| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09461560B2 |
Power conversion device with a plurality of series circuits
A power conversion device is provided which includes a plurality of series circuits each formed of a voltage source and a controlled current source. At least two of said series circuits formed of the voltage source and the controlled current source are connected in parallel. Further, parallel connection points of the series circuits connected in parallel form output terminals. |
| US09461555B2 |
HVDC series current source converter
A multilevel current source converter (CSC) for controlling electrical power transmission in a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system includes an alternating current (AC) side for input/output of AC to/from the CSC; a direct current (DC) side for input/output of DC to/from the CSC; and a plurality of modular CSC cells connected in parallel with each other between the AC side and the DC side of the CSC, each modular cell comprising a plurality of switches. The CSC is configured for being connected in series with an HVDC transmission line and for injecting a voltage in series with the HVDC transmission line at the DC side of the CSC. |
| US09461549B2 |
Electric power source device
An electric power source device has a transformer, a primary-side semiconductor module, a secondary-side semiconductor module, a secondary-side electrical component, a base plate and a circuit substrate on which substrate-side electrical components are mounted. The primary-side semiconductor module has a larger exterior size than the secondary-side electrical component. The primary-side semiconductor module and the secondary-side electrical component form a stacked section. In the stacked section, the secondary-side electrical component is stacked, in a vertical direction, i.e. a direction of a normal line of a mounting surface of the base plate, on the primary-side semiconductor module. The primary-side semiconductor module is directly mounted on the mounting surface. At least a part of the substrate-side electrical components is arranged inside of the primary-side semiconductor module in a horizontal direction, and inside of a second surface of the stacked section toward the mounting surface along the normal line. |
| US09461548B2 |
Switch control circuit, switch control method and power supply device using the same
Embodiment relates to a switch control circuit, a switch control method, and a power supply using the switch control circuit. The power supply supplies power to a load using an input voltage. The switch control circuit controls a switching operation of the power switch that controls the power supply. The switch control circuit detects a duty of the power switch using a signal for controlling the switching operation of the power switch, detects the load using the feedback voltage, and determines a short-circuit of the sense resistor according to the detected duty and the detected load. |
| US09461547B2 |
Converter circuitry
Disclosed is a DC-DC converter with a converter bridge, tank circuitry, and rectifier circuitry. In one embodiment, the converter bridge includes multiple switch circuits, which are formed with silicon carbide MOSFETs (metal on semiconductor field effect transistors), and are configured to provide a primary current. The tank circuitry includes a resonant capacitance, a resonant inductance, and a transformer with a primary, a first secondary, and a second secondary. The tank circuitry is configured to receive the primary current, and the transformer is associated with a magnetizing inductance. The resonant frequency of the tank circuitry is greater than about 225 kilohertz as essentially defined by the magnetizing inductance, the resonant capacitance, and the resonant inductance. The rectifier circuitry is coupled to the first secondary and the second secondary coil, and is adapted to provide a rectified output current. |
| US09461546B2 |
Power device and method for delivering power to electronic devices
An energy efficient apparatus includes a switching device, a frequency dependent reactive device, and a control element is provided. The switching device is coupled to a source of electrical power and includes a pair of transistors and is adapted to receive a control signal and to produce an alternating current power signal. The frequency of the alternating current power signal is responsive to the control signal. The frequency dependent reactive device is electrically coupled to the pair of transistors for receiving the alternating current power signal and producing an output power signal. The frequency dependent reactive device is chosen to achieve a desired voltage of the output power signal relative to the frequency of the alternating current power signal. The control element senses an actual voltage of the direct current power signal and modifies the control signal delivered to achieve the desired voltage of the direct current power signal. |
| US09461545B2 |
Boost converter with circuit for body switching of the rectification transistor
A first softstart signal indicates operation in a load phase for a boost rectifier and a second softstart signal indicates operation in a pulse drive phase which follows the load phase. A rectification transistor is actuated for the duration of the load phase in response to the first softstart circuit to generate a rising output voltage. The rectification transistor is further repeatedly actuated during the pulse drive phase in response to the second softstart circuit to generate a boosted output voltage. A first transistor coupled between a first conduction terminal and a body terminal of the rectification transistor is actuated, and a second transistor coupled between the body terminal and a second conduction terminal of the rectification transistor is deactuated, during the load phase. The first transistor is deactuated, and the second transistor is actuated, during the pulse drive phase. |
| US09461539B2 |
Self-calibrated voltage regulator
A voltage regulator includes a driving circuit, a feedback circuit, first and second control circuits and a resistor. The driving circuit is coupled to an input node and an output node and generates an output voltage at the output node from an input voltage at the input node. The feedback circuit is coupled to the output node and generates a feedback voltage based on the output voltage. The first control circuit is coupled to the feedback circuit and the driving circuit to control the output voltage based on the feedback voltage. The resistor has opposite first and second terminals. The first terminal of the resistor is coupled to the output node. The second control circuit is coupled to the second terminal of the output stage resistor and the feedback circuit to control the feedback voltage based on a regulated voltage at the second terminal of the resistor. |
| US09461537B1 |
Systems and methods for measuring inductor current in a switching DC-to-DC converter
A switch control circuit may be utilized for a sequence of switching events: a first event to activate a first switch and deactivate a second switch, wherein a current of an inductor coupled to the first switch and the second switch increases during the first event and has a positive value at an end of the first event; a second event to deactivate the first switch and activate the second switch, wherein the current of an inductor coupled to the first switch and the second switch decreases during the second event; and an impedance event during one of the first event and the second event such that during one of the first event and the second event, the impedance event causes an impedance of the one of the first switch and the second switch to decrease. |
| US09461535B2 |
Photovoltaic systems with maximum power point tracking controller
A system and a method provide a photovoltaic system which regenerates the output characteristics of the photovoltaic at different ambient condition with high precision under all environmental conditions. The photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic array, a buck/boost converter, a DC link capacitor to connect the buck/booster converter to a load/inverter, an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference maximum power point tracking controller, a voltage control loop, a proportional integral controller to maintain the output voltage of the photovoltaic array to the reference voltage by adjusting the duty ratio of buck/boost converter. |
| US09461533B2 |
Electronic circuit
When an overcurrent is detected by an overcurrent detecting circuit (36), a first switch circuit (32) selects a second input terminal (b) and connects an output terminal (c) to the second input terminal (b), with the result that the output terminal (c) of the first switch circuit (32) is put into a high-impedance state. The second switch circuit (34) selects a second output terminal (f) and connects an input terminal (d) to the second output terminal (f), with the result that the input terminal (d) of the second switch circuit (34) is grounded. That is, the gate of a first MOSFET (21) is grounded via a current interrupting resistor (35). The resistance value of the current interrupting resistor (35) is set so that, at the time of a current interruption, a time interval from a time when the gate-source voltage or gate-emitter voltage of the switching device lowers to such a voltage that the temperature characteristics of the on-resistance of the switching device become negative to a time when the drain current or collector current of the switching device reaches 2% of the saturation current thereof is 500 [nsec] or less. |
| US09461531B2 |
Braking device
A braking device includes a flywheel rotatably mounted on a brace, a circular rotor deposited on the flywheel, and a stator fixed to the brace for combining with the rotor. The stator includes first and second magnetic poles. The first magnetic pole is larger than the second magnetic pole. The first and second magnetic poles are arranged into a ring in an interlaced manner. Each of the first and second magnetic poles has a coil. The braking device has a magnetic control unit mounted on a lateral of the brace near a rim of the flywheel and configured to generate magnetism in response to electric currents generated by the coils, so as to change a rotatory load of the flywheel. With the interlaced arrangement of the large and small magnetic poles, the braking device can have the rotor rotating with less cogging torque, and in turn reduced noise. |
| US09461529B2 |
Tactile low frequency transducer
A transducer comprising: a flat strip of metal formed into a closed metal loop with two substantially parallel sides and rounded corners, a solenoid fixed to a surface on a first parallel side, and fixed magnets attached to an opposite parallel side of the trapezoidal shape to bring the fixed magnets into proximity with the solenoid, wherein at least one lateral side of the trapezoidal shape coupling said parallel sides has a continuously varying width, resulting in the transducer being able to resonate with high fidelity over a range of frequencies in response to reception of a signal comprising varying frequencies. |
| US09461528B2 |
Deformation control device for a resonant spring in a linear driving unit
The present device is applied to a linear driving unit which comprises: a linear electric motor (M) formed by a motor housing (C) which is electrically excited and affixed to a fixed structure (1), and by a magnetic armature (A) which is displaced in a reciprocating axial movement; and a helical resonant spring (50) having an end coupled to the fixed structure (1) and an opposite end coupled to the magnetic armature (A). The deformation control device (60) is mounted to contact a surface extension of the resonant spring (50), which is elastically and radially deformed, and to generate friction with said surface extension and/or an elastic deformation in the deformation control device (60), absorbing energy in a value sufficient to at least minimize said radial elastic deformation of the resonant spring (50). |
| US09461527B2 |
Multiple conductor winding in stator
An electric machine includes a stator disposed about an axis in register with the rotor. The stator has a plurality of slots parallel to the axis. A plurality of windings with generally rectangular cross sections is provided with each winding having a first portion disposed radially inward of a second portion relative to the axis. At least two of the plurality of windings are at least partially inserted into each of the plurality of slots. The plurality of generally rectangular windings in each of the plurality of slots is configured to reduce resistive loss within the stator. |
| US09461525B2 |
Electrical machine for use in the automotive sector
An electrical machine for an automotive vehicle has a housing (4). A stator arrangement (8) and a rotor arrangement (6) are disposed in the housing (4). At least one clearance (10) is formed in the housing (4) in proximity to the stator arrangement (8) and the rotor arrangement (6). A heat transmission device (12) is inserted into the clearance (10) as a prefabricated heat transmission module. |
| US09461524B2 |
Electric machine
The invention relates to an electric machine supplied with air for cooling purposes. The air is heated during operation of the electric machine and is removed in the form of exhaust air. The electric machine is equipped with a fan wheel (70) which is coupled to a rotor of the electric machine. To improve and to simplify the operation of the electric machine, the fan wheel (70) is designed as a precise steel part with a sensor device (71) for detecting a rotational speed of the fan wheel (50; 70) and thereby detecting a rotational speed of the rotor. |
| US09461508B2 |
Electromagnetic generator transformer
An electromagnetic generating transformer comprises one or more flux assembly having one or more magnetic field source having a positive pole and a negative pole and a magnetic field passing in a path between the positive pole and the negative pole and a conductor magnetically coupled with the one or more magnetic field source, the magnetic field source and the conductor being fixed relative to one another; a shunt is coupled with a motive source and configured to move the shunt into a primary position and a secondary position, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field passing between the positive pole and the negative pole varies when the shunt is moved between the primary position and the secondary position. |
| US09461504B2 |
Enhanced efficiency energy-scavenging interface, method for operating the energy-scavenging interface, and energy-scavenging system comprising the energy-scavenging interface
An energy-scavenging interface includes first and second switches connected in series between an input and reference, and third and fourth switches connected in series between the input and an output. A control circuit closes the first and second switches and opens the third switch for a first time interval to store charge in a storage element. A scaled copy of a peak value of the charging current is obtained. The control circuit then opens the first switch and closes the third and fourth switches to generate an output signal as long as the value in current of the output signal is higher than the value of said scaled copy of the peak value. |
| US09461497B2 |
Charge device and system
A charge device coupled to an external device is provided. A connection port is configured to couple to the external device and includes a first pin and a second pin. A battery unit has a battery voltage. A conversion unit converts the battery voltage to provide power to the external device. When the battery voltage is higher than a threshold value, a detection control unit directs the first and second pins to couple to a first charge unit and the connection port outputs a first charge current to the external device. When the battery voltage is not higher than the threshold value, the detection control unit directs the first and second pins to couple to a second charge unit and the connection port outputs a second charge current to the external device. The first charge current is greater than the second charge current. |
| US09461496B1 |
Method and system for recharging a solid state battery
A method and system for recharging a solid state battery device. The method can include providing the solid state battery in a fully or partially discharged state. The solid state battery can be coupled to a pair of electrodes. An energy source coupled to the electrodes can be used to supply energy to the solid state battery. This supply of energy can use a first constant current recharge process followed by a constant voltage recharge process. This supply of energy can cause an increase of an energy level of the solid state battery to the maximum energy level within a predetermined amount of time. The predetermined amount of time can be determined as being less than a time period associated with recharging the solid state battery using solely a constant current recharge process. |
| US09461495B2 |
Battery warm up system and method for warming up battery using the same
A battery warm up system according to the present disclosure includes a battery state measuring unit to measure a state of charge (SOC) of each module of a battery pack of a vehicle, a control unit to optionally output a forced discharging start signal and to output a balancing start signal, a forced discharging circuit unit to force at least one battery module among a plurality of battery modules of the battery pack to be discharged in response to the forced discharging start signal, and a balancing unit to balance the SOC of each of the battery modules in response to the balancing start signal. |
| US09461494B2 |
Power storage system
An integration control device of a power storage system obtains pieces of status information of power storage devices from control devices of unit modules, compares the obtained pieces of status information with one another, and performs driving control of an electrical load based on a worst value of the pieces of status information. |
| US09461492B1 |
Method and circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using a charge-time parameter
A system and method to charge a battery during a charging cycle having a plurality of portions. The method comprises generating a first charge signal during the first portion of the charging cycle, wherein the first charge signal is based on a charge-time parameter. The charge-time parameter correlates a charge time period of the charging cycle to (i) a state of charge of the battery and/or (ii) a charge storage level corresponding to an amount of usage time of the battery. The method further includes applying the first charge signal to the battery during the first portion of the charging cycle, and, in response thereto, charging the battery to provide a state of charge and/or (ii) a charge storage level corresponding to an amount of usage in or within the charge time period of the charge-time parameter. |
| US09461491B2 |
Devices and methods for managing charging of rechargeable batteries
A battery charger, which can be configured as a charger or docking station (300), includes one or more control circuits (105). A charging circuit (302) can charge one or more rechargeable batteries (118). A thermal management device (305) can alter a thermal condition of the one or more rechargeable batteries. The one or more control circuits can receive, with a communication circuit (309) an indication of a thermal state of an electronic device (100). The one or more control circuits can cause the thermal management device to alter the thermal condition of the one or more rechargeable batteries such that when the one or more rechargeable batteries are coupled to the electronic device, a thermal mass defined by the electronic device and the one or more rechargeable batteries transitions from the thermal state toward a predefined thermal mass temperature. |
| US09461487B2 |
Battery stack configuration in a multi-battery supply system
A reconfigurable multi-battery pack system for inclusion in a hand held device for more efficiently energizing battery powered operation of both a buck DC-DC converter and a boost DC-DC converter included in the device. Also disclosed is a power management circuit that autonomously: 1. connects the batteries in parallel during battery recharging; and 2. connects at least two (2) of the batteries in series when the batteries are not being recharged and are energizing operation of the DC-DC converters. |
| US09461486B2 |
Accumulator battery monitoring over power circuit
The invention is in the field of monitoring and controlling of rechargeable battery arrays as used in telecommunications power plants and vehicles equipped with all-electrical or hybrid-electrical power train. The invention presents a method of embedding a microcontroller into each individual cell in the array, which executes measurements of cell voltage, temperature and optionally instantaneous current. These measurements are aimed to reflect the cell state-of-charge and its overall maintenance state, i.e. health or life expectancy. The measured data is then transmitted over the same wires that conduct the electrical energy to and from the battery cells using a Rogowsky type coil (a.k.a. current transformer) to superimpose a high-frequency alternating-current modulated signal over any direct current flowing through the power wires. A central digital signal processor with a similar current transformer connected to the power lines detects, demodulates and decodes the measurements data for the use of overall battery array control and maintenance. |
| US09461478B2 |
Wireless power transfer apparatus and method thereof
In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus is disclosed that includes features of transmitting power from a transmitter of a wireless power system at a multiplicity of frequencies between a first transmission frequency and a second transmission frequency at a first power level and transmitting power from the transmitter at a second power level and at one or more frequencies between the first transmission frequency and the second transmission frequency if the one or more receiving devices are determined to be coupled to the transmitter. |
| US09461476B2 |
Power transmission device and wireless power transmission system including the same
Not a structure in which a resonance frequency of a power transmission device is set after a resonance frequency of a power receiving device is directly measured but a structure in which the resonance frequencies of the power receiving device and the power transmission device are estimated after reflection of an electromagnetic field for transmitting electric power to the power receiving device is monitored by the power transmission device is employed. After a capacitance value of a variable capacitor in a resonance coil of the power receiving device is once set to 0, an S11 parameter is detected while a frequency of an electromagnetic wave is changed, and the resonance frequency of the power transmission device is estimated on the basis of the S11 parameter. |
| US09461475B2 |
Electrical system having a DC link
An electrical system and method include a DC link, a controlled rectifier connected between the DC link and a power source, an energy storage, a DC to DC converter connected between the DC link and the energy storage, a motor, and a DC to AC converter connected between the DC link and the motor. The converters are configured to transfer power in both directions. The rectifier controls the DC voltage of the DC link when the DC link voltage is in a first voltage range. The DC to DC converter controls the DC voltage of the DC link by charging the energy storage when the DC link voltage is in a second voltage range, which has higher voltage values than the first voltage range, or by discharging the energy storage when the DC link voltage is in a third voltage range, which has lower voltages than the first voltage range. |
| US09461474B2 |
Power converter circuit with AC output
A power converter circuit includes output terminals configured to receive an external voltage. A series circuit with a number of converter units is connected between the output terminals of the power converter circuit. Each converter unit includes input terminals configured to be coupled to a DC power source and output terminals configured to provide an output current. At least one converter unit of the converter units includes a signal generator configured to receive a synchronization signal and to generate a continuous synchronization signal from the synchronization signal. The power converter circuit can be operated in a normal operation mode. In the normal operation mode, the at least one converter unit is configured to regulate generation of the output current such that a frequency and/or a phase of the output current are dependent on the continuous synchronization signal. |
| US09461471B2 |
System and methods for actively managing electric power over an electric power grid and providing revenue grade date usable for settlement
Systems and methods for managing power on an electric power grid including a server for communicating IP-based messages over a network with distributed power consuming devices and/or power supplying devices, the IP-based messages including information relating to activities by the power consuming devices and/or the power supplying devices; and wherein the information is transformed by the system into settlement grade data corresponding to the activities of the power consuming devices and/or the power supplying devices. |
| US09461467B2 |
System for supplying direct electric power for at least two loads from an alternating electric power source and method for starting such a supply system
The invention relates to a system for supplying direct electric power to at least two loads from an alternating electric power source comprises a circulation bus for the alternating power adapted to be connected to the alternating power source and at least one converter for converting alternating power into direct power, connected to the circulation bus.The system further comprises at least two connection interfaces, each connection interface being connected to a corresponding converter and being adapted to be connected to at least one electric load to supply direct electric power for the or each corresponding load; and means for controlling the connection interfaces, the control means being capable of time-shifting the start-up moment for the supply of direct power from one interface to the other. |
| US09461465B1 |
Overvoltage protection analog switch
An apparatus relates generally to an analog switch. In such apparatus, the analog switch has a transistor. A first node of the transistor is coupled to an input node of the analog switch. A second node of the transistor is coupled to an output node of the analog switch. An overvoltage protection circuit is coupled to provide a control voltage to a gate node of the transistor. The overvoltage protection circuit is used to at least substantially reduce an overvoltage state caused by an analog voltage at the input node of the analog switch exceeding an overvoltage threshold voltage. |
| US09461462B2 |
Open-close body control apparatus
A motor is driven to rotate in a closing direction in an ordinary region other than a full close position immediately ahead region. An interposition determination unit determines whether or not interposition occurs while a windowpane is closing. If the interposition determination unit determines that interposition occurs, the motor is driven in a reverse direction to open the windowpane by a predetermined amount. The interposition determination unit continuously determines interposition after the closing windowpane enters the full close position immediately ahead region. If the determination unit determines that the interposition occurs while the windowpane is closing in the full close position immediately ahead region, the control unit stops driving the motor to stop the windowpane. |
| US09461460B2 |
Circuit control device, circuit system, switch state detection circuit and vehicle
A circuit control device for controlling power consumption of a plurality of circuit units includes a monitoring unit configured to monitor whether a detection temperature of each of the circuit units meets a predetermined overheat condition, and an overheat protection unit configured to execute an overheat protection operation when the overheat condition is met in any one of the circuit units, wherein the overheat protection operation is an operation to reduce power consumption of an overheat unit meeting the overheat condition, among the circuit units, and a neighbor unit disposed near the overheat unit. |
| US09461458B2 |
Method of distance protection of parallel transmission line
The present invention is concerned with a method of distance protection of parallel transmission lines applicable both to series compensated and uncompensated electric power lines, using a distance relay. The method is characterized in that a pair of flags (ff1, ff2) are calculated for indication faulted and healthy circuits in parallel lines and in the same time a flag (Internal_Fault) for indication internal or external fault in parallel lines is calculated independently. Next gathering all calculated flags (ff1, ff2, Internal_Fault) an analyze of the value of these flags are performed and depending on the values of flags (ff1, ff2, Internal_Fault) and on their reciprocal relationship, a trip permission signal from the protection relay (4) is released and sent to the alarms devices or to the line breakers, or a block signal from the protection relay (4) is generated and sent to protect parallel lines before damage. |
| US09461456B2 |
Integrated switchboard for a modular data center
A modular data center includes a first module that provides a first function of the mobile data center, a second module operable that provides a second function of the mobile data center, and an integrated switchboard having first and second protection devices and a switch. The integrated switchboard receives a high-capacity power feed, protects the high-capacity power feed from a first over-current condition with the first protection device to provide a load feed to a load associated with the first module, provides the high-capacity power feed to an input of the switch, and protects an output of the switch from a second over-current condition with the second protection device to provide a load feed to a load associated with the second module. |
| US09461455B2 |
Protecting circuit
A protecting circuit connected between a power supply and a load includes an interface unit, a switching unit, a protection module, a locking unit, and a trigger unit. The interface unit is used for connecting to the load. The switching unit turns on to establish a connection between the power supply and the load when the interface connects to the load and turns off to cut off the connection. The protection module generates a protecting signal when the output of the power supply is in an abnormal state, and the locking unit controls the trigger unit to generate a control signal. The switching unit cuts off the connection in response to the control signal. When the output of the power supply resumes to a normal state, the switching unit automatically resumes the connection by reconnecting the interface with the load. |
| US09461451B2 |
Power converter with bus bars
A power converter is equipped with a semiconductor module stack, a positive bus bar stack, and a negative bus bar stack. The positive bus bar stack has a first positive bus bar and a second positive bus bar stacked. The negative bus bar stack also has a first negative bus bar and a second negative bus bar stacked in a stacking direction Z of the positive bus bar stack. The first semiconductor modules of the semiconductor module stack are connected to the first positive bus bar and the first negative bus bar, while the second semiconductor modules of the semiconductor module stack are connected to the second positive bus bar and the second negative bus bar. This results in a decreased variation in mutual inductance among the semiconductor modules, which leads to a decrease in overall inductance of the power converter. |
| US09461449B2 |
Covering for electrical cord
An electric cord covering for protecting surrounding surfaces from damage by the electrical cord, comprising: a flexible tube defining interior and exterior surfaces; a proximal edge and an opposing distal edge joining the interior and exterior surfaces, each edge defining an opening; an interior space defined by the interior surface operable to receive at least one electrical cord at least partially therein such that the received cord is housed within the flexible tube; and at least one structural support for promoting the traversal of the electrical cord within the flexible tube. |
| US09461448B1 |
Tool for removing jacket material from tubing and cable
A tool for removing a jacket from a tube or cable comprises a first through-hole extending through a body of the tool tangent to an anvil. A cut head pivotably mounted to the body includes a depression and a cutting blade mounted to extend into the depression a distance less than the expected thickness of the jacket. The cut head may be raised, then lowered onto a jacketed tube or cable inserted into the first through-hole. Rotation of the tool or the tube or cable scores the jacket circumferentially. A hook blade extends into a second hole in the body at a non-radial orientation to the hole, the hook blade being positioned to engage an inner surface of the jacket when the jacketed tube is inserted into the second hole, and to cut a longitudinal slit in the jacket from a free end of the jacket to the circumferential score. |
| US09461444B2 |
Fan cooled ignition coil method and apparatus
This disclosure provides an ignition coil for a spark ignited internal combustion engine. The ignition coil includes a coil body having an outer surface and internal windings coupled to a connector. The ignition coil also includes a housing surrounding the coil body. The housing has an outer wall spaced apart from the outer surface of the coil body thereby forming a gap between the outer surface of the coil body and the outer wall. The outer wall includes an opening in flow communication with the gap. |
| US09461442B2 |
Laser comb generator
An optical comb generator for generating multiple optical wavelengths from a single source simultaneously for many optical channels on a semiconductor substrate. The comb generator provides narrow channel spacing using chirped Bragg grating with uniformly spaced grating pitches but with tapered waveguide to facilitate the fabrication process and generate laser comb channels with uniform line widths across all channels. The laser comb generator facilitates monolithic integration of many photonic integrated circuit elements. |
| US09461437B2 |
Tilt control through optical pump power adjustment
The adjustment of tilt in an optical signal path of a repeater. The repeater includes an optical pump that optically powers a rare-Earth doped fiber amplifier, which amplifies the optical signal. The optical signal path also includes Raman gain stage implemented in a previous optical fiber span in the optical signal path, and which contributes tilt with respect to wavelength. Adjusting the Raman gain and/or the rare-Earth doped gain also adjusts the combined tilt contributed by these gain stages. However, the rare-Earth doped gain operates at least partially in the saturated regime, thereby stabilizing the gain at the output of the rare-Earth doped amplifier. Thus tilt control may be employed by adjusting optical pump power with reduced effect on overall gain. |
| US09461435B2 |
Alleviation of laser-induced damage in optical materials by suppression of transient color centers formation and control of phonon population
Laser-induced damage in an optical material can be mitigated by creating conditions at which light absorption is minimized. Specifically, electrons populating defect energy levels of a band gap in an optical material can be promoted to the conduction band—a process commonly referred to as bleaching. Such bleaching can be accomplished using a predetermined wavelength that ensures minimum energy deposition into the material, ideally promoting electron to just inside the conduction band. In some cases phonon (i.e. thermal) excitation can also be used to achieve higher depopulation rates. In one embodiment, a bleaching light beam having a wavelength longer than that of the laser beam can be combined with the laser beam to depopulate the defect energy levels in the band gap. The bleaching light beam can be propagated in the same direction or intersect the laser beam. |
| US09461432B2 |
Connection terminal
A connection terminal includes a terminal main body which includes a bottom plate portion, a connecting spring portion integrally provided on one end side of the bottom plate portion, and a conductive connecting portion integrally provided on the other end side of the bottom plate portion; and a box portion which is integrally formed with the bottom plate portion from both edge portions of the bottom plate portion in a width direction of the connection terminal on the one end side by stereoscopic modeling and covers the connecting spring portion. |
| US09461429B2 |
Electrical connector assembly having extra signal contact
An electrical connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (1) comprising a lower wall, a receiving space (110), a cavity (120) above the receiving space (110), a shielding shell (9) enclosing the insulative housing (1), a number of contacts (2, 3) received in the insulative housing (1) and a cable (5). The contacts (2, 3) comprise a number of first contacts (2) for transmitting USB 3.0 signal and a number of second contacts (3) capable of transmitting USB 2.0 signal, and an extra signal contact (3e) transmitting an extra signal. The second contacts are partly received in the receiving space (110). The first contacts are partly received in the cavity (120). The engaging section of the extra signal contact (3e) is located on an inner surface of the lower wall. |
| US09461428B2 |
Low-cost offset stacked power connector
Embodiments of the present invention may be directed to an electronic connector. More specifically, the electronic connector may include a single connector body and a mounting end operable to couple the single connector body with an electronic board of an electronics unit. The electronic connector may also include a lower jack portion disposed in the single connector body and include multiple lower pin receptacles, where the lower jack portion is disposed adjacent to the mounting end and is operable to receive a first connector end of a first cable. The electronic connector may further include an upper jack portion disposed in the single connector body and include multiple upper pin receptacles, where the upper jack portion is disposed above the lower jack portion and is operable to receive a second connector end of a second cable. |
| US09461425B2 |
Connector with easily positionable parts
A connector which includes a metal piece, a contact assembly including a body which fixes a plurality of contacts, and a housing in which the contact assembly is inserted, in which the metal piece includes an arm portion which is extended in an arrangement direction of the contacts, an L-shaped portion, and of which an end surface is brought into contact only with a lateral wall of a concave portion of the housing, and a pressing portion which is formed by extending an end surface of the L-shaped portion, and which protrudes from a hole to be brought into contact only with a lateral wall of a recess of the body. |
| US09461423B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (10), a number of upper terminals (20) and a number of lower terminals (30) received in the insulative housing. The upper terminals comprise a pair of signal terminals (21) and a ground terminal (22) on one side of the pair of the pair of signal terminals; and an insulative body insert molded with the upper terminals to constitute a terminal module. The upper terminal has a fixed portion (201) and an elastic arm (301). Both the fixed portions of the signal terminal and the ground terminal have a same first width (201a). Both the elastic arms of the signal terminal and the ground terminal have a same second width (202a). The second width is wider than the first width. Every two adjacent fixed portions of the upper terminals are equidistant, and every two adjacent elastic arms of the upper terminals are equidistant. |
| US09461419B2 |
Circuit connector with a low profile protective outlet connector arrangement cover device
A new and useful electrical connector is provided, that is designed to protect existing electrical outlets from trauma and destruction, by preventing them from being dislodged by movement of a patient support such as a hospital bed, or scraped off of the wall by passing (moving) machinery, hospital beds, equipment and vehicles during the normal use of the bed, the machinery, or equipment. In this application reference to an electrical plug component encompasses traditional 2 or 3 prong plugs that pima into grounded or ungrounded wall outlet sockets, as well as phone or laptop jacks that would plug into wall outlet sockets configured for such jacks. In addition, a new and useful coupling structure, for electrical couplings that need to be spaced from a wall socket, is provided. |
| US09461418B2 |
Compensation network using an orthogonal compensation network
In one embodiment, the present invention is a communication connector, comprising a compensation circuit for providing a compensating signal to approximately cancel an offending signal over a range of frequency, the compensation circuit including a capacitive coupling with a first magnitude growing at a first rate over the range of frequency and a mutual inductive coupling with a second magnitude growing at a second rate over the range of frequency, the second rate being greater than the first rate (e.g., the second rate approximately double the first rate). |
| US09461417B2 |
Electrical connector assembly with a light guide member
An electrical connector assembly includes a connector, an inner printed circuit board, and a light guide member made of transparent or semitransparent material. The connector comprising an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, and each contact has a contacting portion and a soldering portion. The inner printed circuit board is welding with the soldering portions of the contacts and defines an LED. The light guide member is neighboring to the LED and exposed out of the electrical connector assembly. The inner printed circuit board defines a control module thereon for controlling the LED on or off and a touch switch arranged in front of the control module, the LED is electrically connected with the control module and the touch switch. |
| US09461410B2 |
Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate
An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing, a plurality of electrical signal contacts carried by the dielectric housing, and a ground plate carried by the dielectric housing. The electrical signal contacts are arranged along a first plane, wherein the signal contacts define signal pairs such that a respective gap is disposed between adjacent signal pairs. The signal contacts further define respective mating and mounting ends. The ground plate includes a ground plate body oriented in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane and offset from the first plane. The ground plate body defines first and second opposed surfaces. The ground plate includes at least one rib that defines first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface of the rib projects from the first surface of the ground plate body in a direction toward the gap, and the second surface is recessed into the second surface of the ground plate body. The ground plate further includes a plurality of mating ends and mounting ends extending from the ground plate body and disposed in the first plane so as to be aligned with the respective mating ends and mounting ends of the electrical signal contacts. |
| US09461408B1 |
Adaptor and storage device using the same
An adaptor connects a dual orientation plug connector and a first circuit board. The dual orientation plug connector includes a second circuit board having first to fifth upper contacts sequentially arranged on a surface and having first to fourth lower contacts sequentially arranged on another surface. The first circuit board has first to sixth endpoints. The adaptor includes first to sixth pins. The first to sixth pins respectively include first to sixth contacting portions respectively configured to connect the first upper contact, the first to fourth lower contact, and the fifth upper contact. The first to sixth pins respectively include first to sixth extending portions respectively connecting the first to sixth endpoints. Widths of the third and fourth pins are smaller than widths of the first, second, fifth, and sixth pins. |
| US09461403B2 |
Robust magnetic connector
Connector inserts and receptacles that are robust, easily manufactured, and provide an improved connector performance. One example may provide a connector receptacle having a power contact located in a ground surface. An insulating layer may be placed between the power contact and the ground surface. The ground surface may be curved or flat, or it may have other shapes. Another example may provide a robust connector insert. This connector insert may include a crimping piece that fits over a cable braiding and is crimped. The crimping piece may then be attached to an attraction plate. A cover or shell may be attached to provide further reinforcement. Another example may provide a connector system having a ground contact and a power contact, where the ground contact is a make-first-break-last contact. |
| US09461402B2 |
Connection device for portable terminal
A connection device of a portable terminal is provided. The connection device includes one or more coupling slots provided on a lateral side of the portable terminal, one or more metal pads mounted on a bottom of the one or more coupling slots, and a plug including one or more magnets corresponding to the one or more pads. The one or more magnets are arranged to protrude toward a predetermined side of the plug, and inserted into the one or more coupling slots by an attractive force produced between the one or more metal pads and the one or more magnets, thereby coupling the plug to the lateral side of the portable terminal. |
| US09461399B2 |
Charging cable connector
A charging cable connector including an electrically-connector connector unit, a receptacle housing enclosing at least some sections of the connector unit, a charging cable connector section and a strain relieving device. The receptacle housing is a multi-part design and further includes a housing base section of closed outer surface design and a connector aperture. The housing base section is configured to accommodate the connector unit. The connector unit is accessible via the connecting aperture, where the connecting aperture is formed as part of the housing base section. The charging cable connector section is provided apart from the connecting aperture and further includes a charging cable connecting aperture. The charging cable connector section is configured to accommodate a charring cable. The charging cable includes a strain-relieving device, where the charging cable is configured to be guide via the charging cable connecting aperture into the receptacle housing. |
| US09461397B2 |
Housing having a seal
The invention relates to a housing having a seal, the seal being formed from a resilient material, characterized in that the resilient material is electrically conductive. |
| US09461395B2 |
Lever-type connector
A lever (30) is supported on a first housing (10) for rotation between an initial position and a connection position. A resiliently deflectable holding arm (35) is formed on a main body (31) of the lever (30) and is configured to be locked to the first housing (10) for holding the lever (30) at the initial position so that the lever (30) does not rotate toward the connection position (connecting direction B). The holding arm (35) is formed with a regulating projection (38). The main body (31) is formed with a stopper (39) configured to regulate a displacement in a hold releasing direction A of separating the holding arm (35) from the first housing (10) by locking the regulating projection (38) when the main body portion (31) is displaced in the connecting direction B with the holding arm (35) locked to the first housing (10). |
| US09461394B2 |
Electrical contacts for electrical connectors
An electrical connector includes a connector housing configured to engage a mating connector during a mating operation. A contact array includes pin contacts coupled to the connector housing. Each of the pin contacts have an elongated body including a central plane that extends along a longitudinal axis to a mating end. Each of the pin contacts has first and second deflectable beams at the mating end. The first deflectable beam are configured to engage a first flexible contact finger of the mating connector and deflect toward the central plane during the mating operation. The second deflectable beam is configured to engage a second flexible contact finger of the mating connector and deflect toward the central plane during the mating operation. |
| US09461392B2 |
Vertically configured connector
A connector includes at least a pair of mating portions and each mating portion includes a at least one mating blade. The connector body has a height that is greater than twice a height of the mating portion. Flanges can be provided on both sides of the mating blade. |
| US09461389B2 |
Securing and locking system for an electronic module
Embodiments include an electronic module having a chassis, a locking member rotatably connected to the chassis, and a bus bar system comprising a plurality of bus bars. The electronic module includes a plurality of power plug connectors configured such that each of the plurality of bus bars is connected to at least one power plug connector, wherein each of the power plug connectors is configured to receive at least a portion of a system bus thereby establishing an electrical connection between each of the plurality of bus bars and the system bus. The locking member is configured to connect the electronic module to the system bus such that the plurality of power plug connectors establish an electrical connection between the bus bar system and the system bus and wherein the locking member is configured to lock to the chassis once the electrical connection has been established. |
| US09461388B2 |
Electrical connector having improved tongue portion
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a number of terminals (2) mounted to the housing and including a pair of outermost terminals, and a stiffener (3) attached to the housing and defining a pair of openings. The insulative housing includes a tongue portion (12) defining a number of passageways (121), a pair of first indentations (123) each opened upwardly and extending through an upper portion and a side portion of the tongue portion. The outermost terminal (20) has an upper surface and a side surface partly exposed outwardly via the first indentation and the opening. Also disclosed is a compression mounted electrical connector including a shell and a grounding member secured to the shell and similarly configured as terminals thereof. |
| US09461387B2 |
Connector for electrically connecting two panels having switchgear
A connector for electrically connecting two panels having switchgear has: two cups having a truncated cone shape for arrangement in a panel, the cups each having a conductor end extending through the tip of the cone and into the cup; an insulating body having two opposite truncated cone shaped outer surfaces each for reception in one of the cups and having a central passage; an electrically conducting element for connecting with the conductor ends extending in the central passage of the insulating body; wherein the insulating body is a molded body having an earth wire molded in; and wherein a coating of an electrical conducting layer is arranged on the earth wire and at least part of the insulating body. |
| US09461386B1 |
Spring pin electrical connector
An electrical connector is disclosed that, in one exemplary configuration, includes a connection pin, a spring, an insulator, an outer casing, and a quick-release lever. The electrical connector is used to electrically connect a display device, like a watch, and a securing device, like a watch strap. The electrical connector may be used to create electrical and ground connections between the securing device and the display device from a single point of contact. The quick-release lever may be used for the improved attachment and release of the electrical connector from the display device. |
| US09461385B2 |
Card edge connector
A card edge connector includes supporting walls (31) provided along a plurality of juxtaposed terminal fittings (50) and configured to receive reaction forces from the side of a circuit board (62) due to a resilient pressing action of resilient contact pieces (54) and a front wall (33) connected to front end edges of the supporting walls (31). The front wall (33) is formed with a board insertion port (41) in the form of a slit-like opening substantially parallel to a juxtaposition direction of the terminal fittings (50) and communicating with a board accommodation space (40) and a coupling portion (44) configured to couple two long-side opening edges (43) substantially parallel to the supporting walls (31). The circuit board (62) is formed with a cut (65) configured to avoid interference with the coupling portion (44) in a state inserted in the board accommodation space (40). |
| US09461381B1 |
Electronic card connector with metal pins of terminals connected by an electronic card received therein
Electronic card connectors for receiving and electrically connecting with at least one electronic card are described. The electronic card connector includes a base having a plurality through holes, a frame, and a plurality of terminals which are adapted to pass through the through holes. The frame is configured to be assembled with the base to form a receiving recess. At least one of the plurality of terminals may include a plurality of metal pins. When the at least one electronic card is inserted into the receiving recess, one of the plurality of metal pins is electrically connected to the other one of the plurality of metal pins via a sensor unit. |
| US09461380B2 |
Connector and connecting port assembly therewith
A connector includes an insulating housing, a signal contact set, a ground contact and a fixing pin. A containing slot is formed on the insulating housing and the insulating housing has an engaging structure located inside the containing slot. The signal contact set is installed inside the insulating housing. The ground contact is installed inside the insulating housing and opposite to the signal contact set. The fixing pin is installed inside the insulating housing and located between the signal contact set and the ground contact. The fixing pin includes a main body, a latching portion and an embedding portion. The main body is installed inside the containing slot. The latching portion protrudes from the main body and is for latching the engaging structure. The embedding portion extends from the main body and is for embedding into a mating hole on a circuit board. |
| US09461367B2 |
Creating low cost multi-band and multi-feed passive array feed antennas and low-noise block feeds
An antenna, multi-band antenna system, and antenna apparatus for radio frequency communications are disclosed. The antenna includes a first antenna core, a multi-band antenna array located on the first antenna core, a second antenna core laminated to the first antenna core, an antenna ground plane located on the second core, and a plurality of feed networks interspersed on the first antenna core and the second antenna core. The first antenna core and the second antenna core form dielectric columns between the multi-band antenna array and the antenna ground plane. The antenna may also include a low noise block feed connection located on the first antenna core. |
| US09461364B2 |
Wireless power receiver and control method thereof
A wireless power receiver according to an embodiment wirelessly receives power from a wireless power transmitter. The wireless power receiver includes a printed circuit board having a reception space in a predetermined area, a receiving coil disposed in the reception space of the printed circuit board for receiving power from the wireless power transmitter, and a short-range communication antenna disposed on the printed circuit board while surrounding the receiving coil. |
| US09461363B2 |
Communication terminal and information processing system
An information processing system includes a reader/writer, a communication terminal, and a wireless IC tag. The communication terminal includes an electric field-type first antenna unit, a magnetic field-type second antenna unit, and a connection unit electrically connecting the first and second antenna units and to each other, and is housed within a pen housing. The first antenna unit is coupled to an antenna of the reader/writer through an electric field, and the second antenna unit is coupled to the wireless IC tag through a magnetic field. By causing the second antenna unit to be adjacent to the wireless IC tag, the reader/writer and the wireless IC tag communicate with each other. |
| US09461361B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically processing an electromagnetic beam
A method and apparatus for processing a terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam are disclosed. For example, the method receives the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam via a metamaterial having a plurality of addressable magnetic elements, where a resonant frequency of each of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements is capable of being programmably changed via an adjustment, and activates selectively a subset of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements to manipulate the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam. |
| US09461352B2 |
Multi-step deep reactive ion etching fabrication process for silicon-based terahertz components
A multi-step silicon etching process has been developed to fabricate silicon-based terahertz (THz) waveguide components. This technique provides precise dimensional control across multiple etch depths with batch processing capabilities. Nonlinear and passive components such as mixers and multipliers waveguides, hybrids, OMTs and twists have been fabricated and integrated into a small silicon package. This fabrication technique enables a wafer-stacking architecture to provide ultra-compact multi-pixel receiver front-ends in the THz range. |
| US09461349B2 |
Rechargeable metal NxOy gas battery system
A metal-nitric oxide electrochemical cell which is fed a gas comprising nitric oxide (NO) and at least one gas selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen oxide of formula NxOy, oxygen, water vapor, a gaseous hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is provided. Also provided is a rechargeable battery containing the metal-nitrogen oxides electrochemical cell. A vehicle system wherein exhaust gas from a combustion engine serves as a feed of active cathode material to a metal-nitrogen oxides battery is additionally provided. |
| US09461345B2 |
Secondary battery
A secondary battery supplying electrical power to a load comprises a battery unit, at least one PTC temperature sensing device and a load switch. The battery unit is encompassed by a battery shell. The PTC temperature sensing device is disposed on a primary surface of the battery shell to effectively sense a temperature of the battery unit. The load switch connects to the battery unit and a load and determines whether the battery unit and the load switch are in electrical connection or in an open circuit state upon resistance variation of the PTC temperature sensing device. When the resistance of the PTC temperature sensing device increases by a threshold times within a specific temperature variation or time period, the load switch receives a control signal and accordingly switches to an open circuit state. |
| US09461343B2 |
Battery cell assembly and method for manufacturing a cooling fin for the battery cell assembly
A battery cell assembly is provided. The battery cell assembly includes a cooling fin having a rectangular-shaped aluminum plate, a tube, and a flexible thermally conductive sheet. The plate has a first side and a second side. The tube is coupled to the first side of the plate and extends on at least first, second, and third peripheral edge portions of the plate. The flexible thermally conductive sheet is disposed on the first side of the plate. The battery cell assembly further includes a battery cell disposed against the flexible thermally conductive sheet of the cooling fin. |
| US09461340B2 |
Battery, battery assembly, and user equipment
A battery, a battery assembly, and a user equipment are disclosed. The battery includes a circuit board and a cell. The circuit board includes a first contact, a second contact, a third contact, a fourth contact, a battery management module, and a control switch. The first contact reports a capacity of the cell in the battery, or in the battery and a cascaded battery to an upper-level battery or an electricity load; the second contact receives and output the capacity of the cell in the cascaded battery; when the control switch is opened, the third contact is connected to the cell in the battery to charge or discharge the cell in the battery; when the control switch is closed, the fourth contact is connected to the third contact; and the battery management module triggers opening or closing of the control switch. |
| US09461337B2 |
Separator for electrochemical cell with thermally induced self-discharge intrinsic in the construction
A separator for a rechargeable electrochemical cell has a conductive first layer and a non-conductive second layer. The non-conductive second layer and the conductive first layer are adhered to one another, wherein the non-conductive second layer has a melting point below a critical temperature for the rechargeable electrochemical cell and discharges the cell when subject to overheating. |
| US09461335B2 |
Lithium secondary battery
There is provided a secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode capable of intercalating and deintercalating a lithium ion; a negative electrode capable of intercalating and deintercalating a lithium ion; and an electrolytic solution, wherein the electrolytic solution comprises: a fluorine-containing cyclic ether compound represented by the following formula (1); and at least one selected from a fluorine-containing chain ether compound or a fluorine-containing phosphate ester compound; wherein R1 to R6 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, or a fluorine-substituted, chlorine-substituted, or unsubstituted alkyl group, and at least one of R1 to R6 is selected from a fluorine atom or a fluorine-substituted alkyl group. |
| US09461330B2 |
Stacking device and stacking method
A first holding unit (114) reciprocates between a first table (121) and a stacking table (141) and a second holding unit (115) reciprocates between the stacking table (141) and a second table (141). When the first holding unit (114) holds a separator-electrode assembly (20) whose horizontal position has been adjusted on the first table (121), the second holding unit (115) releases a second electrode (30) over the stacking table (141). When the first holding unit (114) releases the separator-electrode assembly (20) over the stacking table (141), the second holding unit (115) holds the second electrode (30) whose horizontal position has been adjusted on the second table (131). The present invention provides a stacking device and a stacking method which are capable of stacking the separator-electrode assembly including a first electrode sandwiched by separators and the second electrode having a different polarity from the first electrode efficiently with high accuracy. |
| US09461325B2 |
Method and device for permanently bonding a polymer electrolyte membrane to at least one gas diffusion electrode
The invention relates to a permanent connection of a polymer electrolyte membrane to at least one gas diffusion electrode, wherein it is possible to create a particularly long-lasting connection therebetween by pressing the membrane and gas diffusion electrode and exerting external pressure, also enabling a particularly high degree of proton conductivity to be obtained between the membrane and the at least one electrode. In order to create the pressing movement, the pressure of a fluid is increased. The fluid enters into contact with the membrane and/or gas diffusion electrode(s) in a direct manner or via an elastic intermediate element. |
| US09461314B2 |
Fuel cell interconnect
A fuel cell interconnect includes a first side containing a first plurality of channels and a second side containing a second plurality of channels. The first and second sides are disposed on opposite sides of the interconnect. The first plurality of channels are configured to provide a serpentine fuel flow field while the second plurality of channels are configured to provide an approximately straight air flow field. |
| US09461312B2 |
Electrode for fuel cell, manufacturing method of electrode for fuel cell, polymer electrolyte fuel cell and catalyst ink
An electrode (31c) for fuel cell comprises: a catalyst carrier (110) that is an electrically-conductive carrier (130) with a catalyst (120) supported thereon; a first electrolyte resin (141); and a second electrolyte resin (142). The first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of less than 2.2×10−14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%. The second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10−14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%. |
| US09461309B2 |
Group IVA functionalized particles and methods of use thereof
Disclosed herein are functionalized Group IVA particles, methods of preparing the Group IVA particles, and methods of using the Group IVA particles. The Group IVA particles may be passivated with at least one layer of material covering at least a portion of the particle. The layer of material may be a covalently bonded non-dielectric layer of material. The Group IVA particles may be used in various technologies, including lithium ion batteries and photovoltaic cells. |
| US09461307B2 |
Power supply system and motor car
A power supply system includes a first battery module and a second battery module. The first battery module comprises a first nonaqueous electrolyte battery comprising a negative electrode containing a carbonaceous material. The second battery module comprises a second nonaqueous electrolyte battery comprising a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The negative electrode contains a negative electrode active material that has a lithium ion absorbing potential of 0.4V (vs. Li/Li+) or more and an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less. The positive electrode contains lithium metallic oxide represented by LixCoyM1−yO2. The second battery module is chargeable in a range of 20 to 80% of charging depth so that a charging current density (A/kg) of the second nonaqueous electrolyte battery becomes higher that that of the first nonaqueous electrolyte battery. |
| US09461303B2 |
Electrode body, all solid state battery, and method for producing coated active material
The problem of the present invention is to provide an electrode body in which electron conductivity of a coated active material improves and reaction resistance decreases. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing an electrode body comprising a coated active material having an oxide active material and a coat layer for coating the surface of the above-mentioned oxide active material, containing an oxide solid electrolyte material, and a sulfide solid electrolyte material contacting with the above-mentioned coated active material, characterized in that the above-mentioned coat layer contains a conductive assistant. |
| US09461300B2 |
Power storage device
Provided are an electrode for a power storage device having much better charge/discharge characteristics and a power storage device using the electrode. A plurality of cavities is provided in a surface of an active material layer over a current collector. A graphene covering the active material layer facilitates rapid charge/discharge and prevents breakdown of the current collector caused by charge/discharge. With improved charge/discharge characteristics, an electrode for a power storage device which does not easily deteriorate and a power storage device using the electrode can be provided. |
| US09461298B2 |
Spiral-wound convection battery and methods of operation
A spiral-wound convection battery device has flow in and out of the ends with flow proceeding through flow-permeable electrodes. In the preferred configuration electrolyte flows, reverse flows, or pressure-pulse reverse flows between an electrode and counter electrode through a flow-permeable separator. The preferred configuration is as a novel stacked-cell spiral-wound battery. |
| US09461297B2 |
Battery unit and battery module using the same
A battery unit and a battery module including a plurality of battery units. A battery unit includes: a case accommodating an electrode assembly and having an opening; a cap plate covering the opening and having a terminal insertion portion penetrating the cap plate; a terminal member extending into the case through the terminal insertion portion to electrically expose the electrode assembly outside of the case; and a fixing member in the terminal insertion portion and fixing the terminal member to the cap plate, the fixing member being formed by an insert injection molding method in which a plastic resin is injected in the terminal insertion portion in a state in which the terminal member is inserted in the terminal insertion portion, the fixing member including a recessed portion that is recessed from an upper surface of the fixing member. |
| US09461295B2 |
Rechargeable battery including terminal portion having auxiliary plate for reducing current flow along short circuit current path
A rechargeable battery is provided. The rechargeable battery includes a case, an electrode assembly in the case, a cap plate sealing an opening of the case, and a terminal portion attached to the cap plate. The terminal portion includes a terminal plate on the cap plate and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and an auxiliary plate electrically connecting the cap plate to the terminal plate. The auxiliary plate has a plurality of openings for reducing a current flow along a short circuit current path. |
| US09461293B2 |
Power source apparatus having bus-bars
A power source apparatus including batteries having positive and negative electrode regions, parallel blocks with batteries stacked together and electrically connected in parallel, multiple parallel-series connected blocks with the parallel blocks electrically connected in series, and bus-bars having a plurality of terminal insertion holes. Batteries in a parallel block are stacked together lining-up positive electrode regions on one side and negative electrode regions on the other side. Parallel blocks in a multiple parallel-series connected block are stacked so as to reverse the orientation of each block added to the stack. The bus-bars are integrated pieces that can electrically connect the batteries in a parallel block in parallel as well as electrically connect the parallel blocks in series. |
| US09461289B2 |
Secondary battery, method for manufacturing same, and heat-sealable insulating film for secondary battery
A secondary battery includes an outer housing and an electrode body including a positive electrode member, separator member and a negative electrode member stacked in this order wherein the positive electrode member and the negative electrode member are formed from a collector and an active material layer formed to cover one end on the collector, an insulating body in which an insulating material that does not exhibit adhesiveness at room temperature is adhered with an adhesive strength of 1 N/15 mm or greater onto the collector constituting the positive electrode member or the negative electrode member, and a peripheral edge of the positive electrode member or the negative electrode member has a cross-sectional surface including the collector and the insulating body. |
| US09461288B2 |
Separator film, its fabrication method, supercapacitor, battery and capacitor provided with said film
The invention relates to a separator film for a device used for storing electrical energy, the film being porous and oriented, and being obtained by stretching in a longitudinal direction and in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, the film containing a mixture comprising a polypropylene homopolymer, at least 10% of a copolymer obtained from monomers comprising at least propylene and ethylene, and at least one beta-nucleating agent. According to the invention, the ethylene content of the copolymer is ≧1% but <10% and a propylene content of the copolymer is ≧90% for a film thickness of ≧8 microns and ≦30 microns, corresponding to a specified space factor according to the IEC-60674-3-1 standard greater than or equal to 145% and a density of the biaxially stretched film greater than or equal to 0.18 g/cm3 but less than or equal to 0.41 g/cm3. |
| US09461287B2 |
Battery cover assembly
A vent cap gang includes a plurality of vent caps to be received in respective vent ports formed in a battery cover. Each of the vent caps includes a cylindrical body having first pin located at an axial center thereof and a second pin offset from the axial center. A plurality of elongate members is operably coupled to each of the vent caps by the first and second pins. An actuator is operably coupled to the elongate members and at least one of the vent caps to cause simultaneous rotational movement of the vent caps. |
| US09461286B2 |
Twist-lock battery pack attachment device
An exemplary attachment device includes a twist-lock rotatable from a first position to a second position. The twist-lock in the first position permits movement of a battery array to and from an installed position within a battery pack. The twist-lock in the second position secures the battery array in the installed position. |
| US09461285B2 |
Motor vehicle battery comprising dummy cell and cooling plate
A motor vehicle battery having at least one battery module (11, 12) with battery cells (13, 14) positioned one behind the other and bounded by first walls (15) at opposite ends of the battery module (11, 12) and by second walls (16) at opposite longitudinal sides of the battery module (11, 12). Bottom ends of the battery cells (13, 14) bearing against a cooling plate (18). The battery cells (13, 14) of the battery module (11, 12) are pressed together between the first walls (15). A dummy cell (22) is positioned between two adjacent battery cells (13, 14) of the battery module (11, 12). A clamping bolt (23) extends through the dummy cell and presses the battery cells (13, 14) of the battery module (11, 12) against the cooling plate (18) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. |
| US09461284B2 |
Swappable, configurable and structural battery pack for electric vehicles
An apparatus for swappable battery packaging for electric vehicle, the apparatus is contributing for dual purpose of protecting the batteries and providing contribution to the overall structural performance of the vehicle. The apparatus offer self repairable battery packing system to even a novice user thereof, offering each of replacement or recharging operations. |
| US09461283B2 |
Battery module
A battery module capable of easily discharging, to an outside thereof, condensate water produced on a surface of a heat exchange member contacting the battery module when the battery module is heated. A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to one another; and a heat exchange member at bottom surfaces of the battery cells, and the heat exchange member includes an upper surface facing the bottom surfaces of the battery cells and having at least one groove formed therein. |
| US09461281B2 |
Battery retention system for a power tool
A battery retention system for a power tool having a motor, a drive mechanism coupled to the motor, and an output element coupled to the drive mechanism. The battery retention system includes a battery pack for powering the motor, the battery pack being removably coupled to the power tool. The battery retention mechanism also includes a first mating feature for coupling the battery pack to the power tool and a second mating feature for coupling the battery pack to the power tool independently from the first mating feature. The second mating feature is configured to couple the battery pack to the power tool when the first mating feature is disengaged. |
| US09461278B2 |
Method for providing a stretchable power source and device
Disclosed in this specification is a method for providing a stretchable power source and corresponding device. The device has at least two stretchable fabrics with silver-coated fibers. Each fabric has cathodic and anodic materials, respectively, deposited between the fibers. The fibers are sealed with an elastomeric pouch having an electrolyte. The stretchable power source has substantially no change in discharge capacity when stretched from 0% strain to 100% strain. |
| US09461277B2 |
Organic light emitting display apparatus
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes: a substrate; an insulation layer on the substrate and including first regions that are arranged along a first direction and second regions that are adjacent to the first regions and are arranged along the first direction; first lines on the insulation layer to cover the first regions and including first organic light-emitting layers; and second lines on the insulation layer to cover the second regions and including second organic light-emitting layers different from the first organic light-emitting layers. A portion of the first regions and a portion of the second regions facing each other are not parallel to the first direction. |
| US09461271B2 |
Light emitting element and manufacturing method thereof, and light emitting device using the light emitting element
A light-emitting element has a layer including an organic material between a first electrode and a second electrode, and further has a layer including a metal oxide between the second electrode and the layer including the organic material, where these electrodes and layers are laminated so that the second electrode is formed later than the first electrode. The light-emitting element is suppressed damage caused to a layer including an organic material during deposition by sputtering and a phenomenon such as short circuit between electrodes. |
| US09461270B2 |
Method for manufacturing organic light emitting diode display device
A method of manufacturing an OLED device is discussed. The method can include forming a gate electrode on a substrate; forming a gate insulation film on the substrate provided with the gate electrode; forming a channel layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode on the substrate provided with the gate insulation film; forming an organic light emitting diode which includes a first electrode connected to the drain electrode, an organic emission layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic emission layer; forming a passivation layer, which has a hydrogen content below 10%, on the substrate provided with the organic light emitting diode using an organic silicon compound; and forming a sealing layer on the substrate provided with the passivation layer. |
| US09461269B2 |
Organic light emitting display and method of fabricating the same
The present disclosure provides an organic light emitting display that may comprise: an organic light emitting device (OLED) including a first electrode, an organic layer including a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode, which are sequentially formed on a substrate having a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) formed on the substrate; and an upper encapsulation layer, which is formed of an aluminum oxide-based material, is formed in a single layer, and is disposed on the substrate on which the organic light emitting device (OLED) is formed, wherein a Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) of the upper encapsulation layer is smaller than or equal to 10−2 g/m2/day. |
| US09461264B2 |
Organic EL device and method of manufacturing organic EL device
An organic EL device includes: a first substrate having electrical conductivity; an organic layer formed on the first substrate; a second substrate having translucency; and an electrode layer formed on the second substrate. The electrode layer on the first substrate and the organic layer on the second substrate contact each other. The organic layer is not formed in the peripheral portion of the second substrate. In the region where the organic layer is not formed, a portion of the electrode layer is provided to extend, and the first substrate is not present to face the extended electrode layer, and the portion of the electrode layer is exposed to form an electrode portion. Thus, the electrode portion can be formed by a simple procedure in which, for example, the first substrate is removed, and the organic EL device can be efficiently manufactured. |
| US09461260B2 |
Organic light emitting device
Provided is an organic light emitting device that has high efficiency and high durability against continuous driving. The organic light emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and organic compound layers placed between the anode and the cathode, in which the organic compound layers include a hole transport layer and an emitting layer, the hole transport layer and the emitting layer are in contact with each other, the hole transport layer has an arylamine compound and an aromatic hydrocarbon compound, and the emitting layer has a host and an electron trap dopant. |
| US09461253B2 |
Organic electroluminescence device and luminescence apparatus
The invention provides an organic EL device including a pair of electrodes and at least one luminescent layer between the pair of electrodes, the at least one luminescent layer including at least two phosphorescent materials, an electrically inert material, and a charge-transporting material, the at least two phosphorescent materials being selected from a blue phosphorescent material having a luminescence peak in a range of from 420 nm to less than 500 nm, a green phosphorescent material having a luminescence peak in a range of from 500 nm to less than 570 nm, or a red phosphorescent material having a luminescence peak in a range of from 570 nm to 650 nm. The invention also provides a luminescence apparatus including the above organic EL device. |
| US09461249B2 |
Compounds for organic electronic devices
The present invention relates to the improvement of organic electroluminescent devices, in particular blue-emitting devices, by using compounds of the formula (1) as dopants in the emitting layer. |
| US09461246B2 |
Memory arrays and methods of forming memory arrays
Some embodiments include memory arrays having a plurality of memory cells vertically between bitlines and wordlines. The memory cells contain phase change material. Heat shields are laterally between immediately adjacent memory cells along a bitline direction. The heat shields contain electrically conductive material and are electrically connected with the bitlines. Some embodiments include memory arrays having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a first grid. The first grid has columns along a first direction and has rows along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. First heat shields are between adjacent memory cells along the first direction and are arranged in a second grid offset from the first grid along the first direction. Second heat shields are between adjacent memory cells along the second direction, and are arranged lines in lines extending along the first direction. Some embodiments include methods for forming memory arrays. |
| US09461245B1 |
Bottom electrode for RRAM structure
The present disclosure relates to an RRAM cell having a multi-layer bottom electrode with an insulating core, which provides for good gap fill ability, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the RRAM cell has a multi-layer bottom electrode with an insulating bottom electrode (BE) layer arranged laterally between sidewalls of a conductive lower BE layer and vertically between the conductive lower BE layer and a conductive upper BE layer. A dielectric data storage layer having a variable resistance is arranged over the multi-layer bottom electrode, and a top electrode is arranged over the dielectric data storage layer. The insulating core of the bottom electrode is better able to fill gaps with large aspect ratios than conductive materials, thereby giving the multi-layer bottom electrode a planar upper surface that avoids topography problems in overlying layers. |
| US09461244B2 |
Memory device, semiconductor device, method for producing memory device, and method for producing semiconductor device
A method for producing a semiconductor device includes forming a fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate and a first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and a contact line, the contact line extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the fin-shaped semiconductor layer extends. A pillar-shaped phase-change layer and a lower electrode are formed overlying the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. A reset gate insulating film is formed so as to surround the pillar-shaped phase-change layer and the lower electrode and a reset gate is formed. |
| US09461243B2 |
STT-MRAM and method of manufacturing the same
A planar STT-MRAM comprises apparatus, a method of operating a spin-torque magnetoresistive memory and a plurality of magnetoresistive memory element having spin-transfer torques acting on a recording layer from a MTJ stack and a novel magnetoresistance with a spin-valve layer. The spin-valve layer is field-reversible between two stable magnetization states either parallel or anti-parallel to the fixed reference layer magnetization through a set/reset current pulse along a conductive line provided by a control circuitry, accordingly, the magnetoresistive element is pre-configured into a reading mode having canceled spin-transfer torques or a recording mode having additive spin-transfer torques. |
| US09461240B2 |
Magnetoresistive memory device
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive memory device includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, and a third magnetic layer provided on a side of the first or second magnetic layer opposite to the nonmagnetic layer. The third magnetic layer has a multilayer film having an artificial lattice structure, and the third magnetic layer is partly microcrystalline or amorphous. |
| US09461237B2 |
Power generation switch
A power generation switch includes: parallel beams including at least one magnetostrictive rod made of a beam-shaped magnetostrictive material; a coil wound around the rod; a first connecting part connecting two beams in the parallel beams together, at first ends of the parallel beams; a second connecting part connecting the two beams together at second ends of the parallel beams; a field part that produces magnetic flux to pass through the two beams in the same direction; and an operating part operable by a user. The first connecting part is a non-displaced fixed end. The second connecting part is a free end for free oscillation. The operating part applies external force to the second connecting part to cause free oscillation of the parallel beams, thereby causing a positive axial force in one of the two beams and a negative axial force in the other one of the two beams. |
| US09461234B2 |
Manufacturing method for a piezoelectric layer arrangement and corresponding piezoelectric layer arrangement
A manufacturing method is provided for a piezoelectric layer arrangement and a corresponding piezoelectric layer arrangement. The manufacturing method includes the steps: depositing a first electrode layer on a substrate; depositing a first insulating layer on the first electrode layer; forming a through opening in the first insulating layer to expose the first electrode layer within the through opening; depositing a piezoelectric layer on the first insulating layer and on the first electrode layer within the through opening; back-polishing the resulting structure to form a planar surface, on which a piezoelectric layer area, surrounded by the first insulating layer, is exposed; and depositing and structuring a second electrode layer on the first insulating layer, which contacts the piezoelectric layer area. |
| US09461232B2 |
Thermoelectric conversion element
A thermoelectric conversion element includes a magnetic body and an electromotive component. The magnetic body has a pipe shape. The electromotive component is arranged to at least one of an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inside of the magnetic body. The electromotive component contains a material having a spin orbit coupling. The magnetic body is magnetized in an axial direction and has a temperature gradient in a radial direction. The electromotive component is spirally arranged around the magnetic body along a circumferential direction. |
| US09461231B2 |
Differential temperature sensor
This sensor (1) includes an assembly of thermoelectric layers, a support member (2) including at least one first and one second metallic connector pins (30, 31), first and second metal connectors arranged to electrically connect the support member (2) respectively to a first connection pad and a second connection pad, an external package (8) including a first surface (8a) and a second opposite surface (8b) intended to be respectively connected to a hot source and to a cold source, a first via (80) connecting the first surface (8a) to each first connector pin (30), a second via (81) connecting the second surface (8b) to each second connector pin (31), and the support member (2) includes thermal conductors between the connector pins (30, 31) and the metal connectors. |
| US09461227B2 |
Thermoelectric material including nano-inclusions, thermoelectric module and thermoelectric apparatus including the same
A thermoelectric material including a thermoelectric matrix; and nano-inclusions in the thermoelectric matrix, the nano-inclusions having an average particle diameter of about 10 nanometers to about 30 nanometers. |
| US09461223B2 |
Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes a body, a first electrode installed in the body and a second electrode separated from the first electrode, a light emitting chip formed on one of the first and second electrodes, and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and a protective cap projecting between the first and second electrodes. |
| US09461222B1 |
Light-emitting element and the light-emitting module thereof
A light-emitting element, comprises: a substrate; a light-emitting stack formed on the substrate, comprising a first semiconductor layer having a first surface facing the substrate, a second semiconductor layer having a second surface opposite the first surface, and an active layer between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; an insulating adhesive layer formed between the light-emitting stack and the substrate; and an inductive coil embedded in the insulating adhesive layer, comprising a first end electrically connecting the first semiconductor layer, and a second end electrically connecting the second semiconductor layer. |
| US09461221B2 |
Light emitting diode package and light source module and backlight unit using the same
Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) package, which can be used for, for example, a light source module, a backlight unit and a display device, that may, for example, include an LED chip in a body portion of the LED package; first and second lead frames separated from each other in the body portion, each of the first and second lead frames including first and second leads that are electrically connected to the LED chip and are used as one of anode and cathode leads; and first and second dummy lead frames separated from each other in the body portion and electrically insulated from the first and second lead frames. |
| US09461219B2 |
Method of producing light emitting device
A method of producing a light emitting device includes providing a light emitting element on a base member, the base member including an insulating member and a pair of connection terminals at least on an upper surface thereof. The connection terminals have an exposed portion exposed to outside, with the light emitting element electrically connected to the connection terminals. A covering member is disposed to cover at least a portion of the upper surface of the light emitting element, and a protective layer is disposed to cover at least a portion of the exposed portions of the connection terminals. The covering member is removed, and material from the upper surface side of the base member is supplied to dispose a light-transmissive member on the upper surface of the light emitting element. At least a portion of the light-transmissive member present on the protective layer is then removed. |
| US09461216B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a semiconductor chip including a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer, the semiconductor chip being adapted to emit light between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer; a p-side pad electrode disposed on an upper surface side of the semiconductor chip and over the p-type semiconductor layer; an n-side pad electrode disposed on an upper surface side of the semiconductor chip and over the n-type semiconductor layer; a resin layer disposed to cover the upper surface of the semiconductor chip; a p-side connection electrode and an n-side connection electrode disposed at an outer surface of the resin layer and positioned on the upper surface side of the semiconductor chip; and a metal wire disposed in the resin. The metal wire is adapted to make connection at least one of between the p-side pad electrode and the p-side connection electrode, and between the n-side pad electrode and the n-side connection electrode. |
| US09461215B2 |
Semiconductor nanoparticle-based light-emitting devices and associated materials and methods
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a formulation for use in the fabrication of a light-emitting device, the formulation including a population of semiconductor nanoparticles incorporated into a plurality of discrete microbeads comprising an optically transparent medium, the nanoparticle-containing medium being embedded in a host light-emitting diode encapsulation medium. A method of preparing such a formulation is described. There is further provided a light-emitting device including a primary light source in optical communication with such a formulation and a method of fabricating the same. |
| US09461214B2 |
Light emitting device with phosphor layer
A method for manufacturing a light emitting device, having; a die bonding step of mounting a light emitting element on a board; a phosphor layer formation step of forming a phosphor layer that contains a phosphor by spraying on surfaces of the board and the light emitting element after the die bonding step; and a cover layer formation step of forming a cover layer that contains at least one type of light reflecting material and light blocking material on a surface of the phosphor layer over the board. |
| US09461211B2 |
Method for producing a connection region of an optoelectronic semiconductor chip
The invention relates to a method for producing a connection region (70) of an optoelectronic semiconductor chip (100), comprising the following steps: providing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip (100), forming or exposing a seed layer (6) on an outer surface (100a) of the optoelectronic semiconductor chip (100), and depositing a contact layer sequence (7) on the seed layer (6) without current, wherein the seed layer (6) is formed comprising a metal that enables nickel to be deposited on the seed layer (6) without current, the contact layer sequence (7) comprises a nickel layer (71) as a first layer facing the seed layer (6), and the contact layer sequence (7) has a contact surface (7a) on the side of the contact layer sequence facing away from the seed layer (6), by means of which contact surface the optoelectronic semiconductor chip (100) can be electrically contacted. |
| US09461205B2 |
Nanostructure semiconductor light emitting device
A nanostructure semiconductor light emitting device includes a base layer, an insulating layer and a plurality of light emitting nanostructures. The base layer is formed of a first conductivity type semiconductor. The insulating layer is disposed on the base layer and has a plurality of openings through which regions of the base layer are exposed. Each of the light emitting nanostructures is disposed on the exposed regions of the base layer and includes nanocore formed of a first conductivity type semiconductor, and an active layer and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer sequentially disposed on side surfaces of the nanocore. Upper surfaces of the light emitting nanostructures are non-planar and contain portions free of the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer in order to prevent light emissions during device driving. |
| US09461203B2 |
Non-crystalline materials having complete photonic, electronic or phononic bandgaps
The invention provides an article of manufacture, and methods of designing and making the article. The article permits or prohibits waves of energy, especially photonic/electromagnetic energy, to propagate through it, depending on the energy band gaps built into it. The structure of the article may be reduced to a pattern of points having a hyperuniform distribution. The point-pattern may exhibit a crystalline symmetry, a quasicrystalline symmetry or may be aperiodic. In some embodiments, the point pattern exhibits no long-range order. Preferably, the point-pattern is isotropic. In all embodiments, the article has a complete, TE- and TM-optimized band-gap. The extraordinary transmission phenomena found in the disordered hyperuniform photonic structures of the invention find use in optical micro-circuitry (all-optical, electronic or thermal switching of the transmission), near-field optical probing, thermophotovoltaics, and energy-efficient incandescent sources. |
| US09461195B2 |
Method for producing a solar cell
The invention relates to a method for producing a solar cell having a substrate made of silicon, which substrate has a silicon oxide layer present on the surface of the substrate and an antireflection layer applied to the silicon oxide layer, which antireflection layer is deposited onto the dielectric passivation layer in a process chamber. According to the invention, in order to achieve a stability of corresponding solar cells or solar cell modules produced therefrom against a potential induced degradation (PID), the dielectric passivation layer is formed from the surface of the substrate in the process chamber by means of a plasma containing an oxidizing gas. |
| US09461191B2 |
Mercapto-based coupling agent for improved thermophotovoltaic device back surface reflector adhesion and reflectance
A back surface reflector (BSR) is described. The BSR includes a reflecting layer, a substrate and an adhesion layer between the reflecting layer and the substrate. The adhesion layer includes 3-mercaptopropyl (trimethoxy) silane (a.k.a. Merc). |
| US09461189B2 |
Photovoltaic devices with electroplated metal grids
One embodiment of the present invention provides a solar cell. The solar cell includes a photovoltaic structure and a front-side metal grid situated above the photovoltaic structure. The front-side metal grid also includes one or more electroplated metal layers. The front-side metal grid includes one or more finger lines, and each end of a respective finger line is coupled to a corresponding end of an adjacent finger line via an additional metal line, thus ensuring that the respective finger line has no open end. |
| US09461187B2 |
Solar cell apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a solar cell apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same. The solar cell apparatus includes a substrate; a back electrode layer including molybdenum on the substrate; a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; and a window layer on the light absorbing layer, wherein the back electrode layer includes a first electrode layer on the substrate, a barrier layer on the first electrode layer and a second electrode layer on the barrier layer. |
| US09461184B2 |
Capacitor and semiconductor device using same
A capacitor for a semiconductor device includes a bottom electrode plate, an insulating layer formed on the bottom electrode plate, and a top electrode plate formed on the insulating layer. The bottom plate includes a capacitor well and at least one diffused region formed on the capacitor well. A doping concentration of the at least one diffused region is higher than a doping concentration of the capacitor well, the capacitor well comprising a first well. |
| US09461175B2 |
Dual-mode memory devices and methods for operating same
A memory structure comprises a semiconductor strip having a multi-gate channel region, the p-type terminal region adjacent a first side of the channel region and an n-type terminal region adjacent the second side of the channel region. A plurality of word lines is arranged to cross the semiconductor strip at cross points in the channel region. The bit line is coupled to a first end of the semiconductor strip, and a reference line is coupled to a second end of the semiconductor strip. Charge storage structures are disposed between the word lines in the plurality word lines and the channel region of the semiconductor strip, whereby memory cells are disposed in series along the semiconductor strip between the bit line and the reference line. Biasing unselected word lines can be used to select n-channel or p-channel modes in a single selected cell for read, program or erase. |
| US09461174B2 |
Method for the formation of silicon and silicon-germanium fin structures for FinFET devices
A substrate layer formed of a first semiconductor material includes adjacent first and second regions. Fin structures are formed from the substrate layer in both the first and second regions. At least the side walls of the fin structures in the second region are covered with an epitaxially grown layer of second semiconductor material. A drive in process is performed to convert the fin structures in the second region from the first semiconductor material to the second semiconductor material. The first semiconductor material is, for example, silicon, and the second semiconductor material is, for example, silicon germanium or silicon carbide. The fin structures in the first region are provided for a FinFET of a first (for example, n-channel) conductivity type while the fin structures in the second region are provided for a FinFET of a second (for example, p-channel) conductivity type. |
| US09461168B1 |
Channel strain and controlling lateral epitaxial growth of the source and drain in FinFET devices
A multi-gate finFET structure and formation thereof. The multi-gate finFET structure has a first gate structure that includes an inner side and an outer side. Adjacent to the first gate structure is a second gate structure. The inner side of the first gate structure faces, at least in part, the second gate structure. A stress-inducing material fills a fin cut trench that is adjacent to the outer side of the first gate structure. An epitaxial semiconductor layer fills, at least in part, an area between the first gate structure and the second gate structure. |
| US09461165B2 |
Semiconductor device with an SGT and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a P+ region and an N+ region functioning as sources of SGTs and disposed in top portions of Si pillars formed on an i-layer substrate. Connections between a power supply wiring metal layer and the P+ region and between a ground wiring metal layer and the N+ region are established on the entire surfaces of low-resistance Ni silicide layers that are respectively in contact with the P+ region and the N+ region and formed on outer peripheries of the Si pillars. Lower ends of the power supply wiring metal layer and the ground wiring metal layer are located at a height of surfaces of HfO layers near the boundaries between the P+ region and a channel and between the N+ region and a channel, respectively. |
| US09461163B2 |
Semiconductor device including Schottky barrier diode and power MOSFETs and a manufacturing method of the same
In a non-insulated DC-DC converter having a circuit in which a power MOS•FET high-side switch and a power MOS•FET low-side switch are connected in series, the power MOS•FET low-side switch and a Schottky barrier diode to be connected in parallel with the power MOS•FET low-side switch are formed within one semiconductor chip. The formation region SDR of the Schottky barrier diode is disposed in the center in the shorter direction of the semiconductor chip, and on both sides thereof, the formation regions of the power MOS•FET low-side switch are disposed. From the gate finger in the vicinity of both long sides on the main surface of the semiconductor chip toward the formation region SDR of the Schottky barrier diode, a plurality of gate fingers are disposed so as to interpose the formation region SDR between them. |
| US09461160B2 |
Non-planar III-N transistor
Transistors for high voltage and high frequency operation. A non-planar, polar crystalline semiconductor body having a top surface disposed between first and second opposite sidewalls includes a channel region with a first crystalline semiconductor layer disposed over the first and second sidewalls. The first crystalline semiconductor layer is to provide a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) within the channel region. A gate structure is disposed over the first crystalline semiconductor layer along at least the second sidewall to modulate the 2DEG. First and second sidewalls of the non-planar polar crystalline semiconductor body may have differing polarity, with the channel proximate to a first of the sidewalls. The gate structure may be along a second of the sidewalls to gate a back barrier. The polar crystalline semiconductor body may be a group III-nitride formed on a silicon substrate with the (1010) plane on a (110) plane of the silicon. |
| US09461158B2 |
Heterojunction field effect transistor
A heterojunction field effect transistor includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. A length of the first contact portion in a longitudinal direction is smaller than a length of source electrodes in the longitudinal direction, and a length of the second contact portion in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a length of drain electrodes in the longitudinal direction. For each drain electrode, a distance from ends of the second contact portion to ends of the drain electrode, the ends being outside of the second contact portion, is greater than a distance from ends of the first contact portion to ends of the source electrode, the ends being outside of the first contact portion. |
| US09461155B2 |
Thyristor random access memory device and method
Memory devices and methods of making memory devices are shown. Methods and configurations as shown provide folded and vertical memory devices for increased memory density. Methods provided reduce a need for manufacturing methods such as deep dopant implants. |
| US09461151B2 |
Dual storage node memory
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a memory cell. The memory cell includes a first charge storage element and a second charge storage element, wherein the first and second charge storage elements include nitrides. The memory cell further includes an insulating layer formed between the first and second charge storage elements. The insulating layer provides insulation between the first and second charge storage elements. |
| US09461150B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device with fin-shaped structure
A method for fabricating semiconductor device with fin-shaped structure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a fin-shaped structure on a substrate; forming a first dielectric layer on the substrate and the fin-shaped structure; depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer; etching back a portion of the second dielectric layer; removing part of the first dielectric layer to expose a top surface and part of the sidewall of the fin-shaped structure; forming an epitaxial layer to cover the exposed top surface and part of the sidewall of the fin-shaped structure; and removing a portion of the second dielectric layer. |
| US09461148B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is described. The method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises providing a fin formed to protrude from a substrate and a plurality of gate electrodes formed on the fin to intersect the fin; forming first recesses in the fin on at least one side of the respective gate electrodes; forming an oxide layer on the surfaces of the first recesses; and expanding the first recesses into second recesses by removing the oxide layer. Related devices are also disclosed. |
| US09461147B2 |
Semiconductor structure
The present invention provides a semiconductor structure, including a substrate, having a fin structure disposed thereon, a gate structure, crossing over parts of the fin structure. The top surface of the fin structure which is covered by the gate structure is defined as a first top surface, and the top surface of the fin structure which is not covered by the gate structure is defined as a second top surface. The first top surface is higher than the second top surface, and a spacer covers the sidewalls of the gate structure. The spacer includes an inner spacer and an outer spacer, and the outer pacer further contacts the second top surface of the fin structure directly. |
| US09461143B2 |
Gate contact structure over active gate and method to fabricate same
Gate contact structures disposed over active portions of gates and methods of forming such gate contact structures are described. For example, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate having an active region and an isolation region. A gate structure has a portion disposed above the active region and a portion disposed above the isolation region of the substrate. Source and drain regions are disposed in the active region of the substrate, on either side of the portion of the gate structure disposed above the active region. A gate contact structure is disposed on the portion of the gate structure disposed above the active region of the substrate. |
| US09461142B2 |
Fabrication method of an improved field effect device
A SOI substrate is covered by a semiconductor material pattern which comprises a dividing pattern made from electrically insulating material. The dividing pattern is coated by one or more semiconductor materials. The semiconductor material pattern is covered by a gate electrode which faces the dividing pattern. The semiconductor material pattern and the gate pattern are covered by a covering layer. The substrate is eliminated to access the source/drain regions. A second covering layer is deposited and access vias are formed to access the source/drain regions and gate electrode. |
| US09461140B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method including a counter layer for power conversion
A p-type base layer is selectively formed on a surface of an n-type drift layer; an n-type source layer is selectively formed on a surface of the p-type base layer; and a p-type contact layer is formed to be in contact with the selectively-formed n-type source layer. A p-type counter layer is formed to be in contact with the n-type source layer, so as to overlap the p-type contact layer, so as to be separated from an interface where the p-type base layer and the gate oxide film are in contact with each other, and to be shallower than the p-type base layer. Accordingly, switching destruction caused by process defects in an insulated gate semiconductor device is reduced. |
| US09461139B1 |
Lateral bipolar junction transistor (BJT) on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate
A bipolar transistor is supported by a substrate including a semiconductor layer overlying an insulating layer. A transistor base is formed by a base region in the semiconductor layer that is doped with a first conductivity type dopant at a first dopant concentration. The transistor emitter and collector are formed by regions doped with a second conductivity type dopant and located adjacent opposite sides of the base region. An extrinsic base includes an epitaxial semiconductor layer in contact with a top surface of the base region. The epitaxial semiconductor layer is doped with the first conductivity type dopant at a second dopant concentration greater than the first dopant concentration. Sidewall spacers on each side of the extrinsic base include an oxide liner on a side of the epitaxial semiconductor layer and the top surface of the base region. |
| US09461137B1 |
Tungsten silicide nitride films and methods of formation
Embodiments of the present disclosure include tungsten silicide nitride films and methods for depositing tungsten silicide nitride films. In some embodiments, a thin film microelectronic device includes a semiconductor substrate having a tungsten gate electrode stack comprising a tungsten silicide nitride film having a formula WxSiyNz, wherein x is about 19 to about 22 atomic percent, y is about 57 to about 61 atomic percent, and z is about 15 to about 20 atomic percent. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate disposed in physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber, includes: exposing a substrate having a gate insulating layer to a plasma formed from a first process gas comprising nitrogen and argon; sputtering silicon and tungsten material from a target disposed within a processing volume of the PVD chamber; depositing atop the gate insulating layer a tungsten silicide nitride layer as described above; and depositing a bulk tungsten layer atop the tungsten silicide nitride layer. |
| US09461135B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device with multi-layer structure electrode having different work functions
A semiconductor device includes first, a second, and third semiconductor layers respectively made of a nitride semiconductor and stacked on a substrate, a drain electrode formed on the third semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the third semiconductor layer, and a source electrode formed within an opening penetrating the third and second semiconductor layers and exposing the first semiconductor layer. The source electrode includes a first conductor layer in contact with the first semiconductor layer, and a second conductor layer stacked on the first conductor layer and in contact with the second semiconductor layer. A work function of a material forming the first conductor layer is smaller than that of a material forming the second conductor layer. |
| US09461133B1 |
High voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor device having stepped gate structure and manufacturing method thereof
A high voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor device having stepped gate structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The manufacturing method includes following steps. A gate structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a first region and a second region disposed on a side of a first part of the gate structure and a side of a second part of the gate structure respectively. A patterned mask layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate and the gate structure. The patterned mask layer covers the first region and the first part. The second part is uncovered by the patterned mask layer. An implantation process is performed to form a drift region in the second region. An etching process is performed to remove a part of the second part uncovered by the patterned mask layer. A thickness of the second part is less than that of the first part after the etching process. |
| US09461132B2 |
Semiconductor device having mid-gap work function metal gate electrode
Provided is a semiconductor device having mid-gap work function metal gate electrodes. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of gate patterns, and the gate patterns have different gate electrode metals from each other or different gate electrode metal thicknesses from each other. |
| US09461131B1 |
High quality deep trench oxide
An integrated circuit including a trench in the substrate with a high quality trench oxide grown on the sidewalls and the bottom of the trench where the ratio of the thickness of the high quality trench oxide formed on the sidewalls to the thickness formed on the bottom is less than 1.2. An integrated circuit including a trench with high quality oxide is formed by first growing a sacrificial oxide in dilute oxygen at a temperature in the range of 1050° C. to 1250° C., stripping the sacrificial oxide, growing high quality oxide in dilute oxygen plus trans 1,2 dichloroethylene at a temperature in the range of 1050° C. to 1250° C., and annealing the high quality oxide in an inert ambient at a temperature in the range of 1050° C. to 1250° C. |
| US09461130B2 |
Electronic device comprising conductive regions and dummy regions
A device includes an epitaxial region extending into a front surface of a chip. A portion of the chip adjacent the epitaxial region defines a collector. A gate is provided in a trench extending into the epitaxial region from the front surface. An emitter includes a body extending into the epitaxial region at a first side of the trench and a source extending into the body region from the front surface at the trench. A dummy emitter extends into the epitaxial region from the front surface at a second side of the trench opposite said first side. The dummy emitter lacks the source. The gate extends along a first wall of the trench facing the emitter region. A dummy gate is formed in the trench in a manner electrically isolated from the gate and extending along a second wall of the trench opposite said first wall. |
| US09461127B2 |
Vertical power MOSFET having planar channel and its method of fabrication
A power MOSFET cell includes an N+ silicon substrate having a drain electrode. A low dopant concentration N-type drift layer is grown over the substrate. An N-type layer, having a higher dopant concentration than the drift region, is then formed and etched to have sidewalls. A P-well is formed in the N-type layer, and an N+ source region is formed in the P-well. A gate is formed over the P-well's lateral channel and has a vertical extension next to the top portion of the sidewalls. A positive gate voltage inverts the lateral channel and increases the conduction along the sidewalls to reduce on-resistance. A vertical shield field plate is also located next to the sidewalls and extends virtually the entire length of the sidewalls. The field plate laterally depletes the N-type layer when the device is off to increase the breakdown voltage. |
| US09461126B2 |
Transistor, clocked inverter circuit, sequential circuit, and semiconductor device including sequential circuit
A transistor with excellent electrical characteristics (e.g., on-state current, field-effect mobility, or frequency characteristics) is provided. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer including a channel formation region, a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The oxide semiconductor layer is between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. The oxide semiconductor layer has a pair of side surfaces in contact with the source electrode and the drain electrode and includes a region surrounded by the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode without the source electrode and the drain electrode interposed therebetween. |
| US09461125B2 |
Method of preparing monoatomic layer black phosphorous by irradiating ultrasound
A method of preparing monoatomic layer black phosphorous by irradiating an ultrasound includes: putting black phosphorus into a solvent and irradiating the ultrasound; recovering a solution from a solution to which the ultrasound is irradiated; and collecting black phosphorus remaining after the solution has been recovered, putting the black phosphorus into a solvent, irradiating the ultrasound, and recovering a solution. |
| US09461117B2 |
High voltage semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A high voltage semiconductor device includes a well region of a first conductive type formed at a surface portion of a substrate, a gate electrode disposed on the well region, a source region formed at a surface portion of the well region adjacent to the gate electrode, a drain region formed at a surface portion of the well region adjacent to the gate electrode, and a drift region of a second conductive type disposed under the drain region. |
| US09461113B2 |
Semiconductor arrangements and methods of manufacturing the same
Semiconductor arrangements and methods for manufacturing the same. The arrangement may include: a substrate; a back gate formed on the substrate; at least one pair of nanowires disposed on opposite sides of the back gate; and back gate dielectric layers interposed between the back gate and the respective nanowires. |
| US09461105B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
In connection with a semiconductor device including a capacitor element there is provided a technique capable of improving the reliability of the capacitor element. A capacitor element is formed in an element isolation region formed over a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor element includes a lower electrode and an upper electrode formed over the lower electrode through a capacitor insulating film. Basically, the lower electrode and the upper electrode are formed from polysilicon films and a cobalt silicide film formed over the surfaces of the polysilicon films. End portions of the cobalt silicide film formed over the upper electrode are spaced apart a distance from end portions of the upper electrode. Besides, end portions of the cobalt silicide film formed over the lower electrode are spaced apart a distance from boundaries between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. |
| US09461103B2 |
Semiconductor device, electronic apparatus, and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor chip is mounted on a first surface of an interconnect substrate, and has a multilayer interconnect layer. A first inductor is formed over the multilayer interconnect layer, and a wiring axis direction thereof is directed in a horizontal direction to the interconnect substrate. A second inductor is formed on the multilayer interconnect layer, and a wiring axis direction thereof is directed in the horizontal direction to the interconnect substrate. The second inductor is opposite to the first inductor. A sealing resin seals at least the first surface of the interconnect substrate and the semiconductor chip. A groove is formed over the whole area of a portion that is positioned between the at least first inductor and the second inductor of a boundary surface of the multilayer interconnect layer and the sealing resin. |
| US09461095B2 |
OLED display device and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides an OLED display device and a manufacturing method thereof, in which a planarization layer (5) of a white sub pixel zone (40) is made to have a thickness greater than the thickness of a planarization layer (5) of the other sub pixel zones so as to increase the vertical distance between bottom wiring (2) and a first electrode (6) in the white sub pixel zone (40) thereby compensating the problem that the vertical distance between the bottom wiring (2) and the first electrode (6) of the white sub pixel zone (40) is relatively small resulting from lacking of a filter in the white sub pixel zone (40) and preventing the occurrence of shorting or over current between the first electrode (6) and the bottom wiring (2) of the white sub pixel zone (40). The manufacturing method is simple and easy to perform and may prevent the occurrence of shorting or over current between the first electrode and the bottom wiring of the white sub pixel zone thereby enhancing yield rate of manufacture of the OLED display device. |
| US09461091B2 |
Light emitting diode
AC LED according to the present invention comprises a substrate, and at least one serial array having a plurality of light emitting cells connected in series on the substrate. Each of the light emitting cells comprises a lower semiconductor layer consisting of a first conductive compound semiconductor layer formed on top of the substrate, an upper semiconductor layer consisting of a second conductive compound semiconductor layer formed on top of the lower semiconductor layer, an active layer interposed between the lower and upper semiconductor layers, a lower electrode formed on the lower semiconductor layer exposed at a first corner of the substrate, an upper electrode layer formed on the upper semiconductor layer, and an upper electrode pad formed on the upper electrode layer exposed at a second corner of the substrate. The upper electrode pad and the lower electrode are respectively disposed at the corners diagonally opposite to each other, and the respective light emitting cells are arranged so that the upper electrode pad and the lower electrode of one of the light emitting cells are symmetric with respect to those of adjacent another of the light emitting cells. |
| US09461085B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and manufacturing method of the same, and electronic apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and a manufacturing method of the same, and an electronic apparatus, capable of more reliably suppressing occurrence of color mixing.A trench is formed between PDs so as to be opened to a light receiving surface side of a semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of the PDs, each of which receives light to generate charges, are formed, an insulating film is embedded in the trench and the insulating film is laminated on a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate. Then, a light shielding portion is formed so as to be laminated on the insulating film and to have a convex shape protruding to the semiconductor substrate at a location corresponding to the trench. The present technology can be applied to a back surface irradiation type CMOS solid-state imaging device. |
| US09461067B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object is to provide a semiconductor device having a novel structure with a high degree of integration. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer having a channel formation region, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the channel formation region, a gate electrode overlapping with the channel formation region, and a gate insulating layer between the channel formation region and the gate electrode. A portion of a side surface of the semiconductor layer having the channel formation region and a portion of a side surface of the source electrode or the drain electrode are substantially aligned with each other when seen from a planar direction. |
| US09461066B2 |
Thin film transistor and method of manufacturing the same, array substrate and display device
A thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same, an array substrate and a display device are provided, the thin film transistor including: a source, a drain, and a gate; and a semiconductor active layer, wherein the source overlays a periphery of the semiconductor active layer, the drain is located in a central region of the semiconductor active layer, and an insulation layer is disposed between the source and the drain. By means of the above thin film transistor, the ratio of width to length of a channel can be increased without influencing the aperture ratio of pixel. |
| US09461063B1 |
Method for forming a semiconductor structure
A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes following steps. First, a stack of alternate conductive layers and insulating layers is formed on a buffer layer on a buried layer. Next, a first opening is formed through the stack and through a portion of the buffer layer. Thereafter, a spacer is formed on a sidewall of the first opening. |
| US09461061B2 |
Vertical memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a vertical memory device includes forming alternating and repeating insulating interlayers and sacrificial layers on a substrate, the sacrificial layers including polysilicon or amorphous silicon, forming channel holes through the insulating interlayers and the sacrificial layers, forming channels in the channel holes, etching portions of the insulating interlayers and the sacrificial layers between adjacent channels to form openings, removing the sacrificial layers to form gaps between the insulating interlayers, and forming gate lines in the gaps. |
| US09461059B1 |
Patterning for variable depth structures
A method of forming a NAND flash memory includes forming a dielectric layer over NAND strings separated by shallow trench isolation structures, forming an opening in a mask layer over the dielectric layer, the opening extending over contact areas, the opening having a first width at first locations over contact areas and having a second width at second locations over shallow trench isolation structures, the second width being less than the first width. |
| US09461058B2 |
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices including multiple patterning
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices may include forming a stopper layer, a lower hard mask layer, an intermediate hard mask layer, and an upper hard mask pattern on a substrate, forming first spacer patterns on sidewalls of the upper hard mask pattern, selectively etching the intermediate hard mask layer using the first spacer patterns as an etching mask, forming second spacer patterns on sidewalls of the etched intermediate hard mask layer, selectively etching the lower hard mask layer using the etched second spacer layer as an etching mask, forming a patterning mask pattern that exposes a cell area and covers a common source line area on the etched lower hard mask layer and the stopper layer, and selectively etching the stopper layer using the etched lower hard mask layer and the patterning mask pattern as etching masks to form stopper patterns. |
| US09461055B2 |
Advanced metal-nitride-oxide-silicon multiple-time programmable memory
An advanced metal-nitride-oxide-silicon (MNOS) multiple time programmable (MTP) memory is provided. In an example, an apparatus includes a two field effect transistor (2T field FET) metal-nitride-oxide-silicon (MNOS) MTP memory. The 2T field FET MNOS MTP memory can include an interlayer dielectric (ILD) oxide region that is formed on a well and separates respective gates of first and second transistors from the well. A control gate is located between the respective gates of the first and second transistors, and a silicon-nitride-oxide (SiN) region is located between a metal portion of the control gate and a portion of the ILD oxide region. |
| US09461054B2 |
Semiconductor devices having vertical device and non-vertical device and methods of forming the same
A semiconductor device comprises a substrate extending in a horizontal direction and a vertical transistor on the substrate. The vertical transistor comprises: a first diffusion region on the substrate; a channel region on the first diffusion region and extending in a vertical direction relative to the horizontal direction of the extension of the substrate; a second diffusion region on the channel region; and a gate electrode at a sidewall of, and insulated from, the channel region. A horizontal transistor is positioned on the substrate, the horizontal transistor comprising: a first diffusion region and a second diffusion region on the substrate and spaced apart from each other; a channel region on the substrate between the first diffusion region and the second diffusion region; and a gate electrode on the channel region and isolated from the channel region. A portion of a gate electrode of the vertical transistor and a portion of the gate electrode of the horizontal transistor are at a same vertical position in the vertical direction relative to the substrate. |
| US09461053B2 |
Semiconductor device
Disclosed embodiments relate to a semiconductor device having a plurality of unit transistors that include element isolation regions formed on a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode formed in the shape of a frame and disposed on an active region sandwiched between the element isolation regions in such a way that the two ends of the outer periphery of the gate electrode extend onto the element isolation regions and the inner periphery thereof closes the active region. The active regions of unit transistors adjacent to one another in a first direction are electrically isolated from one another by means of the element isolation regions, and the active regions of unit transistors adjacent to one another in a second direction which intersects the first direction are linked to one another. |
| US09461052B1 |
Embedded dynamic random access memory field effect transistor device
A method comprises forming a cavity in a substrate, depositing a silicon material in the cavity, forming a fin in the substrate and the silicon material such that a first portion of the fin is formed from the substrate and a second portion of the fin is formed from the deposited silicon material, forming a gate stack over the fin, growing an oxide material over the first portion of the fin and the second portion of the fin, removing the oxide material from the first portion of the fin, growing an epitaxial material on an exposed portion of the first portion of the fin, removing the oxide material from the second portion of the fin, and growing an epitaxial material on exposed portions of the second portion of the fin. |
| US09461045B1 |
Semiconductor devices
Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having two gate electrodes which are of about a same gate width as one another, and having a first diffusion region between the two gate electrodes. The semiconductor device also has second and third diffusion regions on opposing sides of the two gate electrodes from one another and which sandwich the two gate electrodes and the first source/drain region therebetween. Each of the second and third diffusion regions is longer than the first diffusion region in a direction of the gate width. Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a PMOS construction and an NMOS construction, with both constructions having a shorter middle diffusion region sandwiched between a pair of longer outer diffusion regions. |
| US09461043B1 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first gate, a second gate, and an insulating structure. The substrate includes a first fin and a second fin. The first gate is disposed over the first fin. The second gate is disposed over the second fin. A gap is formed between the first gate and the second gate, and the gap gets wider toward the substrate. The insulating structure is disposed in the gap. The insulating structure has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other. The bottom surface faces the substrate. An edge of the top surface facing the first gate is curved inward the top surface. |
| US09461039B2 |
Die including a Schottky diode
According to an embodiment of the invention there may be provided a die that may include (a) a first region of a first type; (b) a first conductor that contacts the first region; (c) a substrate having a substrate portion of the first type; wherein the substrate portion contacts the first region; an intermediate region of a second type; wherein the first type and the second type are selected from an n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor; wherein the first type differs from the second type; (d) a second region of the second type; (e) a second conductor that contacts the second region; (f) a third region of the second type; (g) a third conductor that contacts the third region; (h) a fourth region of the first type; wherein the third region contacts the fourth region and does not contact the intermediate region; (i) a fourth conductor that contacts the intermediate region to form a first Schottky diode. A doping concentration of the intermediate region may be lower that a doping concentration of each one of the second region and the third region. A doping concentration of the substrate portion may be lower than a doping concentration of the first region. The third and fourth conductors may be electrically coupled to each other. |
| US09461037B2 |
Reduced generation of second harmonics of FETs
A structure and method for reducing second-order harmonic distortion in FET devices used in applications that are sensitive to such distortion, such as switching RF signals. The asymmetry of the drain-to-body capacitance Cdb and source-to-body capacitance Csb of a FET device are equalized by adding offsetting capacitance or a compensating voltage source. |
| US09461034B2 |
Composite group III-V and group IV transistor having a switched substrate
There are disclosed herein various implementations of a group III-V composite transistor having a switched substrate. Such a group III-V composite transistor includes a composite field-effect transistor (FET) including a depletion mode group III-V high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) situated over a substrate. The depletion mode group III-V HEMT is cascoded with an enhancement mode group IV FET to produce the composite FET. The group III-V composite transistor also includes a transistor configured to selectably couple the substrate of the depletion mode group III-V HEMT to ground and to selectably decouple the substrate from ground. That transistor is configured to ground the substrate when the depletion mode group III-V HEMT is in an off-state and to cause the substrate to float when the depletion mode group III-V HEMT is in an on-state. |
| US09461030B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for producing the same
A capacitive component region is formed below a temperature detecting diode or below a protective diode. In addition, the capacitive component region is formed below an anode metal wiring line connecting the temperature detecting diode and an anode electrode pad and below a cathode metal wiring line connecting the temperature detecting diode and a cathode electrode pad. The capacitive component region is an insulating film interposed between polysilicon layers. Specifically, a first insulating film, a polysilicon conductive layer, and a second insulating film are sequentially formed on a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate, and the temperature detecting diode, the protective diode, the anode metal wiring line, or the cathode metal wiring line is formed on the upper surface of the second insulating film. Therefore, it is possible to improve the static electricity resistance of the temperature detecting diode or the protective diode. |
| US09461027B2 |
LED package and manufacturing method
An LED package (40) and manufacturing method in which the package has LED substrate (50) and a circuit substrate (54) bonded together, with the LED over the integrated circuit, and with electrical connection between the LED and corresponding integrated circuit. The package has package terminals (56a, 56b) on one face only with through vias (58a, 58b) providing connection between the LED substrate and the circuit substrate. |
| US09461021B2 |
Electronic circuit comprising PN junction and schottky barrier diodes
A semiconductor device includes a first chip including a PN junction diode, and a second chip including a Schottky barrier diode, connected in parallel to the first chip. A first inductive metal member has a first end connected to a cathode of the PN junction diode, and a second end connected to a cathode of the Schottky barrier diode. A second inductive metal member has a third end connected to the cathode of the Schottky barrier diode. An output line is connected to a fourth end of the second connection member, and electrically connected to the cathode of the PN junction diode via a first path formed by the first and second metal members, and to the cathode of the Schottky barrier diode via a second path formed by the second metal member and exclusive of the first metal member, so that the first path has greater inductance than the second. |
| US09461020B2 |
Semiconductor package including an embedded surface mount device and method of forming the same
Embodiments of the present disclosure include semiconductor packages and methods of forming the same. An embodiment is a semiconductor package including a first package including one or more dies, and a package substrate bonded to a first side of the first package with by a first set of connectors. The semiconductor package further includes a surface mount device mounted to the first side of the first package, the surface mount device consisting essentially of one or more passive devices. |
| US09461019B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for making the device
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including: a first substrate provided with a first surface layer including a first electrode; an expanded second substrate provided with a second surface layer including a second electrode and directly bonded to the first substrate so that the second surface layer contacts with the first surface layer; and a through electrode running through the first or second substrate. The second surface layer is provided over an expanded second principal surface defined by a second substrate and a resin portion. The second substrate has a smaller planar size than the first substrate. The first and second electrodes are connected together and in contact with each other. |
| US09461016B2 |
Semiconductor device
To improve reliability of signal transmission of an interposer which couples between semiconductor chips. A reference potential wiring and a reference potential wiring are provided on both neighboring sides of a signal wiring provided in a first wiring layer of an interposer. Also, a reference potential wiring and a reference potential wiring are provided on both neighboring sides of a signal wiring provided in a second wiring layer of the interposer. Further, the signal wiring and the signal wiring cross each other in plan view. The reference potential wirings of the first wiring layer, and the reference potential wirings of the second wiring layer are coupled to each other at the periphery of their crossing portion. |
| US09461014B2 |
Methods of forming ultra thin package structures including low temperature solder and structures formed therby
Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods and structures may include attaching a device to a patch substrate, wherein the assembled device and patch substrate comprise a warpage, attaching the assembled device and patch substrate to an interposer to form a package structure, and then reflowing the package structure at a temperature below about 200 degrees Celsius to form a substantially flat package structure. |
| US09461002B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device and a method of making the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate mounted on a carrier. The semiconductor substrate includes a Schottky diode. The Schottky diode has an anode and a cathode. The semiconductor device also includes one or more bond wires connecting the cathode to a first electrically conductive portion of the carrier. The semiconductor device further includes one or more bond wires connecting the anode to a second electrically conductive portion of the carrier. The first electrically conductive portion of the carrier is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive portion of the carrier. The first electrically conductive portion of the carrier is configured to provide shielding against electromagnetic interference associated with switching of the anode during operation of the device. Both the cathode and the first electrically conductive portion of the carrier are electrically isolated from a backside of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09460993B2 |
Interposer with signal-conditioned edge probe points
An interposer comprising an array of top contacts on the top surface configured to interface with an integrated circuit package, a corresponding array of bottom contacts on the bottom surface configured to interface with a component beneath the interposer, through connections between corresponding top and bottom contacts and a plurality of signal probe points on the edge surface. The interposer may include an electrical pathway connecting a first through connection to a first signal probe point. The electrical pathway may contact the first through connection at a first intersection. A resistor may be disposed along the electrical pathway, between the first intersection and the first signal probe point. The electrical pathway from the first intersection to the resistor may be an unconditioned signal pathway. The electrical pathway from the resistor to the first signal contact may be a conditioned signal pathway. The unconditioned signal pathway may have a length of not greater than 0.20 inch. |
| US09460992B2 |
Packaging substrate having a through-holed interposer
A through-holed interposer is provided, including a board body, a conductive gel formed in the board body, and a circuit redistribution structure disposed on the board body. The conductive gel has one end protruding from a surface of the board body, and an area of the protruded end of the conductive gel that is in contact with other structures (e.g., packaging substrates or circuit structures) is increased, thereby strengthening the bonding of the conductive gel and reliability of the interposer. |
| US09460982B2 |
Integrated heat spreader for multi-chip packages
An integrated heat spreader comprising a heat spreader frame that has a plurality of openings formed therethrough and a plurality of thermally conductive structures secured within the heat spreader frame openings. The thermally conductive structures can be formed to have various thicknesses which compensate for varying heights between at least two microelectronic devices in a multi-chip package. The thermally conductive structures can be secured in the heat spreader frame by sizing the openings and the thermally conductive structures such that the thermally conductive structures can be secured within the openings without requiring welding or adhesives. |
| US09460976B2 |
Encapsulated arrays of electronic switching devices
An electronic switching device array encapsulated in an encapsulating structure; wherein said array is exposed to one or more gas pockets between said array and said encapsulating structure. |
| US09460975B2 |
DFT structure for TSVs in 3D ICs while maintaining functional purpose
Methods of testing TSVs using eFuse cells prior to and post bonding wafers in a 3D IC stack are provided. Embodiments include providing a wafer of a 3D IC stack, the wafer having thin and thick metal layers; forming first and second TSVs on the wafer, the first and second TSVs laterally separated; forming an eFuse cell between and separated from the first and second TSVs; forming a FF adjacent to the second TSV and on an opposite side of the second TSV from the eFuse cell; connecting the first TSV, the eFuse cell, the second TSV, and the FF in series in an electric circuit; and testing the first and second TSVs prior to bonding the wafer to a subsequent wafer in the 3D IC stack. |
| US09460974B1 |
Oxide formation in a plasma process
A method of making a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a tunneling layer overlying a first channel connecting a source and a drain. A charge storage layer is formed overlying the tunneling layer, the charge storage layer comprises forming a substantially trap free first layer over the tunneling layer, and forming a trap dense second layer over the first layer. Finally, a blocking structure is formed on the charge storage layer by plasma oxidation. A thickness of the charge storage layer is reduced through oxidation of a portion of the charge storage layer during the formation of the blocking structure. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US09460971B2 |
Method to co-integrate oppositely strained semiconductor devices on a same substrate
Methods and structures for forming localized, differently-strained regions in a semiconductor layer on a substrate are described. An initial, unstrained, semiconductor-on-insulator substrate may be processed to form the differently-strained regions in the original semiconductor layer. The differently-strained regions may have opposite types of strain. The strains in the different regions may be formed independently. |
| US09460968B2 |
Fin shape for fin field-effect transistors and method of forming
A fin field-effect transistor (finFET) and a method of forming are provided. A gate electrode is formed over one or more fins. Notches are formed in the ends of the gate electrode along a base of the gate electrode. Optionally, an underlying dielectric layer, such as a shallow trench isolation, may be recessed under the notch, thereby reducing gap fill issues. |
| US09460962B1 |
Substrate contact etch process
A semiconductor device with a deep trench has a dielectric liner formed on sidewalls and a bottom of the deep trench. A pre-etch deposition step of a two-step process forms a protective polymer on an existing top surface of the semiconductor device, and on the dielectric liner proximate to a top surface of the substrate. The pre-etch deposition step does not remove a significant amount of the dielectric liner from the bottom of the deep trench. A main etch step of the two-step process removes the dielectric liner at the bottom of the deep trench while maintaining the protective polymer at the top of the deep trench. The protective polymer is subsequently removed. |
| US09460961B2 |
Techniques and apparatus for anisotropic metal etching
In one embodiment, a method for etching a copper layer disposed on a substrate includes directing reactive ions to the substrate when a mask that defines an exposed area and protected area is disposed on the copper layer, wherein an altered layer is generated in the exposed area comprising a chemically reactive material; and exposing the copper layer to a molecular species that is effective to react with the chemically reactive material so as to remove the altered layer. |
| US09460959B1 |
Methods for pre-cleaning conductive interconnect structures
Methods for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, method of processing a substrate includes: heating a substrate disposed within a processing volume of a substrate processing chamber to a temperature of up to about 400 degrees Celsius, wherein the substrate comprises a first surface, an opposing second surface, and an opening formed in the first surface and extending towards the opposing second surface, and wherein the second surface comprises a conductive material disposed in the second surface and aligned with the opening; and exposing the substrate to a process gas comprising about 80 to about 100 wt % of an alcohol to reduce a contaminated surface of the conductive material. |
| US09460958B2 |
Air gap isolation in non-volatile memory
Air gap isolation in non-volatile memory arrays and related fabrication processes are provided. Electrical isolation between adjacent active areas of a substrate can be provided, at least in part, by bit line air gaps that are elongated in a column direction between the active areas. At least one cap is formed over each isolation region, at least partially overlying air to provide an upper endpoint for the corresponding air gap. The caps may be formed at least partially along the sidewalls of adjacent charge storage regions. In various embodiments, selective growth processes are used to form capping strips over the isolation regions to define the air gaps. Word line air gaps that are elongated in a row direction between adjacent rows of storage elements are also provided. |
| US09460955B2 |
Integrated circuits with shallow trench isolations, and methods for producing the same
Integrated circuits with electrical components near shallow trench isolations and methods for producing such integrated circuits are provided. The method includes forming a trench is a substrate, where the trench has a trench surface. A barrier layer including silicon and germanium is formed overlying the trench surface. A shallow trench isolation is then formed with a core overlying the barrier layer, where the core includes a shallow trench isolation insulator. |
| US09460954B2 |
Method of clamping a substrate and clamp preparation unit using capillary clamping force
The invention relates to a method of clamping a substrate on a surface of a substrate support structure. First, a liquid is applied on a surface of the substrate support structure. The surface is provided with a plurality of contact elements. The liquid is applied such that the contact elements are fully covered by a liquid layer. Then the substrate is provided and placed onto the liquid layer. Finally, liquid underneath the substrate is removed such that the substrate rests on the plurality of contact elements and is clamped by means of a capillary clamping force exerted by a capillary layer of the liquid between the substrate and the surface of the substrate support structure. |
| US09460953B2 |
Edge grip substrate handler
A mechanism for handling substrates such as semiconductor wafers is disclosed. The mechanism supports the substrate in a tilted orientation to ensure that undesirable contact between a bowed substrate and the mechanism does not occur. The structure that supports the substrate in a tilted orientation may be fixed or adjustable. A sensor may be provided to measure and/or monitor a distance between a substrate and the mechanism. Alternatively, a sensor for determining contact between the substrate and the mechanism may be provided. |
| US09460951B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of wafer level package integration
A method of making a wafer level chip scale package includes providing a temporary substrate, and forming a wafer level interconnect structure over the temporary substrate using wafer level processes. The wafer level processes include forming a first insulating layer in contact with an upper surface of the temporary substrate, and forming a first conductive layer in contact with an upper surface of the first passivation layer. A first semiconductor die is mounted over the wafer level interconnect structure such that an active surface of the first semiconductor die is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and a first encapsulant is deposited over the first semiconductor die. A second encapsulant is deposited over the first encapsulant, and the first and second encapsulants are cured simultaneously. The temporary substrate is removed to expose the first passivation layer. |
| US09460945B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus for semiconductor devices
A substrate processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber for processing a substrate, a substrate supporting tool for supporting and carrying the substrate into the processing chamber, a standby chamber formed below the processing chamber for holding the substrate supporting tool in standby, a gas supply unit provided on the side of the standby chamber for supplying inert gas or gas containing oxygen into the standby chamber, a gas exhaust unit provided on the side of the standby chamber and opposite to the gas supply unit, for exhausting the inert gas or gas containing oxygen from the standby chamber, a first gas exhaust path connected to the gas exhaust unit for exhausting the inert gas or gas containing oxygen within the gas exhaust unit, a second gas exhaust path connected to the side of the gas exhaust unit for exhausting the gas containing oxygen within the exhaust gas unit, and a gate valve for opening and closing the second gas exhaust path. |
| US09460943B2 |
Gas-liquid two-phase atomizing cleaning device and cleaning method
The present invention provides a gas-liquid two-phase atomizing cleaning device. The cleaning device comprises a gas-liquid two-phase atomizing spray head. The spray head is a double jacket structure and comprises a nozzle, a rotating arm, a gas guide tube and a liquid guide tube; wherein the nozzle is connected with the rotating arm, the gas guide tube and the liquid guide tube are fixed to the rotating arm, the gas guide tube and the liquid guide tube are both provided with pneumatic valves. |
| US09460941B2 |
Substrate cleaning apparatus and substrate processing apparatus including the substrate cleaning apparatus
An ULPA filter is arranged at the upper portion in a casing. Air outside of the casing is supplied to the ULPA filter through a duct. Clean air that has passed through the ULPA filter is led to an opening of a spin plate through a passage forming member, a connection member, a base, a motor supporting member and a rotating shaft of a spin motor. The spin chuck holds a substrate such that the upper surface of the substrate is opposite to the spin plate. In this state, the spin motor operates, causing the spin plate to rotate and thus the lower surface of the rotating substrate to be cleaned by a cleaning brush. |
| US09460940B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and manufacturing apparatus of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor and an organic resin film is manufactured in the following manner. Heat treatment is performed on a first substrate provided with an organic resin film over a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a reduced pressure atmosphere; handling of the first substrate is performed in an atmosphere containing moisture as little as possible in an inert gas (e.g., nitrogen) atmosphere with a dew point of lower than or equal to −60° C., preferably with a dew point of lower than or equal to −75° C. without exposing the first substrate after the heat treatment to the air; and then, the first substrate is bonded to a second substrate that serves as an opposite substrate. |
| US09460937B2 |
Hybrid substrates, semiconductor packages including the same and methods for fabricating semiconductor packages
Provided are a hybrid substrate, a semiconductor package including the same, and a method for fabricating the semiconductor package. The hybrid substrate may include an insulation layer, and an organic layer. The insulation layer may include a top, a bottom opposite to the top, and a conductive pattern having different pitches. The organic layer may be connected to the bottom of the insulation layer, and may include a circuit pattern connected to the conductive pattern. The conductive pattern may include a first metal pattern, and a second conductive pattern. The first metal pattern may have a first pitch, and may be disposed in the top of the insulation layer. The second conductive pattern may have a second pitch greater than the first pitch, and may be extended from the first metal pattern to be connected to the circuit pattern through the insulation layer. |
| US09460929B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device having improved performance. Over a semiconductor substrate, a dummy control gate electrode is formed via a first insulating film. Over the semiconductor substrate, a memory gate electrode for a memory cell is formed via a second insulating film having an internal charge storage portion so as to be adjacent to the dummy control gate electrode. At this time, the height of the memory gate electrode is adjusted to be lower than the height of the dummy control gate electrode. Then, a third insulating film is formed so as to cover the dummy control gate electrode and the memory gate electrode. Then, the third insulating film is polished to expose the dummy control gate electrode. At this time, the memory gate electrode is not exposed. Then, the dummy control gate electrode is removed and replaced with a metal gate electrode. |
| US09460923B2 |
Method of forming a strained silicon layer
The present disclosure concerns a method involving: forming a strained silicon germanium layer by epitaxial growth over a silicon layer disposed on a substrate; implanting atoms to amorphize the silicon layer and a lower portion of the silicon germanium layer, without amorphizing a surface portion of the silicon germanium layer; and annealing, to at least partially relax the silicon germanium layer and to re-crystallize the lower portion of the silicon germanium layer and the silicon layer, so that the silicon layer becomes a strained silicon layer. |
| US09460920B1 |
Horizontal gate all around device isolation
Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and apparatus for horizontal gate all around (hGAA) isolation. A superlattice structure comprising different materials arranged in an alternatingly stacked formation may be formed on a substrate. The different materials may be silicon containing materials and one or more III/V materials. In one embodiment, at least one of the layers of the superlattice structure may be oxidized to form a buried oxide layer adjacent the substrate. |
| US09460918B2 |
Epitaxy of high tensile silicon alloy for tensile strain applications
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods for forming silicon epitaxial layers on semiconductor devices. The methods include forming a silicon epitaxial layer on a substrate at increased pressure and reduced temperature. The silicon epitaxial layer has a phosphorus concentration of about 1×1021 atoms per cubic centimeter or greater, and is formed without the addition of carbon. A phosphorus concentration of about 1×1021 atoms per cubic centimeter or greater increases the tensile strain of the deposited layer, and thus, improves channel mobility. Since the epitaxial layer is substantially free of carbon, the epitaxial layer does not suffer from film formation and quality issues commonly associated with carbon-containing epitaxial layers. |
| US09460913B2 |
Film-forming method for forming silicon oxide film on tungsten film or tungsten oxide film
A film-forming method includes forming a tungsten film or a tungsten oxide film on an object to be processed, heating the object on which the tungsten film or the tungsten oxide film is formed, forming a seed layer on the tungsten film or the tungsten oxide film by supplying an aminosilane-based gas to a surface of the tungsten film or the tungsten oxide film, and forming a silicon oxide film on the seed layer by simultaneously supplying a silicon material gas including silicon and a gas including an oxidizing agent for oxidizing silicon. |
| US09460911B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and substrate processing method
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device for forming a thin film having characteristics of low permittivity, high etching resistance and high leak resistance is provided. The method includes: forming a film containing a predetermined element, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes: (a) supplying a source gas containing the predetermined element and a halogen element to the substrate; (b) supplying a first reactive gas containing three elements including carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen wherein a number of carbon atoms in each molecule of the first reactive gas is greater than that of nitrogen atoms in each molecule of the first reactive gas to the substrate; (c) supplying a nitriding gas as a second reactive gas to the substrate; and (d) supplying an oxidizing gas as a third reactive gas to the substrate, wherein (a) through (d) are non-simultaneously performed. |
| US09460909B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A system and method for anti-reflective layers is provided. In an embodiment the anti-reflective layer comprises a floating component in order to form a floating region along a top surface of the anti-reflective layer after the anti-reflective layer has dispersed. The floating component may be a floating cross-linking agent, a floating polymer resin, or a floating catalyst. The floating cross-linking agent, the floating polymer resin, or the floating catalyst may comprise a fluorine atom. The anti-reflective layers are removed using a fluid. |
| US09460908B2 |
Method and device for slicing a shaped silicon ingot using layer transfer
A method for slicing a crystalline material ingot includes providing a crystalline material boule characterized by a cropped structure including a first end-face, a second end-face, and a length along an axis in a first crystallographic direction extending from the first end-face to the second end-face. The method also includes cutting the crystalline material boule substantially through a first crystallographic plane in parallel to the axis to separate the crystalline material boule into a first portion with a first surface and a second portion with a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are planar surfaces substantially along the first crystallographic plane. The method further includes exposing either the first surface of the first portion or the second surface of the second portion, and performing a layer transfer process to form a crystalline material sheet from either the first surface of the first portion or from the second surface of the second portion. |
| US09460907B2 |
Induction RF fluorescent lamp with load control for external dimming device
An induction RF fluorescent lamp comprising a dimming device load control facility enabling the induction RF fluorescent lamp to provide for electrical loads required for the proper operation of an external control dimming device, the dimming device load control facility controlling a switched electrical load switched in and out of connectivity within the electronic ballast to provide a load for the external dimming device. |
| US09460905B2 |
Method of assessing vacuum conditions in a mass spectrometer with transient signal decay rates
A method is proposed for assessing the vacuum conditions in a mass spectrometer (10) such as an ion cyclotron resonance or orbital trapping mass spectrometer. Such mass spectrometers generate a transient detection signal resulting from ions of one or species in an ion trap (80). The parameters of the trap and/or introduced ions are adjusted so as to cause the decay rate of the transient in respect of the ion species to be dominated by collisional effects. Typically this can be achieved by introducing ions into the trap (80) in quantities such that ion clouds of a particular ion species self bunch. The rate of decay of the transient signal in that case is determined and compared with one or more threshold decay rates. This in turn can provide an indication of vacuum conditions within the trap (80). |
| US09460901B2 |
Data-processing system for chromatograph mass spectrometry
In processing chromatographic data, collected by performing a measurement for each of the segments which respectively define time ranges, a system determines whether there is any boundary sandwiched between two temporally continuous segments whose measurement modes are the same and which has the same m/z value designated by an operator to be displayed. If such a boundary exists, the measurement mode common to the two neighboring segments across that boundary is identified, and the system determines whether the parameter values corresponding to that measurement mode are the same. If they are the same, the partial chromatograms corresponding to the two segments show a temporal change in the intensity of the same kind of ion. Accordingly, the two neighboring measurement points across the boundary are connected by interpolation to create a chromatogram with no missing portion. |
| US09460900B2 |
Systems and methods for using variable mass selection window widths in tandem mass spectrometry
Systems and methods are used to analyze a sample using variable mass selection window widths. A tandem mass spectrometer is instructed to perform at least two fragmentation scans of a sample with different mass selection window widths using a processor. The tandem mass spectrometer includes a mass analyzer that allows variable mass selection window widths. The selection of the different mass selection window widths can be based on one or more properties of sample compounds. The properties may include a sample compound molecular weight distribution that is calculated from a molecular weight distribution of expected compounds or is determined from a list of molecular weights for one or more known compounds. The tandem mass spectrometer can also be instructed to perform an analysis of the sample before instructing the tandem mass spectrometer to perform the at least two fragmentation scans of the sample. |
| US09460899B2 |
Photomultiplier and its manufacturing method
The present invention relates to a photomultiplier having a structure for making it possible to easily realize high detection accuracy and fine processing, and a method of manufacturing the same. The photomultiplier comprises an enclosure having an inside kept in a vacuum state, whereas a photocathode emitting electrons in response to incident light, an electron multiplier section multiplying in a cascading manner the electron emitted from the photocathode, and an anode for taking out a secondary electron generated in the electron multiplier section are arranged in the enclosure. A part of the enclosure is constructed by a glass substrate having a flat part, whereas each of the electron multiplier section and anode is two-dimensionally arranged on the flat part in the glass substrate. |
| US09460898B2 |
Plasma generation chamber with smooth plasma resistant coating
A faceplate or a selectivity modulation device (SMD) for a plasma generation chamber has a plasma resistant ceramic coating on a surface of the faceplate or SMD, wherein the plasma resistant ceramic coating comprises a thickness of less than approximately 30 microns, a porosity of less than 1% and a thickness non-uniformity of less than 4%. |
| US09460897B2 |
Plasma etching method and plasma etching apparatus
Provided is a plasma etching method of etching OCOC film in which HTO films and carbon films are alternately laminated by plasma of mixed gas containing first CF-based gas or second CF-based gas and oxygen gas using a silicon film formed on OCOC film as a mask. The etching of OCOC film includes a first etching process of etching a region spanning from the top surface to the middle of OCOC film by plasma of mixed gas containing first CF-based gas having a predetermined ratio of content of carbon to content of fluorine and oxygen gas and a second etching process of etching a region spanning from the middle of OCOC film to the lowest layer by plasma of mixed gas containing second CF-based gas having a ratio of content of carbon to content of fluorine, which is higher than the predetermined ratio of first CF-based gas, and oxygen gas. |
| US09460896B2 |
Plasma processing method and plasma processing apparatus
A plasma processing method performs an etching process (S101) of supplying a first fluorine-containing gas into a plasma processing space and etching a target substrate with plasma of the first fluorine-containing gas. Then, the plasma processing method performs a carbon-containing material removal process (S102) of supplying an O2 gas into the plasma processing space and removing, with plasma of the O2 gas, a carbon-containing material deposited on a member, of which a surface is arranged to face the plasma processing space, after the etching process. Thereafter, the plasma processing method performs a titanium-containing material removal process (S103) of supplying a nitrogen-containing gas and a second fluorine-containing gas into the plasma processing space and removing, with plasma of the nitrogen-containing gas and the second fluorine-containing gas, the titanium-containing material deposited on the member after the etching process. |
| US09460894B2 |
Controlling ion energy within a plasma chamber
Systems and methods controlling ion energy within a plasma chamber are described. One of the systems includes an upper electrode coupled to a sinusoidal RF generator for receiving a sinusoidal signal and a nonsinusoidal RF generator for generating a nonsinusoidal signal. The system further includes a power amplifier coupled to the nonsinusoidal RF generator. The power amplifier is used for amplifying the nonsinusoidal signal to generate an amplified signal. The system includes a filter coupled to the power amplifier. The filter is used for filtering the amplified signal using a filtering signal to generate a filtered signal. The system includes a chuck coupled to the filter. The chuck faces at least a portion of the upper electrode and includes a lower electrode. The lower electrode is used for receiving the filtered signal to facilitate achieving ion energy at the chuck to be between a lower threshold and an upper threshold. |
| US09460891B2 |
Inspection equipment
Inspection equipment frequency transforms a mirror electron image with respect to position coordinates, calculates a value of a frequency plane origin or a value at a vicinity of the frequency plane origin as a first measurement value, and calculates a second measurement value by totalizing values of image intensities in a certain area, the image intensities having been obtained through normalization by the origin value or origin-vicinity value and the frequency transform. The inspection equipment automatically controls the voltage of a wafer holder based on the first and second measurement values. |
| US09460887B2 |
Discharging method for charged particle beam imaging
A layer of conductive or semi-conductive material is formed on a surface of a sample and then the sample, when being charged particle beam imaged, is electrically coupled with an object having a large charge-receiving or charge-storage capacity (e.g., capacitance). Hence, the charging on the sample surface is removed and released quickly by the layer. The layer is then removed by reacting it with a predefined agent. The reaction forms a gaseous product which does not form a physical or chemical bond to the sample surface. |
| US09460879B2 |
Circuit breaker assembly including a plurality of controllable circuit breakers for local and/or remote control
A circuit breaker assembly includes a plurality of controllable circuit breakers. Each of the controllable circuit breakers includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts, a first line terminal, a second load terminal, and at least a third terminal. The trip mechanism is structured to trip open the separable contacts responsive to a signal from the third terminal. The circuit breaker assembly also includes a toggle electrical switching apparatus that includes separable contacts electrically connected between the third terminal and ground, and a toggle operating member structured to open and close the separable contacts of the toggle electrical switching apparatus. |
| US09460878B2 |
Fuse unit
A fuse unit comprising a resin housing formed by insulator, a circuit body formed by conductor, molded integrally with the resin housing and branching and transferring electricity from a power source side to a load side, and a fusible body provided on the circuit body and fusing at overcurrent to the load side; the circuit body is formed by a block side circuit body connected to the power source side, and a block side terminal body connected to the load side, a block side first connection end to which one side of the fusible body is detachably connected is formed on the block side circuit body, and a block side second connection end to which the other side of the fusible body is detachably connected is formed on the block side terminal body. |
| US09460877B2 |
Electromagnetic switching device
An electromagnetic switching device is provided that includes a junction box having an accommodating space formed to be one side open by side plates and a bottom plate and a relay having fixed contacts and movable contacts within a casing and detachable to and from the accommodating space, where the junction box includes a pair of protrusions that protrude from the side plates to an opposite side to the accommodating space, the relay includes a lever hinge-coupled to the casing and engaged by the pair of protrusions and the lever is configured to press the relay toward the bottom plate when rotating in one direction and to press the relay away from the bottom plate when rotating in an opposite direction, thereby enabling the relay to be easily detachable from the junction box. |
| US09460876B2 |
Breaker, and safety circuit and secondary battery circuit provided with the same
A breaker is provided with: a movable piece (4) that has an elastically deformable elastic portion (43) and a movable contact on the tip of the elastic portion (43) and that presses the movable contact into contact with a fixed contact; a thermal actuator element (5) that is formed into a shape with a convex surface and is deformed by a change in temperature, thereby actuating the movable piece (4) so that the movable contact separates from the fixed contact; and a resin case (7) which houses the movable piece (4) and the thermal actuator element (5). The bottom surface of the base end (42a) of the movable piece (4) is positioned lower than the top (5a) of the upper surface of the thermal actuator element (5) by a distance (D). Thereby, a stable temperature adjustability and a resistance value are ensured in a breaker used as a protection device for a secondary battery with miniturization brought into realty. |
| US09460875B2 |
Magnetic switch actuators
Magnetic switches are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a mount and a switch actuator assembly coupled to the mount. The switch actuator assembly includes a body, a trigger, and a first magnet oriented to be attracted to a second magnet. Movement of the body from a first position to a second position is to cause relative movement between the first magnet and the second magnet and relative movement between the trigger and a switch. |
| US09460874B2 |
Arc control device for vacuum bulb
To control the arc that forms during cut-off in a vacuum bulb, a contact device makes it possible to inflict a rotational motion on the arc, while keeping the arc diffuse. The rotating diffuse arc is obtained with each of two electrodes of the contact device including a solid wafer associated with a base of petal type, the two electrodes mirroring one another. |
| US09460873B2 |
Switching method and switching device
A switching device has a first contact side with a first nominal current contact piece and a first electric arc contact piece, and a second contact side with a second electric arc contact piece and a second nominal current contact piece. In order to generate a relative movement between the first and second contact sides, the first electric arc contact piece and the first nominal current contact piece as well as the second electric arc contact piece and the second nominal current contact piece are driven. For switching, the first contact piece is moved by a movement profile and the first nominal current contact piece is moved by a movement profile that differs from the movement profile of the first electric arc contact piece. A movement profile of the second electric arc contact piece and the second nominal current contact piece deviate from each other. |
| US09460872B2 |
Plunger switch and method of operating same
A plunger switch assembly and method of operation comprises a housing having an interior cavity for locating electronic components, a contact support movably located within the interior cavity. The contact support holds and moves at least one electrical contact that engages a corresponding contact located on a printed circuit board. The plunger switch assembly further includes an actuating member for moving the contact support and at least one electrical contact within the interior cavity of the housing, a carriage cover located over the housing for guiding the actuating member, and an active sealing arrangement for preventing debris from entering the housing. |
| US09460870B2 |
Extinguishing chamber for an electric protection apparatus and electric protection apparatus comprising one such chamber
An arc extinguishing chamber includes an arc formation chamber containing a stationary contact and a movable contact which form an arc between them when separated. The arc formation chamber communicates with an inlet of a second chamber. A separating wall is placed in a volume downstream from said second chamber. The wall extends in the direction of the gas flow to partition the volume in the direction of the flow of the gases and exhaust outlets enabling the quenching gases to be removed outside of the apparatus. The separating wall(s) extend(s) in such a way as to partition in the direction of the flow to the outlets and to thereby form at least a first removal duct and a second removal duct, said ducts each being associated with an exhaust outlet and enabling a substantially complete separation to be achieved between a first flow and a second flow. |
| US09460869B2 |
Electric hand tool with activation indication device
The invention relates to an electrically powered hand tool which comprises a device for providing tactile feedback to an operator of the tool. The tool further comprises a user-operated trigger for activating the working member of the tool. The tactile feedback provided by the tool alerts the operator about the activation status of the tool. More specifically, the operator is provided with an indication that the power to the tool is ON. The tactile feedback is provided at least from the time when the power to the tool is turned ON to the point in time when the trigger is pulled to activate the working member of the tool. |
| US09460868B2 |
Assembled pole part with pole part frame
An exemplary assembled pole part includes two pole part frames made of insulating material, between which a vacuum interrupter is mounted. The vacuum interrupter includes a fixed contact and a moving contact. The frame includes a first support to affix the vacuum interrupter at the moving contact side, and a second support to affix the vacuum interrupter to the fixed contact side at an opposite end of the frame. In order to apply common pole part frames for different vacuum interrupter sizes, in order to alleviate the manufacture of such pole parts, at least two fixation points are arranged pairwise in parallel along different distances along the long axis of the frame. The first support at the moving contact side maintains a specified fixation position, so the frame is configured for use with at least one other vacuum interrupter of a different length. |
| US09460860B2 |
Dispersion of electrically conductive polymer, and electrically conductive polymer and use thereof
There is provided a conductive polymer having high conductivity with excellent heat resistance. Using the conductive polymer, there can be provided solid electrolytic capacitors having low ESR, high reliability, and less leakage current. There can be also provided conductive films having high conductivity and superior heat resistance. There is provided a conductive polymer dispersion liquid obtained by a method in which in the presence of a copolymer from styrenesulfonic acid, and at least one kind of a non-sulfonic acid monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylate, acrylate, and an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing alkoxysilane compound or its hydrolysate, thiophene or its derivative is polymerized by oxidation polymerization in water, or in an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of water and a water miscible solvent to produce the conductive polymer dispersion liquid. Using the conductive polymer as solid electrolyte, a solid electrolyte capacitor can be provided. Also, using the conductive polymer, a conductive film can be provided. |
| US09460858B2 |
Monolithic ceramic electronic component
Solder-repellent portions are each arranged so as to extend over all or substantially all of a portion of a corresponding one of outer electrodes provided on a corresponding one of end surfaces of a monolithic ceramic electronic component and partially on portions of the outer electrode provided over two side surfaces of the monolithic ceramic electronic component. When the monolithic ceramic electronic component is mounted on the circuit board, solder does not adhere to the end surfaces and portions of the outer electrode provided on portions of the two side surfaces. Thus, expansion and contraction that occur as a result of application of an AC voltage is not transmitted or is not significantly transmitted to the circuit board. Consequently, vibrations of the circuit board are significantly reduced or prevented. |
| US09460847B2 |
Soft magnetic layer, receiving antenna, and wireless power receiving apparatus comprising the same
A soft magnetic layer for a receiving antenna of a wireless power receiving apparatus includes a first soft magnetic member containing a Mn—Zn ferrite material, and a second soft magnetic member containing a Ni—Zn ferrite material. Accordingly, electromagnetic energy collecting performance of the receiving antenna of the wireless power receiving apparatus is improved, and thereby power transmission efficiency is maximized. |
| US09460844B2 |
Planar transmitter with a layered structure
A planar intrinsically safe transducer having a vertical extension and a horizontal extension having a layer structure with a plurality of circuits, wherein a first circuit and a second circuit are galvanically isolated from one another. Further, the transducer has a magnetic core 4, which at least partially encompasses the layer structure and acts at least on the first circuit and on the second circuit, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit lie in one plane and form a layer of the layer structure. |
| US09460842B2 |
Reactor, coil mold product, converter, and power converter apparatus
A reactor 1A of the present invention includes one coil 2 and a magnetic core 3. The coil 2 includes a turn portion 2t formed by a spirally wound wire 2w whose conductor is a rectangular wire, and draw-out portions 2d of the wire 2w drawn out from the turn portion 2t. The magnetic core 3 is disposed inside and outside the coil 2 to form a closed magnetic path. At least part of the outer circumference of each draw-out portion 2d is formed by a composite material containing magnetic substance powder and resin. The reactor 1A further includes a mold resin portion 21 that covers the outer circumference of the turn portion 2t and at least part of the draw-out portions 2d to retain the shape of the coil 2. In each corner portion region of the mold resin portion 21 covering corresponding corner portion of the wire 2w at each draw-out portion 2d, the outer circumferential face being brought into contact with the outer core portion 32 is formed by a curved surface. When the bend radius of the outer circumferential face of the corner portion region is R1, the bend radius R1 is greater than 0.5 mm. |
| US09460840B2 |
Seal ring inductor and method of forming the same
Apparatuses and methods for providing inductance are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing an inductor includes forming an electrical circuit on a substrate, forming a seal ring around the perimeter of the electrical circuit, providing a break in at least one layer of the seal ring, and electrically connecting the seal ring such that the seal ring operates as an inductor. |
| US09460837B2 |
Gap composition of multi layered power inductor and multi layered power inductor including gap layer using the same
Disclosed are a multilayered power inductor, including: a body in which a plurality of magnetic layers formed with inner electrodes are stacked; and a plurality of gap layers, wherein the plurality of gap layers are formed so as not to contact external electrodes formed at both sides of the body, and a gap composition of the multilayered power inductor.In addition, as the gap composition, the exemplary embodiment of present invention can prepare tetravalent or tetravalent dielectric oxide into the paste type and applies the gap layer structure thereto, thereby facilitating the structural design and the thickness control of the gap layer as compared with the case of forming the gap layer in the sheet shape of the related art and improving the DC-bias characteristics by maximally suppressing the diffusion with the body. |
| US09460832B2 |
Sleeve for a power cable
Sleeve (1) for a high- or medium-voltage power cable (120) having an inner conductor (130). The sleeve comprises (i) a tubular sleeve body (10) having an electrically conductive or semiconductive first axial electrode section (60), and (ii) a circuit board (30). The sleeve is radially expandable or shrinkable. It can be arranged radially outward of the inner conductor, such hat the first axial electrode section is radially separated from the inner conductor by at least an electrically insulating spacer layer (140). The circuit board is at least partially arranged radially outward of the sleeve body and comprises an electrical contact (100) which is electrically connected with the first axial electrode section. |
| US09460831B2 |
Flat-flexible cable and apparatus
A cord reel assembly described herein comprises a cord reel including a flat flexible cable that comprises a ribbon of generally parallel power transmission and data transmission wires embedded in a non-conductive polymeric matrix. Each data transmission wire is spaced and insulated from any adjacent wire by the polymeric matrix. The power transmission wires are flattened relative to the data transmission wires, and have a larger gauge than the data transmission wires. The FFC comprises non-shielded end regions flanking a shielded middle region that includes a shielding layer on at least one side of the cable, and a non-conductive coating covers the shielding layer. |
| US09460830B2 |
Particle loaded, fiber-reinforced composite materials
A composite material includes a plurality of fibers embedded in a metal matrix. The composite material further includes a plurality of particles disposed in the metal matrix. At least 25% of the fibers contact or are spaced less than 0.2 micrometers from an adjacent fiber within the metal matrix. |
| US09460829B2 |
Resin composition, resin pellet, method for producing resin pellet, and solar cell encapsulant
A resin composition comprising an ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymer and metakaolin,wherein the ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymer comprises structural units derived from ethylene and structural units derived from an unsaturated ester and the content of the structural units derived from the unsaturated ester is 20 to 35% by weight where the total content of the structural units derived from ethylene and the structural units derived from the unsaturated ester is taken as 100% by weight, and the resin composition comprises 0.001 to 5 parts by weight of the metakaolin per 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymer. |
| US09460827B2 |
Physically functionalized graphene hybrid composite (GHC) and its applications
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a graphene hybrid composite (GHC). The GHC can be formed between specific nano carbon materials and graphene generated via pyrolysis of solid carbon sources. A Raman spectrum of the GHC can show a major 2D band at approximately 2650 cm−1, a minor D and G band at approximately 1350 cm−1 and approximately 1575 cm−1, and an intensity ratio of 2D band over D band and G band greater than 1. |
| US09460825B2 |
Cu-Co-Si-based copper alloy for electronic materials, and method of manufacturing same
Disclosed is a Cu—Co—Si-based copper alloy for electronic materials, which is capable of achieving high levels of strength, electrical conductivity, and also anti-setting property; and contains 0.5 to 3.0% by mass of Co, 0.1 to 1.0% by mass of Si, and the balance of Cu and inevitable impurities; wherein out of second phase particles precipitated in the matrix a number density of the particles having particle size of 5 nm or larger and 50 nm or smaller is 1×1012 to 1×1014 particles/mm3, and a ratio of the number density of particles having particle size of 5 nm or larger and smaller than 10 nm relative to the number density of particles having particle size of 10 nm or larger and 50 nm or smaller is 3 to 6. |
| US09460821B2 |
System and method for the ventilated storage of high level radioactive waste in a clustered arrangement
A system for receiving and storing high level radioactive waste comprising: an enclosure comprising walls having inlet ventilation ducts, a roof comprising an array of holes, and a floor; an array of metal shells located in an internal space of the enclosure, the array of metal shells being co-axial with the array of holes in the roof so that containers holding high level radioactive waste can be lowered through the array of holes in the roof and into the array of metal shells; the array of metal shells acting as load bearing columns for the roof; and each of the metal shells comprising (i) an expansion joint for accommodating thermal expansion and/or contraction of the metal shells; and (ii) one or more holes at a bottom portion of the metal shell. |
| US09460818B2 |
Low pressure reactor safety systems and methods
A supplementary injection device is installed in a nuclear power plant to draw coolant and inject coolant using an entraining fluid. The injection device can be a venturi or other passive device operable at relatively low fluid pressure that draws coolant through suction at the venturi narrowing point and mixes the coolant with the fluid for injection. The injection device is operable with a known BWR design, where the device is attached to a steam connection to the main steam line of the reactor, a coolant connection drawing from suction lines to a suppression cool or condensate tank, and an outlet connection injecting into the main feedwater lines. In a BWR, the injection device is operable without electricity and at a wide range of pressures, even less than 50 pounds per square inch, to maintain coolant levels in the reactor. |
| US09460812B1 |
Semiconductor devices and semiconductor systems including the same
A semiconductor system includes a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device outputs a first test start signal and a second test start signal. The second semiconductor device includes a first chip and a second chip which are sequentially stacked. The first chip selectively outputs first failure information generated in response to the first test start signal as first selection data, in response to the second test start signal. The second chip selectively outputs second failure information generated in response to the first test start signal as second selection data, in response to the second test start signal. |
| US09460811B2 |
Read only memory (ROM) with redundancy
A read only memory (ROM) with redundancy and methods of use are provided. The ROM with redundancy includes a programmable array coupled to a repair circuit having one or more redundant repairs. The one or more redundant repairs include a word address match logic block, a data I/O address, and a tri-state buffer. The word address match logic block is provided to the tri-state buffer as a control input and the data I/O address is provided to the tri-state buffer as an input. An output of the tri-state buffer of each redundant repair is provided as a first input to one or more logic devices. One or more data outputs of a ROM bit cell array is provided as a second input to a respective one of the one or more logic devices. |
| US09460808B2 |
Method and device for controlling a sample and hold circuit
A method is provided for controlling a sample and hold circuit that includes a switching module coupled to a storage capacitor. A circuit external to the sample and hold circuit of generates at least one main current representative of at least one leakage current of the switching module in its off state. The at least one main current is delivered to at least one auxiliary capacitor. An initial pulse signal is generated from the charging and discharging of the at least one auxiliary capacitor. The sampling phase of the sample and hold circuit is triggered at the rate of the pulses of a pulse signal derived from the initial pulse signal. |
| US09460806B2 |
Method for creating an OTPROM array possessing multi-bit capacity with TDDB stress reliability mechanism
A method of forming an OTPROM capable of storing twice the number of bits as a conventional OTPROM without increasing the overall size of the device is provided. Embodiments include forming a OTPROM, the OTPROM array having a plurality of formed devices; receiving a binary code to program the OTPROM array; separating the binary code into a first part and a second part; programming each device with one of four data storage states by: forming a gate oxide layer of each device to a thickness corresponding to the first part of the binary code, and selectively applying a TDDB stress to the gate oxide layer corresponding to the second part of the binary code; detecting a Idsat level discharged by each device with a multi-bit sense amplifier; and reading the state of each device based on the detected Idsat level. |
| US09460804B2 |
Semiconductor memory device for storing multivalued data
Data storage circuits are connected to the bit lines in a one-to-one correspondence. A write circuit writes the data on a first page into a plurality of 5 first memory cells selected simultaneously by a word line. Thereafter, the write circuit writes the data on a second page into the plurality of first memory cell. Then, the write circuit writes the data on the first and second pages into second memory cells adjoining 10 the first memory cells in the bit line direction. |
| US09460800B2 |
Nonvolatile memory system and refresh method
A memory system including non-volatile memory devices and a corresponding refresh method are disclosed. The method groups memory blocks of the non-volatile memory devices into memory groups, determines a refresh sequence for the memory groups, and refreshes the memory groups in accordance with the refresh sequence. |
| US09460795B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, a storage device having the same and an operating method of the same
An operating method of a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of strings each string including at least two pillars penetrating wordlines disposed at different layers. The operating method includes applying unselected wordline voltages to unselected wordlines, and applying a selected wordline voltage to a selected wordline, and the unselected wordline voltage applied to the same layer as a layer of the selected wordline is different from the unselected wordline voltage applied to a different layer than the layer of the selected wordline. |
| US09460792B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for segmented SGS lines
Apparatuses and methods for segmented SGS lines are described. An example apparatus may include first and second pluralities of memory subblocks of a memory block. The apparatus may include a first select gate control line associated with the first plurality of memory subblocks and a second select gate control line associated with the second plurality of memory subblocks. The first select gate control line may be coupled to a first plurality of select gate switches of the first plurality of memory subblocks. The second select gate control line may be coupled to a second plurality of select gate switches of the second plurality of memory subblocks. The first and second pluralities of select gate switches may be coupled to a source. The apparatus may include a plurality of memory access lines associated with each the first and second pluralities of memory subblocks. |
| US09460790B2 |
Semiconductor memory having both volatile and non-volatile functionality and method of operating
Semiconductor memory having both volatile and non-volatile modes and methods of operation. A semiconductor storage device includes a plurality of memory cells each having a floating body for storing, reading and writing data as volatile memory. The device includes a floating gate or trapping layer for storing data as non-volatile memory, the device operating as volatile memory when power is applied to the device, and the device storing data from the volatile memory as non-volatile memory when power to the device is interrupted. |
| US09460789B2 |
Non-volatile digital memory including thin film resistors
A non-volatile digital memory includes: a plurality of thin film resistors; and a control circuit adapted to: program, during a first programming phase, the thin film resistors with a plurality of bits of data by passing a current through at least one of the thin film resistors to reduce its resistance; and read, during a restoration phase, the plurality of bits of data stored by the thin film resistors by generating an electrical signal associated with each thin film resistor and comparing each electrical signal with a reference signal. |
| US09460785B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device according to the present embodiment includes a constant current source. A reference current path is connected to the constant current source to flow a reference current and to generate a reference voltage. A supply current path or a plurality of supply current paths are connected to bit lines to selectively flow supply a current or currents different from each other and generate a detection voltage. A sense amplifier is connected to the reference current path and the supply current paths to amplify a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the detection voltage. |
| US09460783B2 |
Determining soft data
The present application includes apparatuses and methods for determining soft data. A number of embodiments include determining soft data associated with a data state of a memory cell. In a number of embodiments, the soft data may be determined by performing a single stepped sense operation on the memory cell. |
| US09460782B2 |
Method of operating memory controller and devices including memory controller
A method of operating a memory controller includes receiving a first data sequence and generating a coset representative sequence that can be divided into m-bit strings, where “m” is a natural number of at least 2; performing a first XOR operation on each of the m-bit strings in the coset representative sequence and binary bits; calculating all possible branch metrics according to a result of the first XOR operation; determining a survivor path sequence based on the all possible branch metrics; and performing a second XOR operation on the coset representative sequence and the survivor path sequence and generating an output sequence. |
| US09460766B2 |
Memory device, and memory system including the same
A memory device may include a pre-charge control circuit, an active control circuit, and a driver circuit. The pre-charge control circuit may be configured to receive an active command after receiving a pre-charge command for a first bank, determine whether or not a pre-charge operation for the first bank has ended when receiving the active command, and generate an active instruction signal according to a result of the determination. The active control circuit may be configured to generate an active control signal for an active operation according to the active instruction signal. The driver circuit may be configured to control an active operation according to the active control signal. |
| US09460757B2 |
Flexible cable assembly having reduced-tolerance electrical connection pads
A flexible printed circuit (FPC) may have reduced-tolerance electrical connection pads that comprise a connection portion and an adjacent window portion, where the position of a component that is mechanically and electrically connected to the FPC is limited by the geometry of the connection portion of the respective connection pads. The window portion includes an area void of conductive material and bounded by the connection portion on one side and may be bounded by peripheral portions on the other sides, where the peripheral portions are significantly narrower than the connection portion. A portion of the peripheral portions extending from the connection portion may be tucked under a portion of the FPC cover layer to prevent peeling of the peripheral portions. |
| US09460756B1 |
Hermetically sealed apparatus with seal guard
Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus in which a base deck and a cover are coupled to one another via a coupling that forms a hermetic seal around a cavity defined by the base deck and the cover. A guard protects the coupling from external forces via a surface aligned with and extending along the coupling. |
| US09460753B2 |
Media scrubbing using a media processor
A system and method for a media processor separates the functions of topology creation and maintenance from the functions of processing data through a topology. The system includes a control layer including a topology generating element to generate a topology describing a set of input multimedia streams, one or more sources for the input multimedia streams, a sequence of operations to perform on the multimedia data, and a set of output multimedia streams, and a media processor to govern the passing of the multimedia data as described in the topology and govern the performance of the sequence of multimedia operations on the multimedia data to create the set of output multimedia streams. The core layer includes the input media streams, the sources for the input multimedia streams, one or more transforms to operate on the multimedia data, stream sinks, and media sinks to provide the set of output multimedia streams. |
| US09460752B2 |
Multi-source journal content integration systems and methods
The paper discloses a system including a multi-source content acquisition engine configured to provide an instruction to launch an editor window to display a set of selectable content from user-generated content generated by a plurality of remote sources and stored in a content datastore. The system includes a multi-source content selection configured to identify a set of selected content from the set of selectable content. The system includes an integrated content arrangement engine configured to arrange the set of selected content into a multi-sourced journal content sequence. The system includes a layer integration engine configured to apply a layer from the layer datastore to a portion of the multi-sourced journal content sequence. The system includes a multi-source content launch engine configured to provide an instruction to display an integrated multi-sourced journal content sequence including the multi-sourced journal content sequence and the layer in the editor window. |
| US09460749B2 |
I/O balance processing method and device
The present disclosure provides a method and device for processing I/O balance. The method includes: receiving a storage request message carrying a data table, an estimated capacity of the data table, a size of a data block corresponding to the data table, and a disk identifier indicating storage of the data table, where the data table includes at least one data file; and acquiring database information according to the estimated capacity of the data table, the size of the data block corresponding to the data table and the total number of disks corresponding to the disk identifier, generating a first shell script according to the storage request message and the database information, and creating a database according to the first shell script. |
| US09460748B2 |
Optical disk apparatus, control method, control program and information storage medium
Disclosed herein is an optical disc apparatus capable of reading out information stored in an optical disc medium, the optical disc apparatus including: a light emitting device radiating light; an object lens converging light radiated by the light emitting device on the optical disc medium; and a control section carrying out control to shift the center position of the object lens with respect to the optical-axis position of light radiated by the light emitting device in an operation to read out information from the optical disc medium. |
| US09460745B1 |
Preheating a hard disk drive head slider for head switch seek
Managing the flying height of a read-write head slider, such as in the context of a short or head switch seek, involves pre-heating the switched-to head while the active head is still performing a data read or write operation. Thus, both the active head and the switched-to head may be heated simultaneously, and once the switched-to head is switched to an active state upon the active head completing its corresponding operation, the switched-to head can immediately begin its operation with minimal or no further delay. |
| US09460738B1 |
Method to coat NFT area with highly thermal conducting material in HAMR structure
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a method for forming a HAMR head. The method includes depositing a drop-on-demand mask on a portion of a surface of a slider using a drop-on-demand tool. The surface of the slider includes at least a portion of an NFT. A first protective layer is deposited over a remaining portion of the surface of the slider and over the drop-on-demand mask. The drop-on-demand mask and a portion of the first protective layer disposed on the drop-on-demand mask are removed, exposing at least the portion of the NFT. A second protective layer is deposited on the first protective layer and at least the exposed portion of the NFT. By using the drop-on-demand tool to deposit the drop-on-demand mask, the alignment between the drop-on-demand mask and the portion of the NFT is less stringent, and the drop-on-demand mask can be easily removed using a wiping tool. |
| US09460736B2 |
Measuring content coherence and measuring similarity
Embodiments for measuring content coherence and embodiments for measuring content similarity are described. Content coherence between a first audio section and a second audio section is measured. For each audio segment in the first audio section, a predetermined number of audio segments in the second audio section are determined. Content similarity between the audio segment in the first audio section and the determined audio segments is higher than that between the audio segment and all the other audio segments in the second audio section. An average of the content similarity between the audio segment in the first audio section and the determined audio segments is calculated. The content coherence is calculated as an average, the maximum or the minimum of the averages calculated for the audio segments in the first audio section. The content similarity may be calculated based on Dirichlet distribution. |
| US09460732B2 |
Signal source separation
In one aspect, a microphone with closely spaced elements is used to acquire multiple signals from which a signal from a desired source is separated. The signal separation approach uses a combination of direction-of-arrival information or other information determined from variation such as phase, delay, and amplitude among the acquired signals, as well as structural information for the signal from the source of interest and/or for the interfering signals. Through this combination of information, the elements may be spaced more closely than may be effective for conventional beamforming approaches. In some examples, all the microphone elements are integrated into a single a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS). |
| US09460727B1 |
Audio encoder for wind and microphone noise reduction in a microphone array system
An audio system encodes and decodes audio captured by a microphone array system in the presence of wind noise. The encoder encodes the audio signal in a way that includes beamformed audio signal and a “hidden” representation of a non-beamformed audio signal. The hidden signal is produced by modulating the low frequency signal to a high frequency above the audible range. A decoder can then either output the beamformed audio signal or can use the hidden signal to generate a reduced wind noise audio signal that includes the non-beamformed audio in the low frequency range. |
| US09460724B2 |
Audio signal decoder, audio signal encoder, method for providing an upmix signal representation, method for providing a downmix signal representation, computer program and bitstream using a common inter-object-correlation parameter value
An audio signal decoder for providing an upmix signal representation on the basis of a downmix signal representation and an object-related parametric information and in dependence on a rendering information has an object parameter determinator. The object parameter determinator is configured to obtain inter-object-correlation values for a plurality of pairs of audio objects. The object parameter determinator is configured to evaluate a bitstream signaling parameter in order to decide whether to evaluate individual inter-object-correlation bitstream parameter values to obtain inter-object-correlation values for a plurality of pairs of related audio objects, or to obtain inter-object-correlation values for a plurality of pairs of related audio objects using a common inter-object-correlation bitstream parameter value. The audio signal decoder also has a signal processor configured to obtain the upmix signal representation on the basis of the downmix signal representation and using the inter-object-correlation values for a plurality of pairs of related objects and the rendering information. |
| US09460721B2 |
Method for context driven speech recognition and processing
The invention is system and method to recognize speech vocalizations using context-specific grammars and vocabularies. The system and method allow increased accuracy of recognized utterances by eliminating all language encodings irrelevant to the current context and allowing identification of appropriate context transitions. The system and method creates a context dependent speech recognition system with multiple supported contexts, each with specific grammar and vocabulary, and each identifying the potential context transition allowed. The system and method also include programmatic integration between the context dependent speech recognition system and other systems to make use of the recognized speech. |
| US09460720B2 |
Powering-up AFE and microcontroller after comparing analog and truncated sounds
A low power sound recognition sensor is configured to receive an analog signal that may contain a signature sound. The received analog signal is evaluated using a detection portion of the analog section to determine when background noise on the analog signal is exceeded. A feature extraction portion of the analog section is triggered to extract sparse sound parameter information from the analog signal when the background noise is exceeded. An initial truncated portion of the sound parameter information is compared to a truncated sound parameter database stored locally with the sound recognition sensor to detect when there is a likelihood that the expected sound is being received in the analog signal. A trigger signal is generated to trigger classification logic when the likelihood that the expected sound is being received exceeds a threshold value. |
| US09460719B1 |
Automated delivery of transcription products
A system for delivering transcription products is provided. The system includes a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, a customer interface component, an automatic speech recognition component, an editor interface component, and a delivery agent component. The customer interface component is configured to receive transcription request information identifying at least one media file, the at least one media file including content. The automatic speech recognition component is configured to generate draft transcription information that represents a draft transcription of the content. The editor interface component is configured to generate edited transcription information that represents an edited transcription of the content. The delivery agent component is configured to evaluate delivery criteria to determine whether to deliver a transcription product and transmit the transcription product in response to determining that the delivery criteria is satisfied. |
| US09460717B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof using voice recognition
A mobile terminal including a microphone configured to receive a voice input; a touchscreen configured to display information; and a controller configured to activate a voice recognition mode on the mobile terminal for receiving the voice input from the microphone, receive the voice input indicating a particular function on the mobile terminal is to be executed, execute the particular function indicated by the received voice input, if the voice recognition mode is interrupted while the particular function is being executed, determine whether the particular function is in a complete state or an incomplete state, if the particular function is in the incomplete state, display a display object corresponding to the particular function in the incomplete state, and resume the particular function and activate the microphone for receiving additional voice input to complete the particular function. |
| US09460716B1 |
Using social networks to improve acoustic models
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for acoustic model generation. One of the methods includes identifying one or more demographic characteristics for a user of a social networking site. The method includes receiving speech data from the user, the speech data associated with a user device. The method includes storing the speech data associated with demographic characteristics of the user and the user device. |
| US09460715B2 |
Identification using audio signatures and additional characteristics
Techniques for using both speaker-identification information and other characteristics associated with received voice commands to determine how and whether to respond to the received voice commands. A user may interact with a device through speech by providing voice commands. After beginning an interaction with the user, the device may detect subsequent speech, which may originate from the user, from another user, or from another source. The device may then use speaker-identification information and other characteristics associated with the speech to attempt to determine whether or not the user interacting with the device uttered the speech. The device may then interpret the speech as a valid voice command and may perform a corresponding operation in response to determining that the user did indeed utter the speech. If the device determines that the user did not utter the speech, however, then the device may refrain from taking action on the speech. |
| US09460714B2 |
Speech processing apparatus and method
In a speech processing apparatus, an acquisition unit is configured to acquire a speech. A separation unit is configured to separate the speech into a plurality of sections in accordance with a prescribed rule. A calculation unit is configured to calculate a degree of similarity in each combination of the sections. An estimation unit is configured to estimate, with respect to the each section, a direction of arrival of the speech. A correction unit is configured to group the sections whose directions of arrival are mutually similar into a same group and correct the degree of similarity with respect to the combination of the sections in the same group. A clustering unit is configured to cluster the sections by using the corrected degree of similarity. |
| US09460709B2 |
System and method for mobile automatic speech recognition
A system and method of updating automatic speech recognition parameters on a mobile device are disclosed. The method comprises storing user account-specific adaptation data associated with ASR on a computing device associated with a wireless network, generating new ASR adaptation parameters based on transmitted information from the mobile device when a communication channel between the computing device and the mobile device becomes available and transmitting the new ASR adaptation data to the mobile device when a communication channel between the computing device and the mobile device becomes available. The new ASR adaptation data on the mobile device more accurately recognizes user utterances. |
| US09460706B1 |
Systems and methods for executing anti-theft procedures for a device
A computer-implemented method to execute anti-theft procedures for a device is described. Receipt of a first audio file is detected. The first audio file is converted to a first text file. The first text file is analyzed to identify an anti-theft command. The anti-theft command is executed based at least in part on the analysis. |
| US09460704B2 |
Deep networks for unit selection speech synthesis
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing a representation based on structured data in resources. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of receiving target acoustic features output from a neural network that has been trained to predict acoustic features given linguistic features. Additional actions include determining a distance between the target acoustic features and acoustic features of a stored acoustic sample. Further actions include selecting the acoustic sample to be used in speech synthesis based at least on the determined distance and synthesizing speech based on the selected acoustic sample. |
| US09460702B2 |
Multilayer interlayer having sound damping properties over a broad temperature range
A polymer interlayer having improved sound insulation is disclosed. The polymer interlayer comprises at least one soft layer wherein the soft layer comprises a blend of a first poly(vinyl butyral) resin, a second poly(vinyl butyral) resin and a plasticizer; at least one stiffer layer comprising a third poly(vinyl butyral resin) and a plasticizer, wherein the polymer interlayer has a damping loss factor (η) (as measured by Mechanical Impedance Measurement according to ISO 16940) of at least about 0.16 measured at two or more different temperatures selected from 10° C., 20° C. and 30° C. |
| US09460698B2 |
Stringed instrument
A stringed instrument includes a body, a string, a string exciting device and a bridge. The body supports the string, the string exciting device and the bridge. The string has a scale length determined by a distance between a first support point and a second support point. The string exciting device is designed to be driven by an electrical signal having a certain frequency and vibrate the string by applying an excitation signal having a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the electrical signal. The bridge has the first support point and a surface located between the first support point and the second support point and designed to come into contact with the string during vibration of the string. |
| US09460692B2 |
Drum pedal and drum pedal unit
A drum pedal has a base, a pivoting assembly, a rotating element, a beater holder assembly, a chain assembly, and a foot board. The pivoting assembly is mounted in the base. The rotating element, the beater holder assembly and the chain assembly are mounted in the pivoting assembly. The foot board is mounted between the chain assembly and the base. The base has a resilient element mounted concentric with a shaft of the pivoting assembly. A rotating element receives the resilient element. A torque of the resilient element is evenly matched with a swing caused by the beater holder and the chain assembly. Therefore, the beater holder and the chain assembly return to the original position immediately after the swing. Two drum pedals are manipulated to play respectively, and are connected by a coupling assembly to compose a drum pedal unit. |
| US09460688B2 |
Electronic display locket and system
A locket includes a chamber and a door, with the chamber housing an electronic display, a microprocessor with associated memory coupled thereto, a wireless transceiver coupled to the microprocessor, and a power source. Messages/pictures can be displayed on the display through use of a system incorporating the locket, a mobile unit having a locket application and a wireless transceiver, and an application server device with a database. The system may also include a separately networked computer-type device. A locket user can log into the application server, register the locket, and create a user profile including one or more of interests, personal information, social connections, etc., that would establish how the locket can receive content. The system allows permitted friends to send messages/pictures through the application server to the locket for display. |
| US09460684B2 |
System and method for illuminating connector ports
A method for illuminating a connector port of an electronic device. The method comprising presenting information associated with the connector port on a user interface; and illuminating the connector port on the electronic device in response to a user selecting the connector port via the user interface. |
| US09460683B2 |
Method of driving display panel using polarity inversion and display apparatus for performing the same
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a data driving part, and a timing control part. The display panel includes gate lines extending in a first direction, data lines extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and first and second pixel groups. The first and second pixel groups are disposed at opposing sides of a data line and are alternately connected to the data line. The data driving part includes channels connected to the data lines. The channels output a data signal to the data lines, the data signal has a first polarity or a second polarity, and the second polarity has an inversed phase to the first polarity. The timing control part outputs a data inverse control signal and first and second polarity control signal, which control the polarity of the data signal based on the data inverse control signal. |
| US09460682B2 |
Method of driving a display device
A method of driving a display device includes a preliminary frame charging step and a main frame charging step. The method comprises a preliminary frame charging step of simultaneously charging liquid crystal cells in a pixel line group having a selected pixel row and a unselected pixel row with pixel data of the selected pixel row of the pixel line group and a main frame charging step of charging liquid crystal cells in the unselected pixel line group with pixel data of the unselected pixel line group. |
| US09460681B2 |
Display device and driving circuit thereof for improving the accuracy of gamma tuning
A display device and a driving circuit thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a display panel, a gamma reference voltage generator, a data driver and a driving controller. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel including first and second sub-pixels. The gamma reference voltage generator generates one or more first gamma reference voltages each having a high gamma value greater than a reference gamma value, and one or more second gamma reference voltages each having a low gamma value less than the reference gamma value. The data driver generates a data voltage based at least in part on one or more of the first and second gamma reference voltages, and provides the data voltage to the first and second sub-pixels. The driving controller determines a gamma value and a data voltage output pattern according to a driving method of the display panel. |
| US09460678B2 |
Electro-optic device, driving method for electro-optic device and electronic device
When a 2D display is performed, a controller causes a first selection signal to be in an active state during a given period, and causes a second selection signal to be in the active state during another given period after causing the first selection signal to be in a non-active state. When a 3D display is performed, the controller causes the first selection signal to be in the active state at a given timing point, cause the second selection signal to be in the active state during a period when the first selection signal is in the active state, and thereby cause an overlapping period to arise during a period which is part of a selection period for selecting signal lines corresponding to the first selection signal, and which is part of another selection period for selecting signal lines corresponding to the second selection signal. |
| US09460677B2 |
Display apparatus, driving method for display apparatus and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including, a pixel section, a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of signal lines, and a driving circuit. |
| US09460676B2 |
GOA circuit and liquid crystal display device applied to liquid crystal displays
A GOA circuit applied to a liquid crystal display is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of cascaded shift register units, an (N)th level shift register unit is controlled to charge an (N)th level scanning line accordingly. The (N)th level shift register unit includes a pull-up circuit, a pull-down circuit, a pull-down sustain circuit, a pull-up control circuit, a down transfer circuit, and an bootstrap capacitor, and a display device is also disclosed herein. By replacing scanning lines with a constant voltage VDD or two voltages to accomplish the function of down transfer, the loading of scanning lines and the risk which comes with wiring step-by-step are decreased, forward-scanning operation and backward-scanning operation are accomplished accordingly. |
| US09460675B2 |
Display device having signal processing circuits, electronic apparatus having display device, driving method of display device, and signal processing method
According to an aspect, a display device includes: an image display panel; and a plurality of signal processing circuits that are responsible for respective regions in the image display panel, that convert an input value of an input HSV color space of an input signal to each of their own responsible regions into an extension value of an extended HSV color space to generate an output signal of the extension value for the image display panel. The signal processing circuits decide an extension coefficient αA for the image display panel in its entirety in a cooperative manner. The signal processing circuit, regarding its own responsible region, calculates an output signal of each of a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, third sub-pixel, and a fourth sub-pixel. |
| US09460672B2 |
Method for driving a liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display
The present invention provides a method for driving a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display so that the power consumption for driving a 3D liquid crystal display panel can be reduced. The method includes steps of: determining that it is needed to input data to the black matrix sub-pixels when displaying a 3D image; and inputting a control signal to a 3D black screen data control module, the 3D black screen data control module, based on the received control signal, makes two data lines which are connected therewith and are of opposite polarities be electrically conducted. |
| US09460671B2 |
Driving method of liquid crystal display device
An object is to provide a driving method of a liquid crystal display device with a low power consumption and a high image quality. A pixel includes a liquid crystal element and a transistor which controls supply of an image signal to the liquid crystal element. The transistor includes, in a channel formation region, a semiconductor which has a wider band gap than a silicon semiconductor and has a lower intrinsic carrier density than silicon, and has an extremely low off-state current. In inversion driving of pixels, image signals having opposite polarities are input to a pair of signal lines between which a pixel electrode is disposed. By employing such a structure, the quality of the displayed image can be increased even in the absence of a capacitor in the pixel. |
| US09460669B2 |
Display device having shared column lines
A display device having at least a plurality of pixel circuits, connected to signal lines to which data signals in accordance with luminance information are supplied, arranged in a matrix, wherein pixel circuits of odd number columns and even number columns adjacent sandwiching an axis in a column direction parallel to an arrangement direction of the signal lines have a mirror type circuit arrangement symmetric about the axis of the column direction, and there are lines different from the signal lines between signal lines of adjacent pixel circuits. |
| US09460664B2 |
Display apparatus with compensation for brightness-insufficient light source, and control method therefor
A display apparatus includes: a light emitting unit having a plurality of light sources; a display unit; a determination unit configured to determine, for each light source, a target brightness on the basis of a display image data in region corresponding to the light source; and a control unit configured to control the emission brightness of each light source to the target brightness, wherein when a brightness-insufficient light source is present, the determination unit adjusts the target brightness of light sources around the brightness-insufficient light source, to a value higher than a value corresponding to the display image data in regions corresponding to the light sources around the brightness-insufficient light source. |
| US09460657B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
A display device includes a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels that have light-emitting time periods adjusted in response to light-emitting control signals, and a brightness control unit that adjusts a duty ratio of the light-emitting control signals and setting gamma and that converts image data according to a brightness mode. |
| US09460653B2 |
Flat panel display
Disclosed is a flat panel display that prevents image quality degradation by preventing the current leakage to the organic light emitting diode. The flat panel display comprises: a first switching element whose control electrode is electrically coupled to a scan line, being electrically coupled between a data line and a first voltage line; a second switching element whose control electrode is electrically coupled to the scan line, being electrically coupled between the first switching element and first voltage line; a capacitive element whose first electrode is electrically coupled between the first and second switching elements; a drive transistor whose control electrode is electrically coupled to the second switching element, being electrically coupled between the first voltage line and a second voltage line; and an organic light emitting diode electrically coupled between the drive transistor and second voltage line. |
| US09460650B2 |
Organic light-emitting display
An organic light-emitting display includes first sub-pixels of a first color and second sub-pixels of a second color. Pairs of the first sub-pixels are consecutively arranged in different rows, and pairs of the second sub-pixels are consecutively arranged in different rows. The pairs of first sub-pixels and the pairs of second sub-pixels arranged alternately in a first column, and third sub-pixels are in a second column adjacent to the first column. When one sub-pixel is defective, a control circuit provides current another sub-pixel of the same color. |
| US09460645B2 |
Apparatus intelligent illuminated sign, methods of configuration and controls
Apparatus intelligent illuminated sign comprising: controller, sensors, illumination devices, interfaces, power source. Apparatus configurations include: display, sensor, operator interface, controller interface, acceptance criteria, control algorithm. Display providing parallel view illumination, with mounting configuration including replacement without impacting integrity of apparatus. Sensors include: ambient light, proximity, temperature, power. Plug and power source includes intelligent power splitter, sustaining operation of apparatus during power outage. Operator interface include interrupting ambient light for triggering sensor status. Controller interface include: LAN, INTERNET, mobile devices. Acceptance criteria include: optimization using energy, sustaining apparatus safety and contributing to safety of surrounding environment. Control algorithm includes: executing real-time self-diagnostics, and controls to sustain apparatus operation within acceptance criteria, maintaining predefined safety margins using components of apparatus, maintaining reliability and maximizing operating life of apparatus. Apparatus configurable in compliance with local and national regulations for applications as intelligent illuminated: street address sign, street name sign; building sign, traffic sign. |
| US09460644B2 |
Flexible display apparatus
A flexible display apparatus having a folding area and peripheral areas at sides of the folding area, the flexible display apparatus including: a flexible display panel configured to display an image; and an outer member on one surface of the flexible display panel and including a protrusion and an opening at the peripheral areas. The flexible display panel and the outer member are configured to be folded at the folding area, and the protrusion is inserted into the opening when the outer member is folded. |
| US09460643B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device can be folded in such a manner that a flexible light-emitting panel is supported by a plurality of housings which are provided spaced from each other and the light-emitting panel is bent so that surfaces of adjacent housings are in contact with each other. Furthermore, in the light-emitting device, in which part or the whole of the housings have magnetism, the two adjacent housings can be fixed to each other by a magnetic force when the light-emitting device is used in a folded state. |
| US09460642B2 |
Dye sublimation fabric separated elements
A laminate that possesses dye sublimation properties, particularly for use as tagless labels and embellishments for garments, apparel, fabric items and so forth such as sportswear fabrics, clothing and accessories is provided. The laminate includes a dye sublimation ink layer that overlies a substrate in which the dye sublimation ink interacts with the substrate's chemical make-up. |
| US09460640B2 |
Modular pulse duplicator system for simulation of cardiovascular hemodynamic functions
A versatile multi-function modular pulse duplicator system having multiple modules each universally and fluidly connected to each other via universal connectors. Each module being detachable from another module and the plurality of modules can be rearranged in different sequence or quantity as the user desires for specifically designed hemodynamic simulations. Some modules have specific functions by having a pump, a compliance chamber, a resistance mechanism, or a fluid reservoir. Optional peripheral modules that simulate anatomical subsystems can be fluidly coupled within this system of modules, allowing studying/training/product demonstration in the subsystem specifically provided, under desired cardiovascular hemodynamics. The use of universal connectors, peripheral modules, and selectively attachable/detachable modules, make this a versatile system where a user can design a simulation according to the specifics needed for product testing, product demonstration, surgical training, teaching and researching. |
| US09460634B2 |
Systems for and methods of digital recording and reproduction of tactile drawings
Systems and methods of digitally recording and reproducing tactile drawings are disclosed. The method includes moving a stylus over a path on the first tactile drawing medium to form a tactile feature thereon, and digitally recording the path of the moving stylus to generate digital path data. The method also include reproducing the tactile feature on a second tactile drawing medium operably disposed in a tactile printer based on the digital path data. The systems and methods include forming tactile drawings based on a digital graphics file, including filtering the digital graphics file to form a .RLD file suitable for forming a tactile drawing having features capable of being tactilely sensed. |
| US09460633B2 |
Conditioner with sensors for nutritional substances
Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances. |
| US09460627B2 |
Collision determination device and collision mitigation device
A collision determination device is mounted to an own vehicle and determines a probability of a collision with a moving object. The collision determination device determines whether or not an own vehicle will collide with a moving object that is detected within a captured image. The collision determination device determines whether or not the moving object is in a shielded state where at least a portion of the moving object is hidden behind another object or the moving object appears from behind another object. The collision determination device sets an amount of time required for the collision determining means to complete a determination related to the collision to a shorter amount of time when the moving object is in the shielded state, compared to when the moving object is not in the shielded state. |
| US09460624B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining lane identification in a roadway
A method and apparatus for determining a lane identity of a vehicle travelling in a roadway where the roadway contains a plurality of lanes is determined based on information from sensors associated with the vehicle and map data for detecting the lane marker type to a left side and right side of the vehicle, any lane crossings during travel of the vehicle along the roadway, a history of lane marker type up to a predetermined travel distance along the roadway, and the lane marker type at the instantaneous position of the vehicle in the roadway. The lane identity method and apparatus outputs a confidence belief identifying the probability that the vehicle is traveling in one particular lane of the roadway. |
| US09460623B2 |
Parking management
A parking management approach includes associating a payment source with a vehicle identifier. The approach also includes receiving a message indicating initiation of a parking event at a parking location, and updating a parking database to indicate that a vehicle having the vehicle identifier is parked at the parking location. The message includes an identification of at least one of the payment source and the vehicle identifier. |
| US09460616B1 |
Management of mobile objects and service platform for mobile objects
To provide different services and information in real time to each automobile or each driver with a high-quality driving assistance or automatic driving system that manages a plurality of mobile objects by communicating with the mobile objects, provided is a system including a mobile object server operable to receive information from each of a plurality of mobile objects within a geographic space and perform a process associated with each mobile object; and a registration server operable to register a first additional process that is to be performed in addition to a first basic process common to the plurality of mobile objects, in association with one mobile object among the plurality of mobile objects. Also provided are a method and program product. |
| US09460615B2 |
Automatic update of crowd and traffic data using device monitoring
A first mobile monitoring system includes one or more mobile monitoring devices, a network, a server and a storage memory. The server is implemented to analyze the collected signals and the traffic information to identify at least one traffic flow according to travel routes of the one or more wireless devices; determine whether the identified at least one traffic flow exceeds an updating threshold based on the collected signals; derive at the server when the traffic flow exceeds the updating threshold, an updating priority indicating an order in which the traffic flows are processed based on the collected signals; and update a dynamic traffic transportation plan map based on the at least one traffic flow, the updating threshold and the updating priority. |
| US09460614B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining traffic status
To ascertain traffic status data, a speed of a vehicle is acquired multiple times at predefined time intervals. The respective acquired speed is assigned to a first speed range when the respective acquired speed of the vehicle is greater than at least one predefined speed threshold. Furthermore, a first count is increased when the respective acquired speed is assigned to the first speed range. The respective acquired speed is assigned to a second speed range when the respective acquired speed of the vehicle is less than the at least one speed threshold, and a second count is increased when the respective acquired speed is assigned to the second speed range, wherein a holding phase is recognized while the respective acquired speed has a speed value in a predefined range around the value zero once or multiple times in succession. During the recognized holding phase, the acquired speeds having the speed value in the predefined range around the value zero are not taken into consideration for a predefined non-consideration number of speed acquisition periods with respect to the adaptation of the second count. |
| US09460611B2 |
System and method for emergency communications
A system and method for sending emergency communications. An indicator of an emergency is received through a set-top box. A location associated with the emergency is determined. A message indicating the emergency and the location associated with the emergency is sent from the set-top box. |
| US09460610B2 |
Bridge between security system and appliances
A system and method for controlling an appliance are provided. The system includes a plurality of sensing devices and a plurality of appliance control devices. The sensing devices are locatable in a selected area with each device wirelessly transmitting a first status message and a second status message. Each of the plurality of appliance control devices has a wireless receiver that continuously monitors a transmission spectrum for wireless status messages, has a decryption device that decrypts any received encrypted messages, provides an ON and OFF output, and provides one of the ON and OFF outputs upon receiving a first status message and the other of the ON and OFF outputs upon receiving a second status message. |
| US09460598B2 |
Facial recognition in controlled access areas utilizing electronic article surveillance (EAS) system
Method for performing electronic article surveillance includes generating image data using at least one imaging device. The image data is processed in a computer processing device associated with an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal to recognize the presence of a facial image. Based on such processing, data representative of the facial image is selectively communicated to a server at a location remote from the EAS pedestal. Subsequently, a notification is received from the server. The notification is based on an identification analysis involving actions performed at the server to identify a particular person using the facial image data. Thereafter, at least one EAS operation is selectively controlled at the EAS pedestal based on a content of the notification. |
| US09460597B1 |
Systems and methods for security tag detachment or deactivation authorization
Systems (100) and methods (200) for security tag detachment or deactivation authorization. The methods involve: communicating at least one first product code for each article of a plurality of purchased articles from a Point-Of-Sale (“POS”) to a remote authorization system; generating by the remote authorization system an authorization code to facilitate authorization of detachment or deactivation of security tags attached only to said plurality of purchased articles, in response to the first product code; using the authorization code to obtain a list of articles identifying first articles of the plurality of purchased articles which have security tags attached thereto; and authorizing the detachment or deactivation of only the security tags that are attached to the articles identified in the list of articles. |
| US09460591B2 |
Event notification
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for event notification. One of the methods includes receiving an event from a security system; determining at least one contact to notify of the alert from a collection of contacts, the determining including applying one or more event notification rules, wherein the one or more event notification rules include one or more event notification rules specified by a user of the security system and wherein a number and identity of the at least one contact varies depending on the applicable rules of the one or more event notification rules; transmitting an event notification to the one or more determined contacts; and performing a security action based on feedback from one or more of the determined contacts. |
| US09460590B2 |
Determination of customer proximity to a register through use of sound and methods thereof
A method is disclosed for providing notifications and other communications to a customer based on the customer's proximity to a checkout register at a store. A mobile electronic device with mobile self checkout software thereon may record and analyze ambient noise to determine when a customer is in a checkout line as well as to track the customer's progress through the checkout line. The mobile self checkout software may present information to the customer according to the customer's position in the checkout line. The type and nature of the information presented to the customer may be changed according to the customer's distance from the checkout terminal as well as how quickly the customer is approaching the terminal. |
| US09460589B2 |
Cash register drawer systems and methods for determining changes in the content of cash trays
A method and apparatus for the accurate detection of cash tokens being added and/or removed from a cash register or other cash holding device; that uses pre-knowledge of cash tokens to be added and/or removed from the device; a modified cash tray suspended via a lever mechanism, held in equilibrium against a force transducer; and a processing element to analyse the signal received from the transducer, comparing it against that pre-knowledge, for the purpose of generating or verifying a set of expected cash tokens being added and/or removed from the cash holding device. |
| US09460587B2 |
Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with shifting symbols in different directions between multiple symbol display position matrices
A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices and a plurality of different directions of symbol movement. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions. At least one of the symbol display position matrices includes one or more symbol display positions linked to or otherwise associated with one or more symbol display positions of at least another of the symbol display position matrices. If the gaming system determines that one or more symbols will be repositioned from one or more symbol display positions of one symbol display position matrix to one or more linked symbol display positions of another symbol display position matrix, the gaming system determines a direction of movement of such symbols. |
| US09460586B2 |
Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller
Certain examples provide systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for gaming. An example method includes displaying columns of symbol display positions, at least some of the columns having differing numbers of symbol display positions; defining winning combinations of symbol display positions having at least one symbol display position from each of said columns; facilitating selection of at least one of said columns by a player for selection of winning combinations to be played in a game, the selected winning combinations to be played comprising all possible winning combinations derivable from all symbol display positions of said selected at least one column and a designated symbol display position from each of said columns which the player did not select; selecting symbols for display in said symbol display positions; and determining a game outcome based on symbols displayed in said selected winning combinations. |
| US09460584B2 |
Controlling wagering game play continuation
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include a recording of a first wagering game content from a first wagering game played during a wagering game session and generating an electronic (e.g., an “e-mail”) message, after the wagering game session ends. The operations can also include embedding in the electronic message an object that provides access to a second wagering game content. The second wagering game content includes a recording of the first wagering game. The operations can further include sending the electronic message to an electronic address for a wagering game player account associated with the wagering game session, and detecting access to the second wagering game content, via the electronic message. The second wagering game content can re-present the portion of the first wagering game content as part of the second wagering game content. |
| US09460578B2 |
Apparatus and method for targeted acquisition
A mobile station, system, and method for collecting information. The mobile station including a controller which can determine a current location of the mobile station, output the name of one or more selected persons corresponding to a predetermined geographic area (such as a current location of the mobile station), and receive an identifier corresponding to the selected person via an input device. The mobile station may also communicate, via wired and/or wireless communication means, with a system for uploading/downloading and/or processing information such as petition signatures. |
| US09460577B2 |
Sharing a key for a vehicle
A method for sharing a key of a vehicle that electronically controls the vehicle includes: setting a control value limiting a use of the vehicle through a terminal of a user of the vehicle which includes the key of the vehicle, and transferring the key of the vehicle from the terminal of the user to a terminal of an additional user of the vehicle using short-distance communication. |
| US09460573B1 |
Autonomous authentication of a reader by a radio frequency identity (RFID) device
A radio frequency identity (RFID) tag. The tag comprises a processor, a memory, wherein the memory stores private information and public information, and a radio transceiver configured to receive a request for information from an RFID reader and to transmit a reply to the request for information. The tag further comprises an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, parses a request for information from the RFID reader received by the radio transceiver, and determines whether the RFID reader is authorized to receive the private information. When the RFID reader is determined to be authorized, the application reads the private information from the memory and sends the private information to the radio transceiver to transmit; when the RFID reader is determined to not be authorized, the application reads the public information and sends the public information to the radio transceiver to transmit. |
| US09460570B2 |
Door lock control system
A door lock control system according to an embodiment includes, as one example, a receiving unit and a determination unit. The receiving unit is provided in a side edge portion extending between an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion of a window of a vehicle door, and receives a signal by near field communication. The determination unit determines whether to unlock or lock the door based on first data included in the signal received by the receiving unit and held second data. |
| US09460568B2 |
Interactive augmented reality function
An apparatus is provided including a processor, a memory, and a vehicle tracking portal. The vehicle tracking portal is configured to obtain vehicle identification information regarding a vehicle. Then diagnostic information regarding the vehicle can be obtained. Then, based on the vehicle identification and the diagnostic information, a recommended service for the vehicle can be determined. A user can then be alerted to the recommended service. |
| US09460566B2 |
Data recorder system and unit for a vehicle
Disclosed is a data recording unit and data recording system for use in connection with a vehicle, such as a train, a locomotive of a train, a railcar of a train, and the like. |
| US09460558B2 |
Computer-implemented method for manipulating three-dimensional modeled objects of an assembly in a three-dimensional scene
A computer-implemented method for manipulating three-dimensional modeled objects of an assembly in a three-dimensional scene, comprising the steps of: determining at least a first set of at least one object and a second set of at least one object among said three-dimensional modeled objects of the assembly; grouping the at least one object of the first set in a first three-dimensional bounding box (BB) and the at least one object of the second set in a second three-dimensional bounding box (BB); and relatively reorganizing the bounding boxes (BB). |
| US09460557B1 |
Systems and methods for footwear fitting
Systems and methods are disclosed for best fitting a subject to a one of a plurality of object variations by capturing images of a user anatomical portion and a reference object from a plurality of angles using a mobile camera; creating a 3D model of the user anatomical portion from the images with dimensions based on dimensions of the reference object; and selecting a best-fit physical object from the plurality of object variations based on the 3D model. |
| US09460554B2 |
Aerial video annotation
A method comprising using at least one hardware processor for: receiving an aerially-captured video and metadata associated with the video; receiving deviation data indicative of an amount of inaccuracy in the metadata; and overlaying, on the video, a geographic annotation descriptive of an object of interest having known geographic coordinates, wherein the geographic annotation is of a size and a shape representative of the amount of inaccuracy. |
| US09460552B2 |
Method, display adapter and computer program product for improved graphics performance by using a replaceable culling program
It is presented a method for improving performance of generation of digitally represented graphics. Said method comprises the steps of: selecting (440) a tile comprising fragments to process; executing (452) a culling program for the tile, the culling program being replaceable; and executing a set of instructions, selected from a plurality of sets of instructions based on an output value of the culling program, for each of a plurality of subsets of the fragments. A corresponding display adapter and computer program product are also presented. |
| US09460547B2 |
Systems and methods for program interfaces in multipass rendering
Aspects include API interfaces for interfacing shaders with other components and/or code modules that provide ray tracing functionality. For example, API calls may allow direct contribution of light energy to a buffer for an identified pixel, and allow emission of new rays for intersection testing alone or in bundles. The API also can provide a mechanism for associating arbitrary data with ray definition data defining a ray to be tested through a shader using the emit ray call. The arbitrary data is provided to a shader associated with an object that is identified subsequently as having been intersected by the ray. The data can include code, or a pointer to code, that can be used by or run after the shader. The data also can be propagated through a series of shaders, and associated with rays instantiated in each shader. Recursive shaders can be recompiled as non-recursive shaders interfacing with API semantics according to the description. |
| US09460537B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium
An apparatus designs an animation expressing a transition of display forms of an object. A reception unit receives an operation for setting key frames in the animation at one or more time points on a time axis displayed on a screen, the time axis corresponding to the animation, and instructs a display form of the object at each of the set key frames. The reception unit receives, in a state when one or more key frames are set on the time axis and a display form of the object is instructed at each of the set key frames, an instruction for reflecting a display form of the object instructed to a first key frame of an already set one or more key frames as a display form of the object at a second key frame set on the time axis. A display control unit displays indicators representing the key frames. |
| US09460536B2 |
Endoscope system and method for operating endoscope system that display an organ model image to which an endoscopic image is pasted
An endoscope system includes an insertion portion, an objective optical window, an image pickup device, a position/direction detection section that acquires position information of the objective optical window, and a memory that records the subject internal image acquired by the image pickup device in association with the position information of the objective optical window. The endoscope system aligns the position information of the objective optical window with a reference position of a predetermined organ in the subject in a coordinate system of a three-dimensional model image based on an amount of change or the like of the subject internal image information in the subject and generates an image with the subject internal image pasted onto the two-dimensional model image of the predetermined organ which is the three-dimensional model image two-dimensionally developed in which the position of the objective optical window is associated with the position in the coordinate system. |
| US09460534B2 |
Labeling a rib cage by placing a label based on a center point and position of a rib
In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of rib labeling for 2D images is disclosed. In at least one embodiment a corresponding computation unit, a system including a computation unit and a displaying unit, a medical imaging device, and a computer program are also disclosed. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the method of rib labeling includes receiving a plurality of 2D images representing cross sections of a rib cage, each 2D image comprising cross sections of a plurality of ribs; and generating an anatomical label for each of the ribs in each of the 2D images, each anatomical label being placed radially outside the rib cage. Each anatomical label is placed in the vicinity of the cross section of the respective rib to provide a simple identification of the respective rib. |
| US09460533B2 |
Generating image compositions
Implementations generally relate to generating image compositions. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a plurality of photos from a user and determining one or more composition types from the photos. The method further includes generating one or more compositions from the received photos based on the one or more determined composition types, where each composition is based on modified foregrounds of the photos. The method further includes providing the one or more generated compositions to the user. |
| US09460529B2 |
Tool and method for emulating flat-tip brush
A method of emulating a flat tip brush, said method comprising (a) at a given time, identifying first and second points of contact on a touch sensitive surface; (b) interpolating a line between the first and second points, the line having line data comprising at least a length and an angle relative to the screen; (c) recording the first and second points and the line data; (d) reiterating steps (a)-(c) for at least one subsequent time to determine a plurality of the first points and a plurality of the second points and a plurality of the lines; and (e) displaying on a display screen an image defined by the first points, by the second points and/or by the lines between the first and second points. |
| US09460528B2 |
Method for collocating clothing accessories on human body
A method for collocating a clothing accessory on a human body for an electronic apparatus, is provided. A human body picture is shown on a display unit, and a human body description file corresponding to a human body model included in the human body picture is obtained from a database. A clothing accessory picture is obtained from another database based on a user choice, and a clothing accessory description file corresponding to a clothing accessory model included in the clothing accessory picture. The object picture is superposed on the human body picture automatically according to the human body and the object description files. |
| US09460524B1 |
Estimating available volumes using imaging data
Imaging data regarding an interior portion of a storage vessel may be obtained from an imaging device (e.g., a digital camera or depth sensor) and interpreted in order to identify an available volume within the storage vessel. Where the imaging data includes an image of an interior of the storage vessel, an area of one or more contiguous spaces of a rear face of the storage vessel may be identified from the image and multiplied by a depth of the storage vessel in order to estimate the available volume. Where the imaging data includes a depth profile of the interior, the depth profile may be processed in order to estimate the available volume. Once an available volume has been estimated, the capacity of the available volume to accommodate one or more additional items may be determined, and information regarding the capacity may be provided to a user. |
| US09460521B2 |
Digital image analysis
The present invention provides a method for analyzing a digital image comprising a plurality of pixels representing a scene. The method comprising steps of obtaining pixel chromaticity information, providing, combinations each having a corresponding surface and a corresponding illuminant, performing a global scene surface-illuminant classification by determining hypothesis scores, accumulating hypothesis scores, thereby obtaining a global illuminant/surface statistic representing an estimate of a distribution of illuminants and/or surfaces in the scene as represented by the digital image. Other methods are also provided. Apparatuses for carrying out the methods are also provided. |
| US09460518B2 |
Visual clothing retrieval
Techniques are provided for efficiently identifying relevant product images based on product items detected in a query image. In general, a query image may represent a digital image in any format that depicts a human body and one or more product items. For example, a query image may be an image for display on a webpage, an image captured by a user using a camera device, or an image that is part of a media content item, such as a frame from a video. Product items may be detected in a query image by segmenting the query image into a plurality of image segments and clustering one or more of the plurality image segments into one or more image segment clusters. The resulting image segments and image segment clusters may be used to search for visually similar product images. |
| US09460514B2 |
Method for locating objects by resolution in the three-dimensional space of the scene
In the field of videosurveillance by calibrated cameras and locating objects of interest in images, a method uses, on the one hand, an initial presence map pCP1 modeling positions i in the scene and comprising, for each position i, a value pCP1(i) representative of the probability that an object is situated at position i considered, each value pCP1(i) being obtained a location criterion defined in an image space of the image acquisition system and, on the other hand, atoms Ai predetermined for each position i of the presence map pCP1, the atom Ai of a position i comprising, for each position j, a value Ai(j) representative of overlap between projection m′(i) in the image space of a three-dimensional model M′(i) placed at the position i and projection m′(j) in the image space of a three-dimensional model M′(j) placed at position j, each three-dimensional model being representative of an object. |
| US09460512B2 |
Three-dimensional image processing apparatus and reconstruction region specification method
A three-dimensional image processing apparatus which obtains a three-dimensional image from a plurality of images from different projection views of a patient which have been obtained by carrying out multiple imaging while rotating around the patient, includes a locating unit to specify a point of one of the plurality of images from different projection views. A searching unit searches a point corresponding to the specified point in the plurality of images from different projection views, on the basis of the specified point. A reconstruction region identification unit identifies a region of a part of a region which can be reconstructed, as a reconstruction region by using the specified point and the searched point. A reconstruction unit obtains a three-dimensional image by reconstructing an image in the identified reconstruction region. |
| US09460510B2 |
Synchronized navigation of medical images
Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating synchronized image navigation. In accordance with one aspect, at least first and second medical images are received. A non-linear mapping between the first and second medical images is generated. A selection of a given location in the first medical image is received in response to a user's navigational operation. Without deforming the second medical image, a target location in the second medical image is determined by using the non-linear mapping. The target location corresponds to the given location in the first medical image. An optimized deformation-free view of the second medical image is generated based at least in part on the target location. While the user performs navigational operations on the first medical image, the framework repeatedly receives the selection of the given location, determines the target location using the non-linear mapping, and generates the optimized deformation-free view of the second medical image based at least in part on the target location. |
| US09460508B2 |
Image handling and display in X-ray mammography and tomosynthesis
A method and system for acquiring, processing, storing, and displaying x-ray mammograms Mp tomosynthesis images Tr representative of breast slices, and x-ray tomosynthesis projection images Tp taken at different angles to a breast, where the Tr images are reconstructed from Tp images. |
| US09460500B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a display and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates second image data by subtracting first image data before and after contrast enhancement. The processing circuitry removes information indicating a structure from pieces of the second image data to generate third image data. The processing circuitry correct misalignment of the third image data based on characteristics of the shape of the subject represented in at least any one of the first to third image data. The processing circuitry obtains a variation index between the third image data after alignment correction, and generates fourth image data base on the variation index. The processing circuitry displays a medical image based on the fourth image data on the display. |
| US09460496B2 |
Fluorescence observation apparatus, fluorescence observation system, and method for fluorescence image processing
There is provided a fluorescence observation apparatus, including: a lighting section including a light source emitting illumination light and excitation light; a fluorescence imaging section picking up fluorescence generated on a subject and acquiring a fluorescence image; a returned light imaging section picking up returned light returned from the subject and acquiring a returned light image; a preprocessing section multiplying at least either the fluorescence image or the returned light image by a coefficient in which a distance property of fluorescence intensity and a distance property of returned light intensity, which are acquired in advance with respect to a standard sample, come to be in a relation directly proportional to each other and generating a fluorescence image for correction and a returned light image for correction; and a fluorescence image correction section dividing the fluorescence image for correction by the returned light image for correction. |
| US09460494B2 |
Methods and systems for inverse problem reconstruction and application to ECT reconstruction
Methods and systems for obtaining a reconstruction of an object, the reconstruction of the object comprising an inverse problems. Expressing the reconstruction of the object as a optimization problem with total variation regularization, and obtaining the reconstruction of the object from convergence of the iterations, an object being an input/representation of input to a system, the system providing output data resulting from the input, the object being reconstructed from the output data obtained from interaction of the object with the system. |
| US09460491B2 |
Method for binary to contone conversion with non-solid edge detection
A system and method convert a pixel of binary image data to a pixel of contone image data by determining if a predetermined pixel of binary image data is part of a solid edge or part of a fuzzy edge. A binary to contone conversion circuit converts the predetermined pixel of binary image data to a pixel of a first contone image data value, and a filter circuit converts the predetermined pixel of binary image data to a pixel of a second contone image data value. The filter circuit uses an adaptive filtering operation wherein the adaptive filtering operation utilizes one of a plurality of sets of weighting coefficients to change a characteristic of the filtering operation. The set of weighting coefficients used in the filtering operation are selected in response to a fuzzy edge detection. A selection between the first contone image data value and the second contone image data value is made based upon the determination as whether the predetermined pixel of binary image data is part of a solid edge. |
| US09460488B2 |
Interpolation method and prediction method using same
The present invention relates to a method of performing interpolation for prediction between screens by using a pixel sample of a current picture and a pixel sample of a reference picture, and a prediction method using same. The interpolation method according to the present invention includes: calculating movement information for generating a prediction block; and generating a partial pixel sample on the basis of an integer sample set including integer pixel samples to which an interpolation filter is applied. Here, the integer sample set includes at least one current integer sample used to generate a partial pixel sample among restored integer pixel samples of a current picture, and the partial pixel sample corresponds to the offset positions of a partial pixel unit from a predetermined reference pixel sample among integer pixel samples. |
| US09460485B2 |
Systems and methods for guided de-noising for computed tomography
A method includes obtaining spectral computed tomography (CT) information via an acquisition unit having an X-ray source and a CT detector. The method also includes, generating, with one or more processing units, using at least one image transform, a first basis image and a second basis image using the spectral CT information. Further, the method includes performing, with the one or more processing units, guided processing on the second basis image using the first basis image as a guide to provide a modified second basis image. Also, the method includes performing at least one inverse image transform using the first basis image and the modified second basis image to generate at least one modified image. |
| US09460480B2 |
Integrated real estate showing scheduling and key management system
A system and method for dispensing a key from a key kiosk disposed at a realtor's office near a real property based on a showing appointment scheduled with a showing scheduling system. The appointment, including a date and time, as well as an authorized user is communicated from the showing scheduling system to the key kiosk. The user then authenticates herself or himself to the kiosk at the appropriate time, and the key is dispensed. The kiosk authenticates the user by scanning a QR code or using the physical location of the user. The kiosk will not dispense the key if the user has a different key that is checked out, but not returned yet. The key can be returned to the kiosk where it is dispensed, or a different key kiosk. The kiosk also dispenses a single common key when the user shows multiple properties. |
| US09460477B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes the following elements. A selector selects, as a first item, an item disposed within a QFD chart. A first calculator calculates a correlation score between the first item and an item associated with an adjacent axis. A first extracting unit compares the correlation score with a predetermined value and extracts a second item related to the first item. A second calculator calculates a correlation score between the second item and an item associated with an adjacent axis and determines the calculated correlation score between the item associated with the adjacent axis and the first item. A second extracting unit compares the correlation score with a predetermined value and extracts a third item related to the first item. A display unit displays the first item, the second item, and the third item in a mode different from a mode of the other items. |
| US09460472B2 |
System and method for reconciling one or more financial transactions
A system, method and computer program product for reconciling one or more financial transactions of one or more business units. The method includes capturing transaction data from the financial transactions using a first set of data logics. The capturing further includes extracting the transaction data from the financial transactions using import templates and transforming the extracted transaction data to a predefined format, using a first set of validations. The captured transaction data is then auto-matched with master data as reference, using one or more auto-match logics and a second set of validations. One or more reports are then generated on the auto-matched transaction data. The method further includes providing user privileges for controlling the capturing, the auto-matching, and the generation of the one or more reports according to a first predefined criterion. |
| US09460469B1 |
System and method for financial services device usage
An intelligent process is provided for a business to interface with a financial institution. A container is provided that is capable of interfacing with a financial transaction device. The container may have one or more internal compartments sized to accommodate cash, coins, and/or checks. The container may be available in a variety of sizes. The container is capable of being sealed and locked in a tamper proof manner. A tracking device may be included with the container. The container may contain a computing device. The container may then be taken to a designated location having a financial transaction device with which the container can interface. The financial transaction device may be located at a branch of a financial institution or another location, such as at the business itself or at another location. |
| US09460466B2 |
Limiting bid selection to eligible content items
Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for providing content. A request is received for content to be displayed on a resource to a user. The user is identified. Candidate content items are identified from an inventory of content items that are responsive to the request. The candidate content items are evaluated including determining bid-eligible content items including content items that satisfy an eligibility threshold based on an eligibility status associated with a respective candidate content item. The eligibility status is based at least in part on results associated with past opportunities to present a content item to identified user. An auction is conducted to identify a winner from among the bid-eligible content items. The winning content item is provided responsive to the request. An eligibility status is updated for losing and winning content items in the auction. |
| US09460465B2 |
Graphical menu builder for encoding applications in an image
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for encoding applications in an image. One embodiment of the method includes forming a first image that encodes information indicative of a map relating one or more pixel patterns to functionality implemented by a processor-based device. The first image is formed so that the processor-based device can decode the information to generate the map. The method also includes forming a second image that includes the pixel pattern(s). The second image is formed so that the processor-based device can detect the pixel pattern(s) and implement the functionality using the map. |
| US09460458B1 |
Methods and system of associating reviewable attributes with items
Users are enabled to provide structured ratings for various attributes of items or other such content in an electronic environment. Users are able to rate existing attributes associated with an item, or new attributes that the users want to associate with the item. In addition to allowing users to provide a rating for each attribute, users can be prompted to include information relating to these attributes in reviews for the respective item(s). Attributes can be automatically applied to various items using a process that determines aspects of items that are indicative of each attribute being relevant, and automatically applies the attributes to items having at least some of those or similar aspects. Various models and algorithms are described for providing such functionality. |
| US09460456B2 |
Computation through array decomposition
Briefly, embodiments of methods and/or systems of computation via array decomposition are disclosed. For one embodiment, as an example, a system may be capable of implementation of an advertising audience overlap analysis dashboard in which for an audience exceeding 100 million users and exceeding 10,000 user groups. Such a system embodiment, for example, may be capable of computing an exact count of user overlap among the user groups in less than two hours. |
| US09460455B2 |
Determining product categories by mining interaction data in chat transcripts
The propensity and intent of a user to make a purchase is predicted based on product search queries and chat streams. The contents of the data sources, including search queries and chat streams, are analyzed for product names and product attributes. The results of the analyses are used to predict user needs. Product names and attributes are extracted from the data sources. The extracted information is mapped onto abstract product categories. Based on the abstract product categories, offers for products and services are made to the user. |
| US09460454B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for tailoring advertisements to a user based on actions taken using a portable electronic device
A method of advertising tailored based on usage patterns of a portable electronic device includes determining if a portable electronic device has entered an area associated with a local area network (LAN). A link is established between the portable electronic device and the LAN if it is determined that the portable electronic device has entered the area associated with the LAN. User services are established between the portable electronic device and a remote server using the established link based on a user profile associated with the portable electronic device. Devices associated with the remote server communicatively coupled to the LAN are controlled using the portable electronic device. Actions and/or behaviors of a user are tracked based on use of the portable electronic device. Advertisements are displayed and/or played on at least one of the controlled devices based on the tracked user actions and/or behaviors. |
| US09460453B2 |
System and method to provide location-based digital signage services
Embodiments for providing intelligent location-based signage services are generally described herein. An intelligent signage device may include a proximity module arranged to receive a notification that a personal device is within an area of the intelligent signage device. The signage may also include a transceiver arranged to establish a connection from the intelligent signage device to the personal device and receive user data from the personal device via the connection. An offer-customization module of the digital signal may be arranged to determine a set of display options based on the user data, a member of the set of display options corresponding to an offer for a product and a presentation module of the digital signage may be arranged to display the member of the set of display options on the intelligent signage device. |
| US09460452B2 |
Pixel cluster transit monitoring for detecting click fraud
Detecting click fraud that includes a client device capable of accessing a server hosting a web page containing an advertisement. The client device includes a network interface allowing access to the server and code on the client device. The code accesses and displays a web page containing an advertisement, provides mechanisms (e.g., an applet, an ActiveX control, a plugin, a JavaScript, a browser scripting language, browser extensions, or code native to the browser) associated with each pixel cluster where each mechanism captures information regarding the transit of the pixel cluster by a cursor on the web page, and collects information based on the capturing by each associated mechanism regarding the transit of the pixel cluster by a cursor on the web page. |
| US09460449B2 |
Multi-campaign content allocation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for creating experiment content distribution campaigns (“experiment campaign”) and allocating content in accordance with the experiment campaign. In one aspect, a control campaign or an experiment campaign are selected as an available campaign for providing content in response to receiving a content request. The selection can be a probability constrained selection where the probability with which the experiment campaign is selected is specified as a portion of a total number of requests received during an experiment period for which the experiment campaign is available to provide content. Content is provided in response to the request, where the provided content being content corresponding to the selected campaign. |
| US09460443B1 |
System and method for providing a customized user experience based on a spend frequency of a user
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing a customized user experience based on a spend frequency of a user in an online game. The users may be segmented based on a spend frequency associated with the user. A spend frequency may comprise an amount of purchases made by a user in a predetermined time period. The purchases made by the user in the online game may comprise purchases of virtual items made with virtual currency, purchases of real goods made with virtual currency, purchases of virtual items made with real currency, purchases of real goods made with real currency, a combination thereof, and/or other types of purchases. |
| US09460441B2 |
Construction payment management system and method with document exchange features
Systems and methods for managing a construction payment process. One construction of the system includes a computer readable memory and a software enabled user interface. A process is configured to display to a payee via the user interface an electronic notification of a pending payment and a request for an electronically signed document such as a lien waiver. The processor of this construction is further configured to receive the electronically signed document, store it to a computer readable memory, and initiate payment. In some constructions, the processor is further configured to display the electronically signed document to the payer only after payment has been initiated. In some constructions, the processor is further configured to verify that requirements are fulfilled before initiating payment. |
| US09460439B2 |
Dynamic card validation using user requested cell identifiers
A card validation system receives a request to validate a card and receives a request from a user for a set of cell identifiers. The system determines a set of cell identifiers of a card validation matrix to associate with the user and transmits the set of cell identifiers to the user. The system further receives a set of received cell values corresponding to set of cell identifiers of a card validation matrix. The system determines the set of stored cell values corresponding to the set of cell identifiers of the card validation matrix. The system compares the set of received cell values to the set of stored cell values. Based at least in part upon the comparison, the system determines whether the card is validated. |
| US09460435B2 |
Advancing a committed transaction time
Transaction systems and methods for advancing a committed time in the future are described herein. In the present transaction systems and methods, the first end can be permitted to pre-hatch a time capsule signature before the committed time. The time capsule signature scheme here is conducted based on an identity-based trapdoor relation (IDTR). Moreover, an extended time capsule signature scheme is conducted based on an extended identity-based trapdoor relation (IDTR). By using an extended IDTR primitive, the present transaction systems and methods can distinguish the time capsule signature is validated before or after the committed time t. |
| US09460434B1 |
System and method of transferring data minutes
The present disclosure relates generally to systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program product of enabling the transfer of mobile currency between mobile device(s) exchanged for cash with dealers who rent out phones, or bartered for goods and services. The contemplated invention, inter alia, enables transfer of mobile currency either directly between mobile devices or use of a data transfer facility or center for the transfer using a communications network. |
| US09460429B2 |
GPS-based toll collection system and method
An automatic toll collection system includes a mobile app that receives a plurality of toll gantry information from a database, reads GPS location data received from the mobile device hosting the app, and creates a plurality of trip segments using the GPS location data and time stamp. The system then determines whether the mobile device is travelling on a road where toll ought to be collected by comparing the trip segments with the toll gantry information. If the vehicle is passing through a gantry or toll road, the system will then calculate toll charges based on the trip segments and gantry information, generate a toll charge transaction, and notify the mobile user of the toll charge. |
| US09460426B2 |
Automated document cashing system
Validation of the identity of the user is performed with the use of a card associated with intelligence that identifies the user. Validation of the document involves one or more of: validating the presence of a signature; validating the amount of the monetary transaction document including a manual entry of the amount by the user; validating CAR against the LAR; and validating the banking system parameters and rules for the customer and/or the transaction. To assist in the automatic analysis of data on monetary transactional documents or on remittance documents, the user is prompted to provide a bounding box about the data. An image touch screen may be touched by the user to locate the bounding box and the user may magnify the data to fill the boundary box to exclude other data from analysis. After document and person validation, the system will dispense money or transfer monies to a savings account, a checking account, a smart card, or the like. The system will also write money orders or wire transfer money. |
| US09460420B2 |
Correlating messaging text to business objects for business object integration into messaging
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for business object integration with messaging. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for messaging integration of a business object can be provided. The method can include embedding a business object in message text in a messaging session provided by a messenger, and applying an action to the business object from within the messaging session of the messenger. The method further can include identifying a pronoun in the message text referencing the business object and visually distinguishing the identified pronoun in the message text to draw a correlation between the business object and the pronoun. |
| US09460419B2 |
Structuring unstructured web data using crowdsourcing
A crowdsourcing data structuring system and method for capturing unstructured data from the Web and adding structure by placing the data in a document that is accessible by others in a cloud computing environment. Using crowdsourcing, the unstructured data is annotated, amended, and verified to add structure to the unstructured data. An anchor and update module convert the data to a pointer that links the document to the data at an information source and stores the pointer in the document rather than the data itself. The data displayed in the document is updated whenever the information source is updated. A contribution module allows users to add data to the document, a validation module allows users to determine the validity of the data linked to in the document, and an expert ranking module allows users to rank the expert or contributor of the data in the document. |
| US09460414B2 |
Computer assisted and/or implemented process and system for annotating and/or linking documents and data, optionally in an intellectual property management system
A computer-enabled system, method, and medium is provided to support analyzing intellectual property documents by linking and annotating patents, copyrights, trademarks, license agreements, and other types of intellectual property documents. The invention is suitable for use by intellectual property professionals in memorializing their thought processes, work products, and reasoning, whether in preliminary or final form, and is flexible to support development and use of a rich linked set representing complex relationships in an intellectual property portfolio. Optionally, marked up, linked documents are divided into data streams, one of the data streams containing the original document for mark-up, and one other data stream containing the annotation data. The marked-up document may be further revised and/or annotated, even by multiple users. The system provides that the same document such as a patent may be centrally stored but independently marked-up by different users (or groups of users). The system further extracts from such a marked-up document such annotation data with any changes thereto, and provides one or more data streams, containing the annotation data for storage and or later use. |
| US09460413B2 |
System and method for product tracking and product temperature profiling
A storage unit for tracking events associated with an item is disclosed that includes a storage unit, a tracking device, and a processing and/or storage device. The tracking device monitors the presence of an item associated with the storage unit and the temperature of the item at discrete intervals of time. The processing and/or storage device is electrically connected to the tracking device and stores information generated from the tracking device. An automated access system may also be provided that grants access to the storage unit only to authorized users. An external network may also be provided which allows a user to monitor the storage unit including, access to the storage unit, and a temperature of the storage unit. |
| US09460410B2 |
Systems, devices and methods for integrated display and management of transportation resources
Exemplary embodiments provide transportation management systems, devices and methods that allow display and management of transportation resources and operations in an integrated manner. Exemplary embodiments may provide, for example, a single dynamic and interactive interface for executing inbound transportation operations (procurement or pickup), outbound transportation operations (delivery or shipment), and operations in which multiple transportation resources are matched to one another. |
| US09460409B2 |
Process modeling rule validation system and method
A process modeling rule validation system includes a graphical user interface module and a rule creation module. The graphical user interface module includes a display and at least one user input mechanism. The graphical user interface module displays information representative of a plurality of rule creation elements via the display and receives user input via the user input mechanism in response thereto. At least one of the rule creation elements can be configured based on the user input and in accordance with best practices in process modeling. The rule creation module, which is operatively connected to the graphical user interface module, generates a process modeling rule in response to at least one of the rule creation elements being configured. |
| US09460406B1 |
Management of event reminder notifications based on conflicting events
A method of generating an event reminder notification includes obtaining scheduling data for a future event. The scheduling data includes an initial time at which an event reminder notification for the future event is to be generated. A conflicting event that will conflict with providing the event reminder notification to a user at the initial time is identified. An adjusted time is determined at which the event reminder notification for the future event is to be generated before occurrence of the conflicting event. The event reminder notification is generated based on the adjusted time. Related computer systems and computer program products are disclosed. |
| US09460404B2 |
Scent delivery system scheduling
A method for controlling one or more scent delivery units includes maintaining one or more scheduled events, maintaining one or more scheduled anti-events, and generating, based on the one or more scheduled events and the one or more scheduled anti-events, command data to be communicated to the one or more scent delivery units to control their activation and deactivation. Generating the command data includes identifying a conflicting period of time during which control specified by the one or more scheduled events differs from control specified by the one or more scheduled anti-events and also includes generating command data that gives priority to control specified by the one or more scheduled anti-events. Control for the one or more scent delivery units during the conflicting period of time is in accordance with control logic of the one or more scheduled anti-events and not the one or more scheduled events. |
| US09460403B2 |
Methods and systems related to hydrocarbon recovery strategy development
Hydrocarbon recovery strategy development. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: selecting a set of attributes regarding a first undeveloped hydrocarbon reservoir; identifying a first group of developed hydrocarbon reservoirs, the identifying based on the set of attributes of the first undeveloped hydrocarbon reservoir, and the identifying by a computer system; calculating a first set of statistical data based on the first group of developed hydrocarbon reservoirs, the calculating by the computer system; scaling the first set of statistical data in reference to the set of attributes of the first undeveloped hydrocarbon reservoir to create a second set of statistical data, the scaling by the computer system; and implementing at least one hydrocarbon recovery strategy for the first undeveloped hydrocarbon. |
| US09460402B2 |
Condensing hierarchical data
A computing device includes at least one processor, and at least one module operable by the at least one processor to receive data representing a hierarchy, wherein the hierarchy comprises at least one set of sibling nodes and a respective parent node, generate a condensed hierarchy by determining a grouping for the at least one set of sibling nodes, determine whether the at least one set of sibling nodes can be represented by the respective parent node, based at least in part on the grouping for the at least one set of sibling nodes, and responsive to determining that the at least one set of sibling nodes can be represented by the respective parent node, remove the at least one set of sibling nodes from the condensed hierarchy. The at least one module may further be operable by the at least one processor to output the condensed hierarchy for display. |
| US09460400B2 |
Expert system for determining patient treatment response
A medical digital expert system to predict a patient's response to a variety of treatments (using pre-treatment information) is described. The system utilizes data fusion, advanced signal/information processing and machine learning/inference methodologies and technologies to integrate and explore diverse sets of attributes, parameters and information that are available to select the optimal treatment choice for an individual or for a subset of individuals suffering from any illness or disease including psychiatric, mental or neurological disorders and illnesses. The methodology and system can also be used to determine or confirm medical diagnosis, estimate the level, index, severity or critical medical parameters of the illness or condition, or provide a list of likely diagnoses for an individual suffering/experiencing any illness, disorder or condition. |
| US09460398B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing user activity
A user activity real-time recognition apparatus and method are provided and include a collector configured to collect a frequency-domain signal for each user activity and to generate learning data based on the frequency-domain signal. The apparatus and method also include an extractor configured to extract a user activity feature from the frequency-domain signal based on an activity feature extracting model. The activity feature extracting model is learned based on the learning data from the collector. The apparatus and method further include a classifier configured to analyze the user activity feature to classify a user activity pattern based on an activity pattern classifying model and configured to transmit the classified user activity pattern to an application device. |
| US09460395B2 |
System and method for deploying predictive models
A system and method for deploying predictive models is presented which personalizes application program functionality and user interface presentation to the consumer user. That personalization takes place within a decision engine that decouples decision models from application processes so that rapid deployment may take place. When a consumer user specific decision is required, the application program interacts with the decision model to trigger a consumer-user appropriate decision tailored to characteristics of the consumer user. New models are introduced into a decision process without requiring any application program change. |
| US09460393B2 |
Inference of anomalous behavior of members of cohorts and associate actors related to the anomalous behavior based on divergent movement from the cohort context centroid
A method, a system and a computer program product for determining whether a change in value of a data item relating to an entity being tracked within a cohort is statistically and contextually significant. A computer captures a plurality data items relating to the entity being tracked at a time N+1. The value of the data item at time N+1 is compared to a value of a historical data item at time N. If the value of the data item at time N+1 is different from the value of the historical data item at time N, determining that a change has occurred. If a change in a data item has occurred, determining whether the change in the data item is related to the entity being tracked is statistically and contextually significant in n space on multiple dimensions. |
| US09460392B2 |
Method for using hybrid data within a healthcare industry optimized cognitive environment
A method for using hybrid data within a cognitive information processing system environment comprising: receiving data from a plurality of data sources, the plurality of data sources comprising a public data source and a private data source, the public data source comprising publicly available healthcare information, the private data source comprising privately managed, company specific healthcare information; accessing information from the plurality of data sources via a cognitive data management module; and, providing the information to an inference and learning system. |
| US09460391B2 |
Methods and systems for knowledge discovery
Provided are methods and systems for knowledge discovery utilizing knowledge profiles. |
| US09460388B2 |
Range class estimation for radio frequency devices
Implementations are disclosed for obtaining a range state of a device operating in an indoor environment with radio frequency (RF) signal sources. In some implementations, windowed signal measurements obtained from RF signals transmitted by an RF signal source are classified into range classes that are defined by threshold values obtained from a RF signal propagation model. A range class observation is obtained by selecting a range class among a plurality of range classes based on a percentage of a total number of windowed signal measurements that are associated with the range class. The range class observation is provided as input to a state estimator that estimates a range class that accounts for process and/or measurement noise. The output of the state estimator is provided as input to a state machine. |
| US09460386B2 |
Passage justification scoring for question answering
According to an aspect, passage justification scoring is implemented by a processor executing computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions include creating a multi-layered neural network from domain knowledge and training the multi-layered neural network with labeled data and unlabeled data. The computer readable instructions further include 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. |
| US09460384B2 |
Effecting modulation by global scalar values in a spiking neural network
Methods and apparatus are provided for effecting modulation using global scalar values in a spiking neural network. One example method for operating an artificial nervous system generally includes determining one or more updated values for artificial neuromodulators to be used by a plurality of entities in a neuron model and providing the updated values to the plurality of entities. |
| US09460383B2 |
Reconfigurable and customizable general-purpose circuits for neural networks
A reconfigurable neural network circuit is provided. The reconfigurable neural network circuit comprises an electronic synapse array including multiple synapses interconnecting a plurality of digital electronic neurons. Each neuron comprises an integrator that integrates input spikes and generates a signal when the integrated inputs exceed a threshold. The circuit further comprises a control module for reconfiguring the synapse array. The control module comprises a global final state machine that controls timing for operation of the circuit, and a priority encoder that allows spiking neurons to sequentially access the synapse array. |
| US09460379B2 |
RF tag with resonant circuit structure
An RF tag includes a resonant circuit structure and an RF device. The resonant circuit structure includes: a first conducting layer; a second conducting layer spaced apart from the first conducting layer; at least one conducting base portion connecting one end of the first conducting layer and one end of the second conducting layer; and a layer of dielectric material inserted between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer. Impedance of the resonant circuit structure is in match with impedance of the RF device. A slit is formed on the first conducting layer. The RF device is electrically coupled to the first conducting layer and disposed over the slit. |
| US09460374B2 |
Printer and printer control method
A conversion area in a storage of a printer is determined to accommodate slips of different sizes. Slips are conveyed along a path that is guided on one side and open on the other. A detector detects the length of the slip in the conveyance direction. Dimensions of the conversion area are determined based on the detected length of the slip, and a recording range of a recording head is also determined. Font data is read from memory based on font code that is received from a control device and written in the conversion area per line unit in the order in which the font code is received and in a direction corresponding to toward the open side of the conveyance path and away from the guided side of the conveyance path. The recording head is controlled to record the font data in the conversion area on the slip. |
| US09460373B2 |
Printing using color changeable material
Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press. |
| US09460372B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system that acquire and output print job without using spooler function
Provided is an image forming apparatus that performs printout processing smoothly, even if printout from apparatus having no spooler, such as a tablet or a smart phone. The image forming apparatus includes the port for printing and an application executing part. The port for printing acquires a print job transmitted from an external apparatus without using spooler function. The application executing part works on a specified platform. The application executing part receives the print job from the external apparatus via a network. Then, the application executing part confirms whether or not the print buffer has space to the port for printing. When the print buffer cannot be used, an application executing part notifies the external apparatus for stopping the transmission of the print job until it becomes available. |
| US09460365B1 |
Clustered palette compression
Color values may be compressed using a palette based encoder. Clusters of color values may be identified and encoded color values within the cluster with respect to a color value having a predefined characteristic. Clusters that have pixels or samples with constant color value may also be encoded. |
| US09460362B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying a desired object of an image using a suggestive marking
A computer implemented method and apparatus for identifying a desired object of an image by using a suggestive marking. The method comprises receiving a first marking to an image, the first marking suggesting a desired object of the image and the desired object being defined by a boundary; generating, based on the first marking, a plurality of output images, wherein each image of the plurality of output images indicates a computer-identified object; and displaying the plurality of output images. |
| US09460358B2 |
Extracting card identification data
Extracting card information comprises a server at an optical character recognition (“OCR”) system that interprets data from a card. The OCR system performs an optical character recognition algorithm an image of a card and performs a data recognition algorithm on a machine-readable code on the image of the card. The OCR system compares a series of extracted alphanumeric characters obtained via the optical character recognition process to data extracted from the machine-readable code via the data recognition process and matches the alphanumeric series of characters to a particular series of characters extracted from the machine-readable code. The OCR system determines if the alphanumeric series and the matching series of characters extracted from the machine-readable code comprise any discrepancies and corrects the alphanumeric series of characters based on the particular series of characters extracted from the machine-readable code upon a determination that a discrepancy exists. |
| US09460356B2 |
Quality assurance processing for a scanned document
A document processing system performs quality assurance processing after scanning to assure all needed processing is performed for the physical document and the corresponding electronic document. The quality assurance processing can include verifying the document being reviewed is the same as the document stored in the document management system, verifying the image quality for each page in the scanned document, and verifying a disposition policy for the physical document. Other processing for both the physical document and electronic document may also be performed during quality assurance processing. |
| US09460354B2 |
Object detection
Objects are detected in real-time at full VGA 30 frame per second resolution. A preprocessor performs run-length encoding (RLE) and generates a summed area table (SAT) of an image. The RLE and SAT are used to identify candidate objects and to iteratively refine their boundaries. A histogram of gradients (HoG) and support vector machine (SVM) then reliably classify the object. The method may be part of an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). |
| US09460349B2 |
Background understanding in video data
Long-term understanding of background modeling includes determining first and second dimension gradient model derivatives of image brightness data of an image pixel along respective dimensions of two-dimensional, single channel image brightness data of a static image scene. The determined gradients are averaged with previous determined gradients of the image pixels, and with gradients of neighboring pixels as a function of their respective distances to the image pixel, the averaging generating averaged pixel gradient models for each of a plurality of pixels of the video image data of the static image scene that each have mean values and weight values. Background models for the static image scene are constructed as a function of the averaged pixel gradients and weights, wherein the background model pixels are represented by averaged pixel gradient models having similar orientation and magnitude and weights meeting a threshold weight requirement. |
| US09460347B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for processing image for detecting an image area including a defective color tone
The invention includes: specifying a face direction in an image including a face; detecting a red-eye area in the face included in the image; and correcting the detected red-eye area in accordance with a correction standard depending on the specified face direction. Alternatively, the invention includes specifying a face direction in an image; and detecting a red-eye area in a face included in the image in accordance with a detection standard depending on the face direction. |
| US09460345B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing media, financial device
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for recognizing media and a financial device. The apparatus for recognizing media according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an image sensor configured to emit different first light source and second light source to media including at least one character to acquire a first image and a second image corresponding to each light source; a noise detector configured to detect noise of a region in which the character is included from the first image and the second image; and a controller configured to combine the first image and the second image depending on the detected noise information to recognize the character included in the media. |
| US09460341B2 |
Method of and animal treatment system for performing an animal related action on an animal part in an animal space
A method determining a position of an animal part in an animal space in at least one direction, including: obtaining a two-dimensional image containing depth information; preprocessing the image according to first and second preprocessing modes, to provide respective first and second preprocessed images; comparing the first preprocessed image and the second preprocessed image to obtain at least one image difference; if the at least one image difference is below or equal to a respective predetermined threshold, processing the first preprocessed image according to a first position determining mode, and if the at least one image difference is above the predetermined threshold, processing the second preprocessed image according to a second position determining mode, to provide the position of the animal part. If a fast but not very accurate processing mode, and a slower but more accurate mode, are available, the method can suitably select one of these modes. |
| US09460340B2 |
Self-initiated change of appearance for subjects in video and images
Implementations relate to self-initiated changing of appearance of subjects in video and images. In some implementations, a method includes receiving at least one captured image, the image depicting a physical scene. The method determines that an input command provided by one or more subjects depicted in the image has been received. The input command instructs a change in visual appearance of at least a portion of the subjects in the image. The method changes the visual appearance in the image of the at least a portion of the subjects in accordance with the input command. |
| US09460336B2 |
Apparatus and method for extracting feature of depth image
Provided is a feature extraction method and apparatus to extract a feature of a three-dimensional (3D) depth image. The feature extraction apparatus may generate a plurality of level sets using a depth image, and may extract a feature for each level depth image. |
| US09460333B2 |
System, method and apparatus for electromagnetic detection and analysis of biometric information
An apparatus, method and system are provided for sensing at least one biometric measure of an individual. An electrical current flows through an electrode to induce an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field stimulates and excites the molecules associated with the sweat gland pores and causes molecular compounds to fluoresce. An image of the fluoresced dermal surface is obtained and a biometric function is performed with data derived from the image. Alternatively, sweat gland pore biometric information may be derived from variations, fluctuations or disturbances to the electromagnetic field induced by the electrical current. |
| US09460328B1 |
Extracting information from surface coatings
A method and system for extracting information from a surface coated with a coating containing quantum dots are disclosed. In embodiments, the method comprises charging the quantum dots in the surface coating, scanning the surface to retrieve information from the quantum dots, and processing the retrieved information to identify data encoded in the quantum dots. In embodiments of the invention, the processing includes filtering the retrieved information to adjust the received information based on defined effects of the coating. In embodiments of the invention, the filtering includes filtering the retrieved information to account for chromatic deviation due to the color of the coated surface. In embodiments of the invention, the quantum dots include a plurality of different types of quantum dots, and the processing the retrieved information includes processing the retrieved information to distinguish between the information retrieved from the different types of quantum dots. |
| US09460326B2 |
Automatic self-learning RFID reader configurator
According to an embodiment, a computer-implemented method of managing inventory performed by a processor includes receiving in a digital or analog format, from a first computing device, a first request for first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data associated with a first plurality of RFID tags and receiving in a digital or analog format, from a second computing device, a second request for second RFID tag data associated with a second plurality of RFID tags. In response to the first request and the second request, the method further includes automatically selecting a selected one of a first interrogation mode and a second interrogation mode based on the first request and the second request, and automatically transmitting configuration information to an RFID reader to operate in the selected interrogation mode. |
| US09460316B2 |
Authentication device, authentication method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, an authentication device includes an acquiring unit, a predicting unit, and an authenticating unit. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire performance information of a first device that is a device to be authenticated. The predicting unit is configured to predict performance information of a second device that is a device being a reference for authentication according to a change with time from initial performance information. The authenticating unit is configured to perform an authentication process of determining whether or not the first device falls into the second device on a basis of a degree of agreement between the performance information acquired by the acquiring unit and the performance information predicted by the predicting unit. |
| US09460313B2 |
Secure escrow service
A method of restoring confidential information items of a first device to a second device by using a set of servers. The method generates a public and private key pair and ties the private key to the hash of executable code of the servers at the time of generating the public and private keys. The method receives the encrypted confidential information items in a secure object which is encrypted with a user-specific key and the public key. The method only provides the confidential information to the second device when the second device provides the same user-specific key as the key that encrypts the secure object and the hash of the executable code of the servers at the time of accessing the private key to decrypt the secure object matches the hash of the executable code running on the servers at the time of generating the private key. |
| US09460310B2 |
Method and apparatus for substitution scheme for anonymizing personally identifiable information
In some embodiments, a system includes a software program capable of performing an aliasing function on the personally identifiable information (“PII”) of a subject. The software can associate the alias with the PII, and output the alias rather than the PII. |
| US09460309B2 |
Security pouch for an electronic device
Provided is a pouch for covering a mobile device to block electronic signals and/or provide and antibacterial function. In one example, a pouch includes a shield configured to envelope the mobile device, a covering configured to envelope the shield, and a seal composed of offset rib structures configured to fully encase the mobile device in order to prevent electronic signals from reaching the device. |
| US09460305B2 |
System and method for controlling access to encrypted files
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for controlling access to encrypted files. In one aspect, the system detects a request from an application to access an encrypted file. The system identifies the application that requested access to the encrypted file and one or more file access policies associated with the application. The file access policy specifies at least a file access method associated with the application. The system then controls access to the file based on the identified one or more file access policies. |
| US09460304B1 |
Data services generation
A system for generation of a RESTful data service comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to: receive a business process model; read the business process model to determine one or more inputs and one or more outputs; generate code for a RESTful data service to invoke the business process model that provides the input data and processes the output data; and generate a URL for the RESTful data service, wherein the URL represents the business process as an addressable resource. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions. |
| US09460303B2 |
Operating large scale systems and cloud services with zero-standing elevated permissions
Large scale system operation may be provided. Upon receiving an action request from a user, a determination may be made as to whether the user requires elevated permissions to perform the action request. In response to determining that the user requires elevated permissions to perform the action request, the action request may be forwarded to a lockbox for evaluation and a permission response may be received from the lockbox. |
| US09460302B2 |
Method and system for shielding data in transit and data in memory
Described herein are techniques related to shielding data in transit and in memory. A method and system for shielding data in transit and in memory may include using a transformation knowledge key (TKK). For shielding data in transit, the TKK is configured to include a splitting algorithm component that is configured to split a message into N segments of shielded data and route the N segments via M communications paths, where M and N are integers greater than 1. For shielding data in memory, the memory is segmented into M memory blocks. The splitting algorithm component of the TKK is configured to split data into N segments of shielded data and store the N segments of shielded data in the M memory blocks. The TKK is reused to unshield and reconstruct the original message or the data from the N segments of shielded data. |
| US09460301B2 |
Configurable locked printing
Techniques are provided for generating and updating locked print data. An apparatus receives from a first device, document identification data that identifies an electronic document to be printed. In response to receiving the document identification data that identifies an electronic document to be printed, a print preview and a release code for the electronic document are generated. The apparatus sends the print preview and the release code to the first device. The apparatus receives, from a printing device, the release code and print criteria that indicate one or more portions of the electronic document to be printed. The one or more portions of the electronic document comprise less than the entire electronic document. In response to receiving the release code and the print criteria from the printing device, the apparatus provides, to the printing device, print data that includes the one or more portions of the electronic document. |
| US09460297B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method for information processing apparatus, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes a volatile storage unit, nonvolatile storage unit, and control unit configured, in a case where a factor to shift the information processing apparatus to a state in which power supply to the volatile storage unit is stopped exists, to encrypt and store information, stored in a specific region in the volatile storage unit, in the nonvolatile storage unit, and to store, in the nonvolatile storage unit in unencrypted form, information stored in a region other than the specific region, and configured, in a case where a factor to shift the information processing apparatus to a state in which power is supplied to the volatile storage unit exists, to decrypt and store the encrypted information, stored in the nonvolatile storage unit, in the volatile storage unit, and to store, in the volatile storage unit, the unencrypted information stored in the nonvolatile storage unit. |
| US09460295B2 |
Deleting information to maintain security level
A method, system, mediation server, client, and computer program for deleting a copied file in which a master file is duplicated while maintaining a certain level of security. A mediation server receives and stores a copied file in which a master file stored in a server is duplicated, generates private-key information and public-key information, and transmits the generated public-key information and the copied file to a client. The client receives and stores the copied file and the public-key information. In a case where the copied file is updated, the client encrypts difference information on the difference arising in the updating using the public-key information and transmits the difference information to the mediation server. The client determines whether the condition for being secure is satisfied when a process for updating the copied file becomes possible. When determining that the condition is not satisfied, the client deletes the copied file. |
| US09460293B1 |
Clipboard hardening
A software module executes on a first operating system running. The software module determines that the first operating system has caused data to the written to a first clipboard maintained by the first operating system. The software module consults policy data to determine whether the data should additionally be written to a second clipboard maintained by a second operating system. The policy data may only allow the data to be written to the second clipboard if the data was written to the first clipboard at the initiation of or approved by a user. If the software module determines that the policy data allows the data to be written to the second clipboard, then the software module, without human instruction, causes the data to written to the second clipboard. |
| US09460291B2 |
Detecting stored cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications
A method for detecting security vulnerabilities in web applications can include providing a payload to a web application during a first interaction with the web application at a computer server, where the payload includes a payload instruction and an identifier, detecting the identifier within the payload received during an interaction with the web application subsequent to the first interaction, and determining, responsive to detecting the identifier within the payload, whether the payload instruction underwent a security check prior to execution of the payload instruction. |
| US09460280B1 |
Interception-proof authentication and encryption system and method
An interception-proof authentication and encryption system and method is provided that utilizes passcodes with individual pins that are made up of symbols from a set of symbols, and tokens that contain at least two symbols from the set of symbols used for the passcode. Multiple tokens (a “token set”) are presented to a user, with some or all of a user's pre-selected pins (symbols) randomly inserted into some or all of the tokens. The user selects a token from the token set for each pin position in the passcode. The user is authenticated based on the selected tokens. Because each selected token may or may not contain one of the pre-selected pins in the user's passcode, and also contains other randomly generated symbols that are not one of the pre-selected pins in the user's passcode, someone that observes which tokens the user has chosen cannot determine what the user's actual passcode is. |
| US09460277B2 |
Identity based auditing in a multi-product environment
An identity of a user performing an operation with respect to an application is propagated, from a point at which the user authenticates, to one or more other applications in a multi-product environment. The application may be a management console associated with an information cluster. In an embodiment, an administrator logs on to a management console (using an identity) and invokes a management operation. The management console then performs a programmatic remote access login (e.g., using SSH/RXA) to one or more nodes using a system account, invokes an application, and passes in the identity. As the application performs one or more management operations, audit events are logged, and these events each contain the identity that has been passed in by the management console during the SSH/RXA login. The technique thus provides a method for identity-based auditing in an environment having a plurality of applications, where each application typically has a respective authentication process or mechanism and distinct identity registries. |
| US09460274B1 |
Distributing and sharing licenses across network devices in a virtual private network (VPN)
A device creates a pool of available licenses for secure network resources, and receives an unused license from a network device. The device also provides the unused license in the pool of available licenses, and receives a request for a license from another network device. The device further provides, to the other network device, the unused license from the pool of available licenses. |
| US09460268B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting infectious diseases
Systems, methods, and devices for detecting infections in a clinical sample are provided. Small-volume clinical samples obtained at a point-of-service (POS) location and may be tested at the POS location for multiple markers for multiple diseases, including upper and lower respiratory diseases. Samples may be tested for cytokines, or for inflammation indicators. Dilution of samples, or levels of detection, may be determined by the condition or past history of a subject. Test results may be obtained within a short amount of time after sample placement in a testing device, or within a short amount of time after being obtained from the subject. A prescription for treatment of a detected disorder may be provided, and may be filled, at the POS location. A bill may be automatically generated for the testing, or for the prescription, may be automatically sent to an insurance provider, and payment may be automatically obtained. |
| US09460267B2 |
Generation and data management of a medical study using instruments in an integrated media and medical system
In general, a computer-implemented method is described for receiving one or more requests to generate a medical study, retrieving from one or more data repositories one or more medical study instruments, receiving a selection of a particular medical study instrument to use in the medical study, generating by one or more computers a list of one or more research collaborators invited to review the medical study, and generating by one or more computers a list of one of more participants invited to join the medical study. |
| US09460262B2 |
Detecting and responding to sentinel events
The present invention is directed to systems, devices, and methods of monitoring at-risk individuals for the occurrence of sentinel events in a custodial care setting. In particular, the present invention is directed to monitoring for events such as suicide, and allowing monitoring personnel to actively respond to the event and prevent its success from occurring. |
| US09460261B2 |
Computer-implemented verification system for performing a functional verification of an integrated circuit
A computer-implemented verification system for performing a system level or a system on chip level functional verification of integrated circuit is provided. The computer-implemented system includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions defined by one or more modules of including a scenario compiler, a verification component and a software library component. The scenario compiler receives a set of verification scenario intents including at least one of test-application intents, constraints, device-programming intents and scenario-control intents. The scenario compiler generates one or more open verification methodology (OVM) and/or universal verification methodology (UVM) compliant test bench sequences and one or more scenario software implementations based on the set of verification scenario intents. The verification component interacts with the integrated circuit using the OVM and/or UVM compliant test bench sequences. The software library component enables execution of the scenario software implementations on a processing unit core of the integrated circuit. |
| US09460260B2 |
Enhanced stitching by overlap dose and feature reduction
A method for processing exposure data (40) for exposing a pattern on a target (30) using a plurality of charged particle beams (24), the exposure data comprising pattern data (42) representing one or more features (60) to be written on the target (30) and exposure dose data (52) describing exposure dose of the charged particle beams. The method comprises setting one or more dose values of the exposure dose data (52) such that a sum of dose values corresponding to a position in an overlap area (36) of the target exceeds a maximum dose value for the non-overlap areas (38) of the target where adjacent sub-areas (34) do not overlap, and dividing the pattern data (42) into a plurality of sub-sections (44), each of the sub-sections comprising pattern data describing a part of the pattern to be written in a corresponding sub-area (34) of the target (30), wherein the pattern data (42) comprises overlap pattern data (46) describing a part of the pattern to be written in a corresponding overlap area (36) of the target where adjacent sub-areas (34) overlap, and processing the overlap pattern data (46) to reduce a size of one or more features described by the overlap pattern data. |
| US09460259B2 |
Methods of generating integrated circuit layout using standard cell library
Methods of generating an integrated circuit layout include forming a standard cell by providing a first active area adjacent to a first cell boundary line. The first active area is spaced apart from the first cell boundary line by a first distance. A second active area is provided adjacent to a second cell boundary line. The second cell boundary line opposes the first cell boundary line. The second active area is spaced apart from the second cell boundary line by a second distance. Fins are formed on the first and second active areas. The fins extend in a first direction and parallel to one another in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The first cell boundary line is parallel to the fins. The first distance and the second distance remain constant when a number of the fins on the first and second active areas is changed. |
| US09460254B1 |
Scaling logic components of integrated circuit design
In one aspect, a method for providing design point recommendations for an integrated circuit (IC) design is disclosed. The method comprises receiving an IC design along with a reference PPA (power, performance, area) metric at a reference design point, and a target PPA metric. The method also comprises estimating trial PPA metrics for the IC design at multiple design points, wherein estimating trial PPA metric at each design point includes accessing a PPA database containing PPA metrics for multiple test components, determining scale factors from the reference design point to the trial design point for test components equivalent to components of the IC design, and applying the scale factors to the reference PPA metric to determine the trial PPA metric for the trial design point. The method further comprises recommending a trial design point based on the estimated trial PPA metric and the received target PPA metric. |
| US09460252B1 |
Functional property ranking
Tools for ranking of generated properties are described. A plurality of circuit design properties are generated from a signal trace of the circuit design. A static analysis of the circuit design properties is performed against one or more circuit design constraints to determine whether the properties are true. Rankings for the circuit design properties are determined responsive to results of the static analysis. The ranking for a circuit design property represents a value of the circuit design property in validating correct functionality of the circuit design. At least some of the circuit design properties are presented in a user interface responsive to the rankings for the circuit design properties. |
| US09460247B2 |
Memory frame architecture for instruction fetches in simulation
A simulation technique that handles accesses to a frame of instruction memory by inserting a command object between a frame proxy and a memory frame provides improved throughput in simulation environments. The instruction frame, if present, processes the access to the frame. If an instruction frame is not present for the accessed frame, the memory frame handles the request directly. The instruction frame caches fetched and decoded instructions and may be inserted at the first access to a corresponding instruction memory frame. The instruction frame can track write accesses to instruction memory so that changes to the instruction memory can be reflected in the state of the instruction frame. Additional check frames may be chained between the interface and the memory frame to handle breakpoints, instruction memory watches or other access checks on the instruction memory frame. |
| US09460241B2 |
System and method for nesting a nonhydrostatic model in a hydrostatic model
System and method for adjusting the values of the prognostic variables near the interface between a nonhydrostatic, high resolution model embedded in a hydrostatic, coarser resolution model. The system and method condition the outer domain lateral boundary values to enforce conservation of volume when the variables are interpolated onto the inner domain grid. The conditioning adjusts the baroclinic normal velocities at the open boundaries before interpolation. The system and method also include a relaxation scheme which matches the values of the prognostic variables across a zone near the open boundaries of the submesoscale inner domain to prevent the development of discontinuities, reflections and perimeter currents at the periphery of the inner domain. |
| US09460240B2 |
Method for determining a partial-load condition of a system
A method for evaluating component-related energy models and external specification parameters, in order, based on these, to produce a determination of a set of partial-load conditions, which are simulated based on a parameterizable simulation model of the system. A system planner is put in a position, with the specification of specification parameters, for example, a minimum throughput of the system or a maximum energy consumption, in which he can obtain a set of partial-load conditions, i.e., a partial-load condition for each of the components involved in the determination. In this way, an individual partial-load condition can be set for each component, where all the partial-load conditions fulfill the provisions of the specification parameters. |
| US09460239B1 |
System and method for using a graphical debugging tool in a modeling and execution environment
A system and method of exposing debugging information in a graphical modeling and execution environment is disclosed. The present invention allows a user to view debugging information in the same window as the graphical view of the model being executed. Debugging data is associated with relevant components of the model displayed in the graphical view. A separate execution list view shows the methods called during the execution of the block diagram in the current time step up until the current point in execution. User-set breakpoints and conditional breakpoints may be set in both the model view and the execution list view. Values may be obtained for all of the displayed methods. The debugging tool may be implemented by using it in conjunction with a graphical modeling and execution environment, such as a block diagram environment or state diagram environment. |
| US09460229B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing a cache model in a prefetching system
The present invention relates to systems and methods of enhancing prefetch operations. The method includes fetching an object from a page on a web server. The method further includes storing, at a proxy server, caching instructions for the fetched object. The proxy server is connected with the client and the object is cached at the client. Furthermore, the method includes identifying a prefetchable reference to the fetched object in a subsequent web page and using the caching instructions stored on the proxy server to determine if a fresh copy of the object will be requested by the client. Further, the method includes, based on the determination that the object will be requested, sending a prefetch request for the object using an If-Modified-Since directive, and transmitting a response to the If-Modified-Since directive prefetch request to a proxy client. |
| US09460228B2 |
Generating and delivering a wrap package of cards including custom content and/or services in response to a triggered event
Delivery of a wrap package in reply to a notice of the occurrence of a trigger event sensed by a “Thing” among the Internet of Things. In response, a wrap package, including custom content presented within cards of the wrap is automatically generated. The custom content selectively encompasses, one or more media types, application functionality and/or e-commerce related services. A wrap descriptor, which defines the wrap package including the custom content, is then delivered to a computing device associated with a target recipient. When consumed, the computing device generates a runtime instance of the wrap package from the wrap descriptor. |
| US09460226B2 |
Index replication in distributed search engines
Briefly, embodiments of methods or systems to replicate indexes are described. According to an embodiment, a method may include executing instructions by one or more processors to bring about generating a first replication threshold of documents to be replicated at a local computing site and a second replication threshold of document entries to be stored in a posting list at the local computing site. |
| US09460222B2 |
System for rewriting dynamically generated uniform resource locators in proxied hyper text markup language content in accordance with proxy server rules
A system and method for facilitating changing a link generated by a script provided in proxied content. The example method includes identifying a link-producing script in proxied content; applying a wrapper function to the link-producing script; and employing the wrapper function to rewrite one or more links output by the link-producing script. In a specific embodiment, the proxied content includes Hypertext Transfer Protocol Language (HTML) markup. The link-producing script is implemented via JavaScript, and one or more links output via the link-producing script includes one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). |
| US09460221B2 |
History of reading positions in eBooks
A user device for presenting eBooks generates a navigation history that allows a user to easily navigate to previously accessed positions within the eBook. The navigation history can be stored on an eBook server and shared with other user devices used by the same user. The navigation history may be generated by receiving actions regarding navigation within the eBook, an action navigating from a current reading position within the eBook to a corresponding navigation position in the eBook; filtering the received actions and the corresponding navigation positions to produce a filtered list of navigation positions; storing the filtered list of navigation positions in a navigation history; presenting the navigation history to the user; receiving a request from the user to navigate to a selected one of the navigation positions from the navigation history; and presenting a portion of the eBook at the selected navigation position. |
| US09460220B1 |
Content selection based on target device characteristics
Various features are described for providing or recommending network-accessible content to users based partly on characteristics of user computing devices. The features are particularly useful for recommending network resources such as content pages to users, where the recommended network resources are determined to be popular or otherwise of interest to the users, and where the recommended network resources provide a satisfactory user experience on devices which share one or more characteristics with the user computing devices. Device characteristic data reported by the user computing devices can be used to make such assessments. Additional features include obtaining and transmitting versions of requested content that are determined to provide a satisfactory user experience on devices which share one or more characteristics with the user computing devices. |
| US09460219B2 |
Selection and rating of locations and related content based on user categorization
Targeted location-based search results can be provided to a user of a travel system based on one or more tribes of users to which the user belongs. A user can provide a search query, and a set of locations can be identified in response. A subset of the set of locations is selected for display based on a correlation between a tribe vector associated with the user and tribe vectors associated with each identified location. A user can also request content objects from the travel system, for instance by navigating to a page associated with a location including portions for displaying content objects. A set of content objects is identified in response to a request for content, and a subset of the content objects is selected for display based on a correlation between the tribe vector associated with the user and tribe vectors associated with each content object. |
| US09460212B2 |
System and method for personalized search
A system and method for personalized search. The system includes a search engine that receives search input from a user and a user identification and generates a search result based on the search input; and a profiling engine to gather profile data, generate a user profile associated with a user, and rank the search result personalized to the specific user using the user profile. |
| US09460206B2 |
Active platform system
In the case of a web-based platform apparatus for collecting and editing information, which platform apparatus can be networked to a plurality of subscribers that can be identified by means of an identifier, wherein the information on the platform is formed by a plurality of dual units (DuUs), wherein a dual unit (DuU) respectively comprises a memory location, associated with a prescribeable content and provided with an identifier, and also a prescribeable criterion, associated with the memory location and in the form of an information filter, for input of a piece of information into the memory location, strategic interchange of the contents of dual units by a plurality of suitable subscribers is rendered possible in that the content of at least one dual unit (DuU) (104) from a plurality of dual units (101 to 109) of a subscriber A is transmitted to a subscriber B in automated fashion by means of an active feed (DuU-feed) (140), and at the same time the content of at least one dual unit (DuU) (112, 113) from a plurality of dual units (111 to 121) of a subscriber B is transmitted to a subscriber A in automated fashion by means of an active feed (DuU-feed) (130), as soon as a search engine, which is oriented to headwords or groups of headwords and is designed as an electronic filter, on the Internet finds prescribeable headwords or prescribeable groups of headwords that are part of the content of a dual unit of a subscriber B in a memory location of a subscriber A. |
| US09460201B2 |
Unordered matching of audio fingerprints
A method includes receiving an audio fingerprint from a listening device. The method also includes, in response to determining that a portion of a stored audio fingerprint substantially matches a portion of the received audio fingerprint, identifying a longest unordered match between the received audio fingerprint and the stored audio fingerprint that satisfies a similarity threshold. The method further includes, in response to determining that the identified longest unordered match satisfies a length criterion, detecting a match between the received audio fingerprint and the stored audio fingerprint. |
| US09460198B1 |
Process for serializing and deserializing data described by a schema
A process for serializing and deserializing instance data from a schema is disclosed. A schema can be used to automatically and dynamically generate classes and methods. First, the raw schema may be parsed into an intermediate data structure consisting of |
| US09460195B1 |
System and methods for determining term importance, search relevance, and content summarization
Computer-implemented methods for determining term importance and for search relevance ranking, document tagging and summarization are disclosed. The methods include steps for discovering prominent and information-rich terms by performing analysis on term attributes including structural and distributional attributes and grammatical attributes which include the subject and non-subject of a sentence, and head and modifier of a phrase. Methods for tagging documents with important terms and ranking search results based on prominence measures of queried terms are also disclosed. |
| US09460193B2 |
Context and process based search ranking
A search ranking system may include a context mining module to determine a set of contexts based on profile of information rankable by the system and an access history of users that have accessed at least some of the information. A context detection module may compare an association of a user conducting a search with one or more of the contexts to thereby rank search results based on the comparison. |
| US09460191B1 |
Access and presentation of files based on semantic proximity to current interests
A method for managing and rendering one or more information nodes relative to a current focus. The method receives one or more principal topics from an analysis of the information nodes. The method determines a topic vector from a similarity of a first information node to each of the principal topics and a map from the topic vector to a storage location of the first information node. The method determines one or more current topics from a second information node that has been recently accessed by a user and a current focus vector from a similarity of the one or more current topics to the one or more principal topics. The method renders the current focus vector and the first information node according to a rendering algorithm that is applied to the current focus vector and the first information node. |
| US09460188B2 |
Data warehouse compatibility
A compatibility processing module, for executing one or more processes to format and manipulate data, such that communication between previously-incompatible data warehouses is facilitated. In particular, a first warehouse is disclosed, wherein the first data warehouse is configured with a compatibility processing module, for receiving a large number of data points, and for executing one or more processes on a stored portion of the received data points such that the resulting processed data points are compatible with formatting conventions of a second data warehouse. |
| US09460182B2 |
Networking-assisted input/output order preservation for data replication
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for networking-assisted I/O order preservation for data replication are provided herein. A method includes identifying, from one or more devices at a primary site, (i) each of multiple data changes and (ii) input/output chronological order information associated with the multiple data changes; determining one or more forwarding rules to be implemented in connection with delivering a command associated with each of said multiple data changes to one or more devices at a secondary site, wherein said forwarding rules are based on said input/output chronological order information; and delivering the command associated with each of said multiple data changes to one or more devices at the secondary site in accordance with said one or more forwarding rules to maintain a chronological order of the multiple data changes from the primary site to the secondary site. |
| US09460178B2 |
Synchronized storage system operation
Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the performance of duplicate data block instruction identification. According to various embodiments, a data block update operation message may be received at a communications interface in a secondary storage node. The secondary storage node may be configured to store secondary data mirroring primary data stored on a primary storage node. The primary data and the secondary data may each include a respective plurality of data blocks. The data block update operation message may include a data block update instruction for updating a designated one of the plurality of secondary storage node data blocks. The data block update operation message may include a primary storage node data block sequence number designating an update operation status. When it is determined that the data block update instruction is not a duplicate, the data block update instruction may be performed. |
| US09460176B2 |
In-memory database for multi-tenancy
An in-memory database server hosting a tenant of a multi-tenant software architecture can receive a definition of a custom data field that is unique to an organization having isolated access to the tenant. The custom data field can extend a standard table defined by central metadata stored at a system tenant of the multi-tenant software architecture. Tenant private metadata that includes the definition can be stored in memory accessible only to the tenant. A tenant-dependent table that includes the custom data field can be formed, for example by retrieving central metadata defining the standard table from the system tenant and adding the custom data field using the definition. The tenant-dependent table can be presented for access via a database client at the organization. Related systems, articles of manufacture, and computer-implemented methods are disclosed. |
| US09460169B2 |
Multi-tenant audit awareness in support of cloud environments
A cloud enablement aggregation proxy (CEAP) receives and processes audit data from audited resources before such data is stored in a database. The CEAP manages log data for resources hosted in a multi-tenant shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., a compute cloud). A method for managing log data begins by the proxy aggregating and normalizing log information received from a plurality of the resources. The aggregated and normalized log information is then parsed to identify a tenant associated with each of a set of transactions. For each of the set of transactions, the CEAP annotates log data associated with the tenant and the particular transaction to include a tenant-specific identifier. An optional tenant separation proxy (TSP) separates the annotated log data on a per tenant basis prior to storage, and the tenant-specific log data may be stored in per tenant data structures or dedicated tenant log event databases to facilitate subsequent compliance or other analysis. |
| US09460165B2 |
Retrieval device, retrieval system, retrieval method, retrieval program, and computer-readable recording medium storing retrieval program
An EC server (30) includes an extraction unit (33) that extracts comment data indicating a second comment (comment on a second item) containing a link to a first comment (comment on a first item) from a comment database (10), an association unit (34) that generates associated item data indicating association between the first and second items based on the comment data and stores the associated item data into an associated item database (35), a receiving unit (36) that receives a request for item information from a user terminal T, a retrieval unit (37) that refers to an item database (31) and the associated item database (35) and extracts item information (designated item information) indicated by the signal and item information (associated item information) related to that item information, and a transmitting unit (38) that transmits those item information to the user terminal T. |
| US09460162B1 |
Assessment item generator
Techniques described herein relate to generating new assessment items and updating existing assessment items. Input data may be received corresponding to the addition, removal, or modification of assessment components within assessment items, and may cause immediate generation and validation of corresponding markup language data blocks, thereby allowing for interactive construction and automated encoding of assessment items. Additional techniques described herein relate to determining compatible scoring types for assessment items and generating and embedding markup language data blocks corresponding to assessment item scoring data. |
| US09460160B1 |
System and method for selecting user generated content related to a point of interest
A system and machine-implemented method for providing one or more photos associated with a point of interest on a map, the method including receiving an indication of a request from a user to view photos associated with a point of interest on a map, identifying a set of photos associated with the point of interest, wherein the photos comprise at least one of photos taken from the point of interest or photos that depict at least part of the point of interest, ranking the photos within the set of photos according to ranking criteria, wherein the ranking criteria comprises one or more of map context, photo quality, photo type or user request information and providing one or more photos of the set of photos to the user according to the ranking. |
| US09460159B1 |
Detecting visibility of a content item using tasks triggered by a timer
A module may be included with a content item. The module may be configured such that the module performs a number of tasks at a first rate via a timer when the module is visible and at a second rate via a timer when the module is not visible. A script may be used with the module to determine the number of times the task has been executed by the module and to compare the number of times the task has been executed to a value. If the number of times that the task has been executed by the module is greater than the value then data may be output to indicate the that content item has been viewed. In some instances, the module may be used with a content item served in a cross-domain iframe. |
| US09460158B2 |
Search method and system
The present disclosure discloses a search method and system. A method obtains a first search result set of first search results relevant to query data submitted by a client. According to a first relevance score and a preset diversity field of each first search result in the first search result set, a second relevance score of each first search result is calculated. The preset diversity field represents an attribute category of a respective first search result. According to the first relevance score and the second relevance score, a relevance parameter score for each first search result is generated. According to a preset number of second search results and the relevance parameter score, the present number of second search results are extracted from the first search result set to display to the client. The technique achieves lower consumption of system resources, faster computation speed and more flexibility in diversification of search results. |
| US09460157B2 |
Ranking search results based on color
Example systems and methods that rank search results based on color are described. In one implementation, a method receives a product search query from a user and identifies a reference to a color in the product search query. The product search query is executed to identify multiple products. The method further identifies references to the color in a title or a description of each of the multiple products. A ranking of the multiple products is created by increasing the ranking of products that include a reference to the color in the title or the description. |
| US09460156B2 |
Matching a first location profile with at least one other location profile
A server (3-2, 3-3) for supporting a recommendation (5) to a user device (1) is disclosed. The server comprises a matching unit (302) configured to match a first location profile associated with a current location (1r) of the user device with at least one other location profile, wherein the matching is based on at least one item consumed in the current location in a first time interval (α) and at least one item consumed in the other location in at least one second time interval (A1-A8, B1-B8, N1-Nn) which is different from the first time interval. A recommender system (3), a recommender engine computer program (91) and a computer program product (310) are also disclosed. |
| US09460155B2 |
Method and system of continuous contextual user engagement
In one exemplary aspect, a contextual user engagement system for automatically engaging in a conversation with a user is provided. A context manager manage, with at least one processor, the context of the conversation with a user. The context manager receives a user utterance, wherein the context manager calls the other modules of the contextual user engagement system to obtain information with respect to the user utterance. The context manager maintains a context object for a conversation with a user. The context manager automatically updates the context object based on an information detected by the other modules of contextual user engagement system. A content knowledge database stores a content knowledge of the contextual user engagement system. The content knowledge includes a history of interactions with the user. An information extraction engine extract information from a specified source based on a set of rules. |
| US09460154B2 |
Dynamic parallel aggregation with hybrid batch flushing
A method, apparatus, and system for dynamic parallel aggregation with hybrid batch flushing are provided. Record sources of an aggregation operator in a query execution plan may dynamically aggregate using the same aggregation operator. The dynamic aggregation creates a batch of aggregation records from an input source, which are then used to aggregate further records from the input source. If a record from the input source is not matched to an aggregation record in the batch, then the record is passed to the next operator. In this manner, records are aggregated ahead of time at a record source to reduce the number of records passed between operators, reducing the impact of network I/O between nodes of a parallel processing system. By adjusting the contents of the batch according to aggregation performance monitored during run-time, hybrid batch flushing can be implemented to adapt to changing data patterns and skewed values. |
| US09460152B2 |
Dynamically indentifying and preventing skewed partitions in a shared-nothing database
Dynamically identifying and preventing skewed partitions in a shared-nothing database is provided. The database management system software receives a parameter for identifying a threshold value associated with at least one distribution key value. Optimizer statistics are gathered on a first table that is distributed across one or more partitions in the shared-nothing database, wherein the first table includes a first table name. Distribution key skew is identified based on the gathered optimizer statistics indicating the threshold value being exceeded. A second table with an alternate distribution key, is created having a second table name for receiving overflow data rows associated with the at least one distribution key value based on the identified distribution key skew. A union all view is created based on the first and the second table. |
| US09460151B2 |
System and methods to configure a query language using an operator dictionary
Systems and methods to configure a query language using an operator dictionary are described. The system receives, from a first user, a search query to search for document information in a database. The system determines that terms of the search query from the first user are in accordance with dictionary information that corresponds to the first user. The dictionary information includes a first list of compatible query operators. The system applies the search query to the index data structure in the database to identify the document information. The system sends an electronic interface to the first user that includes the document information. |
| US09460149B2 |
Dynamic query resolution using accuracy profiles
In various embodiments, methods and systems for dynamic validation of selectable data are provided. This may be accomplished by referencing search engine session data of a user. The search engine session data includes a plurality of search queries each having an entered-attribute and a resolved-attribute. A variation between the entered-attribute and the resolved-attribute, for each of the plurality of search queries, is determined based on analyzing the entered-attribute and the resolved-attribute. The entered-attribute is an input of the user and the resolved-attribute is a resolved-input for executing the search query. An input-precision score is generated for the user based on the variation between the entered-attribute and the resolved-attribute, for each of the plurality of search queries. |
| US09460147B1 |
Partition-based index management in hadoop-like data stores
A method for processing a dataset in a partitioned distributed storage system having data stored in a base table and an index stored in an index table, may include receiving base and index table metadata from the partitioned distributed storage system, where the base and index table metadata includes respective table partition information. The method may further include partitioning the dataset into a set of base-delta files according to the base table metadata, and generating a set of index-delta files corresponding with the base-delta files according to the index table metadata. The method may additionally include updating the partitioned distributed storage system with the set of base-delta and the set of index-delta files, where a first update of the base table is synchronous with a second update of the index table. |
| US09460146B2 |
Component for mass change of data
Tools and techniques for performing a mass change to data are described. Attribute values in a data set can be replaced or overwritten based on a user request. The user request can be based on user selections and inputs made via a user interface. The user can limit the attribute values that are replaced based on attribute, attribute value, and/or other designation. The user interface can facilitate user execution of the mass change by presenting lists of attribute values and/or attributes to the user for selection. The list of attribute values can be limited based on a user designation of data elements for mass change. A mass change component can be configured to control directly or indirectly the user interface or portions thereof. The mass change component can initiate the mass change of the data, based on the user selections and inputs. |
| US09460144B2 |
Lock acceleration
A method for locking resources, including: receiving, by an accelerator, a first request from a first client to lock a first resource; evaluating, by a computer processor of a server, a hash function using an identifier of the first resource as an input to the hash function; identifying, by the computer processor and based on evaluating the hash function, a first hash bucket in a shared memory residing in a physical memory of the server; detecting that the first hash bucket is occupied; and sending the first request to a master lock monitor residing in a user space of the server based at least on detecting that the first hash bucket is occupied. |
| US09460140B2 |
Automated librarian as contributor to a collection of content
An automated researching component is invited to contribute content to a collection of research material. The automated research component can be set to continue to add content at a given pace, or for a given duration of time. The automatically added content is added to the collection, along with manually added content. |
| US09460139B2 |
Distributed storage system with pluggable query processing
As part of a query-processing technique, in response to receiving queries for information stored in a distributed storage system and associated query-processing information identifying sets of predefined operations to perform on one or more databases in the distributed storage system, the distributed storage system accesses sets of predefined operations. Then, for the sets of predefined operations on the one or more databases, the distributed storage system uses one or more adaptors for multiple storage subsystems in the distributed storage system and one or more indexes corresponding to collections of information in the one or more databases. Moreover, the distributed storage system executes the sets of predefined operations on the multiple storage subsystems to obtain results for the queries. The sets of predefined operations may be defined by different users, so that the distributed storage system can be adapted to these users' needs. |
| US09460138B2 |
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. |
| US09460136B1 |
Managing databases in data storage systems
There is disclosed a method for use in managing databases in data storage systems comprising a plurality of nodes. A request is received to provision storage for a specified application intending to use a database. Based on application-awareness, the storage system is provisioned for storing the database in response to receiving the request. Database tables are distributed across the nodes based on a forecasted first I/O profile between application and database. Information is captured in connection with the activity between the application and database. A second I/O profile is determined based on the captured information. The second I/O profile is an actual in-running I/O profile between application and database. The first I/O profile and second I/O profile are compared. The database tables are re-organized on the nodes based on the comparison identifying a discrepancy between first and second I/O profiles such that storage system is rebalanced. |
| US09460129B2 |
Method for tracking a schema in a schema-less database
Systems and methods are described for obtaining, for insertion into a schema-less database, a data object that comprises a plurality of key and value pairs. The method also includes hashing the keys associated with the plurality of key and value pairs. The hashing includes executing a hash function to generate a hashed data object. The method also includes comparing the hashed data object to a plurality of first hashed data objects and determining that the hashed data object does not match any of the first hashed data objects. Based on the determining, the method includes associating the hashed data object with the first hashed data objects to generate second hashed data objects and generating a schema for the database. The schema includes a hierarchy of keys that represent the second hashed data objects. |
| US09460125B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for digital photography
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for digital photography. In use, a method and apparatus are provided for receiving, at least part of, a partially populated dynamic image object (DIO). Next, a first image is identified in the DIO. Then, a second image is identified in the DIO. Further, a synthetic image is generated based on the first image and the second image. Lastly, the synthetic image is stored in an object for use with a viewing parameter. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented. |
| US09460123B1 |
Systems and methods for generating an arrangement of images based on image analysis
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for generating a narrative of images based on image classification, selection, and arrangement based, at least in part, on time, location, content, color, complexity, and/or faces. The image classification may be based on image analysis or analyzing information attached to the images. |
| US09460118B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for exchanging images
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for exchanging images. In use, one or more images are received at a server. Additionally, the one or more images are analyzed. Further, image processing code is outputted referencing the one or more images, based on the analysis of the one or more images. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented. |
| US09460116B2 |
Configurable groups of virtual walls providing proximity related privileges
A group of common users each with a mobile device are provided access to information displayed on a group of virtual walls. Each wall corresponds to a different real world location or venue owned or associated with a common entity. The mobile devices are used for viewing information and, when in the vicinity of the real world locations, publishing location-based user content to the corresponding walls. Groups of virtual walls may be created from a set of configurable templates, each template representing a different business vertical. |
| US09460114B2 |
System for managing relationship and history of combined space of interest (SOI) object and content
A system for managing a relationship or a history of a space of interest (SOI) containing information of a space having a certain area or structure and a content, the system comprising: an SOI-content selection unit configured to newly generate a desired SOI and contents or select the desired SOI or contents among existing SOIs or contents; a term of use setting unit configured to set a duration of use or a theme of use of the generated or selected SOI and contents; and an SOI-content relationship management unit configured to generate contents of an SOI that connects the generated or selected SOI and contents and configured to manage the contents of the SOI. |
| US09460113B2 |
System and method for recommending location-based keyword
According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, a location-based keyword recommending system and method are provided. The location-based keyword recommending system may include a keyword collecting unit to store location information regarding a location where a keyword is input, a region setting unit to set a virtual region by performing clustering of the location information with reference to the keyword, a region combining unit to combine virtual regions overlapping each other into one virtual region, and a keyword recommending unit to provide a location-based keyword based on the keyword related to the location information of the virtual region. |
| US09460107B2 |
Filename-based inference of repository actions
In response to detecting a file upload request of a file to a file repository, at least one filename metadata token that includes a subset of characters of a filename of the file is inferred using text analysis techniques. At least one inferred filename metadata token is extracted from the characters of the filename of the file, and is mapped to at least one repository upload processing action. The at least one repository upload processing action is executed in association with the file upload request of the file to the file repository. |
| US09460106B2 |
Data synchronization among file storages using stub files
A method switches file server from old file server to new file server which are coupled via a backend network and provides data synchronization. The old file server and new file server are coupled with one or more host computers via a frontend network to direct input/output (I/O) requests from the one or more host computers. The method comprises creating stub files in the new file server, the stub files including stub information indicating location of data in the old file server; switching I/O requests directed to old file server to I/O requests directed to the new file server; checking whether the new file server has any stub files; and, if the new file server has one or more stub files, recalling data corresponding to the one or more stub files from the old file server according to the stub information to replace the one or more stub files. |
| US09460104B2 |
Database synchronization via a mobile network
An apparatus adapted to operate as an A party in a database synchronization with a B party via a mobile communication network. The database contains data items to be synchronized. The apparatus includes mechanisms for maintaining a copy of the database and a client-server communication module with a client part and a server part. The client part is configured to communicate via the mobile communication network with the server part of the B party. The apparatus also includes change detection mechanisms responsive to a detection of a changed data item, for initiating a synchronization event via the client part of the client-server communication module. |
| US09460102B1 |
Managing data deduplication in storage systems based on I/O activities
A method is used in managing data deduplication in storage systems based on I/O activities. I/O activity of first and second data objects is evaluated. The first and second data objects are selected for applying a deduplicating technique. Based on the evaluation, the deduplicating technique is applied to the first and second data objects. |
| US09460098B2 |
Virtual machine snapshot backup based on multilayer De-duplication
The present disclosure provides an example method and system for virtual machine backup based on multilayer de-duplication. A virtual machine snapshot is divided into multiple child data blocks. Each child data block is divided into multiple data segments. Multilayer de-duplication is applied to the virtual machine snapshot to exclude data causing duplicate backup in the virtual machine snapshot. The remaining virtual machine snapshot data after the processing of the multilayer de-duplication is stored. |