| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09564234B2 |
Sequentially accessing memory cells in a memory device
Systems and methods of sequentially accessing memory cells in a nonvolatile memory device (NVM) are provided. The NVM has a plurality of strings and a common signal line coupled to the plurality of strings. Each string includes a plurality of memory cells and a selection transistor coupled between the plurality of memory cells and the common signal line. A command that accesses multiple memory cells is received, a voltage is applied to a first selection transistor of a first string to electrically connect the common signal line to the first string, a pulse is applied for a predetermined time period to selection transistors of other strings, and memory cells of the first string are accessed. Advantages such as removal of boosting charges from unselected strings prior to sequentially accessing memory cells from selected strings can improve performance and reliability of NVM-based systems. |
| US09564232B1 |
Semiconductor memory device
Provided herein is a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array including a drain select transistor and a plurality of memory cells, a voltage generator configured to apply a program voltage, first and second pass voltages, and a drain control voltage to the memory cell array, a control logic configured to control the voltage generator so that during a program operation, after the program voltage is applied to a selected one of the plurality of memory cells, the program voltage applied to the selected memory cell is discharged while the first pass voltage or the second pass voltage is applied to memory cells adjacent to the selected memory cell. |
| US09564226B1 |
Smart verify for programming non-volatile memory
Techniques are provided for reducing current consumption while programming non-volatile storage. A smart verify is performed using a subset of memory cells. By applying the smart verify to just a subset of the memory cells current is saved. The smart verify may be used to characterize programming speed. Results of the smart verify may be used to determine a magnitude of a dummy program pulse to be applied later in the programming process. The dummy program pulse is not followed by a program verify, which reduces current. If the dummy program pulse pushes threshold voltages high enough, then those memory cells will not conduct a current when verifying later in programming. Thus, current is saved during the program verify. Also, bit lines of memory cells that received the dummy pulses do not need to be pre-charged prior to a program pulse, which can save more current. |
| US09564222B2 |
Command signal management in integrated circuit devices
Methods of operating integrated circuit devices include logically combining an output signal indicating whether an operation is being performed with the logic level of a command signal line to generate a command signal to control circuitry of the integrated circuit device having the logic level of the command signal line when the output signal indicates that the operation is not being performed, and having a particular logic level when the output signal indicates that the operation is being performed. Integrated circuit devices include a command signal management circuit to provide a logic level of a particular command signal to control circuitry of the integrated circuit device when control signals indicate a desire to allow the particular command signal, and to provide a particular logic level to the control circuitry when the control signals indicate a desire to block the particular command signal. |
| US09564217B1 |
Semiconductor memory device having integrated DOSRAM and NOSRAM
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, at least a first dielectric layer on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, a first OS FET device and a second OS FET device disposed on the first dielectric layer, at least a second dielectric layer covering the first dielectric layer, the first OS FET device, and the second OS FET device, a first MIM capacitor on the second dielectric layer and electrically coupled to the first OS FET device, and a second MIM capacitor on the second dielectric layer and electrically coupled to the second OS FET device. |
| US09564215B2 |
Independent sense amplifier addressing and quota sharing in non-volatile memory
Independent sense amplifier addressing provides separate column addresses to individual sense amplifier groups within a single bay during one column address cycle. A memory system determines whether the individual memory cells or bits of a column at a bay can be skipped. For each sense amplifier group having at least one memory cell (or bit) that needs to be programmed, the system determines for the first column address whether the memory cell can be skipped. If a bit or memory cell having a first column address from the sense amplifier group can be skipped, the system determines a next bit having a column address from the group that needs to be programmed. The system groups the next column address for programming during the first column address cycle. The system can program a different column address for different sense amplifier groups within the bay during a single column address cycle. |
| US09564214B2 |
Memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a controller; a first electrode and a second electrode connected to the controller; and a variable resistance layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The variable resistance layer has a first structure, and a second structure. The controller configured to be able to perform a first operation of applying a first voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, a second operation of applying a second voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode and determining whether or not the variable resistance layer has the second structure, and a third operation of applying a third voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode having the interposed variable resistance layer determined to not have the second structure in the second operation. |
| US09564213B2 |
Program verify for non-volatile storage
A non-volatile storage system includes a plurality of non-volatile storage elements arranged in two dimensional or three dimensional structures. The system applies programming to the non-volatile storage elements and performs verification of the programming. The verification includes performing a multi-strobe sensing operation to test for multiple data states while applying a common word line voltage. |
| US09564212B2 |
Solid-state memory corruption mitigation
Systems and methods are disclosed for programming data in a non-volatile memory array are disclosed. Certain embodiments provide a non-volatile solid-state memory array and a controller configured to receive write data from a host device, program the write data to a first block of the memory array in a lower-page-only (LPO) programming mode, and perform a data consolidation operation on the first block, wherein said performing garbage collection comprises programming at least a portion of the write data to a second block not in LPO programming mode. |
| US09564203B2 |
Semiconductor device, adjustment method thereof and data processing system
A method includes resetting an output timing adjustment circuit in each of a plurality of DRAM devices to a default output timing data value, measuring a default delay from read command to read data for each of the plurality of DRAM devices, identifying a slowest DRAM device having a maximum default delay from read command to read data among the plurality of DRAM devices, writing an output timing data value to the output timing adjustment circuit in each of the plurality of DRAM devices to set the delay from read command to read data for each respective DRAM device to an amount substantially equal to the maximum default delay, and reading data from any one of the plurality of DRAM devices with a delay from read command to read data substantially equal to the maximum default delay. |
| US09564200B2 |
Pillar-type field effect transistor having low leakage current
A pillar-type field effect transistor having low leakage current is provided. The pillar-type field effect transistor includes: a semiconductor body, source and drain formed in a semiconductor pillar; a gate insulating layer formed on a surface of the semiconductor body; a gate electrode formed on a surface of the gate insulating layer. The gate electrode includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode being electrically connected with the first gate electrode. The first gate electrode has a work function higher than that of the second gate electrode. Accordingly, the gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) can be reduced, so that an off-state leakage current can be greatly reduced. |
| US09564197B2 |
Ferromagnetic device providing high domain wall velocities
The invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a ferromagnetic device (10), having an elongated structure extending along a longitudinal direction (11), comprising a ferromagnetic material, wherein a transverse cross section (20) of the ferromagnetic material, perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, is designed to provide a domain wall velocity above the Walker breakdown limit of the ferromagnetic material. In particular, at least a portion (21-23) of a peripheral contour of the ferromagnetic material forms, in the transverse cross-section (20), a non-orthogonal convex set. For example, the whole peripheral contour may realize a (non-orthogonal) convex polygon. |
| US09564194B1 |
Input apparatus and semiconductor memory apparatus having the input apparatus
An input apparatus of a semiconductor memory may be provided. The input apparatus may include a first storage circuit configured to receive at least a portion of an input signal provided based on a pin reduction command which is enabled before an operation command through a pin and store the at least a portion of the input signal. The input apparatus may include a second storage circuit configured to receive a remaining portion of the input signal provided based on the operation command through the pin and store the remaining portion of the input signal. The input apparatus may include an arrangement circuit configured to control an output timing of the input signal stored in the first storage circuit and the second storage circuit. |
| US09564192B2 |
Memory controller for strobe-based memory systems
An integrated circuit (IC) memory controller is disclosed. The memory controller includes a receiver to receive a strobe signal and provide an internal strobe signal. An adjustable delay circuit delays an enable signal to generate a delayed enable signal. A gate circuit generates a gated strobe signal using the delayed enable signal that masks transitions of the internal strobe signal that occur prior to a valid region of the internal strobe signal. A sample circuit samples data using the gated strobe signal. |
| US09564191B1 |
Signal compensation circuit and semiconductor apparatus using the same
A signal compensation circuit includes a first path configured to cause a source signal to pass therethrough and be outputted as a first signal; a delay block configured to output a second signal by delaying the source signal by a predetermined time; a second path configured to cause the second signal to pass therethrough and be outputted as a third signal; and a signal combination block configured to generate a compensated signal by combining the first signal and the third signal. |
| US09564189B2 |
Memory system including semiconductor memory device and program method thereof
A method of programming a memory system includes: reading a target page included in a selected memory block in response to a program request when at least one of the pages included in the selected memory block contains data; and performing a program for the target page when, among the data bits included in the data read from the target page, the number of data bits having a first logic value is equal to or less than a preset value. |
| US09564187B2 |
Predicting saturation in a shift operation
Apparatus for data processing and a method of data processing are provided. Shift circuitry performs a shift operation in response to a shift instruction, shifting bits of an input data value in a direction specified by the shift instruction. Bit location indicator generation circuitry and comparison circuitry operate in parallel with the shift circuitry. The bit location indicator indicates at least one bit location in the input data value which must not have a bit set if the shifted data value is not to saturate. Comparison circuitry compares the bit location indicator with the input data value and indicates a saturation condition if any bits are indicated by the bit position indicator for bit locations which hold set bits in the input data value. A faster indication of the saturation condition thus results. |
| US09564180B1 |
Deep-sleep wake up for a memory device
A memory device comprises memory banks, power gates, and bank wake-up circuits. Each of the memory banks has a core voltage supply. The power gates are coupled to the memory banks for charging the core voltage supplies and have a plurality of powering modes. The bank wake-up circuits are coupled to the power gates for selecting one of the plurality of power modes for charging the memory banks during a wake-up mode. The bank wake-up circuits sense the core voltage supplies during the wake-up mode. The bank wake-up circuits serially charge the memory banks as a function of the sensed core voltage supplies of the memory banks. |
| US09564178B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting storage devices during manufacture
There is disclosed an apparatus and method for supporting storage devices during manufacture. The apparatus includes structural members and plural slot carriers received in bays in the apparatus. Each slot carrier carries at least one slot arranged to receive a storage device, wherein the slot carriers are insertable and/or removable from the bays through apertures at the front of the apparatus. Clamp assemblies are arranged to releasably clamp the slot carrier to one or more structural members at the sides of the slot carrier. |
| US09564172B2 |
Video replay systems and methods
A video replay system which allows for the payback of video files from a buffer in random access memory and from disk to minimize the delay between capturing and replaying a desired video portion. In one embodiment, a portion of RAM is allocated to provide a buffer for holding video files in memory before the riles are written to a hard drive or other non-volatile storage. An index of key frames is also stored in the buffer. The computer system executes software that is responsive to an operator's commands to read the video fifes and index and playback desired video portions in a variety of modes and speeds, including slow motion, reverse, fast-forward, and slow or fast reverse. |
| US09564170B2 |
Flex over suspension fault detection under a write gate for magnetic disk drives
A system and method for Flex Over or On Suspension (FOS) fault detection under a write gate for magnetic disk drives may employ a flex over suspension fault comparator that compares a predetermined reference threshold to a positive delta of a disk drive write head data stream and outputs a positive or negative FOS fault indication. A max/min buffer detects polarity of a disk drive read/write head and applies a positive buffered delta to the fault comparator. A transition-free window detector triggers the fault comparator to output the fault indication when a transition-free window of zero-value data bits of a predetermined length is detected from the disk drive head, and the transition-free window detector provides a fault validation signal to validate output of the fault comparator when the transition-free window of zero-value data bits of the predetermined length is detected from the disk drive head. |
| US09564166B2 |
Magnetic-disk glass substrate and magnetic disk
A magnetic-disk glass substrate of the present invention has an average value of squares of inclinations of 0.0025 or less and a frequency at which squares of inclinations are 0.004 or more of 15% or less, in a case where samples of inclinations on a main surface are obtained at intervals of 10 nm. |
| US09564164B2 |
Exchange decoupled data storage medium
A magnetic data storage medium capable of storing data bits may be configured at least with a magnetic underlayer structure and a recording structure. The recording structure can have at least a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer with the first magnetic layer decoupled by being constructed of an alloy of cobalt, platinum, and a platinum group metal element. |
| US09564160B1 |
Servo compensation control in a vibration environment
Methods, systems, and computer program product embodiments for improving track-follow control in a tape storage system, by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises, using an accelerometer to dynamically detect device vibration for determining whether to implement a vibration compensation control mechanism. |
| US09564159B2 |
Preventing damage to storage devices within a storage system due to movement of the storage system
A method implemented in a storage system that has moveable storage devices includes a motion controller receiving movement related data of a storage device from at least one sensor associated with the storage device. In response to the received movement related data indicating at least one pre-identified condition, a park command is issued that triggers the reading head of the storage device to enter a parked state in which the storage device is protected from damage that can occur due to motion of the reading head while the pre-identified condition exists. |
| US09564157B1 |
System and method for detecting reader-writer offset in a heat-assisted magnetic recording head
An apparatus comprises a heat-assisted magnetic recording head configured to write to and read from a magnetic recording medium. The head comprises a reader and a writer including a near-field transducer (NFT). The reader comprises a center which is laterally offset relative to a center of the writer to define a reader-writer offset (RWO) therebetween. A magnetic recording medium comprises a plurality of tracks. The plurality of tracks comprises at least one track used as a region to test for a shift in the RWO. A processor is coupled to the recording head and configured to detect the RWO shift. |
| US09564152B2 |
Magnetoresistance effect element and magnetic memory
Provided are a magneto resistive effect element with a stable magnetization direction perpendicular to a film plane and with a controlled magnetoresistance ratio, and a magnetic memory using the magneto resistive effect element. Ferromagnetic layers 106 and 107 of the magneto resistive effect element are formed from a ferromagnetic material containing at least one type of 3d transition metal such that the magnetoresistance ratio is controlled, and the film thickness of the ferromagnetic layers is controlled on an atomic layer level such that the magnetization direction is changed from a direction in the film plane to a direction perpendicular to the film plane. |
| US09564143B2 |
Audio coding device, audio coding method, audio coding program, audio decoding device, audio decoding method, and audio decoding program
An audio signal transmission device for encoding an audio signal includes an audio encoding unit that encodes an audio signal and a side information encoding unit that calculates and encodes side information from a look-ahead signal. An audio signal receiving device for decoding an audio code and outputting an audio signal includes: an audio code buffer that detects packet loss based on a received state of an audio packet, an audio parameter decoding unit that decodes an audio code when an audio packet is correctly received, a side information decoding unit that decodes a side information code when an audio packet is correctly received, a side information accumulation unit that accumulates side information obtained by decoding a side information code, an audio parameter missing processing unit that outputs an audio parameter upon detection of audio packet loss, and an audio synthesis unit that synthesizes decoded audio from the audio parameter. |
| US09564139B2 |
Audio data hiding based on perceptual masking and detection based on code multiplexing
A spread spectrum data hiding for audio signals is described. A set of pseudo-random noise sequences is added to an audio signal according to a data to be embedded. A masking curve is used to shape the added noise. A transient detection step can be used to control whether a shaped noise sequence is to be added or not. Embedded information is detected by first performing a whitening step and then performing a phase-only correlation with a same set of pseudo-random noise sequences. A detection method that is based on correlation of multiplexed noise sequences with a noise sequence embedded in the audio is also described. |
| US09564137B2 |
Frame erasure concealment for a multi-rate speech and audio codec
An audio coding terminal and method is provided. The terminal includes a coding mode setting unit to set an operation mode, from plural operation modes, for input audio coding by a codec, configured to code the input audio based on the set operation mode such that when the set operation mode is a high frame erasure rate (FER) mode the codec codes a current frame of the input audio according to a select frame erasure concealment (FEC) mode of one or more FEC modes. Upon the setting of the operation mode to be the High FER mode, the one FEC mode is selected, from the one or more FEC modes predetermined for the High FER mode, to control the codec by incorporating of redundancy within a coding of the input audio or as separate redundancy information separate from the coded input audio according to the selected one FEC mode. |
| US09564134B2 |
Method and apparatus for speaker-calibrated speaker detection
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for speaker-calibrated speaker detection. One embodiment of a method for generating a speaker model for use in detecting a speaker of interest includes identifying one or more speech features that best distinguish the speaker of interest from a plurality of impostor speakers and then incorporating the speech features in the speaker model. |
| US09564133B2 |
Mobile devices, methods, and computer program products for enhancing social interactions with relevant social networking information
Devices, methods, and computer program products for facilitating enhanced social interactions using a mobile device are disclosed. A method for facilitating an enhanced social interaction using a mobile device includes receiving an audio input at the mobile device, determining a salient portion of the audio input, receiving relevant information associated with the salient portion, and presenting the relevant information via the mobile device. |
| US09564131B2 |
Low power integrated circuit to analyze a digitized audio stream
Examples disclose a low power integrated circuit to receive and digitize an audio stream. Further, the examples provide the low power integrated circuit to compare the digitized audio stream to a keyword and store the digitized audio stream in a memory. Additionally, the examples also disclose upon recognition of the keyword in the digitized audio stream, the low power integrated circuit transmits a signal to a processor to increase power and analyze the digitized audio stream. |
| US09564128B2 |
Controlling a speech recognition process of a computing device
Methods, systems and devices are provided for controlling a speech recognition process on a computing device. A computing device may receive audio signals from a microphone and muscle movement signals from a muscle movement detector, such as an electromyography sensor. The computing device may determine whether the audio signals satisfy an audio characteristic criterion indicative of speech and whether the head muscle activity signals satisfy a muscle movement criterion indicative of the user speaking. The computing device may perform voice recognition processing on the audio signals through a voice recognition algorithm in response to determining that both the audio signals and the head muscle activity signals satisfy their respective criterion indicative of the user speaking, and not perform voice recognition processing of audio signals while either audio signals or head muscle activity signals do not satisfy their respective criterion indicative of the user speaking. |
| US09564125B2 |
Methods and systems for adapting a speech system based on user characteristics
Methods and systems are provided for adapting a speech system. In one example a method includes: logging speech data from the speech system; detecting a user characteristic from the speech data; and selectively updating a language model based on the user characteristic. |
| US09564123B1 |
Method and system for building an integrated user profile
A system and method are provided for adding user characterization information to a user profile by analyzing user's speech. User properties such as age, gender, accent, and English proficiency may be inferred by extracting and deriving features from user speech, without the user having to configure such information manually. A feature extraction module that receives audio signals as input extracts acoustic, phonetic, textual, linguistic, and semantic features. The module may be a system component independent of any particular vertical application or may be embedded in an application that accepts voice input and performs natural language understanding. A profile generation module receives the features extracted by the feature extraction module and uses classifiers to determine user property values based on the extracted and derived features and store these values in a user profile. The resulting profile variables may be globally available to other applications. |
| US09564117B2 |
Limiting peak audio power in mobile devices
Systems and methods of limiting peak audio power in mobile devices may include a high pass filter and a burst module to detect a burst load condition in a mobile device. The burst module can also apply the high pass filter to an audio signal of the mobile device in response to the burst load condition to obtain a filtered signal, and transmit the filtered audio signal to a speaker of the mobile device. |
| US09564109B2 |
Bass guitar to enhance the musical performance of a user
An electric stringed instrument for enhancing the musical or artistic performance of a user is provided. The instrument includes a body with a cutout such that a center portion of the body is open, a neck affixed to an outer edge of the body, and a plurality of strings having first ends operably connected to the neck and second ends operably connected to the body, the plurality of strings being oriented such that the strings extend over the cutout of the body. The user may maneuver the instrument and strum the plurality of strings on any portion of the strings located within the cutout of the body, thereby enhancing the sound of the instrument and the performance of the user. |
| US09564108B2 |
Video frame processing on a mobile operating system
A method for rendering video frames by a computing device having a software stack with an application layer and a kernel layer comprises various steps. First, a system reference time is initialized. A triggering of an interrupt signal in the kernel layer is waited for. Next, it is determined whether to update the system reference time as a function of a render function from the application layer. A next video frame in the kernel layer is rendered by the computing device as a function of the determined system reference time and the next video frame. The steps after the initializing step and starting at the waiting step are recursively performed. |
| US09564107B2 |
Electronic device and method for adjusting character of page
A method for adjusting characters of a page includes determines a selected page on a display device of an electronic device. Sizes of characters on the selected page are acquired. An adjustment ratio of the characters on the selected page is computed according to a predetermined calculation method. A size of each of the characters on the selected page is adjusted according to the acquired sizes of the characters on the selected page and the computed adjustment ratio of the characters on the selected page. Each of the characters on the selected page on the displaying device is displayed with the adjusted size of each of the characters on the selected page. |
| US09564101B2 |
Display device, method of display, and program
In a digital signage device, a control unit extracts a face region and a torso region from an image of the object to be displayed, compares the extracted face region and torso region to a face region and torso region extracted from a screen image on an image display unit in use, and then calculates, on the basis of these comparison results, a first adjustment factor for adjusting the size of the face region and a second adjustment factor for adjusting the size of the torso region in the image of the object to be displayed, the respective sizes of the face region and torso region in the image of the object to be displayed being separately adjusted on the basis of the calculated first adjustment factor and second adjustment factor in order to display an adjusted image on the image display unit. |
| US09564099B2 |
Bistable display systems and methods
A bistable display system includes a plurality of pixels arranged in pixel rows and pixel columns. Each pixel has a bistable material between first and second transparent and conductive substrates. A bistable display method includes driving the plurality of pixels having at least one target pixel and at least one non-target pixel and applying a voltage difference across at least one target column and at least one target row to switch the at least one target pixel between transparent and opaque states. |
| US09564098B2 |
Display panel, gate driver and control method
A display panel, a gate driver and a control method are disclosed herein. The gate driver includes series-coupled driving stages. One of the driving stages includes an input unit and a shift register circuit. The input unit outputs a shift signal to a control node according to a gate driving signal from the previous driving stage and the gate driving signal from the next driving stage. The shift register circuit is electrically coupled to the control node, and outputs the gate driving signal. During the enabling period of the gate driving signal from the previous driving stage and the enabling period of the gate driving signal from the current driving stage, the shift register circuit keeps the voltage level of the control node being at a first voltage. |
| US09564097B2 |
Shift register, stage-shift gate driving circuit and display panel
A shift register, a stage-shift gate driving circuit and a display panel are provided. The shift register includes a down-delivering module, an output module, a first pull-down maintaining module, a second pull-down maintaining module, a first pull-down module and a second pull-down module. The down-delivering module is for receiving a stage-shift signal(s) from a preceding-stage shift register. The output module is for outputting stage-shift signals and a scan signal. The first pull-down maintaining module, the second pull-down maintaining module, the first pull-down module and the second pull-down module are for keeping the output signal of the output module to be a low voltage level after the output module outputs the scan signal. By the above solution, the invention can reduce the size of transistor, prevent the deterioration of transistor and increase the circuit output capability. |
| US09564093B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and black picture insertion method for the panel displayed in 3D mode
An LCD panel includes multiple data lines, multiple scanning lines, multiple pixels, and multiple control transistors. Each pixel connected with a corresponding one of the data lines and one of the scanning lines. Gate electrodes of the control transistors are connected with a same scanning line. A source electrode of each control transistor is connected with a corresponding one of the data lines. Drain electrodes of the control transistors are connected with each other. A black picture insertion method for the LCD panel displayed in a 3D mode is also disclosed. Accordingly, a refresh frequency of the driving circuit is one half of the prior art. The power consumption and cost are reduced. Besides, a black picture is inserted into one frame during a blank time domain of the one frame such that the brightness is increased and the charge time of the liquid crystal capacitor is increased. |
| US09564087B2 |
Electrophoretic display device, electronic timepiece, and operating method of an electrophoretic display device
An electrophoretic display device includes a display unit including two substrates and an electrophoretic element containing electrophoretic particles disposed between the two substrates, and able to display at least a first color and a second color; a processor unit having a first mode and a second mode of lower power consumption than the first mode; a time information generating unit that generates time information; and a drawing unit that displays an image on the display unit. The time information generating unit includes a timer that counts time, and sends a counting completed signal to the processor unit when the timer counts a specific image; and the processor unit goes from the first mode to the second mode after starting counting by the timer in the first mode, and when the counting completed signal is then received, goes from the second mode to the first mode. |
| US09564086B2 |
Method and system for improving RGBW image saturation degree
A method and a system for improving saturation degree of a RGBW image are provided. The method comprises: a step A of dividing a screen into a plurality of screen sub-regions according to a region range in which backlight is independently and dynamically adjustable; a step B of dividing the RGBW image to be displayed into sub-areas on the basis of the screen sub-regions, the sub-areas of the RGBW image to be displayed corresponding to the screen sub-regions; a step C of determining the sub-areas having saturation degree to be adjusted in each sub-area of the RGBW image to be displayed; and a step D of reducing backlight brightness of the sub-areas having saturation degree to be adjusted by a predetermined proportion when the RGBW image to be displayed is displayed. By means of the method and the system, saturation degree of the RGBW image may be adjusted finely. |
| US09564085B2 |
Selective dimming to reduce power of a light emitting display device
Selective dimming in a light emitting display device to reduce power consumption. The display device includes a display panel that includes a plurality of light emitting pixels. An image processor is configured to divide an image frame into a plurality of regions and to reduce pixel intensity levels in at least one region of the plurality of regions to generate an adjusted image frame. The at least one region corresponds to a background of the image frame. A display driver converts data for the adjusted image frame into control signals for controlling brightness of the light emitting pixels. The display device may be, for example, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device or other type of display device that includes light emitting pixels. |
| US09564083B2 |
Organic light emitting display device having a wiring connecting a first pixel with a second pixel
An organic light emitting display device includes: a scan driver configured to sequentially supply a scan signal to scan lines, and supply an emission control signal to emission control lines; a data driver configured to supply a data signal to data lines; a pixel unit (pixel region) including pixels connected with the scan lines, the emission control lines, and the data lines and receiving a first power source which is a high potential pixel power source, a second power source which is a low potential pixel power source, and a third power source which is an initialization power source; and a wiring connecting an anode electrode of an organic light emitting diode of a first pixel in a first horizontal line and a first electrode of a transistor connected with the third power source of a second pixel in a second horizontal line while being adjacent to the first pixel. |
| US09564082B2 |
Array substrate, display device and driving method thereof
The present disclosure provides an array substrate, comprising a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix form. Each pixel circuit comprises a controlling sub-circuit, a compensating sub-circuit, a driving transistor and a light-emitting element. The controlling sub-circuit is configured to, under the control of a scanning voltage signal and a charging signal, charge the compensating sub-circuit, and under the control of a light-emitting controlling signal, control the driving transistor so as to drive the light-emitting element to emit light, and the compensating sub-circuit is configured to, under the control of the controlling sob-circuit, set a constant potential for a gate electrode of the driving transistor, and pre-store a threshold voltage of the driving transistor, so as to compensate for the threshold voltage of the driving transistor when the driving transistor drives the light-emitting element to emit light. |
| US09564078B2 |
Quantum dots for display panels
Techniques for rendering images directly with light conversion materials are described. In some embodiments, image data for one or more image frames is received. A light source may be controlled to emit first light to irradiate a light conversion material disposed with an image rendering surface. Second light that renders the one or more image frames may be emitted from the light conversion material. The second light emitted from the light conversion material may be excited by the first light. A display system under techniques herein may be free of a light valve layer on which light transmittance is modulated on a pixel-by-pixel basis. |
| US09564073B2 |
Display analysis using scanned images
A method for analyzing displays is described. A processing device receives a first scanned image of a first display and determines a first characteristic of the first display by analyzing the first scanned image. The processing device also receives a second scanned image of a second display and determines a second characteristic of the second display by analyzing the second scanned image. The processing device compares the first characteristic and the second characteristic to determine a third characteristic of the second display. |
| US09564071B1 |
Portable marker device
A support device for a hollow traffic marker utilizing a base having a foot positioned at the ground surface. A boss extends from the base. A flexible sleeve positions over the outer surface of the boss, the hollow traffic marker lies within the flexible sleeve. A gap within the flexible sleeve separates the first and second spacers. |
| US09564068B2 |
Device for surgical training
A device for surgical training comprising: an external first layer (11, 45) which simulates the subcutaneous fat; a second layer (12, 44) internal to said first layer (11, 45), which simulates the muscle; a fourth layer (16, 17, 42), internal to said second layer (12, 44), which simulates the perirenal fat; a kidney (14, 15, 41), internal to said fourth layer (16, 17, 42); said first, second and fourth layer having a sound propagation velocity between 1500 and 1550 m/s, an acoustic impedance between 1.5 and 1.7 106 Kg/sm2, an elastic modulus between 0.4 and 4.2 kPa, and being able to be perforated manually by surgical instruments. |
| US09564067B2 |
Inflatable exhibit of a human heart and method
An inflatable exhibit of a heart includes an inflatable infrastructure inflatable to a three-dimensional partial representation of the heart at a scale greater than at least, 10:1, but more preferably greater than 20:1, and most preferably, greater than 25:1. The infrastructure includes a cross-sectional plane thereacross. The exhibit further includes a walk-through passageway defined, at least, in part by the inflated infrastructure, and extending through the inflated infrastructure. The cross-sectional plane defines a plane of the passageway. |
| US09564066B1 |
Denture construction teaching tool
The denture construction teaching tool is an educational tool for instructing students on the molding process used to construct removable dental prosthodontics. The denture construction teaching tool includes a base having opposed upper and lower surfaces, and a spacer block releasably secured to the upper surface of the base. A set of tooth molds are releasably secured to the upper surface of the base about the spacer block. Each of the tooth molds has an injection port and a venting port formed therethrough. Each tooth mold further has a lower molding portion and an open upper portion. A removable lid releasably covers the open upper portions of the set of tooth molds, such that a molding material may be injected through the injection ports of the set of tooth molds with excess molding material exiting through the respective venting ports. |
| US09564062B2 |
Body position sensing for equipment
A device that includes a receiving surface for positioning at least one human body part, multiple capacitive sensor elements disposed within multiple positioning areas on the receiving surface, a sense circuit configured to compare the capacitance measurements of the sensor elements with threshold capacitance values and generate a signal when the capacitance measurements indicate proximity of a human body part on a positioning area, and an indicator configured to generate a notification when the position of the human body part corresponds with at least one location on the receiving surface. |
| US09564058B2 |
Vision and cognition testing and/or training under stress conditions
The visual and cognitive skills of a subject may be tested and/or trained by providing a visual stimulus to a subject. More particularly, a subject may be tested and/or trained when under a stress condition to determine the effect of a stress condition, such as a physical stress or a cognitive stress, on the subject's visual and sensory skills. A response may be received from a subject via an input device, the appropriateness of which may depend upon the stimulus provided to the subject. Behavioral information and other data regarding the performance of a subject and the possible effect of the stress condition may be recorded. Scoring may be based upon the speed, accuracy, and other aspects of the performance of a subject. |
| US09564057B2 |
Inquiry skills tutoring system
An assessment engine includes a definition of inquiry skills being assessed. Assessment models are used to infer skill demonstration as one or more students engage in inquiry within computerized simulations and/or microworlds. A pedagogical agent and/or help system provides real-time feedback to one or more students based on the assessment model outputs, and/or based on additional models that track one or more students developing proficiency across inquiry tasks over time. A pedagogical agent and/or help system for science inquiry tutoring responds in real-time on the basis of knowledge-engineered and data-mined assessment and/or tracking models. |
| US09564056B1 |
Flight path optimization using nonlinear programming
A method, medium, and system to receive a mathematical model representation of performance characteristics for an aircraft and an engine combination; perform a projection based model order reduction on the mathematical model representation; eliminate, based on the projected model, fast dynamics components of the mathematical model representation; determine a reduced order model, as a differential algebraic equation, wherein algebraic equations replace the fast dynamics; set a flight path angle and a throttle level angle as a control to minimize fuel consumption for the modeled aircraft and engine combination; discretize equations of motion for the modeled aircraft and engine combination and formulate optimization equations as a nonlinear programming problem; and determine an optimal open loop control that minimizes fuel consumption for the modeled aircraft and engine combination to climb to a prescribed cruise altitude and airspeed. |
| US09564051B2 |
Method for operating a motor vehicle, in which a user is warned of hazardous situations based on data obtained from outside and inside the vehicle, and motor vehicle operated accordingly
In a method for operating a motor vehicle, data obtained from outside the motor vehicle, which indicate the existence of a hazardous situation, are transmitted to a receiving device. A warning concerning the hazardous situation is communicated to the user of the motor vehicle. In addition to the external vehicle data, data obtained from inside the vehicle, which indicate the existence of a hazardous situation, are evaluated. The warning is communicated to the user of the vehicle subject to the evaluation of the data obtained from outside the vehicle and the data obtained from inside the vehicle. |
| US09564050B2 |
Methods and systems for determining information relating to the operation of traffic control signals
Data indicative of the durations of multiple instances of different phases of a traffic control signal in a given time period is determined. The data is used to obtain data indicative of a distribution of the durations of each phase. The distribution data is used to obtain data indicative of a probability of the traffic control signal having a given phase at one or more future time. The probability data may be used to provide an expected waiting time when arriving at the signal at a future time and/or a speed recommendation for a vehicle approaching the signal. |
| US09564048B2 |
Origin destination estimation based on vehicle trajectory data
A framework for origin-destination (OD) analysis of vehicle trajectory data is described herein. In accordance with one aspect, a vehicle trajectory dataset is provided to an OD analyzer. The vehicle trajectory dataset includes vehicle trajectory data collected from a sensor network having a plurality of sensor stations for detecting vehicles. The sensor stations of the sensor network are distributed in a geographical area of interest, where the vehicle trajectory data include trajectories of vehicles captured by the sensor network. The vehicle trajectory dataset may be analyzed by the OD analyzer to determine an origin and a destination of trips for trajectories of the vehicles in the vehicle trajectory dataset. The analysis includes calculating a probability distribution of travel time between sensor pairs of the sensor network of a number of (dropped-out) intermediate stations, and determining a stop probability between a station pair in the trajectories of the vehicles, where a stop is a destination of a previous trip and an origin of a next trip in the trajectories. |
| US09564045B2 |
Alarm system testing device
An alarm system testing device facilitates simulation of a trouble condition and testing circuit continuity of an alarm system within a structure. The device includes an alarm system comprising an electrical circuit, an alarm, a resistor, and at least one trigger. The alarm is activated by the trigger shorting a positive rail of the electrical circuit to a negative rail. A testing switch has a ground position wherein the positive rail of the electrical circuit is grounded when the testing switch is in the ground position. The resistor is electrically coupled to the testing switch such that positioning the testing switch in a resistor bypass position removes the resistor from the electrical circuit. |
| US09564044B2 |
Optimizing speed and reach of mass notification alert delivery
A system and a method are disclosed for predicting potential reach of an alert to a targeted audience, targeted personal delivery devices and targeted non-personal notification delivery devices in an emergency mass notification system. The method includes receiving recipients and alert delivery devices data which define a targeted audience and devices of an emergency alert. The method further comprises evaluating contact and configuration data targeting quality rating, tracking data targeting quality rating and real-time data targeting quality rating based on the received recipients and devices data and a data sources repository. Responsive to the targeting quality ratings and prediction weighting data (e.g., numeric weights and descriptive thresholds), the method generating one or more predictions of the potential reach of the alert based on the targeting quality ratings. |
| US09564039B2 |
Systems for monitoring hand sanitization
The present invention provides a hand sanitizer system that includes a proximity detector, a dispensing system and an alarm feature, and is operative to provide an indication corresponding to a person in proximity of the system failing to dispense antiseptic or other solution from the dispenser within a predetermined period of time after moving within a predetermined range of the detector. |
| US09564030B2 |
Portable security system
A portable alarm system designed for unoccupied unsecured locations, such as construction sites, machinery, campsites and the like. The alarm system defines a continuous monitoring line about the perimeter of the unsecured location using a plurality of wireless sensors attached to a flexible non-stretchable tape suspended between to vertical poles. The system has motion-sensing/detecting capabilities such that any movement of a housing where the microprocessor of the system is located generates audible/visual alarm. Each of the wireless sensors has a magnet and a transmitter positionable within a predetermined distance from the magnet. If the intruder tampers with the tape and increases the distance between the magnet the transmitter, the alarm is activated as well. |
| US09564028B2 |
Fire-fighting system and nozzle system including locator beacon
A fire-fighting system includes a base component, a nozzle located remote from the base component, and a locator component mounted to the nozzle. The locator component is communicatively coupleable to the base component, and includes a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive signals from the base component, and a locator beacon including a visually-perceptible output device. The locator component is configured to activate the locator beacon in response to an activation signal received from the base component. |
| US09564024B2 |
Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
An apparatus that operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records includes at least one processor that is in operative connection with a card reader, a check acceptor, a cash dispenser and a touch screen display. The processor causes the machine to operate to read card data from a user card, and to cause a determination to be made that the read card data corresponds to an authorized financial account. The at least one processor is operative to cause data to be read from a check and/or cash to be dispensed, and a financial transfer to or from the account corresponding to the value thereof. Data corresponding to a user input alphanumeric characters is resolved by the processor responsive to contact with an input surface of the touch screen display. The area of contact may not include any visible output indicia that corresponds to the possible input characters prior to contact. |
| US09564022B2 |
Variable-speed wagering game instance initiation
A method of conducting a wagering game includes player-controlled, dynamically determined wagering rates, with each wager initiating a separate instance of the wagering game and further displays concurrently executing instances together on one or more display devices. |
| US09564019B2 |
Computerized bingo-type game using bingo symbols drawn from symbol groups
A system for allowing players to play a bingo-type game with a user computing device is described herein. The system includes a database including a plurality of bingo symbols and a system controller coupled to the database. The system controller is configured to receive a request from a player to play the bingo-type game and responsively display the bingo-type game on the at least one user computing device. The system controller is configured to determine a plurality of symbol groups included in the bingo-type game, randomly select a set of bingo symbols, and displays the selected set of bingo symbols with respect to the symbol grid. Each symbol group includes a predefined set of bingo symbols. The set of bingo symbols including a bingo symbol selected from each one of the symbol groups. Each bingo symbol in the set of bingo symbols is displayed simultaneously. |
| US09564018B2 |
Temporary grant of real-time bonus feature
In one embodiment, a system, apparatus, and method for distributing a portion of game information may include a gaming machine configured to play a game of chance and produce game information. A social gaming server can be configured to communicate with the gaming machine, may establish a remote gaming session between the gaming machine and a user device, and may distribute the portion of the game information to the user device. A social gaming server may also establish a temporal bonus game feature between the gaming machine user and at least one available remote user. |
| US09564009B2 |
Dynamically providing rewards to users in a game space
A system and method for providing rewards in a game space based on errors disrupting user interactions with the game space is disclosed. For providing such rewards, error information indicating the errors may be obtained and the errors may be extracted from the obtained error information. In some examples, levels of disruption caused by the errors may be determined. In some examples, support resources for addressing the errors may be determined. Rewards may be determined to be awarded to the users based on the determined levels of disruption and/or the determined support resources. In some examples, the determined rewards may be distributed to the users responsive to the users performing one or more actions addressing the errors on the client computing platforms associated with the users. |
| US09564007B2 |
Wagering game content based on locations of player check-in
A computer-implemented method comprises replacing, by one or more processors, original wagering game content with modified wagering game content based on a wagering game player's check-ins at one or more physical locations. The method also includes presenting, on an electronic display device, a wagering game with the modified wagering game content in place of the original wagering game content. |
| US09564006B2 |
Slot machine with secondary game featuring replacement symbols
Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers on one or more paylines. The systems and methods may utilize one or more symbol positions which may provide additional gaming functionality. The systems and methods may determine one or more payouts based on the additional gaming functionality. The systems and methods may display one or more presentations based on the additional gaming functionality. |
| US09563988B2 |
Vehicle tuner and display module and docking station
A data acquisition, data display, vehicle computer interface and programming tool in the form of a module. The module of the present invention can be set into a dock, which is connected to the vehicle's control modules. The vehicle can be reprogrammed to accept vehicle manufacture's updates and/or performance updates. Once the reprogramming is finished the module is removed from the dock and is be placed into/onto the vehicle's dashboard or other location readily viewable by the vehicle operator to report one or more of the vehicle's operating parameters. The present invention is readily connectable to a vehicle's data link for bi-directional communication with the various control modules on the vehicle. |
| US09563986B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-signal fault analysis
Systems and methods for multi-signal fault analysis are described. The system receives signal message information, over a network, from a collection device comprised of a plurality of mobile devices including a first mobile device and a second mobile device that are associated with a first user. The first signal message information includes a first maintenance message including characterization information that was received by the first mobile device from a component that includes a sensor that operates to sense a first part that is assembled into a vehicle. The second signal message information includes signal information that was received by the second mobile device including an audio signal that a microphone in the second mobile device sensed. The system analyzes the multi-signal information to diagnose a problem and communicate a message to the first user with a diagnosis of the problem. |
| US09563982B2 |
Image generating device, image generating method, program, and computer-readable information storage medium
An image generating device includes a background image acquirer that acquires an image of a background on which an image of an object is to be superimposed, a color extractor that extracts a color about one or a plurality of places in the image of the background, and a light source decider that decides the color of light output by a light source that illuminates the object based on the color extracted about the one or plurality of places. The image generating device further includes a drawing section that draws the image of the object based on the decided color of the light of the light source and an output image generator that generates an output image obtained by superimposing the image of the object on the image of the background. |
| US09563978B2 |
Image generation apparatus, method, and medium with image generation program recorded thereon
When generating a pseudo three-dimensional image by performing volume rendering on a three-dimensional image using an opacity curve that defines the relationship between pixel value and opacity, identifying a whole region representing a predetermined target object from the three-dimensional image, setting a base opacity curve to the identified whole region, obtaining, with respect to each of at least some pixels in the identified whole region, a representative value in an adjacent region of a pixel concerned, and setting an opacity curve obtained by modifying the base opacity curve using the obtained representative value as the opacity curve to be applied to the pixel concerned in the volume rendering. |
| US09563976B2 |
Pre-fetching map tile data along a route
A path made up of several points including an origin, a destination, and intermediate points, is determined. Map data is fetched from an external map database to a local memory of a client device prior to detecting a need to use the map data for rendering maps at the client device. To this end, respective priorities of the points are determined, amounts of map data to be fetched are determined based on the determined priorities, and map data is fetched in accordance with the determined priorities, so that a first amount of map data is fetched for a point with a first priority and a second amount of map data for a point with a second priority, where the first amount is greater from the second amount. Respective digital maps of the one the geographic areas are generated using the pre-fetched map data stored in the local memory. |
| US09563971B2 |
Composition system thread
Composition system thread techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a composition system may be configured to compose visual elements received from applications on a thread that is executed separately than a user interface thread of the applications. As such, the composition system may execute asynchronously from a user interface thread of the application. Additionally, the composition system may be configured to expose one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) that are accessible to the applications. The APIs may be used for constructing a tree of objects representing the operations that are to be performed to compose one or more bitmaps. Further, these operations may be controlled by several API visual properties to allow applications to animate content within their windows and use disparate technologies to rasterize such content. |
| US09563969B2 |
Method of generating implicit terrain data by performing lossless compression and lossy compression and electronic apparatus for performing the method
The present invention relates to a method of generating implicit terrain data and an electronic apparatus for performing the method, and more particularly to a method of generating implicit terrain data and an electronic apparatus which are capable of minimizing a size of data while maintaining geographical quality of original terrain data. |
| US09563967B2 |
Photographic subject tracking device and camera
A photographic subject tracking device includes: a first degree-of-similarity calculation unit that calculates degree of similarity between a template image for tracking and an image in search area; a photographic subject position identification unit that identifies a tracked photographic subject position in the input image based on calculated degree of similarity; a second degree-of-similarity calculation unit that calculates a degree of similarity between each of multiple template images for resizing determination, which are generated based on template image for tracking, and image in search area; a matching position identification unit that identifies matching positions of the multiple template images for resizing determination, respectively, in the input image based on calculated degrees of similarity; and a size changing unit that changes an image size of template image for tracking and template images for resizing determination based on a density of the plurality of matching positions identified. |
| US09563960B2 |
Method for detecting foreground
A method and apparatus for foreground detection by designating one of two non-occlusion areas as the foreground area according to results of position matching using two given motion vectors. The detection is performed by matching the position of the current occlusion area in the current frame with one or more positions of a previous occlusion area in a previous frame. The matching operation is based on motion vectors determined for the neighboring areas adjacent to the current occlusion area. The determination of the motion vectors are based on two neighboring frames temporally located before and after the current frame. If the position of the current occlusion area is matched with the previous occlusion area by using one of the motion vectors, the neighboring area corresponding to the motion vector is designated as a foreground area. |
| US09563958B1 |
2D/3D image scanning and compositing
Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for processing images. A structure provides a light sources configured to illuminate a target area. Illumination is controlled in a sequence over a first time period. At a given point in time, light sources are powered to enable illumination of the target area. An image of a target object is captured from a single reference location. The captured image is evaluated including processing the evaluated images on a pixel by pixel basis to produce a single composite image having respective pixel values derived from the evaluated captured images. The target object is 3D scanned to determine height information for a surface of a target on the target area. The height information is used to flatten respective pixels of the composite image. The composite image is provided after the flattening of the respective pixels. |
| US09563956B2 |
Efficient free-space finger recognition
Systems and techniques for efficient free-space finger recognition are herein described. A surface in a depth image may be identified. One or more blobs in the depth image may be identified. The identified blobs may be analyzed to determine if a blob intersects with an edge of the depth image and classified as a potential hand if the blob does intersect with the edge or classified as an object otherwise. |
| US09563955B1 |
Object tracking techniques
Techniques for efficiently identifying objects of interest in an environment and, thereafter, tracking the location and/or orientation of those objects. As described below, a system may analyze images captured by a camera to identify objects that may be represented by the images. These objects may be identified in the images based on their size, color, and/or other physical attributes. After identifying these potential objects, the system may define a region around each object for further inspection. Thereafter, portions of a depth map of the environment corresponding to these regions may be analyzed to determine whether any of the objects identified from the images are “objects of interest”—or objects that the system has previously been instructed to track. These objects of interest may include portable projection surfaces, a user's hand, or any other physical object. The techniques identify these objects with reference to the respective depth signatures of these objects. |
| US09563952B2 |
Determination of a measurement error
For swift and secure determination of a measurement error a first digital image is obtained using an image sensor, wherein a line of sight of an optical arrangement is oriented in a first face direction. A characteristic image area in the first digital image on an image sensor is determined. A second digital image is then taken with a line of sight of the image sensor oriented in a second face and the characteristic image area defined in the first image is searched in the second digital image, the first or the second digital image is rotated in the image plane by 180° . Then in the second digital image the position of the characteristic image area is determined. And offset between the characteristic image area in the first digital image and the characteristic image area in the second digital image is determined. |
| US09563951B2 |
Vehicle vision system with targetless camera calibration
A camera calibration system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data. An image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. The camera calibration system is operable to generate camera calibration parameters utilizing a bundle adjustment algorithm. Responsive to image processing of captured image data during movement of the vehicle along an arbitrary path, and responsive to the bundle adjustment algorithm, the camera calibration system is operable to calibrate the camera. The bundle adjustment algorithm may iteratively refine calibration parameters starting from a known initial estimation. |
| US09563949B2 |
Method and apparatus for medical image registration
A method of medical image registration includes obtaining a first medical image generated before a medical surgery; obtaining a second medical image generated in real time during the medical surgery; extracting landmark points of at least two adjacent anatomical objects recognizable in the second medical image among a plurality of anatomical objects near an organ of interest of a patient from the first medical image and the second medical image; and registering the first medical image and the second medical image based on a geometrical correlation among the adjacent anatomical objects indicated by the landmark points of the first medical image and a geometrical correlation among the adjacent anatomical objects indicated by the landmark points of the second medical image. |
| US09563941B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image pickup apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
An image processor includes a correction signal generator configured to generate a correction signal by calculating a difference between an image and an image obtained by applying an unsharp mask generated based on a PSF corresponding to an image-pickup conditions of an image-pickup optical system to the image, and a correction signal applier configured to sharpen the image by multiplying the correction signal generated by the generator by a constant and by adding a multiplied correction signal to the image. |
| US09563931B2 |
Control method and information processing device
A control method executed by an information processing device including a first processor and a second processor includes specifying a plurality of processes which issued orders for causing the first processor to execute a drawing process for drawing a frame, the plurality of processes being executed by the second processor, first determining whether the drawing process is completed, based on a comparison between the specified plurality of processes and specific processes, and controlling, based on a result of the first determining, a state regarding a power consumption of the first processor until the first processor starts another drawing process for drawing another frame. |
| US09563930B2 |
Techniques for clearing a shared surface
Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques to determine that a shared surface is shared between a first application and a second application, determine that a fast clear operation has been performed on the shared surface, the fast clear operation comprising clearing one or more locations of one or more buffers. Further, various embodiments may include writing pixel value information to the one or more locations of the one or more buffers and performing a resolve operation on the shared surface. |
| US09563924B2 |
Managing time-substitutable electricity usage using dynamic controls
A predictive-control approach allows an electricity provider to monitor and proactively manage peak and off-peak residential intra-day electricity usage in an emerging smart energy grid using time-dependent dynamic pricing incentives. The daily load is modeled as time-shifted, but cost-differentiated and substitutable, copies of the continuously-consumed electricity resource, and a consumer-choice prediction model is constructed to forecast the corresponding intra-day shares of total daily load according to this model. This is embedded within an optimization framework for managing the daily electricity usage. A series of transformations are employed, including the reformulation-linearization technique (RLT) to obtain a Mixed-Integer Programming (MIP) model representation of the resulting nonlinear optimization problem. In addition, various regulatory and pricing constraints are incorporated in conjunction with the specified profit and capacity utilization objectives. |
| US09563919B2 |
Safety evaluation and feedback system and method
Systems and methods are discussed for providing a sensor enhanced employee safety evaluation system. Sensors that monitor employee behavior are placed at the workplace of an insured entity. Data from the sensors are processed to obtain a safety evaluation. Based on the safety evaluation, the insurance provider can adjust the terms of the insurance policy to accurately reflect the risks associated with the insured entity. Feedback based on the safety evaluation is also provided to the insured entity and the employees of the insured entity to promote improvements in safe behavior. |
| US09563917B2 |
Computer-implemented method and apparatus for adjusting the cost basis of a security
A computer-implemented method and apparatus for determining a cost basis associated with a plurality of shares of a security. In response to information identifying an issuer, the purchase date and the sale date, a list of capital events that occurred in connection with the security between the purchase date and the sale date is retrieved from a database. One or more shares held adjustment ratios are then retrieved from a database. Each of the shares held adjustment ratios corresponds to one of the capital events that occurred in connection with the security between the purchase date and the sale date. A current cost basis associated with the security may then be determined in accordance with the one or more cost adjustment ratios and the purchase price per share of the security. |
| US09563910B2 |
Showcase system having transparent display panel and operating method thereof
To achieve the objective of the present invention, a method for operating a showcase system having a transparent display panel according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving a touch input for a predetermined area of a transparent display panel; displaying an image keyboard; receiving product information; and connecting information on the predetermined area and the product information to store the connected information, or the invention comprises the steps of: recognizing a predetermined product; receiving a touch input for a predetermined area of a transparent display panel; and connecting information on the predetermined area and information on the predetermined product to store the connected information. |
| US09563908B2 |
Transaction processing circuit
According to one exemplary embodiment, a system for processing transactions is provided that comprises a transaction processing circuit configured to receive transaction data relating to one or more transactions for the purchase of software applications from a digital application store. The transaction processing circuit is further configured to apply one or more business rules to the transaction data and to generate one or more transaction summary files. The transaction summary files are transmitted to a payment system configured to perform, based on the transaction summary files, at least one of recording revenue related to the transactions and causing payment to be distributed to developers of the software applications. At least a portion of the transaction processing circuit is implemented using a shared, scalable computing system. A level of resources of the shared, scalable computing system requested for implementation of the transaction processing circuit is varied based on a volume of transactions processed by the transaction processing system. |
| US09563905B2 |
Advertisement snapshot recorder
According to various embodiments, techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the storage of an image of a rendered webpage on a storage medium. A first message including a request for a webpage may be transmitted to a web server via a communications interface. The webpage request may generate an advertising opportunity bid request for bids to place an advertisement on the requested webpage. A second message to place a bid on the generated advertising opportunity bid request may be transmitted. Information for rendering the webpage is received in response to the webpage request, and an image of the rendered webpage may be stored on a storage medium. |
| US09563899B2 |
Media distribution architecture for television viewing
A system distributes digital media content to a plurality of user devices, where a given user is associated with multiple user devices. First content is provided by a controller to a first user device and, in response, the controller determines interaction by the user with the first content. Thereafter, the controller provides second content to a second user device based on the prior provision of the first user content to the first user device and the first interaction information. More extensive user interaction history as well as device types may also be employed by the controller when determining the second content. |
| US09563887B2 |
Helmet cleaning apparatus
Disclosed is a helmet cleaning apparatus. The apparatus includes a rectangular housing having a cleaning compartment with a transparent lid pivotally connected thereto. The compartment includes a helmet mount having a spheroidal shape and on which a helmet can be positioned for cleaning. The helmet mount further includes apertures thereon that are connected to a vacuum cleaning device and a steam cleaning device contained within the housing. In operation, a helmet is positioned on the helmet mount, and some of the apertures thereon disperse steam in order to clean the helmet. Other apertures draw debris and other materials into the vacuum cleaning device in order to remove the same from the helmet. In this way, a user can easily and conveniently sanitize and clean a helmet without having to manually cleaning the helmet. |
| US09563886B1 |
Systems and methods for an improved self-checkout with speed tender transaction options
A checkout apparatus including a self-checkout unit having a product identification device, a payment identification device, a microprocessor and a point-of-sale system configured to allow a touchless speed tender transaction. The invention also includes an apparatus and method for offering a mode-driven and/or customer-driven checkout transaction. |
| US09563884B2 |
Automated transaction machine
An automated retail terminal in which a plurality of goods and/or services are provided in an integrated system. The integrated system generally avoids duplicating hardware or functions in the course of delivering the goods or services offered, so for example in a combination ATM and Internet kiosk the same credit card or smart card reader is used for both the ATM and the Internet kiosk functions, the same control screen activates the ATM functions and the Internet functions, and etc. |
| US09563877B2 |
Customizable controls provided by a messaging application for performing selected actions
Technologies are described herein for providing users of a messaging application with controls that perform one or more selected actions with a message. Any number of default custom action controls may be displayed in a gallery. The selection of a custom action control performs various actions to an active message. New custom action controls may be created and existing controls modified to provide any number of desired actions. Dialogs provide user-friendly interfaces that allow a user to assign the desired functionality to a custom action control. The custom action controls may be organized into groups and shared between messaging applications and computers. |
| US09563876B2 |
Control options for instant message display and notification
An instant messaging program is configured by receiving a chat selection input signal from the input device indicating the selection of a chat session; displaying selectable chat configuration parameters on the display; receiving a configuration input signal from the selection device indicating the selection of a chat configuration parameter; and linking the selected chat configuration parameter to the selected chat session so that the selected chat configuration parameter controls the subsequent display of the selected chat session. |
| US09563875B2 |
Automatically providing notifications regarding interesting content from shared sources based on important persons and important sources for a user
A system for automatically providing notifications to a user regarding interesting content, which automatically collects information regarding persons that are important to the user, as well as indications of important content sources. The important content sources are then monitored for actions performed by one of the important persons for the user, and notifications are generated to the user in the event that the important person performs an action on a document or other information item stored in the important content source. Important persons for a user may be determined through a communication application used by the user, such as an electronic mail program, instant messaging program, or the like, in response to indications of persons that the user has either sent messages to and/or received messages from. The notifications may be provided through the user's communication application, by electronic mail messages, instant messages, or the like. The notification may include a name, identifier, or other indication of the important person that performed the action on the important content source. Notifications may be provided to the user in response to any specific kind of action by the important persons on an important content source, such as create operations, modify operations, and/or delete operations. |
| US09563871B2 |
Systems and methods for storing computer infrastructure inventory data
A computer for storing computer infrastructure inventory data includes a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor. The computer also includes a database system stored on the memory device. The database system includes computer-executable instructions allowing the computer to manage stored records. The computer is configured to receive an inventory file associated with a scan of a host device. The computer is also configured to receive a mapping schema associated with the inventory file. The mapping schema comprises a structured relationship description between the inventory file and an inventory record. The computer is further configured to translate the inventory file to the inventory record using the mapping schema and to update the database system with the inventory record. |
| US09563868B2 |
Arrangement for minimizing communication and integration complexity between software applications
A computer system arrangement for minimizing communication and integration complexity between a plurality of software applications having each an individual data model defining an individual set of application parameters, includes a bus arrangement having connections to each one of said plurality of applications, the bus being arranged to interpret between each application and to orchestrate incoming and outgoing requests from each application, the bus arrangement including, a generic information model defining a set of generic parameters in relation to the application parameters of each application, an adaptor together with said generic information model, in connection with an incoming request, arranged to map parameters of that individual data model to said generic parameters, a device arranged to transfer the mapped generic information model together with the request to a process execution engine, which includes a device arranged to handle the request to identify a corresponding adaptor to which the request was directed, and using the corresponding adaptor together with the generic information model to remap the request to the individual data model of the application to which it is was directed. |
| US09563866B2 |
Estimating a computing job complexity
In a method for estimating a complexity of a computing job, selected data objects relevant to a data repository are retrieved. In addition, points are assigned to multiple elements of the selected data objects according to a predefined schedule and scores for the selected data objects are calculated by applying a mathematical function to the multiple elements and complexities of the data objects are estimated based upon the calculated scores and the predefined schedule. In addition, a complexity of the computing job is estimated based upon the estimated complexities of the data objects and the estimated complexity of the computing job is stored. |
| US09563865B2 |
Multiple-level treatment for optimizing one or more fluid separation units
The invention relates to the optimized management of one or more fluid production units, especially those involving fluid separation treatment, comprising: a) a data collection step, the data being on one or more values of current parameters defining a current operating point of the production unit, on a future production demand and on at least one optimization criterion; and b) a computation step for computing one or more parameters defining a new operating point of the unit, at least in accordance with this demand. The computation step b) comprises at least: 1) an estimation of at least one optimum solution for defining the new operating point; and 2) a validity test carried out on this optimum solution, at least in accordance with an analysis of the transition of the production unit from the current operating point to the new operating point. |
| US09563864B2 |
Detecting patterns that increase the risk of late delivery of a software project
Historic and current development data associated with the project may be gathered. A catalog of patterns, each pattern associated with a data measure and an analysis routine capable of detecting the pattern according to the data measure in a given data set may be obtained. A pattern describes a particular indication in the historical and development data, which arises one or more of, at a discrete point in time or over a period of time. The analysis routine may be applied to the historic and current development data. A notification may be issued responsive to identifying the pattern in the historic and current development data. The applying and the issuing may be performed for each pattern in the catalog of patterns. |
| US09563863B2 |
Marking apparatus equipped with ticket processing software for facilitating marking operations, and associated methods
Marking apparatus and methods, in which first ticket information relating to a locate request ticket is received, and second ticket information derived from the first ticket information is displayed on a display device of the marking apparatus. A field technician may provide some input to generate an electronic record or log of technician activity during a marking operation. In one example, a checklist may be generated (e.g., based at least in part on the first ticket information) and displayed locally to the technician as a guide to perform and verify various aspects of the operation. In another example, a set of instructions or “workflow” may be generated to guide the technician through a sequence of steps to perform the marking operation. Performance via a process guide (e.g., checklist or workflow) may be interactive in that the technician may provide input, or automated/semi-automated by analyzing various information collected by the marking apparatus with respect to the ticket information and/or other available information germane to the operation. |
| US09563860B2 |
System and method for providing inter-jurisdictional permits
Permit applications for construction or property improvement projects can be processed for multiple jurisdictions at the same time through a networked system. A kiosk can be provided as a central point of interaction for the user. A property address is received from the user and compared with multiple jurisdictions to determine one or more jurisdictions in which the property address is located. Permit requirement information for each of the jurisdictions is output for the user. Permit application information is then received from the user. The permit application information includes electronic fee payment information. A permit application can then be transmitted to at least one of the jurisdictions. If the permit is approved, one or more permits are received from the jurisdictions. The kiosk or other device can print paper copies of the permits for the user or provide them in electronic format. |
| US09563854B2 |
Distributed model training
In one embodiment, a device determines that a machine learning model is to be trained by a plurality of devices in a network. A set of training devices are identified from among the plurality of devices to train the model, with each of the training devices having a local set of training data. An instruction is then sent to each of the training devices that is configured to cause a training device to receive model parameters from a first training device in the set, use the parameters with at least a portion of the local set of training data to generate new model parameters, and forward the new model parameters to a second training device in the set. Model parameters from the training devices are also received that have been trained using a global set of training data that includes the local sets of training data on the training devices. |
| US09563853B2 |
Efficient information reconciliation method using turbo codes over the quantum channel
Provided is an information reconciliation method in a quantum key distribution system between a transmitter and a receiver, which includes receiving a parity bit from the transmitter through a quantum channel, correcting an error of a receiver quantum key by using the received parity bit, and removing a residual error of the receiver quantum key through an open channel by using a cascade protocol to harmonize the receiver quantum key with a transmitter quantum key, wherein the parity bit is generated at the transmitter by using turbo codes. This method may enhance quantum key generation efficiency. |
| US09563847B2 |
Apparatus and method for building and using inference engines based on representations of data that preserve relationships between objects
This disclosure describes, among other things, an apparatus for generating an inference engine about a document. The apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory with instructions. The memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a number of processes. The processor accesses a set of documents. Each document has a corresponding inference. The processor also generates a vector representation for each document in the set of documents. First, the processor parses text of the document into groups of words, and generates a vector representation for each group. |
| US09563846B2 |
Predicting and enhancing document ingestion time
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for predicting and enhancing ingestion time for a set of input documents. The mechanism receives a set of documents to be added to a corpus of the data processing system. The mechanism records document features of each document within the set of documents using an annotation engine within the data processing system. The mechanism predicts an ingestion time for each document within the set of documents based on the document characteristics and a machine learning model. The mechanism assigns the set of documents to data processing system resources to be processed based on the predicted ingestion time for each document. |
| US09563845B1 |
Rule evaluation based on precomputed results
Techniques are described for employing precomputed results of applying rules to content items, the rules applicable to determine whether content items may be electronically published. On receiving a request for a content item, rules applicable to the content item may be identified. A datastore of precomputed results of rule application may be accessed to determine whether the datastore includes a result of applying a current or previous version of each rule. If the datastore includes a current result, the current result may be employed in determine whether the content item may be presented. If the datastore includes a previous result, the previous result may be so employed. If the datastore includes a previous result or no appropriate result, a job may be queued to calculate the current result asynchronously relative to the request for the content item. |
| US09563843B2 |
Systems and methods for a computer understanding of multi modal data streams
Systems and methods for understanding (imputing meaning to) multi modal data streams may be used in intelligent surveillance and allow a) real-time integration of streaming data from video, audio, infrared and other sensors; b) processing of the results of such integration to obtain understanding of the situation as it unfolds; c) assessing the level of threat inherent in the situation; and d) generating of warning advisories delivered to appropriate recipients as necessary for mitigating the threat. The system generates understanding of the system by creating and manipulating models of the situation as it unfolds. The creation and manipulation involve “neuronal packets” formed in mutually constraining associative networks of four basic types. The process is thermodynamically driven, striving to produce a minimal number of maximally stable models. Obtaining such models is experienced as grasping, or understanding the input stream (objects, their relations and the flow of changes). |
| US09563838B2 |
Loop antenna and radio frequency tag
A loop antenna includes first and second conductors configured to have conductivity, the first conductor including first and second patterns, the first pattern being provided along a first surface and including a first feed point, and the second pattern being coupled to the first pattern at a first end of the first surface and being provided to oppose the first pattern; and a second conductor configured to have conductivity, the second conductor including third and fourth patterns, the third pattern being provided on the first surface with a gap generating a capacitance between the first pattern and including a second feed point, the fourth pattern being electrically coupled to the third pattern at a second end opposing the first end on the first surface, the fourth pattern overlapping the second pattern so as to cause capacitive coupling or being connected to the second pattern. |
| US09563836B2 |
Stretchable multi-layer wearable tag capable of wireless communications
A wearable tag capable of wireless communications includes a first elastic layer, a second elastic layer over the first elastic layer, wherein the second elastic layer is embedded with a first conductive circuit. The wearable tag includes a dielectric layer on the second elastic layer, a third elastic layer on the dielectric layer, wherein the third elastic layer is embedded with a second conductive circuit, wherein the dielectric layer comprises via holes that contain electric connections between the semiconductor chip and the first conductive circuit. A semiconductor chip is in connection with the first conductive circuit and the second conductive circuit, wherein the semiconductor chip, the first conductive circuit, and the second conductive circuit are configured to wirelessly communicate with external devices. The wearable tag also includes a fourth elastic layer on the semiconductor chip. |
| US09563832B2 |
Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage and power sharing RF identification (RFID) tags, and related connection systems and methods
Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage and power sharing RF Identification (RFID) tags, and related RFID tag connection systems and methods are disclosed. The excess RF power storage and power sharing RFID tags and related RFID tag connection systems and methods in embodiments disclosed herein allow connected RFID tags to store excess energy derived from excess received RF power in a shared energy storage device. In this manner, an individual RFID tag or a group of connected RFID tags in the RFID tag connection system can continue operation during temporary times when sufficient RF power is not being received from a RFID reader. Sharing stored energy derived from excess received RF power in a shared energy storage device among connected RFID tags in a RFID tag connection system can significantly mitigate problems of RF power interruption. |
| US09563831B2 |
Method of, and system and label for, authenticating objects in situ
A method of, and a system and a label for, authenticating an object in situ create an authentication pattern signature for the object to be authenticated, associate a random distribution of multiple, three-dimensional elements with the object, aim a portable, handheld, image capture device at the object to capture return light from the elements as a single image, verify from the single image that the elements are three-dimensional, process the single image to generate an image pattern of the elements, compare the image pattern with the authentication pattern signature, and indicate that the object is authentic when the image pattern matches the authentication pattern signature. |
| US09563829B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A jam detection section detects a sheet jam on a conveyance path based on results of detection by a sheet detection sensor. A printing stop section stops an image formation operation upon the sheet jam detection by the sheet jam detection section. Upon detection of completion of an operation of resolving the sheet jam by a user by a resolving operation detection section, a sheet breakage confirmation section judges, for the sheet taken out from the conveyance path by the user in the operation of resolving the sheet jam and then loaded on a document stand, whether or not there is any sheet lacking portion, based on image data generated by an image reading section. The stopping release section, upon judgment by the sheet breakage confirmation section that there is no sheet lacking portion, permits execution of image formation. |
| US09563825B2 |
Convolutional neural network using a binarized convolution layer
A convolutional neural network is trained to analyze input data in various different manners. The convolutional neural network includes multiple layers, one of which is a convolution layer that performs a convolution, for each of one or more filters in the convolution layer, of the filter over the input data. The convolution includes generation of an inner product based on the filter and the input data. Both the filter of the convolution layer and the input data are binarized, allowing the inner product to be computed using particular operations that are typically faster than multiplication of floating point values. The possible results for the convolution layer can optionally be pre-computed and stored in a look-up table. Thus, during operation of the convolutional neural network, rather than performing the convolution on the input data, the pre-computed result can be obtained from the look-up table. |
| US09563821B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer readable recording medium for detecting a location of a face feature point using an Adaboost learning algorithm
The present disclosure relates to detecting the location of a face feature point using an Adaboost learning algorithm. According to some embodiments, a method for detecting a location of a face feature point comprises: (a) a step of classifying a sub-window image into a first recommended feature point candidate image and a first non-recommended feature point candidate image using first feature patterns selected by an Adaboost learning algorithm, and generating first feature point candidate location information on the first recommended feature point candidate image; and (b) a step of re-classifying said sub-window image classified into said first non-recommended feature point candidate image, into a second recommended feature point candidate image and a second non-recommended feature point candidate image using second feature patterns selected by the Adaboost learning algorithm, and generating second feature point candidate location information on the second recommended feature point recommended candidate image. |
| US09563819B2 |
Visual comparisons using personal objects
Embodiments of the present invention provide automated systems and methods for visualizing a product using standard and personal objects. An image can be retrieved from the shopping history or shopping cart of a user, and the dimensions of the image can be automatically adjusted to make an accurate relative size comparison to a product for purchase. |
| US09563818B2 |
System for associating tag information with images supporting image feature search
A system derives and associates tag information with an image supporting image feature search. The system receives arrangement search information used for searching for one or more images including a target object associated with a specific arrangement of tag information. The system analyzes the tag information of the images, and searches for an image having the arrangement information which satisfies the arrangement search information. |
| US09563815B2 |
Method and system for processing an image received from a remote source
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of, at a computer system, receiving an image recorded at and transmitted from a remote source, at the computer system, processing the transmitted image, for segregation of the transmitted image into a corresponding intrinsic image and, at the computer system, processing the corresponding intrinsic image to perform a preselected task, for a result. As a further feature of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the remote source comprises a cell phone or remote computer system. |
| US09563814B1 |
Method and apparatus for recovering a vehicle identification number from an image
Some aspects of the invention relate to a mobile apparatus including an image sensor configured to convert an optical image into an electrical signal. The optical image includes an image of a vehicle license plate. The mobile apparatus includes a license plate detector configured to process the electrical signal to recover information from the vehicle license plate image. The mobile apparatus includes an interface configured to transmit the vehicle license plate information to a remote apparatus and receive a vehicle identification number corresponding to the vehicle license plate image in response to the transmission. |
| US09563812B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer-readable storage medium
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a calculation unit and a recognition unit. The calculation unit is configured to calculate a first similarity degree group which is composed of similarity degrees between respective characters constituting a first character string appearing on a first image and respective candidate characters in a candidate character group, and to calculate a second similarity degree group which is composed of similarity degrees between respective characters constituting a second character string appearing on a second image and the respective candidate characters in the candidate character group. |
| US09563811B2 |
Character recognition method, character recognition apparatus and financial apparatus
A character recognition method for recognizing a character of a medium is provided. A character image of an individual character from a medium is acquired and the character image is read out step by step to determine the character according to a hierarchical structure in which a set of predetermined characters are hierarchically classified into a plurality of groups configured of main groups and sub groups. |
| US09563810B2 |
Apparatus and method for verifying the identity of an author and a person receiving information
Apparatus for identifying a requesting individual who wishes to receive a computer file, or to input or alter computer information, where identifying information for each of a plurality of registered individuals allowed such access is stored in a database, calls for capturing images of such requesting individual, and determining whether this individual is the same as a registered individual. The stored identifying information includes both an alphanumeric identifier and images of a unique, identifier of each registered individual. The specificity of the identification is enhanced by providing and storing, by apparatus situated at the information source, a code which is converted to a code-image and displayed in proximity to the requesting individual; by obtaining composite images of both the biologic identifier and the code-image; by comparing the obtained image information with stored image information; and by providing computer access only if the obtained image information matches stored image information. |
| US09563804B2 |
Display device and method for controlling the same
A display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method for controlling a display device comprises a display unit configured to display visual information, including a private region and a public region; a control input sensing unit configured to detect a control input and to deliver the detected control input to a processor; and the processor configured to control the display unit and the control input sensing unit. In this case, the processor may display a control object in the private region, detect a first control input, move the control object from the private region to a first position of the public region based on the detected first control input and display a control indicator corresponding to the control object in a second position of the private region. In this case, the second position may be set based on the first position of the control object. |
| US09563803B2 |
Tagging visual media on a mobile device
This document describes techniques enabling tagging of visual media on a mobile device. In some cases the techniques determine, based on meeting a threshold of manual tagging of a person or object, to “bulk” tag visual media stored on the mobile device. Thus, the techniques can present, in rapid succession, photos and videos with the recognized person or object to enable the user to quickly and easily confirm or reject the recognition. Also, the techniques can present numerous faces for recognized persons or sub-images for recognized objects on a display at one time, thereby enabling quick and easy confirmation or rejection of the recognitions. |
| US09563802B2 |
Fingerprint identification chip with enhanced ESD protection
A fingerprint identification chip with enhanced ESD protection includes receiving pads disposed on a surface of a chip and arranged in a matrix format. The receiving pad has a central region and a peripheral region which surrounds at least an edge of the central region. The peripheral region of the receiving pad is higher than the central region. |
| US09563800B2 |
Intelligent entrance guard unlocking system and unlocking method thereof
An intelligent entrance guard unlocking method includes: transmitting electric energy of a power unit of a intelligent entrance guard in a wireless electromagnetic radiation via a transmit coil; receiving the electric energy via a receiver coil of a powerless smart key; capturing a fingerprint image of an user and storing the fingerprint image in a second storage unit of the powerless smart key; controlling a wireless transmit unit of the powerless smart key to transmit a wireless signal containing the fingerprint image to the intelligent entrance guard; obtaining a predefined fingerprint image from a first storage unit of the intelligent entrance guard and comparing the fingerprint image with the predefined fingerprint image; unlocking the intelligent entrance guard when the fingerprint image matches with the predefined fingerprint image and not unlocking the intelligent entrance guard when the fingerprint image does not match with the predefined fingerprint image. |
| US09563798B1 |
Reading invisible barcodes and other invisible insignia using physically unmodified smartphone
A method and system for enabling a conventional smartphone to read and authenticate an invisible barcode or other invisible insignia printed using an invisible printing ink containing a phosphorescent luminophore, and a software application, without a hardware alteration to the smartphone. |
| US09563790B2 |
Information recording medium, columnar body having information recording medium affixed thereto, information reading device therefor, pharmaceutical injection device using this information reading device, information reading method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
It is an object to provide an information recording medium with which information symbols can be suitably read. This information recording medium comprises a sheet-form member (33), a plurality of information symbols (18) that are displayed on the surface of the sheet-form member (33) and each have the same information, and an edge line (34) that is provided at one end and/or the other end of the sheet-form member (33) and allows an information reading device which reads the information symbols (18) to recognize the end of the sheet-form member (33). |
| US09563789B1 |
Separate cryptographic keys for protecting different operations on data
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that processes data. During operation, the system uses a first key to protect a write operation on the data. Next, the system uses a second key to protect a read operation on the data. |
| US09563784B2 |
Event driven permissive sharing of information
Event driven permissive sharing of information is disclosed. In an aspect, user equipment can include information sharing profiles that can facilitate sharing information with other devices or users, such as sharing location information. The information sharing profiles can include trigger values, such that when a target value transitions the trigger value, a permission value is updated to restrict or allow access to sharable information. As such, event driven permissive sharing of information allows for designation of temporary friend information sharing with user-defined triggers. |
| US09563781B2 |
Directional optimization for policy evaluation
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for directional optimization of policy statements for a Web service. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for directional optimization of policy statements in a policy document can be provided. The method can include loading a policy document referenced for a Web service, extracting a policy from the policy document, and determining whether the extracted policy is bi-directional or direction agnostic. A single run time presentation for the extracted policy can be created when the extracted policy is direction agnostic. Otherwise, separate run time presentations can be created for each direction of the extracted policy when the extracted policy is bi-directional. |
| US09563780B2 |
Managing cross perimeter access
In some implementations, a method of managing access to resources in a single device including receiving, from a first resource assigned to a first perimeter, a request to access a second resource assigned to a second perimeter different from the first perimeter. The single device includes the first perimeter and the second perimeter. Whether access to the second resource is prohibited is determined based on a management policy for the first perimeter. The management policy defining one or more rules for accessing resources assigned to the second perimeter including the second resource. |
| US09563774B1 |
Apparatus and method for securely logging boot-tampering actions
The disclosed apparatus may include a storage device and a secure counter. The apparatus may also include a tamper-logging component that (1) detects an action that is associated with booting untrusted images from the storage device and, in response to detecting the action, (2) securely logs the action by incrementing the secure counter. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09563770B2 |
Spammer group extraction apparatus and method
The present invention relates to a spammer group extraction apparatus and method, which extract spammer groups that interfere with fair trade and unbiased decision making by sending messages aimed at intentionally slandering other companies (other persons, other products, etc.) on social network services. The spammer group extraction apparatus includes a data collection unit for collecting pieces of data corresponding to social network services. A natural language processing unit preprocesses the pieces of data using a natural language processing algorithm based on big data. An abnormal behavior detection unit detects abnormal behavior based on user identifications (IDs) respectively corresponding to pieces of data, preprocessing of which has been completed. A spammer extraction unit extracts a spammer group using a user ID causing the abnormal behavior and an ID of a user group including the user ID. |
| US09563767B2 |
System and methods for weak authentication data reinforcement
Systems and methods for weak authentication data reinforcement are described. In some embodiments, authentication data is received in a request to authenticate a user. In response to detecting weak authentication data, the systems and methods determine whether the user was previously authenticated as a human user. An example embodiment may include initiating an authentication process based on determining that the user was previously authenticated as a human user. |
| US09563766B2 |
Device and accessory pairing
A device authenticates accessories by detecting that an accessory is attached to the device, determining a unique identification (ID) for the accessory, determining, based on the unique ID, if the accessory has been paired to the device, and in response to determining that the accessory has been paired to the device, enable use of the accessory by the device. In response to determining the accessory has not been paired to the device, the devices performs a secondary authentication process on the accessory. |
| US09563765B2 |
Baseband secure boot with remote storage
In order to simplify and reduce the cost of an electronic device, the size of a first non-volatile memory associated with an integrated circuit is significantly reduced. Instead of using the first non-volatile memory, a second non-volatile memory associated with a processor in the electronic device is used to store an embedded operating system of the integrated circuit, as well as associated data and a configuration of the integrated circuit. To reduce the security risks associated with using this remote second non-volatile memory, the first non-volatile memory may store authorization information and anti-replay information. During a secure boot of the integrated circuit, the authorization information is used to verify that the embedded operating system, the data and the configuration are authorized. In addition, the anti-replay information is used to determine that the embedded operating system, the data and the configuration are different than previously received versions of these items. |
| US09563764B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing authentication between applications
A method performed by a first application in a client apparatus to authenticate a second application in the client apparatus is provided. The method includes, when the first application receives an execution request from the second application, requesting authentication information of the second application from an authentication server, obtaining the authentication information of the second application from the authentication server, and authenticating the second application using the authentication information, wherein the authentication information of the second application is signed with a private key of the authentication server. |
| US09563754B2 |
Method of generating a structure and corresponding structure
Disclosed is a method of generating a structure comprising at least one virtual machine, the method comprising: obfuscating a first virtual machine source code, thereby yielding a first obfuscated virtual machine (OVM) source code; associating a processor identifier with the first OVM source code, thereby yielding a processor-specific first OVM source code; compiling the processor-specific first OVM source code, thereby yielding a processor-specific first OVM. Furthermore, a structure generated by said method is disclosed. |
| US09563751B1 |
License utilization management system service suite
The different advantageous embodiments provide a system for managing license utilization comprising a client system, a number of message transport servers, and a number of license management servers. The client system is configured to generate a number of messages having information about usage associated with a project code or a business unit. The number of message transport servers replicates the number of messages. The number of messages is transmitted to a message transport server in the number of message transport servers. The message transport server receiving the number of messages replicates the number of messages to each message transport server. The number of license management servers has a number of license management services configured to listen for updates from the number of message transport servers. The updates are the number of messages replicated across the number of message transport servers. |
| US09563747B2 |
Method for providing DRM service and electronic device thereof
Provided is an electronic device. The electronic device includes at least one processor for executing a plurality of operating systems; and a mobile high-definition link (MHL) module. The operating systems include a normal operating system for controlling a content service and a secure operating system for receiving information for controlling digital rights management (DRM) content from the MHL module and controlling a DRM service. |
| US09563743B2 |
Analyte testing method and system with high and low blood glucose trends notification
Described herein are systems and methods to utilize factual information based on stored blood glucose data to allow greater insight into the management of diabetes of a user. |
| US09563734B2 |
Characterizing cell using input waveform generation considering different circuit topologies
In some embodiments, in a method performed by at least one processor, a cell is characterized, by the at least one processor, with respect to an input transition characteristic considering different circuit topologies of a pre-driver driving the cell resulting in the same input transition characteristic. |
| US09563733B2 |
Cell circuit and layout with linear finfet structures
A cell circuit and corresponding layout is disclosed to include linear-shaped diffusion fins defined to extend over a substrate in a first direction so as to extend parallel to each other. Each of the linear-shaped diffusion fins is defined to project upward from the substrate along their extent in the first direction. A number of gate level structures are defined to extend in a conformal manner over some of the number of linear-shaped diffusion fins. Portions of each gate level structure that extend over any of the linear-shaped diffusion fins extend in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Portions of each gate level structure that extend over any of the linear-shaped diffusion fins form gate electrodes of a corresponding transistor. The diffusion fins and gate level structures can be placed in accordance with a diffusion fin virtual grate and a gate level virtual grate, respectively. |
| US09563732B1 |
In-plane copper imbalance for warpage prediction
A method of predicting warpage of a laminate is disclosed in which in-plane copper imbalance is calculated. A method of designing an organic build-up laminate is provided in which in-plane copper imbalance is calculated and imbalances are corrected. |
| US09563730B2 |
Improving the accuracy of an exponential current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC) using a binary-weighted MSB
An apparatus of an exponential current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC) using a binary-weighted MSB to efficiently drive current controlled light emitting diode (LED) devices. The apparatus comprises of an exponential current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC) current source, a voltage buffer to create an active cascode at the output stage, and an error amplifier that by means of a DC-DC converter voltage loop imposes an appropriate voltage at the output of the IDAC, depending on the current load set to drive the LEDs. The definition of the apparatus involves defining an exponential LSB and exponential MSB current mirrors according to a defined methodology. |
| US09563729B2 |
Signal transition analysis of a circuit
A first signal and a second signal associated with a circuit may be identified. A first count of a number of times that the second signal is associated with a transition when the first signal is at a first value may be determined. Furthermore, a second count of a number of times that the second signal is associated with a transition when the first signal is at a second value may be determined. A value corresponding to the dependence between the second signal and the first signal may be calculated based on the first count and the second count. |
| US09563726B2 |
Motor selection device
A motor selection device includes a computer including a storage device and a calculation device. The storage device stores data of acceleration time, constant speed time, deceleration time, stop time, maximum output torque for each motor, dynamic friction torque, and constant load torque. To select selectable motors and to suggest an optimal operation pattern among motor operation patterns, the calculation device includes a central processing unit (CPU) and performs effective torque calculation by calculating torque in the acceleration time, in the constant speed time, in the deceleration time, and in the stop time based on data stored in the storing unit, and calculating the effective torque by giving a first torque, a second torque, a third torque, a fourth torque, the acceleration time, the constant speed time, the deceleration time, and the stop time to a predetermined formula. |
| US09563723B1 |
Generation of an observer view in a virtual environment
Generation of an observer view in a virtual environment in response to real-time input during a simulation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a device initiates a simulation of a virtual environment. Core view data that identifies a core view in the virtual environment is maintained. The core view is associated with an object in the virtual environment. Core view imagery that depicts a portion of the virtual environment based on the core view data is generated. During the simulation, real-time input that includes first observer view data that identifies a first observer view in the virtual environment is received. The first observer view is unassociated with any object in the virtual environment. First observer view imagery that depicts a portion of the virtual environment based on the first observer view data is generated. |
| US09563719B2 |
Self-monitoring object-oriented applications
A computer-implemented method for monitoring an object-oriented application is disclosed. A transaction-representative-digraph is built based upon a real-time running of the application, and the digraph contains nodes of a plurality of replaceable classes. A key node is selected based upon invocation relationships between the nodes. A monitor program is instrumented at the selected key node. |
| US09563718B2 |
Using interactive scripts to facilitate web-based aggregation
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that facilitates interactivity during automated web-site accesses. During operation, the system executes a script which automatically accesses one or more websites. While executing the script, the system retrieves user-specific data associated with a user. The system then uses the user-specific data to access a target website. While accessing the target website, the system receives an interactivity request which the system presents to the user. The system then receives a response to the interactivity request from the user, and forwards the response to the website. |
| US09563712B2 |
Computer implemented methods and apparatus for providing internal custom feed items
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, and methods for presenting feed items in an information feed. In various implementations, a first result object is received, where the first result object is a data structure including a result of a feed query, where the result of the feed query includes at least one feed item to be included in the information feed, and where the at least one feed item has a first presentation. In various implementations, at least one custom object associated with the at least one feed item is received, where the at least one custom object provides a second presentation of the at least one feed item. In some implementations, the at least one custom object is included with the first result object to define an intermediary data structure. In some implementations, the intermediary data structure is stored on one or more storage mediums. |
| US09563709B2 |
Recommending objects to a user of a social networking system based on the location of the user
A social networking system recommends objects, such as pages, of the social networking system to users of the social networking system based on the location of the user. The social networking system obtains location information identifying the location of the user. Based on the location of the user, the social networking system identifies levels of geographical partitions encompassing the location of the user. For each level of geographical partitions, the social networking system accesses relevant objects of the social networking system with connections to users located within the level of geographical partitions. The social networking system may have determined a term frequency-inverse document frequency (tf-idf) value for each relevant object. Based on the number of connections and the tf-idf value associated with each relevant object, the social networking system merges the relevant objects accessed at each level into a set of relevant objects to recommend to the user. |
| US09563702B2 |
Media content modification and access system for interactive access of media content across disparate network platforms
A media content playlist generation and access system for a video entertainment network is herein disclosed whereby a plurality of media content emanating from various disparate networks may be conglomerated into a customized list. The list may contain stored media content, which are customarily stored in the head end portion of a CATV network, media content accessible via the Internet, or yet to be aired media content. The system also provides for manipulation of the playlist from various consumer electronic display devices that are interconnected to the Internet, or the PSTN, thereby allowing further customization of the playlist at the user's convenience. Additionally, a multiple user account system is provided wherein multiple user accounts may be configured in order to allow a corresponding multiple individualized playlists, which are each customized to suit each user's tastes. |
| US09563700B2 |
Cadence-based playlists management system
A system for supporting a user's repetitive motion activity operates to manage cadence-based playlists identifying one or more media content items having a tempo corresponding to a user's cadence. The cadence-based playlists can be categorized by different tempi or tempo ranges that cover all likely cadences during the user's activities. A media-playback device is provided to acquire a user's cadence and retrieve a cadence-based playlist associated with a tempo or a tempo range corresponding to the cadence. |
| US09563699B1 |
System and method for matching a query against a broadcast stream
A method for matching a query against a broadcast stream includes receiving one or more broadcast streams, from which it generates and stores an audio fingerprint of a selected portion of each received broadcast stream. A query is received from which the method generates an audio fingerprint. From that point, the method continues by identifying audio content from the query, using the query audio fingerprint and a database of indexed audio content. The method concludes by identifying the source of the query using the query audio fingerprint and the stored audio fingerprints. Embodiments of the method further include predictively caching audio fingerprint sequences and corresponding audio item identifiers from a server after storing audio fingerprints extracted from the broadcast stream; and using the predictively cached audio fingerprint sequences to identify an audio item within the audio signal based on at least some additional audio fingerprints of the audio signal. |
| US09563696B2 |
Systems and methods for managing notes
At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature systems and methods for managing notes. The note management system includes a note source, a note recognition module, a note extraction module, and a note labeling module. The note source is a visual representation of a scene having a note. The note recognition module is configured to receive the visual representation and determine a general boundary of the note from the visual representation. The note extraction module is configured to extract content of the note from the visual representation based on the determined general boundary. The note labeling module is configured to label the note with a category. |
| US09563695B2 |
Personalized electronic magazine
An personalized electronic magazine system includes an indexing module that stores topics related to various items available via a database. A user profile manager determines topics of interest to a particular user, and a recommendation generator uses the topic information from the indexing module and the topic information from the profile manager to generate recommended content to present to the user. |
| US09563692B1 |
Providing result-based query suggestions
In general, one aspect of the subject matter described can be embodied in a method that includes, obtaining a plurality of search results responsive to an initial search query, the search results including a first search result that identifies a first resource; determining, using a document-to-query-to-document model, that the first resource is relevant to a first suggested query different from the initial search query; generating a presentation of the search results responsive to the initial search query; and providing the presentation of the search results in response to the initial search query. Each search result in the presentation includes a link to a respective resource, wherein the first search result in the presentation includes a link that, upon a selection by a user, can cause the first suggested query to be submitted to a search engine. |
| US09563691B2 |
Providing search suggestions from user selected data sources for an input string
Provided are a computer program product for generating suggestions for an input string. A determination is made of strings in a user selected data source having at least a substring matching an input string, from a computer implemented user interface, comprising at least one character for use by a computer implemented process. The determined strings are provided to the user interface and selection is received of one of the determined strings from the user interface to provide to the computer implemented process. |
| US09563688B2 |
Categorizing users based on similarity of posed questions, answers and supporting evidence
Mechanisms are provided for performing an operation based on an identification of similar lines of questioning by input question sources. Question information identifying extracted features of an input question and a first source of the input question is obtained. A clustering operation is performed to cluster the input question with one or more other questions of a cluster based on a similarity of the extracted features of the input question to features of the one or more other questions. An operation is performed based on results of the clustering of the input question with the one or more other questions. |
| US09563684B1 |
Replication cookie
A system, computer program product, and computer implemented method for executing instructions at a replication site with a cookie manager, the method comprising receiving a cookie at the replication site, the cookie enabled to contain executable instructions, and executing the executable instructions contained in the cookie via a cookie manager on the replication site. |
| US09563680B2 |
Method and system for document integration
A method for integrating a document from a first document repository to another document repository in a cloud computing environment is disclosed. The method embodiment includes receiving by a server a configuration setup file including information identifying a source document repository, a destination document repository located in a cloud computing environment, and at least one web portal. When an indication to upload a document from the source document repository to the destination document repository is received by the server, the server is configured to retrieve automatically the document from the source document repository, to convert automatically the document from a first format to a second format, and to transmit the converted document to the destination document repository, whereby the converted document is accessed via the at least one web portal. |
| US09563678B2 |
Systems and methods for indexing and searching reporting data
A data management system for indexing reporting data of a contact center is disclosed. The data management system includes one or more reporting systems configured to store the reporting data. The data management system further includes a crawler configured to collect the reporting data from the one or more reporting systems. The data management system further includes one or more plug-in interfaces configured to enable the crawler to retrieve the reporting data from the one or more reporting systems. The data management system further includes an indexing server configured to index and store the collected contact center reporting data. |
| US09563669B2 |
Closed itemset mining using difference update
Embodiments are directed to, for a database comprising a set of transactions, with each transaction including an itemset comprising one or more individual items, obtaining a set of all closed frequent itemsets by checking frequencies of transaction sets, wherein a given itemset, I, is frequent where at least some threshold number (μ) of transactions contain I, and wherein the given itemset I is closed wherein it is impossible to add any item to I without changing the frequency thereof. |
| US09563664B2 |
Semantic filtering in data matching
A computer-implemented method for finding related datasets includes, for each reference dataset from multiple reference datasets, determining domains and geographies for a user dataset and the reference dataset, obtaining a weighted domain coefficient and a weighted geography coefficient using the determined domains and geographies for the user dataset and the reference dataset, calculating a correlation coefficient between the user dataset and the reference dataset and calculating a semantic filtering coefficient for the user dataset and the reference dataset using the calculated correlation coefficient, the weighted domain coefficient and the weighted geography coefficient. |
| US09563663B2 |
Fast path evaluation of Boolean predicates
Techniques for managing fast path evaluation of Boolean predicates are provided. In some examples, the fast path evaluation may be based at least in part on received queries and/or query statements associated with a database and/or streaming data. In some examples, a first instruction for enabling execution of a subset of logical operators of the query may be determined. The determination may be based at least in part on the logical operators of the query. Additionally, based at least in part on the first instruction, logical instructions for implementing the query may be generated. Further, the logical instructions may be compiled into machine-readable instructions for implementing only the subset of the logical operators of the query. |
| US09563662B2 |
Detecting and processing cache hits for queries with aggregates
Techniques to improve query caching performance by efficiently selecting queries stored in a cache for evaluation and increasing the cache hit rate by allowing for inexact matches. A list of candidate queries stored in the cache that potentially could be used to answer a new query is first determined. This list may include all cached queries, cached queries containing exact matches for select list items, or cached queries containing exact and/or inexact matches. Each of at least one candidate query is then evaluated to determine whether or not there is a cache hit, which indicates that the candidate query could be used to answer the new query. The evaluation is performed using a set of rules that allows for inexact matches of aggregates, if any, in the new query. A query plan is generated for the new query based on a specific candidate query with a cache hit. |
| US09563659B2 |
Generating question and answer pairs to assess understanding of key concepts in social learning playlist
A method, system and computer program product for determining whether the social learning playlist is effective in educating participants. The text of the collection of online materials of a social learning playlist is scanned to identify key concepts (i.e., the most important points) using natural language processing. The user selects a concept from a list of key concepts, which includes these identified key concepts, and a type of question (e.g., true/false) to be used in assessing the understanding of the selected key concept. The selected type of question and answer to the question are generated using analytic analysis and artificial intelligence on the online materials of the playlist. In this manner, by generating appropriate question and answer pairs, where the questions are inserted at selected locations within the playlist, the creator of the playlist is able to assess whether the participants are understanding the key concepts in the playlist. |
| US09563658B2 |
Hardware implementation of the aggregation/group by operation: hash-table method
Techniques are described for performing grouping and aggregation operations. In one embodiment, a request is received to aggregate data grouped by a first column. In response to receiving the request, a group value in a row of a first column is mapped to an address. A pointer is stored for a first group at a first location identified by the address. The pointer identifies a second location of a set of aggregation data for the first group. An aggregate value included in the set of aggregation data is updated based on a value in the row of a second column. |
| US09563649B2 |
Location stamping and logging of electronic events and habitat generation
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for the detection, location stamping, and logging of electronic events and subsequent generation of habitat information. According to implementations, electronic events are detected and location stamped. Associated descriptions and other data corresponding to the electronic events is retrieved and stored along with the geographic locations of the electronic events in an activity log. The information in the activity log is used to generate visual representations of one or more geographic areas in which electronic events that meet user-defined or default criteria occurred within a predetermined frequency. |
| US09563647B1 |
Method and system for generating a state profile report
Disclosed are systems and methods relating to profiling software and configuration information associated with one or more entities. In various implementations, software and configuration information associated with one or more entities may be retrieved. The retrieved software and configuration information may provide state information associated with the one or more entities. The retrieved information may be processed to identify one or more changes in the software and configuration information that is associated with the one or more entities. A report may be generated based on the retrieved information. The report may display identified changes in a state for at least one entity based on the changes in the software and configuration information that were identified during the processing. |
| US09563637B2 |
Synchronized file management across multiple disparate endpoints
Techniques to manage files and other stored objects are disclosed. An identification is received of a plurality of files associated with a synchronization set. An identification of a plurality of endpoints associated with the synchronization set is received. Synchronization is maintained across the endpoints with respect to at least a subset of the files included in the plurality of files. In some embodiments, maintaining synchronization across the endpoints includes materializing each file, and updates thereto, at each endpoint at which the file is stored in a manner required by that endpoint while maintaining an awareness of which files or other objects as stored at each endpoint at which files are stored correspond to which files or other objects as stored at other endpoints at which files are stored. |
| US09563636B2 |
Allowing writes to complete without obtaining a write lock to a file
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for allowing writes to complete without obtaining a write lock to a file. A lock is provided to a first request, comprising a read or write request, to access the file. A second write request is received while the first request maintains the lock. A temporary file associated with the file for the second write request is created. The second write request is controlled to write to the temporary file while the lock is held by the first request. In response to completing the first request, the lock is granted to the second write request to write the data in the temporary file to the file. |
| US09563635B2 |
Automated recognition of patterns in a log file having unknown grammar
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for recognizing patterns in log files with unknown grammar. A computer replaces one or more alphanumeric strings with a first alphanumeric character to generate a first resulting string. The computer then replaces one or more identical pairs of characters of the first resulting string with a second alphanumeric character to generate a second resulting string. The computer then replaces one or more consecutive instances of the second alphanumeric character, in the second resulting string, with one instance of the second alphanumeric character to generate a compressed string. |
| US09563632B2 |
Garbage collection aware deduplication
Mechanisms are provided for improving the efficiency of garbage collection in a deduplication system by intelligently managing storage of deduplication segments. When a duplicate segment is identified, a reference count for an already maintained segment is incremented only if the already maintained segment has the same lifecycle as the identified duplicate segment. In some instances, an already maintained segment is assumed to have the same lifecycle if it is not stale or the age is not significantly different from the age of the newly identified duplicate. If the already maintained segment is has a different lifecycle, the new segment is stored again even though duplicates are already maintained. |
| US09563630B2 |
Dimensional conversion in presentations
Technologies are described herein for converting presentations between differing slide dimensions and aspect ratios. During dimensional conversion of a slide, foreground objects placed on the slide by a user are dimensionally scaled and repositioned on the slide based on a change in the overall dimensions of the slide, while background objects on the slide originating from a slide master associated with the slide are replaced with corresponding background objects from a new template associated with the new aspect ratio of the slide. Any content and/or properties of the old background objects on the slide are copied to the corresponding background objects on the dimensionally converted slide. |
| US09563627B1 |
Contextual determination of related media content
This disclosure relates to contextual determination of related media content. A referral source identification component determines a referral source associated with a request for media content, and a determination component determines a set of context data for the request based in part on the referral source. A contextual suggestion component identifies or selects a set of additional content based in part on a subset of the context data, and suggests or recommends a subset of the additional content to a user based on a set of recommendation criteria. |
| US09563626B1 |
Offline management of data center resource information
Techniques for managing resources within a data center include using a portable device for interaction with technicians. The portable device has a web browser that the technician uses to navigate to an administrative web site from which a browser-based application is downloaded. The application is executed by the browser and maintains a browser-based data store that is asynchronously synchronized with a back-end data store when network communications are available. |
| US09563621B2 |
Search based user interface
A method including detecting an input to a cellular device, the input corresponding to at least a portion of one or more identifiers corresponding with a respective content stored in the cellular device, displaying on the cellular device a list of the respective content associated with the input and enabling a user to select one or more of the content in the list. |
| US09563618B2 |
Wearable-based virtual agents
Virtual agents may be implemented on a wearable device. The wearable device may include an input device to receive input and a communication component to send the input to a computing device for processing and to receive a response for the input. The wearable device may also include an output device to output the response via the virtual agent as part of a conversation with a user. |
| US09563617B2 |
Custom validation of values for fields of submitted forms
A server system provided according to an aspect of the present disclosure receives validation rules for fields of a form, and stores the validation rules as metadata in a memory. When values are later received based on the form, the values are validated using the rules in the metadata. Any errors detected are notified to a user system from which the values are received. The values are forwarded to a corresponding application if no errors are detected. According to another aspect, a developer of the application provides an initial set of validation rules prior to the application being deployed at a customer site. The customer then specifies additional rules. The metadata stores both the initial rules and the additional rules. A user interface module validates each received value against any applicable rules present in the metadata. |
| US09563616B2 |
Method and system for generating and utilizing persistent electronic tick marks and use of electronic support binders
An apparatus and computer-implemented method comprise providing an algorithm to a client device comprising a processor, a memory, and a user interface comprising a display and an input mechanism, displaying on the display a supported document comprising a supported data item data item, receiving an instruction for the supported data item to associate supporting document information to the supported data item, providing a data entry mechanism at which the supporting document information can be specified, receiving the supporting document information; and attaching the supporting document information in a persistent manner to the supporting data item. |
| US09563609B2 |
Systems and methods for customizing appearance and behavior of electronic documents based on a multidimensional vector of use patterns
Systems and methods for customizing electronic documents based on use patterns are provided. A computer implemented method for customizing an electronic document, comprises automatically monitoring an interaction of a user with the document on an electronic device for reading the document to determine an area of interest of the document, determining the area of interest based on the user interaction, and altering cumulatively at least one of the appearance or behavior of the document on the electronic device at the area of interest, wherein the cumulative alteration is a function of a variable measure of the user interaction over a range. |
| US09563608B1 |
Data analysis results authoring and peer review
Techniques are described for a real-time visualization of data in an integrated authoring environment. In one example, a method includes receiving text information. The method also includes comparing the dynamically entered text information against a data source, wherein the comparing comprises applying natural language processing (NLP) to determine one or more assertion statements in the text information that references data from the data source. The method also includes retrieving the referenced data associated with the one or more assertion statements from the data source. The method further includes generating a visual representation of the referenced data associated with the one or more assertion statements. The method also includes displaying the visual representation, wherein the visual representation is integrated with an authoring interface. |
| US09563603B2 |
Providing known distribution patterns associated with specific measures and metrics
A computer receives one or more keywords input by a user to describe a metric or a test and identifies a first document that includes at least one of the keywords. The computer identifies, in the first document, a known distribution pattern and an associated metric or measure that relate to the one or more keywords. The computer makes an electronic record of the identified known distribution pattern and associated metric or measure. |
| US09563600B2 |
System and method for monitoring and dispensing doses of medication
Devices, systems and methods for monitoring medication are provided. A medication monitoring device according to one implementation includes a container configured to store a plurality of medication pills and a gating device connected at an opening of the container. The gating device is configured to electronically monitor the release of at least one of the medication pills. A system and method for monitoring the administration of medication to a patient are also provided. The system, according to one embodiment, comprises the medication monitoring device and a medication management server in communication with the medication monitoring device via a communication network. |
| US09563597B2 |
High capacity memory systems with inter-rank skew tolerance
In a multirank memory system in which the clock distribution trees of each rank are permitted to drift over a wide range (e.g., low power memory systems), the fine-interleaving of commands between ranks is facilitated through the use of techniques that cause each addressed rank to properly sample commands intended for that rank, notwithstanding the drift. The ability to perform such “microthreading” provides for substantially enhanced memory capacity without sacrificing the performance of single rank systems. This disclosure provides methods, memory controllers, memory devices and system designs adapted to these ends. |
| US09563594B2 |
Intercomponent data communication between multiple time zones
A request to send a first message from a first component to a second component is received at an arbiter. The first component is located in a first time zone and the second component is located in a second time zone. The arbiter determines that the second component is located in the second time zone. It is determined that the second time zone can be communicated with via one or more communications channels in a first direction. It is determined whether bandwidth is available on the one or more communications channels in the first direction. If bandwidth is available on the one or more communications channels in the first direction, a data path between the first component and the one or more communications channels in the first direction is created and the request is granted. Otherwise, the grant of the request is delayed. |
| US09563589B2 |
Picoblaze processor based multifunction vehicle bus (pMVB) controller system
The present invention relates to the field of communications on rail trains. A PicoBlaze-based MVB controller includes a pMVB controller, a traffic memory, an ARM adapter, and a bus arbiter. The pMVB controller, the traffic memory, ARM adapter, and the bus arbiter are connected to an external bus BUS1. The pMVB controller is connected to the traffic memory. The ARM adapter is connected to an external ARM processor and the bus arbiter. The traffic memory can store network communication data and input control information, and send them to the pMVB controller. The pMVB controller responds to the control information, and sends the communication data, and after it is encoded, to the MVB bus via the external bus BUS1. The pMVB controller also decodes data received from the pMVB bus and triggers an interrupt. The bus arbiter is responsible for bus arbitration in accordance with the instructions from the pMVB controller. |
| US09563587B2 |
Memory module with distributed data buffers and method of operation
A memory module is operatable in a memory system with a memory controller. The memory module comprises a module control device to receive command signals from the memory controller and to output module command signals and module control signals. The module command signals are provided to memory devices organized in groups, each group including at least one memory device, while the module control signals are provided to a plurality of buffer circuits to control data paths in the buffer circuits. The plurality of buffer circuits are associated with respective groups of memory devices and are distributed across a surface of the memory module such that each module control signal arrives at the plurality of buffer circuits at different points in time. The plurality of buffer circuits are configured to align read data signals received from the memory devices such that the read data signals are transmitted to the memory controller from the memory module substantially aligned with each other and in accordance with a read latency parameter of the memory system. |
| US09563585B2 |
System and method for isolating I/O execution via compiler and OS support
Embodiments are provided for isolating Input/Output (I/O) execution by combining compiler and Operating System (OS) techniques. The embodiments include dedicating selected cores, in multicore or many-core processors, as I/O execution cores, and applying compiler-based analysis to classify I/O regions of program source codes so that the OS can schedule such regions onto the designated I/O cores. During the compilation of a program source code, each I/O operation region of the program source code is identified. During the execution of the compiled program source code, each I/O operation region is scheduled for execution on a preselected I/O core. The other regions of the compiled program source code are scheduled for execution on other cores. |
| US09563582B2 |
Modular device, system, and method for reconfigurable data distribution
Systems, methods, and computer program product embodiments for a reconfigurable system are described herein. An embodiment includes a power supply an integrated controller configured to host a plurality of sensors and a display. The embodiment also includes a video decoder configured to receive a plurality of inputs and route a selected input based on an interaction with the display. Further, the embodiment includes memory devices configured to store the selected input. |
| US09563580B2 |
System, methodology, and process for wireless transmission of sensor data onboard an aircraft to a portable electronic device
Monitoring and reporting methods and apparatus include the acquisition of detailed aircraft state and systems data, analysis of the collected data, and transmission of the collected data and/or analysis of the collected data to a destination automatically via a portable electronic device which is carried onto and off of the aircraft by the pilot or another crew member. More particularly, monitoring and reporting methods and apparatus include collecting analog or digital sensor data onboard an aircraft, analyzing the data in real-time, and automatically transmitting the data and/or analysis of the data to a destination including a portable storage device such as a portable computer, electronic flight bag (EFB), or smart phone, by means such as wireless transmission, for automatic transfer to another destination when the portable computer, electronic flight bag (EFB), or smart phone is off of the aircraft. |
| US09563574B2 |
Storage control device and method of controlling storage control device
To improve response performance of a storage control device. A storage control device 1 connected to a host computer 2 includes: a communication unit 1A that receives a command, to which a priority is set, from the host computer; a command executing unit 1B that executes the command received from the communication unit according to the priority; a cache memory 1C that is used by the command executing unit; a cache controller 1E that manages slots of the cache memory; and a plurality of storage devices 1D(1) and 1D(2) that stores data used by the host computer. The cache controller sets the priority to a slot that stores target data of the command and controls the data stored in the slot according to the priority. |
| US09563567B2 |
Selective cache way-group power down
A method and apparatus for selectively powering down a portion of a cache memory includes determining a power down condition dependent upon a number of accesses to the cache memory. In response to the detection of the power down condition, selecting a group of cache ways included in the cache memory dependent upon a number of cache lines in each cache way that are also included in another cache memory. The method further includes locking and flushing the selected group of cache ways, and then activating a low power mode for the selected group of cache ways. |
| US09563561B2 |
Initiation of cache flushes and invalidations on graphics processors
Methods and systems may provide for receiving, at a graphics processor, a workload from a host processor and using a kernel on the graphics processor to issue a thread group for execution of the workload on the graphics processor. Additionally, one or more coherency messages may be initiated, by the graphics processor, in response to a thread-related condition of one or more caches on the graphics processor. In one example, the thread-related condition is associated with the execution of the workload on the graphics processor and indicates that the one or more caches on the graphics processor are not coherent with a system memory associated with the host processor. |
| US09563560B2 |
Adaptive tuning of snoops
A coherency controller, such as one used within a system-on-chip, is capable of issuing different types of snoops to coherent caches. The coherency controller chooses the type of snoop based on the type of request that caused the snoops or the state of the system or both. By so doing, coherent caches provide data when they have sufficient throughput, and are not required to provide data when they do not have insufficient throughput. |
| US09563558B2 |
Techniques for implementing barriers to efficiently support cumulativity in a weakly-ordered memory system
A technique for operating a cache memory of a data processing system includes creating respective pollution vectors to track which of multiple concurrent threads executed by an associated processor core are currently polluted by a store operation resident in the cache memory. Dependencies in a dependency data structure of a store queue of the cache memory are set based on the pollution vectors to reduce unnecessary ordering effects. Store operations are dispatched from the store queue in accordance with the dependencies indicated by the dependency data structure. |
| US09563553B2 |
Data storing method and embedded system
A method for writing update data into a flash memory module to replace original data is provided. The flash memory module includes at least one block including a plurality of sectors. Each of the sectors records a flag. The data storing method includes: getting a first sector, wherein all the bits of the flag of the first sector are the second storage status; writing the update data into the first sector, and programming at least one bit as the first storage status and at least one bit as the second storage status in the flag of the first sector; identifying a second sector storing original data, wherein at least one bit of the flag of the second sector is first storage status and at least one other bit is second storage status; programming all the bits of the second sector as the first storage status. |
| US09563552B2 |
Storage control device and storage control method
A storage control device that controls a solid state drive group including two or more solid state drives sharing data storage includes a detector that detects a wear state of each of the solid state drives, a separation controller that separates a solid state drive having a wear value, which represents a wear state, exceeding a first threshold among the solid state drives, and an enlargement controller that, when detecting a solid state drive having a wear value, which represents a wear state, exceeding a second threshold less than the first threshold among the solid state drives in the solid state drive group, enlarges a difference in a wear value, which represents a wear state, between the solid state drive having the wear value exceeding the second threshold and a remainder of the solid state drives. |
| US09563546B2 |
Instrumentation system and method for testing software
One or more test controls within code under test are enabled and then executing the code under test is executed. When enabled, the test control will interact with a tester when the code under test is executed (e.g., by providing data to the tester). The selection to enable the test control can be made based on whether the system accessing the code under test is a tester. If the system is a tester, the test control is enabled. Otherwise, the test control is disabled. The test control can include an execution control, a data definition control, and/or a log control. |
| US09563545B2 |
Autonomous propagation of system updates
A method, system, and/or computer program product propagates system upgrades to peer computers in a peer community. A peer community is defined by identifying peer computers that each have a copy of a same system component. Each of the peer computers in the peer community is autonomous, such that no peer computer controls another peer computer. A test computer is selected from the peer computers. An upgrade to a system component on the test computer is installed and tested. In response to the upgrade to the system component functioning properly within the test computer, a message is sent to other peer computers within the peer community recommending that they install the upgrade. |
| US09563544B2 |
Framework for automated testing of mobile apps
A framework for the automated testing of mobile applications is disclosed. A mobile application to be operated on a mobile device is built based on a source code of the mobile application. The mobile application operates with a backend system. A test configuration for the mobile application and the backend system are defined. An automated test is performed with the test configuration on the mobile application on the mobile device and on the backend system. A log of test results is generated from the automated test performed on the mobile application and on the backend system. |
| US09563543B2 |
Test framework extension for testing logic on a modeled user interface
A testing framework extension may be provided. An application comprising a form may be created within a modeling framework. A variable associated with the form may be defined and an application programming interface (API) may be created according to the form. A test case may be efficiently executed without rendering a physical UI using the variable by making at least one call to the API thus exercising (at least one part of) the form logic and a result of executing the test case may be reported to a user. |
| US09563542B1 |
Identifying, quantifying, and eliminating wasted resources in software testing due to unavailability of a testing environment
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying, quantifying, and reducing wasted resources in software testing. In use, a first duration of time over which at least one software testing environment was not available for at least one first software testing project is determined. At least one wasted resource amount associated with the first software testing project is calculated, the wasted resource amount resulting from the software testing environment not being available during the first duration of time. A potential saving in software testing effort associated with this project and/or at least one second software testing project is automatically calculated, based, at least partially, on the cause of the unavailability of the testing environment, on the determined first duration of time and the calculated wasted resource amount, the potential saving being achievable by making the software testing environment available for the second software testing project. |
| US09563538B2 |
Code path tracking
Methods, systems, and products are provided for code path tracking. Embodiments include identifying an instrumented trace point in software code to be path tracked; identifying a function executed at the instrumented trace point in the software code; identifying parameters for the function executed at the instrumented trace point; and recording a description of the function, the parameters, and the result of the execution of the function using the parameters. |
| US09563535B2 |
Intermediate representation construction for static analysis
The analysis of an intermediate representation of source or program code. An initial version of an initial representation of the source or program code is accessed and statically analyzed. For one or more portions of this initial version, the analysis component queries an analysis-time resolution component that provides supplemental intermediate representations corresponding to the portion. This supplemental intermediate representation provides further clarity regarding the portion, and is analyzed. If defects are found, they may be reported. |
| US09563533B2 |
Maintaining coherent synchronization between data streams on detection of overflow
Trace data streams are generated for tracing target processor activity. Various trace data streams are synchronized using markers called sync points. The sync points provide a unique identifier field and a context to the data that will follow it. All trace data streams may generate a sync point with this unique identifier. These unique identifiers allow synchronization between multiple trace data streams. When multiple trace data streams are on, it is possible that the data input rate may be higher than the data output rate. If synchronization is lost in such a case, there must be a scheme to resynchronize the streams. This invention is a technique for this needed resynchronization. |
| US09563531B2 |
Storage of mass data for monitoring
Disclosed are various in various embodiments are systems and methods providing for storage of mass data such as metrics. A plurality of data models are generated in the server from a stream of metrics describing a state of a system. Each of the metrics is associated with one of a plurality of consecutive periods of time, and each data model represents the metrics associated with a corresponding one of the consecutive periods of time. The data models are stored in a data store and each of the metrics is discarded after use in generating at least one of the data models. |
| US09563529B2 |
Selective monitoring of archive and backup storage
Systems and methods for providing information security in a network environment. The method includes receiving a user selection of a data section recorded on a storage system. The method further includes determining a monitoring routine for the data section. The method further includes determining a physical location at which the data section is recorded in the storage system. The method further includes monitoring the physical location for faults according to the monitoring routine. |
| US09563528B2 |
Mobile apparatus and localization method thereof
A mobile apparatus and a localization method thereof which perform localization of the mobile apparatus using a distributed filter system including a plurality of local filters independently operated and one fusion filter integrating results of localization performed through the respective local filters, and additionally apply accurate topological absolute position information to the distributed filter system to improve localization performance (accuracy, convergence and speed in localization, etc.) of the mobile apparatus on a wide space. The mobile apparatus includes at least one sensor, at least one first distribution filter generating current relative position information using a value detected by the at least one sensor, at least one second distribution filter generating current absolute position information using the value detected by the at least one sensor, and a fusion filter integrating the relative position information and the absolute position information to perform localization. |
| US09563527B2 |
Test system
A server stores multiple configuration data which respectively provide different functions to a test system. A tester hardware is configured to be capable of changing at least a part of its functions according to the configuration data stored in nonvolatile memory included in the tester hardware. A control program is installed on an information processing apparatus. The control program provides the information processing apparatus with (i) a function of displaying multiple configuration data candidates on a display when the test system is set up, and (ii) a function of writing the configuration data selected by the user to the nonvolatile memory of the tester hardware. |
| US09563524B2 |
Multi level data recovery in storage disk arrays
Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include arranging multiple storage devices as a RAID array and receiving, from a given storage device storing a dataset, a number of error messages exceeding a threshold. A mirrored subset of the dataset is retrieved from the given device, and a calculated subset of the dataset is retrieved from remaining devices in the RAID array. In a first embodiment, the mirrored subset is created first, and the calculated subset includes a relative complement of the mirrored subset with respect to the dataset. In a second embodiment, the calculated subset is created first, and the mirrored subset includes a relative complement of the calculated subset with respect to the dataset. The mirrored and the calculated datasets are stored to an additional storage device, and the given device is replaced with the additional device in the RAID array. |
| US09563523B2 |
Architecture for scalable fault tolerance in integrated fail-silent and fail-operational systems
An integrated fail-silence and fail-operational control system includes a primary controller controlling features of devices while operating under non-fault operating conditions. A secondary controller includes a fail detector/decider module monitoring faults in the primary controller. The fail detector/decider module determines whether the fault in the primary controller is associated with a fail-silence requirement or a fail-operational requirement. If the fail detector/decider module determines the fault is a fail-silence requirement, then the fail detector/decider module actuates a shutdown command to the primary controller to shut down a feature affected by the fault where the feature becomes non-operational. If the fail detector/decider module determines that the feature associated with the fault is a fail-operational requirement, then the fail detector/decider module signals the primary controller to relinquish controls of the feature to the secondary controller. The secondary controller functions as a high assurance system for controlling the feature in a fail-operational mode. |
| US09563522B2 |
Data recovery for a relational database management system instance in a heterogeneous database system
A method and apparatus for data recovery for a RDBMS instance in a heterogeneous database system is provided. A failure of a first RDBMS instance is detected in a plurality of RDBMS instances of a shared-disk database system. A compute cluster is configured to store, in memory, one or more tables stored by the shared-disk database system. The first RDBMS instance is configured to modify the one or more tables stored by the shared-disk database system and transfer modified data to the compute cluster to update the one or more tables at the compute cluster. After detecting the failure of the first RDBMS instance, redo records generated by the first RDBMS instance are scanned, pending modified data that was not transferred to the compute cluster before the failure is identified, and the pending modified data is transferred to the compute cluster. |
| US09563521B2 |
Data transfers between cluster instances with delayed log file flush
Techniques for processing changes in a cluster database system are provided. A first instance in the cluster transfers a data block to a second instance in the cluster before a redo record that stores one or more changes that the first instance made to the data block is durably stored. The first instance also transfers, to the second instance, a block change timestamp that indicates when a redo record for the one or more changes was generated by the first instance. The first instance also separately sends, to the second instance, a last store timestamp that indicates when the last redo record that was durably stored was generated by the first instance. The block change timestamp and the last store timestamp are used by the second instance when creating redo records for changes (made by the second instance) that depend on the redo record generated by the first instance. |
| US09563520B2 |
File level recovery using virtual machine image level backup with selective compression
Example apparatus and methods process virtual machine image level backups that may include files that are compressed and files that are not compressed. Example apparatus and methods may produce virtual machine image level backups by selectively compressing some files associated with the image while leaving other files in their uncompressed state. Example apparatus and methods may selectively recover a file or even an entire disk image from an image level backup that may include both compressed files and files that are not compressed. The file recovery or image recovery may be performed at the file level by accessing files in the image and selectively decompressing files that are compressed in the image while passing through files that are not compressed in the image. Different files in a single image may be compressed or decompressed using different techniques. |
| US09563506B2 |
Storage cluster
A plurality of storage nodes is provided. The plurality of storage nodes is configured to communicate together as a storage cluster. Each of the plurality of storage nodes includes nonvolatile solid-state memory. The plurality of storage nodes is configured to distribute user data and metadata associated with the user data throughout the plurality of storage nodes such that the plurality of storage nodes maintain the ability to read the user data, using erasure coding, despite a loss of one of the plurality of storage nodes. A chassis enclosing the plurality of storage nodes includes power distribution, a high speed communication bus and the ability to install one or more storage nodes which may use the power distribution and communication bus in some embodiments. A method for accessing user data in a plurality of storage nodes having nonvolatile solid-state memory is also provided. |
| US09563500B2 |
Storage integrity validator
A sequence code verification system can be designed to include a data reader, a validity engine, and an error notifier. The data reader can read sequence codes from consecutive logical blocks. The validity engine can invalidate write operations in response to checking data validity by applying comparison operations to sequence codes and block offsets of batch write operations. The error notifier can notify a user of an error for each invalidated write operation batch. The system can validate data written to logical blocks on a storage subsystem adapted so that, during write operations, an additional sequence code is written to each logical block of data. The sequence code can remain constant for each write operation batch and the sequence code can be incremented for each new write operation batch. |
| US09563496B2 |
Extraction method and device
An extraction method comprising: acquiring configuration information indicating a configuration of a processing device for each generation that represents a respective time period between configuration modifications, and extracting first information indicating configuration modifications between generations based on a plurality of generations of the acquired configuration information; acquiring performance information indicating various types of performance of the processing device at respective times, and extracting, as second information associated with one of the generations, a time when an abnormality was detected in change to a time series of the acquired performance information; acquiring event information indicating an event occurring in the processing device at respective times, and extracting, as third information associated with one of the generations, a time of event information creation when an abnormality was detected; and extracting the first information, the second information, and the third information that have a relationship to each other. |
| US09563495B1 |
Detecting upset conditions in channel instances
A method, system, and computer-readable media for automatically detecting an abnormal data transfer rate in a channel instance. The method includes determining a normal data transfer rate for a particular channel instance and then monitoring data transfer rates for a channel instance. Corrective action may be taken when the data transfer rate in a channel instances deviates more than a threshold amount from the normal rate. |
| US09563485B2 |
Business transaction context for call graph
An application which utilizes a single thread is monitored and context for the individual requests and business transactions operating on that platform are provided. A wrapper is placed is around an object that calls a request. The wrapper renames a request object. Request objects are renamed with a unique name when they are called. When a call stack is sampled, the sampler will retrieve the unique name. Performance data associated with the unique name may be correlated to a business transaction and particular request as metrics are subsequently analyzed. For subsequent reporting, such as call graph reporting, the report or call graph will have requests in the context of a particular business transaction and a particular request instance. This provides more context in reporting of an business application request for frameworks that utilize as single request for multiple threads. |
| US09563477B2 |
Performing concurrent rehashing of a hash table for multithreaded applications
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for allocating a second number of buckets for a hash table shared concurrently by a plurality of threads, where the second number of buckets are logically mapped onto a corresponding parent one of the first number of buckets, and publishing an updated capacity of the hash table to complete the allocation, without performing any rehashing, such that the rehashing can later be performed in an on-demand, per bucket basis. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09563476B2 |
Resource sharing using process delay
Methods and systems that reduce the number of instance of a shared resource needed for a processor to perform an operation and/or execute a process without impacting function are provided. a method of processing in a processor is provided. Aspects include determining that an operation to be performed by the processor will require the use of a shared resource. A command can be issued to cause a second operation to not use the shared resources N cycles later. The shared resource can then be used for a first aspect of the operation at cycle X and then used for a second aspect of the operation at cycle X+N. The second operation may be rescheduled according to embodiments. |
| US09563474B2 |
Methods for managing threads within an application and devices thereof
This technology relates to assigning a task to a current task queue based on one or more matching category when the new task is received within an application for execution. Availability of one or more existing idle threads within one or more thread groups required for the execution of the received task determined based on one or more utilization parameters, where each of the thread groups is associated with one or more task queues and where the current task queue is one of the task queues. One or more new threads are created to allocate for execution of the task when the existing idle threads are determined to be unavailable in the thread groups within the application. Next, the created new threads are allocated to the task when the existing idle threads are determined to be unavailable. The task is executed using the allocated new threads. |
| US09563472B2 |
Concurrent workload deployment to synchronize activity in a design palette
A system and method for iteratively deploying a workload pattern are provided. The system and method determines a current set of requirements for at least one piece of the workload pattern that is initiated in a designer and generates a stability metric for at least one of the current set of requirements. The system and method further compares the stability metric to an acceptance threshold and calculates an estimated time to deploy the at least one piece of the workload pattern based on the comparing of the stability metric to the acceptance threshold. |
| US09563469B2 |
System and method for storage and deployment of virtual machines in a virtual server environment
Described herein are systems and methods for storage and deployment of VMs in a virtual server environment. A VM deployment module executing on a server may produce VM container objects representing VMs, a VM container object comprising VM data describing a VM and vdisk configuration data. The VM deployment module may also later produce VMs on a server using the VM container objects. The VM deployment module may do so by producing a vdisk from a VM container object, the vdisk comprising the VM and vdisk configuration data. Rather than configuring the vdisk as typically done to make the vdisk useable to the server, the vdisk configuration data is used to make the vdisk useable and the VM data on the vdisk immediately accessible to the server. As such, the VM data may be immediately read to produce a VM on the server, thus providing rapid deployment of VMs. |
| US09563464B1 |
Leveraging multiprocessor fabric link aggregation
Data access patterns between at least three nodes within a single symmetric multiprocessing server may be monitored by at least one hypervisor. At the hypervisor, mappings for the data access patterns may be generated for the at least three nodes. Based upon the mappings, the hypervisor may determine that the data access patterns for at least two of the at least three nodes are outside of a bandwidth threshold. In response to determining that the data access patterns for at least two of the at least three nodes are outside of a bandwidth threshold, the hypervisor may formulate an asymmetric cabling plan. Based upon the asymmetric cabling plan, a recommendation to alter the multiprocessor fabric link aggregation may be displayed to a user through a graphical user interface. |
| US09563459B2 |
Creating multiple diagnostic virtual machines to monitor allocated resources of a cluster of hypervisors
A diagnostic virtual machine having access to resources of an infrastructure as a service cloud may be created. A user device may be provided access to the diagnostic virtual machine. In some embodiments, the diagnostic virtual machine may be configured to monitor a cluster of hypervisors, and the resources of the infrastructure as a service cloud which the diagnostic virtual machine has access to may include physical resources of the infrastructure as a service cloud that are associated with the cluster of hypervisors. |
| US09563452B2 |
Cloud-enabled, distributed and high-availability system with virtual machine checkpointing
A checkpoint trigger initiating a synchronization of a first virtual machine with a second virtual machine may be received, the first virtual machine being executed with at least a first virtual processor and a second virtual processor. The first virtual processor may be paused, while the first virtual machine is allowed to continue executing, using the second virtual processor. The synchronization may be executed, including transferring memory pages of the first virtual machine for storage by the second virtual machine, and the first virtual processor may be released and execution of the first virtual machine may be resumed, using the first virtual processor and the second virtual processor. |
| US09563450B1 |
Expression based hierarchical mechanism for HTML form data validation
Expression-based hierarchical validation is disclosed, including: receiving an indication to configure validation for an application page element; in response to the indication, causing to be displayed a validation configuration user interface to receive validation configuration for the application page element; receiving validation configuration for the application page element that includes a validation expression provided via the validation configuration user interface; and generating, based at least in part on the validation expression, code to be executed at a runtime to validate runtime data associated with an instance of the page element. |
| US09563449B2 |
Mobilizing a web application to take advantage of a native device capability
Mechanisms are provided to mobilize a web application (e.g., a webpage) to take advantage of a native device capability (e.g., a native device capability of a mobile device). In one example, existing program code in a webpage that performs a first action that uses functionality of desktop software is identified and replaced with replacement program code that performs a second action that uses native device capability of a mobile device. |
| US09563443B2 |
Information processing device, peripheral device control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing filter driver for controlling a power state of a peripheral device
In an information processing device, if the power state of a peripheral device changed by a class driver is the low-power state, in which the peripheral device consumes less power than in its normal state but its operation is limited, a filter driver below the class driver suspends controlling the peripheral device in accordance with a control request from an application program without passing through the class driver until the power state of the peripheral device returns to the normal state. |
| US09563442B2 |
Baseboard management controller and method of loading firmware
Disclosed is a baseboard management controller (BMC) that may include a bootloader, and an interface to a removable storage device having a first firmware file. The bootloader may be configured to load the first firmware file from the removable storage device for the BMC to run a kernel. |
| US09563440B2 |
Fast learning to train learning machines using smart-triggered reboot
In one embodiment, a triggered reboot of a field area router (FAR) of a computer network is initiated, and gathered states of the FAR are saved. The nodes in the computer network are informed of the triggered reboot, and then feedback may be collected from the nodes in response to the triggered reboot. As such, it can be determined whether to complete the triggered reboot based on the feedback, and the FAR is rebooted in response to determining to complete the triggered reboot. In another embodiment, a node receives information about the initiated triggered reboot of the FAR, and determines whether it has critical traffic. If not, the node buffers non-critical traffic and indicates positive feedback in response to the triggered reboot, but if so, then the node continues to process the critical traffic and indicates negative feedback in response to the triggered reboot. |
| US09563434B2 |
Mining dependencies from disk images
Methods and arrangements for automatically finding the dependency of a software product on other software products or components. From an install image or directory, a signature is found by deriving the same from a directory structure of the software. Further, a directory tree structure is built and an approximate sub-tree matching algorithm is applied to find commonalties across software products. |
| US09563433B1 |
System and method for class-based execution of an instruction broadcasted to an array of processing elements
The present invention is a data parallel system which is able to utilize a very high percentage of processing elements. In an embodiment, the data parallel system includes an array of processing elements and multiple instruction sequencers. Each instruction sequencer is coupled to the array of processing elements by a bus and is able to send an instruction to the array of processing elements. The processing elements are separated into classes and only execute instructions that are directed to their class, although all of the processing elements receive each instruction. In another embodiment, the data parallel system includes an array of processing elements and an instruction sequencer where the instruction sequencer is able to send multiple instructions. Again, the processing elements are separated in classes and execute instructions based on their class. |
| US09563420B2 |
Methods and apparatus for analyzing software interface usage
Methods and apparatus for analyzing the interface usage and requirements within software applications. In one embodiment, the interfaces comprise application programming interfaces (APIs) used with Java-based software, and the apparatus comprises a computer program that analyzes file paths (or classpaths) containing one or more files comprising Java bytecode. The names of the classes are extracted and placed into a class dictionary. The different classes listed in the dictionaries are broken down into their individual methods. Each method is then dissembled and analyzed for method or field invocations on other classes found in the dictionary. Methods called are added to a “used class” report. The used class report preferably contains the name of the class, method and the instruction information. |
| US09563419B2 |
Managing deployment of application pattern based applications on runtime platforms
A method for managing application patterns. Service application programming interfaces required for use by an application on a runtime platform are provisioned. The application is based on an application pattern. Deployment information for deploying the application on the runtime platform is generated. The deployment information includes values for properties of the application pattern for configuring the application on the runtime platform. The deployment information is used to deploy the application on the runtime platform. In response, the runtime platform runs the application with the application using the service application programming interfaces previously provisioned for use by the application on the runtime platform. |
| US09563418B1 |
Communication endpoints, software update servers, and related methods
Communication endpoints, software update servers, and related methods are disclosed. A communication endpoint includes a data storage device including a boot loader partition, a boot loader settings partition, and a plurality of combo image partitions. A method includes receiving an update package including a new combo image and one or more repair modules configured to diagnose and repair at least one of a boot loader, boot loader settings, and a file system of the communication endpoint. The method also includes replacing a combo image stored on one of the plurality of combo image partitions with the new combo image, and executing at least one of the one or more repair modules. A software update server includes a data storage device including the update package, and communication elements configured to transmit the update package to the communication endpoint. |
| US09563415B2 |
Generating visually encoded dynamic codes for remote launching of applications
Users design and develop a current version of an application to be rendered on different devices. The application is configured and deployed with its current version on a platform server. The application can run on different servers provided from different platforms. A desktop browser displays the current version of the application by loading a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The current version of the application can be tested both on a desktop browser and on a browser, installed on a remote device. Additionally, a visually encoded dynamic code is generated that is scanned by a remote device to launch the deployed version of the application. The visually encoded dynamic code encrypts dynamic information for locating the deployed application that is dependent on the platform server used for deployment. After displaying the current version on the remote device, further points for improvement of the design and functionality of the application are defined. |
| US09563413B2 |
Configurable application state synchronization
Technology is disclosed for providing configurable synchronization mechanisms for automatic synchronization of application states across multiple devices using cloud storage. In accordance with the techniques introduced here, a method includes steps of receiving a request for supplemental application synchronization information associated with a first application on a first remote computing device. In response the request for the supplemental application synchronization information, application-specific configuration information is determined for synchronizing a state of the first application to a cloud-based storage service. The supplemental application synchronization information including the application-specific configuration information is then provided to the first remote computing device for facilitating synchronization of the state of the first application to the cloud-based storage service. |
| US09563409B2 |
Systems and methods for managing duplication of operations
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for executing scripts (a sequence of declarative operations) on large data sets. Some implementations store descriptions of previously-executed operations and associated input and output data sets. When executing similar operations on the same, a subset of, a superset of, or any fragment of data subsequently, some implementations detect duplication of operations and access previously-stored output data sets in order to re-use data and reduce the amount of execution, thus avoiding time-consuming duplicative computations. |
| US09563408B1 |
Generating comments for code generated from a model
In an embodiment, a technique for generating a comment for an entity associated with a model. The comment may be generated based on at least (1) a structural usage of the entity and (2) a dynamically-specified rule that is associated with the structural usage of the entity. The rule may be used to control content of the comment. The comment may be incorporated in generated code for the model and the generated code including the comment may be outputted (e.g., displayed, stored). |
| US09563406B1 |
Graphical user interface replacement of function signatures
A device may identify a function identifier input into a programming environment, and may determine an input argument associated with the function, based on the function identifier. The device may provide a user interface that depicts a representation of the input argument, and may provide, via the user interface, an input mechanism to be used to receive a value of the input argument. The device may receive, based on an interaction with the input mechanism, a value of the input argument. The device may provide information that indicates an association between the value and the input argument, based on receiving the value of the input argument. |
| US09563405B2 |
Sharing of classes for modular programs in a multi-tenant environment
For each of a plurality of different tenants configured to concurrently execute in a virtual environment, a respective class loader graph can be constructed. For each respective class loader graph, unique types of edges between nodes that affect class loading can be identified. The edges can be traversed. Based on traversing the edges of the class loader graph, a respective unique dependency identifier (UDI) can be assigned to each class loader request. Class loader requests that are assigned the same UDI can be identified in at least two of the tenants. Responsive to identifying the class loader requests that are assigned the same UDI, a shared class loader can be assigned to each of the class loader requests. Each respective class loader request that is assigned the same UDI can be configured to call the shared class loader to load at least one class required by the respective tenant. |
| US09563404B2 |
Installing software using a set of characteristics and a task list
A set of characteristics is received in response to a questionnaire. Using the characteristics, various tasks are identified as requiring or not requiring user input because of the applicability to the customer. An associated task owner is determined for a subset of tasks. In response to receiving a selection of a selectable dependency indication associated with a first task, displaying task dependency data associated with the first task is displayed, the task dependency data including a set of tasks on which the first task depends for completion, a set of tasks that depend on the first task for completion, and for each of these dependent tasks, an associated task owner and a task status. A task list that indicates tasks needing to be completed is presented to the user. Software is installed according to the task list. |
| US09563402B2 |
Method and apparatus for additive range reduction
A method and apparatus for additive range reduction are disclosed. A constant may be pre-stored in a look-up table (LUT), and at least one section of the constant may be retrieved from the LUT for generating a product of an input argument and the constant such that a precision of the product may be controlled in any granularity. For a trigonometric function, 2/π is stored in the LUT, and at least one section of 2/π may be retrieved from the LUT. The argument is multiplied with the retrieved sections of 2/π. The retrieved sections are determined to correctly generate the two least significant bits (LSBs) of an integer portion and a scalable number of most significant bits of the multiplication result. An output of the trigonometric function is generated for the argument with a fractional portion of the multiplication result based on two LSBs of the integer portion of the multiplication result. |
| US09563400B2 |
Optimized structure for hexadecimal and binary multiplier array
A method for hiding implicit bit corrections in a partial product adder array in a binary and hexadecimal floating-point multiplier such that no additional adder stages are needed for the implicit bit corrections. Two leading-one correction terms are generated for the fraction in the multiplier floating-point number and two leading-one correction terms are generated for the fraction in the multiplicand floating-point number. The floating-point numbers may be single-precision or double-precision. Each leading-one correction term for the single-precision case is appended to the left of an intermediate partial product sum in the adder array that is an input to an adder so as to not to extend the bits in the input further to the left than the bits in another input to the adder. Each leading-one correction term for the double-precision case replaces an adder input that is unused when base-2 floating-point numbers are multiplied. |
| US09563398B2 |
Impedance-based flow control for a two-wire interface system with variable frame length
A two wire interface is disclosed that serializes messaging signals and GPIO signals into frames transmitted over a transmit pin. The two wire interface is configured to perform flow control by monitoring a voltage for the transmit pin. |
| US09563394B2 |
Obtaining content from remote source for playback
A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task. |
| US09563393B2 |
Information processing method and electronic device
An information processing method is provided, which is applied to an electronic device. The electronic device includes a main body, a display unit and a projection unit. The method includes: obtaining trigger information for instructing the electronic device to switch from a first state to a second state; controlling the electronic device to switch from the first state to the second state in response to the trigger information; obtaining at least one parameter information; determining whether to enable the projection unit based on the at least one parameter information; and controlling the projection unit to be in the enabled state, in a case that it is determined to enable the projection unit based on the at least one parameter information. |
| US09563392B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying images for different accounts
An image display method and apparatus for displaying images provided by a plurality of different accounts are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes displaying a plurality of areas on a screen of the display unit by splitting the entire screen of the display unit into the plurality of areas; displaying a first image from a first account among the plurality of different accounts, on a first area among the displayed plurality of areas of the screen; displaying first account information of the first account with the first image, on the first area of the screen; determining, by the apparatus, whether or not an updated image from the first account exists, after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the first image has been displayed; and displaying the updated image as a second image for the first account on the first area when the updated image exists. |
| US09563390B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method, and computer readable medium
A communication apparatus that communicates with an information processing apparatus includes a switching unit for switching between an invalid state and a valid state of an access point in the communication apparatus and a setting unit for setting, for the communication apparatus based on information acquired from the information processing apparatus to which the communication apparatus is connected via the access point in the valid state, a communication mode in which the communication apparatus can communicate with the information processing apparatus using a first connection method. The switching unit does not bring the access point into the valid state when the communication apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus using a second connection method and is able to bring the access point into the valid state when the communication apparatus is not connected to the information processing apparatus using the second connection method. |
| US09563389B2 |
Image processing system, gateway apparatus, server apparatus, method of controlling gateway apparatus, method of controlling server apparatus, program for controlling gateway apparatus, and program for controlling server apparatus wherein the job includes an operation related to the job
An image processing system includes: a server apparatus connected to a first network; an image processing apparatus connected to a second network; and a gateway apparatus, wherein the server apparatus includes: a transmitting unit configured to transmit job data of a job by the first communication protocol, the image processing apparatus being made to execute the job; and an adding unit configured to add content information to the job data, the content information indicating contents of the job, and the gateway apparatus includes: an analyzing unit; a determining unit; and an executing unit. |
| US09563387B2 |
Printing apparatus capable of counting the number of times of printing, method for controlling printing apparatus, and storage medium
If the printing protocol associated with a received print job is not an internet printing protocol, the number of times of printing is counted for each type of printing protocol. If the printing protocol associated with a received print job is an internet printing protocol, the number of times of printing is counted while distinguishing a transmission source application by identifying a transmission source application. |
| US09563385B1 |
Profile-guided data preloading for virtualized resources
Methods and apparatus for profile-guided preloading for virtualized resources are described. A block-level storage volume whose contents are to be populated via data transfers from a repository service is programmatically attached to a compute instance. An indication of data transfers from the repository to a block storage service implementing the volume is obtained, corresponding to a particular phase of program execution at the compute instance. A storage profile is generated, based at least in part on the indication of data transfers. The storage profile is subsequently used to pre-load data from the repository service on behalf of other compute instances. |
| US09563384B2 |
Systems and methods for data alignment in a memory system
A method may include link training a plurality of back-side lanes coupling a plurality of memory chips of a memory module to a plurality of data buffers of the memory module. The method may also include link training a plurality of front-side lanes coupling the plurality of data buffers to a memory controller. The method may further include determining after link training of the back-side and front-side lanes whether signal integrity of data communicated over the front-side lanes exceeds one or more thresholds. The method may additionally include responsive to determining that the signal integrity of data communicated over one or more of the front-side lanes fails to exceed the one or more thresholds, modifying timing of data communicated over one or more of the back-side and front-side lanes in order to improve signal integrity of the one or more of the front-side lanes failing to exceed the thresholds. |
| US09563377B2 |
Computer system and method of controlling computer system
In order to reduce the amount of consumption of a back-end bandwidth in a storage apparatus, a computer system includes: a first storage device; and a second storage device that is coupled to the first controller through a first interface and is coupled to the second controller through a second interface. The first controller receives data from a host computer through a first communication channel; write the received data into the first storage device; identify part of the received data as first data, the part satisfying a preset particular condition; and write a replica of the first data as second data into the second storage device. The second controller reads the second data from the second storage device in response to a Read request received from the host computer through a second communication channel; and transmit the second data to the host computer through the second communication channel. |
| US09563376B2 |
Low power storage array with metadata access
A method for low power storage array with metadata access includes sequentially writing data to a currently active disk drive in a storage array and storing metadata relating to the writes in a preallocated portion of the currently active disk drive, determining when the currently active disk drive is nearing full capacity, activating a next disk drive and cloning the stored metadata from the preallocated portion of the currently active disk drive to a preallocated portion of the next disk drive. When the currently active disk drive is full, sequentially writing data to the next disk drive. |
| US09563368B2 |
Embedded multimedia card and method of operating the same
An embedded multimedia card (eMMC) and a method of operating the same are provided. The eMMC includes a flash memory and a device controller configured to control the flash memory. The device controller includes a command storage unit configured to receive a command transmitted from a host regardless of a state of a data bus and to store task information by task ID; and a status storage unit configured to store status information based on task status by task ID. |
| US09563360B2 |
Management of extent migration on tiered storage
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a computer program product for managing the migration of extents on tiered systems. The computer program product can be configured to receive a space reservation request for one or more requested extents on a first storage tier of a storage system. The computer program product can also be configured to release a first storage tier reserve space that includes one or more first tier reserved extents in response to the first storage tier reserve space being insufficient for the reservation request. The computer program product can also be configured to migrate the one or more requested extents to the first storage tier reserve space. |
| US09563359B2 |
System and method for transforming an in-use RAID array including migrating data using reserved extents
A system is provided for transforming an in-use RAID array from a first array configuration having a first parameter to a second array configuration having a second parameter while preserving a logical data structure of the RAID array. The system includes an extent reservation component, and a data migration component for reading unmigrated data from an area of an array arranged according to the first array configuration and writing the data to an area of the array arranged according to the second array configuration using reserved extents to store migrated data. The system also includes a first I/O component for performing I/O according to the first array configuration on unmigrated data prior to its reading by the data migration component, and a second I/O component for performing I/O according to the second array configuration on the migrated data after writing the migrated data. |
| US09563358B2 |
Electronic device and method for rendering secondary characters
A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a memory configured to store instructions, and a screen configured to display data. The portable electronic device also includes a keyboard including a plurality of physical keys configured to receive key inputs. Each of the physical keys is associated with inputting a primary character and a secondary character. The portable electronic device further includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to detect an input of a physical key, determine whether the input is a press input or a tap input, the press input being associated with inputting the primary character, and the tap input being associated with inputting the secondary character. The processor is further configured to execute the instructions to enable display on the screen of the secondary character associated with the physical key based on the determination that the input is a tap input. |
| US09563356B2 |
Terminal and method for controlling display of multi window
A terminal for controlling a display of a multi window includes: an event detecting unit for detecting an execution, change or finish event of an application; a display analyzing unit for analyzing screens of applications executed on a multi window which includes a mini window; a display controller for controlling a location and size of the mini window based on an analysis result of the display analyzing unit; and a display unit for displaying the mini window at a controlled location. Accordingly, a window to which an AOT function is set is automatically disposed not to disturb the use of an application executed in a non-mini window, thereby giving convenience to a user. |
| US09563354B2 |
Detecting input based on multiple gestures
Detecting user input based on multiple gestures is provided. One or more interactions are received from a user via a user interface. An inferred interaction is determined based, at least in part, on a geometric operation, wherein the geometric operation is based on the one or more interactions. The inferred interaction is presented via the user interface. Whether a confirmation has been received for the inferred interaction is determined. |
| US09563353B2 |
Gesture detection zones
A system and method for utilizing a gesture-based user interface. A system includes an operator input device and a processor. The operator input device detects gestures and multiple simultaneous touch points. An input area of the operator input device includes a plurality of gesture detection zones. The processor is coupled to the operator input device. The processor executes a gesture recognition software program that processes inputs from the input device. The gesture recognition program causes the processor to recognize a primary gesture and a simultaneous secondary gesture, and to perform a processing function based, at least in part, on the primary gesture and a gesture detection zone in which the secondary gesture is detected. |
| US09563349B2 |
Portable device and method for providing voice recognition service
A portable device including a touch sensor configured to sense touch inputs, the touch sensor being in an active state while the portable device is in a standby mode; a touch sensor controller configured to receive the sensed touch inputs; and a processor configured to receive a signal from the touch sensor controller indicating whether the received sensed touch input indicates a first pre-stored pattern corresponding to a first active mode or a second pre-stored pattern corresponding to a second active mode, control the portable device to be in the first active mode based on the touch sensor controller receiving the signal indicating the sensed touch inputs correspond to the first pre-stored pattern, and control the portable device to be in the second active mode based on the touch sensor controller receiving the signal indicating the sensed touch inputs correspond to the second pre-stored pattern. |
| US09563348B2 |
System and method for inputting text
A system and method for inputting text A system (10) comprising a feature identification means (2) configured to generate one or more features (12) from a plurality of samples (11), wherein each of the plurality of samples (11) are sampled at a different time and correspond to a location of a single continuous gesture on a gesture-sensitive keyboard as the gesture is being performed and, wherein each of the one or more features (12) relates to one of a plurality of targets of the gesture sensitive keyboard that a user may have intended to input when performing the gesture. The system comprises a prediction means configured to predict one or more terms (15) from the one or more features (12), the prediction means (5) comprising a prefix tree generating means (3) configured to generate a prefix tree of terms (13) which includes the one or more features (12), a path finding means (4) configured to find one or more paths (14) through the prefix tree of terms (13) given the one or more features (12), and a predictor (5). A corresponding method is also provided. |
| US09563345B2 |
Electronic device and method for controlling the same
A method for controlling an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting a first tilt angle between the electronic device and a reference plane, and controlling the electronic device to perform an operating according to the first tilt angle. The operation is associated with a user interface operation or an audio/video playback operation. |
| US09563342B2 |
Automated color selection method and apparatus with compact functionality
A computer generated webpage having a plurality of selectable links comprising a column of color family chips disposed along a left edge of the webpage display, a column of miniature color chip sub-family arrays display adjacent the column of color chips, and a centrally located enlarged display of one of the miniature color chip sub-families, the webpage further comprising an enlarged color chip appearing in an upper right corner thereof, a room display beneath the color chip, and a color palette display positioned beneath the centrally located enlarged display. |
| US09563340B2 |
Object manipulator and method of object manipulation
A method and system for graphic manipulation is provided. The graphic manipulation can be performed using a graphic manipulator that can have three mutually perpendicular axes indicators and a plurality of action icons associated with one or more of the axes. The graphic manipulator can be oriented with respect to axes of the object being manipulated. Based on the specific orientation of the graphic manipulator, and based on the selection of portions of the manipulated object some of the axis indicators and the plurality of action icons can be displayed and/or not displayed. |
| US09563337B2 |
Information processing device, method for controlling an information processing device, and program
An information processing device includes: a display unit; a touch panel that is arranged overlapping the display unit, that detects contact by or proximity with an indication element, and that outputs detection results; and a control unit that displays all or a portion of an operation image on the display unit and, when a portion of the operation image is being displayed on the display unit and a drag operation is carried out that causes sliding of the contact point at which the indication element and touch panel are in proximity or contact, identifies the direction of movement and the amount of movement of the contact point that accompany the drag operation, and scrolls the display of the display unit by an amount that corresponds to the amount of movement that was identified and in the direction opposite to the direction of movement that was identified. |
| US09563336B2 |
Dynamic user interface customization
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for dynamic user interface customization. A set of functions for a user interface is stored, each function comprising a function that can be added to the user interface. A first set of data is transmitted to a remote device that causes the user interface to be displayed on the remote device with a predetermined set of functions from the set of functions. Interaction data is received indicative of a user's interactions with the user interface. A second set of data is transmitted to the remote device that causes the user interface to dynamically add a new function from the set of functions to the user interface based on the interaction data, wherein the new function is displayed as a selectable item in the user interface that the user can select to use a function associated with the new function. |
| US09563335B1 |
Predictive approach to URL determination
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems for suggesting uniform resource locators located at previously unknown hosts to users. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to record uniform resource locators (URLs) associated with web resources accessed by a user and usage details pertaining to the user's usage of the web resources. Responsive to receiving a request to access a hostname not stored in the recorded URLs, embodiments of the present invention can be used to receive URLs associated with web resources available at the hostname and assign weight values to the received URLs based, at least in part, on the usage details and a similarity between the received URLs and the recorded URLs. Embodiments of the present invention can then be used to generate a URL suggestion from the received URLs based, at least in part, on the assigned weight values. |
| US09563333B2 |
Controlling computer-based instances
In general, embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to control computer-based interfaces from anywhere in a GUI (e.g. a window, a desktop, etc.) regardless of the fixed position of the instances. Specifically, using a pointing device or the like (e.g., by right clicking), a user can activate an instance control function that allows the user to open an instance, close an instance, and/or or switch between running instances. Along these lines, the instance control function can be activated by interacting with an icon, a window (e.g., corresponding a folder or a running instance), or a desktop. Once activated, the instance control function allows the user full control over instances. |
| US09563332B2 |
Context-sensitive display bar
A method for managing a context-dependent display bar, including identifying a graphical object currently displayed by a graphics software application operated by a user, identifying a current edit mode in which the user is working, wherein the edit mode indicates whether or not the user has selected the identified graphical object for editing, identifying a tool for editing graphical objects currently activated by the user, determining a current context in which the user is working, the context depending upon the identified graphical object, the identified edit mode, and the identified tool, identifying at least one control associated with the current context, wherein different contexts generally have at least one different control associated therewith, and displaying the at least one control associated with the current context within a display bar of the graphics software application, each time that the current context changes. |
| US09563328B2 |
Information surfacing with visual cues indicative of relevance
A user interface through which information is proactively provided utilizes visual cues indicative of the relevance of the information that is being proactively provided. Such visual cues include sizing, color, intensity, movement, and other like visual attributes. A single discrete visual element proactively presents information to the user. The user is provided with the opportunity to define discrete events, whereby information associated with such events is presented through other discrete elements. The physical orientation of such discrete elements indicates relationships between elements. Ranking functionality identifies more immediately relevant information and the rankings of related elements are increased based upon other, contextual information with which such information is associated, and on which the importance of such information is based. Information is surfaced to provide a vector through which the user responds or utilizes such surfaced information independently of specific application programs having discrete informational focus. |
| US09563325B2 |
Selective update of a page having a pegged area
Methods and systems of displaying response data provide for initiating a retrieval of response data such as a web page and initiating an update of the web page to a screen having a display area. Additionally, a user selection of a subset of the display area can be detected, wherein the subset of the display area is defined as a pegged area corresponding to a subset of the web page. Moreover, at least the subset of the web page may be prevented from being updated to the screen in response to the user selection while retrieval of the web page continues. |
| US09563322B2 |
Embedded capacitive touch display panel and embedded capacitive touch display device
The application discloses an embedded capacitive touch display panel and an embedded capacitive touch display device, including: a first transparent substrate, and a grid-shaped metal conductive layer, formed on the first transparent substrate, including a number of touch electrodes separate from each other with gaps being formed between them, wherein the embedded capacitive touch display panel further includes a color filter layer including at least red color resists, green color resists, and blue color resists, wherein the color resists in the same colors are arranged in respective color resist bars, and the color resist bars include green color resist bars; and the gaps include first gap sections which are parallel to the color resist bars, and which do not overlap with the green color resist bars. Since the green color resists contribute to display brightness far more than the color resists of the other colors, the first gap sections can be arranged so that they do not overlap with the green color resist bars to thereby alleviate the problem of a visible pattern of the touch electrodes so as to improve the display performance of the embedded capacitive touch display panel without degrading a touch effect. |
| US09563321B2 |
Method for detecting background signals of capacitive sensing device
The method for detecting background signals of a capacitive sensing device includes obtaining several capacitance values by detecting a reference point selected from several sensing points in a frequency-hopping manner, and selectively executing a procedure for refreshing the background signals according to the capacitance values and a predetermined threshold. Accordingly, the process of signal-detection can be speeded up, and the signals having a frequency identical to a working frequency can still be identified. As a result, the accuracy of a signal-reading process can be maintained over time. |
| US09563315B2 |
Capacitive touch panel and method for producing the same
The present invention is directed to a capacitive touch panel, which primarily includes a singular substrate, a mask layer formed on a border region of the singular substrate, a capacitive sensing layer comprising a plurality of first-axis conductor assemblies and a plurality of second-axis conductor assemblies, wherein the singular substrate, the mask layer and the capacitive sensing layer are integrally formed, and insulated auxiliary medium filled in gaps between the first-axis conductor assemblies and the second-axis conductor assemblies, wherein the refractive index of the auxiliary medium matches the refractive index of the capacitive sensing layer. |
| US09563314B2 |
Edge to edge touch screen
A method includes printing a colorant on a film to define an opaque border region and a transparent active display area portion, bonding the film to a waveguide, and assembling a touch screen. The touch screen includes a display assembly for displaying images, an emitter/detector assembly, the waveguide, and the film. |
| US09563310B2 |
Touch sensing device and method for driving the same
A touch sensing device includes a touch screen coupled with a display panel including data lines, gate lines crossing the data lines, and pixels arranged in a matrix form, and a touch sensing circuit which supplies a driving signal to lines of the touch screen and senses a touch input. The touch sensing circuit detects an optimum sensing time, in which changes in a voltage change of the gate lines are maintained within a previously determined allowable range, in a touch screen drive period in which data is not written to the pixels of the display panel. The touch sensing circuit supplies the driving signal to the lines of the touch screen only in the optimum sensing time of the touch screen drive period. |
| US09563306B2 |
Touch sensor and display device including the same
Disclosed is a touch sensor, including: a plurality of driving electrodes; a plurality of detection electrodes positioned to cross the driving electrodes; and a driver configured to supply driving signals corresponding to driving codes to the driving electrodes, in which the driver supplies the same driving signal as that of a previous driving period to a corresponding driving electrode for a current driving period when the driving code is set to a first value, and supplies a driving signal different from that of the previous driving period to the corresponding driving electrode for the current driving period when the driving code is set to a second value. |
| US09563305B2 |
Electronic display with push buttons
One or more buttons are associated with an electronic display screen. The display screen is configured to display various information, such as button labels. The buttons are configured, such as by being at least partially transparent, so that the display is visible there through. Input to or activation of the buttons is determined passively, such as by a RF board located at an opposing side of the display screen from the button(s), the board configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals, and an interface configured to provide a data connection to an electronic device. In this embodiment, the one or more buttons comprise one or more RF transponders. |
| US09563298B2 |
Touch panel fabricating method and conductive-electroded film
A method of fabricating a touch panel includes the steps of forming the touch panel from a forming material and a film with a conductive electrode formed with a conductive electrode region constituting a touch surface on a substrate film, and deforming the film with the conductive electrode and integrating with the forming material to fabricate the touch panel with a curved touch surface. The conductive electrode region in the film with the conductive electrode includes a discontinuous part for controlling a breakage of the conductive electrode region so that during a deformation of the film with the conductive electrode, a breakage occurs at one portion of a deformed part of the conductive electrode region and the conductive electrode region retains conductivity at two points sandwiching the deformed part therebetween. |
| US09563296B2 |
Data processing device and method
A data processing device includes a processor that executes a procedure. The procedure includes: (a) detecting a contact operation to a contacted face and receiving an instruction, (b) in a locked state, executing first determination to determine whether or not the contact operation detected at (a) is a pre-registered first contact operation, and executing second determination to determine whether or not a second contact operation to a different region from the region where the first contact operation has been detected has been performed, and (c) releasing the locked state when it is determined at (b) that the first contact operation and the second contact operation have been detected at (a). |
| US09563295B2 |
Method of identifying a to-be-identified object and an electronic device of the same
A method of identifying a to-be-identified object is described. The to-be-identified object is independent of the electronic device and is placed within a predetermined distance from the electronic device. The method of identifying the to-be-identified object includes the electronic device acquiring status information of the to-be-identified object; the electronic device generating an operation instruction according to the status information of the to-be-identified object; and the electronic device operating according to the operation instruction. The identifying method and its electronic device are capable of enabling users to complete the executing of applications of the electronic device through operating the to-be-identified object, so as to improve experience and enjoyment of users. |
| US09563293B2 |
Remote-controlled pointing
A remote-controlled pointing system (32) includes a projector (36), an image sensor (34), and a controller (38). The projector (36) projects a beam (45) of light from a location in a projection plane (46) onto a scene (18). The image sensor (34) captures an image (54) of the scene (18) in a capture plane (50). The controller (38) performs operations that include transmitting the captured image (54) to a remote destination (14), receiving from the remote destination (14) a target beam location (44) in the capture plane (50), determining a location of the beam (45) in the capture plane (50), and changing the location in the projection plane (46) from which the beam (45) is projected based on the determined beam location and the target beam location (44). |
| US09563289B2 |
Information input device and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions
An information input device includes a detection portion, a processor, and a memory. The detection portion is configured to detect a position of a writing portion being in contact with or close to the detection portion. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the information input device to perform processes that include acquiring position information at a predetermined time interval, setting, as first position information, information indicating one of positions indicated by the acquired position information, determining whether a distance between a position indicated by the set first position information and a position indicated by second position information is less than a threshold value, and storing, as information configuring trajectory information, the second position information in a storage portion in response to determining that the distance is not less than the threshold value. |
| US09563288B2 |
Pen-type input device and electronic information board system
A pen-type input device includes a body shaped like a pen; a penpoint movable portion inserted into a front end recess included in the body; and a transmission part which transmits a transcription detecting signal of a contact position when the penpoint movable portion is caused to touch a display face of an electronic information board, wherein the penpoint movable portion includes a penpoint member, which is made of an elastic member and includes a front end portion caused to touch the display face, and a penpoint holding portion, which has a rigidity higher than that of the penpoint member, fits around an outer periphery of a base end portion of the penpoint member, and holds the penpoint member so as to prevent deformation of the outer periphery of the base end portion of the penpoint member. |
| US09563284B2 |
Information processing device and control method thereof
An information processing device and a control method applied to the information processing device is described. The information processing device includes a display unit configured to display images; an input unit configured to receive inputs from a user; a motion detecting unit configured to detect motion of the information processing device and to generate data related to the motion; and a processing unit connected to the display unit, the input unit and the motion detecting unit. The processing unit is configured to receive the motion-related data from the motion detecting unit, and enable/disable of the display unit and/or the input unit based on the data related to the motion. |
| US09563283B2 |
Device having gaze detection capabilities and a method for using same
An electronic device comprising: a display; one or more gaze detection sensors for determining a portion of the display to which a user's gaze is currently directed to; a timer to measure periods of time associated with the user's current gaze at the display; and one or more processors operative to: receive data relating to periods of time measured by the timer and determine therefrom a characteristic rate at which the user shifts his gaze from one portion of the display to another; determine a portion of the display towards which the user's gaze was directed for a period of time longer than a period of time which is expected in accordance with his characteristic rate; identify an object included in the determined portion of the display; retrieve information that relates to the identified object; and enable displaying information which is based on the retrieved information. |
| US09563279B2 |
Flexible apparatus and control method thereof
A flexible apparatus is provided. The flexible apparatus includes: a sensor configured to sense bending of the flexible apparatus; and when it is determined that a rubbing gesture of rubbing a plurality of different areas of the flexible apparatus is performed based on a result of the sensing, a controller configured to perform an operation corresponding to the rubbing gesture. |
| US09563276B2 |
Tactile and peripheral vision combined modality hover drift cueing
Combined modality hover drift cueing methods, systems and computer readable media are disclosed. For example, some implementations can include a system comprising one or more sensors, and a combined modality hover drift cueing controller coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to determine hover drift and to control a plurality of indicators in response to determined hover drift. The system can also include a mode selector coupled to the combined modality hover drift cueing controller and configured to provide an indication of mode selection between one of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode, wherein the first mode is a combined modality mode. The system can further include a peripheral vision hover drift indicator coupled to the controller and mounted on an inside surface of an aircraft cockpit, and a tactile feedback indicator coupled to the controller. |
| US09563269B2 |
Scanning liquid-crystal display backlight
A display includes an optical waveguide with opposing front and back faces, an injection optic, and volume hologram arranged on or within the waveguide. The injection optic is configured to inject light into the waveguide at a variable injection angle, which influences the reflection angle at which the light reflects from the front and back faces on propagating through the waveguide. The hologram is configured to release, in a predetermined direction, a portion of the light from the waveguide when excited at a predetermined reflection angle. |
| US09563268B2 |
Heart rate control based upon media content selection
A media-playback device includes: a media-output device that plays media content items; a physiological measurement device programmed to measure at least one physiological measurement of a user of the media-output device; and a physiological control engine configured to: identify a current physiological measurement for the user; and cause the media-output device to modify playback of the media content items based upon the current physiological measurement. |
| US09563267B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, information processing system, and providing medium
The invention enables users to virtually attach information to situations in the real world, and also enables users to quickly and easily find out desired information. An IR sensor receives an IR signal transmitted from an IR beacon, and supplies the received signal to a sub-notebook PC. A CCD video camera takes in a visual ID from an object, and supplies the inputted visual ID to the sub-notebook PC. A user inputs, through a microphone, a voice to be attached to situations in the real world. The sub-notebook PC transmits position data, object data and voice data, which have been supplied to it, to a server through a communication unit. The transmitted data is received by the server via a wireless LAN. The server stores the received voice data in a database in correspondence to the position data and the object data. |
| US09563264B1 |
Cover with device condition indication
A cover may be used in conjunction with a handheld device for physical protection of the handheld device. The cover may have an indicator that is responsive to a signal provided by the handheld device to display different colors or other visual states depending on conditions of the handheld device such as security modes, user modes, and so forth. |
| US09563262B2 |
Electronic apparatus and information processing method
An electronic apparatus includes a first processing unit for executing an operation of a first type; a second processing unit for executing an operation of a second type, with the average power consumption of the second processing unit being less than average power consumption of the first processing unit; a sharing unit connected to the first processing unit and the second processing unit and for operating cooperatively with either or both of the first processing unit and the second processing unit selectively according to predetermined condition; and a fixing unit for fixing relative position relation of the electronic apparatus with the user. |
| US09563260B2 |
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for synchronizing port entry into a low power state
Systems, apparatuses, and method for synchronizing port entry into a lowest power state are described. All logic of a port placed into an intermediate state prior to entry into the lowest power state. |
| US09563258B2 |
Switching method and electronic device
A switching method and an electronic device solve the technical problem of an inflexible switching way of an electronic device. The method includes capturing a first sensing parameter by a first sensing unit, and capturing a second sensing parameter by a second sensing unit, when the electronic device is in a first work state; judging whether the first sensing parameter meets a first preset condition and the second sensing parameter meets a second preset condition, or not; generating a first switching instruction for controlling the electronic device to switch from the first work state to a second work state, when the first sensing parameter meets the first preset condition and the second sensing parameter meets the second preset condition; and controlling the electronic device to switch from the first work state to the second work state, according to the first switching instruction. |
| US09563255B2 |
Method for terminating or powering a wireless connection to image processing apparatus based on type of connection mode
A communication apparatus includes a connection unit configured to connect the communication apparatus to an external apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine whether the external apparatus is connected to the communication apparatus via the connection unit in a first connection mode, the first connection mode being a mode in which the external apparatus establishes a connection to a pre-registered apparatus, and a control unit configured to decide, based on a determination result obtained by the determination unit, whether to allow an operation for powering off the external apparatus to be performed. |
| US09563253B2 |
Techniques for power saving on graphics-related workloads
Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques for monitoring a task of a graphics processing unit (GPU) by a graphics driver, determining if the task is complete, determining an average task completion time for the task if the task is not complete and enabling a sleep state for a processing circuit for a sleep state time if the average task completion time is greater than the sleep state time. |
| US09563251B2 |
Representing a cache line bit pattern via meta signaling
A cache controller with a pattern recognition mechanism can identify patterns in cache lines. Instead of transmitting the entire data of the cache line to a destination device, the cache controller can generate a meta signal to represent the identified bit pattern. The cache controller transmits the meta signal to the destination in place of at least part of the cache line. |
| US09563246B2 |
Interface device, vehicle having the same, and method of controlling the same
An interface device, a vehicle having the same, and a method of controlling the same are provided. The interface device includes a port unit to which the external device is connected and is configured to transmit a first current transmitted from the multimedia player to the external device. A regulation unit is configured to regulate external power into a second current and a selection unit is configured to switch the first current transmitted to the port unit to the second current based on a mode of the external device. Merchantability is improved since an electronic device within the vehicle is rapidly charged using a USB port. |
| US09563244B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for reducing power to ports of electronic devices
Methods, apparatuses and systems for reducing or selectively terminating the power supplied to or the voltage present at the ports of electronic devices are disclosed. Methods, apparatuses and systems for reducing or terminating the power supplied to and, thus, the voltage across electrical contacts of one or more ports of a portable electronic device when the port is not in use may be effected in a variety of ways and may prevent corrosion or other moisture-induced damage to each port, and to the electronic device of which the port is a part. |
| US09563242B2 |
Pulse width modulation based real-time clock system and associated method
A pulse width modulation (PWM) based Real-time clock (RTC) system includes a voltage regulator circuit, a capacitor, an RTC circuit and an on-off logic. The voltage regulator circuit is arranged to generate a regulated voltage to a connection node when enabled; the capacitor is coupled to the connection node; the RTC circuit is coupled to the connection node; and the on-off logic is coupled to the voltage regulator circuit and arranged to alternately enable and disable the voltage regulator circuit. |
| US09563235B2 |
Wearable device
The present disclosure provides a wearable device, including a main body including a central processing unit and a display panel; and a connection member electrically connected to the main body and including a plurality of functional modules, at least one of which is provided with a control assembly configured to control an operational state of the functional module where the control assembly is located. |
| US09563233B2 |
Electronic device with plated electrical contact
An electronic device includes an electronic component configured to receive electric current and a plated contact electrically coupled to the electronic component and configured to carry the electric current to the electronic component from a system external to the device. The plated contact includes a copper-alloy layer, a platinum-group metal (PGM) layer plated over the copper-alloy layer, and a gold-alloy layer plated over the PGM layer. |
| US09563232B2 |
Wrist-mounted device to assist pilgrims
The wrist-mounted device to assist pilgrims is an electronic device worn on the wrist that provides functions to assist a pilgrim, particularly a pilgrim on a pilgrimage to a holy site. The device includes a heart rate monitor that alerts the user when his or her heart rate is too high, a GPS unit showing the location of holy sites of interest, a monitor for keeping a count of the number of perambulations around a holy site, e.g., when performing a Tawaf, an audio playback device that will play back a prayer or scripture, such as the Dua'a, and an annunciator for announcing prayer times. |
| US09563231B2 |
Electronic device capable of input from a detachably attached digitizer panel and input method and system therefor
A digitizer panel for input with an electronic pen is detachably attached a laptop PC. The laptop PC includes a touch screen housed in a display housing. The display housing is formed of material having electromagnetic wave transmissivity such as GFRP or CFRP. On the back face of the display housing, an electromagnetic induction type digitizer panel can be detachably attached. The digitizer panel and the laptop PC are able to wirelessly communicate with each other. When the digitizer panel is attached, an electronic pen is brought close to the touch screen for input. When the digitizer panel is not attached, the electronic pen is directly brought close to the digitizer panel for input. |
| US09563230B2 |
Display assembly
A display assembly includes a front frame with an opening, a display panel, and a back frame. The display panel is mounted between the front frame and the back frame. The front frame includes a front frame body and a side frame portion surrounding the front frame body. A groove is defined in the side frame portion. The back frame includes a receiving portion and a mounting portion. The mounting portion includes an outer frame body surrounding the receiving portion and one or more flanges protruding from the outer frame body. The receiving portion defines a receiving section for receiving the display panel. The back frame includes one or more resisting blocks protruding from the receiving section. The resisting blocks resist the display panel. The flanges engage in the groove to secure the front frame to the back frame. |
| US09563227B2 |
Approach to clock frequency modulation of a fixed frequency clock source
A modulated clock device is provided that includes an update device for updating a phase of the modulated clock device. In one example, the update device includes an update phase multiplexer coupled to an output phase multiplexer of an output clock generator and configured to receive an input clock signal and one or more phases of the input clock signal; an output phase fractional counter coupled to the update phase multiplexer and configured to receive an update clock signal and to generate an output phase; and an update phase device coupled to the output phase fractional counter and to the update phase multiplexer. The output phase fractional counter is further configured to send the output phase to the output phase multiplexer and to the update phase device. The update phase device is configured to generate an update phase and to send the update phase to the update phase multiplexer. |
| US09563224B2 |
System and method for system-level power point control of a photovoltaic device
Controlling a photovoltaic system includes providing a photovoltaic device having a variable DC voltage output and a variable DC current output. The photovoltaic device has a combination of a voltage output level and a current output level corresponding to a predetermined, desired power point. A DC power supply is connected in a parallel and/or series combination with the photovoltaic device. A DC load is connected in series to the combination of the DC power supply and the photovoltaic device such that the load is powered by the combination. A characteristic of the DC power supply is adjusted such that the voltage output and the current output of the photovoltaic device substantially match the voltage output level and the current output level corresponding to the desired power point. |
| US09563221B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for setting voltage in semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a first through-electrode penetrating the substrate and connected to a power source or a reference potential point; a second through-electrode penetrating the substrate; a power section connected between the substrate and the second through-electrode and configured to output a DC voltage between the substrate and the second through-electrode; a voltage control section configured to control the DC voltage to be output by the power section; and a measurement section connected to the first through-electrode and configured to measure a power impedance of the first through-electrode, wherein the voltage control section is configured to control a value of the DC voltage output by the power section, such that the power impedance of the first through-electrode measured by the measurement section is equal to or less than a predetermined value within a predetermined frequency range including a frequency of noise occurring in the first through-electrode. |
| US09563217B2 |
Method and apparatus to optimize generator start delay and runtime following outage
A system for providing backup power to a facility includes a generator, and a controller configured to determine whether electrical power to the facility has been interrupted, and automatically determine a generator initial start and restart time delay based at least on a prediction of when an electrical system within the facility needs to be cycled. |
| US09563212B2 |
Control circuit of power converter with upper limit clamping circuit and related method
A control circuit includes: a comparing circuit, having a first input terminal and second input terminal, configured to operably generate a comparison signal according signals received by the first and second input terminals, wherein the first input terminal is utilized for coupling with a reference signal and the second input terminal is utilized for coupling with a feedback signal; a periodic signal generating circuit configured to operably generate a periodic signal and to operably apply the periodic signal to the first input terminal or the second input terminal of the comparing circuit; and a control signal generating circuit configured to operably control an on time of a power switch according to the comparison signal. |
| US09563211B2 |
Multiple output charge pump with peak voltage following frequency divider control
A power converter for a load with varying power requirements dynamically adjusts its supply voltage to the load so as to track the radio frequency (RF) envelope of the signal being carried by the load. The supply voltage can be provided by a multiple-output charge pump providing multiple output voltage levels concurrently, and a switch to provide a selected one of the different output voltage levels as the supply voltage to the load. A controller controls the switch to dynamically modify the voltage level selected for output as the supply voltage such that the supply voltage tracks the RF envelope of the signal being carried by the load. As the switching losses of transistors of the power converter may exceed the power savings achieved through envelope tracking, the power converter employs a peak following frequency divider circuit that limits the switching frequency of the power converter to a threshold frequency. |
| US09563209B2 |
Raw material gas supply method
A raw material gas supply method for use in a film forming apparatus which forms a film on a substrate, includes supplying a carrier gas to a gas phase zone defined inside a raw material container accommodating a liquid or solid raw material, vaporizing the raw material, supplying a raw material gas containing the vaporized raw material from the raw material container to the film forming apparatus via a raw material gas supply path, measuring a flow rate of the vaporized raw material flowing through the raw material gas supply path, comparing the flow rate of the vaporized raw material obtained by the flow rate measurement unit with a predetermined target value, and controlling an internal pressure of the raw material container to be increased when the flow rate is higher than the predetermined target value, and to be decreased when the is lower than the predetermined target value. |
| US09563204B2 |
Mower with object detection system
A method for processing object detection-related information may include receiving information indicative of an encounter between a robotic vehicle and an object responsive to communication received from a sensor of the robotic vehicle while the robotic vehicle transits a parcel, determining a location of the robotic vehicle at a time corresponding to occurrence of the encounter, determining whether the location corresponds to a location associated with a known object associated with the parcel, and classifying the object as an unknown object based on the location not corresponding to the location associated with the known object. |
| US09563201B1 |
Feedback to facilitate control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
Various techniques are described to facilitate controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and viewing feedback received from a UAV. A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided that allows a user to view a display window. The display window may indicate structures or portions of structures in which additional image data is desired by highlighting these portions within the display window. Static imagery may be leveraged to provide smooth and consistent feedback transitions. When a delay exists between the time the UAV sends live video data and the time it may be displayed in the GUI, the static images may be shown in the display window initially until the live video data may be displayed. The opacity of structures included in an initial display window may also transition to a greater opacity over time, with the live video eventually being displayed. |
| US09563199B1 |
Assisted perception for autonomous vehicles
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing supplemental identification abilities to an autonomous vehicle system. The sensor unit of the vehicle may be configured to receive data indicating an environment of the vehicle, while the control system may be configured to operate the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a processing unit configured to analyze the data indicating the environment to determine at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold. Based on the at least one object having a detection confidence below a threshold, the processor may communicate at least a subset of the data indicating the environment for further processing. The vehicle is also configured to receive an indication of an object confirmation of the subset of the data. Based on the object confirmation of the subset of the data, the processor may alter the control of the vehicle by the control system. |
| US09563198B2 |
Method and system to model risk of unplanned outages of power generation machine
A method to determine a risk of failure for a machine including: generating a first value for a risk of failure of the machine, wherein the first value is determined by a first model receiving as an input a condition of the machine and the first model includes a relationship derived from historical machine failures and correlating the input condition of the machine to a value for the risk of failure; generating a second value of the risk of failure of the machine, wherein the second value is determined by a second model receiving as an input information regarding wear or degradation of the machine and the second model includes a relationship correlating the input information regarding wear or degradation to a value for the risk of failure, and determining a total risk of failure based on the first and second values of the risk of failure. |
| US09563195B2 |
Device and method for displaying a change in the position of an object
A display device that displays an error between an instructed command position of a specific portion of a control target and a response position of the specific portion in a manner easily understandable to a user is described. The display device acquires a response position of the specific portion and calculates a difference in position of the command position and the response position. The display device displays a spatial trajectory based on the command position or a spatial trajectory based on the response position. The display device also displays each spatial trajectory in a mode where a portion of the spatial trajectory of the command position corresponding to the selected mark and a portion of the spatial trajectory of the response position corresponding to the relevant portion of the spatial trajectory of the command position are enlarged at a same magnification. |
| US09563194B2 |
Random-access robotic inventory dispensary: replenishment and purge
The present invention is a robotic system for maintaining product inventory and dispensing products upon request from a customer or other user. Product items are stored in an inventory storage unit (ISU), one item per bin. Controller logic allows items to be stored in, and retrieved from, arbitrarily-assigned storage locations. The bins hang on rails within drawers. In a replenishment operation, the system transfers empty bins to an operator station for replenishment. An operator fills the empty bins with product items. The system inserts these bins into drawers in the ISU. In a purge operation, the operator enters an identifier of a class of product to be removed. The system moves the bins containing the affected items to the operator station. After the product items are removed, the empty bins are moved to the ISU. |
| US09563188B2 |
Systems and methods for batch device commissioning and decommissioning
The embodiments described herein include a system, non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium including executable code, and a method. In one embodiment, a non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium including executable code is provided. The executable code includes instructions for providing a batch commissioning system configured to operatively couple at least two field devices to a control system, and for providing a batch decommissioning system configured to operatively uncouple the at least two field devices from the control system. The executable code further includes instructions for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to use the batch commissioning system, the batch decommissioning system, or a combination thereof, to select, on a display, the at least two field devices, and to communicatively interface with the control system to operatively couple, uncouple, or a combination thereof, the at least two field device from the control system. |
| US09563184B2 |
Rate-based multivariable control with stability assurance
Method, system and computer executable instructions for controlling a process that include collecting data sets for a process having an initial base layer DCV value and a corresponding initial ICV value, a rate-time value and a move series value, receiving a target ICV value and determining whether a change in DCV value is needed. The method checks for any DCV limits and implements a move series to the DCV setting. The rate-of-change of the ICV is calculated along with the estimated time needed to reach the target ICV value based on the rate-of-change. The time needed to reach the target ICV value is compared with the rate-time and the DCV move series is discontinued when the time needed to reach the target ICV value is less than a predetermined percentage of the rate-time value. |
| US09563181B2 |
Method for operating an automation system
In a method for operating an automation system having a first central unit and a second central unit connected with one another for communication and several automation devices connected for communication to the second central unit, information relating to a plurality of communication channels arranged between the second central unit and a respective automation device is compiled in a communication data record, and information relating to communication relationships with the plurality of communication channels and the respective automation device that can be accessed via the plurality of communication channels is automatically transmitted to the first central unit, based on a communication data record. |
| US09563179B2 |
Radio-controlled timepiece, method of obtaining date/time information, and recording medium
A radio-controlled timepiece, including: a radio wave reception unit that receives satellite waves and extracts an incoming code sequence formatted in a prescribed format from the received satellite waves; and a processor that generates in advance an expected code sequence that is expected to be part of the incoming code sequence and detects the expected code sequence within the incoming code sequence by sequentially comparing the expected code sequence with the incoming code sequence, the processor determining a present date/time, as indicated by the satellite waves, in accordance with a timing at which the detected code sequence occurs within the incoming code sequence as measured by time kept by the timepiece, wherein the expected code sequence includes codes that change with a transmission period during which time-related information that includes satellite date/time contained in the satellite waves, which is formatted in the prescribed format, is transmitted. |
| US09563178B2 |
Methods for computing an alarm time and devices thereof
The present invention describes a system, method and computer product program for computation of alarm time. The system includes an alarm device for generating an alarm. The system also includes an alarm application hosted on the alarm device for providing at least one user defined alarm condition. The system further includes an alarm engine for receiving the user defined alarm condition, initiating a probe to receive data from data sources, processing the received alarm conditions and the received data to compute the alarm time and next probe time repeating iteratively until the next probe time is greater than the computed alarm time. The system generates alarm at the computed alarm time when the next probe time becomes greater than the alarm time. |
| US09563177B1 |
Context-aware world clock
Time information for various locations can be automatically generated for display on a portable electronic device. The time information can include time information for remote locations away from the current location of a user. The time information can be generated without requiring user input specifying the locations. The locations can be determined or identified based on context information of the user or context information of contacts of the user. The locations can be prioritized and the time information can be displayed according to the prioritization. |
| US09563175B2 |
Balance spring stud-holder
An assembly for holding or supporting a timepiece balance spring including a base provided with an upper surface and a lower surface on which a balance spring stud and a stud-holder are arranged. The stud-holder secures the stud to an escapement mechanism. |
| US09563173B2 |
Mobile terminal and system for controlling holography provided therewith
The present disclosure provides a mobile terminal comprising: a main body of the terminal; a holography module attached to the main body of the terminal and positioned so as to output a holographic image into a preset space; and a first camera module arranged in the direction of the preset space so as to film the holographic image. Also, the present invention provides a system for controlling holography comprising the mobile terminal and a target apparatus. The target apparatus is configured so as to film the holographic image by communicating with the mobile terminal or to analyze the holographic image and generate an operational command corresponding thereto. |
| US09563166B2 |
Drum supporting structure for supporting photosensitive drum, image forming apparatus, and bearing for supporting photosensitive drum
A drum supporting structure according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a bearing. The bearing is configured to support a flange of a photosensitive drum connected to a shaft joint member that is connected to a drive shaft through which drive power is transmitted, such that the flange of the photosensitive drum is rotatable. The bearing includes an inner circumferential surface that is fitted on an outer surface of the flange, and two planes that are formed on the inner circumferential surface and that contact with the flange. The bearing supports the flange by the flange contacting with the two planes at two points due to a load applied from a peripheral device to the photosensitive drum, such that the flange is rotatable. |
| US09563163B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a display portion; an image forming device; a fixing device; a controller configured to control display of the display portion so that one is selected from a plurality of sheet widths to impose a limitation on a use of the image forming apparatus; a storing portion, provided detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus together with the fixing device, configured to store information corresponding to the sheet width selected at the display portion; a reading portion configured to read information stored in the storing portion; and a limiting portion configured to impose, on the basis of the information read by the reading portion, a limitation on widths of sheets capable of being designated as a printing condition. |
| US09563162B2 |
Transferable page countdown for a replaceable unit between image forming devices
An electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a controller configured to provide a page countdown for a replaceable toner cartridge of the image forming device on a display screen. The controller, upon detecting an installation of an imaging unit previously mated with a first toner cartridge that was out of usable toner and detecting a presence of a second toner cartridge, is configured to determine whether the second toner cartridge is out of usable toner. The controller is configured to determine a number of pages remaining for a page countdown associated with the life of the second toner cartridge and whether the toner sump of the imaging unit contains sufficient toner to print the number of pages remaining for the page countdown associated with the life of the second toner cartridge if the second toner cartridge is out of usable toner. |
| US09563161B1 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes image forming parts, developer containers, developer amount detecting parts, a use setting part and a limit setting part. The image forming parts execute an image forming operation for respective colors of developers. The developer container contains the developer to be supplied to the image forming part. The developer amount detecting part detects a developer amount contained in the developer container. The use setting part sets a use condition indicating whether each developer is usable or unusable. The limit setting part sets a limit condition indicating a limit value of the developer amount to be maintained in each developer container. The image forming part executes the image forming operation in accordance to the use condition set by the use setting part, to the developer amount detected by the developer amount detecting part, and to the limit condition set by the limit setting part. |
| US09563154B2 |
Toner transfer roller and image forming device using the same
The present invention provides a toner transfer roller which exhibits decreased toner charge (Q/M) and an enhanced toner transfer rate (M/A). Specifically, the present invention provides: a toner transfer roller for a negatively chargeable toner, comprising a rotating shaft and a polyurethane foam body layer provided to surround the rotating shaft, wherein the polyurethane foam body layer contains a charge control agent which is negatively chargeable with respect to polyurethane in triboelectric series; and a toner transfer roller for a positively chargeable toner, comprising said rotating shaft and said polyurethane foam body layer, wherein said polyurethane foam body layer contains a charge control agent which is positively chargeable with respect to polyurethane in triboelectric series. |
| US09563150B2 |
Developing device
A developing device includes a developer carrying member, a first chamber for feeding developer to the developer carrying member, a second chamber for collecting developer from the developer carrying member, and a feeding member provided rotatably in the first chamber for feeding the developer. The feeding member includes a rotation shaft and a spiral blade wound helically in a developer feeding direction. The feeding member includes a first region corresponding to a developer coating region of the developer carrying member, a second region provided downstream of the first region with respect to a feeding direction of the feeding member, and a third region provided upstream of the first region. An average feeding power per unit driving time of the feeding member is set at a smaller value in the first region than in the second region and in the third region. |
| US09563146B2 |
Polyether rubber, rubber composition, cross-linked rubber, and conductive member
A polyether rubber comprising units expressed by the following general formula (1) in 0.1 mol % or more but less than 30 mol % is provided. (wherein in the above general formula (1), A+ is a group which contains a cationic nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring. Said group which contains a cationic nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring is bonded with the carbon atom at the “2” position which is shown in the above general formula (1) through a nitrogen atom which forms said cationic nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring. X− is arbitrary counter anion.) |
| US09563137B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a laser cleaning device. The laser cleaning device is constructed and arranged to clean a surface. The laser cleaning device includes a laser source constructed and arranged to generate radiation, and an optical element constructed and arranged to focus the radiation in a focal point in order to generate a cleaning plasma in a background gas above the surface. The laser cleaning device is further provided with a gas supply constructed and arranged to generate a jet of protection gas at a location near the plasma. |
| US09563136B2 |
Yellow room system
Arranging an application apparatus, an exposure apparatus, a developing apparatus, and similar apparatus together within a large yellow room makes it difficult to change a layout in association with a change of a recipe and to streamline a layout area and similar parameter. A yellow room system includes: a plurality of portable unit process apparatuses 50 that each have the same standardized outer shape and include a yellow room configured to shield a exposure light to a photosensitive material formed on a workpiece; conveyance containers 11 and 25 that convey the workpiece between the unit process apparatuses and itself is formed as the yellow room; and a light-shielding coupling structure that couples the unit process apparatus, which is formed on a docking port 56 disposed in the upper portion of a front chamber 80 of the unit process apparatus 50, and the conveyance containers together. |
| US09563135B2 |
Process tuning with polarization
A method for configuring an illumination source of a lithographic apparatus, the method including dividing the illumination source into pixel groups, each pixel group including one or more illumination source points in a pupil plane of the illumination source; changing a polarization state of each pixel group and determining an incremental effect on each of the plurality of critical dimensions resulting from the change of polarization state; calculating a first plurality of sensitivity coefficients for each of the plurality of critical dimensions using the determined incremental effects; selecting an initial illumination source; iteratively calculating a lithographic metric as a result of a change of polarization state using the calculated first plurality of sensitivity coefficients, the change of the polarization state of the pixel group in the initial illumination source creating a modified illumination source; and adjusting the initial illumination source based on the iterative results of calculations. |
| US09563132B2 |
Fluid handling structure, a lithographic apparatus and a device manufacturing method
A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary of a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; a gas supply opening at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the meniscus pinning feature; and optionally a gas recovery opening radially outward of the gas supply opening, wherein the gas supply opening, or the gas recovery opening, or both the gas supply opening and the gas recovery opening, has an open area per meter length which has a variation peripherally around the space. |
| US09563131B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, substrate and device manufacturing method
A method uses a lithographic apparatus to form an inspection target structure upon a substrate. The method comprises forming the periphery of the inspection target structure so as to provide a progressive optical contrast transition between the inspection target structure and its surrounding environment. This may be achieved by providing a progressive change in the optical index at the periphery of the target structure. |
| US09563127B2 |
Substrate patterning using a digital liquid crystal array
The invention teaches a system and method for catalyzing on a substrate. The system includes a light source and a digital light patterning device which is controlled by a controller coupled to a computer. The digital patterning device includes an array of liquid crystals, each of which being electronically controlled by the computer through the controller. When a liquid crystal is on, the light from the light source passes through the liquid crystal. When it is off, the light is blocked. According to the visual image pattern presented in the computer's interface, the array, wherein some crystals are on and some are off, shows a light pattern which is consistent with the visual image pattern on the computer screen. Accordingly, the patterned light is shed onto a substrate where the light catalyzes a chemical reaction proximate a substrate. |
| US09563119B2 |
Large-area nanopatterning apparatus and method
The present invention discloses a nanoimprint apparatus and method useful in the cost-effective mass production of nanostructures over large areas on various substrates or surfaces, especially suitable for non-flat substrates or curved surfaces. The nanoimprint apparatus is composed of a wafer stage, a vacuum chuck, a substrate, a UV-curable nanoimprint resist and the like. The method implementing large-area nanopatterning based on the apparatus includes the following steps: (1) pretreatment, (2) imprinting, (3) curing, (4) demolding, (5) post treatment and (6) transferring of imprinted patterns. By utilizing the apparatus and the approach, large-area, and/or high-aspect-ratio micro/nanostructures can be mass produced, especially on a non-flat substrate or a curved surface or a fragile substrate at low cost and high throughput. |
| US09563117B2 |
Mask assembly and photolithography process using the same
A mask assembly including a first mask and a second mask is provided. The first mask includes a plurality of first main features parallel to each other, a plurality of first sub-resolution assistant features (SRAFs) and a plurality of second SRAFs. The second SRAFs are separately disposed at one side of the first main features. The first SRAFs are separately disposed between the first main features and the second SRAFs. An extension direction of the first main features is parallel to an extension direction of the second SRAFs. The second mask includes a plurality of second main features parallel to each other. When the first mask and the second mask are placed at a predetermined position above a negative-type development photoresist layer for performing exposure respectively, the second main features intersect with the first main features and the second main features overlap with the first SRAFs. |
| US09563115B2 |
Method of manufacturing foil for producing a pepper's ghost illusion
A method of producing a Pepper's Ghost Illusion comprising using a reflective and semi transparent foil formed from a polymeric composite, the polymeric composite including a flame retardant. |
| US09563110B2 |
Light source unit having wavelength conversion member and projector
There is provided a light source unit which includes an excitation light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength range, a wavelength conversion member on which the light in the first wavelength range is incident from an incident side thereof and which is made up of a member formed to include a luminescent material mixed therein which emits light in a second wavelength range having its wavelength peak on a longer wavelength side than a wavelength peak of the light in the first wavelength range, and a first optical filter which is provided at an output side of the wavelength conversion member which lies opposite to the incident side and which transmits a light component of the light in the second wavelength range which has a wavelength shorter than a third wavelength lying in a wavelength range of the light in the second wavelength range. |
| US09563103B2 |
Image stabilization apparatus and method of controlling image stabilization apparatus
An image stabilization apparatus comprises: a first optical correction unit; a second optical correction unit that is arranged at a position different from the first optical correction unit in an optical axis direction of the first optical correction unit; and a control unit configured to execute a first control mode in which camera shake is optically corrected by shifting the first optical correction unit in a direction that is different from an optical axis based on a camera shake correction signal calculated from output from a camera shake detection unit, and in which the second optical correction unit is shifted in a direction different from the optical axis to correct aberration that occurs due to shifting the first optical correction unit in a direction different from the optical axis. |
| US09563100B2 |
Optical semiconductor device and method of producing the same
An optical semiconductor device including: a substrate having a principal surface; first and second optical waveguides disposed on the principal surface of the substrate, the first and second optical waveguides extending in a first direction, the second optical waveguide being arranged adjacent to the first optical waveguide in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; first and second signal electrodes disposed on the first and second optical waveguides; a resistor disposed on the principal surface, the resistor being arranged between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, the resistor being electrically connected to the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode; a resin layer disposed on the principal surface, top surfaces of the first and second signal electrodes, and the resistor; and a capacitor disposed on the resin layer, the capacitor being electrically connected to the resistor through an opening of the resin layer. |
| US09563098B2 |
Method of and device for controlling reflective color of polymeric colloidal photonic crystal display using mixed dispersion medium
A method of and device for controlling a reflective color of a photonic crystal display device, capable of precisely controlling the distance between particles to display RGB full colors covering desired wavelength ranges. The method and device include using a mixed dispersion medium containing two or more kinds of solvents having different dielectric constants as a dispersion medium for a photonic crystal in a composition for a photonic crystal display device of which colors are controlled through the application of an electric field. |
| US09563097B2 |
Driver for electrochromic glass unit
A method for controlling an electrochromic device is provided. The method includes applying a constant supply current to the electrochromic device and determining an amount of charge transferred to the electrochromic device, as a function of time and current supplied to the electrochromic device. The method includes ceasing the applying the constant supply current, responsive to a sense voltage reaching a sense voltage limit and applying one of a variable voltage or a variable current to the electrochromic device to maintain the sense voltage at the sense voltage limit, responsive to the sense voltage reaching the sense voltage limit. The method includes terminating the applying the variable voltage or the variable current to the electrochromic device, responsive to the determined amount of charge reaching a target amount of charge. |
| US09563096B2 |
3D display apparatus and dynamic grating
A 3D display apparatus is provided, which comprises: a display, a camera configured to track human-eye position information of human eyes, and a processor electrically connected with the camera and configured to generate a control signal according to the human-eye position information. Preferably, the display comprises a dynamic grating, which is electrically connected with the processor and configured to, according to the control signal, control bright and dark stripes of the dynamic grating to change in position adaptively according to positions of human eyes. Thereby, the 3D display apparatus of the present disclosure utilizes the camera to track human-eye position information and then utilizes the control unit to change positions of bright and dark stripes of the grating according to the human-eye position information so as to adapt to different observing positions of the user's two eyes, thus achieving a 3D image effect. |
| US09563095B2 |
Pixel structure and manufacturing method therefor, array structure, display panel and display device
A pixel structure and manufacturing method therefor, an array structure, a display panel and a display device. And the pixel structure includes data lines; scan lines; pixel units formed by intersecting the data lines with the scan lines, where each pixel unit corresponds to one data line and one scan line; a TFT and a pixel electrode disposed in each of pixel units, where the pixel electrode includes slits, at least one of which includes at least one corner area at an end thereof; where the pixel electrode in a row is electrically connected to a TFT in a pixel unit, the pixel unit is disposed in the same row as and adjacently at one side of the pixel electrode, and at least one corner area of the pixel electrode extends toward the TFT electrically connected to the pixel electrode. |
| US09563094B2 |
Display device
A display device of which frame can be narrowed and of which display characteristics are excellent is provided. In a display device including a switch portion or a buffer portion, a logic circuit portion, and a pixel portion, the pixel portion includes a first inverted staggered TFT and a pixel electrode which is connected to a wiring of the first inverted staggered TFT, the switch portion or the buffer portion includes a second inverted staggered TFT in which a first insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and a second insulating layer are interposed between a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode, the logic circuit portion includes an inverter circuit including a third inverted staggered thin film transistor and a fourth inverted staggered thin film transistor, and the first to the fourth inverted staggered thin film transistors have the same polarity. The inverter circuit may be an EDMOS circuit. |
| US09563091B2 |
Pixel structure
A pixel structure is provided. The pixel structure includes a scan line, a data line, an active device, a pixel electrode, and a common electrode. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the data line. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the active device. The pixel electrode includes multiple first layer pixel electrode patterns and multiple second layer pixel electrode patterns. The common electrode includes a plurality of first layer common electrode patterns and a plurality of second layer common electrode patterns. A fringe electric field is between each first layer pixel electrode pattern and corresponding portion of second layer common electrode patterns, and between each first layer common electrode pattern and corresponding portion of second layer pixel electrode patterns. A horizontal electric field is between each second layer pixel electrode pattern and the adjacent portion of second layer common electrode patterns. |
| US09563090B2 |
Liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal display device, and manufacturing method thereof
A gate line (40) has a two-layered structure comprising a lower gate line (40a) made of material identical to a pixel electrode (70), and positioned in the same layer as the pixel electrode (70), and an upper gate line (40b) layered on the lower gate line (40b), and made of material having a higher electrical conductivity than the transparent conductive material. According to this structure, it is possible to reduce the number of times performing exposure processes in manufacturing an in-plane switching type liquid crystal panel. |
| US09563088B2 |
Curved display device
Provided is a display device including a display substrate, an opposite substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The display substrate has a plurality of pixel areas and a first side curved along a first direction. The opposite substrate faces the display substrate and is coupled to the display substrate to be curved along the first direction. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the display substrate and the opposite substrate. In each of the plurality of pixel areas, a plurality of domains are arranged in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and a side of at least one of the plurality of domains is tilted with respect to the first side. |
| US09563083B2 |
Display device including main light blocking portion and spacers
A display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a first thin film transistor (“TFT”) disposed on the first substrate, a second TFT disposed on the first substrate, a first color filter disposed on the first TFT and a periphery thereof, a second color filter disposed on the second TFT and a periphery thereof and representing a different color from the first color filter, and a light blocking member disposed on the first and second color filters where the light blocking member includes a first spacer disposed on the first TFT and the first color filter, a second spacer disposed on the second TFT and the second color filter, a main light blocking portion disposed in peripheries of the first and second spacers, and a furrow disposed between the second spacer and the main light blocking portion. |
| US09563080B2 |
Display device
A display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first insulation substrate; a pixel electrode disposed on the first insulation substrate; a first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode; a second insulation substrate facing the first insulation substrate; a common electrode disposed on the second insulation substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second insulation substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules and nanoparticles, and the nanoparticles are disposed adjacent to the common electrode. |
| US09563079B2 |
Method for manufacturing alignment films of liquid crystal panels
A method for manufacturing alignment films of liquid crystal panel includes the steps of: injecting a liquid crystal mixture containing liquid crystal molecules and liquid crystal reactive monomers to form a liquid crystal cell; placing the liquid crystal cell in a first reaction machine to subject the same to a voltage, ultraviolet radiation, and a temperature, so that the liquid crystal reactive monomers produce a polymerization reaction; moving the liquid crystal cell to a second reaction machine after a first preset time period in order to subject the same to a voltage and a temperature to continue the polymerization reaction, and forming alignment films on inner surfaces of a first substrate and a second substrate, respectively. |
| US09563077B2 |
Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a liquid crystal display, including: an insulating substrate, the insulating substrate includes a center region and an edge region surrounding the center region; a roof layer formed on the insulating substrate, and configured to support a plurality of separated microcavities; a pixel electrode formed on the insulating substrate, and formed in the microcavity supported by the roof layer; and a liquid crystal layer positioned within the microcavity, in which the roof layer includes an opening for injecting a liquid crystal into the plurality of microcavities, and the opening in the center region has a substantially uniform size, and the opening in the edge region is smaller than the opening in the center region. |
| US09563074B2 |
Backlight module
A backlight module includes a back cover, a light source panel positioned on the back cover, a frame connected with the back cover and an optical film assembled to the frame. A pair of reflective plates are positioned between the frame and the back cover, and a plurality of through holes are defined on the pair of reflective plates. A chamber is cooperatively defined between the pair of reflective plates and the back cover, and inner surfaces of the chamber have a high reflectivity. |
| US09563073B2 |
Combined splitter, isolator and spot-size converter
An integrated and compact multifunctional optical isolator (i.e., a combined splitter, isolator, and spot-size converter), which is suitable for use in a TOSA, includes input optics including a first polarizer, a Faraday rotator, and a second polarizer. The input optics include a wedge having a partially reflective coating disposed on a first face thereof. The input beam is incident on the first face at a non-normal angle of incidence such light passing through the wedge is refracted to a second face of the wedge, which is tilted relative to the first face by a predetermined wedge angle. At least one of the non-normal angle of incidence and the predetermined wedge angle is determined dependence upon a refractive index of the wedge material and a target anamorphic magnification of the input beam of light. |
| US09563072B2 |
Flash imaging devices, methods for making and using the same
The invention provides flash imaging devices that include an optical change component that undergoes a change in response to an applied stimulus, a substrate and a stimulus element. Also provided are articles that include the subject devices, as well as methods of making and using the same. |
| US09563066B2 |
Position controller for optical element
A position controller for an optical element includes an advancing/retracting member, an anti-shake moving member, an insertable/removable moving member holding the optical element and supported by the anti-shake moving member to move between insertion and removed positions, an insertion holder holding the insertable/removable moving member in the insertion position in the ready-to-photograph state, a removal drive member supported by the advancing/retracting member between a position allowing the anti-shake moving member to move in a moving range and a forced removing position to move the insertable/removable moving member to the removed position, and an insertion/removal controller which holds the removal drive member in the insertion allowance position in the ready-to-photograph state and moves the removal drive member to the forced removing position in the accommodated state. |
| US09563065B2 |
Optical module and method of manufacturing the same
An optical module includes: a pedestal; a glass optical multiplexer/demultiplexer fixed onto the pedestal via a UV adhesive; and a metal block which is smaller than the glass optical multiplexer/demultiplexer and is fixed to a top surface of the glass optical multiplexer/demultiplexer. |
| US09563062B2 |
Switchable lenticular array for autostereoscopic video display
Lenticles of a lenticular array can be electronically controlled to be optically equivalent to either of two sets of virtual lenticles having two distinct physical characteristics. Each of the lenticles is in sufficiently close proximity to one or more switchable prisms to optically combine with therewith. The switchable optical elements can be switchable columnar prisms for example. In a first state, the switchable prisms optically combine with the lenticles such that the combination is optically equivalent to a first set of virtual lenticles. In a second, different state, the switchable prisms optically combine with the lenticles such that the combination is optically equivalent to a second, different set of virtual lenticles. Accordingly, the lenticular array can switch between two distinct configurations with the flip of a switch. |
| US09563060B1 |
Broad-band mode matching
A beam-relay optical system is provided. The beam-relay optical system may include a single-mode optical fiber. The beam-relay optical system may also include a mode matching component. The beam-relay optical system may also include an optical resonator, where the optical resonator may include a cavity. The beam-relay optical system may also include a relay optical component. The relay optical component may relay an output of the mode matching component to the optical resonator. |
| US09563056B2 |
Optical scanner
The optical scanner comprises: a motor having an rotor shaft; a rotor being attached to the rotor shaft; a tilt mirror having an inclined reflective surface and being attached to the rotor shaft together with the rotor; and a bearing section being provided to a stator housing and capable of rotatably holding the rotor shaft. The rotor and the tilt mirror are prohibited from detaching from and rotating with respect to the rotor shaft. A recessed part, through which the rotor shaft is penetrated, is formed in the tilt mirror. An elastic member, which always biases the tilt mirror toward the rotor, is provided between a retainer section and an inner bottom part of the recessed part. |
| US09563050B2 |
Lens cover
A lens cover for a lens equipment includes a tubular cover body for detachably coupling at a lens housing of the lens equipment in front of a lens thereof, a cover module, and a locking mechanism. The cover module includes a cover panel and a joint unit coupled between a sidewall of the cover body and a peripheral edge of the cover panel to enable the cover panel to be moved between a covered position and an uncovered position, wherein in the covered position, the cover panel is supported at a front portion of the cover body for covering the lens, and in the uncovered position, the cover panel is rotated sidewardly about the joint unit for uncovering the lens. The locking mechanism is provided at the sidewall of the cover body for releasably locking the cover panel in the covered position. |
| US09563049B2 |
Procedure and device for terminating the immersion at a microscope
A procedure and a device for terminating the immersion at a microscope having one or more immersion lenses, or both immersion lenses and dry lenses, comprising a protective sheath around the immersion film area for preventing the escape of immersion media and an immersion media supply unit and an immersion media discharge unit connected with the protective sheath. The immersion media is removed in a controlled manner in particular in an automated microscope. Subsequently, the microscopic testing can be continued without the user having to intervene in the device or the process. |
| US09563047B2 |
Optical system for digital microscopy
An optical system for digital microscopy having at least one lens, at least one telescope of the Kepler type and tube optics, wherein an aperture is arranged between the telescope and the tube optics, which aperture is imaged by means of the telescope at the rear focal point of the lens and the following conditions are met simultaneously: A light conductance value (L) of the lens is ≧1.4, A light conductance value (L) of the telescope is ≧0.35, A light conductance value (L) of the tube optics is ≧0.35, wherein the equation for the light conductance value (L) is L=A(tan ξ,) where A is the pupil diameter and ξ is the angle of gradient of the pencil of light rays in infinite space, and wherein the microscope magnification (Γ) of the telescope is in the range −⅓≦Γ≦−3. |
| US09563044B2 |
Reflective optical objective
The present invention relates to a reflective optical objective (1) comprising: —a first reflecting element (3) including a front surface (3a) and a hack surface (3b), the front surface (3a) including a convex reflecting surface (11); and —a second reflecting element (5) including a concave reflecting surface (13) facing the convex reflecting surface (11) of the first reflecting element (3), the second reflecting element (5) including a transmissive section (7) permitting electromagnetic radiation to pass through the concave reflecting surface (13) of the second reflecting element (5) to the first reflecting element (3). The reflective optical objective (1) is characterized in that the reflective optical objective (1) includes a carrier material (9) embedding at least the front surface (3a) of the first reflecting element (3) and defining the distance (d) between the first (3) and second (5) reflecting elements. |
| US09563039B2 |
Lens apparatus and optical apparatus
The lens apparatus includes a first operating member rotatable around an optical axis of an optical element so as to move the optical element in an optical-axis direction, a first elastic member configured to press the first operating member, a second elastic member configured to press the first operating member, a second operating member rotatable around the optical axis and movable in the optical-axis direction, and a first interposition provided between the first operating member and the second operating member. When the second operating member is moved in the optical-axis direction, the first interposition is moved in the optical-axis direction without rotating around the optical axis and presses the first elastic member and the second elastic member. |
| US09563038B2 |
Six-piece optical lens system
A six-piece optical lens system includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a stop, a first lens element with a positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with a negative refractive power has a convex object-side surface; a third lens element with a positive refractive power has a concave image-side surface; a fourth lens element with a negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface; a fifth lens element with a positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface; a sixth lens element with a negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface, and at least one of object-side and image-side surfaces of each lens element is aspheric. Thereby, such a system can be applied to a high resolution mobile phone. |
| US09563036B2 |
Optical image capturing system
The invention discloses a four-piece optical lens and a four-piece optical module for capturing an image. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis comprises a first lens with positive refractive power; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; and a fourth lens with refractive power; and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the four lens elements are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09563032B2 |
Fiber optic enclosure with tear-away spool
A fiber optic enclosure includes a housing and a cable spool assembly disposed on an exterior surface of the housing. The cable spool assembly has a first tear-away end and a second tear-away end. The first and second tear-away ends include at least one area of weakness extending from an inner diameter of the cable spool assembly to an outer diameter of the cable spool assembly. A mounting plate is rotationally engaged with the cable spool assembly such that the cable spool assembly and the housing selectively and unitarily rotate about an axis of the mounting plate. |
| US09563028B2 |
Method to manufacture an optoelectronic assembly
A method to manufacture an optoelectronic assembly comprises a step of structuring a first wafer to provide a plurality of optical components to change a beam of light in the optoelectronic assembly with a respective alignment structure being formed to couple the respective optical component to an optical connector. A second wafer is provided with a plurality of optoelectronic components. The first and second wafer are stacked on top of each other, aligned and bonded together. The bonded first and second wafers are separated into a plurality of optoelectronic modules. The optical connector is manufactured by structuring a third wafer so that the third wafer is provided with a plurality of optical connectors. The third wafer is separated into a plurality of the optical connectors. The optical fiber is coupled to one of the optical connectors and then is coupled to one of the separated optoelectronic modules. |
| US09563025B2 |
Optical connector and optical connector fitting structure
In an optical connector fitting structure, a first optical connector includes a first fixing member which fixes a first optical fiber to a first housing by being attached to the first housing while its locking state is changed from a temporarily locked state to an actually locked state, and a second optical connector includes a second fixing member which fixes a second optical fiber to the second housing by being attached to the second housing while its locking state is changed from a temporarily locked state to an actually locked state. |
| US09563024B2 |
High-density fiber connector with front casing defining engagement recess and rear casing including hook engaging with each other
Disclosed are a high-density fiber connector and an assembly method thereof. The connector, adapted for use with a fiber adapter, comprises a connector casing, a ferrule, a spring and a boot, wherein the connector casing has a cross width of 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm. The connector casing comprises a front casing and a rear casing, which lock up one another to form a cavity. The tail of the connector casing is connected with a boot. On the connector casing are sequentially arranged a guide block and an elastic arm from the front toward the back. A fixed end of the elastic arm is oriented toward the tail of the connector, while a free end faces an insert end of the connector and includes a retaining bump. The ferrule 2 is fastened with the ferrule tailstock 3 and penetrates through a through hole at the front of the connector casing. The spring is compressed between the ferrule tailstock and a thrust block formed by inner walls of the connector casing. The provided fiber connector has a significantly reduced cross width of between 2.5 mm and 4.5 mm at the engaging surface without, however, compromising the structural strength and utility functions, such that the fiber connector may be more densely installed. |
| US09563016B1 |
Subwavelength photonic crystal waveguide with trapezoidal shaped dielectric pillars in optical systems
A method for reducing loss in a subwavelength photonic crystal waveguide bend is disclosed. The method comprising: forming the subwavelength photonic crystal waveguide bend with a series of trapezoidal shaped dielectric pillars centered about a bend radius; wherein each of the trapezoidal shaped dielectric pillars comprise a top width, a bottom width, and a trapezoid height; wherein the length of the bottom width is greater than the length of the top width; and wherein the bottom width is closer to the center of the bend radius of the subwavelength photonic crystal waveguide bend than the top width. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09563014B2 |
Edge coupling using adiabatically tapered waveguides
An apparatus comprising a thick waveguide comprising a first adiabatic tapering from a first location to a second location, wherein the first adiabatic tapering is wider at the first location than at the second location, and a thin slab waveguide comprising a second adiabatic tapering from the first location to the second location, wherein the second adiabatic tapering is wider at the second location than at the first location, and a third adiabatic tapering from the second location to a third location, wherein the third adiabatic tapering is wider at the second location than at the third location, wherein at least a portion of the first adiabatic tapering is adjacent to the second adiabatic tapering, and wherein the first adiabatic tapering and the second adiabatic tapering are separated from each other by a constant gap. |
| US09563013B2 |
Primary coatings for optical fibers having short gel times
A coated optical fiber includes an optical fiber; and a primary coating encapsulating the optical fiber, the primary coating having an in-situ modulus of about 0.12 MPa or less at a thickness of about 32.5 μm, a Young's modulus as a cured film of about 0.7 MPa or less, and a Tg of about −22° C. or below, wherein the primary coating is the cured reaction product of a primary curable composition having a gel-time ratio relative to C1 of less than about 2. |
| US09563008B2 |
Lighting module and lighting apparatus including the same
A lighting module includes: a case having a main base a first and a second extension parts extending from both sides of the main base in perpendicular direction to the surface of the main base, and a first and a second auxiliary bases extending from the first and the second extension parts respectively toward the center of the main base; a substrate seated in a cavity formed by structurally connecting the main base, the first and the second extension parts and the first and the second auxiliary bases; a plurality of light emitting devices disposed on one side of the substrate in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; and a driving driver disposed on the other side of the substrate, wherein at least one of the first and the second extension parts has an opening such that the driving driver is inserted into the first and the second extension parts. |
| US09563007B2 |
Modular light-emitting panel assembly
A modular light-emitting panel assembly has first and second light guides edge lit by respective light sources. Each light guide has a light input edge, opposed side edges, opposed major surfaces and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces. The light guides are juxtaposed with a side edge of the first light guide abutting a side edge of the second light guide at a seam and with the major surfaces nominally coplanar. Various embodiments of the panel assembly additionally include respective structures that reduce visibility of the seam when the light sources illuminate the panel assembly. |
| US09563003B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a light source, a light guide plate having a light-exiting surface, a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a display area of the second surface comprising a pixel area and at least one non-pixel area, and a gap provided between the light-exiting surface of the light guide plate and the first surface of the substrate, wherein, at least one slot is provided on the light-exiting surface of the light guide plate; a part of the light generated by the light source and entering the light-exiting surface of the light guide plate, after being refracted by the slot and the gap sequentially, is refracted by the first surface of the substrate into the substrate, and then enters the pixel area. According to the present invention, it is able to change the light transmission path, thereby to effectively reduce the light entering a non-pixel area. |
| US09562996B2 |
Multilayer stack combinations with interleaved overlapping harmonics for wide visible infrared coverage
A broadband mirror, polarizer, or other reflector includes separate stacks of microlayers. Microlayers in each stack are arranged into optical repeat units, and the stacks are arranged in series. At a design angle of incidence such as normal incidence, the second stack provides a second 1st order reflection band and a distinct second 2nd order reflection band with a second spectral pass band therebetween. The first stack provides a first 1st order reflection band that fills the second spectral pass band such that a single wide reflection band is formed that includes the first 1st order reflection band, the second 1st order reflection band, and the second 2nd order reflection band. In some cases, the single wide reflection band can include a first 2nd order reflection band of the first stack. In some cases, the first and second stacks may have apodized portions which monotonically deviate from respective baseline portions. |
| US09562995B2 |
Fly-cutting system and method, and related tooling articles
Methods of fly-cutting a workpiece are disclosed, and in methods in which the position of a fly-cutting head or its associated cutting element is known as a function of time. Also disclosed are methods of forming features, such as grooves or groove segments, in a workpiece such as a cylindrical roll. The features may be provided according to one or more disclosed patterns. Articles made using tools machined in the manner described are also provided, such as polymeric film or sheeting that exhibit certain beneficial properties. |
| US09562991B2 |
Polymer for optical film, and optical film including same
Disclosed is a polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1, or a polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 2: wherein R1, R2, x and y are as defined herein. |
| US09562984B2 |
Land based seismic data acquisition unit
A wireless seismic data acquisition unit with a wireless receiver providing access to a common remote time reference shared by a plurality of wireless seismic data acquisition units in a seismic system. The receiver is capable of replicating local version of remote time epoch to which a seismic sensor analog-to-digital converter is synchronized. The receiver is capable of replicating local version of remote common time reference for the purpose of time stamping local node events. The receiver is capable of being placed in a low power, non-operational state over periods of time during which the seismic data acquisition unit continues to record seismic data, thus conserving unit battery power. The system implements a method to correct the local time clock based on intermittent access to the common remote time reference. The method corrects the local time clock via a voltage controlled oscillator to account for environmentally induced timing errors. The invention further provides for a more stable method of correcting drift in the local time clock. |
| US09562981B2 |
Source for marine seismic acquisition and method
A method for generating acoustic waves under water includes actuating first and second pistons with an actuator system provided inside an enclosure of a source element, to generate a wave having a first frequency, and actuating the first and second pistons with a pressure mechanism attached to the enclosure, to control a pressure of a fluid inside the enclosure such that a pressure of the fluid is substantially equal to an ambient pressure of the enclosure. The enclosure has first and second openings and the first and second pistons are configured to close the first and second openings. |
| US09562979B2 |
Radiographic detector formed on scintillator
A projection radiographic imaging apparatus includes a scintillator and an imaging array. The imaging array includes a plurality of pixels formed directly on a side of the scintillator. Each of the pixels includes at least one photosensor and at least one readout element. |
| US09562976B2 |
Method and apparatus for distinguishing direct GNSS signals from reflections
A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) enabled device that is configured to distinguish reflected GNSS signals from direct GNSS signals utilizing three-dimensional models of the terrain in the proximity of the GNSS enabled device. By utilizing the identification of reflected GNSS signals, the reflected GNSS signals can be excluded and/or weighted to achieve a more accurate location determination. |
| US09562974B2 |
Multiple content message base-rover architecture
A multiple content message (MCM) base apparatus configured to generate a composite base data stream is proposed. A multiple content message (MCM) rover apparatus configured to generate a set of fast frequency baseline data is proposed. |
| US09562972B2 |
Method for ascertaining a distance of an object from a motor vehicle using a PMD sensor
A method to determine a distance of an object to a motor vehicle using a PMD sensor, includes measuring a phase shift of a measurement signal reflected on the object for at least one modulation frequency, the modulation frequency is selected so that in a detection range beginning at the motor vehicle a distance is unambiguously determinable from the phase shift; performing a runtime measurement for an individual signal reflected on the object during a time interval beginning at a first time point where the individual signal is emitted and ending at a second time point corresponding to a time required by the individual signal to travel twice the detection range when the reflected individual signal is measured during the time interval, determining a distance from the phase shift; and when the reflected individual signal is not measured during the time interval, discarding the phase shift without determining a distance. |
| US09562966B1 |
Surface distance determination using reflected light
A distance between a light source and a surface may be determined by emitting pulses of light from the light source and measuring an intensity of the light after the light reaches the surface. To determine a true distance, aliased distances, which are outside of a known distance segment, are disregarded. The distance segment may be defined by a modulation period of light emitted by the light source. The distance segment may be determined based on a ratio of a measured intensity of light captured during a first time interval and a second time interval, and a comparison of other types of evidence data that identifies a correct distance segment. The evidence data may include data associated with the amplitude (intensity) of the light captured, temporal variations in data, and/or analysis data collected from other surfaces that are adjacent to the surface. |
| US09562962B2 |
System and method for physically detecting, identifying, diagnosing and geolocating electronic devices connectable to a network
An emissions detection apparatus for at least one of detecting, identifying, diagnosing and geolocating an electronic device or an information transmitted from the electronic device includes an emissions collections device connected to an antenna receiving emission of an electromagnetic energy emitted from the electronic device and collecting a spectral data emitted from the electronic device; one or more algorithms processing the collected spectral data, algorithms selected from a group consisting of a peak detection algorithm, a multiple peak detection algorithm, a harmonic correlation algorithm, a non-harmonic correlation algorithm, a time correlation algorithm, a phase correlation algorithm, and a duty cycle timing correlation algorithm; and one or more algorithms matching the processed spectral data to an emissions template, wherein a match of the processed spectral data with the emissions template at least one of detects, identifies, diagnoses and geolocates the electronic device or the information transmitted from the electronic device. |
| US09562953B2 |
Magnetic field sensing module, measurement method, and manufacturing method of a magnetic field sensing module
A magnetic field sensing module including a plurality of magnetic flux concentrators and a plurality of sensing elements is provided. Each of the magnetic flux concentrators extends along a first extension direction, and the magnetic flux concentrators are arranged along a second direction. The sensing elements are respectively disposed at a position corresponding to a position between the magnetic flux concentrators and positions corresponding to two sides of the magnetic flux concentrators arranged along the second direction. Sensing directions of the sensing elements are substantially the same. A measurement method and a manufacturing method of a magnetic field sensing module are also provided. |
| US09562947B2 |
Testing apparatus for providing per pin level setting
A testing apparatus for providing per pin level setting is disclosed, and the testing apparatus includes a control unit and a filter circuit, where the control unit is electrically connected to the filter circuit. The control unit includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) for providing a PWM signal. The filter circuit receives the PWM signal and outputs at least one DC voltage. |
| US09562945B2 |
Modifying a scan chain for improved fault diagnosis of integrated circuits
A computer program product for implementing a scan chain to test a semiconductor including one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions including: program instructions to obtain an initial structure of the scan chain, program instructions to determine, according to function modules of the semiconductor corresponding to scan registers on the scan chain, at least one scan register pair with backward dependency, program instructions to adjust the initial structure of the scan chain such that the at least one scan register pair with backward dependency becomes a scan register pair with forward dependency, and program instructions to determine a key subset of a fan-out scan register in the at least one scan register pair with backward dependency. |
| US09562940B2 |
Method for monitoring a half bridge branch in a half bridge
The invention relates to a method for monitoring a half bridge branch (38) in a half bridge (32), said half bridge branch (38) being connected in series with another half bridge branch (36) in the half bridge (32) via a center tap (30), including the steps of: —applying an electric supply potential (24) opposite the center tap (30) at the other half bridge branch (36) to the center tap (30) according to a predefined time curve (50); and —monitoring the half bridge branch (38) on the basis of a comparison (70) of the predefined time curve (50) and an electrical output potential (52) at the center tap (30). |
| US09562939B2 |
System and method for impedance measurement using series and shunt injection
A method for impedance measurement in a three-phase AC system is provided. The method includes injecting a shunt perturbation signal into the three-phase AC system and collecting a response to the shunt perturbation signal, and injecting a series perturbation signal into the three-phase AC system and collecting a response to the series perturbation signal. The response to the shunt perturbation signal and the response to the series perturbation signal are then transferred from abc coordinate to dq coordinates. At least one impedance of the three-phase AC system is calculated based on the response to the shunt perturbation signal and the response to the series perturbation signal. |
| US09562938B2 |
Method and system to detect and characterize electromagnetic pulses for the protection of critical infrastructure components
A system and method are proposed to protect critical infrastructure assets from an electromagnetic pulse event. Detonation of a nuclear warhead or geomagnetic storms created by solar corona ejecta or an attack by directed energy weapons can create an electromagnetic pulse event. Several embodiments are disclosed that use radio frequency (RF) sensors, electrostatic discharge sensors and geomagnetic sensors that feed sensor signals to an event characterization and detection unit that analyzes and predicts early occurrence of an electromagnetic pulse event. Critical sensor signals are recorded for future use and are used to refine autonomic algorithms used to predict future electromagnetic pulse events from the sensor data. |
| US09562937B2 |
Circuit and method for sensing a capacitance
A transconductance amplifier mirror circuit is connected to an electrode for sensing the capacitance of the electrode with reference to ground, or the capacitance between the electrode and another electrode. A voltage level change is produced on the electrode connected to the transconductance amplifier mirror circuit to cause the transconductance amplifier mirror circuit to supply charges to or drain charges from a charge calculation circuit. The charge amount variation is converted to a signal for calculating the sensed capacitance. |
| US09562932B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor includes a folded-shaped current path including a pair of arm portions extending in parallel with each other, and a pair of magnetoelectric conversion elements provided so as to sandwich therebetween a symmetric axis passing between the pair of arm portions, the pair of magnetoelectric conversion elements being used for detecting magnetism caused by a current passing through the pair of arm portions, wherein a half-bridge circuit in which the pair of magnetoelectric conversion elements is series-connected and a signal is able to be extracted from a connection point between the pair of magnetoelectric conversion elements is formed, and sensitivity axes of the pair of magnetoelectric conversion elements are oriented in a same direction and sensitivity-influencing axes of the pair of magnetoelectric conversion elements are oriented in a same direction. |
| US09562930B2 |
Method for the contactless determination of an electrical potential of an object using two different values for the electric flux, and device
A method for the contactless determination of an electrical potential of an object, involves providing an electrode which is spatially at a distance from the object, connecting the electrode to a reference potential, determining a first temporal change in an electrical state of charge of the electrode at a first value for the electric flux between the electrode and the object, determining a second temporal change in the electrical state of charge of the electrode at a second value for the electric flux between the electrode and the object, and determining the electrical potential of the object at least from the first temporal change in the electrical state of charge and the second temporal change in the electrical state of charge and from a difference between the first value and the second value for the electric flux. |
| US09562926B2 |
Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device including an internal anchor area
The invention provides an MEMS device. The MEMS device includes: a substrate, a proof mass, a spring, a spring anchor, a first electrode anchor, and a second electrode anchor, a first fixed electrode and a second fixed electrode. The proof mass is connected to the substrate through the spring and the spring anchor. The proof mass includes a hollow structure inside, and the spring anchor, the first electrode anchor, and the second electrode anchor are located in the hollow structure. The proof mass and the first fixed electrode form a first capacitor, and the proof mass and the second fixed electrode form a second capacitor. There is neither any portion of the proof mass nor any portion of any fixing electrode located between the first electrode anchor, second electrode anchor, and the spring anchor. |
| US09562923B2 |
Speed sensor for a rotating member or machine
A speed sensor for use in measuring the speed of rotation of a rotationally salient rotating member. The speed sensor comprises an electrode and a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit comprises a constant voltage source for supplying a voltage to the electrode to generate an electric field in a dielectric medium. A current detector detects current flow between the constant voltage source and the electrode due to perturbation of the electric field by passage of at least one salient feature of the rotating member through the electric field as the rotating member rotates. The current detector outputs a first signal modulated at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of perturbation of the electric field. The first signal is amplified to produce an amplified signal modulated at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of perturbation of the electric field. |
| US09562919B2 |
Apparatus and method for handling sample tubes and laboratory system
An apparatus for handling sample tubes is presented. The apparatus comprises a sample tube tray, a sample tube individualizer, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a sample tube buffer, and a sample tube rack inserter. The sample tube tray stores sample tubes in bulk commodity. The sample tube individualizer sequentially unloads single sample tubes from the sample tube tray and sequentially provides the unloaded sample tubes to the first conveyor. The first conveyor conveys the sample tubes to the sample tube buffer. The sample tube buffer buffers the sample tubes provided by the first conveyor and provides buffered sample tubes to the second conveyor with a predeterminable, constant, sample tube rate. The second conveyor conveys the sample tubes to the sample tube rack inserter. The sample tube rack inserter inserts the sample tubes into a sample tube rack. |
| US09562910B2 |
Method for producing acylated peptides
The present invention provides a method for acylating one or more amino groups of a peptide where the acylation reaction is to be performed in an aqueous mixture containing less than 10% w/w aprotic polar solvent. |
| US09562909B2 |
Sensor used for measuring biological information on user
A sensor includes a substrate that includes an upper substrate and a lower substrate, and an electrode that is provided on the lower substrate, and the upper substrate, the lower substrate, and the electrode are formed by an optically transparent member. |
| US09562907B2 |
Aptamers screening method based on graphene without target immobilization and the aptamers obtained from the method
Provided is aptamers screening method based on graphene without target immobilization and the aptamers obtained from the method, and more particularly, a new GO-SELEX method without target immobilization in which a single-stranded nucleic acid pool may react with a non-bound target material or a counter-target material, after which a single-stranded nucleic acid which has not been bound to the target or counter-target may be separated by using the graphene. Also, the specific aptamer obtained through the above-described method may be used for diagnosing target related diseases. |
| US09562906B2 |
Methods for detection of gastric cancer
The invention is directed to non-invasive methods of detecting gastric cancer in an individual in need thereof comprising determining an expression level of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H3 (ITIH3) in the individual and comparing the expression level to a control, wherein an increase in the expression level of ITIH3 in the individual compared to the control is indicative of gastric cancer in the individual. |
| US09562904B2 |
Competition based-detection assays
Disclosed herein are methods and kits which are useful for detecting presence of an enzyme and the relative amount of glycan associated with the enzyme in a test sample based upon the enzyme's ability to competitively inhibit the binding of a ligand in such test sample. The present invention provides the ability to evaluate cell culture conditions and optimize the desired glycoform content of recombinantly prepared enzymes. |
| US09562903B2 |
Methods for detection of botulinum neurotoxin
Provided herein is a large immuno-sorbent surface area assay (ALISSA) for the rapid and sensitive detection of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) and anthrax toxin. This assay is designed to capture a low number of toxin molecules and to measure their intrinsic protease activity via conversion of a fluorogenic or luminescent substrate. Also provided herein are novel peptides that can be specifically cleaved by BoNT and novel peptides that are resistant to cleavage by BoNT. The combination of these cleavable and control peptides can be used for implementation of an exemplary ALISSA used to specifically detect BoNT enzymatic activity. Furthermore, the ALISSA as described herein may also be used in a column based format for use in a high-throughput system for testing large quantities of samples. |
| US09562900B2 |
Methods and compositions of nucleic acid ligands for detection of foodborne and waterborne pathogens
Specific DNA sequences for binding various foodborne and waterborne pathogens and biotoxins are described. Each of these sequences can function in varying assay and sensor formats with varying degrees of success. |
| US09562898B1 |
Method and assay for detection of residues
Embodiments described herein include methods and assays for detecting beta-lactam analytes and mycotoxin analytes in a sample. Some embodiments include detection of multiple analytes in a sample utilizing a plurality of analyte binders and a control zone containing multiple control zone capture agents. In some embodiments, the multiple control zone capture agents capture a plurality of binders within one control zone. Test results are determined by comparison of the control zone signal to a test zone signal. |
| US09562896B2 |
Extracting low concentrations of bacteria from a sample
The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a bacterium from the sample, in which the assay isolates as low as about 1 CFU/ml of bacteria in the sample. |
| US09562895B2 |
Assay particles and methods of use
The invention provides assay particles useful, for example, for detecting analytes and binding molecule interactions. One type of assay particle includes a core portion encased by a shell portion, wherein the shell portion comprises an inorganic phosphor that binds selectively to a target molecule. Another type of an assay particle includes a core portion encased by a shell portion, and a coat portion covering the shell portion, wherein the coat portion comprises an inorganic phosphor that binds selectively to a target molecule. A further type of assay particle includes a core portion encased by a shell portion, and a coat portion covering the shell portion, wherein the coat portion comprises an inorganic phosphor and a target selective binding moiety, and wherein the assay particle is buoyant in aqueous media. An additional type of assay particle includes a core portion encased by a shell portion, and a coat portion covering the shell portion, wherein the shell portion comprises an inorganic phosphor and the coat portion comprises a target selective binding moiety, and wherein the assay particle is buoyant in aqueous media. Also provided are kits and related methods. |
| US09562894B2 |
Method of detecting the presence of an antibody in a sample
Methods for detecting in a sample the presence of an antibody to a conjugate of an antigen associated with a first carrier by a first association are disclosed. The method comprises contacting a conjugate of the antigen associated with a second carrier by a second association with said sample under conditions that allow binding of the antibody to the antigen; and introducing an agent to detect the presence of the antibody bound to said antigen. The first association and the second association are covalent associations and the first association is different from the second association. Also provided are kits, multiwell plates and conjugates that are useful in the method and further uses of the method. Also provided is a method of releasing a batch of a vaccine comprising a conjugate of an antigen associated with a first carrier by a first association and antibodies useful in this method. |
| US09562893B2 |
Lactoferrin fragments and use thereof
Novel lactoferrin fragments that are characteristic of inflammation during resolution and uses thereof. Diagnostic compositions and methods for assessing the presence or absence of resolving inflammation and for monitoring the progression of inflammatory resolution in a subject. Methods for treating a subject having an inflammatory disease, the methods including determining whether the subject has inflammation in resolution by determining the molecular weight of lactoferrin fragments. |
| US09562889B2 |
Monitoring breathalyzer
The monitoring breathalyzer has an alcohol sensor, a non-volatile memory, a processing unit or processor, and a screen. The processing unit determines the accuracy of the breathalyzer using the user's body as a simulator. In monitoring mode, the processing unit receives a BAC% measurement from the alcohol sensor based on the breath sample provided by the user at a sample time and determines a reference point from the BAC% measurement. The sample time is determined based on the user's metabolism rate or based on a time to a predetermined calibration point from a drink start time. |
| US09562887B2 |
Methods of enhancing translocation of charged analytes through transmembrane protein pores
The invention relates to enhancing translocation of a charged analyte through a transmembrane protein pore. Translocation is enhanced by increasing the net opposing charge of the barrel or channel and/or entrance of the pore. The invention also relates to pores enhanced in accordance with the invention. |
| US09562885B2 |
Ionophore and polymer membrane selective for aluminum (III) ion
The ionophore and polymer membrane selective for aluminum (III) ion provide an ionophore that is selective for aluminum (III) ion [Al3+].The ionophore may be used as a dopant in a polymer membrane formed from a polymer matrix, e.g., poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), and that may also include a plasticizer, such as dioctylphthalate (DOP) and o-nitrophenylloctyl ether (o-NPOE). The polymer membrane may be incorporated into an ion selective electrode (ISE) that can be used as a potentiometric sensor for the detection of Al3+ ions in wastewater. The ionophore is diethyl (2-azobenzoic acid) malonate, which has the structure: |
| US09562880B1 |
Monolith catalyst test system and method for its use
A system and method for non-destructive testing of a monolith catalyst element includes an inlet and outlet piping arrangement seal against opposing face surfaces of the catalyst element and permit at least a portion of the catalyst element to be tested. A gap between the surface on which the catalyst element rests and the inlet piping prevents or reduces heat transfer between the piping and the surface. A test fluid passes between the piping and therefore through the portion of the sealed catalyst section. Ports located in the piping allow for sampling of the fluid before and after the catalyst section. The catalyst element may then be repositioned on the surface for testing of a second portion of the element. Alternatively, the catalyst element and its housing can be placed on a pivot table so the housed catalyst element can be tested. |
| US09562877B2 |
Evaluation tool for concentric wellbore casings
A system comprises one or more first electromagnetic coils configured to generate and direct first excitation signals toward a plurality of casings in a wellbore and receive response signals based on the excitation signals. The system also comprises a magnetic field source configured to generate a static magnetic field in a particular casing of the plurality of casings and a magnetometer configured to receive response signals based on the static magnetic field in the particular casing. The system further comprises one or more processors configured to receive a first response signal from the one or more electromagnetic coils, receive a second response signal from the magnetometer, and determine, based on the first response signal and the second response signal, whether a defect exists in the plurality of casings. |
| US09562876B2 |
Hydrocarbon gas sensor
Provided is a gas sensor capable of accurately obtaining a hydrocarbon gas concentration even if a measurement gas contains water vapor. A main pumping cell adjusts an oxygen partial pressure of a first internal space such that a hydrocarbon gas in a measurement gas is not substantially burned in the first internal space. An auxiliary pumping cell adjusts an oxygen partial pressure of a second internal space such that inflammable gas components except for hydrocarbon are selectively burned. Then, the measurement gas is introduced into a third internal space through a third diffusion control part. With oxygen concentration equilibrium kept in the third internal space, hydrocarbon existing in the measurement gas that has reached the third internal space is all burned. Then, the concentration of the hydrocarbon gas component existing in the measurement gas is identified based on the magnitude of a current flowing between the measuring electrode and the main pumping electrode at that time. |
| US09562875B2 |
Measuring apparatus, detection method, electrochemical sensor and measuring system
A measuring apparatus for measuring a substrate concentration by using a sensor including an enzyme reagent layer includes a state detecting unit that applies a first voltage and a second voltage different from the first voltage to the sensor to detect a state of the enzyme reagent layer based on a difference between a first response current value obtained under application of the first voltage and a second response current value obtained under application of the second voltage. |
| US09562872B2 |
Humidity sensor and sensor element
A humidity sensor element includes a dielectric substrate, a nonporous conductive electrode disposed on the dielectric substrate, a permeable conductive electrode having a thickness in a range of from 4 to 10 nanometers and permeable by water vapor, and a detection layer disposed between the nonporous conductive electrode and the permeable conductive electrode. Both conductive electrodes have respective conductive leads attached thereto. The detection layer includes a sulfonated copolymer including monomeric units comprising (I) and (II), Wherein x and y are independently integers in the range of from 2 to 6, and wherein each M independently represents H or an alkali metal. A humidity sensor including the humidity sensor element is also disclosed. |
| US09562869B2 |
Portable electronic device
In a portable electronic device, an ambient temperature is sensed by means of a temperature sensor. In addition, it is assessed if the portable electronic device is exposed to condensation. A corresponding condensation indicator is provided. The condensation indicator is determined based on a dew point and based on sensed temperature values of the past or temperature derived from the past sensed temperature values. |
| US09562862B2 |
Optical and chemical analytical systems and methods
Optical and chemical analytical systems and methods are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method includes exposing a mixture sample to electromagnetic radiation, the mixture sample including analytes, detecting responsiveness of one or more of the analytes to the electromagnetic radiation, calculating average responsiveness of the one or more of the analytes, and calculating a concentration of the one or more of the analytes in the mixture sample using the average responsiveness. |
| US09562860B1 |
Methods and devices for sample analysis
Methods and devices for cytometric analysis are provided. A cytometry apparatus is provided which may be used with a stationary sample cuvette for analysis of a stationary sample or with a flow sample cuvette for analysis of a flowing sample. The methods and devices provided herein may be used to perform cytometric analysis of samples under a wide range of experimental and environmental conditions. |
| US09562858B2 |
Fluid concentration measuring device
A fluid concentration measuring device measures the concentration of a fluid flowing through a duct having a light-transmissive, deformable duct wall. The device includes a light source; a light receiving element which receives the light, which passed through the wall of the duct and the fluid inside the duct, and outputs a signal indicating the intensity of the light; light path distance setting means and fluid concentration output means which obtains a plurality of relational expressions, which indicate the relation between the light intensity and the fluid concentration when the light from the light supply part is received by the light receiving part over each of the light path distances, and obtains the fluid concentration from the light intensity at the light receiving part based on the relational expressions for the plurality of light path distances and outputs the fluid concentration. |
| US09562857B2 |
Specular object scanner for measuring reflectance properties of objects
An apparatus to measure surface orientation maps of an object may include a light source that is configured to illuminate the object with a controllable field of illumination. One or more cameras may be configured to capture at least one image of the object. A processor may be configured to process the image(s) to extract the reflectance properties of the object including an albedo, a reflection vector, a roughness, and/or anisotropy parameters of a specular reflectance lobe associated with the object. The controllable field of illumination may include limited-order Spherical Harmonics (SH) and Fourier Series (FS) illumination patterns with substantially similar polarization. The SH and FS illumination patterns are used with different light sources. |
| US09562856B2 |
Optical coherence imaging systems having a reduced effective linewidth and methods of using the same
Frequency domain optical coherence imaging systems have an optical source, an optical detector and an optical transmission path between the optical source and the optical detector. The optical transmission path between the optical source and the optical detector reduces an effective linewidth of the imaging system. The optical source may be a broadband source and the optical transmission path may include a periodic optical filter. |
| US09562854B2 |
Modifying the spatial distribution of the refractive index of an object and imaging the object using interferometry
Methods and/or systems are disclosed herein for use in imaging an object including using interferometry while modifying at least one characteristic of the object such as the spatial distribution of the refractive index of the object. The interferometry imaging data may be processed with one or more image processing algorithms that take into account the modification, or change, in the spatial distribution of the refractive index of the object. |
| US09562853B2 |
Nonaqueous backscattering interferometric methods
Disclosed are improved optical detection methods comprising multiplexed interferometric detection systems and methods for determining a characteristic property of a non-aqueous sample, together with various applications of the disclosed techniques. |
| US09562848B2 |
Spectrometry systems, methods, and applications
A hand held spectrometer is used to illuminate the object and measure the one or more spectra. The spectral data of the object can be used to determine one or more attributes of the object. In many embodiments, the spectrometer is coupled to a database of spectral information that can be used to determine the attributes of the object. The spectrometer system may comprise a hand held communication device coupled to a spectrometer, in which the user can input and receive data related to the measured object with the hand held communication device. The embodiments disclosed herein allow many users to share object data with many people, in order to provide many people with actionable intelligence in response to spectral data. |
| US09562846B2 |
Particle suspensions used as low-contrast standards for inspection of liquids
In certain embodiments, a method for validating the human visual inspection process or an optical analysis instrument for use with biological particles may include inspecting a standard particle solution using the optical analysis instrument. The standard particle solution may include a known concentration of standard particles suspended in solution with the standard particles having a defined size and shape distribution. The standard particles may have a refractive index that is substantially similar to a refractive index of the biological particles. The method may include assessing a concentration of standard particles in the standard particle solution from the inspection. The method may include assessing a difference between the assessed concentration of standard particles and the known concentration of standard particles. The method may include modifying one or more parameters of the optical analysis instrument based on the assessed difference between the concentrations. The method may include assessing a detection efficiency of the optical analysis instrument. |
| US09562843B2 |
Method of non-destructive evaluation of intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSSC) in structural components made of metal alloys, and the method of lifetime evaluation of the structural components
A method of non-destructive evaluation of stress corrosion cracking of structural components made of metal alloys, and a method of evaluation of the remaining lifetime of the structural component made of metal alloys are provided, in which a change in properties of the structural components made of metal alloys being used in operating nuclear power plants is measured according to the degree of atomic ordering (or short range ordering) of alloying atoms, and stress corrosion cracking of the structural components made of metal alloys is thus evaluated. The properties to be measured may be one or more selected from a group consisting of hardness, electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity. |
| US09562842B2 |
Method for determining a buffer effect of an activated carbon filter
A method for determining a buffer effect of an activated carbon filter for a tank venting system of a fuel container for hydrocarbon-containing fuels involves feeding a defined quantity of hydrocarbon molecules to the activated carbon filter (320) via a tank connection (320_1) of the activated carbon filter (320) by a hydrocarbon feed system (310). A carrier gas flow is introduced into the activated carbon filter (320) via an air connection (320_2) of the activated carbon filter (320), and a defined volumetric flow is sucked out of the activated carbon filter (320) via an engine connection (320_3) of the activated carbon filter (320) by a hydrocarbon measuring device (340), and its content of hydrocarbon molecules is measured. The defined quantity of hydrocarbon molecules is made available by the hydrocarbon feed system (310) in the form of a thermodynamically isolated gas quantity. |
| US09562840B2 |
High precision reciprocating bob viscometer
A high precision, reciprocating bob viscometer is shown that has two coils (A and B) encircling a reciprocating bob. Coil A is energized with a combined sinusoidal and DC signal, while coil B senses the position of the reciprocating bob, then the functions of coils A and B are reversed. By use of a large digitally-generated near resonance frequency sinusoidal signal, noise is reduced because there is no need for amplification. The sensed signal amplitude measurement is in the digital time domain instead of through analog amplitude measurements, which further eliminates signal noise. These advancements provide faster, highly accurate, low noise measurements of bob position and velocity to determine fluid/gas viscosity and related properties using a reciprocating bob viscometer. These related properties include measurements of density, shear sensitivity, yield stress, and other measurements described in prior art patents. |
| US09562834B2 |
Aqueous compositions and methods of using the same for histopathological evaluation of tissue samples
Aqueous solutions that include: (A) an organic polyol having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms and having a flash point of at least 93° C.; (B) a base; (C) a surfactant; and (D) water, where the aqueous solution does not include an organic solvent having a flash point below 23° C. and a boiling point of at least 38° C. |
| US09562833B2 |
Composite gas sampling system
A sampling system for collecting periodic composite and/or non-composite samples of vaporized gas during a transfer process from a vaporizer of a cryogenic hydrocarbon liquid including 1) a direct sample pathway to a gas analyzer for instantaneous, real-time vaporized gas analysis, 2) a speed loop pathway for directly collecting fresh vaporized gas samples for subsequent analysis, and 3) a composite sample pathway including a pressurized sample accumulator for collecting a plurality periodically obtained samples of a select volume during the transfer process to create a composite sample of the vaporized gas. |
| US09562831B2 |
Rotary wheel airtightness detecting machine
The present invention discloses a rotary wheel airtightness detecting machine which comprises a body frame, an air cylinder, an upper seal, a lower seal, a water tank, an electric motor and a self-made air cylinder, etc. During use, the present invention can make the wheel be automatically centered between the upper seal and the lower seal, avoiding severe abrasion of equipment caused by inclination of the upper pressing plate for sealing upon biased positioning of the wheel. |
| US09562829B2 |
Vane position sensor installation within a turbine case
A measuring system for sensing vane positions that comprises a turbine, a target, and a bellows. The turbine includes a plurality of articulating vanes, with each vane being coupled to a sync ring that is configured to position the plurality of articulating vanes in accordance with a degree of rotation by the sync ring. The target is coupled to a first position of the turbine within a first region that is associated with a first vane of the plurality of articulating vanes. The bellows coupled to the turbine and configured to maintain a sensor reference point at a second position. The sensor reference point at the second position is maintained by the bellows in relation to the target at the first position across a gap. |
| US09562827B2 |
Measuring method of longitudinal distribution of bending loss of optical fiber, measuring method of longitudinal distribution of actual bending loss value of optical fiber, test method of optical line, manufacturing method of optical fiber cable, manufacturing method of optical fiber cord, and manufacturing method of optical fiber
A measuring method of a longitudinal distribution of bending loss of an optical fiber includes calculating an arithmetical mean value I(x) from two backscattering light intensities of two backscattering light at a position x obtained by bidirectional OTDR measurement of the optical fiber; and obtaining a bending loss value at the position x from a mode field diameter 2W(x) and a relative refractive index difference Δ(x) at the position x calculated from the arithmetical mean value. |
| US09562825B2 |
Shock sensor with latch mechanism and method of shock detection
A micromechanical shock sensor includes a proof mass coupled to a surface of a substrate and a projection element extending laterally from the proof mass. The shock sensor further includes a latch mechanism and a retention anchor. The latch mechanism has a latch spring attached to the surface and a latch tip extending from a movable end of the latch spring. The retention anchor is attached to the surface and is located proximate the latch tip. The proof mass is configured for planar movement relative to the substrate when the proof mass is subjected to a force of at least a threshold magnitude. Movement of the proof mass in response to the force causes the latch tip to become retained between the projection element and the retention anchor to place the shock sensor in a latched state. The latched state may be detected by optical inspection, probe, or external readout. |
| US09562822B2 |
Flexible contact arrangement for hose assembly
An integrated hose assembly, as well as a monitoring assembly and method of its use are disclosed. The integrated hose assembly includes a hose assembly with a hose having a first conductive layer electrically connected to a nipple and a second conductive layer electrically connected to a socket. The first and second conductive layers are separated by an insulating layer. The integrated hose assembly further includes a monitoring assembly that includes a housing rotatably mounted around at least a portion of the hose assembly, a first flexibly resilient conductive lead seated within the housing and electrically contacting a first outer surface of the hose assembly such that the first flexibly resilient conductive lead is electrically connected to a nipple, and a second flexibly resilient conductive lead seated within the housing and electrically contacting a second outer surface of the hose assembly such that the second flexibly resilient conductive lead is electrically connected to a socket. The monitoring assembly includes a monitoring circuit electrically connected to the first flexibly resilient conductive lead and the second flexibly resilient conductive lead. |
| US09562819B2 |
Polymeric remote seal system for single-use containers
A polymeric remote seal system is provided for coupling a single-use container to a pressure measurement instrument. The polymeric remote seal system includes a process-side coupling, an instrument-side coupling and a fluidic coupling therebetween. The process-side coupling is configured to couple to the single-use container and is formed of a radiation sterilizable polymer. The process-side coupling has a process-side deflectable diaphragm that is configured to deflect in response to pressure within the single-use container. The instrument-side coupling is configured to couple to the pressure measurement instrument and is formed of a radiation sterilizable polymer. The instrument-side coupling is configured to fluidically convey fluid pressure to an isolation diaphragm of the pressure measurement instrument. Tubing fluidically couples the process-side coupling to the instrument-side coupling. |
| US09562818B1 |
Manipulation device with force read-out
A manipulation and force measuring device includes an elongate body having a first end and a second end, and at least one force sensor extending outwardly from the elongate body. A protective material surrounds the at least one force sensor. A first loop extends from the first end of the body and a second loop extends from the second end of the body. A processor is attached to the body, proximate to the first loop and is electronically connected to the at least one force sensor. A method of using the device is also disclosed. |
| US09562817B2 |
Manipulation device with force read-out
A manipulation and force measuring device includes a planar force sensing resistor, a protective material surrounding the resistor, and an outer material surrounding the protective material. A first strap extends outwardly from the outer material. The first strap has one of a hook and loop fastener disposed thereon. A second strap extends outwardly from the outer material, distal from the first strap. The second strap has the other of the hook and loop fastener disposed thereon. A processor is attached to one of the first strap and the second strap. The processor is electronically connected to the resistor. A loop extends outwardly from the outer material. The loop is located proximate to the first strap. A method of using the device is also disclosed. |
| US09562815B2 |
Method for compensation of fiber optic measurement systems and fiber optic measurement system
The present invention relates to a method for compensation, for example, for temperature compensation of a fiber optic measurement system designed for determining a mechanical quantity. First and second fiber Bragg gratings have a respective Bragg wavelength, wherein the fiber Bragg gratings are irradiated with primary light. After applying a mechanical quantity to the first and second fiber Bragg gratings, the Bragg wavelengths of the fiber Bragg gratings are changed by the mechanical quantity. Filtering of the first and second secondary light, said first and second secondary light is effected from the primary light and modified by the Bragg wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating depending on the mechanical quantity by use of an optical filter device follows, in such a way that the Bragg wavelength of the first fiber Bragg grating lies in the region of the rising filter gradient of the optical filter device and the Bragg wavelength of the second fiber Bragg grating lies in the region of the falling filter gradient of the optical filter device. After determining the intensities of the filtered first and second secondary light, they are compared, whereupon the mechanical quantity is determined from the intensity comparison. |
| US09562812B2 |
Temperature measuring device of a power semiconductor apparatus
A temperature measuring device of a power semiconductor apparatus that accurately detects chip temperature even where a gradient of the measured characteristic line segment is different from a designed gradient, including a chip temperature detecting circuit that includes an A/D converter delivering a measurement value of a digital converted forward voltage across a temperature detecting diode and an operational processing unit for calibration and chip temperature calculation. In calibration processing, different known reference voltages are applied by a reference connected in place of the diode and a gradient of the line segment connecting the measurement values is calculated. The gradient is stored in a memory with an offset correction value that is one of the measurement values. A chip temperature is calculated based on a forward voltage across the diode calculated based on the measurement value and the stored values of the gradient and the offset correction value. |
| US09562811B2 |
Temperature sensor structure
A device for measuring temperature comprising: first and second temperature sensors enclosed in a first material having one or more material components; a contact surface for contacting a body whose temperature is to be measured, at least part of the contact surface being parallel to a lateral direction; wherein the first and second temperature sensors are arranged at different depths from the contact surface and the net thermal conductivity across the device from the contact surface through the first and second temperature sensors is greater than the net lateral thermal conductivity of the device through the first and second temperature sensors. |
| US09562810B2 |
Deformable interferometric sensor using a polymer between reflectors to measure analyte absorption
There is described a deformable interferometric sensor in which polymer swelling, upon analyte absorption, is used to deform an on-chip silicon Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI). The magnitude of the deformation, recorded through the resonance wavelength shift, is proportional to the analyte concentration. |
| US09562802B2 |
Flex circuit interface for strain gauges
A load cell may include a bar having a supported end, an unsupported end and a sensor holding portion disposed between the supported end and the unsupported end. The load cell may further include a plurality of electronic sensors including a first strain gauge pair and a second strain gauge pair disposed along the sensor holding portion. The load cell may further include an interface member directly connecting the electronic sensors for weight calculation responsive to application of a load to the unsupported end. In some cases, the interface member may include a flex circuit. |
| US09562799B2 |
System and method for shape attribute based detection of obstacles within a bin
A method and a system for automatically mapping obstacles within a bin that stores content, the system may include: a location estimator that is arranged to calculate, in response to detection signals, an estimated shape of an upper surface of the content; wherein the detection signals are generated by a receiver in response to radiation signals reflected or scattered from multiple points within the bin; and an obstacle detector that is arranged to detect at least one obstacle point that belongs to an obstacle in response to (a) the estimated shape of the upper surface of the content, and (b) an expected shape attribute of the upper surface of the content. |
| US09562793B2 |
Illumination portion for an optical encoder
An illumination portion for an optical encoder is disclosed. The optical encoder comprises the illumination portion, a scale grating extending along a measuring axis direction and arranged to receive light from the illumination portion, and a detector configuration arranged to receive light from the scale grating. The illumination portion comprises an addressable light source array. The addressable light source array comprises individual sources arranged along the measuring axis direction. The addressable light source array is configured to provide at least a first addressable set and a second addressable set of the individual sources. |
| US09562791B2 |
Measurement system of the relative position between two separate structural parts
A measurement system (1) of the relative position between two structural parts (2a, 2b) of a building, that have separated for example following the formation of a crack, comprising a cylindrical permanent magnet (3) adapted to generate a magnetic field (B) and a sensor (5), the sensor (5) being fixed and the magnet (3) being moveable according to a direction perpendicular to its axis of symmetry (h) so as to vary the direction of the lines of force of the magnetic field B which cross the sensor 5. |
| US09562787B2 |
Travel guidance device, travel guidance method, and computer program
Travel guidance devices, methods, and programs acquire map data including a road network, a position of a vehicle, and a planned travel route of the vehicle. Based on the acquired information, the devices, methods, and programs determine whether there is a planned entry branch that the vehicle is projected to enter located ahead of the vehicle. When the planned entry branch is ahead of the vehicle, the devices, methods, and programs determine whether there is a no-lane-change zone between the vehicle and the planned entry branch. When the no-lane-change zone is located between the vehicle and the planned entry branch, the devices, methods, and programs set guidance content related to a lane change of the vehicle based on a position of the no-lane-change zone. The devices, methods, and programs generate guidance using the set guidance content and communicate the generated guidance to a user of the travel guidance device. |
| US09562786B2 |
Candidate path recommendation
A method for recommending a candidate path includes, in response to receiving a query from a user, looking up a plurality of paths that conform to the query; with respect to a current path among the plurality of paths, obtaining behavior data of the user and behavior data of at least one other user associated with the current path; determining a recommendation indicator associated with the current path, based on the behavior data of the user and the behavior data of the at least one other user; and recommending the candidate path to the user based on at least a recommendation indicator associated with at least one of the plurality of paths. |
| US09562779B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a steering reliability map based on driven curvatures and geometry curvature
An approach is provided for comparing experienced curvatures with geometry-based curvatures to identify road environments. The approach involves causing, at least in part, an aggregation of a plurality of curvature samples collected from one or more vehicles traversing one or more travel segments. The approach also involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of the curvature samples to determine at least one experienced curvature for the one or more travel segments. The approach further involves determining at least one geometry-based curvature for the one or more travel segments. The approach also involves determining one or more differences between at least one experienced curvature and the at least one geometry-based curvature. |
| US09562778B2 |
Combined radar and GPS localization system
A localization system within a vehicle in one embodiment includes a global position system (GPS) receiver, a radar sensor, a data storage device including program instructions stored therein, a symbolic map stored within the data storage device, and a controller operatively coupled to the data storage device, the GPS receiver, and the radar sensor, the controller configured to execute the program instructions to analyze data from the GPS receiver, data from the radar sensor, and data from the stored symbolic map, and determine a probabilistic vehicle location based upon the analysis. |
| US09562777B2 |
Autonomous vehicle assistance device
Provided is an autonomous vehicle assistance device and method that may precisely determine a position of a vehicle based on input position error information. The autonomous vehicle assistance device includes a communicator configured to receive satellite navigation information, correction information transmitted from a base station, and position error information transmitted from a fixed body, and a vehicle position determiner configured to calculate first position information corresponding to the received satellite navigation information and correction information and to calculate a current position of a vehicle by correcting the first position information based on the position error information. |
| US09562765B2 |
Method and measuring system to determine the alignment of a first pulley of a belt drive in relation to a second pulley of the belt drive
The invention relates to a method and a measuring system (16) for determining the alignment of a first pulley (10) of a belt drive (12) with respect to a second pulley (14) of the belt drive (12), whereby the measurement system (16) includes a laser light emitting device (18) and a laser light recording device (20), and whereby the method includes Steps A to F. |
| US09562763B2 |
Apparatus for inspecting curvature
An apparatus for inspecting curvature, including: a radiation unit radiating a plurality of rays of light having different focal lengths onto a surface of an target material; and an inspection unit inspecting the surface of the target material using the rays of light reflected from the target material. The apparatus can inspect the curvature or the bending of the surface of a target material at a high speed and with high accuracy. |
| US09562762B2 |
Automated optical dimensioning and imaging
Disclosed are various embodiments for automatically generating media and/or data associated with an item. An item imaging apparatus may apply an imaging sequence based on an item being imaged to gather media and/or data associated with the item. The media and/or data associated with the item may be used in the generation of additional data associated with the item. The media and/or data may be in a profile of the item in an electronic marketplace. |
| US09562761B2 |
Position measuring device
A position measuring device of the invention includes a light emitter configured to emit a laser light, a hologram configured to generate a reconstructed image of an inclined surface relative to an optical axis, a light receiver disposed on a reconstructed image forming surface of the hologram, and a measurement unit configured to measure a position of an object based on a position of light received by the light receiver. In the position measuring device of the invention, the light emitter may emit a linear laser light and the light receiver may include an image sensor having a two-dimensional array of pixels. |
| US09562757B2 |
Removal of an accumulated frozen substance from a cooling unit
A probe includes a sensor and a support. The sensor is operable to provide an indication of a thickness of a frozen substance that has accumulated between the sensor and a cooling fin of a cooling unit, and the support is operable to hold the sensor spaced apart from the cooling fin. When a defrost controller uses such a probe to monitor an amount of frost build up on the fin or fins of a cooling unit (e.g., a refrigeration unit or freezer unit), the defrost controller can initiate a defrost cycle only when warranted, e.g., only when the thickness of the built-up frost equals or exceeds a threshold thickness. |
| US09562753B2 |
Upset jacketed bullets
A projectile according to exemplary embodiments generally includes a jacket with nose, middle, and heel portions. The nose portion includes a forward cavity. The heel portion includes a rearward cavity having sidewalls. A dense core is within the rearward cavity and bonded to the sidewalls. Upon upset of the projectile, the portion of the jacket forming the forward cavity peels generally back toward the heel portion thereby forming petals, and the sidewalls and the dense core axially compress and radially expand to define a bulge portion, with the jacket material substantially covering the dense core material thereby inhibiting exposure of the dense core material to the upset media. |
| US09562752B1 |
Toy arrow
Provided is an arrow that includes a shaft, a forward tip affixed to a first end of the shaft, a rear tip affixed on a second end of the shaft, and a plurality of fins. The shaft is formed by extruding a flexible plastic, forming a thin wall that extends an entire length of the shaft and enclosing a hollow. |
| US09562747B2 |
Impact marking garment
A method and apparatus for use in facilitating force-on-force (FOF) training. Specifically, an impact marking vest (IMV) for use in registering a ballistic impact event upon a three-dimensional target surface. |
| US09562742B2 |
Foot orthosis and exoskeleton
The present invention contemplates a variety of apparatuses for carrying and concealing a weapon holster on a lower leg. A device is provided that offloads weight associated with a leg-carried weapon and eliminates torque forces caused by walking with said weapon. Supplies or alternative weapons can also be carried. The device includes an anterior exoskeleton bracket and, in some embodiments, a foot orthosis. A holster is mounted near the top of the device. The exoskeleton, attaching to the foot orthosis or a shoe/boot, provides ankle support and offloads the weight of the weapon. A variable resistance linkage is integrated into the exoskeleton. The resistance is adjustable for a particular user based on physical condition. |
| US09562741B2 |
Configurable handgrip
A configurable handgrip has a plurality of plates, the plates being arranged in a stack, a clamp element operably engaging the stack, and the clamp element being operable to transition between a first released position in which the plates are free to move with respect to each other, and a second clamped position in which the plates are secured against movement with respect to each other, such that the stack may be formed into a selected shape when the clamp is in the released position, and the plates are held in the selected shape when the clamp is in the clamped position. Each plate may define a plate aperture. The clamp element may be an elongated member received in the plate apertures. The plates may each have a contact edge and an opposed recessed edge. |
| US09562740B1 |
Rotating gun stock
A rotating gun stock for a firearm having a gun stock fore-end, the rotating gun stock comprising: a rotary positioning disc fixed within the fore-end, the fore-end having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, the rotary disc fixed within the fore-end substantially at the distal end; the rotary disc further having a first and a second face and a center coaxial with the longitudinal axis, the first face directed towards the proximal end and the second face having a plurality of concentric accepting slots and a radial slot formed therein, the radial slot formed to communicate perpendicularly with the plurality of accepting slots; a butt positioned substantially perpendicularly to the fore-end at the distal end, the butt rotatably attached to the center of the rotary positioning disc, the butt constrained to rotate only about the longitudinal axis; a selector inserted within a selector slot in the butt, the selector protruding into the radial slot and thereby successively into the plurality of accepting slots; wherein rotation of the butt is configured to be selected by the selector to enable a plurality of butt rotational positions about the longitudinal axis, including a lock position of zero degrees. |
| US09562736B2 |
Electromagnetic muzzle velocity controller and booster for guns
Systems and methods for electromagnetically controlling the muzzle velocity of a conventional gun using a coil gun on a barrel extension. This method can also provide an electromagnetically induced increase to muzzle velocity beyond that capable by conventional explosives. With higher muzzle velocity, the weapons will have longer range, higher penetrating power and stand-off distances. A section of coil gun can also be used to center the projectile in the barrel to control the exit trajectory. Using a coil gun to control muzzle velocity and center the projectile can be a retrofit to existing weapons that would greatly increase their down-range accuracy. |
| US09562734B2 |
Tunable muzzle compensator for a firearm
A tunable muzzle compensator for a firearm that includes a tube that extends the barrel of the weapon by fitting over the muzzle. This center tube includes one or more holes along its length. One or more removable sections that have gas exit ports at various predetermined angles fit over the center section. Removable sections can be rotated to either turn off top holes on the center tube or to choose different angles of gas discharge The total effect of all the removable sections represents a particular tuning for the weapon. The weapon can be very quickly tuned on the range or in the field to compensate for weight of the projectile, the charge, and the shooting style by simply replacing and/or reversing removable sections with sections that have different angles of discharge. |
| US09562732B2 |
Firing mechanism for a firearm
A firing mechanism for a firearm is provided for reducing maximum trigger pull weight attributable to a sear and for reducing trigger pre-travel and over-travel distances. By this, the likelihood of sear flutter phenomena is greatly reduced while also decreasing or maintaining maximum trigger pull weight. Also, hand movement during firing is reduced helping to increase accuracy. |
| US09562729B2 |
Direct forced draft fluid cooler/cooling tower and liquid collector therefor
A water collector for use in fluid coolers, cooling towers and the like is provided with fans at the bottom of the collector, and a plurality of layers of water collection troughs or channels above the fans to capture water droplets sprayed downwardly from the top of the device through a heat exchanger or fill media above the collection troughs. In one embodiment the collection troughs supply the collected water to one or more gutters inside the housing which lead the water to an external collection tank from which the water is recirculated through the system. |
| US09562724B2 |
Heat-exchange apparatus for insertion into a storage tank, and mounting components therefor
A heat-exchange apparatus and a mounting component set for installation into storage tanks. The heat-exchange apparatus comprises a heat-exchanging component, a coupling manifold configured to engage with the heat-exchanging component, and a hollow, elongate, flow-directing element that delivers fluid to the heat-exchanging component. The mounting component set comprises an inner flange for engaging the inner wall of the storage tank, an outer flange for engaging the outer wall of the storage tank, and at least one gasket cooperable with one of the flanges. The heat-exchange apparatus sealably engages the outer flange such that the heat-exchanging component extends into the interior of the tank, and the coupling manifold is interconnectable to an external supply of heat-exchange fluid. |
| US09562722B2 |
Manifold assembly for distributing a fluid to a heat exchanger
A manifold assembly includes a first channel, a second channel and a manifold. The first channel has a first flow profile and a manifold end with a first cross-sectional geometry. The second channel has a second flow profile and a manifold end with a second cross-sectional geometry, which may be different than the first cross-sectional geometry. A first channel port of the manifold is configured to mate with the manifold end of the first channel. A second channel port of the manifold is configured to mate with the manifold end of the second channel. |
| US09562721B2 |
Through surface hand drying system
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for automatically dispensing air, for example, for hand drying, through either a dedicated air only spout (side mount embodiment) or through a multi-use spout configured for dispensing water, soap and/or air. The air drying module, which is typically positioned below a counter, can be modified according to the system needs to operate with hot and/or cold air and to optionally include a filter and/or fragrance dispenser. |