Document | Document Title |
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US09564803B1 |
Control circuit and switching power supply unit
A control circuit controls a switching element in a switching power supply unit. The control circuit includes: a controller connected to the switching element; a signal generating circuit connected to the input part of the controller; a reference voltage source connected to the signal generating circuit; and a comparator having a first input terminal to which an output voltage is input from the switching power supply unit, a second input terminal to which a comparison signal is input from the signal generating circuit, and an output terminal connected to the signal generating circuit and to the input part of the controller. |
US09564798B2 |
Display apparatus, power supply apparatus and power supply method thereof
Disclosed is a display apparatus including an image processor configured to process an image signal, a display configured to display an image based on the image signal, a controller configured to control the display of the image, and a power supply configured to supply actuating power to the controller, the power supply including a power circuit configured to receive alternating current (AC) power and output the actuating power by a switching mode, a noise reducer configured to reduce high-frequency noise due to the switching mode, and a discharging circuit configured to supply a residual voltage of the noise reducer to the power circuit when the AC power is input, and discharge the residual voltage of the noise reducer when the AC power is shut off. Thus, it is possible to decrease power consumption caused when the residual voltage of the noise reducer is discharged. |
US09564789B2 |
Assembly having a substrate, an SMD component, and a lead frame part
An assembly, having a substrate made of an electrically insulating material, an SMD component, which has lateral contact surfaces, and a lead frame part made of metal, which is fastened to the substrate and is used to establish electrical connections between the lateral contact surfaces of the SMD component and further functional elements of the assembly, wherein the lead frame part has contact tongues, which resiliently lie against the lateral contact surfaces and are connected to the lateral contact surfaces in a bonded manner. |
US09564786B2 |
Wind turbine generator with fluid film bearing units
A generator for a wind turbine is disclosed. The generator comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator arranged next to the rotor. Each stator comprises at least one flux-generating module facing the rotor but spaced therefrom, thereby forming an air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Each stator also comprises at least one bearing unit, each bearing unit comprising a body defining a cavity with an open end facing the rotor. The generator further comprises a source of pressurized fluid communicating with each bearing unit, and the body of each bearing unit directs the fluid towards the rotor to help maintain the air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Thereby the air gap between the rotor and the flux-generating modules is controlled by means of the fluid bearing units. The invention further provides a wind turbine comprising such a generator. |
US09564785B2 |
Combined end cap and electromechanical device equipped with the combined end cap
The present invention relates to a combined end cap and an electromechanical device equipped with the combined end cap. The combined end cap includes: an end cap body, which includes a fitting portion provided with a first mating portion; and an end cap flange, which is configured to have at least two segments adapted to be combined and mounted to the fitting portion, and at least one of the segments is provided with a second mating portion adapted to corporate with the first mating portion to prevent the segments having been combined and mounted to the fitting portion from rotating relative to the fitting portion. The application of this invention can not only significantly improve the versatility and convenience of the existing end caps, but also help to reduce the manufacturing cost. |
US09564775B2 |
Uninterruptible power supply and DC-DC converter
An uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and a direct current-direct current (DC-DC) converter. An input end of the DC-DC converter is connected to a BUS+, a BUS−, and an N wire, and a load in the DC-DC converter is connected to a switch tube through an inductor rather than being directly connected to the switch tube. |
US09564769B2 |
Wireless communication controlled battery charging station
An electronic device sends a wireless signal to a charging station indicating that charging of a battery of the electronics device is to commence. The electronic device generates a profile representing characteristics of the battery during charging. The electronic device sends a wireless signal to the charging station indicating the first type of charging is to be applied to the battery. The electronic device responds to a determination that charging of the battery is to continue by determining a second type of charging to be applied to the battery. The electronic device determines whether charging of the battery is to continue. In response to a determination that charging of the battery is not to continue, the electronic device sends a wireless signal to the charging station indicating that charging of the battery is to cease. |
US09564766B2 |
Controllable energy transfer between portable devices
An energy transfer apparatus includes a cable having first end with a first connector operably coupled thereto and a second end with a second connector operably coupled thereto. The energy transfer apparatus also includes a control unit coupled to the cable. The control unit includes a device interface module configured to determine a first energy parameter of a first portable device connected to the cable via the first connector and to determine a second energy parameter of a second portable device connected to the cable via the second connector. The control unit also includes an energy transfer module configured to facilitate energy transfer between the first and second portable devices based on the first and second energy parameters. |
US09564764B2 |
Apparatus and method for battery management with malfunction prevention algorithm
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for battery management. The present disclosure may significantly reduce the likelihood that a fuse of a battery pack will be melted based on a voltage value of a battery cell to which an error has occurred. Accordingly, the present disclosure may avoid an economic loss and a time loss that may occur when the fuse is incorrectly melted and the battery pack becomes unusable. |
US09564763B2 |
High-efficiency battery equalization for charging and discharging
A non-contiguous group of cells in a battery of cells is selected for charging or discharging the battery. |
US09564761B2 |
Conformable wearable battery with removable command module
A battery assembly has a command module with a power connection interface and a battery matrix interface. A battery matrix has a plurality of battery cells, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and a command module interface. The battery matrix interface may be removably interconnected with the command module interface, enabling power delivery from the battery matrix through the command module to the power connection interface and review of the EEPROM for capacity feedback with respect to remaining electrical power of the battery matrix. |
US09564755B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing power of smart appliance
A method and apparatus for managing power of a smart appliance is provided. The method includes acquiring, from the smart appliance, by an Energy Management System (EMS) for managing power of the smart appliance at home over a home network, terminal information including function information and power consumption information; monitoring power of the smart appliance and transmitting results of the results to an energy service provider; and controlling, upon receiving a power reduction command from the energy service provider, the power of the smart appliance based on the acquired terminal information. |
US09564752B2 |
Electronic apparatus and image forming apparatus
An electronic apparatus comprises: a displacement unit provided to an electronic apparatus main body; a first power source provided to the main body and supplying power to a load provided to the displacement unit; a first connecting unit that opens and closes a first supply path supplying an electric current from the first power source to the load in response to displacement of the displacement unit; a limiting unit provided on the first supply path and limiting an electric current flowing through the first supply path for a predetermined time from when an electric current is supplied from a second power source; and a second connecting unit that opens and closes a second supply path supplying an electric current from the second power source to the limiting unit in response to the displacement, wherein the first connecting unit opens and closes the second supply path in response to the displacement. |
US09564749B2 |
Electrical feedthrough for housing of active implantable medical device
A housing of an active medical device includes a metal wall having at least one feedthrough for an electrical connection through the wall. In the area of the feedthrough, the housing wall includes a contour groove extending through the thickness of wall, defining a metal islet electrically and physically isolated from the rest of the wall. The housing wall further includes an electrically insulating outer layer on the outer side of the wall extending over a region in alignment with the groove and beyond either side of the groove. The insulating outer layer includes a recess formed in alignment with the islet. The wall further includes an electrically conductive outer layer formed outside of the insulating layer and extending over the region in alignment with the groove and beyond either side of the groove. The islet is mechanically supported by the insulating and conductive outer layers. |
US09564741B1 |
One axis shutter with a pin-based bus system for miniature circuit breaker load centers
Apparatus for substantially eliminating exposure to live parts in a load center includes a bus assembly with male-terminal stabs which are capped with nonconductive material. A nonconductive structure covers the bus assembly and allows only the stabs to pass into the interior of circuit breaker compartments. A shutter assembly in each circuit breaker compartment has a nonconductive shutter plate that moves only in the Z axis to provide access to the stabs when a circuit breaker is inserted with a Z axis motion. Inserting the circuit breaker in the load center causes a shutter plate latch to open and depress the shutter. When the circuit breaker is removed from the load center, the shutter plate is biased upward and latched in a position over the stabs. No live touch points are available in the load center. |
US09564739B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device capable of high output is provided. A semiconductor laser diode includes: a substrate; and a semiconductor stacked structure, which is formed on the substrate through crystal growth. The semiconductor stacked structure includes: an n-type (Alx1Ga(1-x1))0.51In0.49P cladding layer and a p-type (Alx1Ga(1-x1))0.51In0.49P cladding layer; an n-side Alx2Ga(1-x2)As guiding layer and a p-side Alx2Ga(1-x2)As guiding layer, which are sandwiched between the cladding layers; and an active layer, which is sandwiched between the guiding layers. The active layer is formed of a quantum well layer including an AlyGa(1-y)As(1-x3)Px3 layer and a barrier layer including an Alx4Ga(1-x4)As layer that are alternatively repetitively stacked for a plurality of periods. |
US09564738B2 |
Semiconductor laser device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor laser device includes an n-type clad layer, a first p-type clad layer and a ridge stripe. The device also includes an active layer interposed between the n-type clad layer and the first p-type clad layer, and a current-blocking layer formed on side surfaces of the ridge stripe. The ridge stripe of the device includes a second p-type clad layer formed into a ridge stripe shape on the opposite surface of the first p-type clad layer from the n-type clad layer. The ridge stripe is formed such that a first ridge width as the width of a surface of the second p-type clad layer exists on the same side as the first p-type clad layer and a second ridge width as the width of a surface of the second p-type clad layer exists on the opposite side from the first p-type clad layer. |
US09564735B2 |
Method for controlling wavelength tunable laser
A method for controlling a wavelength tunable laser is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: calculating a lasing wavelength from two or more kinds of parameters, the parameters designating the target lasing wavelength; acquiring a driving condition from a memory, the wavelength tunable laser being operable to generate a laser beam of a first wavelength in the driving condition; and calculating another driving condition from the driving condition thus acquired and a wavelength difference between the first wavelength and a second wavelength, the second wavelength corresponding to the lasing wavelength, the wavelength tunable laser being operable to generate a laser beam of the second wavelength in the another driving condition, the wavelength tunable laser being driven in the another driving condition. |
US09564734B2 |
Method of fabricating and operating an optical modulator
A method of making an optical modulator by determining the material composition of the quantum well region in the waveguide portion of the modulator so that the modulator is transparent at a gain peak wavelength that is greater than the predetermined wavelength by a predetermined amount, and fabricating the modulator with the determined material composition. |
US09564732B2 |
Optical resonator system
It has been very difficult to accumulate strong laser in the conventional optical resonator, because firstly it has been very difficult to control a resonator length less than 1 Å in resonation position which is required for the laser amplification more than 1,000 times and secondly, the conventional method has utilized laser strength of amplified laser in the optical resonator as the resonance control signal.The present invention provides an optical resonator system to accumulate strong laser. In the system, unamplified modulation wave or harmonic which are derived from oscillation laser are selectively used to tune a resonator length of the optical resonator. |
US09564731B2 |
Method for illuminating a sample with supercontinuum pulses
A method of providing supercontinuum illumination in applications involving the excitation of fluorescence, comprising generating, at an optical pump laser, optical pump pulses at a pump pulse repetition rate; selectively controlling with an optical modulator the launch of pump pulses into a nonlinear optical element comprising an optical fiber at a variable, lower repetition rate to thereby selectively control the repetition rate of supercontinuum pulses generated within the optical fiber; and illuminating a sample with supercontinuum pulses to excite fluorescence. The supercontinuum pulses can be wavelength filtered such that the fluorescence is excited with wave length filtered supercontinuum pulses. |
US09564726B2 |
Electrical distribution system
An electrical distribution system comprising at least one busway section comprising an elongate trunking, a plurality busbars being disposed within the trunking, a respective elongate opening formed in a mounting face of the busway section permitting a respective male busbar engaging contact to engage the respective busbar, the system further comprising at least one tap off unit comprising a housing arranged to be mounted on the busway section, abutting the mounting face thereof, at any desired location along the length of the busway section, the at least one tap off unit having a plurality of conductive busbar engaging male contacts, the contacts being moveable between a retracted position, wherein the contacts are located within the housing, and an extended position, wherein the contacts extend out of the housing to engage a respective busbar via the elongate openings. |
US09564723B2 |
Power connector
An apparatus may include a conductive wire and a plug. The plug may be electrically and mechanically coupled to the conductive wire. The plug may include a non-conductive overmold, an electrically conductive barrel, and a lip. The non-conductive overmold may surround the conductive wire. The electrically conductive barrel may extend from the overmold, and may have a width that is smaller than a width of the overmold. The lip may extend from the barrel in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the barrel extends from the overmold. A distance from an outer portion of the lip to an opposite outer portion of the lip may be at least twice a length that the barrel extends from the overmold. |
US09564719B1 |
Elevated temperature detection and interrupter circuit for power cable
A circuit is disclosed for disconnecting electrical power upon the detection of an elevated temperature comprising an electrical plug and an electrical receptacle interconnected by a power cable. An interruption circuit having a disconnect switch is interposed in the power cable. A plug heat sensitive device and a receptacle heat sensitive device monitor the temperature of the electrical plug and the electrical receptacle. An elevated temperature detection circuit opens the disconnect switch upon the detection of an elevated temperature in one of the electrical plug and the electrical receptacle to prevent an overheated condition. |
US09564715B1 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes a dielectric body, a plurality of terminals integrally molded to the dielectric body, an insulating housing, two shielding elements, and a shielding shell surrounding the dielectric body, the insulating housing and the shielding elements. The insulating housing has a top wall, a bottom wall, two side walls and a rear wall. A top surface of the top wall and a bottom surface of the bottom wall of the insulating housing are recessed inward to form two fastening cavities. The dielectric body together with the terminals is assembled to the insulating housing. The two shielding elements are fastened to the two fastening cavities, respectively. |
US09564712B1 |
Connecting assembly for securing two expansion cards
A connecting assembly for mounting a first expansion card and a second expansion card in a motherboard. The connecting assembly includes at least one fixing member, a first locking member and a second locking member. Each fixing member includes a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion, the fixing member is detachably assembled on the motherboard. The motherboard is held between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, the fixing member fixes the first expansion card and the second expansion card with the motherboard through the first locking member and the second locking member. |
US09564711B2 |
Connector having an operation member and a locking member
A connector reduced in dimension in a front-rear direction by reducing the distance between an operating portion of an operation member and hooking portions of a locking member. The locking member maintains a state of a housing fitted to a mating housing, and includes a body, hooking portions provided at respective free end-side portions of the body, for being hooked to the mating housing to thereby maintain the fitted state, and a transmission portion for transmitting a force to move the operation member toward the rear of the housing, to the body, to thereby displace the hooking portions away from the mating housing. The operation member includes an operating portion for applying the force to the transmission portion. These portions are each formed with a flat surface inclined in a manner approaching the housing as it extends toward the rear of the housing. |
US09564706B2 |
Connection unit
The present invention provides a connection unit capable of accommodating nuts and showing sealing ability in a state installed on a housing.A connection unit S includes: a terminal block 100 having holes h3 at one side of for accommodating nuts n; a terminal-connecting portions 200 at least partially exposed when viewed from the other side and fixed to the terminal block 100 with the circumferences of the terminal-connecting portions 200 in tight contact with the terminal block 100; and a nut cover 300 for covering the nuts accommodated in the holes h3 for preventing the nuts n from coming off. The connection unit S further includes: guide grooves and guide ribs for restricting movement of the nut cover 300 relative to the terminal block 100; and locking hooks 116 and locking holes h5 for restricting movement of the nut cover 300 relative to the terminal block 100. |
US09564703B2 |
Screw block installation structure for a junction box
A screw block installation structure for a junction box in which a screw block is installed to a screw block attaching portion having a screw block housing space in a component attachment block in a junction box, the component attachment block is housed together with the screw block inside a frame, and a connecting member is screw-connected to a screw member of the screw block, the screw member having a vertical axis of the screw block, wherein a lateral side opening is disposed in the screw block attaching portion, and the screw block is laterally installed to the screw block housing space through the side opening is provided. |
US09564702B2 |
Electric apparatus with safety connector for preventing electric shock
An electric apparatus with safety connector for preventing electric shock, having an electric circuit comprising at least a pair of terminals electrically separated from each other, and a cover which covers the electric circuit so as to prevent access to it when it is disposed in the assembly configuration to cover the electric circuit. The cover is mechanically fixed in position by a plurality of attachment mechanisms. A safety connector associated with the cover and provided with an electric conductor element, wherein the security connector passes through the cover so as to short-circuit the terminals and a projection supports the electric conductor element and is movable from a closed configuration in which it short-circuits the terminals to an open position in which it does not short circuit the terminals. A cover element which, in closed configuration, at least partially overlaps at least one of attachment mechanisms. |
US09564699B1 |
Electronic device with support member
An electronic device includes at least one cover, a shell removably coupled to the cover, a circuit board, a support member, and a plurality of connectors. The circuit board is received between the cover and the shell, and a plurality of groups signal terminals are mounted on the circuit board. The support member is mounted on the circuit board and coupled to the cover, and the support member defines a slanted portion. The plurality of connectors are located on the slanted portion and include a plurality of first type connectors and a plurality of second type connectors coupled to the corresponding plurality of the groups of signal terminals through the support member and positioned in a proper order. When the cover is detached from the shell, the plurality of first type connectors and second type connectors slide down along the slanted portion, fall off the slanted portion and become mixed up. An unauthorized user might not be able to replace them in the proper order and therefor tampering may be prevented. |
US09564695B2 |
Torque sleeve for use with coaxial cable connector
A torque sleeve for use on a coaxial cable connector that facilitates rotation of the coaxial connector onto an interface port is disclosed. The inner bore of the torque sleeve is dimensioned to allow the torque sleeve to fit over the back end cap of the coaxial connector and yet engage with the nut on the front of the coaxial connector. The torque sleeve may also have features to ensure that it stays in place over the coaxial connector and/or to promote continuity of grounding connection between the coaxial connector and interface port. The torque sleeve may be used for jumper cables, which possess a length of wire and two coaxial connectors. |
US09564692B2 |
Conductive member
A conductive member is formed using a pipe member made of a conductive metal. The conductive member has a conductive body portion that extends in the lengthwise direction and that forms an electrical conduction path, and an insulating layer formed on the outer circumferential surface. Also, a terminal portion that enables connection with a partner member is integrally formed in each of the two end portions of the conductive body portion. The terminal portions are formed so as to be flat and are provided with a connection hole so as to enable connection with an electrode of an auxiliary battery or a terminal of a DC/DC converter. |
US09564691B2 |
Method for manufacturing crimp terminal, crimp terminal, and wire harness
A method for manufacturing a crimp terminal having a crimp portion that allows crimp connection to a conductor part of a coated wire includes forming a tubular body by bringing together side edges of a plate material made of metal composed of a copper alloy having a copper content ratio of greater than or equal to 70%, irradiating a periphery of the sides edges, which are brought together, with laser light from a laser irradiation unit to weld the side edges which are brought together, and setting a power density of the laser light and a sweep rate of the laser light in such a manner that a weld bead formed at the side edge portion after the welding has a width of 80 μm to 390 μm. |
US09564690B2 |
Terminal structure for covered electric wire
A terminal structure includes: a terminal portion including a tip of a covered electric wire; a connection terminal having a crimp portion crimped to the terminal portion; and a mold resin of a hygroscopic reactive type covering the terminal portion and the crimp portion. The crimp portion includes a conductive crimp portion crimped to the tip. The mold resin includes a first portion covering the conductive crimp portion and the tip; a second portion covering a part of the connection terminal which is further toward a tip than the tip, the part having a thickness smaller than the conductive crimp portion; and a first step formed between the first portion and the second portion such that the height of the mold resin decreases from the first portion to the second portion. A first recess formed on the second portion. |
US09564689B2 |
MIMO antenna system
A multiple input, multiple output (“MIMO”) antenna system is provided for operation on a radio frequency (“RF”) module that may be used in a wireless access device. The MIMO antenna system includes a plurality of multi-band antenna elements connected to a radio in a MIMO configuration. The multi-band antenna elements and the radio are configured to operate on a RF module. A reflector is formed on the RF module to contain the plurality of multi-band antenna elements and to concentrate signal communication in a sector, the plurality of multi-band antenna elements oriented to provide a sector coverage pattern formed by beam patterns generated by each of the multi-band antenna elements. |
US09564687B2 |
Directive antenna apparatus mounted on a board
There is provided an antenna apparatus including a first wire connecting a first metal part to a fourth metal part, a second wire connecting a second metal part to a feeder, and a third wire connecting a third metal part to a fourth metal part, wherein the first, second, and third wires are arranged in parallel to one edge of a semiconductor chip, and the second wire is disposed between the first wire and the third wire. |
US09564686B2 |
Near field communication antenna device of mobile terminal
A near field communication antenna device of a mobile terminal is provided. The near field communication antenna device includes a window including a display region for transmitting an image displayed by a display and a black mark region formed around the display region, a multi-layer Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB) on which a plurality of layers are laminated on the lower side of the black mark region of the window, and a spiral loop-shaped antenna pattern in which conductive lines are formed on respective layers of the multi-layer FPCB and are connected to each other. Accordingly, a near field communication antenna is not disposed in a separated installation space, an antenna pattern width can be reduced, and performance of the near field communication antenna may be prevented from being degraded when a battery cover is made of metal or has a curved shape. |
US09564685B2 |
Antenna and communication apparatus
The present invention provides an antenna in which first and second conductors each having a first width are spirally arranged on first and second planes, respectively, such that a conductor-to-conductor distance is equal to a second width, and an inter ends of spirals of the first and second conductors are connected with a conductor. In this antenna, the direction in which the spiral of the first conductor runs from its outer end to its inter end and the direction in which the spiral of the second conductor runs from its inter end to its outer end correspond to each other, the first width is greater than or equal to the second width, and the first and second conductors are alternately arranged in at least a portion thereof as viewed in a radius direction from an axis of the spiral. |
US09564677B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and an antenna thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes a housing, a main board arranged within said housing, and an antenna arranged on the outer surface of said housing such that the antenna is connected with said main board. The height of the mobile phone antenna can be effectively increased and, thus the performance of the antenna is improved. |
US09564676B2 |
System and methods for adaptive antenna optimization
A method (600) and devices for enhancing the performance of one or more antennas (440) is provided. A control circuit (104) assesses performance of an antenna (101) in a plurality of bands, such as a receive band and a transmit band. The control circuit (104) can then adjust an adjustable impedance matching circuit (103) coupled to the antenna (101) to improve the efficiency of the antenna (101) in the selected band and can adjust a resonance of the antenna (101) to further improve an efficiency of the antenna (101) in the selected band. Operating parameters for the antenna (101) can be selected from one or more multi-dimensional lookup tables (120) where the parameters are indexed both to a first operating band (702) and a second operating band (703). |
US09564675B2 |
Display device having antenna
A display device includes a display panel which displays an image, a driving circuit substrate disposed on a rear surface of the display panel and controlling the display panel to display the image, and a chip antenna connected to an end portion of the driving circuit substrate in a longitudinal direction of the driving circuit substrate. |
US09564671B2 |
Direct chip to waveguide transition including ring shaped antennas disposed in a thinned periphery of the chip
An apparatus providing a direct chip to waveguide transition, comprising: one or more waveguides, a chip partially embedding each of the waveguides at a transition area positioned at a narrow side of each waveguide, and a transmitting element disposed at each of the transition areas, thereby providing one or more simultaneous, direct transitions between the chip and the waveguides. |
US09564669B2 |
Merged battery cell with interleaved electrodes
A battery having the electrodes of multiple battery cell types are interleaved to prevent thermal runaway by cooling a shorted region between electrodes. The electrodes of each of the battery cell types with a first polarity share a pair of the common electrodes having a second polarity. The electrodes of the multiple battery cell types and the multiple common electrodes are interleaved such that if the electrodes of the multiple battery cell types and the adjacent common electrodes of one or more battery cell types short together, the current within the shorted battery cells is sufficiently small to prevent thermal runaway and the electrodes of the adjacent cells of the other battery cell types of the first polarity and the common electrodes of the second polarity not having short circuits provide heat sinking for the heat generated by the short circuit to prevent thermal runaway. |
US09564663B2 |
Battery module and battery assembly comprising the same
A battery module including a unit cell assembly including two or more battery cells or unit modules; a left case coupled to a left side of the assembly, the left case provided at a left outer side thereof with a first fastening groove extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the battery module such that a sensing assembly is fastened into the first groove, the left case being provided at opposite ends thereof with second fastening grooves formed parallel to a height direction of the battery; and a right case coupled to a right side of the assembly, an external input and output terminal oriented to a front of the battery, the right case provided at a right inner side thereof with a plurality of fixing grooves formed parallel to a longitudinal direction of the assembly such that the assembly is fastened and fixed into the fixing grooves is provided. |
US09564658B2 |
Lithium-ion secondary battery and electrolyte thereof
The present disclosure provides a lithium-ion secondary battery and an electrolyte thereof. The electrolyte comprises a lithium salt; a non-aqueous solvent and an additive comprising a first additive and a second additive, the first additive comprises at least one of vinylene carbonate and vinyl ethylene carbonate, the second additive is 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-2-one and its derivatives with a structural formula 1 and/or 4,5-dimethylene-1,3-dioxolan-2-one and its derivatives with a structural formula 2; in the structural formula 1 and the structural formula 2, R1, R2, R3 and R4 each are hydrogen, halogen, C1˜C3 alkyl or halogenated alkyl; a weight percentage of the first additive in the electrolyte is 0.2%˜2.0%, a weight percentage of the second additive in the electrolyte is 0.3%˜4.0%. The lithium-ion secondary battery comprises the aforementioned electrolyte. The lithium-ion secondary battery has better cycle performance, better low temperature discharging performance, and higher first coulombic efficiency. |
US09564653B2 |
Method for producing fuel cell including nanofibers of metal oxide
A production method for producing a fuel cell, includes spinning a precursor consisting of a salt of at least one metal chosen from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho, Yb, Sr, Ba, Mn, Co, Mg, and Ga, a solvent, and a macromolecular polymer to produce nanofibers of the precursor containing the salt of the metal. The method further includes calcining the nanofibers of the precursor at a temperature ranging from 550° C. to 650° C. for 2 to 4 hours, and making a solid electrolyte material composed of the nanofibers obtained from the calcining. The resulting solid electrolyte material constitutes a part of a fuel cell. |
US09564644B2 |
Hydrating a fuel cell
An example method of controlling fluid distribution within a fuel cell includes adjusting a flow of a reactant moving within a fuel cell to increase water within a portion of the fuel cell. Another example method of controlling fluid distribution within a fuel cell includes adjusting a flow of fuel entering a fuel cell, a velocity of air entering the fuel cell, or both, so that a first amount of water exiting the fuel cell in a fuel stream is about the same as a second amount of water exiting the fuel cell in an airstream. |
US09564641B2 |
Active material, electrode, lithium ion secondary battery, and method for manufacturing active material
An active material that can achieve sufficient discharge capacity at high discharging rate, an electrode including the active material, and a lithium ion secondary battery including the electrode, and a method for manufacturing the active material are provided. The active material includes a LiVOPO4 powder, a first carbon powder, and a second carbon powder. A relational expression of 0.05≦A1/A2≦0.5 is satisfied, where A1 represents the ratio of the G band peak height observed around 1580 cm−1 in Raman spectrum of the first carbon powder to the 2D band peak height observed around 2700 cm−1 in the Raman spectrum of the first carbon powder, and A2 represents the ratio of the G band peak height observed around 1580 cm−1 in Raman spectrum of the second carbon powder to the 2D band peak height observed around 2700 cm−1 in the Raman spectrum of the second carbon powder. |
US09564638B2 |
Battery electrode or separator surface protective agent composition, battery electrode or separator protected by the composition, and battery having the battery electrode or separator
A battery electrode or separator surface protective agent composition having fluidity and being capable of being solidified by hot melt, and comprising at least two types of organic particles comprising organic materials, wherein the organic particles of types different from each other are substantially incompatible with each other, wherein when the composition is solidified by hot melt, the organic particles of the same type thermally fuse with one another to form a continuous phase. |
US09564634B2 |
Positive electrode active substance particles and process for producing the same, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
The present invention relates to positive electrode active substance particles comprising a compound having at least a crystal system belonging to a space group of R-3m and a crystal system belonging to a space group of C2/m, the positive electrode active substance particles having a specific intensity ratio; a content of Mn in the positive electrode active substance particles being controlled such that a molar ratio of Mn/(Ni+Co+Mn) therein is not less than 0.55; and the positive electrode active substance particles comprising an element A (that is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Zr and Y) in an amount of 0.03 to 5% by weight and having a tap density of 0.8 to 2.4 g/cc and a compressed density of 2.0 to 3.1 g/cc. The positive electrode active substance particles can be produced by calcining a mixture of precursor particles comprising the element A, Mn, Ni and/or Co, and a lithium compound. |
US09564633B2 |
Hybrid silicon and carbon clathrates
A composition comprising a Type 1 clathrate of silicon having a Si46 framework cage structure wherein the silicon atoms on said framework are at least partially substituted by carbon atoms, said composition represented by the formula CySi46-y with 1≦y≦45. The composition of may include one or more guest atoms A within the cage structure represented by the formula AxCySi46-y wherein A=H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca. Sr, Ba, Ra, Eu, Cl, Br, or I or any metal or metalloid element and x is the number of said guest atoms within said cage structure. |
US09564632B2 |
Layered titanium disilicide, method of preparation and applications thereof
The invention generally relates to new materials based on C49 titanium disilicide (TiSi2) as a new, layered anode material, within which lithium ions can react with the Si-only layers. Stabilization by a coating a thin layer of oxide on the surface of TiSi2 significantly improves the charge and discharge performance. |
US09564629B2 |
Hybrid nano-filament anode compositions for lithium ion batteries
This invention provides a hybrid nano-filament composition for use as an electrochemical cell electrode. The composition comprises: (a) an aggregate of nanometer-scaled, electrically conductive filaments that are substantially interconnected, intersected, or percolated to form a porous, electrically conductive filament network comprising substantially interconnected pores, wherein the filaments have an elongate dimension and a first transverse dimension with the first transverse dimension being less than 500 nm (preferably less than 100 nm) and an aspect ratio of the elongate dimension to the first transverse dimension greater than 10; and (b) micron- or nanometer-scaled coating that is deposited on a surface of the filaments, wherein the coating comprises an anode active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions and the coating has a thickness less than 20 μm (preferably less than 1 μm). Also provided is a lithium ion battery comprising such an electrode as an anode. The battery exhibits an exceptionally high specific capacity, an excellent reversible capacity, and a long cycle life. |
US09564626B2 |
Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery includes a case having an inner space, a first electrode assembly inside the case, a second electrode assembly inside the case, a current collecting member including a first current collecting piece electrically connected to an electrode of the first electrode assembly and a second current collecting piece electrically connected to an electrode of the second electrode assembly, the electrode of the second electrode assembly having a same polarity as the electrode of the first electrode assembly, a first terminal electrically connected to the first current collecting member and protruding outside the case, wherein the first current collecting piece and the second current collecting piece have different lengths. |
US09564614B2 |
Secondary battery
A secondary battery including: an electrode assembly; a case receiving the electrode assembly and including a plurality of stepped sections at an inner side of the case in contact with the electrode assembly; and at least one electrode tab electrically connected with the electrode assembly and withdrawn toward an outside of the case. In the secondary battery, a friction force between the inner side of the case and the electrode assembly is increased due to the plurality of stepped sections, thereby minimizing or reducing movement of the electrode assembly within the case. |
US09564611B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate, a light emitting structure, a light transmitting member, and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a pixel region and a transparent region. The light emitting structure is positioned in the pixel region of the first substrate. The light transmitting member is positioned in the transparent region. The second substrate is disposed on the light emitting structure and the light transmitting member. The light is not refracted in interfaces between the light transmitting member and the first substrate and between the light transmitting member and the second substrate. |
US09564610B2 |
Electronic device and method for manufacturing same
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device in which permeation of water content and oxygen from a bonding part is decreased, and which is excellent in stability, and a method for manufacturing the electronic device. The present invention relates to an electronic device including a substrate, an electronic element main body on the substrate, an electrode that is connected to the electronic element main body, a silicon-containing film that coats at least the electrode, and a sealing substrate that is bonded to the substrate via a bonding part that has the silicon-containing film and is disposed on the surrounding of the electronic element main body, to seal the electronic element main body, in which at least one of the substrate and the sealing substrate is a gas barrier film, and the silicon-containing film has a composition represented by the following chemical formula (1): in which x, y and z are respectively atomic ratios of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon to silicon, and satisfy 0≦y<0.3, 3<2x+5y≦5 and 0.01 |
US09564608B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a pixel part provided with a plurality of pixels, and a light emitting device provided in the pixel, wherein the light emitting device includes a light emitting layer including a quantum dot, a first electrode provided on one surface of the light emitting layer, an insulation layer provided between the light emitting layer and the first electrode, and a second electrode provided between the light emitting layer and the insulation layer, and at least one end part of the second electrode layer is provided over the first electrode. |
US09564603B2 |
Heterocyclic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
A heterocyclic compound and an organic light-emitting diode including the same, the heterocyclic compound being represented by Formula 1, below: |
US09564600B2 |
Compound having an indolocarbazole ring structure and organic electroluminescent device
A compound having an indolocarbazole ring structure is represented by the following general formula (1), and is used as a material for forming a highly efficient and highly durable organic electroluminescent device. The compound features excellent hole injection/transport capability, has electron blocking power and is highly stable in the form of a thin film. wherein, A is a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or aromatic heterocyclic group, Ar1 to Ar4 are monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon groups or aromatic heterocyclic groups, and R1 to R9 are hydrogen atoms, deuterium atoms, fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms, cyano groups, nitro groups, alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkyloxy groups, cycloalkyloxy groups, aromatic hydrocarbon groups, aromatic heterocyclic groups or aryloxy groups. |
US09564596B2 |
Heterocyclic compound and organic light-emitting device comprising same
A compound represented by Formula 1 or 2, and an organic light-emitting device including the same are disclosed. Formulae 1 and 2 are defined as in the specification. |
US09564595B2 |
Bis-carbazole derivative and organic electroluminescent element using same
A biscarbazole derivative represented by formula (1): wherein A1, A2, L1, L2, R1 to R4, and a to d are as defined in the specification, is useful as a material for forming organic EL devices and the organic EL devices including the derivative is capable of driving at a low voltage and has a long lifetime. |
US09564584B2 |
Electronic device and method for fabricating the same
An electronic device includes a semiconductor device that includes: a substrate including a switching element having a buried gate electrode; a buried decoupling capacitor having a line width same as a line width of the buried gate electrode; and a variable resistance element, electrically coupled to the switching element, formed over the substrate. |
US09564576B2 |
Multi-bit ferroelectric memory device and methods of forming the same
Multi-bit ferroelectric memory devices and methods of forming the same are provided. One example method of forming a multi-bit ferroelectric memory device can include forming a first ferroelectric material on a first side of a via, removing a material to expose a second side of the via, and forming second ferroelectric material on the second side of the via at a different thickness compared to the first side of the via. |
US09564573B1 |
Trilayer josephson junction structure with small air bridge and no interlevel dielectric for superconducting qubits
A technique relates to a trilayer Josephson junction structure. A dielectric layer is on a base electrode layer that is on a substrate. A counter electrode layer is on the dielectric layer. First and second counter electrodes are formed from the counter electrode layer. First and second dielectric layers are formed from the dielectric layer. First and second base electrodes are formed from base electrode layer. The first counter electrode, first dielectric layer, and first base electrode form a first stack. The second counter electrode, second dielectric layer, and second base electrode form a second stack. A shunting capacitor is between first and second base electrodes. An ILD layer is deposited on the substrate, the first and second counter electrodes, and the first and second base electrodes. A contact bridge connects the first and second counter electrodes. An air gap is formed underneath the contact bridge by removing ILD. |
US09564570B2 |
Thermoelectric module with thermal expansion compensation, method for producing a thermoelectric module and thermoelectric generator
A thermoelectric module extends in a longitudinal direction and includes an outer tube, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and an interspace between the tubes. At least one first strip-shaped structure and one second strip-shaped structure are provided. The first strip-shaped structure extends from a first connection on the inner tube and the second strip-shaped structure extends from a second connection on the outer tube in opposite directions in at least one circumferential direction or in the longitudinal direction and at least partly form an overlap at least in the circumferential direction or in the longitudinal direction. At least one pair of semiconductor elements is disposed in the region of the overlap. A method for producing a thermoelectric module and a thermoelectric generator are also provided. |
US09564569B1 |
Hermetic solution for thermal and optical sensor-in-package
A sensor-in-package device, a process for fabricating a hermetically-sealed sensor-in-package device, and a process for fabricating a hermetically-sealed sensor-in-package device with a pre-assembled hat that employ example techniques in accordance with the present disclosure are described herein. In an implementation, the sensor-in-package device includes a substrate; at least one thermopile, at least one photodetector, at least one light-emitting diode, an ultraviolet light sensor, and a pre-assembled hat disposed on the first side of the substrate, where the pre-assembled hat includes a body; a first lid; and a second lid; where the body, the substrate, and the first lid define a thermopile cavity that houses the at least one thermopile, and where the body, the substrate, and the second lid define an optical cavity that houses at least one of the at least one photodetector, the at least one light-emitting diode, or the ultraviolet light sensor. |
US09564567B2 |
Light emitting device package and method of fabricating the same
A light emitting device package and a method of manufacturing the light emitting device package are provided. A base is first provided and a hole is formed on the base. After a light emitting portion is formed on the base, a mold die is placed on the light emitting portion and a molding material is injected through the hole. The mold die is removed to complete the package. |
US09564566B2 |
Optoelectronic component and method for the production thereof
An optoelectronic component includes a housing having an electrically conductive first contact section, and an optoelectronic semiconductor chip arranged on the first contact section, wherein the optoelectronic semiconductor chip and the first contact section are at least partly covered by a first layer including a silicone, a second layer including SiO2 is arranged at a surface of the first layer, the second layer has a thickness of 10 nm to 1 μm, and a third layer is arranged above the second layer. |
US09564565B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting module, and method for manufacturing light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a light reflecting member. The first terminal and the second terminal each have a substantially spherical shape and are electrically connected to the light emitting element. The light reflecting member holds the light emitting element, the first terminal, and the second terminal. The light reflecting member includes a bottom surface, an upper surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a front surface, a back surface, a first terminal exposure surface, and a second terminal exposure surface. The light emitting device is to be placed via the bottom surface. The first terminal is exposed from the first terminal exposure surface to provide a first exposed portion. The second terminal is exposed from the second terminal exposure surface to provide a second exposed portion. |
US09564563B2 |
Improving display contrast
There is herein described electronic components with improved display contrast and a method of manufacturing such electronic components. More particularly, there is described electronic components having improved display contrast by using a non-transparent or substantially non-transparent material (520) to block light from an emitter source (512, 514, 516) to surrounding components such as emitters, sensors or components of this nature. |
US09564562B2 |
Silicone composition for sealing semiconductor
The silicone composition for sealing a semiconductor, comprises: (A) 100 parts of a polyorganosiloxane having one or more alkenyl groups, obtained by reacting (a1) 60 to 99 parts of an organosiloxane containing at least a trifunctional siloxane unit not taking part in a hydrosilylation reaction, with (a2) 40 to 1 parts of an organosiloxane containing a bifunctional siloxane unit having an alkenyl group and/or a monofunctional siloxane unit having an alkenyl group; (B) an amount of a polyorganohydrogensiloxane having two or more hydrogen atoms having a viscosity at 25° C. of 1 to 1000 mPa·s so that an amount of the hydrogen atoms is 0.5 to 3.0 mol per mol of the alkenyl groups; and (C) a platinum-based catalysts, wherein a decrease in storage modulus of a cured product thereof from 25° C. to 50° C. is 40% or more.Specifically the polyorganosiloxane (A) is prepared by block or graft polymerization and equilibration reaction of three specific, different, organosiloxanes including a branched siloxane, a linear siloxane and a cyclic siloxane. |
US09564559B2 |
White emitting light source and luminescent material
The invention relates to a white emitting light source with an improved luminescent material of the formula (AEN2/3)*b(MN)*c(SiN4/3)*d1CeO3/2*d2EuO*xSiO2*yAlO3/2 wherein AE is an alkaline earth metal chosen of the group of Ca, Mg, Sr and Ba or mixtures thereof and M is a trivalent element chosen of the group of Al, B, Ga, Sc with d1>10*d2. In combination with a UV to blue light generating device this material leads to an improved light quality and stability, especially an improved temperature stability for a wide range of applications. |
US09564558B2 |
Fluoride fluorescent material and light emitting device using the same
The present invention provides a fluoride fluorescent material comprising a chemical composition represented by the following formula (I): K2[M1-aMn4+aF6] (I) wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Groups 4 and 14 of the Periodic Table, and a is a value that satisfies the relationship: 0 |
US09564557B2 |
LED based device with wide color gamut
The invention provides a lighting unit comprising a source of blue light, a source of green light, a first source of red light comprising a first red luminescent material, configured to provide red light with a broad band spectral light distribution, and a second source of red light comprising a second red luminescent material, configured to provide red light with a spectral light distribution comprising one or more red emission lines. Especially, the first red luminescent material comprises (Mg,Ca,Sr)AlSiN3:Eu and/or (Ba,Sr,Ca)2Si5-xAlxOxN8-x:Eu, and the second red luminescent material comprises K2SiF6:Mn. |
US09564553B2 |
Power light emitting diode and method with uniform current density operation
A light emitting diode device has a bulk gallium and nitrogen containing substrate with an active region. The device has a lateral dimension and a thick vertical dimension such that the geometric aspect ratio forms a volumetric diode that delivers a nearly uniform current density across the range of the lateral dimension. |
US09564552B2 |
Method for producing group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device
The present invention provides a Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device exhibiting improved emission performance. In a MQW structure light-emitting layer in which a plurality of layer units is repeatedly deposited, each layer unit comprising an InGaN well layer, a GaN protective layer, and an AlGaN barrier layer sequentially deposited, the protective layer is formed as follows. The protective layer is grown at the same temperature as employed for the well layer. The growth rate of the protective layer is larger than 0.5 times and not larger than 1.1 times the growth rate of the well layer. The protective layer is formed so as to have a thickness of 5 Å to 8 Å at the start of growth of the barrier layer being formed thereafter. |
US09564550B2 |
Optoelectronic component, a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic component, and a method for processing a carrier
According to various embodiments, an optoelectronic component may be provided, the optoelectronic component including: an electrode structure disposed at least one of over and in a carrier; and a grating structure disposed over the electrode structure, the grating structure including at least a first region and a second region, wherein the first region of the grating structure includes amorphous silicon; and wherein the second region of the grating structure includes a material having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the amorphous silicon. |
US09564549B2 |
Germainium pin photodiode for integration into a CMOS or BICMOS technology
A diode comprising a light-sensitive germanium region which is totally embedded in silicon and forms with the silicon a lower interface and lateral interfaces, wherein the lateral interfaces do not extend perpendicularly, but obliquely to the lower interface and therefore produce a faceted form. |
US09564545B2 |
Photovoltaic sheathing element with one or more tabs
The present invention is premised upon an assembly that includes at least a photovoltaic sheathing element capable of being affixed on a building structure. The shingle including at least a photovoltaic cell assembly, a body portion attached to one or more portions of the photovoltaic cell assembly. Wherein the body portion includes one or more top peripheral tabs each capable of fitting under one or more vertically adjoining devices. |
US09564542B2 |
Selective transformation in functional films, and solar cell applications thereof
A solar cell formation method, and resulting structure, having a first film and a barrier film over a surface of a doped semiconductor, wherein the optical and/or electrical properties of the first film are transformed in-situ such that a resulting transformed film is better suited to the efficient functioning of the solar cell; wherein portions of the barrier film partially cover the first film and substantially prevent transformation of first film areas beneath the portions of the barrier film. |
US09564536B2 |
Self-aligned metal oxide thin-film transistor component and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention is applicable to the field of electronic component technologies and provides a manufacturing method of a self-aligned metal oxide TFT component, including: selecting a substrate and preparing a gate on the substrate; successively disposing an insulation layer, a transparent electrode layer, and a photoresist on the gate; using the gate as a mask to perform exposure from a back side of the substrate, so as to form a source and a drain that are aligned with the gate; depositing a metal oxide semiconductor layer on the transparent electrode layer; performing etching on the semiconductor layer, the source, and the drain, so that outer ends of the source and the drain are exposed out of the metal oxide semiconductor layer; and depositing a passivation layer and leading out the source and the drain. In the present invention, a transparent conductor is used as the electrode layer, and a bottom gate is used as a mask to perform back exposure, so as to perform etching on the source and the drain, thereby implementing a self-alignment between the source or the drain and the gate, effectively reducing parasitic capacitance, and improving component performance. The component is of a bottom-gate bottom-contact structure, and there is no need to manufacture an etch-stop layer, thereby simplifying a process, reducing use of a photolithographic mask, improving production efficiency, and improving an electrical property of the component. |
US09564535B2 |
Semiconductor device, display device including the semiconductor device, display module including the display device, and electronic appliance including the semiconductor device, the display device, and the display module
A change in electrical characteristics is inhibited and reliability is improved in a semiconductor device using a transistor including an oxide semiconductor. One embodiment of a semiconductor device including a transistor includes a gate electrode, first and second insulating films over the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film over the second insulating film, and source and drain electrodes electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film. A third insulating film is provided over the transistor and a fourth insulating film is provided over the third insulating film. The third insulating film includes oxygen. The fourth insulating film includes nitrogen. The amount of oxygen released from the third insulating film is 1×1019/cm3 or more by thermal desorption spectroscopy, which is estimated as oxygen molecules. The amount of oxygen molecules released from the fourth insulating film is less than 1×1019/cm3. |
US09564534B2 |
Transistor and display device using the same
The band tail state and defects in the band gap are reduced as much as possible, whereby optical absorption of energy which is in the vicinity of the band gap or less than or equal to the band gap is reduced. In that case, not by merely optimizing conditions of manufacturing an oxide semiconductor film, but by making an oxide semiconductor to be a substantially intrinsic semiconductor or extremely close to an intrinsic semiconductor, defects on which irradiation light acts are reduced and the effect of light irradiation is reduced essentially. That is, even in the case where light with a wavelength of 350 nm is delivered at 1×1013 photons/cm2·sec, a channel region of a transistor is formed using an oxide semiconductor, in which the absolute value of the amount of the variation in the threshold voltage is less than or equal to 0.65 V. |
US09564526B2 |
Group III nitride integration with CMOS technology
A method of forming a structure that can be used to integrate Si-based devices, i.e., nFETs and pFETs, with Group III nitride-based devices is provided. The method includes providing a substrate containing an nFET device region, a pFET device region and a Group III nitride device region, wherein the substrate includes a topmost silicon layer and a <111> silicon layer located beneath the topmost silicon layer. Next, a trench is formed within the Group III nitride device region to expose a sub-surface of the <111> silicon layer. The trench is then partially filled with a Group III nitride base material, wherein the Group III nitride material base material has a topmost surface that is coplanar with, or below, a topmost surface of the topmost silicon layer. |
US09564523B1 |
Non-linear spin-orbit interaction devices and methods for current-to-spin conversion and amplification of spin-polarizations
The present invention is notably directed to a spin-orbit coupled device. This device comprises a confinement part. It further includes a circuitry, having an input device, energizable to inject spin-polarizations to charge carriers in an input region of the confinement part. The circuitry further comprises an output device, usable to detect spin-polarizations of charge carriers in an output region of the confinement part. The confinement part may be is configured to subject charge carriers drifting therein to a non-linear spin-orbit interaction, which causes to rotate a spin polarization of the drifting charge carriers by an angle that depends non-linearly on momenta of such charge carriers. The circuitry may be configured to allow momenta of charge carriers drifting in the confinement part to be varied, while injecting spin-polarizations in the input region. Varying momenta allows spin-polarizations of drifting charge carriers to be rotated, owing to said non-linear spin-orbit interaction. |
US09564521B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising ferroelectric elements and fast high-K metal gate transistors
A semiconductor device comprises a first and second circuit element. The first circuit element comprises a first electrode structure including a first high-k dielectric layer, the first high-k dielectric layer having a first thickness and comprising hafnium. The second circuit element comprises a second electrode structure that includes a second high-k dielectric layer having a ferroelectric behavior, wherein the second high-k dielectric layer has a second thickness and comprises hafnium, and wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. |
US09564519B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices and manufacturing methods thereof
There is provided a method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device including: alternatively stacking a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of conductive layers on a top surface of a substrate; forming an opening that exposes the top surface of the substrate and lateral surfaces of the insulating layers and the conductive layers; forming an anti-oxidation layer on at least the exposed lateral surfaces of the conductive layers; forming a gate dielectric layer on the anti-oxidation layer, the gate dielectric layer including a blocking layer, an electric charge storage layer, and a tunneling layer that are sequentially formed on the anti-oxidation layer; and forming a channel region on the tunneling layer. |
US09564518B2 |
Method and apparatus for source-drain junction formation in a FinFET with in-situ doping
A portion of a bulk silicon (Si) is formed into a fin, having a fin base and, on the fin base, an in-process fin. The fin base is doped Si and the in-process fin is silicon germanium (SiGe). The in-process SiGe fin has a source region and a drain region. Boron is in-situ doped into the drain region and into the source region. Optionally, boron is in-situ doped by forming an epi-layer, having boron, on the drain region and on the source region, and drive-in annealing to diffuse boron in the source region and the drain region. |
US09564517B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
To provide a manufacturing method of a highly reliable TFT, by which a more refined pattern can be formed through a process using four or three masks, and a semiconductor device. A channel-etched bottom gate TFT structure is adopted in which a photoresist is selectively exposed to light by rear surface exposure utilizing a gate wiring to form a desirably patterned photoresist, and further, a halftone mask or a gray-tone mask is used as a multi-tone mask. Further, a step of lifting off using a halftone mask or a gray-tone mask and a step of reflowing a photoresist are used. |
US09564515B2 |
Semiconductor device having super junction structure and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device having a super junction structure includes a substrate, an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type, a first trench, a first doped region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, a second trench and a second doped region of the first conductivity type. The epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type is over the substrate. The first trench is in the epitaxial layer. The first doped region of the second conductivity type is in the epitaxial layer and surrounds the first trench. The second trench is in the epitaxial layer and separated from the first trench. The second doped region of the first conductivity type is in the epitaxial layer and surrounds the second trench. The second doped region has a dopant concentration greater than a dopant concentration of the epitaxial layer. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device is also provided. |
US09564512B2 |
Fin field-effect transistor and fabrication method thereof
A method for fabricating a FinFET structure comprises providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a hard mask layer on the semiconductor substrate; forming a dummy gate structure having a dummy gate, a first sidewall spacer and a second sidewall spacer; removing the dummy gate to form a first trench; forming first sub-fins in the semiconductor substrate under the hard mask layer in the first trench; forming a first metal gate structure in the first trench; removing the first sidewall spacer to form a second trench; forming second sub-fins in the semiconductor substrate under the hard mask layer in the second trench; forming a second metal gate structure in the second trench; removing the second sidewall spacer to form a third trench; forming third sub-fins in the semiconductor substrate under the hard mask layer in the third trench; and forming a third metal gate structure in the third trench. |
US09564510B2 |
Method of fabricating a MOSFET with an undoped channel
A method of fabricating a MOSFET with an undoped channel is disclosed. The method comprises fabricating on a substrate a semiconductor structure having a dummy poly gate, dummy interlayer (IL) oxide, and a doped channel. The method further comprises removing the dummy poly gate and the dummy IL oxide to expose the doped channel, removing the doped channel from an area on the substrate, forming an undoped channel for the semiconductor structure at the area on the substrate, and forming a metal gate for the semiconductor structure. Removing the dummy poly gate may comprise dry and wet etch operations. Removing the dummy IL oxide may comprise dry etch operations. Removing the doped channel may comprise anisotropic etch operations on the substrate. Forming an undoped channel may comprise applying an epitaxial process to grow the undoped channel. The method may further comprise growing IL oxide above the undoped channel. |
US09564508B2 |
Device isolation with improved thermal conductivity
A method of making a semiconductor structure includes forming a trench through a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure and into a substrate, and forming a liner including an electrical insulator material on sidewalls of the trench. The method also includes forming a core including a high thermal conductivity material in the trench and on the liner, and forming a cap in the trench and on the core. |
US09564507B2 |
Interlayer dielectric layer with two tensile dielectric layers
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first tensile dielectric layer on the substrate; a metal gate in the first tensile dielectric layer; a second tensile dielectric layer on the first tensile dielectric layer; and a contact plug in the first tensile dielectric layer and the second tensile dielectric layer. Preferably, the top surface of the contact plug is even with the top surface of the second tensile dielectric layer, and a carbon content of the second tensile dielectric layer is greater than the carbon content of the first tensile dielectric layer. |
US09564506B2 |
Low end parasitic capacitance FinFET
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for fabricating a semiconductor device. One method may include providing a semiconductor substrate with fins etched into the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate structure and depositing an insulating material around the gate structure; selectively etching an active device area; forming a set of spacers on the sides of the gate structure; growing a doped source and drain region; depositing an insulator over an upper surface of a deposited etch stop layer; and depositing a metal into a contact opening to form one or more contacts. |
US09564505B2 |
Changing effective work function using ion implantation during dual work function metal gate integration
Ion implantation to change an effective work function for dual work function metal gate integration is presented. One method may include forming a high dielectric constant (high-k) layer over a first-type field effect transistor (FET) region and a second-type FET region; forming a metal layer having a first effective work function compatible for a first-type FET over the first-type FET region and the second-type FET region; and changing the first effective work function to a second, different effective work function over the second-type FET region by implanting a species into the metal layer over the second-type FET region. |
US09564504B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A manufacturing method according to an embodiment of this invention is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which has: a first step of forming a first electrode 22 containing Ti or Ta on a top face of a nitride semiconductor layer 18; a second step of forming a second electrode 24 containing Al on a top face of the first electrode 22; a third step of forming a coating metal layer 26 covering at least one of an edge of a top face of the second electrode 24 and a side face of the second electrode 24, having a window 26a exposing the top face of the second electrode 24 in a region separated from the foregoing edge, and containing at least one of Ta, Mo, Pd, Ni, and Ti; and a step of performing a thermal treatment, after the third step. |
US09564503B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A manufacturing method according to an embodiment of this invention is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which has: a first step of forming a first electrode 22 containing Ti or Ta on a top face of a nitride semiconductor layer 18; a second step of forming a second electrode 24 containing Al on a top face of the first electrode 22; a third step of forming a coating metal layer 26 covering at least one of an edge of a top face of the second electrode 24 and a side face of the second electrode 24, having a window 26a exposing the top face of the second electrode 24 in a region separated from the foregoing edge, and containing at least one of Ta, Mo, Pd, Ni, and Ti; and a step of performing a thermal treatment, after the third step. |
US09564501B2 |
Reduced trench profile for a gate
The present disclosure is directed to a gate structure for a transistor. The gate structure is formed on a substrate and includes a trench. There are sidewalls that line the trench. The sidewalls have a first dimension at a lower end of the trench and a second dimension at an upper end of the trench. The first dimension being larger than the second dimension, such that the sidewalls are tapered from a lower region to an upper region. A high k dielectric liner is formed on the sidewalls and a conductive liner is formed on the high k dielectric liner. A conductive material is in the trench and is adjacent to the conductive liner. The conductive material has a first dimension at the lower end of the trench that is smaller than a second dimension at the upper end of the trench. |
US09564498B2 |
Transistor with elevated drain termination
According to an exemplary implementation, a transistor includes drain finger electrodes interdigitated with source finger electrodes. The transistor also includes a current conduction path in a semiconductor substrate between the drain finger electrodes and the source finger electrodes. At least one of the drain finger electrodes has a drain finger electrode end and a drain finger electrode main body, where the drain finger electrode main body is non-coplaner with at least a portion of the drain finger electrode end. The transistor may also include a dielectric material situated between at least a portion of the drain finger electrode end and the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric material can be an increasing thickness dielectric material. The dielectric material can thus elevate the drain finger electrode end over the semiconductor substrate. Further, the drain finger electrode end can have an increased radius of curvature. |
US09564497B2 |
High voltage field effect transitor finger terminations
A field effect transistor having at least one structure configured to redistribute and/or reduce an electric field from gate finger ends is disclosed. Embodiments of the field effect transistor include a substrate, an active region disposed on the substrate, at least one source finger in contact with the active region, at least one drain finger in contact with the active region, and at least one gate finger in rectifying contact with the active region. One embodiment has at least one end of the at least one gate finger extending outside of the active region. Another embodiment includes at least one source field plate integral with the at least one source finger. The at least one source field plate extends over the at least one gate finger that includes a portion outside of the active region. Either embodiment can also include a sloped gate foot to further improve high voltage operation. |
US09564488B2 |
Strained isolation regions
A method of forming an isolation trench having localized stressors is provided. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a trench is formed in a substrate and partially filled with a dielectric material. In an embodiment, the trench is filled with a dielectric layer and a planarization step is performed to planarize the surface with the surface of the substrate. The dielectric material is then recessed below the surface of the substrate. In the recessed portion of the trench, the dielectric material may remain along the sidewalls or the dielectric material may be removed along the sidewalls. A stress film, either tensile or compressive, may then be formed over the dielectric material within the recessed portion. The stress film may also extend over a transistor or other semiconductor structure. |
US09564486B2 |
Self-aligned dual-height isolation for bulk FinFET
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first isolation region between fins of a first group of fins and between fins of a second group of fins. The first a second group of fins are formed in a bulk semiconductor substrate. A second isolation region is formed between the first group of fins and the second group of fins, the second isolation region extends through a portion of the first isolation region such that the first and second isolation regions are in direct contact and a height above the bulk semiconductor substrate of the second isolation region is greater than a height above the bulk semiconductor substrate of the first isolation region. |
US09564485B2 |
Switch driving circuit, inverter apparatus and power steering apparatus
A switch driving circuit electrically opens and closes a switch circuit including two N-channel type semiconductor switching elements series connected in a reverse direction, thereby electrically opening and closing a path between a DC power supply and an inverter circuit. The switch driving circuit has a reference potential point in common with the inverter circuit and supplies an opening/closing control signal to the switch circuit. The switch driving circuit includes a half bridge circuit including two semiconductor switching elements series connected between a driving power supply and the reference potential point. Two protection diodes are connected in parallel to the semiconductor switching elements respectively. At least one current blocking diode is configured to block current from flowing from the reference potential point through the diode to the switch circuit side when the DC power supply is connected to the inverter circuit in reverse polarity. |
US09564484B2 |
Metal-insulator-metal back end of line capacitor structures
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors. In embodiments, series resistance is reduced by forming a via underneath the bottom plate of a MIM capacitor, leading to a metallization layer or intermediate metal sublayer. In embodiments, the MIM capacitor is formed with a corrugated shape to increase the plate surface area, allowing a thicker dielectric to be used, thereby mitigating leakage issues. |
US09564483B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device comprises a base substrate, a first metal layer formed over the base substrate, an interlayer insulating layer formed over the first metal layer and comprising a contact hole, a second metal layer formed over the interlayer insulating layer and connected with the first metal layer through the contact hole, an anisotropic conductive film formed over the second metal layer and covering the contact hole, and a flexible circuit board attached to the anisotropic conductive film and configured to transmit a driving signal for the array of pixels. The first metal layer comprises a molten portion formed in the non-display area. |
US09564481B2 |
Fully-printed carbon nanotube thin film transistor circuits for organic light emitting diode
The subject technology relates to a method including steps for disposing a first electrically conductive material on a substrate to form a first layer of electrodes on the substrate, wherein the first layer includes a source electrode and a drain electrode, and printing a film including carbon nanotubes between the source electrode and the drain electrode, thereby defining at least a first interface between the carbon nanotube film and the source electrode and a second interface between the carbon nanotube film and drain electrode. In certain aspects, the method can further include steps for disposing a second electrically conductive material over the first interface between the carbon nanotube film and the source electrode and the second interface between the carbon nanotube film and the drain electrode. In certain aspects, a transistor device is also provided. |
US09564477B2 |
Flexible display device and method of fabricating the same
A flexible display device includes a substrate, a plurality of first pixels, and a plurality of second pixels. The substrate includes a foldable bending region and a non-foldable non-bending region. Each first pixel is disposed on the bending region. Each first pixel is spaced apart from an adjacent first pixel by a first distance. Each second pixel is disposed on the non-bending region. Each second pixel is spaced apart from an adjacent second pixel by a second distance. The first distance is greater than the second distance. |
US09564476B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting display device comprises a common voltage line formed over a peripheral region of a substrate; a passivation layer formed over a pixel region of the substrate and the peripheral region; pixel electrodes formed over the pixel region; and a pixel defining layer formed over the pixel region and the peripheral region. The pixel defining layer defines pixel openings overlapping the pixel electrodes, respectively. The device further comprises organic light emitting layers formed over the pixel region, and disposed in the pixel openings and over the pixel electrodes, respectively; and a common electrode formed over the pixel and peripheral regions. The common electrode is disposed over the pixel defining layer and the organic light emitting layers. The common electrode contacts the common voltage line. The passivation layer comprises a portion overlapping the common voltage line but not overlapping the pixel defining layer. |
US09564462B2 |
Image-sensor structures
An image-sensor structure is provided. The image-sensor structure includes a substrate, a plurality of photoelectric conversion units formed in the substrate, and a plurality of color filter patterns including a red filter pattern having a first refractive index, a green filter pattern having a second refractive index and a blue filter pattern having a third refractive index formed above the substrate and the photoelectric conversion units, wherein at least one color filter pattern contains a component having a specific refractive index such that the second refractive index of the green filter pattern is higher than the first refractive index of the red filter pattern and the third refractive index of the blue filter pattern. |
US09564458B2 |
TFT substrates and the manufacturing method thereof
A TFT substrate and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The method includes: providing a substrate; forming a gate electrode on the substrate; forming a first insulation layer and an active layer on the gate electrode in turn; forming a first black matrix on the active layer; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on the first black matrix; forming a second insulation layer on the source electrode and the drain electrode; and forming a pixel electrode on the second insulation layer. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode via the second insulation layer. In this way, the masking effect of the display panel assembled by the TFT substrate can be ensured. In addition, the coupling capacitance between the data line and the scanning line may be reduced. |
US09564455B2 |
Display panel
A display panel is provided. The display panel includes has an active area and a border area surrounding the active area. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of multiplexer portion, a gate driver portion and a source routing portion. The pixels are located in the active area. The multiplexer portion is located in the border area. The gate driver portion is located in the border area. The source routing portion is located in the border area. In part of the border area, at least part of the multiplexer portion, at least part of the gate driver portion and at least part of the source routing portion are located and sequentially arranged from an internal edge of the border area to an external edge of the border area. |
US09564451B1 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device may include a substrate, conductive patterns stacked to be spaced apart from each other on the substrate, contact plugs coming in contact with the respective conductive patterns, and first and second slit insulating layers of a first group penetrating the conductive patterns. The substrate may include a cell area and a contact area extending along a first direction from the cell area. The conductive patterns may be form a step structure. The first slit insulating layers of the first group may be opposite to each other in a second direction with any one of the contact plugs, interposed therebetween. The second slit insulating layers of the first group, which extend along the first direction in the contact area, may be opposite to each other in the second direction with the first slit insulating layers of the first group and the contact plugs, interposed therebetween. |
US09564450B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes first and second fin type stacked structures each includes first to i-th memory strings (i is a natural number except 1) that are stacked in a first direction, the first and second fin type stacked structures which extend in a second direction and which are adjacent in a third direction, a first portion connected to one end in the second direction of the first fin type stacked structure, a width in the third direction of the first portion being greater than a width in the third direction of the first fin type stacked structure, and a second portion connected to one end in the second direction of the second fin type stacked structure, a width in the third direction of the second portion being greater than a width in the third direction of the second fin type stacked structure. |
US09564448B2 |
Flash memory structure
A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a control gate formed over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a memory gate formed over the substrate and a first spacer formed on a sidewall of the memory gate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a contact formed over the memory gate, wherein a portion of the contact extends into the first spacer. |
US09564444B2 |
Method of forming integrated fin and strap structure for an access transistor of a trench capacitor
At least one dielectric pad layer is formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. A deep trench is formed in the SOI substrate, and a combination of an outer electrode, a node dielectric, and an inner electrode are formed such that the top surface of the inner electrode is recessed below the top surface of a buried insulator layer of the SOI substrate. Selective epitaxy is performed to fill a cavity overlying the inner electrode with an epitaxial semiconductor material portion. A top semiconductor material layer and the epitaxial semiconductor material portion are patterned to form a fin structure including a portion of the top semiconductor material layer and a portion of the epitaxial semiconductor material portion. The epitaxial semiconductor material portion functions as a conductive strap structure between the inner electrode and a semiconductor device to be formed on the fin structure. |
US09564441B2 |
Two-transistor SRAM semiconductor structure and methods of fabrication
A two-transistor memory cell based upon a thyristor for an SRAM integrated circuit is described together with a process for fabricating it. The memory cell can be implemented in different combinations of MOS and bipolar select transistors, or without select transistors, with thyristors in a semiconductor substrate with shallow trench isolation. Standard CMOS process technology can be used to manufacture the SRAM. |
US09564439B2 |
Structure and method for advanced bulk fin isolation
A non-planar semiconductor structure containing semiconductor fins that are isolated from an underlying bulk silicon substrate by an epitaxial semiconductor stack is provided. The epitaxial semiconductor material stack that provides the isolation includes, from bottom to top, a semiconductor punch through stop containing at least one dopant of a conductivity type which differs from the conductivity type of the particular device region that the semiconductor fin is formed in, and a semiconductor diffusion barrier layer containing no n- or p-type dopant. |
US09564435B2 |
Semiconductor device including FinFETs having different gate structures and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a logic device region including logic devices thereon, and an input/output (I/O) device region including I/O devices thereon adjacent the logic device region. A first fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) on the logic device region includes a first semiconductor fin protruding from the substrate, and a triple-gate structure having a first gate dielectric layer and a first gate electrode thereon. A second FinFET on the I/O device region includes a second semiconductor fin protruding from the substrate, and a double-gate structure having a second gate dielectric layer and a second gate electrode thereon. The first and second gate dielectric layers have different thicknesses. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed. |
US09564431B2 |
Semiconductor structures and methods for multi-level work function
A semiconductor structure is provided comprising a vertical channel structure extending from a substrate and formed as a channel between a source region and a drain region. The semiconductor structure further comprises a metal gate that surrounds a portion of the vertical channel structure. The metal gate has a gate length. The metal gate has a first gate section with a first workfunction and a first thickness. The metal gate also has a second gate section with a second workfunction and a second thickness. The first thickness level is different from the second thickness level and the sum of the first thickness level and the second thickness level is equal to the gate length. The ratio of the first thickness level to the second thickness level for the gate length was chosen to achieve a threshold voltage level for the semiconductor device. |
US09564424B2 |
ESD device and structure therefor
In one embodiment, an ESD device is configured to include a trigger device that assists in forming a trigger of the ESD device. The trigger device is configured to enable a transistor or a transistor of an SCR responsively to an input voltage having a value that is no less than the trigger value of the ESD device. |
US09564422B2 |
Light emitting device and light emitting device package
A light emitting device according to the embodiment includes a support substrate; a first light emitting structure disposed on the support substrate and including a first conductive type first semiconductor layer, a first active layer, and a second conductive type second semiconductor layer; a first reflective electrode under the first light emitting structure; a first metal layer around the first reflective electrode; a second light emitting structure disposed on the support substrate and including a first conductive type third semiconductor layer, a second active layer, and a second conductive type fourth semiconductor layer; a second reflective electrode under the second light emitting structure; a second metal layer around the second reflective electrode; and a contact part making contact with an inner portion of the first conductive type first semiconductor layer of the first light emitting structure and electrically connected to the second reflective electrode. |
US09564421B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first substrate, a second substrate stacked over the first substrate, and a pillar member extending obliquely between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a mounting surface on which a semiconductor chip is mounted, with a resin interposed between the semiconductor chip and the mounting surface and extending beyond the periphery of the semiconductor chip on the mounting surface. The first substrate further includes a first pad forming part of the mounting surface and disposed outside the resin. The second substrate includes a second pad forming part of its surface facing toward the mounting surface. The second pad at least overlaps the resin when viewed in a direction in which the second substrate is stacked over the first substrate. The pillar member has first and second ends joined to the first and second pads, respectively, to electrically connect the first and second substrates. |
US09564420B2 |
Functional block stacked 3DIC and method of making same
An embodiment device package includes a fan-out redistribution layer (RDL), a device over and bonded to the fan-out RDL, and a molding compound over the fan-out RDL and extending along sidewalls of the device. The device includes a first functional tier having a first metallization layer and a second functional tier having a second metallization layer. The second functional tier is bonded to the first functional tier. The device further includes an interconnect structure electrically connecting the first metallization layer to the second metallization layer. The interconnect structure includes an inter-tier via (ITV) at least partially disposed in both the first functional tier and the second functional tier, and the ITV contacts the first metallization layer. |
US09564417B2 |
Multi-stacked structures of semiconductor packages
A multi-stacked structure of semiconductor packages includes a plurality of substrates stacked in a vertical direction, semiconductor packages mounted on each substrate of the plurality of the substrates, a heat release column extending commonly through the plurality of the substrates and overlapping at least one semiconductor package serving as a heat generation source among the semiconductor packages in the vertical direction, and a heat dissipation part thermally connected to one end of the heat release column. |
US09564416B2 |
Package structures and methods of forming the same
Packages structure and methods of forming them are discussed. A structure includes a first die, a first encapsulant at least laterally encapsulating the first die, and a redistribution structure on the first die and the first encapsulant. The second die is attached by an external electrical connector to the redistribution structure. The second die is on an opposite side of the redistribution structure from the first die. A second encapsulant is on the redistribution structure and at least laterally encapsulates the second die. The second encapsulant has a surface distal from the redistribution structure. A conductive feature extends from the redistribution structure through the second encapsulant to the surface of the second encapsulant. A conductive pillar is on the conductive feature, and the conductive pillar protrudes from the surface of the second encapsulant. |
US09564415B2 |
Semiconductor package device having passive energy components
A semiconductor package device is disclosed that includes a passive energy component integrated therein. In an implementation, the semiconductor package device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The semiconductor substrate includes one or more integrated circuits formed proximal to the first surface. The semiconductor package device also includes a passive energy component positioned over the second surface. The passive energy component is electrically connected to one or more integrated circuits. The semiconductor package device also includes an encapsulation structure disposed over the second surface and at least substantially encapsulates the passive energy component. |
US09564414B2 |
Three dimensional device integration method and integrated device
A device integration method and integrated device. The method may include the steps of directly bonding a semiconductor device having a substrate to an element; and removing a portion of the substrate to expose a remaining portion of the semiconductor device after bonding. The element may include one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna, and a matching network comprised of passive elements. A second thermal spreading substrate may be bonded to the remaining portion of the semiconductor device. Interconnections may be made through the first or second substrates. The method may also include bonding a plurality of semiconductor devices to an element, and the element may have recesses in which the semiconductor devices are disposed. A conductor array having a plurality of contact structures may be formed on an exposed surface of the semiconductor device, vias may be formed through the semiconductor device to device regions, and interconnection may be formed between said device regions and said contact structures. |
US09564411B2 |
Semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor package having a fan-out structure in which a semiconductor chip is buried by an encapsulation member and an external connection member is disposed below the buried semiconductor chip. The semiconductor package includes an embedded rewiring pattern layer, an upper semiconductor chip disposed above the embedded rewiring pattern layer, an upper encapsulation member encapsulating the upper semiconductor chip, a lower semiconductor chip disposed below the embedded rewiring pattern layer, and a lower encapsulation member encapsulating the lower semiconductor chip to prevent exposure thereof. |
US09564407B2 |
Crosstalk polarity reversal and cancellation through substrate material
Transmission lines with a first dielectric material separating signal traces and a second dielectric material separating the signal traces from a ground plane. In embodiments, mutual capacitance is tuned relative to self-capacitance to reverse polarity of far end crosstalk between a victim and aggressor channel relative to that induced by other interconnect portions along the length of the channels, such as inductively coupled portions. In embodiments, a transmission line for a single-ended channel includes a material of a higher dielectric constant within the same routing plane as a microstrip or stripline conductor, and a material of a lower dielectric constant between the conductor and the ground plane(s). In embodiments, a transmission line for a differential pair includes a material of a lower dielectric constant within the same routing plane as a microstrip or stripline conductors, and a material of a higher dielectric constant between the conductors and the ground plane(s). |
US09564404B2 |
System, method and apparatus to relieve stresses in a semiconductor wafer caused by uneven internal metallization layers
Systems and methods for forming semiconductor wafers with wafer support structures includes: multiple semiconductor devices formed in multiple semiconductor dies. An electrical interconnect structure is formed over the semiconductor devices and providing electrical connections to the semiconductor devices. The electrical interconnect structure includes multiple metallization layers. At least one portion of at least one metallization layer includes variations in density of conductive lines or conducting devices as compared to the other portions of the metallization layers. At least one wafer support structure is formed substantially across a width of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer being thinned to between about 40 um and about 200 um after the semiconductor devices formed thereon. The at least one wafer support structure having a thickness and a width to offset physical stresses caused by the variations in density of conductive lines or conducting devices in the respective portions of the metallization layers. |
US09564400B2 |
Methods of forming stacked microelectronic dice embedded in a microelectronic substrate
Embodiments of the present description include stacked microelectronic dice embedded in a microelectronic substrate and methods of fabricating the same. In one embodiment, at least one first microelectronic die is attached to a second microelectronic die, wherein an underfill material is provided between the second microelectronic die and the at least one first microelectronic die. The microelectronic substrate is then formed by laminating the first microelectronic die and the second microelectronic die in a substrate material. |
US09564398B2 |
Chemical direct pattern plating interconnect metallization and metal structure produced by the same
A semiconductor structure with an improved metal structure is described. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate having an upper surface, an interconnect layer over the upper surface, and an additional structure deposited over the interconnect layer. The interconnect layer can include a patterned seed layer over the substrate, at least two metal lines over the seed layer, and a dielectric material between adjacent metal lines. A barrier layer can be deposited over the at least two metal lines. Methods of making the semiconductor structures are also described. |
US09564397B2 |
Interconnect structure and method of forming the same
An interconnect structure and a method of forming an interconnect structure are disclosed. The interconnect structure includes a low-k (LK) dielectric layer over a substrate; a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature in the LK dielectric layer; a first spacer along a first sidewall of the first conductive feature; a second spacer along a second sidewall of the second conductive feature, wherein the second sidewall of the second conductive feature faces the first sidewall of the first conductive feature; an air gap between the first spacer and the second spacer; and a third conductive feature over the first conductive feature, wherein the third conductive feature is connected to the first conductive feature. |
US09564392B2 |
Printed wiring board and semiconductor package
A printed wiring board includes a resin insulating layer, a wiring conductor layer embedded in the insulating layer such that the conductor layer has a first surface exposed on a first surface side of the insulating layer, and a conductor post formed on a second surface of the conductor layer on the opposite side with respect to the first surface such that the conductor post has a side surface covered by the insulating layer. The conductor post has an end surface on the opposite with respect to the conductor layer such that the end surface of the conductor post is exposed on a second surface side of the insulating layer, and the conductor post has an end portion on a wiring conductor layer side such that the side surface in the end portion is a curved side surface which is bending outward increasingly toward from the conductor layer. |
US09564390B2 |
Package structure and fabrication method thereof
A package structure is provided, which includes: a dielectric layer having opposite first and second surfaces; a first circuit layer embedded in the dielectric layer and having a surface exposed from the first surface of the dielectric layer; a plurality of conductive posts embedded in the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first circuit layer and having one ends exposed from the second surface of the dielectric layer; a second circuit layer formed on the second surface of the dielectric layer and electrically connected the ends of the conductive posts exposed from the second surface of the dielectric layer; and a plurality of protruding elements formed on the surface of the first circuit layer exposed from the first surface of the dielectric layer, thereby providing a large contact area so as to strengthen bonding between a semiconductor chip and the first circuit layer of the package structure. |
US09564385B2 |
Package for a semiconductor device
A package for a semiconductor device or circuit comprises a semiconductor switch module having a metallic base on an exterior side and metallic pads. A sealed metallic enclosure holds the semiconductor switch module. The metallic enclosure has a set of dielectric regions with embedded or pass-through electrical terminals that are electrically insulated or isolated from the sealed metallic enclosure. The electrical terminals are electrically connected to the metallic pads. A housing is adapted for housing the semiconductor switch module within the metallic enclosure. The housing comprises chamber for holding or circulating a coolant overlying the metallic base. |
US09564380B2 |
Marker pattern for enhanced failure analysis resolution
A marker pattern for enhancing resolution of a defect location along an axis in semiconductor defect analysis, and in particular, a marker pattern providing greater resolution in locating bit line defects using thermal laser stimulation methods such as OBIRCH. In an example, the marker pattern may consist of large markers, each having a set of associated small markers. Each of the small markers may be offset along an axis from each other. By identifying the small marker and its associated large marker which align with the defect, the bit line containing the defect may be more easily identified. |
US09564379B2 |
Via chains for defect localization
Via chain and serpentine/comb test structures are in kerf areas of a wafer. The via chain test structures comprise a first via chain and a second via chain in a first kerf area. The via chain test structures are formed such that geometrically shaped portions of the first via chain and geometrically shaped portions of the second via chain alternate along the length of the first kerf area. |
US09564376B2 |
Semiconductor process
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor process, which includes: (a) providing a semiconductor element; (b) attaching the semiconductor element to a carrier by an adhesive layer, so that the adhesive layer is sandwiched between the semiconductor element and the carrier; and (c) cutting the semiconductor element to form a plurality of semiconductor units. Thereby, the gaps between the semiconductor units are fixed after the cutting process, so as to facilitate testing the semiconductor units. |
US09564373B2 |
Forming a CMOS with dual strained channels
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a structure and method of forming a compressive strained layer and a tensile strained layer on the same wafer. A lower epitaxial layer may be formed adjacent to a tensile strained layer. An upper epitaxial layer may be formed over a portion of the lower epitaxial layer. Thermal oxidation may convert the upper epitaxial layer to an upper oxide layer, and thermal condensation may causes a portion of the lower epitaxial layer to become a compressive strained layer. The upper oxide layer and a remaining portion of the lower epitaxial layer may be removed, leaving the tensile strained layer and the compressive strained layer. |
US09564372B2 |
Dual liner silicide
A method for fabricating a dual silicide device includes growing source and drain (S/D) regions for an N-type device, forming a protection layer over a gate structure and the S/D regions of the N-type device and growing S/D regions for a P-type device. A first dielectric layer is conformally deposited and portions removed to expose the S/D regions. Exposed S/D regions for the P-type device are silicided to form a liner. A second dielectric layer is conformally deposited. A dielectric fill is formed over the second dielectric layer. Contact holes are opened through the second dielectric layer to expose the liner for the P-type device and expose the protection layer for the N-type device. The S/D regions for the N-type device are exposed by opening the protection layer. Exposed S/D regions adjacent to the gate structure are silicided to form a liner for the N-type device. Contacts are formed. |
US09564371B2 |
Method for forming semiconductor device
A manufacturing method for forming a semiconductor device includes: first, a substrate is provided, a fin structure is formed on the substrate, and a plurality of gate structures are formed on the fin structure, next, a hard mask layer and a first photoresist layer are formed on the fin structure, an first etching process is then performed on the first photoresist layer, afterwards, a plurality of patterned photoresist layers are formed on the remaining first photoresist layer and the remaining hard mask layer, where each patterned photoresist layer is disposed right above each gate structure, and the width of each patterned photoresist is larger than the width of each gate structure, and the patterned photoresist layer is used as a hard mask to perform an second etching process to form a plurality of second trenches. |
US09564370B1 |
Effective device formation for advanced technology nodes with aggressive fin-pitch scaling
After forming a gate stack straddling a portion of each semiconductor fin of a plurality of semiconductor fins located over a substrate, a gate liner is formed on sidewalls of a lower portion of the gate stack that contacts the plurality of semiconductor fins and a gate spacer having a width greater than a width of the gate liner is formed on sidewalls of an upper portion of the gate stack that is located above the plurality of semiconductor fins. The width of the gate spacer thus is not limited by the fin pitch, and can be optimized to improve the device performance. |
US09564366B2 |
Method and apparatus for plasma dicing a semi-conductor wafer
The present invention provides a method for plasma dicing a substrate. The method comprising providing a process chamber having a wall; providing a plasma source adjacent to the wall of the process chamber; providing a work piece support within the process chamber; placing the substrate onto a support film on a frame to form a work piece work piece; loading the work piece onto the work piece support; providing a cover ring disposed above the work piece; generating a plasma through the plasma source; and etching the work piece through the generated plasma. |
US09564365B2 |
Method of singulating semiconductor wafer having back layer
In one embodiment, die are singulated from a wafer having a back layer by placing the wafer onto a first carrier substrate with the back layer adjacent the carrier substrate, forming singulation lines through the wafer to expose the back layer within the singulation lines, and using a mechanical device to apply localized pressure to the wafer to separate the back layer in the singulation lines. The localized pressure can be applied through the first carrier substrate proximate to the back layer, or can be applied through a second carrier substrate attached to a front side of the wafer opposite to the back layer. |
US09564362B2 |
Interconnects based on subtractive etching of silver
A method for forming at least one Ag or Ag based alloy feature in an integrated circuit, including providing a blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy in a multi-layer structure on a substrate. The method further includes providing a hard mask layer over the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy. The method further includes performing an etch of the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy, wherein a portion of the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy that remains after the etch forms one or more conductive lines. The method further includes forming a liner that surrounds the one or more conductive lines. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer on the multi-layer structure. |
US09564360B2 |
Substrate processing method and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to provide a method which enable a material to be fully embedded into a recess portion with a deposition film left in the recess portion. A method in one embodiment comprises: a first irradiation step of irradiating a deposition film formed on an opening portion of a recess portion in a substrate with a particle beam in a direction at a first angle with respect to a substrate in-plane direction, to remove part of the deposition film in a thickness direction; and a second irradiation step of, after the first irradiation step, irradiating the deposition film with the particle beam in a direction at a second angle which is closer to perpendicular to the substrate in-plane direction than the first angle is, to remove part of the remaining deposition film in the thickness direction. |
US09564358B1 |
Forming reliable contacts on tight semiconductor pitch
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a passivating layer between neighboring fins. A barrier is formed in the trench. Conductive contacts are formed in the passivating layer to provide electrical connectivity to the fins. The conductive contacts are in direct contact with sidewalls of the barrier. A semiconductor device includes a passivating layer over a pair of fins. A barrier extends through the passivating layer and between the pair of fins and that electrically isolates the fins. Electrical contacts are formed through the passivating layer to the fins. The electrical contacts directly contact sidewalls of the barrier. |
US09564353B2 |
FinFETs with reduced parasitic capacitance and methods of forming the same
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor strip over a portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) region on a side of the semiconductor strip. The STI region includes a dielectric layer, which includes a sidewall portion on a sidewall of the semiconductor strip and a bottom portion. The dielectric layer has a first etching rate when etched using a diluted HF solution. The STI region further includes a dielectric region over the bottom portion of the dielectric layer. The dielectric region has an edge contacting an edge of the sidewall portion of the dielectric layer. The dielectric region has a second etching rate when etched using the diluted HF solution, wherein the second etching rate is smaller than the first etching rate. |
US09564351B2 |
Positioning frame structure
A positioning frame structure for the centering and positioning of an IC is disclosed, in which the positioning frame structure comprises an IC carrier having a first chamber defined therein and an IC positioning magnet disposed in the first chamber of the IC carrier. The positioning frame structure further comprises an IC holder disposed over the IC positioning magnet, and the IC is held on the IC holder, so as to provide centering and positioning of the IC relative to the IC positioning magnet. The present invention can be used to control the centering and positioning of the IC and the positioning magnet on the carrier. The positioning magnet can be made to be larger than the IC. In addition, a large air gap can be obtained so as to facilitate the subsequent operation of the IC. Furthermore, without the operation using adhesive, the technical solution of the present invention saves the cost of operation. |
US09564348B2 |
Shutter blade and robot blade with CTE compensation
Processing chamber shutter blade and robot blade assemblies are constructed to eliminate thermal effects on the placement of elements in processing chambers. Such blade assemblies may contain at least two parts, which may include a positioning member including a low CTE material and a thermal compensating member including a high CTE material. The positioning member includes a coupling point and a reference point on a reference axis separated by a first distance. The thermal compensating member includes a connection point and a controlled point separated by another distance that is less than the first distance. A distance ratio of the first distance to the other distance is substantially equal to a CTE ratio of the high CTE material to the low CTE material, and the positioning member is joined to the thermal compensating member through the coupling point and the connection point. |
US09564336B2 |
NOR flash device manufacturing method
An embodiment of a NOR Flash device manufacturing method includes: providing a substrate having a first polycrystalline silicon layer disposed thereon; forming a first hard mask layer on the first polycrystalline silicon layer; etching the first hard mask layer to form a first opening, and cleaning a gas pipeline connected to an etching cavity before etching the first hard mask layer; forming a second hard mask layer on the first hard mask layer, and the second hard mask layer covers the bottom and side wall of the first opening; etching the second hard mask layer to form a second opening, the width of the second opening is smaller than the width of the first opening; etching the first polycrystalline silicon, forming a floating gate. The NOR Flash device manufacturing method improves the yield of the NOR Flash device. |
US09564327B2 |
Method for forming line end space structure using trimmed photo resist
One or more techniques or systems for forming a line end space structure are provided herein. In some embodiments, a first patterned second hard mask (HM) region is formed above a first HM region. Additionally, at least some of the first patterned second HM region is removed. In some embodiments, a first sacrificial HM region and a second sacrificial HM region are formed above at least one of the first patterned second HM region or the first HM region. Photo resist (PR) is patterned above the second sacrificial HM region, and a spacer region is deposited above the patterned PR and second sacrificial HM region. In some embodiments, at least some of at least one of the spacer region, the PR, or the respective sacrificial HMs is removed. In this way, a line end space structure associated with an end-to-end space is formed. |
US09564321B2 |
Cyclic epitaxial deposition and etch processes
A cyclic deposition and etch method is provided. The method includes depositing an epitaxial layer over a substrate at a first temperature and etching a portion of the deposited epitaxial layer at a variable temperature higher than the first temperature. The step of etching is performed while varying the temperature. |
US09564320B2 |
Large area nitride crystal and method for making it
Techniques for processing materials in supercritical fluids including processing in a capsule disposed within a high-pressure apparatus enclosure are disclosed. The disclosed techniques are useful for growing crystals of GaN, AlN, InN, and their alloys, including InGaN, AlGaN, and AlInGaN for the manufacture of bulk or patterned substrates, which in turn can be used to make optoelectronic devices, lasers, light emitting diodes, solar cells, photoelectrochemical water splitting and hydrogen generation devices, photodetectors, integrated circuits, and transistors. |
US09564319B2 |
Method of fabricating transient semiconductor based on single-wall nanotube
A method of fabricating a transient semiconductor based on a single-wall nanotube includes stacking a thermal oxide layer on a silicon substrate and depositing a nickel thin layer on the thermal oxide layer, depositing an oxide layer on the nickel thin layer, depositing a metallic layer on the oxide layer, and patterning the metallic layer to form a gate electrode, depositing a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, changing a surface of the gate insulating layer into a hydrophilic surface, and washing and drying the gate insulting layer, coating a single-wall nanotube on the hydrophilic surface of the gate insulating layer, forming source and drain electrodes by forming a contact opening with respect to the gate insulating layer, attaching a thermal release tape after removing a surrounding single-wall nanotube, performing a transfer onto a polyvinyl alcohol thin layer after etching the nickel thin layer, and releasing the thermal release. |
US09564318B2 |
Method of manufacturing nanowire array using induced growth
Provided is a method of manufacturing a nanowire array using induced growth, in which a nitride inorganic nanowire is grown from a nitride seed by forming the nitride seed on a sapphire or silicon substrate, forming an organic nanowire pattern and a dielectric nanotunnel using the nanowire pattern as a template on the nitride seed, and using the nanotunnel as an induced growth mask. |
US09564311B2 |
Method of depositing thin film
A method of depositing a thin film includes: repeating a first gas supply cycle a first plurality of times, the first gas supply cycle including supplying a source gas to a reaction space; supplying first plasma while supplying a reactant gas to the reaction space; repeating a second gas supply cycle a second plurality of times, the second gas supply cycle including supplying the source gas to the reaction space; and supplying second plasma while supplying the reactant gas to the reaction space, wherein the supplying of the first plasma includes supplying remote plasma, and the supplying of the second plasma includes supplying direct plasma. |
US09564309B2 |
Si precursors for deposition of SiN at low temperatures
Methods and precursors for depositing silicon nitride films by atomic layer deposition (ALD) are provided. In some embodiments the silicon precursors comprise an iodine ligand. The silicon nitride films may have a relatively uniform etch rate for both vertical and the horizontal portions when deposited onto three-dimensional structures such as FinFETS or other types of multiple gate FETs. In some embodiments, various silicon nitride films of the present disclosure have an etch rate of less than half the thermal oxide removal rate with diluted HF (0.5%). |
US09564301B2 |
Setting ion detector gain using ion area
A control system and method of determining a signal to noise (S/N) ratio of an ion detector system, including an ion detector, electron multiplier or photomultiplier, operates by determining an area of a noise peak, determining an area of a signal peak and determining a ratio of the area of the signal peak to the area of the noise peak. Based thereon, the signal to noise ratio can be optimized. The system has particular applicability for use in mass spectrometry. |
US09564299B2 |
Methods of manufacturing large-area sputtering targets using interlocking joints
In various embodiments, joined sputtering targets are formed at least in part by spray deposition of the sputtering material and/or welding. |
US09564297B2 |
Electron beam plasma source with remote radical source
In a plasma reactor for processing a workpiece, an electron beam is employed as the plasma source, and a remote radical source is incorporated with the process chamber. |
US09564296B2 |
Radial waveguide systems and methods for post-match control of microwaves
A system provides post-match control of microwaves in a radial waveguide. The system includes the radial waveguide, and a signal generator that provides first and second microwave signals that have a common frequency. The signal generator adjusts a phase offset between the first and second signals in response to a correction signal. The system also includes first and second electronics sets, each of which amplifies a respective one of the first and second microwave signals. The system transmits the amplified, first and second microwave signals into the radial waveguide, and matches an impedance of the amplified microwave signals to an impedance presented by the waveguide. The system also includes at least two monitoring antennas disposed within the waveguide. A signal controller receives analog signals from the monitoring antennas, determines the digital correction signal based at least on the analog signals, and transmits the correction signal to the signal generator. |
US09564293B2 |
Charged particle beam writing apparatus, and buffer memory data storage method
A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a buffer memory including a memory region capable of contemporarily storing writing data for data processing regions, wherein writing data including data files is temporarily stored for each of the data processing regions, a dividing unit to divide the memory region of the buffer memory into a first region being large and a second region being small, a specifying unit to specify the memory region such that a data file being large is preferentially stored in the first region and a data file being small is stored at least in the second region, concerning the data files for each of the data processing regions included in the writing data, and a data processing unit to read data files corresponding to each of the data processing regions from the buffer memory, and to perform data processing using the read data files. |
US09564292B2 |
Ion beam measuring device and method of measuring ion beam
An ion beam measuring device includes: a mask that is used for shaping an original ion beam into a measuring ion beam including a y beam part elongated in a y direction that is perpendicular to a traveling direction of the ion beam and an x beam part elongated in an x direction that is perpendicular to the traveling direction and the y direction; a detection unit that is configured to detect an x-direction position of the y beam part and a y-direction position of the x beam part; and a beam angle calculating unit that is configured to calculate an x-direction beam angle using the x-direction position and a y-direction beam angle using the y-direction position. |
US09564289B2 |
Ion implanter and method of controlling the same
An ion implanter includes a high-voltage power supply, a control unit that generates a command signal controlling an output voltage of the high-voltage power supply, an electrode unit to which the output voltage is applied, and a measurement unit that measures an actual voltage applied to the electrode unit. The control unit includes a first generation section that generates a first command signal for allowing the high-voltage power supply to output a target voltage, a second generation section that generates a second command signal for complementing the first command signal so that the actual voltage measured by the measurement unit becomes or close to the target voltage, and a command section that brings to the high-voltage power supply a synthetics command signal which is produced by synthesizing the first command signal and the second command signal. |
US09564283B2 |
Limiting migration of target material
In an electron irradiation system, a gas-tight housing encloses a cathode region and an irradiation region, which communicate through at least an aperture. In the cathode region, there is arranged a high-voltage cathode for emitting an electron beam. In the irradiation region, there is an irradiation site arranged to accommodate a stationary or moving object to be irradiated. The migration of cathode-degrading debris is limited by means of an electric field designed to prevent positively charged particles from entering the cathode region via the aperture. The invention can be embodied with an axial electric field, which realizes an energy threshold, or a transversal field which deflects charged particles away from trajectories leading into the cathode region. |
US09564277B2 |
Systems and devices for reducing phantom load
Systems and devices are described herein for reducing a phantom load. The system may include a device for connection to a power source and a transformer or machine, wherein the device is configured to disconnect the transformer or machine from the power source under a predetermined load condition. The device may include a contactor, a current detector, a timer, and a controller. Portions of the current detector, timer, or controller may be implemented in a microcontroller. |
US09564274B2 |
Metal complex dye, photoelectric conversion element, dye-sensitized solar cell, dye solution, and compound
A photoelectric conversion element, having: an electrically-conductive support; a photoconductor layer having a semiconductor fine-particle layer adsorbed a dye; a charge transfer layer containing an electrolyte; and a counter electrode; which are provided on one side of the support in this order, in which the dye has at least one terdentate ligand having at least one acidic group; at least one ligand coordinating to a metal atom M has an sp2 carbon atom; a cyclic group binds to the sp2 carbon atom; a specific substituent R is substituted at an atom of α- or β-position to the atom of the cyclic group directly binding to the sp2 carbon atom; and with the metal atom M, an atom G1 of the α- or β-position, and an atom G2 of the substituent R, an angle θ (∠MG1G2) is 150° or less. |
US09564270B2 |
Thin film capacitor
A thin film capacitor is provided with a lower electrode layer, a dielectric layer arranged on the lower electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer formed on the dielectric layer. An insulator patch material, circular when projected from above, is formed at a boundary of the dielectric layer and the upper electrode layer of the thin film capacitor of this invention. The circular insulator patch improves a withstand voltage, by reducing accumulation of charges. |
US09564264B2 |
High frequency integrated point-of-load power converter with embedded inductor substrate
A low profile power converter structure is provide wherein volume is reduced and power density is increased to approach 1 KW/in3 by at least one of forming an inductor as a body of magnetic material embedded in a substrate formed by a plurality of printed circuit board (PCB) lamina and forming inductor windings of PCB cladding and vias which may be of any desired number of turns and may include inversely coupled windings and which provide a lateral flux path, forming the body of magnetic material from high aspect ratio flakes of magnetic material which are aligned with the inductor magnetic field in an insulating organic binder and hot-pressed and providing a four-layer architecture comprising two layers of PCB lamina including the embedded body of magnetic material, a shield layer and an additional layer of PCB lamina, including cladding for supporting and connecting a switching circuit, a capacitor and the inductor. |
US09564262B2 |
Superconducting magnetic field generating device, superconducting magnetic field generating method, and nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus
A superconducting magnetic field generating device includes: a superconductor including an outer superconductor formed with a high temperature superconducting material in a cylindrical shape and generating a trapped magnetic field, and an inner superconductor formed with a high temperature superconducting material in a cylindrical shape and coaxially disposed with the outer superconductor on the inner circumferential side; and a cooling device cooling the outer and inner superconductors to a temperature equal to or lower than the superconducting transition temperature, wherein the inner superconductor is formed so that a ratio (Jcθ1/Jcz1) of a critical current density (Jcθ1) of the inner superconductor in the circumferential direction to a critical current density (Jcz1) of the inner superconductor in the axial direction is closer to 1 than a ratio (Jcθ2/Jcz2) of the critical current density (Jcθ2) in the circumferential direction to a critical current density (Jcz2) of the outer superconductor of the outer superconductor in the axial direction. |
US09564259B2 |
Superconducting wire and superconducting coil
A superconductor wire includes: a superconducting laminate that includes: a substrate and an intermediate layer; a superconductor layer, and a metal stabilization layer which are laminated on the substrate; and an insulation coating layer that covers an outer surface of the superconducting laminate and is formed by baking a resin material. Further, a maximum height Rz of at least a part of the outer surface of the superconducting laminate covered with the insulation coating layer is 890 nm or less. |
US09564254B2 |
Aluminum alloy wire, and aluminum alloy twisted wire, covered electrical wire and wire harness using the same
An aluminum (Al) alloy wire, which is an extra fine wire having a wire diameter of 0.5 mm or less, contains, in mass %, Mg at 0.03% to 1.5%, Si at 0.02% to 2.0%, at least one element selected from Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn and Zr at a total of 0.1% to 1.0% and the balance being Al and impurities, and has an electrical conductivity of 40% IACS or more, a tensile strength of 150 MPa or more, and an elongation of 5% or more. By producing the extra fine wire from an Al alloy of a specific composition containing Zr, Mn and other specific elements, though the extra fine wire is extra fine, it has a fine structure with a maximum grain size of 50 μm or less and is superior in elongation. |
US09564248B2 |
Inductive plasma source and plasma containment
A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels. |
US09564245B2 |
Integrated circuit defect detection and repair
In accordance with the present description, a device includes an internal defect detection and repair circuit which includes a self-test logic circuit built in within the device and a self-repair logic circuit also built in within the device. In one embodiment, the built in self-test logic circuit may be configured to automatically identify defective memory cells in a memory. Upon identifying one or more defective memory cells, the built in self-repair logic circuit may be configured to automatically repair the defective memory cells by replacing defective cells with spare cells within the memory. |
US09564243B2 |
Equivalent fuse circuit for a one-time programmable read-only memory array
Technologies are provided for measuring a programming current (PC) for a memory cell (MC) of a one-time programmable read-only memory array. The MC includes a fuse equivalent circuit (FEC) that includes a first current path (CP) having a first node, a second CP having a fuse of the memory cell and a second node, and a third CP. The PC is split into a first current, a second current and a third current that flow over the first CP, the second CP, and the third CP, respectively. A first voltage applied along the first path is divided to generate a second voltage at the first node, and an output voltage generated by an operational amplifier controls the second current to maintain a third voltage at the second node at substantially the same value as the second voltage so that the second current has a sufficiently low value and does not burn the fuse. |
US09564239B2 |
Memory controller and operating method thereof
A method for operating a memory controller includes: performing a hard decision read operation to read hard decision data from a memory device; if a hard decoding for the hard decision data fails, assigning log likelihood ratio (LLR) values to cells falling in a plurality of voltage regions corresponding to a plurality of read reference voltages; performing a soft decision read operation based on the LLR values and a soft decoding for the soft decision data to generate an error free data; performing a read operation to read data from the memory device using each of the plurality of read reference voltages to generate raw data for each of the plurality of read reference voltages; and determining an optimal read reference voltage among the plurality of the read reference voltages based on the raw data and the error free data. |
US09564237B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and read method thereof
A nonvolatile memory device has improved reliability by compensating a threshold voltage of a flash memory cell. A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array and a voltage generator for supplying a select read voltage to a select word line and an unselect read voltage to unselected word lines when a read operation is performed, and supplying a verify voltage to a select word line and the unselect read voltage to unselected word lines when a program operation is performed. The voltage generator supplies a first unselect read voltage to at least one between an upper word line and a lower word line adjacent to the select word line when the program operation is performed, and supplies a second unselected read voltage to at least one between the upper word line and the lower word line adjacent to the select word line when the read operation is performed. |
US09564236B2 |
NAND flash memory and reading method thereof
The disclosure provides a NAND flash memory and a reading method thereof, which may read a negative threshold value of a memory cell without using a negative-voltage-generating circuit. The disclosed NAND flash memory includes a sense amplifier, a bit line selecting circuit and an array having a plurality of NAND string units. The disclosed NAND flash memory includes a ΔV supplying portion element that applies a positive voltage to a source line, a P well formed with a selected memory cell, and a non-selected bit line which is adjacent to a selected bit line, within a predetermined time period, after the selected bit line is pre-charged and during a reading process. |
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. |