be programmed with a key that is associated with a context. The controller is adapted to, in response to a request to access the memory, perform a cryptographic function on data associated with the request based on the key. |
| US09418217B2 |
Information processing system and information processing method
An information processing system includes a device registration unit that stores device identification information of a device in a first storage unit in response to a device identification information registration request, a generation unit that generates user identification information of an unspecified user of the device, an authentication unit that performs authentication in response to an authentication request from the device and associates user identification information of a specified user specified in the authentication request with the device when the authentication performed in response to the authentication request is successful, and a processing unit that executes a process according to the user identification information associated with the device in response to a request from the device that has been successfully authenticated. Upon receiving an authentication request that does not specify user identification information, the authentication unit associates the user identification information generated by the generation unit with the device. |
| US09418215B2 |
Optical security enhancement device
An optical security device can be used to view sensitive information provided in an obscured format via a potentially untrusted and/or compromised computer. The techniques described herein enable use of untrusted computers for access to sensitive information. The optical security device employs one or more forms of visual cryptography such as spatial cryptography and/or temporal cryptography in some instances via a programmable mask and/or a programmable color filter to reveal sensitive information that is provided in an obscured form by a potentially untrusted computer. |
| US09418211B2 |
Electronic device and method of transmitting content item
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a content transmitter. The content transmitter is configured to output a content item including first data and second data to one transmission path, by applying a first copyright protection system to copyright protection of the first data and applying a second copyright protection system to copyright protection of the second data. The first copyright protection system involves encryption of data to be copyright-protected. The second copyright protection system involves no encryption of data to be copyright-protected. |
| US09418210B2 |
Systems and methods for managing and protecting electronic content and applications
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing and protecting electronic content and applications. Applications, content, and/or users can be given credentials by one or more credentialing authorities upon satisfaction of a set of requirements. Rights management software/hardware is used to attach and detect these credentials, and to enforce rules that indicate how content and applications may be used if certain credentials are present or absent. In one embodiment an application may condition access to a piece of electronic content upon the content's possession of a credential from a first entity, while the content may condition access upon the application's possession of a credential from a second entity and/or the user's possession of a credential from a third entity. Use of credentials in this manner enables a wide variety of relatively complex and flexible control arrangements to be put in place and enforced with relatively simple rights management technology. |
| US09418209B2 |
Systems and methods for manipulating sensitive information in a secure mobile environment
Methods and devices for protecting and manipulating sensitive information in a secure mobile environment are disclosed. Methods and devices for processing secure transactions and secure media processing up to rendering in human readable form using abstract partitioning between non-secure and secure environments are disclosed. |
| US09418206B2 |
Method and apparatus for preparing a medicinal substance
Provided are a system and method for presenting information related to a drug dilution. A computer memory stores a drug database with a plurality of drug entries, each of which includes an identification and concentration of a drug stored in an originating container. A reader is operable to read a barcode associated with the drug identifier of the originating drug container and the concentration and/or dose and volume of the drug in the container. A user selects or enters a desired drug preparation that may include one or more preparations of the originating drug requested for administration to a patient. A computer processor interprets the concentrate signal, identifies the concentration of the originating drug based on content included in the drug database, and determines a recipe to be presented to the user for preparing the drug including any required dilutions. |
| US09418204B2 |
Bioinformatics system architecture with data and process integration
A bioinformatics system and method is provided for integrated processing of biological data. According to one embodiment, the invention provides an interlocking series of target identification, target validation, lead identification, and lead optimization modules in a discovery platform oriented around specific components of the drug discovery process. The discovery platform of the invention utilizes genomic, proteomic, and other biological data stored in structured as well as unstructured databases. According to another embodiment, the invention provides overall platform/architecture with integration approach for searching and processing the data stored in the structured as well as unstructured databases. According to another embodiment, the invention provides a user interface, affording users the ability to access and process tasks for the drug discovery process. |
| US09418203B2 |
Systems and methods for genomic variant annotation
A system for annotating genomic variant files includes an application server, an annotation database, a genomic database, and an annotation processing computer system. The genomic database may be graph-oriented. The annotation processing computer system processes can process variant files in batch modes and includes annotation modules designed to improve the speed of the annotation process. The batch modes may include batch transmission, and/or batch annotation. |
| US09418201B1 |
Integration of functional analysis and common path pessimism removal in static timing analysis
A method, system, and computer program product to integrate functional analysis and common path pessimism removal (CPPR) in static timing analysis include determining initial path slack for a path for a given timing analysis test. The method also includes comparing the initial path slack with a threshold value to determine if the path passes or fails the given timing analysis test, and based on the path failing the given timing analysis test, performing the functional analysis on the path only based on performing the CPPR on the path, or performing the CPPR on the path only based on a result of performing the functional analysis on the path. |
| US09418199B2 |
Method and apparatus for extracting systematic defects
The present disclosure provides a method of systematic defect extraction. Primary and secondary areas are defined in a wafer layout. A plurality of defects is identified by a first wafer inspection for an outside-process-window wafer. Defects located in the secondary area are removed. Defects associated with non-critical semiconductor features are also removed via a grouping process. Sensitive regions are defined around defects associated with critical semiconductor features. A second inspection is then performed on the sensitive regions for an inside-process-window wafer, thereby identifying a plurality of potentially systematic defects. Thereafter, a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) process is performed to determine whether the defects in the sensitive regions of the inside-process-window wafer are true systematic defects. |
| US09418198B1 |
Method for calculating an effect on timing of moving a pin from an edge to an inboard position in processing large block synthesis (LBS)
A computer-implemented method for calculating an effect on timing of moving a pin from an edge position to an inboard position in processing large block synthesis (LBS). The method includes determining first timing details at the inboard position, based on internal wire segments between a signal source and the inboard position. The method further includes selecting an upper metal layer as a virtual wire between the edge position and the inboard position. The method further includes calculating capacitance and resistance of the virtual wire. The method further includes updating driver strength of a driver between the signal source and the inboard position. The method further includes determining second timing details at the inboard position, based on wire loads of the virtual wire. The method further includes modifying an assertion of the pin at the inboard position, based on the first timing details and the second timing details. |
| US09418194B2 |
Method and apparatus for model based flexible MRC
Described herein is a method of processing a pattern layout for a lithographic process, the method comprising: identifying a feature from a plurality of features of the layout, the feature violating a pattern layout requirement; and reconfiguring the feature, wherein the reconfigured feature still violates the pattern layout requirement, the reconfiguring including evaluating a cost function that measures a lithographic metric affected by a change to the feature and a parameter characteristic of relaxation of the pattern layout requirement. |
| US09418188B1 |
Optimizing placement of circuit resources using a globally accessible placement memory
A method, executed by one or more processors, for optimizing placement of a logic network, includes partitioning a logic network into a set of logic partitions, launching a set of placement optimization threads that correspond to the logic partitions, and allocating memory that is accessible to the placement optimization threads to provide a globally accessible placement memory for reserving placement locations on the integrated circuit. Each placement optimization thread may be configured to conduct the operations of determining a desired location for a logic element, reserving a set of potential locations for the logic element, determining a best location from the set of potential locations, and placing the logic element to the best location. Each placement optimization thread may also be configured to release each of the potential locations that are not the best location. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed herein. |
| US09418187B2 |
Cycle-accurate replay and debugging of running FPGA systems
As described herein, a tool records a log (or trace) of all sources of non-determinism in the system. In most of the cases, it's enough to log all transitions and the exact timestamps at all the entry and exit points of the system. By using this information it is possible to recreate a cycle accurate execution of the hardware system in simulation. Unlike CHIPSCOPE and SIGNALTAP which let you monitor a small number of signals in the design, the tool provides visibility into the whole system. |
| US09418186B2 |
Assessment of solute partitioning in crude oils
Partition coefficients for solutes in solvent-water systems are estimated based on corresponding values for the octanol-water system. The estimation of the partition coefficient includes correction factors based on the nature of the solute and the solvent. Petroleum fractions are an example of a suitable solvent for which a partition coefficient can be estimated, although other types of solvents can be used in developing a model for use in the estimation. |
| US09418182B2 |
Systems and methods for building axes, co-axes and paleo-geographic coordinates related to a stratified geological volume
A method and system for modeling a subsurface structure at a time when the structure was originally formed. A first model having non-planar horizons representing a current subsurface structure may be used to calculate a vector field based on the non-planar geometry of the horizons of the model. The vector field may be non-uniform or uniform. Geographic coordinates of the first model may be transformed to paleo-geographic coordinates of a model representing the subsurface structure in the past, where the non-planar horizons in the first model are transformed to planar horizons in the second model. A set of points describing one or more fractures in the subsurface structure may be used to calculate a tuning parameter to correct a first set of paleo-geographic coordinates. A second set of coordinates representing an improved prediction at a time period when the subsurface structure was originally formed may be generated. |
| US09418181B2 |
Simulated input/output devices
In one or more embodiments, methods and apparatus are provided for simulating device communications such as those of the Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) or the like. The methods and apparatus involve receiving host requests that represent commands in a communication protocol and are associated with communication endpoints, distributing the host requests across the communication endpoints in the order that they are received, to their associated endpoints to generate a distribution of requests, generating a reordered plurality of host requests by selecting the host requests from the communication endpoints in an order based upon the order in which the requests are received and one or more simulation factors, receiving device requests from a simulated device in accordance with the communication protocol, merging the reordered host requests and the plurality of device requests to form a merged sequence of requests, and performing commands from the merged sequence of requests in the order. |
| US09418180B2 |
Method and system for parallel multilevel simulation
Exemplary embodiments of the present techniques provide methods and systems for coarsening a computational mesh, for example, for use in a reservoir simulation. An exemplary method of performing a reservoir simulation, includes generating a data representation in a storage system, wherein the data representation includes an interconnection weight that represents the magnitude of an interconnection between each of a number of computational cells in a computational mesh. A threshold value is compared to each interconnection weight and any interconnection weight that is equal to or less than the threshold value is set to zero. |
| US09418179B2 |
System and method for predicting transient cooling performance for data center
A system and method is provided for evaluating the transient cooling performance of a data center. In one version, the method includes receiving input data from a storage device, the input data including data center architecture information and operating data, performing transient cooling performance calculations for the data center using the input data, and displaying results of the transient cooling performance calculations, wherein the results include at least one of a cooling runtime and a maximum predicted temperature of the data center following a power outage of the data center. |
| US09418177B1 |
Disambiguation of a spoken query term
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for processing spoken query terms. In one aspect, a method includes performing speech recognition on an audio signal to select two or more textual, candidate transcriptions that match a spoken query term, and to establish a speech recognition confidence value for each candidate transcription, obtaining a search history for a user who spoke the spoken query term, where the search history references one or more past search queries that have been submitted by the user, generating one or more n-grams from each candidate transcription, where each n-gram is a subsequence of n phonemes, syllables, letters, characters, words or terms from a respective candidate transcription, and determining, for each n-gram, a frequency with which the n-gram occurs in the past search queries, and a weighting value that is based on the respective frequency. |
| US09418172B2 |
Systems and methods for remote tracking and replay of user interaction with a webpage
Systems and methods for monitoring user interaction with a remote computer are provided. More specifically, the systems and methods of the present invention allow for the remote tracking and replay of user interaction with a remote computer or webpage. One aspect of the invention allows user interaction data to be replayed on an embedded browser on a replay server. The replayed user interaction data may be converted to a video file to facilitate playback of the interaction data substantially independent of the replay server. |
| US09418171B2 |
Acceleration of rendering of web-based content
Systems and methods for hardware accelerated presentation of web pages on mobile computing devices are presented. A plurality of web pages may be received by a computing device capable of processing and displaying web pages using layout engines, hardware accelerated graphics application programming interfaces (APIs). Upon receipt of the web pages, the web pages may be divided into a plurality of rendering layers, based upon stylesheets of the web pages. An algorithm walks through rendering layers so as to select a plurality of layers that may receive compositing layers so as to take advantage of hardware acceleration when rendered. The web pages may be subsequently presented on a display of the mobile computing devices using remaining rendering layers and compositing layers. In this manner, visual representation of web content remains intact even when content which may not have been originally designed for use with layout engine may be displayed. |
| US09418170B2 |
Creating rules for use in third-party tag management systems
Methods and system allow for creating rules for a tag management system. One or more implementations create rules for a tag management system can include crawling a page of a website. Additionally, one or more implementations identify the configuration of each of the tags implemented within the page. Further, one or implementations generate one or more rules that enable a tag management system to recreate the configuration of one or more tags implemented within the page. Further still, one or more implementations export the generated one or more rules to a tag management system. |
| US09418166B2 |
Creation of structural diagram of web site based on both physical links and semantic links of web pages of web site
A structural diagram for a web site based on both the physical links and the semantic links of the web pages of the web site is created by determining the physical links among the web pages of the web site and the semantic links among the web pages. The physical links and the semantic links among web the pages are combined to yield the structural diagram of the web site. The physical links can be defined by the hyperlinks among the web pages. The semantic links can be defined by a directory structure of the directories within which the web pages are stored. |
| US09418163B2 |
Shared geo-located objects
A method of reviewing geo-coded information at a geographic information system is disclosed. The method may include receiving information identifying a geo-located object from a submitter of the object, receiving information identifying the location of the geo-located object from the submitter, and receiving a request from a user of the geographic information system for one or more geo-located objects that includes the submitted geo-located object, and transmitting information for permitting display of the geo-located object to the user of the geographic information system. |
| US09418162B2 |
Content filtering for personal productivity applications
A set of context profiles containing profile content rules for filtering which content within a set of personal productivity applications (such as e-mail, chat, calendar, and contacts applications) is accessible by a user. Content rules support filtering content by, for example, content originator, and/or subject matter. The context profiles are centrally maintained for control of integrated, non-integrated, and/or independently administered personal productivity applications. |
| US09418161B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method and program
An information processing device may include a control unit to control movement of an image related to content within a predetermined area of a display, and a display format of the image based on at least one of a category of the content to which the image is related or meta-information corresponding to the content to which the image is related. |
| US09418159B2 |
Search controls using sliders and lightboxes
Code is injected into a web page loaded by an Internet browsing application. A search control to accept Internet search input is presented within an Internet browsing application. The search control visually covers at least a portion of a content display area of the Internet browsing application. A slider search control may be presented by automatically sliding the slider search control into the content display area. The presentation of a lightbox search control may include shading, darkening, dimming, blurring, or opaquing the content display area outside of the lightbox search control. The presentation of the search control may occur in response to a period of user inactivity, an amount of page scrolling, or a percentage of page scrolling. The search control receives input corresponding to a search query, a tracking code is combined with the received input, and the combination is communicated to a search engine. |
| US09418157B2 |
Mapping system for not provided keyword in secure search
A keyword estimation process and tool provides data for on-line visits to websites within a secure search environment. Blocks having probability mass functions are created to build a base using data from sources. The blocks include categories for keywords. Using an algorithm, the keywords for a target number of visits and other metrics may be estimated. |
| US09418156B2 |
Providing local data with search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing local data with search results. One of the methods includes obtaining a plurality of documents responsive to a query; determining that a first document of the plurality of documents is associated with at least one business; determining that the first document is a candidate local document in response to the determining; in response to determining that the first document is a candidate local document, verifying that the first document is a local document, the verifying based on one or more second documents of the plurality of documents; and in response to verifying that the first document is a local document, providing local data associated with the first document. |
| US09418148B2 |
System and method to label unlabeled data
An embodiment of the invention provides a technique for permitting a machine to discover classes and topics that data contains and to annotate data objects with those identified classes. The technique enables machines to group and annotate data objects in ways that are meaningful and intuitive for a user of the data objects. An interactive method uses clustering, along with feedback from a user on the clustering output, to discover a set of classes. The feedback from the user is used to guide the clustering process in the later stages, which results in better and better discovery of classes and annotations with more and more human feedback. A method can be used to produce labeled data that involves discovering classes and annotating a given dataset with the discovered class labels. This is advantageous for building a classifier that has wide applications, such as call routing and intent discovery. |
| US09418143B2 |
Dynamic language model
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for speech recognition. One of the methods includes receiving a base language model for speech recognition including a first word sequence having a base probability value; receiving a voice search query associated with a query context; determining that a customized language model is to be used when the query context satisfies one or more criteria associated with the customized language model; obtaining the customized language model, the customized language model including the first word sequence having an adjusted probability value being the base probability value adjusted according to the query context; and converting the voice search query to a text search query based on one or more probabilities, each of the probabilities corresponding to a word sequence in a group of one or more word sequences, the group including the first word sequence having the adjusted probability value. |
| US09418138B2 |
Method and system for determining sets of variant items
Various embodiments of a method and system for determining sets of variant items are described. Various embodiments may include a system configured to generate multiple item pairs each corresponding to a particular item and another item determined to be similar to the particular item. For the particular item and the other item, each item pair may include a respective sequence of text strings (e.g., a title). For each item pair, the system may perform a corresponding text alignment and determine one or more misalignments of the item pair. The system may also assign a similarity score to each item pair; the similarity score may be dependent on the misalignment(s) determined for the particular item pair. Based on each aligned item pair and the similarity score assigned to that aligned item pair, the system may generate an indication specifying that each of a set of items are variants of each other. |
| US09418137B2 |
Database without structured query language
A database system uses an iterative set to store data and relationships among the data in a parallel manner. Unlike a relational database, which is limited to representing two-dimensional relationships (i.e., relationships between pairs of tables), the database system of the present invention may represent N-dimensional relations in a three-dimensional coordinate system. Furthermore, the database system of the present invention may store all database data in a single iterative set, without the need to use multiple tables. As a result of the manner in which data and relationships among data are stored by embodiments of the present invention, embodiments of the present invention may be used to search the database without the need to formulate queries in a formal query language such as SQL. |
| US09418132B2 |
System for an open architecture deployment with centralized synchronization
One aspect of the preferred embodiment relates to an application framework for managing mobile clients and application programs. By utilizing the preferred embodiment, a system administrator may be provided the capability to manage and control multiple devices, directly and indirectly, using push (server-initiated) and/or pull (client-initiated) techniques from a single location. Additionally, the preferred embodiment may be utilized to back up and securely store information on the mobile clients, identify device usage and to deliver files and databases to the mobile clients. |
| US09418131B1 |
Synchronization of volumes
In one aspect, a method to synchronize volumes includes comparing a first root hash of a root hash node in a first hash tree of a first volume with a second root hash of a second root hash node in a second hash tree of a second volume, for each child node of the first root hash node, comparing a hash of the child node with a hash of a corresponding node in the second hash tree if the first root hash and the second hash are not the same, for each hash in the first hash tree that does not match the corresponding hash in the second hash tree, determining if its node is a leaf node and copying the corresponding data block of the first volume to the corresponding data block of the second volume if a node is determined to be a leaf node. |
| US09418120B2 |
Method and system for optimizing the arrangement of spatial elements
In a data visualization system, a method of analysing and representing spatial data sets to optimize the arrangement of spatial elements, the method including the steps of: retrieving data from a data storage module that is in communication with the data visualization system, determining lift values for a plurality of predefined spatial areas from the retrieved data based on a set of fuzzy association rules applied to the predefined spatial areas, determining spatial performance values for the predefined spatial areas, and calculating a weighted spatial relationship between the determined lift values and spatial performance values. |
| US09418115B2 |
Location-based mobile services and applications
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for performing a location-based search from a mobile device in a given location including an imaging sensor configured to capture a signal broadcast from a light source and a processor in communication with the imaging sensor configured to receive the signal from the imaging sensor, demodulate the signal to determine an identifier associated with the light source, receive a search query from a mobile device user requesting information relevant to the location of the mobile device, transmit the identifier and the search query to a search service, and in response to the transmission comprising the identifier and the search query, receive the information relevant to the location of the mobile device. |
| US09418114B1 |
Augmenting a content item using search results content
Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for providing content. A query is received. Search results are identified that are responsive to the query. A content item is identified for presentation along with the search results. It is determined, based on one or more criteria, when the content item is to be augmented. When it is determined that the content item is to be augmented and after identifying the search results, the content item is augmented based at least in part on an entry in the search result. An augmented content item is created. The augmented content item is provided. |
| US09418113B2 |
Value based windows on relations in continuous data streams
Techniques for managing value-based windows on relations are provided. In some examples, an input relation is generated. The input relation is a bounded set of data records related to an application. A continuous query that identifies the input relation may be received. Additionally, a configurable window operator associated with processing the input relation may be identified. Then, the continuous query may be executed based at least in part on the configurable window operator to generate an output relation. Further, in some instances, the data records of the output relation may be provided based at least in part on execution of the continuous query. |
| US09418112B1 |
System and method for alternate key detection
The system and method of analyzing record uniqueness allows for the optimized delivery of patient data to researchers while maintaining the requirements of HIPAA regulations and other privacy policies. The system and method analyze the data set for redundant data and then tests the data for uniqueness from single factors through a defined multiple of factors. The system further enables a threshold of uniqueness to be set enabling additional privacy protection by identifying records that are nearly unique. |
| US09418110B1 |
Intelligent, scalable, low-overhead mechanism for data retrieval in a distributed network environment
Techniques disclosed herein describe a data retrieval process for storing management data from a network environment using an efficient polling-based approach without sacrificing the real-time aspect of data retrieval that a push model provides. The process is highly scalable and reliable, and is useful in Network Address Translation (NAT) environments because the number of holes in a NAT firewall is minimized. The data retrieval component uses intelligent polling to retrieve data and store the data in a central database without overloading the system. A data retrieval component polls a data collection agent for a dataset. The data collection agent transfers the data set and a poll indication of when a subsequent data set will be ready for transfer. Subsequent polling is based on a processor load at a data retrieval component. |
| US09418109B2 |
Memory quota
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for processing queries, comprising analyzing a query tree, determining at least one operator based on the query tree analysis, assigning a memory allocation for each of the at least one operator, and storing the assignment in a storage device. In some embodiments, a memory classification for each of the at least one operator is determined. In some embodiments, assigning a memory allocation for each of the at least one operator includes assigning a memory allocation based on the memory classification. |
| US09418106B1 |
Joining operations in document oriented databases
An approach for joining operations on document-oriented databases. The approach consists of receiving database identifiers, common attributes and results attributes for core and target databases being joined. Common attributes are searched for in the databases. The searches performed include string, expansive, character and nested. Common attribute join conflicts are identified and input is received to resolve attribute join conflicts. Resolved join conflicts are updated in a join substitution database for subsequent use and joined data results are output to virtual table(s). |
| US09418102B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, information processing device program, and recording medium
A pair search word, which is obtained by forming a pair of a preceding search word and a subsequent search word in the search times, is generated in accordance with an order of the search times, from search words in which intervals between the search times associated with the identical user specifying information are within a predetermined time, with reference to a search word memory means which stores the search words. A first appearance count of a pair search word among generated pair search words is calculated, a second appearance count of a reverse order pair search word obtained by reversing an order of a search time of the specific pair search word is calculated, and, when a magnitude relationship between the first appearance count and the second appearance account satisfies predetermined conditions, the preceding search word and the subsequent search word are stored as a thesaurus. |
| US09418099B2 |
Data improvement system and method
A data improvement system, including an initial database, a verification database, and a processing device in communication with the initial database and the verification database. The processing device receives data from the initial database and the verification database, and determines verification data based thereon. A track data improvement system and a track database improvement system are also disclosed. |
| US09418098B2 |
Method and system for verification of source data in pharmaceutical studies and other applications
A method and system are described for verifying database entries against corresponding source data collected at a plurality of geographically remote field locations. The invention provides for verification of field data in a manner that is quicker, less labor-intensive and less error-prone as compared with existing methods. The invention is particularly useful in the conduct of adaptive clinical trials of pharmaceutical products. |
| US09418094B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing multi-stage table updates
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates performing multi-stage table updates. During operation, the system receives a query at a query processor, wherein executing the query causes an update to an entire table in a database. Next, the system estimates an amount of transaction log space required to execute the query. If the amount of transaction log space is greater than a pre-determined threshold, the system splits the query into a set of sub-queries, wherein an amount of transaction log space required by each sub-query in the set of sub-queries is less than the pre-determined threshold. For each sub-query in the set of sub-queries, the system executes the sub-query, and performs a mini-commit operation for the sub-query, wherein updates which comprise the mini-commit operation are not exposed to a user. Finally, when mini-commit operations have been performed for all of the sub-queries, the system performs a commit operation for the query. |
| US09418093B2 |
System and method for scheduling and arbitrating events in computing and networking
A method for high-speed scheduling and arbitration of events for computing and networking is disclosed. The method includes the software and hardware implementation of a unique data structure, known as a pile, for scheduling and arbitration of events. According to the method, events are stored in loosely sorted order in piles, with the next event to be processed residing in the root node of the pile. The pipelining of the insertion and removal of events from the piles allows for simultaneous event removal and next event calculation. The method's inherent parallelisms thus allow for the automatic rescheduling of removed events for re-execution at a future time, also known as event swapping. The method executes in O(1) time. |
| US09418092B2 |
Index selection in a multi-system database management system
A system includes a multi-system database management system having a plurality of database systems. An index selection subsystem combines sets of query information from respective ones of the plurality of database systems into a workload. The index selection subsystem then generates candidate indexes from the workload, and selects recommended indexes from the candidate indexes based on one or more criteria. |
| US09418089B2 |
Merging of sorted lists using array pair
The formulation of a merged sorted list from multiple input sorted lists in multiple phases using an array pair. Initially, the first array is contiguously populated with the input sorted lists. In the first phase, the first and second input sorted lists are merged into a first intermediary merged list within the second array. Each subsequent phase merges a prior intermediary merged list resulting from the prior phase and, a next input sorted list in the first array to generate a next intermediary merged list, or a merged sorted list if there or no further input in the first array. The intermediary merged lists alternate between the first array and the second array from one phase to the next phase. |
| US09418087B2 |
Migrating information data into an application
A data classification module is configured to retrieve information from the repository and migrate the information into applications. The data classification module is configured to receive a request to migrate information and data from the repository into an application. The request can include the type of application and the type of information and data requested. The application can be an new application or an existing application. In order to locate information and data to migrate, the data classification module is configured to maintain rules that describe how the various applications maintain data and information. |
| US09418083B2 |
System for computerized evaluation of patent-related information
A computerized reference analysis tool utilizes a prior art reference collection process to create a relatively smaller set of relevant references, together with a computerized reference ranking engine that ranks the set of harvested references for relevance with respect to the entirety of a claim set for a patent or patent application. The results of the computerized reference analysis tool harvesting and ranking this smaller set of prior art references can be presented to a user as an aggregated relevance listing, together with a visually or graphically displayed representation of the relevance ranking of the prior art references relative to individual claims and/or to individual claim elements. |
| US09418081B2 |
Methods and systems for accessing remote user files associated with local resources
A system for accessing, by a resource, a setting in a virtualized user profile includes an isolation environment, a resource, and a filter driver. The resource executes outside an isolation environment on a local machine and requests access to a setting in a user profile. The filter driver intercepts the request for access and identifies one of the isolation environment and a remote machine, responsive to an application of a rule to the request. The filter driver redirects the request to the one of the isolation environment and the remote machine. A method includes intercepting an instruction from a resource to modify a setting on a local machine, the resource provided by a local machine and executing outside of an isolation environment. The method includes identifying the isolation environment, responsive to an application of a rule to the instruction. The method includes redirecting the instruction to the isolation environment. |
| US09418080B1 |
Method and system for mobile structured collection of data and images
The present invention is a method for improving functionality of a smart device to perform mobile structured collection and transformation of data includes instantiating an ATAK Session Object having multiple Session Object Attributes including a geo-specific location attribute having a geo-specific location attribute value. The method then updates the geo-specific location attribute of the ATAK Session Object to reflect a geo-specific location and links an Image Object with the ATAK Session Object to create a Linked ATAK Image Object. Next, the method instantiates an Observational Record Object (ORO) having an ORO attribute value reflecting an observation instance at the geo-specific location. Finally, the method creates a Linked ORO by linking the ORO with the Linked ATAK Image Object. The present invention also includes an apparatus and system for performing the above method. |
| US09418078B2 |
Dynamic identity matching in response to threat levels
A dynamic identity matching facility that enables an operator to determine the status of an individual based on identification information contained on an identification record provided by the individual. The operator scans the individual's identification information from the identification record using a scanning device. The facility decodes the scanned identification information and identifies a number of candidates based on the decoded identification information. For each identified candidate, the facility generates a candidate score. Based on the candidate score of each identified candidate, the facility selects a number of the identified candidates for display. The facility displays the selected candidates to the operator along with the candidate's criminal or other acts. |
| US09418075B2 |
Automatic meta-neighborhood and annotation generation for maps
A graphics or image rendering system, such as a map image rendering system, may mark areas of interest on a map based on metadata associated with one or more features of the map. Additional map features may be created to mark the areas of interest or styles of existing map features may be modified to mark the areas of interest. |
| US09418070B2 |
Revision control system and method
There is provided a file revision-control system, method and apparatus configured for storing and managing a revision history log, and for enabling to track and manage, compare and retrieve revisions including, current-revisions stored on a designated reference area, past-revisions stored in a predefined storage area and also past-revisions which were previously on a reference area. According to certain embodiments of the invention, each revision of a file is represented by a revision entry in a revision history log, which can be stored and managed in a designated data-repository. A revision entry stores data corresponding to at least one revision, while the revisions themselves may be stored on a designated data-repository. A progression path refers to one or more revision entries which represent the progression of a file over time. In case that a revision is branched into more than one revisions, each such revision will constitute a different progression path. |
| US09418069B2 |
Extensible system and method for information extraction in a data processing system
A data mashup system having information extraction capabilities for receiving multiple streams of textual data, at least one of which contains unstructured textual data. A repository stores annotators that describe how to analyze the streams of textual data for specified unstructured data components. The annotators are applied to the data streams to identify and extract the specified data components according to the annotators. The extracted data components are tagged to generate structured data components and the specified unstructured data components in the input data streams are replaced with the tagged data components. The system then combines the tagged data from the multiple streams to form a mashup output data stream. |
| US09418067B1 |
Systems and methods for metadata-based workflows for content creation and media distributions
A secure networked metadata-based workflow method and system, managed through core application logic and master database management system for picture, sound, and metadata acquisition, and ancillary production and post production data and metadata collection and creation, in the processes of motion picture production and post production file-based workflows; asset file management, asset file manipulation, asset file distribution, asset file archiving, remote creative and collaborative interchange, project administration, project reporting, and more, across multiple venues and platforms for efficient and simultaneous access to production data files, and master archive, in application to: remote project administration, dailies creation, project metadata tracking, post production ingest and processing, asset management and archive, distribution of executive review elements, and product finishing and archive, in 2D and 3D content creation, as examples. |
| US09418062B2 |
Method and system for situational language interpretation
A method and system for facilitating an interview where the interviewer and interviewee speak different languages is described. The system includes a speaker to output audio information, at least one interface to communicate with a display device, a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to determine an interviewee language from a plurality of languages, store collected data and data related to the determined interviewee language, receive a first interviewee information item and a second interviewee information item associated with a topic selection from an interviewer system. The instructions further include instructions to provide the first interviewee information item to the speaker for acoustic output in the interviewee language and to provide the second interviewee information item to the at least one interface to communicate with the display device. |
| US09418055B2 |
Method for copying multiple content between applications
A method for copying content from a first form to a second form may include selecting a plurality of fields in the first form. At least one of the plurality of fields in the first form may include the content to be copied. The method may include determining mapping between the selected fields and corresponding field labels in the first form. The method may include writing the content in the selected fields to corresponding fields in the second form. |
| US09418051B2 |
Methods and devices for extracting document structure
A method for extracting a document structure is disclosed. The method may include determining a position of reference information in a layout file, and extracting items related to the reference information from the determined position of the layout file. An apparatus for extracting a document structure is also disclosed. The apparatus may include a processor configured to determine a position of reference information in a layout file; and to extract items related to the reference information from the determined position of the layout file. The apparatus may further include a storage device configured to store the extracted items. |
| US09418050B1 |
Obtaining attribution information for representations
This disclosure describes systems and methods that enable attribution information to be obtained and associated with digital items, also referred as representations, as well as enable supplemental information to be associated with the representations. In some implementations, a user may request to use a representation and the system may determine that attribution information is to be obtained from a rights holder and/or provider of the representation. When the attribution information is obtained it is associated with the representation that is available for use by the user. |
| US09418048B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating shared storage areas to parallel processors for multiplication of sparse matrix and vector
An information processing apparatus assigns the calculation of a first submatrix included in a matrix including zero elements and non-zero elements to a first thread and the calculation of a second submatrix included in the matrix to a second thread. The information processing apparatus compares the distribution of non-zero elements in the rows or columns of the first submatrix with the distribution of non-zero elements in the rows or columns of the second submatrix. The information processing apparatus determines allocation of storage areas for storing vectors to be respectively used in the calculations by the first and second threads, according to the result of the comparison. |
| US09418046B2 |
Price-and-branch algorithm for mixed integer linear programming
A method includes forming a working mixed integer linear program (MILP) from a given MILP at least by choosing a subset of variables from the MILP, wherein the working MILP includes the chosen subset of variables but no other variables from the given MILP. The working MILP is solved to determine a solution. Using the solution, a special linear program is formed and solved to determine a price of each constraint relative to the solution. Using the prices, variables that are not in the working MILP are evaluated to determine any variables that can contribute to an improved solution. The variables evaluated as contributing to an improved solution are added to the working MILP. The working MILP with the added variables is solved. Apparatus and program products are also disclosed. |
| US09418045B2 |
Systems, apparatus and methods for quantifying and identifying diversion of electrical energy
Systems, apparatus and methods for quantifying and identifying diversion of electrical energy are provided. Bypass and tap diversions may be identified in an electric utility power distribution inventory zone having both bypass and tap diversions. Bypass diversion factors for consumer nodes in an inventory zone are determined by finding a solution to a system of load balance equations having slack variables representing aggregate tap loads for the inventory zone and in which consumer load profile data is scaled by the bypass diversion factors, which solution minimizes an objective function whose value is positively related to the sum of the slack variables representing the aggregate tap loads. Tap loads are correlated with nodes in an inventory zone by solving a first system of power flow equations not having variables representing tap loads, and then solving a second system of power flow equations having variables representing tap loads using an iterative numerical solution technique initialized based on the solution to the first system of power flow equations. |
| US09418041B2 |
Sample process ordering for DFT operations
Systems and method for reading data samples in reverse group order are described herein according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a method for reading data samples in a memory is provided, wherein the data samples correspond to an operand of a vector operation, the data samples are grouped into a plurality of different groups, and the different groups are spaced apart by a plurality of addresses in the memory. The method comprises reading the groups of data samples in reverse group order, and, for each group, reading the data samples in the group in forward order. |
| US09418036B2 |
Data terminal with a connection structure of USB interface
The present invention provides a data terminal with a connection structure of a universal serial bus (USB) interface. The structure includes: a USB interface, a guide rail element, an elastic element, and a limit element; a protrusion is disposed on at least one side of the USB interface; the guide rail element includes two vertical faces disposed opposite each other; the USB interface is located in an accommodating space formed by the two vertical faces; a guide rail is disposed on each vertical face in a hollow manner; the protrusion on the USB interface extends out of the accommodating space from the guide rail; and in the two vertical faces, a connection terminal is disposed on an outer side of at least a first vertical face. |
| US09418035B2 |
High performance interconnect physical layer
Re-initialization of a link can take place without termination of the link, where the link includes, a transmitter and a receiver are to be coupled to each lane in the number of lanes, and re-initialization of the link is to include transmission of a predefined sequence on each of the lanes. |
| US09418029B2 |
Memory system having a plurality of types of memory chips and a memory controller for controlling the memory chips
A memory controller converts controller output signals output from a controller into memory input signals according to the operation specifications of memory chips to operate, and outputs the resultant to the memory chips through a common bus. The memory controller also receives memory output signals output from the memory chips through the common bus, and converts the received signals into controller input signals receivable to the controller. This allows the single memory controller to access the plurality of types of memory chips. As a result, the memory controller can be reduced in chip size, lowering the cost of the memory system. |
| US09418027B2 |
Secure boot information with validation control data specifying a validation technique
Examples disclosed herein relate to secure boot information with validation control data specifying a validation technique. Examples include determining, with the specified validation technique, whether validation data is consistent with the secure boot information. |
| US09418021B2 |
Writing adjacent tracks to a stride, based on a comparison of a destaging of tracks to a defragmentation of the stride
Compressed data is maintained in a plurality of strides of a redundant array of independent disks, wherein a stride is configurable to store a plurality of tracks. A request is received to write one or more tracks. The one or more tracks are written to a selected stride of the plurality of strides, based on comparing the number of operations required to destage selected tracks from the selected stride to the number of operations required to defragment the compressed data in the selected stride. |
| US09418020B2 |
System and method for efficient cache utility curve construction and cache allocation
Interaction is evaluated between a computer system cache and at least one entity that submits a stream of references corresponding to location identifiers of data storage locations. The reference stream is spatially sampled by comparing a hash value of each reference with a threshold value and selecting only those references whose hash value meets a selection criterion. Cache utility values are then compiled for those references. In some embodiments, the compiled cache values may then be corrected for accuracy as a function of statistics of those location identifiers over the entire stream of references and of the sampled references whose hash values satisfied the selection criterion. Alternatively, a plurality of caching configurations is selected and the selected references are applied as inputs to a plurality of caching simulations, each corresponding to a different caching configuration. A resulting set of cache utility values is then computed for each caching simulation. |
| US09418015B2 |
Data storage within hybrid storage aggregate
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for storing data within a hybrid storage aggregate comprising a lower-latency storage tier and a higher-latency storage tier. In particular, frequently accessed data, randomly accessed data, and/or short lived data may be stored (e.g., read caching and/or write caching) within the lower-latency storage tier. Infrequently accessed data and/or sequentially accessed data may be stored within the higher-latency storage tier. Because the hybrid storage aggregate may comprise a single logical container derived from the higher-latency storage tier and the lower-latency storage tier, additional storage and/or file system functionality may be implemented across the storage tiers. For example, deduplication functionality, caching functionality, backup/restore functionality, and/or other functionality may be provided through a single file system (or other type of arrangement) and/or a cache map implemented within the hybrid storage aggregate. |
| US09418012B2 |
Cache manager for segmented multimedia and corresponding method for cache management
The invention concerns a cache manager (100) for managing the intermediate caching of segmented multimedia items. Multiple versions are available of each multimedia item, each version representing the multimedia item with a different quality. The cache manager (100) comprises control means (101, 102) to control the pre-fetching and eviction of segments. The control means (101, 102) are at least responsive to temporal and quality related inter-segment relationships (131). |
| US09418011B2 |
Region based technique for accurately predicting memory accesses
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor comprising a page tracker buffer (PTB), the PTB including a plurality of entries to store an address to a cache page and to store a signature to track an access to each cache line of the cache page, and a PTB handler, the PTB handler to load entries into the PTB and to update the signature. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US09418009B2 |
Inclusive and non-inclusive tracking of local cache lines to avoid near memory reads on cache line memory writes into a two level system memory
A processor may include a memory controller to interface with a system memory having a near memory and a far memory. The processor may include logic circuitry to cause memory controller to determine whether a write request is generated remotely or locally, and when the write request is generated remotely to instruct the memory controller to perform a read of near memory before performing a write, when the write request is generated locally and a cache line targeted by the write request is in the inclusive state to instruct the memory controller to perform the write without performing a read of near memory, and when the write request is generated locally and the cache line targeted by the write request is in the non-inclusive state to instruct the memory controller to read near memory before performing the write. |
| US09418006B2 |
Moving blocks of data between main memory and storage class memory
An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory. |
| US09418005B2 |
Managing garbage collection in a data processing system
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing garbage collection. Monitoring is performed for a garbage collection state in a virtual machine. Responsive to detecting the garbage collection state, a priority for a set of garbage collection threads is increased. |
| US09418004B1 |
JNI object access
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, system, and computer program product for a JNI object access system. A computer receives a JNI reference and obtains the pointer data and call site of the referenced object. The computer determines whether a record of the object and call site exist and, if not, the respective records are created. The computer applies a heuristic analysis of the object and call site in which it determines whether the object is larger than a threshold size, whether the object is part of a particular region of the heap, whether the call site is associated with a read-only or a read-write function, and whether the object or call site has caused more non-moving garbage collections than a threshold number. Based on the heuristic, the computer either copies the object data or pins the object and any non-moving garbage collections are recorded. |
| US09418002B1 |
Processing unit reclaiming requests in a solid state memory device
An apparatus and method for processing unit reclaiming requests in a solid state memory device. The present invention provides a method of managing a memory which includes a set of units. The method includes selecting a unit from the set of units having plurality of subunits. The method further includes determining a number of valid subunits m to be relocated from the units selected for a batch operation where m is at least 2. The selecting is carried out by a unit reclaiming process. |