Document Document Title
US09515793B2 Network resource configuration
Network resource configuration is provided by receiving subscriber data, the subscriber data relating to network related activities and subscriber related activities of subscribers in a group of subscribers of a network operator of a communications system. A churn score is determined for each subscriber in the group of subscribers based on a set of churn score parameters for the subscriber data, the churn score representing probability of a subscriber to churn. A subgroup of subscribers is determined from the group of subscribers based on the churn score. A network resource configuration in the communications system is determined for the subgroup of subscribers based on the churn score. Information relating to the determined network resource configuration and/or a service related to the determined network resource configuration is transmitted.
US09515792B2 Network element and method of operating a network element
The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide at least a method and apparatus to adapt a network element (201, 203) for a communication network (200), wherein the network element (201, 203) is adapted to switch between a first state and a second state to the first state during a subframe (303) of a communication in the communication network (200). Further, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments there is at least a method and apparatus to adapt a network element (201, 203) to receive signals during the second state and transmit signals during the first state.
US09515791B2 Multi-access point calibration method and device
A method and device for multi-access point calibration are disclosed. The method includes: a base station estimating a value closest to a true parameter deviation in a value interval of an uplink and downlink channel parameter deviation between access points, wherein the parameter deviation includes a phase difference and an amplitude difference; and the base station performing phase and/or amplitude calibration on service data transmitted jointly by the access points according to the value. With the method and device provided in the present document, a cell calculates a parameter difference between different access points, and then calibrates multiple access points according to the parameter difference, so as to solve a problem that the phase difference and amplitude difference exist between the data transmitted jointly between the multiple access points, and thus it can be guaranteed that good coherent transmission is performed between the access points, thereby improving the system performance.
US09515790B2 Method for reducing inter-cell interference in cooperative multi-cell wireless communication system, and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a method for reducing inter-cell interference in a wireless communication system and to an apparatus for same. More specifically, a method for reducing the inter-cell interference between serving cells in the cooperative multi-cell wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving from an adjacent cell interference information on a specific wireless resource region; and reducing interference with respect to the specific wireless resource region based on the interference information, wherein the specific wireless resource region is a wireless resource region that the serving cell uses by changing the purpose of a wireless resource.
US09515787B2 Wireless communication scheduling on shared spectra
A method includes scheduling, by a base station configured to service a cell within a cellular communication network, multiple grants to an apparatus in a coverage area of the cell. Each of the scheduled multiple grants includes time-frequency resources in at least one shared spectrum that is to be used by the apparatus to attempt to communicate. Each of the scheduled multiple grants differs from others of the scheduled multiple grants in one or both of time or frequency. The method includes sending indications of the scheduled multiple grants. Another method includes receiving, at the apparatus in the cell, indications of the multiple grants and attempting by the apparatus to communicate using one or more of the multiple grants. Apparatus, computer programs, and program products are also disclosed.
US09515786B2 Wireless access system using multiple modulation formats in TDD frames and method of operation
A radio frequency (RF) modem shelf for use in a fixed wireless access network comprising, a plurality of base stations capable of bidirectional time division duplex (TDD) communication with wireless access devices disposed at subscriber premises. The shelf comprises: a) a first RF modem for communicating with wireless access devices using TDD frames, each TDD frame having an uplink for, receiving data and a downlink for transmitting data; and b) a modulation controller associated with the RF modem shelf for determining an optimum modulation configuration for each of the wireless access devices communicating with the first RF modem. The controller causes the first RF modem to transmit downlink data to a first wireless access device in a first data block having a first optimum modulation configuration and to transmit downlink data to a second wireless access device in a second data block having a different second optimum modulation configuration.
US09515785B2 System and method for detecting loss of signal
Apparatus and methods are taught for quickly determining whether a Loss of Signal (LOS) condition has occurred for a receiver which includes an internal reference clock, a LOS circuit and a Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) circuit. The CDR circuit recovers the clock and data of an incoming signal. However, the LOS circuit can determine whether a received incoming signal includes an active signal, independent of said CDR circuit such that it samples said incoming signal utilizing said internal reference clock to determine a loss of signal prior to said CDR recovering the clock of said incoming signal. The LOS circuit includes an analog voltage threshold stage which samples the incoming signal, and produces at least one sample stream indicative of transitions in the incoming signal. The LOS circuit further includes a digital transition stage which counts transitions in order to discriminate between an active signal and noise.
US09515784B2 Apparatus and method for retransmitting data in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for retransmitting data in a wireless communication system using channel bonding are provided. The method for retransmitting data includes transmitting data by mapping the data to at least two channels according to the channel bonding, and retransmitting the data by changing a mapping scheme of the data to the at least two channels.
US09515783B2 Systems and methods for configuring feedback transmissions in a wireless network
A method of configuring the communication of feedback information in a wireless communication network includes obtaining information pertaining to an interference condition. The interference condition relates to interference experienced by a wireless communication device. The method also includes selecting one of a synchronous feedback type and an asynchronous feedback type for the wireless communication device based on the obtained information. Additionally, the method includes receiving and/or transmitting feedback information for an uplink transmission in accordance with the selected feedback type.
US09515780B2 Shifting HARQ feedback for cognitive-radio-based TD-LTE systems
A method includes, in response to a determination one or more quiet periods conflict with specified hybrid automatic repeat request feedback timing, sending one or more indicators to one or more user equipment to indicate to the user equipment to shift the specified hybrid automatic repeat request feedback timing to a shifted hybrid automatic repeat request feedback timing. The method includes communicating hybrid automatic repeat request feedback based on the shifted hybrid automatic repeat request feedback timing. Another method includes receiving at a user equipment one or more indicators indicating to the user equipment to shift specified hybrid automatic repeat request feedback timing to a shifted hybrid automatic repeat request timing, and communicating hybrid automatic repeat request feedback based on the shifted hybrid automatic repeat request timing. Apparatus, computer program product, and computer programs are also disclosed.
US09515777B2 Snoop virtual receiver time
A snoop receiver, method and computer program product for increasing the efficiency of TCP protocol operations at the snoop receiver by assuming there is no reordering over the wireless hop. The method performs maintaining a copy of each packet received, the copy adapted for retransmission to the receiver device on behalf of the source device and maintaining for each packet received, a virtual send time (VST) value of that packet. The VST corresponds to a virtual time the packet was sent or retransmitted to the receiver device. There is further maintained an estimate of the receiver device's time (VRT) based on acknowledgement (ACK) messages for packets received from the receiver device. Responsive to receiving an acknowledgement for a packet sent at the time VST, the method infers any lost packets and retransmits a copy of any lost packets having a VST value sent before the receiver's VRT estimate.
US09515776B2 Wireless transmission of multimedia streams which uses control information to associate error correction coding with an audiovisual stream
A system and method for wirelessly transmitting audiovisual information. A first plurality of packets including audiovisual information may be generated. A second plurality of packets including error correction coding information for the audiovisual information may be generated. Control information for associating the error correction coding information with the audiovisual information may be generated, and a third plurality of packets including the control information may also be generated. The plurality of packets, including the first, second, and third pluralities of packets, may be transmitted to a mobile device in a wireless manner. The control information may inform the mobile device of the association of the first error correction coding information with the audiovisual information.
US09515773B2 Channel state information reporting in a wireless communication network
According to certain aspects, techniques for periodically reporting channel state information (CSI) on protected and unprotected resources are provided. The protected resources may include resources in which transmissions in a first cell are protected by restricting transmissions in a second cell.
US09515768B2 Method of detecting a jamming transmitter affecting a communication user equipment, device and user equipment and system with the user equipment
Method of detecting a jamming transmitter, affecting a communication user equipment, wherein said communication user equipment is adapted for communication with a component of a cellular code division multiple access based radio network having a number of user equipments and a number of base node stations, providing the user equipment in a connected mode of a communication radiolink with the component of the radio network wherein in the connected mode of said user equipment jamming detection steps are provided.
US09515766B2 Node apparatus
The present invention provides a node apparatus, where two N×N wavelength selective switches are used to form a parallel-connected structure, and two ends of each power splitter are separately connected to input ends of the N×N wavelength selective switches, and two ends of each power combiner are separately connected to output ends of the N×N wavelength selective switches, thereby transferring route switching selection work originally performed between multiple 1×M wavelength selective switches to the inside of the N×N wavelength selective switch for implementation. Compared with an original structure using discrete components, the node apparatus is simplified, and when a traffic volume expands, the number of module slots on a line side does not need to be increased, thereby reducing usage costs eventually. The present invention is used for signal transmission in a node.
US09515765B2 Distributed optical combining: OBI free, power free
Implementing a laser into a system that uses a remote powered combiner or an aggregating combiner (AC) with one or more in-range contributing combiners may provide power to the downstream contributing combiners (CC). The power may be provided on the same fiber that downstream signals and the upstream signals traverse.
US09515762B2 Communication system, base station, mobile station, method for mobile station, and method for communication system
A device and method in which a plurality of Zadoff-Chu sequences is allocated to a frame, a value of a parameter in the Zadoff-Chu sequence is different among the plurality of Zadoff-Chu sequences, and the Zadoff-Chu sequence allocated to the frame is different among a plurality of cells.
US09515760B2 Establishing the quality indicator of a radio channel by decorrelating radio conditions and network activity
A method establishing a quality indicator of a radio transmission channel in a first cell of a cellular network using a plurality of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed subcarriers for transmitting data. A first transmitter located in the first cell transmits a reference control signal including a total-load control signal modulating one or more of the orthogonal subcarriers, during one or more first symbol times dedicated to transmission of symbols other than data symbols, and a useful-load control signal modulating one or more orthogonal subcarriers during at least one second symbol time dedicated to transmission of data symbols. A transmitter located in an adjacent cell transmits an interfering control signal modulating, during the first symbol time(s). The quality indicator is determined according to a measured quality indicator of the channel under the useful load and a measured quality indicator of the channel under the total load.
US09515759B2 Method of demodulating data on new type of carrier wave
A method of demodulating data according to an embodiment of the present invention is presented. The method of demodulating data may include: setting a terminal to be in a transmission mode of PDSCH to which transmission diversity is applied; receiving resource allocation information on the PDSCH by the terminal; transmitting downlink (DL) data onto the PDSCH to which the transmission diversity is applied, according to the resource allocation information; receiving, from a base station, information on the number of antenna ports used for receiving a reference signal that is used for demodulating the DL data; and receiving a reference signal used for demodulating the DL data. The reference signal may be generated based on the identifier of the terminal, and the number of antenna ports used for receiving the reference signal may be the same as the number of antenna ports used for receiving the PDSCH.
US09515757B2 Systems and methods for enhanced user equipment assistance information in wireless communication systems
Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating enhanced user equipment (UE) assistance information between nodes in wireless communication systems. The UE achieves power savings and latency requirements more effectively by communicating its preferences, constraints and/or requirements to an evolved Node B (eNodeB) in the form of UE assistance information. The UE assistance information may include, for example, an indication of a preferred set of discontinuous reception (DRX) settings, current data traffic conditions, expected data traffic conditions, power or performance preferences, and/or an indication of the UE's mobility between cells.
US09515756B2 Adaptive precision timing control in a communication system
Methods, devices, and computer program products facilitate establishing timing synchronization between two network entities. The timing information is exchanged between a slave device and a master device at the discretion of the slave device. The exchange of timing information can, therefore, be conducted adaptively based on the needs of the salve device. The timing information is also exchanged using fewer messages, thereby reducing network traffic, reducing overhead and facilitating synchronization acquisition.
US09515755B2 Dynamically self-organizing ad-hoc TDMA communications synchronization method
A method and system for TDMA synchronization including providing an ad-hoc TDMA mobile communication network, the communication network includes a plurality of mobile units, transmitting an information packet from a mobile unit of the plurality of mobile units to each remaining one of the plurality of mobile units. The method and system further including comparing at each remaining one of the plurality of mobile units the corresponding preamble detection time trx,i with a predetermined time parameter tcorr, and adjusting the corresponding preamble detection time trx,i of each remaining one of the plurality of mobile units accordingly. In addition, a method for logical timeslot synchronization and its enhancement using directed synchronization procedure with a refresh procedure are disclosed if a transmitting mobile unit exits the communication network and reconnects thereto.
US09515746B2 Optically enabled multi-chip modules
An optically enabled multi-chip module has an optical engine transceiver and a host system chip. The optical engine transceiver has an optical engine front-end and an optical engine macro. The optical engine front-end has multiple laser diodes, laser driver circuitry electrically interfaced with each of the laser diodes, multiple photodiodes, amplifier circuitry electrically interfaced with each of the photodiodes, and at least one optical element optically positioned between the laser diodes and at least one optical fiber and between the photodiodes and the at least one optical fiber. The at least one optical element optically interfaces the laser diodes and photodiodes with the optical fiber. The optical engine macro is both electrically interfaced with and physically segregated from the optical engine front-end. The optical engine macro provides a subset of optical transceiver functionality to the optical engine front-end. The host system chip is electrically interfaced with the optical engine transceiver.
US09515741B2 Optical transceiver module and method of assembling the same
An optical transceiver module includes a first flexible circuit board and a second flexible circuit board; a light receiving unit and a light transmitting unit disposed on the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board, respectively; a printed circuit board connected to the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board, and including a connecting point; and a signal processing unit disposed on at least one of the first flexible circuit board, the second flexible circuit board, and the printed circuit board. The signal processing unit processes optical signals received by the light receiving unit and transmits the signals to the connecting point of the printed circuit board, and processes electrical signals transmitted from the connecting point of the printed circuit board and transmits the signals out through the light transmitting unit.
US09515730B2 Visible light communication terminal
A housing body of a visible light communication terminal houses a light receiving unit configured to receive a visible light communication signal to convert the received visible signal to an electrical signal, an output unit configured to output information obtained from the visible light communication signal, and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the light receiving unit and the output unit. An ear hooking part is curved in an arc-like shape and is attached at one end thereof to the housing body, and is configured to fit the housing body to an auricle by being hooked onto the auricle and together with the housing body sandwiching the auricle therebetween. The light receiving unit is located on a portion of the housing body on an upper side thereof in a vertical direction in a state where the housing body is fitted to the auricle.
US09515726B2 Providing channel health for a WDM system
The present disclosure describes a method, an apparatus, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for measuring characteristics of a WDM system. The method may include obtaining channel characteristics of a channel, calculating a Health Factor of a channel using the characteristics, and displaying the Health Factor and characteristics of a channel on a display device.
US09515724B2 Position-based communication
In one implementation, information indicating that a communication device is requesting to enter a dedicated transmission mode in a talkgroup may be received. In addition, information indicating a first position of the communication device may be received. A satellite constellation may be controlled to establish a first channel for communications for the talkgroup within a first beam that has a coverage area including the first position of the communication device. Further, a potential second position of the communication device may be determined. The satellite constellation may be controlled to establish a second channel for communications for the talkgroup within a second beam that has a coverage area including the potential second position of the communication device.
US09515721B2 Providing network connectivity and access to content and communications via moving objects
Various techniques for providing network connectivity are described herein. In one example, a moving object includes an uplink device of the moving object to connect the moving object to a publicly available computer network. The moving object also includes a downlink device of the moving object to be communicatively coupled to a remote device at a specific segment along a route of the moving object. The remote device is to provide data received via the downlink device to a user. The moving object also further includes a cache store communicatively coupled to the uplink device and the downlink device. Implementations include the use of commercial airplanes for providing connectivity via intermittent access and refreshing of a cache store that makes content available to end users.
US09515717B2 Coexistent channel access method
A method is provided for transmitting a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) packet in a wireless local area network. A physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) is generated including at least one training field, a very high throughput (VHT)-signal field and a plurality of data streams. The PPDU is transmitted to at least one receiver. The VHT-signal field includes first information, second information and third information. The first information indicates that the plurality of data streams in the PPDU are simultaneously received by the at least one receiver. The second information indicates which receiver is targeted for the plurality of data streams. The third information indicates a bandwidth used for a transmission of the plurality of data streams.
US09515716B2 Method for transmitting and receiving a signal to protect against erroneous feedback information
A method for providing precoding weights for data symbols of data control subframes includes generating a downlink frame having control subframes which individually correspond to one of a plurality of downlink data subframes, and inserting weight information into each of the control subframes, such that the weight information is to be applied to data symbols present in the corresponding one of the data subframes. The method further includes transmitting the control subframes and the inserted weight information to a receiving device.
US09515714B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving feedback information in beamforming communication system
A method for operating a mobile station in a mobile communication system. The method includes: receiving a plurality of transmit (Tx) beam signals from a base station; generating indication information for indicating a difference in arrival time between effective Tx beam signals selected from the received Tx beam signals; and transmitting feedback information including the indication information to the base station.
US09515712B2 Pre-coding method and pre-coding device
Disclosed is a precoding method comprising the steps of: generating a first coded block and a second coded block with use of a predetermined error correction block coding scheme; generating a first precoded signal z1 and a second precoded signal z2 by performing a precoding process, which corresponds to a matrix selected from among the N matrices F[i], on a first baseband signal s1 generated from the first coded block and a second baseband signal s2 generated from the second coded block, respectively; the first precoded signal z1 and the second precoded signal z2 satisfying (z1, z2)T=F[i] (s1, s2)T; and changing both of or one of a power of the first precoded signal z1 and a power of the second precoded signal z2, such that an average power of the first precoded signal z1 is less than an average power of the second precoded signal z2.
US09515710B2 Signal sequence estimation
In a spatial modulation multiple-input-multiple-output (SM-MIMO) wireless communication system, multiple transmitting antennae and multiple receiving antennae may be utilized to respectively transmit and receive wireless signals for the communication. A selection of a combination of the multiple transmitting antennae may be configured to represent one or more binary digits in a signal sequence. The signal sequence may be produced at the receiving end without the knowledge of the selection of the combination of the multiple transmitting antennae.
US09515709B2 Channel estimation with precoding matrix smoothing at the transmitter
Various communication network may benefit from precoding matrix smoothing. For example, a network node comprises a processor and a memory including computer program code. The memory and the computer program code, with the processor, are configured to cause the network node to receive a precoding matrix index indicating a precoding matrix, allocate resources for downlink transmission to a user equipment, smooth a plurality of precoding matrices including the precoding matrix across the allocated resources and transmit a signal indicating the plurality of precoding matrices have been smoothed. Based on the signal, the user equipment can perform interference reduction or cancellation.
US09515708B2 Context aware multiple-input and multiple-output antenna systems and methods
A method, a system, and a server provide context aware multiple-input-multiple-output MIMO antenna systems and methods. Specifically, the systems and methods provide, in a multiple MIMO antenna or node system, techniques of antenna/beam selection, calibration, and periodic refresh, based on environmental and mission context. The systems and methods can define a context vector as built by cooperative use of the nodes on the backhaul to direct antennas for the best user experience as well as mechanisms using the context vector in a 3D employment to point the antennas in a cooperative basis therebetween. The systems and methods utilize sensors in the nodes to provide tailored context sensing versus motion sensing, in conjunction with BER (Bit Error Rate) measurements on test signals to position an antenna beam from a selection of several “independent” antenna subsystems operating within a single node, as well as, that of its optically connected neighbor.
US09515706B2 Systems, methods and apparatuses for wireless capacitive reception and transmission of signals with distortion compensation in a channel (variants)
Disclosed is a system for wireless capacitive reception and transmission of signals with distortion compensation in a channel, including a transmitting and a receiving apparatuses, which are configured, respectively, of wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals, wherein the transmitting apparatus comprises a signal precompensator with an input for data signals which are transmitted, a signal driver with an input for prepared signals and precompensation signals, and transmitting terminals which are spaced apart and are connected to the outputs of the signal driver in such a way that corresponding electrical fields are produced. The receiving apparatus includes spaced-apart receiving terminals, which are capable of detecting the electrical fields produced by the transmitting terminals and received signals which are reproduced on the receiving terminals, and an adaptive signal corrector, the inputs of said adaptive signal correcter being connected to the receiving terminals, and which adaptive signal corrector has outputs for received data signals.
US09515705B2 Near field RF communicator and timing apparatus
A near field communications (NFC) device is disclosed that detects an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The NFC device includes a peak detector that determines the envelope of the RF signal. The peak detector compares a first differential signal voltage to a second differential signal voltage. The peak detector delays a rising edge of a first differential signal and provides the first differential signal voltage to the peak detector output when the first differential signal voltage is greater than the second differential signal voltage. The peak detector delays a falling edge of a second differential signal and provides the second differential signal voltage to the peak detector output when the second differential signal voltage is greater than the first differential signal voltage.
US09515704B2 Wireless energy receiving apparatus and method, and wireless energy transmitting apparatus
An apparatus and a method for wirelessly receiving and transmitting energy are provided. A wireless energy receiving apparatus in a terminal configured to wirelessly receive energy through mutual resonance between a resonator of an energy supply apparatus configured to supply the energy and a resonator of the terminal, includes an energy measuring unit configured to measure an amount of energy stored in the terminal. The wireless energy receiving apparatus further includes a control unit configured to change a state of the resonator of the terminal from a non-resonant state to a resonant state when the measured amount of energy is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
US09515703B2 Information processing system capable of performing processing making use of storage medium between information processing apparatuses, non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer readable information processing program, and method of controlling information processing apparatus
An information processing system includes an information storage medium and first and second information processing apparatuses capable of near field wireless communication. The first information processing apparatus includes a first data processing module which performs predetermined processing caused by execution of an application program by the first information processing apparatus and a first writing module which writes environmental data generated through the predetermined processing into the information storage medium by establishing near field wireless communication with the information storage medium. The second information processing apparatus includes a first reading module which reads data from the information storage medium by establishing near field wireless communication with the information storage medium and a second data processing module which processes the environmental data read as a result of reading of the data from the information storage medium caused by execution of an application program by the second information processing apparatus.
US09515694B1 Adaptable rate transceiver
A transceiver integrated circuit (IC) receives signals having a mix of idle characters and data via a multi-lane system-side signaling interface at a first signaling rate compliant with a standards-based signaling protocol. The transceiver IC outputs signals via a multi-lane line-side signaling interface at a second signaling rate that is lower than the first signaling rate and non-compliant with the standards-based signaling protocol and also outputs one or more requests to a remote IC source of the signals received via the system-side signaling interface to adjust a proportion of idle characters within the received signals as necessary to balance a data rate of the received signals with the second signaling rate without adjusting the first signaling rate.
US09515692B2 Banded holder with cradle
This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for retaining a portable electronic device on the body of a user. The apparatus includes a cradle with at least two securing regions that stretch to retain portions of front, back, and side portions of an electronic device. The cradle also includes apertures in portions on and/or near the securing regions that allow portable electronic devices of different sizes to be secured. The cradle also includes at least one protrusion that interfaces with at least one corresponding securing aperture in a band of flexible material. Cradles of different sizes may be attached to the band of flexible material using the one or more securing apertures.
US09515684B2 Receiver and voltage controlled oscillator
According to an embodiment, a receiver includes a voltage controlled oscillator, a frequency-to-digital converter and an input sensitivity controller. In the voltage controlled oscillator, input sensitivity relative to a baseband signal is controlled based on an input sensitivity control signal. The voltage controlled oscillator oscillates at a frequency controlled by a voltage of the baseband signal to generate an oscillation signal. The frequency-to-digital converter performs frequency-to-digital conversion of the oscillation signal to generate a digital signal. The input sensitivity controller generates the input sensitivity control signal based on the digital signal.
US09515681B2 Parallel bit interleaver
A bit interleaving method applying a bit permutation process to a QC LDPC codeword made up of N cyclic blocks of Q bits each, dividing the processed codeword into constellation words of M bits each, and applying an intra-cyclic-block permutation process to the cyclic blocks, where the codeword is divided into F×N/M folding sections of M/F cyclic blocks each and the constellation words are each associated with one of the folding sections, and the bit permutation process is applied such that the constellation words are each made up of F bits from each of M/F different cyclic blocks in the associated section, after the permutation process.
US09515678B1 Hardware data compressor that directly huffman encodes output tokens from LZ77 engine
A hardware data compressor. An LZ77 compression engine scans an input block of characters and produces tokens, the tokens are either literal characters of the input block or a back pointer to replaced strings of characters of the input block. A Huffman encoding engine receives the tokens produced by the LZ77 compression engine and Huffman encodes the tokens using a Huffman code table to generate a compressed output block. The hardware data compressor is without a memory to intermediately store the back pointers and instead, for each token produced by the LZ77 engine, the Huffman encoding engine directly receives the token from the LZ77 engine and outputs Huffman codes corresponding in the Huffman code table to respective symbols associated with the token before the LZ77 engine produces the next token.
US09515675B2 Interface circuit operating to recover error of transmitted data
Provided is an interface circuit for transmitting and receiving data according to a communication protocol. The interface circuit includes: an encoder configured to encode input data to generate transmission data; a transmitter configured to output the transmission data; a data sequence detector configured to detect whether the number of successively same logic values in a data string of the transmission data is equal to or greater than a reference succession number; and a recovery section configured to control a recovery operation with respect to the transmission data, based on a detection result of the data sequence detector. With the interface circuit, data loss is prevented and data reliability is guaranteed.
US09515674B2 Signal conversion method, signal transmission method, signal conversion device, and transmitter
A signal conversion method including converting an input signal into a 1-bit pulse train representing an analog signal is provided. The 1-bit pulse train has a pulse rising waveform frise and a pulse falling waveform ffall. The pulse rising waveform frise includes a first distortion component with respect to an ideal pulse rising waveform, and the pulse falling waveform ffall includes a second distortion component with respect to an ideal pulse falling waveform. The first distortion component and the second distortion component are substantially line-symmetric with respect to a time axis.
US09515673B2 D/A conversion circuit, oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object
A D/A conversion circuit includes a plurality of resistors that are connected to each other in series, and a plurality of MOS transistors that are connected to terminals of the plurality of resistors, respectively. The plurality of resistors and the plurality of MOS transistors are formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the plurality of resistors is constituted by a resistive element and a plurality of contacts provided in the resistive element. The plurality of MOS transistors are disposed so that a plurality of virtual straight lines that pass through each of the plurality of contacts and are perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the resistive element pass between gate electrodes of two adjacent MOS transistors, when seen in a plan view of the semiconductor substrate.
US09515667B2 Oscillator with frequency control loop
Circuitry for providing an oscillating output signal. The circuitry comprises a transconductance circuit having a first input, a second input, and an output. The circuitry further comprises an oscillator circuit coupled to receive voltage from the output of the transconductance circuit, wherein the oscillating output signal is responsive to an output of the oscillator circuit. Also included are circuitry for providing a first voltage to the first input of the transconductance circuit and a frequency controlled circuit for providing a second voltage to the second input the transconductance circuit. The second voltage is response to a frequency of operation of the frequency controlled circuit, and the frequency of operation of the frequency controlled circuit is responsive to feedback from the output of the oscillator circuit.
US09515663B2 Dynamic prescaling for performance counters
A method of configuring a prescaling circuit in a performance counter circuit for a computer processing system can include receiving a first number of signaled events at a prescaling circuit configured to generate event counts for a performance counter circuit. The method can include generating event counts at a current event-count rate for the first number of signaled events and determining a detected event-count rate for the signaled events based on a rate at which the first number of signaled events are received at the prescaling circuit. The method can include determining that the detected event-count rate is greater than the current event-count rate. The method can include increasing the current event-count rate in response to determining that the detected event-count rate is greater than the current event-count rate.
US09515660B1 Single-ended contention-free wide operating range level voltage shifter with built-in voltage boosting and down-stepping assisting circuitry
A voltage level shifter to provide an output logic signal in response to an input logic signal, where the input logic signal is in a first voltage domain and the output logic signal is in a second voltage domain. In one embodiment, a voltage boost module provides a boosted voltage in response to the input logic signal going HIGH, where the boosted voltage is sufficient to turn OFF a pull-up transistor operating in the second voltage domain. Contention among pull-down and pull-up transistors may be avoided.
US09515656B2 Reconfigurable circuit, storage device, and electronic device including storage device
A reconfigurable circuit suitable for a redundant circuit of a storage device is provided. A programmable logic element (PLE) includes k logic circuits (e.g., XNOR circuits), k configuration memories (CM), and another logic circuit (e.g., an AND circuit) to which the outputs of the k logic circuits are input. The output of the AND circuit represents whether k input data of the PLE all correspond to configuration data stored in the k CMs. For example, when the address of a defective block in the storage device is stored in the CM and address data of the storage device the access of which is requested is input to the PLE, whether the defective block is accessible can be determined from the output of the AND circuit.
US09515655B2 Multiplexing voltages on functional input pin with pass device
A circuit includes an input pin connected to an integrated circuit (IC) that receives an input voltage that is provided to a first voltage circuit within the IC. A pass device having a control input responds to a first control signal state and a second control signal state. The first control signal state turns the pass device off such that the input voltage is switched off to block the passing of the input voltage to a second voltage circuit within the IC. The second control signal state turns the pass device on such that the input voltage is switched through the pass device to the second voltage circuit in a voltage range that is compatible with an input operating voltage range of the second voltage circuit.
US09515654B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus include a signal level switching decision unit and a transmitter unit. The signal level switching decision unit generates a switching control signal according to off-current of transistors included therein. The transmitter unit outputs a transmitter input signal as a transmitter output signal in response to a switching control signal.
US09515651B2 Galvanically isolated switch system
A galvanically isolated switch system and method comprising a plurality of switches having at least one terminal in series electrical connection, at least one control input electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of switches, wherein the at least one control input is isolated from direct current voltages and at least one passive component connected across the plurality of switches.
US09515650B2 Detecting and driving load using transistor
A driver IC (Integrated Circuit) includes a power supply terminal; an output terminal to be coupled to a load element; a connection node on a current path between the power supply terminal and the output terminal; a substrate resistance, having one end coupled to the connection node; an output transistor including a gate, wherein the output transistor is coupled in series with the substrate resistance through the connection node; a resistance, having one end coupled to an other end of the substrate resistance; and a voltage detecting circuit configured to detect a voltage depending on a voltage between the one end of the substrate resistance and the other end of the substrate resistance, and to output an output signal, which is as an output of the voltage detecting circuit, to the gate of the output transistor.
US09515645B2 System and method for a radio frequency switch
In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a plurality of switching networks coupled between a corresponding plurality of RF ports and a common RF port, and a control circuit. Each of the plurality of switching networks includes a first switch coupled between its corresponding RF port and the common RF port, and at least one of the plurality of switching networks includes a selectable network coupled between the first switch and the common RF port, such that the selectable network provides a DC path in a first state and a series capacitance in a second state.
US09515641B2 Voltage level detector, motor drive controller, motor apparatus, and method of detecting voltage level
A voltage level detector is provided. The voltage level detector includes a comparator and a threshold level changer. The comparator compares a voltage level of an increasing or decreasing input signal with a threshold level, and generates and outputs a voltage level detection signal indicating that the input signal has reached the threshold level. The threshold level changer changes the threshold level of the comparator based on the voltage level detection signal by increasing the threshold level when the input signal is monotonically increasing and decreasing the threshold level when the input signal is monotonically decreasing.
US09515634B1 Selecting of a pre-filter in a receiver of a communication system
Embodiments provide a receiver comprising an input coupled to a communication channel for receiving an input signal from the communication channel, a first processing filter coupled to the input, and a first level estimation module coupled to the first processing filter to estimate a first level of the input signal based upon the first processing filter. The receiver further comprises a second processing filter coupled to the input, a second level estimation module coupled to the second processing filter to estimate a second level of the input signal based upon the second processing filter, and a control module coupled to (i) the first level estimation module and (ii) the second level estimation module, wherein the control module includes logic configured to select an analog pre-filter for the input signal based upon (i) the first level of the input signal and (ii) the second level of the input sign.
US09515630B2 Musical dynamics alteration of sounds
An improved method and arrangement for altering musical dynamics of a sound S included in a sound signal is disclosed. The altering of the musical dynamics is performed by filtering and amplification of the sound signal. The filtering is performed by the use of a parametric equalizer, the parametric equalizer having a first gain G1 and a resonance frequency fr being related to a pitch frequency fp of said sound S. The amplification is performed by an amplifier amplifying the sound signal with a second gain G2, the second gain G2 being dependent on the first gain G1.
US09515628B2 Open-gain trans-impedance amplifier with programmable input impedance
In at least some examples, a communication device includes a photo-diode to convert an optical signal into an electrical current and an open-gain trans-impedance amplifier to amplify the electrical current. The communication device also includes a transmission line between the photo-diode and the open-gain trans-impedance amplifier. The open-gain trans-impedance amplifier includes a programmable input impedance that has been matched to an impedance of the transmission line.
US09515625B2 Multi-varactor approach for improved VCO gain
An apparatus with a multi-varactor circuit for suppressing VCO gain is described herein. According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of varactor stages that are electrically coupled in parallel. For two or more varactor stages of the plurality of varactor stages, each respective varactor stage of the two or more varactor stages includes a set of one or more varactors that are electrically coupled to a tuning source. Each respective varactor stage of the two or more varactor stages is configured to vary a respective capacitance based on a tuning voltage from the tuning source and to be biased at a different respective voltage level. In other embodiments, the set of one or more varactors for each varactor stage of the two or more varactor stages includes at least one digitally-controlled switched varactor. The digitally-controlled switched varactors may be selectively connected to the tuning source.
US09515622B2 Reconfigurable bias and supply drivers for radio frequency power amplifiers
In some example embodiments, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include a direct current voltage source and/or an alternating current voltage source to track a power envelope of a radio frequency signal. The apparatus may further include first and second power amplifiers with bias voltage inputs and a supply voltage inputs, and a switch matrix. The first input may be coupled to the direct current voltage source, the second input may be coupled to the alternating current voltage source. The outputs may be coupled to the bias and supply inputs to the power amplifiers. The switch matrix may enable activation of the first power amplifier, the second power amplifier, both the first and second power amplifiers, or neither power amplifier.
US09515621B2 Multimode RF amplifier system
Multimode radio frequency (RF) amplifier systems and techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a multimode radio frequency (RF) amplifier system has a first RF amplifier and a second RF amplifier. The first RF amplifier may support a first RF communication standard. The second RF amplifier may support a second RF communication standard. The first RF amplifier includes an auxiliary circuit. The auxiliary circuit may provide a service or a utility to a second RF amplifier. For example, the auxiliary circuit may generate a supply voltage to power the second RF amplifier.
US09515618B2 Femtowatt non-vacuum tube detector assembly
In one embodiment, a femtowatt sensitivity optical detector is provided using one or more photodiodes, intended as a replacement for the photomultiplier based photon counting unit.
US09515614B2 Amplifier device and wireless communication device
An amplifier device 1 includes: a distortion compensation section 3 that performs distortion compensation for an input signal x to an amplifier 2 by digital signal processing; and a separation section 9 that separates an output signal from the amplifier 2 into an I signal as an analog signal component including phase information of the output signal and an analog signal component including power information of the output signal. The distortion compensation section 3 performs distortion compensation for the amplifier 2, based on 1-bit signals obtained by expressing, in 1 bit, the analog I signal and the analog signal component including the power information of the output signal, respectively.
US09515611B2 Power amplifier saturation detection
In a portable radio transceiver, a power amplifier system includes a saturation detector that detects power amplifier saturation in response to duty cycle of the amplifier transistor collector voltage waveform. The saturation detection output signal can be used by a power control circuit to back off or reduce the amplification level of the power amplifier to avoid power amplifier control loop saturation.
US09515610B2 Line driver with active termination and associated method
A line driver and a method for driving a load are proposed. The line driver includes a current amplifier and a feedback network. The current amplifier has an input node arranged to receive an input current of the line driver, and an output node arranged to produce an output current. The feedback network is coupled between the input node and the output node of the current amplifier, wherein a portion of the output current of the line driver is guided to the feedback network, and an equivalent impedance obtained by looking into the output node of the current amplifier with the feedback network substantially equals an impedance of the load.
US09515608B2 Multimode oscillator enabling simultaneous monitoring of variations in several resonance frequencies of a resonator
A multimode oscillator comprising: a resonator including: a moving element; actuators of the moving element according to two symmetric and antisymmetric resonance modes; several detectors of the displacement of the moving element; polarization circuitry of the detectors by signals out of phase with each other; a first calculator carrying out a first operation conserving the frequential components of the first mode and cancelling those of the second mode; a second calculator carrying out a second operation conserving the frequential components of the second mode and cancelling those of the first mode; and in which the resonator and the calculators form two self-oscillating loops making the oscillator resonate simultaneously in the two modes.
US09515607B1 Voltage controlled oscillator with common mode adjustment start-up
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the common mode voltage at the LC tank node and/or the power supply voltage of a VCO with an LC resonator in order to force oscillation start-up by temporarily increasing gain. Methods according to certain preferred embodiments may reduce power consumption and/or overcome threshold voltage limitations and/or increase frequency and frequency tuning range during normal (steady-state) operation.
US09515603B2 Crystal oscillator start-up circuit
A crystal oscillator start-up circuit capable of reducing a start-up time of a crystal oscillator is disclosed. The crystal oscillator start-up circuit is provided with a crystal oscillation unit including a crystal oscillator, a converter and an external oscillator. The crystal oscillation unit generates an output signal corresponding to the impedance characteristic of the crystal oscillator. The converter converts the output signal of the crystal oscillation unit to a voltage signal. The external oscillator outputs to the crystal oscillation unit an oscillation signal whose frequency is adjusted by the voltage signal to approach a resonance frequency of the crystal oscillator.
US09515601B2 Solar cell module and systems incorporating same
An electrical connection system comprising a plurality of electrical components electrically interconnected by a plurality of multi-terminal electrical connector devices. Each electrical component has first and second electrical terminals, each connector device having a plurality of electrical terminals arranged in first and second rows each row comprising a plurality of said terminals. One row is positioned along one side of the connector, the other row being positioned along the other side of the connector. First and second of the connector terminals are electrically connected to a respective one of the first and second terminals of a respective one of the electrical components. Each connector device is configurable such that its terminals may adopt a selected one of a plurality of terminal configurations.
US09515600B2 Solar module installation system and method
A solar panel installation includes at least one support cable and at least two support structures configured to hold the at least one support cable in suspension therebetween. The solar panel installation includes at least one solar module having a frame and at least one cable retaining structure secured to the frame. The at least one support cable is configured to support the solar module aloft when the at least one support cable is being held in suspension between the first and the second anchor. The solar module is configured to be slid along the at least one support cable between the support structures when the solar module is being held aloft by the at least one support cable.
US09515595B2 Motor drive switched mode power supply systems and methods
The embodiments described herein include one embodiment that provides a motor drive that includes driver circuitry that controls operation of an inverter in the motor drive to output power to a motor, control circuitry that controls operation of the driver circuitry, and a switched mode power supply that supplies electrical power to the driver circuitry, the control circuitry, or both. The switched mode power supply includes a primary coil, in which a primary controller stores electrical energy in the primary coil by selectively connecting the primary coil to a power source, and a secondary coil electrically isolated from the primary coil, in which the secondary coil outputs electrical power based at least in part on the electrical energy stored in the primary coil, in which a secondary controller controls the electrical power supplied to the driver circuitry, the control circuitry, or both by selectively connecting the secondary coil to a power output of the switched mode power supply.
US09515594B2 Wind turbine having improved overvoltage protection
A wind turbine comprises a wind rotor, a generator driven by the wind rotor, a converter, wherein the generator and the converter generate electrical energy output via a connecting line with an inductively acting line reactor to a grid, and an overvoltage protection device comprising a plurality of different active modules, which are designed in such a way that they each effect, in different ways, a reduction in the voltage at the output of the converter, a switching matrix, which connects and disconnects the different active modules, and a selector comprising an overvoltage classifier, which is designed to select a predetermined stage depending on the overvoltage and to actuate the switching matrix in such a way that successive ones of the active modules are disconnected, wherein the overvoltage classifier defines a plurality of overvoltage ranges by virtue of in each case the selector setting different switching groups.
US09515593B2 Regulation method
The invention relates to a method for automatic regulation of a system in which a plurality of parameters characteristic of the system are measured and in which at least one control parameter (u) is applied as a function of the measured parameters (y). The method includes choosing a nominal operating point of the system, and defining a nominal model (Mn) of the system at this nominal operating point. The method further includes determining a set of representative models ([Mk]) of the possible variations relative to the nominal model (Mn) and parameterizing the error of the nominal model (Mn) of the system by decomposition ([δik]) over all the errors between the models of the set of models ([Mk]) representative of the possible variations and the nominal model (Mn). The method also includes minimizing a given optimization criterion (J) by varying at least one of the previously obtained parameters ([δik]) of the error (Δ) relative to the nominal model (M) of the system. The invention also relates to the regulation device configured for applying the method.
US09515591B2 Rotary drive mechanism and light dispersion system having the same
A rotary drive mechanism provides a mechanism for driving light dispersing element having a high wavelength-moving speed and a high wavelength-resolving power. The rotary drive mechanism includes a stepper motor as a rotary drive source; an update information setter for setting update information corresponding to the amount of change by which the motor should be rotated at a drive timing indicated by an input signal; a position information updater for holding position information which specifies the rotational position of the motor and for updating the position information based on the update information from the update information setter; a winding excitation state determiner for determining the amount or ratio of electric currents passed through the windings of the motor based on the updated position information provided from the position information updater; and a drive controller for controlling the electric currents based on a control signal from the winding excitation state determiner.
US09515590B2 Motor control device, image forming apparatus, motor control method, and computer-readable storage medium
A motor control device includes a controller configured to output a control signal to a motor driver, the control signal instructing the motor driver to cut off energization of a motor when the control signal and a signal changing depending on driving the motor do not change for a first time period, determine whether the motor is in a position hold state in which control for holding the motor at a position is executed, and change the control signal in a second time period shorter than the first time period when the motor is in the position hold state.
US09515580B2 Membrane-based nano-electromechanical systems device and methods to make and use same
Nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) devices that utilize thin electrically conductive membranes, which can be, for example, graphene membranes. The membrane-based NEMS devices can be used as sensors, electrical relays, adjustable angle mirror devices, variable impedance devices, and devices performing other functions.
US09515579B2 MEMS electrical contact systems and methods
A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device may be provided with one or more sintered electrical contacts. The MEMS device may be a MEMS actuator or a MEMS sensor. The sintered electrical contacts may be silver-paste metalized electrical contacts. The sintered electrical contacts may be formed by depositing a sintering material such as a metal paste, a metal preform, a metal ink, or a metal powder on a wafer of released MEMS devices and heating the wafer so that the deposited sintering material diffuses into a substrate of the device, thereby making electrical contact with the device. The deposited sintering material may break through an insulating layer on the substrate during the sintering process. The MEMS device may be a multiple degree of freedom actuator having first and second MEMS actuators that facilitate autofocus, zoom, and optical image stabilization for a camera.
US09515572B2 Method and device for controlling an inverter
The invention relates to a method for controlling an inverter (10) using space-vector pulse width modulation, in particular to control an electric machine (14), the inverter (10) being equipped with a plurality of controllable switches (S) and being designed to provide a polyphase electric current (IU, IV, IW), in particular to supply polyphase electric current (IU, IV, IW) to the electric machine (14). In said method, a desired current space vector (I1*) having a desired phase angle (alpha1) and a desired amplitude (I1) is predefined, and the inverter (10) is controlled in such a way that a plurality of different successive switching states (V0-V7) is established for the switches (S) in order to provide the electric current (IU, IV, IW) in the form of a current space vector (I*), the inverter (10) being controlled in such a way that the current space vector (I2*) is provided at a phase angle (alpha2) which differs from the desired phase angle (alpha1) in order to load the switches (S) according to a desired load value (m) for the switches (S).
US09515571B2 Current-rectifying device, gate-boosting rectifier and method of permitting current to flow in one direction when driven by AC input voltage
A current-rectifying device includes a switching component and an impedance transformer. A conductance between first and second nodes of the switching component is controlled based on a voltage between high-impedance control and control-reference nodes of the switching component to determine an amount of current that is permitted to flow between the first and second nodes. The impedance transformer includes a positive input node electrically connected to one of the first and second nodes based on AC voltage swings, a negative input node, a positive output node electrically connected to the high-impedance control node, and a negative output node, and which senses an AC voltage swing derived from the AC input voltage with the positive input node and the negative input node, and provides an AC voltage swing between the high-impedance control and control-reference nodes that is greater than the AC voltage swing derived from the AC input voltage.
US09515568B2 Power converter with a first string having diodes and a second string having switching units
A power converter is presented. The power converter includes at least one leg, the at least one leg includes a first string, where the first string includes a plurality of diodes, a first connecting node, and a second connecting node, and where the first string is operatively coupled across a first bus and a second bus. Furthermore, the at least one leg includes a second string operatively coupled to the first string via the first connecting node and the second connecting node, where the second string includes a plurality of switching units.
US09515567B2 Radio frequency power source having precise power detector
A radio frequency (RF) power source having a precise power detector includes a RF signal generator, a RF power amplifying circuit, a power supply circuit, and a precise power detector. The precise power detector includes a voltage mutual inductor, a current mutual inductor, a precise detecting module, and a microcontroller integrated with an analog-digital (A/D) converter and a micro-processing unit, wherein the voltage mutual inductor and the current mutual inductor are respectively connected with the precise detecting module. The precise detecting module includes an add circuit, a subtraction circuit, a rectification circuit, and a filtering-amplifying circuit, wherein the add circuit and the subtraction circuit are respectively connected with the rectification circuit, the rectification circuit connects to the filtering-amplifying circuit, the filtering-amplifying circuit connects to the microcontroller integrated with the A/D converter and the micro-processing unit.
US09515565B2 Hybrid high voltage direct current converter systems
A hybrid HVDC converter system includes at least one alternating current (AC) conduit, at least one transformer coupled to said at least one AC conduit, and at least one direct current (DC) conduit. The hybrid HVDC converter system also includes at least one capacitor commutated converter (CCC) configured to convert AC voltages and AC currents to a DC voltage and DC current. The at least one CCC is coupled to the at least one AC conduit through the at least one transformer. The hybrid HVDC converter system further includes at least one self-commutated converter (SCC) configured to convert AC voltages and AC currents to a regulated DC voltage and DC current. The at least one SCC includes at least one AC/DC stage and at least one DC/DC stage coupled to the at least one AC/DC stage.
US09515563B2 Power module and distributed power supply apparatus having the same
There are a power module and a distributed power supply apparatus having the same. The power module includes: a power factor correction stage switching input power to correct a power factor thereof; a DC/DC conversion stage switching the power of which the power factor has been corrected by the power factor correction stage to convert the power into preset DC power; a control unit controlling the power factor correction stage and the DC/DC conversion stage to perform a power conversion operation in a preset powered mode and stopping the power conversion operation of the DC/DC conversion stage in a preset idle mode; and a reference voltage supply unit supplying a preset reference voltage to the DC/DC conversion stage in the idle mode.
US09515562B2 LLC resonant converters
A resonant tank comprises a resonant inductor coupled to a switching network and a transformer, a resonant capacitor coupled to the switching network and the transformer, a first parallel inductor implemented as a magnetizing inductance and a second parallel inductor implement as a separate inductor, wherein a first inductance of the first parallel inductor is greater than a second inductance of the second parallel inductor.
US09515557B2 Step-up step-down converter device
In a step-up step-down converter device, a diode is connected in parallel to a switch connecting a positive pole side and a negative pole side for stepping up and stepping down an input voltage, a diode is connected in parallel to a switch in a positive pole side of a closed circuit constructed between an input direct voltage and an output side load, and a control circuit detecting an output voltage generates 1st Phase PWM and 2nd Phase PWM obtained by logically adding and multiplying two difference values having phase difference in comparison with a triangle waveform signal which is 180 degrees different in phase from an error signal based on a difference value between the output voltage and a target reference voltage, and alternately turns on and off switches respectively by using 1st Phase PWM or 2nd Phase PWM at the step-down or step-down operation time.
US09515552B2 Voltage regulator and voltage regulating method and chip using the same
A voltage regulator with an on/off control on the control terminal of the power transistor of the voltage regulator. The power transistor of the voltage regulator drives the conversion from a first voltage to a second voltage. The voltage regulator provides a power-saving switch at the control terminal of the power transistor, and includes a power-saving control circuit controlling the power-saving switch. When the power-saving switch is turned on, the control signal for the power transistor is conveyed into the control terminal of the power transistor. When the power-saving switch is turned off, the connection between the control signal for the power transistor and the control terminal of the power transistor broken.
US09515548B2 Charge pump systems and methods
Charge pump systems and methods for the operation thereof can be configured for delivering charge to a primary circuit node. A sequential charging pattern of at least a subset of a series-connected plurality of charge-pump stages connected between a supply voltage node and the primary circuit node can be selectively initiated. For example, the sequential charging pattern can be initiated one time for every N cycles of a given clock signal, wherein N is a selectively adjustable integer value greater than or equal to 1.
US09515545B2 Power conversion with external parameter detection
In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes driving an electronic switch in a switched-mode power converter in successive drive cycles, wherein driving the switch in each of the drive cycles comprises switching on the electronic for an on-period and subsequently switching off the electronic switch for an off-period, and measuring an operation parameter of the switched-mode power converter during the on-periods of the drive cycles, and storing the operation parameter measured in an on-period if a duration of the on-period met a predefined criteria. The method further includes forcing the on-period of a drive cycle to meet the predefined criteria if the operation parameter has not been stored for a predefined number of drive cycles, or for a pre-defined time duration.
US09515543B2 Method for operating a power converter module and a device therefor
The present disclosure relates to methods, a system and a module for operating a power converter module. The power converter module comprises a voltage converter, an output circuitry, and a processing circuitry operable for controlling the voltage converter. One method comprises transmitting a first status signal representing operating parameters of the voltage converter to the processing circuitry. Determining whether the first status signal of the voltage converter is acceptable. The method also comprises transmitting a second status signal representing the operating parameters of the output circuitry to the processing circuitry. The method also comprises determining if the second status signal is above a predetermined threshold value. When the second status signal is above said predetermined threshold value and the status of the voltage converter is acceptable, entering a peak output mode operating the voltage converter at maximum power dissipation.
US09515541B2 Audio resonance vibrator
An audio resonance vibrator includes a bracket, an elastic frame cooperatively with the bracket forming a housing having a receiving space, a magnetic circuit unit and a vibrating unit accommodated in the receiving space. The vibrating unit includes a vibrating plate and a coil assembly. The elastic frame further includes a bottom, a side wall extending vertically from the bottom, a supporting portion extending inwardly from the sidewall along a direction parallel to the bottom wall of the elastic frame, a slot formed between the bottom of the elastic frame for receiving the vibrating plate.
US09515540B2 Linear vibrator
A linear vibrator includes a housing providing an internal space; a fixed part including a coil fixed to the housing to be disposed in the internal space; a vibrating part including a magnet disposed to face the coil and generating electromagnetic force by interacting with the coil; and an elastic member having one end fixed to the housing and the other end fixed to the vibrating part to elastically support the vibrating part, wherein the elastic member includes a first fixed part fixed to the housing, a second fixed part fixed to the vibrating part, and a deformable part connecting the first fixed part and the second fixed part to each other and elastically deformed, and the first fixed part includes a welded part being welded and coupled to the housing at the outside of a portion of the first fixed part to which the deformable part is connected.
US09515539B2 Three-phase electric motor with a low detent torque
The disclosure relates to a three-phase electric motor that uses high magnetic energy permanent magnets and that has a low detent torque. The motor consists of a rotor with N pairs of poles and of a stator portion with teeth extending radially from an annular gear. The teeth have windings and the ends thereof comprise an arc of circle, the middle of which is located on a radius R1 and two sides defining an alpha angle, the vertex of which is located on a radius R2. The ratio R2/R1 is substantially equal to (1+/−0.26/N), and the alpha angle is between 110 and 135°.
US09515538B2 Dynamoelectric machine assemblies having memory for use by external devices
A method is provided for storing data from an external device in a dynamoelectric machine assembly (i.e., an electric motor or generator). The dynamoelectric machine assembly includes a memory device and a processor for controlling operation of the dynamoelectric machine assembly in response to commands from an external device. The method includes receiving a command from the external device to store data in the memory device of the dynamoelectric machine assembly, and storing the data in the memory device in response to the command. Dynamoelectric machine assemblies, external devices and systems suitable for use in the provided method are also disclosed.
US09515537B2 Motor having a sensor magnet and a structure to mount the same
A motor includes a rotation shaft having a first recessed portion. The first recess portion includes a bottom surface and a wall surface and a second recessed portion formed in the bottom surface. A rotor having a first magnet surrounds the rotation shaft and rotates together with the rotation shaft. A detector includes a second magnet mounted in the first recessed portion and detects rotation of the rotor.
US09515536B2 Cooling system for an asynchronous rotor
A cage rotor for an synchronous machine includes a laminated rotor core, shorting bars arranged inside the laminated rotor core, shorting rings which are cast onto the laminated rotor core and which electrically interconnect the shorting bars to front sides of the laminated rotor core, and heat pipes introduced into the laminated rotor core in the axial direction such that they protrude onto the front side from the laminated rotor core and protrude into the shorting rings.
US09515535B2 Transformer including a contactless signal connection
An improved transformer (130) for use in a power tool (100) is disclosed, where the power tool (100) comprises a stationary body (110) and a shaft (120) being movable in relation to said body (110). The transformer (130) comprises a stator (210) being fixed in relation to said body (110) and including one or more stator windings (216). The transformer (130) also comprises a rotor (220) being movable with said shaft and including one or more rotor windings (226). A magnetic field B is shared by said one or more stator and rotor windings (216, 226) and is used for creating a contactless signal connection between said body and at least one sensor of said shaft. According to the present invention, the stator (210) and the rotor (220) are arranged for forming a mutual geometrical relationship such that said contactless signal connection is provided for different positions in both an axial direction A and a rotational direction R of said shaft.FIG. 2c.
US09515529B2 Method and apparatus for permanent magnet attachment in an electromechanical machine
An apparatus and method for the installation and removal of permanent magnets in a permanent magnet electromechanical machine, for example a wind turbine power unit generator. A magnet holder is mounted on a magnet carrying structure such as a rotor. Permanent magnets may be inserted into and removed from the magnet holder after the electromechanical machine is assembled. The magnet holders define passages for airflow between the inside top and magnet surface. In this manner, permanent magnets may be installed on the magnet carrying structure and provided with additional cooling via said passages. Further, the holders may be configured to secure the magnets by an interference fit, without using bolts or adhesives, to facilitate both assembly and removal for maintenance and repair.
US09515527B2 Electric motor and production method for the electric motor
A plurality of lamination steel sheets that form a rotor core are stacked so that the lamination steel sheets are angularly shifted from each other, and a plurality of cavities are formed. Permanent magnets are molded and disposed in the cavities by injection molding. Each permanent magnet has a uniform plate thickness, and is bent with respect to an axial direction so as to have a triangular wave shape or an S shape. The permanent magnets are magnetized after being disposed in the cavities. The paired magnet pieces have poles of the same polarity, which face each other in the circumferential direction of a rotor, and each of the magnet pieces is magnetized in directions of normals to a surface of the magnet piece, the surface having a linear sectional shape.
US09515525B2 Electric motor
An electric motor has a supplementary field magnet including a magnetization coil, a yoke serving as a magnetic path for magnetic flux produced by the magnetization coil, and a variable magnet. The supplementary field magnet is arranged on one axial end side of the rotor with a gap. A rotor core is provided with first projections projecting toward one axial end side of the electric motor from first magnetic pole portions, and second projections projecting toward the one axial end side from second magnetic pole portions and arranged radially inward of the first projections. The yoke includes an outer magnetic pole portion axially opposed to the first projections, and an inner magnetic pole portion axially opposed to the second projections such that an annular gap is formed between the inner magnetic pole portion and the outer magnetic pole portion.
US09515522B2 Method and apparatus for secure energy delivery
A solar power conversion device has an embedded security module for creating trusted metering data in relation to power generated and for delivering it to a metering data output. The security module might for example be constructed as an integrated circuit card constructed using semiconductor chip fabrication and assembly techniques to be integral with the solar power conversion device. The device might comprise more than one solar cell mounted on a panel to form an array. There may further be provided a panel management module for collating data, for instance from multiple cells, prior to transmission over a network via the metering output. The panel management module might comprise for example a subscriber identity module and the metering data output may provide associated mobile telephone endpoint technology so that the metering data can be transmitted over an air interface.
US09515518B2 Ideal diode
An active switch for electrically connecting and disconnecting a power source such as an energy harvester to a charge storage device is disclosed. The active switch allows a minimal amount of reverse back current flow from the charge storage device to the power source having a high off-resistance.
US09515515B2 Contactless charging system and contactless charging method
A contactless charging system of the disclosure includes a transmitting unit having a primary coil and a receiving unit having a secondary coil and which charges a battery electrically connected to the secondary coil by the electromagnetic induction generated between the primary coil and the secondary coil and which supplements the charging efficiency of the battery by varying a charging frequency used in the electromagnetic induction in proportion to the charging efficiency of the battery that varies according to the position of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil. In addition, a contactless charging method of the disclosure includes a step of detecting a charging frequency when a charging operation is performed by enabling the primary coil to get close to the secondary coil, and a step of outputting the charging efficiency of the battery acquired from the detected charging frequency such that a user may know the charging efficiency.
US09515514B2 Wireless power transmitting unit, wireless power receiving unit, and control methods thereof
A control method of a wireless power receiving unit receiving charging power from a wireless power transmitting unit to perform wireless charging is provided. The control method includes receiving the charging power from the wireless power transmitting unit; detecting a change in a wireless charging environment; generating a message notifying of the change in the wireless charging environment; and transmitting the message notifying of the change in the wireless charging environment to the wireless power transmitting unit.
US09515511B1 System and circuit for recharging large capacity batteries
A system and circuit for recharging a battery using an AC power source. A tuned circuit is created using a capacitor, an inductor, a rectifier and the battery being recharged. The rectifier and battery combine to create circuitry that is equivalent to an AC component. The equivalent circuitry is in series with the inductor. The capacitor is in parallel with the inductor and equivalent circuitry. The resultant circuit is tuned and can be operated at a resonance frequency. In operation, the tuned circuit provides a recharging current to the battery without the need for a transformer or current resistive elements. The result is a recharging system and circuit that is smaller, lighter and far more power efficient than prior art battery chargers.
US09515509B2 Electronic device system and battery pack
There is provided an electronic device system including a plurality of battery packs, and an electronic device that is driven by a power source supplied from the battery packs. At least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs outputs one or both of discharge information indicating whether the battery pack is dischargeable and charge information indicating whether the battery pack is chargeable, and the electronic device includes a control unit that performs one or both of control of discharge of the battery pack based on the discharge information and control of charge of the battery pack based on the charge information.
US09515505B2 Charging method and charging device using the same
A charging method is provided for charging a battery unit. Firstly, a current change amount is set, and a predetermined time interval is determined according to characteristics of the battery unit. When the charging device is enabled, a charging current with a constant current value is provided to charge the battery unit. If a detected parameter of the battery unit reaches the threshold value, a constant charging voltage is provided to the battery unit. Moreover, the current value of the charging current is decreased by the current change amount. The number of times the current change amount is decreased is determined according to a predetermined counting value. That is, the current value of the charging current is stepwise decreased according to a time control mechanism.
US09515503B2 Battery monitoring device and battery monitoring system
A battery monitoring system includes a clock input terminal, a data input terminal, a communication control circuit receiving the clock signal and the data signal from the clock input terminal and the data input terminal, respectively, a main power regulator controlled by the communication control circuit to supply and stop supplying main power, a charge circuit charged by the clock signal, and a sub power regulator started by a charge voltage of the charge circuit to supply a sub power to the communication control circuit. The communication control circuit controls the main power regulator with the data signal when the sub power is received from the sub power regulator.
US09515501B2 Battery charger and charging terminal structure
The battery charger has a socket that is tubular, has a bottom, and accepts a rechargeable battery inserted to the socket. At least one side wall of the socket is an inclined surface that is inclined to the vertical when a bottom of the battery charger is placed on a horizontal surface. A charging terminal of the battery charger is disposed on this side wall.
US09515493B2 Power feeding coil unit and wireless power transmission device
A power feeding coil unit includes a first power feeding coil and a second power feeding coil that generate a first magnetic flux, a first auxiliary coil that generates a second magnetic flux interlinking with the first power feeding coil, and a second auxiliary coil that generates a third magnetic flux interlinking with the second power feeding coil. An axial direction of the first auxiliary coil is nonparallel to an axial direction of the first power feeding coil, and an axial direction of the second auxiliary coil is nonparallel to an axial direction of the second power feeding coil. A direction of circulation of the second and third magnetic fluxes are opposite to a direction of circulation of the first magnetic flux.
US09515488B2 Dynamic means for correcting for load imbalance and harmonic distortion
A method and apparatus are directed to a dynamic means for correcting imbalance and harmonic distortion in an electrical system. In one embodiment, the device includes an imbalance and harmonics measurement module configured to measure power parameters for determining imbalance and harmonics within the electrical three-phase system. Within this system a series of capacitors are configured to respond to measured demands reported and designated to correct for imbalance and harmonics distortion. The device is networked among various source load controllers are responsible for designating master and slave relationships within the closed system.
US09515483B2 Circuit arrangements for electronically controlled DC grids
Switching and switchover devices for DC networks make it possible to realize, particularly in the event of faults, rapid and reliable switching processes in combination with good overvoltage damping and low energy losses during normal operation. The switching devices furthermore have short turn-off times and require no cooling since they have no on-state power losses during normal operation.
US09515474B2 Power off device for cutting off supply of electric power through sensing of various arc and overload
Disclosed is a power off device which includes a micro arc detector for turning on a first switching element, based on a voltage induced in a high frequency choke coil by a high frequency pulse current caused by micro arc at a power line, a high current arc detector for outputting a high current arc detection current during turning-on of a second switching element made based on variation of a magnetic field generated at a coil, a delay unit for accumulatively charging the micro arc detection current or the high current arc detection current in a delay capacitor at a predetermined time constant, a power off unit for electrically disconnecting a load from the power line when an operating voltage is applied, and a first switch for connecting the operating voltage to the power off unit in response to the arc detection signal.
US09515473B2 Electric wire holding device and wire harness
An electric wire holding device is composed of an electric wire holding member made of a resin to hold an electric wire, a cylindrical member made of an electrically conductive metal, including an inner surface to be mated around and receive at least a mating portion of the electric wire holding member, and a plurality of protrusions formed around an outer circumference of the at least mating portion of the electric wire holding member for the cylindrical member to be mated therearound. The plurality of protrusions are brought into contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical member.
US09515471B2 Plug and socket pure gas insulated wall bushing for HVDC and UHV
The invention relates to the domains of power electronics and electric power transmission systems and concerns a new structure for wall bushings for High and Ultra High Voltage AC or DC applications. The wall bushing is remarkable as it can be assembled as a kit of two replaceable modules: a plug type module (20) and a socket type module (30) whose central conductors (15a,15b) are connected by a joint that allows their thermal expansion.
US09515466B2 Cable assembly holding apparatus
The present invention concerns a cable assembly holding apparatus realized to hold a cable assembly between an upper level of an offshore facility and a lower level, comprising a set of open tubes, wherein an open tube comprises a longitudinal slit along its length, through which the cable assembly is introduced into the open tube. The invention further concerns an offshore facility comprising the cable assembly holding apparatus and a method of suspending the cable assembly from an upper level of an offshore facility.
US09515465B2 Construction site hanging device and use thereof
A device that can be removable secured inside a metal stud at a construction site is described. The device can include a securement device such as a hook that can hang/support tools at the job site such as electrical cords. Installing the inexpensive hanging device at a desired elevation in a few seconds can improve safety at a construction site and can protect tools from damage due to placement on the floor or on an unstable perch.
US09515453B2 Mounting layer for cooling structure
The invention describes a mounting layer (200) for mounting at least two light emitting semiconductor devices. The mounting layer (200) comprises corner protrusion (205) and edge protrusion (210) for aligning the mounting layer (200) to the cooling structure (100). The mounting layer (200) further comprises aligning holes (215) defining mounting areas (270) for mounting the light emitting semiconductor devices. The mounting layer (200) enables, for example, manufacturing of a μ-channel cooler with mounting areas (270) by means of one direct bonding process. Tolerances may thus be reduced. The invention further describes a cooling structure (100) like a μ-channel cooler comprising such a mounting layer (200) and a light emitting structure comprising such a cooling structure (100). Furthermore, methods of manufacturing such a mounting layer (200), cooling structure (100) and light emitting structure are described.
US09515450B2 Amplifying optical fiber and optical amplifier
A plurality of cores 51 is disposed around the center axis of a first cladding 52 in a state in which an inter-core distance Λ of cores adjacent to each other is equal, a refractive index n1 of the core 51 is provided higher than a refractive index n2 of the first cladding 52, and the refractive index n2 of the first cladding 52 is provided higher than a refractive index n3 of a second cladding 53. Moreover, 5.8≦Λ/MFD(2λc/(λc+λop))≦8 is satisfied, where the inter-core distance is defined as Λ, a mode field diameter of the core is defined as MFD, a cutoff wavelength is defined as λc, and a wavelength of communication light incident on the core 51 is defined as λop.
US09515449B2 Metal-insulator-metal waveguide for nano-lasers and optical amplifiers
A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure for nano-lasers or optical amplifiers is described. The structure comprises a substrate on which are supported first and second metal layers which form electrical contacts for the waveguide. A narrow ridge of low-band gap semiconductor core, which forms the optical gain material, is sandwiched between the two metal layers. The semiconductor core is surrounded on both sides by a low refractive index material which is also sandwiched between the two metal layers. First and second layers of thin higher-band gap doped semiconductor material are provided between the respective first and second metal layers and the low-band gap semiconductor core and the low refractive index material. The optical mode that propagates down this waveguide is localized in the center of the waveguide structure where the narrow ridge of low-band gap semiconductor core is.
US09515444B2 Corrugated solder pre-form and method of use
A solder pre-form for soldering a coaxial cable to a connector body is provided with a plurality of flux grooves on a cable side and a connector side. The solder pre-form may also have a plurality of holes between the cable and connector sides. In a method of use, flux is applied to the flux grooves and the solder pre-form applied to encircle the outer conductor which is then inserted into the connector body and the solder pre-form melted to complete the solder interconnection. Where holes are present, flux may be applied to the connector side, passing through the holes also to the cable side.
US09515441B2 Cable connector grouping apparatus
The embodiments relate to an apparatus allowing for the insertion and removal of multiple like and/or unlike connectors simultaneously without requiring permanent connector modification. The apparatus includes at least a first housing and a second housing. The first housing receives a first connector and the second housing receives a second connector. The first housing has a first variable aperture and the second housing has a second variable aperture. The first aperture is adjusted by a first retainer to hold the first connector in the first housing. The second aperture is adjusted by a second retainer to hold the second connector in the second housing. The first housing has a first exterior wall sized to receive and secure a second exterior wall of the second housing to form an assembly of the connectors.
US09515438B1 Electrical connector with improved terminal set
An electrical connector with improved terminal set comprising having an insulation seat; a first and a second terminal sets joined respectively with the insulation seat, the first and the second terminal sets comprising having respectively an alignment terminal, multiple first terminals and multiple second terminals, each of the alignment terminal, the first and the second terminals having a contacting portion, a bending portion and a welding portion; each of the first and the second terminals being provided respectively on two sides of each of the alignment terminals, and the contacting portion and the bending portion for each of the first and the second terminals having a deflecting portion connected therebetween; and a metal shell covering the insulation seat, the first terminal set and the second terminal set.
US09515435B2 Retractable USB connector with a swinging member pivotally disposed on an inner housing
A retractable USB connector includes an outer housing case, an inner housing case, and a positioning assembly. The outer housing case has an opening. The inner housing case includes a USB connector disposed at a first end of the inner housing case, a press portion disposed at a second end of the inner housing case, and the inner housing case disposed in the outer housing case. The positioning assembly is disposed between the outer housing case and the inner housing case. The positioning assembly includes a swinging member defining a positioning sliding-track and a guiding column, disposed in the positioning sliding-track. When the guiding column is located at a positioning area of the positioning sliding-track, the positioning assembly fixes the relative position of the outer housing case with respect to the inner housing case, and the USB connector is protruded from the opening of the outer housing case.
US09515431B2 Device for connecting battery module electrode terminal and terminal
Provided is an apparatus for connecting between an electrode terminal of a battery module and a terminal capable of electrically connecting the electrode terminal and the terminal to each other by being press-fitted onto an outer side of the electrode terminal protruding outwardly of the battery module. The apparatus for connecting between an electrode terminal of a battery module and a terminal includes a socket terminal inserted and closely adhered onto the outer side of the electrode terminal and a socket coupled and closely adhered onto an outer side of the socket terminal and coupled to the terminal, such that the electrode terminal and the terminal are electrically connected to each other by the socket terminal and the socket.
US09515429B2 High speed electrical connector
An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector. Each electrical connector can include a plurality of electrical ground shields that at least partially surround respective differential signal pairs. The electrical connectors can be constructed so as to reduce cross-talk between adjacent signal pairs. For example, the first electrical connector can include a connector housing defining an end that is configured to be mounted to a substrate. The ground shields can define a body that extends through the connector housing, such that the ground shields extend through the end so as to be disposed between the end and the substrate when the connector is mounted to the substrate.
US09515426B2 Electrical connector and communication device
The disclosure provides an electrical connector and a communication device. The electrical connector includes an insulator, on which at least one docking socket and at least one module socket are provided; a housing provided outside the insulator; a plug-in module provided on the insulator; and a signal display unit, which comprises a signal display circuit board, at least one SMD (surface-mounted-device) LED electrically coupled to the signal display circuit board, and at least two connection terminals electrically coupled to the signal display circuit board used to transmit signal of the signal display unit.
US09515422B2 Electrical connector having an integrated impedance equalisation element
The present invention relates to an electrical connector having an electrically insulating contact carrier and at least one electrically conductive contact element which is provided with an impedance equalization element. In particular, the present invention relates to an electrical connector which has defined impedance properties, both with and without shielding. In order to adjust the impedance of the connector (100) in at least a portion of the region in which the at least one contact element (104) is arranged, at least one impedance equalization element (112) is provided on the contact carrier (102) and integrated therewith, wherein the impedance equalization element (112) has an electrically conductive, substantially planar structure, which is arranged with respect to the at least one contact element (104) with a predetermined spacing which is dependent on the impedance value to be adjusted.
US09515419B2 High power rechargeable flashlight with two way universal serial BUS
A bidirectional universal serial bus (USB) adapter port that can be integrated into a rechargeable battery operated flashlight or other rechargeable battery operated device. The invention utilizes a micro-controller to convert a single USB adapter port into either an input device or an output device. A high power rechargeable flashlight with bidirectional USB adapter port is capable of recharging external electronic devices, as well as recharging itself through the same port.
US09515418B2 Energy receiving port device of vehicle
Technical problem to be solved is to provide an energy receiving port device 3 which makes movement of a supply gun 10 to a removing direction during energy supplying impossible only by a lid 5 for opening and closing a receiving port part 4, and improve a situation in which the receiving port part 5 is widely opened during the supplying. The lid 5 for opening and closing the receiving port part 4 comprises a first lid 5a and a second lid 5b that form a plane lid when the lids are closed. An opening and closing device 6a of the first lid 5a and an opening and closing device 6b of the second lid 5b are provided. The supply gun 10 connected to the receiving port 8 is pinched by the first lid 5a and the second lid 5b to make a movement in a removing direction of the supply gun 10 impossible.
US09515416B2 Card edge connector with a reliable locking piece
A card edge connector for receiving a memory card includes an insulative housing with a central slot for receiving the memory card and a plurality of terminal contacts retained in a plurality of grooves defined by the insulative housing and a retainer positioned on the housing. The retainer defines a body portion mounted on the housing, a locking portion extending into the housing from the body portion and a elastic engaging portion extending downwardly into the central slot from inner side of the body portion for steadily locking the memory card.
US09515413B2 Connector with rubber plug having insertion hole to receive part of mating housing that deforms plug toward wire
A connector is provided with a first housing including a plurality of cavities and a passage hole, a rubber plug having a plurality of sealing holes through which wires are insertable in a liquid tight manner is mounted in the first housing. A second housing is connected to the first housing and includes a wrench preventing portion configured to regulate the connection of the second housing in an inclined posture to the first housing by being inserted into the passage hole at the time of the connection. The rubber plug includes an insertion hole which is expanded by the insertion of a tip part of the wrench preventing portion inserted through the passage hole at the time of the connection and applies a compression force to the sealing holes in a direction to be in closer contact with the wires when being expanded.
US09515411B2 Connector with lever
A connector assembly has first and second connectors (10, 40). The first connector (10) has a housing (11) with a terminal accommodating portion (13) for accommodating terminal fittings (12) and a lever accommodating portion (14). The second connector (40) has a receptacle (44) for receiving the first connector (10). A lever (30) is provided in the lever accommodating portion (14) and can be operated to connect or separate the connectors (10, 40). Guide grooves (15) are provided between the terminal accommodating portion (13) and the lever accommodating portion (14) and guide ribs (48) project on an inner peripheral surface of the receptacle (44). The guide ribs (48) engage in the guide grooves (15) to prevent the connectors (10, 40) from inclining during a connecting operation.
US09515410B2 Connector with a slider releasably locked to a housing by a resilient stopper having two points of support for resilient deflection
In the process of connecting first and second housings (10, 90), a slider (60) is kept at an advanced position by locking a resilient stopper (76) and a stopper receiving portion (25), and springs (80) accumulate spring forces. The resilient stopper (76) and the stopper receiving portion (25) are released as the housings (10, 90) are connected and the slider (60) is moved to a retracted position while being biased by the springs (80). The resilient stopper (76) projects from a base end (52) to a tip (51) and has a first support (54) at the base end (52) to function as a support of deflection when starting deflection in the process of connecting the first and second housings (10, 90) and a second support (58) closer to the tip (51) than the base end (52) to function as a support of deflection following the first support (54).
US09515408B2 Latch assemblies for connector systems
A connector system includes a cartridge having a cavity configured to hold one or more connector modules therein. The cartridge has a port opening to the cavity. The cartridge receiving the one or more connector modules through the port. The connector system includes a release mechanism housed in the cavity. The release mechanism configured to eject the one or more connector modules when actuated. The connector system includes a release button exposed beyond the cartridge and operably coupled to the release mechanism. The release button being pressed to an actuated position to activate the release mechanism. The release button is configured to be in a locked position to avoid inadvertent activation thereof.
US09515406B2 Electrical connector with improved electrical contacts
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a number of electrical contacts. The insulative housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and a number of side walls. The side walls form a number of passageways extending through the insulative housing. The electrical contacts are received in the passageways and each includes a contacting portion, a tail portion and a main portion connecting with the contacting portion and the tail portion. The main portion is provided with a first fastening means for engaging with the side wall and a second fastening means for engaging with the top wall so as to secure the electrical contacts to the insulative housing.
US09515405B2 Electrical connector assembly with metallic plate
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly comprising: an insulative housing; a metallic plate formed in the insulative housing; a first terminal module formed on a top surface of the insulative housing; a second terminal module formed on a bottom surface of the insulative housing; and a metallic shell assembled to and formed around the insulative housing.
US09515402B1 Structures for edge-to-edge coupling with flexible circuitry
Techniques and mechanisms for coupling a flexible circuit device to another device. In an embodiment, a substrate includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where first contacts of a hardware interface are disposed on the first side, and second contacts of the hardware interface are disposed on the second side. First interconnects and second interconnects variously extend in the substrate, where the first contacts are coupled via the first side each to a respective one of the first interconnects, and the second contacts are coupled via the second side each to a respective one of the second interconnects. In another embodiment, the substrate is one of a flexible substrate and a printed circuit board substrate, where the first interface is configured to couple the substrate, in an edge-to-edge configuration, with the other of a flexible substrate and a printed circuit board substrate.
US09515401B1 Elastomeric electrical connector structure joining two hardware planes at right angles to each other
Disclosed aspects relate to an elastomeric electrical connector structure. A first physical hardware plane has a first group of electrical contacts to establish a first portion of a set of electrical connections. A second physical hardware plane has a second group of electrical contacts to establish a second portion of the set of electrical connections. The elastomeric electrical connector structure is to join the first and second portions of the set of electrical connections. The elastomeric electrical connector structure includes a first state having a first distance between the first and second physical hardware planes, and a second state having a second distance between the first and second physical hardware planes. The first distance exceeds the second distance.
US09515398B2 Mechanical spacer with non-spring electrical connections for a multiple printed circuit board assembly
A spacer and electrical connector assembly for printed circuit boards includes a first member to be placed between two of the printed circuit boards to provide a required spacing between the printed circuit boards. The assembly also includes at least one second member disposed adjacent to the first member, the second member extending along a length of the first member and at least partially bracketing an upper surface and a lower surface of the first member, thereby providing an electrical connection between the printed circuit boards. A plurality of contact portions that respectively receive the second member may be disposed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces.
US09515394B2 Insulation displacement contact and connector
An insulation displacement connection contact has a base plate extending along a longitudinal axis and having a mating end and an opposite terminating end. The base plate has a contacting portion positioned proximate to the mating end, a plate-like wire supporting portion integrally extending outward from the base plate at the terminating end, and an insulation displacement connection member positioned between the contacting portion and the wire supporting portion, proximate to the terminating end.
US09515390B1 Discrete phased electromagnetic reflector based on two-state elements
An electromagnetic reflector for reflecting an electromagnetic signal is provided based on meta-surface phase control using photo-capacitive materials, varactors or other tuning means. The shape of the metamaterial unit cell enhances the resonance and phase shift. The reflector includes first and second cells having respective first and second phase states, along with a switch for selecting between the first and second cells.
US09515389B2 Wide angle planar antenna assembly
Exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure are related to an antenna system including radiating elements and reflectors. The reflectors can be disposed with respect to the radiating elements to reflect radiation from the radiating elements to generate a coverage area that exceeds the coverage area generated by the radiating elements without the reflectors.
US09515387B2 Multi-input multi-output antenna with electromagnetic band-gap structure
A MIMO (Multi-Input Multi-Output) antenna includes a system ground plane, an antenna ground plane, an EBG (Electromagnetic Band-Gap) structure, a first antenna element, and a second antenna element. The antenna ground plane overlaps a first portion of the system ground plane. The EBG structure is formed on a second portion of the system ground plane. The first antenna element and the second antenna element are both disposed in proximity to the EBG structure, but substantially extend in different directions.
US09515383B2 Compact antenna structure for satellite telecommunications
An antenna structure for telecommunications is provided. The antenna structure may be particularly for satellite telecommunications. The antenna structure includes an emitting surface including at least one set of a plurality of elementary emitting antennas forming an array, at least one elementary emitting antenna including two generally circular patches that are at least partially superimposed, the at least one elementary emitting antenna being dimensioned to emit at least one electromagnetic wave having a frequency between 27 gigahertz and 31 GHz.
US09515381B2 Antenna
An antenna according to an embodiment includes a substrate; a radiator; a ground plane spaced apart from the radiator; a feeding pin for feeding an RF signal; a first branch reactance at one side of the feeding pin, the first branch reactance including one end connected to the substrate and an opposite end connected to the ground plane; and a second branch reactance at an opposite end of the feeding pin, the second branch reactance including one end connected to the substrate and an opposite end connected to the ground plane.
US09515377B2 Antenna apparatus, antenna device and signal transmitting apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention provide an antenna apparatus. The antenna apparatus includes multiple antennas, a switching unit, a grounding layer, connecting lines and a dielectric substrate. The antennas are configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves. The connecting lines are configured to connect the switching unit and the antennas. The switching unit is configured to selectively feed signals to the antennas through the connecting lines. The grounding layer serves as a reference of zero potential, and by setting the shape or size of the grounding layer and the distance from the grounding layer to the antennas, the grounding layer is further configured to restrain a transmitting direction of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the antennas. The dielectric substrate is configured to allow the grounding layer to be printed thereon, and the dielectric substrate is further configured to allow the antennas, the switching unit and the connecting lines.
US09515376B2 Antenna coupler mechanism
Systems and methods are provided for an antenna coupler mechanism. The antenna coupler mechanism includes a first tuning leg, a second tuning leg, and a bottom plate. The first tuning leg includes a first inductive circuit element, the first tuning leg being configured to accept a radio frequency device in series with the first inductive circuit element. The second tuning leg includes a second inductive circuit element and a capacitive circuit element connected in series, the second tuning leg being connected electrically in parallel with the first tuning leg. In addition, the bottom plate includes a third inductive circuit element connected electrically in parallel with the first tuning leg and connected electrically in parallel with the second tuning leg, the bottom plate being configured to couple energy into a nearby structure.
US09515371B2 Antenna mounting assembly for a vehicle with a sloped body panel
Embodiments are provided of antenna mounting assemblies and vehicles that include such assemblies. In one aspect, an antenna mounting base for supporting a vehicle antenna with respect to a vehicle body panel that defines a panel aperture comprises: an antenna mounting portion; a flange extending from a surface of the antenna mounting base; and at least one tab defining a recess with the flange, the recess being sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture.
US09515363B2 Dielectric waveguide (DWG) filter having curved first and second DWG branches where the first branch forms a delay line that rejoins the second branch
Signals on a dielectric waveguide are filtered to pass or block selected frequencies. A combined signal is received in the DWG, wherein the combined signal comprises at least a first frequency signal with a first wavelength and a second frequency signal with a second wavelength. The combined signal is split into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the combined signal is delayed by an amount of delay time to form a delayed first portion. The delayed first portion is joined with the received combined signal to form a filtered signal such that the first frequency signal is enhanced by constructive interference while the second frequency signal is diminished by destructive interference. A portion of the filtered signal is provided to a receiver, whereby the amplitude of the second frequency signal is attenuated in the filtered signal.
US09515361B2 Battery module
A battery module of includes a plurality of cells, a cooling plate, and a channel part formed in the cooling plate. The channel part includes a first channel part extending in an arrangement direction of the plurality of cells, a second channel part extending in parallel to the first channel part along the arrangement direction with a first partition part interposed between the first channel part and the second channel part, and a first communication part which brings one end of the first channel part of the arrangement direction and one end of the second channel part of the arrangement direction into communication with each other, and which turns a flowing direction of coolant in the first channel part and the second channel part.
US09515357B2 Battery thermal management system for electrified vehicle
A battery thermal management system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a heat spreader, a coolant channel attached to the heat spreader and a supply manifold fluidly connected with the coolant channel and configured to supply a heat transfer medium to the coolant channel. A return manifold is fluidly connected with the coolant channel and configured to expel the heat transfer medium from the coolant channel.
US09515356B2 Battery module
The present disclosure provides a battery module comprising: a battery pack having at least one single battery and at least one power splicer; a sampling module having a flexible circuit board, wherein at least one voltage sampling terminal and temperature sensor are disposed on the flexible circuit board, the temperature sensor being connected with the power splicer, the voltage sampling terminal being electrically connected with the power splicer; and a shell to enclose the battery pack and the sampling module.
US09515354B2 Energy store and method of charging or discharging an energy store
An energy store is provided having a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte in between, a first redox pair having a first oxidation reactant and a first oxidation product, and a housing, wherein a fluidic redox pair is present in the housing and comprises a fluidic oxidation reactant and a fluidic oxidation product, wherein during the discharge of the energy store, the fluidic oxidation product is reduced, and wherein during the charging of the energy store, the fluidic oxidation reactant is oxidized, wherein the fluidic redox pair in the housing is gaseous, and a pump or a compressor is adapted such that the fluidic redox pair within the housing is held at a pressure which is above the ambient pressure outside the housing. A method for charging or discharging an energy store is also provided.
US09515348B2 Nonaqueous electrolytic solution and nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery
An object of the invention is to provide a nonaqueous electrolytic solution which is capable of bringing about a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery improved in initial charge capacity, input/output characteristics, and impedance characteristics. The invention relates to a nonaqueous electrolytic solution which comprises: a nonaqueous solvent; LiPF6; and a specific fluorosulfonic acid salt, and to a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery containing the nonaqueous electrolytic solution.
US09515344B2 Doped scandia stabilized zirconia electrolyte compositions
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrolyte composition includes zirconia stabilized with scandia, and at least one of magnesia, zinc oxide, indium oxide, and gallium oxide, and optionally ceria in addition to the oxides above.
US09515343B2 Rechargeable battery
An exemplary embodiment provides a rechargeable battery maintaining a bent state of a case by minimizing a deformation of the case of the bent state. A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment includes an electrode assembly; a case receiving the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing an opening of the case; and an electrode terminal installed to the cap plate and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, wherein the case includes a first curved surface portion bent toward a center of the electrode assembly and a second curved surface portion bent to be far from the center, and a reinforcing member adhered to the first curved surface portion.
US09515334B2 Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control
Fuel cell systems and methods for controlling the operation of components of the fuel cell system, which may include a fuel source and a fuel cell stack. In some examples, a fuel source is adapted to provide supply fuel to a fuel cell stack at a supply pressure. The fuel cell stack produces electric current at a production amperage. In some examples, a control system is adapted to control operation of the fuel cell stack based on a pressure detected at the fuel cell stack. In some examples, a target production amperage is determined based on the detected pressure, such that when electric current is produced at the target production amperage for the detected pressure, the fuel cell stack consumes a predetermined proportion of the supply fuel.
US09515331B2 Fuel cell
A fuel cell including a stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked includes an air manifold and a hydrogen manifold on a first side and a second side of the stack, respectively, a jet array including a tubular body inserted in the air manifold or the hydrogen manifold and a plurality of orifices formed in the tubular body and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the tubular body, a pump or a valve for supplying air or hydrogen to the jet array; and a controller that operates the pump or the valve.
US09515330B2 Fuel cell module
A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the partial oxidation reformer and the exhaust gas combustor are provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The partial oxidation reformer is provided around the exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell module includes a first thermoelectric converter and a second thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion based on a temperature difference between the combustion gas and the oxygen-containing gas.
US09515329B2 Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system including a fuel cell; a cathode air heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between a cathode exhaust gas and the air to be supplied to the cathode to transfer a part of heat energy of the cathode exhaust gas to the air; a desulfurization unit configured to remove a sulfur component from a raw material supplied to the desulfurization unit; and a reformer configured to generate a reformed gas which is the fuel from steam and the raw material from which the sulfur component has been removed by the desulfurization unit; and the cathode exhaust gas which has lost a part of the heat energy by the heat exchange in at least the cathode air heat exchanger, is supplied to the desulfurization unit, to heat the desulfurization unit by the heat energy of the cathode exhaust gas.
US09515327B2 Fuel cell separator, method for manufacturing the fuel cell separator, and fuel cell
A fuel cell separator is provided with an opening that functions as a manifold. A resin coating is formed within the peripheral area of the fuel cell separator, in a state where the power generation area is masked with a masking jig. Subsequently, the masking jig is removed, and a conductive coating is formed within the power generation area of the fuel cell separator, the peripheral area of which has been masked by the resin coating.
US09515323B2 Cathode catalysts for fuel cells
A method of preparation of metal-chalcogen-nitrogen-carbon (M-Ch-N—C) catalytic material utilizing a sacrificial support approach and using inexpensive and readily available precursors is described. Furthermore, the catalytic materials synthesized using the disclosed methods include multiple types of active sites.
US09515322B2 Solid oxide fuel cell
Disclosed is a durable solid oxide fuel cell that is less likely to have a problem of a conventional solid oxide fuel cell that an air electrode containing a peroviskite oxide, when exposed to a reducing atmosphere, is separated at the stop of operation, especially shutdown. The solid oxide fuel cell includes an air electrode that is obtained by firing a compact containing a perovskite oxide and sulfur element. The content of the sulfur element in the air electrode as fresh after firing or before the start of power generation is in the range of 50 ppm to 3,000 ppm. The separation of the air electrode is effectively suppressed at the shutdown operation.
US09515320B2 Cathode material with oxygen vacancy and manufacturing process thereof
A cathode material with oxygen vacancy is provided. The cathode material includes a lithium metal phosphate compound having a general formula LiMPO4−z, wherein M represents at least one of a first-row transition metal, and 0.001≦z≦0.05.
US09515316B2 Method for producing anode active material for secondary battery, anode active material for secondary battery, method for producing anode for secondary battery, anode for secondary battery, and secondary battery
This method for producing an anode active material for a secondary battery is provided with a step for forming titanium dioxide by means of hydrolysis by adding a titanium-containing compound to an acidic aqueous solution, and furthermore, by means of adding a compound containing an alkaline earth metal and a condensed phosphate, the surface of the titanium dioxide is covered by the condensed phosphate containing the alkaline earth metal in a manner so that the amount of elemental phosphorus atoms and the amount of alkaline earth metal are each in the range of 0.1 to 10 mass % with respect to the mass of titanium dioxide, thus synthesizing the anode active material (12).
US09515314B2 Cathode active material comprising lithium manganese-based oxide and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery based upon the same
Disclosed is a cathode active material including a lithium manganese-based oxide. The lithium manganese-based oxide has a spinel structure represented by Formula 1 below and high lithium ion diffusivity since (440) planes are predominantly formed in a crystal structure thereof. Li1+xMyMn2-x-yO4-zQz  (1) In Formula 1, 0≦x≦0.3, 0≦y≦1, and 0≦z≦1, M includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ni, Co, Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Cu, B, Ca, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sr, Sb, W, Ti, and Bi, and Q includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of N, F, S, and Cl.
US09515311B2 Nonaqueous electrolyte battery, battery pack and vehicle
A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a negative electrode including a current collector and a negative electrode active material having a Li ion insertion potential not lower than 0.4V (vs. Li/Li+). The negative electrode has a porous structure. A pore diameter distribution of the negative electrode as determined by a mercury porosimetry, which includes a first peak having a mode diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 μm, and a second peak having a mode diameter of 0.003 to 0.02 μm. A volume of pores having a diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 μm as determined by the mercury porosimetry is 0.05 to 0.5 mL per gram of the negative electrode excluding the weight of the current collector. A volume of pores having a diameter of 0.003 to 0.02 μm as determined by the mercury porosimetry is 0.0001 to 0.02 mL per gram of the negative electrode excluding the weight of the current collector.
US09515307B2 Separator for battery
Disclosed is a separator for a battery. The separator includes a porous film, a first roller, and a second roller. The first and second rollers are associated with both ends of a porous film. The first roller is wound with a portion of the porous film and is configured to rotate to unroll the film. The second roller is configured to rotate in an opposite direction to a rotary direction of the first roller to roll up the film.
US09515306B2 Electric storage apparatus
An electric storage apparatus includes a plurality of electric storage devices, each electric storage device including a cell case in which an electrode assembly is accommodated, the cell case having a substantially hexahedral shape, the cell case being formed with an external terminal on one surface thereof, a first external housing for housing the electric storage devices, the first external housing comprising a pair of first main wall portions that are opposed to each other and a pair of first side wall portions that are opposed to each other, the pair of first main wall portions and the pair of first side wall portions defining a first opening at at least one end in a first direction thereof, and a second external housing for housing the first external housing.
US09515305B2 Connector and battery pack including the same
A battery pack having a connector that is designed to work outdoors or in a moist environment. The battery pack includes a case including a first case attached to a second case to enclose an inner space within, a plurality of rechargeable batteries arranged within the inner space and a connector arranged within the inner space of the case, being exposed to an outside of the battery pack to enable a device external to the battery pack to be electrically connected via the connector to the rechargeable batteries, wherein the connector is arranged to form a waterproof barrier between an outside of the battery pack and a remainder of the inner space of the case not occupied by the connector.
US09515303B2 Battery pack
A battery pack includes a plurality of unit cells; a protective circuit module on the plurality of unit cells and coupled to the unit cells, and an upper cover on the protective circuit module and including openings defined in its sides. Each of the unit cells includes a can, an electrode assembly accommodated in the can, a cap plate coupled to the can, and a holder between the unit cell and the protective circuit module and including protrusions coupled to the openings of the upper cover. The unit cells are oriented side by side along a first direction such that the cap plates are exposed along the same direction, and the protective circuit module includes grooves defined in its sides and corresponding to the protrusions of the holder.
US09515300B2 Electric storage device, covering sheet, and container covering method
There is provided an electric storage device including a power generating element, a housing container for housing the power generating element and including an upper face, a bottom face, and four side faces and a covering member formed by winding an insulating sheet around the housing container. The housing container includes round portions or chamfered portions formed between the adjacent side faces and round or chamfered boundary portions formed between the bottom face and the side faces. The covering member covers parts of the boundary portions, the side faces, and the round portions or the chamfered portions.
US09515298B2 Nonaqueous electrolyte battery and battery pack
According to one embodiment, a nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a container, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode. The container satisfies Formula (1) of 0.15≦(Tmin/Tmax)≦1. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material represented by the composition formula Li1-aNixCoyMnzO2. The negative electrode includes a spinel type lithium titanium oxide. A nominal capacity of the nonaqueous electrolyte battery is in a range of from 5 Ah to 200 Ah. When a state of charge based on the nominal capacity is 50%, an open circuit voltage is in a range of from 2.12 V to 2.24 V.
US09515297B2 Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery unit includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode. The rechargeable battery unit also includes a case accommodating the electrode assembly. The case includes an opening in a first end of the case and at least one groove in the first end of the case. The rechargeable battery unit also includes a cap plate coupled to the first end of the case. The cap plate includes at least one protrusion received in the at least one groove in the case.
US09515292B2 Manufacturing method of organic EL element
A method of manufacturing an organic EL element having a pair of electrodes and an organic functional layer disposed therebetween, the pair of electrodes consisting of an upper electrode and a lower electrode, comprising: forming the upper electrode on the organic functional layer by a magnetron sputtering method with a film-forming power density no less than 4.5 W/cm2 and no greater than 9.0 W/cm2.
US09515284B2 Organic electroluminescence element and production method therefor
The organic electroluminescence element of the present invention includes: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; an element member between the first and second substrates; first and second extension electrodes on first and second inner surfaces of the first and second substrates facing the element member; and an insulating member having an electrically insulating property. The element member includes: a functional layer including a light-emitting layer and having first and second surfaces in a thickness direction; and first and second electrode layers on the respective first and second surfaces of the functional layer. The element member is between the first and second extension electrodes such that parts of the first and second electrode layers are in contact with the first and second extension electrodes respectively. The insulating member is between the first and second inner surfaces of the respective first and second substrates.
US09515283B2 OLED devices with internal outcoupling
Optoelectronic devices with enhanced internal outcoupling include a substrate, an anode, a cathode, an electroluminescent layer, and an electron transporting layer comprising inorganic nanoparticles dispersed in an organic matrix.
US09515282B2 Method for manufacturing a light-emitting electrochemical cell
A method for manufacturing a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) is disclosed. The LEC comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first light-emitting active material in electrical contact with and separating the first and second electrodes. The first active material comprises mobile ions in an amount sufficient for doping the active material. The method comprises a step of depositing the first active material by spray-coating at an ambient gas pressure of at least about 1 kPa.
US09515279B2 Light-emitting element, display module, lighting module, light-emitting device, display device, electronic appliance, and lighting device
A multicolor light-emitting element that utilizes fluorescence and phosphorescence and is advantageous for practical application is provided. The light-emitting element has a stacked-layer structure of a first light-emitting layer containing a host material and a fluorescent substance and a second light-emitting layer containing two kinds of organic compounds and a substance that can convert triplet excitation energy into luminescence. Note that light emitted from the first light-emitting layer has an emission peak on the shorter wavelength side than light emitted from the second light-emitting layer.
US09515278B2 Light-emitting element, display module, lighting module, light-emitting device, display device, electronic device, and lighting device
A tandem light-emitting element in which generation of crosstalk can be suppressed even when the element is applied to a high-definition display is provided. In the tandem light-emitting element, a layer in contact the anode side of an intermediate layer contains 2,9-bis(naphthalen-2-yl)-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (abbreviation: NBPhen).
US09515276B2 Organic X-ray detector and X-ray systems
An organic x-ray detector is presented. The organic x-ray detector includes a layered structure. The layered structure includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) array disposed on a substrate, an organic photodiode disposed on the TFT array, and a scintillator layer disposed on the organic photodiode. The organic x-ray detector further includes an encapsulation cover at least partially encapsulating the layered structure; and an oxygen getter layer disposed between the organic photodiode and the encapsulation cover, wherein the oxygen getter layer includes an ether-containing material. X-ray system including the organic x-ray detector is also presented.
US09515275B2 Inverted organic photosensitive devices
The present disclosure relates to organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices grown in an inverted manner. An inverted organic photosensitive optoelectronic device of the present disclosure comprises a reflective electrode, an organic donor-acceptor heterojunction over the reflective electrode, and a transparent electrode on top of the donor-acceptor heterojunction.
US09515273B2 Thin film transistor with a current-induced channel
A thin film transistor (TFT) includes a hole transport layer having a first side and a second side and an electron transport layer having a first side and a second side. The first side of the electron transport layer is directly interfaced to the second side of the hole transport layer. The electron transport layer includes a material having greater ionization potential and greater electron affinity than the hole transport layer, thereby forming a hole barrier and an electron barrier at the junction between the electron transport layer and the hole transport layer. A channel in the TFT is created by current injected into the electron transport layer from a gate electrode rather than by an electrostatic field generated by voltage applied to the gate electrode. The accumulated charge density in the channel of the TFT can be significantly larger than what can be generated through field effect principle, therefore a much lower gate voltage is needed than in a conventional TFT.
US09515269B2 Compound for organic electric element, organic electric element comprising the same and electronic device thereof
The present invention provides a novel compound capable of improving light emitting efficiency, stability, and lifespan of the element, an organic element using the same, and an electric device for the same.
US09515265B2 Organic light-emitting device
Provided is an organic light-emitting device, including a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; an emission layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first hole transport layer that is disposed between the emission layer and the first electrode and includes a first compound and a first charge-generation material; a second hole transport layer that is disposed between the emission layer and the first hole transport layer and includes a second compound; a third hole transport layer that is disposed between the emission layer and the second hole transport layer and includes a third compound and a second charge-generation material; and a fourth hole transport layer that is disposed between the emission layer and the third hole transport layer and includes a fourth compound. The first, second, third, and fourth compounds are each represented by Formula 1 or 2:
US09515264B2 Method for manufacturing display device and method for manufacturing electronic device
A method for manufacturing a display device is provided. The method includes: forming, between a first substrate and a second substrate, a light-emitting element including an electroluminescence layer and a wiring over which a peeling layer formed by using the material of the electroluminescence layer is provided; and peeling whole of the second substrate from the first substrate so that the peeling layer over the wiring is simultaneously exposed.
US09515263B2 Device and method for depositing organic material
A device for depositing an organic material includes a substrate; a mask having an opening portion and a shield portion; a fixing member for fixing the substrate and the mask to each other; a deposition source comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction and configured to spray the organic material; and a plurality of shield plates near the plurality of nozzles on the deposition source. An angle θ between the substrate and a line extended from a distal end of one of the nozzles to a center of a distal end of a corresponding one of the shield plates is greater than or equal to a taper angle Φ of the shield portion of the mask.
US09515260B2 Method for fabricating electronic device with variable resistance material layer
A method for fabricating an electronic device including a semiconductor memory may include: forming a first interlayer dielectric layer over a substrate to have an opening exposing the substrate; forming a bottom electrode in a portion of the opening to have an exposed top surface; forming a variable resistance material layer along sidewalls of the remaining portion of the opening and the exposed top surface of the bottom electrode; forming a top electrode over the variable resistance material layer so as to fill the opening; etching the first interlayer dielectric layer to a predetermined depth to expose a part of the variable resistance material layer surrounding sidewalls of the top electrode; and removing the part of the variable resistance material layer to form a unit cell.
US09515253B2 Magnetic read head with MR enhancements
A TMR stack or a GMR stack, ultimately formed into a sensor or MRAM element, include insertion layers of Fe or iron rich layers of FeX in its ferromagnetic free layer and/or the AP1 layer of its SyAP pinned layer. X is a non-magnetic, metallic element (or elements) chosen from Ta, Hf, V, Co, Mo, Zr, Nb or Ti whose total atom percent is less than 50%. The insertion layers are between 1 and 10 angstroms in thickness, with between 2 and 5 angstroms being preferred and, in the TMR stack, they are inserted adjacent to the interfaces between a tunneling barrier layer and the ferromagnetic free layer or the tunneling barrier layer and the AP1 layer of the SyAP pinned layer in the TMR stack. The insertion layers constrain interdiffusion of B and Ni from CoFeB and NiFe layers and block NiFe crystalline growth.
US09515251B2 Structure for thermally assisted MRAM
A mechanism is provided for fabricating a thermally assisted magnetoresistive random access memory device. A bottom thermal barrier is formed on a bottom contact. A magnetic tunnel junction is formed on the bottom thermal barrier. The magnetic tunnel junction includes a top ferromagnetic layer formed on a tunnel barrier. The tunnel barrier is formed on a bottom ferromagnetic layer. A top thermal barrier is formed on the top ferromagnetic layer. A top contact is formed on the top thermal barrier. The top contact is reduced to a first diameter. The tunnel barrier and the bottom ferromagnetic layer each have a second diameter. The first diameter of the top contact is smaller than the second diameter.
US09515247B1 Sacrificial shorting straps for superconducting qubits
A technique relates to protecting a tunnel junction. A first electrode paddle and a second electrode paddle are on a substrate. The first and second electrode paddles oppose one another. A sacrificial shorting strap is formed on the substrate. The sacrificial shorting strap connects the first electrode paddle and the second electrode paddle; The tunnel junction is formed connecting the first electrode paddle and the second electrode paddle, after forming the sacrificial shorting strap. The substrate is mounted on a portion of a quantum cavity. The portion of the quantum cavity is placed in a vacuum chamber. The sacrificial shorting strap is etched away in the vacuum chamber while the substrate is mounted to the portion of the quantum cavity, such that the sacrificial shorting strap no longer connects the first and second electrode paddles. The tunnel junction has been protected from electrostatic discharge by the sacrificial shorting strap.
US09515243B2 Temperature sensor
Temperature sensor devices and corresponding methods are provided. A temperature sensor may include a first layer being essentially non-conductive in a temperature range and a second layer having a varying resistance in the temperature range.
US09515239B2 Light-emitting device and light-emitting apparatus
A light-emitting device includes a photoluminescent layer that emits light containing first light, and a light-transmissive layer located on or near the photoluminescent layer. A submicron structure is defined on at least one of the photoluminescent layer and the light-transmissive layer. The submicron structure includes at least projections or recesses. The submicron structure has spatial frequency components distributed at least from more than 0 to 2/Dint(min) as determined by two-dimensional Fourier transform of a pattern of the projections or recesses and satisfies the following relationship: 0.8Dint(min)<λa/nwav-a where Dint(min) is the minimum center-to-center distance between adjacent projections or recesses, λa is the wavelength of the first light in air, and nwav-a is the refractive index of the photoluminescent layer for the first light.
US09515236B2 Optoelectronic component comprising a transparent coupling-out element
What is specified is an optoelectronic component comprising a layer sequence having an active layer, which emits primary electromagnetic radiation, and at least one transparent coupling-out element arranged in the beam path of the primary electromagnetic radiation. The at least one transparent coupling-out element comprises a hybrid material or is produced from a hybrid material.
US09515235B2 Silicone-grafted core-shell particles, polymer matrix, and LED containing same
A silicone-grafted core-shell particle is described wherein the silicone-grafted core-shell particle comprises a core of an inorganic particle and a shell of a grafted poly(dimethylsiloxane) polymer formed from a bi-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) having reactive groups at each terminal end. The silicone-grafted core-shell particles may be dispersed in a polysiloxane polymer matrix and employed as an LED encapsulant.
US09515234B2 LED package and manufacturing method thereof
A light emitting diode package includes a substrate, several light emitting diodes mounted on the substrate, and a package member enveloping the light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes are electrically coupled to the substrate. The package member includes at least two layers, the first layer and the second layer. The first layer is spread on the substrate and completely covers the light emitting diodes and the wires. The second layer is formed on the first layer. Fluidity of colloid forming the second layer is worse than that of the first layer. A method is also provided to manufacture the present light emitting diode package.
US09515232B2 Method of producing a multicolor LED display
A method produces a multicolor LED display, the display including an LED luminous unit having a multiplicity of pixels. First subpixels, second subpixel and third subpixels contain an LED chip that emits radiation of a first color, wherein a first conversion layer that converts the radiation into a second color is arranged at least above the second subpixels and a second conversion layer that converts the radiation into a third color is arranged above the third subpixels. At least one process step is carried out in which the first or second conversion layer is applied or removed in at least one defined region above the pixels, wherein a portion of the LED chips is electrically operated, and wherein the region is defined by the radiation generated by the operated LED chips, generated heat or a generated electric field.
US09515224B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a substrate, a first reflective layer disposed on the substrate and including first openings, a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer grown in and extending from the first openings and connected on the first reflective layer, a second reflective layer disposed on the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and including second openings having lower surfaces disposed to be spaced apart from upper surfaces of the first openings, and a plurality of light-emitting nanostructures including nanocores extending from the second openings and formed of a first conductivity-type semiconductor material, and active layers and second conductivity-type semiconductor layers sequentially disposed on the nanocores.
US09515220B2 Light emitting diode with doped quantum wells and associated manufacturing method
A light emitting diode based on GaN including an active zone located between an n-doped layer and a p-doped layer that together form a p-n junction, wherein the active zone includes at least one n-doped emissive layer.
US09515216B2 Light sensitive switch for semiconductor package tamper detection
Embodiments relate to the detection of semiconductor tampering with a light-sensitive circuit. A tamper detection device for an integrated circuit includes a light-sensitive circuit disposed within a package of an integrated circuit. The light-sensitive circuit closes in response to an exposure to a light source, indicating a tamper condition.
US09515215B2 Efficiency restoration in a photovoltaic cell
The electrical output efficiency of a photovoltaic thermal system can be restored from degradation due to light exposure by annealing a photovoltaic thermal cell at an elevated temperature. The elevated temperature at the photovoltaic thermal cell can be provided by redirecting the flow of a heat exchange fluid to bypass a heat exchanger unit. A boiler unit may be employed to provide additional heating of the heat exchange fluid during the anneal. Further, a variable configuration lid can be provided over a front surface of the photovoltaic thermal cell to control ventilation over the front surface. During the anneal, the position of the variable configuration lid can be set so as to trap heat above the front surface and to elevate the anneal temperature further.
US09515211B2 Schottky barrier detection devices having a 4H-SiC n-type epitaxial layer
A detection device, along with methods of its manufacture and use, is provided. The detection device can include: a SiC substrate defining a substrate surface cut from planar to about 12°; a buffer epitaxial layer on the substrate surface; a n-type epitaxial layer on the buffer epitaxial layer; and a top contact on the n-type epitaxial layer. The buffer epitaxial layer can include a n-type 4H—SiC epitaxial layer doped at a concentration of about 1×1015 cm−3 to about 5×1018 cm−3 with nitrogen, boron, aluminum, or a mixture thereof. The n-type epitaxial layer can include a n-type 4H—SiC epitaxial layer doped at a concentration of about 1×1013 cm−3 to about 5×1015 cm−3 with nitrogen. The top contact can have a thickness of about 8 nm to about 15 nm.
US09515207B2 Organic compound, photovoltaic layer and organic photovoltaic device
The present invention relates generally to the field of photovoltaic devices and particularly to the organic photovoltaic layer. More specifically, the organic photovoltaic layer comprises at least one organic compound of the general structural formula where Het1 and Het2 are predominantly planar polycyclic molecular systems; A is a bridging group providing a lateral bond of the molecular systems; and X is a counterion from a list comprising H+, Li+, Na+, K+, NH4+, Ba++, Zn++, Sr++, Ca++, Mg++, and any combination thereof. The photovoltaic layer is formed of column-like or planar supramolecules, it has absorption of electromagnetic radiation in at least one predetermined spectral subrange within a wavelength range from 400 to 3000 nm, and the molecular system Het1, the bridging group A, and the molecular system Het2 form a donor-bridge-acceptor system providing dissociation of excited electron-hole pairs.
US09515205B2 Method for metallizing textured surfaces
A method for creating electrically conducting or semiconducting patterns on a textured surface including plural reliefs of amplitude greater than or equal to 100 nanometers, including: preparing a substrate during which at least the textured surface of the substrate is made electrically conducting; coating during which at least one layer of an imprintable material is laid on the textured surface, made electrically conducting, of the substrate; pressing a mold including valleys or protrusions to transfer the valleys or the protrusions of the mold into the imprintable material to form patterns therein; removing the mold while leaving the imprint of the patterns in the imprintable material; exposing the textured surface, made electrically conducting, of the substrate, at a bottom of the patterns; and electrically depositing an electrically conducting or semiconducting material into the patterns to form conducting or semiconducting patterns.
US09515203B2 Solar cell and method for manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a solar cell includes: forming a dopant layer by doping a dopant to a semiconductor substrate; and forming an electrode electrically connected to the dopant layer. The forming of the electrode includes forming a metal layer on the dopant layer; and heat-treating the metal layer to form a first layer and a second layer. In the heat-treating of the metal layer, a portion of the metal layer adjacent to the semiconductor substrate forms the first layer including a compound formed by a reaction of the metal layer and the semiconductor substrate, and a remaining portion of the metal layer forms the second layer that covers the first layer.
US09515198B1 Magnetic-field and magnetic-field gradient sensors based on lateral SOI bipolar transistors
A lateral bipolar junction transistor (BJT) magnetic field sensor that includes a layout of two or more adjacent lateral BJT devices. Each BJT includes a semiconductor base region of a first conductivity type doping, a semiconductor emitter region of a second conductivity type doping and laterally contacting the base region; and a first semiconductor collector region of a second conductivity type doping contacting said base region on an opposite side thereof. A second collector region of the second conductivity type doping is also formed contacting the base region on the opposite side thereof in spaced apart relation with the first collector region. The first adjacent lateral BJT device includes the emitter, base and first collector region and the second adjacent lateral BJT device includes the emitter, base and second collector region. The sensor induces a detectable difference in collector current amounts in the presence of an external magnetic field transverse to a plane defined by the layout.
US09515195B2 Organic molecular memory
An organic molecular memory of an embodiment includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and an organic molecular layer interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the organic molecular layer including variable-resistance molecular chains or charge-storage molecular chains, the variable-resistance molecular chains or the charge-storage molecular chains having electron-withdrawing substituents.
US09515194B2 Nano-ribbon channel transistor with back-bias control
Embodiments of the invention include a method for fabricating a nano-ribbon transistor device and the resulting structure. A nano-ribbon transistor device including a substrate, a nano-ribbon channel, a core region in the center of the nano-ribbon channel, a gate formed around the nano-ribbon channel, a spacer formed on each sidewall of the gate, and a source and drain region epitaxially formed adjacent to each spacer is provided. The core region in the center of the nano-ribbon channel is selectively etched. A dielectric material is deposited on the exposed portions of the nano-ribbon channel. A back-bias control region is formed on the dielectric material within the core of the nano-ribbon channel and on the substrate adjacent to the nano-ribbon transistor device. A metal contact is formed in the back-bias control region.
US09515191B2 Thin-film field effect transistor, driving method thereof, array substrate, display device, and electronic product
The disclosure provides a thin film field effect transistor, a driving method thereof, an array substrate, a display device and an electronic product. The thin film field effect transistor comprises a gate metal layer and a semiconductor layer, and further comprises a guide layer, wherein when an electric field is formed between the gate metal layer and the semiconductor layer, an electric field is also formed between the guide layer and the gate metal layer, the semiconductor layer accumulates electrons or holes to reinforce the electric field between the gate metal layer and the semiconductor layer by utilizing the electric field between the guide layer and the gate metal layer. Through the guide layer, it is able to affect the current characteristics of the thin film field effect transistor by improving its structure, thereby to reduce a threshold voltage and a leakage current.
US09515188B2 Fin field effect transistors having conformal oxide layers and methods of forming same
An embodiment fin field-effect-transistor (finFET) includes a semiconductor fin comprising a channel region and a gate oxide on a sidewall and a top surface of the channel region. The gate oxide includes a thinnest portion having a first thickness and a thickest portion having a second thickness different than the first thickness. A difference between the first thickness and the second thickness is less than a maximum thickness variation, and the maximum thickness variation is in accordance with an operating voltage of the finFET.
US09515187B2 Controlling the shape of source/drain regions in FinFETs
An integrated circuit structure includes a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) including a semiconductor fin over and adjacent to insulation regions; and a source/drain region over the insulation regions. The source/drain region includes a first and a second semiconductor region. The first semiconductor region includes silicon and an element selected from the group consisting of germanium and carbon, wherein the element has a first atomic percentage in the first semiconductor region. The first semiconductor region has an up-slant facet and a down-slant facet. The second semiconductor region includes silicon and the element. The element has a second atomic percentage lower than the first atomic percentage. The second semiconductor region has a first portion on the up-slant facet and has a first thickness. A second portion of the second semiconductor region, if any, on the down-slant facet has a second thickness smaller than the first thickness.
US09515183B2 Semiconductor device including buried-gate MOS transistor with appropriate stress applied thereto
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a trench and including an active area including a channel area formed along an inner surface of the trench and source/drain areas formed at both ends of the channel area and sandwiching the trench, a gate insulating film formed on the inner surface of the trench, and a gate electrode formed in the trench in which the gate insulating film is provided. A main surface of the semiconductor substrate has {100} plane orientation, a portion of the channel area parallel to a side surface of the trench has {110} channel plane orientation and has <100> channel orientation in a channel length direction, and tensile stress in the channel length direction and compressive stress in a channel width direction are applied to the portion of the channel area parallel to the side surface of the trench.
US09515182B2 High-integration semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first active region, a second active region and a field region between the first and second active regions, and a gate structure formed on the substrate to cross the first active region, the second active region and the field region. The gate structure includes a p type metal gate electrode and an n-type metal gate electrode directly contacting each other, the p-type metal gate electrode extends from the first active region less than half way toward the second active region.
US09515176B2 Silicon carbide bipolar junction transistor including shielding regions
A silicon carbide (SiC) bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and a method of manufacturing such a SiC BJT is provided. The SiC BJT can include a collector region having a first conductivity type, a base region having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, and an emitter region having the first conductivity type, the collector region, the base region and the emitter region being arranged as a stack. The emitter region defining an elevated structure defined at least in part by an outer sidewall on top of the stack. The base region having a portion capped by the emitter region and defining an intrinsic base region where the intrinsic base region includes a portion extending from the emitter region to the collector region. The SiC BJT can include a first shielding region and a second shield region each having the second conductivity type.
US09515175B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A highly reliable semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. In a semiconductor device including a bottom-gate transistor in which an insulating layer functioning as a channel protective film is provided over an oxide semiconductor film, elements contained in an etching gas can be prevented from remaining as impurities on a surface of the oxide semiconductor film by performing impurity-removing process after formation of an insulating layer provided over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor film and/or formation of source and drain electrode layers. The impurity concentration in the surface of the oxide semiconductor film is lower than or equal to 5×1018 atoms/cm3, preferably lower than or equal to 1×1018 atoms/cm3.
US09515171B1 Radiation tolerant device structure
Techniques for producing radiation tolerant device structures are provided. In one aspect, a method for forming a radiation-hardened device includes the steps of: forming fin masks on a SOI layer of an SOI wafer, wherein the SOI wafer includes the SOI layer separated from a substrate by a buried insulator; patterning fins in the SOI layer using the fin masks; and implanting at least one dopant into exposed portions of the buried insulator between the fins to increase a radiation hardness of the device structure by providing a path in the buried insulator for charge to dissipate, wherein the fin masks are left in place during the implanting step to prevent damage to the fins. Implementations with a bulk substrate, as well as the resulting devices, are also provided.
US09515168B2 Fin end spacer for preventing merger of raised active regions
After formation of gate structures over semiconductor fins and prior to formation of raised active regions, a directional ion beam is employed to form a dielectric material portion on end walls of semiconductor fins that are perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the semiconductor fins. The angle of the directional ion beam is selected to be with a vertical plane including the lengthwise direction of the semiconductor fins, thereby avoiding formation of the dielectric material portion on lengthwise sidewalls of the semiconductor fins. Selective epitaxy of semiconductor material is performed to grow raised active regions from sidewall surfaces of the semiconductor fins. Optionally, horizontal portions of the dielectric material portion may be removed prior to the selective epitaxy process. Further, the dielectric material portion may optionally be removed after the selective epitaxy process.
US09515160B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for producing the same
In a method for producing an SiC semiconductor device, a p type layer is formed in a trench by epitaxially growing, and is then left only on a bottom portion and ends of the trench by hydrogen etching, thereby to form a p type SiC layer. Thus, the p type SiC layer can be formed without depending on diagonal ion implantation. Since it is not necessary to separately perform the diagonal ion implantation, it is less likely that a production process will be complicated due to transferring into an ion implantation apparatus, and thus manufacturing costs reduce. Since there is no damage due to a defect caused by the ion implantation, it is possible to reduce a drain leakage and to reliably restrict the p type SiC layer from remaining on the side surface of the trench.
US09515155B2 E-fuse design for high-K metal-gate technology
E-fuses are used in integrated circuits in order to permit real-time dynamic reprogramming of the circuit after manufacturing. An e-fuse is hereby proposed wherein the metal element adapted to be blown upon passage of a current is not comprised of a silicide layer but is rather a metal layer above which a semiconductor layer is formed. A dielectric layer is then formed on the semiconductor layer, in order to prevent metal silicide from forming over the metal layer. The process of manufacturing the e-fuse can be easily integrated in an HKMG manufacturing flow. In particular, fully silicided metal gates may be manufactured in conjunction with the e-fuse, without jeopardizing the correct functioning of the e-fuse.
US09515154B2 Thin film transistor, display apparatus comprising the same, method of manufacturing thin film transistor, and method of manufacturing display apparatus
A thin film transistor includes a polysilicon layer on a substrate, which includes a first area between second and third areas. A polysilicon layer is formed on the substrate, and a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on the polysilicon layer in the first and third areas. Each of the source electrode and the drain electrode includes a metal silicide layer adjacent the polysilicon layer.
US09515152B2 Simple and cost-free MTP structure
Embodiments of a simple and cost-free multi-time programmable (MTP) structure for non-volatile memory cells are presented. The memory cell includes a substrate. A floating gate is disposed over a transistor well. A control gate disposed over a control well is coupled to the floating gate. The control gate includes a control capacitor. A non-self-aligned source/drain (S/D) region is disposed within the transistor well and serves as an erase terminal.
US09515151B2 Gettering agents in memory charge storage structures
Methods of forming memory cells including a charge storage structure having a gettering agent therein can be useful for non-volatile memory devices. Providing for gettering of oxygen from a charge-storage material of the charge storage structure can facilitate a mitigation of detrimental oxidation of the charge-storage material.
US09515146B2 Nitride semiconductor layer, nitride semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing nitride semiconductor layer
According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor layer spreading along a first surface is provided. The nitride semiconductor layer includes a first region and a second region. A length of the first region in a first direction parallel to the first surface is longer than a length of the first region in a second direction parallel to the first surface and perpendicular to the first direction. The second region is arranged with the first region in the second direction. A length of the second region in the first direction is longer than a length of the second region in the second direction. A c-axis being is tilted with respect to the second direction for the first region and the second region. The c-axis intersects a third direction perpendicular to the first surface.
US09515144B2 Fin-type graphene device
Example embodiments relate to a fin-type graphene device. The fin-type graphene device includes a substrate, a graphene channel layer substantially vertical to the substrate, a gate insulating layer that covers one side surface of the graphene channel layer, a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode that are formed separately from each other on other side surface of the graphene channel layer.
US09515142B2 Active regions with compatible dielectric layers
A method to form a semiconductor structure with an active region and a compatible dielectric layer is described. In one embodiment, a semiconductor structure has a dielectric layer comprised of an oxide of a first semiconductor material, wherein a second (and compositionally different) semiconductor material is formed between the dielectric layer and the first semiconductor material. In another embodiment, a portion of the second semiconductor material is replaced with a third semiconductor material in order to impart uniaxial strain to the lattice structure of the second semiconductor material.
US09515141B1 FinFET device with channel strain
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, the method comprises forming a fin on a substrate, forming a dummy gate stack on the fin and the substrate, removing a portion of an exposed portion of the fin, forming a source/drain region on an exposed portion of the fin, forming a conductive contact on the source/drain region, removing the dummy gate stack to expose a channel region of the fin, implanting ions in the channel region of the fin, performing an annealing process, and forming a gate stack on the channel region of the fin.
US09515140B2 Patterned strained semiconductor substrate and device
A method that includes forming a pattern of strained material and relaxed material on a substrate; forming a strained device in the strained material; and forming a non-strained device in the relaxed material is disclosed. In one embodiment, the strained material is silicon (Si) in either a tensile or compressive state, and the relaxed material is Si in a normal state. A buffer layer of silicon germanium (SiGe), silicon carbon (SiC), or similar material is formed on the substrate and has a lattice constant/structure mis-match with the substrate. A relaxed layer of SiGe, SiC, or similar material is formed on the buffer layer and places the strained material in the tensile or compressive state. In another embodiment, carbon-doped silicon or germanium-doped silicon is used to form the strained material. The structure includes a multi-layered substrate having strained and non-strained materials patterned thereon.
US09515139B2 Trap rich layer formation techniques for semiconductor devices
A trap rich layer for an integrated circuit chip is formed by chemical etching and/or laser texturing of a surface of a semiconductor layer. In some embodiments, a trap rich layer is formed by a technique selected from the group of techniques consisting of laser texturing, chemical etch, irradiation, nanocavity formation, porous Si-etch, semi-insulating polysilicon, thermal stress relief and mechanical texturing. Additionally, combinations of two or more of these techniques may be used to form a trap rich layer.
US09515137B2 Super junction semiconductor device with a nominal breakdown voltage in a cell area
A super junction semiconductor device includes a super junction structure that is formed in a semiconductor body having a first and a second, parallel surface. The super junction structure includes first areas of the first conductivity type and second areas of a second conductivity type which is the opposite of the first conductivity type. In a cell area surrounded by an edge area, the super junction structure has a first nominal breakdown voltage in a first portion and a second nominal breakdown voltage, which differs from the first nominal breakdown voltage, in a second portion to provide improved avalanche ruggedness.
US09515132B2 Organic electroluminescent display device and method of manufacturing the same
A substrate on which a plurality of pixel electrodes are disposed is prepared. An organic electroluminescent film 22 is formed with the inclusion of a common layer that continuously covers the plural pixel electrodes. A common electrode is formed on the organic electroluminescent film. The common layer is irradiated with an energy ray above areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes with the avoidance of irradiation above the plural pixel electrodes. An electric conductivity of the common layer is reduced above the areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes, by irradiation of the energy ray. With this configuration, a current leakage can be prevented between the adjacent pixels.
US09515130B2 Covering method and organic EL element manufacturing method
A covering method including: preparing a mixture containing insulative material and a solvent; applying the mixture over a defective portion; and covering the defective portion with the insulative material by causing the solvent to evaporate from the mixture. In the covering method, the solvent has a boiling point no lower than 178 degrees Celsius, and in the mixture, a weight ratio percentage of the insulative material to the solvent is no lower than 10%. Thus, the defective portion, which may result in a dark spot, can be efficiently covered with insulative material while ensuring that a non-light-emission area that is formed accordingly has the smallest-necessary size and that sufficient insulation is achieved.
US09515129B2 Organic light emitting display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes pixel areas, each pixel area having emission and non-emission areas; a first electrode corresponding to the emission area of each pixel area; a bus electrode corresponding to at least a portion of the non-emission areas; an adherent pattern on a portion of the bus electrode; a separation pattern covering a top portion of the bus electrode and having an inverted tapered shape cross section defining a crevice under the separation pattern and above the bus electrode; an organic layer on the first electrode and the separation pattern, and further formed on a remaining portion of the bus electrode except a portion corresponding to the crevice under the separation pattern, the organic layer having an emission layer; and a second electrode on the organic layer and disposed in the crevice, the second electrode electrically contacting the bus electrode via the crevice.
US09515127B2 Organic electroluminescent display apparatus
An organic electroluminescent display apparatus includes: a base substrate; a first electrode; a hole transport region; a light-emitting unit; a common layer; a first resonance auxiliary layer; a second resonance auxiliary layer; an electron transport region; and a second electrode. The light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting layer disposed on the first pixel region and a second light-emitting layer disposed on the second pixel region. The first resonance auxiliary layer and the second resonance auxiliary layer may be separated from the common layer.
US09515121B2 Light emitting diode and method of fabricating the same
An exemplary light emitting diode includes a substrate; a first light emitting cell and a second light emitting cell disposed over the substrate and separated from each other; and an interconnection electrically connecting the first light emitting cell to the second light emitting cell. Each of the first and second light emitting cells includes a first conductive-type semiconductor layer, a second conductive-type semiconductor layer disposed over the first conductive-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed between the first conductive-type semiconductor layer and the second conductive-type semiconductor layer. At least one of the first light emitting cell and the second light emitting cell includes a side surface inclined with respect to the substrate. The side surface includes a first inclined portion forming an acute angle with respect to the substrate, a second inclined portion forming an obtuse angle with respect to the substrate, and an inclination discontinuity section.
US09515119B2 Variable optical filter and a wavelength-selective sensor based thereon
A variable optical filter is disclosed including a bandpass filter and a blocking filter. The bandpass filter includes a stack of alternating first and second layers, and the blocking filter includes a stack of alternating third and fourth layers. The first, second and fourth materials each comprise different materials, so that a refractive index of the first material is smaller than a refractive index of the second material, which is smaller than a refractive index of the fourth material; while an absorption coefficient of the second material is smaller than an absorption coefficient of the fourth material. The materials can be selected to ensure high index contrast in the blocking filter and low optical losses in the bandpass filter. The first to fourth layers can be deposited directly on a photodetector array.
US09515118B2 Radiation detecting panel
A radiation detecting panel is provided. This panel includes a substrate including a pixel region and a pad region, a scintillating layer configured to convert radiation into visible rays, a photoelectric device configured to convert the visible rays into currents in each pixel, a switching device configured to control output of the currents in each pixel; a plurality of bias lines configured to apply a bias voltage to the scintillating layer and the photoelectric device, a data line configured to be coupled to the switching device to transfer the currents, and a common bias line configured to transfer the bias voltage to the bias lines, wherein the common bias line and the bias lines are located on different layers. The data line and the bias lines are located on the same layer.
US09515117B2 Method of manufacturing an image sensor using multiple exposures
The performance of a solid state image sensor which is formed by performing divided exposure that exposes the entire chip by a plurality of times of exposure and in which each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel array portion has a plurality of photodiodes is improved.In the divided exposure performed when the solid state image sensor is manufactured, a dividing line that divides an exposure region is defined to be located between a first photodiode and a second photodiode aligned in a first direction in an active region in a pixel and is defined to be along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US09515116B1 Vertical transfer gate structure for a back-side illumination (BSI) complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor using global shutter capture
A back-side illumination (BSI) complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor using a vertical transfer gate structure for improved quantum efficiency (QE) and global shutter efficiency (GSE) is provided. A semiconductor column extends vertically from a photodetector, towards a back-end-of-line (BEOL) stack. A floating diffusion region (FDR) is vertically spaced from the photodetector by the semiconductor column. The FDR comprises a sidewall surface laterally offset from a neighboring sidewall surface of the semiconductor column to define a lateral recess between the FDR and the photodetector. A gate dielectric layer lines the sidewall surface of the semiconductor column and is arranged in the lateral recess. A gate is arranged laterally adjacent to the gate dielectric layer and filling the lateral recess. Further, a method for manufacturing the vertical transfer gate structure is provided.
US09515113B2 Optical sensing of nearby scenes with tessellated phase anti-symmetric gratings
An array of diffraction-pattern generators employ phase anti-symmetric gratings to projects near-field spatial modulations onto a closely spaced array of photoelements. Each generator in the array of generators produces point-spread functions with spatial frequencies and orientations of interest. The generators are arranged in an irregular mosaic with little or no short-range repetition. Diverse generators are shaped and placed with some irregularity to reduce or eliminate spatially periodic replication of ambiguities to facilitate imaging of nearby scenes.
US09515105B2 Dual photodiode image pixels with preferential blooming path
An image sensor with an array of image sensor pixels is provided. Each image sensor pixel may include a set of photodiodes formed in a semiconductor substrate, a color filter structure formed over the set of photodiodes, a microlens formed over the color filter structure, and associated pixel circuitry coupled to the set of photodiodes. The set of photodiodes may include at least two photodiodes linked together via a preferential blooming channel that provides a reduced potential barrier between the two photodiodes. This allows excess charge to spill over from one photodiode to another when more charge is concentrated in a particular photodiode. Configured in this way, the pixel can provide depth sensing capabilities without suffering from reduced pixel capacity.
US09515096B2 Thin film transistor array panel
The present disclosure provides a thin film transistor array. In an exemplary embodiment, the thin film transistor array includes: a substrate; a gate line including a gate pad and disposed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate line and the gate pad; a data line including a data pad and disposed on the gate insulating layer; a first passivation layer disposed on the data line; a first electrode disposed on the first passivation layer; a second passivation layer disposed on the first electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the second passivation layer. The gate pad is exposed through a first contact hole, and the gate insulating layer, the first passivation layer, and the second passivation layer include at least a portion of the first contact hole.
US09515089B1 Bulk fin formation with vertical fin sidewall profile
Fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate, wherein the substrate is comprised of a base layer, a doped silicon layer on top of the base layer, and an undoped silicon layer on top of the doped silicon layer; forming a hard mask layer on top of the substrate; forming at least one mandrel on top of the hard mask layer; forming a spacer layer on top of exposed portions of the hard mask layer and the at least one mandrel; etching portions of the spacer layer; removing the at least one mandrel; etching regions of the hard mask layer and the undoped silicon layer not protected by remaining portions of the spacer layer to form at least one fin; and removing the remaining portions of the spacer layer.
US09515087B2 Three-dimensional semiconductor memory device
A three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory device that includes a peripheral logic structure including peripheral logic circuits disposed on a semiconductor substrate and a first insulation layer overlapping the peripheral logic circuits, and a plurality of memory blocks spaced apart from each other on the peripheral logic structure. At least one of the memory blocks includes a well plate electrode, a semiconductor layer in contact with a first surface of the well plate electrode, a stack structure including a plurality of electrodes vertically stacked on the semiconductor layer, and a plurality of vertical structures penetrating the stack structure and connected to the semiconductor layer.
US09515085B2 Vertical memory device with bit line air gap
A structure includes a three-dimensional semiconductor device including a plurality of unit device structures located over a substrate. Each of the unit device structures includes a semiconductor channel including at least a portion extending vertically along a direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate, and a drain region contacting a top end of the semiconductor channel. The structure also includes a combination of a plurality of contact pillars and a contiguous volume that laterally surrounds the plurality of contact pillars. The plurality of contact pillars is in contact with the drain regions, and the contiguous volume has a dielectric constant less than 3.9.
US09515081B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing thereof
A semiconductor device includes bit lines provided in a semiconductor substrate; an ONO film that is provided along the surface of the semiconductor substrate and is made of a tunnel oxide film, a trap layer, and a top oxide film; and an oxide film that is provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the middle between the bit lines and contacts the side face of the ONO film, in which the film thickness of the oxide film is larger than the sum of the thicknesses of the tunnel oxide film and the top oxide film, and smaller than the thickness of the ONO film.
US09515079B2 Three dimensional memory device with blocking dielectric having enhanced protection against fluorine attack
Blocking dielectric structures and/or thicker barrier metal films for preventing or reducing fluorine diffusion are provided. A blocking dielectric layer can be formed as an outer layer of a memory film in a memory stack structure extending through electrically insulating layers and sacrificial material layers. After formation of backside recesses by removal of the sacrificial material layers, dopants can be introduced into physically exposed portions of the blocking dielectric layer, for example, by plasma treatment or thermal treatment, to form silicon oxynitride regions which can reduce or prevent fluorine diffusion. Alternatively or additionally, a set of metal oxide blocking dielectric material portions can be formed in the backside recesses to retard or prevent fluorine diffusion. To minimize adverse impact on the electrically conductive layers formed in the backside recesses, the blocking dielectric material portions can be laterally recessed from a trench employed to form the backside recesses.
US09515078B2 Semiconductor structure and method for forming the same
Various embodiments provide semiconductor structures and methods for forming the same. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor substrate is provided. A first stop layer, a first sacrificial layer, a second stop layer, and a second sacrificial layer are formed sequentially on the semiconductor substrate. The second sacrificial layer, the second stop layer, the first sacrificial layer, the first stop layer, and the semiconductor substrate are etched to form a groove, the groove then being filled to form an isolation structure. The second sacrificial layer is removed to expose sidewalls and a top of an exposed portion of the isolation structure. The second stop layer is removed, and the exposed portion of the isolation structure is etched to reduce a width of the top of the exposed portion of the isolation structure. The first sacrificial layer is removed. A floating gate is formed on the first stop layer.
US09515075B1 Method for fabricating ferroelectric random-access memory on pre-patterned bottom electrode and oxidation barrier
Structure and method of fabrication of F-RAM cells are described. The F-RAM cell include ferroelectric capacitors forming over and with a pre-patterned barrier structure which has a planarized/chemically and/or mechanically polished top surface. The pre-patterned barrier structure includes multiple oxygen barriers having a structure of a bottom electrode layer over an oxygen barrier layer. The bottom electrode layer forms at least a part of the bottom electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor formed thereon.
US09515073B1 III-V semiconductor CMOS FinFET device
A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises forming an insulator layer on a semiconductor substrate, removing portions of the insulator layer to form a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity exposing a first portion of the semiconductor substrate an the second cavity exposing a second portion of the semiconductor substrate, growing a first semiconductor material in the first cavity and the second cavity. Growing a second semiconductor material on the first semiconductor material in the first cavity and the second cavity, growing a third semiconductor material on the second semiconductor material in the first cavity and the second cavity. Forming a mask over the third semiconductor material in the first cavity, removing the third semiconductor material from the second cavity to expose the second semiconductor material in the second cavity, and growing a fourth semiconductor material on the second semiconductor material in the second cavity.
US09515072B2 FinFET structure and method for manufacturing thereof
Present disclosure provides a FinFET structure, including a plurality of fins, a gate, and a first dopant layer. The gate is disposed substantially orthogonal over the plurality of fins, covering a portion of a top surface and a portion of sidewalls of the plurality of fins. The first dopant layer covers the top surface and the sidewalls of a junction portion of a first fin, configured to provide dopants of a first conductive type to the junction portion of the first fin. The junction portion is adjacent to the gate.
US09515068B1 Monolithic integration of GaN and InP components
A compound semiconductor integrated circuit comprising a first substrate; a first electronic component formed on top of said first substrate; a layer of a first dielectric material formed on top of said first substrate and including said first electronic component, said layer of a first dielectric material comprising a recess exposing a first region of said first substrate; and a layer of a second dielectric material attached to said first substrate on top of said first region of said first substrate after manufacturing of said layer of a second dielectric material, said layer of a second material comprising a second electronic component.
US09515064B2 Static electricity protection circuit, electro-optic device and electronic device
In a static electricity protection circuit according to the invention, a first wiring is electrically connected to a drain of a first p-type transistor and a gate and a source of a first n-type transistor; a second wiring is electrically connected to a gate and a source of the first p-type transistor, a drain of the first n-type transistor, a drain of a second p-type transistor and a gate and a source of a second n-type transistor; and a third wiring is electrically connected to a gate and a source of the second p-type transistor and a drain of the second n-type transistor.
US09515062B2 Electronic devices and methods having a compact multi-way transformer combiner
Apparatus having structures implementing compact and symmetric multi-way transformer combiners are described herein. In an embodiment, each unit device cell of a plurality unit device cells may include two metal layers on top of the unit device cell coupled to a multi-way transformer combiner by one of the two metal layers such that the configuration of the unit device cells with the multi-way transformer combiner is symmetric. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09515058B2 Light emitting device package and light unit including the same
Disclosed are a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package includes a body having recess; a first lead frame including a first and second portions on a first region of the body; a second lead frame including a third and fourth portions on a second region of the body; a third lead frame between the first and second lead frame. The body has a length of the first direction greater than a width of the second direction, wherein the second portion of the first lead frame extends toward the second lead frame and has a small width, and wherein the fourth portion of the second lead frame extends toward the first lead frame. A first light emitting device is disposed on the first portion of the first lead frame and a second light emitting device is disposed on the third portion of the second lead frame.
US09515056B2 Solid state lighting device including narrow spectrum emitter
A multi-emitter solid state lighting device includes at least one narrow spectral output solid state light emitter, such as may be in the green range, having a full width-half maximum emission value of no greater than 30 nm. First, second, and third electrically solid state emitters may include dominant wavelengths in the ranges of 485-505 nm (or 491-505 nm), 526-545 nm, and 615-625 nm. Aggregate emissions of a solid state lighting device may comprise a scotopic/photopic (S/P) ratio value that exceeds threshold values for conventional white light-emitting devices including at least one phosphor-converted LED by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40%, in combination with reasonably high gamut and brightness, over a range of desired CCT values.
US09515055B2 Light emitting devices including multiple anodes and cathodes
Solid state (e.g., LED) lighting devices include multiple emitters mounted on or over a substrate comprising insulating material with conductive traces thereon, with various emitters being independently controllable with multiple pairs of anodes and cathodes that may be arranged on an opposite surface of the substrate than the emitters. Electrically conductive vias may be defined through the insulating substrate, and a molded lens may be provided over the substrate and emitters mounted thereon. Various combinations of independently controllable emitters or emitter groups may be provided, for example, a red emitter in combination with multiple blue shifted yellow (BSY) emitters, or separately controllable red, green, blue, and white (e.g., BSY) emitters.
US09515051B2 Metal to metal bonding for stacked (3D) integrated circuits
The present invention provides a stabilized fine textured metal microstructure that constitutes a durable activated surface usable for bonding a 3D stacked chip. A fine-grain layer that resists self anneal enables metal to metal bonding at moderate time and temperature and wider process flexibility.
US09515045B2 Method and apparatus for inspecting a semiconductor chip prior to bonding
A chip handling apparatus, unit and method is presented. The chip handling apparatus comprises a chip supply station; a chip mounting station; and one or more chip handling units configured to pick a chip from the supply station, transport the chip to the mounting station, and place the chip at a mounting location; wherein each chip handling unit is configured to temporarily retain the chip in a defined position relative to the chip handling unit. The chip handling apparatus further comprises means for inducing sonic vibrations in the chip when retained by one of the chip handling units; and means for measuring the vibrations induced in the chip.
US09515042B2 Anisotropic conductive film, connection structure and method of producing the same
An anisotropic conductive film is obtained by dispersing conductive particles in an insulating adhesive composition including a (meth)acrylate-based monomer composition, a radical polymerization initiator, and a film-forming resin. The (meth)acrylate-based monomer composition includes a (meth)acrylate-based monomer which has a cyclic ester residue or a cyclic amide residue represented by the formula (1): R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 is an alkylene group or an alkyloxy group; R3 is an alkyl group, an alkylene group, an aryl group, or a halogen atom; n is an integer of 0 to 3; R4 is absent or an alkylene, dotted lines on both sides of R4 jointly represent a single bond; X1 is absent, or an oxygen atom or a carbon atom; and X2 is an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, or a sulfur atom.
US09515037B2 Semiconductor device having through silicon vias and manufacturing method thereof
In The semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate has first and second surfaces. A circuitry layer is formed over the first surface and a first insulating layer is further formed over the circuitry layer. A second insulating layer including a first insulating element is formed over the second surface. A third insulating layer including a second insulating element different from the first insulating element of the second insulating layer is formed over the second surface with an intervention of the second insulating layer therebetween. A penetration electrode penetrates through the semiconductor substrate, the circuitry layer, the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer.
US09515035B2 Three-dimensional integrated circuit integration
Wiring structures, methods for providing a wiring structure, and methods for distributing currents with a wiring structure from one or more through-substrate vias to multiple bumps. A first current is directed from a first through-substrate via of a first electrical resistance through a first connection line to a first bump and directing a second current from the first through-substrate via through a second connection line of a second electrical resistance to a second bump. The first connection line has a first length relative to a first position of the first bump and a first cross-sectional area, the second connection line has a second length relative to a first position of the second bump and a second cross-sectional area, the second length is different from the first length, and the second cross-sectional area is different from the first cross-sectional area.
US09515034B2 Bond pad having a trench and method for forming
A conductive structure is formed in a last metal layer of an integrated circuit. Passivation material is patterned over a portion of the conductive structure. A first trench is patterned around a selected portion of the passivation material. The selected portion represents a bond region of a wire bond to be formed above the passivation material. A portion of the passivation material completely covers a bottom of the trench. A layer of conductive material is conformally deposited over the passivation material. The conformal depositing resulting in a second trench forming in the conductive material over the first trench in the passivation material. The second trench is positioned to contain at least a portion of a splash of the conductive material when the wire bond is subsequently formed.
US09515033B2 Monolithic microwave integrated circuit
A monolithic microwave integrated circuit included a substrate, a first pad, a first line, a second line, a second pad, a third pad, a first active element, a second active element. The first line includes an input end connected to the first pad. The second line includes an input end connected to the first pad. The second and third pads are connected to the ground. The first active element includes a first gate electrode connected to the output end of the first line. The second active element includes a second gate electrode connected to the output end of the second line. The first pad is provided between the second pad and a third pad. Electrical length of the first line is equal to electrical length of the second line.
US09515031B2 Mitigation of far-end crosstalk induced by routing and out-of-plane interconnects
In accordance with one aspect of the present description, a transmission line such as a microstrip or stripline transmission line, has stub-shaped projections adapted to compensate simultaneously for both far-end crosstalk (FEXT) induced by inductive coupling between the transmission line and an adjacent transmission line, and also far-end crosstalk induced by inductive coupling between the vertical electrical interconnect at the far end of the transmission line and an adjacent vertical electrical interconnect electrically connected to the adjacent transmission line. In another aspect of the present description, a microstrip transmission line may have multiple stubby line sections having different resistances and impedances to more gradually transition from to the typically low impedance characteristics of vertical interconnects such as the PTH vias and socket connectors. Other aspects are described.
US09515030B2 X-ray obscuration film and related techniques
An X-ray obscuration (XRO) film comprising one or more metallic wire mesh layers and an adjacent layer of indium foil having portions which extend into openings of the wire mesh and in contact with metallic portions thereof. The XRO film can be capable of absorbing at least a portion of X-ray energy thereby creating an interference pattern when the XRO film is coupled with an electronic circuit and placed between an X-ray source and an X-ray detector and subjected to radiographic inspection. The interference pattern can create sufficient visual static to effectively obscure circuit lines in the electronic circuit when subjected to radiographic inspection techniques. The XRO film can be substantially thinner than existing solutions for preventing X-ray inspection with an exemplary embodiment being no more than 5 mils thick. The metallic XRO film can also provide electromagnetic shielding and/or heat dissipation for electronic circuits.
US09515026B2 Methods of forming alignment marks and overlay marks on integrated circuit products employing FinFET devices and the resulting alignment/overlay mark
A device disclosed herein includes a plurality of spaced-apart fin structures formed in a semiconductor substrate so as to define an alignment/overlay mark trench. An alignment/overlay mark includes at least one insulating material positioned within the alignment/overlay mark trench. The alignment/overlay mark is devoid of any of the fin structures.
US09515024B2 Structures with through vias passing through a substrate comprising a planar insulating layer between semiconductor
A through via contains a conductor (244, 262) passing through a substrate (140). The substrate can be SOI or some other substrate containing two semiconductor layers (140.1, 140.2) on opposite sides of an insulating layer (140B). The through via includes two constituent vias (144.1, 144.2) formed from respective different sides of the substrate by processes stopping on the insulating layer (140B). Due to the insulating layer acting as a stop layer, high control over the constituent vias' depths is achieved. Each constituent via is shorter than the through via, so via formation is facilitated. The conductor is formed by separate depositions of conductive material into the constituent vias from each side of the substrate. From each side, the conductor is deposited to a shallower depth than the through-via depth, so the deposition is facilitated. Other embodiments are also provided.
US09515014B2 Power converter package with integrated output inductor
In one implementation, a semiconductor package includes a first patterned conductive carrier including partially etched segments. The semiconductor package also includes a control FET having a control drain attached to a first partially etched segment of the first patterned conductive carrier. In addition, the semiconductor package includes a sync FET having a sync source and a sync gate attached to respective second and third partially etched segments of the first patterned conductive carrier. The semiconductor package further includes a second patterned conductive carrier having a switch node segment situated over a control source of the control FET and over a sync drain of the sync FET, as well as an inductor coupled between the switch node segment and an output segment of the second patterned conductive carrier.
US09515013B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a package part having a semiconductor element sealed in resin, a plurality of first leads each having an outer portion extending from a first side of the package part, and a plurality of second leads each having an outer portion extending from a second side of the package part. A combined bottom surface area of the outer portions of the plurality of first leads is greater than a combined bottom surface area of the outer portions of the plurality of second leads. The semiconductor device also includes a heat dissipation plate provided on the bottom surface of the package part and connected to at least one of the plurality of second leads.
US09515012B2 Package of power dies and three-phase power converter
The present invention concerns a package of power dies composed of a first part and a second part, the first part including a plaque having cavities on which dies are placed, the plaque is placed on a first, a second, and a third metallic plates placed on an electric insulation substrate placed on a fourth metallic plate, the second part including a fifth and a sixth metallic plates placed on another electric insulation substrate placed on a seventh metallic plate, the dies are divided into a first group of dies and a second group of dies and wherein the first and second plate are a positive and negative DC voltage connections, the third plate is a gate connection of the second group of dies, the fourth plate is an AC voltage connection and the fifth plate is a gate connection of the first group of dies.
US09515011B2 Over-mold plastic packaged wide band-gap power transistors and MMICS
A transistor package includes a lead frame, a wide band-gap transistor attached to the lead frame, and an over-mold surrounding the lead frame and the wide band-gap transistor. The wide band-gap transistor has a peak output power greater than 150 W when operated at a frequency up to 3.8 GHz. Using an over-mold along with a wide band-gap transistor in the transistor package allows the transistor package to achieve an exceptionally high efficiency, gain, and bandwidth, while keeping the manufacturing cost of the transistor package low.
US09515009B2 Packaged semiconductor device having leadframe features preventing delamination
A semiconductor device has a leadframe with a first (401a) and a parallel second surface, and an assembly pad (410) bordered by two opposing sides, which include a plurality of through-holes (420) from the first to the second pad surface. Another pad side includes one or more elongated windows (421) between the pad surfaces. The second pad surface includes a plurality of grooves. The leadframe further has a plurality of leads (430) with opposite elongated sides castellated by indents (431). Layers (440) of bondable metals are restricted to localized areas surrounding bond spots. A semiconductor chip (450) is attached to the pad and wire-bonded (460) to the bond spots. A package (470) encapsulates the chip, wires, pad, and lead portions, and secures the leadframe into the package by filling the through-holes, windows, grooves, and indents.
US09515008B2 Techniques for interconnecting stacked dies using connection sites
An integrated circuit die includes conductive connection sites located at least on a surface of the integrated circuit die within a contiguous region thereof. The integrated circuit also includes a core circuit located outside the contiguous region. The core circuit is coupled to at least one of the connection sites.
US09515006B2 3D device packaging using through-substrate posts
A method for 3D device packaging utilizes through-hole metal post techniques to mechanically and electrically bond two or more dice. The first die includes a set of through-holes extending from a first surface of the first die to a second surface of the first die. The second die includes a third surface and a set of metal posts. The first die and the second die are stacked such that the third surface of the second die faces the second surface of the first die, and each metal post extends through a corresponding through-hole to a point beyond the first surface of the first die, electrically coupling the first die and the second die.
US09515005B2 Package mounting structure
A package mounting structure includes: a first substrate having wiring; a second substrate having wiring; at least one cooling unit having a first face and a second face different from the first face; at least one power supply unit that is mounted on the first substrate and is joined to the first face of the cooling unit; and at least one electronic component that is mounted on the second substrate and is joined to the second face of the cooling unit, wherein the power supply unit supplies power to the electronic component through the wiring of the first substrate, the cooling unit, and the wiring of the second substrate.
US09515004B2 Thermal interface materials
A thermal interface material is configured for use with an electronic device for transferring heat between heat generating components and heat removing components of the electronic device. The thermal interface material generally includes a first material (e.g., a gap filler, etc.) incorporating a contact resistance reducing material. The contact resistance reducing material operates to fill interstitial voids of surfaces of components in which the first material is installed to thereby reduce surface contact resistance between the first material and the component surfaces. The contact resistance reducing material may be applied to one or more side surfaces of the first material. Or, alternatively, the contact resistance reducing material may be blended in the first material.
US09514998B1 Polysilicon resistor formation in silicon-on-insulator replacement metal gate finFET processes
A method of forming a polysilicon resistor in replacement metal gate (RMG) processing of finFET devices includes forming a plurality of semiconductor fins over a buried oxide layer of a silicon-on-insulator substrate; forming a trench in the buried oxide layer; forming a polysilicon layer over the semiconductor fins and in the trench, the polysilicon layer having a depression corresponding to a location of the trench; forming an insulating layer over the polysilicon layer, and performing a planarizing operation to remove the insulating layer except for a portion of the insulating layer formed in the depression, thereby defining a protective island; patterning the polysilicon layer to define both a dummy gate structure over the fins and the polysilicon resistor; and etching the polysilicon layer to remove the dummy gate structure, wherein the protective island prevents the polysilicon resistor from being removed.
US09514997B2 Silicon-germanium FinFET device with controlled junction
Embodiments of the invention include a method for forming a FinFET device and the resulting structure. A semiconductor device including a substrate, a silicon-germanium fin formed on the substrate, a dummy gate formed on the fin, and a first set of spacers formed on the exposed sidewalls of the dummy gate is provided. Xenon is implanted into the exposed portions of the fin. A second set of spacers are formed on the exposed sidewalls of the first set of spacer. A dopant is implanted into the exposed portions of the fin. The semiconductor device is thermally annealed, such that the dopants diffuse into the adjacent portions of the fin. The dummy gate is replaced with a gate structure.
US09514994B2 FinFET device and fabrication method thereof
A method for forming a FinFET device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; and forming a plurality of fins on the substrate. The method also includes forming a plurality of doping regions with different doping concentrations in the fins in the first region; and forming a plurality of dummy gate structures over the plurality of fins. Further, the method includes forming source and drain regions in the plurality of fins at both sides of the dummy gate structures; and removing the dummy gate structures to form a plurality of openings to expose the plurality of fins. Further, the method also includes forming a plurality of work function layers with different work functions on the exposed fins in the openings in the second region; and forming gate structures in the openings.
US09514993B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor devices comprising epitaxial layers
A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices includes following steps. A substrate including a first gate structure and a second gate structure formed thereon is provided. The first gate structure and the second gate structure are complementary to each other. Next, a first mask layer covering the second gate structure is formed and followed by forming first recesses in the substrate at two respective sides of the first transistor. Then, forming the first recesses, a first epitaxial layer is formed in each first recess. After forming the first epitaxial layers, a local protecting cap is formed on the first epitaxial layers and followed by removing the first mask layer.
US09514992B2 Unidirectional spacer in trench silicide
A semiconductor device includes a trench region in an interconnect level dielectric layer. A silicide layer is on the bottom of the trench region. Opposing minor sides of the trench region include a spacer layer, but the central portion of the trench region is substantially free from the spacer layer. The spacer layer is formed using an angled gas cluster ion beam.
US09514991B2 Method of manufacturing a FinFET device having a stepped profile
A FinFET device and a method for fabricating a FinFET device are disclosed. An exemplary method of fabricating a FINFET device includes providing a substrate including a fin structure including a plurality of fins and shallow trench isolation (STI) features between each fin of the fin structure. A first gate structure is formed over the fin structure. First gate spacers are formed on sidewalls of the first gate structure. The first gate spacers are removed while leaving portions of the first gate spacers within corners where the fin structure and the first gate structure meet. Second gate spacers are formed on sidewalls of the first gate structure. A dielectric layer is formed over the fin structure, the first gate structure, and the second gate spacers. The first gate structure and the portions of the first gate spacers are removed, thereby exposing sidewalls of the second gate spacers. A second gate structure is formed over the fin structure in a region where the first gate structure and the portions of the first gate spacers have been removed.
US09514985B2 Electroless metal through silicon via
A method of making a substrate-through metal via having a high aspect ratio, in a semiconductor substrate, and a metal pattern on the substrate surface, includes providing a semiconductor substrate (wafer) and depositing poly-silicon on the substrate. The poly-silicon on the substrate surface is patterned by etching away unwanted portions. Then, Ni is selectively deposited on the poly-silicon by an electroless process. A via hole is made through the substrate, wherein the walls in the hole is subjected to the same processing as above. Cu is deposited on the Ni by a plating process. Line widths and spacings <10 μm are provided on both sides of the wafer.
US09514982B2 Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate having a trench, a stacked strip structure formed in the trench, and at least a conductive structure. The stacked strip structure includes a plurality of interlaced conductive strips and insulating strips. Each of the conductive strips has a horizontal conductive segment and two vertical conductive segments connected to the corresponding horizontal conductive segment. Each of the insulating strips has a horizontal insulating segment and two vertical insulating segments. The conductive structure is electrically connected to at least one of the conductive strips. The stacked strip structure has a horizontal stacked portion corresponding to the horizontal conductive segments and two vertical stacked portions corresponding to the vertical conductive segments, wherein a width of the vertical stacked portions is larger than a thickness of the horizontal stacked portion.
US09514971B2 Door for thin plate container
A door which closes an opening in a container body of a thin plate container. A door body has latch passage holes in the circumference thereof, which correspond to latch recesses in an inner circumferential surface of the opening, and a component installation space. A rotary cam is received in the component installation space and is rotated by manipulation. Latch arms, each having one end connected to the rotary cam in the component installation space, reciprocate depending on a direction of rotation of the rotary cam so that free end areas thereof enter or exit the latch recesses through the latch passage holes. When the rotary cam rotates in a locking direction, the latch arms move along straight lines until at least portions of the free end areas are inserted into the latch recesses and then pivot so that the free end areas are pressed toward the container body.
US09514959B2 Fluorocarbon molecules for high aspect ratio oxide etch
Etching gases are disclosed for plasma etching channel holes, gate trenches, staircase contacts, capacitor holes, contact holes, etc., in Si-containing layers on a substrate and plasma etching methods of using the same. The etching gases are trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene; cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene; hexafluoroisobutene; hexafluorocyclobutane (trans-1,1,2,2,3,4); pentafluorocyclobutane (1,1,2,2,3-); tetrafluorocyclobutane (1,1,2,2-); or hexafluorocyclobutane (cis-1,1,2,2,3,4). The etching gases may provide improved selectivity between the Si-containing layers and mask material, less damage to channel region, a straight vertical profile, and reduced bowing in pattern high aspect ratio structures.
US09514958B2 Etching method of semiconductor substrate, and method of producing semiconductor device
An etching method containing the step of processing a substrate having a first layer containing titanium nitride (TiN) and a second layer containing a transition metal by bringing an etching liquid into contact with the substrate and thereby removing the first layer, wherein the first layer has a surface oxygen content from 0.1 to 10% by mole, and wherein the etching liquid comprises an ammonia compound and an oxidizing agent, and has a pH of from 7 to 14.
US09514956B2 Method of growing oxide thin films
Process for producing silicon oxide containing thin films on a growth substrate by the ALCVD method. In the process, a vaporisable silicon compound is bonded to the growth substrate, and the bonded silicon compound is converted to silicon dioxide. The invention comprises using a silicon compound which contains at least one organic ligand and the bonded silicon compound is converted to silicon dioxide by contacting it with a vaporised, reactive oxygen source, in particular with ozone. The present invention provides a controlled process for growing controlling thin films containing SiO2, with sufficiently short reaction times.
US09514954B2 Peroxide-vapor treatment for enhancing photoresist-strip performance and modifying organic films
Methods and apparatus for treating an organic film such as photoresist with a hydroxyl-generating compound prior to removing the organic film from a substrate are provided. Treatments include exposure to one or more of hydrogen peroxide vapor and water vapor in a non-plasma environment. In some implementations, conditions are such that condensation on the surface is suppressed. Methods include treating high-dose ion-implantation photoresists and post-plasma doping photoresists with little or no material loss and permit mild plasma removal of the photoresist after treatment.
US09514953B2 Methods for barrier layer removal
Implementations described herein generally relate to semiconductor manufacturing and more particularly to methods for etching a low-k dielectric barrier layer disposed on a substrate using a non-carbon based approach. In one implementation, a method for etching a barrier low-k layer is provided. The method comprises (a) exposing a surface of the low-k barrier layer to a treatment gas mixture to modify at least a portion of the low-k barrier layer and (b) chemically etching the modified portion of the low-k barrier layer by exposing the modified portion to a chemical etching gas mixture, wherein the chemical etching gas mixture includes at least an ammonium gas and a nitrogen trifluoride gas or at least a hydrogen gas and a nitrogen trifluoride gas.
US09514951B2 Substrate processing method, substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing system and recording medium
A substrate processing method can remove a part of a processing target film formed on a surface of a substrate W under a normal pressure atmosphere while suppressing an influence upon the substrate. A source material of the processing target film, which is decomposed by irradiating an ultraviolet ray thereto under an oxygen-containing atmosphere, is coated on the substrate W, and the processing target film is formed by heating the source material coated on the substrate W. Then, the substrate W having thereon the processing target film is placed within a processing chamber under the oxygen-containing atmosphere where a gas flow velocity is equal to or smaller than 10 cm/sec, and the part of the processing target film is removed by irradiating the ultraviolet ray to the substrate W.
US09514950B2 Methods for uniform imprint pattern transfer of sub-20 nm features
Methods of increasing etch selectivity in imprint lithography are described which employ material deposition techniques that impart a unique morphology to the multi-layer material stacks, thereby enhancing etch process window and improving etch selectivity. For example, etch selectivity of 50:1 or more between patterned resist layer and deposited metals, metalloids, or non-organic oxides can be achieved, which greatly preserves the pattern feature height prior to the etch process that transfers the pattern into the substrate, allowing for sub-20 nm pattern transfer at high fidelity.
US09514947B2 Chromium/titanium/aluminum-based semiconductor device contact fabrication
A contact to a semiconductor including sequential layers of Cr, Ti, and Al is provided, which can result in a contact with one or more advantages over Ti/Al-based and Cr/Al-based contacts. For example, the contact can: reduce a contact resistance; provide an improved surface morphology; provide a better contact linearity; and/or require a lower annealing temperature, as compared to the prior art Ti/Al-based contacts.
US09514940B2 Reducing or eliminating pre-amorphization in transistor manufacture
A method for fabricating field effect transistors using carbon doped silicon layers to substantially reduce the diffusion of a doped screen layer formed below a substantially undoped channel layer includes forming an in-situ epitaxial carbon doped silicon substrate that is doped to form the screen layer in the carbon doped silicon substrate and forming the substantially undoped silicon layer above the carbon doped silicon substrate. The method may include implanting carbon below the screen layer and forming a thin layer of in-situ epitaxial carbon doped silicon above the screen layer. The screen layer may be formed either in a silicon substrate layer or the carbon doped silicon substrate.
US09514938B2 Method of forming pattern
According to one embodiment, a method of forming a pattern includes applying a polymer material having a first segment and a second segment in openings formed in a guide, heating the polymer material to achieve microphase separation of the polymer material to form a self-assembled pattern which includes a first polymer portion having a cylindrical shape which includes the first segment, and a second polymer portion including the second segment and surrounding a lateral portion of the first polymer portion, and selectively removing the first polymer portion. A molecular weight ratio of the first segment to the second segment in the polymer material is approximately 4:6.
US09514935B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, method of processing substrate, substrate processing apparatus, and program
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided, which enables the film quality to be improved when the film is formed on a substrate at a low temperature, thus forming fine patterns. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming the film on a substrate by alternately supplying at least a source gas and a reactive gas to the substrate while maintaining the substrate at a first temperature by heating; and modifying the film by supplying a modification gas excited by plasma to the substrate with the film formed thereon while naturally cooling the substrate with the film formed thereon to a second temperature without heating the substrate, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature.
US09514933B2 Film deposition using spatial atomic layer deposition or pulsed chemical vapor deposition
Provided are atomic layer deposition methods to deposit a film using a circular batch processing chamber with a plurality of sections separated by gas curtains so that each section independently has a process condition.
US09514931B2 Low thermal conductivity matrices with embedded nanostructures and methods thereof
A matrix with at least one embedded array of nanowires and method thereof. The matrix includes nanowires and one or more fill materials located between the nanowires. Each of the nanowires including a first end and a second end. The nanowires are substantially parallel to each other and are fixed in position relative to each other by the one or more fill materials. Each of the one or more fill materials is associated with a thermal conductivity less than 50 Watts per meter per degree Kelvin. And, the matrix is associated with at least a sublimation temperature and a melting temperature, the sublimation temperature and the melting temperature each being above 350° C.
US09514929B2 Dielectric filling materials with ionic compounds
A method includes applying a filling material to a surface of a first layer overlying a substrate. The first layer includes a dielectric material with a plurality of pores. The filling material includes a polymer and an ionic compound. The method includes heating the structure to enable the filling material to at least partially fill the plurality of pores throughout the first layer, and removing the residual filling material from the surface of the first layer, while leaving substantially all of the polymer in the pores of the first layer.
US09514927B2 Plasma pre-clean module and process
A method for integrated circuit fabrication can include removing silicon oxide by a pre-clean process. The pre-clean process can include depositing a halogen-containing material on the surface of a substrate in a first reaction chamber, and transferring the substrate having the halogen-containing material to a second reaction chamber. Silicon oxide material can be removed from a surface of the substrate by sublimating the halogen-containing material in the second reaction chamber. A target material, such as a conductive material, may subsequently be deposited on the substrate surface in the second reaction chamber.
US09514922B2 Mass analysis data processing apparatus
In the case where a peak on a mass spectrum is saturated due to, for example, signal saturation in a detector or an amplifier provided downstream thereof, a data processor performs fitting with a Gaussian function using data included in the rising part and the falling part (range A) of the peak which are not affected by the saturation, to thereby obtain a desired approximate peak shape B. Then, a mass spectrum in which the saturated peak is replaced with the approximate peak thus obtained is created, the mass-to-charge ratio of the peak top is calculated for this mass spectrum, and this mass spectrum is then displayed on a display screen. Moreover, an extracted ion chromatogram is created on the basis of information on mass-to-charge ratio to intensity of this modified mass spectrum and displayed.
US09514919B2 Baffle and substrate treating apparatuses including the same
Provided is a substrate treating apparatus, which includes a plasma generating part configured to generate plasma, a housing disposed under the plasma generating part, and having a space therein, a susceptor disposed within the housing and supporting a substrate, and a baffle including injection holes injecting the plasma supplied from the plasma generating part, to the substrate. The baffle includes a base in which the injection holes are formed, and a central portion of the base is thicker than an edge thereof.
US09514917B1 Controlled-energy electrical arc systems, methods, and apparatuses
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for triggering electrical arcs are disclosed. Such arcs are useful for testing combustible fluids and equipment operating near ignition hazards. Arcs may be produced with a defined energy at a defined time with little variation in arc energy. Consistent production of arcs is facilitated by one or more of conditioned electrodes, control and/or reduction of parasitic capacitance, avoidance of corona sources, and non-interfering arc triggers. Electrodes may be conditioned by repeated application of conditioning arcs. Conditioned electrodes have relatively physically consistent and chemically consistent tips. Arc triggers may be charged particle sources such as light sources operating in cooperation with a target to produce free electrons proximate the electrodes.
US09514915B2 Method for evaluating charged particle beam drawing apparatus
In one embodiment, a charged particle beam drawing apparatus performs drawing by deflecting a charged particle beam with a deflector. A method for evaluating the apparatus includes making a shot of a first pattern, controlling a deflection amount by the deflector to move an applied position of the beam from the first pattern along a first direction to make a shot of a second pattern, controlling the deflection amount to move the applied position from the second pattern along the first direction to make a shot of a third pattern, controlling the deflection amount to move the applied position from the third pattern along a second direction opposite to the first direction to make a shot of a fourth pattern between the second pattern and the third pattern, calculating an interval between the second pattern and the fourth pattern, and comparing the calculated interval to a reference interval.
US09514912B2 Control of ion angular distribution of ion beams with hidden deflection electrode
A processing apparatus may include: an extraction plate disposed along a side of a plasma chamber, the extraction plate having a first and second aperture, and middle portion between the first and second aperture, the first and second aperture being configured to define a first and second ion beam when the plasma is present in the plasma chamber and an extraction voltage is applied between the extraction plate and a substrate; a hidden deflection electrode disposed adjacent the middle portion outside of the plasma chamber, and electrically isolated from the extraction plate; and a hidden deflection electrode power supply to apply a bias voltage to the hidden deflection electrode, wherein the bias voltage is configured to modify a mean angle of incidence of ions and/or a range of angles of incidence centered around the mean angle of incidence in the first and second ion beam.
US09514907B2 Member-to-member fuse connection
A member-to-member connection bracket comprising a first connection member for coupling the connection bracket to a first structural member, a second connection member for coupling the connection bracket to a second structural member; and a fuse member disposed between the first connection member and the second connection member, the fuse member comprising at least one of hinge locations. The at least one hinge location provides inelastic deformation at a pre-determined load and the pre-determined load is less than the elastic yield load of a first structural member and a second structural member. The hinge locations may have a reduced thickness. The fuse member may have a tubular cross-section. A connection utilizing the member-to-member connection bracket is also included.
US09514906B2 Temperature switch and fluid heating device
A temperature switch performs switching according to temperature of a heater. The temperature switch includes a bimetal that is deformed when the temperature of the heater reaches set temperature, a switch mechanism that is opened and closed by deformation of the bimetal, and a housing member that houses the bimetal and the switch mechanism, and that is able to conduct heat to the bimetal. The heater includes a pair of heat generation units that is adjacent to each other. The housing member includes a contact portion that is formed to project and that is inserted between the pair of heat generation units.
US09514905B2 Fuses, and methods of forming and using fuses
Some embodiments include a fuse having a tungsten-containing structure directly contacting an electrically conductive structure. The electrically conductive structure may be a titanium-containing structure. An interface between the tungsten-containing structure and the electrically conductive structure is configured to rupture when current through the interface exceeds a predetermined level. Some embodiments include a method of forming and using a fuse. The fuse is formed to have a tungsten-containing structure directly contacting an electrically conductive structure. An interface between the tungsten-containing structure and the electrically conductive structure is configured to rupture when current through the interface exceeds a predetermined level. Current exceeding the predetermined level is passed through the interface to rupture the interface.
US09514884B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic component and board having the same mounted thereon
A multilayer ceramic electronic component is provided including a ceramic body having dielectric layers and a plurality of internal electrodes disposed in the ceramic body. The internal electrodes have exposed portions exposed to the exterior of the ceramic body. An electrode layer is disposed on an outer surface of the ceramic body electrically connected to the exposed portions of the internal electrodes A conductive resin layer is disposed on the electrode layer. The electrode layer has an uneven surface.
US09514882B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic component
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component, including: a ceramic body having internal electrodes formed therein; external electrodes formed on external surfaces of the ceramic body and connected to the internal electrodes; and buffer layers formed on contact surfaces between the internal electrodes and the external electrodes, among external surfaces of the ceramic body, in an interior direction of the ceramic body, wherein when a thickness of the internal electrode is denoted by Te, a number of laminated internal electrodes is denoted by N, a thickness of the buffer layer is denoted by t, and a width of a margin of the ceramic body in a length direction of the ceramic body is denoted by L, Te≦0.6 μm, N>200, and 3 μm≦t
US09514871B2 Sintered ferrite magnet and motor provided therewith
Provided is a sintered ferrite magnet 10 that comprises Sr ferrite having a hexagonal crystal structure, wherein the total amount of Na and K is 0.004 to 0.31% by mass in terms of Na2O and K2O, an amount of Si is 0.3 to 0.94% by mass in terms of SiO2, and the following Expression (1) is satisfied. 1.3≦(SrF+Ba+Ca+2Na+2K)/Si≦5.7  (1) [In Expression (1), SrF represents an amount of Sr, on a molar basis, other than Sr which constitutes the Sr ferrite, and Ba, Ca, Na, and K represent amounts of respective elements on a molar basis.]
US09514869B2 R-T-B based sintered magnet
The present invention provides an R-T-B based sintered magnet including R2T14B crystal grains wherein; a grain boundary is formed by two or more adjacent R2T14B crystal grains, an R—O—C concentrated part, in which concentrations of R, O and C are higher than those in the R2T14B crystal grains respectively, is in the grain boundary, and an area of the R—O—C concentrated part occupying in that of the grain boundary on a cut surface of the R-T-B based sintered magnet is within a range of 10% or more to 75% or less.
US09514868B2 Grain oriented electrical steel sheet and method for manufacturing the same
A grain oriented electrical steel sheet is subjected to magnetic domain refinement by laser irradiation or electron irradiation and exhibits excellent low noise properties and low iron-loss properties when assembled into a real transformer device, by setting: the total tension (A) in rolling direction imparted to the steel sheet by the forsterite coating and the tension coating to be equal to or higher than 10.0 MPa; setting the total tension (B) in a direction orthogonal to the rolling direction imparted to the steel sheet by the forsterite coating and the tension coating to be equal to or higher than 5.0 MPa; and setting the total tension (A) and the total tension (B) to satisfy a formula shown below. 1.0≦A/B≦5.0
US09514864B2 Solid-state resistor for pulsed power machines
A flexible solid-state resistor comprises a string of ceramic resistors that can be used to charge the capacitors of a linear transformer driver (LTD) used in a pulsed power machine. The solid-state resistor is able to absorb the energy of a switch prefire, thereby limiting LTD cavity damage, yet has a sufficiently low RC charge time to allow the capacitor to be recharged without disrupting the operation of the pulsed power machine.
US09514863B2 Inverter surge-resistant insulated wire and method of producing the same
An inverter surge-resistant insulated wire has a baked enamel layer(s) around the outer periphery of a conductor having a rectangular cross-section, an extrusion-coated resin layer(s) around the outer side thereof, and an adhesive layer having a thickness of 2-20 μm between the baked enamel layer and the extrusion-coated resin layer. A cross-sectional shape of the baked enamel layer and the extrusion-coated resin layer in the cross-section of the wire is rectangular. In the cross-sectional shape formed by the baked enamel layer and the extrusion-coated resin layer surrounding the conductor in a cross-sectional view, at least a pair of two sides of two pairs of two sides opposing at the upper side and the downside or at the right side and the left side with respect to the conductor meet the conditions that a total thickness of the baked enamel layer and the extrusion-coated resin layer is 80 μm or more.
US09514862B2 Low loss and low packaged volume coaxial RF cable
A low loss and low packaged volume coaxial RF cable according to embodiments is configured to conduct electrical signals, such as RF energy signals. The coaxial RF cable includes a three-layer structure that includes a non-conductive composite braid disposed between a first conductive composite braid and a second conductive composite braid. The coaxial cable is a ultra-flexible, compressible conductor configured to be folded multiple times within a low volume area without damage.
US09514861B2 Self-supporting cable and combination comprising a suspension arrangement and such self-supporting cable
A self-supporting cable including an outer portion and an inner portion is provided, as well as a combination of a self-supporting cable and a suspension arrangement. The inner portion includes at least one insulated conductor and the outer portion includes a first inner surface and an external surface. The external surface is arranged to engage with a suspension arrangement. The inner portion includes a first outer surface, the first outer surface abutting against the first inner surface. The outer portion includes an outer layer and a metal tape adhered to the outer layer. The outer layer includes the external surface, and the metal tape includes the first inner surface. The first inner surface being of metal and adapted for, during local load, frictional engagement with the material of the first outer surface increases the effectiveness of a functional grip between first outer surface and first inner surface.
US09514859B1 Heat resistant communications cable and cord
Heat resistant cables and cords that are used with portable communications equipment wherein the user thereof must be able to operate in extremely hostile environments including being present in a fire are requisite in order to provide continual communications. These fire and heat resistant cables and cords ensure that emergency responders, such as fire and rescue responders, using such a communications system is in constant contact with others on the team and also with the outside so as to be able to call in for help or additional resources and thus ensure the safety of that first responder.
US09514850B2 Memory device with improved refresh scheme for redundancy word line
A memory device includes a plurality of redundancy word lines each of which is coupled with a plurality of redundancy memory cells, and a redundancy refresh circuit suitable for sequentially refreshing first redundancy word lines that are selected as target word lines for an additional refresh operation among the plurality of the redundancy word lines.
US09514847B2 Semiconductor device and operation method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a latch circuit suitable for storing a test result; a non-volatile memory circuit suitable for storing information used for an operation of the semiconductor device; a decoding unit suitable for generating one or more internal program commands by using one or more control signals; and a control unit suitable for programming information in the non-volatile memory circuit in response to the test result stored in the latch circuit when the internal program commands are activated.
US09514844B2 Fast auto shift of failing memory diagnostics data using pattern detection
Logic and methods for diagnostic testing of memory and, more particularly, auto shift of failing memory diagnostics data using pattern detection are disclosed. The method includes detecting fails in the memory during a built in self test (BIST) pattern. The method further includes passing the fail information to a tester through a diagnostic pin. The method further includes pausing shift operations when it is determined that the shifting of the fail information is complete for the detected fail.
US09514839B2 Nonvolatile memory, nonvolatile programmable logic switch including nonvolatile memory, and nonvolatile programmable logic circuit
A nonvolatile memory according to an embodiment includes a memory cell, the memory cell including: a memory transistor including a source, a drain, a gate electrode disposed above a channel between the source and the drain, and a gate insulating film disposed between the channel and the gate electrode; and a fuse element disposed between the gate electrode and a wiring line to which the gate electrode of the memory transistor is connected.
US09514832B2 Access apparatus of memory card and control method thereof
An access apparatus for memory card and a control method thereof are provided. The access apparatus is adapted for receiving a memory card with a side having a supply voltage pin and includes a slot module. The slot module includes a slot having a first side and a second side corresponding to each other. The first side and the second side are respectively configured with a first supply voltage pin and a second supply voltage pin, and the first supply voltage pin and the second supply voltage pin are spaced apart and opposite to each other. The access apparatus selectively determines whether to forbid performing a write operation to the memory card according to a conduction status of the first supply voltage pin and the second supply voltage pin with the supply voltage pin caused by a facing direction of the memory card inserted in the slot.
US09514820B2 EEPROM architecture wherein each bit is formed by two serially connected cells
An integrated circuit memory includes memory cells arranged in an array with rows and columns, each column including a first bit line and a second bit line. Each memory cell is formed by: a first select transistor with a first source-drain path; a second select transistor with a second source-drain path; a first floating gate transistor with a third source-drain path; and a second floating gate transistor with a fourth source-drain path. The first, second, third and fourth source-drain paths are coupled in series between the first bit line and the second bit line. The word line for each row of the memory is coupled to the gate terminals of the first and second select transistors. The control gate line for each row in coupled to the gate terminals of the first and second floating gate transistors.
US09514807B2 Variable resistance memory device
A variable resistance memory device includes upper interconnections on a substrate, first and second word lines provided between the substrate and the upper interconnections and vertically spaced apart from each other, a first bit line disposed between the first and second word lines and intersecting the first and second word lines, memory cells provided in an intersecting region of the first word line and the first bit line and an intersecting region of the second word line and the first bit line, a first word line contact directly connecting the first word line to a corresponding one of the upper interconnections, and a second word line contact directly connecting the second word line to a corresponding one of the upper interconnections.
US09514806B2 Auto low current programming method without verify
A flash memory device employs a low current auto-verification programming scheme using multi-step programming voltage and cell current detection. The low current auto-verification programming scheme performs programming of memory cells by the application of programming voltages in step increments. For each programming pulse, the cell current of the memory cell is sensed to determine when the memory cell is programmed. The programming pulse is terminated when the cell current decreases below a reference current level.
US09514804B2 Multi-state configuration RAM cell
A multi-state static RAM cell includes N NOR gates. Each NOR gate has N−1 inputs and one output. The output of each NOR gate is coupled to a different bit line. Each NOR gate has its inputs connected to the outputs of each of the other NOR gates.
US09514800B1 DRAM and self-refresh method
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) with code bit and self-refresh operation is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, at least one code bit is appended to N bits of user data to form a new code data. The user data are stored in a plurality of user data sub-arrays and code bit is stored in code bit sub-array respectively. Each sub-array stores at least one bit per user-specified row and column address. Each sub-array is independently controlled in either refresh operation or user operation.Refresh operation works on at least one sub-array at a time out of a plurality of sub-arrays. User operations work on other sub-arrays out of a plurality of sub-arrays. User read operation and internal refresh operation can work concurrently.
US09514798B2 Address storage circuit and memory and memory system including the same
A memory including a plurality of word lines to which one or more memory cells are coupled, an address storage unit suitable for storing an input address corresponding to a first external signal that is inputted at a random time, and a control unit suitable for activating a word line corresponding to the input address of the plurality of word lines in response to an active command and refreshing one or more target word lines selected using an address stored in the address storage unit when performing a refresh operation.
US09514793B2 Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of data buffering units corresponding to a data line, wherein the data buffering units include a first data buffering unit suitable for latching data stored in a memory cell in a data read operation, and second data buffering units, an output unit suitable for outputting the data latched in the first data buffering unit, and a control block suitable for controlling a current path to be formed between the second data buffering units and the output unit in the data read operation.
US09514791B2 Facilitating communication between memory devices of different technologies
According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more memory devices and one or more processors coupled to a circuit board. The memory devices are configured according to a second memory technology. The processors are configured to receive messages conforming to a first memory technology, translate the messages from the first memory technology to the second memory technology, and send the translated messages to the memory devices.
US09514787B2 Magnetic disk apparatus, read/write control method, and controller
According to at least one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk, a nonvolatile memory, a determination module, a write module, and a read module. The determination module determines whether the off-track write occurs on a first data sector during a write mode. The write module writes first data in the nonvolatile memory if the determination module determines that the off-track write occurs on the first data sector. The read module reads the first data from one of the magnetic disk and the nonvolatile memory based on a determination result of the determination module.
US09514785B2 Providing content item manipulation actions on an upload web page of the content item
A system and method to provide content item manipulation actions for a content item on an upload web page is presented. The method can include initializing an upload process for a content item to be uploaded to a server. The method can also include prior to completion of an upload data transfer of the upload process, providing, on a user interface (UI) comprising an upload progress indicator of the upload process, an option to add the content item to at least one playlist. Furthermore, the method can include subsequent to completion of the upload data transfer and completion of a processing operation of the content item, providing, on the UI comprising the upload progress indicator, an option to edit the content item and/or an option to share the content item.
US09514781B2 Data storage component test deck system
A system may utilize at least an enclosed test deck that has an access port door covering an access port. The system can test a data storage component by presenting the enclosed test deck to an exchange assembly before exposing an interior test region of the test deck by engaging the access port door with a tool of the exchange assembly. At least one data storage component may be installed into the interior test region and subsequently the access port is closed by installing the access port door into the access port.
US09514775B2 Reducing effect of frequency acquisition error in a position error signal responsive to split servo burst patterns
In a servo control loop, servo burst signals that are read from a plurality of servo burst patterns that include a split servo burst pattern contain frequency acquisition error. The frequency acquisition error is at least partially removed to generate a frequency acquisition error compensated position error signal (PES).
US09514773B2 Head stack assembly with a flexible printed circuit having a mouth centered between arms
A head stack assembly (HSA) includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC) having a mouth with an upper mouth edge and a lower mouth edge. The FPC includes a first plurality of conductive terminals immediately adjacent the upper mouth edge and a second plurality of conductive terminals immediately adjacent the lower mouth edge. The mouth is bisected by a mouth centerline that is substantially parallel to and substantially equidistant from first and second actuator arms of the HSA. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) is attached to each of the first and second actuator arms. Each HGA includes a flexure tail laminate having a dielectric layer disposed between a plurality of conductive traces and a structural layer. The plurality of conductive traces is electrically connected to either the first or second plurality of conductive terminals via a plurality of openings in the structural layer and in the dielectric layer.
US09514772B2 Magnetic head device having suspension and spacer
A magnetic head device which has strong joint strength in an arm and a suspension and high accuracy of a size and a shape is provided. The magnetic head device comprises an arm, a suspension overlapping with a leading end part of the arm, a slider located at a leading end part of the suspension, and a first joint part that is placed between the leading end part of the arm and the suspension and that joins the arm and the suspension, the first joint part including Sn or a resin adhesive.
US09514767B2 Device, method and computer program for freely selectable frequency shifts in the subband domain
A device for producing a frequency-shifted audio signal based on an audio input signal is provided. The device has an interface and a frequency-shifting unit. The interface is configured for receiving the audio input signal. The frequency-shifting unit is configured for producing the frequency-shifted audio signal. The frequency-shifting unit is additionally configured to produce one of the second subband values based on one of the first subband values such that the second phase angle of this second subband value differs from the first phase angle of this first subband value by a phase angle difference, the phase angle difference being dependent on frequency information indicating by which frequency difference the audio input signal is to be shifted in order to obtain the frequency-shifted audio signal, and the phase angle difference being dependent on a frequency bandwidth of one of the first subbands.
US09514765B2 Method for reducing noise and computer program thereof and electronic device
A method for reducing noise is used to divide a received voice into plural voice segments and set a predetermined energy value. The energy of voice segment which is higher than the predetermined energy value is determined as normal voice and outputs directly, and the energy of voice segment which is lower than the predetermined energy value is determined as noise and will be processed.
US09514763B2 Noise reduction via tuned acoustic echo cancellation
An embodiment provides a method, including: accessing a tuned corrective mask stored in a memory device; forming, using a processor, a tuned acoustic echo cancellation mask utilizing the tuned-corrective mask; applying, using a processor, the tuned acoustic echo cancellation mask to a digital audio signal; and outputting an echo-cancelled audio signal. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09514762B2 Audio signal coding method and apparatus
The present invention relates to an audio signal coding method and apparatus. The method includes: categorizing audio signals into high-frequency audio signals and low-frequency audio signals; coding the low-frequency audio signals by using a corresponding low-frequency coding manner according to characteristics of low-frequency audio signals; and selecting a bandwidth extension mode to code the high-frequency audio signals according to the low-frequency coding manner and/or characteristics of the audio signals.
US09514760B2 Down-mixing compensation for audio watermarking
Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to implement down-mixing compensation for audio watermarking are disclosed. Example watermark embedding methods disclosed herein include determining respective attenuation factors for a plurality of audio bands based on energy values associated with down-mixed audio samples corresponding to a first audio channel of a multi-channel audio signal and a second audio channel of the multi-channel audio signal. Disclosed example watermark embedding methods also include embedding a watermark in audio samples of the first audio channel based on the attenuation factors.
US09514757B2 Stereo signal encoding device, stereo signal decoding device, stereo signal encoding method, and stereo signal decoding method
A stereo signal encoding device is provided that enables a lower bitrate without decreasing quality when applying an intermittent transmission technique to a stereo signal. A stereo encoding unit generates first stereo encoded data by encoding the stereo signal when the stereo signal of the current frame is an audio section. A stereo DTX encoding unit is a means for encoding the stereo signal when the stereo signal of the current frame is a non-audio section. The stereo DTX encoding unit generates second stereo encoded data by encoding each of a monaural signal spectral parameter that is a spectral parameter of a monaural signal generated using the first channel signal and the second channel signal, first channel signal information relating to the first channel signal, and second channel signal information relating to the second channel signal.
US09514753B2 Speaker identification using hash-based indexing
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing speaker identification. In some implementations, an utterance vector that is derived from an utterance is obtained. Hash values are determined for the utterance vector according to multiple different hash functions. A set of speaker vectors from a plurality of hash tables is determined using the hash values, where each speaker vector was derived from one or more utterances of a respective speaker. The speaker vectors in the set are compared with the utterance vector. A speaker vector is selected based on comparing the speaker vectors in the set with the utterance vector.
US09514751B2 Speech recognition device and the operation method thereof
Described herein is a speech recognition device comprising: a communication module receiving speech data corresponding to speech input from a speech recognition terminal and multi-sensor data corresponding to input environment of the speech; a model selection module selecting a language and acoustic model corresponding to the multi-sensor data among a plurality of language and acoustic models classified according to the speech input environment on the basis of previous multi-sensor data; and a speech recognition module controlling the communication module to apply a feature vector extracted from the speech data to the language and acoustic model and transmit speech recognition result for the speech data to the speech recognition terminal.
US09514749B2 Method and electronic device for easy search during voice record
An electronic device for allowing the user not to terminate audio recording while at the same time checking the content corresponding to a recorded portion in real time during the audio recording, and a method of reproducing the audio signal. An electronic device according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure may include a memory configured to store an audio signal being input; a display unit configured to display at least one of an item indicating a progressive state in which the audio signal is stored therein and an STT-based text for the audio signal; a user interface unit configured to receive the selection of a predetermined portion of the item indicating the progressive state or the selection of a partial character string of the text from the user; and a controller configured to reproduce an audio signal corresponding to the selected portion or the selected character string.
US09514747B1 Reducing speech recognition latency
In an automatic speech recognition (ASR) processing system, ASR processing may be configured to reduce a latency of returning speech results to a user. The latency may be determined by comparing a time stamp of an utterance in process to a current time. Latency may also be estimated based on an endpoint of the utterance or other considerations such as how difficult the utterance may be to process. To improve latency the ASR system may be configured to adjust various processing parameters, such as graph pruning factors, path weights, ASR models, etc. Latency checks and corrections may occur dynamically for a particular utterance while it is being processed, thus allowing the ASR system to adjust to rapidly changing latency conditions.
US09514745B2 Voice focus enabled by predetermined triggers
Provided are techniques for voice focus enabled by predetermined triggers. Voice recognition is used to identify one or more pre-determined triggers from a voice of a speaker. In response to identifying the one or more pre-determined triggers, a voice recognition template is dynamically created for the voice of the speaker, and the voice recognition template and voice isolation are used to focus on the voice from the speaker.
US09514744B2 Conversion of non-back-off language models for efficient speech decoding
Techniques for conversion of non-back-off language models for use in speech decoders. For example, an apparatus for conversion of non-back-off language models for use in speech decoders. For example, an apparatus is configured convert a non-back-off language model to a back-off language model. The converted back-off language model is pruned. The converted back-off language model is usable for decoding speech.
US09514742B2 System and method for managing conversation
A conversation management system includes: a training unit that generates an articulation speech act and an entity name of a training corpus, that generates a lexical syntactic pattern, and that estimates a speech act and an entity name of a training corpus; a database that stores the articulation speech act, the entity name, and the lexical syntactic pattern of the training corpus; an execution unit that generates an articulation speech act and an entity name of a user, that generates a user lexical syntactic pattern, that estimates a speech act and an entity name of a user, that searches for an articulation pair corresponding to a user articulation at the database using a search condition including the estimated user speech act and the generated user lexical syntactic pattern, and that generates a final response by selecting an articulation template using a restriction condition including an estimated entity name among the found articulation pair; and an output unit that outputs a final response that is generated by the execution unit.
US09514740B2 Data shredding for speech recognition language model training under data retention restrictions
Training speech recognizers, e.g., their language or acoustic models, using actual user data is useful, but retaining personally identifiable information may be restricted in certain environments due to regulations. Accordingly, a method or system is provided for enabling training of a language model which includes producing segments of text in a text corpus and counts corresponding to the segments of text, the text corpus being in a depersonalized state. The method further includes enabling a system to train a language model using the segments of text in the depersonalized state and the counts. Because the data is depersonalized, actual data may be used, enabling speech recognizers to keep up-to-date with user trends in speech and usage, among other benefits.
US09514735B2 Waterproof sound transmitting sheet, and method for producing same
Disclosed herein is a waterproof sound-transmitting sheet, the thickness of which can easily be adjusted and which has a high sound transmitting efficiency and excellent waterproofness, and a method for producing same. The waterproof sound-transmitting sheet, which is attached to a sound hole of a case, includes: a support layer made of a film-shaped porous material and formed in the case; and a waterproofing layer formed on one side of the support layer in the shape of a porous nanoweb in which fine fiber strands are crosswisely layered and exposed to the outside of the case.
US09514727B2 Pickup with one or more integrated controls
A musical instrument pickup, having a pickup body, a tone shaping circuit, and at least one integrated control in and/or on the pickup body. Embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize one or more techniques, alone or in combination, to adjust, e.g., the tone of a musical instrument by changing the frequency response of a pickup with the one or more integrated controls. One exemplary technique utilizes a plurality of knobs to selectively control the gain, resonant frequency, and/or circuit Q of the pickup.
US09514725B1 Musical instrument
Disclosed in certain arrangements is a musical instrument that can include a plurality of tine tone generators. The musical instrument can include a keyboard including a plurality of keys. The plurality of tine tone generators can be configured to correspond with one of each of the plurality of tine tone generators. The musical instrument can also include a plurality of hammers, wherein each of the plurality of hammers is configured to strike one of the plurality of tine tone generators when one of the plurality of keys is depressed. The tine tone generator can be configured to form a single unitary piece and can include a tone bar and a tine. The tine can further include a tuning spring and can include a ferro magnetic tip.
US09514724B2 Sampling device, electronic instrument, method, and program
The present invention receives sound wave data from a sound inputted into a microphone and samples the sound wave data received using a CPU to obtain sampled data as a digitized tone data, which is then stored in a sampling memory. The CPU performs auto-play of a sound using the digitized tone data sampled by the sampling and stored in the sampling memory. Thus, a result of the sampling is automatically provided to the user after the sampling takes place and the user can intuitively understand what can be done through sampling.
US09514723B2 Distributed, self-scaling, network-based architecture for sound reinforcement, mixing, and monitoring
A distributed self-scaling network audio processing system includes end nodes interconnected by packet-switched network and operating as peers on the network. Each of the end nodes supports local input processing, mixing, and output processing. The input processing includes the option of dual input channels for supporting separate front-of-house and monitor workflows. End nodes are added to the system to support specific audio processing applications, based on the number of audio sources, the number of output mixes required, and the number of locations from which users choose to interact with the system.
US09514717B2 Method and apparatus for rendering items in a user interface
An approach is provided for rendering items in a user interface. The approach may, for instance, include: a pre-fetching and a caching of item information associated with one or more items for one or more determined categories based on location information associated with the device; a processing of a detected attitude change associated with the device and of an attitude change threshold to determine an intended orientation mode for the device; a modification of one or more representations, of one or more items, that are within a region, of a user interface, associated with a user interface object; a grouping, a de-overlapping, or a combination thereof of the one or more representations based on an overlapping of one or more rendering locations, of the one or more representations, in a three-dimensional model space.
US09514715B2 Graphics voltage reduction for load line optimization
Technologies are presented that optimize graphics power-performance efficiency. A method of graphics processing may include beginning a graphics workload with a first voltage and a first clamping threshold; monitoring amounts of time that bursts of dynamic capacitance remain above the first clamping threshold; and, if the dynamic capacitance remains above the first clamping threshold for more than a predetermined time threshold, setting the voltage to a second voltage and setting the clamping threshold to a second clamping threshold until the end of the frame. If, at the end of an initial frame, a number of clock cycles from a start of the frame to when the predetermined time threshold is exceeded is less than a predetermined minimum number of clock cycles, the second clamping threshold and the second voltage may be maintained for processing of a predetermined number of subsequent frames.
US09514711B2 Resolution enhancer for electronic visual displays
A method of enhancing a visual image of a display is described. The visual image is displayed on a first display of a display device having a first display pixel density and a first display dimension. The display device detects an enhancer device oriented in an operable position to the display device. The enhancer display device has a second display having a second display pixel density higher than the first display pixel density and a second display dimension less than the first display dimension. A spatial orientation is determined between the first display of the display device with the second display of the enhancer display device. The display device sends the visual image and the spatial orientation to the enhancer display device to display a portion of the visual image that is defined by the spatial orientation on the second display in the second display pixel density.
US09514710B2 Resolution enhancer for electronic visual displays
A method of enhancing a visual image of a display is described. The visual image is displayed on a first display of a display device having a first display pixel density and a first display dimension. The display device detects an enhancer device oriented in an operable position to the display device. The enhancer display device has a second display having a second display pixel density higher than the first display pixel density and a second display dimension less than the first display dimension. A spatial orientation is determined between the first display of the display device with the second display of the enhancer display device. The display device sends the visual image and the spatial orientation to the enhancer display device to display a portion of the visual image that is defined by the spatial orientation on the second display in the second display pixel density.
US09514708B2 Image processing apparatus, projector and image processing method
A driving device of a display apparatus includes a calculation unit which calculates a correction value to correct a gradation value of a pixel that is a correction target on the basis of n gradation values that corresponds to n pixels and a correction unit which corrects the gradation value of a pixel that is a correction target on the basis of the correction value and the calculation unit performs a first calculation in a case in which a gradation value among the n gradation values is included in a first range, performs a second calculation in a case in which a gradation value among the n gradation values is included in a second range, respectively performs the first calculation or the second calculation on the n gradation values, and calculates the correction value on the basis of the calculation results performed on the n gradation values.
US09514700B2 Signal processing device, liquid crystal apparatus, electronic equipment, and signal processing method
A signal processing device of a liquid crystal apparatus detects a boundary between a first pixel to which a first voltage lower than a first reference voltage is applied and a second pixel to which a second voltage higher than a second reference voltage is applied on the basis of a signal for controlling a voltage applied to pixels, corrects a signal correlated with M pixels including the first pixel to a third voltage which is higher than the first voltage and lower than the second voltage, outputs the third voltage as an applied voltage to the M pixels in a first period, outputs the first voltage as an applied voltage to the M pixels in a second period, and outputs the third voltage as an applied voltage to the M pixels in a third period.
US09514698B2 Liquid crystal display having high and low luminances alternatively represented
A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal capacitor; a first switching element which transmits a data voltage to the liquid crystal capacitor; a second switching element connected to the liquid crystal capacitor; and a transformation capacitor connected to the second switching element. A difference between a first time when the first switching element is turned on and a second time when the second switching element starts is turned on is greater than 1 horizontal period and less than 1 frame period.
US09514693B2 Liquid crystal display device
When a first source bus line (SA) or a second source bus line (SB) which is associated with a pixel of one column is electrically connected with a spare wire (AL1), a control circuit (15B) of a liquid crystal display device (100B) according to an embodiment of the present invention is capable of controlling the amplitudes of the oscillation of a first display signal voltage and a second display signal voltage output to the first source bus line (SA) and the second source bus line (SB) so as to be smaller than that achieved when the first source bus line (SA) or the second source bus line (SB) is not electrically connected with the spare wire (AL1).
US09514689B2 Display device
A display device includes at least one light source array configured to provide a display panel with light, a dimming signal generating unit configured to receive an image data signal and generate a dimming signal, a first comparator configured to receive the dimming signal output from the dimming signal generating unit and a preset critical value and generate a comparison signal, a dimming modulating unit configured to receive the comparison signal output from the first comparator and the dimming signal output from the dimming signal generating unit and modulate the dimming signal, a constant current controller configured to receive the dimming signal output from the dimming modulating unit and a voltage from a sensor node, and to control a light driving current driving the light source array, and a resistor controller configured to change resistors connected to the sensor node by the comparison signal output from the first comparator.
US09514685B2 Display device
A display device that may minimize voltage drop of a power source supplied to a pixel is disclosed. The display device comprises a power generator generating a driving power source; a display panel including a plurality of pixels, the display panel displaying images using the driving power source; and a printed circuit board having a power transfer line for transferring the driving power source output from the power generator to the display panel, wherein the power transfer line is provided in a closed-loop type.
US09514681B2 Pixel circuit for increasing accuracy of current sensing
A pixel circuit for increasing accuracy of current sensing of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the pixel circuit includes an OLED, a driving circuit, and first to third transistors. The driving circuit is configured to adjust a magnitude of a current flowing through the OLED based at least in part on a data signal received from a data line. The first transistor is configured to electrically connect the data line and a holding capacitor based at least in part on a scan signal. The second transistor is configured to electrically connect the holding capacitor and the driving circuit based at least in part on a write control signal. The third transistor is configured to electrically connect the data line and an anode electrode of the OLED based at least in part on a sensing control signal.
US09514677B2 Display device and driving method thereof
A method of driving an OLED display includes: during a scanning period of a first frame, turning off a relay transistor and turning on a switching transistor to enable a second data voltage applied to a data line to be stored in a first capacitor; and during a light emitting period of the first frame, performing an operation to turn on a light emitting transistor and a compensation transistor to enable a voltage into which a first data voltage and a threshold voltage of a driving transistor are reflected to be applied to a second node for enabling the OLED to emit light by a driving current which flows into a driving transistor. The scanning period and the light emitting period temporally overlap each other.
US09514671B2 Power supply unit and organic light emitting display including the same
Disclosed is a power supply unit including a DC-DC converter including an output terminal and resistor coupling terminal and an external resistor coupled to the resistor coupling terminal, where the DC-DC converter includes a first power generation unit which outputs a predetermined current to the output terminal, and a sensing circuit unit that includes a sensing resistor located between the first power generation unit and the output terminal and stops an operation of the first power generation unit depending on a current value flowing in the sensing resistor. A power supply unit and an organic light emitting display including the power supply unit include a sensing circuit unit that stops operation of the power supply unit to prevent an additional damage when an abnormal current occurs.
US09514666B2 Image display system and display driving module
A display driving module including a driving circuit portion and a non-driving circuit portion is provided. The driving circuit portion is controlled by a system circuit block. The driving circuit portion includes driving channels for driving a display panel. First ESD protection devices are disposed in the driving circuit portion corresponding to the driving channels for providing at least one discharge path. The non-driving circuit portion electrically connects the system circuit block, the driving circuit portion and the display panel. At least one of second ESD protection devices is disposed in at least one of the driving circuit portion, the non-driving circuit portion, the system circuit block and the display panel corresponding to the first ESD protection devices. The second ESD protection devices cooperate with the first ESD protection devices to provide the discharge path. An image display system including the foregoing display driving module is also provided.
US09514663B2 Method of uniformly illuminating a billboard
Visual media content on a billboard display surface can be illuminated using a lighting assembly that includes a lighting unit that includes a circuit board, LEDs arranged on the circuit board, and optical elements overlying the LEDs. The method includes directing light from the lighting unit toward a portion of the billboard display surface such that the light from the lighting unit illuminates the visual media content on the portion of the billboard display surface with an illumination level and a uniformity. The optical elements are configured so that failure of one or more LEDs of the lighting assembly will cause the illumination level of light impinging the portion of the billboard display surface to decrease while the uniformity of light impinging the portion of the billboard display surface remains substantially the same.
US09514660B2 Method and architecture for distributed multi-echelon exercise and training system and method of using the same
A training apparatus includes a server and a controller. The server is configured to send and receive messages on at least one network, to receive messages at a plurality of publisher ports, and to send messages to a plurality of subscriber ports. The controller operates the server sends a first message to a training system destination that is initially configured to receive messages on a first port. Receipt and processing of the first message causes the training system destination to subsequently receive messages on a second port. The server is configured to receive subsequent messages on the first port intended for the training system destination and to pass modified or unmodified messages to the second port. The controller determines at least one of the flow, format, content, and routing of messages received on the first port and passed to the second port based on a training scenario.
US09514658B1 Synthetic skin and tissue model
A synthetic tissue model using one or more semi-flexible polymers or resin with at least one embedded mesh material is provided herein. The model provides suitable simulation of animal tissue designed to mimic tissue stiffness through varying the polymerization to simulate tissue stiffness level. Multiple polymers or multiple layers of polymer possessing different polymerization levels can be used to simulate tissues with different layers, such as skin. A mesh incorporated in the model provides durability, and can simulate layers of tissue through selection of the mesh material. A skin model using silicone-like material with a nylon tulle mesh was used to simulate skin for surgical procedures. The nylon tulle mesh increased resistance to tearing over time, due to insertion of surgical tools, thereby increasing usable life of the model and enhancing training as the model simulated skin for longer periods of time.
US09514653B2 Systems, methods, and devices for providing assistance to an unmanned aerial vehicle
A service unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a flight system, a status component, a navigation system, and a surveillance component. The flight system is for flying the service UAV. The status component is configured to determine that a first UAV is disabled. The navigation system is configured to fly the service UAV to a landing location of the first UAV in response to the status component determining that the first UAV is disabled. The surveillance component is configured to observe the first UAV and an area surrounding the first UAV.
US09514649B2 Vehicle driving support device
There is provided a vehicle driving support device. The vehicle driving support device according to the present invention calculates a time-to-collision to an obstacle ahead. When the time-to-collision is shorter than a predetermined threshold value, which means the possibility of the collision between the obstacle and a vehicle is determined to be high, and in at least either one of cases in which an engine automatic stop controller automatically stops an engine and in which a brake negative pressure is higher than a set pressure, so that the negative pressure of a brake booster is insufficient, the device outputs a signal to a brake controller so as to start a pump of a brake driver for realizing a prefill function in which a brake pad of each wheel is pressed against a braking surface of a disc rotor.
US09514648B2 Alerting apparatus
An alerting apparatus issues an alert regarding a moving obstacle to a driver of a host vehicle when the host vehicle enters an intersection of a crossroad that is connected to a traveling road on which the host vehicle is traveling, and the traveling road, in a left-hand traffic jurisdiction. This alerting apparatus includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to issue the alert regarding the moving obstacle when it is determined that a path of the moving obstacle intersects with an intersect determination range, and set the intersect determination range to be shorter in length in a front-rear direction of the host vehicle when the traveling direction of the host vehicle is a left turn than when the traveling direction of the host vehicle is a right turn.
US09514647B2 Optimal acceleration profile for enhanced collision avoidance
A system and method for providing an optimal collision avoidance path for a host vehicle that may potentially collide with a target vehicle. The method includes providing off-line an optimization look-up table for storing on the host vehicle that includes an optimal vehicle braking or longitudinal deceleration and an optimal distance along the optimal path based on a range of speeds of the host vehicle and coefficients of friction of the roadway surface. The method determines the current speed of the host vehicle and the coefficient of friction of the roadway surface during the potential collision, and uses the look-up table to determine the optimal longitudinal deceleration or braking of the host vehicle for the optimal vehicle path. The method also determines an optimal lateral acceleration or steering of the host vehicle for the optimal vehicle path based on a friction ellipse and the optimal braking.
US09514646B2 Method for assisting vehicle parking using sensors on both a parking vehicle and a parked vehicle
A method of operating a parking assistance system involves operating a first sensor onboard a parking vehicle to obtain a first distance measurement to a parked vehicle, and transmitting a first wireless signal which activates a second sensor onboard the parked vehicle. The second sensor obtains a second distance measurement to the parking vehicle and transmits the result via a second wireless signal. The second wireless signal is received by the parking vehicle which then determines an inter-vehicle distance based on the first and second distance measurements, and uses the inter-vehicle distance to perform a parking maneuver. The transmission of the second distance measurement by the parked vehicle may be contingent upon existence of a condition (such as a sufficient state-or-charge of a vehicle battery or prior consent of an operator) of the parked vehicle when the parked vehicle receives the first wireless signal.
US09514644B2 Implementing location based actions
A system (8) for implementing at least one action based on a location of a mobile communication device (10). The system (8) comprises a controller (16), storage (18) storing electronic program instructions for controlling the controller (16), and input means (24). The controller (16) is operable, under control of the electronic program instructions, to receive input via the input means (24), the input comprising an indication of a location of the mobile communication device (10), process the indication to determine whether the location of the mobile communication device (10) corresponds to a location of a predefined area, and implement the at least one action based on the determination.
US09514641B2 Smart remote control
A remote control method, a smart terminal, and a smart remote control system. The smart remote control system includes a terminal device and at least one primary device, the terminal device is configured to provide a primary device list for a user; obtain and display a remote control panel of the controlled primary device according to the controlled primary device selected by the user; and sends control information to the controlled primary device according to an operation performed by the user on the remote control panel; and the primary device is configured to perform a corresponding control operation according to the control information. A terminal device is used to provide a remote control function for a user, so that the user may remotely control multiple controlled devices on one terminal device by using the remote control panel.
US09514639B2 Universal remote control user interface for discrete control of multiple devices
A universal remote control device and methods for controlling multiple devices with a universal remote control device are provided. The method includes receiving a boot completed notification from a control unit of the universal remote control device and displaying a troubleshooting icon on a display of the universal remote control device. Upon receiving a user input selecting the troubleshooting icon, the method includes generating a power user interface menu enabling discrete control of power for each device controlled by the universal remote control device. The power user interface menu is displayed on a least a portion of the display of the universal remote control device.
US09514638B2 Pull cord with integrated charging port
An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a gearbox assembly configured to electromechanically operate a window covering actuation mechanism. A pull cord is provided to at least one of power the gearbox assembly and charge a battery to power the gearbox assembly. In certain embodiments, manual operation of the pull cord is used to control the gearbox assembly. An electrical conductor and associated electrical connector may be incorporated into the pull cord. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.
US09514637B2 Wireless two-way communication protocol for automated furniture accessory integration
A system and method for integrating furniture accessories and generic devices with automated furniture items is provided. In embodiments, a communication protocol enables a remote device to wirelessly control a generic device wirelessly coupled to a control component of an automated furniture item. The remote device may control features of the generic device based on wireless communication with the control component. In some embodiments, the remote device receives a user environment selection, which is communicated to the control component of the automated furniture item. The automated furniture item then communicates at least a portion of the received command to a corresponding generic device, according to the settings of the selected user environment. In further embodiments, an occupancy detection indication for the automated furniture item may result in a change in one or more settings corresponding to the user environment, as communicated to the generic device(s) by the control component.
US09514631B2 Multiple procesor hazard detection system
Systems and methods for using multi-criteria state machines to manage alarming states and pre-alarming states of a hazard detection system are described herein. The multi-criteria state machines can include one or more sensor state machines that can control the alarming states and one or more system state machines that can control the pre-alarming states. Each state machine can transition among any one of its states based on sensor data values, hush events, and transition conditions. The transition conditions can define how a state machine transitions from one state to another. The hazard detection system can use a dual processor arrangement to execute the multi-criteria state machines according to various embodiments. The dual processor arrangement can enable the hazard detection system to manage the alarming and pre-alarming states in a manner that promotes minimal power usage while simultaneously promoting reliability in hazard detection and alarming functionality.
US09514629B2 Vehicle door opening warning system and vehicle door opening warning method
A vehicle door opening warning system including a control unit, a projection unit and a detection unit is provided. The control unit is disposed at a door of a vehicle. The projection unit is disposed at the door and is electrically coupled to the control unit. The detection unit is disposed outside of the vehicle and is electrically coupled to the control unit. When the detection unit detects a moving object existing within 5 to 30 meters of the vehicle, the detection unit produces a signal. The control unit receives the signal and controls the projection unit to project a warning message according to the signal. A vehicle door opening warning method is also provided.
US09514628B2 Electrical load monitoring system
A computer implemented method performed by a composite electrical load monitoring system includes determining, at a first time instant during a duration, a first margin between a first reading of a first electrical parameter and a first electrical parameter limit for a first power source, and determining, at the first time instant during the duration, a second margin between a second reading of a second electrical parameter and a second electrical parameter limit for a second power source. The method further includes determining, after the first time instant, that the first margin is less than the second margin in response to determining the first margin and the second margin, and displaying, in a display device and within the duration, an identifier for the first power source in response to determining that the first margin is less than the second margin.
US09514625B2 System and method of biomechanical posture detection and feedback
A system and method are described herein for a sensor device which biomechanically detects in real-time a user's movement state and posture and then provides real-time feedback to the user based on the user's real-time posture. The feedback is provided through immediate sensory feedback through the sensor device (e.g., a sound or vibration) as well as through an avatar within an associated application with which the sensor device communicates.
US09514624B2 Apparatus for detecting ferromagnetic objects and a protected doorway assembly
Apparatus for detecting a ferromagnetic object to protect, for example, a doorway to an MRI room comprises a passive primary sensor apparatus comprising at least one first magnetic sensor, a secondary non-magnetic sensor apparatus comprising at least two sensors, a detection zone for one of the secondary sensors being distinct from the zone of the other one of the secondary sensors, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the primary and secondary sensor apparatus, and a warning device. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations in the signal from the primary sensor and correlate them with instances in which both sensors of the secondary, non-magnetic, sensor apparatus detect the presence of an object in their respective zones.
US09514622B1 Tamper-proof building alarm system
A tamper-proof building alarm system comprising a number of sensing devices for sensing when a building entry point has been opened and an alarm unit comprising a tamper-proof housing and an alarm assembly. The tamper-proof housing includes a mounting base and a cover. The cover at least partially encloses the housing and prevents lateral access to the alarm assembly. The tamper-proof housing may include a locking system such that only authorized users have access to the alarm assembly.
US09514616B2 Gaming machine capable of improving amusingness
The present invention provides a gaming machine capable of improving amusingness of a game by varying the continuity of the main game. According to the present invention, a normal mode game in the normal mode is started based on an input of the bet information from the bet input device; the mode is entered from the normal mode to the chance mode when an enter condition is satisfied as a result of referring to the predetermined symbol determination table in the normal mode; a free game is started as a chance mode game in the chance mode; and the mode is returned from the chance mode to the normal mode when an end condition is satisfied as a result of referring to the specific symbol determination table in the chance mode.
US09514615B2 Sliding jackpot probabilities
A game controller operable to control play of a game. The game controller includes a configuration module, a wager determination module and a trigger module. The configuration module configures a secondary event trigger having a hit rate which is fixed over a plurality of games. The wager determination module determines an amount wagered for play of one of the games. The trigger module triggers a secondary game event in which a higher value prize and lower value prize are each eligible to be awarded upon determining the trigger in the game, such that a probability of awarding the higher value prize increases with the amount wagered in the game, while the probability of awarding the lower value prize decreases.
US09514612B2 Gaming controller, a gaming system, and a method of gaming
A method of gaming comprising: a) displaying a plurality of display positions to a player, at least one of the display positions corresponding to a hidden object to be sought by the player; b) determining a selection of a display position; c) revealing whether or not the selected display position corresponds to the hidden object; e) determining whether to allow a selection by conducting at least one trial, each trial comprising seeking to complete a symbol combination; and f) repeating steps b) to e) until either the symbol combination is completed or a designated number of hidden objects is located.
US09514609B2 Team gaming system and method therefor
A system and method for allowing multiple players to place independent wagers on a single game is disclosed. The game may be played on either a gaming machine or at a gaming event. A main player is physically located at a system operator, such as a casino. Additional players may join the main player and place wagers on the games that the main player is playing. The wagers that the additional players place are treated and paid out independently from the wagers placed by the main player. Furthermore, the players and the main player may communicate with each other throughout the betting process.
US09514603B2 Method and apparatus for electronic gaming
A system and method for controlling a player's rate of play is provided. In an embodiment, a rate of play is defined that influences when a player is transferred to a new hand, such as upon folding or when play in a current hand is completed. Rate of play may be expressed, for example, as a percentage of hands to transfer upon which the player is to be moved upon folding. In another embodiment, a player may select, for example, a “Fold and Transfer” option or a “Fold and Observe” option, thereby allowing the player to better control the rate of play. In yet another embodiment, a player may designate a rate of play and be presented with a “Fold and Transfer” option and/or a “Fold and Observe” option, wherein the “Fold and Transfer” option and/or the “Fold and Observe” option may override the designated rate of play.
US09514602B2 System data triggering for facilitation of gaming event re-creation
For facilitating re-experience of an event of a gaming device with a player, at least one of an available plurality of data sampled by the gaming device by a gaming system having supervisory hierarchical control over the gaming device, is monitored. The data is compared against a predetermined threshold to determine whether the predetermined threshold is exceeded. If the threshold is exceeded, at least a portion of the sampled data is provided to a data processing device to be processed in re-creating the event at a subsequent time.
US09514595B2 Beverage preparation machine with ambience emulation functionality
The present invention relates to a beverage preparation machine with ambience emulation functionality. A providing arrangement (11, 21, 17) provides data with visible 5 content for generating a predefined ambience when reproduced, wherein the provided data are linked to context information, said context information being indicative of a situation. An acquisition arrangement (11, 37, 60, 62, 63) acquires at least one actual context 10 information indicating an actual situation, and a display (10) reproduces data being associated to the acquired actual context information for generating an ambience related to the actual situation.
US09514590B2 Coin separation device
A coin separation device has a conveying device for conveying coins from an inlet container in a conveying direction along a conveying line and a checking device arranged on the conveying line for recognizing a coin that is conveyed along the conveying line. An acceleration device also is provided. The acceleration device is formed to accelerate a coin conveyed along the conveying line and recognized by the checking device in the conveying direction so that the coin is conveyed from the conveying line into a coin collection device. In this way, the coin separation device reliably conveys only coins, and not other objects from the conveying line into a coin collection device.
US09514588B2 Modular vehicle system, electric vehicle and module for connecting to an electric vehicle
The invention relates to a modular vehicle system, having an electric vehicle (2, 2′), in particular a lightweight electric vehicle, and at least one module (3, 120) which can be connected to the electric vehicle (2, 2′). The electric vehicle (2, 2′) has at least one on-board power supply system (13, 101) for supplying energy to an electrical drive unit (114), one or more interfaces (4, 114) which are connected to the on-board power supply system (13, 101) and are intended for connecting at least one module (3, 120), and a first locking means (9) which is arranged on the interface (4, 4′, 114). The at least one module (3, 120) has at least one electrical arrangement, a connecting element (6, 6′, 121) which can be connected disconnectably to the interface (4, 4′, 114) and has the purpose of connecting the electrical arrangement to the on-board power supply system (13, 101), and a second locking means (11) which is arranged on the connecting element (6, 6′, 121) and which is designed to engage with the first locking means (9). In order to provide a modular vehicle system (1) which has increased operational reliability and in which the connection to a module (3, 120) can be made in a particularly easy and secure fashion such that it is protected against intervention by unauthorized persons, at least one of the locking means (9, 11) can be moved between a free position and a locking position, wherein in the free position the connecting element (6, 6′, 121) can be disconnected from the interface (4, 4′, 114), and in the locked position the connecting element (6, 6′, 121) is mechanically locked to the interface (4, 4′, 114).
US09514585B2 Wireless electronic lock system and method
A electronic lock system and method including an electronic lock, a mobile device and/or a wireless device. The electronic lock is capable of sending a message to the mobile device via wireless communication and/or to the wireless device based on a triggering event. The mobile device and/or the wireless device may in turn perform an action based on the received message. In one embodiment, the electronic lock, the mobile device the wireless device communicate with one another wirelessly via Bluetooth communication.
US09514583B2 Controller for a door operator
A door operator comprises a door driver for opening and closing a door, a controller including a microprocessor connected to and controlling the door driver, a graphical user interface comprising a display screen with touch select input coupled to the microprocessor to display information stored in the controller and to receive instructions selected from the display screen by a user, and a memory module coupled to the microprocessor and storing code executed by the microprocessor. The microprocessor under control of the code displays to the user various menu items on the graphical user interface display and enables the user to select among the menu items using the display screen with touch select input such that the microprocessor derives a control signal. Circuitry is configured to receive the control signal from the microprocessor and to carry the control signal to the door driver.
US09514582B2 Recording and reporting of driving characteristics
A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.
US09514580B2 Fault code hierarchy system
A fault code analyzer for a vehicle includes a fault code memory device configured to store a plurality of active and inactive fault codes for the vehicle and a priority processor coupled to the memory device. The priority processor is configured to: prioritize each fault code within the plurality of active and inactive fault codes; determine a first root cause fault code, the first root cause fault code corresponding to the highest prioritized fault code; determine a first set of interaction fault codes, the first set of interaction fault codes relating to the first root cause fault code; and provide the first root cause fault code and the first set of interaction fault codes to an interface device of a user.
US09514579B2 Method and apparatus for checking vehicle specification
A method for checking a vehicle specification includes operating terminal devices included in a vehicle. Control data is generated depending on an operation of the terminal devices. The control data is transferred to a gateway included in the vehicle. The control data is compared with vehicle specification matters stored in the gateway using the gateway. An error message is transmitted when the vehicle specification matters stored in the gateway do not match the control data.
US09514568B2 Aerial roof estimation systems and methods
Methods and systems for roof estimation are described. Example embodiments include a roof estimation system, which generates and provides roof estimate reports annotated with indications of the size, geometry, pitch and/or orientation of the roof sections of a building. Generating a roof estimate report may be based on one or more aerial images of a building. In some embodiments, generating a roof estimate report of a specified building roof may include generating a three-dimensional model of the roof, and generating a report that includes one or more views of the three-dimensional model, the views annotated with indications of the dimensions, area, and/or slope of sections of the roof. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09514567B2 Screen display device, system, and screen generation method displaying the state of a network
A screen display device (200) displays a three-dimensional display screen on which network (NW) devices, links, paths, obstruction points (alarms) are displayed on a map representation. The screen display device (200) defines rungs on the basis of attributes of the devices so that a device of a lower rung (a terminal device in the NW) is placed at a lower position while a device of a higher rung is placed at a higher position on the three-dimensional display screen. Further, for an area where devices are on multiple rungs, the screen display device (200) displays a mark at the area to make the rung height of each device more recognizable. Also, the screen display device (200) provides an indication enclosing devices that form an active system/backup system pair to make it easy to understand whether there is a system that remains normal so that service can be offered.
US09514566B2 Image-generated system using beta distribution to provide accurate shadow mapping
A computer-based system forms a more accurate intensity value for virtual light reflected from computer-generated images. The reflected light intensity from the images is computed pixel by pixel using the mean and variance of the depth values of a filter region associated with the pixel, as well as the maximum and minimum values of the depth values in the filter region. The computations use the normalized, incomplete beta function algorithm.
US09514565B2 Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus may perform filtering to emphasize a surface lighting of a low frequency band from an input lighting environment image, and may also perform at least one virtual point light (VPL) sampling from the input lighting environment image. The image processing apparatus may perform precomputed radiance transfer (PRT) based rendering using the filtered lighting environment image and VPL based rendering using the sampled VPL.
US09514564B2 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image display method
For generating ultrasonic projection images in which various kind of ultrasonic projection images have been appropriately combined, the invention is provided with: a storage unit that stores tomographic image volume data and elastic image volume data; a volume rendering unit that generates tomographic projection images by volume rendering on the basis of the tomographic image volume data; a display device that displays the ultrasonic projection images generated by the volume rendering unit; and an operation unit for inputting commands to control the volume rendering unit. For one of the rendering spaces partitioned by a cutting plane set in the rendering space by a command input from the operation unit, the volume rendering unit renders voxels of tomographic image volume data corresponding to the voxels of elastic image volume data that have elasticity values satisfying a set threshold value, and generates and displays the tomographic projection image on the display device.
US09514558B2 Method for preventing selected pixels in a background image from showing through corresponding pixels in a transparency layer
The present invention converts an image into a transparency, or “foreground image layer”, on which the readability of text and other detail is preserved after compositing with a background, while maintaining color information of broad areas of the image. In an embodiment, a matte is determined for the background image to reduce transparencies in the foreground layer, so as to prevent irrelevant parts of the background image from showing through. This is in distinction to only using the original foreground image data (prior to its transformation to a layer) to compute a matte (or mask, or alpha channel) to form a foreground layer.
US09514549B2 Method for reducing metal artifact in computed tomography
A method for reducing metal artifacts in computed tomography (CT) is disclosed. The method for reducing metal artifacts in CT includes: obtaining a sinogram reduced in size from an original sinogram; setting up a linear algebraic equation according to remaining data excluding data damaged by a metal based on the obtained sinogram; restoring a low-resolution image based on the set up linear algebraic equation; calculating a sinogram from the restored low-resolution image; restoring a sinogram by disposing the calculated sinogram data in the original sinogram and by utilizing the calculated sinogram data as pre-information; and restoring a final CT image from the restored sinogram. Through introduction of a novel metal artifact reduction (MAR) technique referred to as an algebraic correction technique (ACT) using an intermediate image of an attenuation coefficient of an outside of a metal area, an image closest to an original image can be obtained by minimizing metal artifacts in CT.
US09514548B2 Method and system for presenting and using four dimensional data from a medical imaging system
A method of presenting higher dimensional data provided from a photon counting CT system includes receiving data from a photon counting CT system corresponding to materials exposed to N number of ranges of photon energy, where N is a number equal to or greater than four and generating N number of images, each image comprising pixel values corresponding to the materials exposed to the N number of ranges of photon energy. The method also includes presenting the pixel values in each of the N number of images within a two dimensional (2D) space by providing N number of axes, each axis linearly representing the pixel values in a corresponding image of the N number of images and representing each pixel value for pixels corresponding to a same location in each of the N number of images via a continuous line comprising a plurality of line segments.
US09514546B2 Image composition based on remote object data
When a scene is generated, a content item may identify graphics object service requests associated with the scene. Each scene may have any number of associated graphics object service requests that may be sent to any number of different graphics object services. The graphics object services may be accessible over a network such as the Internet. By requesting object data from graphics object services, a content item may, for example, reduce at least part of the computational burden on a graphics processing unit of a client device.
US09514545B2 Object detection apparatus and storage medium
Important information about an object is detected using less arithmetic processing. An object detection unit generates an edge image from a color image. The object detection unit evaluates symmetry of an image included in the edge image by performing processing in accordance with the position of a target pixel. The object detection unit identifies a symmetry center pixel forming an object having symmetry. The object detection unit detects an object width for each symmetry center pixel. The object detection unit identifies the width of the object in the vertical direction based on the width of the symmetry center pixels in the vertical direction, and identifies the width of the object in the horizontal direction based on the object width identified for each symmetry center pixel.
US09514541B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a detection unit that detects that a center position of an area corresponding to at least a portion of an object moving within a display screen has moved across an object detection line segment set in the display screen. A setting unit sets an inhibition region, where the detection is inhibited, along a frame of the display screen to provide both (i) a non-inhibition region where the detection is not inhibited and (ii) the inhibition region, together with each other in the display screen, after setting the inhibition region. The non-inhibition region is a remaining region in the display screen, other than the inhibition region. The detection unit detects that the center position has moved across the object detection line segment set in the non-inhibition region.
US09514537B2 System and method for adaptive depth map reconstruction
What is disclosed is a system and method for adaptively reconstructing a depth map of a scene. In one embodiment, upon receiving a mask identifying a region of interest (ROI), a processor changes either a spatial attribute of a pattern of source light projected on the scene by a light modulator which projects an undistorted pattern of light with known spatio-temporal attributes on the scene, or changes an operative resolution of a depth map reconstruction module. A sensing device detects the reflected pattern of light. A depth map of the scene is generated by the depth map reconstruction module by establishing correspondences between spatial attributes in the detected pattern and spatial attributes of the projected undistorted pattern and triangulating the correspondences to characterize differences therebetween. The depth map is such that a spatial resolution in the ROI is higher relative to a spatial resolution of locations not within the ROI.
US09514535B1 Color calibration method of camera module
According to the present invention, firstly multiple reference parameter values of each color sample in a color chart are set, or a photograph and a measurement are performed on a standard color chart or a user-defined color chart in a certain standard lighting environment, multiple reference parameter values, SPD (λ)×R (λ) and brightness of each color sample are obtained. Then the SPD (λ)×R (λ) and the brightness of each color sample are reproduced by using a spectral tunable lighting source. Then each reproduced color sample is photographed by using the camera under the same settings to obtain multiple reproduced parameter values of each color sample. The two groups of parameter values are compared and a color calibration model is established. Finally color calibration of each batch of camera modules is implemented without the helping of a color chart and standard lighting environment. The present invention has the characteristics of high automation degree, high flexibility and adaptability, and high convenience in color changing and color sample calibrating, and thus has an extremely high practical value.
US09514533B2 Method for determining bone resection on a deformed bone surface from few parameters
The invention relates to a method for non-invasive reproducible determination of a corrected surface on a 3D bone surface model constructed from 3D medical image of a bone having a deformation consisting in a bump overgrowth at the head-neck junction; wherein said corrected surface comprises: i) a 3D spherical corrected surface patch on the head portion of said 3D bone surface model, and ii) a 3D smooth transition corrected surface patch on the neck portion of said 3D bone surface model, contiguous to said 3D spherical corrected surface patch; Said corrected surface patches are defined by a set of parameters comprising: iii) at least one first parameter (a*) representing a spherical extent value of said 3D spherical corrected surface patch, iv) and a set of at least one second parameter, said set determining the 3D correction boundary of said corrected surface patches, such that said corrected surface patches are continuous with said 3D bone surface model along said boundary.
US09514530B2 Systems and methods for image-based object modeling using multiple image acquisitions or reconstructions
Systems and methods that involve integrating imaging data from multiple sources to create a single, accurate model of a patient's anatomy. One method includes receiving a representation of a target object for modeling; determining one or more first anatomical parameters of the target anatomical object from at least one of one or more first images of the target anatomical object; determining one or more second anatomical parameters of the target anatomical object from at least one of one or more second images of the target anatomical object; updating the one or more first anatomical parameters based at least on the one or more second anatomical parameters; and generating a model of the target anatomical object based on the updated first anatomical parameters.
US09514527B2 Method and device for acquiring several images of the same package with the aid of a single linear camera
A method of inspecting packages with the help of a linear image sensor comprises the steps of: for each movement increment, cyclically acquiring a sequence of n successive image lines (l1, l2, . . . , ln), the n image lines of each sequence being obtained with exposure times (Ti) and/or lighting conditions (Ek) that are different; grouping together the image lines (l1, l2, . . . , ln) obtained in the sequences while using both the same exposure times (Ti) and the same lighting conditions (Ek) so as to obtain n′ superposable images (I1, I2, . . . , In) of at least j image lines; and analyzing the n′ superposable images (I1, I2, . . . , In) separately or in combination in order to determine at least one characteristic of the packages. A device for package inspection includes a process and control unit that employs the steps of the method.
US09514526B2 Device and method for detecting angle of rotation from normal position of image
An evaluation value indicative of the extent of lines in each direction is calculated for a pre-processed image in which 0s are filled in and extended in the lateral direction of the inputted image and which has been reduced ⅛th in the longitudinal direction. To obtain the angle of rotation of an image from the change in the evaluation value obtained while the angle relative to the lateral direction of the pre-processed image is modified in small steps, a parallel line is drawn for each direction, a projection is taken, and the sum of squares serves as the evaluation value of the direction. The direction having the highest evaluation value serves as the obtained direction of rotation from the normal position. The projection of each direction references the point of intersection between the parallel line drawn for each direction and the coordinate line of the horizontal axis.
US09514524B2 Optical distortion compensation
Embodiments include systems and methods for an electronic device, which includes circuitry configured to detect a size of a face from a captured image. The circuitry is also configured to identify a distortion correction parameter which varies according to a size of the detected face. The circuitry is also configured to correct a distortion of the face within the captured image by utilizing the distortion correction parameter identified based on the size of the detected face from the captured image.
US09514522B2 Depth data processing and compression
Techniques for setting depth values for invalid measurement regions of depth images are described herein. A computing device may set the depth values based on evaluations of depth values of neighboring pixels and of corresponding pixels from time-adjacent depth images. Alternately or additionally, the computing device may utilize a texture image corresponding to the depth image to identify objects and may set depth values for pixels based on depth values of other pixels belonging to the same object. After setting the depth values, the computing device may normalize the depth values of the pixels. Further, the computing device may generate reduced representations of the depth images based on a depth reference model or a depth error model and may provide the reduced representations to an encoder.
US09514521B2 Diagnostic ultrasound apparatus
In ultrasound images, there are many stationary echoes in the region superficial to the deep region comprising the heart. In the present invention, a HPF processing unit (20) filters frame data by applying a high pass filter, the characteristics of which have been set according to the depth in the frame, on the frame data at said depth. The high pass filter can be achieved, for example, with a digital filter and the characteristics of the high pass filter are adjusted by the filter-setting unit (22) setting the filter coefficient of said digital filter. That is to say, the filter coefficient in the HPF processing unit (20) is controlled by the filter-setting unit (22) so that the deeper the region, the higher the offset level is set.
US09514519B2 Image filter
An image filter (100) for calculating a pixel value of target pixel in an output image from a pixel value of each of a pixel or pixels belonging to a filter area in an input image by using a filter coefficient vector V, is configured to include a filter coefficient vector changing section (120) for changing the filter coefficient vector V according to at least either where the target area is in the input image, or where the target pixel is in the output image.
US09514517B2 Image phase retrieval
A method of processing a pixellated image to retrieve a phase distribution representative of the image. The phase distribution representative of the image is in the Fourier domain. The method includes padding the image pixels with padding, or non-image, pixels to increase the total number of pixels in the pixellated image. The method further includes processing the padding or non-image pixels differently to the image pixels in each iteration of the iterative method.
US09514510B2 Method and apparatus for arranging pixels of picture in storage units each having storage size not divisible by pixel size
An exemplary data arrangement method for a picture includes at least the following steps: obtaining pixel data of a plurality of first N-bit pixels of the picture; and storing the obtained pixel data of the first N-bit pixels in a plurality of M-bit storage units of a first buffer based on a raster-scan order of the picture, wherein M and N are positive integers, and M is not divisible by N. Besides, at least one of the M-bit storage units is filled with part of the obtained pixel data of the first N-bit pixels, and the first N-bit pixels include at least one pixel divided into a first part stored in one of the M-bit storage units in the first buffer and a second part stored in another of the M-bit storage units in the first buffer.
US09514509B2 Electronic device and controlling method
A method for controlling operating time of an electronic device includes acquiring a facial image of a user, and a distance from the user to the electronic device. A facial zone from the facial image is recognized from the facial image, and a ratio is calculated between a size of the facial zone and a preset screen size of a display of the electronic device, and the distance between the user and the electronic device is acquired. When the user is determined not to be an adult based on analyses of the facial image and the acquired distance, the electronic device is turned off after a first determined duration.
US09514501B2 Systems and methods for multimedia-processing
Systems and methods are provided for multimedia processing. For example, upon receipt of a multimedia-information-release request, multimedia information to be released is acquired; whether the multimedia information contains watermark information is detected; in response to the multimedia information containing the watermark information, a first topic matching with the watermark information is searched for within one or more predetermined second topics, and the multimedia information and the first topic matching with the watermark information are released.
US09514497B2 Consumer-provider video interaction
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for interactions between a consumer and a service provider. In some embodiments, an interaction application may provide a collection of service providers to a consumer, receive a selection of a service provider from the consumer, and establish a two-way video communication between the consumer and the service provider. In some embodiments, the interaction application may charge a fee to the consumer, the service provider, or both, for the providing the interaction.
US09514495B2 Creation and use of closely-matched groups to aid in initiating and sustaining behavioral change
A method and system for sharing data between a plurality of users in an online group on a communications system includes receiving data from a plurality of users. The data includes personal characteristics about the users. The personal characteristics are analyzed to determine groups of personal characteristics. The users are clustered into closely matched groups based on the groups of personal characteristics. A plurality of activity information is generated about the users in each of the closely matched groups. The activity information may include a physical activity, a location, and a time of day. User may be allowed access to the activity information about other users in each of the closely matched groups, respectively.
US09514491B2 Associating analytics data with an image
A device and method of capturing one or more images and determining associated interest information are provided. After receiving a data input, an item is identified based on the data input. Subsequently, an instruction to capture an image of the item is received and the image of the item is captured in response thereto. An interest level of the item is measured based on a quantity of times that the image of the item is captured and the interest information is then provided to a server device. The interest information may be used to identify an interest level trend of the item, and/or create or update a user profile that stores information regarding the item.
US09514489B2 Dynamic transformation of display media based upon a proximity-based communication protocol
A process detects, at a first proximity-based device within a first object, presence of a second proximity-based device within a second object. The presence is within a proximity. Further, the process modifies a first display associated with the first object based upon a second display associated with the second object.
US09514485B1 Launching virtual machine instances in a programmable execution service
A component executing within a programmable execution system (PES) receives a request to launch a virtual machine instance, such as from a customer of the PES. In response to receiving such a request, the component computes an expected cost of executing the virtual machine instance over its lifetime based upon one or more cost factors. The component also computes an expected value of executing the virtual machine instance over its lifetime based upon one or more value factors. Based upon the computed expected cost and the computed expected value associated with executing the virtual machine instance, the component determines whether or not to launch the virtual machine instance. The component might utilize a similar mechanism to determine whether to instantiate other types of computing resources.
US09514482B2 System for managing vehicle information displayed on a plurality of vehicles
A system for managing vehicle information displayed on a plurality of vehicles, said system including a central computer system and plurality of electronic display devices (EDD), each being associated with one of said vehicles and each being in electronic communication with the central computer system (CCS). The CCS includes one or more computer processors; computer readable data storage; and a CCS computer program stored on said data storage, the CCS program being executable by the processors to perform the steps of selecting a vehicle from said plurality of vehicles; generating vehicle data representing information about said vehicle; and sending said vehicle data to an associated one of said EDDs. Each one of said EDDs includes one or more computer processors; computer readable data storage; an EDD computer program stored on said data storage; and a visual display unit, the EDD program being executable by the processors to perform the steps of receiving vehicle data from the CCS representing information about an associated vehicle; and displaying said vehicle data representing information about the associated vehicle on the visual display unit.
US09514480B2 Advertisement delivery management apparatus and advertisement delivery management method
An advertisement delivery management apparatus according to an embodiment includes a predicted information storage unit, an allocating unit, and a reallocating unit. The predicted information storage unit stores information including user attributes of a plurality of delivery target users predicted as future advertisement delivery destinations. The allocating unit allocates the delivery target user to an advertisement delivery order request based on the information stored in the predicted information storage unit. The reallocating unit performs a reallocating process of exchanging the delivery target user allocated to the order request with a non-allocated user who is the delivery target user that has not been allocated to the order request.
US09514473B2 Location-based cognitive and predictive communication system
A location-based cognitive and predictive communication system includes an interface connected to sensors to receive transactional data for an individual measured by the sensors. A memory stores the transactional data. The transactional data may be associated with a current travel path for the individual and includes a time and geographic location for the individual on the travel path. A prediction module may determine a current activity for the individual based on a prediction determined from the transactional data and may determine a choice set for the individual based on the current activity and based on predictions for a group for which the individual is a member. The choice set may include choices associated with transportation for the current travel path of the individual.
US09514472B2 Method and apparatus for classifying content
An approach is provided for receiving, in association with first content to be rendered on user equipment, a vector of one or more values for a corresponding one or more sliding scales. A determination is made of a relationship of the first content to second content based, at least in part, on the vector received. Each value of the vector represents a relative position along a corresponding sliding scale between a minimum label and a maximum label for the sliding scale.
US09514470B2 Enhanced search suggestion for personal information services
Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for implementing enhanced search suggestion technology. In at least one implementation, a personal information application includes a search suggestion element in which both search suggestions and contacts suggestions may be presented. The personal information application includes a search element in a user interface to a personal information service in which a search query may be entered. Search suggestions and contact suggestions can be identified based at least in part on the search query and presented via a suggestion element in the user interface. An indication of interest made with respect to a contact suggestion results in the presentation of contact details for an associated contact. The presentation of at least the search suggestions persists while the contact details of the associated contact are presented.
US09514460B2 Method and system for facilitating payments on a payment card network
A computer implemented method of processing a payment request is provided, the method comprising operating a processor of a network node to: (i) determine that a current time is within a predefined period of a payment time associated with a payment profile; (ii) determine an account number, a payment amount and a payment provider associated with the payment profile; (iii) transmit to the payment provider a request for pre-authorization of payment of the payment amount from an account associated with the determined account number; and (iv) responsive to receiving a pre-authorization from the payment provider, associating an authorization indication with the payment profile.
US09514459B1 Identity broker tools and techniques for use with forward proxy computers
A forward proxy can perform identity substitutions and related services. The user provides the forward proxy with identity information, and the forward proxy presents itself to remote Internet sites on behalf of the user in the guize of the specified identity. From the remote site's point of view, the forward proxy is the machine being used by the user; the identity of the actual user machine can be hidden. Cookies are thus stored and updated at the forward proxy instead of being stored and updated at the user computer as they would be if a conventional forward proxy had been used. This helps preserve user privacy. The use of group identities, which are shared by multiple users, are also facilitated.
US09514454B2 Wireless transaction medium having combined magnetic stripe and radio frequency communications
A wireless financial transaction instrument, such as a card, has a magnetic stripe, a display, and an on-board power supply, such as a battery, and is usable with a dual capture point of sale terminal. Information is received by such a terminal from the card wirelessly, and also from the magnetic stripe, and the data received contactlessly is preferably used to verify that read from the stripe. The display can display the account number on command, or to display a current balance, or amount of credit remaining, or any combination of these items of information.
US09514451B2 Method, apparatus and system for information identification
Methods, apparatus, and systems for information identification are provided. A card image of a pre-set collection area is photographed and obtained, when a request event for information identification is detected. Edge-size information of the card image obtained by photographing is determined. A target area of the card image is marked according to the edge-size information. An image of the target area is extracted. Character shapes to be identified in the image of the target area is determined based on a pre-set character pattern library. A character corresponding to each character shape to be identified is identified according to each character shape to be identified that is determined and according to the character pattern library.
US09514446B1 Remarketing content to a user associated with multiple devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a method for selecting content. The method comprises anonymously linking plural identifiers, each associated with a user and specific requesting source. Anonymously linking includes linking at least two different identifiers associated with two different requesting sources used to access content, and linking the two different identifiers using an identifier not including any personally identifiable information. The method further comprises identifying a user list associated with a topic and including plurality of entries, each entry satisfying the topic and having an identifier associated with a requesting source and further including information about a type of requesting source. The method further comprises linking an entry in the user list to other identifiers using the anonymous linking, and selecting content for delivery to a user device associated with an entry in the user list based on the linking.
US09514435B2 System for targeting specific users to discussion threads
The present invention is directed to provide a method and system for targeting individuals and providing a reference to a discussion in a discussion forum. A method is described herein that allows a user of an integrated discussion forum interface to initiate the generation of a direct, navigable reference to a thread or message in the discussion forum to one or more targeted individuals. By generating a direct, navigable reference to the thread or message, the system may advantageously facilitate the directed solicitation of targeted individuals while leveraging the accessibility, reusability, and available knowledge base of a traditional public forum.
US09514434B2 Apparatus and method for automatic work instruction generation
An automated method for creating work instructions to manufacture a product. Monitoring for a user input modifying a model for the product is performed. Responsive to detecting the user input modifying the model for the product, a number of work instructions for a modification to the model of the product is identified. The model of the product is displayed with the modification on a display device. The number of work instructions is displayed on the display device in association with the modification of the model of the product.
US09514430B2 Method of handling parcels, and a logistics center for handling parcels
A method of handling parcels (2) and a logistics center (1) for handling parcels, use is made of superposable racks (5) and motor-driven shuttle carts (6) that are remotely controlled by a central processing unit (7) to travel in freely guided manner and that are suitable for docking with each rack (5), each parcel (2) is unloaded onto a rack (5) and the destination of the parcel is identified (103), a specific location is assigned (104) to said rack (5) using an outward shipping plan, and said corresponding shuttle cart (6) is caused to move (105) so as to store said parcels (2) side-by-side and in superposed manner, and then, using an inward delivery plan, each rack (5) is docked (110), and each parcel (2) is transferred (111) from said stowage zone (11) to a loading point (3) so that parcels (2) are presented in their order of delivery.
US09514427B2 Graphical interface and input method for allocating an invoice amongst a plurality of accounts
A novel graphical interface and input method is provided. In certain implementations, a touch screen interface is provided with a plurality of icons that each represent seats around a table in a restaurant. Each icon is associated with a unique account. Accounts can be easily merged and split by using touch and swipe interfaces with the icons.
US09514426B2 System and method for providing enterprise information technology lifecycle tools synchronization platform
The present invention relates to a system and method for integrating and assembling plurality of service delivery tools created on disparate technologies on a product assembly platform. Further, the invention provides a reference architecture and method for orchestrating the assembled plurality of service delivery tools and monitoring the lifecycle activities of the plurality of service delivery tools.
US09514425B2 Method and system for providing user-customized contents
A method for providing user-customized contents, includes: receiving contents order information from a user and constructing a contents order information DB; opening the contents order information DB; receiving contents corresponding to the contents order information from a contents provider; and providing the received contents in a user-customized form.
US09514422B2 Virtual queue for a line at a retail store
A computer-implemented process can be operated for entering and holding a place for a first customer in a queue while the first customer is waiting to be served at a retail store. The process includes, within a computerized processor, establishing a place in the queue for the first customer, wherein the queue operates to establish among a plurality of customers a customer currently being served by a store employee and an order in which other customers of the plurality will be served. The process further includes displaying upon a portable computerized device of the first customer an indication of a status of the first customer within the queue.
US09514421B2 System and method for decommissioning a motor
A motor controller for a motor is described. The motor controller includes a communication device coupled to a memory device. The motor controller is configured to receive, using the communication device, a status query from a client computing device. The motor controller is additionally configured to transmit diagnostic data from the memory device to the client computing device, transmit identification data associated with the motor controller to the client computing device, receive, from the client computing device, a decommission password generated from the identification data, and disable the motor using the decommission password.
US09514420B2 Strobe gating adaption and training in a memory controller
A memory controller includes a differential receiver circuitry to receive a differential data strobe signal pair and to generate a first data strobe signal based on the differential data strobe signal pair. The differential data strobe signal pair comprises a first signal and a second signal. The memory controller also includes a single ended receiver circuitry to receive the first signal of the differential data strobe signal pair and to generate a second data strobe signal based on the first signal of the differential data strobe signal pair. The memory controller further includes circuitry to generate a gating signal for gating the first data strobe signal, the circuitry generating the gating signal based on the second data strobe signal.
US09514419B2 Estimating affective response to a token instance of interest utilizing a model for predicting interest in token instances
A user may be exposed to multiple token instances representing stimuli that may influence the affective state of the user. Described herein are embodiments of systems, method, and computer programs for estimating affective response to a token instance of interest, selected from among the token instances. The token instance of interest is selected based on attention levels computed utilizing a model for predicting interest in token instances. In one example embodiment, the token instance of interest is a token instance for which attention level of the user is higher than at least one other token instance.
US09514417B2 Cloud-based plagiarism detection system performing predicting based on classified feature vectors
Plagiarism may be detected, as disclosed herein, utilizing a database that stores documents for one or more courses. The database may restrict sharing of content between documents. A feature extraction module may receive edits and timestamp the edits to the document. A writing pattern for a particular user or group of users may be discerned from the temporal data and the documents for the particular user or group of users. A feature vector may be generated that represents the writing pattern. A machine learning technique may be applied to the feature vector to determine whether or not a document is plagiarized.
US09514415B2 Method and system for decomposing single-qubit quantum circuits into a discrete basis
A target quantum circuit expressed in a first quantum gate basis may be transformed into a corresponding quantum circuit expressed in a second quantum gate basis, which may be a universal set of gates such as a V gate basis set. The target quantum circuit may be expressed as a linear combination of quantum gates. The linear combination of quantum gates may be mapped to a quaternion. The quaternion may be factorized, based at least in part on an amount of precision between the target quantum circuit and the corresponding quantum circuit expressed in the second quantum gate basis, into a sequence of quaternion factors. The sequence of quaternion factors may be mapped into a sequence of quantum gates of the second quantum gate basis, where the sequence of sequence of quantum gates is the corresponding quantum circuit.
US09514414B1 Systems and methods for identifying and categorizing electronic documents through machine learning
Computer implemented systems and methods are disclosed for identifying and categorizing electronic documents through machine learning. In accordance with some embodiments, a seed set of categorized electronic documents may be used to train a document categorizer based on a machine learning algorithm. The trained document categorizer may categorize electronic documents in a large corpus of electronic documents. Performance metrics associated with performance of the trained document categorizer may be tracked, and additional seed sets of categorized electronic documents may be used to improve the performance of document categorizer by retraining the document categorizer on subsequent seed sets. Additional seed sets may and categorizations may be iterated through until a desired document categorization performance is reached.
US09514413B1 Framework for finding one or more solutions to a problem
In an embodiment, information for use in identifying a plurality of sub-solvers may be acquired. The plurality of sub-solvers may be used in a first attempt to find at least one solution to a problem that may be defined in the acquired information. At least two of the sub-solvers in the plurality of sub-solvers may be of different sub-solver types. The sub-solvers may be identified based on the acquired information. One or more starting points for the identified sub-solvers may be identified and transferred to the identified sub-solvers. One or more outputs, that indicate one or more results associated with the first attempt to find at least one solution to the problem, may be acquired from the identified sub-solvers. One or more sub-solvers may be identified, based on the acquired one or more outputs, for use in a second attempt to find at least one solution to the problem.
US09514412B2 Techniques for detecting deceptive answers to user questions based on user preference relationships
A computer-implemented method can include receiving, at a computing device having one or more processors, questions and answers, each question having one or more answers, and each question and each answer being associated with a particular user. The method can include receiving, at the computing device, evaluations of the answers from users. The method can include identifying, at the computing device, at least one of textual and contextual features for each answer to obtain sets of features. The method can include generating, at the computing device, a user preference graph indicating relationships between users associated with at least one of the questions, the answers, and the evaluations. The method can also include detecting, at the computing device, whether each specific answer is a deceptive answer based on its set of features and the user preference graph.
US09514407B1 Question generation in knowledge-based authentication from activity logs
An improved technique involves generating KBA questions based on facts from fact sources pointed to by an activity log. A KBA system obtains an activity log from a computer of a user in an organization. For example, the computer records the user's web browsing history. The KBA system then considers each entry in the activity log as a source of facts for deriving KBA questions. In the case of a web browsing history, the KBA system generates facts from web pages that the user visited. The KBA system then derives new KBA questions from the facts so derived.
US09514403B2 Smart card with a security element divided between card body and module
The invention concerns a smart card comprising a card body provided with a cavity in which an electronic module incorporating a microelectronic chip is inserted, and at least one security marking designed to authenticate a component of the smart card. A first security marking is disposed on the microelectronic module, and a second security marking is disposed on the card body. The two security markings are linked by a visual identity or matching relationship indicating that the microelectronic module and the card body are original components assembled when the smart card was manufactured.
US09514401B2 Card device and memory card
According to one embodiment, a memory card includes a ground layer, a memory, a controller, a first communication unit and a second communication unit. The ground layer is provided with a first region, a second region and an opening between the first region and the second region. The memory is overlapped with the first region. The controller is overlapped with the second region. The second communication unit including a part configured to transmit/receive an electromagnetic wave.
US09514400B2 Information exchange using color space encoded image
Embodiments of the present invention include systems, methods, and non-transitory computer program products for information exchange using color space encoded images. A color space encoded image can be displayed, for example on media such as posters, billboards, or paper, or on a display of a first device such as smartphone displays, palmtop displays, camera displays, tablet displays, or e-reader displays. A second device can acquire the displayed encoded image, for example by photographing the image. The second device can decode the color space encoded image or transfer the color space encoded image to a device that decodes the image.
US09514398B2 Securely printing a document
Securely printing a document. Receiving, by a server computer, a request from a client computer to allocate a printer satisfying a set of security requirements. Allocating, by the server computer, a printer that will print document data according to the received set of security requirements and that is accessible by the client computer. Transmitting to the client computer, by the server computer, an identification of the allocated printer. Transmitting to the allocated printer, by the server computer, the received set of security requirements. Receiving from the client computer, by the server computer, a printing instruction including document data for printing to the allocated printer. Transmitting to the allocated printer, by the server computer, the received document data to print.
US09514396B2 Printing apparatus, method of controlling the same and storage medium
A printing apparatus, when a sheet is fed from a sheet feeding unit in a state where size information indicating the size of sheets stacked in the sheet feeding unit is not stored in a storage unit, detects and stores the size of the sheet during conveyance. The printing apparatus controls the execution of the print processing, without using size information in a case where a print instruction is received in a state where the size information is not stored, and using the size information in a case where the print instruction is received in a state where the size information is stored. Furthermore, the printing apparatus clears the size information stored in the storage unit when a particular key is operated in a state where the size information is stored while print processing is not being executed.
US09514395B2 Method and apparatus for generating or using interaction activity information
A method of generating interaction activity information, performed by a device, is provided. The method includes establishing communication with at least one external apparatus; receiving first information about a user selectable function of the external apparatus; and generating second information, based on the first information, about a user selectable function of the device, wherein the user selectable function of the device corresponds to the user selectable function of the external device and can be performed in collaboration with the external device.
US09514393B2 Print method and print device for making a bank card
A print method for making a bank card is provided, which includes the following steps: S10, determining print times and print designs each time according to the convex words and/or designs to be printed; S20, fixing the bank card to be printed to a print position; S30: printing the bank card to be printed several times according to the print times and print designs each time in order to form the convex words and/or designs on it. A print device is also provided for making a bank card. The print method and print device for making the bank card can print convex words and/or designs on the surface of the bank card cheaply and efficiently.
US09514386B2 Identifying geographic areas based on change patterns detected from high-resolution, remotely sensed imagery
A method, system, and medium are provided for identifying terrestrial objects that have changed in a certain manner. One embodiment of the method includes receiving a query that includes one or more inputs, which are related to 1) a first terrestrial object (“first object”) and 2) source change-detection information that describes change associated with the first object; applying the query to a dataset that includes indexed information that describes the imagery; based on the one or more inputs, receiving a query result by identifying a set of regions in the dataset that are respectively associated with change information that is similar to that of the source change-detection information; and presenting on a presentation device indications of at least a portion of the identified set of regions.
US09514384B2 Image display apparatus, image display method and storage medium storing image display program
An image display apparatus includes a display device and a computer configured to execute a program to cause the computer to serve as a display controlling part. The display part displays a first CT image and a second CT image simultaneously. The first CT image and the second CT image represent the same object but taken in different time periods. The display controlling part performs: displaying the first and second CT images simultaneously on the display device according to a first display mode; determining a target portion designated in the first CT image; and changing a display mode of a corresponding portion of the second CT image from the first display mode into a second display mode, the corresponding portion corresponding to the target portion designated in the first CT image.
US09514382B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A binarization processing unit generates a binary image by comparing the visual feature of each pixel of an input image with a predetermined binarization threshold and binarizing the value of each pixel of the input image based on the comparison result. The binarization processing unit performs this process while changing the binarization threshold, thereby generating a plurality of binary images. A contour detecting unit calculates the area of a closed region having an overlap between the plurality of binary images, and determines the binarization threshold to be used for detecting a boundary of the corresponding closed region as a contour of an object, based on the area change rate of the corresponding closed region caused by changing the binarization threshold.
US09514381B1 Method of identifying and replacing an object or area in a digital image with another object or area
A system and method for object and area detection and replacement in an image includes identifying an object or area in one or more sequential images that form a moving image sequence and replacing some or all of the identified object or areas with another image such that the image looks to be part of the original composition of the original image including lighting, shadows, placement, occlusion, orientation, position, and deformation.
US09514379B2 Sensing device and method used for virtual golf simulation apparatus
Disclosed are a sensing device and method used for a virtual golf simulation apparatus in which an image acquired by an inexpensive camera having a relatively low resolution and velocity is analyzed to relatively accurately extract information on physical properties, such as velocity, direction and altitude angle, of a moving ball, and, particularly, in which the moving trajectory of a golf club is relatively accurately calculated from the acquired image to relatively accurately estimate spin of the ball and to reflect the estimated spin of the ball in golf simulation, thereby constituting a virtual golf simulation apparatus having high accuracy and reliability at low costs and further improving reality of virtual golf.
US09514378B2 Space-time modulated active 3D imager
Three-dimensional imagers have conventionally been constrained by size, weight, and power (“SWaP”) limitations, readout circuitry bottlenecks, and the inability to image in sunlit environments. As described herein, an imager can illuminate a scene with spatially and temporally modulated light comprising a viewpoint-invariant pattern. The imager can detect diffuse reflections from the illuminated scene to produce a first image. The first image is background-corrected and compared with respect to a known reference image to produce a depth image. The imager can perform in sunlit environments and has improved SWaP and signal-to-noise (SNR) characteristics over existing technologies.
US09514374B2 Smart face redaction in near infrared vehicle windshield images
A system and method for redaction of faces in a windshield within an image that includes detecting a windshield within the captured image via a selected detection process, extracting a windshield region from the detected windshield within the image, and selectively applying an obscuration process to at least a portion of the extracted windshield region. A redacted image is then generated obscuring the face or faces in the windshield using the selectively applied obscuration process.
US09514370B1 Systems and methods for automated 3-dimensional (3D) cloud-based analytics for security surveillance in operation areas
Systems and methods for cloud-based surveillance for an operation area are disclosed. At least two input capture devices, at least one safety control device and at least one user device are communicatively connected to a cloud-based analytics platform. The cloud-based analytics platform automatically generates 3-Dimensional (3D) surveillance data based on received 2-Dimensional (2D) video and/or image inputs and perform advanced analytics and activates the at least one safety control device based on analytics data from advanced analytics.
US09514368B2 Contextual information of visual media
An analysis master control can be configured to derive contextual information of visual media that includes extracted information and extrapolated information. The analysis master control can receive the extracted information characterizing visual media from a recognizer. An information finder can be configured to query a plurality of information sources for information based on the extracted information. The analysis master control can also be configured to match information received from the information sources with the extracted information to form the extrapolated information that characterizes the visual media.
US09514366B2 Vehicle detection method and system including irrelevant window elimination and/or window score degradation
This disclosure provides vehicle detection methods and systems including irrelevant search window elimination and/or window score degradation. According to one exemplary embodiment, provided is a method of detecting one or more parked vehicles in a video frame, wherein candidate search windows are limited to one or more predefined window shapes. According to another exemplary embodiment, the method includes degrading a classification score of a candidate search window based on aspect ratio, window overlap area and/or a global maximal classification.
US09514365B2 Image sensor with integrated region of interest calculation for iris capture, autofocus, and gain control
An integrated circuit has an image sensor to receive at least one image comprising a plurality of pixels from a camera comprising a lens, a buffer communicatively connected to the image sensor for storing values associated with the plurality of pixels, and a comparator communicately connected to the buffer to locate and identify the iris of a subject, in which locating and identifying the iris of the subject is based on a location of each pixel in a brightest pixel set. A method for locating and identifying an iris in an image includes capturing at least one image of an illuminated subject, determining a brightness value for each of the plurality of pixels, determining a location corresponding to each pixel in a brightest pixel set, and identifying the iris in the at least one image based on the location of each pixel in the brightest pixel set.
US09514363B2 Eye gaze driven spatio-temporal action localization
The disclosure provides an approach for detecting and localizing action in video. In one embodiment, an action detection application receives training video sequences and associated eye gaze fixation data collected from a sample of human viewers. Using the training video sequences and eye gaze data, the action detection application learns a model which includes a latent regions potential term that measures the compatibility of latent spatio-temporal regions with the model, as well as a context potential term that accounts for contextual information that is not directly produced by the appearance and motion of the actor. The action detection application may train this model in, e.g., the latent structural SVM framework by minimizing a cost function which encodes the cost of an incorrect action label prediction and a mislocalization of the eye gaze. During training and thereafter, inferences using the model may be made using an efficient dynamic programming algorithm.
US09514359B2 Card art display
Providing improved card art for display comprises receiving, by one or more computing devices, an image of a card and performing an image recognition algorithm on the image. The computing device identifies images represented on the card image and comparing the identified images to an image database. The computing device determines a standard card art image associated with the identified image based at least in part on the comparison and associates the standard card art image with an account of a user, the account being associated with the card in the image. The computing device displays the standard card art as a representation of the account.
US09514358B2 Systems and methods for matching and imaging tissue characteristics
Systems and methods for matching a characteristic of multiple sectors of a moving tissue to verify an overlap thereof are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, tissue data for at least a first sector and a second sector of a moving tissue is acquired. A characteristic of at least a portion of the first and second sectors is estimated from the acquired tissue data, and the estimated characteristics are matched to verify whether a portion of the first sector overlaps with a portion of the second sector. Estimating can include estimating a displacement such as an axial displacement and/or lateral displacements. Estimating can further include estimating a strain, a velocity, a strain rate and/or a stiffness or equivalent.
US09514343B1 Barcode inventory and payment management system
A barcode and chip inventory and payment management system is disclosed. A product information label with a bar code and an embedded barcode chip incorporating an antitheft device is fixed to each product shipped with the embedded chip containing an individual product code and bank account routing data. The chip may be programmed to further contain pricing and markup information so that when the product is purchased (or returned) and scanned, the money involved is automatically transferred from the customer to the correct accounts and the item is added to or subtracted from the appropriate inventory.
US09514337B2 Card reader and detection mechanism
A card reader which is attached and used in a host device may include a detection switch disposed on the card reader side attaching face and structured to detect whether the card reader has been detached from the host device; and a first sealing member disposed so as to be sandwiched between the host device side attaching face and the detection switch, the first sealing member covering the detection switch and being structured to prevent penetration of water to the detection switch. The detection switch may include a pressed part and is structured to turn to “ON” or “OFF” when the pressed part is pressed. The first sealing member may be formed with a pressing protruded part structured to press the pressed part.
US09514335B2 Anti-tamper device
An anti-tamper device for preventing data from being tampered with by an unauthorized person includes a top cover, a bottom cover, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a signal connector. The bottom cover is assembled to the top cover. The PCB is provided with a plurality of pads. The signal connector is fixed to the top cover, and the signal connector defines a plurality of terminal grooves. At least one of the terminal grooves receives a terminal. When the terminal is electrically connected with the pads for the first time, a first relation signal is generated for initializing the anti-tamper device. When the terminal is electrically disconnected from the pads and the terminal is electrically connected with the pads for the second relation signal. If the second relation signal is different from the first relation signal, the anti-tamper device is prevented from being initialized.
US09514332B2 Notification and privacy management of online photos and videos
Systems and methods for notification and privacy management of online photos and videos are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes detecting a first feature from a first image belonging to an image source. The first image includes a tag. The computer-implemented method further includes determining a first feature location of the first feature, determining a first tag location of the tag, extracting a first feature signature from the first feature based on a relationship between the first feature location and the first tag location, detecting a second feature from a second image belonging to the image source, extracting a second feature signature from the second feature, performing a first comparison between the first feature signature and the second feature signature, and deriving a first similarity score based on a result of the first comparison.
US09514331B2 Privacy model for shared collections of content on a social networking system
A social networking system user creates an album including a shared collection of content (a “shared album”) and associates a privacy model with the shared album. The privacy model specifies additional users of the social networking system authorized to access content items in the shared album and specifies types of actions users authorized to access content items in the shared album are permitted to perform to content items in the shared album. Notifications describing actions associated with content items in a shared album may be presented to users authorized to access the shared album. The social networking system may prompt a user to create a shared album containing based on actions performed by the user or performed by connected to the user.
US09514324B1 Approaches for restricting access to data
A computer-implemented method includes restricting access to customer data to certain geographic regions authorized by the customer. The restriction can be managed by associating policy information with the customer data that identifies the geographic regions authorized by the customer. Resources attempting to access the customer data can evaluate the policy information associated with the customer data with respect to the geographic location in which the resource is located to determine whether the resource is permitted to access the customer data. The restriction can also be managed by encrypting the customer data with a cryptographic key that corresponds to the customer and/or the authorized geographic regions.
US09514323B2 RFID system with segmented RFID data ownership
A method according to one embodiment includes receiving data from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; receiving waypoint information relating to the RFID tag; setting ownerships of discrete portions of the data based at least in part on the waypoint information; allowing an owner of one of the discrete portions of the data to view the discrete portion of the data owned by the owner, or derivative thereof; and not allowing the owner to view discrete portions of the data that are not owned by the owner.
US09514317B2 Policy-based trusted inspection of rights managed content
An embodiment includes a method executed by at least one processor comprising: initializing first and second secure enclaves each comprising a trusted software execution environment that prevents software executing outside the first and second secure enclaves from having access to software and data inside the first and second secure enclaves; the first secure enclave (a)(i) inspecting a policy, (a)(ii) authenticating the second secure enclave in response to inspecting the policy; and (a)(iii) communicating encrypted content to the second secure enclave in response to authenticating the second secure enclave; and the second secure enclave (b)(i) decrypting the encrypted content to produce decrypted content, and (b)(ii) inspecting the decrypted content. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09514313B2 Techniques for secure data extraction in a virtual or cloud environment
Techniques for secure data extraction in a virtual or cloud environment are presented. Desired data from a Virtual Machine (VM) or an entire VM is extracted and encrypted with a key. This key is sealed to a machine or a group of machines. The encrypted data is then migrated and successfully used on startup for instances of the VM by having the ability to access the sealed key (and unsealing it) to decrypt the encrypted data.
US09514311B2 System and method for unlocking screen
Disclosed are a method for unlocking a screen and a system for installing a screen. It is determined whether to unlock the screen by calculating an angle between a starting position and a current position of a touch point on the screen with the unlocking reference point as a vertex of the angle. With a technical solution of the disclosure, no path or destination position for screen unlocking is defined, with more casual operation, enhanced user experience, and simpler setting, thereby facilitating usage. Moreover, unlocking by mistake can also be prevented by the setting.
US09514309B1 Systems and methods for protecting files from malicious encryption attempts
A computer-implemented method for protecting files from malicious encryption attempts may include (1) detecting an attempt to alter a file, (2) identifying at least one characteristic of the attempt to alter the file, (3) determining, based on the characteristic of the attempt to alter the file, that the attempt to alter the file represents a malicious attempt by a third party to encrypt the file, and (4) performing a security action in response to determining that the attempt to alter the file represents a malicious attempt by the third party to encrypt the file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09514305B2 Code pointer authentication for hardware flow control
Techniques for enforcing flow control of a software program in a processor are provided. An example method according to these techniques includes analyzing program code of the software program to identify a code pointer in the program code, generating an authentication tag based on the code pointer, and modifying the code pointer in the program code with the authentication tag to generate a tagged code pointer.
US09514304B2 Methods and apparatus to facilitate secure screen input
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate secure screen input. An example disclosed system includes a user interface (UI) manager to generate a UI comprising a quantity of ordinal entry points, each one of the quantity of ordinal entry points comprising a repeating selectable pattern, an ordinal sequence generator to generate an initial randomized combination of the quantity of ordinal entry points, the randomized combination stored in a trusted execution environment, and an offset calculator to calculate a password entry value by comparing an offset value and direction value retrieved from the UI with the initial randomized combination of the quantity of ordinal entry points.
US09514298B2 Passcode determination or verification
A mechanism is provided for determining and verifying a passcode is disclosed. The mechanism defines a passcode by a set of rules, each representing the position of a target key relative to a reference key on a given keyboard. The mechanism receives user selection of a passcode subset of the set of passcode pattern rules for representing a passcode comprising a pattern of keys on the keyboard. The mechanism stores the passcode subset of rules for subsequent verification against a user input passcode for controlling access to a resource.
US09514293B1 Behavioral profiling method and system to authenticate a user
Methods and systems for behavioral profiling, and in particular, utilizing crowd-managed data architectures to store and manage that profile, are described. In some embodiments, a method includes observing behavioral characteristics of user interactions during a current session with the user through one of a plurality of channels. Variations between the behavioral characteristics of the user interactions observed during the current session and a behavioral profile previously developed based on prior usage patterns of the user through the plurality of channels are identified, in real-time or near real-time.
US09514292B2 Multi-factor authentication using a combined secure pattern
A method and system for multi-factor authentication. The method involves combining a plurality of authentication patterns into a combined secure pattern by inserting one or more spacing states into the one authentication pattern at locations based on the values of the another authentication pattern.
US09514288B2 Information processing device, information processing method, program and storage medium
The present invention is to ensure information safety of a user of service using API. An information processing device issues a service code in response to an API use request. The API use request relates to service using an application program that uses API and is transmitted from an application provider device. The information processing device makes service identification information and use API information correspond to the service code and registers the service identification information, the use API information, and the service code. According to user-specific information from the application provider, unapproved license information is issued for each application user. Approval of this license information by the application user side registers the license approval information. At service execution, authentication is performed based on the service code and the license information. When the authentication is passed, API use is permitted.
US09514287B2 Automated device authorizaton and deauthorization
A process verifies, with a processor, a user account for content delivery with a rolling slot configuration. The rolling slot configuration has a maximum quantity of available slots for devices authorized to receive content. The rolling slot configuration has a plurality of ordered slots that are ordered based upon priority. The process receives a request for content from the user account at a device. The process automatically registers the device in an available slot of the rolling slot configuration based upon a determination of slot availability. The process authorizes the device to play content associated with a user entitlement. The process automatically deauthorizes the device to play the content based upon a deauthorization parameter being met. The process removes a registration of the device from the available slot. The process moves a registration of an additional device with a higher priority than the device to the available slot.