| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09565235B2 |
System and method for controlling access to internet sites
A method and system for providing flexible access to Internet sites is described. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, via a computing device, a request to access content associated with the URL. The method further includes transmitting a response to the request, the response indicating that access to the URL is restricted, receiving a second request to access the content associated with the URL, the second request acknowledging that access to the URL is restricted, logging the second request; and transmitting a second response to the second request, the second response allowing access to the requested content associated with the URL. |
| US09565233B1 |
Preloading content for requesting applications
Methods for preloading content in one application for another application are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request by a first application from a second application to preload content in the first application, and loading the content in the first application in response to the request from the second application. The method also includes switching from a display of the second application to a display of the first application and providing the loaded content for display in the first application in response to a selection in the second application from a user to display the content. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US09565227B1 |
Composition control method for remote application delivery
A method for communicating an image stream, one embodiment comprising negotiating, between a server and client, an MTCC identifying: a window as a portion of a display of the client, and an occluded portion of the window defined by the client; generating, by the server, complying with the MTCC, a sequence of image frames each comprising pixel data in a portion of the frame identified by the occluded portion; transmitting an encoding of a first frame of the sequence not including an encoding of the pixel data in the portion of the first frame; identifying, by the server, an event associated with the sequence; and transmitting, before communication between the server and the client regarding the event, by the server, information of the event in conjunction with an encoding of a second frame of the sequence including an encoding of the pixel data in the portion of the second frame. |
| US09565226B2 |
Message capturing and seamless message sharing and navigation
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for creating video streams is provided. An indication is received that is related to a first video being received or requested. The first video includes attributes characterizing content of the first video. A second video stored in a database is selected in response to receiving the indication. The selection is based on at least one attribute of the first video. An order of the first video and the second video is determined by one or more processors. The order is based on the at least one attribute characterizing the content of the first video. A video stream is generated on a user display by providing the first video and the second video in the determined order and in a substantially seamless manner. |
| US09565225B2 |
Server configuration including stream preview
A method includes receiving first input from a computing device, the first input corresponding to selection of a first media player associated with a first output stream format. In response to the first input, a first stream preview is sent to the computing device in accordance with the first output stream format. The method includes receiving second input from the computing device, where the second input corresponds to selection of a second media player associated with a second output stream format. In response to the second input, a second stream preview is sent to the computing device in accordance with the second output stream format. |
| US09565224B1 |
Methods, systems, and media for presenting a customized user interface based on user actions
Methods, systems, and media for presenting a customized user interface based on user actions are provided. In some implementations, a method for presenting a customized user interface based on user actions is provided, the method comprising: receiving a request for media content from an application comprising a user interface for presenting media content that includes a plurality of user interface elements that each initiate sharing on a different platform; determining that the request was sent from the user device as a result of the user selecting a link on a first platform; and causing the application to present an additional user interface element that initiates sharing of the media content item on the first platform in addition to the plurality of user interface elements in response to determining that the request was transmitted as a result of selection of the link on the first platform. |
| US09565222B2 |
Granting access in view of identifier in network
Discussion of content between users of social networks is described. A request from a first user to discuss content with a recipient user in a first social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a first identifier in the first social network. A request from a second user to discuss content with the recipient user in a second social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a second identifier in the second social network. A discussion is initiated between the second user and the recipient user about the content in the second social network. The recipient user is tracked in view of the first identifier in the first social network and the second identifier in the second social network. |
| US09565218B2 |
Resource management for WebRTC
A system performs client wake up for real-time communications (“RTC”). The system closes a connection between a gateway and an RTC application of a device. The RTC application enters a sleeping mode when the connection to the gateway is closed. After closing the connection, the system receives a message intended for the RTC application. The system requests a push notification server to wake up the RTC application, reconnects the gateway with the RTC application, and delivers the message to the RTC application. |
| US09565217B2 |
Method, system, network and computer-readable media for controlling outgoing telephony calls
The present invention discloses numerous implementations for IP-based call processing systems that can selectively control an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device. The call processing system communicates with a Service Switching Point (SSP) associated with the source device and determines whether to effect control of the outgoing call. It could determine to effect control of the outgoing call for many reasons including to convey a media message to the source device, to implement a call feature or to manage call restrictions. Upon determining to effect control of the outgoing call, the call processing system causes the SSP to initiate a media connection between the source device and the call processing system. The call processing system can then utilize the media connection with the source device to perform functionality for the outgoing call prior to and/or during the outgoing call. |
| US09565216B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for security protocol selection in internet protocol multimedia subsystem networks
A method includes receiving a first secured registration request message from user equipment at a registration server in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem network, the first secured registration request message being secured using a first security protocol, determining at the registration server that the first secured registration request message cannot be decoded using the first security protocol, sending a message from the registration server to the user equipment proposing a second security protocol, and receiving a second secured registration request message from the user equipment at the registration server, the second secured registration request message being secured using the second security protocol. |
| US09565212B2 |
Secure mobile framework
Systems and methods for a secure mobile framework to securely connect applications running on mobile devices to services within an enterprise are provided. Various embodiments provide mechanisms of securitizing data and communication between mobile devices and end point services accessed from a gateway of responsible authorization, authentication, anomaly detection, fraud detection, and policy management. Some embodiments provide for the integration of server and client side security mechanisms, binding of a user/application/device to an endpoint service along with multiple encryption mechanisms. For example, the secure mobile framework provides a secure container on the mobile device, secure files, a virtual file system partition, a multiple level authentication approach (e.g., to access a secure container on the mobile device and to access enterprise services), and a server side fraud detection system. |
| US09565208B2 |
System and method for detecting network intrusions using layered host scoring
Approaches for detecting network intrusions, such as malware infection, Trojans, worms, or bot net mining activities includes: identifying one or more threat detections in session datasets, the session datasets corresponding to network traffic from a plurality of hosts; determining a layered detection score, the layered detection score corresponding to a certainty score and threat score; determining a layered host score, the layered host score corresponding to a certainty score and threat score; and generating alarm data comprising the layered detection score and the layered host score. In some embodiments, the network traffic may be received passively through a network switch; for example, by “tapping” the switch. Other additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention are described in the detailed description, figures and claims. |
| US09565202B1 |
System and method for detecting exfiltration content
Techniques for detecting exfiltration content are described herein. According to one embodiment, a malicious content suspect is executed within a virtual machine that simulates a target operating environment associated with the malicious content suspect. A packet inspection is performed on outbound network traffic initiated by the malicious content suspect to determine whether the outbound network traffic matches a predetermined network traffic pattern. An alert is generated indicating that the malicious content suspect should be declared as malicious, in response to determining that the outbound network traffic matches the predetermined network traffic pattern. |
| US09565201B2 |
Security threat identification/testing using annotated sequence diagrams
Embodiments provide apparatuses and methods supporting software development teams in identifying potential security threats, and then testing those threats against under-development scenarios. At design-time, embodiments identify potential threats by providing sequence diagrams enriched with security annotations. Security information captured by the annotations can relate to topics such as security goals, properties of communications channels, environmental parameters, and/or WHAT-IF conditions. The annotated sequence diagram can reference an extensible catalog of functions useful for defining message content. Once generated, the annotated sequence diagram can in turn serve as a basis for translation into a formal model of system security. At run-time, embodiments support development teams in testing, by exploiting identified threats to automatically generate and execute test-cases against the up and running scenario. The security annotations may facilitate detection of subtle flaws in security logic, e.g., those giving rise to Man-in-the-middle, authentication, and/or confidentiality issues in software under-development. |
| US09565200B2 |
Method and system for forensic data tracking
The present invention relates to a method and system for tracking the movement of data elements as they are shared and moved between authorized and unauthorized devices and among authorized and unauthorized users. |
| US09565191B2 |
Global policy apparatus and related methods
A method of implementing requirements applicable to systems of an enterprise includes modeling the requirements as contents of policies applicable to target domains of the enterprise. The policy contents are integrated into a policy model. The policy model is adapted to obtain representations of domain-specific requirements corresponding to target systems in the target domains. The representations are integrated with the corresponding target systems to implement the domain-specific requirements. |
| US09565189B1 |
Method and system for providing access to administrative functionality a virtualization environment
Described is an architecture for providing access to administrative functionality in a virtualization system using implied authentication. This approach avoids the problems associated with the requirements to use a user ID and password to access an admin console. The user ID and password can be rendered completely unnecessary, or where the user ID and password combination is only used as a supplement to the implied authentication. |
| US09565183B2 |
Location and device based student access control
Techniques are described for controlling access to an online service by a one or more authentication mechanisms based on device, browser, or location, or a combination of the three. A method comprises receiving a request to access a service, receiving, in association with the request, a first access mechanism, receiving a first and second level of authentication associated with the user requesting the service, updating authenticated-mechanism data to indicate that the first access mechanism is an authenticated access mechanism for the particular user, receiving a second request to access the service, in response to receiving a second request, determining whether the second access mechanism is an authenticated access mechanism for the particular user, upon determining that the second access mechanism is not an authenticated mechanism, requesting a second level of authentication for the particular user, otherwise granting access. |
| US09565179B2 |
Method and system for facilitating collaboration across multiple platforms
A method and system for facilitating collaboration across a plurality of platforms are disclosed. A server with one or more processors and memory performs an identity authentication process to validate a user to access a super account, where the super account is bound to a plurality of sub-accounts, and where each of the plurality of sub-accounts corresponds to a distinct platform. In accordance with a determination that the authentication process is successful, the server queries sub-servers corresponding to the plurality of sub-accounts for respective usage rights of each of the plurality of sub-accounts. The server transmits, to the user, one or more tokens identifying the respective usage rights of each of the plurality of sub-accounts and generates a user interface including affordances based at least in part on the usage rights of each of the plurality of sub-accounts. |
| US09565178B2 |
Using representational state transfer (REST) for consent management
Techniques are disclosed for sending, from an application executing on a device associated with a user, through a Representational State Transfer (REST)-based interface, to an authorization computer system, a request for permission to access a scope of information associated with the user. The techniques can further include, based on authentication of the user, receiving, at the device associated with the user, through the REST-based interface, a request for consent by the user to allow the application to access information that is within the scope of information associated with the user. Furthermore, the techniques can include, responsive to the device receiving consent from the user, sending, from the device associated with the user, through the REST-based interface, to the authorization computer system, the consent to allow the application to access the information for the authorization computer system to store a mapping between the application and the scope. |
| US09565173B2 |
Systems and methods for establishing trusted, secure communications from a mobile device to a multi-function device
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for establishing trusted, secure communications from a mobile device, such as a smart phone, to an immobile device, such as a multi-function device. The disclosed techniques can include the immobile device displaying a pattern that encodes a cryptographic key. The mobile device can obtain an image of the pattern and decode it to obtain the cryptographic key. Because the mobile device obtained the image within its line-of-sight, for example, it can be assured that it communicated with the immobile device, and only the immobile device. The mobile device and the immobile device can use the cryptographic key to secure further communications. |
| US09565163B1 |
Verification of network service paths
Verification of continuity for a network service path that includes at least one network function that blocks test packets may be achieved by providing a bypass mechanism to bypass test packets around the at least one network function that blocks test packets. Verification of continuity may be done when the network service is available for active use or when it is not ready for active use. Detection of a continuity problem leads to more detailed diagnostic work. |
| US09565156B2 |
Remote access to a mobile communication device over a wireless local area network (WLAN)
A method and arrangement is provided which allows a PC or other client device to be used to communicate with third parties through a mobile communication device when a user and the mobile communication device are not in the vicinity of one another. The arrangement allows the user to control operation of the mobile communication device over a WLAN so that the user can send or receive messages such as voice and text messages to a remote party from the client device through the mobile communication device over the WLAN and the mobile communication network employed by the mobile device. |
| US09565151B2 |
Immediate communication system
A communication service network, comprising: (a) a communication network including a plurality of terminals configured to support at least a first personal communication service for a plurality of users over the communication network, in which service, each user has a unique handle; and (b) a plurality of clients supporting a second personal communication service, wherein each of said clients is configured to attempt a communication under said second service with any of said users using their unique handles. |
| US09565146B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling messenger in terminal
An apparatus for controlling a messenger in a terminal is provided. A display displays an answer phrase to a specific chat phrase among a plurality of chat phrases in a messenger chat window. Upon receiving an answer phrase to a specific chat phrase which is not displayed in a display area of the messenger chat window, a controller notifies of the reception of the answer phrase, and if ‘View Answer Phrase’ is selected, the controller moves to a position area where the specific chat phrase is displayed, and displays the specific chat phrase and the answer phrase. The controller manages the plurality of chat phrases using index information indicating a position for each of the plurality of chat phrases. If an answer phrase to the specific chat phrase is sent, the controller generates index information of the answer phrase associated to the index information of the specific chat phrase. |
| US09565145B2 |
Information sharing management on an instant messaging platform
This application discloses a method implemented at a server to control information items shared on an instant messaging platform. The server monitors information sharing activities by a public account of the instant messaging platform. The public account is supported by a third party application authorized by the instant messaging platform and has connection with a plurality of individual user accounts of the instant messaging platform. When the amount of information shared by the public account exceeds a predefined threshold, the server partitions the shared information into multiple categories and measures user activities from the plurality of individual user accounts on the categorized shared information. The server selects a policy of restricting the public account from sharing information with the plurality of individual user accounts based on the measurement result, and applies the policy to the public account. |
| US09565133B2 |
Network system implementing a plurality of switching devices to block passage of a broadcast signal
To provide a network system including a network constructed by combining a plurality of switching devices. The network includes a first partial network including switching devices and a second partial network that is formed outside the first partial network and includes switching devices. The switching device in the first partial network connected to the second partial network blocks passage of a broadcast signal that is transmitted from a terminal device and that has a specific logical port number as transmission information at a physical port. |
| US09565130B2 |
Cloud-based resource availability calculation of a network environment
An example method for cloud-based resource availability calculation of a network environment is provided and includes receiving a plurality of system error log (SEL) data in real time at a virtual appliance executing in a first network. The SEL data is received from a remote second network indicating system events associated with corresponding resources in the second network. The method further includes calculating a resource availability (RA) index indicative of availability of resources for workload deployment in the second network, and sending the RA index to a management application executing in the second network for appropriate management and allocation of resources in the second network. In specific embodiments, the method further includes receiving a SEL inventory associated with a specific resource in the second network, and updating the RA index based on the SEL inventory. |
| US09565126B2 |
Virtual machine and application migration over local and wide area networks without timeout using data compression
Long distance cloud migration (LDCM) to overcome the limitations faced by the cloud migration techniques over long distance, high speed WAN infrastructures. LDCM overcomes the negative effects of existing TCP/IP mechanisms on the efficient use of available bandwidth. LDCM also acts as an acceleration engine to optimize various hypervisor, storage and security applications. |
| US09565125B2 |
Multicast to unicast conversion technique
A technique allows stations to utilize an equal share of resources (e.g., airtime or throughput). This prevents slow stations from consuming too many resources (e.g., using up too much air time). Fairness is ensured by selective dropping after a multicast packet is converted to unicast. This prevents slow stations from using more than their share of buffer resources. Multicast conversion aware back-pressure into the network layer can be used to prevent unnecessary dropping of packets after multicast to unicast (1:n) conversion by considering duplicated transmit buffers. This technique helps achieve airtime/resource fairness among stations. |
| US09565118B1 |
Methods and apparatus for handling management packets in an audio video bridging (AVB) network
It is determined whether a packet is a management-type packet. When it is determined that the packet is a management-type packet, a queue is selected from a plurality of queues corresponding to different priorities, wherein the selected queue corresponds to a defined throughput and/or a defined latency. The packet is enqueued in the selected queue. The packet is transmitted via a port of the network device. |
| US09565110B2 |
Network congestion management systems and methods
Systems, methods and software useful for overcoming network congestion problems including head-of-line blocking issues and other network congestion problems. In certain aspects, flow control mechanisms implemented in a switch device or other network device manage buffer and system level resources using a scheduler to control the amount of data requested from a local SAN fabric. Switches and other network devices configured according to the present invention monitor each individual SCSI task, and are configured to apply flow control measures to each active session when buffering resources become scarce, such as when buffering data for a slower-speed WAN link or TCP/IP based interconnects of any speed. |
| US09565108B2 |
Distributed node migration between routing domains
In one embodiment, a device connected to a network receives at a network interface a first network size indicator for a first network and a second network size indicator for a second network. A difference between the first network size indicator and the second network size indicator is determined and a switching probability is calculated if the difference between the network size indicators is greater than a predetermined network size difference threshold. The device may then migrate from the first network to the second network based on the switching probability. |
| US09565105B2 |
Implementation of virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) in top-of-rack switches in a network environment
An example method for implementation of virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) in top-of-rack (ToR) switches in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet encapsulated with a VXLAN header having an unknown virtual tunnel endpoint (VTEP) Internet Protocol (IP) address in a network environment, and installing an entry at an index location of a forwarding table. The index location includes an encoding of the VTEP-IP address as a VTEP index (VTEP-IDX), and the entry maps a VXLAN interface to an IP address associated with a VXLAN network identifier (VNI). In specific embodiments, the VTEP-IDX is log N bits, where N is a size of the forwarding table. The forwarding table indicates a destination VTEP IP address when encapsulating the packet, and the source VTEP IP address when decapsulating the packet. |
| US09565101B2 |
Risk mitigation in data center networks
A method employing resource orchestration algorithms may find a fewest number of working data centers (DCs) to guarantee K-connect survivability using an overlay network representing a physical optical network. The overlay network may not include certain topological features of the physical optical network. A risk-based algorithm may result in fewer working DCs for K-connect survivability. A delay-based algorithm may be more suitable for delay-sensitive cloud applications. |
| US09565093B1 |
Systems and methods for anticipating file-security queries
The disclosed computer-implemented method for anticipating file-security queries may include (1) monitoring queries from client devices for information that describes the security of files, (2) determining that a threshold number of the client devices are querying for information describing the security of a file within a threshold amount of time, (3) anticipating, based on the determination, that at least one client device that did not query for the information will query for the information, and (4) delivering, in response to anticipating that the client device that did not query for the information will query for the information, the information to the client device that did not query for the information. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09565090B1 |
Measuring deletion of cookies included in browsers used by online system users
An online system determines a frequency with which its users delete information stored in a browser on client devices associated with each user. When a user accesses the online system, the online system determines a user identifier associated with the user and determines if one or more conditions are satisfied based on information received from a browser used to access the online system. If a condition is satisfied, the online system communicates an instruction to the browser to communicate information associated with a third party and the user identifier to the third party. Information previously stored in the browser and associated with the user identifier is compared to information associated with the user identifier received from the browser. Deletion of information stored in the browser is determined when stored information associated with the user identifier differs from received information associated with the user identifier. |
| US09565087B2 |
Method of monitoring a tandem connection in a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) Telecommunication network
It is disclosed a method of monitoring, a Multi-Protocol Label Switching network, a tandem connection of a Label Switched Path. The tandem connection to be monitored has an input node and an output node. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a first Operation Administration Management packet at the input node; and generating a second OAM packet at the input node. According to the invention, the following steps are further performed: a tandem connection header is inserted into the first OAM packet; both the first OAM packet with the tandem connection header and the second OAM packet are sent towards the output node; and the second OAM packet is identified according to the presence or absence of said tandem connection header. |
| US09565084B2 |
Method and system for evaluating network connectivity in rule-based applications
A computer readable storage medium includes a set of instructions executable by a processor. The instructions are operable to assign a unique identifier to each of a plurality of node subsets of a network, the node subsets being created by damage to the network; assign one or more of the identifiers to each of a plurality of components of the damaged network based on a connectivity to the one or more of the node subsets and corresponding identifiers of the node subsets; assign one or more of the identifiers to each of one or more node types of the plurality of components by assigning each of the node types all of the identifiers of any of the components of the node type; and evaluate a first connectivity between a first one of the components and a second one of the components by determining whether they share at least one of the identifiers. |
| US09565081B2 |
Phone thermal context
A thermal context manager (hereinafter “TCM”) detects a thermal state and a position of a computing device. Based on the detected thermal state(s) and the detected position(s) of the computing device, the TCM initiates an action associated with the computing device. The TCM continually monitors the computing device in order to create a thermal state profile of the computing device. To create the thermal state profile, the TCM stores data representing each detected instance of the thermal state of the computing device and data representing each detected position of the computing device. |
| US09565080B2 |
Evaluating electronic network devices in view of cost and service level considerations
The described implementations relate to processing of electronic data. One implementation is manifest as one or more computer-readable storage devices comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to perform acts. The acts can include determining service levels provided by multiple network configurations, determining costs associated with the multiple network configurations, and evaluating the multiple network configurations based on both the costs and the service levels. The multiple network configurations can include redundantly-deployed devices. Furthermore, some implementations may determine cost/service level metrics that can be used to compare devices based on expected costs to provide a particular service level. |
| US09565074B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods of orchestrating resources and services across multiple heterogeneous domains
The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems for controlling services across multiple heterogeneous networks, which may include receiving a service request, identifying two or more telecommunications domains required to fulfill the received service request, generating two or more domain specific service requests based on the received service request, associating at least one of the generated plurality of domain specific service requests with one of the identified telecommunications domains, and sending the associated domain specific service requests to exposed public interfaces of the associated telecommunications domains. A component in the telecommunications domain may receive the domain specific service request, decompose the request into resource rule(s), and send the resource rule(s) to a relevant component within the associated telecommunications domain for enforcement. |
| US09565066B2 |
Data transmission method, base station, and user equipment
Embodiments of the present invention provide a data transmission method. The method includes: obtaining a slot format of a F-DPCH used for a UE; receiving an ACK message that is sent by a base station on an AICH; determining an F-DPCH frame offset τF-DPCH of the UE and determining a transmission time interval τa-m according to a predefined rule, where the τa-m indicates a time interval between a starting boundary of an access slot when the UE receives the AICH and a time point when the UE starts uplink transmission; receiving an uplink power control command word TPC on the F-DPCH according to the slot format of the F-DPCH and the τF-DPCH; and performing uplink transmission to the base station according to the τa-m. |
| US09565064B2 |
Frame transmission apparatus and method for checking normality
A frame transmission apparatus includes multiple ports provided in a line unit, and a setting control unit. The setting control unit checks the normality of the frame transfer state within the apparatus by transferring a maintenance management frame from a first port to a second port within the apparatus. When the first port is a logical port configured by link aggregation of multiple physical ports, the setting control unit selects each of the multiple physical ports as a transmission source port and transfers multiple maintenance management frames from the multiple physical ports to the second port. |
| US09565063B2 |
Systems, devices and methods of synchronizing information across multiple heterogeneous networks
The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems that enable synchronizing information in a telecommunications system, which may include receiving a first message including communication information to be synchronized from a first domain, receiving a second message including information associated with a communication on a component in a second telecommunication domain, synchronizing information included in the first message with information included in the second message, and sending the synchronized information to a public interface of the first domain. Synchronizing the information included in the first message with information included in the second message may include synchronizing one or more of metering, rating, charging, balance, policy, and contextual information. |
| US09565058B2 |
Method of connecting a device to a network, a device connecting system, and a program
The present subject matter is generally related to a method of connecting a device to a network, a device connecting system and a device connecting program. A network device or a device responding on a device service discovery request within a network with information of a virtual service on the device, which may be different from the actual capabilities and functions of the device. |
| US09565057B1 |
System and method for utilizing a font data container to store a device identifier
A system and method for utilizing an attribute data container, e.g., a font file, to store a device identifier is provided. During a mobile configuration procedure, an analytic processing server generates a unique identifier to be used in identifying a particular end user device. This unique identifier is embedded into an attribute data container that is then stored on the end-user device. An application, executing on the end-user device, may load the attribute data container to determine the unique identifier associated with the end user device. |
| US09565053B2 |
Non-transitory computer-readable medium, communication relay apparatus, and image processing apparatus
A process and system are described in which a session is established between a client application and a communication relay program being executed by a processor. In response to a process request from the client application, session information is added to the process request to identify the established session. Next, the process request with the session information is transmitted to an image processing apparatus. Responses received from the image processing apparatus may include the session information to identify to which session each response belongs. The communication relay program removes the session information from the response and forwards the response to the client application through the relevant session. |
| US09565049B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, and computer product for sharing data
A communication apparatus includes a processor configured to access memory of the communication apparatus; communicate with a second apparatus; detect an access request generated by the communication apparatus; determine whether an address of access targeted data indicated in the detected access request is an address allocated to the memory of the communication apparatus; and perform control for selecting and executing based on a determination result, any one among a process of accessing the memory of the communication apparatus based on the access request and a process of communicating with the second apparatus based on the access request. |
| US09565048B2 |
Reduced precision vector processing
Methods, systems, and devices are described for wired communication. In one aspect, a method includes selecting a gain scalar based at least in part on a constellation point distance associated with a constellation mapper for a line and a tone. The method also includes applying the gain scalar to a tone data output signal of a vector processor. |
| US09565046B2 |
Methods and nodes in a wireless communication network
A method and transmitter for generating a multicarrier signal, to be transmitted to a receiver, are provided. The method comprises dividing symbols to be transmitted into protected symbols and non-protected symbols; precoding non-protected symbols in a first precoder; precoding protected symbols in a second precoder; creating a modified non-protected symbol vector, based on the precoded non-protected symbols and the precoded protected symbols; and modulating the modified non-protected symbol vector and the protected symbols, thereby generating the multicarrier signal. Also, a method and receiver are disclosed. |
| US09565040B2 |
Empirical mode decomposition for spectrum sensing in communication systems
A system and method using an Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD)-based energy detector for spectrum sensing in a communication system. The EMD energy detector needs no prior information of the received signal, has relatively low computational complexity, operates on non-stationary and non-linear signals, and performs well at low SNR. |
| US09565033B2 |
Multicast processing method, apparatus and system
A multicast processing method, apparatus and system. A Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) tunnel end point (VTEP) receives configuration information sent by a management layer; and receives a multicast packet sent by a VM managed by the VTEP; when performing VXLAN encapsulation on the multicast packet after determining that the virtual machine (VM) matches the VM tenant identifier, the VTEP encapsulates a destination address of the multicast packet into the multicast address on a layer 3 network according to a mapping relationship between a VM multicast address and a multicast address on the layer 3 network, and encapsulates a VXLAN source address of the multicast packet into a layer 3 network multicast source address according to a mapping relationship between a VM multicast source address and a layer 3 network multicast source address; and sends an encapsulated multicast packet to the layer 3 network. |
| US09565030B2 |
Testing system for a wireless access device and method
A system for testing a wireless access device having a plurality of radio modules is provided. The system includes a housing having an interior chamber. The interior chamber is adapted to receive a wireless access device. A plurality of probes are positioned for respective alignment with an antenna of a corresponding radio module of the wireless access device. The plurality of probes are adapted to receive radio signals from the wireless access device. |
| US09565029B2 |
Methods and apparatus for routing TCAP messages
The present invention relates to a point code emulation apparatus and method for dividing a Common Channel Signaling System No. 7 (or SS7) signaling network into two or more networks. The point code emulator is adapted to receive TCAP messages from two or more subnets and converts, for the messages crossing over the subnets, the information of the TCAP messages, including originating point code, destination point code, and transaction identifier, (and optionally, calling party number and called party number), and forwards to the other one of the two or more subnets. Correspondence among the two or more subnets may be provisioned by an authorized user of the system, may be learned automatically by the system based on ISUP message correspondences or previous TCAP transactions, or may be automatically discovered by the system broadcasting messages to nodes in the destined one of the two or more subnets. |
| US09565027B2 |
Multi-destination traffic control in multi-level networks
An internet protocol (IP) traffic control method comprising receiving a message that comprises multicast group information and distribution tree root information from a tree root node in a first network area, determining the border network node is a designated forwarder for the second network area, sending an announcement message that comprises the multicast group information and the distribution tree root information within the second network area, receiving multicast group membership information for a multicast group computing a multicast group membership summary for the first network area and the second network area, sending the multicast group membership summary to first network area and the second network area, computing a distribution tree using the multicast group information and the distribution tree root information, pruning the distribution tree to generate a multicast tree, and communicating multicast data traffic between the first network area and the second network area along the multicast tree. |
| US09565023B2 |
Signature generation and verification system and signature verification apparatus
A signature generation and verification system including a signature generation apparatus and a signature verification apparatus is provided. Based on signer certification information possessed by a signer, the signature generation apparatus generates a digital signature and verification data corresponding to a given electronic document and outputs the set of the digital signature and the verification data as signature data. Upon receipt of the electronic document and the signature data, the signature verification apparatus verifies the digital signature using the verification data to verify the integrity of the electronic document. As needed, the signature verification apparatus performs user identification ex-post facto by authenticating that the signer certification information from which the verification data was generated belongs to a legitimate user without knowledge of the signer certification information. |
| US09565022B1 |
RFID tags with dynamic key replacement
A cryptographically-enabled RFID tag stores a primary secret key and derives secondary keys from the primary key. A secondary key may be derived by combining the primary key with one or more other parameters using one or more algorithms. The tag uses a derived secondary key to encrypt or electronically sign a tag response sent to a verifying entity. The verifying entity does not know the derived secondary key, but knows the tag primary key and the parameters and algorithms used to derive the secondary key and can derive all of the potential secondary keys. The verifying entity can then attempt to authenticate the tag or tag response by trying potential secondary keys. |
| US09565011B2 |
Data transmission with cross-subframe control in a wireless network
Techniques for supporting communication in dominant interference scenarios are described. In an aspect, communication in a dominant interference scenario may be supported with cross-subframe control. Different base stations may be allocated different subframes for sending control information. Each base station may send control messages in the subframes allocated to that base station. Different base stations may have different timelines for sending control messages due to their different allocated subframes. With cross-subframe control, control information (e.g., grants, acknowledgement, etc.) may be sent in a first subframe and may be applicable for data transmission in a second subframe, which may be a variable number of subframes from the first subframe. In another aspect, messages to mitigate interference may be sent on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). |
| US09565009B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication apparatus includes: a transmission unit including a narrow interval data transmission unit which transmits a predetermined plurality of sets of data at an interval narrower than a predetermined interval, upon receipt of a narrow interval data transmission instruction; and a reception unit including: a transmission data reception unit which receives data of an application of a communication partner, and issuing a notification each time the data is received; a data transmission interval reception unit which receives a time interval of data transmission from the communication partner; a data non-arrival detection unit which considers data not to be arrived, in the case where the notification has not been issued from the transmission data reception unit for a predetermined time period longer than the time interval received by the data transmission interval reception unit; and a narrow interval data transmission instruction unit which transmits a narrow interval data transmission instruction to the communication partner, when the data non-arrival detection unit considers data not to be arrived. |
| US09565002B2 |
CRS interference mitigation for EPDCCH/PDSCH demodulation under CoMP
A method for a User Equipment (UE) to mitigate Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) interference (not only the other interference cells' CRS interference but also the serving cell's CRS interference) during ePDCCH/PDSCH demodulation is described. The method includes determining that the CRS having been configured is not serving cell's CRS. Further, interference originating from the serving cell's CRS is mitigated by referring to serving cell's CRS configuration. |
| US09564997B2 |
Method and apparatus for flushing uplink HARQ buffer in C-DRX mode
A method for determining whether an acknowledgement received by a user equipment from an external device is a forced acknowledgement. The method including transmitting a set of data stored in an uplink buffer to an external device, receiving an acknowledgement from the external device, determining if the acknowledgement received from the external device was a forced acknowledgement and flushing out an uplink buffer if determined that the acknowledgement was not a forced acknowledgement. The determining the acknowledgement is a forced acknowledgment being based on whether an uplink retransmission collides with one or more scheduled transmission times, a Physical Hybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel (PHICH) falls between gap measurements and an uplink retransmission collides with one of the gap measurements or a TTI bundling retransmission collides with a gap measurement. If the acknowledgement is not a forced acknowledgment, a set of data stored in the uplink buffer is retransmitted to the external device. |
| US09564995B2 |
Retransmission method for time division duplexing self-adaptive frame structure, and network side device
A retransmission method for a time division duplexing self-adaptive frame structure, and a network side device relate to a technology of dynamically allocating uplink and downlink sub-frames in an LTE-advance (3GPP Release11) TDD communication system. The method comprises: during transmission of a TDD self-adaptive frame, for an uplink sub-frame, if a frame structure, of which an RTT period of PHICH and PUSCH of the uplink sub-frame is 10 ms, corresponding to the uplink sub frame is found in 7 types of defined frame structures, then sending PHICH data on a corresponding downlink sub-frame in the found frame structure, and sending retransmission data on the corresponding uplink sub-frame in the found frame structure. The solution ensures HARQ compatibility of an uplink data channel of R10UE. In addition, A/N feedback of the PDSCH is configured according to the uplink A/N resolution, thereby improving retransmission performance. |
| US09564994B2 |
Fault tolerant chip-to-chip communication with advanced voltage
Systems and circuits are described for transmitting data over physical channels to provide a fault tolerant, high speed, low latency interface such as between a memory controller and memory devices. Communications signals are communicated over interconnection groups comprised of multiple wires, with the described encoding and decoding permitting continued communication in the presence of a wire failure within an interconnection group. An efficient distributable voltage regulator to provide communications driver power is also disclosed. |
| US09564991B2 |
Ethernet point to point link incorporating forward error correction
A method of providing forward error correction on an Ethernet point-to-point link, constituted of: receiving at one end of the point-to-point link an input data stream, wherein the input data stream is a 10 bit symbol encoded serial data stream at a first data rate; decoding the 10 bit encoded data stream to a 9 bit symbol data stream; increasing the data rate of the 9 bit symbol data stream to a second data rate; for each segment of a predetermined number of 9 bit symbols generating a respective plurality of parity symbols; combining the segments and the generated respective plurality of parity symbols into FEC appended segments; encoding the FEC appended segments into an output 10 bit symbol encoded data stream; and transmitting the output 10 bit encoded stream on the point-to-point link at the second data rate. |
| US09564987B2 |
Adaptive link adaptation system and method
The embodiments described herein provide a method and system for improve link adoption performance in wireless networks. The method for modifying the MCS index for transmission using a computed offset is provided. The offset is calculated based on HARQ feedback of transmissions. A transition probability matrix with plurality of MCS indices is used for selecting the MCS index for transmission based on the highest probability of transition. A pattern sequence of MCS indices is formed and the presence of the pattern is determined in the history of the HARQ transmissions. The frequency of the pattern presence is also determined and the MCS index is selected for the HARQ transmissions. A frequency database of MCS indices is built using source encoding techniques. The transition probabilities that are estimated from the frequency database along with a cost function associated with each MCS index will be used to compute next MCS index. |
| US09564981B2 |
Audio mixing console
Mixer includes first and second displays each capable of displaying a pop-up screen that simultaneously displays pieces of information of eight channels. Once a display instruction for displaying a pop-up screen is received, it is ascertained whether or not the pop-up screen currently instructed to be displayed can be displayed on both of the first and second displays. If the pop-up screen can be displayed on only one of the displays, the currently instructed pop-up screen and one-screen channel selection switch are displayed on the one display together with. If, on the other hand, the pop-up screen can be displayed on both of the displays, the instructed pop-up screen are displayed on in a two-screen format on individual ones of the displays, and a two-screen channel selection switch is displayed on each one of the pop-up screens. |
| US09564976B2 |
Blind equalization of dual subcarrier OFDM signals
A dual-polarization, 2-subcarriers code orthogonal, orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signal carrying information bits is transmitted in an optical communication network without transmitting a corresponding pilot tone or training sequence. A receiver receives the transmitted signal and recovers information bits using a blind equalization technique and by equalizing the 2-subcarriers OFDM signal as a 49-QAM signal in time domain with a CMMA (constant multi modulus algorithm) equalization method. |
| US09564973B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving interface signals of distributed base station
The disclosures provide a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving interface signals of a distributed base station. At least one channel of Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) signals of a distributed base station are encapsulated into optical transport unit x (OTUx) signals in a frame structure of OTUx by adopting Generic Mapping Procedure (GMP) mapping scheme, wherein the x represents a transmission capacity and wherein the OTUx is adopted for providing a bandwidth required by the at least one channel of CPRI signals, and then the OTUx signals that bear the at least one channel of CPRI signals are sent. |
| US09564970B2 |
Information communication method for obtaining information using ID list and bright line image
An information communication method is provided for obtaining information from a subject. The method includes receiving an ID list that includes a plurality of sets of identification information, and setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method also includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line by the image sensor capturing the subject, and obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image. The method further includes searching for a channel used to broadcast the content displayed by the subject, by searching the ID list for the obtained information, and obtaining related information associated with the channel from a server. |
| US09564969B2 |
Lighting fixture for visible light communication and visible-light-communication system with same
A lighting fixture for visible light communication is configured to modulate light intensity of a light source (11) comprising a light-emitting device (2) to superpose a communication signal on illumination light. The lighting fixture includes: a power supply circuit (3) configured to control light output of the light source (11) based on a dimming signal; a switch device (Q1) for modulating an output current from the power supply circuit (3) to the light source (11); an impedance element (Rx); a communication circuit (4); and an ON circuit (6). The communication circuit (4) is configured to supply a modulation signal to a side of the switch device (Q1) to superpose the communication signal on the illumination light. The ON circuit (6) is configured to turn on the switch device (Q1) by supply power from the power supply circuit (3) when the communication circuit (4) is inactivated. |
| US09564967B2 |
Management system for GPON based services
A computerized system and method for managing a passive optical network (PON) is disclosed. The system includes a detection and analysis module adapted for receiving uploaded measurement data from an optical line terminal (OLT) and at least one optical network terminal (ONT), and at least one of technical tools data, service failure data, and outside plant data. The detection and analysis module is adapted for determining a source of failure or potential failure in the PON by correlating the uploaded measurement data and the at least one of technical tools data and service failure data with information stored in a memory medium for the OLT and each ONT. |
| US09564966B1 |
Reconstructing light-based communication signals using an alias frequency
Methods and systems are described for sampling an LCOM message signal at a rate less than the Nyquist rate (i.e., an “alias frequency”) and accurately reconstructing the entire LCOM message using a light receiver (e.g., digital camera) of a typical mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile computing device. The described methods and system take advantage of the repetition of LCOM signals, sampling an LCOM signal at a frequency less than the Nyquist frequency over at least two repetitions of a signal waveform, thereby collecting sufficient samples to accurately reconstruct the signal. The samples of each successive signal waveform repetition are offset from one another so that different points on the waveform are sampled, thus facilitating reconstruction of the signal. |
| US09564963B2 |
Automatic power control system for a code division multiple access (CDMA) communications system
A receiver receives signals and noise over a frequency spectrum of a desired received signal. The desired received signal is spread using code division multiple access. The received signals and noise are demodulated to produce a demodulated signal. The demodulated signal is despread using a code uncorrelated with a code associated with the desired received signal. A power level of the despread demodulated signal is measured as an estimate of the noise level of the frequency spectrum. |
| US09564961B2 |
Mobile communication system, detection server, control apparatus, mobile communication apparatus, network optimizing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium having program stored thereon
An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication system, a detection server, a control apparatus, a mobile communication apparatus, a network optimizing method, and a program which can execute optimization of network processing based on a change of use characteristics. A mobile communication system according to the present invention includes: a detection server that detects a characteristics change of a mobile communication apparatus based on an event notice transmitted from the mobile communication apparatus; and a control apparatus that determines control contents related to the mobile communication apparatus based on the characteristics change of the mobile communication apparatus detected by the detection server, and sets the determined control contents to a processing node that executes data transfer processing between the mobile communication apparatus and another mobile communication apparatus or control processing related to the data transfer processing. |
| US09564958B2 |
Power saving mode optimizations and related procedures
Embodiments of an eNodeB and method for Machine Type Communication in a Wireless Network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a method performed by circuitry of an evolved Node B (eNodeB) can include receiving, by the eNodeB, a notification that a User Equipment (UE) is configured to be used for Machine Type Communication (MTC). The method can include determining whether the UE is in a Radio Resource Control Connected (RRC_Connected) state and determining whether the UE can enter a power saving mode. The method can include configuring the UE to change to an RRC Deep Idle mode, in response to determining that the UE is in the RRC_Connected state and the UE can enter the power saving mode. |
| US09564955B2 |
Method and apparatus for canceling interference signal of UE in wireless communication system
Methods and apparatuses are provided for canceling interference at a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. A signal that includes a desired signal and an interference signal is received from at least one Base Station (BS). A random parameter is generated by projecting a vector of the received signal onto a set of projection vectors. A decision metric is determined using the random parameter. A Traffic to Pilot Ratio (TPR) that minimizes the decision metric with respect to both a transmission mode candidate group of the interference signal and a TPR candidate group of the interference signal is determined. The interference signal is canceled from the received signal using the TPR. |
| US09564953B2 |
Method for mapping and demapping resource in a wireless communication system and an apparatus thereof
A method and apparatus for mapping/demapping a resource efficiently in a wireless communication system are provided. A resource mapping method of a transmitter in a wireless communication system includes precoding pairs of symbols, arranging the pairs of precoded symbols adjacently in a resource block, and transmitting the pairs of precoded symbols in the resource block. |
| US09564951B2 |
Method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment and actions of individuals
A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual's data is read and the individual enters into a designated area. |
| US09564949B2 |
Information processing system, information processing device, storage medium storing information processing program, and storage device
An example of information processing system includes a storage device; and an information processing device for performing near field communication with the storage device. The storage device includes a storage unit storing application data usable in a predetermined application program and shared data usable in an application program regardless of whether the application program is the predetermined application program. The information processing system receives an instruction regarding data read and/or data write from/to the storage device from an application program to be executed by the information processing device. Under the condition that the instruction is from the predetermined application program, the application data is passed to the predetermined application program. Regardless of whether the instruction is from the predetermined application program, the shared data is passed to the application program that issued the instruction. |
| US09564945B1 |
Method and apparatus to determine electric power network anomalies using a coordinated information exchange among smart meters
A system and method to produce an electric network from estimated line impedance and physical line length among smart meter devices is provided using communication between the smart meters. The smart meters: (1) synchronize time using GPS pps signals, which provide an accurate time stamp; (2) send/receive an identifiable signal through the same phase of electric networks; (3) identify other smart meters on the same phase lines by listening to the information signal on the same phase lines; and (4) calculate time-of-arrival of an identifiable signal from other smart meters. The time of arrival information is used to calculate the line length, which is then used to calculate impedance of a line and topology of the electric network. The system then constructs an electric network by combining geo-spatial information and tree-like usual connection information. |
| US09564942B2 |
Picture changing assembly for mobile phone cases
An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a motor, a first endless belt encircling a first pair of spaced apart shafts, a second endless belt encircling a second pair of spaced apart shafts, a drive element connecting the motor to one shaft each of the first pair of shafts and the second pair of shafts, and a continuous strip of film having a first end and a second end attached to the first endless belt and the second endless belt respectively. The motor activates the drive element to rotate one shaft each of the first pair of shafts and the second pair of shafts causing the belts to rotate, unwinding the film from the first endless belt and winding it on the second endless belt. |
| US09564941B2 |
Accessory for protecting a portable electronic device
An accessory includes a case body, a cover unit, and first and second coupling units. The case body is formed with a receiving space for receiving a portable electronic device. The cover unit is configured to be coupled removably to the case body for closing and opening the receiving space. The first coupling unit includes a data and charge connector for mating electrical connection with a data and charge socket of the portable electronic device, and a data and charge port connected to the data and charge connector. The second coupling unit includes a connector jack for mating electrical connection with an audio socket of the portable electronic device, and an audio port connected to the connector jack. |
| US09564936B2 |
Radio frequency feedthrough to portable device
An aviation transponder system comprising a permanently-mounted antenna, a permanently-mounted receiver module comprising a receiver, a signal splitter, and an external connector, and a portable receiver module, wherein a signal received on the permanently-mounted antenna is passed to the signal splitter of the permanently-mounted receiver module, wherein the signal splitter splits the signal such that the signal is sent to both the receiver and to the external connector, and wherein the portable receiver module is connected to the external connector, whereby the permanently-mounted antenna is used by the receiver of the permanently-mounted receiver module and fed through the permanently-mounted receiver module and made available to the portable receiver module through the external connector. |
| US09564935B2 |
Linear composite transmitter utilizing composite power amplification
The present invention provides a compound transmitter having power efficiency characteristics and distortion characteristics superior, over a wide band, to those of a Doherty transmitter, and having fewer elements constituting an RF circuit. The present invention is therefore provided with a compound amplifier (201) for generating a signal (z) (efficiency improving signal) obtained by the amplitude modulation of a carrier signal from an RF modulation signal (a) (main signal); power-modulating, using two power amplifiers (50, 51), a signal (S1) obtained by adding together (a) and (z), and a signal (S2) obtained by subtracting (z) from (a); and setting, as a transmitter output point, the point (p1) where the respective outputs are combined via impedance inverters (60, 61), the efficiency improving signal (z) being generated under conditions in which the size of the envelope of either (S1) or (S2) is fixed. |
| US09564933B2 |
Wireless communication method and wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication method is provided. This method includes: selecting one of a plurality of predetermined frequency bands each time a switch operation is manually performed in a transmitter, and then using the selected frequency band to transmit a radio signal corresponding to the switch operation for a predetermined specified transmission time; in a receiver apparatus, receiving the transmitted wireless signal, and then recognizing the content of a command that has already been assigned in accordance with the switch operation; and defining an intermittent reception standby period, which is repeated at a predetermined cycle for each of the frequency bands. |
| US09564932B1 |
Software defined radio front end
The present application describes a computer-implemented method for configuring a front end including sweeping a first tone through the frequency band of the receive channel; receiving a first signal and a second signal containing interference; characterizing the receive channel using the first tone; processing the compensated first signal using an infinite impulse response filter based on the characterized receive channel to generate an interference cancelling signal; and coupling the interference cancelling signal to the second signal to generate an interference cancelled receive signal. |
| US09564931B1 |
Systems and methods for using decoders of different complexity in a hybrid decoder architecture
Systems and methods are provided for decoding a codeword having a first codeword length using a decoding system. The systems and methods include receiving a vector corresponding to the codeword at the decoding system, wherein the decoding system comprises a first decoder and a second decoder, the first decoder is available to concurrently process codewords up to the first codeword length, and the second decoder is available to concurrently process codewords up to a second codeword length. The systems and methods further include determining that the received vector is to be decoded using the second decoder, partitioning the received vector of the first codeword length into a plurality of segments having a size no larger than the second codeword length, and decoding the plurality of segments using the second decoder. |
| US09564930B2 |
Memory controller, storage device and memory control method
According to one embodiment, a memory controller includes an encoding unit that generates a first code word, a duplication unit that duplicates the first code word, a memory interface that writes a code word group including the first code word and code words being duplicates of the first code word into a non-volatile memory, and reads the code words forming the code word group from the non-volatile memory, a determination unit that obtains a result of majority decision using the first code word and the plurality of code words, which are included in the code word group read from the non-volatile memory, and a decoding unit that decodes a code word being the result of the majority decision and corrects an error. |
| US09564928B2 |
Transmitter and method for generating additional parity thereof
A transmitter is provided. The transmitter includes: a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoder configured to encode input bits to generate an LDPC codeword including the input bits and parity bits to be transmitted in a current frame; a parity permutator configured to perform parity-permutation by interleaving the parity bits and group-wise interleaving a plurality of bit groups configuring the interleaved parity bits based on a group-wise interleaving pattern including a first pattern and a second pattern; a puncturer configured to puncture some of the parity-permutated parity bits; and an additional parity generator configured to select at least some of the punctured parity bits to generate additional parity bits to be transmitted in a previous frame of the current frame, based on the first pattern and the second pattern, wherein the first pattern determines parity bits to remain after the puncturing and then to be transmitted in the current frame. |
| US09564927B2 |
Constrained interleaving for 5G wireless and optical transport networks
The present invention provides a design framework that is used to develop new types of constrained turbo block convolutional (CTBC) codes that have higher performance than was previously attainable. The design framework is applied to design both random and deterministic constrained interleavers. Vectorizable deterministic constrained interleavers are developed and used to design parallel architectures for real time SISO decoding of CTBC codes. A new signal mapping technique called constrained interleaved coded modulation (CICM) is also developed. CICM is then used to develop rate matching, spatial modulation, and MIMO modulation subsystems to be used with CTBC codes and other types of codes. By way of example, embodiments are primarily provided for improved 5G LTE and optical transport network (OTN) communication systems. |
| US09564925B1 |
Pipelined architecture for iterative decoding of product codes
In one embodiment, a method includes loading first data into a first buffer of an interposer during a first time period and loading second data into a second buffer of the interposer and performing a first decoding operation on the first data using a first decoder during a second time period. The method includes loading third data into a third buffer of the interposer, performing the first decoding operation on the second data using the first decoder, and performing a second decoding operation on the first data using a second decoder during a third time period. Moreover, the method includes loading fourth data into a fourth buffer of the interposer, performing the first decoding operation on the third data using the first decoder, and performing the second decoding operation on the second data during a fourth time period. The first and second decoding operations are C1 or C2 decoding operations. |
| US09564914B1 |
Systems and methods for monitoring and compensation of analog to digital converter reference voltages
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for identifying changes in and failures of a reference voltage of an analog to digital (A/D) converter. A non-scalar function of the reference voltage of the A/D converter can be determined and output to the A/D converter. The A/D converter is configured to output a digital value to the A/D conversion system, wherein the digital value corresponds to the non-scalar function of the reference voltage. The A/D conversion system decodes the non-scalar function of the reference voltage with a corresponding inverse function, and may determine the drift factor associated with the reference voltage. The A/D conversion system can report a change in, or a failure of, the A/D converter or its reference voltage, and can operate or prevent operation of protection elements. |
| US09564913B1 |
Synchronization of outputs from multiple digital-to-analog converters
Disclosed systems include a clock-multiplying phase locked loop (PLL) generating a clock signal for a DAC comprising a plurality of DAC cells, the systems configured to control that a phase of the DAC output has a predefined relation to a phase of a PLL input reference clock. An exemplary system incorporates an auxiliary DAC cell implemented as a replica of one of the DAC cells of the DAC and operation of the DAC and the auxiliary DAC cell is timed with the same clock signal generated by the PLL, so that outputs of the auxiliary cell and the DAC are phase synchronized by design. The system is configured to ensure that a phase of the auxiliary DAC cell output is related to the phase of the PLL reference clock, which results in a phase of the DAC output also being related to the phase of the PLL reference clock. |
| US09564909B1 |
Method and circuit for delay adjustment monotonicity in a delay line
A delay circuit device configured for delay adjustment monotonicity and method of operating therefor. This delay circuit device is configured with hybrid coarse-fine delay cells and uses a sequence of these delay cells activated in a way that builds-up the delay as a sequence of fine steps until it reaches the coarse delay value. This configuration allows for the continuing build of propagation delay by adding the fine steps of the following delay cells. In this manner, the monotonicity of the signal delay circuit is ensured by the architecture independent from device mismatch, thus eliminating problems with conventional delay circuits such as gaps and overlaps specific the these conventional delay cells. |
| US09564908B2 |
Digital phase-locked loop and method of operating the same
Provided are a digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) having improved signal characteristics, and a method of operating the DPLL. The DPLL includes a first tracking unit configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal that is generated by feeding back an output signal of the DPLL, track the feedback signal, and output a delayed reference signal, and a second tracking unit configured to receive a delayed feedback signal generated by delaying the feedback signal, and the delayed reference signal, and generate an output signal of the DPLL, of which a frequency is controlled according to a phase difference between the delayed feedback signal and the delayed reference signal. |
| US09564907B2 |
Multi-channel delay locked loop
A multi-channel delay locked loop includes a global delay locked loop and a plurality of local delay locked loops. The global delay locked loop is configured to lock an input clock signal and output a global delay control signal corresponding to a delay amount of the input clock signal during a locking operation. Each of the plurality of local delay locked loops is configured to output a channel clock signal by locking the input clock signal, and initialize the delay amount of the input clock signal according to the global delay control signal. |
| US09564903B2 |
Port spreading
A semiconductor die having: a logic unit having a plurality of inputs/outputs; a plurality of pads whereby electrical connections can be made to the die; and a multiplexer arranged between the inputs/outputs and the pads, the multiplexer being operable in a first mode in which it maps a first number of the inputs/outputs to a first number of the pads with a first mean spacing between those pads, and a second mode in which it maps a second number of the inputs/outputs to a first number of the pads with a second mean spacing between those pads, wherein the first number is larger than the second number and the first spacing is smaller than the second spacing. |
| US09564900B2 |
Supply boost device
A device is disclosed that includes a driver circuit and a control circuit. The driver circuit is configured to provide an output signal according to an input signal, and operated with a first voltage and a second voltage. The driver circuit includes a pull up unit and a pull down unit configured to pull up and pull down a voltage level of the output signal, respectively. The control circuit is configured to selectively enable one of the pull up unit and the pull down unit according to the input signal, so as to adjust the voltage level of the output signal. The control circuit is further configured to drive the enabled one of the pull up unit and the pull down unit in a voltage mode or a current mode selectively according to the voltage level of the output signal, the first voltage and the second voltage. |
| US09564893B2 |
Touch switch and control panel
A technique reduces erroneous judgment due to effects of noise accompanying PWM control while using PWM control for brightness adjustment of light-emitting diodes disposed proximate of an electrode. An electrode is disposed proximate of operating portions that are subject to touch operations by unit of a conductive body. An operating portion of a light-emitting diode is lightened. A CPU performs brightness adjustment of the light-emitting diode through PWM control. A detecting circuit outputs detected values in accordance with electrostatic capacitances of the electrode. The CPU judges that a touch operation has been made when a difference between a detected value of the detecting circuit and a reference value stored in a RAM is not less than a prescribed value. The CPU stores a detected value that is first detected by the detecting circuit after transition of an executing state of PWM control in the RAM as a reference value. |
| US09564892B2 |
Apparatus and methods for radio frequency PIN diode switches
Apparatus and methods for radio frequency (RF) PIN diode switches are provided herein. In certain configurations, one or more PIN diode switches are integrated with a driver chip in a common package. The driver chip includes voltage regulators, such as switching regulators and/or charge pumps configured to generate voltage levels used to control biasing of the PIN diode switches. Thus, the packaged switch can operate using a single power supply voltage, which the voltage regulators of the driver chip use to generate biasing voltage levels used for controlling the PIN diode switches. |
| US09564891B1 |
Low conducted emission solid state switch
A solid state switch may include a plurality of inputs, such as to receive a control signal to cause the solid state relay to selectively deliver power from an AC power source to an electrical load (e.g., a heater, a pump, a lighting source, a motor, etc.). The solid state switch may include at metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) connected in a series opposition arrangement, where a gate of each of the MOSFETs may be electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of inputs. A signal output from the MOSFETs may provide a triggering signal at a gate input of each of a corresponding semiconductor switching device to close the solid state relay to enable power delivery from the AC power source to the electrical load. |
| US09564890B2 |
System-on-chip with dc-dc converters
A System-on-Chip includes a controller for generating a switching signal for driving a switching element of a power stage of a switched power converter. The power stage generates an output voltage according to the switching signal and an input voltage by the switching element. The controller is located on the same chip as the System-on-Chip and wherein the output voltage is generated for powering a supply domain of the System-on-Chip. |
| US09564885B2 |
Event-driven clock duty cycle control
Duty cycle error vectors that indicate both the magnitude and direction of the duty cycle error relative to a desired duty cycle are generated within a duty cycle measurement circuit, enabling threshold-based determination of whether duty cycle adjustment is necessary, refraining from power-consuming adjustment and follow-up measurement in those cases where the duty cycle is within a target range. When duty cycle adjustment is deemed necessary, the magnitude of the duty cycle error indicated by the duty cycle error vector may be applied to effect proportional rather than incremental duty cycle adjustment, quickly returning the clock duty cycle to a target range. |
| US09564880B2 |
Systems and methods for generating injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signals
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signals. In an embodiment, a circuit includes a ring of a number (N) serially connected delay-buffer elements and an injection-pulse-generation circuit. Each delay-buffer element provides a time delay (D), and at least some of them have at least one pulse-locking injection port. The injection-pulse-generation circuit is configured to transmit balanced-delay injection-pulse signals—that are generated by applying balanced-delay selection logic to a clock signal according to pulse-selection control signals—to the pulse-locking injection ports to provide, at the ring output port, an injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signal having a frequency that equals the reciprocal of (N*D) and that bears the same proportional relationship to the frequency of the clock signal that the period of the clock signal bears to (N*D). |
| US09564879B1 |
Reference voltage generation and calibration for single-ended signaling
A signal on a transmitter tracks noise on a ground node in a manner decoupled from a positive node of a power supply. The signal is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver. A reference voltage is generated on the receiver to track noise on a ground node in the receiver. Consequently, the received signal and the reference voltage have substantially the same noise characteristics, which become common mode noise that can be cancelled out when these two signals are compared against each other. In a further embodiment, the reference voltage is compared against a predetermined calibration pattern. An error signal is generated based on a difference between the sampler output and the predetermined calibration pattern. The error signal is then used to adjust the reference voltage so that the DC level of the reference voltage is positioned substantially in the middle of the received signal. |
| US09564871B2 |
Radio frequency filter
A Radio Frequency (RF) filter configured by combining a hybrid coupler with a general filter, for having different characteristics from original characteristics of a general filter is provided, in which a coupler receives an input signal through a first port, divides the input signal, outputs the divided signals through second and third ports, combines signals received through the second and third ports according to phases of the signals, and outputs the combined signal through the first port or as an output signal of the RF filter through a fourth port, and a first filter unit has a first port connected to the second port of the coupler and a second port connected to the third port of the coupler, for having a predetermined frequency filtering characteristic. |
| US09564865B2 |
Redundant amplifier and switching method thereof
Provided is a redundant amplifier, including: a first switch for connecting, on a one-to-one basis, inputs P1 to Pm to m of outputs Q1 to Qn, where m and n are natural numbers and m |
| US09564862B2 |
Class D audio amplifier with adjustable loop filter characteristics
The present invention relates to a class D audio amplifier comprising a pulse width modulator, an adjustable loop filter and a feedback loop. The pulse width modulator generates a first set of pulse width modulated control signals at an adjustable modulation frequency for respective switch control terminals of a first output driver. A controller of the class D audio amplifier is configured to control frequency response characteristics of the adjustable loop filter based on a frequency setting of the adjustable modulation frequency. |
| US09564861B2 |
Broadband radio frequency power amplifiers, and methods of manufacture thereof
An embodiment of an amplifier has a bandwidth defined by low and upper cutoff frequencies. The amplifier includes an input impedance matching circuit and a transistor. The transistor has a gate, a first current conducting terminal coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a second current conducting terminal coupled to a reference node. The input impedance matching circuit has a filter input coupled to an input of the amplifier, a filter output coupled to the gate of the transistor, and a multiple pole filter coupled between the filter input and the filter output. A first pole of the filter is positioned at a first frequency within the bandwidth, and a second pole of the filter is positioned at a second frequency outside the bandwidth. The input impedance matching circuit is configured to filter the input RF signal to produce a filtered RF signal at the filter output. |
| US09564856B2 |
Amplifier circuit with improved accuracy
An amplifier circuit with improved accuracy is provided that comprises a cascade of amplifier stages, a control line for controlling the amplifier stages, a feedback circuit having an input port for receiving a reference signal, and a feedback loop connecting the feedback circuit to the control line. Via the feedback circuit and the feedback loop, the large signal behavior of the amplifier stage is accurately fixed. As a result, the small signal gain of the amplifier stages has an improved accuracy as well. |
| US09564852B2 |
Solar-powered systems with solar cell support
A solar-powered system includes a mounting assembly to affix a solar active component mounted to a support member by the mounting assembly, such that both sides of the solar active component have solar exposure. |
| US09564844B2 |
Semiconductor device and driving system
An output MOS transistor has a drain connected with a power supply and a source connected with an output terminal. The short-circuit MOS transistor has a source connected with the output terminal. The short-circuit MOS transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate connected with the power supply. A switching device is formed in a semiconductor region which is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and contains a first diffusion layer connected with the gate of the output MOS transistor and a second diffusion layer formed in the semiconductor region and connected with the drain of the short-circuit MOS transistor. |
| US09564839B2 |
Drive device for a vehicle
A drive device for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, includes a set of drive units each having at least one electric traction motor and a power generation unit which is provided for generating power for the traction motor, and a set of motor contactor units each being assigned to a traction motor. In order to provide a type of drive device which has a high availability in the event of a failure, has few structural elements and can be produced economically, at least one motor contactor unit includes at least one switching device which is connected between the power generation unit for the associated traction motor and a feed point. |
| US09564838B2 |
Magnetic levitation device for prolonged rotation
Disclosed is a magnet in a high vacuum tube levitated by at least one magnet outside the tube and stabilized by at least one diamagnet inside or outside the tube. The magnet may have a rotational symmetry axis aligned with the magnetization axis and the diamagnet may be laminated to minimize eddy-current damping. The magnet or magnets outside the tube are used to control the levitation position and to temporarily bring the magnet into contact with a part of the tube structure. Contact is used in combination with a rotor to initiate the spinning motion of the magnet. The passively spinning and levitating magnet will continue to spin for an unusually long period of time due to the lack of contact and extremely low air drag and eddy-current friction. |
| US09564837B2 |
Vibration wave actuator
A vibration wave actuator includes a vibrator, a driven element, and a magnet. The vibrator has at least an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and an elastic body to which the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is joined, the elastic body including a contact portion. The driven element is in pressure contact with the contact portion of the vibrator, and includes a magnetic substance. The magnet is arranged such that the vibrator is placed between the driven element and the magnet. |
| US09564836B2 |
Transducer, and manufacturing method of the transducer
A transducer, and a method for manufacturing the transducer are provided. The transducer includes a substrate-side electrode provided in one side of an insulative substrate and an opposite plate including an opposite electrode disposed opposite to the substrate-side electrode, and which performs a function such as a reduction in impedance, conversion of capacitance, signal amplification, thereby achieving size reduction of the transducer itself. An upper plate is made of a silicon monocrystal and is arranged so as to face a substrate-side electrode. In the upper plate, an integrated circuit section which is an impurity region of an IC circuit is formed by a thermal diffusion method or an ion implantation method. By this transducer, an improvement in conversion efficiency, an improvement in productivity, and a size reduction of a mount system are achieved. |
| US09564834B1 |
Alternating current to direct current converter system
An alternating current to direct current converter system includes an alternating current power supply, an external electronic load, a first MOS transistor, a first control module, a first switch and a second control module. The alternating current power supply includes a first output end and a second output end. The first control module controls the first MOS transistor to active when the first output end has a positive voltage and control the first MOS transistor to turn off when the second output end has a positive voltage. The first switch connects to a first end of the external electronic load and the second output end. The second control module connects to the first switch. The second control module controls the first switch to active when the second output end has a positive voltage and controls the switch to turn off when the first output end has a positive voltage. |
| US09564829B2 |
Converter arm and associated converter device
It is presented a converter arm for power conversion. The converter arm comprises: a plurality of converter cells, wherein each converter cell comprises a plurality of semiconductor switches, an energy storage element and at least three control signal connections arranged to control the conducting state of the plurality of semiconductor switches. Each converter cell is connected to receive a control signal from at least three entities via said control signal connections, wherein at least two of the three entities are neighboring converter cells, and each converter cell is arranged to forward a control signal to all connected neighboring converter cells via said control signal connections. A corresponding converter device is also presented. |
| US09564826B2 |
Current resonant power supply device
First and second switch are connected in series to both terminals of a DC power source. A series circuit comprising a reactor, a primary winding of a transformer, and a capacitor connected in series, and is connected to a node between the first and second switches and one terminal of the DC power source. A rectifier smoothing circuit rectifies and smoothens a voltage generated across a secondary winding of the transformer and outputs a DC voltage. A control circuit alternately turns the first and second switches on and off. A voltage detection circuit detects the DC voltage from the rectifier smoothing circuit. A signal generation circuit generates a feedback signal from the DC voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit, and outputs the signal for turning the first and second switches on and off. A load current detection circuit detects load current contained in resonance current flowing through the capacitor. |
| US09564825B2 |
Parallel resonant converter capable of controlling output voltage and control method thereof
A parallel resonant converter including a control circuit and at least two resonant conversion circuits connected in parallel between an input bus and an output bus is provided by the invention. The control circuit is configured to provide a switching frequency signal to the at least two resonant conversion circuits. Moreover, the control circuit is further configured to control the voltage of the output bus to linearly vary along with the switching frequency signal in a rated range by using a linear current-balancing curve (gain-frequency), and thus achieving the purpose of current-balancing for the at least two resonant conversion circuits. The invention is capable of controlling the output voltage of the parallel resonant converter, so as to reduce the ripple on the output voltage of the power supply system. |
| US09564817B2 |
Method and apparatus for dedicated skip mode for resonant converters
A method and semiconductor device for controlling skip mode operation during light load conditions in a resonant power converter includes a skip mode controller circuit that compares a feedback signal corresponding to the secondary output level with a reference voltage to determine when to invoke skip mode. When entering skip mode the skip mode controller ceases switching by turning on the lower switch for a prolonged time to leave the resonant capacitor partially charged. Upon resuming switching, the lower switch is turned on first to drive current through the inductances, and asymmetric switching is used where the upper switch is on, initially for shorter periods to allow zero voltage switching. If the load increases, the on-time of upper and lower switches converge and conventional symmetric switching resumes. |
| US09564813B2 |
Switching power-supply device
Disclosed is a switching power-supply device that induces a pulse voltage in a secondary winding of the transformer, and outputs, to a load, an output voltage rectified and smoothened by a secondary-side rectification smoothing circuit including a rectifier diode and a smoothing capacitor. An input-voltage detection circuit detects the input voltage of the alternating-current power supply. An error amplifier compares the output voltage with a reference voltage, and transmits a resultant error voltage to a primary side as a feedback signal. An internal oscillation circuit selects any of frequency decrease settings according to the input voltage detected by the input-voltage detection circuit, and performs, by using the selected frequency decrease setting, a frequency decreasing function of decreasing a switching frequency of the switching element at a light load, in response to the feedback signal transmitted from a secondary side to inform a state of the load. |
| US09564810B2 |
Switched mode power supply
A switching power converter includes an inductor coupled to a terminal operably supplied with an input voltage. A semiconductor switch is coupled to the inductor and configured to enable and disable an input current passing through the inductor in accordance with a drive signal. A current sense circuit is coupled to the inductor or the semiconductor switch and is configured to generate a current sense signal representing the input current passing through the inductor or the semiconductor switch. A control circuit receives the current sense signal and is configured to: close the semiconductor switch regularly in accordance with a clock frequency, to integrate the current sense signal thus providing an integrated current sense signal to compare the integrated current sense signal with a threshold that is a function of the input voltage. |
| US09564806B2 |
Boost converter with reduced switching loss and methods of operating the same
An apparatus, e.g., a boost converter, includes a first switch configured to be coupled to an inductor and to support a charging current in the inductor from a power source and at least two serially-coupled second switches coupled in parallel with the first switch and configured to selectively route current from the inductor to at least two serially-connected capacitors. The apparatus may further include a control circuit configured to operate the first switch and the plurality of second switches. |
| US09564805B2 |
Voltage generating circuit
A voltage generating circuit, in which the influence of offset of an amplifier on an output voltage is reduced, has first and second bipolar transistors (Q1, Q2) having emitter terminals at the same electric potential. A base terminal of Q1 is disposed on a collector side of Q2. A first resistance element connects the collector side of Q2 with the base side of Q2; and a second resistance element (R1) connects a collector side of Q1 to R2. A third resistance element (R3) connects a base terminal of Q2 with the electric potential of the emitter terminals. An amplifier (A1) outputs a voltage based on a voltage difference between the collector sides of Q1 and Q2; and a voltage-current converting section (MP1, MP2) converts amplifier output into a current supplied to the connection node of R1 and R2. A voltage is then output on the basis of the generated current. |
| US09564804B2 |
Electronic device having plurality of voltage rails
An electronic device may include a plurality of voltage rails to provide voltages to components of a load, a plurality of voltage regulators, and a buck converter apparatus to separately couple to more than one of the plurality of voltage rails and to provide a voltage to at least a specific one of the voltage rails. |
| US09564799B2 |
Current sensorless control of a boost-type switch mode rectifier (SMR) with inductor parameter adaptation
Boost-type switch-mode rectifiers (SMR) commonly use a resistor or a magnetic current sensor to measure the instantaneous input or inductor current that is used as the feedback to the current controller. A novel current sensorless scheme is described that computes the inductor current from the measured inductor voltage in a single-phase boost-type SMR using an adaptive low pass filter. This calculation requires an estimate of the inductance and the equivalent series resistance of the inductor coil. Both these parameters are dependent on operating conditions and are updated continuously. This is done using an adaptive model of the inductor that computes these parameters of the inductor once in every half cycle of the input current. The adaptation scheme is robust against parameter variations. Simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique which provides comparable performance to standard measured feedback current scheme both under steady-state and transient conditions. |
| US09564797B2 |
Indirect matrix converter
A converter receives input of an AC voltage, converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage, and applies the DC voltage between a first power line on a positive electrode side and a second power line on a negative electrode side. A snubber circuit has a capacitor provided between the first and the second power lines, and a diode connected in series with the capacitor between the first and the second power lines, and including an anode on a side close to the first power line on the positive electrode side in a series path with the capacitor. An inverter converts the DC voltage into an AC voltage, and applies the AC voltage to an inductive load. An inverter-side current detection unit detects a current that flows through the first power line on the positive electrode side or the second power line on the negative electrode side between the inverter and the snubber circuit. |
| US09564794B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for a ping-pong charge pump
Systems, apparatuses, and methods provided for ping-pong charge pumps. Flying capacitors present in ping-pong charge pumps are operated out of phase to increase equalization periods. Out-of-phase operation also decreases voltage differences between flying capacitors during equalization periods thus decreasing ping-pong charge pump output voltage ripple and snapback. The voltages of the flying capacitors may be equalized without the use of an equalization switch. Differential control currents that are based on the voltage difference between the flying capacitors are used to enable or disable the flying capacitors from driving an output load of the ping-pong charge pump during certain phases of operation. A capacitor with a lower voltage may be disabled, thus providing for voltage equalization as the enabled capacitor sources current to the output load. The flying capacitors are also equalized during overlapping time periods in which the flying capacitors are charging. |
| US09564793B2 |
Electromagnetic oscillator with electrical and mechanical output
An oscillator typically includes several rotatable drive magnets and pivotable oscillating arms having respective follower magnets so that the drive magnets drive movement of the follower magnets to pivot the arms back and forth in an oscillating manner. A generating magnet or electrically conductive member may be mounted on each oscillating arm for producing an electric current in the electrically conductive member. Repelling magnets may be mounted on the oscillating arms with respective repelling magnets positioned to repel the first repelling magnet to limit pivotal travel of the oscillating arm. |
| US09564787B2 |
Motor including housing structure with through holes
A motor includes an impeller including a plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction and fixed to a shaft between a cover portion and an armature. The cover portion includes at least one cover portion through hole arranged to axially overlap with the blades. A cylindrical portion includes at least one cylindrical portion through hole arranged to radially overlap with the blades. |
| US09564783B2 |
Electric direct-current motor with flexible rotor assembly and method for the manufacture thereof
An electric direct current motor is disclosed which includes a shaft, a winding support, a collector having several collector wires, and an air-cored outer rotor winding with several winding terminations. The outer rotor winding is at one end connected to the shaft via the winding support in a torque-proof manner, and is electrically connected with the collector. The winding support can be replaced by a printed circuit board as a bearing component of glass-fiber reinforced thermosetting plastics, wherein the printed circuit board includes at least one layer and is connected to the shaft via a metal hub. |
| US09564779B2 |
Permanent magnet motor
Provided is a permanent magnet motor that realizes reduction of both cogging torque and torque ripple, and also downsizing and weight reduction together with torque ripple reduction. When two sets of three-phase armature windings are defined such that a first armature winding 30-1 corresponds to U1 phase, V1 phase, and W1 phase and a second armature winding 30-2 corresponds to U2 phase, V2 phase, and W2 phase, U1 phase is provided in both of any adjacent slots of a plurality of slots 27, or at least one of U1 phase and U2 phase is provided in one of any adjacent slots 27, U1 phase, V1 phase, and W1 phase are shifted by an electric angle of 20° to 40° from U2 phase, V2 phase, and W2 phase upon driving, and a slot opening width Ws of a stator iron core 22 is set to satisfy Ws/(2πRs/Ns)≦0.15, where Rs is an inner radius of the stator iron core and Ns is a slot number of the stator iron core. |
| US09564777B2 |
Wireless energy transfer system for an implantable medical device using a midfield coupler
Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for wireless power transfer utilizing a midfield source and implant. In one variation, a midfield source may be realized by a patterned metal plate composed of one of more subwavelength structures. These midfield sources may manipulate evanescent fields outside a material (e.g., tissue) to excite and control propagating fields inside the material (e.g., tissue) and thereby generate spatially confined and adaptive energy transport in the material (e.g., tissue). The energy may be received by an implanted device, which may be configured for one or more functions such as stimulation, sensing, or drug delivery. |
| US09564776B2 |
Determining presence of a magnet for controlling wireless charging
A device may measure or detect, using at least one magnetic sensor, a magnetic field to determine whether a magnet is included within a charging device. In some examples, the device may include a receiving coil for charging of a battery based on magnetic induction. In response to determining that a magnet is present within the charging device, the device may instruct the charging device to adjust an amount of electrical current supplied to a transmitting coil. |
| US09564772B2 |
Charging system with adaptive power management
An embodiment of a charger may include an input, at least one switch having a first node coupled to a reference voltage, a current sensor coupled between the input and a second node of the at least one switch, an output coupled to a third node of the at least one switch, and a charge controller coupled to the input to determine an input voltage, to the current sensor to determine an input current and to control inputs of the at least one switch. The at least one switch may be responsive to control signals supplied by the charge controller to the control inputs thereof to control voltage and current at the output of the charger. The charge controller may be responsive to the input voltage and the input current to produce the control signals in a manner that maximizes electrical power drawn at the input. |
| US09564767B2 |
Power storage device control system, power storage system, and electrical appliance
Deterioration of a power storage device is reduced. Switches that control the connections of a plurality of power storage devices separately are provided. The switches are controlled with a plurality of control signals, so as to switch between charge and discharge of each of the power storage devices or between serial connection and parallel connection of the plurality of power storage devices. Further, a semiconductor circuit having a function of carrying out arithmetic is provided for the power storage devices, so that a control system of the power storage devices or a power storage system is constructed. |
| US09564762B2 |
Fault tolerant wireless battery area network for a smart battery management system
A Wireless battery area network permits the wirelessly monitoring and controlling of individual batteries within large-scale battery applications. The system automatically configures its wireless nodes in the network and provides for the linking of a plurality of batteries (10) to a master battery management unit (M-BMU) (100) by establishing a wireless battery area network within a battery pack that include slave units (S-BMU) (210). The entire system may also be controlled by a top level battery management unit (T-BMU) (510). The system and method allows for the monitoring of voltage, current, temperature, or impedance of individual batteries and for the balancing or bypassing of a battery. |
| US09564759B2 |
Wireless power supply system
A wireless power supply system includes a first underwater vehicle that has a power-receiving coil for wirelessly receiving electric power and a second underwater vehicle that has a power-supplying coil for wirelessly supplying electric power and transmits electric power between the power-receiving coil and the power-supplying coil while moving in parallel to the first underwater vehicle. |
| US09564754B2 |
Energy router for energy internet
The present invention relates to an energy router for an energy internet, which comprises a three-phase three-level bi-directional rectifying unit, a six-phase interleaved DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, a self-excitation soft start push-pull full-bridge DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, a three-phase resonant soft switching bi-directional inversion unit, a single-phase full-bridge bi-directional inversion unit, a high-voltage DC bus and a low-voltage DC bus. The three-phase three-level bi-directional rectifying unit, the six-phase interleaved DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, the self-excitation soft start push-pull full-bridge DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, the three-phase resonant soft switching bi-directional inversion unit and the single-phase full-bridge bi-directional inversion unit each have three energy flow operating modes: a forward conduction, a reverse conduction and a non-conduction. According to the energy flow operating mode of each unit, different operating modes of the energy router for the energy internet are formed. |
| US09564750B2 |
Device and method for increasing fault clearing time
A device for increasing fault clearing time is provided having a component part designed to identify a short circuit event and load resistors connectable in the event of a fault such that the turbine power transmitted to the shaft is electrically absorbed by the generator and converted into heat until the grid comes back online. |
| US09564748B2 |
Inclined conductor device
A conductor arrangement is for a collection of subterranean wells for recovering fluids from an underground structure. A frame is provided with several conductor guides, each forming an inlet opening for a conductor in an upper portion of the frame and an outlet opening for the conductor in a lower portion of the frame. The conductor is arranged to border a portion of a borehole towards a surrounding unconsolidated mass and has been passed through the conductor guide and down into the unconsolidated mass. The conductor guides are arranged in a mutually diverging manner in the direction from the inlet opening, and each conductor is extendable by a bend, the deflection angle of the bends providing mutually parallel center axes in coupling interfaces arranged in upper end portions of the bends. |
| US09564746B2 |
Leakage-blocking structure, electronic component, and electronic component unit
An electronic component unit includes an electronic component having a plurality of terminals that are exposed outside a housing and extend along wall surfaces of the housing, a holding member holding opposite terminals into which the terminals are fitted, and a leakage-blocking structure. The leakage-blocking structure has housing-side wall surfaces provided to the housing of the electronic component and interposed between the terminals adjacent to each other in an alignment direction of the terminals, holding-member-side wall surfaces provided to the holding member and interposed between the terminals adjacent to each other in the alignment direction of the terminals, and overlapping portions formed in such a manner that the housing-side wall surfaces overlap the holding-member-side wall surfaces in the alignment direction of the terminals. |
| US09564742B2 |
Electricity connection box
An electricity connection box includes a housing which includes a first insertion port and a second insertion port, a first connection portion group made of connection portions which are provided inside the housing and to which electric wires of a first electric wire group are connected, and a second connection portion group made of connection portions which are provided inside the housing and to which electric wires of a second electric wire group are connected. The first electric wire group is inserted through the first insertion port, and the second electric wire group is inserted through the second insertion port. The first connection portion group is closer to the first insertion port than the second connection portion group. The second connection portion group is closer to the second insertion port than the first connection portion group. |
| US09564740B2 |
Spark plug for a gas-powered internal combustion engine
A spark plug for a gas-powered internal combustion engine having: a spark plug body; an insulator; a center electrode; a ground electrode support that is attached to the spark plug body and supports at least one ground electrode that forms a spark gap with the center electrode; a swirl chamber located at the front end of the spark plug whose wall surrounds the center and ground electrodes; the wall of the swirl chamber is formed by a cylindrical sleeve which has an open front face and radial perforations; the ground electrode support includes an annular base part and at least one arm that supports the ground electrode; the arm starts at the base part and extends within the swirl chamber. The arm of the ground electrode support increases in cross-section starting from the ground electrode it supports toward the annular base part of the ground electrode support. |
| US09564736B1 |
Epitaxial growth of p-type cladding regions using nitrogen gas for a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode
In an example, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a light emitting device configured as a Group III-nitride based laser device. The method also includes forming a gallium containing epitaxial material overlying the surface region of a substrate member. The method includes forming a p-type (Al,In,Ga)N waveguiding material overlying the gallium containing epitaxial material under a predetermined process condition. The method includes maintaining the predetermined process condition such that an environment surrounding a growth of the p-type (Al,In,Ga)N waveguide material is substantially a molecular N2 rich gas environment. The method includes maintaining a temperature ranging from 725 C to 925 C during the formation of the p-type (Al,In,Ga)N waveguide material, although there may be variations. In an example, the predetermined process condition is substantially free from molecular H2 gas. |
| US09564733B2 |
Method of fabricating and operating an optical modulator
A semiconductor device comprising a substrate; a monolithic gain region disposed on the substrate and operable to produce optical gain in response to current injection, including a first electrode over a first portion of the gain region having a first length L1, with a first current I1 being applied; and a second electrode over a second portion of the gain region having a second length L2, with a second current I2 being applied; wherein I1/L1 is greater than I2/L2. |
| US09564730B2 |
Optical gain fiber having fiber segments with different-sized cores and associated method
Apparatus and method for amplifying laser signals using segments of fibers of differing core diameters and/or differing cladding diameters to suppress amplified spontaneous emission and non-linear effects such as four-wave mixing (FWM), self-phase modulation, and stimulated Brillouin and/or Raman scattering (SBS/SRS). In some embodiments, different core sizes have different sideband spacings (spacing between the desired signal and wavelength-shifted lobes). Changing core sizes and providing phase mismatches prevent buildup of non-linear effects. Some embodiments further include a bandpass filter to remove signal other than the desired signal wavelength and/or a time gate to remove signal at times other than during the desired signal pulse. Some embodiments include photonic-crystal cores for the signal and/or photonic-crystal inner cladding for the pump and/or use reflector connector segments. Some embodiments include an inner glass cladding to confine the signal in the core and an outer glass cladding to confine pump light in the inner cladding. |
| US09564728B2 |
Electrically conductive bushing connection to structure for current path
An electrically conductive structural connection employs a pass through or fastener having a first diameter. A fastener hole, with a second diameter larger than the diameter of the pass through, extends through a thickness of a structure and receives the pass through. A bushing having a diameter and a thickness to fit between the first and second diameters extends though and past the thickness of said structure. When the feedthrough is compressively secured to the structure, the bushing expands radially between the first diameter and the second diameter to maintain at least one contact point between the fastener and the structure. |
| US09564727B2 |
Crimping apparatus for turned contacts
A crimping tool is provided for crimping the tubular portion of a turned electrical contact concentrically about the bare end of an electrical conductor, including a tool body having a main first portion, and an integral coplanar second portion extending from the main body portion to define a first lever. A crimping die arrangement includes an annular stamp holder mounted opposite an opening contained in the tool body main first portion, and an annular thrust collar is mounted concentrically about the stamp holder for angular displacement between released and crimping positions, thereby to displace a plurality of stamp members radially of the stamp holder between released an crimping positions The thrust collar is angularly displaced between the released and crimping positions by a toggle link arrangement that connects a second lever both with the tool body main portion and with the thrust collar. |
| US09564722B2 |
Waterproof audio jack connector
An audio jack connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a number of passageways (111) and a number of slits (112) beside the passageways, and a number of contacts (2) retained in the passageways. Each contact includes a retaining portion (22) retained in the passageway, a contacting portion (21) extending inwardly from the retaining portion, and a horizontal portion (23) bent outwardly from the retaining portion and being located in a bottom face (11) of the insulative housing. The audio jack connector includes a glue plate (3) assembled to the bottom face of the insulative housing. The audio jack connector includes a glue frame (4) having a base portion (41) seamlessly sandwiched between the glue plate and the insulative housing, and a number of protrusions (42) seamlessly sandwiched between the horizontal portions of contacts and the insulative housing. The protrusions are received in the slits. |
| US09564721B2 |
Terminal assembly having a shielding part with elastic arms
The present invention discloses a terminal assembly with a cable and a connector assembly. The terminal assembly with the cable of the present invention has a terminal assembly including a connecting terminal, a shielding shell and an insulator arranged between the connecting terminal and the shielding shell; and a cable including a shielding layer. One portion of the shielding shell in the terminal assembly and one portion of the shielding layer in the cable form a mutual overlapping region along the radial direction of the cable. In the mutual overlapping region, the shielding layer is electrically connected with the shielding shell. The terminal assembly of the present invention is applicable to automobiles as a high-voltage connector. In its use in an automobile, the terminal assembly is capable of effectively resisting shock and preventing mechanical vibration from causing separation of the connector to affect safe use. |
| US09564720B2 |
Retractable power plug
A retractable power plug includes a housing having an opening formed therein, a mounting portion fixed in the housing, a plurality of pins, and a cover plate. The pins are rotatably mounted on the mounting portion. The cover plate at least partially cover the opening and defines a plurality of receiving grooves corresponding to the pins. The plurality of pins are configured in a first configuration and protrude out of the receiving grooves and in a second configuration to be within the plurality of receiving grooves. The cover plate further defines at least one recess on a sidewall of one of the plurality of receiving grooves, thereby enabling the pin to be retracted. |
| US09564716B2 |
Electrical receptacle connector
A receptacle connector includes an insulation housing bracket, a first flat grounding contact and a shielding member. The housing base has a first outer surface, and the first flat grounding contact is combined with the insulation housing bracket. The shielding member includes a shielding body and a first connecting portion. The shielding body is installed inside the insulation housing bracket, and the first flat grounding contact is located between the first outer surface and the shielding member. The first connecting portion protrudes from the shielding body and is securely fixed on the first grounding contact in a laser welding manner, such that the shielding body is electrically connected to the first grounding contact. |
| US09564714B1 |
Serial-attached SCSI connector
An SAS connector which includes a male assembly, a female assembly and a PCB, the male assembly includes a male housing and several male signal terminals, the female assembly includes a female housing and several female signal terminals; the male assembly mates with the female assembly, with the PCB being clamped between the male assembly and the female assembly; wherein the male signal terminals are inserted in the male housing, and include in particular male symmetrical terminals, male right-biased terminals and male left-biased terminals, as well as female signal terminals that are inserted in the female housing, and include in particular female symmetrical terminals, female right-biased terminals and female left-biased terminals. |
| US09564710B2 |
Lever connector assembly
A technique to reduce workload on an operator during mating of a lever connector is provided. A plug and a receptacle are pulled together by rotation of a lever in a locking direction. The lever has a pinion first driven surface facing in an unlocking direction. A receptacle housing has a rack first driving surface facing in a separating direction. In a state where the plug confronts the receptacle so as to mate the plug with the receptacle, a clearance between the pinion first driven surface and the rack first driving surface is smaller than a clearance between a contact piece and a pin portion. When the plug is moved toward the receptacle, the pinion first driven surface first comes into contact with the rack first driving surface and the lever rotates in the locking direction, and then the contact piece comes into contact with the pin portion. |
| US09564709B1 |
Connector with new fastening structure
The connector comprises a main body and a connecting body, the rear end of the main body and the front end of the connecting body are clamped. A plugging needle is disposed in the front shell and the cable connecting tube. A snap ring groove is disposed at the front end of the periphery of the connecting tube and is located below the plugging hole when the main body and the connecting body are connected together. A plugging hole is located on the outer periphery of the connecting body. The plugging pin is an arc plate and includes two clamping points, located on one of the ends of the top portion of the plugging pin. When the main body and the connecting body are connected, the plugging pin may be plugged through the plugging hole and stuck in the groove, and the clamping points of the plugging pin are clamped. |
| US09564708B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector including: a housing including an outer peripheral part; and a lock arm provided with the outer peripheral part. The lock arm is swingable like a seesaw and detachably engages with a locking part provided with another housing of a mating connector. The lock arm extends along a coupling direction toward the mating connector. A pair of side wall parts are provided with the outer peripheral part such that the pair of side wall parts oppose to each other from both sides of the lock arm. An elastic support mechanism for swingably supporting the lock arm is provided between a lower face part of the lock arm and inner side faces of the pair of side wall parts. |
| US09564707B2 |
Connection system with modular expansion units having two or more devices
A connection system includes a first connection module and a second connection module, which each have a first connection devices, the first connection module including a second connection device and the second connection module including a third connection device. There is a direct electrical connection between the first connection device of the connection module and the accommodated device and a direct mechanical connection between the connection module and the accommodated device. The first connection module can be locked directly to the third connection device such that the first connection module is electrically and mechanically connected to the second connection module. The third connection device is arranged such that, when the second connection device is locked to the third connection device, mechanical and electrical disconnection of the first connection module from the second connection module is prevented if the second connection module has received a device. |
| US09564705B2 |
Waterproof connector
A waterproof connector includes a housing that is formed of an insulating resin, and at least one contact that is integrally formed in the housing. The contact has at least one housing fixing unit that is disposed in a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the contact and is embedded in the housing and fixed thereto, and a pair of overhanging portions that are respectively disposed at both ends of the housing fixing unit and overhang in a direction vertical to a longitudinal direction of the housing fixing unit. A portion of the housing that is in contact with the housing fixing unit is fitted between the pair of overhanging portions. |
| US09564700B2 |
Downsized terminal having a box-shaped body part
A terminal includes a box-shaped body part including a pair of a first side wall and second side wall which are raised from both side ends of a bottom wall, a top wall extended from the first side wall, and an auxiliary wall extended from the second side wall. The top wall includes a first slit opening on a side end face of the top wall. The auxiliary wall includes a second slit opening on a side end face of the auxiliary wall. A stabilizer is formed by a portion on a front side of a separating portion formed by the second slit. A stabilizer reinforcing section is formed by a portion on a front side of a separating portion formed by the first slit. An engagement section is formed by a portion on a rear side of the separating portion formed by the first slit of the top wall. |
| US09564696B2 |
Electrical connector assembly
Electrical connectors for interconnecting circuit boards. One such connector includes an integral flange for mounting a guidance pin in any of multiple orientations. A corresponding keying block may have a polarization component that can be mounted in a corresponding number of positions. The connector can accept conductive elements with different shapes for signals and grounds, but the housing may be adapted to receive either type of contact in any contact location. Protection of contact elements from excessive yield is provided within the insulative housing of the backplane connector. On the daughter card connector, height difference between ground and signal contacts in wafer assemblies protects components from electrostatic discharge. |
| US09564688B2 |
Wireless chip and electronic device having wireless chip
It is an object to provide a wireless chip which can increase a mechanical strength, and a wireless chip with a high durability. A wireless chip includes a transistor including a field-effect transistor, an antenna including a dielectric layer sandwiched between conductive layers, and a conductive layer connecting the chip and the antenna. Further, a wireless chip includes a transistor including a field-effect transistor, an antenna including a dielectric layer sandwiched between conductive layers, a sensor device, a conductive layer connecting the chip and the antenna, and a conductive layer connecting the chip and the sensor device. Moreover, a wireless chip includes a transistor including a field-effect transistor, an antenna including a dielectric layer sandwiched between conductive layers, a battery, a conductive layer connecting the chip and the antenna, and a conductive layer connecting the chip and the battery. |
| US09564683B2 |
Multi band antenna device and wireless communication device including multi band antenna
A multi band antenna device which can simultaneously design a first frequency band antenna and a second frequency band antenna within one wireless communication device is provided. The multi band antenna device includes a first band antenna unit that communicates a first frequency band signal, a first band driving circuit unit that is connected to the first band antenna unit and that is configured to perform signal processing of a corresponding first frequency band signal communicated in the first band antenna unit, a second band driving circuit unit that is connected to the first band antenna unit, and that is configured to perform signal processing of a second frequency band signal which has a frequency that is lower than a frequency of the first frequency band signal, and a first inductor unit that is connected between one end of the first band antenna unit and the second band driving circuit unit, and that is configured to serve as an inductor. |
| US09564680B2 |
Removable and Replaceable Sound Tunnel Shell
Mobile devices may minimize the radiation exposure to users by controlling the distance between the user, specifically the head, and the mobile device to a minimum distance. The reduction in exposure is realized due to the operation of the Inverse Square Rule on electromagnetic signal from the mobile device recognizing there is a steep fall off of signal strength resultant from increased distance between the head of the user and the source of the signal. Embodiments increase and maintain operational distance between the user and the broadcast device to reduce signal absorption, while maintaining sound quality and volume. Embodiments enforce the operational distance with physical barriers preventing the distance from being reduced. Embodiments described herein also allow for the retraction of the physical barrier for storage or portage. |
| US09564678B2 |
Antenna device and method of setting resonant frequency of antenna device
In antenna device, a coil conductor of an antenna coil module and a conductor layer at least partially overlap. A current flows in the conductor layer to block a magnetic field generated by a current flowing in the coil conductor. A current flows along the periphery of a slit and around the periphery of the conductor layer due to a cut-edge effect. Since magnetic flux does not pass through the conductor layer, magnetic flux attempts to bypass the conductor layer along a path in which the conductor opening of the conductor layer is on the inside and the outer edge of the conductor layer is on the outside. As a result, the magnetic flux generates large loops that link the inside and the outside of a coil conductor of an antenna on a reader/writer side to couple an antenna device and the antenna on the reader/writer side. |
| US09564673B1 |
Adjustable in-building antenna structure
An adjustable antenna structure is provided for use inside a building and mounted to an interior structure having a hollow space behind the structure, such as a wall or ceiling. In one embodiment, the antenna structure includes an antenna, a radome with a sleeve and an end surface that extends across one end of the sleeve, a mount that defines an opening for receiving the radome and includes a flange for disposing adjacent to the interior structure, a securing structure with a surface that cooperates with the flange to fix the flange adjacent to the structure, and an adjustment structure for fixing the position of the radome relative to the mount. The adjustment structure can be used to fix the position such that the end surface of the radome is substantially conformal with the flange or the end surface and a substantial portion of the radome extend beyond the flange. |
| US09564670B2 |
Battery module
A battery module including a plurality of battery cells aligned in a first direction; a heat exchange member supporting a bottom surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells, the heat exchange member exchanging heat with the plurality of battery cells, wherein the heat exchange member includes a first refrigerant flow path and a second refrigerant flow path, the first refrigerant flow path is adjacent to the bottom surface of each battery cell, and the second refrigerant flow path is spaced apart from the first refrigerant flow path and below the first refrigerant flow path. |
| US09564668B2 |
Battery module and method for manufacturing battery module
A battery module joined to a joint body. Each heat transfer plate of the battery module has a sandwiched portion provided between adjacent battery cells and a joined portion. A first heat conductive layer that contacts a battery cell and has a first thickness is provided on the sandwiched portion of each heat transfer plate. A second heat conductive layer is provided on the facing surface of each heat transfer plate other than the heat transfer plate that is the closest to the joint body when the joined portion is joined to the joint body. The second heat conductive layer is configured to contact the joint body. The second heat conductive layer on the heat transfer plate that is the farthest from the joint body when the joined portion is joined to the joint body has a second thickness, which is greater than the first thickness. |
| US09564667B2 |
Battery temperature control unit including heat exchanger arranged in air flow passage of unit case
A battery temperature control unit 1 for controlling a temperature of an internal space 21 of a module case 22 is provided. The battery temperature control unit 1 includes a unit case 3 which is arranged in the internal space 21 of the module case 22 and includes an air flow passage 4 inside the unit case 3. The battery temperature control unit 1 further includes a heat exchanger 11 arranged in the air flow passage 4. The unit case 3 includes a module opening sealing portion 31, which seals a module opening 24 formed in a wall surface of the module case 22. A module sealing surface 32 is formed in the module opening sealing portion 31, which closes the module opening 24 from an internal space 21 side. A first communication hole 36 and a second communication hole 37 are also formed in the module opening sealing portion 31, which allow the outside of the module case 22 and the inside of the unit case 3 to communicate with each other. |
| US09564666B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack having improved heat dissipation characteristics. A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules, each including a plurality of battery cells aligned in a direction, and a plurality of barriers, each being between a respective pair of adjacent battery cells of the plurality of battery cells and including a connection portion protruded to the outside of the adjacent battery cells. The battery pack further includes a heat dissipation member connected to connection portions of the plurality of connection portions, and a heat conducting member connected to the heat dissipation member. |
| US09564661B2 |
Battery module and wiring module
There are provided an electric cell group of a plurality of electric cells 11 with positive and negative electrode terminals, connecting members for connecting adjacent electrode terminals, and a wiring module assembled to the electric cell group. The wiring module includes a plurality of voltage detection terminals connected to the ends of a plurality of electric wires W for detecting the conditions of the electric cells, a plurality of retainer portions retaining the detection terminals, and interval adjusting device provided between a plurality of adjacent retainer portions for adjusting the intervals between the retainer portions. |
| US09564657B2 |
Electrolyte for rechargeable lithium battery, and rechargeable lithium battery including same
An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a lithium salt; a non-aqueous organic solvent; and an additive including a compound represented by the Chemical Formula 1, |
| US09564656B1 |
Process for producing alkali metal or alkali-ion batteries having high volumetric and gravimetric energy densities
Provided is a process for producing an alkali metal battery, comprising: (A) Preparing an anode material suspension and a cathode active material suspension; (B) Assembling a porous cell framework composed of a first conductive foam structure, a second conductive foam structure, and a porous separator disposed between said first and said second conductive foam structure; and (C) Injecting the anode suspension into pores of the first conductive foam structure to form an anode and injecting cathode suspension into pores of the second conductive foam structure to form a cathode, wherein the anode active material has a material mass loading no less than 20 mg/cm2 or the cathode active material has a material mass loading no less than 15 mg/cm2 for an organic or polymer material or no less than 40 mg/cm2 for an inorganic material. The resulting batteries exhibit exceptional gravimetric and volumetric energy densities and long cycle life. |
| US09564655B2 |
Manufacturing method of all-solid battery
A manufacturing method of an all-solid battery includes fabricating a single battery including a positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer arranged between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer; fabricating a plurality of battery packs including the plurality of single batteries; confining a plurality of battery packs by an equal confining pressure; measuring the electrical characteristics of the plurality of confined battery packs; determining the battery pack whose measured electrical characteristics are the worst of the plurality of battery packs; reducing the confining pressures of the other battery packs so that the electrical characteristics of the other battery packs are equal to that of the battery pack whose electrical characteristics have been determined to be the worst; and electrically connecting in parallel the battery packs. |
| US09564654B2 |
Rechargeable lithium ion button cell battery
A rechargeable lithium ion button cell battery having a sealed housing comprises an inner casing and an outer casing, both casings have at least one flat area as top or bottom of the battery, and a round or oval sidewall vertically formed to the flat area. An insulation gasket is positioned between the sidewalls, and the outer casing opening is mechanically crimped to complete the seal of the battery. Inside the sealed housing the anode and cathode electrodes are spiral wound with separator to be a round or oval roll. A roll axis is vertical to the flat area of the casings. The two electrodes are tapered in width to fully utilize the inner space. The electrodes comprise current collectors of metal foils coated with lithium-intercalating active materials, leaving small area of uncoated metal foils as conductor tabs for connecting the electrodes to the casings. |
| US09564651B2 |
Liquid electrolyte fuel cell system
A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system (10) comprises at least one fuel cell with a liquid electrolyte chamber between opposed electrodes, the electrodes being an anode and a cathode, and means (30, 32) for supplying a gas stream to a gas chamber adjacent to the cathode and withdrawing a spent gas stream (38) from the gas chamber adjacent to the cathode, the system also comprising a liquid electrolyte storage tank (40), and means (42, 44, 47, 48) to circulate liquid electrolyte between the liquid electrolyte storage tank (40) and the fuel cells. In addition the system comprises a water storage tank (60) adjacent to the storage tank (40), and means (50, 51) for condensing water vapor from the spent gas stream (38), and for feeding (56) the condensed water vapor into the water storage tank (60). The water storage tank (60) has an overflow outlet (64); and a communication duct (68) linking the liquid electrolyte storage tank (40) and the water storage tank (60) below the level of the overflow outlet (60). This automatically replaces any water that evaporates from the electrolyte, without requiring any electronics. |
| US09564650B2 |
Methods for continuous direct carbon fuel cell operation with a circulating electrolyte slurry
The present invention relates to methods and systems related to fuel cells, and in particular, to direct carbon fuel cells. The methods and systems relate to cleaning and removal of components utilized and produced during operation of the fuel cell, regeneration of components utilized during operation of the fuel cell, and generating power using the fuel cell. |
| US09564648B2 |
Anode leak location detection
A system and method for quantifying an anode leak location in a fuel cell system. The system and method include determining there is a leak in an anode sub-system of a fuel cell stack and estimating a first effective leak area using a first leak flow value and first operating parameters. The system and method also include increasing airflow to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack and estimating a second leak effective area using a second leak flow value and second operating parameters. The system and method further include comparing the first leak effective area to the second leak effective area and determining an anode outflow leak location based on the comparison between the first and second leak effective areas. |
| US09564647B2 |
Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a mounting section. The fuel cell stack is mounted on the mounting section with inclination. The fuel cell stack is formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells in a vertical direction. An oxygen-containing gas in an oxygen-containing gas flow field and a fuel gas in a fuel gas flow field flow in a counterflow manner. In a front box of a vehicle, an inlet side of the fuel gas flow field is positioned above an outlet side of the fuel gas flow field with respect to a horizontal direction. In this state, the fuel cell stack is mounted on the mounting section. The fuel cell stack is inclined downward from the horizontal direction toward the back of the vehicle in a vehicle length direction. |
| US09564646B2 |
Fuel cell system and operating method thereof
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that generates electric power using fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas and combusts fuel gas remaining unused for generation of electric power; a fuel gas supply line that supplies the fuel gas to the fuel cell; and an on-off valve disposed in the fuel gas supply line. A shutdown transition mode in which the fuel gas in the fuel gas supply line downstream from the on-off valve is supplied to the fuel cell at a flow rate smaller than that at a time of generation of electric power and is combusted therein after the on-off valve is closed, and a shutdown mode which is started after the shutdown transition mode are provided as an emergency shutdown mode in which the fuel cell undergoes emergency shutdown when the on-off valve of the fuel gas supply line is closed. |
| US09564642B2 |
Durable fuel cell with platinum cobalt alloy cathode catalyst and selectively conducting anode
The degradation associated with repeated startup and shutdown of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising PtCo alloy cathode catalysts can be particularly poor. However, a marked and unexpected improvement in durability is observed as a result of incorporating a selectively conducting component in electrical series with the anode components in the fuel cell. |
| US09564636B2 |
Stoichiometric lithium cobalt oxide and method for preparation of the same
The present invention provides a LiCoO2-containing powder comprising LiCoO2 having a stoichiometric composition via heat treatment of a lithium cobalt oxide and a lithium buffer material to make equilibrium of a lithium chemical potential therebetween; a lithium buffer material which acts as a Li acceptor or a Li donor to remove or supplement Li-excess or Li-deficiency, coexisting with a stoichiometric lithium metal oxide; and a method for preparing a LiCoO2-containing powder. Further, provided is an electrode comprising the above-mentioned LiCoO2-containing powder as an active material, and a rechargeable battery comprising the same electrode. |
| US09564631B2 |
Composite anode active material, anode and lithium battery each including the composite anode active material, method of preparing the composite anode active material
A composite anode active material, an anode including the composite anode active material, a lithium battery including the anode, and a method of preparing the composite anode active material. The composite anode active material includes: a shell including a hollow carbon fiber; and a core disposed in a hollow of the hollow carbon fiber, wherein the core includes a first metal nanostructure and a conducting agent. |
| US09564630B2 |
Anode active material-coated graphene sheets for lithium batteries and process for producing same
The present invention provides a process for producing a graphene-enhanced anode active material for use in a lithium battery. The process comprises (a) providing a continuous film of a graphene material into a deposition zone; (b) introducing vapor or atoms of a precursor anode active material into the deposition zone, allowing the vapor or atoms to deposit onto a surface of the graphene material film to form a sheet of an anode active material-coated graphene material; and (c) mechanically breaking this sheet into multiple pieces of anode active material-coated graphene; wherein the graphene material is in an amount of from 0.1% to 99.5% by weight and the anode active material is in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight, all based on the total weight of the graphene material and the anode active material combined. |
| US09564628B2 |
Composite cathode active material, and cathode and lithium battery each using the same
In one aspect, a composite cathode active material including at least one large-diameter active material, and at least one small-diameter active material, a cathode including the composite cathode active material and a lithium battery including the cathode is provided. |
| US09564627B2 |
Secondary battery
The present invention relates to a secondary battery. The present invention is aimed to provide a secondary battery having a thin upper case formed of a metal. The secondary battery includes a bare cell; a protection circuit module having a circuit board; an upper case formed of a metal and having a cover plate for covering the circuit board of the protection circuit module; and a case-insulating layer formed on an external surface of the cover plate of the upper case. |
| US09564624B2 |
Microporous composite film with high thermostable organic/inorganic coating layer
Disclosed is a microporous composite film having a coating layer formed on at least one surface of a microporous polyolefin film, wherein the coating layer simultaneously includes a high thermostable polymer resin and inorganic particles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a microporous composite film in which an area shrinkage at 170° C. for 1 hr is 10% or less; a tensile modulus in each of a machine direction and a transverse direction at 130° C. is 0.5 MPa to 7.0 MPa; a ratio between permeability of a microporous composite film (CCSp) and permeability of a microporous polyolefin film (Sp) is 1.1≦CCSp/Sp≦3.5; and a permeability of the microporous composite film is 450 sec or less. |
| US09564623B2 |
Battery separator with a conductive layer for extending the cycle life of a battery
A battery separator for extending the cycle life of a battery has a separator and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is disposed upon the separator. The conductive layer is adapted to be in contact with the positive electrode of the battery thereby providing a new route of current to and from the positive electrode. |
| US09564619B2 |
Battery module which reduces noise on a signal line
A battery module is provided in which a signal line is prevented from the influence of noise caused by an internal current output line.A battery module includes: a plurality of cells 100; a current conduction member 34 electrically connecting electrode terminals of the plurality of cells; and a signal line 50 configured to measure capacitance of the plurality of cells, wherein the current conduction member includes a parallel section including two members which are opposite in direction of a current flowing therethrough and are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and a connection section electrically connecting the two members at one end of the parallel section, and the signal line is arranged nearly equidistant from the two members, and extends substantially parallel to the two members to approach the connection section. |
| US09564613B2 |
Electric storage device, electric storage apparatus, method for producing electric storage device, and method for producing cover plate
The electric storage device according to the present invention includes a case having a case body and a cover plate, the case body includes a step portion at an opening edge, the cover plate includes a projection that is inserted into the opening of the case body, and a portion of the projection opposes the step portion within the case body. |
| US09564612B2 |
Organic light emitting display
An organic light emitting display includes a first substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, a second substrate, and an organic light emitting layer. The first electrode is disposed on the substrate. The second electrode is disposed on the first electrode. The second substrate is disposed on the second electrode. The organic light emitting layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are reflective. The first electrode and the second electrode are configured to guide light emitted from the organic light emitting layer to the first substrate or the second substrate. |
| US09564609B2 |
Light-emitting element including electrode of three layers
A light-emitting element disclosed includes a first electrode layer; a second electrode layer which transmits light; and a light-emitting layer interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer includes a first conductive layer which is able to reflect light, a second conductive layer provided over the first conductive layer and including titanium, and a third conductive layer which transmits light and contains a metal oxide having work function higher than that of a material of the first conductive layer. |
| US09564607B2 |
Organic electroluminescence element
An organic electroluminescence element comprising: an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an organic luminescence layer therebetween, the organic luminescence layer having a carbazole derivative with a glass-transition temperature of 110° C. or higher, and a phosphorescent dopant. This structure makes it possible to provide an organic electroluminescence element which can make use of the triplet exciton state of the carbazole derivative even at room temperature and which has a practical life and superior heat-resistance. |
| US09564606B2 |
Assembly of vertically aligned nanotube arrays containing particles and application thereof
A nanotube assembly including a nanotube layer, a first layer and a second layer. The nanotube layer comprises a vertically aligned nanotube array. The nanotube array includes a plurality of nanotubes. The first layer of a first conductive material is disposed on one surface of the nanotube layer. The second layer of a second conductive material is disposed on an opposite surface of the nanotube layer. The nanotube of the nanotube layer includes a first end against the first layer and a second end against the second layer. The resistance from the first end to the first layer is lower than a resistance from the second end to the second layer. One or more nano-particles are placed within the nanotube. At least one of the nano-particles is electrically charged, and can move along the nanotube under influence of an electric field. |
| US09564604B2 |
Fused polycyclic aromatic compounds, organic semiconductor material and thin film including the same, and method for producing an organic semiconductor device
The present invention provides a fused aromatic compound represented by general formula (1) or general formula (2): wherein R1 to R8 each independently represent an atom or a functional group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon oxy group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, an ester group, an acyl group, a cyano group, and a substituted silyl group, X1 to X4 each independently represent a cyano group, an ester group, or an acyl group, and Y1 to Y4 each independently represent an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a selenium atom. |
| US09564599B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device having specific diamine compound
An organic electroluminescent device is provided and includes: a cathode; an anode; and a light-emitting layer between the cathode and the anode. The light-emitting layer includes a compound represented by formula (1). In formula (1), L represents a linking group; A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, and A10 each independently represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, provided that at least two of A1, A5, A6, and A10 each represent a carbon atom having R′; R′ represents a substituent having a carbon atom at a bonding position thereof; a plurality of Rs each independently represent a substituent; m represents an integer; and n represents an integer of 2 to 10. |
| US09564597B2 |
Fluorene compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, lighting device, and organic compound
A substance having a hole-transport property and a wide band gap is provided. A fluorene compound represented by a general formula (G1) is provided. In the general formula (G1), α1 and α2 separately represent a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms; Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted 4-dibenzothiophenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted 4-dibenzofuranyl group; n and k separately represent 0 or 1; Q1 represents sulfur or oxygen; and R1 to R15 separately represent hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms. |
| US09564593B2 |
Solar cells comprising 2d-perovskites
A solar cell includes a light-absorbing layer comprising a 2d-perovskite. |
| US09564592B2 |
Organic electroluminescent element, method for manufacturing organic electroluminescent element, and organic electroluminescent module
An organic electroluminescent element includes a support substrate having thereon at least two light emitting units each containing one or a plurality of organic functional layers and at least one intermediate metal layer having a light-transmitting property. The intermediate metal layer is arranged between the light emitting units. At least one organic functional layer in each light emitting unit has a region wherein a light emission function is modulated and another region wherein the light emission function is not modulated by being patterned with a mask during the step of forming the organic functional layer, and by being additionally patterned by light irradiation after formation of the organic functional layer. The at least two light emitting units are able to be electrically driven independently or simultaneously. |
| US09564591B2 |
Method for producing organic electroluminescent element having light-emitting pattern
The problem addressed by the present invention is to enable the providing of a method for producing an organic electroluminescent element having a light-emitting pattern having superior gradation characteristics. The method for producing an organic electroluminescent element having a light-emitting pattern formed by means of light irradiation of an organic electroluminescent element provided with one or more organic functional layers between at least a pair of electrodes is characterized in that an image to pattern comprises a highlight section, a shadow section, and a linear section prepared ahead of time, the amount of light irradiation is altered on the basis of a tone reproduction curve having a soft gradation section that is at the highlight section and shadow section and that has a lower gradient inclination than that of the linear section, and thus a light-emitting pattern is formed having a gradient resulting from a light emission brightness corresponding to the amount of light irradiation. |
| US09564589B2 |
Forming method and forming apparatus of carbon nanotubes
A deposition method of fine particles, includes the steps of irradiating a fine particle beam formed by size-classified fine particles to an irradiated subject under a vacuum state, and depositing the fine particles on a bottom part of a groove structure formed at the irradiated subject. |
| US09564585B1 |
Multi-level phase change device
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to electronic devices, and more specifically, to multi-level phase change devices. In one embodiment, a memory cell device is provided. The memory cell device generally includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a cell body between the top surface and the bottom surface. The cell body may include a plurality of phase change material layers, which may be used to store data of the cell. In another embodiment, a method of programming a memory cell is provided. The method generally may include applying a sequence of different pulses to each phase change material layer of the cell as the voltage of each pulse in the sequence is ratcheted down from the start of a write cycle to the end of a write cycle. |
| US09564581B1 |
Magnetoresistive effect devices having enhanced magnetic anisotropy
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to memory devices having enhanced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The memory device includes a plurality of first leads, a plurality of second leads, and a plurality of memory cells having a plurality of magnetic layers and a tunneling barrier layer. An interfacial layer is incorporated in each memory cell between one of the magnetic layers and the tunneling barrier layer to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, while preserving high tunneling magnetoresistance. |
| US09564580B2 |
Double synthetic antiferromagnet using rare earth metals and transition metals
A mechanism relates to magnetic random access memory (MRAM). A free magnetic layer is provided and first fixed layers are disposed above the free magnetic layer. Second fixed layers are disposed below the free magnetic layer. The first fixed layers and the second fixed layers both comprise a rare earth element. |
| US09564579B2 |
Graphene magnetic tunnel junction spin filters and methods of making
A Tunnel Magnetic Junction of high magnetoresistance is prepared at temperatures and pressure consistent with Si CMOS fabrication and operation. A first metal layer of cobalt or nickel is grown on an interconnect or conductive array line of e.g., copper. The metal layer is formed by electron beam irradiation. Annealing at UHV at temperatures below 700K yields a carbon segregation that forms a few layer thick (average density 3.5 ML) graphene film on the metal layer. Formation of a second layer of metal on top of the graphene barrier layer yields a high performance MTJ. |
| US09564575B2 |
Dual encapsulation integration scheme for fabricating integrated circuits with magnetic random access memory structures
Integrated circuits with magnetic random access memory (MRAM) and dual encapsulation for double magnesium oxide tunnel barrier structures and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed herein. As an illustration, an integrated circuit includes a magnetic random access memory structure that includes a bottom electrode that has a bottom electrode width and has bottom electrode sidewalls and a fixed layer overlying the bottom electrode that has a fixed layer width that is substantially equal to the bottom electrode width and has fixed layer sidewalls. The MRAM structure of the integrated circuit further includes a free layer overlying a central area of the fixed layer. Still further, the MRAM structure of the integrated circuit includes a first encapsulation layer disposed along the free layer sidewalls and a second encapsulation layer disposed along the bottom electrode sidewalls and the fixed layer sidewalls. |
| US09564568B2 |
Flexible LED device with wire bond free die
An article includes a flexible polymeric dielectric layer having first and second major surfaces. The first major surface has a conductive layer thereon and at least one cavity therein. The at least one cavity contains a conductive material including electrically separated first and second portions supporting and electrically connecting a light emitting semiconductor device to the conductive layer on the first major surface. |
| US09564564B2 |
Light emitting device and lighting apparatus having the same
Disclosed are a light emitting device. The light emitting device include first and second lead frames, a first body on the first and second lead frames and including an open region, a second body on the first body and including a first opening, a light emitting chip on the opening region, and a transmissive layer on the light emitting chip. The first body and the second body are formed of a resin material. A top surface of the first body is located at a position lower than a position of a top surface of the light emitting chip. The second body includes a bottom surface located at a position lower than the position of the top surface of the light emitting chip. The first body comprises an inclined part around the light emitting chip. The first body includes a reflectance material and the second body includes a transmissive material. |
| US09564560B2 |
Optoelectronic component
An optoelectronic component includes a semiconductor chip that emits a primary radiation in the short-wave blue spectral range at a dominant wavelength of less than approximately 465 nm; and a phosphor that converts at least part of the primary radiation into a longer-wave secondary radiation in the green spectral range at a dominant wavelength of between approximately 490 nm and approximately 550 nm and at least partly surrounds the semiconductor chip, wherein a mixed light composed of primary radiation and secondary radiation has a dominant wavelength at wavelengths of approximately 460 nm to approximately 480 nm such that a luminous flux of the mixed light is up to 130% greater than a luminous flux in an optoelectronic component without a phosphor having the same dominant wavelength in a range of 460 nm to 480 nm, and the phosphor is arranged in a lamina that bears directly on the semiconductor chip. |
| US09564555B2 |
Opto-electronic semiconductor module and method for the production thereof
An optoelectronic semiconductor module includes a chip carrier, a light emitting semiconductor chip mounted on the chip carrier and a cover element with an at least partly light transmissive cover plate, which is arranged on the side of the semiconductor chip facing away from the chip carrier, and has a frame part, wherein the frame part laterally encloses the semiconductor chip, is joined to the cover plate in a joining-layer free fashion and is joined to the chip carrier on its side remote from the cover plate. |
| US09564546B2 |
Interconnector
An interconnector for electrically connecting a first electronic device element and a second electronic device element includes first and second connection portions which are respectively connected to electrodes of the first and second electronic device elements. A plurality of strip-like intermediate portions are each connected to both the first connection portion and the second connection portion to electrically connect the first connection portion and the second connection portion. The intermediate portions are mutually separated from one another in the width direction and mutually extending in parallel directions. Each intermediate portion has a first curved portion which is curved to be concave at one side of the respective intermediate portion in the width direction, and a second curved portion which is curved to be concave at another side of the respective intermediate portion in the width direction. |
| US09564544B2 |
Solar cell module production method
A solar cell production method, whereby: a plurality of solar cell strings connecting a prescribed number of solar cells in series are formed; a plurality of solar cell strings are lined up along a second direction intersecting a first direction in which the solar cell strings extend, and the same are arranged such that the interval at one end of the first direction between adjacent solar cell strings is smaller than the interval at the other end; the arranged plurality of solar cell strings are connected to each other and a solar cell connection body is formed; a first filling material sheet, the solar cell connection body, a second filling material sheet, and a second protective member are laminated upon a first protective member having a curved surface; pressure is applied from above the second protective member; and a solar cell module having a curved surface shape is formed. |
| US09564543B2 |
Doping an absorber layer of a photovoltaic device via diffusion from a window layer
Methods for doping an absorbent layer of a p-n heterojunction in a thin film photovoltaic device are provided. The method can include depositing a window layer on a transparent substrate, where the window layer includes at least one dopant (e.g., copper). A p-n heterojunction can be formed on the window layer, with the p-n heterojunction including a photovoltaic material (e.g., cadmium telluride) in an absorber layer. The dopant can then be diffused from the window layer into the absorber layer (e.g., via annealing). |
| US09564541B2 |
Diode with insulated anode regions
A diode is integrated on a semiconductor chip having anode and cathode surfaces opposite to each other. The diode comprises a cathode region extending inwardly from the cathode surface, a drift region extending between the anode surface and the cathode region, and a plurality of anode regions extending from the anode surface in the drift region. The diode further comprises a cathode electrode coupled with the cathode region, and an anode electrode that contacts one or more contacted anode regions of said anode regions and is electrically insulated from one or more floating anode regions of the anode regions. The diode is configured so that charge carriers are injected from the floating anode regions into the drift region in response to applying of a control voltage exceeding a threshold voltage. |
| US09564540B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
An object is to provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability by preventing, in forming a nonvolatile memory and MOSFETS on the same substrate, an increase in the size of grains in a gate electrode. The object can be achieved by forming the control gate electrode of the nonvolatile memory and the gate electrodes of the other MOSFETs from films of the same layer, respectively, and configuring each of the control gate electrode and the gate electrodes from a stack of two polysilicon film layers. |
| US09564538B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer having a first side wall, an oxide semiconductor layer located on the first side wall, a gate insulating layer located on the oxide semiconductor layer, the oxide semiconductor layer being located between the first side wall and the gate insulating layer, a gate electrode facing the oxide semiconductor layer located on the first side wall, the gate insulating layer being located between the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate electrode, a first electrode located below the oxide semiconductor layer and connected with one portion of the oxide semiconductor layer, and a second electrode located above the oxide semiconductor layer and connected with the other portion of the oxide semiconductor layer. |
| US09564537B2 |
Array substrate and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing an array substrate. The method includes forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on a substrate. A semiconductor layer, an organic insulating layer, and a gate electrode layer are sequentially formed to cover the substrate, the source electrode, and the drain electrode. A patterned photoresist layer is formed on the gate electrode layer. The exposed portion of the gate electrode layer, and a portion of the organic insulative layer and a portion of the semiconductor layer thereunder are removed to form a gate electrode. An organic passivation layer is formed on the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode. The organic passivation layer has a contact window to expose a portion of the drain electrode. A pixel electrode is formed on the organic passivation layer and the exposed portion of the drain electrode. |
| US09564530B2 |
Integrated circuit structure and method with solid phase diffusion
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a fin active region formed on a semiconductor substrate; a channel region of a first type conductivity, defined in the fin active region and having a first carrier concentration; and an anti-punch through (APT) feature of the first type conductivity, wherein the APT feature is formed in the semiconductor substrate, is directly underlying the channel region, and has a second carrier concentration greater than the first carrier concentration. |
| US09564529B2 |
Method for fabricating a strained structure and structure formed
A field effect transistor includes a substrate comprising a fin structure. The field effect transistor further includes an isolation structure in the substrate. The field effect transistor further includes a source/drain (S/D) recess cavity below a top surface of the substrate. The S/D recess cavity is between the fin structure and the isolation structure. The field effect transistor further includes a strained structure in the S/D recess cavity. The strain structure includes a lower portion. The lower portion includes a first strained layer, wherein the first strained layer is in direct contact with the isolation structure, and a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is in direct contact with the substrate, and the first strained layer is in direct contact with the dielectric layer. The strained structure further includes an upper portion comprising a second strained layer overlying the first strained layer. |
| US09564528B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a fin structure over a substrate. An isolation insulating layer is formed so that an upper part of the fin structure protrudes from the isolation insulating layer. A gate structure is formed over a part of the fin structure. Recesses are formed in the isolation insulating layer at both sides of the fin structure. A recess is formed in a portion of the fin structure which is not covered by the gate structure. The recess in the fin structure and the recesses in the isolation insulating layer are formed such that a depth D1 of the recess in the fin structure and a depth D2 of the recesses in the isolation insulating layer measured from an uppermost surface of the isolation insulating layer satisfy 0≦D1≦D2 (but D1 and D2 are not zero at the same time). |
| US09564525B2 |
Compound semiconductor device
A compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; and a buffer layer, a first carrier supply layer, a first spacer layer, a channel layer, a second spacer layer, a second carrier supply layer, and a contact layer provided in order on the substrate, wherein the first carrier supply layer is a uniformly doped layer in which an impurity is uniformly doped, the second carrier supply layer is a planar doped layer in which an impurity is locally doped, and no Al mixed crystal layer having higher resistance values than the first and second spacer layers is provided between the buffer layer and the first spacer layer and between the second spacer layer and the contact layer. |
| US09564524B2 |
Semiconductor device and method
A semiconductor device includes a device region including a compound semiconductor material and a non-device region at least partially surrounding the device region. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric material in the non-device region and at least one electrode in the device region. The semiconductor device further includes at least one pad electrically coupled to the at least one electrode, wherein the at least one pad is arranged on the dielectric material in the non-device region. |
| US09564522B2 |
Nanowire structures having non-discrete source and drain regions
Nanowire structures having non-discrete source and drain regions are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of vertically stacked nanowires disposed above a substrate. Each of the nanowires includes a discrete channel region disposed in the nanowire. A gate electrode stack surrounds the plurality of vertically stacked nanowires. A pair of non-discrete source and drain regions is disposed on either side of, and adjoining, the discrete channel regions of the plurality of vertically stacked nanowires. |
| US09564516B2 |
Method of making integrated MOSFET-schottky diode device with reduced source and body kelvin contact impedance and breakdown voltage
A MOSFET device and fabrication method are disclosed. The MOSFET has a drain in chip plane with an epitaxial layer overlay atop. The MOSFET further comprises: a Kelvin-contact body and an embedded Kelvin-contact source; a trench gate extending into the epitaxial layer; a lower contact trench extending through the Kelvin-contact source and at least part of the Kelvin-contact body defining respectively a vertical source-contact surface and a vertical body-contact surface; a patterned dielectric layer atop the Kelvin-contact source and the trench gate; a patterned top metal layer. As a result: a planar ledge is formed atop the Kelvin-contact source; the MOSFET device exhibits a lowered body Kelvin contact impedance and, owing to the presence of the planar ledge, a source Kelvin contact impedance that is lower than an otherwise MOSFET device without the planar ledge; and an integral parallel Schottky diode is also formed. |
| US09564514B2 |
Reducing direct source-to-drain tunneling in field effect transistors with low effective mass channels
An approach to providing a barrier in a vertical field effect transistor with low effective mass channel materials wherein the forming of the barrier includes forming a first source/drain contact on a semiconductor substrate and forming a channel with a first channel layer on the first source/drain contact. The approach further includes forming the barrier on the first channel layer, and a second channel layer on the barrier followed by forming a second source/drain contact on the second channel layer. |
| US09564513B2 |
Epitaxy in semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes a surface. A gate structure is provided on the surface. An interface lower than the surface is provided. An epitaxial regrowth region adjacent the gate structure is disposed on the interface. In addition, the epitaxial regrowth region extends over the surface and includes a bottom layer and a cap layer. The activation of the cap layer is lower than that of the bottom layer. Moreover, the bottom layer is lower than the surface and the gate structure. Furthermore, the bottom layer includes a first downwardly-curved edge and a second downwardly-curved edge over the first one. The first downwardly-curved edge is connected with the second downwardly-curved edge at two endpoints. The two endpoints are in contact with the surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09564511B2 |
Oxidation and etching post metal gate CMP
A method includes forming a dummy gate of a transistor at a surface of a wafer, removing the dummy gate, and filling a metallic material into a trench left by the removed dummy gate. A Chemical Mechanical Polish (CMP) is then performed on the metallic material, wherein a remaining portion of the metallic material forms a metal gate of the transistor. After the CMP, a treatment is performed on an exposed top surface of the metal gate using an oxidation-and-etching agent comprising chlorine and oxygen. |
| US09564496B2 |
Process for treating a substrate using a luminous flux of determined wavelength, and corresponding substrate
A substrate is treated by means of at least one pulse of a luminous flux of determined wavelength. The substrate comprises an embedded layer that absorbs the luminous flux independently of the temperature. The embedded layer is interleaved between a first treatment layer and a second treatment layer. The first treatment layer has a coefficient of absorption of luminous flux that is low at ambient temperature and rises as the temperature rises. The luminous flux may be applied in several places of a surface of the first layer to heat regions of the embedded layer and generate a propagating thermal front in the first layer opposite the heated regions of the embedded layer, which generate constraints within the second layer. |
| US09564495B2 |
Semiconductor device with a semiconductor body containing hydrogen-related donors
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body with parallel first and second surfaces and containing hydrogen-related donors. A concentration profile of the hydrogen-related donors vertical to the first surface includes a maximum value of at least 1E15 cm−3 at a first distance to the first surface and does not fall below 1E14 cm−3 over at least 60% of an interval between the first surface and the first distance. |
| US09564492B2 |
Group III-V device with a selectively modified impurity concentration
There are disclosed herein various implementations of a semiconductor structure and method. The semiconductor structure comprises a substrate, a transition body over the substrate, and a group III-V intermediate body having a bottom surface over the transition body. The semiconductor structure also includes a group III-V device layer over a top surface of the group III-V intermediate body. The group III-V intermediate body has a continuously reduced impurity concentration wherein a higher impurity concentration at the bottom surface is continuously reduced to a lower impurity concentration at the top surface. |
| US09564489B2 |
Multiple gate field-effect transistors having oxygen-scavenged gate stack
A method includes forming a silicon cap layer on a semiconductor fin, forming an interfacial layer over the silicon cap layer, forming a high-k gate dielectric over the interfacial layer, and forming a scavenging metal layer over the high-k gate dielectric. An anneal is then performed on the silicon cap layer, the interfacial layer, the high-k gate dielectric, and the scavenging metal layer. A filling metal is deposited over the high-k gate dielectric. |
| US09564478B2 |
Liquid crystal displays with oxide-based thin-film transistors
An electronic device may include a display having an array of display pixels on a substrate. The display pixels may be organic light-emitting diode display pixels or display pixels in a liquid crystal display. In an organic light-emitting diode display, hybrid thin-film transistor structures may be formed that include semiconducting oxide thin-film transistors, silicon thin-film transistors, and capacitor structures. The capacitor structures may overlap the semiconducting oxide thin-film transistors. Organic light-emitting diode display pixels may have combinations of oxide and silicon transistors. In a liquid crystal display, display driver circuitry may include silicon thin-film transistor circuitry and display pixels may be based on oxide thin-film transistors. A single layer or two different layers of gate metal may be used in forming silicon transistor gates and oxide transistor gates. A silicon transistor may have a gate that overlaps a floating gate structure. |
| US09564475B2 |
Display device with separation member including steps
A display device includes: a substrate; a plurality of light-emission elements arranged, on the substrate, in a first direction and a second direction intersecting each other, each of the light-emission elements having a first electrode layer, an organic layer including a luminous layer, and a second electrode layer which are laminated in that order; and a separation section disposed, on the substrate, between the light-emission elements adjacent to each other in the first direction, the separation section having two or more pairs of steps. The first electrode layers in the light-emission elements are separated from each other, and the organic layers as well as the second electrode layers in the light-emission elements adjacent to each other in the first direction are separated from each other by the steps included in the separation section. |
| US09564472B2 |
Light-emitting device
There is provided a light emitting device which enables a color display with good color balance. A triplet compound is used for a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits red color, and a singlet compound is used for a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits green color and a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits blue color. Thus, an operation voltage of the EL element emitting red color may be made the same as the EL element emitting green color and the EL element emitting blue color. Accordingly, the color display with good color balance can be realized. |
| US09564471B2 |
Stack of horizontally extending and vertically overlapping features, methods of forming circuitry components, and methods of forming an array of memory cells
A method of forming circuitry components includes forming a stack of horizontally extending and vertically overlapping features. The stack has a primary portion and an end portion. At least some of the features extend farther in the horizontal direction in the end portion moving deeper into the stack in the end portion. Operative structures are formed vertically through the features in the primary portion and dummy structures are formed vertically through the features in the end portion. Horizontally elongated openings are formed through the features to form horizontally elongated and vertically overlapping lines from material of the features. The lines individually extend from the primary portion into the end portion, and individually laterally about sides of vertically extending portions of both the operative structures and the dummy structures. Sacrificial material that is elevationally between the lines is at least partially removed in the primary and end portions laterally between the horizontally elongated openings. Other aspects and implementations are disclosed. |
| US09564469B2 |
Image sensor comprising a color separation device separating incident light into plural of colors for having improved light utilization efficiency and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensor including a color filter array layer, which includes a plurality of color filters transmitting light of different colors; and reflective partitioning walls, which define the color filters and have a lower refractive index than that of the color filters; a color separation device, which separates incident light into a plurality of colors, such that the plurality colors are incident on the plurality of color filters, respectively; and a sensor substrate, on which a plurality of light detection devices for respectively sensing light transmitted through the plurality of color filters are arranged in an array shape. |
| US09564465B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus, manufacturing method therefor, and electronic apparatus
The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging apparatus, a manufacturing method therefor, and an electronic apparatus by which fine pixel signals can be suitably generated.A charge accumulation section that is formed on a first semiconductor substrate and accumulates photoelectrically converted charges, a charge-retaining section that is formed on a second semiconductor substrate and retains charges accumulated in the charge accumulation section, and a transfer transistor that is formed on the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate and transfers charges accumulated in the charge accumulation section to the charge-retaining section are provided. A bonding interface between the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate is formed in a channel of the transfer transistor. |
| US09564461B2 |
Radiation image-pickup device and radiation image-pickup display system
A radiation image-pickup device includes: a drive substrate including a transistor used to read, from each of a plurality of pixels, signal charge based on radiation; a charge collection electrode provided on the drive substrate, for each of the pixels; a conversion layer formed on the charge collection electrode, and configured to generate the signal charge by absorbing radiation; a counter electrode provided on the conversion layer; and a first conductive film disposed, between the drive substrate and the charge collection electrode, to face at least a part of the charge collection electrode, and included in a first capacitive element configured to retain the signal charge. |
| US09564460B1 |
Thin-film transistor and its manufacturing method, array substrate and display device
A manufacturing method of a thin film transistor comprises: sequentially forming a pattern of gate, a gate insulation layer film, an active layer film and an ohmic contact layer film, a first etching resist module within a channel region to be formed, and a source and drain metallic layer film on a substrate; forming a pattern comprising the source and drain by wet etching process by shielding the active layer film and the ohmic contact layer film positioned within the channel region to be formed, by use of the first etching resist module; and forming a pattern comprising the ohmic contact layer and the active layer by dry etching process. A thin film transistor, an array substrate comprising the thin film transistor and a display device comprising the array substrate are also disclosed. |
| US09564457B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
To improve productivity of a transistor that includes an oxide semiconductor and has good electrical characteristics. In a top-gate transistor including a gate insulating film and a gate electrode over an oxide semiconductor film, a metal film is formed over the oxide semiconductor film, oxygen is added to the metal film to form a metal oxide film, and the metal oxide film is used as a gate insulating film. After an oxide insulating film is formed over the oxide semiconductor film, a metal film may be formed over the oxide insulating film. Oxygen is added to the metal film to form a metal oxide film and added also to the oxide semiconductor film or the oxide insulating film. |
| US09564456B2 |
Array substrate and display device using the same
An array substrate includes: a gate wiring; a source wiring, which is formed to intersect the gate wiring; a passivation film, which covers the source wiring; and a pixel electrode that is formed on the passivation film. The array substrate has a display area and a dummy pixel area. In the display area, a switching element in the vicinity of the intersection of the gate wiring and the source wiring is provided. In the display area, the pixel electrode and the source wiring do not have an overlapping area in a top view. The dummy pixel area is located outside the display area, and in the dummy pixel area, a dummy pixel electrode and two source wirings, which are adjacent to the dummy pixel electrode have an overlapping area in a top view. |
| US09564454B2 |
TFT array substrate, display panel and display device
A TFT array substrate having compensated gate signal delays is disclosed. The TFT array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines insulatedly intersecting with the plurality of the gate lines, and a plurality of TFT switches, each of which is connected with one of the gate lines and one of the data lines. The TFT array substrate also includes a plurality of driving units, where the driving units are located at both ends of the gate lines, and each of the driving units is connected with at least one gate line to drive the TFT switches connected to the at least one gate line. |
| US09564452B1 |
Fabrication of hybrid semiconductor circuits
A method is disclosed for fabricating a semiconductor circuit. A semiconductor substrate is provided. A first semiconductor device is fabricated including a first semiconductor material on the substrate and forming an insulating layer including a cavity structure on the first semiconductor device. The cavity structure includes at least one growth channel and the growth channel connects a crystalline seed surface of the first semiconductor device with an opening. Further steps include growing via the opening from the seed surface a semiconductor filling structure including a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material in the growth channel, forming a semiconductor starting structure for a second semiconductor device from the filling structure, and fabricating a second semiconductor device including the starting structure. Corresponding semiconductor circuits are also disclosed. |
| US09564447B1 |
Methods for fabricating programmable devices and related structures
Methods and structures for programmable device fabrication are provided. The methods for fabricating a programmable device include, for example forming at least one via opening in a layer of the programmable device and providing a catalyzing material over a lower surface of the at least one via opening; forming a plurality of nanowires or nanotubes in the at least one via opening using the catalyzing material as a catalyst for the forming of the plurality of nanowires or nanotubes; and providing a dielectric material in the at least one via opening so that the dielectric material surrounds the plurality of nanowires or nanotubes. The programmable device may, in subsequent or separate programming steps, have programming of the programmable device made permanent via thermal oxidation of the dielectric material and the plurality of nanowires or nanotubes, leaving a non-conducting material behind in the at least one via opening. |
| US09564446B1 |
SRAM design to facilitate single fin cut in double sidewall image transfer process
A double sidewall image transfer process for forming FinFET structures having a fin pitch of less than 40 nm generates paired fins with a spacing determined by the width of a sidewall spacer that forms a second mandrel. Here, the fin pairs are created at two different spacings without requiring the minimum space for the standard sidewall structure. An enlarged space between paired fins is created by placing two first mandrel shapes close enough so as to overlap or merge two sidewall spacer shapes so as to form a wider second mandrel upon further processing. The fin pair created from the wider second mandrel is spaced at about 2 times the fin pair created from the narrower second mandrel. For some circuits, such as an SRAM bitcell, the wider second mandrel can be utilized to form an inactive fin not utilized in the circuit structure, which can be removed. In some embodiments, all dummy inactive fins are eliminated for a simpler process. |
| US09564442B2 |
Methods of forming contacts for a semiconductor device structure, and related methods of forming a semiconductor device structure
A method of forming contacts for a semiconductor device structure comprises forming contact holes extending into neighboring semiconductive pillars and into a nitride material of nitride-capped electrodes. Composite structures are formed within the contact holes and comprise oxide structures over sidewalls of the contact holes and nitride structures over the oxide structures. Conductive structures are formed over inner sidewalls of the composite structures. Additional nitride-capped electrodes are formed over the conductive structures and extend perpendicular to the nitride-capped electrodes. Pairs of nitride spacers are formed over opposing sidewalls of the additional nitride-capped electrodes and are separated from neighboring pairs of nitride spacers by apertures extending to upper surfaces of a portion of the neighboring semiconductive pillars. Portions of the oxide structures are removed to expose sidewalls of the portion of the neighboring semiconductive pillars. Semiconductor device structures and additional methods are also described. |
| US09564440B2 |
Spacer chamfering gate stack scheme
A method of forming a gate structure for a semiconductor device that includes forming first spacers on the sidewalls of replacement gate structures that are present on a fin structure, wherein an upper surface of the first spacers is offset from an upper surface of the replacement gate structure, and forming at least second spacers on the first spacers and the exposed surfaces of the replacement gate structure. The method may further include substituting the replacement gate structure with a functional gate structure having a first width portion in a first space between adjacent first spacers, and a second width portion having a second width in a second space between adjacent second spacers, wherein the second width is greater than the first width. |
| US09564438B2 |
Semiconductor structure containing semiconductor fins and insulating fence fins on a same substrate
A semiconductor structure may be formed by forming a first semiconductor fin and a second inactive semiconductor fin above a substrate; depositing a masking layer above the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin; etching a trench in the masking layer exposing the second semiconductor fin while the first semiconductor fin remains covered by the masking layer; removing the second semiconductor fin to form a fin recess beneath the trench; filling the fin recess with an insulating material to form an insulating fence fin; and removing the masking layer to expose the first semiconductor fin and the insulating fence fin. A third semiconductor fin separating the first semiconductor fin from the second semiconductor fin may also be formed prior to depositing the masking layer and covered by the masking layer. The first semiconductor fin may be a pFET fin and the third semiconductor fin may be an nFET fin. |
| US09564437B1 |
Method and structure for forming FinFET CMOS with dual doped STI regions
A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a first fin of a first transistor in a substrate; forming a second fin of a second transistor in the substrate; disposing a first doped oxide layer including a first dopant onto the first fin and the second fin, the first dopant being an n-type dopant or a p-type dopant; disposing a mask over the first fin and removing the first doped oxide layer from the second fin; removing the mask and disposing a second doped oxide layer onto the first doped oxide layer over the first doped oxide layer covering the first fin and directly onto the second fin, the second doped oxide layer including an n-type dopant or a p-type dopant that is different than the first dopant; and annealing to drive in the first dopant into a portion of the first fin and the second dopant into a portion of the second fin. |
| US09564434B2 |
Semiconductor device with body spacer at the bottom of the fin and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes forming a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer sequentially on a substrate. The method also includes patterning the second and first semiconductor layers to form an initial fin. The method also includes selectively etching the first semiconductor layer of the initial fin to form a lateral recess in the first semiconductor layer. The method also includes filling the lateral recess with a dielectric material to form a body spacer. The method also includes forming an isolation layer on the substrate, wherein the isolation layer partially exposes the body spacer and thus defines a fin above the isolation layer. The method also includes forming a gate stack intersecting the fins on the isolation layer. |
| US09564433B2 |
Semiconductor device with improved contact structure and method of forming same
A contact structure includes a first contact formed in a first dielectric layer connecting to the source/drain region of a MOS transistor, and a second contact formed in a second dielectric layer connecting to a gate region of a MOS transistor or to a first contact. A butted contact structure abutting a source/drain region and a gate electrode includes a first contact formed in a first dielectric layer connecting to the source/drain region of a MOS transistor, and a second contact formed in a second dielectric layer with one end resting on the gate electrode and the other end in contact with the first contact. |
| US09564430B2 |
Macro-transistor devices
Macro-transistor structures are disclosed. In some cases, the macro-transistor structures have the same number of terminals and properties similar to long-channel transistors, but are suitable for analog circuits in deep-submicron technologies at deep-submicron process nodes. The macro-transistor structures can be implemented, for instance, with a plurality of transistors constructed and arranged in series, and with their gates tied together, generally referred to herein as a transistor stack. One or more of the serial transistors within the stack can be implemented with a plurality of parallel transistors and/or can have a threshold voltage that is different from the threshold voltages of other transistors in the stack. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more of the serial transistors within the macro-transistor can be statically or dynamically controlled to tune the performance characteristics of the macro-transistor. The macro-transistor can be used in numerous circuits, such as varactors, VCOs, PLLs, and tunable circuits. |
| US09564428B1 |
Forming metal-insulator-metal capacitor
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a first sacrificial gate stack on a substrate, depositing an insulator layer on the substrate, adjacent to the first sacrificial gate stack, removing the first sacrificial gate stack to define a first cavity, forming a first metal gate in the first cavity, and depositing a conductive metal over a portion of the substrate adjacent to the first metal gate such that the first metal gate and the conductive metal partially define a capacitor. |
| US09564426B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Performance of a semiconductor device is improved without increasing an area size of a semiconductor chip. For example, a source electrode of a power transistor and an upper electrode of a capacitor element have an overlapping portion. In other word, the upper electrode of the capacitor element is formed over the source electrode of the power transistor through a capacitor insulating film. That is, the power transistor and the capacitor element are arranged in a laminated manner in a thickness direction of the semiconductor chip. As a result, it becomes possible to add a capacitor element to be electrically coupled to the power transistor while suppressing an increase in planar size of the semiconductor chip. |
| US09564425B2 |
Integrated transistor structure having a power transistor and a bipolar transistor
An integrated transistor structure includes an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate, a power transistor formed in a first region of the epitaxial layer and having a drain region, a source region and a body region shorted to the source region, a bipolar transistor formed in a second region of the epitaxial layer spaced apart from the power transistor. A first trench structure formed in the epitaxial layer adjacent at least two opposing lateral sides of the power transistor includes a gate electrode spaced apart from a channel region of the power transistor by an insulating material. A second trench structure formed in the epitaxial layer adjacent at least two opposing lateral sides of the bipolar transistor includes a trench electrode spaced apart from the epitaxial layer by an insulating material. The gate electrode, base and emitter of the bipolar transistor are connected to different contacts isolated from one another. |
| US09564423B2 |
Power package with integrated magnetic field sensor
A power semiconductor package includes a substrate having a plurality of metal leads, a power semiconductor die attached to a first one of the leads and a magnetic field sensor integrated in the same power semiconductor package as the power semiconductor die and positioned in close proximity to a current pathway of the power semiconductor die. The magnetic field sensor is operable to generate a signal in response to a magnetic field produced by current flowing in the current pathway, the magnitude of the signal being proportional to the amount of current flowing in the current pathway. |
| US09564419B2 |
Semiconductor package structure and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package structure and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor package structure comprises a substrate, a first chip, a first dielectric layer, a dielectric encapsulation layer and at least one first via. The first chip is disposed on the substrate. The first chip has a first landing area. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the first chip. The dielectric encapsulation layer encapsulates the first chip and the first dielectric layer. The at least one first via penetrates through the dielectric encapsulation layer and the first dielectric layer. The at least one first via connects to the first landing area of the first chip. |
| US09564418B2 |
Interconnect structures with intermetallic palladium joints and associated systems and methods
Interconnect structures with intermetallic palladium joints are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming an interconnect structure includes depositing a first conductive material comprising nickel on a first conductive surface of a first die, and depositing a second conductive material comprising nickel on a second conductive surface of a second die spaced apart from the first surface. The method further includes depositing a third conductive material on the second conductive material, and thermally compressing tin/solder between the first and third conductive materials to form an intermetallic palladium joint that extends between the first conductive material and the second conductive material such that one end of the intermetallic palladium joint is bonded directly to the first conductive material and an opposite end of the intermetallic palladium joint is bonded directly to the second conductive material. |
| US09564413B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming semiconductor die with active region responsive to external stimulus
A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die including an active region formed on a surface of the first semiconductor die. The active region of the first semiconductor die can include a sensor. An encapsulant is deposited over the first semiconductor die. A conductive layer is formed over the encapsulant and first semiconductor die. An insulating layer can be formed over the first semiconductor die. An opening is formed in the insulating layer over the active region. A transmissive layer is formed over the first semiconductor die including the active region. The transmissive layer includes an optical dielectric material or an optical transparent or translucent material. The active region is responsive to an external stimulus passing through the transmissive layer. A plurality of bumps is formed through the encapsulant and electrically connected to the conductive layer. A second semiconductor die is disposed adjacent to the first semiconductor die. |
| US09564412B2 |
Shaped and oriented solder joints
The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic assemblies, wherein a microelectronic device may be attached to a microelectronic substrate with a plurality of shaped and oriented solder joints. The shaped and oriented solder joints may be substantially oval, wherein the major axis of the substantially oval solder joints may be substantially oriented toward a neutral point or center of the microelectronic device. Embodiments of the shaped and oriented solder joint may reduce the potential of solder joint failure due to stresses, such as from thermal expansion stresses between the microelectronic device and the microelectronic substrate. |
| US09564409B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor packages with an intermetallic layer comprising tin and at least one of silver, copper or nickel
A method of forming a semiconductor package. Implementations include forming on a die backside an intermediate metal layer having multiple sublayers, each including a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, nickel, copper, silver, and combinations thereof. A tin layer is deposited onto the intermediate metal layer and is then reflowed with a silver layer of a substrate to form an intermetallic layer having a melting temperature above 260 degrees Celsius and including an intermetallic consisting of silver and tin and/or an intermetallic consisting of copper and tin. Another method of forming a semiconductor package includes forming a bump on each of a plurality of exposed pads of a top side of a die, each exposed pad surrounded by a passivation layer, each bump including an intermediate metal layer as described above and a tin layer coupled to the intermediate metal layer is reflowed to form an intermetallic layer. |
| US09564408B2 |
Space transformer
An apparatus including a planar semiconductor substrate including a plurality of devices and a first pattern of electrical contacts formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of layers of conductive material alternating between dielectric material on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, the plurality of layers of conductive material including a wiring layer including a second pattern of electrical contacts, wherein the second surface of the semiconductor substrate includes openings to the first pattern of electrical contacts. A method including forming a space transformer including a semiconductor substrate including, on a device side, a device region, a first pattern of electrical contacts, and at least one routing layer and a pad layer including a second pattern of electrical contacts; and forming openings through the space transformer to the first pattern of electrical contacts on the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09564406B1 |
Battery protection package and process of making the same
The present invention discloses small-size battery protection packages and provides a process of fabricating small-size battery protection packages. A battery protection package includes a first common-drain metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a second common-drain MOSFET, a power control integrated circuit (IC), a plurality of solder balls, a plurality of conductive bumps, and a packaging layer. The power control IC is vertically stacked on top of the first and second common-drain MOSFETs. At least a majority portion of the power control IC and at least majority portions of the plurality of solder balls are embedded into the packaging layer. The process of fabricating battery protection packages includes steps of fabricating power control ICs; fabricating common-drain MOSFET wafer; integrating the power control ICs with the common-drain MOSFET wafer and connecting pinouts; forming a packaging layer; applying grinding processes; forming a metal layer; and singulating battery protection packages. |
| US09564405B2 |
Substrate opening formation in semiconductor devices
Radio-frequency (RF) devices are fabricated by providing a field-effect transistor (FET) formed over an oxide layer, forming one or more electrical connections to the FET, forming one or more dielectric layers over at least a portion of the electrical connections, electrically coupling an electrical element to the FET via the one or more electrical connections, disposing a handle wafer layer on at least a portion of the one or more dielectric layers, the handle wafer layer being at least partially over the electrical element; and removing at least a portion of the handle wafer layer to form an opening exposing at least a portion of the electrical element. |
| US09564403B2 |
Magnetic shielding of perpendicular STT-MRAM
A memory having an array of perpendicular spin-transfer torque (STT) magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells, wherein each cell has a magnetic layer stack. A magnetic shield disposed between the cells and having a minimum height of at least the height of the magnetic layer stacks. |
| US09564402B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating and placing a micro message
Silicon processing technology is used to generate an array of micro messages. These micro messages can contain at least one stick figure, or at least one word, or at least one stick figure and at least one word, or at least one stick figure and a grid mark, or at least one word and a grid mark, or at least one stick figure and at least one word and a grid mark. Grid marks are associated with the micro message and used to identify the X and Y Cartesian coordinates of the message. A plurality of conductive traces is used to form the micro messages. Each micro message can be completely encapsulated in silicon dioxide or at least one conductive trace can be connected to one of the tubs. |
| US09564401B2 |
Method for thinning, metalizing, and dicing a semiconductor wafer, and semiconductor device made using the method
There is provided a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, method including: a) forming semiconductor elements in plural element regions surrounded by assumed dicing lines on a first principal surface of a semiconductor wafer; b) grinding the second principal surface in such a way that an outer peripheral portion of a second principal surface on the opposite side of the first principal surface of the semiconductor wafer becomes thicker than an inner peripheral portion of the second principal surface; c) forming a metal film, in such a way as to avoid sections corresponding to the dicing lines, on the second principal surface that has been ground in the grinding step; and d) cutting the semiconductor wafer from the second principal surface side along portions where the metal film is not formed on the dicing lines. |
| US09564396B2 |
Semiconductor device and process
A metal first, via first process for forming interconnects within a metallization layer of a semiconductor device is provided. In an embodiment a conductive material is deposited and the conductive material is patterned into a conductive line and a via. A dielectric material is deposited over the conductive line and the via, and the dielectric material and the via are planarized. |
| US09564395B2 |
Bonding pad arrangment design for multi-die semiconductor package structure
A semiconductor package structure includes a base. A first die is mounted on the base. The first die comprises a plurality of first pads with a first pad area arranged in a first tier. A plurality of second pads with a second pad area is arranged in a second tier. A second die is mounted on the base. The second die includes a plurality of third pads arranged in a third tier. A first bonding wire has two terminals respectively coupled to one of the first pads and one of the third pads. A second bonding wire has two terminals respectively coupled to one of the third pads and one of the second pads. |
| US09564394B1 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing spatial overlap between routing wires
An integrated circuit may have interconnect circuitry which may include a sequence of tiles. Each tile may include a predetermined routing of multiple wires on multiple tracks. Wires may change tracks within a tile through wire twisting or through via connections and wires in another metal layer. Wires that change tracks may reduce the overlap between pairs of adjacent wires, thereby reducing the coupling capacitance between the respective wires. Reducing the coupling capacitance may result in reduced crosstalk between the wires which may speed up the signal transition along those wires compared to the signal transition in conventional interconnect circuitry. At the same time, sub-optimal wire stitching in a routing tile that connects a wire that ends in the next routing tile to a wire that starts in the routing tile, whereby the two wires overlap each other may enable beneficial crosstalk, which may further improve signal transition time. |
| US09564393B1 |
Semiconductor device package and method of making the same
A semiconductor device package includes a substrate and a semiconductor device disposed on a surface of the substrate. The semiconductor device includes a first contact pad and a second contact pad disposed on an upper surface of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device package further includes a conductive bar disposed on the first contact pad, and a conductive pillar disposed on the second contact pad. A method of making a semiconductor device package includes (a) providing a substrate; (b) mounting a semiconductor device on the substrate, wherein the semiconductor device comprises a first contact pad and a second contact pad on an upper surface of the semiconductor device; (c) forming a dielectric layer on the substrate to cover the semiconductor device; (d) exposing the second contact pad by forming a hole in the dielectric layer; and (e) applying a conductive material over the dielectric layer and filling the hole. |
| US09564388B2 |
Semiconductor device having a plurality of circuits arranged on a side of a semiconductor chip
A semiconductor device includes a base member and a first semiconductor chip mounted over the base member. The first semiconductor chip including a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit arranged between the first circuit and the second circuit and a plurality of pads. The first, second and third circuits are arranged along a first side of the first semiconductor chip. In plan view, the pads are located outside of the circuits and include a plurality of first pads arranged at a first pitch, and a plurality of second pads arranged at the first pitch. A distance between a first pad group comprised of the first pads and a second pad group comprised of the second pads is larger than the first pitch. Further, in a plan view, a part of the third circuit is located between the first pad group and the second pad group. |
| US09564387B2 |
Semiconductor package having routing traces therein
A method of and device for making a semiconductor package. The method comprises etching a first side of a metallic piece forming a leadframe with one or more wire bonding pads, applying a first protective layer on the first side, etching a second side of the metallic piece forming one or more conductive terminals, and applying a second protective layer on the second side. The semiconductor package comprises wire bonding pads in pillars structure surrounding a die attached to the leadframe. One or more terminals are on the bottom side of the semiconductor package. |
| US09564386B2 |
Semiconductor package with structures for cooling fluid retention
A semiconductor assembly for use with forced liquid and gas cooling. A relatively rigid nano-structure (for example, array of elongated nanowires) extends from an interior surface of a cap toward a top surface of a semiconductor chip, but, because of the rigidness and structural integrity of the nano-structure built into the cap, and of the cap itself, the nano-structure is reliably spaced apart from the top surface of the chip, which helps allow for appropriate cooling fluid flows. The cap piece and nano-structures built into the cap may be made of silicon or silicon compounds. |
| US09564383B2 |
Low-K dielectric layer and porogen
A system and method for a low-k dielectric layer are provided. A preferred embodiment comprises forming a matrix and forming a porogen within the matrix. The porogen comprises an organic ring structure with fewer than fifteen carbons and a large percentage of single bonds. Additionally, the porogen may have a viscosity greater than 1.3 and a Reynolds numbers less than 0.5. |
| US09564382B2 |
Test structure for determining overlay accuracy in semiconductor devices using resistance measurement
Provided is a test pattern structure for determining overlay accuracy in a semiconductor device. The test pattern structure includes one or more resistor structures formed by patterning a lower silicon layer. Each includes a zigzag portion with leads at different spatial locations. An upper pattern is formed and includes at least one pattern feature formed over the resistor or resistors. The portions of the resistor or resistors not covered by the upper pattern feature will become silicided during a subsequent silicidation process. Resistance is measured to determine overlay accuracy as the resistor structures are configured such that the resistance of the resistor structure is determined by the degree of silicidation of the resistor structure which is determined by the overlay accuracy between the upper and lower patterns. |
| US09564381B2 |
Apparatus and method to monitor die edge defects
Described is an apparatus comprising: an input pad; an output pad; a wire, coupled to the input pad and the output pad, the wire positioned at a periphery of a semiconductor die, the wire extending substantially along a perimeter of the semiconductor die; and one or more diodes, coupled at various sections of the wire, and positioned along the perimeter of the semiconductor die and surrounding the semiconductor die. |
| US09564377B2 |
Peak-based endpointing for chemical mechanical polishing
A polishing system receives one or more target parameters for a selected peak in a spectrum of light, polishes a substrate, measures a current spectrum of light reflected from the substrate while the substrate is being polished, identifies the selected peak in the current spectrum, measures one or more current parameters of the selected peak in the current spectrum, compares the current parameters of the selected peak to the target parameters, and ceases to polish the substrate when the current parameters and the target parameters have a pre defined relationship. |
| US09564375B2 |
Structures and methods for extraction of device channel width
Methods and design structures for extraction of transistor channel width are disclosed. Embodiments may include determining effective channel widths of transistors of a plurality of integrated circuits as a function of drawn channel widths of the transistors, and determining a target channel width for a target transistor based on the effective channel widths. |
| US09564374B2 |
Forming method and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides a forming method of forming a through electrode, in a second substrate joined on a first substrate having an electrode pad, to electrically connect a pattern to be formed on the second substrate to the electrode pad, the method comprising steps of detecting a position of a first mark formed on the first substrate and a position of a second mark formed on the second substrate in a state in which the first substrate and the second substrate are joined, determining, based on the position of the first mark and the position of the second mark detected in the detecting, a point to form the through electrode in the second substrate so as to electrically connect the pattern to the electrode pad, and forming the through electrode at the determined point. |
| US09564369B1 |
Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices including device isolation processes
Methods are provided for manufacturing semiconductor devices include forming a first fin protruding on a substrate and extending in a first direction; forming first and second sacrificial gate insulating layers on the first fin, the first and second sacrificial gate insulating layers intersecting the first fin and being spaced apart from each other; forming first and second sacrificial gate electrodes respectively on the first and second sacrificial gate insulating layers; forming a first insulating layer on the first and second sacrificial gate electrodes; removing a portion of the first insulating layer to expose the second sacrificial gate electrode; removing the exposed second sacrificial gate electrode using a first etching process to expose the second sacrificial gate insulating layer; removing the exposed second sacrificial gate insulating layer using a second etching process different from the first etching process to form a first trench which exposes the first fin; forming a first recess in the exposed first fin using a third etching process different from the second etching process; and filling the first recess with a first device isolation layer. |
| US09564364B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor package, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing semiconductor package
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, which includes a through hole that extends through the semiconductor substrate. An insulative layer includes a first surface, an opposite second surface covering the semiconductor substrate, and an opening aligned with the through hole. An insulative film covers an inner wall surface of the semiconductor substrate and the opening. A through electrode is formed in the through hole and the opening inward from the insulative film. The through electrode includes a first end surface that forms a pad exposed from the first surface of the insulative layer. The first end surface of the through electrode is flush with the first surface of the insulative layer. |
| US09564361B2 |
Reverse self aligned double patterning process for back end of line fabrication of a semiconductor device
In a particular embodiment, a method includes forming a second hardmask layer adjacent to a first sidewall structure and adjacent to a mandrel of a semiconductor device. A top portion of the mandrel is exposed prior to formation of the second hardmask layer. The method further includes removing the first sidewall structure to expose a first portion of a first hardmask layer. The method also includes etching the first portion of the first hardmask layer to expose a second portion of a dielectric material. The method also includes etching the second portion of the dielectric material to form a first trench. The method also includes forming a first metal structure within the first trench. |
| US09564359B2 |
Conductive structure and method of forming the same
Conductive structures and method of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming a conductive structure includes providing a substrate having a recess formed therein, the recess lined with a first seed layer and partially filled with a first conductive material; removing a portion of the first seed layer free from the first conductive material to form an exposed surface of the recess; lining the exposed surface of the recess with a second seed layer; and filling the recess with a second conductive material, the second conductive material covering the first conductive material and the second seed layer. |
| US09564356B2 |
Self-forming metal barriers
A technique includes applying a liquid dielectric composition onto a substrate, where the composition includes metal ions, at least partially curing the composition to form a dielectric layer with the metal ions, patterning the dielectric layer to form electron-rich regions at a surface thereof, heating the patterned dielectric layer to drive the metal ions to the electron-rich regions thereof, thereby forming a metal barrier layer on at least a portion of the surface of the dielectric layer, and depositing one or more metal layers onto the metal barrier layer. |
| US09564355B2 |
Interconnect structure for semiconductor devices
An interconnect and a method of forming an interconnect for a semiconductor device is provided. Conductive lines having different widths are formed. Wider conductive lines are used where the design includes an overlying via, and narrower lines are used in which an overlying via is not included. An overlying dielectric layer is formed and trenches and vias are formed extending through the overlying dielectric layer to the wider conductive lines. Voids or air gaps may be formed adjacent select conductive lines, such as the narrower lines. |
| US09564350B1 |
Method and apparatus for storing and transporting semiconductor wafers in a vacuum pod
Methodology and system for using vacuum pods to store/transport semiconductor wafers to efficiently reduce contamination of the wafers while reducing cost, cycle time, and process steps and tools without the need for a complete reconfiguration of processes/tools in the fabrication facility are disclosed. Embodiments include configuring a wafer pod with an isolated vacuum environment for storing and transporting semiconductor wafers; configuring a load port module with an isolated vacuum environment to interface with the wafer pod; transporting the wafer pod, including semiconductor wafers, to interlock with the load port module; creating a merged vacuum environment including the isolated vacuum environments of the wafer pod and the load port module; increasing a pressure level in the merged vacuum environment for creating a merged ambient atmospheric environment; and transferring the semiconductor wafers through a transfer chamber, with an isolated environment, from the load port module to a semiconductor wafer processing device. |
| US09564349B2 |
Rapid thermal processing chamber with micro-positioning system
Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support. |
| US09564347B2 |
Liquid processing apparatus and liquid processing method
A liquid processing apparatus including: a second housing; a first housing capable of being brought into contact with the second housing; a holding part configured to hold an object to be processed; a rotation driving part configured to rotate the object to be processed held by the holding part; front-side process-liquid supply nozzle configured to supply a process liquid onto a peripheral portion of a front surface of the object to be processed held by the holding part; and a storage part disposed on a side of a rear surface of the object to be processed held by the holding part, the storage part being configured to store the process liquid having been passed through the object to be processed. The respective first housing and the second housing can be moved in one direction, so that the first housing and the second housing can be brought into contact and separated from each other. |
| US09564345B1 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pad on the semiconductor substrate, and a conductor over the conductive pad. The semiconductor device further has a polymeric material disposed over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the conductor. The semiconductor device also includes an electric conductive layer between the conductor and the polymeric material. In the semiconductor device, an adhesion strength between the electric conductive layer and the polymeric material is greater than an adhesion strength between the polymeric material and the conductor. |
| US09564344B2 |
Ultra low silicon loss high dose implant strip
Improved methods for stripping photoresist and removing ion implant related residues from a work piece surface are provided. According to various embodiments, plasma is generated using elemental hydrogen, a fluorine-containing gas and a protectant gas. The plasma-activated gases reacts with the high-dose implant resist, removing both the crust and bulk resist layers, while simultaneously protecting exposed portions of the work piece surface. The work piece surface is substantially residue free with low silicon loss. |
| US09564343B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor devices
A substrate having an insulating layer including an oxide is loaded into a chamber, and at least a part of the insulating layer is removed by injecting a process gas including an etching source gas into the chamber. The removal process is performed in a pulse type in which a first period and a second period are repeated a plurality of times. The etching source gas is supplied at a first flow rate during the first period and is supplied at a second flow rate less than the first flow rate during the second period. A temperature of the inside of the chamber remains at 100° C. or more during the removal process. |
| US09564337B2 |
Polishing liquid and method for polishing substrate using the polishing liquid
Provided is a polishing liquid including cerium oxide particles, an organic acid A, a polymer compound B having a carboxyl acid group or a carboxylate group, and water, wherein the organic acid A has at least one group selected from the group consisting of —COOM group, -Ph-OM group, —SO3M group and —PO3M2 group, pKa of the organic acid A is less than 9, a content of the organic acid A is 0.001 to 1 mass % with respect to the total mass of the polishing liquid, and a content of the polymer compound B is 0.01 to 0.50 mass % with respect to the total mass of the polishing liquid, and pH is in the range of 4.0 to 7.0. |
| US09564329B2 |
Method and apparatus for fabricating dielectric structures
A composite dielectric structure having one or more Leakage Blocking Layers (LBL) interleaved with one or more Laminate Dielectric Layers (LDL), Alloy Dielectric Layers (ADL), or Co-deposit Dielectric Layers (CDL). Each LDL, ADL, and CDL includes dopants incorporated in a respective base dielectric layer (BDL); where LDLs are formed by incorporating a doping layer into a BDL using a laminate method, ADLs are formed by incorporating a dopant into a BDL using an alloying method; and CDLs are formed by pulsing a BDL base material and a dopant together using a co-deposit method. |
| US09564325B2 |
Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. In the method, a first hard mask layer is formed on a stepped structure. The first hard mask layer has a level top surface and thickness sufficient to etch the structure. A second hard mask pattern is formed on the first hard mask layer. The first hard mask layer is etched using the second hard mask pattern. Size dispersion of the patterns may be reduced by the first hard mask layer. |
| US09564324B2 |
Methods of forming a pattern and devices formed by the same
The inventive concepts provide methods of forming a pattern. In the method, a block copolymer layer may be formed on a neutral layer having an uneven structure and then phase separation is induced. The neutral layer may have an affinity for all of a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophobic polymer, so that vertical cultivation of phases of the block copolymer may be realized on the uneven structure. Thus, a self-assembled phenomenon may be induced. |
| US09564323B2 |
Method of laser irradiation, laser irradiation apparatus, and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
If an optical path length of an optical system is reduced and a length of a laser light on an irradiation surface is increased, there occurs curvature of field which is a phenomenon that a convergent position deviates depending on an incident angle or incident position of a laser light with respect to a lens. To avoid this phenomenon, an optical element having a negative power such as a concave lens or a concave cylindrical lens is inserted to regulate the optical path length of the laser light and a convergent position is made coincident with a irradiation surface to form an image on the irradiation surface. |
| US09564317B1 |
Method of forming a nanowire
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first material layer over a substrate. The first material layer has a sidewall defining a first opening, wherein the first opening has a first shape. The method also includes forming a sacrificial feature within the first opening and the sacrificial feature has a second shape, which is different than the first shape such that there is a cavity between an edge of the sacrificial feature and the sidewall of the first material layer. The method also includes filling in cavity with a second material layer, removing the sacrificial feature to form a second opening, filling in the second opening with a third material layer, removing the second material layer to reveal the cavity and forming a conductive feature within the cavity. |
| US09564314B2 |
Methods for forming doped silicon oxide thin films
The present disclosure relates to the deposition of dopant films, such as doped silicon oxide films, by atomic layer deposition processes. In some embodiments, a substrate in a reaction space is contacted with pulses of a silicon precursor and a dopant precursor, such that the silicon precursor and dopant precursor adsorb on the substrate surface. Oxygen plasma is used to convert the adsorbed silicon precursor and dopant precursor to doped silicon oxide. |
| US09564307B2 |
Constraining arcuate divergence in an ion mirror mass analyser
A charged particle analyzer apparatus comprising two opposing ion mirrors each mirror comprising inner and outer field-defining electrode systems elongated along an axis z, the outer system surrounding the inner, whereby when the electrode systems are electrically biased the mirrors create an electrical field comprising opposing electrical fields along z; and at least one arcuate focusing lens for constraining the arcuate divergence of a beam of charged particles within the analyzer while the beam orbits around the axis z, the analyzer further comprising a disc having two faces at least partly spanning the space between the inner and outer field defining electrode systems and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis z, the disc having resistive coating upon both faces. A mass spectrometer system comprising a plurality of the charged particle analyzers arranged as a parallel array. |
| US09564305B2 |
Ion funnel for efficient transmission of low mass-to-charge ratio ions with reduced gas flow at the exit
A sample inlet device and methods for use of the sample inlet device are described that include an ion funnel having a plurality of electrodes with apertures arranged about an axis extending from an inlet of the ion funnel to an outlet of the ion funnel, the ion funnel including a plurality of spacer elements disposed coaxially with the plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality of spacer elements being positioned between one or two adjacent electrodes, each of the plurality of spacer elements having an aperture with a diameter that is greater than a diameter of each adjacent electrode. The ion funnel is configured to pass an ion sample through the apertures of the electrodes and the spacer elements to additional portions of a detection system, such as to a mass analyzer system and detector. |
| US09564303B2 |
Maldi support with magnetically held spring steel plate
The invention relates to a low-cost spring steel plate as the sample support on a dimensionally stable and precisely shaped substructure, machined from an aluminum alloy, for example, and using a pattern of embedded magnets so that said plate is removable and that a body is created overall which is suitable for use in robots, for example by giving it the dimensions of a conventional microtitration plate. The planarity of the surface onto which the (organic) samples are applied is provided within the near region by the spring steel plate itself and in the far region over the whole spring steel plate by the substructure. The spring steel plate may be designed for single use in order to satisfy IVD diagnostic regulations also, for example. It can be equipped with identification codes, sample site markings and pre-coatings for different types of analytical tasks, such as MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis. |
| US09564298B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and semiconductor device manufacturing method using the same
A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus may include a chamber accommodating a substrate to be processed, a first electrode providing electric field in the chamber and a second electrode opposing to the first electrode, and a first power transmitting rod connected to one of the first electrode and the second electrode. A conductive stress attenuating unit may be formed in the first power transmitting rod. Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices using the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus are also disclosed. |
| US09564295B2 |
Diagnosis system for pulsed plasma
A diagnosis system for pulsed plasma includes an optical emission sensor (OES) to receive light generated the pulsed plasma, the pulsed plasma having been generated in accordance with a pulse signal, a digitizer to synchronize the electrical signal with the pulse signal, and an analyzer to analyze the synchronized electrical signal. |
| US09564288B2 |
Sample storage container, charged particle beam apparatus, and image acquiring method
A sample storage container of the present invention includes: a storage container (100) that stores a sample (6) under an atmosphere different from an atmosphere of an outside; a diaphragm (10) through which a charged particle beam passes through or transmits; a sample stage (103) that is arranged inside the storage container (100) and that is capable of moving a relative position of the sample (6) to the diaphragm (10) in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction under an atmospheric state where the atmospheric states inside the storage container and outside the storage container are different each other; and an operating section (104) that moves the sample stage (103) from an outside of the storage container (100), wherein the sample storage container is set in a state where the sample (6) is stored in a vacuum chamber of a charged particle beam apparatus. |
| US09564279B2 |
Electromagnetic switch having magnetic yoke with slits
An electromagnetic switch includes a pair of fixed contacts disposed and fixed in a contact housing case with a predetermined distance therebetween; a movable contact disposed in the contact housing case so as to contact and separate from the pair of fixed contacts; and an electromagnet unit which brings the movable contact into and out of contact with the pair of fixed contacts. The electromagnet unit has a magnetic yoke enclosing an exciting coil, a movable plunger having a contact pole surface facing the contact pole surface of the magnetic yoke, and a linking shaft which links the movable plunger and the movable contact, and magnetic paths through which a holding force is generated by external magnetic fluxes generated by a flowing current when the movable contact contacts the pair of fixed contacts, are formed on the contact pole surface of the magnetic yoke. |
| US09564275B2 |
Supercapacitor structures
Supercapacitor structures are provided which include, for example: one or more layers of supercapacitors; and one or more contact tabs. The one or more contact tabs electrically contact and extend outward from the supercapacitor structure to facilitate electrical connection to the supercapacitor structure, and the one or more contact tabs include a multi-contact tab. The multi-contact tab is configured and sized with multiple contact locations which are disposed external to the supercapacitor structure. Various supercapacitor structures are provided, including one supercapacitor structure with a shared C-shaped current collector, and another supercapacitor structure with stacked supercapacitors. One or more additional multi-contact tabs may also extend from the supercapacitor structure(s) and distribute the same or a different capacitor voltage than the multi-contact tab. |
| US09564273B2 |
Tunable capacitor
A tunable capacitor includes a first electrode and a second electrode, each being formed of a conductive material. The tunable capacitor further includes a third electrode between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a dielectric material interposed between the first electrode and the third electrode, and between the second electrode and the third electrode. The third electrode is movable relative to the first electrode and the second electrode by a stepper motor, to adjust and tune a capacitance of the tunable capacitor. |
| US09564271B2 |
Dielectric ceramic composition, stacked ceramic capacitor using the same, and method of manufacturing the same
A stacked ceramic capacitor that includes a ceramic body formed by stacking dielectric ceramic layers and internal electrodes mainly composed of Ni; and an external electrode formed on an outer surface of ceramic body. The dielectric ceramic layers are formed by using a dielectric ceramic composition that includes a main ingredient expressed by (KaNabLicM2d)(NbwTaxMgyM4z)O3, where M2 is at least one of Ca, Sr and Ba, M4 is at least one of Zr, Hf and Sn, and a, b, c, d, w, x, y, and z satisfy predetermined relationships; and includes 2 to 15 molar parts of Mn with respect to 100 molar parts of a total content of Nb, Ta, Mg, and M4. |
| US09564268B2 |
Power receiver for extracting power from electric field energy in the earth
A resonant transformer connected between a ground terminal and elevated terminal draws current from the earth's electric field through a primary winding of the transformer. An impulse generator applies a high voltage impulse to the primary winding of the resonant transformer to cause current to flow from the ground terminal through the primary winding. The flow of current through the primary winding of the resonant transformer induces a current in the secondary winding, which may be converted and filtered to a usable form, e.g. 60 Hz AC or DC. |
| US09564267B2 |
Magnetic element and bobbin assembly thereof
A magnetic element includes a bobbin assembly, at least one pancake winding assembly, a winding coil assembly and a magnetic core assembly. The bobbin assembly includes plural bobbin units. The plural bobbin units are detachably coupled with each other. Each bobbin unit includes a main body, a coupling structure and at least one engaging structure. The main body includes an external surface, a channel and a first winding section. The coupling structure is disposed on the external surface of the main body. The engaging structure of the bobbin unit is engaged with the engaging structure of an adjacent bobbin unit. The pancake winding assembly is disposed around the main body and coupled with the corresponding coupling structure. The winding coil assembly is wound around the first winding section. The magnetic core assembly is partially accommodated within the channel of the bobbin unit. |
| US09564265B2 |
Coil assembly for a control rod driver having improved thermal resistance, and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a coil assembly having improved heat resistance for use in a control rod driver, in which the heat resistance of coils is improved to increase the lifespan thereof and the deterioration of the coils and the fall of a control rod are thus securely prevented from occurring due to continuous operations of the control rod driver during an automatic load follow operation, thereby improving the safety and economic feasibility of a nuclear power plant, and a method for manufacturing the same. The coil assembly includes a covered wire (110) which includes a coil wire (111) and a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) coating layer (112) covering an outer circumferential surface of the coil wire (111) and is wound in multiple layers; a coil coating layer (130) formed by filling gaps in the covered wire (110) with varnish; an insulating tape layer (120) covering external sides of a wound layer of the covered wire (110) insulated by the coil coating layer (130); and silicon molding (140) covering external sides of the insulating tape layer (120). |
| US09564261B2 |
Method for analyzing color code encoded in magnetic structure
Provided is a color encoding method including providing a composition including a liquid medium and magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in the liquid medium; applying a magnetic field to the composition to align the magnetic nanoparticles; and applying a patterned energy source to the composition to solidify the composition, wherein more than one region of the composition are sequentially solidified with varying magnetic field strength to fix a plurality of color codes. |
| US09564260B2 |
Method for preparing a silicon dioxide substrate-based graphene transparent conductive film
The present invention provides a method for preparing a silicon dioxide substrate-based graphene transparent conductive film, which comprises: preparing a silicon dioxide substrate on a graphene transparent conductive film, thereby obtaining a silicon dioxide substrate-based graphene transparent conductive film. In the method for preparing a silicon dioxide substrate-based graphene transparent conductive film according to the embodiments of the present invention, the silicon dioxide substrate is prepared on the graphene transparent conductive film, and a graphene transferring step that is difficult to implement in the prior art can be avoided, thus the silicon dioxide substrate-based graphene transparent conductive film can be prepared conveniently, and the cost may be reduced at the same time. |
| US09564257B2 |
Litz wire terminal assembly
A Litz wire terminal assembly includes a wire bundle having a plurality of electrically conductive strands extending between a first end and a second end to define a length. Each strand includes an insulative cover having a proximate cover end at the first end and a distal cover end at the second end. The distal cover end is flush with the second end. The Litz wire terminal assembly further includes a ferrule on the wire bundle. The ferrule has a distal ferrule end at the second end of the conductive strands. |
| US09564256B2 |
Power cable for high temperature environments
An electrical power cable for high temperature environments comprises two or more sheathed conductors; each sheathed conductor comprising an electrical conductor, an electrical insulator surrounding the electrical conductor, and a sheath surrounding the electrical insulator; and a bonding material interconnecting the sheaths of the two or more sheathed conductors positioned adjacent to one another to form a cable. |
| US09564255B2 |
High-speed transmission cable conductor, and producing method thereof, and high-speed transmission cable
A high-speed transmission cable conductor includes a core material includes mainly copper, and a surface treated layer formed around a surface of the core material. The surface treated layer includes an amorphous layer including a metal element having a higher affinity for oxygen than the copper, and oxygen. |
| US09564250B2 |
Device for turning a container, particularly for nuclear fuel assembly, turning assembly, and nuclear power plant
A device for turning a container about a turning axis is provided. The device includes a stationary holding member and two bearing members which are spaced apart along the turning axis on each side of a space for receiving a container, and which are capable of being used for bearing on the container while enabling the rotation of the container about the turning axis relative to the bearing members. The device includes a movable holding member that is mounted onto the stationary holding member so as to rotate about the turning axis, at least one bearing member being supported by the movable holding member while being mounted onto the movable holding member so as to rotate about the drive axis, the or each bearing member supported by the movable holding member not rotating about the turning axis relative to the stationary holding member when the movable holding member rotates about the turning axis relative to the stationary holding member. |
| US09564249B2 |
Spacers for nuclear fuel assemblies
Fuel spacers include a perimeter piece and alignment strips extending within the perimeter piece. Alignment strips may have directional variation while still extending in an overall straight line between two contact points on the perimeter piece. Two alignment strips, by their relative positioning and shape, create distinct openings for fuel rods, through which rods may pass and be supported by the spacer on all sides. Alignment strips can be parallel or skew but need not physically intersect or extend at overall right angles to form such surrounding and supporting openings. Shape may be variable, such as a waveform, zig-zag, or saw-tooth. Several layers of alignment strips at any desired angle are useable in spacers, and alignment strips may be varied in length, shape, and number to account for different fuel assembly sizes and features, such as water rods. |
| US09564242B2 |
Method for controlling the breakdown of an antifuse memory cell
A method for controlling the breakdown of an antifuse memory cell formed on a semiconductor substrate, including the steps of: applying a programming voltage; detecting a breakdown time; and interrupting the application of the programming voltage at a time following the breakdown time by a post-breakdown time. |
| US09564241B2 |
Memory system and user device including the same
In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a read request for reading data from a memory area of the memory, and determining whether an identifier of the memory area is stored in one of the plurality of entries of a characteristic table. Each of the plurality of entries is associated with a different range of at least one memory area characteristic and each of the plurality of entries is associated with different read condition information. The method further includes obtaining the read condition information associated with the entry storing the identifier of the memory area if the determining determines the identifier is stored in one of the plurality of entries of the characteristic table, and controlling the memory to read data from the memory area using the obtained read condition information. |
| US09564240B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells. A plurality of word lines are connected to the memory cells. A plurality of bit lines are connected to one end of current paths of the memory cells. A sense amplifier part is connected to the bit lines. A data write operation includes a first write loop and a second write loop. The first write loop includes a first program operation and a first verify operation. The second write loop includes a second program operation and a second verify operation. The sense amplifier part discharges a voltage of at least one of the bit lines in the first verify operation. The sense amplifier part keeps voltages of the bit lines in the second verify operation. |
| US09564238B1 |
Flash memory system using memory cell as source line pull down circuit
The present invention relates to a flash memory device that uses dummy memory cells as source line pull down circuits. In one embodiment, when a memory cell is in read mode or erase mode, its source line is coupled to ground through a bitline of a dummy memory cell, which in turn is coupled to ground. When the memory cell is in program mode, the bitline of the dummy memory cell is coupled to an inhibit voltage, which places the dummy memory cell in a program inhibit mode that maintains the dummy memory cell in erased state. |
| US09564231B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and corresponding operating method with stress reduction
A non-volatile memory device includes a memory array with memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Each cell has respective current-conduction regions and a control-gate region. The control-gate regions of the memory cells of a same row are coupled to a control-gate terminal and biased at a respective control-gate voltage. A control-gate decoder selects and biases the control-gate regions of the rows at respective control voltages according to operations to be performed on the memory cells. The current-conduction regions of the memory cells are arranged within a same bulk well, and the control-gate decoder has a number of driver blocks each of which supplies the control-gate voltages to a respective number of rows of the array. The driver blocks are provided in respective biasing wells, separate and distinct from one another. |
| US09564229B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of programming the same
In a method of programming a three-dimensional nonvolatile memory device, a program loop is executed at least one time, wherein the program loop includes a programming step for programming selected memory cells among the memory cells and a verifying step for verifying whether the selected memory cells are program-passed or not. In the programming the selected memory cells, a level of a voltage being applied to a common source line connected to the strings in common may be changed. Thus, in a program operation, power consumption which is needed to charge-discharge the common source line can be decreased while increasing boosting efficiency. |
| US09564225B2 |
Pulse control for non-volatile memory
A nonvolatile memory device that uses pulsed control and rest periods to mitigate the formation of defect precursors. A first embodiment uses pulsed bitline control, where the coupling between a memory cell channel and a reference voltage is pulsed when it is desired to change state in the associated memory cell. Each pulse may be chosen to be less than about 20 nanoseconds, while a “rest period” between pulses can be on the order of about a hundred nanoseconds or greater. Because bitline control is used, very short rise times can be enabled, enabling generation of pulse durations of 50 nanoseconds or less. In other embodiments, these methods may also be more generally applied to other conductors (e.g., wordline or substrate well, for program or erase operations); segmented wordlines or bitlines may also be used, to minimize RC loading and enable sufficiently short rise times to make pulses robust. |
| US09564223B2 |
Semiconductor device
Disclosed is a semiconductor device, including: a memory block including a plurality of memory strings, each of the memory strings including a drain select transistor coupled to a bit line, a source select transistor coupled to a common source line, memory cells coupled to the drain select transistor and the source select transistor, and dummy memory cells coupled to the drain select transistor and the memory cell; and an operation circuit configured to perform a program operation on the memory cells. The operation circuit generates operation voltages applied to the dummy memory cells so that electric charges are generated by a band to band tunneling effect in the dummy memory cell adjacent to the drain select transistor during the program operation. |
| US09564221B2 |
Non-volatile memory device having vertical structure and method of operating the same
A non-volatile memory device having a vertical structure includes a NAND string having a vertical structure. The NAND string includes a plurality of memory cells, and at least one pair of first selection transistors arranged to be adjacent to a first end of the plurality of memory cells. A plurality of word lines are coupled to the plurality of memory cells of the NAND string. A first selection line is commonly connected to the at least one pair of first selection transistors of the NAND string. |
| US09564220B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes memory blocks including a plurality of memory cells, wherein the plurality of memory cells are divided into a plurality of pages, and an operation circuit suitable for outputting operating voltages to local lines of the memory blocks to perform a program loop, an erase loop and a read operation on the plurality of memory cells, wherein the operation circuit is suitable for applying a dummy pulse having a positive potential to the local lines after the program loop or the erase loop is completed. |
| US09564219B2 |
Current based detection and recording of memory hole-interconnect spacing defects
For a non-volatile memory device having a NAND type of architecture, techniques are presented for determining NAND strings that are slow to program, including comparing the amount of current drawn by different sets of memory cells during different write operations. These techniques are particularly applicable to memory devices have a 3D structure, such as of BiCS type, where the slow programming can arise from defects of the spacing between the memory holes, in which the NAND strings are formed, and the local interconnects, such as for connecting common source lines and which run in a vertical direction between groups of NAND strings. The slow to program NAND strings can be recorded and this information can be used when writing data to the NAND strings. Several methods of writing data along a word line that includes such slow to program cells are described. |
| US09564216B2 |
Stress trim and modified ISPP procedures for PCM
A memory circuit is described that includes an array of memory cells including a plurality of blocks. The circuit includes a controller including logic to execute program sequences for selected blocks in the plurality of blocks. The program sequences include patterns of program/verify cycles. The circuit includes logic to assign different patterns of program/verify cycles to different blocks in the plurality of blocks. The circuit includes logic to change a particular pattern assigned to a particular block in the plurality of blocks. The circuit includes logic to maintain statistics for blocks in the plurality of blocks, about performance of cells in the blocks in response to the patterns of program/verify cycles assigned to the blocks. The controller includes logic to apply a stress sequence to one of the selected blocks, the stress sequence including stress pulses applied to memory cells in the one of the selected blocks. |
| US09564206B2 |
Semiconductor device
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a latch circuit (L20) which latches a data mask signal (DM) in response to a one-shot signal (NS), and changes the data mask signal (DM) to an active level in response to an error signal (ERR), which indicates that an error is present in write data (DQ), being at an active level; a buffer circuit (BF2) which outputs the data mask signal (DM) that has been latched by the latch circuit (L20), said data mask signal (DM) being output in response to a write clock signal (WCLK2); and a main amplifier (80) which outputs the write data (DQ) to an internal circuit on the condition that the data mask signal (DM) which has been output from the buffer circuit (BF2) is at an inactive level. The present invention can prevent the writing of erroneous write data, and is capable of preventing increased chip surface area. |
| US09564202B2 |
Increased refresh interval and energy efficiency in a DRAM
Techniques described herein generally include methods and systems related to designing and operating a DRAM device that has significantly reduced refresh energy use. A method for designing a DRAM optimizes or otherwise improves the DRAM for energy efficiency based on a measured or predicted failure probability of memory cells in the DRAM. The DRAM may be configured to operate at an increased refresh interval, thereby reducing DRAM refresh energy but causing a predictable portion of the memory cells in the DRAM to leak electrical energy too quickly to retain data. The DRAM is further configured with a selected number of spare memory cells for replacing the “leaky” memory cells, so that operation of the DRAM at the increased refresh interval may result in little or no reduction in capacity of the DRAM. |
| US09564201B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for responding to a row hammer event
Techniques and mechanisms to facilitate an operational mode of a memory device to prepare for a targeted refresh of a row in memory. In an embodiment, the memory device performs one or more operations while in the mode to prepare for a future command from a memory controller, the command to implement, at least in part, a targeted refresh of a row in a first bank of the memory device. Prior to such a command, the memory device services another command from the memory controller. In another embodiment, servicing the other command includes the memory device accessing a second bank of the memory device while the memory device operates in the mode, and before completion of an expected future targeted row refresh. |
| US09564199B2 |
Methods of reading and writing data in a thyristor random access memory
A volatile memory array using vertical thyristors is disclosed together with methods of operating the array to read data from and write data to the array. |
| US09564196B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and data writing method using a checkerboard pattern utilizing existing data supply bit addresses
To provide a semiconductor memory device capable of writing a checkerboard pattern for interference and investigation by three writings regardless of the magnitude of memory capacity by making a change of a simple circuit configuration free from the need of a data holding circuit and a voltage converting circuit large in circuit area in a memory array in which the order of arrangement of bits is reversedly arranged between data words adjacent in a row direction. A row decoder and a column decoder are respectively configured to enable operation switching to an all selection mode and an even/odd-based selection mode in addition to a single address selection mode of a memory array by a control signal from a control circuit. |
| US09564195B2 |
Address comparator circuit for generating transmission control signal, memory device and memory system including the same
An address comparator circuit includes a first determination unit suitable for activating a first control signal when a first address corresponding to a previous read command is identical with a second address corresponding to a current read command; a second determination unit suitable for activating a second control signal when the previous and current read commands are consecutively inputted to the address comparator circuit with an interval of a specific number of clocks or less; and a blocking signal generation unit suitable for generating a blocking signal that blocks data transmission between a memory array and an external device based on the first and the second control signals. |
| US09564190B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with a delay locked loop circuit and a method for controlling an operation thereof
An operation control method of a semiconductor memory device includes executing a Delay Locked Loop (DLL) locking in response to a DLL reset signal and measuring a loop delay of a DLL. The operation control method further includes storing measured loop delay information and DLL locking information; and performing a delay control of a command path using the stored loop delay information and DLL locking information independent of the DLL, during a latency control operation. |
| US09564186B1 |
Method and apparatus for memory access
Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit that includes a first memory controller, a second memory controller and at least a functional circuit coupled to the second memory controller. The first memory controller is configured to control memory access to a first memory. The second memory controller is configured to control memory access to a second memory that is able to be turned on/off. The functional circuit is configured to operate based on the second memory. The second memory controller is configured to cause the second memory to be turned on when an application requires an operation of the functional circuit. |
| US09564184B2 |
Sense amplifier for single-ended sensing
A single ended line sense amplifier having an input coupled to a single ended line having a near end and a far end device comprises a plurality of nFET stacks coupled between the near end of the single ended line and the far end of the single ended line, a single ended line comparator coupled to the near end of the single ended line configured to compare a voltage at the near end of the single ended line to provide a logic state output, and a charge transistor coupled to the single ended line at a point that is between the near end of the single ended line and the far end of the single ended line to shift occurrence of snap back from strong charging of the single ended line. |
| US09564179B2 |
Rectifying component for magnetic disk device
A spoiler (40) that is a rectifying component for a magnetic disk device including a flat plate-like plate portion (41) arranged to face a magnetic disk (10), and a support portion (42) that supports the plate portion (41) includes a body portion (401) made of a resin, and a metal plating layer (402) that covers an entire surface of the body portion (401). |
| US09564175B2 |
Clustering crowdsourced videos by line-of-sight
A method for clustering images includes acquiring initial image data including a scene of interest. A 3D model is constructed of the scene of interest based on the acquired initial image data. Additional image data including the scene of interest is acquired. The additional image data is fitted to the 3D model. A line-of-sight of the additional image data is estimated based on the fitting to the 3D model. The additional image data is clustered according to the estimated line-of-sight. |
| US09564174B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing multimedia
The multimedia method includes reading out information regarding user reactions to content during playback of the content, displaying a history of user reactions according to the information regarding the user reactions, and playing back a portion of content corresponding to a selected time point from the history of the user reactions at which the user reactions occurred. |
| US09564171B2 |
Reconstructive error recovery procedure (ERP) using reserved buffer
In one embodiment, a tape drive includes a reserved data buffer and logic integrated with and/or executable by a processor. The logic is configured to read a data set from a medium and store a first portion of the data set to the reserved data buffer in response to a determination that the first portion of the data set is correctable using C2 error correction code (ECC). The logic is also configured to replace any stored row of a non-C2-correctable portion of the data set stored to the reserved data buffer with a corresponding row of the data set read from the medium in response to a determination that the stored row of the non-C2-correctable portion of the data set has an equal amount or more C1-correctable error therein than the corresponding row of the data set read from the medium. |
| US09564169B2 |
Compressed audio information
Compressed entertainment content such as audio or video or both includes additional aspects and operations associated their way. The compressed audio may be used to signal computers such as a telephone or reminder for an appointment. A melody line may be extracted from the audio, or the audio may be used exactly as it is. Another aspect stores traders within the entertainment content such as in MP3. Those traders are used to trigger the system to retrieve other parts of the content to be displayed at the same time that that particular part of the MP3 is being play. The content may include video or text, or maybe links to other content such as broadband content four times sensitive content. Another aspect describes encryption which is keyed to the disk ID to prevent playing oven illegally copied disk. Another aspect reads a specified amount of information then spins down the disk to conserve battery power. |
| US09564167B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and control method thereof
An optical disc apparatus is disclosed. The optical disc apparatus includes: a driver configured to rotate an optical disc having a recording surface for data; an optical pick-up configured to emit a light beam to the optical disc rotated by the driver; and at least one processor configured to operate the optical pick-up to focus the light beam emitted from the pick-up unit to perform one of recording and reproducing the data on the recording surface and track curvature of the recording surface within a preset allowable range, and to process the light beam reflected from the recording surface, the at least one the processor further configured to increase the allowable range if it is determined that the focus of the light beam cannot track the curvature of the recording surface in a section of the recording surface. |
| US09564163B2 |
Implementing dual partially independent thermal flyheight control (TFC) for hard disk drives
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing dual partially independent flyheight control (TFC) for hard disk drives (HDDs). A dual thermal flyheight control (TFC) includes a series connected first heater resistor and a second heater resistor connected between a pair of wires. A capacitor is connected in parallel with the first heater resistor providing a frequency dependent shunt to the parallel connected first heater resistor. TFC electrical bias signals are applied to the first heater resistor and second heater resistor carried by the pair of wires. For example, the TFC electrical bias signals include high frequency electrical signals including a frequency range between 1 MHz and 100 MHz having a set amplitude in a voltage range between 0 and 7 Volts, and/or DC current signal. |
| US09564162B1 |
Data storage device measuring resonant frequency of a shock sensor by applying differential excitation and measuring oscillation
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, and a shock sensor comprising a first terminal and a second terminal. A first bias signal is applied signal to the first terminal of the shock sensor and a second bias signal is applied to the second terminal of the shock sensor. An oscillating signal is generated by increasing the first bias signal and decreasing the second bias signal, and a resonant frequency of the shock sensor is detected based on the oscillating signal. A physical shock affecting the head actuated over the disk is detected based on a response of the shock sensor to the physical shock and based on the detected resonant frequency of the shock sensor. |
| US09564158B1 |
Methods and devices for adjusting actuator control signals
A method includes performing a first seek operation using a first voice coil motor (VCM) control signal by utilizing a first drag component value. The method further includes determining a position error signal (PES) and a DC offset component of the PES measured during the first seek operation, and determining that the DC offset component is above a predetermined threshold. In response to determining that the DC offset component is above the predetermined threshold, the method further includes determining a second drag component value different than the first drag component value. The method further includes generating a second VCM control signal by applying the second drag component value. |
| US09564153B2 |
Substrate for suspension, process for producing the same, suspension for magnetic head, and hard disk drive
A substrate for suspension comprises a metallic substrate, an insulating layer formed on the metallic substrate, a conductor layer formed on the insulating layer, and a cover layer covering the conductor layer. The insulating layer and the cover layer are formed from different materials, whose coefficients of hygroscopic expansion are in the range between 3×10−6/% RH and 30×10−6/% RH. The difference between the coefficients of hygroscopic expansion of the two materials is 5×10−6/% RH or less. |
| US09564149B2 |
Method for user communication with information dialogue system
Provided is a method for user communications with an information dialog system, which may be used for organizing user interactions with the information dialog system based on a natural language. The method may include activating a user input subsystem in response to a user entering a request; receiving and converting the request of the user into text by the user input subsystem; sending the text obtained as a result of the conversion of the request to a dialog module; processing, by the dialog module, the text; forming, by the dialog module, the response to the request; sending the response to the user; and displaying and/or reproducing the formed response, where, after the displaying and/or the reproducing of the formed response, the user input subsystem is automatically activated upon entering a further request or a clarification request by the user. |
| US09564144B2 |
System and method for multichannel on-line unsupervised bayesian spectral filtering of real-world acoustic noise
A system for processing audio data comprising a linear demixing system configured to receive a plurality of sub-band audio channels and to generate an audio output and a noise output. A spatial likelihood system coupled to the linear demixing system, the spatial likelihood system configured to receive the audio output and the noise output and to generate a spatial likelihood function. A sequential Gaussian mixture model system coupled to the spatial likelihood system, the sequential Gaussian mixture model system configured to generate a plurality of model parameters. A Bayesian probability estimator system configured to receive the plurality of model parameters and a speech/noise presence probability and to generate a noise power spectral density and spectral gains. A spectral filtering system configured to receive the spectral gains and to apply the spectral gains to noisy input mixtures. |
| US09564142B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding noise signal
Provided is a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding an audio signal. Sections which are not used to output noise components near important spectral components and sub-bands which are not used to output noise components, are determined to be encoded or decoded, so that the efficiency of encoding and decoding an audio signal increases, and sound quality can be improved using less bits. |
| US09564141B2 |
Harmonic bandwidth extension of audio signals
A method includes separating, at a device, an input audio signal into at least a low-band signal and a high-band signal. The low-band signal corresponds to a low-band frequency range and the high-band signal corresponds to a high-band frequency range. The method also includes selecting a non-linear processing function of a plurality of non-linear processing functions. The method further includes generating a first extended signal based on the low-band signal and the non-linear processing function. The method also includes generating at least one adjustment parameter based on the first extended signal, the high-band signal, or both. |
| US09564140B2 |
Systems and methods for encoding audio signals
Some embodiments relate to techniques for encoding an audio signal represented by a plurality of frames including a first frame. The techniques include using at least one computer hardware processor to perform: obtaining an initial discrete spectral representation of the first frame; obtaining a primary discrete spectral representation of the initial discrete spectral representation at least in part by estimating a phase envelope of the initial discrete spectral representation and evaluating the estimated phase envelope at a discrete set of frequencies; calculating a residual discrete spectral representation of the initial discrete spectral representation based on the initial discrete spectral representation and the primary discrete spectral representation; and encoding the residual discrete spectral representation using a plurality of codewords. |
| US09564138B2 |
Method and device for processing audio signal
The present invention relates to a method and device for encoding or decoding an object audio signal or rendering the object audio signal in a three-dimensional space. The method for processing an audio signal, according to one aspect of the present invention, comprises the steps of: generating a first object signal group and a second object signal group obtained by classifying a plurality of object signals according to a determined method; generating a first down-mix signal for the first object signal group; generating a second down-mix signal for the second object signal group; generating first object extraction information in correspondence with the first down-mix signal with respect to object signals included in the first object signal group; and generating second object extraction information in correspondence with the second down-mix signal with respect to object signals included in the second object signal group. |
| US09564132B2 |
Communication system and method between an on-vehicle voice recognition system and an off-vehicle voice recognition system
A vehicle based system and method for receiving voice inputs and determining whether to perform a voice recognition analysis using in-vehicle resources or resources external to the vehicle. |
| US09564126B2 |
Using models to detect potential significant errors in speech recognition results
In some embodiments, a recognition result produced by a speech processing system based on an analysis of a speech input is evaluated for indications of potential errors. In some embodiments, sets of words/phrases that may be acoustically similar or otherwise confusable, the misrecognition of which can be significant in the domain, may be used together with a language model to evaluate a recognition result to determine whether the recognition result includes such an indication. In some embodiments, a word/phrase of a set that appears in the result is iteratively replaced with each of the other words/phrases of the set. The result of the replacement may be evaluated using a language model to determine a likelihood of the newly-created string of words appearing in a language and/or domain. The likelihood may then be evaluated to determine whether the result of the replacement is sufficiently likely for an alert to be triggered. |
| US09564124B2 |
Displaying relevant information on wearable computing devices
A wearable computing device receives user preferences, wherein the user preferences include information detailing one or more types of information to display based on one or more criteria being satisfied. The wearable computing device determines information to display on the wearable computing device based on the user preferences. The wearable computing device displays the determined information. |
| US09564121B2 |
System and method for generalized preselection for unit selection synthesis
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable storage media for unit selection synthesis. The method causes a computing device to add a supplemental phoneset to a speech synthesizer front end having an existing phoneset, modify a unit preselection process based on the supplemental phoneset, preselect units from the supplemental phoneset and the existing phoneset based on the modified unit preselection process, and generate speech based on the preselected units. The supplemental phoneset can be a variation of the existing phoneset, can include a word boundary feature, can include a cluster feature where initial consonant clusters and some word boundaries are marked with diacritics, can include a function word feature which marks units as originating from a function word or a content word, and/or can include a pre-vocalic or post-vocalic feature. The speech synthesizer front end can incorporates the supplemental phoneset as an extra feature. |
| US09564119B2 |
Voice converting apparatus and method for converting user voice thereof
A voice converting apparatus and a voice converting method are provided. The method of converting a voice using a voice converting apparatus including receiving a voice from a counterpart, analyzing the voice and determining whether the voice abnormal, converting the voice into a normal voice by adjusting a harmonic signal of the voice in response to determining that the voice is abnormal, and transmitting the normal voice. |
| US09564118B2 |
Sound insulating structure
This sound insulating structure (1) is provided with: a panel (2); a sound insulating material (3) laminated to the panel (2); a reinforcing material (4) provided between the panel (2) and the sound insulating material (3) and bonded to the panel (2); and an air layer (S) formed between the panel (2) and the reinforcing material (4). The reinforcing material (4) has a plurality of through-holes (5). As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in overall weight and to secure sound shielding properties and sound insulating properties |
| US09564116B2 |
Ultrasonic-transducer mounting structure
The ultrasonic-transducer mounting structure includes: a housing including: a body part which is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape and is provided at its front surface with a transmission surface allowing an ultrasonic wave to pass therethrough and is designed to accommodate an ultrasonic transducer therein; and plural connection pieces provided to a side surface of the body part; and a holder fixed to a rear surface of a bumper and designed to hold the housing such that the transmission surface of the housing is exposed via an opening of the bumper. The holder includes plural reception pieces to which the plural connection pieces are detachably coupled respectively. The plural reception pieces are fixed to the rear surface of the bumper to surround the opening. |
| US09564114B2 |
Electronic musical instrument, method of controlling sound generation, and computer readable recording medium
An electronic musical instrument is provided with a voice sensor for detecting a voice uttered by a user, when the user blows into the musical instrument with a voice, a breath sensor for detecting at least one of a blow pressure and a blow volume in a body of the musical instrument, when the user blows into the musical instrument with a voice, and a musical tone controlling unit for controlling generation of a musical tone based on at least one of outputs of the voice sensor and the breath sensor. |
| US09564112B1 |
Instrument cushion and support device
An instrument cushion and support device includes a main body having a curved top surface, a curved bottom surface, a proximal end and a distal end. The main body includes a rigid central core and soft padding located between the curved top and bottom surfaces. A slip guard extends upward from the curved top surface of the main body at a location adjacent to the distal end, and a neck support extends upward from the top surface of the main body at a location adjacent to the proximal end. |
| US09564111B2 |
Guitar stand
A guitar support stand includes a mounting plate that is attachable to a stable support such as a musical piece of equipment having a substantial weight. A guitar support member is releasably attached to the mounting plate and includes at its upper end a support bracket for supporting the neck portion of a guitar. |
| US09564106B2 |
Display panel with a timing controller embedded data driver and display apparatus including the same
A display panel includes a timing controller embedded data driver and a first data driver. The timing controller embedded data driver includes an image processing part and an internal data driving part. The image processing part generates a first data signal corresponding to a first display area and a second data signal corresponding to a second display area based on input image data. The internal data driving part generates a second data voltage based on the second data signal to output the second data voltage to the second display area. The first data driver is disposed at a first side of the timing controller embedded data driver. The first data driver receives the first data signal from the timing controller embedded data driver and generates a first data voltage based on the first data signal to output the first data voltage to the first display area. |
| US09564103B2 |
Image processing circuit and method thereof
An image processing circuit and a method thereof. The image processing circuit includes a light sensor, an image control unit, a Gamma curve LUT, a backlight control unit and an image processing unit. The light sensor senses an intensity of ambient light and outputs an intensity signal. The image control unit receives an image signal and determines an image luminance value corresponding to a first image data of the image signal according to the intensity signal. The Gamma curve LUT outputs a luminance value signal corresponding to the image luminance value. The backlight control unit outputs a backlight luminance signal corresponding to the image luminance value. The image processing unit outputs a second image data corresponding to the first image data according to the luminance value signal and the backlight luminance signal. |
| US09564100B2 |
Information processing method and electronic device
An information processing method and an electronic device, the method comprising: acquiring a first value of a first parameter by the first sensor; acquiring a second value of the first parameter by the second sensor; judging whether a difference value between the first value and the second value is larger than or equal to a first threshold or not; determining a third value based on a first algorithm, the first value and the second value, and reporting the third value as a value of the first parameter to the processing unit, when the difference value is larger than or equal to the first threshold; determining a fourth value based on a second algorithm, the first value and the second value, and reporting the fourth value as the value of the first parameter to the processing unit, when the difference value is smaller than the first threshold. |
| US09564091B2 |
Display device having connection lines connected between a data driver and data lines
A liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a substrate; a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines disposed at a display area; a data driver; and a plurality of driver connection lines disposed at a peripheral area and connecting the plurality of data lines and the data driver, wherein the plurality of driver connection lines include a plurality of first connection portions connected to the plurality of data lines, a plurality of second connection portions connected to the data driver, and a plurality of oblique line portions disposed between the plurality of first connection portions and the plurality of second connection portions, and an imaginary line connecting a plurality of direction change portions disposed at a boundary portion between the plurality of second connection portions and the plurality of oblique line portions does not have a straight line. |
| US09564090B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and gate drive circuit thereof
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a gate drive circuit thereof. The gate drive circuit comprises a plurality of shift register circuit, and the plurality of shift register circuit are series cascade connected, and each shift register circuit comprises: a first pull-up holding circuit, coupled to the first node, the first clock signal, a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, and employed to keep a low voltage level of the first node; a compensating circuit, coupled to the first node or the first pull-up holding circuit, and employed to compensate the voltage level of the first node or the first pull-up holding circuit. Thereby, the stability of long-term operation of the gate drive circuit can be promoted to raise the quality of the display panel. |
| US09564089B2 |
Last screen rendering for electronic book reader
A handheld dedicated electronic book (“eBook”) reader device and last screen rendering techniques for enhancing user experience are described. The eBook reader device detects certain screen conversion events, such as a timeout period, a scheduled event, or an event derived from user behavior. Upon detection of such events, the eBook reader device renders, as the last screen image to remain visible after the user ceases using the device, an image that conveys to the user some meaningful association with a content item. In the context of eBooks, the eBook reader device renders a representation of the book cover as the last screen image. A progress indicator may further be included to represent user progress through the content item. |
| US09564088B2 |
Electro-optic displays with reduced remnant voltage
The invention provides materials and methods (including driving methods) for reducing the effects of remnant voltages in electro-optic displays. |
| US09564084B2 |
Method of operating an organic light emitting display device, and organic light emitting display device
In a method of operating an organic light emitting display device, the organic light emitting display device including a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel and a white sub-pixel, the method includes: receiving input data; calculating an on-pixel ratio (OPR) representing a ratio of a driving amount of the input data to a maximum driving amount; adjusting at least one gamma voltage of a first gamma voltage for the red, green, and blue sub-pixels and a second gamma voltage for the white sub-pixel according to the calculated OPR; and displaying an image corresponding to the input data using the first and second gamma voltages. |
| US09564076B2 |
Array substrate, display apparatus and driving method thereof
The present invention provides an array substrate, a display apparatus and a driving method thereof. The array substrate comprises: an active area, comprising a plurality of display pixel units; a source driver, being located outside the active area and providing drive signals to the display pixel units; a gamma voltage generating circuit, providing a gamma reference voltage to the source driver, and the gamma voltage generating circuit is inputted with a PWM signal from the pulse generating circuit TCon and obtains the gamma reference voltage for outputting the gamma reference voltage to the source driver according to the PWM signal. Compared with the programmable control chip, the cost is diminished; compared with the resistance divider, the adjustment is convenient. |
| US09564075B2 |
Electronic control apparatus and method for responsively controlling media content displayed on portable electronic device
An electronic control apparatus including motion sensors is integrated in a portable electronic device to responsively control a media content stored in the portable electronic device, in response to motion sensor signals to flip, zoom, displace images/pages of the media content displayed on a display field of a display thereof. Accordingly, a responsive control method includes the steps of: presetting a first threshold angle; sensing an first rotation angle of the portable electronic device to send out a first rotation sensing signal as a rotation of a yaw, pitch or roll of a portable electronic device detected by a sensing module including motion sensors; and receiving the first rotation sensing signal to calculate and determine whether the first rotation angle is greater than the first threshold angle to responsively control a media content stored in an electronic control apparatus be flipped, zoomed or displaced when the first rotation angle is greater than the first threshold angle. |
| US09564074B2 |
System and method for luminance correction
A system and a method for luminance correction that can remove luminance spots of a display device. The system includes a display device, an image detection unit, and a luminance correction device. The display device includes a plurality of sub-pixels including first sub-pixels and corresponding second sub-pixels. The image detection unit is configured to measure respective luminance values of the first sub-pixels. The luminance correction device is configured to supply test data so that only the first sub-pixels emit light, and to calculate correction values corresponding to the plurality of sub-pixels based on difference values between the respective luminance values measured by the image detection unit and one or more target luminance values. |
| US09564065B2 |
Fuel savings training needs prediction and alert system
A novel fuel savings training needs prediction and alert system is capable of calculating a probability of persistent future fuel waste of a particular driver based on recent driving patterns originating from real-time on-board diagnostics (OBD) information of a vehicle. The fuel savings training needs prediction and alert system is also configured to generate and transmit one or more action items and alerts to a vehicle fleet operations manager or another supervisory personnel for improving driving behaviors of the particular driver. The fuel savings training needs prediction and alert system is typically either linked to or incorporated into the fuel waste variable identification and analysis system, which is capable of analyzing the real-time on-board diagnostics (OBD) information of the vehicle from a remote monitoring station unit. Preferably, various fuel waste variables are normalized with a novel metric called “RPG,” or “engine rotation per minute per gallon of fuel.” |
| US09564064B2 |
Conditioner with weight sensors for nutritional substances
Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances. |
| US09564060B2 |
Gripping aid
A gripping aid for hand held implements such as writing implements or eating utensils, which includes a bracelet portion configured and dimensioned to fit around the wrist of a person and a support band adjustably attached to the bracelet portion to provide an adjustably sized loop for engaging the hand held implement. |
| US09564055B2 |
Prediction and warning of transported turbulence in long-haul aircraft operations
An aviation flight planning system is used for predicting and warning for intersection of flight paths with transported meteorological disturbances, such as transported turbulence and related phenomena. Sensed data and transmitted data provide real time and forecast data related to meteorological conditions. Data modelling transported meteorological disturbances are applied to the received transmitted data and the sensed data to use the data modelling transported meteorological disturbances to correlate the sensed data and received transmitted data. The correlation is used to identify transported meteorological disturbances source characteristics, and identify predicted transported meteorological disturbances trajectories from source to intersection with flight path in space and time. The correlated data are provided to a visualization system that projects coordinates of a point of interest (POI) in a selected point of view (POV) to displays the flight track and the predicted transported meteorological disturbances warnings for the flight crew. |
| US09564054B2 |
Wildlife warning system
A wildlife warning system that comprises at least two independent warning devices, wherein each warning device has an electric power supply, at least one signal generator, a microcontroller for controlling the signal generator, and a communication means for wireless communication with other warning devices and/or with a base station for the purpose of forming a wireless network of wildlife warning devices. |
| US09564052B2 |
Vehicular information systems and methods
Disclosed is a method and system that receives sensor information from each of a plurality of sensors. Each sensor in the plurality is associated with a vehicle. The sensor information includes location coordinates of each vehicle in the plurality. The sensor information associated with each vehicle in the plurality then is translated to parking statistics information. In one embodiment, the translation is based on an aggregate of sensor information corresponding to the plurality of vehicles. The system then communicates parking statistics information to the vehicle. |
| US09564047B2 |
Traffic monitoring system and traffic monitoring method in which a traffic control center configured a three dimensional traffic image
A traffic monitoring system includes a plurality of road monitoring devices and a traffic control center electronically coupled to the road monitoring devices. Each road monitoring device has specific transmittable position information stored therein. The traffic control center has stored transmittable images of a plurality of vehicle types and stored transmittable images of the plurality of roads to be monitored. When one or more vehicles passes one of the road monitoring devices, the road monitoring device receives a vehicle identification code from each vehicle, calculates position information of each vehicle and transmits the road monitoring device position information, each vehicle identification code and the vehicle position information for each vehicle to the traffic control center. The traffic control center configures a three dimensional traffic image from all of the vehicle images of the one or more vehicles passing the one of the road monitoring devices. |
| US09564046B2 |
Wearable input device
A method and/or computer program product receives inputs from a wearable input device. A communication session is established between a wearable input device and a receiving hardware device. The receiving hardware device receives an input from the wearable input device that is generated in response to a conformational change to a shape of the wearable input device, wherein the conformational change is applied to a random section of the wearable input device. The receiving hardware device thereafter initiates a responsive action that is associated with the input from the wearable input device, wherein the responsive action occurs within the receiving hardware device. |
| US09564041B1 |
Method and apparatus for securing a facility
Method and apparatus for a security alert system for communicating a security event to users by means of a full mesh network topology. The mesh network includes a plurality of remote units, receiver units, emergency box units, and teacher/hallway units strategically placed throughout a facility. Each remote unit has a plurality of buttons thereon wherein a button is designated for a specific type of problem, for example, an intruder, a gun carrying intruder, a medical emergency, or a fight. If a user presses one of the designated buttons the other members of the mesh network, including a receiver unit being monitored by security personnel, are immediately notified of the type and the location of the problem within the facility. |
| US09564037B2 |
Mobile device loss prevention using audio and spatial indicia
A processor of a first loss-prevention configured mobile device detects a second loss-prevention configured mobile device in proximity of the first loss-prevention configured mobile device. Responsive to detecting the first and the second loss-prevention configured mobile devices in proximity, spatial separation of the first loss-prevention configured mobile device from the second loss-prevention configured mobile device beyond a configured separation distance is detected. A voice of an owner of the second loss-prevention configured mobile device is detected at the first loss-prevention configured mobile device located beyond the configured separation distance. An alert is generated at the first loss-prevention configured mobile device that indicates that the owner of the second loss-prevention configured mobile device is separated from the second loss-prevention configured mobile device. |
| US09564035B2 |
Safety system and method
A system and method are described. The system utilizes data entry devices commonly found in some workplaces, such as warehouses, to generate an emergency signal. The emergency signal is used to generate an emergency response. In one embodiment, an emergency sign with a printed emergency symbol may be scanned using a network-connected barcode scanner to generate the emergency signal. In another embodiment, a user may utter an emergency speech input into a network-connected speech recognition device to generate the emergency signal. The system and method may expand and improve safety in a workplace by offering a more convenient way to summon help. |
| US09564034B2 |
Real time threat detection system using integrated passive sensors
A real-time threat detection system incorporating a plurality of sensors adapted to detect radiation across the majority of the electromagnetic spectrum. The system also includes an aided or automatic target recognition module which compares the data from the sensors against known radiation signatures and issues an alert when an anomalous signature is detected. The system further includes an operator station which displays sensor information allowing the operator to intervene. The sensors detect radiation which is normally emitted by persons or other bodies and display areas to the operator where normal emissions are blocked. |
| US09564033B2 |
One time use tag
Embodiments of the current invention entail a highly visible tag that can be attached to a product at a highly visible location on the product at a store, but can easily be removed once the purchaser buys the product and takes it home. Once the purchaser gets the product home, they can remove it themselves and use it in public. Once the tag is removed, it cannot be reattached by the consumer. Depending on the store policy, the product may not be returned, or an extra fee charged for returning the garment, or other similar policies. Absence of a tag makes it clear that the buyer has removed the tag and provides an indication that the product, such as a garment has been used or worn in public. The tag is most effective for products that are used in public, such as garments. The tag may carry EAS technology. |
| US09564032B2 |
Enhanced security system
A security system (100) protects a secured item by a lock which is under the control of a lock control unit (108). Predetermined parameters associated with various users and user equipment are stored in the lock control unit (108). The predetermined parameters are weighted to provide different levels of lock access. When a user (116) makes contact with the secured item through a BAN device, a user configuration database is transmitted from a user's PAN device to the controller for comparison with the predetermined parameters. Lock (104) access can be modified for different authorized users. |
| US09564029B2 |
Haptic notifications
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a haptic actuator or a device having a haptic actuator that is capable of producing short, sharp and crisp pulses in a short amount of time. |
| US09564027B2 |
Modulating brightness of optical element conveying human-discernible information to also convey machine-discernible information
An optical element conveying human-discernible information to a user has its brightness modulated to also convey machine-discernible information to an optical detector. A frame section in which a bit of data can be conveyed begins at a falling edge of a preceding frame section corresponding to the brightness of the optical element decreasing to a low level. At a first predetermined point within the frame section, if the bit of data is logic one, the brightness is increased to a high level, corresponding to a rising edge. At a later, second predetermined point within the frame section, if the bit of data is logic zero, the brightness is increased to the high level, corresponding to the rising edge. At the end of the frame section, the brightness is decreased to the low level, corresponding to a falling edge of the frame section. |
| US09564025B1 |
Systems and methods for indicating a user state in a social network
Methods and Systems for determining a user state for a member of a social network are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising receiving in a network of associated users user state information for a first user, wherein the network of associated users comprises user established relationships between users, determining a current user state for the first user; and outputting to a second user the user state information based at least in part on the current user state and a relationship based permission status is set forth. |
| US09564021B2 |
Gaming system and a method of gaming
A gaming system is disclosed that comprises a selector arranged to select a plurality of first symbols from a first set of symbols for display in a display position area, and a shutter device selectively disposable in a closed configuration wherein the display position area is concealed or an open configuration wherein the display position area is revealed. The gaming system is arranged to select a plurality of second symbols from a second set of symbols. The shutter device comprises a display device arranged to display the selected second symbols at a location corresponding to the display position area when the shutter device is disposed in the closed configuration. A corresponding method is also disclosed. |
| US09564017B2 |
Gaming device and method of conducting a game with a changeable bonus value feature
A bonus device and method are set forth for gaining machines. The bonus device is configured as a two dimensional display or three dimensional object, such as a sphere, box, or football shape, which can be controlled to rotate, spin or move to display a bonus. The bonus device is embedded with display technology that allows the bonus amounts, to change upon certain conditions in the base game such as an increased number of credits wagered, combinations achieved in the base game, or other random occurrences. |
| US09564016B2 |
Criss cross poker casino card game with middle bet and five card bonus bet
One step of the present method involves making an across ante and a down ante and an optional five card poker bet. Other steps involve making an across bet or folding, making a down bet or folding, and making a middle bet or folding. All winning bets are paid out against a designated payout table for that bet. A winning middle bet is paid to the higher of the two five card poker hands formed by the players two dealt cards and either the three across community cards or the three down community cards. A winning five card bonus bet is paid to a winning five card poker hand formed by the five community cards forming the cross. The method may be played on criss cross poker layouts on actual or simulated casino card tables or on electronic devices. |
| US09564014B2 |
Server based gaming system having multiple progressive awards
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine. |
| US09564010B2 |
Virtual players card
A gaming machine including a secondary processor coupled to a player tracking system for tracking game play of a patron using a virtual player loyalty card is described. A virtual player loyalty card can be created by associating an existing physical player loyalty card with a newly created mobile loyalty card account. The mobile card can be virtually inserted into an electronic gaming machine when a portable electronic device with an associated mobile application is in the vicinity of an electronic gaming machine. Once the mobile card is virtually inserted into the gaming machine, the patron's game play at the gaming machine can be tracked. |
| US09564008B2 |
Difference engine hybrid game
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a difference engine hybrid game. The hybrid game includes a real world engine constructed to determine a randomly generated payout of real world credits from a wager in a gambling game, an entertainment software engine constructed to execute an entertainment game providing one or more entertainment game variables based upon skillful execution of the entertainment game, and a game world engine constructed to manage the entertainment software engine and communicate gameplay gambling event occurrences based upon skillful execution of the entertainment game that trigger a wager in the gambling game to the gambling game. The game world engine utilizes a difference engine module constructed to determine a paytable of the real world engine used to determine the randomly generated payout from among a plurality of paytables based on the one or more entertainment game variables. |
| US09564005B2 |
Gaming machine with interactive bonusing
A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images on the display. The game controller is arranged to playa game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event of combination of events results, the machine awards a prize. A predetermined symbol from a set of symbols of the game is selected as a bonus symbol. The display is an interactive display means such that, when at least one of the bonus symbols appears then, by a player touching a part of the display overlying the, or each, occurrence of the bonus symbol, a bonus prize is revealed in respect of the, or each, bonus symbol. |
| US09564000B2 |
External video mixing control
Techniques for allowing a gaming machine to exercise control over a picture-in-picture device (PIP mixer). A gaming machine includes a display device, a master game controller, the PIP mixer, and a PIP control interface. The master gaming controller is configured to execute a wager game, send a first video signal for the wager game to the PIP mixer, and send control instructions for controlling a display of one or more PIP windows to the PIP mixer via the PIP control interface. The PIP mixer receives the first video signal and a second video signal from an external source. The PIP mixer is configured to create a composite video image that includes display data of first video signal and the second video signal in PIP windows based on the control instructions. The composite video image is displayed on the display device. |
| US09563999B2 |
Method and system for identifying a security document
A method is provided of identifying a security document using an identifying device. The identifying device is provided with a capacitance sensor and a second sensor. The method includes capacitively coupling a first element of the security document with the capacitance sensor and obtaining first data from the first element using the capacitance sensor. Second data is also obtained from the security document using the second sensor. Output data is then generated based upon the first and second data. A corresponding device and system are also presented. |
| US09563997B2 |
Smart key and method therof for generating matching key of lock
A method for generating a matching key of a lock includes obtaining user information input by a user of a smart key, determining whether the user is an authorized user of the smart key, obtaining lock information of the lock, obtaining key information of the lock, and generating a matching key to unlock the lock. When the lock is an electronic lock, the smart key generates an electronic matching key. When the lock is a mechanical lock, the smart key generates a mechanical matching key. |
| US09563996B2 |
Radio key for a vehicle
The invention relates to a radio key (54) for authenticating a user of a vehicle (12) with respect to a door unlocking system (14) of the vehicle (12) and/or a drive start device (14) of the vehicle (10). The radio key (54) comprises a transponder unit (44) which is designed to receive a query signal (50) transmitted wirelessly from the vehicle (12) and to transmit, depending on the received query signal (50), an authentication signal (52) based on an authentication code. The transponder unit (44) is arranged in a casing (42). The invention is based on the problem of designing the use of a radio key to be more convenient. An area (54) of the casing (42) has a shape of an insertion area of a standardized memory card for a mobile terminal (10), by means of which the memory card is to be stuck in accordance with the standard in an insertion slot (E) of the mobile terminal (10). The radio key can thus be integrated in a mobile terminal. |
| US09563995B2 |
Wireless tag and home monitoring device for tracking individuals or objects with alcohol monitoring
A methodology determining a response to exposure of a monitored person to a prohibited substance is provided. The methodology includes: first receiving movement data representing movement of the monitored person over time; second receiving an indication that a monitored person has been exposed to a quantity of a prohibited substance; first determining, from the received movement data, movement activity of the monitored person for a period of time before the exposure was detected; second determining a risk parameter based on at least (a) the amount of the quantity of the prohibited substance, and (b) the movement activity; issuing a notice to a supervising authority in substantially real time when the second determining results in a risk parameter that is above a first threshold; and issuing a notice to a supervising authority in non-real time when the second determining results in a risk parameter that is below the first threshold. |
| US09563993B2 |
Single sign-on process
Methods and systems are provided for checking authorization of users. A first electronic device may receive via close range contactless communication, photographic identification data associated with a user of a second electronic device. The photographic identification data may be displayed visually to enable a user of the first electronic device to compare an appearance of the user of the second electronic device for verifying authorization data associated with the user of the second electronic device. The displaying of the photographic identification data may be controlled based on input by the user of the first electronic device, wherein the controlling comprises modifying at least a portion of a displayed image corresponding to the photographic identification data. |
| US09563992B2 |
System and method of associating, assigning, and authenticating users with personal protective equipment using biometrics
A system and method of associating, assigning, and authenticating users with and to a personal protective equipment device is provided. A method can include receiving biometric data, processing the received biometric data, and based on the processing, associating a user with a personal protective equipment device. |
| US09563987B2 |
Vehicle inspection verification and diagnostic unit
A diagnostic display device is coupled to a vehicle data bus and receives vehicle identification information which is used to identify one or more expected onboard systems installed on the vehicle. Expected systems are queried to determine that they are present and operating properly. Presence and operation status information are stored and/or presented to a user to facilitate automated vehicle system inspection. |
| US09563983B2 |
Filtering information within augmented reality overlays
Augmented reality overlays for display to a user of an augmented reality device are managed. An object of is received. As received, the object is associated with an augmented reality marker within a field of view of the user. Information associated with the object is for display in an overlay. The speed of the augmented reality marker relative to the user is calculated. This speed of the augmented reality marker is compared with a threshold value. Responsive to the speed of the augmented reality marker being greater than the threshold value, the information is filtered out from the overlay, and the filtered overlay is displayed on the augmented reality device. |
| US09563974B2 |
Aggregating graph structures
A display apparatus is adapted to display a plurality of graph structures by aggregating the plurality of graph structures into a single graph structure, where each of the graph structures is made up of a plurality of elements. An acquisition hardware unit acquires graph structures at a plurality of time points in a time series. A distinguishing hardware unit distinguishes unchanged elements and changed elements in the graph structures. An aggregating hardware aggregates the graph structures. A display hardware unit displays the aggregated graph structure such that the unchanged elements and the changed elements are identifiable. A contracting hardware unit contracts two or more unchanged elements and, in response to displaying the aggregated graph structure, displays a single contracted element instead of the two or more unchanged elements. |
| US09563973B2 |
Color selector for desktop publishing
Techniques are disclosed for color selection in a desktop publishing application. A color selection technique includes receiving a selection of an image, automatically sampling a color from a pixel of the selected image, and adding the sampled color to a color swatch in a graphical user interface. The sampled color may be the predominant color in the image (e.g., the color that appears in the greatest number of pixels), or the sampled color may be the darkest or lightest color in the image. In another embodiment, several colors (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten) are sampled from different pixels of the selected image, and some or all of the sampled colors are added to the color swatch. A designer can then select the sampled color(s) from the color swatch and apply the selected color(s) to one or more elements of a layout. |
| US09563970B2 |
Methods and arrangements relating to signal rich art
Art is infused with network identifiers at the time of its creation, rather than as a post-process. The identifiers may be encoded as overt elements of the art, and enable the artist to reprogram—over time—an augmentation of the artwork experience via network-delivered components. These network components can include stimuli present when the artist created the work (e.g., music), commentary by the artist, video and augmented reality features, audience-crowdsourced content (e.g., imagery of, or feedback provided by, other viewers encountering the artwork), etc. The artwork augmentation can vary with the user's context (e.g., location, demographics, interests, history). Physical brushes can be equipped to insert such identifiers in graphic arts; other authoring tools are disclosed as well. The network experience can be delivered via smartphones, projectors, and other devices. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US09563963B2 |
Methods of and apparatuses for identifying geological characteristics in boreholes
A method of detecting an edge of a geological characteristic in a borehole comprises, in respect of an image log of a length of a borehole, carrying out the steps of a gradient-based edge detection method, a phase congruence-based edge detection method or a combination of such methods as preliminary, pre-processing stages. Subsequent steps of the method may include operating a relatively computationally simple process to identify sinusoids among detected edge features; and a relatively computationally complex process for parameterizing the thus-identified sinusoids. |
| US09563962B2 |
Methods and systems for assigning pixels distance-cost values using a flood fill technique
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for assigning pixels distance-cost values using a flood fill technique. One embodiment takes the form of a process that includes obtaining video data depicting a head of a user, obtaining depth data associated with the video data, and selecting seed pixels for a flood fill at least in part by using the depth information. The process also includes performing the flood fill from the selected seed pixels. The flood fill assigns respective distance-cost values to pixels of the video data based on position-space cost values and color-space cost values. In some embodiments, the process also includes classifying pixels of the video data as foreground based at least in part on the assigned distance-cost values. In some other embodiments, the process also includes assigning pixels of the video data foreground-likelihood values based at least in part on the assigned distance-cost values. |
| US09563959B2 |
Image processor, lighting processor and method therefor
An image processor, a lighting processor, and a method therefore are provided. According to one aspect of the invention, the lighting processor can extract information related to defuse lighting applied to a real object using a colored image and a depth image of the real object. The lighting processor can recover the diffuse image for the real object using the extracted information related to diffuse lighting, and generate either a speculum image or a shadow image using the recovered diffuse image and the colored image. |
| US09563953B2 |
Systems and methods for determining a seam
A method performed by an electronic device is described. The method includes determining overlapping areas from neighboring images. The method also includes determining a difference measure between the overlapping areas. The method further includes determining a constraint measure corresponding to at least one of the overlapping areas. The method additionally includes determining a seam based on a combination of the difference measure and the constraint measure. |
| US09563950B2 |
Methods and tools for analyzing brain images
Methods and systems for analyzing a medical image of a subject's brain are disclosed. Analysis of a medical image of a subject's brain for predictive and diagnostic determination of neurodegenerative disease state. The method comprises parcellating the grey matter in the image of the brain and determining the size of each region to generate an initial pattern of the disease process; applying a diffusion kernel to obtain an output vector; and predicting future changes to the brain based on the output vector. Another method of analyzing a medical image of a subject's brain includes solving for eigen-modes of a connectivity matrix, projecting the eigen-modes onto the initial disease state to produce an output product and diagnosing a disease or lack thereof based on a comparison of the output product to one or more reference standards. |
| US09563947B2 |
Measurement system for medical images
A method of measuring a parameter of a structure (212) on a medical image (200) comprises a measurement tool (220) displayed on a slice of the image. An automated point detection function identifies a point within at least one region (250) of the image that optimizes the placement of the respective end of the measurement tool (220). The region may be 2-d or 3-d. The identified point(s) are then used to calculate the parameter, which may be distance, angle, area or volume. The measurement tool (320) may move to the identified points (330, 340). A system (2000), computer program and computer-readable medium are also provided. The invention may make the measurement of tumors, and measurements of the spacing within or between various structures on a medical image, more accurate and/or more consistent. |
| US09563945B2 |
Object image recognition and instant active response with enhanced application and utility
A device for pollinating plants such as flowering trees. The device is a movable platform such as a drone that has an image capturing device that is in communication with image recognition software. Images of plants are analyzed to detect objects that are consistent with pollen-receiving plants and/or plant areas. Once such plant object is detected, the device automatically disperses pollen in the proximity of the detected plant or plant object. |
| US09563943B2 |
Based sampling and binning for yield critical defects
Methods and systems for design based sampling and binning for yield critical defects are provided. One method includes aligning each image patch in each inspection image frame generated for a wafer by an optical subsystem of an inspection system to design information for the wafer. The method also includes deriving multiple layer design attributes at locations of defects detected in the image patches. In addition, the method includes building a decision tree with the multiple layer design attributes. The decision tree is used to separate the defects into bins with different yield impacts on a device being formed on the wafer. The method also includes binning the defects with the decision tree. |
| US09563942B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating images of fibrous structures
Apparatus and method for rendering an image of a fibrous material. The method includes providing parametric fibrous material optical properties derived from actual material fiber samples via the apparatus; providing a parametric virtual light environment; providing a virtual fibrous material array; and rendering an image of the virtual fibrous material array according to the interaction of the parametric fibrous material properties and the parametric virtual light environment. |
| US09563936B2 |
Pixel-based method and apparatus of obtaining downsampled image
Pixel-based method and apparatus of obtaining a downsampled image are provided. The method includes: constructing a virtual image by an image super-resolution technology according to a resolution of the downsampled image; determining relational expressions between pixels of the virtual image and pixels of the downsampled image; calculating a MSE between the pixels of the virtual image and pixels of the original image based on the relational expressions; determining a coefficient matrix between the pixels of the downsampled image and the pixels of the original image under the condition of the MSE being at a minimum value; determining the pixels of the downsampled image according to the pixels of the original image and the coefficient matrix; and outputting the downsampled image. Accordingly, the present invention can obtain sharp image and avoid color aliasing. |
| US09563935B2 |
Modified bicubic interpolation
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with image scaling are described. According to one embodiment, a method includes acquiring a set of amplitude values describing pixels in an image. A target pixel is identified from the set of pixels and a preceding pixel is identified to the target pixel. An amplitude range of amplitudes is defined between the amplitude of the preceding pixel and the target pixel. The method determines whether the interpolation between the preceding pixel and target pixel will result in an interpolated pixel having an interpolated amplitude outside of the amplitude range. An interpolation slope is determined that reduces overshoot or undershoot in interpolation pixels generated between the target pixel and the preceding pixel. |
| US09563934B2 |
Image guided surgery with dynamic image reconstruction
A method may include processing two or more fiducials included in a three-dimensional medical image and included in a current image to generate two or more transform coefficients of a transform, and applying the transform to the three-dimensional medical image to form a present image. |
| US09563932B2 |
Techniques to request stored data from memory
Techniques are described to generate an index for a texture. The index can be used to retrieve a portion of one or more textures from a cache. The index can be adapted based on static texture attributes or direction attributes in order to attempt to achieve texture cache efficiency. Static texture attributes can include, bit are not limited to, 1-dimensional texture, 2-dimensional texture, 3-dimensional texture, or MIPmaps texture, original memory address. Direction attributes can be, but are not limited to, u-major or v-major directions. |
| US09563928B1 |
Bandwidth reduction through delivery of hardware-independent graphics commands for portions of content pages
Server systems are disclosed that receive content request and respond with hardware-independent graphics commands instead of, or in addition to, unprocessed content items. Some server systems may act as intermediaries between user devices and content sources. The server systems can obtain content pages from content sources, process the content pages (e.g., using a headless browser), and provide hardware-independent graphics commands (e.g., vector graphics commands, that do not require specialized graphics hardware for execution) to user devices in response to requests for content. The hardware-independent graphics commands can be executed by client browsers to generate a representation of the content page that is the same or substantially the same as the representation that would have been generated by processing the content pages locally. A user device in receipt of such hardware-independent graphics commands can execute them without performing traditional content page processing, thereby improving user-perceived page load times. |
| US09563927B2 |
Screen watermarking methods and arrangements
In an exemplary embodiment, image content is rendered to include a digital watermark pattern at an essentially fixed scale, regardless of the size of screen on which the content is displayed. In one particular embodiment, CSS and JavaScript are responsive to the rendering context (which can include screen size, and/or viewer position) to define the geometry of a watermarked texture block, which is tiled to serve as a background of an HTML-defined page. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US09563923B2 |
Revising connection strengths in a social graph
During a feedback technique, a system that provides a social network requests feedback regarding an initial connection strength associated with an edge between two nodes in the social graph, which are associated with an entity and a counterparty, respectively. Note that the social graph represents interactions among users of the social network. Based on the feedback, the system determines a directional asymmetry between revised connection strengths received from the entity and the counterparty. Then, the system performs a remedial action based on the determined directional asymmetry, such as adjusting the connection strength of the edge. In addition, the remedial action may include: feedback about an accuracy of the initial connection strength, estimating a power distance between the entity and the counterparty, and/or encouraging interaction between the entity and the counterparty. |
| US09563921B2 |
System and method for detecting merchant points of compromise using network analysis and modeling
Provided is a system for detecting a merchant point of compromise. More specifically, provided is a system for detecting a merchant point of compromise comprising a computer system in electronic communication with a transaction processing network containing transaction information, the computer system comprising a point-of-compromise detector, said point-of-compromise detector performing the steps of electronically receiving from the transaction processing network the transaction information; generating at least one of an undirected network or a directed network based on the transaction information; extracting features from the at least one of the undirected network or the directed network; and identifying one or more point-of-compromise merchants based on the extracted features. |
| US09563914B2 |
Using head mountable displays to provide real-time assistance to employees in a retail environment
A system for delivering one of a good and service to a customer in a retail environment includes a computer located at an order station. The computer is configured to receive an order for the one good and service. The system includes a first image capture device in communication with the computer. The first image capture device captures a first image of a customer ordering the one good and service in response to the order being submitted. The system further includes a wearable computer peripheral device configured to acquire the first image from the first image capture device and electronically display the first image to a user tasked with delivering the one good and service while carrying the second wearable computer peripheral device. In this manner, an identity of the customer can be compared against the first image upon a delivery of the one good and service. |
| US09563913B1 |
Luggage contents recommendations and tracking
In an approach for suggesting an item to pack, a processor receives an indication that a user is packing a first item of luggage, wherein the indication includes information about a trip. A processor generates a packing list based on the information about the trip. A processor receives a request to link the first item of luggage and a second item of luggage for the trip. A processor links the first and second items of luggage such that contents of each item of luggage are jointly compared to the packing list. A processor receives, via a short-range point-to-point communication reader of the first item of luggage, a signal from a short-range point-to-point communication device operably affixed to a first item. A processor identifies the first item based on the signal. A processor determines that the first item is an item of the packing list. |
| US09563912B2 |
Auto recognition of acquirable entities
A method of identifying, to a user, acquirable entities that the user may be interested in is disclosed. The method includes at a component configured to analyze information across a plurality of applications, analyzing in one or more of the applications being used by a user, content in the one or more applications. The method further includes based on the content, identifying one or more acquirable entities from the content. The method further includes identifying to the user the identified acquirable entities. |
| US09563909B2 |
Systems and methods for purchasing electronic transmissions
Provided are methods, apparatus and systems for the sale of digital content over a network. The disclosure herein discusses the recording of a broadcast of a digital data stream by a broadcast receiving device. A listener may select a particular digital data stream to purchase by selecting a content identifier associated with the digital data stream of interest at the recording device. Upon obtaining the selection, a purchase request message is transmitted to an intermediary communication device. The purchase request message includes at least the content identifier. After the transaction is completed at a transaction server, a purchase confirmation message including at least a digital rights management key associated with the digital data stream is returned to and received by the broadcast receiving device. Upon receipt, of the digital rights management key, the recorded digital data stream is released for reproduction. |
| US09563904B2 |
Extracting product purchase information from electronic messages
Improved systems and methods for extracting product purchase information from electronic messages transmitted between physical network nodes to convey product purchase information to designated recipients. These examples provide a product purchase information extraction service that is able to extract product purchase information from electronic messages with high precision across a wide variety of electronic message formats and thereby solve the practical problems that have arisen as a result of the proliferation of different electronic message formats used by individual merchants and across different merchants and different languages. In this regard, these examples are able to automatically learn the structures and semantics of different message formats, which accelerates the ability to support new message sources, new markets, and different languages. |
| US09563903B1 |
System and method for controlling real-time bidding for online advertisements
A method and system for controlling real-time bidding for online advertisements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a real-time bidding (RTB) request from a bidder. The RTB request contains a campaign target. An online advertisement campaign corresponding to the RTB request is placed. Campaign performance data is received from an impression server and/or an event server. The campaign performance data is compared to the campaign target. Based on the result of comparison, it is determined whether to enable or disable the online advertisement campaign. |
| US09563902B2 |
System and method for transporting a virtual avatar within multiple virtual environments
A virtual venue application for displaying information is provided, where the virtual venue application is implemented as part of an apparatus, or a system. The virtual venue application allows one or more users to generate and display a virtual avatar that represents a user of the virtual venue application. The virtual venue application also displays a virtual venue, where the display of the virtual venue is based on a position of the virtual avatar within the virtual venue. The virtual venue application also transports a virtual avatar from a first location to a second location. |
| US09563901B2 |
Generating audience response metrics and ratings from social interest in time-based media
Social media content items are mapped to relevant time-based media events. These mappings are used as the basis for calculating metrics based upon the mappings, and ratings of the time-based media there from. Audience response metrics (ARMs) are calculated from the mappings, which provide an indication of audience engagement or response. In addition, ARMs provide information about the virality, depth, and breadth of the response by the viewing audience. The calculated metrics are stored and are used to generate ratings for the time-based media. The ratings may be published in whole or in part, e.g., as part of a ratings system. |
| US09563900B1 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for consumer tracking
Provided herein are systems, methods and computer readable media for consumer monitor and tracking. An example method may include receiving client device ID and client device profile data, comparing client device ID and client device profile data to a plurality of known client device versions, generating an updated known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to at least one of the plurality of known client device versions and the client device profile data does not correlate to the at least one of the plurality of known client device versions and generating a new known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to at least one of the plurality of known client device versions. |
| US09563896B1 |
Kinetic tracking in manufacturing to predict and prevent defects
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for tracking manufacturing steps comprising: tracking kinetic movements of an assembler over a period of time to provide kinetic tracking information, the kinetic movements comprising product assembly movements; storing the kinetic tracking information in a kinetic tracking information repository; identifying a defect in an item manufactured during the period of time; and, analyzing the kinetic tracking information to determine whether the kinetic movements of the assembler contributed to the defect. |
| US09563891B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for integrating third party services with a mobile wallet
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for providing a third party service via a wallet client. Service provider information is received from a service provider and stored in a wallet client database. Based on the service provider information, a wallet client is authenticated with a service provider system, a communication session is established, and a servicing environment is invoked. |
| US09563889B2 |
Method and apparatus for secure wireless point of sale transactions
In an embodiment, a method of masking transaction data for a secure wireless transaction includes transmitting wireless pseudo transaction data that includes false transaction data and processing received pseudo transaction data and transaction data to extract or separate the transaction data. |
| US09563888B2 |
Mobile transactions
A method for analyzing mobile handset based transactions between sender handsets and receiver handsets comprising the steps of: identifying locations of a sender handset and a receiver handset for each transaction using mobile base station information; determine a geographical distribution of mobile handset based transactions based on the identified locations; and identifying anomalies by comparing the determined geographical distribution with an expected geographical distribution. |
| US09563881B2 |
Fair payment protocol with semi-trusted third party
Described is an optimistic fair payment protocol in electronic commerce that provides fair payment while resisting an unconscious double spending attack and other attacks. A buyer receives encrypted e-goods from a merchant, and sends payment to the merchant. If decryption information is not received in exchange for the payment, or the decryption information does not render the e-goods useable, the buyer launches a dispute with a third party dispute resolution service. If the decryption information is received and renders the e-goods useable, the buyer determines whether the e-goods are valid, according to a corresponding description. If not valid, the buyer launches a dispute and provides the e-goods and the description. The third party uses the description to evaluate the validity of the goods to determine whether to refund the payment to the buyer or release it to the merchant. |
| US09563879B2 |
Providing accurate recipient lists by correlating tagged keywords to recipient lists
A method, system and computer program product for providing accurate recipients lists. Keywords (e.g., processor, monitor) in a document (e.g., electronic mail message) are identified. These keywords are tagged, where tagging refers to an index term assigned to a piece of information, such as these keywords. A list of recipients may be provided to be correlated with these tagged keywords. The list of recipients is associated with these tagged keywords thereby providing a predefined recipient list to be used when a subsequent document with these tagged keywords is identified. Furthermore, the user is provided an option to modify this recipient list when a subsequent document containing the tagged keywords associated with the recipient list is identified thereby ensuring an accurate recipient list is used. |
| US09563878B2 |
System and method for intelligent data mapping, including discovery, identification, correlation and exhibit of CRM related communication data
A system and method for performing automatic detection, storage, correlation and retrieval of specific electronic communications data from heterogeneous computer systems and storage with non-normalized representation of this data on a computer system running specialized software are provided. |
| US09563873B1 |
Resource tag generation and deployment for resource valuation and distribution
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for generating resource tag systems and integration of the tag systems on machines for machine use, valuation, and distribution. The tags comprise sensors for monitoring activity of the machine or product and identifies stagnant periods in the use of the machine or product. Based on a triggering stagnant duration, the tag system provides signals to the user indicating product inactivity. The tag may generate a communicable link with outside sources to identify and present the user with a current market value of the machine or product that the tag is affixed. Upon authorization, the tag may post the machine or product for sale and/or present the product for donation. Furthermore, upon sale of the product, the tag may be able to transfer warranty information along with the product. |
| US09563872B2 |
System and method for control of bailment inventory
A method and system for control of bailment inventory is disclosed. The method includes receiving a customer identifier from a customer, receiving from the customer at least one customer item for bailment, associating the customer identifier with the at least one customer item, storing the at least one customer item, and returning the at least one customer item to the customer. |
| US09563869B2 |
Automatic incorporation of vehicle data into documents captured at a vehicle using a mobile computing device
Documents related to delivery of loads shipped by trucking operators can be scanned or otherwise captured using mobile computing devices having document capture and/or document delivery functionality. Load related data can be manually input by drivers during the capture process. Such data can be incorporated into the scanned document as metadata. The concepts disclosed herein encompass establishing a logical connection between the mobile computing device implementing the document capture functionality and a vehicle ECU or vehicle data bus. The document capture application is configured to extract data from the vehicle ECU or vehicle data bus and incorporate that data into the document captured. Data, such as location data, can be similarly captured to establish a logical connection with a telematics device including a GPS component. Where the telematics device includes a wireless data link, the capture document can be wirelessly conveyed to a remote data center. |
| US09563862B2 |
Method for separating private data from public data in a database
An electronic voting terminal includes: a display; a data input device; a biometric input device; a case having an open and a closed position, the case protecting the display, the input device, and the biometric input device in the closed position, the case making the display, input device and biometric input device accessible by the voter in the open position; a communications medium; a microprocessor to control the display, the data input device, the biometric input device, and the communications medium; and a power supply that accepts alternating current and provides direct current to the microprocessor The device utilizes the biometric input device to validate the identity of the voter, utilizes the data input device to receive the ballot from the voter, and utilizes the communications medium to transmit the ballot. A system for voting also includes a centralized computer and voter registration database. |
| US09563855B2 |
Using a generic classifier to train a personalized classifier for wearable devices
Systems and methods may provide for using one or more generic classifiers to generate self-training data based on a first plurality of events associated with a device, and training a personal classifier based on the self-training data. Additionally, the one or more generic classifiers and the personal classifier may be used to generate validation data based on a second plurality of events associated with the device. In one example, the personal classifier is substituted for the one or more generic classifiers if the validation data indicates that the personal classifier satisfies a confidence condition relative to the one or more generic classifiers. |
| US09563852B1 |
Pest occurrence risk assessment and prediction in neighboring fields, crops and soils using crowd-sourced occurrence data
A pest and disease modeling framework for precision agriculture applies weather information, pest biological characteristics, and crop management data to anonymous crowd-sourced observations of pest presence for a reporting field. A risk assessment profile of pest occurrence for targeted fields in proximity to reporting fields is modeled to generate field-specific measures for pest management of pest infestation. The pest and disease modeling framework matches and filters weather and crop information in infested and pest-free fields based on the anonymous, crowd-sourced reporting of an existing pest presence, by evaluating similarities in pest-relevant data. Fields that are similar to infested fields have the highest risk of infestation, and the modeling framework provides output data in the form of a prediction of pest occurrence based on the risk assessment profile. |
| US09563851B2 |
Programmable probability processing
In an aspect, in general, a programmable computation device performs computations of an inference task specified by a plurality of variables and a plurality of factors, each factor being associated with a subset of the variables. The device includes one or more processing elements. Each processing element includes a first storage for a definition of a factor, a second storage for data associated with the inputs and/or outputs of at least some of the computations, and one or more computation units coupled to the first storage and the second storage for performing a succession of parts of the at least some of the computations that are associated with a factor, the succession of parts defined by data in the storage for the definition of the factor. |
| US09563850B2 |
Method and interface for displaying locations associated with annotations
Methods, systems and computer program products for displaying geographical locations with the one or more annotations. In a particular embodiment, a language model is used to obtain the probability distribution of the locations over one or more annotations. Further, the system and the method utilizes the probability data obtained from the language model to determine a probability score for each location over the one or more annotations. Subsequently, one or more geographical locations are displayed on a world map, based on the probability score of the geographical locations over the one or more annotations. In one embodiment, geographical locations may be highlighted using a color code on a heat map overlaid on the world map. The color code may represent the ranking of the geographical locations based on the calculated probability score for each identified geographical location. Further, when the user provides one or more additional annotations, the world map may be dynamically updated to display the relevant geographical locations associated with the updated annotations. |
| US09563849B2 |
Behavioral rules discovery for intelligent computing environment administration
A management system for determining causal relationships among system entities may include a causal relationship detector configured to receive events from a computing environment having a plurality of entities, and detect causal relationships among the plurality of entities, during runtime of the computing environment, based on the events, and a rules converter configured to convert one or more of the causal relationships into at least one behavioral rule. The at least one behavioral rule may indicate a causal relationship between at least two entities of the plurality of entities. |
| US09563848B1 |
Weighted multi-year yield analysis for prescription mapping in site-specific variable rate applications in precision agriculture
A multi-year yield analysis in precision agriculture characterizes variables affecting crop yield to enable site-specific prescription mapping for a bounded field for one or more crops in the field. The multi-year yield analysis enables recommendations for variable-rate applications to the bounded field such as seeding, fertilizing, tilling, and applying crop treatments. The multi-year yield analysis evaluates each of coverage data, uniformity data, age data, and weather data related to crop yield in the bounded field. |
| US09563840B2 |
System and method for parallelizing convolutional neural networks
A parallel convolutional neural network is provided. The CNN is implemented by a plurality of convolutional neural networks each on a respective processing node. Each CNN has a plurality of layers. A subset of the layers are interconnected between processing nodes such that activations are fed forward across nodes. The remaining subset is not so interconnected. |
| US09563839B2 |
Artificial neural network system
A non-biological asynchronous neural network system comprising multiple neurons to receive respective input signals representing an input stimulus for the network, supply an output signal representing a spatio-temporal sequence of rhythmic electric pulses to an external system, wherein respective ones of the multiple neurons are connected using multiple mutually inhibitory links. |
| US09563835B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automatic identification wristband
An apparatus for automatic radio-frequency identification (RFID). In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a flexible strap comprising a plurality of holes and a buckle configured to buckle to any one of the plurality of holes, such that, when the buckle is buckled to one of the plurality of holes, the strap forms a closed loop. The apparatus further comprises one or more tag enclosures. Each tag enclosure comprises one or more buckles and a RFID tag configured to communicate identifying data to a reader device. The one or more buckles of each tag enclosure are each configured to buckle to any one of the plurality of holes on the strap such that the tag enclosure may be attached to the strap at any one of a plurality of positions on the strap. |
| US09563834B2 |
High temperature tolerant RFID tag
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tag having an RFID integrated packaged in an SOT package attached with a high temperature solder to a flex circuit defining an RFID antenna. In an illustrative embodiment, the flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tag may be encapsulated in a flexible material. For example, the SOT packaged RFID integrated circuit may be encapsulated in rubber. In some embodiments the entire assembled RFID tag may be encapsulated in rubber or another flexible compound. In some embodiments, such flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tags may be advantageously used in high-temperature applications. In an exemplary embodiment, flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tags may be attached to products that may be flexible and/or deformable. In an exemplary embodiment, a flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tag may be molded into a rubber that will be used in a flexible application. |
| US09563833B2 |
Chemical and physical sensing with a reader and RFID tags
A method of detecting a stimulus can include detecting an output from a radio frequency identification tag including a sensor. A smartphone-based sensing strategy can use chemiresponsive nanomaterials integrated into the circuitry of commercial Near Field Communication tags to achieve non-line-of-sight, portable, and inexpensive detection and discrimination of gas phase chemicals (e.g., ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, cyclohexanone, and water) at part-per-thousand and part-per-million concentrations. |
| US09563830B2 |
Incremental information object with an embedded information region
Systems and methods for generating an incremental information object with an embedded information region (IIOEIR) are provided. A method includes analyzing an IIOEIR to determine a first code, wherein the IIOEIR includes a plurality of tiles, and wherein a first set of the plurality of tiles includes a first code and a second set of the plurality of tiles includes a second code. The first code is confirmed, and, if the confirmation succeeds, generating a new code comprising a bitstream, overwriting the bitstream onto the first region. A new second code is generated, wherein the new second code is related to the first code, and the new second code is overwritten onto a second region. |
| US09563828B2 |
Color conversion method using scanner, image reading system, and image forming apparatus
A color conversion method according to the present invention, in which a scanner that outputs a first color value of a device-dependent color space is used, includes the steps of: acquiring the first color value by reading, by the scanner, a printed material which is based on image data composed of C, M, Y, K values; converting the acquired first color value to a second color value using a scanner profile of the scanner; mapping the first color value acquired from the printed material to the K value of the image data of the printed material; determining a correction quantity of the second color value from the mapped first color value and the K value using a scanner profile correcting LUT; and correcting the converted second color value using the determined correction quantity of the second color value, and outputting the second color value after being corrected. |
| US09563827B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing system for generating clear toner plane data
An extractor extracts a gloss control value unused in first gloss control plane data. A conversion table generator generates a conversion table defining a special color density value corresponding to the extracted gloss control value. A second surface effect conversion table generator generates a second surface effect conversion table obtained by registering, in the first surface effect conversion table, definition information for the special color image specified by the special color density value in the conversion table in association with the gloss control values in the conversion table. A second gloss control plane data generator generates second gloss control plane data in which the special color density value in the clear plane data is converted into the corresponding gloss control value in the conversion table. A clear toner plane generator generates the clear toner plane data based on the second surface effect conversion table and third gloss control plane data. |
| US09563826B2 |
Techniques for rendering advertisements with rich media
In one embodiment, an advertisement is matched to subject matter in a portion of rich media content, such as a digital video, Flash™ animation, etc. For example, during the playing of rich media content, it may be determined by audio recognition techniques that the content's subject matter matches or correlates with an advertisement. Rendering preferences associated with the advertisement are then determined. The rendering preferences may be used to determine how the advertisement should be rendered (i.e., displayed in association with the content). The advertisement is then served to a device. The advertisement is served such that it can be rendered relative to a time that the portion of media is being displayed on the device. |
| US09563823B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing an object extracted from image data
An apparatus includes a first management unit configured to classify and manage feature information of a plurality of objects extracted from image data in units of similar feature information, a second management unit configured to classify and manage the plurality of objects extracted from the image data object by object, an association unit configured to associate the objects in the first management unit with feature information in the second management unit, and an input unit configured to input a correction instruction about classifications of the objects by the second management unit. The second management unit is configured to, if the correction instruction is input, correct and manage a classification to which a target object of the correction instruction belongs and the first management unit is configured to change and manage a classification to which feature information associated with the target object of the correction instruction belongs. |
| US09563820B2 |
Presentation and organization of content
Embodiments are provided for organization and presentation of content. In some embodiments, a plurality of images and a plurality of similarity rules for image categorization are received. For each image in the plurality of images, that image and each remaining image from the plurality is compared by: applying each similarity rule to the image and a remaining image from the plurality to obtain a numeric result, and recording the numeric result for the pair of images in a numeric representation, the numeric representation embodying similarities. The numeric representation is used as a reference for clustering the plurality of images into clusters of similar images, and each image is stored with a marker denoting a cluster to which it has been assigned. |
| US09563817B2 |
Apparatus and method for reconstructing an image using high-energy-based data
An apparatus reconstructs an image using high energy-based data regarding a scene provides access to first image-capture data regarding the scene that is formed using a first image-capture modality and to second image-capture data that is formed using a second (different) image-capture modality. A control circuit executes an iterative image reconstruction process that establishes a first and a second image-representation channel, a fidelity error measure that measures inconsistency of the image as compared to first image-capture data and second image-capture data, and a prior-penalty term that scores the image based on a priori likelihood or desirability using, at least in part, for each of a plurality of pixels, a non-separable matrix-penalty of a Jacobian-matrix of the image at that pixel, such as nuclear norm. The control circuit further utilizes, in combination with the foregoing, an iterative process to generate a reconstructed image that at least approximately minimizes a combination of the fidelity error measure and the prior-penalty term. |
| US09563807B2 |
Method for analyzing an image recorded by a camera of a vehicle and image processing device
A method for analyzing an image recorded by a camera of a vehicle. The method includes a step of reading the image of the camera. Furthermore, the method includes a step of recognizing at least one object in a subsection of the image, the subsection imaging a smaller area of the vehicle surroundings than the image. Furthermore, the method includes a step of transmitting the subsection and/or information about the subsection of the image to a driver assistance module. Finally, the method includes a step of using the subsection of the image and/or the information about the subsection of the image instead of the entire image in the driver assistance module, in order to analyze the image recorded by the camera. |
| US09563806B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for detecting anomalies using transform based compressed sensing matrices
A measurement vector of compressive measurements is received. The measurement vector may be derived by applying a sensing matrix to a source signal. The sensing matrix may be derived from a frequency domain transform. At least one first feature vector is generated from the measurement vector. The first feature vector is an estimate of a second feature vector. The second feature vector is a feature vector that corresponds to a translation of the source signal. An anomaly is detected to in the source signal based on the first feature vector. |
| US09563805B2 |
Method and apparatus for eye gaze tracking
The invention relates to method and apparatus of an eye gaze tracking system. In particular, the present invention relates to method and apparatus of an eye gaze tracking system using a generic camera under normal environment, featuring low cost and simple operation. The present invention also relates to method and apparatus of an accurate eye gaze tracking system that can tolerate large illumination changes. |
| US09563799B2 |
Methods and systems for reducing the likelihood of false positive decodes
Systems and methods for reducing the likelihood of false positive decodes within a set of barcodes are disclosed. The method can be implemented in a computing device, which includes: providing a list of barcode configurations that meet damage tolerance criteria; reducing, if possible, each configuration list to barcode configurations that have a compatible configuration pair between sets; and comparing all possible combinations of barcode type configurations to find at least one set of configurations that are resistant to false positives decodes between barcode types during decoding processes. |
| US09563796B1 |
Radio frequency and near field ID tags with enlarged coil antenna for use with synthetic grass markers
A synthetic grass implant/marker that serves as a surface mounted visual marker for a feature or device located nearby or underground and has all the features and advantages of such a synthetic grass implant, and that additionally includes an externally mounted RFID and coil antenna mounting device having a cavity in which is mounted an RFID device such as an RFID tag or chip that can programmed with information concerning the feature or device it is marking, and which information can be obtained by utilizing an RFID reader to obtain the stored information from the implant/marker, as well as a coil antenna for the RFID device. Legs on the externally mounted RFID and coil antenna mounting device interconnect with holes located in a top surface of the implant/marker to mate the two pieces together. |
| US09563793B2 |
RFID reader location self-discovery
A system and method of determining the location of a RFID reader is disclosed. The system comprises a first RFID reader, and at least one other RFID reader, and a processor. The RFID readers associate unique RFID tag information with at least one antenna that reads the information. The processor receives RFID data from the first RFID reader and the at least one other RFID reader and determines the location of the first RFID reader relative to the at least one other RFID reader based on the association of unique RFID tag information with at least one antenna of at least two readers. |
| US09563792B2 |
Remote control of powering of electrical appliances
A system and computer program product are provided for remotely controlling a supply of power to a plurality of electrical appliances. In response to attaching a plug of a first electrical appliance of a plurality of electrical appliances to a first socket of the one or more sockets connected to a main power supply, a control system activates a transceiver at a first of the first socket and the plug; stimulates, via the transceiver, a tag at a second of the first socket and the plug to determine a unique identifier of the tag. The control system receives the unique identifier of the tag from the transceiver and uses the unique identifier to activate/deactivate the transceiver which connects/disconnects the main power supply from the first electrical appliance. |
| US09563788B2 |
Tokenization in a centralized tokenization environment
Data can be protected in a centralized tokenization environment. A request to tokenize sensitive data is received by an endpoint. A token for use in tokenizing the sensitive data is identified. A token certificate store is queried for a token certificate associated with the identified token. The token certificate can include a token status and use rules describing a permitted use of the token. Responsive to the token certificate store storing the queried token certificate, the endpoint tokenizes the sensitive data using the identified token if the token status indicates the token is available, and subject to the use rules included in the token certificate being satisfied. The token certificate is updated based on the tokenization of the sensitive data with the identified token and stored at the token certificate store. |
| US09563787B2 |
Protection of a non-volatile memory by change of instructions
A method for protecting a volatile memory against a virus, wherein: rights of writing, reading, or execution are assigned to certain areas of the memory; and a first list of opcodes authorized or forbidden as a content of the areas is associated with each of these areas. |
| US09563786B1 |
Inter-process access control
A kernel receives a request to execute a first process instance from an agent. The first process instance is an instance of a first program. The kernel obtains one or more access control rules related to the agent. The kernel permits execution of the first process instances based on the access control rules. The kernel detects the first process instance attempting to access a second process instance during execution of the first process instance. The second process instance is an instance of a second program currently being executed. The kernel determines whether to grant the first process instance permission to access the second process instances based on the access control rules. |
| US09563782B1 |
Systems and methods of secure self-service access to content
In an embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a controlling user to publish particular content. The method also includes determining at least one topic of the particular content. The method further includes allowing the controlling user to select need-to-know criteria, the need-to-know criteria comprising one or more thresholds relating to a prevalence of the at least one topic in logged conversations of a requesting user. In addition, the method includes allowing a controlling user to select a trust threshold, wherein the trust threshold relates, at least in part, to a quantitative analysis of logged behavior of a requesting user on the communications platform. Further, the method includes generating based, at least in part, on the need-to-know criteria and the trust threshold, a self-service access policy for the particular content. Also, the method includes activating the self-service access policy as to the particular content. |
| US09563778B2 |
Method for managing public and private data input at a device
A method is provided for managing public and private data input by a device such as a mobile handset, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer and an electronic tablet. Method provides for separating public and private data such that public data can be operated on by open operating system and private data is either encrypted while in the open operating environment but can be operated on and used when received by the secure operating environment. |
| US09563777B2 |
Security policy generation based on snapshots of similar virtual machines
Determining which snapshot deltas tend to occur in: (i) healthy virtual machines (VMs) that have been subject to an attack yet remained healthy, and/or (ii) unhealthy VMs that have apparently been adversely affected by an attack. Snapshot deltas that occur in at least some (or more preferably all) of the healthy VM subset provide information about software changes (for example, updates, configuration changes) that may be helpful. Snapshot deltas that occur in at least some (or more preferably all) of the unhealthy VM subsets provide information about software changes (for example, updates, configuration changes) that may be unhelpful. |
| US09563773B2 |
Systems and methods for securing BIOS variables
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include generating a master cryptographic key for encrypting and decrypting the one or more variables stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium accessible to a basic input/output system of an information handling system. The method may also include encrypting the master cryptographic key with a system password, such that the master cryptographic key as encrypted with the system password may be decrypted and used to encrypt and decrypt the one or more variables in response to entry by a user of the system password. The method may further include encrypting the master cryptographic key with an administrator password, such that the master cryptographic key as encrypted with the administrator password may be decrypted and used to encrypt and decrypt the one or more variables in response to entry by an administrator of the administrator password. |
| US09563771B2 |
Automated and adaptive model-driven security system and method for operating the same
A system and method for managing implementation of policies in an information technologies system receives at least one policy function, at least one refinement template and at least one available policy function from the at least one memory, receives a policy input indicating a high-level policy for the IT system where the policy input is compliant with the at least one policy function and is received in a format that is not machine-enforceable at an enforcement entity of the IT system, based on the received policy input, automatically or semi-automatically generates a machine-enforceable rule and/or configuration by filling the at least one refinement template, where the machine-enforceable rule and/or configuration includes the at least one available policy function and being compliant with the received policy input, and distributes the machine-enforceable rule and/or configuration to the at least one memory of the IT system or another at least one memory to thereby enable implementation of the policies. |
| US09563769B2 |
System and method for secure loading data in a cache memory
A system and method for securely loading data in a cache memory associated with at least one secure processor that performs data processing by using at least one untrusted external memory storing data to be processed, at least one secure internal cache memory to load or store data, and at least one secure cache translator operating as a memory management unit. The secure cache translator stores, into a secure cache digest table, parameters arranged on persistent and variable data pages. The parameters comprise at least a root digest based on node digests calculated on at least one persistent data page according to a Merkle tree structure. The integrity of the data pages is verified during transfers between the secure internal cache memory and the external memory by comparing a calculated root digest with the root digest stored in the secure cache digest table. |
| US09563768B2 |
Methods and apparatus to manage password security
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to manage password security. An example apparatus includes an alarm action engine to invoke a provisional transmission block in response to detecting entry of a candidate password, a password linkage monitor to retrieve a list of password hash values associated with previously used passwords, and to compare the list of password hash values to a hash of the candidate password, the alarm action engine to invoke a permanent block of the candidate password when a match condition occurs between the hash of the candidate password and a hash of one of the list of password hash values. |
| US09563760B2 |
Biometric authentication for regulating access to content sources via a client device
A client device captures biometric data from a user and stores the biometric data to identify the user. To simplify access to content from a content source, the user identifies the content source to the client device, which identifies authentication information associated with the user by the content source. For example, the user specifies a username and password associated with the content source to the client device. The authentication information is stored in the client device using the user's biometric data. For example, the client device stores the authentication information so it is not accessible unless the client device receives the user's biometric data. When the user subsequently requests access to the content source, the user provides biometric data to the client device, which retrieves and communicates the authentication information to the content source. |
| US09563759B2 |
Key with integral biometric input device
A key integrates with a biometric input device. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a fingerprint scanner may be integral with a spacebar. |
| US09563758B2 |
Increasing security of a device and/or system via questioning about a characteristic of the device and/or system
A method for preventing unauthorized access to and/or modification of a page of a device and/or system according to one embodiment includes presenting a question via a graphical user interface; receiving a response to the question; allowing access to and/or modification of the page when the response to the question includes the answer; and not allowing access to and/or modification of the page when the response to the question does not include the answer. An answer to the question includes a characteristic of the device and/or system. |
| US09563757B1 |
Secure digital credential sharing arrangement
A secure and transparent digital credential sharing arrangement which utilizes one or more cryptographic levels of indirection to obfuscate a sharing entity's credentials from those entities authorized to share the credentials. A security policy table is provided which allows the sharing entity to selectively authorize or revoke digital credential sharing among a plurality of entities. Various embodiments of the invention provide for secure storage and retrieval of digital credentials from security tokens such as smart cards. The secure sharing arrangement may be implemented in hierarchical or non-hierarchical embodiments as desired. |
| US09563752B2 |
License information access based on developer profiles
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for facilitating application licensing. In at least one implementation, license information for an application is identified based at least in part on a developer profile associated with the application and a state of a license for the application identified from at least a portion of the license information. Presentation of the application in accordance with the state of the license for the application can then be initiated. |
| US09563745B2 |
Medical care treatment decision support system
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will assist patients with their investigation of, and decision making about, the treatments that are available to them using conjoint analysis methods that measure individual preferences for risk-associated treatment options, while maintaining an acceptable interview length. In exemplary embodiments, such individual preferences, known as “utilities” in economics literature, will be combined with evidence-based outcomes data regarding the probabilities of treatment outcomes; exemplary embodiments will use “decision analysis” and modified “conjoint analysis” methods, to dynamically generate for patients real-time individualized, evidence-based feedback, rankings and recommendations regarding medical treatment alternatives that are available to the patient based on the patient's medical condition and prognostic indicators. |
| US09563741B2 |
Constructing custom knowledgebases and sequence datasets with publications
Illustrative embodiments of custom knowledgebases and sequence datasets, as well as related methods, are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, one or more computer-readable media may comprise a custom knowledgebase and an associated sequence dataset. The custom knowledgebase may comprise a plurality of assertions that have been automatically extracted from a plurality of publications, where each of the plurality of assertions encodes a relationship between a subject and an object. The sequence dataset may comprise a plurality of called biological sequences, where each of the plurality of called biological sequences is associated with one or more of the plurality of assertions of the custom knowledgebase. |
| US09563740B2 |
Neural interface activity simulator
Systems and methods to simulate activity that would be recorded using an interface to nerve fibers are provided. Signals, such as motor intent signals, can be converted to neural recordings, such as neural recordings by longitudinal intrafascicular electrodes (LIFEs). Spinal cord motor pools and neural interfaces can be jointly simulated. Realistic simulated neural recordings, such as from electrodes such as LIFEs, can be provided and can be used for the evaluation of decoding algorithms. Systems and methods described herein provide a framework for developing neural interface devices. |
| US09563735B1 |
Automatic pipelining of NoC channels to meet timing and/or performance
Systems and methods for automatically generating a Network on Chip (NoC) interconnect architecture with pipeline stages are described. The present disclosure includes example implementations directed to automatically determining the number and placement of pipeline stages for each channel in the NoC. Example implementations may also adjust the buffer at one or more routers based on the pipeline stages and configure throughput for virtual channels. |
| US09563725B2 |
Techniques for estimating compound probability distribution by simulating large empirical samples with scalable parallel and distributed processing
Techniques for estimated compound probability distribution are described. An apparatus comprising a configuration component, perturbation component, sample generation controller, an aggregation component, a distribution fitting component, and statistics generation component. The configuration component operative to receive a compound model specification and candidate distribution definition. The perturbation component operative to generate a plurality of models from the compound model specification. The sample generation controller operative to initiate the generation of a plurality of compound model samples from each of the plurality of models. The distribution fitting component to generate parameter values for the candidate distribution definition based on the compound model samples. The statistics generation component to generate approximated aggregate statistics. |
| US09563724B2 |
Virtual power management multiprocessor system simulation
A model-based virtual power management driven multi-chip system simulator generates utilization data and performance data with a workload model that models one or more types of workloads based on parameters that characterize the one or more types of workloads. The simulator generates thermal data and power consumption data with a power model that models power consumption at a chip-level and a system-level. The simulator then generates performance counter information with a performance model that models change of performance counters over time and at least one of the generated utilization data and the generated performance data as input to the performance model. The simulator provides this generated data as input to a driver of the simulator. |
| US09563722B2 |
Sigma algebraic approximants as a diagnostic tool in power networks
A system and method for constructively providing a set of complex-valued indices that measures the proximity of an electrical power distribution system to voltage collapse, and providing insights on general static stability issues in power networks. These indices, termed “sigmas”, are designed through a mathematical osculation of the actual load flow solution with an equivalent two-bus system at every node. The procedure for obtaining these sigmas is based on the Holomorphic Embedded Load flow Method (HELM), and the indices are, in fact, proper analytical functions of the embedding parameter, which endows them with powerful diagnostic capabilities. These indices are then used graphically on a two-dimensional chart, in order to appreciate visually the overall distance of the system to voltage collapse, while at the same time spotting the weak nodes out of the whole grid, providing new situational awareness and diagnosis tools. |
| US09563720B2 |
Matching users of a network based on profile data
A method and system for matching users of a network, such as a language learning network, employs user profile data to determine point match scores and/or compatibility match scores between users of the network such as a social network. A point match score is a measure of strength for a single interest that two users share. A compatibility match score is an aggregate measure of similarity of multiple interests that two users share. When a first user asks the system to propose another user or users for interaction, the system uses the point match scores, compatibility match scores, or both to determine which additional users to recommend to the first user. The system may present the first user with a profile for each recommended user. The first user may select one of the recommended users and engage in interaction, such as language skills learning or practice, with that user via a text, audio and/or video interface. |