| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09455226B2 |
Semiconductor device allowing metal layer routing formed directly under metal pad
The present invention provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises: a metal pad and a first specific metal layer routing. The metal pad is positioned on a first metal layer of the semiconductor device. The first specific metal layer routing is formed on a second metal layer of the semiconductor device, and directly under the metal pad. |
| US09455220B2 |
Apparatus and method for placing stressors on interconnects within an integrated circuit device to manage electromigration failures
A method for selecting locations within an integrated circuit device for placing stressors to manage electromigration failures includes calculating an electric current for an interconnect within the integrated circuit device and determining an electromigration stress profile for the interconnect based on the electric current. The method further includes determining an area on the interconnect for placing a stressor to alter the electromigration stress profile for the interconnect. |
| US09455217B2 |
Semiconductor package including multiple chips and separate groups of leads
Provided is a semiconductor package including multiple semiconductor chips, and separate groups of leads connected to the semiconductor chips. The leads are exposed to the outside of the semiconductor package. The plurality of leads may include a first lead group for a first chip group and a second lead group for a second chip group. The first and second chip groups are part of the package. |
| US09455211B2 |
Integrated fan-out structure with openings in buffer layer
A package includes a molding compound, a through-via penetrating through the molding compound, a device die molded in the molding compound, and a buffer layer on and contacting the molding compound. An opening is through the buffer layer to the through-via. The buffer layer has ripples in a plane parallel to an interface between the molding compound and the buffer layer and around a circumference of the opening. Other embodiments contemplate an additional package bonded to the package, and methods for forming the package. |
| US09455208B2 |
Semiconductor device
An insertion vertical electrode region and part of a case-contact horizontal electrode region of an electrode insertion part of an external electrode is inserted and molded in an intra-case insertion region of a housing case. Inserting the case-contact horizontal electrode region, which serves as part of the electrode insertion part, in the intra-case insertion region allows the upper and lower surfaces of the case-contact horizontal electrode region to be in contact with the intra-case insertion region. |
| US09455206B2 |
Overlay measuring method and system, and method of manufacturing semiconductor device using the same
An overlay measuring method includes irradiating an electron beam onto a sample, including a multi-layered structure of overlapped upper and lower patterns formed thereon, to obtain an actual image of the upper and lower patterns. A first image representing the upper pattern and a second image representing the lower pattern are obtained from the actual image. A reference position for the upper and lower patterns is determined from a design image of the upper and lower patterns. A position deviation of the upper pattern with respect to the reference position in the first image and a position deviation of the lower pattern with respect to the reference position in the second image are calculated to determine an overlay between the upper pattern and the lower pattern. |
| US09455204B1 |
10 nm alternative N/P doped fin for SSRW scheme
A method of introducing N/P dopants in PMOS and NMOS fins at the SSRW layer without complicated processing and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a plurality of p-type and n-type fins on a substrate, the plurality of p-type and n-type fins formed with an ISSG or pad oxide layer; performing an n-well implant into the substrate through the ISSG or pad oxide layer; performing a first SRPD on the ISSG or pad oxide layer of the plurality of p-type fins; performing a p-well implant into the substrate through the ISSG or pad oxide layer; performing a second SRPD on the ISSG or pad oxide layer of the plurality of n-type fins; and driving the n-well and p-well implants and the SRPD dopants into a portion of the plurality of p-type and n-type fins. |
| US09455203B2 |
Low threshold voltage CMOS device
A replacement metal gate process in which a high-k dielectric is applied. The high-k dielectric may be doped with lanthanum in an NMOS region or aluminum in a PMOS region. A dummy gate structure may be formed over the high-k dielectric and etched to form an opening over the NMOS region and an opening over the PMOS region. Thereafter, first work function metals are deposited in the NMOS opening and second work function metals are applied in the PMOS openings. A suitable gate electrode material may then fill the remainder of the NMOS and PMOS openings. |
| US09455201B2 |
Integration method for fabrication of metal gate based multiple threshold voltage devices and circuits
In one aspect there is set forth herein a semiconductor device having a first field effect transistor formed in a substrate structure, and a second field effect transistor formed in the substrate structure. The first field effect transistor can include a first substrate structure doping, a first gate stack, and a first threshold voltage. The second field effect transistor can include the first substrate structure doping, a second gate stack different from the first gate stack, and a second threshold voltage different from the first threshold voltage. |
| US09455200B2 |
Method for semiconductor device fabrication
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes receiving a substrate with a gate structure and forming a spacer layer over the substrate and the gate structure. The method further includes implanting carbon into the spacer layer at an angle tilted away from a first direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate, which increases etch resistance of the spacer layer on sidewalls of the gate structure. The method optionally includes implanting germanium into the spacer layer at the first direction, which decreases etch resistance of the spacer layer overlaying the gate structure and the substrate. The method further includes etching the spacer layer to expose the gate structure, resulting in a first portion of the spacer layer on the sidewalls of the gate structure. Due to increased etch resistance, the first portion of the spacer layer maintains its profile and thickness in subsequent fabrication processes. |
| US09455198B1 |
Methods of removing fins so as to form isolation structures on products that include FinFET semiconductor devices
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, removing at least one, but not all, of a plurality of first features in a first patterned mask layer so as to define a modified first patterned masking layer, wherein removed first feature(s) correspond to a location where a final isolation structure will be formed, performing an etching process though the modified first patterned masking layer to form an initial isolation trench in the substrate, and performing another etching process through the modified first patterned mask layer to thereby define a plurality of fin-formation trenches in the substrate and to extend a depth of the initial isolation trench so as to define a final isolation trench for the final isolation structure. |
| US09455195B2 |
Method of forming performance optimized gate structures by silicidizing lowered source and drain regions
A performance optimized CMOS FET structure and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming source and drain regions for a first type device and a second type device. The method further includes lowering the source and drain regions for the first type device, while protecting the source and drain regions for the second type device. The method further includes performing silicide processes to form silicide regions on the lowered source and drain regions for the first type device and the source and drain regions for the second type device. |
| US09455194B1 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region defined thereon; forming a material layer on the substrate; forming a plurality of first mandrels on the material layer of the first region and the second region; forming first spacers adjacent to the first mandrels; forming a hard mask on the first region; trimming the first spacers on the second region; removing the first mandrels; using the first spacers to remove part of the material layer for forming a plurality of second mandrels; forming second spacers adjacent to the second mandrels; removing the second mandrels; and using the second spacers to remove part of the substrate for forming a plurality of fin-shaped structures. |
| US09455193B2 |
Integrated circuit interposer and method of manufacturing the same
Systems and methods are provided for an interposer for coupling two or more integrated circuit dies to a circuit package. A first integrated circuit portion is disposed on a first location of a single semiconductor substrate. A second integrated circuit portion is disposed on a second location of the single semiconductor substrate, where the second integrated circuit portion is electrically isolated from the first integrated circuit portion along a first axis. The first and second integrated circuit portions are configured to provide an electrical coupling to two or more corresponding top die integrated circuits across a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. |
| US09455192B2 |
Kerf preparation for backside metallization
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes attaching a substrate to a carrier using an adhesive component and forming a through trench through the substrate to expose the adhesive component. At least a portion of the adhesive component is etched and a metal layer is formed over sidewalls of the through trench. |
| US09455191B2 |
Shielded coplanar line
In one embodiment there is disclosed a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit in a semiconductor substrate including through vias and a coplanar line, including the steps of: forming active components and a set of front metallization levels; simultaneously etching from the rear surface of the substrate a through via hole and a trench crossing the substrate through at least 50% of its height; coating with a conductive material the walls and the bottom of the hole and of the trench; and filling the hole and the trench with an insulating filling material; and forming a coplanar line extending on the rear surface of the substrate, in front of the trench and parallel thereto, so that the lateral conductors of the coplanar line are electrically connected to the conductive material coating the walls of the trench. |
| US09455188B2 |
Through silicon via device having low stress, thin film gaps and methods for forming the same
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to approaches for forming a semiconductor device such as a TSV device having a “buffer zone” or gap layer between the TSV and transistor(s). The gap layer is typically filled with a low stress, thin film fill material that controls stresses and crack formation on the devices. Further, the gap layer ensures a certain spatial distance between TSVs and transistors to reduce the adverse effects of temperature excursion. |
| US09455184B2 |
Aluminum interconnection apparatus
A method comprises depositing a first alloy layer over a substrate, depositing a metal layer over the first alloy layer, depositing a second alloy layer over the metal layer, patterning the first alloy layer, the metal layer and the second alloy layer to form a metal structure and depositing a dielectric layer over the metal structure through a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. |
| US09455181B2 |
Vias in porous substrates
A microelectronic unit can include a substrate having front and rear surfaces and active semiconductor devices therein, the substrate having a plurality of openings arranged in a symmetric or asymmetric distribution across an area of the rear surface, first and second conductive vias connected to first and second pads exposed at the front surface, pluralities of first and second conductive interconnects extending within respective ones of the openings, and first and second conductive contacts exposed for interconnection with an external element. The plurality of first conductive interconnects can be separated from the plurality of second conductive interconnects by at least one of the plurality of openings, the at least one opening at least partially filled with an insulating material. The distribution of the openings can include at least m openings spaced apart in a first direction and n openings spaced apart in a second direction transverse to the first direction. |
| US09455180B1 |
Controlled spalling of fine features
In one example, a method for fabricating a device includes patterning a substrate with a set of features forming a portion of the device, depositing a first photoresist layer on the substrate by a first deposition process, depositing a second photoresist layer on the first photoresist layer by a second deposition process, and inducing spalling of the features from the substrate, after depositing the second photoresist layer. |
| US09455177B1 |
Contact hole formation methods
Methods of forming contact holes comprising: (a) providing a substrate comprising a plurality of post patterns over a layer to be patterned; (b) forming a hardmask layer over the post patterns and the layer to be patterned; (c) coating a pattern treatment composition over the hardmask layer, wherein the pattern treatment composition comprises a polymer comprising a reactive surface attachment group and a solvent; and optionally baking the substrate; wherein the polymer becomes bonded to the hardmask layer to form a polymer layer over the hardmask layer; and (d) treating the substrate with a rinsing agent comprising a solvent to remove residual, unbound said polymer, thereby forming a first hole disposed between a plurality of surrounding post patterns. The method is free of exposing the polymer to activating radiation from coating the pattern treatment composition to treating the substrate with the solvent. Also provided are pattern treatment compositions and electronic devices formed by the methods. The inventions find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices for providing high resolution contact hole patterns. |
| US09455175B2 |
Conveying apparatus
A conveying apparatus includes a holding plate having a holding surface destined to face a surface of a wafer to be held; a restriction member on one end side of the holding surface adapted to contact the periphery of the wafer so as to restrict movement of the wafer; and a moving unit adapted to move the holding plate. At the holding surface, a non-contact type suction holding part is adapted to jet a fluid obliquely to the surface of the wafer to be held so as to move the wafer toward the restriction member and generate a negative pressure between the holding surface and the surface to be held, thereby holding the wafer by suction. The fluid is jetted from the suction holding part so as to abut the wafer against the restriction member, thereby positioning the wafer at a predetermined position on the holding plate. |
| US09455174B2 |
Device and method for individual support of components
A system is provided for individually supporting at least one component having opposing front and back faces, including a supporting device having a plurality of cells each delimited by a wall and having a contact zone to support the component, at least a part of the cells each receiving a component by its front face, the supporting and contact zones are configured so a surface of the front face is not in contact with the wall, the contact zone is located on a periphery of the front face and forms a closed zone around the front face, the supporting zone forms a closed zone on the wall, and the contact zone includes an edge surface set back in a thickness direction with respect to the front face, the thickness direction extending from the front to the back face perpendicular to at least one of the faces. |
| US09455172B2 |
Electrostatic clamp
An electrostatic clamp configured to, in use, hold an article, such as a reticle or a wafer in a lithographic apparatus. The clamp includes a lower portion; an upper portion formed of a dielectric material, and a plurality of electrodes disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion. The electrodes include a first electrode configured in use to be held at a first voltage, at least one intermediate electrode configured in use to be held at a second voltage, and a ground electrode. The at least one intermediate electrode is located between the first electrode and the ground electrode and the second voltage is between the first voltage and ground to reduce the voltage across a barrier between the electrodes and so reduce the risk of high-voltage breakdown. |
| US09455169B2 |
Ultra-low oxygen and humility loadport and stocker system
One or more pods for adjusting at least one of an oxygen content or a water content therein and methods of their use are provided, where one or more semiconductor wafer are selectively stored within a storage chamber of the pod. The pod comprises a storage chamber having a side wall surface defining an opening at one side thereof and a pod door fitted to the storage chamber at the opening so as to provide ingress and egress to the storage chamber. The pod door comprises a door body, a first door locking mechanism on the door body and a seal band configured to engage the sidewall surface. The first door locking mechanism comprises a first pressure applicator, a first key assembly and a first connector-rod. |
| US09455166B2 |
Substrate transporting apparatus, substrate delivery position confirming method, and substrate processing system
A loader module of a substrate processing system includes a transportation arm configured to move towards a wafer accommodated in a carrier and receive the wafer, and a control unit configured to confirm a delivery position of the wafer based on an upward movement amount of an end effector of the transportation arm, and a contact sound generated when the end effector comes in contact with the wafer. The control unit confirms the delivery position of the wafer based on an average height of the end effector when the contact sound of each pad of the end effector comes in contact with the wafer to generate a contact sound a plurality of times. |
| US09455162B2 |
Low cost interposer and method of fabrication
A method for making an interposer is provided. A conductive layer is formed by contacting a replicate such that a shape of a surface of the conductive layer conforms to a shape of the contacted portion of the replicate. The conductive layer is formed to have a base and a plurality of conductive posts projecting away from the base. Each conductive post is formed to have a post end opposite the base. A dielectric layer is formed to cover the base and to separate adjacent ones of the posts from each other. The posts are for forming vias. Conductive material is removed from the conductive layer to insulate at least one post from at least one other post. |
| US09455160B2 |
Method for fabricating a semiconductor chip panel
The method comprises providing a carrier, providing a plurality of semiconductor chips, the semiconductor chips each comprising a first main face and a second main face opposite to the first main face and side faces connecting the first and second main faces, placing the semiconductor chips on the carrier with the second main faces facing the carrier, and applying an encapsulation material to the side faces of the semiconductor chips. |
| US09455159B2 |
Fabrication method of packaging substrate
A method for fabricating a packaging substrate includes: providing a carrier having a first metal layer and a second metal layer formed on the first metal layer; forming a first circuit layer on the second metal layer and forming a separating portion on an edge of the second metal layer such that the separating portion is spaced from the first circuit layer; forming a dielectric layer on the second metal layer and the first circuit layer such that the first circuit layer and the separating portion are embedded in the dielectric layer and portions of the dielectric layer are formed between the first circuit layer and the separating portion; forming a second circuit layer on the dielectric layer; and applying forces on the separating portion so as to remove the first metal layer and the carrier, thereby maintaining the integrity of the first circuit layer. |
| US09455156B2 |
Method of making a semiconductor device using multiple layer sets
A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming an intermediate semiconductor device. The intermediate device includes a substrate; and a dielectric layer over the substrate. The intermediate device includes a first layer set, including a silicon-rich photoresist material, over the dielectric layer. The intermediate device includes a second layer set, including a carbon-rich organic material layer, over the first layer set. The method further includes etching the second layer set to form a tapered opening in the second layer set. The method further includes etching the first layer set to form an opening in the first layer set, wherein etching the first layer set comprises removing the carbon-rich organic material layer. The method further includes etching the dielectric layer using the first layer set as a mask to form an opening in the dielectric layer, wherein etching the dielectric layer comprises reducing a thickness of the first layer set. |
| US09455150B2 |
Conformal thin film deposition of electropositive metal alloy films
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a semiconductor. The method includes heating a substrate in a reaction chamber, supplying to the reaction chamber a first constituent including a metal borohydride wherein the metal borohydride includes at least one of: an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, or a combination thereof; supplying to the reaction chamber a main-group hydride constituent; and depositing a metal compound on the substrate, wherein the metal compound comprises a) at least one of an alkaline earth metal a transition metal or a combination thereof, b) boron and c) optionally the main group alloying element. |
| US09455147B2 |
Boron ion implantation using alternative fluorinated boron precursors, and formation of large boron hydrides for implantation
Methods of implanting boron-containing ions using fluorinated boron-containing dopant species that are more readily cleaved than boron trifluoride. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including implanting boron-containing ions using fluorinated boron-containing dopant species that are more readily cleaved than boron trifluoride. Also disclosed are a system for supplying a boron hydride precursor, and methods of forming a boron hydride precursor and methods for supplying a boron hydride precursor. In one implementation of the invention, the boron hydride precursors are generated for cluster boron implantation, for manufacturing semiconductor products such as integrated circuitry. |
| US09455146B2 |
Virtual substrates for epitaxial growth and methods of making the same
A virtual substrate includes a handle support and a strain-relieved single crystalline layer on the handle support. A method of making the virtual substrate includes growing a coherently-strained single crystalline layer on an initial growth substrate, removing the initial growth substrate to relieve the strain on the single crystalline layer, and applying the strain-relieved single crystalline layer on a handle support. |
| US09455135B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having at least a gate structure thereon and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer around the gate structure; forming a hard mask on the gate structure and the ILD layer; forming a first patterned mask layer on the hard mask; using the first patterned mask layer to remove part of the hard mask for forming a patterned hard mask; and utilizing a gas to strip the first patterned mask layer while forming a protective layer on the patterned hard mask, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of N2 and O2. |
| US09455134B2 |
Substrate processing method
A hydrophobizing agent vapor is supplied to a substrate and a surface of the substrate including a pattern is hydrophobized. Thereafter, the substrate is dried by vaporizing the hydrophobizing agent. The substrate to be processed is maintained in a state of not contacting water until it is dried after being hydrophobized. Collapse of a pattern formed on the substrate surface is thereby suppressed or prevented. |
| US09455130B2 |
Preparation of test plates for matrix assisted laser desorption ionization
The present invention is directed, sample test plates that can be used in matrix assisted laser desorption ionization. These plates have an etched surface and a layer of MALDI matrix material. The invention also includes methods for making these sample test plates and to methods for using the plates in the MS imaging of cell and tissue samples. |
| US09455128B2 |
Methods of operating a fourier transform mass analyzer
A method is disclosed for operating a mass spectrometer having a Fourier Transform (FT) analyzer, such as an orbital electrostatic trap mass analyzer, to avoid peak coalescence and/or other phenomena arising from frequency-shifting caused by ion-ion interactions. Ions of a first group are mass analyzed, for example in a quadrupole ion trap analyzer, to generate a mass spectrum. The estimated frequency shift of the characteristic periodic motion in the FT analyzer is calculated for one or more ion species of interest based on the intensities of adjacent (closely m/z-spaced) ion species. If the estimated frequency shift(s) for the one or more ion species exceeds a threshold, then a target ion population for an FT analyzer scan is adjusted downwardly to a value that produces a shift of acceptable value. An analytical scan of a second ion group is performed at the adjusted target ion population. |
| US09455124B2 |
Drawing apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides a drawing apparatus for performing drawing on a substrate with a charged particle beam, including a stage configured to hold the substrate and be moved, a charged particle optical system configured to irradiate a plurality of charged particle beams arrayed along a first axis, and a controller configured to control the drawing so as to perform multiple irradiation of a target portion on the substrate with the plurality of charged particle beams, wherein the controller configured to control the drawing such that the stage is moved in one direction along the first axis with respect to a plurality of regions formed on the substrate along the first axis, and a deflection of charged particle beam for a displacement of charged particle beam along the first axis is performed with respect to drawing on each of the plurality of regions. |
| US09455123B2 |
Current regulation method of multiple beams
A current regulation method of multiple beams includes acquiring a current density distribution; selecting at least one beam whose current density is equal to or more than a threshold; measuring a current value of the at least one beam respectively by varying a voltage applied to the Wehnelt electrode and acquiring a correlation between the voltage and the current value; moving a stage to a position where the at least one beam is allowed to enter a current detector each time writing of a stripe region is completed; measuring, after moving the stage, a current value of the at least one beam while beams of the multiple beams whose current density is less than the threshold are blocked; operating a target voltage value applied to the Wehnelt electrode to cause the current value measured to be a target current value; and applying the target voltage value to the Wehnelt electrode. |
| US09455122B2 |
Modulation device and power supply arrangement
The invention relates to a modulation device for modulating charged particle beamlets in accordance with pattern data in a multi-beamlet charged particle lithography system. The device comprises a plate-like body, an array of beamlet deflectors, a plurality of power supply terminals (202-205) for supplying at least two different voltages, a plurality of control circuits, and a conductive slab (201) for supplying electrical power to one or more of the power supply terminals (202-205). The plate-like body is divided into an elongated beam area (51) and an elongated non-beam area (52) positioned with their long edges adjacent to each other. The beamlet deflectors are located in the beam area. The control circuits are located in non-beam area. The conductive slab is connected to the control circuits in the non-beam area. The conductive slab comprises a plurality of thin conductive plates (202-205). |
| US09455106B2 |
Three-function reflowable circuit protection device
A circuit protection device is configured to protect circuit elements under any one of the following three activation conditions: an over current condition, an over temperature condition, and an activation control current received by a heater element. The circuit element includes first and second electrodes, and the heater element. A sliding contact is connected by a sensing element to the first electrode, second electrode, and heater element, thereby bridging and providing a conductive path between each. A spring element is held in tension by, and exerts a force against, the sliding contact. Upon detection of any one of three activation conditions, the sensing element releases the sliding contact and the force exerted by the spring element moves the sliding contact to another location on the substrate at which the sliding contact no longer provides a conductive path between the first electrode, second electrode, and heater element. |
| US09455104B1 |
Vacuum interrupter, retaining clip therefor and associated method
A retaining clip is for a vacuum interrupter. The vacuum interrupter includes a tubular ceramic member, a tubular shield member, and a pair of separable contacts. The shield member is disposed internal with respect to the ceramic member. The separable contacts are disposed internal with respect to the shield member. The retaining clip comprises: a base mounted on the ceramic member; and at least one flexible arm extending from the base. The flexible arm engages the shield member in order to retain the shield member on the ceramic member. |
| US09455103B2 |
Dial device
A dial device according to the invention includes a fixed member, a rotating dial unit, a push button movable to a first position and a second position on an axis in a rotation center axis direction of the dial unit, a double knock mechanism that alternately holds the push button in the first position and the second position every time the push button is pressed, a moving and engaging member that moves on the axis in the rotation center axis direction of the dial unit in association with the first position and the second position of the push button, and a fixed side engaging section provided in the fixed member that is disengaged with the moving and engaging member when the push button is present in the first position and is engaged with the moving and engaging member when the push button is present in the second position. |
| US09455101B2 |
Optically transmissive key assemblies for display-capable keyboards, keypads, or other user input devices
A key that includes a body with an optically transmissive or light permeable region and an optical film coupled to or carried by the light permeable region. The key also includes a resilient structure coupled to the body. The key can be assembled or coupled to, or disposed relative or adjacent to, a display screen. The key also includes a switch actuator (e.g., an electromechanical switch actuator or contact element). Displacement of the key, more specifically the body of the key, displaces the switch actuator for actuating a switch. The resilient structure is configured to bias the body at a first position. The body can be actuated or displaced from the first position to a second position for effectuating corresponding displacement of the switch actuator and actuation of the switch. The resilient structure provides or establishes a positive tactile feedback upon user-directed or user-controlled actuation or displacement of the body. The resilient structure and/or the switch actuator is positioned and configured to minimize, reduce, or eliminate obstruction of light transmission through the light permeable region of the body. |
| US09455100B2 |
Switch
A switch, which returns a switch lever to a rotation neutral position by a force for pressing a steel ball against left and right slopes, includes a guide plate portion that is provided in a switch case, does not come into contact with the switch lever during a rotational operation of the switch lever and a pushing operation at the rotation neutral position, and comes into contact with the switch lever during the pushing operation in a state in which the switch lever is tilted from the rotation neutral position. The guide plate portion forms a second slope that is disposed so as to return the switch lever, which comes into contact with the second slope, to the rotation neutral position. |
| US09455094B2 |
Graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials and use as electrodes
Provided are methods of making graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials. Such methods generally include: (1) associating a graphene film with a substrate; (2) applying a catalyst and a carbon source to the graphene film; and (3) growing carbon nanotubes on the graphene film. The grown carbon nanotubes become covalently linked to the graphene film through carbon-carbon bonds that are located at one or more junctions between the carbon nanotubes and the graphene film. In addition, the grown carbon nanotubes are in ohmic contact with the graphene film through the carbon-carbon bonds at the one or more junctions. The one or more junctions may include seven-membered carbon rings. Also provided are the formed graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials. |
| US09455089B2 |
Liquid MEMS capacitor
A liquid micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) capacitor includes a first capacitor plate, a second capacitor plate, a channel, a dielectric doped droplet, and a droplet activating module. The channel is implemented or embedded in one or more layers of a board and the dielectric doped droplet is contained in the channel. The droplet activating module operable to change the dielectric doped droplet with respect to the first and second capacitive plates, which are proximal to the channel and at a distance from each other, thereby changing a dielectric property of the liquid MEMS capacitor. |
| US09455088B2 |
Resin composition and dielectric layer and capacitor produced therefrom
The present invention provides a resin composition comprising: 1 to 20 parts by weight of a reinforcing fiber; 0.2 to 5 parts by weight of an anti-settling agent; 20 to 40 parts by weight of an epoxy resin; 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of a curing agent; and 50 to 75 parts by weight of a high dielectric constant filler. The present invention further provides a dielectric layer produced from the resin composition and a capacitor comprising the dielectric layer. In the dielectric layer made from the resin composition provided by the present invention, the fibers can be evenly dispersed and can enhance the mechanical strength of the resin composition, and cooperate with the epoxy resin to bring excellent toughness. Therefore, the mechanical strength of the produced dielectric layer can be remarkably improved, and its fragility can be effectively overcome when the dielectric layer is used in the PCB double-side etching process. |
| US09455086B2 |
Laminated ceramic electronic component
In a laminated ceramic electronic component, a side-surface outer electrode includes a first electrode portion including side-surface electrode portions located on first and second side surfaces and wrap-around electrode portions arranged to extend around from the side-surface electrode portions of the first electrode portion to portions of third and fourth side surfaces; and a second electrode portion including side-surface electrode portions located on the third and fourth side surfaces and wrap-around electrode portions arranged to extend around from the side-surface electrode portions of the second electrode portion to portions of the first and second side surfaces. The wrap-around electrode portions of the second electrode portion reach regions covering portions of outermost inner electrodes located at an outermost side portion among inner electrodes, which portions are exposed in the first and second side surfaces. |
| US09455083B2 |
Partial discharge detection device for transformer, and transformer including same
Provided is a partial discharge detection device for a transformer, and a transformer using the same. An on-load tap changer is provided on one side of the outer casing of a transformer, and is partitioned from the inside of the outer casing by a shielding wall. A drain pipe is formed on one side of the outer surface of the outer casing. A drain valve is installed in the drain pipe. A configuration for detecting a partial discharge signal generated within the transformer is installed in the drain pipe. That is, a detector body is installed within the drain pipe and the drain valve. A connection mounting member is installed in an end portion of the drain valve. The detector body penetrates the connection mounting member. In the meantime, a portion, such as the on-load tap changer, is partitioned from the internal space of the outer casing by the shielding wall. |
| US09455082B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component having; a multilayer body including insulating layers stacked on one another; a spiral coil including coil conductors provided on the insulating layers and a first via-hole conductor piercing through at least one of the insulating layers to connect the coil conductors to each other; a parallel conductor provided on one of the insulating layers; and a second via-hole conductor piercing through at least one of the insulating layers to connect the parallel conductor in parallel to one of the coil conductors provided on the insulating layer different from the insulating layer on which the parallel conductor is provided. A portion of the coil conductor not connected in parallel to the parallel conductor at least partly has a greater width than a portion of the coil conductor connected in parallel to the parallel conductor other than a contact point with the second via-hole conductor. |
| US09455081B2 |
Method of producing an inductor with a high inductance
A method of producing an inductor with high inductance includes forming a removable polymer layer on a temporary carrier; forming a structure including a first coil, a second coil, and a dielectric layer on the removable polymer layer; forming a first magnetic glue layer on the removable polymer layer and the structure; removing the temporary carrier; and forming a second magnetic glue layer below the structure and the first magnetic glue layer. |
| US09455074B2 |
Pattern forming method, device, and device manufacturing method
A pattern forming method which includes ejecting, through a nozzle, a liquid material containing a solvent and metal particles, and depositing droplets of the liquid material onto a pattern formation object, to thereby form a pattern thereon, wherein the viscosity of the liquid material before ejection thereof through the nozzle is lower than that of the liquid material at the time of deposition of droplets thereof onto the pattern formation object. |
| US09455073B2 |
Superconducting circuits with reduced microwave absorption
Provided are superconducting circuits, methods of operating these superconducting circuits, and methods of determining processing conditions for operating these superconducting circuits. A superconducting circuit includes a superconducting element, a conducting element, and a dielectric element disposed between the superconducting element and the conducting element. The conducting element may be another superconducting element, a resonating element, or a conducting casing. During operation of the superconducting element a direct current (DC) voltage is applied between the superconducting element and the conducting element. This application of the DC voltage reduces average microwave absorption of the dielectric element. In some embodiments, when the DC voltage is first applied, the microwave absorption may initially rise and then fall below the no-voltage absorption level. The DC voltage level may be determined by testing the superconducting circuit at different DC voltage levels and selecting the one with the lowest microwave absorption. |
| US09455063B2 |
Cable structures with localized foam strain reliefs and systems and methods for making the same
Cable structures with localized foam strain reliefs and systems and methods for making the same are provided. In some embodiments, at least one localized foam strain relief may be incorporated into or positioned underneath a cover of a cable structure. For example, the ratio of base material to foam material may be varied during the manufacture of the cover, such that distinct portions of the cover may include more foam than other portions of the cover. This may provide localized strain relief properties to the cable structure while also obviating the need for additional strain relief components to be provided adjacent to or over specific portions of the cover. |
| US09455058B2 |
High-strength and high-electrical conductivity copper alloy rolled sheet and method of manufacturing the same
In a high-strength and high-electrical conductivity copper alloy rolled sheet, 0.14 to 0.34 mass % of Co, 0.046 to 0.098 mass % of P, 0.005 to 1.4 mass % of Sn are contained, [Co] mass % representing a Co content and [P] mass % representing a P content satisfy the relationship of 3.0≦([Co]−0.007)/([P]−0.009)≦5.9, a total cold rolling ratio is equal to or greater than 70%, a recrystallization ratio is equal to or less than 45% a an average grain size of recrystallized grains is in the range of 0.7 to 7 μm, an average grain diameter of precipitates is in the range of 2.0 to 11 nm, and an average grain size of fine crystals is in the range of 0.3 to 4 μm. By the precipitates of Co and P, the solid solution of Sn, and fine crystals, the strength, conductivity and ductility of the copper alloy rolled sheet are improved. |
| US09455052B2 |
Fuel bundle for a liquid metal cooled nuclear reactor
In one embodiment, a fuel bundle for a liquid metal cooled reactor includes a channel, a nose assembly secured to a lower end of the channel, a plurality of fuel rods disposed within the channel, and an internal mixer disposed within the channel above the plurality of fuel rods. The internal mixer includes peripheral flow control members and interior flow control members. The peripheral flow control members are located near walls of the channel, and the interior flow control members are located towards a longitudinal center of the housing. At least one of the peripheral flow control members is configured to direct liquid metal flowing through the channel towards an interior of the channel, and at least one of the interior flow control members is configured to direct liquid metal flowing through the channel away from the interior of the channel. |
| US09455047B2 |
Memory device to correct defect cell generated after packaging
A memory device to correct a defect cell generated after packing is performed includes a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cells are arranged, a repair circuit unit including a first storage unit to store defect cell information in the memory cell array, and a fuse circuit unit including a second storage unit that is programmed according to the defect cell information stored in the first storage unit. The first storage unit includes a volatile memory device, and the second storage unit includes a non-volatile memory device. |
| US09455043B2 |
Dynamic program window determination in a memory device
A memory device has a controller. The controller is configured to cause the memory device to inhibit programming of a group of memory cells. The controller is configured to cause the memory device to apply a programming pulse to control gates of the group of memory cells. The controller is configured to determine an amount of disturb experienced by the group of memory cells responsive to the programming pulse. The controller is configured to determine a program window responsive to the amount of disturb. |
| US09455042B2 |
Programming methods and memories
Memory devices and programming methods for memories are disclosed, such as those adapted to program a memory using an increasing channel voltage for a first portion of programming, and an increasing but reduced channel voltage for a second portion of programming. |
| US09455036B1 |
System architectures with data transfer paths between different memory types
A system can include a first memory section comprising a plurality of volatile memory cells; a second memory section comprising a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells; a first data path configured to transfer data between the first and second memory sections; an interface circuit coupled to receive access commands and address values, the interface circuit configured to determine if a data transfer operation is occurring in the device, and if the data transfer operation is occurring, accessing the address in the first memory section or accessing a location in the second memory section based on a select value, and if the data transfer operation is not occurring, accessing the address in the first memory section; and a compare circuit configured to compare a received address to a predetermined value to generate the select value. |
| US09455033B2 |
Apparatuses and/or methods for operating a memory cell as an anti-fuse
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to operating a memory cell as an anti-fuse, such as for use in phase change memory, for example. |
| US09455028B1 |
Adaptive negative bit line write assist
A memory is provided with a write assist circuit that responds to an indication that a write operation on a modeled memory cell is successful by releasing a negative bit line boost. |
| US09455021B2 |
Array power supply-based screening of static random access memory cells for bias temperature instability
A method of screening complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor CMOS integrated circuits, such as integrated circuits including CMOS static random access memory (SRAM) cells, for transistors susceptible to transistor characteristic shifts over operating time. For the example of SRAM cells formed of cross-coupled CMOS inverters, separate ground voltage levels can be applied to the source nodes of the driver transistors, or separate power supply voltage levels can be applied to the source nodes of the load transistors (or both). Asymmetric bias voltages applied to the transistors in this manner will reduce the transistor drive current, and can thus mimic the effects of bias temperature instability (BTI). Cells that are vulnerable to threshold voltage shift over time can thus be identified. |
| US09455020B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for performing an exclusive or operation using sensing circuitry
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to determining an XOR value in memory. An example method can include performing a NAND operation on a data value stored in a first memory cell and a data value stored in a second memory cell. The method can include performing an OR operation on the data values stored in the first and second memory cells. The method can include performing an AND operation on the result of the NAND operation and a result of the OR operation without transferring data from the memory array via an input/output (I/O) line. |
| US09455018B2 |
Memory device including power-up control circuit, and memory system having the same
A memory device may include a power-up control circuit and a first set of boost voltage generators. The power-up control circuit may be configured to consecutively activate a first set of power-up signals with a first delay time between each power-up signal of the first set of power-up signals in response to a rise of a power supply voltage and a reset signal having a first logic level at an initial stage of power-up. The first set of boost voltage generators may be configured to generate an internal boost voltage based on an external boost voltage and the first set of power-up signals. The first set of boost voltage generators may be configured to activate before the reset signal transitions from the first logic level to a second logic level opposite to the first logic level. |
| US09455016B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a memory cell array including a normal memory cell array and a redundancy memory cell array, a normal refresh counter suitable for generating a normal address for performing a refresh operation to the normal memory cell array with a first period during a refresh mode and a redundancy refresh counter suitable for generating a redundancy address for performing a refresh operation to the redundancy memory cell with a second period shorter than the first period. |
| US09455013B2 |
System and method to trim reference levels in a resistive memory
A method includes, at a resistive memory device, determining an average effective reference resistance level based on a first effective reference resistance and a second effective reference resistance. The first effective reference resistance is based on a first set of reference cells of the resistive memory device and the second effective reference resistance is based on a second set of reference cells of the resistive memory device. The method includes trimming a reference resistance at least partially based on the average effective reference resistance level. Trimming the reference resistance includes, in response to determining that the first effective reference resistance is not substantially equal to the average effective reference resistance level, modifying one or more states of one or more magnetic tunnel junction devices associated with the first effective reference resistance. |
| US09455012B2 |
Magnetic device with spin polarisation
A magnetic device includes a first magnetic layer, known as storage layer, having a uniaxial anisotropy with an easy magnetization axis in the plane of the storage layer and having a magnetization of variable direction having two positions of equilibrium along the easy magnetization axis, a second magnetic layer, known as electron spin polarization layer, having a magnetization perpendicular to that of the storage layer and situated out of plane of the electron spin polarization layer, a device configured to make circulate in the layers, and perpendicularly thereto, a current to switch from one position of equilibrium of the direction of magnetization of the storage layer to the other. The device further includes a device to apply a magnetic field, known as transverse field, the direction of which is substantially parallel to the plane of the storage layer and substantially perpendicular to the easy magnetization axis of the storage layer. |
| US09455011B2 |
Methods and systems to read a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) based memory cell based on a pulsed read current
Methods and systems to read a logic value stored in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ)-based memory cell based on a pulsed read current, with time between pulses to permit the MTJ to relax towards the magnetization orientation between the pulses, which may reduce build-up of momentum within the MTJ, and which may reduce and/or eliminate inadvertent re-alignment of a magnetization orientation. A sequence of symmetric and/or non-symmetric pulses may be applied to a wordline (WL) to cause a pre-charged bit line (BL) capacitance to discharge a pulsed read current through the MTJ, resulting in a corresponding sequence of voltage changes on the BL. The BL voltage changes may be integrated over the sequence of read current pulses, and a stored logic value may be determined based on the integrated voltage changes. The pre-charged BL capacitance may also serve as the voltage integrator. |
| US09455007B2 |
Word line driver circuitry and compact memory using same
A memory device includes a memory array having a plurality of rows and columns of array blocks disposed in array block areas, array blocks including sub-arrays of memory cells arranged in rows and columns with word lines disposed in a patterned gate layer along the rows and one or more patterned conductor layers including bit lines disposed along the columns. A plurality of sets of local word line drivers is arranged in rows and columns disposed adjacent to corresponding array blocks. A set of global word line drivers driving global word lines disposed in an overlying patterned conductor layer over the one or more patterned conductor layers in the array blocks. |
| US09455006B2 |
Memory devices with improved refreshing operation
A method and a system for memory cell programming and erasing with refreshing operation are disclosed. The system includes a selecting module, a processing module and a refresh module. In the method, at first, a target memory cell from a plurality of memory cells in a memory device is selected. Thereafter, the target memory cell belonging to a line of the matrix is programmed or erased by applying a selecting voltage on the target memory cell and a location-related memory cell belonging to the line of the matrix. Then, a refreshing operation to refresh the location-related cell is performed |
| US09455005B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for operating the same
A semiconductor device may include: a plurality of data pads; a plurality of data buffers each suitable for buffering a signal inputted through a first input node using a voltage inputted through a second input node, and outputting the buffered signal; and a calibration control unit suitable for generating a test signal in a calibration mode, adjusting the level of the test signal, receiving outputs of the plurality of data buffers while adjusting the level of the test signal, and adjusting offsets of the data buffers such that the logical values of the outputs of the data buffers transit when the test signal has a target level. |
| US09455002B2 |
Amplifying circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same
An amplifying circuit includes a first sense amplifying unit suitable for sensing and amplifying data on input/output lines, a second sense amplifying unit suitable for sensing and amplifying the data on the input/output lines or an output signal of the first sense amplifying unit, and a control unit suitable for activating the first sense amplifying unit during an initial operation period of an active operation and inactivating the first sense amplifying unit after the initial operation period, wherein the second sense amplifying unit performs a sensing and amplifying operation, based on the output signal of the first sense amplifying unit during the initial operation period, and based on the data on the input/output lines after the initial operation period. |
| US09455001B1 |
Semiconductor memory device having calibration circuitry for dual-gate transistors associated with a memory array
Disclosed are various embodiments related to dual-gate transistors and associated calibration circuitry. In one embodiment, dual-gate transistors may be configured in a sense amplifier arrangement, and calibration circuitry can be used to adjust an input offset of the sense amplifier. In another embodiment, a reference level voltage utilized in an amplifier with dual-gate transistors can be adjusted during a calibration sequence, and may be substantially unchanged from its nominal value outside of the calibration sequence. In another embodiment, a calibration sequence can be utilized to determine circuit results from a circuit including dual-gate transistors, and to adjust control gates to more closely coincide with expected or desired results. In yet another embodiment, a semiconductor memory device can include a memory array with amplifiers that include dual-gate transistors, as well as associated calibration circuitry. |
| US09455000B2 |
Shared gate fed sense amplifier
A first plurality of storage cells may be coupled to a first pair of data lines, and a second plurality of storage cells may be coupled to a second pair of data lines. Each storage cell in the first plurality of storage cells may be configured to generate a first output signal on the first pair of data lines in response to an assertion of a respective one of first plurality of selection signals, and each storage cell in the second plurality of storage cells may be configured to generate a second output signal on the second pair of data lines in response to the assertion of a respective one of a second plurality of selection signals. Circuitry may assert a given selection signal from either the first or second plurality of selection signals. An amplifier circuit may amplify either the first or second output signal. |
| US09454999B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device is provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including cell strings coupled between bit lines and a common source line, each of the cell strings comprising a plurality of memory cells stacked above a substrate. The semiconductor memory device also includes a peripheral circuit configured to supply a negative voltage to one or more word lines coupled to the cell strings and supply a positive voltage to the common source line, wherein the peripheral circuit supplies the positive voltage and the negative voltage before a program operation is performed. |
| US09454998B2 |
Semiconductor device with power distribution network
A semiconductor device that includes first to fourth banks spaced apart from each other in first and second directions, column control regions extending in the second direction between the first bank and the second bank and between the third bank and the fourth bank, and suitable for controlling column operations of the first to fourth banks, at least one power supply/ground voltage line extending in the second direction at one side edge of the first to fourth banks adjacent to the column control regions, and at least one power supply/ground voltage pad adjacent to and coupled with the at least one power supply/ground voltage line between the first bank and the third bank and between the second bank and the fourth bank, and suitable for receiving an external power supply voltage and a ground voltage. |
| US09454997B2 |
Array of nonvolatile memory cells having at least five memory cells per unit cell, having a plurality of the unit cells which individually comprise three elevational regions of programmable material, and/or having a continuous volume having a combination of a plurality of vertically oriented memory cells and a plurality of horizontally oriented memory cells; array of vertically stacked tiers of nonvolatile memory cells
Disclosed is an array of nonvolatile memory cells includes five memory cells per unit cell. Also disclosed is an array of vertically stacked tiers of nonvolatile memory cells that includes five memory cells occupying a continuous horizontal area of 4F2 within an individual of the tiers. Also disclosed is an array of nonvolatile memory cells comprising a plurality of unit cells which individually comprise three elevational regions of programmable material, the three elevational regions comprising the programmable material of at least three different memory cells of the unit cell. Also disclosed is an array of vertically stacked tiers of nonvolatile memory cells that includes a continuous volume having a combination of a plurality of vertically oriented memory cells and a plurality of horizontally oriented memory cells. Other embodiments and aspects are disclosed. |
| US09454996B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, playback apparatus, playback method, and program
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a playback apparatus, a playback method, and a program that are capable of appropriately playing back content of 3D images.A Base view video stream (L image) and a Dependent view video stream (R image), which are generated using H.264 AVC/MVC encoding method, and a PlayList, which is information for controlling playback, are recorded on an optical disc 2. If the value of MVC_flag that is set in the PlayList represents that information regarding 3D playback is included, 3D playback is performed while also referring to the description of ExtensionData( ) in the PlayList. Information regarding playback of the Dependent view video stream is described in the field for ExtensionData( ). The present invention is applicable to a Blu-Ray (registered trademark) Disc player. |
| US09454995B2 |
Information storage medium storing content, content providing method, content reproducing method and apparatus therefor
An information storage medium is disclosed. The information storage medium includes one container file, wherein the container file includes a data box including in which a plurality of component files forming content are arranged; and a meta box including information on locations in the content and in the data box with respect to the plurality of component files and characteristic information on of the plurality of component files, and the plurality of component files are arranged in the data box according to the characteristic information. |
| US09454994B2 |
Video-related meta data engine, system and method
A video engine, system and method for use with a video player, including a presenter that presents at least two audio/visual works, at least one software application capable of at least one metadata-related interaction with the audio/visual works, communication points over which the audio/visual works are received, and over which at least a portion of the at least one meta-data interaction occurs, and a hierarchical taxonomy that effects a common metadata reference to each recurrence of a particular object across the audio/visual works, and across each of the at least one metadata-related interaction. The video engine, system, and method may additionally include a prioritization data for use with the metadata. |
| US09454991B2 |
Caching systems and methods for hard disk drives and hybrid drives
A system includes a read/write module and a caching module. The read/write module is configured to access a first portion of a recording surface of a rotating storage device. Data is stored on the first portion of the recording surface of the rotating storage device at a first density. The caching module is configured to cache data on a second portion of the recording surface of the rotating storage device at a second density. The second portion of the recording surface of the rotating storage device is separate from the first portion of the recording surface of the rotating storage device. The second density is less than the first density. |
| US09454983B2 |
Magnetic powder for magnetic recording, magnetic recording medium, and method of manufacturing magnetic powder for magnetic recording
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing hexagonal ferrite powder, which comprises preparing a hexagonal ferrite precursor-containing water-based solution by stirring and mixing a reaction solution which comprises an iron salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, and a base in a reaction tank, and removing the hexagonal ferrite precursor-containing water-based solution that has been prepared from the reaction tank and continuously feeding the hexagonal ferrite precursor-containing water-based solution into a reaction flow passage while conducting heating and pressurizing to converting the hexagonal ferrite precursor to hexagonal ferrite, wherein the preparation of the hexagonal ferrite precursor-containing water-based solution comprises a continual feed period during which feeding of the iron salt, the alkaline earth metal salt, and the base into a reaction tank which comprises a prereaction solution in which an iron salt and a base are not both present is continuously or intermittently continued, during the continual feed period, at least a base is fed over a feed passage separate from feeding of the iron salt and the alkaline earth metal salt, and an amount of at least one from among the iron salt, the alkaline earth metal salt, and the base that is fed per unit time during the continual feed period is controlled and/or acid is added to the reaction solution in the reaction tank so that a pH of the reaction solution within the reaction tank during the continual feed period falls within a range relative to a pHbefore, a pH of the prereaction solution, of pHbefore−2≦pH≦pHbefore+2. |
| US09454982B2 |
Wiring structure of head suspension having a stacked interleaved part and method of manufacturing the same
A wiring structure of a head suspension including a flexure that supports a head and is attached to a load beam applying load onto the head, comprises write wiring and read wiring formed on the flexure and connected to the head, each having wires of opposite polarities. The wiring structure further comprises a stacked interleaved part includes segments electrically connected to the respective wires of the write wiring, the segments stacked on and facing the wires through an electrical insulating layer so that the facing wire and segment have opposite polarities. |
| US09454981B1 |
Structures and methods for parallel testing of multiple read heads in two dimensional magnetic recording sliders
Structures and methods are disclosed for parallel biasing and testing, at dc and high frequency, of two or more read heads within a two dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) slider. Testing of heads comprises both conventional tests of the individual heads within the slider, as well as tests for interactions between the heads which are very closely spaced within the slider and thus may exhibit various magnetic, capacitive, ohmic, and stress-related interactions not seen in non-TDMR heads having only a single read head. Overall testing times are nearly the same as for single head testing. |
| US09454979B1 |
Sensor structure with multilayer top shield
A reader sensor comprising a sensor stack and a composite top shield. The composite top shield includes a bulk shield portion and a SAF portion, the SAF portion comprising a top magnetic layered structure and a bottom magnetic layered structure with a non-magnetic layer therebetween. Each of the magnetic layered structures has at least one soft magnetic material layer bounded by layers comprising magnetic material having a magnetic moment of at least 1.4 T. |
| US09454978B2 |
Sensor structure having increased thermal stability
A reader sensor having a dusting layer having a thickness less than 5 Angstroms between and in contact with the AFM layer and with the pinned layer. The dusting layer comprises a non-magnetic, electrically conducting material, such as ruthenium or iridium. The reader sensor has a free layer composed of a material free of nickel (Ni). |
| US09454972B2 |
Audio and speech coding device, audio and speech decoding device, method for coding audio and speech, and method for decoding audio and speech
This invention introduces audio/speech encoding apparatus audio/speech decoding apparatus, audio/speech encoding method and audio/speech decoding method to efficiently encode the quantization parameters of split multi-rate lattice vector quantization. In this invention, the position of the sub-vector whose codebook indication consumes the most bits is firstly located, and then the value of the codebook is estimated based on the total number of bits available and the bits usage information for other sub-vectors. The difference value is calculated between the actual value and estimated value. Finally, instead of transmitting the codebook indication which consumes the most bits, the position of the sub-vector whose codebook indication consumes the most bits and the difference value between the actual value and the estimated value are transmitted. By applying of the invented method, bits can be saved by the codebook indications. |
| US09454964B2 |
Interfacing device and method for supporting speech dialogue service
An interfacing device and method to support a speech dialogue service based on a multi-modal input are provided. The method includes executing an interface for the speech dialogue service, receiving a user input, through the executed interface, including a voice input and a non-voice input, transmitting, as a request signal to a server, at least one of the voice input or a text extracted from the voice input when the received user input is the voice input, transmitting, as the request signal to the server, a text extracted from the non-voice input when the received user input is the non-voice input, receiving a result of dialogue recognition in response to the request signal from the server, and executing a response to the received user input on the basis of the received result of dialogue recognition. |
| US09454963B2 |
Text to speech method and system using voice characteristic dependent weighting
A text-to-speech method for simulating a plurality of different voice characteristics includes dividing inputted text into a sequence of acoustic units; selecting voice characteristics for the inputted text; converting the sequence of acoustic units to a sequence of speech vectors using an acoustic model having a plurality of model parameters provided in clusters each having at least one sub-cluster and describing probability distributions which relate an acoustic unit to a speech vector; and outputting the sequence of speech vectors as audio with the selected voice characteristics. A parameter of a predetermined type of each probability distribution is expressed as a weighted sum of parameters of the same type using voice characteristic dependent weighting. In converting the sequence of acoustic units to a sequence of speech vectors, the voice characteristic dependent weights for the selected voice characteristics are retrieved for each cluster such that there is one weight per sub-cluster. |
| US09454960B2 |
System and method for disambiguating multiple intents in a natural language dialog system
The present invention addresses the deficiencies in the prior art by providing an improved dialog for disambiguating a user utterance containing more than one intent. The invention comprises methods, computer-readable media, and systems for engaging in a dialog. The method embodiment of the invention relates to a method of disambiguating a user utterance containing at least two user intents. The method comprises establishing a confidence threshold for spoken language understanding to encourage that multiple intents are returned, determining whether a received utterance comprises a first intent and a second intent and, if the received utterance contains the first intent and the second intent, disambiguating the first intent and the second intent by presenting a disambiguation sub-dialog wherein the user is offered a choice of which intent to process first, wherein the user is first presented with the intent of the first or second intents having the lowest confidence score. |
| US09454957B1 |
Named entity resolution in spoken language processing
Features are disclosed for determining an element of a user utterance or user intent in conjunction with one or more related elements of the user utterance or user intent. A user utterance may be transcribed by an automatic speech recognition (“ASR”) module, and the results may be provided to a natural language understanding (“NLU”) module. The NLU module may perform named entity recognition, intent classification, and/or other processes on the ASR results. In addition, the NLU module may determine or verify the values associated with the recognized named entities using a data store of known values. When two or more named entities are related, their values may be determined and/or verified in conjunction with each other in order to preserve the relationship between them. |
| US09454953B2 |
Active vibration/noise control apparatus
A control signal filter 2 receives a sound source signal determined by a control frequency specified in accordance with the vibration/noise source that produces vibration/noise, and outputs a control signal. A filter coefficient update unit 4 updates coefficients of the control signal filter 2 in response to a sound source signal and an error signal. A disturbance detector 6 outputs a disturbance detection result in response to the error signal and an estimated secondary vibration/noise signal. An update controller 7 adjusts an update step of the filter coefficient update unit 4 in accordance with the disturbance detection result. |
| US09454951B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a casing, a resonance cover, and a plurality of electronic components. The resonance cover covers a part of the casing so as to define a resonance chamber with the casing. The resonance chamber includes a plurality of openings. The electronic components are disposed in the casing and adapted to generate a plurality of audio frequencies, wherein a diameter of each of the openings is related to the corresponding audio frequency generated by the corresponding electronic component. |
| US09454950B2 |
Bell device with dual tones for transport vehicles
A bell device with dual tones for transport vehicles includes a main body, a base, and a trigger. The main body includes two tapering chambers therein and a pinhole located between the chambers. A constant whistling sound is generated for warning approaching cars and pedestrians when wind introduced into one of the two chambers passes through the pinhole. The base is adapted to be fixed on a handlebar and supports the main body, so that the main body is rotatable relative to the base. The trigger includes a flexible operating member which has at least a knocking portion used to beat the main body and induce a warning sound when the operating member is manipulated. |
| US09454949B2 |
Information distributing system, information processing terminal device, information center, and information distributing method
The invention relates to an information distributing system for distributing data to at least one information processing terminal device from an information center storing data. The information distributing system of the invention is structured such that character data, audio data, and both the character data and the audio data are selectively downloaded from the information center to the information processing terminal device on the basis of request information from the information processing terminal device, so that a user makes selection according to a congested state of communication, and effective information collection becomes possible. |
| US09454948B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing melodies
In one embodiment, a system for analyzing melodies is disclosed that may receive data for a musical composition, the data including a sequence of notes that make up a melody contained in the musical composition, and store, in a database, a pitch and a duration for at least one note in the sequence of notes in association with the melody. In addition, the system may determine at least one pitch differential and at least one duration ratio for at least two consecutive notes in the sequence of notes, and store, in the database, the at least one pitch differential and the at least one duration ratio in association with the melody. The system may also generate at least one metric associated with the melody based on the at least one pitch differential and/or the at least one duration ratio. |
| US09454947B1 |
Guitar having detachable neck
A guitar includes a body and a detachable neck configured to be removably secured on the body. The neck has a proximal end that defines a predetermined geometry and the body has a recess that defines a corresponding predetermined geometry configured to receive the proximal end of the neck. A captive bolt assembly includes a fastener disposed within an opening formed through the proximal end of the neck and a nut that is affixed on the fastener such that the fastener rotates freely within the opening but does not translate relative to the neck. An adjustable bridge assembly includes a base disposed within a recess formed in the body and a bridge that is movably disposed on the base. The bridge may be positioned at a plurality of locations on the base to provide a plurality of different chord lengths of the guitar. |
| US09454946B2 |
Capo with decorative inlays
The present invention is directed to a capo for use with a stringed musical instrument and which is engaged from the bottom portion of the neck of the musical instrument. The capo has a generally L-shaped frame connected to a lever and a pincher configured so that pressure applied to the lever causes the pincher to move toward the lever, allowing the space between the pincher and free end portion of the frame to receive the neck of the musical instrument. The exterior of the frame is configured to received interchangeable inlays, and the free end portion of the frame is configured to receive changeable neck pads. |
| US09454943B2 |
Computing systems and methods for controlling a computing system
According to various embodiments, a computing system may be provided. The computing system may include: a circuit configured to operate at a plurality of operation frequencies; a graphics output configured to output image data for display; a rate determiner configured to determine a frame rate of the graphics output; and a frequency setter configured to set an operation frequency of the circuit based on the determined frame rate. |
| US09454942B2 |
Display panel, gate driver and control method
A display panel includes gate lines and a gate driver. The gate driver includes series coupled driving stages, in which an N-th driving stage of the series-coupled driving stages includes a driving unit and an input control unit. The driving unit transmits a first clock signal according to a control voltage level of a control node, so as to output a gate-driving signal. The input control unit transmits the gate-driving signal outputted from an (N−1)-th driving stage to the control nodes, so as to adjust the control voltage level to one of a first voltage level and a second voltage level. A predetermined time interval is present between a rising edge of the first clock signal and a falling edge of the second clock signal. During the predetermined time interval, the control voltage level is pulled to the first voltage level by the input control unit. |
| US09454941B2 |
Method for driving display device
An object is to provide a convenient display device which consumes sufficiently small amount of power and a method for driving such a display device. The display device can be in an off state with a still image displayed in a still image display mode in which a pixel electrode and a common electrode which are for applying a voltage to the display element are brought into a floating state so that a voltage applied to the display element is held, and a still image is displayed without further supply of a potential. The display device is put to an off state with a desired image displayed in the still image display mode, whereby the display device can have a higher level of security and can be more convenient. |
| US09454939B2 |
Display apparatus and electronic apparatus
A display apparatus is configured to allow a user positioned in a first direction to visually recognize a first image and to allow a user positioned in a second direction different from the first direction to visually recognize a second image. The display apparatus includes a display unit that alternately displays the first and second images; an irradiation unit that provides irradiation light; a color filter that respectively includes first and second areas for the first and second images, through which the irradiation light is transmitted; and a distribution unit that distributes the irradiation light transmitted through the first area of the color filter to the first direction and through the second area of the color filter to the second direction. The color filter includes color components of three primary colors and a white color. |
| US09454938B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a first pixel connected to a gate line, a data line, and a storage line for transmitting a storage signal of which a voltage level is changed at least once for one frame. The first pixel includes first, second, and third subpixels. The first subpixel includes a first switching element connected to the gate and data lines, a first liquid crystal capacitor connected to the first switching element, and a first storage capacitor. The second subpixel includes a second switching element connected to the gate and data lines, a second liquid crystal capacitor connected to the second switching element, and a second storage capacitor. The third subpixel includes a third switching element connected to the gate and data lines, and a third liquid crystal capacitor connected to the third switching element. The first and second storage capacitors are connected to the storage line. |
| US09454920B2 |
Apparatus for backlighting billboards using indirect light
An apparatus for backlighting a large-scale billboard display using indirect lighting comprises a plurality of edges comprising fasteners to attach to a corresponding number of edges of a frame of the billboard display, the attached edges creating an enclosure. The apparatus further comprises at least one coupling for at least one point light source within the enclosure, the at least one point source light disposed vertically and horizontally off-center from the center point of the enclosure and further disposed above a lower media boundary. The jacket further comprises an interior surface comprising a reflective material having at least two planes of primary reflection capable of diffusing light from the at least one point light source across the rear-facing surface of the frame and an exterior surface that blocks substantially all outside light. |
| US09454918B1 |
Matching reference call parameters for animal call logging and for training a user to use an animal calling device
Example techniques are disclosed for processing of animal calls. For example, sound can be matched to one or more reference calls to identify whether the sound matches the reference calls. In one example, a user operates an animal calling device and is provided with feedback on whether they have correctly operated the calling device, e.g., whether they sound like the animal they are trying to emulate. In another example, a trail camera is provided that generates a log of animal calling activity while taking pictures of animals moving through a given area. |
| US09454915B2 |
Electro tactile communication apparatus, method, and computer program product
A tactile communication apparatus that includes a signal receiver configured to decode data received via a wireless signal a plurality of electro tactile pads on one side, each pad configured to respectively activate and deactivate to form a plurality of pad combinations based on a plurality of activation signals, and a communication processor configured to generate the plurality of electro tactile pad activation signals based on the received data so as to convey the data to a user through the plurality of pad combinations of the tactile communication apparatus. |
| US09454909B1 |
Firearms training method using protocol based upon threat pattern recognition
A training simulation depicts an assailant presenting a weapon to engage a trainee to simulate a deadly force encounter. The simulation has a recognition portion that is representative of the assailant presenting the weapon to engage the trainee. In accordance with a step of the method, the trainee is instructed by presenting the recognition portion to the trainee at least three times: a first time weapon pattern recognition presentation being the presentation of the recognition portion of the simulation at first speed corresponding to real time, a second time weapon pattern recognition presentation being the presentation of the recognition portion of the simulation at a second speed that is less than the first speed, and a third time weapon pattern recognition presentation being the presentation of the recognition portion of the simulation at a third speed that is less than the first speed but greater than the second speed. |
| US09454906B2 |
Driver assistance system for a vehicle
A driver assistance system for a vehicle for monitoring cross-traffic includes a transmitting device for transmitting electromagnetic signals and operable for monitoring a kidney-shaped area in both a first monitoring direction and in a second monitoring direction and a receiving device for receiving electromagnetic signals. |
| US09454905B2 |
Safe distance determination
A method includes, a first computer determining a stopping distance information for a first vehicle; broadcasting the stopping distance information for the first vehicle to at least one other vehicle; a second computer, in the at least one other vehicle, receiving the stopping distance information for the first vehicle determines a first distance between the at least one other vehicle and the first vehicle; and the second computer determining a proper distance for the at least one other vehicle based on the received stopping distance information of the first vehicle. |
| US09454904B1 |
Safety pedal obstruction and command intention detection
A vehicle includes a footwell object detection sensor to detect objects in the footwell. The footwell object detection sensor includes an object detection sensor and a controller. The object detection sensor outputs data indicative of a state of the footwell that includes a plurality of pedals. The controller is programmed to, in response to a difference between the data and stored data corresponding to reference states of the footwell being indicative of a presence of an object that inhibits actuation of one or more of the pedals, output a warning signal. The controller may output a pedal status of each of the pedals based on a comparison between the data and the stored data. Controller outputs can be used to confirm or invalidate pedal position signals used by other control systems in the vehicle. |
| US09454903B2 |
Road information sharing method, road information sharing system, road information sharing device, and road information sharing program
A road information sharing method according to the present invention is a road information sharing method for sharing the road information via a terminal device, the road information sharing method including the steps of storing sensor information acquired from a vehicle moving in accompaniment with the terminal device, detecting the road information from the sensor information on the basis of detection rules for detecting the road information, notifying a user about the road information detected, and prompting the user to make a judgment of necessity/unnecessity of registration about the detected road information, and storing the detected road information, if the detected road information is judged to be registration-necessary by the user. |
| US09454899B2 |
System and method for configuring the remote control functionality of a portable device
A system and method used to configure a smart device to command functional operations of a target appliance. The smart device retrieves from a controllable appliance, such as a settop box, data indicative of a codeset identity of the target appliance wherein the codeset identity was determined during a process used to configure a conventional universal remote control to command functional operations of the target appliance and wherein the process used to configure the conventional universal remote control is performed in cooperation with the controllable appliance. A remote control application resident on the smart device then uses the data indicative of the codeset identity retrieved from the controllable appliance to also configure the smart device to command functional operations of the target appliance. |
| US09454898B2 |
Portable device, smart watch, and method of controlling therefor
The present specification relates to a portable device, a smart watch, which is used in a manner of being synchronized with the portable device, and a method of controlling therefor. According to one embodiment, the processor configured to detect a first external device including a second ID, if the second ID of the first external device is identical to the first ID of the portable device, the processor configured to include the first ID of the portable device in ID information, if the second ID of the first external device is different from the first ID of the portable device, the processor configured to include the second ID of the first external device in the ID information, the processor configured to transmit the data including the ID information to a second external device. |
| US09454896B2 |
Medical technical apparatus including a wireless footswitch device
A medical technical apparatus includes an optical viewing unit including a receiver unit and a wireless footswitch device. The wireless footswitch device includes at least one switch configured to generate a control command corresponding to a performance of a function of the optical viewing unit, a transmitter unit configured to wirelessly, unidirectionally transmit data signals corresponding to the control command from the wireless footswitch device to the optical viewing unit using radio technology, a control processor, and a switching device. The switching device is configured to switch the control processor from an operating mode to a standby mode upon completion of a data transfer of the data signals from the wireless footswitch to the optical viewing unit and is also configured to switch the control processor from the standby mode to the operating mode in response to an actuation of the at least one switch for generating the control command. |
| US09454892B2 |
Device to monitor a sound generator, in particular an alarm sound generator, and a corresponding sound generator, and a related method
A device for monitoring a sound generator includes at least one coupler module, a signal evaluation element, and an output element. The device is coupled by at least one coupler module with the sound generator for purposes of monitoring the latter. |
| US09454890B2 |
Lockdown apparatus for initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility during an emergency
Some embodiments are directed to a lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility. The lockdown apparatus can include a manually operated actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit a lockdown initiation signal upon being manually actuated. The actuator can be configured to be recognizably distinguishable from a fire alarm actuator. The lockdown apparatus can also include a lockdown communicator configured to produce a lockdown communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication. The lockdown communicator can include an annunciator that communicates an audible annunciation to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, and that ceases to communicate the audible annunciation subsequent to a predetermined number of alarm cycles. |
| US09454889B2 |
Security and public safety application for a mobile device
In a plurality of described embodiments, various modules of an application for a client device may operate to enhance personal security for an individual user, as well as public safety in general. A Blue-Phone-in-Pocket (bPip) module operates comparable to, but more effectively than, the traditional college campus blue light phone. When the user of the module toggles a button on the GUI of his/her smartphone, the App may instantly record and transmit key information to a command center, which operates to provide assistance to the student, at their current location, without requiring the student to relocate to one of the tradition blue light phone fixtures. A tracking module permits the student or other user to be tracked by his/her device until safely reaching a travel destination. The person may trigger an alarm if endangered during the trip, which may prompt a respond from local law enforcement, and other assigned individuals. |
| US09454888B2 |
Advanced battery early warning and monitoring system
Systems, apparatuses and methods for detecting internal cell faults using online and real-time sensing techniques, and providing an accurate and reliable early warning for the incoming failure of battery cells hours or days prior to failure. A system is configured to perform real-time and direct measurement of battery cell parameters of temperature, voltage, and AC impedance through online sensing. These parameters may be simultaneously processed using advanced probabilistic and/or fuzzy logic-based algorithms to provide an early warning for the incoming failure of battery cells in a battery pack. This technology may safeguard the LIB battery packs while allowing them to operate at or near 100% capacity in both transportation and stationary applications. |
| US09454882B2 |
Verifying occupancy of a building
A method for detecting occupancy of a building is described. In one embodiment, the method includes using a microphone to monitor for sounds at a building, detecting a sound via the microphone, and determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal. In some cases, the microphone is a glass break sensor microphone. |
| US09454881B2 |
Haptic warping system
A system is provided that transforms haptic signals. The system receives a first haptic signal including a first haptic effect that can be generated by a first haptic output device. The system transforms the first haptic signal into a second haptic signal including a second haptic effect that can be generated by a second haptic output device. The system then sends the second haptic signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect. |
| US09454876B2 |
Gaming machine which rearranges symbols after varying and displaying the symbols
Provided is a gaming machine capable of enhancing entertainment characteristics of the gaming machine. On the gaming machine 1, a game outcome is that after undergoing a process in which trigger symbols whose number is one short of a number of a combination of symbols which triggers a bonus game are rearranged, the plurality of symbols are finally rearranged, an operation of cancelling predictive presentation effects is deactivated until the predictive presentation effects have been finished. |
| US09454875B2 |
Methods for variable contribution progressive jackpots
Methods and apparatuses for variable contribution multiple progressive jackpot games are disclosed. A variable contribution rate is determined as a function of a wager level. A contribution amount is determined by multiplying each wager by its corresponding contribution rate. The contribution amount is then added to at least two jackpot meters. |
| US09454873B2 |
Casino games
Apparatus and methods related to multi-player casino games are described. An electronic gaming device is provided that allows a live player to compete against a virtual player in a multi-player wager-based game using playing cards derived from the insertion of a physical denomination of currency. The electronic gaming device can be configured to simulate the decision making of a virtual player and associated behaviors of the virtual player during game play. In some instances, the simulated behaviors of the virtual player output at the electronic gaming device can be learned by a live player so that the live player can make better or more advantageous game play decisions. The simulated behaviors of the virtual player can be conveyed to the live player via visual images, such as simulated facial expressions of the virtual player. |
| US09454869B1 |
Vending system with recyclable packaging having automated deposit and return
Vending machines and dispensers, devices, apparatus, systems, and methods of providing and using a vending machine that dispenses goods in recyclable and reusable packaging having automated deposits and returns for the packaging. Customers purchase items such as products, goods, liquids and gasses in reusable containers having electronic tags from automated vending machines. Customers pay for the items at time of purchase along with an extra money deposit fee for using the reusable container. Electronic activator tags fixably attached reusable containers are detected when the containers are returned which triggers a sensor allowing for the deposits to be returned to the customer. |
| US09454867B2 |
Automatic food and beverage vending machine
An automatic food and beverage vending machine includes: a case; an ordering and billing system; an electronic control system; and an output system; wherein the output system comprises a food provider and a food outlet, the food provider is mounted in a food storage area of the case; the food provider comprises a tray holder, a food box transporter, and a sliding device; the tray holder and the food box transporter are mounted on the sliding device; the sliding device comprises an up-down sliding mechanism, a left-right sliding mechanism, and a front-rear sliding mechanism; the food outlet is provided on a door of the case. The machine provides a small volume, a small land occupation space, convenience of moving, a short time before obtaining the food, a proper food temperature for eating immediately, and a quick manner of dining for people in a hurry. |
| US09454861B2 |
Remote control system
A remote control system includes a portable device and a security device. The portable device includes a motion sensor. The security device is configured to communicate with the portable device through wireless signals to control a vehicle in accordance with an action request motion detected by the motion sensor. The motion sensor is operated in an ON mode, which enables detection of an action request motion, and an OFF mode, which disables detection of the operation request motion. The security device controls the operation mode of the motion sensor in accordance with the condition of a vehicle. |
| US09454859B2 |
Behavior modification apparatus and method of use thereof
The invention comprises a personal tracking system that identifies an individual, tracks achievements and/or failures of the individual, reports the achievements and/or failures to an authority within an authority system, and provides rewards for the achievements and/or provides punishments for the failures. In one example, the identification system is a personal identification bracelet used as part of an ignition interlock breathalyzer system. Generally, any information associated with the personal identification device and/or the peripheral tracking/monitoring device is maintained in a secure format warranting true information, which is usable in a legal setting, in a training program, or as part of a reward/punishment system. |
| US09454857B2 |
Method for testing a vehicle or a component of a vehicle
For a method for testing a vehicle or components thereof which is as flexible as possible, it is proposed that a test control unit 3 generates or plays back a virtual world which contains both a virtual vehicle state and a virtual vehicle environment, and the test control unit 3 manipulates a number of sensors and/or actuators of the real vehicle 1 according to the requirements of the virtual world and, at the same time, activates a driving state actuator 2 according to the requirements of the virtual world, and the driving state actuator 2 generates the instantaneous vehicle state and the instantaneous vehicle environment in the virtual world by introducing additional forces or moments into the real vehicle 1 so that the real vehicle 1 experiences the vehicle state and the vehicle environment from the virtual world on the real test track 4. |
| US09454855B2 |
Monitoring and planning for failures of vehicular components
Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for planning for failures of vehicular components are provided herein. A method includes obtaining a first set of data of maintenance events recorded for multiple vehicular components across multiple vehicles in a fleet; obtaining a second set of data of maintenance work orders performed on the vehicular components; obtaining a third set of data of measurements taken in connection with the vehicular components; analyzing (i) the first set of data and (ii) the second set of data to identify component failure events associated with the multiple vehicular components; determining failure indicators for each of the vehicular components in each of the vehicles in the fleet based on the second set of data, the third set of data, and the identified component failure events; and outputting the indicators in multiple visualized forms, each representing one of multiple levels of granularity. |
| US09454850B2 |
Mobile communication terminal for providing augmented reality service and method of changing into augmented reality service screen
A method of changing into a screen of an Augmented Reality (AR) service in a mobile communication terminal including a camera is provided. The method of changing into a screen of an AR service in a mobile communication terminal includes displaying a prior screen different from an AR service screen, detecting a predetermined event to change display of the prior screen to the AR service screen, driving the camera if the predetermined event has been detected, capturing an image using the camera, and displaying the AR service screen rendered based on the image captured by the camera. |
| US09454848B2 |
Image enhancement using a multi-dimensional model
A method and apparatus for enhancing an image capture of a geographic area is presented. The enhancement involves receiving an image and aligning a three dimensional model to the received image. A view of the three dimensional model defined by the outline of the received image may be determined. A point of interest in the determined view of the aligned three dimensional model may be identified. A transition may be triggered between the received image to information from the three dimensional model associated with the point of interest. |
| US09454847B2 |
System and method of indicating transition between street level images
A system and method of displaying transitions between street level images is provided. In one aspect, the system and method creates a plurality of polygons that are both textured with images from a 2D street level image and associated with 3D positions, where the 3D positions correspond with the 3D positions of the objects contained in the image. These polygons, in turn, are rendered from different perspectives to convey the appearance of moving among the objects contained in the original image. |
| US09454846B2 |
Device and method for subgingival measurement
A method for measuring regions of a tooth in a mouth including: measuring at least one surface point on a surface of the tooth with respect to an element mechanically coupled to said surface point; determining a location of at least one visible reference mechanically coupled to said surface point with respect to said element; estimating a location of said surface point with respect to said visible reference. A device used for such measuring may include a main body comprising a final optical element of an imager which defines an optical field of view directed in a first direction; and a measurement element coupled to said main body extending generally in said first direction; where a tip of said measurement element is sized and shaped to be inserted between a tooth and adjacent gingiva; where said optical field of view is sized to image at least part of a tooth. |
| US09454844B2 |
Early depth testing in graphics processing
An apparatus for processing graphics primitives for display includes rasterization, depth testing, and rendering circuitry. The depth testing circuitry determines if a selected graphics fragment would be obscured when displayed by comparing a depth comparison function and a depth value associated with the selected graphics fragment with a stored depth value. The depth testing circuitry suppresses rendering operations for the fragment if the selected fragment would be obscured. An update indication shows a possible change direction due to the updating for a stored depth value which depends on a received depth comparison function. The depth testing for the selected fragment is performed using the possible change direction shown by the update indication to modify the depth comparison function to allow for updating of the stored depth value by the rendering operations. |
| US09454840B2 |
System and method for interactive animations for enhanced and personalized video communications
A videoconferencing system and method using personalized, 3D interactive animations across screen barriers. Via auditory, behavior, visual, or computer-inputted cues, preloaded images, sounds, and gestures as well as customized images, sounds, and gestures can be manipulated and sent into and across one or more videoconference feeds in the form of animated sequences. These images, sounds, and gestures can be mapped onto the images of users' faces or other features within the video feed frame. |
| US09454836B2 |
Object display device and object display method
In an object display device, a pattern extraction unit extracts a region where an object is easily visually recognized when the object is overlaid and displayed in an image in real space, from the image in real space, based on information about the size and color of the object and information about the color of the image in real space that are acquired by an image analysis unit, and a display position correction unit corrects the display position of the object to this region. This facilitates visual recognition of the object and enhances various effects, such as informativeness, brought about by the displaying of the object in the image in real space. |
| US09454834B2 |
Storage medium storing image processing program for implementing controlled image display according to input coordinate, and information processing device
When a user touches a first input point P1 with a touch pen or the like, touch position data indicating a coordinate of this first input point P1 can be obtained. A first object (stamp) is arranged in accordance with the first input point P1. When the user moves the touch pen or the like to a second input point P2 while maintaining a touch state (slide operation), an orientation of the object is changed in real time such that an angle reference line thereof coincides with a calculated reference line L2. |
| US09454832B2 |
Data visualization methods
A method for creating a graphical representation of data in the form of a heatmap is performed at an electronic computing device. The device positions data points on a heatmap for graphical representation and calculates conical distribution values around a first data point based on a first data value associated with the first data point. When a conical distribution value around the first data point is greater than a second data value associated with a second data point, the device adjusts the conical distribution values proximate to the second data point by applying an inverse conical distribution around the second data point. The device renders the heatmap based on the calculated conical distribution values and the adjusted conical distribution values so that the data value of the second data point is visible on the heatmap. |
| US09454831B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and computer-readable recording medium to prscribe an area in an image
There is provided an information processing device including an area decision processing unit configured to set, on the basis of at least three vertices designated to decide a boundary of an area to be defined in a map and on the basis of a drawing locus input to include at least three of the vertices, a boundary region by sequentially adding boundary line segments connecting one of the vertices to be a starting point from among the vertices included inside the drawing locus with points on the drawing locus in accordance with an input order of the drawing locus, configured to sequentially decide the vertices constituting respective area definition line segments for deciding the boundary of the area, and configured to decide, as the area, a region prescribed by connecting the area definition line segments. |
| US09454829B2 |
Systems and methods for obtaining a digital wallpaper
Systems and methods are provided for controlling functions associated with a back housing (104) that is attached to an electronic device (100). According to one aspect, the electronic device detects (902) attachment of the back housing, retrieves (904) information from the back housing, examines (906) the retrieved information to identify an aesthetic element of the back housing, and displays (910) a graphical representation of the aesthetic element as a digital wallpaper of the electronic device. In some embodiments, attachment of the back housing to the electronic device triggers performance (914) of a function associated with a functional element of the back housing. |
| US09454828B2 |
System and method of streaming 3-D wireframe animations
Optimal resilience to errors in packetized streaming 3-D wireframe animation is achieved by partitioning the stream into layers and applying unequal error correction coding to each layer independently to maintain the same overall bitrate. The unequal error protection scheme for each of the layers combined with error concealment at the receiver achieves graceful degradation of streamed animation at higher packet loss rates than approaches that do not account for subjective parameters such as visual smoothness. |
| US09454826B2 |
Image processor for motion searches
An image processor includes an LSRAM accessible with a higher speed than a frame memory and configured to hold a second image in a predetermined range of a first image, an image production unit configured to read an image in a predetermined range of the second image from the LSRAM and produce a third image for rough search based on the read image, an MSRAM accessible with a higher speed than the frame memory and configured to hold the third image produced by the image production unit, a search unit configured to read the third image from the MSRAM and perform first motion search based on the third image, and a search unit configured to read a fourth image in a predetermined range of the second image from the LSRAM based on a search result by the search unit and perform second motion search that is more detailed than the first motion search based on the fourth image. |
| US09454821B2 |
One method of depth perception based on binary laser speckle images
A method of depth perception based on binary laser speckle images comprises: read in binary input and reference speckle images (pattern fixed, distance known) to generate input and reference speckle windows, extract an image block of a certain size in the input speckle window, search for the matching block in the matching search window of the reference speckle window, use a method for block-based XOR (exclusive or) similarity calculation to compare and output a minimum similarity value or use a block-based IAD (inclusive and) method to compare and output a maximum similarity value to get the optimal matching block and the optimal offset, and then work out the depth information of the central point of the optimal matching block via a formula for depth calculation. The method not only can be easily implemented in hardware and greatly simplify depth calculation, but can also generate high-resolution and high-precision depth information in a fast and accurate manner. |
| US09454818B2 |
Method for measuring three orientational degrees of freedom of a cube-corner retroreflector
A method for determining three orientational degrees of freedom of a cube-corner retroreflector by obtaining with a photosensitive array an image of a three straight marks on the retroreflector and, with a programmable control device, taking a two-dimensional transform of the image and determining the three orientational degrees of freedom. |
| US09454817B2 |
Relating to image processing
An image processing apparatus uses first and second digital vascular image data to register two images. The two images may be from different imaging modes. The first and second images are processed with a two-dimensional, directional filter (500) that has the effect of producing clusters of orthogonally adjacent image data points in which the magnitude of an intensity gradient between each orthogonally adjacent image data point is less than a predetermined value. Subsequently, common clusters are identified between the first and second image data using a corner detecting algorithm (600). The directional filter produces “stepping” features, where vascular features would otherwise appear with smooth edges. These numerous features are identified by the corner detecting algorithm and can be used (1000) for registering common clusters between the first and second image data. The filter may be a rotating Gabor filter matched to vascular features in the images. |
| US09454813B2 |
Image segmentation assignment of a volume by comparing and correlating slice histograms with an anatomic atlas of average histograms
The invention provides methods and apparatus for image processing that perform image segmentation on data sets in two- and/or three-dimensions so as to resolve structures that have the same or similar grey values (and that would otherwise render with the same or similar intensity values) and that, thereby, facilitate visualization and processing of those data sets. |
| US09454811B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer-readable storage medium storing program
An image processing apparatus includes an image acquisition unit, a setting unit, an image derivation unit, a luminance condition derivation unit and a display unit. The image acquisition unit acquires a first diffusion-weighted image of a first b value and a second diffusion-weighted image of a second b value. The setting unit sets a target diffusion coefficient and a third b value. The image derivation unit derives a virtual diffusion-weighted image of the third b value based on the target diffusion coefficient, the first diffusion-weighted image and the second diffusion-weighted image. The luminance condition derivation unit derives a luminance condition for displaying the virtual diffusion-weighted image based on the target diffusion coefficient and the third b value. The display unit displays the virtual diffusion-weighted image according to the luminance condition derived by the luminance condition derivation unit. |
| US09454809B2 |
Phase derivative microscopy module having specified amplitude mask
Methods and a module for use with a microscope for enhancing image contrast in an image of a phase object. A transmission image of a specimen is formed in an image plane, of which a Fourier transform is generated in a Fourier plane. An amplitude filter is applied to the Fourier transform field, which is then transformed back to an image at a focal plane of a detector array. An image signal from the detector array is processed to generate a contrast-enhanced image of the specimen. |
| US09454807B2 |
Methods and systems for denoising images
Shrinkage function model associated training schemes are used to facilitate obtaining denoised patches, and more particularly, to removing noise from images. |
| US09454804B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
In order to provide an image processing device and the like making it possible to generate a target image in which edges of a structure are upheld and from which streaking artifacts are removed, a computation device determines a shape of a non-linear function on the basis of feature amounts of an original image and a smoothed image (S101). Next, the computation device calculates a condition coefficient of the original image and the smoothed image by using the non-linear function for which the shape was determined in S101 (S102). Next, the computation device uses the condition coefficients calculated in S102 to calculate a weighting coefficient for each of the pixels of the original image and the smoothed image (S103). Next, the computation device adds weighting to the original image and the smoothed image to generate the target image (S104). |
| US09454803B1 |
System and method for scene dependent multi-band blending
Systems and methods for generating a composite image from a plurality of source images using a scene dependent multi-band blending operation are provided. The multi-band blending operation implements a filtering operation to reduce blending between objects or surfaces that have natural color and/or brightness differences. More particularly, the typical space invariant upsampling that occurs during multi-band blending can be replaced by a scene dependent filtering operation during upsampling that omits or reduces contributions from pixels associated with different objects in a scene during the multi-band blending process. The scene dependent filtering can be based on scene dependent data, such as height data or slope data, which can be used to identify different objects in a scene. |
| US09454801B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method for processing image, and program
An image processing apparatus that outputs a transformed image obtained by performing geometric transformation on an input image identifies, on the basis of inverse parameters of the geometric transformation, a plurality of sets of coordinates in the input image corresponding to a plurality of sets of coordinates in the transformed image, store, among the plurality of sets of coordinates in the transformed image, one or more sets of coordinates that satisfy a certain condition and the identified sets of coordinates corresponding to the one or more sets of coordinates in a memory while associating the one or more sets of coordinates and the identified sets of coordinates with each other, and generates the transformed image on the basis of data stored in the memory. |
| US09454800B2 |
System for representing cartographic indications at multiple scales
A system for representing cartographic indications for an aircraft, said system comprising at least a cartographic database, a graphical computer, a display device and means of selecting a scale of the displayed cartographic data by a pilot or user. Each item of cartographic data comprises at least a first symbolic representation associated with a first scale depending on said item of cartographic data. When the selection means select a scale that is larger than or equal to the first scale, the first representation is displayed on the display device and when the selection means select a scale that is strictly smaller than the first scale, the first representation is no longer displayed on the display device. Each item of cartographic data can comprise at least a second symbolic representation associated with a second scale smaller than the first scale, said second scale depending on said item of cartographic data and obeying similar display rules. |
| US09454798B2 |
Systems and methods of automatic image sizing
Systems and methods of automatic image sizing are provided. An image is provided in a first frame within a first layout. A request to display the image in a second frame of a second layout is received, where the second frame is different than the first frame. Region data associated with the image is accessed. The region data corresponds to a prior edit to the image and indicates a portion of the image to be displayed in the second frame. The image is provided in the second frame using the region data such that the portion of the image is displayed in the second frame. |
| US09454796B2 |
Aligning ground based images and aerial imagery
Systems and methods for aligning ground based images of a geographic area taken from a perspective at or near ground level and a set of aerial images taken from, for instance, an oblique perspective, are provided. More specifically, candidate aerial imagery can be identified for alignment with the ground based image. Geometric data associated with the ground based image can be obtained and used to warp the ground based image to a perspective associated with the candidate aerial imagery. One or more feature matches between the warped image and the candidate aerial imagery can then be identified using a feature matching technique. The matched features can be used to align the ground based image with the candidate aerial imagery. |
| US09454793B2 |
Display control device and mobile electronic apparatus
A display control device and technique for controlling displays on a display unit, in which a plurality of display segments are two-dimensionally arranged (e.g. a dot matrix type display unit), is provided. The technique is effectively applicable to a write data latch circuit of a memory for storing display data in the display control device, such as, for example, a liquid crystal display control device, a mobile electronic apparatus, etc. A display drive control technique for controlling a moving picture display mode of a display device is also provided. The display drive control circuit controls a picture display mode of a display device for displaying still pictures and moving pictures to a liquid crystal display device, such as, for example, a dot matrix type display devices, an organic EL display device, etc. |
| US09454792B2 |
Device, system and method for transferring network data
A device, system and method for transferring network data are presented. The device includes: a data processing module configured to convert a data signal in a TMDS signal output via a DVI of a graphics card to network data for being transferred via a network; and a network transmitter for receiving the network data and transferring the network data to an external device via the network. The data signal is generated by encoding texture data generated by a GPU of the graphics card by a digital video sender of the graphics card. The texture data is generated by binding a pointer to general computing data stored in a device memory of the graphics card to a texture stored in the device memory by the GPU. The general computing data is generated by general computation executed by the GPU. |
| US09454789B2 |
Watermarking and signal recognition for managing and sharing captured content, metadata discovery and related arrangements
Content played at an event is identified using watermarking and/or other content recognition combined with contextual metadata, which facilitates identification and correlation with other content and metadata when it is posted to a network. |
| US09454788B2 |
System and method for placing a multiple tablet order online
An online ordering system and method for placing a multiple tablet order are described. The system comprises a graphical user interface configured to display information for a plurality of medicinal tablets. The graphical user interface is further configured to receive a plurality of multiple tablet orders. Each multiple tablet order corresponds to at least two medicinal tablets for consumption on a particular date at a particular time. Each of the multiple tablet orders corresponds to a multiple tablet package labeled with tablet specific information. The tablet specific information for each package includes the date and the time for consuming the tablets in the package and a plurality of images of each of the tablets in the package. The method is implemented by the system. |
| US09454785B1 |
Systems and user interfaces for holistic, data-driven investigation of bad actor behavior based on clustering and scoring of related data
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a data analysis system that may automatically generate memory-efficient clustered data structures, automatically analyze those clustered data structures, automatically tag and group those clustered data structures, and provide results of the automated analysis and grouping in an optimized way to an analyst. The automated analysis of the clustered data structures (also referred to herein as data clusters) may include an automated application of various criteria, rules, indicators, or scenarios so as to generate scores, reports, alerts, or conclusions that the analyst may quickly and efficiently use to evaluate the groups of data clusters. In particular, the groups of data clusters may be dynamically re-grouped and/or filtered in an interactive user interface so as to enable an analyst to quickly navigate among information associated with various groups of data clusters and efficiently evaluate those data clusters in the context of, for example, a risky trading investigation. |
| US09454784B2 |
Multiplatform interface
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for displaying interfaces associated with various financial system platforms accessed through a central location. The system may retrieve financial information directly and replicate a financial system interface and platform for a user. The system may display preferred access platforms and interfaces and may frame existing platforms and interfaces with additional data and functionality. |
| US09454783B2 |
Method and apparatus for conducting e-commerce on a mobile handset
A method and apparatus for system and method that enables e-commerce on a mobile handset device is provided. |
| US09454781B2 |
Ranking and recommendation of online content
Ranking and recommendation of online content including social media, blog and forum posts is provided. A method of and computer program product for content analysis are provided. A subset of content items is selected from a set of content items. Each content item in the set has at least one attribute. For each content item in the subset, a user is queried to obtain a subjective value. A formula is derived that relates the at least one attribute of each content item of the subset to the subjective value of each content item of the subset. The formula is applied to each content item of the set to determine a calculated value of each content item of the set. A ranking of the set of content items is determined based on the calculated value of each content item. Recommendations are provided to a user based on the ranking. |
| US09454779B2 |
Assisted shopping
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session. |
| US09454777B2 |
Measuring and improving the quality of a user experience upon receiving a frustration event package
Implementations and techniques for measuring and improving the quality of a user experience are generally disclosed. |
| US09454771B1 |
Temporal features in a messaging platform
A real-time messaging platform allows advertiser accounts to pay to insert candidate messages into the message streams requested by account holders. To accommodate multiple advertisers, the messaging platform controls an auction process that determines which candidate messages are selected for inclusion in a requested account holder's message stream. Selection is based on a bid for the candidate message, the message stream that is requested, and a variety of other factors that vary depending upon the implementation. The process for selection of candidate messages generally includes the following steps, though any given step may be omitted or combined into another step in a different implementation: targeting, filtering, prediction, ranking, and selection. |
| US09454769B2 |
Communicating a targeted message to a wireless device based on location and two user profiles
A method for tracking patronage of a customer in at least one casino property is described. The method comprises monitoring a wireless handset that determines the location of the customer. The method then proceeds to generate a user profile that comprises user preferences and monitored betting activity associated with the customer and accumulated points stored in a customer account according to a monetary value of the monitored betting activity. Complementary goods or services are determined based on the accumulated points associated with the customer account. A message is sent to the wireless handset associated with the complementary goods or services that is consistent with the user preferences. |
| US09454764B2 |
Contextual dynamic advertising based upon captured rendered text
A system for processing text captured from rendered documents is described. The system receives a sequence of one or more words optically or acoustically captured from a rendered document by a user. The system identifies an electronic version of the rendered document and associated an action. The system then performs the associated action with respect to the user. |
| US09454762B2 |
System and method for the delivery of content to a networked device
In a system for delivering information to and displaying information on a networked device of a user, a microprocessor is coupled to a database and a memory device. The microprocessor runs a software application for delivering an applet application to the networked device and managing the delivery of the applet application. The applet application provides for the display of information on the networked device by an applet. The database stores a first set of information relating to the user, and the memory device includes a second set of information for comparison to the first set of information, and a third set of information for display by the applet. The microprocessor compares the first set of information to the second set of information to determine whether to transmit the third set of information to the networked device for display by the applet. |
| US09454759B2 |
Method and system for maintaining privacy in scoring of consumer spending behavior
A method for maintaining consumer privacy in behavioral scoring includes a first computing system and a second computing system. The first computing system disguises consumer characteristics and maps disguised consumer characteristics to unencrypted account identifiers, and then transmits the data to the second computing system. The second computing system encrypts the account identifiers upon receipt, and maps the encrypted account identifiers to anonymous transaction data. The second computing system uses the transaction data to calculate consumer behavioral scores, and then generates a scoring algorithm that uses disguised consumer characteristics to calculate consumer behavior scores based on the calculated consumer behavioral scores and corresponding disguised consumer characteristics. The generated algorithm is then returned to the first computing system, with the second computing system not receiving any unencrypted account identifiers, any undisguised consumer characteristics, or any personally identifiable information. |
| US09454758B2 |
Configuring a plurality of security isolated wallet containers on a single mobile device
Configuring a plurality of security isolated wallet containers on a single mobile device includes configuring at least one mobile transaction platform-specific application programming interface for facilitating access to secure mobile transaction platform resources by a wallet container executing on a mobile device; disposing a plurality of distinct wallet containers in a memory of the mobile device, wherein each wallet container interfaces with secure mobile transaction platform resources via the at least one application programming interface; disposing at least one service provider-specific wallet in each of the plurality of distinct wallet containers; and enforcing service-provider specific wallet security by a distinct wallet container accessing a portion of the secure mobile transaction platform resources via the at least one application programming interface. |
| US09454751B1 |
System and method to track time and attendance of an individual at a workplace for a scheduled workshift
A system and method to track time and attendance of an individual at a workplace is provided. The system includes a location tracking system that detects a presence of a portable electronic device carried by the individual, a time clock system that records a registration time of the individual at the workplace, and a main controller. If the main controller receives an electronic communication indicative that the portable electronic device is at the workplace, and if the main controller does not detect recording of the individual registration time at the time clock system, and if the main controller detects a current time at or later than a start time of a scheduled work shift time period of the individual at the workplace, then main controller automatically causes an alert at the portable electronic device prompting the individual to transmit a feedback signal acknowledging need to record the registration time. |
| US09454740B2 |
Apparatus, methods, and computer program products for monitoring network activity for child related risks
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus, method and/or computer program products for monitoring internet activity. In some method embodiments, a network is searched to detect network data indicative of actual and/or potential contact with a child. A report is generated that identifies a source of detected data and the report is sent to a responsible party. |
| US09454737B2 |
Solution that leverages an instant messaging system to manage ad hoc business process workflows
A process definition entered into a user interface that is coupled with an instant messaging client application can be identified. The process definition can represent an ad hoc business process. The process definition can utilize entities defined in a contact of the instant messaging (IM) client application. The process definition can execute. Upon reaching a terminating condition defined within the process definition, results of executing the process definition can be presented via the user interface. |
| US09454736B2 |
System and method for queue management
A system and method for managing a queue may receive a selection of an image, symbol, or avatar from a user. The user may be associated with the selected image, which may provide an anonymous connection to the user. The selected image may be used to display a status of the queue and to summon the user to receive a service. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09454730B2 |
Expertise discovery in social networks
A method and system of expertise discovery in social networks accesses behavioral information associated with users' use of a computer-implemented social network, whereby the computer-implemented social network enables its users to have subscribing relationships with other users. Expertise levels of users of the social network with respect to one or more topics are automatically inferred from the behavioral information. The behavioral information may comprise interactions by other users with respect to content published by a user. The expertise levels of users may be inferred in accordance with the expertise levels of other users who are subscribed to them. Recommendations of users based on their expertise levels may be delivered, as well as explanations for the recommendations. Expertise levels of multiple users and/or expertise levels of a user over time may be delivered for display. |
| US09454729B2 |
Serendipity generating method, system, and device
A serendipity generating method, system, and device generates recommendations by identifying contrasting corresponding topic affinity values between users who more generally have a relatively high degree of similarity between corresponding topic affinity values. The topic affinity values may represent user interests with respect to topics and the topic affinity values may be inferred from usage behaviors, including geographic location information. Recommendations may be further in accordance with an assessment of the amount or quality of the usage behaviors from which the topic affinity values are derived and/or in accordance with the application of a probabilistic process. The recommendations may comprise computer-implemented objects that have relatively high affinities to topics associated with the contrasting corresponding topic affinity values. |
| US09454728B1 |
Luggage contents recommendations and tracking
In an approach for suggesting an item to pack, a processor receives an indication that a user is packing a first item of luggage, wherein the indication includes information about a trip. A processor generates a packing list based on the information about the trip. A processor receives a request to link the first item of luggage and a second item of luggage for the trip. A processor links the first and second items of luggage such that contents of each item of luggage are jointly compared to the packing list. A processor receives, via a short-range point-to-point communication reader of the first item of luggage, a signal from a short-range point-to-point communication device operably affixed to a first item. A processor identifies the first item based on the signal. A processor determines that the first item is an item of the packing list. |
| US09454726B1 |
Systems and methods for cohort identification and reporting
Systems and methods for defining a custom segment in a set of behavioral data are provided. A described method includes receiving a set of behavioral data associated with a plurality of user devices and identifying multiple cohort groups, each of the cohort groups including one or more of the user devices. The behavioral data includes a behavior metric for each of the user devices and the cohort groups are identified based on the behavior metric for each of the user devices. The method further comprises generating a segmentation interface including a graphical visualization of the multiple cohort groups and causing the segmentation interface to be presented via a user interface device. The method further comprises defining a custom segment of the behavioral data based on a user selection of one or more of the multiple cohort groups via the segmentation interface. |
| US09454725B2 |
Passage justification scoring for question answering
According to an aspect, passage justification scoring includes creating a multi-layered neural network from domain knowledge and training the multi-layered neural network with labeled data and unlabeled data. A further aspect includes inputting at least one of an existing passage justification component and raw input data for a question and passage to the multi-layered neural network, extracting concepts determined to have passage justification with respect to a candidate answer contained in a respective passage, and creating a passage justification model from the extracted concepts and from passage justification ground truth. |
| US09454720B2 |
Method and system for halftone printing
A method for halftone printing of an image may include receiving image data of an image to be printed. The method may also include processing the image data to generate, for each printing element of a plurality of printing elements which are designed to sharingly print a single color component of a color space, or for each pass of a single printing element which is designed to pass a plurality of passes over a single print area when printing that color component, a halftone pattern for the image for that color, that was independently generated for that printing element or for that pass. The method may further include printing, by each printing element of the plurality of printing elements or in each pass of a single printing element, the halftone pattern that was independently generated for that printing element or for that pass. |
| US09454717B2 |
Image forming system, integrated circuit chip, and image forming apparatus
An integrated circuit chip configured to be connected to an image forming apparatus having a light source, a photosensitive member, and a light receiver includes a synchronizing signal output circuit, a data output circuit, an OR circuit, a chip-side communicator, first and second wiring lines. The synchronizing signal output circuit is configured to output a synchronizing signal for lighting the light source. The data output circuit is configured to output an image data signal for lighting the light source. The OR circuit is configured to output a lighting signal that is a logical sum of the synchronizing signal and the image data signal. The chip-side communicator is configured to transmit the lighting signal to the image forming apparatus. The first wiring line connects the synchronizing signal output circuit with the OR circuit. The second wiring line connects the data output circuit with the OR circuit. |
| US09454714B1 |
Sequence transcription with deep neural networks
Systems and methods for sequence transcription with neural networks are provided. More particularly, a neural network can be implemented to map a plurality of training images received by the neural network into a probabilistic model of sequences comprising P(S|X) by maximizing log P(S|X) on the plurality of training images. X represents an input image and S represents an output sequence of characters for the input image. The trained neural network can process a received image containing characters associated with building numbers. The trained neural network can generate a predicted sequence of characters by processing the received image. |
| US09454712B2 |
Saliency map computation
Saliency map computation is described. In one or more implementations, a base saliency map is generated for an image of a scene. The base saliency map may be generated from intermediate saliency maps computed for boundary regions of the image. Each of the intermediate saliency maps may represent visual saliency of portions of the scene that are captured in the corresponding boundary region. The boundary regions may include, for instance, a top boundary region, a bottom boundary region, a left boundary region, and a right boundary region. Further, the intermediate saliency maps may be combined in such a way that an effect of a foreground object on the saliency map is suppressed. The foreground objects for which the effect is suppressed are those that occupy a majority of one of the boundary regions. |
| US09454706B1 |
Arabic like online alphanumeric character recognition system and method using automatic fuzzy modeling
A system and associated methodology recognizes an Arabic like alphanumeric character using fuzzy modeling. The method receives a handwritten Arabic like alphanumeric character, stores fuzzy models of a plurality of Arabic like alphanumeric characters, preprocesses the handwritten Arabic like alphanumeric character, extracts features from the preprocessed Arabic like alphanumeric character, computes a similarity value based on fuzzy comparison between points of the preprocessed Arabic like alphanumeric character and the stored fuzzy models, classifies the handwritten Arabic like alphanumeric character based at least in part on the similarity value and outputs a classified alphanumeric character. |
| US09454698B2 |
Iris recognition terminal and method
A terminal for minimizing a gazing phenomenon in an iris recognition terminal is disclosed. The iris recognition terminal may minimize the gazing phenomenon by including an eyeball reflection unit. Also, it is also possible to minimize the gazing phenomenon by displaying a positioner on a display unit. A person who wears glasses may experience specular light on the iris recognition terminal but the terminal of the present disclosure avoids the specular light. The terminal determines the location of the specular light and guides an avoidance location to a user based on the determination, so quick and accurate iris recognition is possible. |
| US09454696B2 |
Dynamically generating table of contents for printable or scanned content
Methods and devices receive a document comprising raster images, using an optical scanner. These methods and devices automatically identify topical items within the raster images based on raster content in the raster images, using a processor. Further, these methods and devices automatically associate the topical items with topics in the document based on previously established rules for identifying topical sections, and automatically crop the topical items from the raster images to produce cropped portions of the raster images, using the processor. These methods and devices then automatically create an index for the document by combining the cropped portions of the raster images organized by the topics, using the processor, and output the index from the processor. |
| US09454695B2 |
System and method for multi-view pattern matching
A method for matching a pattern to a multi-view sequence includes receiving a multi-view sequence which includes a plurality of sequences. Each sequence includes symbols drawn from a respective alphabet. A pattern to be matched on the multi-view sequence is received. The pattern includes a sequence of symbols drawn from a plurality of the alphabets. Offsets are assigned to the symbols as a function of a latest position of the symbol in the pattern or a length of the pattern otherwise. The multi-view sequence is traversed with the pattern to identify index positions in the sequence at which the pattern matches the corresponding part of the multi-view sequence. The pattern is shifted between index positions by a shift which is based on a minimum of the offsets for those of the symbols of the plurality of sequences that are aligned with a last of the symbols in the pattern. |
| US09454694B2 |
Displaying and inserting handwriting words over existing typeset
One embodiment provides a method, including: accepting, in an overlay input application, one or more ink strokes provided to an input field overlay area; wherein the input field overlay area is located on top of an underlying application display; and providing, in the input field overlay area, an at least partially opaque background. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09454693B2 |
Image correction apparatus, image correction method, and biometric authentication apparatus
An image correction apparatus includes a correction factor calculating unit which calculates a correction factor such that a distance between a corrected value obtained by correcting, using the correction factor, a luminance value of a first pixel on the image corresponding to a sensor element with a first filter in an image sensor included in an image capturing unit which generates the image, the first filter having a first transmittance characteristic and a luminance value of a second pixel on the image corresponding to a sensor element with a second filter in the image sensor, the second filter having a second transmittance characteristic, becomes smaller than a distance between the luminance value of the first pixel and the luminance value of the second pixel, and a correcting unit which generates a corrected image by correcting the luminance value of the first pixel using the correction factor. |
| US09454690B2 |
Biometric scanner having a protective conductive array
A biometric scanner having a sensor and an array of conductive strands is disclosed. The sensor has at least one sensor electrode, and that sensor electrode may be a capacitance sensor, an electric field sensor, or an electroluminescent sensor. The array may have an electrical insulating material between adjacent ones of the conductive strands. The array serves to protect the sensor, and conduct through the array information about the electrical characteristics of a biometric object. |
| US09454689B2 |
Rolling shutter bar code imaging
Methods, devices, and systems for rolling shutter bar code imaging are described herein. One method includes initiating the imaging of a bar code by initiating a sequence of procedures to accumulate a charge in a first row of pixels as they are exposed to light thereby capturing data to create a first row of the image of the bar code at a first time, initiating the sequence of procedures to accumulate a charge in a subsequent row of pixels as they are exposed to light thereby capturing data to create a subsequent row of the image of the bar code at a second time, actuating a light source to illuminate the bar code at multiple specific times during a pre-determined timing sequence, and de-blurring the image data for each row based on the specific times during the pre-determined timing sequence that the light source was actuated. |
| US09454685B2 |
Portable RFID reading terminal with visual indication of scan trace
A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an RFID reading device, and a display. The portable RFID reading terminal can be configured to display a scan trace provided by a line comprising a plurality of time varying points. Each point can be defined by a projection of a radio frequency (RF) signal coverage shape of the RFID reading device onto a chosen plane at a given moment in time. |
| US09454681B2 |
Methods and devices for identifying selected objects
A method of choosing an object from multiple objects using a wireless device includes receiving a backscatter communication signal from each of the objects, determining one or more analog parameter of each backscatter communication signal, and, using the wireless device, selecting one object based at least in part on the analog parameter of each backscatter communication signal. Each of the objects includes an RF interface configured to communicate using backscatter communication. |
| US09454680B1 |
RFID integrated circuit identifier self-check
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag IC stores an identifier and a check code. The IC determines whether the stored identifier is corrupted by comparing it to the check code. If the stored identifier does not correspond to the check code then the IC may terminate operation or indicate an error. The IC may also reconstruct the correct identifier from the check code. |
| US09454679B2 |
Magnetic secure transmission device hardware
A system for a baseband near field magnetic stripe data transmitter includes a mobile phone, a magnetic stripe transmission (MST) device and a payment button. The mobile phone includes a payment wallet application and is configured to transmit a stream of pulses including magnetic stripe data of a payment card. The MST device includes a driver and an inductor, and the MST device is configured to receive the stream of pulses from the mobile phone, to amplify and shape the received stream of pulses and to generate and emit high energy magnetic pulses including the magnetic stripe data of the payment card. The inductor is driven by a series of timed current pulses that result in a series of high energy magnetic pulses that resemble the fluctuating magnetic field created by a moving magnetic stripe. The payment button is programmed to be associated with a pre-selected payment card and activating of the payment button initiates the emission of high energy magnetic pulses including the magnetic stripe data of the pre-selected payment card. |
| US09454677B1 |
Secure communication architecture including video sniffer
Secure communication of user inputs is achieved by isolating part of an endpoint device such that certificates and encryption keys are protected from corruption by malware. Further, the communication is passed through a trusted data relay that is configured to decrypt and/or certify the user inputs encrypted by the isolated part of the endpoint device. The trusted data relay can determine that the user inputs were encrypted or certified by the protected certificates and encryption keys, thus authenticating their origin within the endpoint device. The trusted data relay then forwards the inputs to an intended destination. In some embodiments, the isolated part of the endpoint device is configured to detect input created by auto-completion logic and/or spell checking logic. |
| US09454674B2 |
Data sharing control method and data sharing control terminal
Provided is a method and apparatus to detect and control flow of data shared in a terminal. A method to control data sharing may include accessing a program that shares a type of data with a terminal, displaying the accessed program on a screen organized by the type of data; and controlling the data to be shared with the accessed program in response to a control signal input on the screen. |
| US09454671B2 |
Selective data transformation and access for secure cloud analytics
Providing analytics information from a cloud service includes maintaining an analytics database that is separate from data and servers accessed by users of the cloud service, selectively pushing information from the cloud service to the analytics database, where data and servers accessed by users of the cloud service are inaccessible for direct access by the analytics database, and allowing users limited access to the analytics database, where users of the analytics information that are accessing the analytics database are restricted from accessing data and servers of the cloud service. The analytics database may include a first database of adapted database records and a second database of dynamic logs of service related events. The adapted database records may be initially formed using the data and servers accessed by users of the cloud service prior to being pushed to the analytics database. |
| US09454670B2 |
Hybrid file systems
Systems and computer program products may provide a virtual system with direct access to one or more sectors of a resource of a computer system. The system and computer program products may include providing, by a computer system to a virtual system, first access control data associated with a regular computer file that corresponds to a resource on the computer system. The system and computer program products may additionally include receiving, at the computer system, a direct read from or direct write to one or more sectors of the resource represented by the regular computer file from the virtual system. The system and computer program products may further include hiding, at the computer system, a hidden computer file from the virtual system. The system and computer program products may additionally include routing, at the computer system, the direct read from or direct write to the hidden computer file on the computer system. |
| US09454668B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, terminal apparatus, and control method
When a failure of a reply in response to a packet is detected, A terminal apparatus transmits, to a stand-by information processing apparatus, multiple packets in which multiple divided command statements are attached to header areas thereof, the divided command statements being obtained by dividing into multiple statements a command statement for a switch command to switch from a currently-operated information processing apparatus to the stand-by information processing apparatus. The stand-by information processing apparatus stores each of the divided command statements that are attached to the packets that are transmitted from the terminal apparatus. The stand-by information processing apparatus performs a switch operation to switch from the currently-operated information processing apparatus to the stand-by the information processing apparatus in accordance with the switch command that is generated from the stored divided command statements. |
| US09454667B2 |
Granting object authority via a multi-touch screen to a collaborator
In an embodiment, in response to a gesture by an administrator, a security palette is created and displayed on a multi-touch screen. In response to a move by the administrator of a first icon to within the security palette, wherein the first icon represents a first object, a same authority that the administrator has to the first object is granted to the security palette. In response to a collaborator touching the security palette, the same authority to the first object is granted to the collaborator. |
| US09454664B2 |
Privacy of location information
An arrangement for providing privacy settings for determining whether location information for a subscriber can be provided to a requesting party is described. The privacy settings are at least partially based on presence information for the subscriber. A gateway mobile location center (GMLC) selectively provides the location information regarding subscribers on request, in accordance with the privacy settings. |
| US09454661B2 |
Key versioning including hash stick technology
The subject disclosure is directed towards providing a computing device with access to key that depends on the current software version, e.g., the software version of a security processor. If the software is compromised, another key becomes available with release of each new (non-compromised) software version. Keys for future versions cannot be derived, while keys for earlier versions can be derived from the current key. A secure boot process uses a secret to generate a first key, after which access to the secret is turned off. The first key is used with key blob data to compute a second key used for data decryption (and encryption) as needed. The key blob data may be global for all devices, and/or device specific; a hash stick comprising a set of derivable keys may be used at manufacturing time to generate the device-specific key blob data. |
| US09454658B2 |
Malware detection using feature analysis
A method of identifying sections of code that can be disregarded when detecting features that are characteristic of malware, which features are subsequently used for detecting malware. The method includes, for each of a multiplicity of sample files, subdividing file code of the sample file into a plurality of code blocks and then removing duplicate code blocks to leave a sequence of unique code blocks. The sequence of unique code blocks is then compared with those obtained for other sample files in order to identify standard sections of code. The standard sections of code identified are then included within a database such that those sections of code can subsequently be disregarded when identifying features characteristic of malware. |
| US09454657B2 |
Security access device and method
A security system and method is provided. An embodiment includes a security access device that includes a first transmitter for transmitting authentication to a computer and a second transmitter for transmitting verification information to a computer. The first transmitter is typically active and consumes power from the access device, while the second transmitter is typically passive, and consumes less or nil power from the access device. When the security access device is initially brought proximal to the computer and activated, the authentication information is sent to the computer and the user is logged in. Periodically, the computer will query the passive transmitter for verification information, to ensure that the security access device is still proximal to the computer. |
| US09454656B2 |
System and method for verifying status of an authentication device through a biometric profile
A system and method that includes receiving a first biometric profile and associating the first biometric profile with a first application instance that is assigned as an authentication device of a first account; receiving a second biometric profile for a second application instance, wherein the second application instance is making a request on behalf of the first account; comparing the second biometric profile to the first biometric profile; and completing the request of the second application instance according to results of comparing the second biometric profile to the first biometric profile. |
| US09454651B1 |
Mobile token driven software licensing
A token contains licensing information for software stored on another computer. The token connects to the computer wirelessly, and transmits the licensing information, preferably automatically. While the token is connected to the computer, at least one factor in a multi-factor authentication scheme is satisfied for licensed use of the software. When the token disconnects from the computer either at will, or by exceeding the range of the wireless connection, the software on the computer becomes unlicensed and then can no longer execute. |
| US09454648B1 |
Distributing token records in a market environment
Method and system for distributing token records in market environment is disclosed. At least one token record comprising a unique seed associated with a OTP token. Encryption key and decryption key are generated for assisting selective encryption and decryption of token record associated with OTP token. The token record is encrypted with the assistance of encryption key. One of encrypted token record and decryption key is provided into market environment. A device comprising an identifier for facilitating identification of token record associated with OTP token is provided into market environment together with the one of encrypted token record and decryption key. The identifier concealed by tamper-evident removable material such that any effort to reveal identifier will be readily apparent. The other of the encrypted token record and decryption key is provided to an entity in response to entity providing identifier. |
| US09454647B1 |
Managing assets on a computing device
Systems and methods for managing assets on a computing device are described. A computing device obtains one or more relationships between an electronic device and one or more related electronic devices. Relationship priorities of the relationships are obtained. The computing device displays an icon representing the electronic device and icons representing the related electronic devices. Also displayed are arrows representing the relationships. The arrows are displayed with differing thicknesses based on the relationship priorities. |
| US09454645B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing medication adherence
A system and method of a clinical trial is provided. The system comprises a summary page providing an overview of each clinical trial participant in a graphical format, each clinical trial participant being represented by a unique clinical trial participant identifier and one or more clinical trial participant identifier modifiers applicable to modify one or more of the clinical trial participant identifiers, each modifier indicative of a different status of the particular participant identifier to which it is applied. A zoom selector is provided for zooming in on a subset of the clinical trial participant identifiers included with the summary page. Upon selection of a particular level of zoom, a corresponding amount of detailed information related to the subset of the clinical trial identifiers is provided; the detailed information including at least an indication of the level of compliance of a clinical trial participant to a prescribed clinical trial protocol represented by a corresponding clinical trial participant identifier, and further information related to any particular clinical trial participant identifier modifiers applied to any one of the clinical trial participant identifiers included within the subset. |
| US09454644B2 |
Downloadable datasets for a patient monitoring system
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for remotely monitoring the health of an ambulatory patient. As described herein, an ambulatory patient may interact with a monitoring device that is located at the patient's home. The monitoring device may ask the patient to provide responses to health-related questions or requests for physiological characteristics and may upload the responses. A health care professional may then use the responses to evaluate the health of the patient. A set of firmware instructions stored on the monitoring device may cause the monitoring device to perform these functions. The monitoring device may download a prompt that is associated with at least one instruction in the set of firmware instructions. The prompt may cause the patient monitoring device to execute the at least one instruction in the set of firmware instructions to gather information relating to a patient. |
| US09454643B2 |
Surface and image integration for model evaluation and landmark determination
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a software program that displays both a volume as images and segmentation results as surface models in 3D. Multiple 2D slices are extracted from the 3D volume. The 2D slices may be interactively rotated by the user to best follow an oblique structure. The 2D slices can “cut” the surface models from the segmentation so that only half of the models are displayed. The border curves resulting from the cuts are displayed in the 2D slices. The user may click a point on the surface model to designate a landmark point. The corresponding location of the point is highlighted in the 2D slices. A 2D slice can be reoriented such that the line lies in the slice. The user can then further evaluate or refine the landmark points based on both surface and image information. |
| US09454638B2 |
Motor design method, motor designed by motor design method, and electric vehicle provided with motor
A motor design method, a motor (11) designed by the motor design method, and an electric vehicle (10) provided with the motor (11) include a first calculation step of obtaining a set of a number of revolutions required to achieve a predetermined running pattern and a torque required to achieve the predetermined running pattern, a second calculation step of selecting a motor efficiency corresponding to the number of revolutions and the torque from any one of motor characteristic curves, a third calculation step of obtaining a work amount from the number of revolutions and the torque and obtaining power consumption by dividing the work amount by the motor efficiency, and a fourth calculation step of obtaining a sum of the power consumption by repeating the first calculation step, the second calculation step, and the third calculation step over the entire running time. |
| US09454635B2 |
Virtual layer generation during failure analysis
A layout design for a semiconductor chip includes two or more layers, each including a set of shapes, which are used for various fabrication processes during the manufacture of a physical semiconductor chip. Some manufacturing processes create physical features on the semiconductor chip that do not directly correspond to shapes in the layout design. To facilitate design analysis of such semiconductor chips, shapes from the layout design are selected and manipulated by performing one or more operations, such as Boolean operations, on the shapes to generate new shapes. The new shapes, which can represent physical features of the manufactured semiconductor chip, are then displayed, along with an image of the corresponding section of the physical semiconductor chip, to facilitate design analysis, such as failure analysis. |
| US09454634B1 |
Methods, systems, and computer program product for an integrated circuit package design estimator
Disclosed are mechanisms for implementing an IC package layout design with an integrated circuit package design estimator. These mechanisms determine an estimated number of layers for an integrated circuit (IC) package design including one or more IC die designs, determine whether the estimated number of layers suffice to accommodate routing demands for the IC package layout design, determine a power layer and/or a ground layer based in part or in whole upon one or more factors, and generate an output for the IC package layout design based using at least the estimated number of layers and the power layer and/or the ground layer. These mechanisms use input including connectivity information, thermal effects, and/or IC placement information to determine estimates for the total number of layers, layer stack-up, power and ground plane assignment, and via libraries to guide IC package layout design. |
| US09454632B1 |
Context specific spare cell determination during physical design
In some embodiments, a method may be directed towards contextual based spare cell assignment for integrated circuits. The method may include reserving a plurality of spare cell areas in which to position spare cells on an integrated circuit. The method may include positioning standard cells as defined by an integrated circuit design for the integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the method may include determining the spare cells to be positioned in the plurality of spare cell areas based upon a population of a plurality of types of cells in a predetermined area. The method may include ensuring that each of the plurality of spare cell areas may include a minimum number of predetermined cells. The method may include positioning a predetermined cell in at least one of the plurality of spare cell areas if the type of predetermined cells is absent in the population of areas adjacent to the predetermined area. |
| US09454630B1 |
Graphical representation of integrated circuits
A system for graphics generation includes a processor configured to implement a modeling process and a GUI process. The modeling process is configured to generate a first graphics model including a plurality of objects. Each object defines a respective graphical depiction for a respective element of a programmable IC. The modeling process is also configured to serialize objects of the first graphics model according to a first application programming interface (API) definition file to produce a serialized graphics model. The GUI process is configured to, in response to receiving one or more objects of the serialized graphics model, deserialize the one or more objects of the serialized graphics model according to the first API definition file to produce a second graphics model. The GUI process is further configured to render the one or more objects of the second graphics model. |
| US09454625B2 |
Systems and methods for creating application interfaces for forming and solving problems in a modeling system
An apparatus for generating an application data structure includes a physical computing system comprising processor(s), input device(s), display(s), and memor(ies). The memory includes executable instructions that cause a processor to perform the acts of embedding a multiphysics model data structure for a physical system in an application data structure. Application features are determined to add to the application data structure. First data is added representing a form feature for the application features for the model of the physical system. Second data is added representing at an action feature for the application features. The second data is associated with at least one modeling operation to define a sequence of operations for modeling the physical system. The application data structure is updated including the added first and second data and the associating defining the sequence of operations. The updated application data structure is stored on the memory device(s). |
| US09454619B2 |
Layered user interface
A user interface for a device comprises a plurality of layers. The content for the user interface is associated with one of the plurality of layers. |
| US09454617B1 |
Client rendering
Data including information regarding a display of the host device may be received. A display of a client device may correspond to the display of the host device. Information regarding the display of the host device may be received and evaluated to identify commands related to the display of the host device. The identified commands are encoded for a browser associated with the client device. A bitstream describing the display of the host device may be generated to incorporate the encoded commands. The bitstream may then be provided to a client device, where the display of the client device is rendered using a browser. As such, the display of the client device continues to correspond to the host device. |
| US09454614B2 |
Search information providing apparatus and search information providing method
An information searching apparatus according to an embodiment includes a receiving unit that receives a search request including a search keyword; an acquiring unit that acquires information corresponding to a specific search keyword from an information storage unit when the search keyword included in the search request is the specific search keyword; a generating unit that generates a search result page for displaying a search result and a background image based on the information acquired by the acquiring unit; and a transmitting unit that transmits the search result page generated by the generating unit to a request source. |
| US09454612B2 |
Item selection in curation learning
A method of ranking candidate curation items includes receiving a query. The method also includes extracting items from multiple curations. The method also includes calculating, based on the query, a content similarity measurement for each of the extracted items. The method also includes extracting, from each of the extracted items, multiple curation-specific features. The method also includes calculating one or more curation-specific measurements for each of the extracted items based on the extracted curation-specific features, the one or more curation-specific measurements being different than the content similarity measurement. The method also includes ranking each of the extracted items based on both the content similarity measurement and the one or more curation-specific measurements to generate multiple curation item results. |
| US09454611B2 |
Providing knowledge panels with search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing knowledge panels with search results. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining search results that are responsive to a received query. A factual entity referenced by the query is identified. Content is identified for display in a knowledge panel for the factual entity. The content includes at least one content item obtained from a first resource and at least one second content item obtained from a second resource different than the first resource. Data is provided that causes the identified search results and the knowledge panel to be presented on a search results page. The knowledge panel presents the identified content in a knowledge panel area that is along side at least a portion of the search results. |
| US09454608B2 |
Electronic search interface technology
Techniques are described for displaying a representation of a list of electronic search results while a user is reviewing content linked to by electronic search results included in the list. While the user is reviewing the search results, the user may jump between content linked to by different search results using the representation of the list of electronic search results displayed. The displayed representation of the list of search results may be updated based on the user's browsing activities in reviewing the search results, user input manipulating the list of search results, and supplemental information added to the list of search results by the user. |
| US09454598B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing conversation messages
A method for managing messages is provided, including: displaying, by a first terminal, a conversation screen associated with a plurality of messages; displaying an indication that there is a link query corresponding to a first message; detecting whether the indication is selected; responsive to the indication being selected, performing a first search of the plurality of messages for the first message, the first search being performed based on a first search key that is generated using the link query; and displaying the first message when the first search is successful. |
| US09454597B2 |
Document management and retrieval system and document management and retrieval method
A document management & retrieval system is configured to: store, for each word in a set of words, appearance positions of the each word in a set of documents as a word index; store, for each tag in a set of tags attached to words, a set of words that appear to a right and left of the each tag, and also store, as a tag LR index, appearance positions of the each tag in a set of documents with a combination of the each tag and a word appearing to its right or a combination of the each tag and a word appearing to its left as a key; and, in a tag search where a query phrase contains words and a tag next to each other, refer to the index with a tag and the word to the right or left of the tag as a key, thereby reducing the size of a document list to be read without needing to have a tag name as a secondary key. A tag is updated by just updating two places in the tag LR index. |
| US09454596B2 |
Enterprise entity for use in a call center
A call center application program allows a call center administrator to access, view, and edit data across multiple applications used by multiple customer interaction systems of the call center. The application program is adapted to retrieve data from a plurality of different applications and systems, consolidate redundant data, and display the data to a user, enabling a single unified view of resources across call center applications. Changes can be made to the data application program, which in turn propagates the changes to the individual call center applications, eliminating the need for the user to manually change the data in each individual application. |
| US09454592B2 |
Managing, importing, and exporting teamspace templates and teamspaces in content repositories
Provided are techniques for managing, importing, and exporting teamspace templates and teamspaces in content repositories. A file is created using a teamspace template and associated metadata at a first content repository. The file is exported from the first content repository to a second content repository, wherein the file can be used to create a teamspace instance at the second content repository. |
| US09454587B2 |
Searching and restoring of backups
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for searching for and presenting backups. A first search result including a first version of an item is presented. The first version is associated with a first date range having a first start date and a first end date. User input requesting that an archive including one or more versions of the item be searched is received. A second search result including a second version of the item is presented. The second version is different from the first version. The second version is associated with a second date range having a second start date and a second end date. The second date range does not overlap with the first date range. |
| US09454575B2 |
Processing a metric of a component of a software-defined network
Processing a metric of a component of a SDN can include registering a unique identifier associated with the metric in storage of the SDN. |
| US09454570B2 |
Dynamic database indexing
A database query is intercepted by a query analyzer before it reaches a database. The query analyzer then tracks where the query accesses the database and how long the operation takes to complete. A statistical model is then constructed during runtime based on this tracking information to create an updated index schema for the database. The database index structure is then updated with the new schema to reduce query access times. |
| US09454568B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer storage medium for acquiring hot content
A method and apparatus for acquiring hot content are disclosed. The method includes: acquiring N search requests and N search responses corresponding to the N search requests; analyzing the N search requests and the N search responses to obtain N initial hot content datum; calculating a weight of each initial hot content data and selecting M middle hot content datum from the N initial hot content datum according to the weight of each initial hot content data, and M is a natural number and no greater than N; performing repetition elimination on the M middle hot content datum; and selecting hot content from the M middle hot content datum after the repetition elimination. The apparatus includes acquiring module, analyzing module, selecting module, repetition eliminating module and processing module. According to the disclosure, the hot content can be acquired automatically without extra editing, thereby improving the efficiency of acquiring hot content and saving the human cost. |
| US09454564B1 |
Data integrity checks
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to performing agnostic data integrity checks on source data, and based on the data integrity checks, generating a human-readable report that may be useable to identify specific errors or anomalies within the source data. Example embodiments involve systems and methods for performing the data integrity checks and generating the human-readable reports. For example, the method may include operations to ingest data from a source database through a data pipeline and into a local database, access the data from the data pipeline, determine a data type of the data, determine subtypes of data elements which make up the data, determine a count of each subtype, and generate a human-readable report, to be displayed at a client device. |
| US09454563B2 |
Fact checking search results
A fact checking system is able to verify the correctness of information and/or characterize information by comparing the information with one or more sources. The fact checking system automatically monitors, processes, fact checks information and indicates a status of the information. Fact checking results are able to be validated by re-fact checking the fact check results. |
| US09454562B2 |
Optimized narrative generation and fact checking method and system based on language usage
An optimized fact checking system analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The optimized fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information in an optimized manner and/or provides a status of the information. In some embodiments, the optimized fact checking system generates, aggregates, and/or summarizes content. |
| US09454561B2 |
Method and a consistency checker for finding data inconsistencies in a data repository
A consistency checker and (200) a method performed by a consistency checker (200) for finding inconsistencies of data posts stored in a data repository (220) is provided. The consistency checker (200) has a storage unit (202) in which a number of inconsistency patterns are stored, each inconsistency pattern being associated with an inconsistency analysis rule for a value of a data attribute. The consistency checker further has a receiving unit (204) for receiving a data post from the data repository, and a logic unit (206) arranged for matching a value of at least one data attribute of the data post with a value of the corresponding data attribute of the stored inconsistency patterns, and if there is a match, applying the inconsistency analysis rule that is connected with the matched inconsistency pattern to the data post to evaluate whether there is an inconsistency in the data post or not, wherein the number of inconsistency patterns each defines an inconsistency that has previously occurred for a value of a data attribute in the data repository. |
| US09454559B1 |
Dynamic master data management
A method includes, in a master data management system, identifying a profile including a plurality of master data attributes and receiving a persistent modification request for the profile. The persistent modification request affects one or more of the master data attributes. The method further includes, for each affected attribute, either: (i) identifying a preexisting master record associated with preexisting ownership information; or (ii) determining that no preexisting master record exists. The method further includes, for each affected attribute: (i) responsive to determining that no preexisting master record exists, adding a new master data attribute and associated new ownership information to the profile, based on the persistent modification request; (ii) responsive to identifying the preexisting master record, selectively permitting or denying the persistent modification request; and (iii) responsive to permitting the persistent modification request, updating the preexisting master record, based on the persistent modification request. |
| US09454558B2 |
Managing an index of a table of a database
A method, a system, and a computer program product for managing a database are disclosed. Managing the database includes managing an index of a table of the database. Managing the index includes determining the table includes a first field having a first input value configured to identify a first dynamic data function utilized to determine a first output value for the first field. In embodiments, managing the index includes determining the first dynamic data function is deterministic, determining the first output value for the first field using the first dynamic data function, and storing the first output value for the first field. In embodiments, managing the index includes determining the first dynamic data function is nondeterministic, determining a first special value to represent the first output value for the first field, and storing the first special value for the first field. |
| US09454553B2 |
Multi-shot scheduling system
A Multi-Shot Scheduling System chooses from multiple candidate playlists of positions to select a broadcast playlist. Candidate playlists are generated based upon scoring and selecting content items for the positions through the use of index values. Various embodiments of the Multi-Shot Scheduling System can select broadcast playlists for multiple groups of content and can provide different methods of controlling scheduling performance by restricting the range of candidate playlists from which the best playlist can be selected. |
| US09454551B2 |
System and method for management of garbage collection operation in a solid state drive
A method of garbage collection in a storage device including a central processing unit (CPU), a self-organized fast release buffer (FRB), and a non-volatile memory, the method including receiving a command to perform garbage collection in a first block stripe of the non-volatile memory from the CPU, the command including a second block stripe to write to and valid logical block numbers (LBNs) corresponding to a first codewords (CWs) stored in the first block stripe, allocating space in a buffer memory of the FRB for storage of the first CWs, storing the first CWs into the allocated space in the buffer memory, transferring a second CWs to a plurality of physical addresses in the second block stripe of the non-volatile memory, and sending the valid LBNs and the plurality of physical addresses to the CPU to update a logical-to-physical table, wherein the second CWs is based on the first CWs. |
| US09454550B2 |
Database method for B+ tree based on PRAM
A Database method for a B+ tree based on a PRAM. The database method divides each node into two areas, area 1 and area 2. A key value is inserted/retrieved/deleted for the each node. Inserting the key value requires firstly inserting a new key value to area 2 if area 2 in the node is not in a full state. Retrieving the key value requires identifying whether the node is a leaf node. If the node is a leaf node, the key value is retrieved from area 1 and area 2 sequentially. Deleting the key value requires merging area 1 and area 2 in the node, and deleting the key value in the merged node. The method enhances durability and data processing capability. |
| US09454548B1 |
Pluggable storage system for distributed file systems
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing data. In some embodiments, this includes an initial instruction for a file stored in a first storage system, determining that the initial instruction is not supported by the first storage system, identifying a combination of instructions to the first storage system after determining that the initial instruction is not supported by the first storage system, wherein the combination of instructions is based on the initial instruction, performing the identified combination of instructions on the file stored in the first storage system, and storing results of the performed identified combination of instructions. |
| US09454546B2 |
Filtering inventory objects using images in an RFID system
A method for filtering scanned objects displayed on a reader is provided. The reader may scan one or more transponders, and obtain, from a database, an image for each scanned transponder. Each transponder may be associated with an object (e.g., an item of retail inventory). The obtained image for each object may be presented on an interface, and a selection of an object category may be received using the obtained images. A determination may be made as to which objects are associated with the selected object category. A display screen may display data associated with only the objects associated with the selected object category. |
| US09454544B1 |
Selecting destinations or points of interest
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for computerized travel services. One of the methods includes identifying points of interest or destinations associated with a travel location by querying a geographic data store that includes data mapping travel locations to points of interest or destinations; determining for each of the points of interest or destination: a count of travel related documents that refer to the point of interest or destination, a count of travel related queries that refer to the point of interest or destination, a count of photographs that are geographically related to the point of interest or destination, and a popularity score based at least in part on the count of travel documents, the count of travel queries, and the count of photographs; and selecting a selected point of interest or destination based at least in part on the respective popularity scores. |
| US09454542B2 |
Extensible file system
An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries. |
| US09454538B2 |
Low-overhead enhancement of reliability of journaled file system using solid state storage and de-duplication
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for reliable asynchronous solid-state device based de-duplication. Responsive to receiving a write request to write data to the file system, the mechanism sends the write request to the file system, and in parallel, computes a hash key for the write data. The mechanism looks up the hash key in a de-duplication table. The de-duplication table is stored in a memory or a solid-state storage device. Responsive to the hash key not existing in the de-duplication table, the mechanism writes the write data to a storage device, writes a journal transaction comprising the hash key, and updates the de-duplication table to reference the write data in the storage device. |
| US09454534B2 |
Method and apparatus for fault-tolerant memory management
A device and method for providing a fault-tolerant file system. The fault-tolerant file system attempts to minimize the number of writes used when updating file system data structures. In one embodiment, file system data, including file system metadata, is stored in a fault-tolerant tree including a working state and a transacted state. In one embodiment, a change list is used to track blocks that have been updated, instead of cascading updates to leaf nodes up the tree, and a delta block is used to further minimize block updates when adding or removing nodes from the tree. In one embodiment, a Q-Block is used to prevent cycles when adding and removing free blocks from an allocation tree. Metadata values are stored in the tree in a way that allows certain metadata values to be inferred when not present in the tree, thus conserving space and lowering query time. |
| US09454533B2 |
Reducing metadata in a write-anywhere storage system
Systems and methods for reducing metadata in a write-anywhere storage system are disclosed herein. The system includes a plurality of clients coupled with a plurality of storage nodes, each storage node having a plurality of primary storage devices coupled thereto. A memory management unit including cache memory is included in the client. The memory management unit serves as a cache for data produced by the clients before the data is stored in the primary storage. The cache includes an extent cache, an extent index, a commit cache and a commit index. The movement of data and metadata is by an interval tree. Methods for reducing data in the interval tree increase data storage and data retrieval performance of the system. |
| US09454532B2 |
Method and apparatus for migration of a virtualized file system, data storage system for migration of a virtualized file system, and file server for use in a data storage system
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for data migration of a first file system in a data storage system comprising a plurality of client computers 100, a first file system managing unit 310 for managing the first file system and being connected to the plurality of client computers 100, and a second file system managing unit 410 for managing a second file system and being connected to the first file system managing unit 310, the second file system comprising a plurality of data files and the first file system comprising a plurality of external link objects, each external link object of the first file system being associated with a respective data file of the second file system for enabling client access to the respective data file of the second file system. |
| US09454530B2 |
Relationship-based search and recommendations
Techniques are described for determining relationships between user activities and determining search results and content recommendations based on the relationships. A plays-related-to-searches application may determine a relationship score between plays of a media title and searches of a query by determining a distance between a projection of the search onto the space of the users and a projection of plays of the media title onto the space of the users. A plays-after-searches application may determine a score for plays of the streaming media title given the search by multiplying a number of times plays of the media title occur after the query is entered by the number of times any play occurs, and dividing by a product of the number of times plays of the media title occur after any query is entered and the number of times plays of any media title occur after the query is entered. |
| US09454529B2 |
Method of improving a search
A computer-readable medium including computer-readable information thereon including instructions that provides a method for refining a search, the method comprising displaying results elements with attributes associated therewith. The search being adapted to be modified on a basis of an identification of the most relevant attributes. A computer system and an graphical interface for providing same is also hereby provided. |
| US09454528B2 |
Method and system for creating ordered reading lists from unstructured document sets
A method for creating an ordered reading list for a set of documents includes identifying the topics among documents in a document set; clustering the document set into groups by topic; calculating a probability that a particular topic describes a given document in a cluster based upon the occurrence of the keywords in the document; determining relevant documents in a cluster based on a probability distribution; determining relevant information in a document by repeating a similar operation on the document paragraphs; generating an ordered reading list for the related documents of the cluster based on the relevance; and associating a visual que with non-redundant information in each document to indicate which paragraphs contain the relevant information. |
| US09454526B1 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a chart of accounts simplifier
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A CHART OF ACCOUNTS SIMPLIFIER (hereinafter “CAS”) implement efficient and scalable monitoring, regulation, and allocation of computational processing, data, labor, and/or the like resources within an enterprise. In some embodiments, the CAS may facilitate, in various implementations, report generation through the use of universal variables and economical interface features. In one embodiment, a report generation request may be received. A subset of transactions may be selected based on accounting Classes/Subclasses and business Categories/Subcategories. Report breakdown may be determined based on accounting Classes/Subclasses and on the report configuration details, and the report may be displayed to the user. |
| US09454521B1 |
Systems and methods for creating documents from templates
A merge application creates a particular set of documents for a particular matter. The merge application receives a selection of a particular master template corresponding to the particular set of documents, where the selected master template specifies a plurality of slave templates, and also receives a selection of a data structure from a database with data relating to the particular matter. The selected master template and the selected data structure are employed to produce the set of documents for the particular matter in an electronic form, where a corresponding document of the set is produced for each specified slave template in the selected master template. Each corresponding document is produced according to common content in the slave template and data in the selected data structure in the database referred to by placeholders in the slave template. |
| US09454519B1 |
Promotion and demotion of posts in social networking services
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs stored on a computer storage medium, for determining a respective sampling rate for plurality of authors based on respective ranks assigned to the authors by a user, sampling one or more items for each of the authors according to the respective sampling rate for the author, and providing the sampled items for presentation to the user. |
| US09454516B2 |
Method and handheld electronic device employing a touch screen for ambiguous word review or correction
A method of ambiguous word review or correction for a handheld electronic device includes receiving a plurality of actuations of input members in which each of a number of these members has a plurality of assigned characters, rendering a plurality of words responsive to the actuations, displaying a plurality of representations of the words, and detecting a number of the words, which are ambiguous. For each of the detected number, a visual indicator is displayed associated with a corresponding one of the representations. Touching of a touch screen is detected in connection with the displayed visual indicator. Preferably, a first magnification of the corresponding representation and a second magnification of a representation of a number of alternative words are displayed. The touch screen can be used to select one of the first and second magnifications to correct the ambiguous word. |
| US09454515B1 |
Content browser system using graphics commands and native text intelligence
Server systems are disclosed that receive content requests and respond with hardware-independent graphics commands instead of, or in addition to, unprocessed content items. The server systems can also generate text information regarding text in the requested content items, and provide the text information to user devices so that the user devices can have knowledge of the text in the content item. The user device can use the text information to handle user interactions with the content item, including copy, paste and search commands and other similar commands. Accordingly, the hardware-independent graphics commands-based representation may provide text interactivity and effects not otherwise available to content representations based on graphics commands or images of content. |
| US09454505B2 |
Chip select (‘CS’) multiplication in a serial peripheral interface (‘SPI’) system
Chip select (‘CS’) multiplication in an SPI system that includes an SPI master, a CS multiplier, a plurality of SPI slaves, and a fall time detection circuit, where the SPI master is coupled to the CS multiplier and the fall time detection circuit by a CS signal line, the CS multiplier includes a plurality of CS outputs with each CS output coupled to an SPI slave, and CS multiplication includes: receiving, from the SPI master, the CS signal on the CS signal line; detecting fall time of the CS signal; and, if the fall time of the CS signal is less than a predefined threshold, configuring, by the fall-time detection circuit, the CS multiplier to vary from providing a CS signal on a first CS output to providing a CS signal on a second CS output. |
| US09454502B2 |
Parallel communication device and communication method thereof
Provided are a parallel communication device and a communication method thereof. The parallel communication device includes: a first receiving terminal receiving communication data transmitted through a master device; a first transmitting terminal transmitting the communication data received through the first receiving terminal to a slave device; a switch managing a communication line disposed between the first transmitting terminal and a plurality of slave devise; and a control unit confirming a first slave device to which the communication data are to be transmitted by using destination information in the communication data, and transmitting the received communication data to the confirmed first slave device. |
| US09454500B2 |
Network communication control apparatus, system and method
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to single-wire bus communications. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a pull-up current is delimited when a single-wire bus circuit is operated at a dominant level during the transmission of data on the single-wire bus circuit. This approach can be implemented to facilitate power savings, such as in applications involving a master control circuit that transmits signals by driving the single-wire bus circuit between dominant and recessive levels. |
| US09454497B2 |
Technologies for secure inter-virtual-machine shared memory communication
Technologies for secure inter-virtual-machine shared memory communication include a computing device with hardware virtualization support. A virtual machine monitor (VMM) authenticates a view switch component of a target virtual machine. The VMM adds configures a secure memory view to access a shared memory segment. The shared memory segment may include memory pages of a source virtual machine or the VMM. The view switch component switches to the secure memory view without generating a virtual machine exit event, using the hardware virtualization support. The view switch component may switch to the secure memory view by modifying an extended page table (EPT) pointer. The target virtual machine accesses the shared memory segment via the secure memory view. The target virtual machine and the source virtual machine may coordinate ownership of memory pages using a secure view control structure stored in the shared memory segment. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09454493B1 |
Systems and methods for wiped storage devices
Systems and methods for verifying the wiping of a storage device using one of either a partial scan verification or a full scan verification, wherein a partial scan verification may be conducted based on at least one metric associated with the storage device and a threshold value for the at least one metric. |
| US09454492B2 |
Systems and methods for storage parallelism
One method includes streaming a data segment to a write buffer corresponding to a virtual page including at least two physical pages. Each physical page is defined within a respective solid-state storage element. The method also includes programming contents of the write buffer to the virtual page, such that a first portion of the data segment is programmed to a first one of the physical pages, and a second portion of the data segment is programmed to a second one of the physical pages. |
| US09454485B2 |
Sharing local cache from a failover node
Sharing local cache from a failover node, including: determining, by a managing compute node, whether a first compute node and a second compute node each have a local cache, where the second compute node is a mirrored copy of the first compute node; responsive to determining that the first compute node and the second compute node each have a local cache, combining, by the managing compute node, local cache on the first compute node and local cache on the second compute node into unified logical cache; receiving, by the managing compute node, a memory access request; and sending, by the managing compute node, the memory access request to an appropriate local cache in the unified logical cache. |
| US09454483B2 |
Salvaging lock elision transactions with instructions to change execution type
A transactional memory system salvages a hardware lock elision (HLE) transaction. A processor of the transactional memory system executes a lock-acquire instruction in an HLE environment and records information about a lock elided to begin HLE transactional execution of a code region. The processor detects a pending point of failure in the code region during the HLE transactional execution. The processor stops HLE transactional execution at the point of failure in the code region. The processor acquires the lock using the information, and based on acquiring the lock, commits the speculative state of the stopped HLE transactional execution. The processor starts non-transactional execution at the point of failure in the code region. |
| US09454482B2 |
Duplicate tag structure employing single-port tag RAM and dual-port state RAM
An apparatus for processing cache requests in a computing system is disclosed. The apparatus may include a single-port memory, a dual-port memory, and a control circuit. The single-port memory may be store tag information associated with a cache memory, and the dual-port memory may be configured to store state information associated with the cache memory. The control circuit may be configured to receive a request which includes a tag address, access the tag and state information stored in the single-port memory and the dual-port memory, respectively, dependent upon the received tag address. A determination of if the data associated with the received tag address is contained in the cache memory may be made the control circuit, and the control circuit may update and store state information in the dual-port memory responsive to the determination. |
| US09454471B2 |
Electronic counter in non-volatile limited endurance memory
An electronic counter is provided having a sequence of memory cells and increment logic. Each memory cell of the sequence is non-volatile and supports a one state and a zero state. The one state can also be referred to as a ‘programmed state’, the zero state as an ‘erased state’. The counter is configured to represent at least part of a current counting-state of the counter as a pattern of one and zero states in the memory cells of the sequence of memory cells, and increment logic configured to advance the pattern of one and zero states to a next pattern to represent an increment of the counter. |
| US09454469B2 |
Cloud-based test execution
In some implementations, a testing service receives a test execution request for executing test operations on a test target. The testing service may map the test execution request to a particular type of supported test framework from among a plurality of types of supported test frameworks. The testing service may obtain a test package provided by a user that requested the testing, such as from a cloud storage location. The testing service determines a computing capacity for executing the testing and appropriates a plurality of workers in a cloud computing service. The testing service configures the plurality of workers for executing the test operations based on at least one of the test framework, the test execution request or the test package. The testing service provides test execution chunks from the test package to the plurality of workers for executing the testing on the test target. |
| US09454459B2 |
Detecting merge conflicts and compilation errors in a collaborative integrated development environment
A method, and associated computer system and computer program product, of detecting source code merge conflicts and compilation errors. Uncommitted changes associated with a source code are received periodically at each time of a sequence of times. A temporary branch corresponding to each uncommitted change associated with the source code is created. The temporary branch corresponding to each uncommitted change is merged to corresponding portions of the source code. It is ascertained that no merge conflict resulted from the merging and in response, a compilation of a merged version of the source code is performed, wherein the merged version of the source code includes the temporary branch corresponding to each uncommitted change. It is determined that no compilation error occurred from the compilation and in response, a version of a product that includes the merged version of the source code is created. |
| US09454457B1 |
Software test apparatus, software test method and computer readable medium thereof
A software test apparatus and a software test method and a computer readable medium thereof are provided. The software test apparatus stores a software testing program, an under-tested code, a plurality of basic test benches and a plurality of candidate test benches. The under-tested code includes a hard-to-detect code and the hard-to-detect code has at least one hard-to-detect section. The software test apparatus runs the software testing program to execute the following operations: parsing the hard-to-detect code to generate a condition-statement tree; based on the basic test benches and the condition-statement tree, using a support vector machine (SVM) to establish a support vector regression (SVR) predictor; and applying the SVR predictor to choose a best candidate test bench from the candidate test benches. |
| US09454451B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing data scrubbing on a memory device
An apparatus and method are provided for opportunistically performing scrubbing operations on a memory device. The apparatus is used for accessing the memory device in response to access requests issued by at least one requesting device and comprises interface circuitry that is configured to access the memory device in response to the access requests. The apparatus also comprises activity monitoring circuitry which generates memory access activity data that results from memory access activity between the interface circuitry and the memory device. Scrubbing circuitry is also included and is configured to issue scrubbing access requests to perform the scrubbing operations, the scrubbing access requests being issued in response to the memory access activity data indicating a trigger condition. The above apparatus allows scrubbing access requests to be issued taking into account actual memory access activity between the interface circuitry and the memory device, thereby allowing the access requests to be issued opportunistically in such a way that the performance cost/system power consumption necessary to achieve a particular reliability can be reduced compared to known techniques. |
| US09454448B2 |
Fault testing in storage devices
A method of fault testing in a storage device comprises testing, in accordance with a storage device testing protocol, operability of a plurality of distinct portions on the storage device. The testing includes, for each of the plurality of distinct portions on the storage device: performing one or more operations on a respective portion of the storage device; recording data corresponding to electrical current drawn during performance of the one or more operations on the respective portion of the storage device; analyzing the recorded data, including determining whether one or more predefined characteristics of the recorded data meets predetermined failure criteria; and, in accordance with a determination that the recorded data meets the predetermined failure criteria, performing one or more remedial actions including updating a mapping of the storage device to mark the respective portion as a known-bad portion. |
| US09454446B2 |
System and method for using local storage to emulate centralized storage
Methods and systems for utilizing local storage of host computers to emulate a centralized storage system comprise receiving a write operation from a virtual machine running on a first host computer, wherein the write operation corresponds to a disk image that is locally stored in a first host computer. The disk image and a second disk image is updated in accordance with the write operation, wherein (i) the second disk image is locally stored on a second host computer that is networked to the first host computer, (ii) the second disk image serves as a back-up to the disk image, and (ii) the second host computer is configured to support the running of other virtual machines that access other disks images that (a) are locally stored on the second host computer, and (b) are further backed-up on at least a third host computer. |
| US09454443B1 |
Managed reliability of data storage
Systems and methods are provided herein that can facilitate the managed reliability of data storage, including management of device remanufacturing and masking from an operating system a failure or predicted failure of a device running on a computer or a networked cluster of computers having access to the device. The systems and methods may facilitate removal of a device by coordinating among computers or controllers in a network cluster the logical removal of a device. At a later time, a coordinated logical re-introduction of the device to the systems or computers from which the device was logically removed can be performed. This can be accomplished via a virtualization system that may include a device function driver (DFD), a device virtualization bus driver (DVBD), and a device management service (DMS). |
| US09454441B2 |
Data layout for recovery and durability
A Metadata server described herein is configured to generate a metadata table optimized for data durability and recovery. In generating the metadata table, the metadata server associates each possible combination of servers with one of the indices of the table, thereby ensuring that each server participates in recovery in the event of a server failure. In addition, the metadata server may also associate one or more additional servers with each index to provide added data durability. Upon generating the metadata table, the metadata server provides the metadata table to clients or servers. Alternatively, the metadata server may provide rules and parameters to clients to enable those clients to identify servers storing data items. The clients may use these parameters and an index as inputs to the rules to determine the identities of servers storing or designated to store data items corresponding to the index. |
| US09454440B2 |
Versatile information management
A method for information management comprises intercepting an output from an application; distributing packets according to a routing scheme, wherein the packets are associated with the output, and wherein distributing the packets may occur when the application is associated with a first operating system, and may also occur when the application is associated with a second operating system; and storing the packets. |
| US09454438B2 |
Recovery circuit for basic input-output system
A recovery circuit for a basic input-output system (BIOS) of a computer includes a storage, a platform controller hub (PCH), and a processor. An effective chip select signal is received by a chip selection pin of the storage via a second pin of the processor when a first pin of the processor does not receive any signals, data in the processor is transmitted to the PCH to make the computer boot up, the data in the processor is transmitted to the storage to erase and update data in the storage. |
| US09454437B2 |
Non-volatile logic based processing device
A processing device boots or wakes using non-volatile logic element (NVL) array(s) that store a machine state. A standard boot sequence is used to restore a first portion of data. A second portion of data is restored, in parallel with the standard boot sequence, from the NVL array(s). A data corruption check is performed on the second portion of data. If the second data is valid, a standard boot sequence is used to restore a third portion of data. If the second data is invalid or the boot is an initial boot, a standard boot sequence is executed to determine the second portion of data, which is then stored in the NVL array(s). The processing device restores the second portion of the data during a portion of the boot/wake process that is not reading data from other non-volatile devices to avoid overloading the respective power domain. |
| US09454435B2 |
Write performance in fault-tolerant clustered storage systems
Embodiments of the invention relate to supporting transaction data committed to a stable storage. Committed data in the cluster is stored in the persistent cache layer and replicated and stored in the cache layer of one or more secondary nodes. One copy is designated as a master copy and all other copies are designated as replica, with an exclusive write lock assigned to the master and a shared write lock extended to the replica. An acknowledgement of receiving the data is communicated following confirmation that the data has been replicated to each node designated to receive the replica. Managers and a director are provided to support management of the master copy and the replicas within the file system, including invalidation of replicas, fault tolerance associated with failure of a node holding a master copy, recovery from a failed node, recovered of the file system from a power failure, and transferring master and replica copies within the file system. |
| US09454434B2 |
File system driven raid rebuild technique
In one embodiment, one or more storage arrays of solid state drives (SSDs) that include a plurality of segments are organized as one or more redundant array of independent disks (RAID) groups, where the RAID groups provides data redundancy for the segments. A node executing a layered file system of a storage input/output (I/O) stack performs segment cleaning to clean the segments. It further initiates rebuild of a RAID configuration of the SSDs on a segment-by-segment basis in response to the segment cleaning. In such a configuration, each segment includes one or more RAID stripes that provide a level of data redundancy as well as RAID organization for the segment. |
| US09454432B2 |
Method of reading and writing to a spin torque magnetic random access memory with error correcting code
A method includes destructively reading bits of a spin torque magnetic random access memory, using error correcting code (ECC) for error correction, and storing inverted or non-inverted data in data-store latches. When a subsequent write operation changes the state of data-store latches, parity calculation and majority detection of the bits are initiated. A majority bit detection and potential inversion of write data minimizes the number of write current pulses. A subsequent write operation received within a specified time or before an original write operation is commenced will cause the majority detection operation to abort. |
| US09454431B2 |
Memory selection for slice storage in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module determining that a plurality of sets of encoded data slices is to be stored in a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) and identifying one or more devices of the DSN that will potentially issue a read request for at least some sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the (DS) processing module determining transmission times between the one or more devices and the set of storage units and determining a storage strategy for storing the plurality of sets of encoded data slices in the set of storage units based on the transmission times and memory devices of the set of storage units such that, from set to set of encoded data slices, at least a threshold number of encoded data slices are retrievable with comparable read response times. |
| US09454428B2 |
Error correction method and module for non-volatile memory
There is provided an error correction method for a non-volatile memory. The method includes receiving a codeword read from the non-volatile memory, computing a reliability information for each bit of the codeword received, and performing a reduced-complexity soft-decision decoding (SDD) technique to decode the received codeword. In particular, the SDD technique includes forming a set of test patterns based on the reliability data, and determining whether to perform a HDD of a test pattern in the set of test patterns based on a distance between the test pattern and a candidate pattern. There is also provided an error correction module for a non-volatile memory and a memory system incorporating the error correction module. |
| US09454426B2 |
Codes of length tn invariant under rotations of order n
Embodiments include generating an error correction code by identifying two error-correcting codes of length n with minimum distances d and 2d, such that the second code is contained into the first code. Data is then encoded into t−1 blocks using the first code, and into the t-th block using the second block. The first t−1 encoded blocks are stored into t−1 blocks of memory locations, while the exclusive-OR (XOR) of such t−1 encoded blocks and the t-th encoded block is stored into a t-th block of memory location. The final encoded vector of length to is identified as belonging in a code with minimum distance 2d. Rotations of an encoded vector jn times are identified as belonging to the same equivalence class. A received vector or its rotations jn times can be successfully identified in the presence of up to d−1 errors, while d errors are identified as uncorrectable errors. |
| US09454421B2 |
Method for providing read data flow control or error reporting using a read data strobe
Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, methods and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for using a read data strobe signal received at a host device from a peripheral device to convey variable latency (flow) control or report an error in the data content read from the peripheral device. Reception of the read data strobe signal before a predetermined maximum latency time, provides variable latency control back to the host by indicating when valid data is available for capture. If the read data strobe signal is not received before expiration of a predetermined maximum latency time, the peripheral controller is indicating a read data error back to the host. |
| US09454419B2 |
Partitionable data bus
A method and a system are provided for partitioning a system data bus. The method can include partitioning off a portion of a system data bus that includes one or more faulty bits to form a partitioned data bus. Further, the method includes transferring data over the partitioned data bus to compensate for data loss due to the one or more faulty bits in the system data bus. |
| US09454418B1 |
Method for testing capability of dissimilar processors to achieve identical computations
A method for testing processors includes generating, from a set of input bits, a first set of machine data bits in a first processor and a second set of machine data bits in a second processor dissimilar to the first processor, and comparing the first and second sets of machine data bits to output a first comparison result. The method also includes generating, from a third set of machine data bits, a first and second sets of machine result bits, and comparing the first and second sets of machine result bits to output a second comparison result. The method further includes generating, from a fourth set of machine data bits, a first and second sets of output bits, and comparing the first and second sets of output bits to output a third comparison result. The method also includes determining whether the first and second processors operate substantially similar to each other based on at least one of the first, second, and third comparison results. |
| US09454417B1 |
Increased distance of virtual machine mobility over asynchronous distances
A system for operating a virtual machine using a first site and a second site of an active/active system is provided. A host cluster and a director cluster may be identified at each of the first site and the second site. A first link may be provided between the host clusters of the first and second sites. A second link may be provided between the director clusters of the first site and second sites. While the virtual machine is operating on the first site, storage data may be transferred from the first site to the second site. An image of the virtual machine may be transferred from the first site to the second site. At least one of the following may be performed: (i) the storage data is transferred using the first link or (ii) the image of the virtual machine is transferred using the second link. |
| US09454415B2 |
Communication failure source isolation in a distributed computing system
In accordance with one aspect of the present description, an indication that a communication failure reported in a predetermined time interval is more likely the result of a software failure than a hardware failure may be made if the number of communication links reporting a communication failure in the predetermined time interval exceeds a communication link failure threshold, and the number of communication link devices such as nodes or communication paths which have been implicated as causing a communication failure, exceeds an implicated device threshold. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application. |
| US09454414B2 |
System and method for accumulating soft information in LDPC decoding
A system and method reading, accumulating and processing soft information for use in LDPC decoding. In accordance with the present invention, an LDPC decoder includes accumulation circuitry to receive soft reads of a cell of the nonvolatile memory storage module and to produce an accumulated soft read that can be used to identify an appropriate LLR for the cell. The accumulation circuitry of the present invention may include, an accumulation RAM, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and a soft accumulation control and sequencing module for accumulating and processing soft information for use in LDPC decoding. |
| US09454411B2 |
User-selectable progress bar threshold triggers and notification by detecting color change
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a notification to a user about the progress of a task running on a digital processing device. A user input identifying a progress indicator for the task running on the digital processing device is received. A user input selecting a threshold value is received. The threshold value indicates a point on the progress indicator at which the user is to be notified about the progress of the task. A notification is provided to the user when the threshold value is reached. |
| US09454407B2 |
Service resource allocation
Disclosed are various embodiments for a resource allocation application. Usage data for application program interfaces is aggregated over time. Limits for an allocation of resources for each of the application program interfaces are calculated as a function of the usage data. Limits are recalculated as new application program interfaces are added. |
| US09454405B2 |
Paging partition arbitration of paging devices to shared memory partitions
Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus to establish at least one paging partition in a data processing system. The virtualization control point (VCP) reserves up to the subset of physical memory for use in the shared memory pool. The VCP configures at least one logical partition as a shared memory partition. The VCP assigns a paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP determines whether a user requests a redundant assignment of the paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP assigns a redundant paging partition to the shared memory pool, responsive to a determination that the user requests a redundant assignment. The VCP assigns a paging device to the shared memory pool. The hypervisor may transmit at least one paging request to a virtual asynchronous services interface configured to support a paging device stream. |
| US09454404B2 |
Method, apparatus, and software for identifying a set of options for the provision of a service
A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which options for the provision of a service are each identified by an option identifier for use in determining the applicable options for a given service request. |
| US09454403B2 |
System and method for high-performance, low-power data center interconnect fabric
A system and method are provided that support a routing using a tree-like or graph topology that supports multiple links per node, where each link is designated as an Up, Down, or Lateral link, or both, within the topology. The system may use a segmented MAC architecture which may have a method of re-purposing MAC IP addresses for inside MACs and outside MACs, and leveraging what would normally be the physical signaling for the MAC to feed into the switch. |
| US09454397B2 |
Data processing systems
A data processing system includes one or more processors that each execute one or more operating systems that include one or more applications; an accelerator that provides a shared resource for a plurality of the applications; a storage area accessible by the processors and the accelerator; and one or more input/output interfaces for control of, or the submission of tasks to, the accelerator. To initialize one of the input/output interfaces, one of the one or more processors is capable of sending a first signal to the accelerator; the accelerator is capable of writing one or more selected pieces of information representative of one or more capabilities of the accelerator to the storage area and sending a second signal to the processor; the processor is capable of reading the one or more selected pieces of information from the storage area; and the accelerator is capable of configuring the input/output interface. |
| US09454396B2 |
Thin client computing device having touch screen interactive capability support
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relates to a system capable of providing touch screen interactive capability to a thin client computing device. The computing device includes: a touch screen display supporting touch screen interactive capability, and a thin client controller. The thin client controller includes a processor, and a memory. The memory stores an operating system which does not support the touch screen interactive capability of the touch screen display, and computer executable code. When executed at the processor, the computer executable code causes the processor to: display a touch screen user interface to emulate computer peripherals, define certain user touch screen operations and certain corresponding thin client management functions, receive one or more user touch screen operations from a user through the touch screen user interface on the touch screen display, and perform the thin client management functions according to the received user touch screen operations. |
| US09454394B2 |
Hypervisor dynamically assigned input/output resources for virtual devices
Systems and methods are disclosed for assigning an I/O resource to a virtual PCI device. An example system includes an I/O resource table that stores a pool of one or more available I/O resources for assignment to one or more virtual PCI devices. The system also includes a hypervisor that maintains the pool of I/O resources, assigns one or more I/O resources from the pool to a virtual PCI device, and notifies a guest running on a virtual machine that the one or more I/O resources is assigned to the virtual PCI device. The hypervisor and virtual machine are executable on a host, and the virtual PCI device is exposed to the guest. |
| US09454392B2 |
Routing data packets between virtual machines using shared memory without copying the data packet
A computing device executing a virtual machine and a hypervisor that manages the virtual machine receives a data packet that is addressed to the virtual machine. The computing device writes the data packet to a buffer in a shared memory. The computing device maps the buffer to a memory of a virtual appliance that is hosted by the hypervisor to enable the virtual appliance to operate on the data packet without making a copy of the data packet. The computing device provides the data packet to the virtual machine after the virtual appliance has operated on the data packet. |
| US09454389B2 |
Abstracting a multithreaded processor core to a single threaded processor core
An operating system provides instructions for execution by plural hardware threads of a multithreaded core of a processor, the plural hardware threads appearing as separate logical processors to the operating system. An abstraction layer converts respective identifiers of the plural hardware threads to a core identifier representing the core. The abstraction layer presents the core identifier to a user application to hide the plural hardware threads from the user application, and to present the core as a single-threaded core to the user application. |
| US09454386B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method that realize function by installed application
An image forming apparatus that realizes one or more functions based on a device by using an installed application includes a plurality of devices, a controller, a set of APIs, and an application platform. The plurality of devices includes a printing device. The controller executes a plurality of actual processes that control the plurality of devices. The set of APIs call the plurality of actual processes. The application platform provides each API from the set of APIs to the application. The controller further includes a support determination unit that determines, for an API from the set of APIs, whether the API is supported by the image forming apparatus based on the information for support determination of the API. |
| US09454385B2 |
System and method for fully configurable real time processing
Provided are systems, methods, and architectures for a neutral input/output (NIO) platform that includes a core that supports one or more services. The core may be thought of as an application engine that runs task specific applications called services. The services are constructed using defined templates that are recognized by the core, although the templates can be customized. The core is designed to manage and support the services, and the services in turn manage blocks that provide processing functionality to their respective service. Due to the structure and flexibility provided by the NIO platform's core, services, and blocks, the platform can be configured to asynchronously process any input signals from one or more sources and produce output signals in real time. |
| US09454376B2 |
Pipelined processor
Provided is a processor with a multi-pipeline fetch structure or a multi-cycle cache structure, including: an integer core which reads instruction transmitted from a lower block, executes an operation corresponding to the instruction, and transmits an instruction address to the lower block; an instruction buffer which stores instruction data which are requested by the integer core by using the instruction address and transmits the instruction data in response to the request of the integer core; and an instruction cache which stores a portion of data of a program memory and transmit the data to the instruction buffer in response to the request of the instruction buffer. |
| US09454372B2 |
Thread context restoration in a multithreading computer system
Embodiments relate to thread context restoration. One aspect is a multithreading computer system including a configuration with a core configurable between a single thread (ST) mode and a multithreading (MT) mode. The ST mode addresses a primary thread and the MT mode addresses the primary thread and one or more secondary threads on shared resources of the core. A multithreading facility is configured to control utilization of the configuration to perform a method including disabling one or more secondary threads based on switching from MT mode to ST mode. A thread context of secondary threads is made unavailable to programs. Based on a last-set program-specified maximum thread-id indicating MT, the thread context is obtained by a) executing a set MT instruction to resume the MT mode, and b) based on being in the resumed MT mode, accessing the thread context. |
| US09454362B2 |
Selective notifications according to merge distance for software version branches within a software configuration management system
A computer-implemented method of controlling version branching within a software configuration management system (SCMS) can include, responsive to a user initiating a check-out operation of a file within the SCMS, identifying the file and a workspace of the user and searching nodes of the repositories of the SCMS for a successor version of the file. When a successor version of the file is located within a node that is within a predetermined distance of the workspace of the user, a notification that the successor version of the file is within the predetermined distance of the workspace of the user can be output. When a successor version of the file is not located within a node within a predetermined distance of the workspace of the user, the file can be checked-out to the workspace of the user. |
| US09454359B2 |
Deployment optimization for high availability in a multi-tenant platform-as-a-service (PaaS) system
A mechanism for deployment optimization in a multi-tenant Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) system is disclosed. A method of the disclosure includes receiving, at a source code management (SCM) repository maintained by a node executing on a computing device, updated application code of an application executed on the node, wherein the node is provided by a multi-tenant Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) system, providing, by the node, the updated application code to one or more cartridge instances that implement framework of the application, determining, by each of the one or more cartridge instances, that a marker file is present in the updated application code, the marker file indicating that hot deployment functionality is to be implemented for the application, and implementing, by each of the one or more cartridge instances using hot deployment functionality that is specific to the cartridge instance, code changes in the updated application code without a restart of the application. |
| US09454352B2 |
Workload deployment density management for a multi-stage computing architecture implemented within a multi-tenant computing environment
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for workload deployment density management for a multi-stage architecture implemented within a multi-tenant computing environment. The method includes receiving different requests from different tenants of a multi-tenant computing environment to deploy respectively different application instances of respectively different computer programs into different nodes of the host computing system. The method also includes determining from each request an associated stage of a software lifecycle for a corresponding one of the application instances. Finally, the method includes deploying each of the application instances into a particular one of the nodes depending upon an associated stage of each of the application instances so that each of the nodes hosts different application instances for different tenants of a common stage of the software lifecycle. |
| US09454349B2 |
User interface placeholders for application extensions
Concepts and technologies are described herein for user interface placeholders for application extensions. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, user interface placeholders are inserted into user interfaces to represent extensions that have been activated or inserted into an application program or file. The placeholders describe the extension, provide instructions for activating the extension via an entitlement process, display visual indicia associated with the extensions, and/or provide functionality that is executed by a device in response to detecting interactions with the placeholders. After completing the entitlement process, the application program, file, placeholder, or extension can be updated manually or by an application callback to reflect the user's entitlement to use the extension. |
| US09454348B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for facilitating a data interchange protocol modeling language
An apparatus for defining a data interchange protocol (DIP) modeling language may include a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including defining a DIP modeling language specifying data models shared by communication devices. The data models include data specifying criteria to define DIP objects including instances of data. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to specify features in the data models corresponding to properties or the objects. The features being utilized in part to determine whether properties or objects of a DIP document(s) are valid. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to evaluate an object(s) of a DIP document(s) to determine whether the object is valid based on analyzing items of data in the data models specifying that objects assigned a type and name are valid. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. |
| US09454345B1 |
Apparatus for faster division
A system and method for reducing central processing unit transistor count when dividing multiple floating point numbers is disclosed. An example system may receive a plurality of floating point numbers to be inverted as denominator values. The denominator values may be grouped into pairs and multiplied. Products of pairs may be multiplied to produce combinations of products of denominator values until all denominator values have been multiplied together. The product of all denominator values may be inverted using a single division. The combinations of products of denominator values from the multiplications achieved before the division may be multiplied with the inverted product from the division to compute inversions of all denominator values. In some embodiments, an example system may receive a plurality of floating point numbers as numerator values that each correspond to a denominator value. Numerator values may be multiplied with corresponding inversion denominator values to produce division results. |
| US09454342B2 |
Generating a playlist based on a data generation attribute
An example method involves determining an attribute associated with an audible version of a news story, wherein the attribute indicates a manner in which data representing the audible version of the news story was generated; using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to generate a playlist of a news program that includes the audible version of the news story; and transmitting the generated playlist to a client device. |
| US09454341B2 |
Digital image display device with automatically adjusted image display durations
A digital image display device for displaying a collection of digital images, comprising: a display screen; a processor; a real-time clock; an image memory for storing a plurality of digital images; and a processor-accessible program memory. The program memory stores executable instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of: initiating a sequential display of a sequence of digital images on the display screen at an initial time, the sequence of digital images including at least a subset of the stored digital images, each digital image being displayed for an image display duration, the image display duration being set to an initial image display duration at the initial time; and modifying the image display duration during the display of the sequence of digital images. |
| US09454340B2 |
Method of dynamically changing content displayed in a vehicular head unit and mobile terminal for the same
A method of dynamically changing content in a head unit mirroring a mobile terminal by dynamically changing content displayed in the mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal for the same, the method including receiving state information indicating a current state of a vehicle equipped with the head unit from the head unit, determining the content to be displayed in the head unit based on the state information and transmitting the determined content to the head unit. |
| US09454339B2 |
Display apparatus, video wall apparatus, display method and video wall display method
A display apparatus is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a photonic crystal array which is arranged on at least one side of the display panel and displays an image based on an applied voltage, an electrode which applies voltage to the photonic crystal array, and a controller which controls so that voltage is applied to the photonic crystal array based on image information displayed on the display panel. |
| US09454338B1 |
Event media presentation
An interactive centerpiece system includes a plurality of tablet computers with interactive display devices for displaying slideshows of photograph image data. A substantially flat base with opposing upper and lower surfaces is also provided. The base is formed to lay flat on a table in a table position whereat a base central axis that is perpendicular to both the upper and lower surfaces substantially aligns with a geometric center of the table, to surround a surface area defined by an outer perimeter, about which the plurality of docking stations, into which one of the tablet computers is fixed, are arranged at substantially equal distances from each other. The docking stations are configured to face the interactive display devices outward and define a usable area between the docking stations and the base central axis for uses including receiving traditional event centerpieces. |
| US09454334B2 |
Recording system having information processing device and peripheral devices
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium stores a set of program instructions executed by an information processing device. The program instructions, when executed by the information processing device, causes the information processing device to perform a data listing to display a list of first identifiers and second identifiers on the display unit in a manner selectable through the operation unit, when the operation unit receives a user's operation to select a combination of a first device and a second device among the plurality of devices. The program instructions include transmitting a first recording instruction information to the second device via the communication unit when the operation unit receives a user's operation to select one first identifier. The program instructions include transmitting a second recording instruction information to the second device via the communication unit when the operation unit receives a user's operation to select one second identifier. |
| US09454333B2 |
Parity logs for RAID systems with variable capacity media
Embodiments of the invention provide parity logs for raid systems with variable-capacity media. In one embodiment, a system includes a first set of data storage media devices having variable capacity. The storage devices include a data portion of a parity data set for storing write data being striped to the first. The system further includes a second set of data storage media devices having variable capacity. The second set includes a linear address space of blocks for storing a parity portion of the parity data set. The linear address space is written in a log form. The first and second sets comprise at least one array in a RAID configuration. The system writes the parity portion of the parity data set to the second set, which enables each storage device among the first set to be written to full capacity. |
| US09454325B2 |
Method and system for offline data access on computer systems
While a computer system is in operational state, a network interface controller (NIC) in the computer system may be operable to copy select data to a secondary storage device. The secondary storage device is accessible by the NIC while the computer system is in an offline state or not operational. The NIC may be operable to provide remote accessibility to the copy of the select data stored in the secondary storage device over a network while the computer system is in the offline state and the NIC is supplied with electrical power and active. While the computer system is in the operational state and whenever a change is made to the select data, the NIC is operable to replace the copy of the select data stored in the secondary storage device with an updated copy of the select data based on the change. |
| US09454324B1 |
Methods and apparatus for data lifecycle analysis
Methods and apparatuses to determine similarity among data lifecycles of data sets protected via a backup store having one or more storage devices are described. Each data set may be associated with one data lifecycle indicating a schedule to store one or more copies of the data set in the storage devices. The backup store can have one or more polices. Each life cycle may be specified in one of the policies. Two or more of the policies may be consolidated into one single policy specifying an updated data lifecycle. In one embodiment, the updated data lifecycle and data lifecycles of the two or more polices may be similar according to the similarity determined. A particular one of the data set may be associated with one of the data lifecycles of the two or more polices. The storage device may be configured to back up the particular data set according to the updated data lifecycle of the one single policy. |
| US09454323B1 |
Virtual accounting container for supporting small volumes of data
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for storing small volumes of data within a grid-scale storage system. The method includes creating a container within a storage disk. The method includes distributing data evenly between storage disks. A partition is created within the container. Data is received and stored in the partition, wherein the partition is at least as large as the data. The method may also include setting an offset associated with the partition to allow for partition expansion. |
| US09454315B2 |
Efficient flashcopy backup target volume allocation from a shared resource pool while ingesting a flashcopy backup in a repository
Avoiding a collision between a new FlashCopy backup and an existing FlashCopy target volume containing an older FlashCopy backup being ingested into a repository by dynamically allocating a new FlashCopy target volume for the new FlashCopy backup. |
| US09454314B2 |
Systems and methods for creating an image of a virtual storage device
A cloud storage system is described. The system includes at least one virtual server comprising at least one virtual storage device, at least one physical machine which includes at least one physical storage device having a data structure stored thereon. The data structure includes a first table of contents associated with a first virtual storage device, and a second table of contents associated with a second virtual storage device. The second virtual storage device is a copied snapshot of the first virtual storage device. The second table of contents is configured to map storage locations within the virtual storage device to node structures that provide pointers to corresponding storage locations with the physical storage device. At least some of the node structures and storage locations are shared by the first and second tables of contents. |
| US09454304B2 |
Multi-screen dual tap gesture
Embodiments of a multi-screen dual tap gesture are described. In various embodiments, a first tap input to a displayed object is recognized at a first screen of a multi-screen system. A second tap input to the displayed object is recognized at a second screen of the multi-screen system, and the second tap input is recognized approximately when the first tap input is recognized. A dual tap gesture can then be determined from the recognized first and second tap inputs. |
| US09454298B2 |
Methods and apparatus related to expanding or contracting representations of data
In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The process can include receiving an indicator configured to trigger movement of a representation of a first portion of data and a representation of a second portion of data in a direction toward a boundary where the boundary is oriented with respect to a display area. The process can also include modifying a position of the representation of the first portion of data with respect to a position of the representation of second portion of data in response to the indicator. |
| US09454295B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying objects and providing information related to identified objects
Systems and methods for identifying an object and presenting additional information about the identified object are provided. The techniques of the present invention can allow the user to specify modes to help with identifying objects. Furthermore, the additional information can be provided with different levels of detail depending on user selection. Apparatus for presenting a user with a log of the identified objects is also provided. The user can customize the log by, for example, creating a multi-media album. |
| US09454290B1 |
Compact zoomable date picker
Facilitating date selection by a user includes presenting the user with a single timeline band, causing the band to change granularity of date increments in response to the user zooming in and zooming out on the band, causing the band to present different dates based on band positioning initiated by the user, and allowing selection by the user of a date that is presented on the band to the user. The band may show less granular date increments in response to the user zooming in on the band and the band may show more granular date increments in response to the user zooming out on the band. In response to zooming in, a date presented to the user in connection with a less granular view of the band may become part of the date selected by the user. |
| US09454288B2 |
One-dimensional to two-dimensional list navigation
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to a user interface (UI) for a computing device, such as a head-mountable device (HMD). The computing device can display a first card of an ordered plurality of cards using a timeline display. The computing device can receive a first input and, responsively determine a group of cards for a grid view and display the grid view. The group of cards can include the first card. The grid view can include the group of cards arranged in a grid and be focused on the first card. The computing device can receive a second input, and responsively modify the grid view and display the modified grid view. The modified grid view can be focused on a second card. The computing device can receive a third input and responsively display the timeline display, where the timeline display includes the second card. |
| US09454285B1 |
Maintaining continuous access to web content
An approach for providing a framework to maintain continuous access to web content bookmarked in a browser, the framework comprising web content storage, change detection and change notification. Embodiments of the present invention create and store a snapshot of bookmarked web content with a version number in a repository and the snapshot is replaced by a new snapshot whenever bookmarked web content is updated, while access to previously versioned snapshots is maintained. Change detection comprises automatically subscribing to content update notification services provided by a web content provider and receiving updates, comparing the content of a most recent snapshot with the web content available from the content provider and detecting a change to the bookmarked URL. Keywords from a snapshot can be used to relocate web content at a new URL and a web browser user is notified whenever a change to bookmarked web content is detected. |
| US09454280B2 |
Display device providing feedback based on image classification
A digital image display device comprising: a display screen; a processor; a network connection for receiving digital media assets provided by a plurality of individuals; an image memory; a user interface for receiving input from a user of the digital image display device; and a program memory. The program memory stores instructions to execute the steps of: receiving a digital media asset; displaying the received digital media asset on the display screen; determining an asset classification for the displayed digital media asset; selecting a set of classified feedback message choices responsive to the determined asset classification; displaying the selected set of feedback message choices, receiving input from the user to select a particular feedback message choice; and providing an indication of the selected feedback message to the individual who provided the displayed digital media asset. |
| US09454278B2 |
Weighting for display noise removal in capacitive sensors
A processing system for a capacitive sensing input device comprises a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module acquires a plurality of capacitive resulting signals by operating a plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing. The determination module weights values of the plurality of capacitive resulting signals to achieve a plurality of weighted capacitive resulting signals, wherein a first capacitive resulting signal of the plurality of capacitive resulting signals is weighted according to a weighted noise parameter derived from a component of a variable noise associated with a respective sensor electrode used for acquisition of the first capacitive resulting signal, wherein the variable noise varies across the plurality of sensor electrodes. The determination module also determines positional information for an least input object in a sensing region of the capacitive sensing input device based on resulting signals processed from the weighted capacitive resulting signals. |
| US09454277B2 |
Multipoint touchscreen
A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed. |
| US09454276B2 |
Apparatus with both touch sensing and electrical field sensing functions and interactive apparatus using the same
An apparatus with both touch sensing and electrical field sensing functions and an interactive apparatus using the same are provided. The apparatus with both touch sensing and electrical field sensing functions comprises a control circuit, a first capacitive sensing electrode and a second capacitive sensing electrode. The first capacitive sensing electrode is coupled to a first sensing control terminal of the control circuit. The second capacitive sensing electrode is coupled to a second sensing control terminal of the control circuit. In a first period, the first capacitive sensing electrode is charged to a first voltage through the first sensing control terminal, and the second sensing control terminal supplies an electrical field pulse to the second capacitive sensing electrode such that the second capacitive sensing electrode outputs an electrical field pulse signal. In the first period, the control circuit determines whether the first capacitive sensing electrode is touched or not according to a period, during which a voltage of the first capacitive sensing electrode is discharged from the first voltage to a second voltage, and determines whether the second capacitive sensing electrode approximates the first capacitive sensing electrode or not according to whether the first capacitive sensing electrode synchronously detects the electrical field pulse or not. |
| US09454275B2 |
Touch panel
Disclosed is a touch panel. The touch panel includes a cover substrate comprising an active area and an inactive area, a sensing electrode on the active area, and a wire electrode on the inactive area. The wire electrode includes a material the same as a material constituting the sensing electrode. |
| US09454273B2 |
Touch panel with narrow border
A touch panel includes a substrate, a flexible printed circuit board and a sensing device. The substrate includes a main plane having an active region and a non-active region surrounding the active region. The flexible printed circuit board has a bonding surface, wherein the bonding surface and the main plane are not parallel to each other. The sensing device includes a plurality of electrode patterns located in the active region and a plurality of connecting lines respectively connected between the electrode patterns and the flexible printed circuit board so as to electrically connect the electrode patterns and the flexible printed circuit board, wherein at least a part of the connecting lines is located in the non-active region, and the connecting lines are connected to the bonding surface of the flexible printed circuit board. |
| US09454271B2 |
Capacitance distribution detection method, capacitance distribution detection circuit, touch sensor system, and information input/output device
A capacitance distribution detection circuit (2) includes a multiplexer (4), a driver (5), and a sense amplifier (6), and the multiplexer (4) switches states between a first connection state in which first signal lines (HL1 to HLM) are connected to the driver (5) and second signal lines (VL1 to VLM) are connected to the sense amplifier (6), and a second connection state in which the first signal lines (HL1 to HLM) are connected to the sense amplifier (6) and the second signal lines (VL1 to VLM) are connected to the driver (5). |
| US09454265B2 |
Integration of a light collection light-guide with a field sequential color display
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for touch and gesture recognition, using a field sequential color display. The display includes a processor, a lighting system, and an arrangement for spatial light modulation that includes an array of light modulators. Each light modulator is switchable between an open position that permits transmittance of light from the lighting system through a respective aperture and a shut position that blocks light transmission through the respective aperture. The processor switches the light modulators in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an image and in accordance with a second modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of the respective apertures. A light sensor receives light resulting from interaction of the object illuminating with an object and outputs a signal to the processor. The processor recognizes, from the output of the light sensor, a characteristic of the object. |
| US09454261B2 |
Optical navigation device and use thereof
The invention relates to an optical navigation device based on production on wafer scale, in which both the illumination path and the imaging lens system are integrated on a common carrier structure. The optical navigation devices according to the invention are used for controlling a cursor on an image output device or in the field of finger navigation. |
| US09454259B2 |
Multi-level command sensing apparatus
Methods and systems are provided for a multi-level command sensing apparatus that includes a matrix of light sensors and light sources and that may also serve as the display. In one embodiment, a method for performing multi-level command sensing by a multi-level command sensing apparatus comprises detecting a leakage current corresponding to changes of light conditions on a display by one or more light sensors of the multi-level command sensing apparatus, determining an action performed by a user based on the changes of light conditions on the display by a controller of the multi-level command sensing apparatus, determining a command based on the action performed by the controller of the multi-level command sensing apparatus, and executing the command by the controller of the multi-level command sensing apparatus. |
| US09454257B2 |
Electronic system
An electronic system includes a device having a screen and an optical touch device. The optical touch device monitors the activity of an object on the screen of the device. When the object performs an operation in a first region of the screen, the optical touch device generates first data; and when the object performs an operation outside the first region, the optical touch device generates second data, wherein the first data and the second data are of different data types. |
| US09454256B2 |
Sensor configurations of an input device that are switchable based on mode
An input device with switchable sensor configurations. In one embodiment, the input device can switch between a sensor configuration in which each of its sensor elements is enabled to sense input and a sensor configuration in which only a subset of its sensor elements are enabled to sense input. In another embodiment, the input device can switch between a sensor configuration in which each of its sensor elements is enabled to sense input and a sensor configuration in which one or more groupings of its sensor elements are enabled to collectively sense input. In a further embodiment, the input device can operate in a detection mode that switches between sensor configurations to determine a position of an input. |
| US09454251B1 |
Methods, systems, and media for controlling a remote device using a touch screen of a mobile device in a display inhibited state
Methods, systems, and media for controlling a remote device using a touchscreen of a mobile device in a display inhibited state are provided. In some implementations, a method for controlling media playback devices is provided, the method comprising: detecting a media playback device to be controlled; determining that a touch-sensitive display of a mobile device has entered a display inhibited state in which presentation of a plurality of user interface elements is inhibited; receiving an input from the touch-sensitive display in the display inhibited state; selecting an action of the media playback device to be performed by determining that the received input corresponds to a user interface element from the plurality of user interface elements; and transmitting an instruction to perform the selected action to the media playback device. |
| US09454249B2 |
Touchscreen sensor
A touchscreen sensor includes a transparent base material, a first index-matching layer, a first transparent electrode pattern, a second index-matching layer and a first adhesive layer disposed in this order at one side of the transparent base material, and a third index-matching layer, a second transparent electrode pattern, a fourth index-matching layer and a second adhesive layer disposed in this order at another side of the transparent base material. Each of the first, second, third and fourth index-matching layers has a refractive index of 1.6 to 1.8 and a thickness of 50 nm to 150 nm. |
| US09454246B2 |
Multi-functional pen and method for using multi-functional pen
A multi-functional pen apparatus and a method for using the multi-functional pen are provided. The method includes switching an operation mode of the multi-functional pen to a pen mode according to a predetermined key input; receiving pen data in the switched pen mode; and transmitting the pen data to a portable terminal, wherein the portable terminal transmits a call based on the transmitted pen data. |
| US09454241B2 |
Interactive polarization-preserving projection display
The disclosure generally relates to optical devices, such as interactive displays, and in particular to interactive projection displays having passive input devices. The present disclosure also provides a passive interactive input device having the ability to overcome problematic ambient interference signals in an interactive display, such as an interactive projection display. |
| US09454240B2 |
Gesture keyboard input of non-dictionary character strings
A computing device is described that outputs, for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys. The computing device receives, an indication of a gesture detected at a presence-sensitive input device. The computing device determines, based at least in part on the indication of the gesture and at least one characteristic of the gesture, one or more keys from the plurality of keys. The computing device determines a character string based on the one or more keys from the plurality of keys. In response to determining that the character string is not included in a lexicon and a spatial model probability associated with the one or more keys from the plurality of keys exceeds a probability threshold, the computing device outputs, for display, the character string. |
| US09454238B2 |
Keyboard module and display system
There is provided a keyboard module including a plurality of keyboard keys, an optical finger mouse and a transmission interface. The keyboard keys are configured to trigger a digital signal. The optical finger mouse is configured to detect a physiological characteristic and a displacement. The transmission interface is configured to send the digital signal, the physiological characteristic and the displacement to a display device. There is further provided a display system. |
| US09454231B2 |
Transparent tactile layer panel for display and driving method thereof
Provided are a transparent tactile layer panel and a method of operating the transparent tactile layer panel. The transparent tactile layer panel includes an ion conducting polymer film on which tin antimony oxide (TAO) coatings are perpendicularly disposed in a matrix type, and generates a surface button by applying an electric signal to each of the TAO coatings and contracting the ion conducting polymer film. In particular, the transparent tactile layer panel includes: an input panel body including an ion conducting polymer film disposed between a screen and a cover film and coated with tin antimony oxide (TAO); a voltage applier configured to apply a voltage to the TAO coating; and a touch detector configured to sense an input when a user inputs into the cover film and detect a spot of the input. Accordingly, the input panel body may provide a three-dimensional effect by the voltage signal applied. |
| US09454229B1 |
Method and device for tactilely reading time on a touch screen
The present invention relates to a device and method that generates a tactile presentation, which indicates time on a mobile device. The mobile device may include a touch screen, a processor, and a means for generating electrovibrations. The touch screen may include the functionality to be activated to electrovibrate in at least one portion of the touch screen. The processor may receive electrical signals specifying and displaying a current time on the touch screen. The means for generating electrovibrations generates electrovibrations that vary in response to the time to provide the tactile presentation of the time on the touch screen. The touch screen typically includes a glass plate that is topped with a transparent electrode and insulator. The insulator may be operable to receive contact from a user's finger and in response, generate electrical impulses to provide a tactile presentation as haptic feedback to the user. |
| US09454228B2 |
Vibrating touch panel display
A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a display part, a vibrating body and a vibration transmission member. The first substrate includes a display region and an input region on an outer primary surface thereof, a non-display region outside of the display region on the first substrate, and an input section for detecting a position of an input on the input region. The second substrate includes a second internal primary surface facing a first primary surface of the first substrate. The display part is located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The vibrating body is located on a peripheral region of the second substrate. The vibration transmission member transmits vibration generated by the vibrating body from the second substrate to the first substrate. |
| US09454225B2 |
Gaze-based display control
A method includes receiving an image including an eye of a user of a computerized system and identifying, based the image of the eye, a direction of a gaze performed by the user. Based on the direction of the gaze, a region on a display coupled to the computerized system is identified, an operation is performed on content presented in the region. |
| US09454222B1 |
Device for object manipulating with multi-input sources
An object manipulation apparatus and method model an object for manipulation of a virtual object, suggest object operation schema, define a physical and mental condition of an avatar, and set motion data of the avatar. |
| US09454219B2 |
System and method for conserving power in a medical device
A system and method for conservation of battery power in a portable medical device is provided. In one example, a processor arrangement that includes a plurality of processors is implemented. At least one of these processors is configured to execute the critical functions of the medical device, while one or more other processors assume a reduced service level, thereby drawing significantly less power. According to this arrangement, the medical device conserves energy by drawing the additional electrical power needed to activate the additional processing power only when needed. |
| US09454217B1 |
Monitoring, controlling and reducing vampire power using a central controller in a network of power switch routers
A system and method are disclosed for monitoring, controlling and reducing power in electronic devices and appliances, specifically the standby or vampire power. The system includes a central controller and one or more power switch routers (PSR). The one or more PSRs are networkable and the controller and one or more PSRs communicate by a wireless connection. The central controller and the one or more PSRs may be coupled in a network, where the network may be either a star network or a mesh network, or a combination of a star and mesh network. The resulting network is a scalable AC power switch network that may be remotely or locally controlled with advanced metering telemetry. To reduce vampire power, the PSRs are able to accurately measure the power consumption, measuring the neutral power line, and communicate information to the central controller. |
| US09454216B2 |
Electronic device that selectively stores image data in a nonvolatile storage device or memory upon hibernation
An electronic device includes a main processor and a first memory. The main processor is configured to: determine whether or not specific data is stored in a first IO memory area of the first memory; generate a first piece of image data based on an OS memory area of the first memory; store the first piece of image data to a nonvolatile storage device; generate a second piece of image data based on the OS memory area of the first memory and the first IO memory area of the first memory; store the second piece of image data to the nonvolatile storage device; restore the software program to the OS memory area from the first piece of image data; and restore the software program to the OS memory area and the specific data to the first IO memory area from the second piece of image data. |
| US09454212B1 |
Wakeup detector
Systems and methods related to wakeup circuits for electronic devices are disclosed. More particularly, an electronic device includes a component operable in at least a lower power state and a higher power state and a wakeup circuit configured to signal the component to transition from the lower power state to the higher power state upon declaration of a wakeup event. The wakeup circuit is configured to process a received input signal to synchronize with a clock; generate an activity signal that includes an activity pulse for each time the processed input signal changes state in different cycles of the clock; open a qualification window upon detection of a first activity pulse in the activity signal; and in the event more than a threshold number of activity pulses in the activity signal are detected prior to closing the qualification window, declare a wakeup event. |
| US09454204B2 |
Negotiating a transmit wake time
Includes receiving, from a link partner, a message specifying a link partner receive wake time and resolving to the lesser of the received link partner receive wake time and a local transmit wake time. |
| US09454201B2 |
Detecting access to powered down device
Methods and apparatus relating to detecting access to powered down devices are described. In one embodiment, the power status of a device is determined based on a memory address corresponding to a data access request initiated by a processor or processor core. Access to a storage device, corresponding to the device, is controlled based on the power status of the device, e.g., to avoid random system hanging or crashes that may be hard to reproduce or debug. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US09454200B2 |
Budgeting for power consumption in a chassis environment that includes a plurality of integrated technology elements
Methods, apparatuses, and products for budgeting for power consumption in a chassis environment that includes a plurality of integrated technology elements (‘ITEs’), each ITE having power utilization information indicating an average power consumption of the ITE, including: determining, by a chassis management module, a total power requirement value based on a sum of the average power consumption for each ITE; increasing, by the chassis management module, the total power requirement value in dependence upon a predetermined power utilization delta; identifying, by the chassis management module, one or more power supplies to provide power to the ITEs in the chassis environment in dependence upon power delivery capabilities of the one or more power supplies and the total power requirement value; and powering on the identified one or more power supplies by the chassis management module. |
| US09454198B2 |
Electrical power transmitting controller device and electrical power receiving controller device for using in a communication system
A host device (10) may comprise an electrical power transmitting controller device (100), and an accessory device (20) may comprise an electrical power receiving controller device (200). After an identification and handshaking process to determine power requirements the power transmitting controller device (100) provides electrical power to the electrical power receiving controller device (200) to operate the accessory device. Coded communication data is transferred between the host device (10) and the accessory device (20) by a communication link. Power and communication are transferred over a single wire, such as an auxiliary pole (AUX) of a 3.5 mm jack interface (IO20). |
| US09454196B2 |
Active peak power management of a high performance embedded microprocessor cluster
In some embodiments, a system may include at least one voltage controller. At least one of the voltage controllers may assess, during use, an occurrence of a predetermined condition. In some embodiments, the system may include an at least first capacitor. The at least first capacitor may be coupled to at least one of the voltage controllers such that at least one of the voltage controllers engages the at least first capacitor to supply additional current when the predetermined condition occurs. When the increase in current is no longer required the at least first capacitor may be disengaged. The at least first capacitor may be charged when disengaged until a predetermined capacity. |
| US09454186B2 |
User interface
An apparatus comprising: a first display area; a second display area; and an interface separating the first display area from the second display area; and a display controller configured to control display of a user interface element in a first configuration when the user interface element is movable across the interface from the first display area to the second display area and a first criteria dependent upon a distance of the user interface element from the interface is satisfied and is configured to control display of the user interface element in a second configuration, different to the first configuration, when the user interface element is movable across the interface from the first display area to the second display area and the first criteria concerning a distance of the user interface element from the interface is not satisfied. |
| US09454185B2 |
Skin-dependent device components
Additional components or functionality can be provided for a computing device by coupling the device with one or more device skins. Each device skin can include one or more components that can be utilized by the computing device, such that a user of the computing device can obtain desired functionality by selecting an appropriate skin. The components of the skin can be powered by the computing device, such as through wired or wireless power coupling. The computing device can determine an appropriate control scheme for the skin when the skin is coupled with the device, enabling a user to utilize the various components of the skin as if those components were part of the computing device. |
| US09454180B2 |
Wearable flexible interface with interlocking modules
A wearable flexible interface with interlocking modules includes a substrate integrated into a wristband, and also each of a processor, memory and power source disposed on the substrate, as well as a data bus. A multiplicity of different modules each are coupled to the data bus, each including firmware and a flexible display. Finally, a display controller is disposed on the substrate and coupled to each of the processor, memory, power source and each of the modules by way of the data bus. The display controller includes program code enabled to selectively direct a display of a display characteristic of a particular one of the modules either in a corresponding flexible display of the particular one of the modules, or in single composite display formed by aggregating the flexible displays of all of the modules. |
| US09454173B2 |
Predictive alert system for building energy management
A system for managing energy use of buildings and the like uses predicted meteorological data, for example from weather forecasts, applied to models of the energy systems of the building to predict future energy use and costs. This predicted information is used to produce automatic alerts allowing future energy use to guide current changes to reduce energy. |
| US09454167B2 |
Scalable voltage regulator to increase stability and minimize output voltage fluctuations
Technologies are generally described for a voltage regulator implemented as an integrated circuit (IC). The voltage regulator may include a power transistor configured to receive and convert an input voltage from a voltage source to an output voltage, and a feedback loop configured to regulate the output voltage in response to a change from a desired level. The feedback loop may include an error amplifier configured to determine and amplify a value difference between the output voltage and a reference output voltage, a voltage divider configured to generate voltage proportional to the output voltage such that a ratio is the value difference, and a first unity gain buffer configured to increase stability of the IC. In some examples, the feedback loop may include a second unity gain buffer and/or an overshoot suppressor circuit configured to reduce an output voltage fluctuation when a current consumed by the load is changed suddenly. |
| US09454166B2 |
LDO regulator with improved load transient performance for internal power supply
A voltage regulator includes a feedback regulation loop and a drive transistor configured to source current to a regulated output. A transient recovery circuit is coupled to the voltage regulator circuit and includes a first transistor coupled to source current into a control terminal of the drive transistor, wherein the source current is in addition to current sourced in response to operation of the feedback regulation loop. The first transistor is selectively actuated in response to a drop in voltage at the regulated output. The transient recovery circuit further includes a second transistor coupled to sink current from the regulated output. The sink current has a first non-zero magnitude in the quiescent operating mode of the regulator circuit. In response to an increase in voltage at the regulated output, the operation of the second transistor is modified to increase the sink current to a second, greater, non-zero magnitude. |
| US09454164B2 |
Method and apparatus for limiting startup inrush current for low dropout regulator
A low dropout (LDO) regulator with a limited startup inrush current is disclosed. The LDO includes a power source, error amplifier, pass transistor, feedback network, and a current limit control whose input is electrically connected to the pass transistor and the electrical output of the error amplifier and whose output limits current during startup. The LDO can include a current control limit comparator including a power source, and output of the pass transistor. The LDO can also include a bypass mode current control limit comparator having a first input voltage of the error amplifier, and a second input voltage from the error amplifier. |
| US09454163B2 |
Method and device for generating an adjustable bandgap reference voltage
According to an embodiment, generating an adjustable bandgap reference voltage includes generating a current proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT). Generating the PTAT current includes equalizing voltages across the terminals of a core that is designed to be traversed by the PTAT current. Generating the adjustable bandgap reference also includes generating a current inversely proportional to absolute temperature (CTAT), summing the PTAT and the CTAT currents and generating the bandgap reference voltage based on the sum of the currents. Equalizing includes connecting-across the terminals of the core a first fed-back amplifier with at least one first stage arranged as a folded setup and including first PMOS transistors arranged according to a common-gate setup. Equalizing also includes biasing the first stage based on the CTAT current. The summation of the PTAT and CTAT currents is performed in the feedback stage of the first amplifier. |
| US09454161B1 |
Semiconductor device and electronic apparatus
Detection circuits cause a power supply circuit to start an initialization sequence by detecting abnormal behavior where an external power supply voltage is cut off, the power supply circuit generating a first internal power supply voltage from a first external power supply voltage and generating a second internal power supply voltage from a second external power supply voltage higher than the first external power supply voltage in terms of an absolute value, and an auxiliary amplifier that makes up for a drop in the first internal power supply voltage, using the second external power supply voltage as an operation power supply after detecting the abnormal behavior of the first external power supply voltage. A sample and hold circuit of a reference voltage of the auxiliary amplifier is configured in a hold state after detecting the abnormal behavior of the first external power supply voltage. |
| US09454155B2 |
Implement guidance
Efficient towed implement guidance to a desired path is achieved by guiding a towing vehicle toward a path on the opposite side of a desired path, then guiding the vehicle back to the desired path. Efficient forward implement guidance to a desired path is achieved by guiding a pushing vehicle along a tractrix. A vehicle leaves a straight line along a tractrix to keep a rear implement on the line as long as possible. |
| US09454153B2 |
Farm vehicle autopilot with automatic calibration, tuning and diagnostics
Automatic calibration, tuning and diagnostics improve precision farming by helping farmers obtain best performance from their autopilot-guided vehicles. Automatic calibration procedures that cannot be accurately performed by human drivers, automatic autopilot tuning, and simplified diagnostics are all parts of an advanced farm vehicle autopilot system. |
| US09454146B2 |
Numerical controller enabling input of relative tool direction to workpiece
A numerical controller controls a five-axis machining machine that machines a workpiece attached to a table with three linear axes and two rotary axes. The numerical controller inputs a relative tool direction that represents a relative position of the tool direction with respect to the workpiece after the rotary axes are moved by a manual operation, as a vector, roll-pitch-yaw angles, or Euler angles. The numerical controller further converts the relative tool direction thus input into the rotary axis positions of the two rotary axes and drives the two rotary axes based on the rotary axis position thus converted. |
| US09454144B2 |
Machine tool path display apparatus displaying relative tool vector angle
A tool path display apparatus includes a display unit for displaying at least two of a program path, a command path and an actual path so that the paths can be compared with each other. The tool path display apparatus further includes a tool vector display unit for displaying tool vectors representative of tool postures corresponding to these paths so that the tool vectors can be compared with each other. Each tool vector is displayed as a line segment connecting a tool tip point and a reference point distant from the tool tip point toward a tool base end side by a predetermined distance. |
| US09454143B2 |
Electrical transfer capacity optimization systems and methods thereof
A method and system is provided for determining and optimizing electric transfer capacities of electric power system facilities. A processor receives and stores information that is used to compute the quantity of electric power that can flow through one or more electric power facilities. A capability datastore and an external factors datastore communicate with the processor and with each other. The capability datastore computes and stores the electrical transfer capability as a function time duration and at any given point in time while the external factors datastore determines a plurality of variables which affect the electrical transfer capabilities. A resource manager, connected to the processor, allocates resources by optimizing and correlating the electrical transfer capabilities with the plurality of variables, to generate an electrical transfer capacity rating for the one or more electric power facilities as a function of time duration and at any given point in time. |
| US09454141B2 |
Real time capacity monitoring for measurement and verification of demand side management
Systems are described that provide monitoring for control, measurement and verification of demand side management resources. Control units deployed among customer or utility premises can monitor capacity as real or reactive power that is consumed, generated or stored by resources and, in some cases, selectively alter the load consumed or energy delivered by some or all of such resources derived from load capacity and dispatch models. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US09454138B2 |
Method and apparatus for conducting a plausibility check on a position of an actuating element of a position encoder system with an electronically commutated electric machine
A method for operating a position encoder system includes performing a closed loop position control based on a detected first position indication of a position of an actuating element. The performing of the closed loop position includes generating a position correcting variable and allocating a space vector the position correcting variable to enable an adjustment drive to be controlled. The method further includes performing a check on the first position indication or correcting the first position indication with the allocated space vector. An adjustment drive is configured to adjust the actuating element. The actuating device includes a rotating electronically commuted motor. The motor has a rotor and an electronic rotor position of the rotor is configured to be allocated to multiple positions of the actuating element. |
| US09454132B2 |
Integrated hologram optical device
An integrated hologram optical device, a method of manufacturing the same, and an integrated hologram recording apparatus are provided. The integrated hologram optical device includes a two-dimensional (2D) array of a plurality of hogels. A holographic element is configured to be recorded such that a combination of the plurality of hogels is configured to adjust at least one of an angle and a focal length of a signal beam. |
| US09454131B2 |
Method and apparatus for fast generation of hologram
A method and apparatus for fast generation of a hologram image. The method may include generating a point hologram corresponding to each three-dimensional (3D) point using sub-sampling, generating a hologram pattern using the generated point hologram, and generating a 3D hologram by interpolating the generated hologram pattern. |
| US09454129B2 |
Image forming apparatus composing one face of exterior cover by partly overlapping cover boards
An image forming apparatus includes an exterior cover having a plurality of faces. The exterior cover is configured so that one face of the plurality of faces is divided into a plurality of cover boards. The plurality of cover boards are configured so that adjacent cover boards of the plurality of cover boards include respective overlapping parts overlapping onto each other formed in the respective adjacent cover boards and the one face is composed by overlapping the overlapping parts from the outside in predetermined order. |
| US09454128B2 |
Waste toner storing container, and image forming apparatus including waste toner storing container
A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a conveyance guide portion, a conveyance portion, a conversion portion, a moving member, and a restriction member. The container main body stores waste toner. The conveyance guide portion has an inclined guide surface that guides the waste toner diagonally downward from a reception port. The conveyance portion is rotatably provided in the inside of the container main body. The conversion portion converts a rotational motion of the rotation shaft to a reciprocating motion in conjunction. The moving member reciprocally moves in a direction along the inclined guide surface by a force of the reciprocating motion received from the conversion portion. The restriction member restricts the moving member from being displaced upward from the inclined guide surface by pressing the moving member toward the inclined guide surface. |
| US09454127B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body. |
| US09454126B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus including same
A cleaning device includes a plurality of cleaners. The plurality of cleaners includes at least a first cleaner, a second cleaner, and a third cleaner arranged next to each other in a traveling direction of a cleaning target. The first cleaner is disposed at an extreme upstream end of the traveling direction and supplied with a first voltage having a same polarity as a polarity of a normally-charged toner. The cleaners, other than the first cleaner, disposed downstream from the first cleaner, is supplied with a second voltage having a polarity opposite the polarity of the normally-charged toner. |
| US09454121B2 |
Image forming apparatus with power saving functions, method for controlling same, and storage medium
In an image forming apparatus to which a finisher is connected, a power source control unit shifts the image forming apparatus to a power saving state. The image forming apparatus is inhibited from being shifted to the power saving state when it is detected that a sheet for which a binding process is to be performed is set in the finisher. The image forming apparatus may be permitted to be shifted to the power saving state when it is not detected that the sheet is set in the finisher. |
| US09454114B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
A fixing device including a fixing member, an opposing member, a plurality of heat sources, and a voltage detector. The opposing member is disposed opposite the fixing member to contact the fixing member to form a nip portion at which an unfixed image on a recording medium is fixed. The plurality of heat sources heats the fixing member. The voltage detector detects an applied voltage of at least one of the plurality of heat sources. Upon detection of the applied voltage of the heat sources by the voltage detector, a voltage is applied to at least one of the heat sources. |
| US09454113B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit which feeds a sheet to an image forming unit forming an image on the sheet, a re-transport roller which reverses the sheet with a toner image fixed on the sheet and re-transports the sheet to the image forming unit, and a control unit which controls a sheet feed operation of the sheet feed unit for feeding the sheet. As the temperature of the re-transport roller sensed by the temperature sensing unit is decreased, the control unit retards the timing at which the sheet feed unit starts the sheet feed operation when a duplex image formation in which the image is formed on both sides of the sheet is performed after a one-side image formation is completed. |
| US09454112B1 |
Temperature detection device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A temperature detection device includes a supporting body that includes end portions and a middle portion and that is elastically deformed by being pressed by an object to be detected, both of the end portions being supported at positions separated from the object to be detected, the supporting body having an initial shape such that the middle portion bulges in an arc shape to a position beyond the object to be detected when the supporting body does not receive an external force from the object to be detected; and a temperature detection element that is supported by a contact portion of the supporting body that contacts the object to be detected. |
| US09454109B2 |
Image forming apparatus controlling transfer conditions based on resistance of transfer member
An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit; a belt member; a transfer member; a transfer voltage source for generating a voltage applied to the transfer member; an obtaining portion for obtaining information on an electric resistance of the belt member; a detecting member for optically detecting a test toner image formed on the image bearing member and transferred on the belt member; and an executing portion for executing, on the basis of a detection result of the test toner image by the detecting member, an adjusting operation for adjusting an image forming condition of the toner image forming unit. The executing portion sets, on the basis of the information, a voltage applied to the transfer member when the test toner image is transferred onto the belt member in the adjusting operation. |
| US09454104B1 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developing sleeve and a regulation portion. The developing sleeve includes a magnetism generating portion to which magnetic poles are attached. The developing sleeve holds a developer on an outer circumferential surface. The regulation portion includes a magnetic plate. A first segment connecting a peak position of the magnetic pole disposed at a position facing the magnetic plate and an axial center of the developing sleeve has an angle, with respect to a second segment connecting the magnetic plate and the axial center, equal to or less than 7 degrees on a downstream side in a rotation direction of the developing sleeve and equal to or less than 6 degrees on an upstream side in the rotation direction. An angle of a half value width of the magnetic pole is equal to or greater than 41 degrees to equal to or less than 52 degrees. |
| US09454103B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developing member and a carrier collecting member. An outer surface of the developing member includes a plurality of protrusion portions aligned at regular intervals that are equal to or larger than an average particle diameter of toner particles and smaller than an average particle diameter of magnetic carrier particles. Each protrusion portion has a first face formed at one side of an apex of each protrusion portion and a second face formed at the other side of the apex, and an inclination angle of the first face is less than an inclination angle of the second face. In the circumferential direction of the developing member, when a downward direction of the first face is set to be positive, a relative velocity of a surface velocity of an image bearing member to a surface velocity of the developing member is set to be positive. |
| US09454101B2 |
Developing cartridge and method for manufacturing the same
A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a first frame and a second frame and a layer thickness regulating member. The first frame and the second frame include a first welding surface formed at a periphery of the developer accommodating part correspondingly to a developer accommodating part; and a second welding surface extending continuously from the first welding surface correspondingly to a roller support part. The first welding surface extends in a direction orthogonal to an overlapping direction of the first frame and the second frame. The second welding surface extends to be inclined toward a side of the first frame in the overlapping direction as extending toward the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member is provided to cover the second welding surface from a side of the second frame in the overlapping direction. |
| US09454100B2 |
Developer guide device and image forming apparatus including the same
A developer guide device includes a conveying pipe portion, a light-emitting portion, a light-receiving portion, and a cleaning mechanism. The conveying pipe portion is configured to guide a developer in a predetermined conveyance direction. The light-emitting portion is configured to emit light into an interior of the conveying pipe portion through a light projection window provided in a peripheral wall of the conveying pipe portion. The light-receiving portion is capable of receiving light from the interior of the conveying pipe portion through a light reception window provided in the peripheral wall of the conveying pipe portion. The cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning member configured to receive a predetermined drive force to be displaced thereby to come into contact with inner surfaces of the light projection window and the light reception window to clean the inner surfaces. |
| US09454095B2 |
Electrophotographic toner
An electrophotographic toner includes capsule toner particles that each include an anionic toner core having a zeta potential at pH 4 of no greater than −5 mV and a cationic shell layer disposed over a surface of the toner core. Each of the capsule toner particles has, at a surface thereof, a sodium concentration of no less than 200 ppm and no greater than 1,000 ppm as measured by an ICP spectrometer. |
| US09454094B2 |
Magnetic toner
Provided is a magnetic toner, including a toner particle containing a binder resin and a magnetic iron oxide particle, in which: the binder resin includes a resin having a polyester unit in which at least one kind of aliphatic compound selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 30 to 102 carbon atoms and an aliphatic monoalcohol having 30 to 102 carbon atoms is condensed at an end of the polyester unit; a content of the magnetic iron oxide particle is from 30 to 80 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin; and the magnetic iron oxide particle satisfies the following conditions: (i) a number-based median diameter D50 is from 0.05 to 0.15 μm; (ii) a number-based ratio D10/D50 is from 0.40 to 1.00; and (iii) a number-based ratio D90/D50 is from 1.00 to 1.50. |
| US09454093B2 |
Method for producing a polymerized toner
Disclosed is a method for producing a polymerized toner, wherein the method comprises: a suspension step of obtaining a suspension in which droplets of a first-stage polymerizable monomer composition containing at least a first-stage polymerizable monomer and a colorant are dispersed, by suspending the first-stage polymerizable monomer composition in an aqueous dispersion medium containing a dispersion stabilizer; a first-stage polymerization step of carrying out suspension polymerization by using the suspension, in the presence of a polymerization initiator; and a second-stage polymerization step of carrying out suspension polymerization by further adding a second-stage polymerizable monomer satisfying the following formula (1), when a polymerization conversion rate in the first-stage polymerization step becomes 20 to 80%: Tg1>Tg2. Formula (1): |
| US09454092B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor, electrophotographic photoreceptor cartridge, and image forming apparatus
An object of the invention is to provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor in which the adhesion of the photosensitive layer is highly satisfactorily maintained regardless of the magnitude of shrinkage, and both of excellent electrical properties and excellent image characteristics are achieved. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: a conductive support; and, provided thereon, at least an undercoat layer and a photosensitive layer, wherein the undercoat layer comprises a binder resin and the binder resin comprises a polyamide resin which has a degree of elastic deformation of 56.0% or higher. |
| US09454087B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus which includes a projection optical system that projects a pattern of a reticle onto a substrate, and exposes the substrate through the projection optical system and a liquid, the apparatus including a recovery unit which includes a recovery path connected to a recovery port, and is configured to reduce a pressure in the recovery path to recover the liquid, supplied to a space between the projection optical system and the substrate, through the recovery port and the recovery path, and a heating unit which is disposed in the recovery path, and configured to heat the liquid recovered through the recovery port and the recovery path. |
| US09454082B2 |
Surfactants and methods of making and using same
Anionic surfactants have a formula: RfSO2N(H)—CH2CH(CH3)OH; or RfSO2N(H)—CH2CH2O)xH, where x is an integer from 2-6. Rf is a fluoroalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. Neutral surfactants having a formula: (a) Rf—SO2N[CH2CH(CH3)OH]2; (b) RfSO2N[CH2CH(CH3)OH][(CH2CH2O)nH], where n is an integer from 1-6; (c) RfSO2N(R)[(CH2CH2O)pH], where p is an integer from 2-6, and R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; or (d) RfSO2N[(CH2CH2O)qH][(CH2CH2O)mH], where q is an integer from 1-6 and m is an integer from 3-6. Rf is a fluoroalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. |
| US09454077B2 |
Photochemical methods and photoactive compounds for modifying surfaces
Compounds and methods for controlling the surface properties are described. Compounds of the invention can form radicals upon exposure to irradiation, which can then react with nearby molecules to alter the surface properties of various substrates. The invention can provide surfaces that are resistant to dewetting, surfaces that have immobilized molecules such as carbohydrates and polymers immobilized, and surfaces that have metals deposited on the surface. The invention can be utilized in a wide range of application, such as sensors, microreactors, microarrays, electroless deposition of metals, and the like. |
| US09454076B2 |
Molecular glass photoresists containing bisphenol a framework and method for preparing the same and use thereof
The present invention provides a class of molecular glass photoresist (I and II) comprising bisphenol A as a main structure and their preparation. The molecular glass photoresist is formulated with a photoacid generator, a cross-linking agent, a photoresist solvent, and other additives into a positive or negative photoresist. A photoresist with a uniform thickness is formed on a silicon wafer by spin-coating. The photoresist formulation can be used in modern lithography, such as 248 nm photolithography, 193 nm photolithography, extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, nanoimprint lithography, electron beam lithography, and particularly in the EUV-lithography technique. |
| US09454074B2 |
Reflective photomask blanks and reflective photomasks
Reflective photomask blanks are provided. The reflective photomask blank includes a multi-layered reflection layer on a photomask substrate, a capping layer directly disposed on a top surface of the multi-layered reflection layer to include transition metal and silicon, a passivation layer disposed on a surface of the capping layer opposite to the multi-layered reflection layer, and a light absorption layer on the passivation layer. |
| US09454071B2 |
Projection screen and projection system thereof
A projection screen includes a substrate and an optical microstructure. The substrate has a projection area for projecting an image onto the projection area. The projection area includes a plurality of arrayed optical regions. Each of the optical regions includes a first and second optical sub-region with optical characteristics of reflective scattering/transmissive scattering/specular reflection and simple transmission, wherein an area of the second optical sub-region is larger than that of the first optical sub-region. The optical microstructure is arranged on the substrate for guiding the light of the image to a specific direction. The above-mentioned projection screen with two or more optical characteristics, for example, can be at the same time as the front projection screen and the rear projection screen, or allows the user to watch background image behind the projection screen. A projection system including the above-mentioned projection screen is also disclosed. |
| US09454070B2 |
Projection optical system and projection-type display apparatus
In a projection optical system that projects an image displayed on an image display device arranged on a reduction-side conjugate plane onto a magnification-side conjugate plane, as a magnified image, the projection optical system includes a refractive optical system and a reflective optical system having negative refractive power in this order from a reduction side. Further, the following conditional formula (1) is satisfied: L/D+2ωmin/ωmax≦1.01 (1). |
| US09454069B2 |
Illumination system having first and second lens arrays including plano-convex lenses wherein some lenses in the second array include a first and a second lens element, projection-type display apparatus, and optical integrator
In at least one embodiment of the disclosure, an illumination system includes a light source that emits an illumination light flux. A first lens array has a plurality of first small lenses arranged therein. The first small lenses divide the illumination light flux emitted from the light source into a plurality of segmental light fluxes. A second lens array has a plurality of second small lenses arranged therein. The second small lenses have a one-to-one correspondence with the first small lenses and are configured to receive the segmental light fluxes exiting from the first small lenses. At least some of the second small lenses each include a plurality of lens elements disposed in a surface direction that is the same as the second small lenses. A superimposing lens superimposes on an illuminated area the segmental light fluxes exiting from the plurality of second small lenses. |
| US09454062B2 |
Observation optical system, viewfinder equipped with observation optical system and method for manufacturing observation optical system
An observation optical system for observing an object includes, in order from the object side: a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having negative refractive power and a concave surface facing the object side; and a third lens having positive refractive power and a convex surface facing an eyepoint side. An aspherical surface is included on at least one lens surface, and given conditional expressions are satisfied, thereby providing a compact observation optical system having excellent optical performance, a viewfinder equipped with the observation optical system, and a method for manufacturing the observation optical system. |
| US09454057B2 |
Electrophoretic display and structure thereof for reducing coupling effect therein
An electrophoretic display (EPD) including a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of pixel units is provided. The first electrodes are arranged in parallel and configured to receive a plurality of first electrode driving signals. The second electrodes are arranged in parallel and disposed perpendicular to the first electrodes, and the second electrodes are configured to receive a plurality of second electrode scanning signals. The pixel units are respectively arranged between the first electrodes and the second electrodes as an array. Each pixel unit includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the corresponding first electrode. The first terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, and the second terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to the corresponding second electrode. |
| US09454046B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal panel and a method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display panel includes: first and second substrates disposed opposite to each other; a liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and disposed between the first and second substrates; first and second alignment layers disposed on the first and second substrates and facing the liquid crystal layer; and first and second electrode both disposed on the first substrate, so that an electric field is formed between the first and second electrodes when a voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes. The first electrode has a plurality of slits, each of which has an end region and a central region adjacent to the end region, and the alignment layers at the end region and the central region have different alignment directions. |
| US09454044B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device having 2 pixel multi-domain type pixels, in which columnar spacers are disposed in optimal positions. Each of plural video lines has a first portion in which an acute-angled crossing angle of two crossing angles crossing each of scanning lines becomes a positive angle in a clockwise direction from each of the scanning lines, and a second portion in which an acute-angled crossing angle of the two crossing angles crossing each of scanning lines becomes a negative angle in the clockwise direction from each of the scanning lines. The first and second portions are alternately disposed so as to hold the scanning line between them. |
| US09454043B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device includes a display substrate with a pixel and being curved along a first direction, an opposite substrate facing the display substrate, being coupled to the display substrate, and curved with the display substrate, a column spacer disposed between the display substrate and the opposite substrate to maintain a gap between the display substrate and the opposite substrate and including first and second spacers respectively disposed at left and right sides of a center line passing through a center portion of the display substrate along a second direction substantially normal to the first direction, a first misalignment preventing layer disposed at a left side of the first spacer with respect to the center line, and a second misalignment preventing layer disposed at a right side of the second spacer with respect to the center line. |
| US09454038B2 |
Display device including adhesive sheet attached to bottom chassis
A display device includes a bottom chassis, a backlight unit accommodated in the bottom chassis, a display panel above the backlight unit, and an adhesive sheet between the backlight unit and the display panel. The display panel is attached to the bottom chassis through the adhesive sheet. |
| US09454036B2 |
Light emitting diode assembly and liquid crystal display device including the same
An LED assembly includes a supporting layer; LED chips arranged on a first surface of the supporting layer and spaced apart from each other; a coating layer formed over the LED chips and including a fluorescent substance, wherein the coating layer changes light emitted from the LED chips into a linear light source; and an electrode pattern layer formed on a second surface of the supporting layer and in selectively removed regions of the supporting layer and contacting the LED chips. |
| US09454034B2 |
Color filter array substrate, method for fabricating the same and display device
A color filter array substrate, a method for fabricating the same and a display device are disclosed. The color filter array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines disposed as intersecting each other horizontally and vertically and a plurality of pixel regions defined by the gate lines and the data lines, each of the pixel regions includes a TFT, wherein each of the pixel regions further includes a band-pass filter layer, the band-pass filter layer transmits light within a specific wavelength range while reflects light of other wavelengths; the band-pass filter layer comprises a first medium sub-layer, a second medium sub-layer and a third medium sub-layer, the second medium layer is of different thicknesses at different pixel regions. |
| US09454032B2 |
Display device
In order to prevent light leakage between adjacent pixels or prevent color mixture, a liquid crystal display device includes: a TFT substrate having a pixel in which a pixel electrode and a TFT are formed; a counter substrate in which a color filter is formed corresponding to the pixel, a black matrix is formed between each of the color filters, and an overcoat film is formed so as to cover the color filter; and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the TFT substrate to the counter substrate. When seen from a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the counter substrate, an insertion material with a refractive index different from the refractive index of the overcoat film is formed in the layer of the overcoat film at a position corresponding to the black matrix. The refractive index of the insertion material is different from the refractive index of the liquid crystal. |
| US09454031B2 |
Multi-colored pixelated display with sparkle reduction surface
Multi-colored pixelated displays are provided where a sparkle reduction surface comprising a micron grade diffraction element is positioned between the image display element and the display surface. More specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a multi-colored pixelated display is provided comprising an image display element and a transparent display cover. The image display element comprises an array of display pixels divided into a plurality of display sub-pixels associated with respective dedicated display color components. The transparent display cover comprises a display surface that is susceptible to marking and a sparkle reduction surface. The sparkle reduction surface is positioned between the image display element and the display surface along an optical path of the pixelated display and is spaced from the image display element by an optical distance D. The sparkle reduction surface comprises a micron grade diffraction element. |
| US09454028B2 |
Portable electronic device
When image data is displayed on the display portion of a conventional mobile telephone, characters cannot be displayed thereon, and thus the image data and the characters cannot be simultaneously displayed. In a portable electronic device according to the present invention, a cover member having a first display device (101) for displaying an image (digital still image or the like) and a second display device (102) having a touch input operational portion (for displaying characters, symbols, or the like) are attached to each other so as to allow opening and closing. |
| US09454023B2 |
Pinned dynamic electro-optical phase shifter
A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter may include a substrate, an optical waveguide segment (12) formed on the substrate, and first and second zones of opposite conductivity types configured to form a first bipolar junction perpendicular to the substrate. The phase shifter may also include a dynamic control structure configured to reverse bias the first junction and a static control structure configured to direct a quiescent current in the second zone, parallel to the first junction. |
| US09454021B2 |
Contact lenses
The present invention provides a contact lens manufactured at least partially from an intelligent polymer, the lens having a relaxed state which, upon application of a first stimulus forms a first corrective shape and which, upon application of a second stimulus, forms a second corrective shape, wherein the corrective effect provided by the lens in the relaxed state is intermediate to the corrective visual effects provided by the first and second corrective shapes. |
| US09454018B2 |
System, ophthalmic lens, and method for extending depth of focus
System, ophthalmic lens, and method for extending depth of focus includes an optic having a clear aperture disposed about a central axis. The optic includes a first surface and an opposing second surface. The first and second surfaces are configured to introduce an asymmetric aberration to the eye while maintaining the in-focus visual acuity. |
| US09454016B1 |
Camera lens suspension with integrated electrical leads
Embodiments of the invention include a camera lens optical image stabilization suspension assembly having a support member, a moving member movably coupled to the support member, and shape metal alloy wires coupled between the support and moving members. The moving member includes flexure arms that have integrated conductive traces. |
| US09454015B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens consists of, in order from the object side, a positive first lens group which is fixed relative to the image plane during magnification change, a negative second lens group which is moved during magnification change, a negative third lens group which is moved during magnification change, a positive fourth lens group which is moved during magnification change, and a positive fifth lens group which is fixed relative to the image plane during magnification change, wherein magnification change is effected by changing all distances between the adjacent lens groups, the fifth lens group consists of, in order from the object side, a positive front group, a negative middle group, and a positive rear group, image stabilization is effected by shifting only the middle group in directions perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and the condition expression (1) is satisfied: 0.20 |
| US09454008B2 |
Wide angle personal displays
An embodiment of a wide angle personal display projector is configured for positioning in relation to a user's eyeball, and includes a curved display layer. A curved micro lens array having a curvature generally matching the display curvature is positioned relative to the display layer so that the micro lens array is between the display layer and the user's eyeball. In another embodiment, a binocular personal display system includes a frame structure for supporting left and right personal display projectors in relation to the user's left and right eyeballs. |
| US09454007B1 |
Free-space lens design and lenses therefrom
A method of designing lenses includes defining a material having an inside reflective surface spanning an area, and providing an optical design algorithm which defines a plurality of oxels across the area. Each oxel has a plurality of sub-elements including a center sub-element and a plurality of neighboring sub-elements. Based on a defined optical prescription for the inside reflective surface, an optically corrected reference 3D surface is calculated for each oxel having spherical and cylindrical corrections relative to a spherical contour which spans a predetermined field of view (FOV) with respect to a single (common) predetermined reference point. A position of at least a first of the sub-elements for each of the oxels is moved to respective final 3D positions on the optically corrected reference 3D surface, where the moving is constrained to be along an individual line connecting each of the first sub-elements to the single predetermined reference point. |
| US09454000B2 |
Aperture device and optical instrument
An aperture device includes: a board including an opening; a blade opening and closing the opening; and first and second receiving plates sandwiching the blade; wherein the first receiving plate includes a pressing portion partially pressing the blade toward the second plate. |
| US09453999B2 |
Phosphor color wheel and projection display device including same
Phosphor color foil 1 comprises glass substrate 2, rotary motor 3 for rotating glass substrate 2, and phosphor (first phosphor) 5 annularly applied on the surface of glass substrate 2. The center of the applied region of phosphor 5 is different from the rotational center of glass substrate 2. The center of one or both of outer boundary line 5a and inner boundary line 5b of the applied region of phosphor 5 is different from the rotational center of glass substrate 2. Center axis 6 of glass substrate 2 is separated from the rotational center. Another phosphor (second phosphor) 9 is annularly applied adjacently to and inside or outside the applied region of phosphor 5. |
| US09453998B1 |
Distribution of subpixels in an electrowetting element
An electrowetting element comprising a first subpixel, a second subpixel and a third subpixel. A wall surrounding a combined area of the first subpixel area, the second subpixel area and the third subpixel area, comprising: a first wall portion adjacent to the first subpixel area and the second subpixel area; a second wall portion adjacent to the second subpixel area and the third subpixel area; and a third wall portion adjacent to the third subpixel area and the first subpixel area. |
| US09453995B2 |
Electronically variable illumination filter for microscopy
An illumination system for diascopic microscopy comprises a computer (610) with memory (625), a graphics program (605), a display driver (615), and graphical display (600). The display is positioned between a microscope's light source (105, 704) and condenser (110). When activated, the illumination system causes the display to display a predetermined pattern which the light source projects onto the condenser and is then focused by the condenser on a subject (125) to be examined. In conjunction with the microscope's light source, the illumination system emulates the illumination techniques of bright field, dark field, oblique, polarized, monochrome, modulation contrast and phase contrast illuminations. |
| US09453991B2 |
Wide-angle lens and imaging device
A wide-angle lens having a field angle larger than 180 degrees includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a front group, a reflection surface, and a back group, wherein the front group includes three lenses having a negative refractive power, the reflection surface is configured to curve an optical axis of the front group at 90 degrees toward the back group, the back group includes four lenses having a positive refractive power, a front principle point is set between a second lens and a third lens from the object side in the front group, and a focal length of an entire system f and a distance between an intersection of the reflection surface and the optical axis of the front group and the front principle point d satisfy the following condition (1). 7.0 |
| US09453990B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, and a rear lens group having a plurality of lens units at least one of which has positive refractive power. The distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit is greater at a telephoto end than at a wide angle end. The first lens unit includes a positive lens and a negative lens. The rear lens group includes a lens unit R comprising a positive lens and a negative lens. The lens unit R has the highest zoom ratio among the lens units included in the rear lens group. The materials of the positive and negative lenses included in the first lens unit and in the lens unit R are selected appropriately based on predetermined mathematical conditions. |
| US09453988B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens composed of six lenses of a negative first lens, a positive second lens, a negative third lens, a positive fourth lens, a positive fifth lens, and a negative sixth lens, disposed in order from the object side, and when refractive indices of the third lens to the sixth lens are taken as Nd3 to Nd6 respectively, the imaging lens satisfies conditional expressions (1): Nd3<1.7, (2): Nd4<1.6, (3):Nd5<1.6 and (4): Nd6<1.89. |
| US09453984B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and lens unit
A first lens unit performing communication with an image pickup apparatus with a first voltage and a second lens unit performing communication with the image pickup apparatus with a second voltage are selectively attached to the image pickup apparatus. The image pickup apparatus includes a controller configured to operate with a third voltage different from at least one of the first and second voltages to output a signal for the communication with the first and second lens units, and a determiner configured to determine the type of the lens unit attached to the image pickup apparatus. The controller is configured to produce, as a voltage of the signal for the communication, from the third voltage, one of the first and second voltages corresponding to a determination result of the determiner. |
| US09453980B2 |
Optical fiber cable
An optical fiber cable is formed with an optical fiber and a coating layer made up of at least one layer provided on the outer periphery of the optical fiber. The material for forming the coating layer is made of a halogen-free resin composition containing polyolefin resin (A) and melt tension enhancer (B). |
| US09453979B2 |
Multi-core optical fiber tape
A multi-core optical fiber ribbon easily optically connected to another optical component is provided. A multi-core optical fiber ribbon 1 includes a plurality of multi-core optical fibers 10 arranged parallel to one another and a common resin 20, with which the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 10 are collectively coated. A core arrangement direction in which plurality of cores in each of the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 10 are arranged is parallel to or perpendicular to the fiber arrangement direction in which the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 10 are arranged at least at both ends of the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 1. |
| US09453978B2 |
Optical module
An optical module includes: a transparent substrate through which light can pass; a photoelectric conversion element mounted on the transparent substrate and emitting light toward the transparent substrate or receiving light having passed through the transparent substrate; and a support member supporting an optical fiber for transmitting light, the support member and the transparent substrate forming an optical path between the photoelectric conversion element and the optical fiber. A positioning hole is formed in the transparent substrate. A positioning pin having a tapered surface is formed on the support member. The transparent substrate and the support member are positioned with respect to one another by inserting the positioning pin into the positioning hole along the optical axis direction of light between the transparent substrate and the support member and by making the tapered surface of the positioning pin contact the edge of the positioning hole without leaving any space therebetween. |
| US09453976B2 |
Optical connector
An electronic device having an optical connector that provides and/or receives optical signals through openings or perforations formed at an external surface of the electronic device. These openings can serve as the interface of the optical connector through which the electronic device can engage in one-way or two-way communication with corresponding optical connectors of other electronic devices. These openings can be sized such that they are not visible or not easily visible with the naked human eye. As such, these openings can be too small for communicating with corresponding optical connectors using any single one of these openings. But light that is collectively transmitted through or received through a group of these openings can provide optical signals that can be used to communicate with corresponding optical connectors using optical signals. |
| US09453972B1 |
Pluggable module for heat removal device
A pluggable module is provided and includes a plug receptacle in which a plug is receivable, a housing coupled to the plug receptacle, a heat removal device partially disposable within the housing to assume and be movable between first and second positions and an armature. The armature is interposed between corresponding portions of the housing and the heat removal device and is configured for selective manipulation to thereby move the heat removal device from the second position to the first position. With the plug received in the plug receptacle and the heat removal device in the first position, the heat removal device forms a thermal pathway with the plug by which heat is removed from the plug. |
| US09453970B2 |
Reconfigurable diffractive optical switch
Optical switch based on a micro-mirror device such as a DMD for simultaneous switching light from N inputs to M outputs with switching times of about 10 microseconds, where N and M are generally greater than one. The mirrors of the device are oriented according to a pattern calculated based on a Fourier Transform of spatial distribution of M outputs such as to form, in diffraction of light incident on the device, an diffraction light pattern that in the output plane is substantially congruent with the spatial distribution of M outputs. The device can be configured as a modulator of amplitude and/or a modulator of phase of incident light wavefront. |
| US09453967B2 |
High power misalignment-tolerant fiber assembly
Fiber burning and/or overheating of the fiber feedthrough in high-power laser modules, which may cause catastrophic and/or collateral damage, may be addressed by providing an optical fiber assembly designed to withstand overheating due to errant high power laser light that is directed toward the input core of a fiber but may be at least partially misaligned. The optical fiber may be secured within a mount having a passageway such that the end face of the optical fiber extends past an opening of the passageway to a focal plane of the incident light. The end of the optical fiber may include a section that has a reduced or absent cladding layer (e.g., etched to form a tapered cladding region) so as to reduce the amount of light captured by the cladding and/or to leak the light out quickly. |
| US09453965B2 |
Systems and methods for photonic polarization rotators
A waveguide polarization rotator includes a substrate having a surface and a waveguide coupled to the surface of the substrate and operable to support a light beam along a direction of beam propagation. The waveguide includes a slab having a support surface and a second surface opposing the support surface and a rib protruding from the second surface of the slab in a direction substantially normal to the surface of the substrate and extending along the direction of beam propagation. The rib includes a first portion extending to a first height above the second surface of the slab and a second portion adjacent to the first portion and extending to a second height above the second surface of the slab. The second height is less than the first height. |
| US09453964B2 |
Stripping apparatus and methods for optical fibers
Apparatus and methods for stripping tight-buffered optical fibers are disclosed. The apparatus is configured to perform one or more of the functions of stripping a tight buffer layer, removing a coating layer, and cleaving the fiber, in a single motion. |
| US09453963B2 |
Dust proofing shutter built-in adapter of LC type optical connector
The invention can prevent a leading end of a ferrule including a core portion from being damaged in an erroneous insertion. A shutter plate is provided with a clearance for receiving in a non-contact manner a leading end portion of a ferrule which is inserted from a diagonally upward direction side before a fitting portion. The clearance is formed into a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a circular arc shape, a bowl-like recess shape or an opening shape from a front surface side of the shutter plate toward an inner side, and the shutter plate is structured such that the shutter plate is pushed away and opened by a leading end opening edge portion of a coupling sleeve which is provided so as to cover a periphery of the ferrule, at the same time of receiving the leading end portion of the ferrule by the clearance in a non-contact state. |
| US09453959B2 |
Backlight unit and display apparatus
Provided is a backlight unit, which includes at least one supporter, at least one light guide panel, and at least one light emitting module. The supporter includes a recess stepped at a lower height than that of a first region of an upper surface. The light guide panel is disposed on the supporter and is coupled to the supporter. The light emitting module is disposed in the recess of the supporter and provides light through a side surface of the light guide panel. |
| US09453955B2 |
Projection system
A projection system includes at least one projector and a holographic projection film. The projector projects a first image to a projection surface. The holographic projection film mirrors the first image on the projection surface to form a second image on an imaging surface. The projection surface and a standard surface define a first angle therebetween. The first angle is Y degrees. The holographic projection film and the standard surface define a second angle therebetween. The second angle is 45+X degrees. Y and X substantially satisfy: Y=2X. |
| US09453953B2 |
Thin polarizing film, optical laminate with thin polarizing film, and production method for thin polarizing film
The present invention provides a thin polarizing film which has only a small environmental load and has excellent optical characteristics.The thin polarizing film is produced by forming a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin layer on a thermoplastic resin substrate. The thin polarizing film has a thickness of 10 μm or less, a single axis transmittance of 42.0% or more, a polarization degree of 99.95% or more, and an iodine content of 17.6 grams per 400×700 square millimeters or less, which is measured by an ion chromatography method. |
| US09453946B2 |
Light-diffusing member having polarizing plate, production method for light-diffusing member having polarizing plate, and display device
Provided is a display device including a light-diffusing member that includes a substrate, a plurality of light-shielding layers, and a light-diffusing section, and a polarizing plate. The light-diffusing member is configured to diffuse light, which is incident from a polarizing plate side, in an anisotropic manner, the light-diffusing section has a light-emitting end surface that is in contact with the substrate, a light-incident end surface that is opposite to the light-emitting end surface and has an area larger than an area of the light-emitting end surface, and a reflective surface that is in contact with the light-emitting end surface and the light-incident end surface and reflects light incident from the light-incident end surface, a height of the light-diffusing section from the light-incident end surface to the light-emitting end surface is set to be larger than a layer thickness of the light-shielding layers, and an azimuth angle direction in which diffusibility of the light-diffusing member is relatively strong, and a transmission axis of the polarizing plate are approximately parallel with each other. |
| US09453943B2 |
Photonic structures from self assembly of brush block copolymers and polymer blends
The invention provides a class of block copolymers having a plurality of chemically different blocks, at least a portion of which incorporating polymer side chain groups having a helical secondary structure. The invention also provides structures generated by self-assembly of polymer blends including at least one block copolymer component, such as a brush block polymer or wedge-type block polymer. The invention provides, for example, periodic nanostructures and microstructures generated by self-assembly of block copolymers and polymer blends comprising a mixture of at least one block copolymer component, such as a brush block copolymer, and at least a second component. |
| US09453942B2 |
Inverse opal structures and methods for their preparation and use
Light-reflective structures comprising a binding material configured as an inverse opal having reflections of at least two wavelengths and methods of producing the light-reflective structures are described herein. The wavelengths reflected by the light-reflective structures may be tuned by external stimuli. In an example, silk-fibroin inverse opals have two reflection wavelengths that may be shifted based on changes in humidity. |
| US09453941B2 |
Road surface reflectivity detection by lidar sensor
A method of determining a surface condition of a road of travel. A light beam directed at a surface in the road of travel is transmitted utilizing a lidar system. A response is analyzed at a photodetector of the lidar system after transmitting the light beam. A determination is made whether a form of precipitation is present on the road of travel in response to analyzing the response at the photodetector. A precipitation indicating signal is generated in response to the determination that the ground surface includes a form of precipitation on the road of travel. |
| US09453940B2 |
System and method for tornado prediction and detection
The presently disclosed inventive concepts are directed, in at least one non-limiting embodiment, to a computer system and method for issuing a tornado-indicative notification, such as a warning. In one embodiment the method includes receiving time sequential radar reflectivity data from an area undergoing a weather event, via at least one computer port and at least one processor executing processor executable code, analyzing the radar reflectivity data of the area to determine if an entropic source and an entropic sink are present in the area, determining a distance between the entropic source and the entropic sink when the entropic source and the entropic sink are present in the area, and outputting a tornado-indicative notification for the area when the distance between the entropic source and the entropic sink is less than or equal to a predetermined distance. |
| US09453939B2 |
Device for detecting the position of watch hands
Device for detecting the position of at least a first and a second hand of an electromechanical watch, said first and second hands moving above a dial, the detection device including a single light source emitting a light beam towards the first and second hands, and a first and a second light detection system, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being mounted on or underneath the dial, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being arranged so that, in a determined position of the first hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the first hand towards the first detection system, and in a determined position of the second hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the second hand towards the second detection system. |
| US09453936B2 |
Body scanner with improved x-ray transmission imaging
The inventive body scanner is used to screen persons entering a security controlled area for the presence of security threats hidden under the clothing, such as guns, knifes, explosives and contraband. The Invention is an improvement on prior art body scanners that operate primarily by acquiring backscatter x-ray images, but only acquire transmission images over a limited part of the person's body. These prior art systems provide x-ray sources on the anterior and posterior sides of the person being screened, and x-ray sensitive detectors on the sides of these x-ray sources. While sufficient for backscatter imaging, the gaps between these detectors results in blind areas in the transmission images, resulting in lower ability to detect security threats hidden under the clothing. The present Invention overcomes these limitations of the prior art by providing x-ray sensitive detector on the outside of the x-ray sources. That is, the pair of x-ray sources are located within the pair of x-ray detectors, and the person being screened is located within the pair of x-ray sources. In conjunction with this imaging geometry, spatial offsets in the location of the x-ray sources provide effectively full transmission coverage for transmission imaging. |
| US09453931B2 |
Methods and systems for streamer anti-twist
Disclosed are methods and systems for enabling anti-twist functionality in marine geophysical streamers. An embodiment discloses a method comprising: towing a streamer behind a survey vessel in a body of water, wherein the streamer comprises rotation sensors and streamer rotation devices; receiving data from at least one rotation sensor indicative of streamer twist; and rotating a portion of the streamer with at least one streamer rotation device to reduce the streamer twist based, at least in part on the data. |
| US09453929B2 |
Joint inversion with unknown lithology
Method for joint inversion of geophysical data to obtain 3-D models of geological parameters for subsurface regions of unknown lithology. Two or more data sets of independent geophysical data types are obtained, e.g. seismic and electromagnetic. Then they are jointly inverted, using structural coupling, to infer geophysical parameter volumes, e.g. acoustic velocity and resistivity. Regions of common lithology are next identified based on similar combinations of geophysical parameters. Then a joint inversion of the multiple data types is performed in which rock physics relations vary spatially in accordance with the now-known lithology, and 3-D models of geological properties such as shale content and fracture density are inferred. The computational grid for the last inversion may be defined by the lithology regions, resulting in average geological properties over such regions, which may then be perturbed to determine uncertainty in lithologic boundaries. |
| US09453928B2 |
Methods and computing systems for processing data
Computing systems and methods for processing collected data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for iteratively separating a simultaneous-source dataset is provided, wherein the simultaneous-source dataset is used as an input dataset for a first iteration of simultaneous-source separation. The input dataset includes a plurality of shots that include data corresponding to a plurality of source activations. The method of iteratively separating the input dataset includes generating simulated simultaneous shots based on shots separated in the input dataset; and forming an output dataset based on the separated simultaneous shots and the simultaneous-source dataset, wherein the output dataset is configured for use as the input dataset for the next iteration of separating the simultaneous-source dataset. |
| US09453925B2 |
Optimizing a seismic survey for source separation
A technique includes determining at least one parameter that characterizes a seismic survey in which multiple interfering seismic sources are fired and seismic sensors sense energy that is produced by the seismic sources. The determination of the parameter(s) includes optimizing the seismic survey for separation of the sensed energy according to the seismic sources. |
| US09453920B1 |
Scalable multi-source GPS signal distribution network
A method for selecting a global positioning receiver includes receiving global positioning system signals from global positioning system receivers. The global positioning system receivers receive the global positioning system signals from corresponding global positioning system satellites. The method also includes replicating the global positioning system signals from the global positioning system receivers, determining a signal drift and a phase precision for each global positioning system signal, and selecting one of the global positioning system signals based on the corresponding signal drift and the phase precision of the global positioning system signal. |
| US09453916B2 |
Filtering out a jammer signal
A low noise amplifier (LNA) assembly comprising a filter circuit for receiving signals from a Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) band and a Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS) band; and an alternative filter circuit configured to filter out a jammer signal. |
| US09453912B2 |
Device and method for displaying ship perimeter information
A ship perimeter information display device is provided. The device includes a sensor information input unit connected with a sensor equipped in a first ship and for receiving an input of a detection result of the sensor, an AIS information input unit for receiving an input of VDO information that is a VHF data link own-ship message contained in AIS information transmitted from the first ship to a second ship, a display unit for displaying a situational image illustrating a situation around the first ship, and a control unit for displaying, on the display unit, information indicating a difference between first state information of the first ship obtained based on the detection result of the sensor and second state information of the first ship obtained based on the VDO information. |
| US09453911B2 |
Target tracking system and target tracking method
A target tracking system which tracks targets using a plurality of virtual particles includes a detector which detects the targets based on a signal wave from the targets and outputs a detected results as a detected target positions, a fluctuation distribution unit which generates fluctuations arising from at least disturbances and measurement errors, and an estimation unit which sets virtual particles based on the fluctuations and estimates a true target positions based on the detected target positions. |
| US09453910B2 |
Detecting radar blockage based on drive history
A vehicle includes a radar sensor for detecting objects in the vehicle path. The radar sensor may become blocked by contaminants or debris. A controller monitoring the radar system may detect a radar blockage when a return signal magnitude is less than a threshold. A typical response may be to set a radar blockage diagnostic under such a condition. The controller may inhibit setting a radar blockage diagnostic when other data indicates that the radar sensor is not blocked. Data such as vehicle position, traffic information, camera images, and historical radar returns may be used. A controller may confirm a radar blockage diagnostic when other data indicates that the radar sensor may be blocked. Data such as temperature, vehicle position, surface roughness, automated brake interventions, and heating system status may be used. Return signal dependent functions may be operated based on the radar blockage diagnostic. |
| US09453909B2 |
Ultrasonic pulse-echo ranging device
An ultrasonic pulse-echo ranging device includes a piezo-electric transducer, a transmitter, a receiver, a first transformer having a primary winding coupled to an output of the transmitter and a secondary winding connected to the transducer, and a second transformer having a primary winding coupled to an input of the receiver and a secondary winding connected to the transducer, where the secondary windings of the first and second transformers are in series with the transducer, a first switching element is parallel with the primary winding of the first transformer and controlled to short-circuit this primary winding when the receiver receives the signals from the transducer, and where a second switching element is parallel with the primary winding of the second transformer and controlled to short-circuit this primary winding of when the transmitter drives the transducer to optimize the signal transfer to and from the piezo-electric transducer. |
| US09453907B2 |
System and method for field calibrating video and lidar subsystems using facial features
A system uses range and Doppler velocity measurements from a lidar subsystem and images from a video subsystem to estimate a six degree-of-freedom trajectory of a target. The video subsystem and the lidar subsystem may be aligned with one another by mapping the measurements of various facial features obtained by each of the subsystems to one another. |
| US09453906B2 |
Phase calibration circuit and method for multi-channel radar receiver
This invention describes circuits and methods which can allow multiple radar receiver chips to be adjusted to have very low phase offset between them. Multiple receiver chips are used in frequency-modulated carrier-wave (FMCW) radar systems for beamforming to enable angle-of-arrival measurements. FMCW radar systems are widely used in collision-avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems in vehicles, which today are operating in the 76-81 GHz frequency band. In a multi-receiver system, each receive element must have a well-controlled phase response which can be calibrated over process, voltage, and temperature. Without calibration, phase offsets can result in erroneous beamforming receiver measurements. The inventive circuit provides a technique to adjust the phase of multiple receivers across multiple chips using a single local oscillator reference and built-in-test circuitry which consist of phase shifters, a multi-frequency nonlinear phase detection circuit, and power coupling circuits. |
| US09453904B2 |
Hybrid multi-camera based positioning
A positioning server is connected to a collection of access points, base stations, NFC stations, and image or video cameras and the collected data is used for positioning objects. A plurality of electronic devices are paired with an object by tracking the position of the object based on imaging and the position of electronic devices based on RF signals in vicinity of the object. Once a device is paired with an object, the propagation channel profile measured through the electronic device is used to develop and tune a database of channel profiles versus location. This database is used based on signature/profile matching and correlation for positioning devices and objects that do not have pairing or have poor image-based positioning accuracy or reliability. When a device is detected that cannot be paired with any object, or a device that is unpaired from a previously associated object, a theft or loss alert is generated. |
| US09453893B2 |
Spin detector arrangement for measuring the vector component of a spin vector predominating in a particle beam
The invention relates to a spin detector arrangement for detecting vector components of a predominating spin vector in a particle beam (T) having a predominating spin orientation of the particles. The spin detector arrangement comprises: a spin rotator (1) having a switchable coil (5), wherein the switchable coil (5) comprises an axial direction and is aligned such that the particle beam (T) passes through the switchable coil (5) along the axial direction; a deflection device (7) connected downstream of the spin rotator (1) and deflecting the path of the particle beam (T) electrostatically by a deflection angle; a spin detector (9) connected downstream of the deflection device (7), allowing the deflection of the vector component of the spin vector predominating in the particle beam (T) perpendicular to the direction of motion of the particle beam (T); and a switching unit (15) connected to the switchable coil (5), allowing switching of the excitation state of the coil (5). |
| US09453890B2 |
Magnetic sensor and magnetic detecting method of the same
The present invention relates to a magnetic sensor and a magnetic detecting method of the same capable of detecting at least a magnetic field perpendicular to a substrate and a magnetic field parallel to the substrate in a state where the respective magnetic field components are mixed. One embodiment of the magnetic sensor detects a magnetic field of the orthogonal three axes, and includes a magnetic detector including a magnetic field sensitive material configured to detect a magnetic field component in a first direction, a magnetic field direction converters configured to convert a magnetic field component in a second direction and a magnetic field component in a third direction into magnetic field components in the first direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the third direction being perpendicular to both of the first and the second directions. |
| US09453888B2 |
Sensor device
The sensor device includes: a physical quantity voltage conversion element; a differential amplifier; a first capacitor that includes one terminal connected to a first output terminal of the differential amplifier; a comparator; a low pass filter circuit arranged at the first output terminal of the differential amplifier; a control circuit configured to on/off control the physical quantity voltage conversion element, the differential amplifier, the comparator, and the low pass filter circuit; and a logic circuit configured to output a result of operation processing performed on an output signal of the comparator. The logic circuit is configured to: successively verify, in a case where there is a change between a previous logic output and a first logic output, the logic outputs a plurality of times; and output a control signal to the control circuit so that the low pass filter circuit is turned on in a second signal processing period and thereafter. |
| US09453886B2 |
Switch circuit, selection circuit, and voltage measurement device
Provided is a technique that contributes to the improvement of voltage measurement accuracy and uniform current consumption of a battery in a voltage measurement device. Switch circuits (SWP and SWN) include switch elements (MP1 and MP2 or MN1 and MN2) which are provided between an input terminal and an output terminal, and switch driving units (401 to 409) which are driven between a first power supply voltage (VCC or GND) and a second power supply voltage (GND or VCC), which are different from each other, with an input voltage interposed therebetween. The switch driving unit includes source follower circuits (401 and 404) having a drain side being connected to a first power supply terminal side that is supplied with the first power supply voltage, inputting a voltage based on the input voltage, and supplying a voltage generated in the output side to the switch element as a driving voltage for driving the switch element; and current control units (402 and 405) which open and close a current path between the output side of the source follower circuit and a second power supply terminal being supplied with the second power supply voltage, in response to a control signal (ENABLE). |
| US09453883B2 |
Distributed power supply architecture in automatic test equipment
An apparatus for providing a distributed and scalable number of power supplies used in automatic test equipment. The apparatus includes at least one Pin Electronics (PE) module comprising a plurality of PE channels. The apparatus includes at least one programmable power supply (PPS) module comprising a plurality of programmable power supply channels, wherein the at least one PPS module is remote from the at least one PE module. That apparatus includes a test site controller executing a test program comprising a plurality of test instructions delivered over the plurality of Pin Electronics (PE) channels and the plurality of programmable power supply (PPS) channels in order to test a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) in parallel. |
| US09453880B2 |
Active shunt source-measure unit (SMU) circuit
An active shunt source-measure unit (SMU) circuit can include an SMU or power supply having an active shunt circuit that is integrated with the current measuring sub-circuit of the SMU circuit. The active shunt circuit may be active during voltage sourcing of the SMU circuit and deactivated during current sourcing of the SMU circuit. |
| US09453879B2 |
On-die system for monitoring and predicting performance
An apparatus and method for determining performance of system is disclosed. While operating in a test mode, a plurality of test results may be received and stored in a memory. Each test result may be indicative of a performance of the system when the system is operating under a respective test condition. Also, during the test mode, a respective value of an operating parameter of a predetermined system element at each test condition. An association between each test result and a corresponding detected respective value of the operating parameter may be provided. During a normal operating mode, an operating value of the operating parameter may be determined. A performance level of the system based on a test value retrieved from memory dependent upon the operating value and the association may then be determined. |
| US09453876B2 |
Systems and methods for testing a peripheral interfacing with a processor
Systems and methods for testing a peripheral in accordance with a MIPI protocol are provided. A test system can test a peripheral by providing user-5 specified control over a test processor (which is substantially the same processor the peripheral will interface with when installed) to test, calibrate, or both test and calibrate the peripheral. The test processor can communicate with the peripheral according 10 to the MIPI protocol, thereby effectively providing an actual “in-device” environment for testing and/or calibrating the peripheral. |
| US09453875B2 |
Multi-stage circuit board test
Multi-stage in circuit test of a circuit board has support to reduce strain placed on the circuit board during each test stage. A shuttle plate is disposed between a load plate that supports a circuit board under test and a probe plate that directs test probes towards the circuit board. The shuttle board slides between different positions with each position establishing the distance between the circuit board and the test probes. For instance, in a first position, the shuttle plate aligns intermediary members to rest between the load plate and shuttle plate to keep the probes spaced by a first distance from the circuit board so that only some test probes contact the circuit board. In a second position, the shuttle plate aligns the intermediary members with blind vias to bring the shuttle plate and load plate proximate each other so that all test probes contact the circuit board. |
| US09453874B2 |
Actuator, handler apparatus and test apparatus
Provided is an actuator including: first to third rotation axes provided at a fixed section and having axes in a same direction, first to third rotation sections provided at positions offset from centers of the corresponding rotation axes, and rotating in response to the corresponding rotation axes; a movable section including first and third side walls facing the first and the third rotation sections in a first direction on a movable plane, and a second side wall facing the second rotation section in a second direction, the movable section moving on a predetermined movable plane in response to rotation of the first to third rotation sections; and a biasing section biasing the movable section with respect to the fixed section in at least one of the first direction and the second direction, and making at least one of the first to third rotation sections abut against the corresponding side wall. |
| US09453866B2 |
Method, device and storage medium for controlling antenna
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for controlling an antenna of a terminal device. The method comprises: acquiring an environmental state parameter of a terminal device; extracting an antenna performance parameter corresponding to the environmental state parameter from a preset antenna performance parameter table; and adjusting an antenna signal of the terminal device using the antenna performance parameter. According to the embodiment of the disclosure, a preferable antenna performance parameter may be obtained by acquiring the environmental state parameter of the location where the terminal device is located, and the antenna is adjusted according to the preferable antenna performance parameter, thereby achieving an intelligent adjustment of the antenna and adapting to the environmental change, thus the antenna is highly practical, strongly adaptive as well as efficient in operation. |
| US09453864B2 |
Method of analyzing patching among a port of a first panel and ports of another panel
A method of analyzing patching among a first port of a first panel and ports of one or more other panels, comprising obtaining with respect to the first port of the first panel an indication of multiple concurrent patchings between the first port and each of two or more different ports of other panels, the two or more different ports including at least a second port and a third port; injecting a scan signal between the first port and the second port and sensing for a corresponding returned signal between the second and the third ports; determining that an indication of a patching between the first port and the second port is false when a returned signal corresponding to the scan signal is detected between the second and the third ports. |
| US09453862B2 |
Multitouch tactile device with multi frequency and barycentric capacitive detection
The general field of the invention is that of touchscreen devices with projected capacitive detection comprising a matrix touchpad comprising a plurality of conducting rows and of conducting columns, the matrix touchpad linked to an emission voltages electronic control system and a reception voltages electronic system. The emission voltages electronic control system generates two periodic emission voltages emitted at two different frequencies. The analysis of the reception voltages, by the reception voltages electronic system, makes it possible to determine the positions of two simultaneous presses on the touchpad, including when the two presses are done on rows or columns that are close. The determination of the presses is performed essentially by calculating the barycenters of the troughs of the reception voltages. |
| US09453858B2 |
Sensor device and method of manufacture and use
In some embodiments a method includes receiving, from a sensor device, a signal indicative of a voltage associated with a current passing over a line that is disposed through the sensor device. The method includes receiving, from the sensor device, a signal indicative of (1) a calibrated sensitivity of the sensor device, (2) a calibrated temperature of the sensor device, and (3) an ambient temperature that was received from an ambient temperature sensor. The method includes defining an actual sensitivity of the sensor device based on (1) the calibrated sensitivity of the sensor device, (2) the calibrated temperature of the sensor device, and (3) the ambient temperature. The method includes sending a signal indicative of a modified electric current value based on (1) the voltage and (2) the actual sensitivity of the sensor device. |
| US09453857B2 |
AM/FM measurements using multiple frequency of atomic force microscopy
Apparatus and techniques presented combine the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the phase feedback from second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode. In particular the first or second frequency may be used to measure the loss tangent, a dimensionless parameter which measures the ratio of energy dissipated to energy stored in a cycle of deformation. |
| US09453855B2 |
System and method for calibrating an inertial measurement unit
An apparatus and method is presented for calibrating an output(s) of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) using rotational rate as a reference. Calibrating the IMU output(s) is performed by comparing the IMU output(s) to expected output(s), where the expected output(s) are determined based on the known rate of rotation of the IMU and the centripetal force acting on the IMU due to known rate of rotation. By analyzing the differences between the expected IMU output(s) and the IMU output(s), it is possible to determine a correction factor that, when applied to the IMU output(s), calibrates the IMU output(s) by correcting for measurement errors. |
| US09453849B2 |
Methods for staining cells for identification and sorting
The present invention provides novel methods of cell staining, such as bovine sperm, using electroporation or osmolality treatments at viability-enhancing temperatures. Furthermore, methods of highly efficient cell sorting that are especially suitable in sorting bovine sperm using novel cell staining procedures are also provided. |
| US09453847B2 |
Mannose receptor C type 1 (MRC1) codon optimized cell line and uses thereof
Described herein are isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequence encoding mannose receptor, C type 1 (MRC1) wherein the 5′ region of the nucleotide sequence encoding MRC1 is codon optimized; cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules; and methods of detecting antibody production, e.g., neutralizing antibody production, in a subject being treated for Gaucher disease using such cells. |
| US09453846B2 |
Mass spectrometry method using matrix
The present invention provides a mass spectrometry method using a matrix that is capable of easily and efficiently improving ionization efficiency in mass spectrometry without modifying a molecule to be analyzed, and a matrix for mass spectrometry. A mass spectrometry method using, as a matrix, a 2,4,6-trihydroxyalkylphenone represented by the following general formula (I): where R is an alkyl group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms. The mass spectrometry method as described above, wherein an analysis object is a hydrophobic compound, particularly, a hydrophobic peptide. |
| US09453840B2 |
Markers for dopaminergic neuron progenitor cells
The present invention provides a method for selecting dopaminergic neuron progenitor cells, which comprises detecting any one or more of markers selected from the group consisting of CD15 (SSEA-1), CD24, CD46, CD47, CD49b, CD57, CD58, CD59, CD81, CD90, CD98, CD147, CD184, Disalogangliosid GD2, SSEA-4, CD49f, SERINC4, CCR9, PHEX, TMPRSS11E, HTR1E, SLC25A2, Ctxn3, Ccl7, Chrnb4, Chrna3, Kcnv2, Grm2, Syt2, Lim2, Mboat1, St3gal6, Slc39a12, Tacr1, Lrtm1, Dscam and CD201. |
| US09453837B2 |
Grafted dinuclear metal complexes, and use thereof as cellular microparticle sensors
Novel grafted dinuclear metal complexes having formula (I) or of formula (II) wherein M represents a metal ion, and also the use thereof as sensors in a method for detecting and/or characterising cellular microparticles. |
| US09453833B2 |
System and method for detecting and monitoring proteolysis of protein matrices
Apparatus and methods are provided for detecting and monitoring proteolysis of protein matrices such as fibrin clots, extracellular matrix and collagen matrix. The apparatus and methods involve in general the measurement of diffusion-limited electrochemical currents generated by an electroactive species or elactomer in a synthetic protein matrix. The apparatus and methods are applied in various embodiments to detect and monitor the proteolytic activities of a sample, and more specifically fibrinolytic activities and collagenase activities of a sample. The apparatus and methods are utilized generally in the monitoring and diagnostics of cardiovascular, cerebralvascular, and oncology conditions. |
| US09453832B2 |
Biological sample measurement device
The present invention pertains to a biological sample measurement device, which is intended to be easier to use. To achieve this object, the present invention comprises a main body case (1) having a sensor insertion opening into which a sensor for measuring biological samples is inserted, a connection terminal (20) provided within the main body case (1) behind the sensor insertion opening, (5) and a shutter 7 that is provided within the main body case (1) between the sensor insertion opening (5) and the connection terminal (20) and that opens and closes the sensor insertion opening (5). This configuration makes the device easy to use. |
| US09453830B2 |
Quantification of asphaltene inhibitors in crude oil using thermal analysis coupled with mass spectrometry
The present invention generally relates to a novel method for the characterization and quantification of involatile macromolecules in hydrocarbon samples of crude oil. More particularly, the method utilizes pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PY/GC/MS, PY/GC/MS/MS or PY/GC/triple quad MS) to detect and quantify polymeric asphaltene inhibitors in crude oil. |
| US09453829B2 |
Soil property test device
A test device including a closeable cavity and a water flow groove with a water transmission channel existing between the water flow groove and the internal part of the cavity. The water flow groove includes a water inlet and a water outlet with the depth of the water inlet being greater than the depth of the water outlet. Simultaneously, side lead-in pipe of drain pipe and elbow pipe on side wall of water inlet pipe are consistent with height of top surface of the ceramic plate, making hydraulic pressure of tested soil sample being zero during dehydrating and soaking process capable of ensuring accuracy of test result. A necking design is applied to reduce water evaporation in the drainage pipe and lower the test errors. Side lead-in pipe is connected with drainage pipe for smoothly draining water and also can prevent air reversely flowing and entering into the base. |
| US09453824B2 |
Column heater with active pre-heating
To heat a flowing liquid, an apparatus includes a heater block assembly having a heater block made of thermally conductive material. The heater block assembly has a tube inlet, a tube outlet, and a tube path between the tube inlet and tube outlet. Tubing extends through the tube path from the tube inlet to the tube outlet. The tubing is in thermal communication with the heater block. A heater cartridge, in thermal communication with the heater block, is configured to provide heat to the heater block for transfer to liquid flowing through the tubing between the tube inlet and the tube outlet of the heater block assembly. Circuitry is in electrical communication with the heater cartridge to control a temperature of the heater block by controlling operation of the heater cartridge. |
| US09453820B2 |
Crack and thickness detecting apparatus
A crack and thickness detecting apparatus for detecting a crack in a wafer and also detecting the thickness of the wafer. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic oscillating unit oscillating a first ultrasonic wave toward the upper surface of the wafer at a predetermined incident angle, an ultrasonic oscillating and receiving unit oscillating a second ultrasonic wave toward the upper surface of the wafer in a direction perpendicular thereto and also receiving reflected waves obtained by the reflection of the first and second ultrasonic waves from the wafer, a crack determining unit determining whether or not the crack is present in the wafer according to the first reflected wave, and a thickness calculating unit calculating the thickness of the wafer according to the second reflected wave. The ultrasonic oscillating and receiving unit alternately receives the first reflected wave and the second reflected wave. |
| US09453818B2 |
Eddy current flaw detection probe and eddy current flaw inspection apparatus
The eddy current flaw detection probe (100) includes a first yoke (1), a second yoke (2), a first permanent magnet (3), a second permanent magnet (4), a sensing coil (6). The second yoke (2) is inserted in a freely insertable and extractable manner along an inner peripheral surface of the first yoke (1). |
| US09453809B2 |
Multifunctional nanoscopy for imaging cells
Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a metal shunt and a semiconductor material in electrical contact with the metal shunt, thereby defining a semiconductor/metal interface for passing a flow of current between the semiconductor material and the metal shunt in response to an application of an electrical bias to the apparatus, wherein the semiconductor material and the metal shunt lie in different planes that are substantially parallel planes, the semiconductor/metal interface thereby being parallel to planes in which the semiconductor material and the metal shunt lie, and wherein, when under the electrical bias, the semiconductor/metal interface is configured to exhibit a change in resistance thereof in response to a perturbation. Such an apparatus can be used as a sensor and deployed as an array of sensors. |
| US09453797B2 |
Metal enhanced fluorescence from metallic nanoburger structures
The present invention provides for metallic nanostructures or nanoburgers comprising a dielectric layer positioned between metallic layers and their use in metal enhanced emissions systems to enhance emissions from fluorophores, including intrinsic and extrinsic; luminophores; bioluminescent species and/or chemiluminescent species. The multilayer nanoburgers exhibit several distinctive properties including significantly enhanced intensity of emissions, decreased lifetime and increased photostability by simply varying the thickness of the dielectric layer while maintaining a constant thickness of the two metallic layers on opposite sides of the dielectric layer. |
| US09453793B2 |
Integrated sensors
Examples of integrated sensors are disclosed herein. An example of an integrated sensor includes a flexible substrate, and an array of spaced apart sensing members formed on a surface of the flexible substrate. Each of the spaced apart sensing members includes a plurality of polygon assemblies. The polygon assemblies are arranged in a controlled pattern on the surface of the flexible substrate such that each of the plurality of polygon assemblies is a predetermined distance from each other of the plurality of polygon assemblies, and each of the plurality of polygon assemblies including collapsible signal amplifying structures controllably positioned in a predetermined geometric shape. |
| US09453783B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting misfire of engine
A method and an apparatus for detecting engine misfire has advantages of precisely detecting misfire occurrence when misfire continuously occurs at three or more engine cylinders and detecting an engine cylinder where the misfire occurs. The method may include calculating an angular acceleration factor value on the basis of an engine speed, calculating a variation value of an angular acceleration factor on the basis of the angular acceleration factor value, calculating a threshold point of misfire starting and a threshold point of misfire ending, comparing the variation value of the angular acceleration factor with the threshold point of misfire starting, comparing the variation value of the angular acceleration factor with the threshold point of misfire ending, and detecting a cylinder of the engine where the misfire occurs by the comparison results. |
| US09453781B2 |
Method and test bench for testing a starter motor
To enable testing of a starter motor on a test bench with an electrical dynamometer as a replacement for a real combustion engine, a simulation unit (20) is used in which a mathematical model of the combustion engine is implemented, and the simulation unit (20) determines a new load setpoint (ns, Ts) using the mathematical model from measured actual values (φi, ni, Ti) of the operation of the electrical dynamometer (3) at every scanning time point of a regulation, which new load setpoint (ns, Ts) is fed to the regulator (21) of the electrical dynamometer. |
| US09453780B2 |
Module for determining an operating characteristic of a bearing
A measurement module for monitoring an operating condition of a roller bearing having a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring rotating with respect to each other around a rotation axis comprises an energy harvesting device operable to generate energy from a relative movement between the first and second bearing rings and at least one deformation sensor operable to provide a deformation signal indicative of a deformation of a surface region of one bearing ring of the first and the second bearing rings. The deformation sensor is powered by the energy harvesting device. An evaluation circuit is operable to determine, using the deformation signal, a strain signal indicative of a present load on the bearing. The evaluation circuit is powered by the energy harvesting device and a common housing encloses the energy harvesting device, the deformation sensor and the evaluation circuit. |
| US09453774B2 |
Surface area-based pressure sensing
Various aspects of the instant disclosure relate to pressure sensing methods and apparatuses. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of structures having respective surface areas that are implemented to contact at least one of an electrode and other ones of the structures. The structures operate with the electrode to provide an electrical indication of pressure by effecting a change in the respective surface areas in response to an elastic compression or expansion of the structures, and providing a change in electrical impedance between the structures and the electrode based on the change in the respective surface areas. |