| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09595799B2 |
Electrical enclosure having a dual bus bar and a component with a dual bus bar connector
An electrical enclosure system includes a housing includes an interior cavity for receiving electrical components. The electrical enclosure system includes at least one dual bus bar arranged in the interior cavity. The at least one dual bus bar includes a first bus bar, and a second bus bar arranged alongside and connected to the first bus bar through an insulated connection. The first bus bar is configured to carry a first electrical current and the second bus bar is configured to carry a second electrical current that is distinct from the first electrical current. An electrical component is arranged in the housing. The electrical component includes a dual bus bar connector operatively connected to and electrically connected to the dual bus bar. The dual bus bar connector includes a first connector portion and a second connector portion electrically isolated from the first connector portion. |
| US09595797B2 |
Managed electrical connectivity systems
A connector arrangement includes a plug nose body; a printed circuit board positioned within a cavity of the plug nose body; and a plug cover that mounts to the plug nose body to enclose the printed circuit board within the cavity. The printed circuit board includes a storage device configured to store information pertaining to the electrical segment of communications media. The plug cover defines a plurality of slotted openings through which the second contacts are exposed. A connector assembly includes a jack module and a media reading interface configured to receive the plug. A patch panel includes multiple jack modules and multiple media reading interfaces. |
| US09595796B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector comprises a terminal set configuring the terminals parallelly, an insulative base preserving said terminal set with a plurality of terminal grooves as an external conductive sheet slot is disposed between certain terminal grooves, defining an inner side of the hollow center in the mating direction, a pair of resilient arms disposed within the trough ways configured on the both sides of said insulative base and a shielding assembly having a metal casing accommodating said insulative base, defining an external opening, an external conductive sheet received by said external conductive sheet slot. |
| US09595795B2 |
Header assembly
A header assembly includes an outer housing holding a center contact and a dielectric body. The outer housing has a rear shell and an outer contact extending forward from the rear shell. The outer contact has a catch extending therefrom positioned forward of the rear shell. The header assembly includes a nose cone coupled to the outer contact. The nose cone surrounds the outer contact. The nose cone has one or more keying ribs along an exterior thereof. The nose cone has a latch engaging the catch to secure the nose cone to the outer housing in one of at least two distinct rotational orientations. |
| US09595789B1 |
Connector locking mechanism having a sliding connection retention component
A diagnostic port connector for a vehicle that includes a locking mechanism is disclosed. The system can comprise a connector body, such as a male OBD-II connector. The connector can include a plurality of connector pins, with the pins capable of passing signals and messages from the vehicle's on board diagnostic system to a device in electrical communication with the connector. The connector can also include a connection retention component. The connection retention component can be configured to maintain a connection between male connectors and female connection ports by interfering with a protruding portion of the female connection port. |
| US09595785B2 |
Protective element for conductors
A protective element for manufacturing circuit boards is provided, where conductors are fastened to the contacts of the conductors. The protective element includes recesses which are configured for arranging a conductor each, and the protective element can be arranged adjacent a support. The recesses of the protective element are arranged in a first position in alignment with the recesses of the support and in a second position at an angle relative to the recesses of the support. Preferably, the protective element has at least one hinge section which is configured for interacting with a complimentary hinge section of a support which can be mounted against the protective element, where pivoting of the protective element against the support about the pivoting axis of the interacting hinge sections moves the protective element on the support from the first position into the second position. |
| US09595784B2 |
Connector
A connector (10A) includes a housing (20), a seal member (80) to be arranged in a rear part of the housing (20), a holder (60) configured to prevent the seal (80) from coming out backward by being mounted on the housing 20 from behind the seal (80) and a wire cover (50) to be mounted on the housing (20) from behind the holder (60). The housing (20) includes an erroneous mounting preventing portion (39) configured to regulate the mounting of the holder (60) by interfering with the holder (60) when the holder (60) is mounted in an improper posture. The erroneous mounting preventing portion is configured as a cover lock (39) for fixing the wire cover (50) to the housing (20) by locking the wire cover (50). |
| US09595765B1 |
Slotted waveguide antenna with metamaterial structures
The present disclosure relates to a slotted waveguide antenna system. The slotted waveguide antenna system includes a waveguide that includes a first surface and a plurality of slots defined in the first surface and a metamaterial structure positioned external to the waveguide. The metamaterial structure is configured to exhibit a negative effective permittivity and a negative effective permeability for an operating frequency range. The metamaterial structure includes a split ring resonator, a substrate and a wire structure. The wire structure includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the second portion coupled between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion oriented parallel to the third portion, the second portion oriented perpendicular to the first portion and the third portion. A dimension of at least one of the first portion and the third portion is related to the operating frequency range. |
| US09595762B2 |
Printed antenna module applied to the RF detection procedure
A printed antenna module applied to an RF detection procedure is provided. The module comprises a substrate, a ground terminal part, a feeding part, an antenna body, and a second connecting end. The substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface. The ground terminal part and the feeding part are disposed on the first surface. A first end of the feeding part corresponds to the ground terminal part. The antenna body, disposed on the first surface relative to the ground terminal part, comprises a first extending part. One end of the first extending part forms a first connecting end. The second connecting end is disposed on the first surface. The shapes of the first and the second connecting ends correspond to each other. A second end of the feeding part is connected to the second connecting end. An RF detection point is formed on the second surface. |
| US09595755B2 |
Ground independent multi-band antenna assemblies
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of ground independent multi-band antenna assemblies. In an exemplary embodiment, a ground independent multi-band antenna assembly is operable within at least a first frequency range and a second frequency range different than the first frequency range. The antenna assembly generally includes an annular ground element, a feed element, a patch element, and a high band element. The feed element includes a feeding point and a shorting point electrically connected to the annular ground element. The patch element is electrically shorted to the annular ground element by the feed element. The high band element is electrically connected to the feed element. |
| US09595748B2 |
Remotely deployable, unmanned satellite antenna
A remotely deployable, unmanned, inflatable satellite antenna is provided with shock absorbing supports inside a body of the antenna. The shock absorbing supports operatively connect the satellite receiver to the body interior surface and support the satellite receiver inside the body interior while allowing limited movement of the satellite receiver relative to the body interior surface in response to a shock force exerted on the body exterior surface when the antenna is deployed by air drop and impacts with the ground. |
| US09595746B2 |
Semi-coaxial resonator comprised of columnar shaped resonant elements with square shaped plates, where vertical screw holes are disposed in the square shaped plates
Provided is a semi-coaxial resonator that reduces the insertion loss in the pass band and that is made to be compact, lightweight, and low in cost. A resonator is formed by fastening a cylindrical first element with a square and planar second element at an open end (one end) of the first element. A plurality of these resonators are disposed such that the square edges are brought close to each other and the other ends of the first elements are secured to the bottom of a box-shaped case. The open side of the case that accommodates the plurality of resonators is closed by a lid. |
| US09595743B2 |
Battery module
Provided is a battery module including: a plurality of battery cells which are arranged to be stacked and are electrically connected to each other; a plurality of partitions positioned between the battery cells and having aluminum panels fixed on upper and lower surfaces thereof; and a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the battery cell, wherein the battery cell and the PCB are connected to each other by one or more voltage sensing wires positioned on the partitions and having one side which is in contact with a bus bar of the battery cell and the other side which is in contact with a PCB terminal formed on the PCB. |
| US09595738B2 |
Electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries and lithium secondary battery including the same
Disclosed is an electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries including a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent, in which a silane based material is included in an amount of 0.1 to 20 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte, and a lithium secondary battery including the same. |
| US09595737B2 |
Non-aqueous electrolyte and power storage device using same
The present invention includes [1] a nonaqueous electrolytic solution of an electrolyte salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent, the nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing from 0.001 to 5% by mass of a specified acyclic lithium salt in the nonaqueous electrolytic solution and being capable of improving electrochemical characteristics in a broad temperature range; and [2] an energy storage device including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution of an electrolyte salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent, the nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing from 0.001 to 5% by mass of a specified acyclic lithium salt in the nonaqueous electrolytic solution. |
| US09595735B2 |
Method for producing sulfide solid electrolyte materials
A method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte material includes a step of adding an ether compound to a coarse-grained material of a sulfide solid electrolyte material and microparticulating the coarse-grained material by a pulverization treatment. |
| US09595726B2 |
Fuel reforming system and process
Fuel reforming processes and systems are disclosed. The fuel reforming process includes providing a fuel reformer, the fuel reformer comprising a reaction zone configured for exothermic partial oxidation to generate reformates and a heat exchanger extending from the reaction zone, the heat exchanger configured to expel the reformates through a reformate path and receive fuel-rich reactants through a fuel path, generating the reformates by the exothermic partial oxidation of the fuel-rich reactants within the reaction zone, heating the fuel-rich reactants in reaction zone with the heat exchanger by heat from the reformates in the reformate path. The process is energetically self-sustained and operates without a catalyst. The fuel reforming system includes the fuel reformer with a spiral heat exchanger and a component capable of operation with the reformates and incompatible with combustion products, such as a fuel cell. |
| US09595710B2 |
Cathode active material for lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery including the same
Disclosed are a cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries and a lithium secondary battery including the same and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries that includes a mixture of an overlithiated transition metal oxide represented by Formula 1 below and a lithium composite transition metal oxide represented by Formula 2 below: Li1+aNibMncCo1-(a+b+c+d)MdO2-sAs (1) LiNixMnyCo1-(x+y+z)M′zO2-tA′t (2) wherein 0.1≦a≦0.2, 0.1≦b≦0.4, 0.3≦c≦0.7, 0≦d≦0.1, 0.5≦x≦0.8, 0.1≦y≦0.4, 0≦z≦0.1, 0≦s<0.2, and 0≦t<0.2; M and M′ are each independently at least one divalent or trivalent metal; and A and A′ are each independently at least one monovalent or divalent anion. |
| US09595705B1 |
Electric vehicle battery
A battery for an electric vehicle is disclosed. The battery may be a low voltage battery for powering low voltage systems. The battery may include a housing formed from at least two parts. For example, the housing may include a top portion that is sealed to a bottom portion. A plurality of rechargeable electrochemical cells may be disposed within the bottom portion. A printed circuit board and/or a bus bar may be disposed within the top portion. The housing can includes a desiccant and/or a two-way pressure valve extending through a surface of the housing. The valve may be used to prevent moisture ingress into an interior of the housing and/or may allow a pressure inside of the housing to equilibrate to the external air pressure. |
| US09595701B2 |
Handheld tool, handheld tool add-on measuring device and handheld tool battery
A handheld tool having a battery interface is described, in which a provision is made for the handheld tool to have at least one measuring device interface, which is provided to receive at least data containing measuring information of a handheld tool add-on measuring device. |
| US09595695B2 |
Method for removing impurities from inside of vacuum chamber, method for using vacuum apparatus, and method for manufacturing product
A method for using a vacuum apparatus that includes a vacuum chamber and a pump, the vacuum chamber housing an object, the pump reducing an internal pressure of the vacuum chamber, the method including: ventilating inside the vacuum chamber by introducing a gas into the vacuum chamber and discharging the gas from the vacuum chamber by causing the pump to reduce the internal pressure of the vacuum chamber. In the ventilating, a discharge rate at which molecules of the gas per unit volume are discharged is at least 3.3×10−5 mol/(s·L), and the temperature in the vacuum chamber is at least 15° C. and at most 80° C. |
| US09595694B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate, organic light-emitting apparatus including the same, method of manufacturing the thin film transistor substrate, and method of manufacturing the organic light-emitting apparatus
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate which may facilitate subsequent TFT processing by reducing an elevation difference on the top surface of the substrate is disclosed. Aspects include an organic light-emitting apparatus including the TFT substrate, a method of manufacturing the TFT substrate, and a method of manufacturing the organic light-emitting apparatus. In one aspect the TFT substrate includes: a substrate; a height adjusting layer that is disposed on the substrate and has a thickness in a first region greater than a thickness in a second region; and a TFT that is formed on the height adjusting layer to correspond to the second region of the height adjusting layer. |
| US09595687B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display device includes a thin film transistor including a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, the pixel electrode including a first layer, a second layer disposed on the first layer and including silver, and a third layer including a carbon-based material and covering an upper portion and lateral surface of the second layer, an organic emission layer including an organic light emitting member and disposed on the pixel electrode, and a common electrode disposed on the organic emission layer. |
| US09595681B2 |
Compounds and organic electroluminescent devices
The present invention concerns particular fluorenes, the use of the compound in an electronic device, and an electronic device containing at least one of these compounds. The present invention further concerns a method for producing the compound and a formulation and composition containing one or more of the compounds. |
| US09595680B2 |
Heterocyclic fluorescent dyes and method of production thereof
The invention relates to novel compounds of formula (III) that can be used as heterocyclic dyes of unique structure and properties. These compounds can be obtained in a three-step synthesis from simple substrates. The compounds according to the invention have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when the compounds according to the invention are used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes. |
| US09595679B2 |
Organic light emitting diode
The present specification relates to an organic light emitting diode. |
| US09595677B2 |
Material for organic photoelectric device, and organic photoelectric device including the same
A material for an organic photoelectric device includes a compound represented by the following Formula 1: |
| US09595674B2 |
Method of manufacturing mask
A method of manufacturing a mask includes aligning a mask substrate comprising a thin film at a processing position, forming a coating layer comprising a cleaning solution material on a first surface of the mask substrate, forming a deposition pattern on a second surface of the mask substrate, and removing the coating layer from the mask substrate comprising the deposition pattern. |
| US09595673B2 |
Method for removing electro-static discharge (EDS) noise signal in electronic system including the metal-insulator transition (MIT) 3-terminal device
The inventive concept shows the embodiment of t-switch which is a MIT 3-terminal device based on a Hole-driven MIT theory and a technology for removing an ESD noise signal which is one of applications of the t-switch. The t-switch includes three terminals of Inlet, Outlet and Control, and a metal-insulator transition (MIT) occurs at an Outlet layer by a current flowing through the Control terminal. In the t-switch, a high resistor is connected to the Control terminal and thereby an ESD noise signal of high voltage flows through the Inlet-Outlet without damaging the device. |
| US09595668B2 |
Self-rectifying RRAM element
The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices and more particularly to memory devices having a resistance switching element, and to methods of operating such memory devices. In one aspect, a memory cell includes a first electrode and a second electrode formed of one of a metallic material or a semiconducting material. The memory cell additionally includes a resistance switching element formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The memory cell additionally includes a tunnel rectifier formed between the resistance-switching element and the first electrode. The tunnel rectifier includes a multi-layer tunnel stack comprising at least two dielectric layers each having a dielectric constant (ki), a conduction band offset (Φi), and a thickness, wherein one of the dielectric layers has a higher dielectric constant, a lower conduction band offset and a higher thickness compared to any other dielectric layer of the multi-layer tunnel stack. |
| US09595659B2 |
Piezoelectric vibration device for mobile terminal
A piezoelectric vibration device for a mobile terminal is disclosed. A bimorph piezoelectric vibrator includes a pair of piezoelectric element layers connected to one of positive and negative poles and a middle electrode plate interposed between the piezoelectric element layers and connected to the other pole. The piezoelectric vibrator generates vibration due to up/down bending displacement by fixing both end portions thereof to an inner surface of a casing of a mobile terminal. A voltage-boosting transformer raises a power source voltage of a mobile terminal to a driving voltage. A driving chip receives the raised driving voltage from the voltage-boosting transformer and drives the piezoelectric vibrator. Weights are attached to at least one of both sides of the piezoelectric vibrator to amplify vibration. Insulation members are provided at both end portions of the piezoelectric vibrator to prevent electricity applied to the piezoelectric vibrator from leaking to the casing. |
| US09595655B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device that is equipped with a semiconductor substrate, a composite metal film, and a detection terminal is provided. The composite metal film is formed on a surface or a back face of the semiconductor substrate, and has a first metal film, and a second metal film that is joined to the first metal film and is different in Seebeck coefficient from the first metal film. The detection terminal can detect a potential difference between the first metal film and the second metal film. |
| US09595654B2 |
Thermoelectric polymer composite, method of making and use of same
A thermoelectric composite includes a plurality of particles comprising a crosslinked polymer having a heat deflection temperature greater than or equal to 200° F. and a segregated network comprising a first filler material which is disposed between the particles to produce a thermoelectric response in response to application of a voltage difference or temperature difference across the thermoelectric composite. The first filler material includes a carbon material, a metal, a metal disposed on a carbon material, or a combination thereof. A process for preparing a thermoelectric article includes combining a first filler material and a plurality of particles comprising a polymer to form a composition and molding the composition to form a thermoelectric article, wherein the thermoelectric article is configured to produce a thermoelectric response in response to application of a voltage difference or temperature difference across the article. |
| US09595653B2 |
Phononic structures and related devices and methods
Phononic structures, devices related to phononic structures, and methods related to fabrication of the phononic structures are described. The phononic structure can include a sheet of material, where the sheet of material can include a plurality of regions. Adjacent regions in the sheet of material can have dissimilar phononic patterns. |
| US09595652B2 |
Thermoelectric material and thermoelectric element including the same
Provided is a thermoelectric material including metal oxide powder and thermoelectric powder. Thus, an internal filling rate is improved so that a Peltier effect can be maximized according to the increase of electrical conductivity and a Seebeck coefficient and the reduction of thermal conductivity, thereby enabling the improvement of the figure of merit (ZT) of a thermoelectric element. |
| US09595647B2 |
Light emitting device and light emitting device package
Provided is a light emitting device, which includes a second conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a intermediate refraction layer. The active layer is disposed on the second conductive type semiconductor layer. The first conductive type semiconductor layer is disposed on the active layer. The intermediate refraction layer is disposed on the first conductive type semiconductor layer. The intermediate refraction layer has a refractivity that is smaller than that of the first conductive type semiconductor layer and is greater than that of air. |
| US09595646B2 |
Electronic component and electronic unit
According to one embodiment, an electronic component includes a metal portion, a mold resin covering at least a part of the metal portion, and a molecular adhesion layer provided between a surface of the metal portion and the mold resin. |
| US09595645B2 |
LED lens design with more uniform color-over-angle emission
An LED device with improved angular color performance has a silicone lens shaped as a portion of a sphere. The lens is molded over an array of LED dies disposed on the upper surface of a substrate. Phosphor particles are disbursed throughout the material used to mold the lens. The distance between farthest-apart edges of the LED dies is more than half of the length that the lens extends over the surface of the substrate. The distance from the top of the lens dome to the surface of the substrate is between 57% and 73% of the radius of the sphere. Shaping the lens as the top two thirds of a hemisphere reduces the non-uniformity in the emitted color such that neither of the CIE color coordinates x or y of the color changes more than 0.004 over all emission angles relative to the surface of the substrate. |
| US09595641B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a terminal in which a first insulating film and a second insulating film are formed on a terminal metal, a contact hole is formed on the first insulating film and the second insulating film, and a first ITO is formed on the contact hole and the second insulating film. The terminal is connected to a different circuit through an ACF including conductive particles. The contact hole includes a region in which a second ITO is stacked on the first insulating film and the first ITO is stacked on the second ITO in the contact hole. A width s of a portion where the terminal metal contacts the first ITO in the contact hole is s |
| US09595634B2 |
Device with transparent and higher conductive regions in lateral cross section of semiconductor layer
A device including one or more layers with lateral regions configured to facilitate the transmission of radiation through the layer and lateral regions configured to facilitate current flow through the layer is provided. The layer can comprise a short period superlattice, which includes barriers alternating with wells. In this case, the barriers can include both transparent regions, which are configured to reduce an amount of radiation that is absorbed in the layer, and higher conductive regions, which are configured to keep the voltage drop across the layer within a desired range. |
| US09595633B2 |
Method for producing light-emitting device and method for producing group III nitride semiconductor
On the well layer, a first InGaN protective layer is formed at the same temperature employed for the well layer through MOCVD. TMI is pulse supplied. A TMI supply amount is kept constant at a predetermined value of more than 0 μmol/min and not more than 2 μmol/min. Moreover, a duty ratio is kept constant at a predetermined value of more than 0 and not more than 0.95. The In composition ratio of the first protective layer is almost directly proportional to the duty ratio. The In composition ratio of the first protective layer can be easily and accurately controlled by controlling the duty ratio so as to have an In composition ratio within a range of more than 0 at % and not more than 3 at %. |
| US09595631B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light-emitting device includes a semiconductor layer having a first layer including an n-type semiconductor, a second layer including a p-type semiconductor, a light emitting layer, a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface; an n-side electrode; a p-side electrode; a third layer; an insulating member; an n-side metal portion; and a p-side metal portion. The insulating member has a lower surface. A height of the lower surface is higher than a height of the first surface. The insulating member covers a periphery of the third layer, and has light reflectivity on at least a surface of a part adjacent to a side surface of the third layer. |
| US09595629B2 |
Enhancing planarization uniformity in optical devices
An optical device is formed from a device precursor having a layer of a light-transmitting medium on a base. A first feature is formed on the device precursor. The device precursor is then processed such that a stop layer protects the first feature and a portion of the device precursor is above the top of the stop layer. The first feature is between the base and the stop layer. The device precursor is planarized such that the portion of the device precursor located above the top of the stop layer becomes flush with the top of the portion of the stop layer that is present on the device precursor after the planarization. During the planarization, the stop layer acts as a planarization stop that slows or stops the rate of planarization. |
| US09595628B1 |
Microstructured silicon radiation detector
A radiation detector comprises a silicon body in which are defined vertical pores filled with a converter material and situated within silicon depletion regions. One or more charge-collection electrodes are arranged to collect current generated when secondary particles enter the silicon body through walls of the pores. The pores are disposed in low-density clusters, have a majority pore thickness of 5 μm or less, and have a majority aspect ratio, defined as the ratio of pore depth to pore thickness, of at least 10. |
| US09595627B2 |
Photovoltaic panel
A photovoltaic system comprising a first photovoltaic panel configured to collect direct light; and a second photovoltaic panel configured to collect, at least, indirect light transmitted through the one or more first photovoltaic panels. |
| US09595625B2 |
Nanoparticle material and light-emitting device
Quantum dots (nanoparticle material) each having a core-shell structure including a core part and a shell part that protects the core part. The shell part of the quantum dot has a thickness T of 3 to 5 ML based on the constituent molecule of the shell part. A light-emitting device includes the quantum dots. |
| US09595613B1 |
Forming semiconductor fins with self-aligned patterning
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises removing a portion of a substrate to form a first cavity in the substrate and depositing an insulator material in the first cavity. A sacrificial pattern is formed on a portion of the insulator material in the first cavity and the substrate. Exposed portions of the substrate are removed to form a fin in the substrate. A gate stack is formed over a portion of the fin. |
| US09595611B2 |
FinFET with a single contact to multiple fins bridged together to form a source/drain region of the transistor
A semiconductor device may include first and second fins formed side by side on a substrate, a first elevated doped region formed on the first fin and having a first doping concentration of impurities, a second elevated doped region formed on the second fin, and a first bridge connecting the first elevated doped region and the second elevated doped region to each other. Methods of manufacturing such a semiconductor device are also disclosed. |
| US09595610B2 |
Field effect transistor and method of fabricating the same
A MOSFET may be formed with a strain-inducing mismatch of lattice constants that improves carrier mobility. In exemplary embodiments a MOSFET includes a strain-inducing lattice constant mismatch that is not undermined by a recessing step. In some embodiments a source/drain pattern is grown without a recessing step, thereby avoiding problems associated with a recessing step. Alternatively, a recessing process may be performed in a way that does not expose top surfaces of a strain-relaxed buffer layer. A MOSFET device layer, such as a strain-relaxed buffer layer or a device isolation layer, is unaffected by a recessing step and, as a result, strain may be applied to a channel region without jeopardizing subsequent formation steps. |
| US09595607B2 |
Facilitation of increased locking range transistors
Transistors can be used for a variety of electronic-based applications. Therefore, transistor efficiency and performance is of importance. An apparatus is presented herein to increase the locking range of transistors by leveraging cross-coupled injection transistors in conjunction with symmetry injection transistors. The transistor efficiency can also be increase by reducing a parasitic capacitance associated with the components of the transistor. |
| US09595598B1 |
Semiconductor device including epitaxially formed buried channel region
A semiconductor device includes at least one semiconductor fin on an upper surface of a substrate. The at least one semiconductor fin includes a channel region interposed between opposing source/drain regions. A gate stack is on the upper surface of the substrate and wraps around sidewalls and an upper surface of only the channel region. The channel region is a dual channel region including a buried channel portion and a surface channel portion that completely surrounds the buried channel. |
| US09595596B2 |
Superjunction structures for power devices
In one general aspect, a power device can include an active region having a plurality of pillars of a first conductivity type alternately arranged with a plurality of pillars of a second conductivity type. The power device can include a termination region surrounding at least a portion of the active region and can have a plurality of pillars of the first conductivity type alternately arranged with a plurality of pillars of the second conductivity type. Each of the plurality of pillars of the first conductivity type in the active region and the termination region can be defined by a trench. The power device can include an enrichment region at a bottom portion of one of the plurality of pillars of the first conductivity type in the active region. |
| US09595593B2 |
Semiconductor structure with interfacial layer and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and an interfacial layer formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate structure formed over the interfacial layer. In addition, the interfacial layer is made of metal germanium oxide, metal silicon oxide, or metal germanium silicon oxide and is in direct contact with a top surface of the substrate. |
| US09595591B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
One device includes a substrate which contains a well region of one conductivity type, an element isolation insulating film which is arranged within the well region, an island-shaped active region which is surrounded by the element isolation insulating film, two first gate structures which are arranged on the island-shaped active region, and each of which is configured by sequentially laminating a lower gate insulating film, a gate insulating film having a high dielectric constant, a first gate electrode film containing a metal material, and a second gate electrode film, and a second gate structure which includes a second gate electrode film that is in contact with and covers a part of the element isolation insulating film. The two first gate structures and the second gate structure are successively arranged in the order of one first gate structure, the second gate structure and the other first gate structure. |
| US09595589B2 |
Transistor with performance boost by epitaxial layer
The present disclosure relates to a transistor device. In some embodiments, the transistor device has an epitaxial layer disposed over a substrate. The epitaxial layer is arranged between a source region and a drain region separated along a first direction. Isolation structures are arranged on opposite sides of the epitaxial layer along a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. A gate dielectric layer is disposed over the epitaxial layer, and a conductive gate electrode is disposed over the gate dielectric layer. The epitaxial layer overlying the substrate improves the surface roughness of the substrate, thereby improving transistor device performance. |
| US09595587B2 |
Split poly connection via through-poly-contact (TPC) in split-gate based power MOSFETs
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a contact structure in a split-gate trench transistor device for electrically connecting the top electrode to the bottom electrode inside the trench. The transistor device comprises a semiconductor substrate and one or more trenches formed in the semiconductor substrate. The trenches are lined with insulating materials along the sidewalls inside the trenches. Each trench has a bottom electrode in lower portions of the trench and a top electrode in its upper portions. The bottom electrode and the top electrode are separated by an insulating material. A contact structure filled with conductive materials is formed in each trench in an area outside of an active region of the device to connect the top electrode and the bottom electrode. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09595585B2 |
Methods for high-k metal gate CMOS with SiC and SiGe source/drain regions
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a PMOS region and an NMOS region in a semiconductor substrate, forming dummy gate structures in the PMOS and NMOS regions, and forming a gate hard mask layer overlying top portions and sidewalls of the dummy gate structures. The method includes forming silicon carbon regions embedded in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the dummy gate structure in the NMOS region, removing the hard mask layer on top of the dummy gate in the NMOS region, and forming silicon germanium regions embedded in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the dummy gate structure in the PMOS region. After forming the silicon carbon regions and the silicon germanium regions, while retaining the hard mask layer on top of the dummy gates in the PMOS region, performing ion implant to form source/drain regions in the NMOS region and the PMOS region. |
| US09595581B2 |
Silicon and silicon germanium nanowire structures
Methods of forming microelectronic structures are described. Embodiments of those methods include forming a nanowire device comprising a substrate comprising source/drain structures adjacent to spacers, and nanowire channel structures disposed between the spacers, wherein the nanowire channel structures are vertically stacked above each other. |
| US09595575B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display includes pixel electrodes, each pixel electrode corresponding to a pixel region disposed in a display region of a substrate, a first pixel region disposed at a center portion of the display region, a second pixel region disposed at an edge portion of the display region, auxiliary lines, each auxiliary line disposed adjacent to at least one pixel electrode, emission layers disposed on the pixel electrodes, and an opposite electrode disposed on the emission layers, the opposite electrode contacting each of the auxiliary lines through contact holes, wherein a total contact area between the opposite electrode and an auxiliary line in the first pixel region is greater than a total contact area between the opposite electrode and the auxiliary line in the second pixel region. |
| US09595573B2 |
Display device having light-emitting elements including metals
A display device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements aligned on a TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix. The plurality of light-emitting elements each have a flat surface portion and including a light-emitting layer, an anode, and a cathode, an insulating layer formed on the TFT substrate and under the light emitting element, and a tilted metal surface provided on a peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and having a tilt angle with respect to the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element. The tilted metal surface is provided on a surface of a slope of a bank that is provided on the insulation layer, and a width of a cross-section of the bank becomes smaller as the cross section comes farther away from a surface of the TFT substrate. A counter substrate is placed on the TFT substrate. |
| US09595569B2 |
Single photon device, apparatus for emitting and transferring single photon, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same
Provided are single photon devices, single photon emitting and transferring apparatuses, and methods of manufacturing and operating the single photon devices. The single photon device includes a carrier transport layer disposed on a conductive substrate and at least one quantum dot disposed on the carrier transport layer. A single photon emitting and transferring apparatus includes a single photon device, an element that injects a single charge into the single photon device described above, a light collecting unit that collects light emitted from the single photon device, and a light transfer system that transmits light collected by the light collecting unit to the outside. |
| US09595567B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with resistance change film and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of insulating layers, a plurality of first interconnection layers, a plurality of second interconnection layers, a plurality of memory cells, and a resistance change film. The insulating layers and first interconnection layers are arranged in parallel with the semiconductor substrate. The second interconnection layers are arranged so as to intersect the first interconnection layers. The second interconnection layers are arranged perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate. The memory cells are arranged at intersections of the first and second interconnection layers. Each of the memory cells includes the resistance change film arranged between the first and second interconnection layers. The side of the first interconnection layer in contact with the resistance change film is retreated more in a direction to separate from the second interconnection layer than the side of the insulating layer. |
| US09595566B2 |
Floating staircase word lines and process in a 3D non-volatile memory having vertical bit lines
A 3D nonvolatile memory has memory elements arranged in a three-dimensional pattern with a plurality of memory layers stacked over a semiconductor substrate. It has a 2D array of vertical bit lines and a plurality of staircase word lines. Each staircase word line has a series of alternating segments and risers and traverses the plurality of memory layers with a segment in each memory layer. The plurality of staircase word lines have their segments lined up to form a 2D array of stacks of segments. Riser for a pair of segments from each adjacent stacks at different memory layers is provided by a conductive sidewall layer of a stairwell disposed between the adjacent stacks. Multiple insulated conductive sidewall layers provide multiple risers for the adjacent stacks. Layer-by-layer stairwell excavation and sidewall processes between adjacent stacks create risers for different pairs of segments between stacks to form the staircase word lines. |
| US09595561B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices
A semiconductor memory device includes a cell gate dielectric layer and a cell gate electrode disposed in a gate recess region crossing a cell active portion of a substrate, first and second doped regions disposed in the cell active portion at both sides of the gate recess region, respectively, at least one interlayer insulating layer covering the substrate, a data storage element electrically connected to the second doped region through a contact plug penetrating the at least one interlayer insulating layer, a mold layer covering the data storage element, and a bit line disposed in a cell groove formed in the mold layer. The bit line is in direct contact with a top surface of the data storage element. |
| US09595555B2 |
Pixel isolation regions formed with conductive layers
An image sensor may include isolation regions that are formed in between photodiodes. These isolation regions may prevent cross-talk and improve the performance of the image sensor. The isolation regions may include a conductive layer that is electrically connected to a bias voltage supply line. Biasing the conductive layer may result in a charge inversion in the substrate adjacent to the conductive layer. The charge inversion may prevent the generation of dark current. The conductive layer may be formed on a liner oxide layer in trenches formed in epitaxial silicon. A connecting layer may be used to electrically connect each conductive layer. The connecting layer may be formed integrally with the conductive layer or formed from a separate material. |
| US09595551B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus
There is provided a solid-state imaging device that includes: colored pixels each including a first photoelectric conversion element and a colored filler; white pixels each including a second photoelectric conversion element and a clear layer; and an interlayer insulating film provided between the first photoelectric conversion element and the colored filter, and between the second photoelectric conversion element and the clear layer. The colored filter is provided on light-entering side of the first photoelectric conversion element. The clear layer is provided on light-entering side of the second photoelectric conversion element. The clear layer has a higher refractive index than a refractive index of the colored filter, and includes an inorganic dielectric film made of a different material from a material of the interlayer insulating film. |
| US09595546B2 |
Display backplane and method of fabricating the same
An organic light emitting display is provided. The organic light emitting display comprises a multi-type thin-film transistor (TFT) and an organic light emitting diode. The multi-type TFT has a low-temperature-poly-silicon (LTPS) TFT and an oxide semiconductor TFT (oxide TFT) disposed on the LTPS TFT. The organic light emitting diode is electrically connected to the multi-type TFT. The LTPS TFT and the oxide TFT are connected to the same gate line. |
| US09595544B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and display device
The present invention provides a thin film transistor substrate and a display device that prevent peeling. The thin film transistor substrate includes: an insulating substrate; a thin film transistor; a first inorganic insulating layer; an organic insulating layer stacked on the first inorganic insulating layer; and a second inorganic insulating layer stacked on the organic insulating layer. The organic insulating layer includes a side covered with the second inorganic insulating layer. The first inorganic insulating layer may contain silicon oxide. The organic insulating layer may contain photosensitive resin. The second inorganic insulating layer may contain silicon nitride. |
| US09595535B1 |
Integration of word line switches with word line contact via structures
Word line switches in a word line decoder circuitry for a three-dimensional memory device can be formed as vertical field effect transistors overlying contact via structures to the electrically conductive layers for word lines. Via cavities in a dielectric material portion overlying stepped surfaces of the electrically conductive layers can be filled with a conductive material and recessed to form contact via structures. After forming lower active regions in the recesses, gate electrodes can be formed and patterned to form openings in areas overlying the contact via structures. Gate dielectrics can be formed on the sidewalls of the openings, and transistor channels can be formed inside the openings of the gate electrodes. Upper active regions can be formed over the transistor channels. |
| US09595532B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An improvement is achieved in the performance of a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory. A memory cell of the nonvolatile memory includes a control gate electrode formed over a semiconductor substrate via a first insulating film and a memory gate electrode formed over the semiconductor substrate via a second insulating film to be adjacent to the control gate electrode via the second insulating film. The second insulating film includes a third insulating film made of a silicon dioxide film, a fourth insulating film made of a silicon nitride film over the third insulating film, and a fifth insulating film over the fourth insulating film. The fifth insulating film includes a silicon oxynitride film. Between the memory gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, respective end portions of the fourth and fifth insulating films are located closer to a side surface of the memory gate electrode than an end portion of a lower surface of the memory gate electrode. Between the memory gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, in a region where the second insulating film is not formed, another silicon dioxide film is embedded. |
| US09595529B2 |
Fuse cell circuit, fuse cell array and memory device including the same
A fuse cell circuit may include a bit line, a first fuse transistor having first and second program states, a first select transistor coupled between one terminal of the first fuse transistor and the bit line, and suitable for turning on when the first fuse transistor is selected, a second fuse transistor including one terminal coupled to the other terminal of the first fuse transistor, and having first and second program states, and a second select transistor coupled between a other terminal of the second fuse transistor and the bit line, and suitable for turning on when the second fuse transistor is selected. |
| US09595525B2 |
Semiconductor device including nanowire transistors with hybrid channels
A semiconductor device is provided that includes an n-type field effect transistor including a plurality of vertically stacked silicon-containing nanowires located in one region of a semiconductor substrate, and a p-type field effect transistor including a plurality of vertically stacked silicon germanium alloy nanowires located in another region of a semiconductor substrate. Each vertically stacked silicon-containing nanowire of the n-type field effect transistor has a different shape than the shape of each vertically stacked silicon germanium alloy nanowire of the p-type field effect transistor. |
| US09595523B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit devices
A semiconductor integrated circuit device may include a standard cell region on a surface of a substrate and a first active region on the surface of the substrate in the standard cell region, wherein the first active region has a length in a first direction. A second active region may be on the surface of the substrate in the standard cell region, the second active region may have a length in the first direction, the length of the second active region may be greater than the length of the first active region, and an axis in a second direction may intersect centers of the first and second active regions so that the first and second active regions are symmetric about the axis in the second direction. A first gate electrode may extend across the first active region in the first direction, and a second gate electrode may extend across the second active region in the first direction. |
| US09595521B2 |
Capacitive device
A method of manufacturing a capacitive device. The method includes doping a substrate to form a well region, forming M shoulder portions and (M−1) trenches in the substrate, depositing (M−1) sets of stacked layers along an upper surface of each shoulder portion of the M shoulder portions, sidewalls of the (M−1) trenches, and a bottom surface of each trench of the (M−1) trenches, and etching a plurality of contact holes variously exposing the well region or conductive layers of the (M−1) sets of stacked layers by N patterned masks. An m-th trench of the (M−1) trenches is between an m-th shoulder portion and an (m+1)-th shoulder portion of the M shoulder portions. M is a positive integer equal to or greater than 2 and m is a positive integer from 1 to (M−1). N is a positive integer less than M. Each contact hole of the plurality of contact holes is directly on or above a corresponding shoulder portion of the M shoulder portions. |
| US09595520B2 |
IGBT with built-in diode and manufacturing method therefor
An insulated gate bipolar translator (IGBT) with a built-in diode and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The IGBT comprises: a semiconductor substrate (1) of the first conduction type which has a first major surface (1S1) and a second major surface (1S2), wherein the semiconductor substrate (1) comprises an active region (100) and a terminal protection area (200) which is located at the outer side of the active region; an insulated gate transistor unit which is formed at the side of the first major surface (1S1) of the active region (100), wherein a channel of the first conduction type is formed thereon during the conduction thereof; and first semiconductor layers (10) of the first conduction type and second semiconductor layers (11) of the second conduction type of the active region, which are formed at the side of the second major surface (1S2) of the semiconductor substrate (1) alternately, wherein the IGBT only comprises the second semiconductor layers (11) in the terminal protection area (200) which is located at the side of the second major surface (1S2) of the semiconductor substrate (1). |
| US09595519B2 |
Combination metal oxide semi-conductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) and junction field effect transistor (JFET) operable for modulating current voltage response or mitigating electromagnetic or radiation interference effects by altering current flow through the MOSFETs semi-conductive channel region (SCR)
Systems and methods for controlling current or mitigating electromagnetic or radiation interference effects using a combination of a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) and junction field effect transistor (JFET) disposed perpendicularly and within a certain orientation to each other. An embodiment of the invention can be formed and operable for modulating current and/or voltage response or mitigating electromagnetic or radiation interference effects on the MOSFET by controlling a semi-conductive channel region (SCR) using an additional gate, e.g., JFET, disposed perpendicularly with respect to the MOSFET configured to generate an electromagnetic field into the MOSFET's semi-SCR. A control system for controlling operation is also provided to include automated systems including sensors as well as manually operated systems. Automated systems can include radiation sensors as well as other control systems such as radio frequency transmitter or receiver systems. Methods of operation for a variety of modes are also provided. |
| US09595518B1 |
Fin-type metal-semiconductor resistors and fabrication methods thereof
Fabrication methods and structure include: providing a wafer with at least one fin extended above a substrate in a first region, and at least one fin extended above the substrate in a second region of the wafer; forming a gate structure extending at least partially over the at least one fin to define a semiconductor device region in the first region; implanting a dopant into the at least one fin in the first region and into the at least one fin in the second region of the wafer, where the implanting of the dopant into the at least one fin of the second region modulates a physical property of the at least one fin to define a resistor device region in the second region; and disposing a conductive material at least partially over the at least one fin in the first region and over the at least one fin in the second region of the wafer, in part, to form a source and drain contact in the first region, and a fin-type metal-semiconductor resistor in the second region. |
| US09595517B2 |
Semiconductor device employing trenches for active gate and isolation
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type formed on a substrate; a first trench formed in the semiconductor layer including a first trench gate; a second trench formed in the semiconductor layer and extending into the substrate and including a second trench gate; a first transistor device formed in the semiconductor layer adjacent the first trench. The second trench encircles active area of the first transistor device to provide electrical isolation of the first transistor device. |
| US09595513B2 |
Proximity coupling of interconnect packaging systems and methods
Proximity coupling interconnect packaging systems and methods. A semiconductor package assembly comprises a substrate, a first semiconductor die disposed adjacent the substrate, and a second semiconductor die stacked over the first semiconductor die. There is at least one proximity coupling interconnect between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die, the proximity coupling interconnect comprising a first conductive pad on the first coupling face on the first semiconductor die and a second conductive pad on a second coupling face of the second semiconductor die, the second conductive pad spaced apart from the first conductive pad by a gap distance and aligned with the first conductive pad. An electrical connector is positioned laterally apart from the proximity coupling interconnect and extends between the second semiconductor die and the substrate, the position of the electrical connector defining the alignment of the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad. |
| US09595512B2 |
Passive component integrated with semiconductor device in semiconductor package
According to one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor package includes a substrate having lower and upper surfaces. The semiconductor package further includes at least one passive component coupled to first and second conductive pads on the upper surface of the substrate. The semiconductor package further includes at least one semiconductor device coupled to a first conductive pad on the lower surface of the substrate. The at least one semiconductor device has a first electrode for electrical and mechanical connection to a conductive pad external to the semiconductor package. The at least one semiconductor device can have a second electrode electrically and mechanically coupled to the first conductive pad on the lower surface of the substrate. |
| US09595511B1 |
Microelectronic packages and assemblies with improved flyby signaling operation
A microelectronic unit includes microelectronic elements having memory storage arrays. First terminals and second terminals at a surface of the microelectronic unit are configured for connection with corresponding first and second sets of circuit panel contacts which are coupled with conductors of a common signaling bus on the circuit panel. Front surfaces of first and second microelectronic elements define a plurality of first planes at a substantial angle to a second plane defined by the major surface of the circuit panel. Each of a plurality of delay elements within the microelectronic unit is electrically coupled with a signaling path of the common signaling bus between one of the first terminals and a corresponding second terminal. In such way, the delay elements may reduce adverse effects of additive signal energy reflected from the microelectronic packages back towards the common signaling bus. |
| US09595509B1 |
Stacked microelectronic package assemblies and methods for the fabrication thereof
Stacked microelectronic package assemblies are provided, as are methods for producing stacked microelectronic package assemblies. In one embodiment, the stacked microelectronic package assembly includes a base package layer onto which a stacked bridge device is stacked. The base package layer includes, in turn, a first microelectronic package and a second microelectronic package positioned laterally adjacent the first microelectronic package. The stacked bridge device extends over the first and second microelectronic packages. A first terminal of the stacked bridge device is soldered to or otherwise electrically joined to a first backside contact of the first microelectronic package, and a second terminal of the stacked bridge device is soldered to or otherwise electrically joined to a second backside contact of the second microelectronic package. |
| US09595508B2 |
Voltage droop mitigation in 3D chip system
The present invention relates to a multichip system and a method for scheduling threads in 3D stacked chip. The multichip system comprises a plurality of dies stacked vertically and electrically coupled together; each of the plurality of dies comprising one or more cores, each of the plurality of dies further comprising: at least one voltage violation sensing unit, the at least one voltage violation sensing unit being connected with the one or more cores of each die, the at least one voltage sensing unit being configured to independently sense voltage violation in each core of each die; and at least one frequency tuning unit, the at least one frequency tuning unit being configured to tune the frequency of each core of each die, the at least one frequency tuning unit being connected with the at least one voltage violation sensing unit. The multichip system and method described in present invention have many advantages, such as reducing voltage violation, mitigating voltage droop and saving power. |
| US09595506B2 |
Packages with thermal management features for reduced thermal crosstalk and methods of forming same
An embodiment package includes a first die stack on a surface of a package component, a second die stack on the surface of the package component, and a contour lid over the first die stack and second die stack. The contour lid includes a first thermal conductive portion over the first die stack, a second thermal conductive portion over the second die stack, and a thermal barrier portion between the first thermal conductive portion and the second thermal conductive portion. The thermal barrier portion includes a low thermal conductivity material. |
| US09595502B2 |
Spring contact for semiconductor chip
A semiconductor assembly is described. In accordance with one example of the invention, the semiconductor assembly comprises a semiconductor body, a top main electrode arranged on a top side, a bottom main electrode arranged on an underside, and a control electrode arranged on the top side. The semiconductor assembly further includes a spring element for the pressure contacting of the control electrode with a pressure force generated by the spring element. |
| US09595499B2 |
Semiconductor devices having through electrodes, methods of manufacturing the same, and semiconductor packages including the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer having a first surface and a second surface, a through electrode penetrating the semiconductor layer and having a protruding portion that protrudes over the second surface of the semiconductor layer, a front-side bump disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor layer and electrically coupled to the through electrode, a passivation pattern including a first insulation pattern that surrounds a sidewall of the protruding portion of the through electrode and extends onto the second surface of the semiconductor layer and a second insulation pattern that covers the first insulation pattern and has an etch selectivity with respect to the first insulation pattern, and a back-side bump covering an end surface of the protruding portion of the through electrode and extending onto the passivation pattern. |
| US09595498B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having pads
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor circuit substrate having a chip pad forming region. A pair of data lines are formed on the semiconductor circuit substrate at one side of the chip pad region. The pair of data lines extend along a direction that the chip pad region of the semiconductor circuit substrate extends. The pair of data lines are arranged to be adjacent to each other and receive a pair of differential data signals. A power supply line is formed on the semiconductor circuit substrate at the other side of the chip pad region. The power supply line extends along the direction that the chip pad region of the semiconductor circuit substrate extends, and the power supply line receives power. |
| US09595496B2 |
Integrated device package comprising silicon bridge in an encapsulation layer
Some novel features pertain to an integrated device package that includes an encapsulation portion and a redistribution portion. The encapsulation portion includes a first die, a first set of vias coupled to the first die, a second die, a second set of vias coupled to the second die, a bridge, and an encapsulation layer. The bridge is configured to provide an electrical path between the first die and the second die. The bridge is coupled to the first die through the first set of vias. The bridge is further coupled to the second die through the second set of vias. The encapsulation layer at least partially encapsulates the first die, the second die, the bridge, the first set of vias, and the second set of vias. The redistribution portion is coupled to the encapsulation portion. The redistribution portion includes a set of redistribution interconnects, and at least one dielectric layer. |
| US09595495B1 |
Multi-level signaling for on-package chip-to-chip interconnect through silicon bridge
One embodiment relates to an apparatus for data communication between at least two in-package semiconductor dies. On the first semiconductor die in a package, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) converts a plurality of binary signals to an analog signal. The analog signal is transmitted through a silicon bridge to a second semiconductor die. Another embodiment relates to a method of data communication between at least two in-package semiconductor dies. A plurality of binary signals is converted to an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter on a first semiconductor die. The analog signal is transmitted through a silicon bridge to a second semiconductor die. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US09595490B2 |
3D system-level packaging methods and structures
A 3D system-level packaging method includes providing a packaging substrate having a first functional surface and a second surface with wiring arrangement within the packaging substrate and between the first functional surface and the second surface. The method also includes forming at least one flip package layer on the first functional surface of the packaging substrate and forming at least one wiring and package layer on the flip package layer. The flip package layer is formed by subsequently forming a flip mounting layer, an underfill, a sealant layer, and a wiring layer; and the wiring and package layer is formed by subsequently forming a straight mounting layer, a sealant layer, and a wiring layer. Further, the method includes planting connection balls on the second functional surface of the packaging substrate. |
| US09595487B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for manufacturing the same
Various embodiments may provide a circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement may include a carrier having at least one electrically conductive line; a plurality of discrete encapsulated integrated circuits arranged on the carrier; wherein a first integrated circuit of the plurality of integrated circuits is in electrical contact with a second integrated circuit of the plurality of integrated circuits to form a first current path bypassing the carrier; and wherein the first integrated circuit of the plurality of integrated circuits is in electrical contact with the second integrated circuit of the plurality of integrated circuits to form a second current path via the at least one electrically conductive line. |
| US09595482B2 |
Structure for die probing
A package includes a device die, which includes a metal pillar at a top surface of the device die, and a solder region on a sidewall of the metal pillar. A molding material encircles the device die, wherein a top surface of the molding material is substantially level with a top surface of the device die. A dielectric layer overlaps the molding material and the device die, with a bottom surface of the dielectric layer contacting a top surface of the device die and a top surface of the molding material. A redistribution line (RDL) extends into the dielectric layer to electrically couple to the metal pillar. |
| US09595481B1 |
Dispersion model for band gap tracking
Methods and systems for determining band structure characteristics of high-k dielectric films deposited over a substrate based on spectral response data are presented. High throughput spectrometers are utilized to quickly measure semiconductor wafers early in the manufacturing process. Optical models of semiconductor structures capable of accurate characterization of defects in high-K dielectric layers and embedded nanostructures are presented. In one example, the optical dispersion model includes a continuous Cody-Lorentz model having continuous first derivatives that is sensitive to a band gap of a layer of the unfinished, multi-layer semiconductor wafer. These models quickly and accurately represent experimental results in a physically meaningful manner. The model parameter values can be subsequently used to gain insight and control over a manufacturing process. |
| US09595478B2 |
Dummy gate used as interconnection and method of making the same
Process of using a dummy gate as an interconnection and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. Embodiments include forming on a semiconductor substrate dummy gate structures at cell boundaries, each dummy gate structure including a set of sidewall spacers and a cap disposed between the sidewall spacers; removing a first sidewall spacer or at least a portion of a first cap on a first side of a first dummy gate structure and forming a first gate contact trench over the first dummy gate structure; and filling the first gate contact trench with a metal to form a first gate contact. |
| US09595476B2 |
Method for producing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes first and second fin-shaped semiconductor layers on a substrate. First and second pillar-shaped semiconductor layers reside on the first and second fin-shaped semiconductor layers, respectively, where a width of the bottom of the first and second pillar-shaped semiconductors is equal to a width of the top of the first and second fin-shaped semiconductor layers, respectively. A gate insulating film and metal gate electrode are around underlying gate insulating layers on each fin-shaped semiconductor layer. A metal gate line is connected to the metal gate electrodes and extends in a direction perpendicular to the first and second fin-shaped semiconductor layers. Contacts reside on the upper portion of diffusion layers in upper portions of the first and second pillar-shaped semiconductor layers and are directly connected to the diffusion layers. |
| US09595475B2 |
Multi-stage fin formation methods and structures thereof
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a multi-stage fin profile includes providing a substrate and forming a first spacer having a first spacer width over the substrate. The first spacer masks a first portion of the substrate during a first etch process. By way of example, the first etch process is performed on the substrate to form a first-stage fin region, where a width of the first-stage fin region is substantially equal to about the first spacer width. A second spacer having a second spacer width is formed over the substrate, where the second spacer and the first-stage fin region mask a second portion of the substrate during a second etch process. In some examples, the second etch process is performed on the substrate to form a second-stage fin region, where a width of the second-stage fin region is greater than the width of the first-stage fin region. |
| US09595471B2 |
Conductive element structure and method
Conductive element structures and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming a conductive element in an insulating layer includes: forming a recess in a metal layer disposed over the insulating layer; selectively forming a metal liner on a sidewall of the recess; and etching a via in the insulating layer using the metal layer and the metal liner as a mask. |
| US09595468B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device that uses treatment to enhance hydrophilicity of spin coated insulating film
To provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability. After formation of a first insulating film for an interlayer insulating film by spin coating, the surface of the first insulating film is subjected to a hydrophilicity improving treatment. A second insulating film for the interlayer insulating film is then formed on the first insulating film by spin coating. The interlayer insulating film is comprised of a stacked insulating film including the first insulating film and the second insulating film thereon. The interlayer insulating film therefore can have improved surface flatness. |
| US09595462B2 |
Peeling system
Disclosed is a peeling system which includes a peeling device, a plurality of first cleaning devices, an inversion device, a second cleaning device, and first to third conveyance devices. The peeling device is configured to separate a superimposed substrate into a first substrate and a second substrate. The plurality of first cleaning devices is configured to clean a bonded surface of the first substrate. The inversion device configured to invert front and rear surfaces of the first substrate. The second cleaning device is configured to clean a non-bonded surface of the first substrate. Delivery positions of the first substrate in the plurality of first cleaning devices are arranged in a region where an operation range of the first conveyance device and an operation range of the second conveyance device overlap each other. |
| US09595461B2 |
Storage facility and storage method
A storage facility includes a controller for monitoring a supply state of the inactive gas for the plurality of storage sections and for controlling the plurality of supply amount adjusting devices. The controller is configured to monitor the supply state of the inactive gas for the plurality of storage sections by dividing the plurality of storage sections into a plurality of monitoring areas, and to control a plurality of supply amount adjusting devices such that the supply state of the inactive gas supplied to the storage sections belonging to each of the plurality of monitoring areas satisfies a set restricting condition defined in advance. |
| US09595459B2 |
Managing thermal budget in annealing of substrates
A method and apparatus are provided for treating a substrate. The substrate is positioned on a support in a thermal treatment chamber. Electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to anneal a portion of the substrate. Other electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to preheat a portion of the substrate. The preheating reduces thermal stresses at the boundary between the preheat region and the anneal region. Any number of anneal and preheat regions are contemplated, with varying shapes and temperature profiles, as needed for specific embodiments. Any convenient source of electromagnetic radiation may be used, such as lasers, heat lamps, white light lamps, or flash lamps. |
| US09595458B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus and method, and method of manufacturing electronic device
In an inductively coupled plasma torch unit, two coils, a first ceramic block, and a second ceramic block are arranged, and an annular chamber is provided. Plasma generated in the chamber is ejected toward a substrate through an opening in the chamber. The chamber and the substrate are caused to relatively move having an orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the opening, thereby processing the substrate. A shield cylinder is disposed around the coil inside a rotating cylindrical ceramic tube, thereby making it possible to achieve compatibility of ignitibility and shielding properties. |
| US09595457B2 |
Methods and apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers
A method for cleaning semiconductor substrate using ultra/mega sonic device comprising holding a semiconductor substrate by using a chuck, positioning a ultra/mega sonic device adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, injecting chemical liquid on the semiconductor substrate and gap between the semiconductor substrate and the ultra/mega sonic device, changing gap between the semiconductor substrate and the ultra/mega sonic device for each rotation of the chuck during the cleaning process. The gap can be increased or reduced by 0.5λ/N for each rotation of the chuck, where λ is wavelength of ultra/mega sonic wave, N is an integer number between 2 and 1000. The gap is varied in the range of 0.5λn during the cleaning process, where λ is wavelength of ultra/mega sonic wave, and n is an integer number starting from 1. |
| US09595455B1 |
Integrated circuit module with filled contact gaps
Integrated circuit (IC) modules and methods for manufacturing the IC modules are described. In an embodiment, an IC module includes a substrate with contact gaps on which an IC die is attached with electrical connections between the IC die and the substrate. The IC module further include an encapsulation that encloses the IC die and fills first portions of the contact gaps, where the first portions of the contact gaps are located within an area of the substrate defined by the encapsulation. Second portions of the contact gaps, which are located outside of the area of substrate defined by the encapsulation, are filled with a filling material. |
| US09595454B2 |
Semiconductor device including electromagnetic absorption and shielding
A semiconductor device is disclosed including material for absorbing EMI and/or RFI The device includes a substrate (202), one or more semiconductor die (224,225), and molding compound around the one or more semiconductor die (224,225). The material for absorbing EMI and/or RFI may be provided within or on a solder mask layer (210) on the substrate (202). The device may further include EMI/RFI-absorbing material around the molding compound and in contact with the EMI/RFI-absorbing material on the substrate to completely enclose the one or more semiconductor die in EMI/RFI-absorbing material. |
| US09595452B2 |
Residue free oxide etch
A method for selectively etching silicon oxide is provided. A surface reaction phase is provided comprising flowing a surface reaction gas comprising hydrogen, nitrogen and fluorine containing components to form silicon oxide into a compound comprising silicon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and fluorine, forming the surface reaction gas into a plasma, and stopping the flow of the surface reaction gas. The surface is wet treated to remove the compound. |
| US09595450B2 |
Composite structure for gate level inter-layer dielectric
A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming dummy gates over a semiconductor substrate, depositing a first dielectric layer over the dummy gates, chemical mechanical polishing to recede the first dielectric layer to the height of the dummy gates, etching to recess the first dielectric layer below the height of the gates, depositing one or more additional dielectric layers over the first dielectric layer, and chemical mechanical polishing to recede the one or more additional dielectric layers to the height of the gates. The method provides integrated circuit devices having metal gate electrodes and an inter-level dielectric at the gate level that includes a capping layer. The capping layer resists etching and preserves the gate height through a replacement gate process. |
| US09595444B2 |
Floating gate separation in NAND flash memory
A method of forming a NAND flash memory includes anisotropically etching trenches of a gate stack down to an intermediate level in a floating gate polysilicon layer, leaving remaining portions of the floating gate polysilicon over the gate dielectric layer. Subsequently, forming a protective layer along exposed sides of the trenches. Then, electrically separating individual floating gates by a selective process that is directed to the remaining portions of the floating gate polysilicon layer exposed by trenches. |
| US09595443B2 |
Metal gate structure of a semiconductor device
The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a metal gate structure. An exemplary structure for a CMOS semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising an isolation region surrounding and separating a P-active region and an N-active region; a P-metal gate electrode over the P-active region and extending over the isolation region, wherein the P-metal gate electrode comprises a P-work function metal and an oxygen-containing TiN layer between the P-work function metal and substrate; and an N-metal gate electrode over the N-active region and extending over the isolation region, wherein the N-metal gate electrode comprises an N-work function metal and a nitrogen-rich TiN layer between the N-work function metal and substrate, wherein the nitrogen-rich TiN layer connects to the oxygen-containing TiN layer over the isolation region. |
| US09595438B2 |
Method for producing a III/V Si template
A method for producing a monolithic template comprises a Si wafer with a layer of a III/V semiconductor epitaxially applied to its surface. The III/V semiconductor has a lattice constant differing by less than 10% from that of Si. The method includes epitaxially growing a layer of a III/V semiconductor on the surface of the Si wafer at a wafer temperature from 350 to 650° C., a growth rate from 0.1 to 2 μm/h, and a layer thickness from 1 to 100 nm. A layer of another III/V semiconductor, identical to or different from the previously applied III/V semiconductor, is epitaxially grown on the III/V semiconductor layer at a wafer temperature from 500 to 800° C., a growth rate from 0.1 to 10 μm/h, and a layer thickness from 10 to 150 nm. |
| US09595431B2 |
Ion trap mass spectrometer having a curved field region
An electrostatic analyzer including at least one first set of electrodes, at least one second set of electrodes, and a field free space separating the two sets of electrodes is disclosed. The two sets of electrodes form two-dimensional electrostatic fields of ion mirrors and are arranged to provide isochronous ion oscillations in an x-y plane. Both sets of electrodes are curves at a constant curvature radius R along a third locally orthogonal Z-direction to form a torroidal field region. A related method is also disclosed. |
| US09595430B2 |
Laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry using a particulate separation bed
A self-assembled engineered lattice of nanometer-scale silica particles, or other suitable particles generally resembling regularly-sized spheres, is configured in a separation bed for electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, chromatography, or other voltage-induced separation of analytes. After separation, the analytes are immobilized on the separation bed and then ionized using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) for use with a mass spectrometer. The nanoparticles can be coated with polymers that activate to immobilize the analytes or assist with MALDI. The separation can occur in two dimensions. |
| US09595429B2 |
Method and system for atomizing sample liquid using ultrasonic transducer to be analyzed by mass spectrometry
A mass spectrometry method includes a step of atomizing liquid including a sample using an ultrasonic transducer; a step of transferring the atomized liquid; a step of generating ions from the transferred liquid using a DART ion source; and a step of analyzing a mass spectrometry by introducing the generated ions into a mass spectrometer. |
| US09595427B2 |
Acquisition of fragment ion mass spectra of biopolymers in mixtures
The invention relates to the selection of the most favorable ion species for the acquisition of fragment ion mass spectra when the ionization creates biopolymers in different charge states. The invention proposes a particularly fast method of selecting the most favorable parent ions for fragmentation of the different biopolymers from mass spectra, where the ionization is by electrospray ionization (ESI) or other ionization methods which produce similarly diverse charge states and which, for each biopolymer, contain many signal patterns of ions of the different charge states and different isotopic compositions. The selection is carried out in such a way that it does not measure more than one ion species from one biopolymer. Moreover, the most favorable filter pass-band width for isolating an ion species for fragmentation can be stated in each case. |
| US09595418B2 |
Ion beam irradiation device
An ion beam irradiation device includes a vacuum chamber that accommodates a transport tray which holds a substrate, a transport unit that transports the transport tray in the vacuum chamber in a transport direction, an ion beam irradiation unit that irradiates, with ion beams, a predetermined irradiation position in the vacuum chamber, and a position detector that detects a position of the transport tray. The transport tray includes a plurality of indices that are arranged in the transport direction to indicate portions of the transport tray. The position detector images each of the indices at a predetermined imaging position during transportation of the transport tray and detects a position of the transport tray relative to the imaging position based on the imaged index. |
| US09595416B2 |
Transmission electron microscope
A transmission electron microscope (100) capable of reducing the effects of stray magnetic fields includes an electron beam source (2), an illumination lens system (4) for causing the electron beam to impinge on a sample (S), a sample stage (6) for holding the sample (S), a first objective lens (8), a second objective lens (10) disposed behind the first objective lens (8), an imaging lens system (16) disposed behind the second objective lens (10), and a controller (22) configured or programmed for controlling the first objective lens (8) and the second objective lens (10). The first objective lens (8) has upper and lower polepieces disposed on opposite sides of the sample (S). The upper and lower polepieces together produce a magnetic field. The controller (22) performs an operation for controlling the second objective lens (10) to construct a TEM (transmission electron microscope) image of the sample (S) out of the electron beam transmitted through the sample (S). Furthermore, the controller performs an operation for controlling the first objective lens (8) according to imaging conditions to produce a magnetic field that cancels out stray magnetic fields at the position where the sample (S) is placed. |
| US09595414B2 |
Magnetic field generation apparatus for a magnetron tube, magnetron and method for replacing an old magnetron tube of a magnetron with a new magnetron tube
A magnetic field generation apparatus is provided for a magnetron including a permanent magnet arrangement and a magnetic field conductor device. The magnetic field conductor device has a diverting element. The diverting element, which includes a plurality of rectangular diverting segments, is arranged detachably on the magnetic field generation apparatus during maintenance work in order to deflect a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet arrangement away from further components of the magnetic field generation apparatus and components of the magnetron. A magnetron includes a magnetron tube and such a magnetic field generation apparatus. In a method for replacing an old magnetron tube of such a magnetron with a new magnetron tube, the diverting element is arranged on the magnetic field generation apparatus, and the old magnetron tube is removed from the magnetron and replaced with the new magnetron tube in order to then remove the diverting element again. |
| US09595413B2 |
Low instantaneous level circuit breakers, circuit breaker tripping mechanisms, and tripping methods
A circuit breaker tripping mechanism providing relatively low instantaneous level tripping is disclosed. Circuit breaker tripping mechanism includes an armature with a first portion extending in a first direction from an armature pivot and a second portion extending in a second direction from the armature pivot, and a magnetic field generator configured as part of a line conductor. Magnetic field generator is operable to produce a magnetic field acting upon the second portion during a short circuit. Circuit breakers including the circuit breaker tripping mechanism and methods of tripping a circuit breaker are provided, as are other aspects. |
| US09595410B2 |
Circuit breaker including adjustable instantaneous trip level and methods of operating same
A circuit breaker including an adjustable instantaneous trip level. Adjustable instantaneous trip level can be applied to a one-pole and/or two-pole circuit breakers including a thermal and magnetic mechanism, including AFCI, CAFCI, and/or GFCI constructions. The circuit breaker includes a magnet position adjustment mechanism allowing an operator to adjust the instantaneous trip level to a desired setting, such as between about 5 to 10 times the handle rating. The design also allows for alternate magnets to be used for either an increased or decreased instantaneous settings as desired. In two-pole circuit breakers, the instantaneous trip level can be set independently for each mechanism pole. Multi-pole circuit breakers and methods of adjusting instantaneous trip level are provided, as are other aspects. |
| US09595404B2 |
Electrical switching apparatus including an adjustable damper assembly
An electrical switching apparatus including a housing, a circuit interrupter mechanism movably disposed in the housing, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a bracket that secures the damper assembly to the housing. A damper body is adjustably secured to the bracket. A stopper is coupled to the damper body and arranged to limit relative movement of the circuit interrupter mechanism with respect to the damper assembly. A damper rod extends through an opening in the stopper and has a surface that is arranged to interact with the circuit interrupter mechanism. The damper rod is arranged to damp movement of the circuit interrupter mechanism with respect to the damper body when the circuit interrupter mechanism is in contact with the surface of the damper rod. |
| US09595401B1 |
Method of fabricating graphene nano-mesh
Example embodiments relate to a method of fabricating a graphene nano-mesh by selectively growing an oxide layer on a defect site of a graphene layer and etching the oxide layer to form the graphene nano-mesh. The method includes forming a graphene layer on a catalyst layer, forming an oxide layer on a defect site of the graphene layer, forming the graphene nano-mesh including a plurality of openings by etching the oxide layer, and transferring, after removing the catalyst layer, the graphene nano-mesh onto a substrate. |
| US09595397B2 |
High energy density asymmetric pseudocapacitor and method of making the same
A high energy density asymmetric pseudocapacitor includes a cathode plate, an anode plate, and a separator. The cathode plate includes a first conductive substrate and a porous cathode film formed on the first conductive substrate. The porous cathode film includes a carbon nano-tube network and a plurality of composite flakes. Each of the composite flakes contains graphene, a transition metal compound and carbon nano-tubes. The anode plate includes a second conductive substrate and an anode film formed on the second conductive substrate. The anode film contains graphene and carbon nano-tubes. |
| US09595390B2 |
Method for filling at least one cavity of a multi-layer component with a filling material, and multi-layer component
The invention relates to a method for filling at least one cavity (5a, 5b) of a multi-layer component (1) with filling material (9). In a first step, the method comprises providing a main body (2) of the multi-layer component (1), the main body (2) having at least one cavity (5a, 5b). In a subsequent step, the method comprises placing the main body (2) in a chamber (11) and then generating a first pressure, the first pressure being a negative pressure. Then, a filling material (9) is arranged on the main body (2). Furthermore, the invention relates to a multi-layer component (1). The multi-layer component (1) has a main body (2) with at least one cavity (5a, 5b), wherein the cavity (5a, 5b) is filled with a filling material (9) which has a viscosity of between 200 mPas and 2000 mPas. |
| US09595388B2 |
BOPP film with high AC breakdown strength
Polypropylene composition comprising a polypropylene and an α-nucleating agent, wherein the polypropylene composition has • a comonomer content of equal or below 1.0 wt.- %, •<2,1> erythro regiodefects of more than 0.1 mol.- %, and • at least 9.0 wt- % of a crystalline fraction crystallizing in the temperature range of above 160 to 170° C., wherein said fraction is determined by the stepwise isothermal segregation technique (SIST). |
| US09595385B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor and board with the same mounted thereon
A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include: a ceramic body including a plurality of dielectric layers; a capacitor unit disposed in an upper portion of the ceramic body and including a plurality of first and second internal electrodes; an equivalent series resistance (ESR) controller disposed in a lower portion of the ceramic body and including a plurality of third and fourth internal electrodes; a gap layer disposed between the capacitor unit and the ESR controller; first and second external electrodes disposed on the first and second end surfaces of the ceramic body and electrically connected to the first and second internal electrodes; and third and fourth external electrodes disposed on the first and second lateral surfaces of the ceramic body and electrically connected to the third and fourth internal electrodes. |
| US09595383B2 |
Wireless charging coil PCB structure
A wireless charging coil PCB structure includes a first coil disposed on a first layer of PCB, where a center or peripheral of the first coil is a first non-coil region; a second coil disposed on a second layer of PCB, where a center or peripheral of the second coil is a second non-coil region; first conductive wires on the first non-coil region; and second conductive wires on the second non-coil region. Electric contacts are arranged between the first conductor and the second coil, and electrically connected in parallel to the first conductive wires and the portion of the second coil. Electric contacts are arranged between the second conductor and the first coil, and electrically connected in parallel to the second conductive wires and the portion of the first coil. The amount of charge is increased in the coil and resistance is reduced to overcome proximity effect. |
| US09595381B2 |
Shielding apparatus and wireless power transmission apparatus
Disclosed are a shielding apparatus and a wireless power transmission apparatus. The shielding apparatus included in a wireless power transmission apparatus for transmitting power to a wireless power reception apparatus in wireless includes a first shielding unit changing a transmission path of a portion of a magnetic field generated from a transmission coil of the wireless power transmission apparatus, and a second shielding unit shielding the portion of the magnetic field which has passed through the first shielding unit. The second shielding unit is placed on the first shielding unit. A real component value of permeability of the first shielding unit is greater than an imaginary component value of the permeability of the first shielding unit, and an imaginary component value of permeability of the second shielding unit is greater than a real component value of the permeability of the second shielding unit. |
| US09595380B2 |
Fault current limiter
A fault current limiter of the type having at least one elongated core biased magnetically towards saturation by means of a surrounding magnetic field, and an AC coil surrounding the core, the fault current limiter including: an elongated core having a variable cross section along the axis of the core in the vicinity of the AC coil, providing increased saturation of the core and enhanced fault current limiting for a lower DC bias. |
| US09595375B2 |
Ceramic electronic component and method of manufacturing the same
A ceramic electronic component includes a rectangular or substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped stack in which a ceramic layer and an internal electrode are alternately stacked and an external electrode provided on a portion of a surface of the stack and electrically connected to the internal electrode. The external electrode includes an inner external electrode covering a portion of the surface of the stack and including a mixture of a resin component and a metal component and an outer external electrode covering the inner external electrode and including a metal component. A volume occupied by the resin component in the inner external electrode is within a prescribed range. |
| US09595373B2 |
Shelf brackets to conduct electricity to refrigerator shelves
Shelf brackets to conduct electricity to refrigerator shelves are disclosed. An example shelf bracket includes an end configured to engage a support rail, the end having a first area to conduct electricity from the support rail to the shelf bracket, an arm extending from the end to support the shelf, the arm comprising a second area to conduct electricity from the shelf bracket to the shelf, a non-electrically conductive coating applied to substantially all of the shelf bracket except in the first and second areas, a first electrically conductive material applied to at least a portion of the first area, and a second electrically conductive material applied to at least a portion of the second area, wherein the shelf bracket is formed from a third electrically conductive material, the third electrically conductive material to conduct electricity between the first and second areas. |
| US09595371B2 |
High density shielded electrical cable and other shielded cables, systems, and methods
A shielded cable includes a plurality of conductor sets. Each conductor set is substantially surrounded by a shield and includes two insulated conductors. The plurality of conductor sets includes adjacent first and second conductor sets. First and second non-conductive polymeric layers are disposed on opposite sides of the cable and include cover portions and pinched portions. The cover portions in combination substantially surround the plurality of conductor sets. The pinched portions in combination form pinched portions on each side of the cable. A first conductor of the first conductor set is nearest the second conductor set, and a second conductor of the second conductor set is nearest the first conductor set. The first and second conductors have a spacing S and respective outer dimensions D1 and D2. S/Dmin is from 1.7 to 2. Dmin is the lesser of D1 and D2. |
| US09595362B2 |
Conductive polymer composition comprising a sulfo group-containing dopant polymer
The present invention provides a conductive polymer composite including a π-conjugated polymer and a dopant polymer which contains a repeating unit “a” represented by the following general formula (1) and has a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 500,000, wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 represents a single bond, an ester group, or a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally containing either or both of an ether group and an ester group; Z represents a single bond, a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, an ether group, or an ester group; and “a” is a number satisfying 0 |
| US09595358B2 |
Long-term storage device including a ventilated storage case intended to house a containment case containing radioactive materials
The invention relates to a long-term storage device (1) intended to receive a containment case (3) containing radioactive materials, where this device includes a main body (2) having an inner surface delimiting a housing (7).According to the invention, in an unloaded configuration, in which the containment case containing radioactive materials is absent from the storage device, the latter includes a storage case (9) delimiting a cavity (4) to receive the containment case, where the storage device also includes ventilation means allowing air to circulate between the exterior of the storage device and a space delimited between the inner surface of the main body and the storage case (9). |
| US09595357B2 |
Passive cooling system of nuclear power plant
A passive cooling system of a nuclear power plant includes a steam generator, a cooling water storage tank, a water cooling heat exchanger, an air cooling heat exchanger, a divergence valve, and a cooling tower. The steam generator generates steam by heat exchange with a primary coolant system, and the cooling water storage tank stores cooling water therein. The water cooling heat exchanger is disposed in the cooling water storage tank, and the air cooling heat exchanger is connected to the steam generator. The divergence valve is controllable to divert steam from the steam generator into both the water cooling heat exchanger and the air cooling heat exchanger. Each of the cooling water storage tank, the water cooling heat exchanger, and the air cooling heat exchanger are located in the cooling tower. |
| US09595356B2 |
Nuclear reactor oscillation power range monitor, and method and program therefor
According to one embodiment, reactor oscillation power ranges monitor includes: a receiving unit which receives LPRM signals; an exclusion processing unit which searches the LPRM signals allocated to the cell for an LPRM signal corresponding to an exceptional condition; an averaging unit which averages the allocated LPRM signals; a time averaging unit which calculates a time average of the average flux value; a normalized value calculation unit which divides the average flux value by the time averaged flux value; an initialization unit which outputs an initialization signal identifying the cell allocated to an LPRM signal which is changed to correspond or not correspond to the exceptional condition; and a determination unit which derives at least one of amplitude and cycle of a power oscillation from the normalized value. |
| US09595353B2 |
Resistance-based memory with auxiliary redundancy information
A data storage device includes a resistance-based memory. A method includes storing a codeword into a first set of storage elements of the resistance-based memory. The codeword represents data to be stored, and the codeword includes first redundancy information associated with the data. The method further includes storing auxiliary redundancy information into a second set of storage elements of the resistance-based memory. The auxiliary redundancy information is associated with the data. The method further includes discarding the auxiliary redundancy information from the second set of storage elements while retaining the first redundancy information at the first set of storage elements. |
| US09595349B2 |
Hardware apparatuses and methods to check data storage devices for transient faults
Methods and apparatuses relating to a hardware memory test unit to check a section of a data storage device for a transient fault before the data is stored in and/or loaded from the section of the data storage device are described. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a hardware processor to operate on data in a section of a data storage device, and a memory test unit to check the section of the data storage device for a transient fault before the data is stored in the section of the data storage device, wherein the transient fault is to cause a machine check exception if accessed by the hardware processor. |
| US09595348B2 |
Memory circuit that updates and holds output signal based on fuse signal
A memory circuit includes: a control part configured to output a control signal; a fuse circuit which is driven by the control signal and is configured to output a fuse signal whose signal level is determined based on a state of a first fuse element; and a holding circuit configured to update and hold a signal based on the fuse signal in response to the control signal output from the control part and output the held signal as an output signal. |
| US09595347B2 |
Data retention monitoring using temperature history in solid state drives
Systems and methods for data retention manager in a solid state storage system utilizing temperature measurement mechanisms are disclosed. Background data scanning can provide an efficient way to monitor data health and can be used to determine whether data refreshing is needed or to prevent data retention from degrading beyond error correction capabilities. In certain embodiments, data scanning may be performed as a background process regularly, for example, every month. However, effects of temperature on data retention may not be adequately accounted for using such methods. Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide a numerical integral method for taking account the system temperature by using the acceleration factor for data retention. Embodiments disclosed herein may provide for accurate handling of data retention in view of complex device temperature history. |
| US09595345B2 |
Adaptive selective bit line pre-charge for current savings and fast programming
Techniques are provided for efficiently performing programming operations in a memory device. In particular, power consumption is reduced in sensing circuitry by avoiding pre-charging of bit lines for certain memory cells at certain times during a programming operation. One approach uses knowledge of the different phases of a programming operation to reduce the number of unnecessary bit line pre-charges. For example, during the lower program loop numbers of a programming operation, bit line pre-charging may occur for lower data states but not for higher data states. Similarly, during the higher program loop numbers, bit line pre-charging may occur for higher data states but not for lower data states. In another approach, which may or may not incorporate knowledge of the different phases of a programming operation, the setting of the bit line pre-charge can be updated at least once after it is initially set in the verify portion. |
| US09595344B2 |
Semiconductor memory device capable of shortening erase time
In a memory cell array, a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines are arranged in a matrix. A control circuit controls the potentials of said plurality of word lines and said plurality of bit lines. In an erase operation, the control circuit erases an n number of memory cells (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 2) of said plurality of memory cells at the same time using a first erase voltage, carries out a verify operation using a first verify level, finds the number of cells k (k≦n) exceeding the first verify level, determines a second erase voltage according to the number k, and carries out an erase operation again using the second erase voltage. |
| US09595338B2 |
Utilizing NAND strings in dummy blocks for faster bit line precharge
In NAND Flash memory, bit line precharge/discharge times can be a main component in determining program, erase and read performance. In a conventional arrangement bit line levels are set by the sense amps and bit lines are discharged to a source line level is through the sense amplifier path. Under this arrangement, precharge/discharge times are dominated by the far-side (relative to the sense amps) based on the bit lines' RC constant. Reduction of bit line precharge/discharge times, therefore, improves NAND Flash performance and subsequently the overall system performance. To addresses this, an additional path is introduced between bit lines to the common source level through the use of dummy NAND strings. In an exemplary 3D-NAND (BiCS) based embodiment, the dummy NAND strings are taken from dummy blocks, where the dummy blocks can be placed throughout the array to evenly distribute the discharging current. |
| US09595336B2 |
Vertical gate stacked NAND and row decoder for erase operation
A three-dimensional integrated circuit non-volatile memory array includes a memory array with multiple vertical gate NAND memory cell strings formed in a different vertical layers over a substrate which share a common set of word lines, where different groupings of NAND memory cell strings formed between dedicated pairings of source line structures and bit line structures form separately erasable blocks which are addressed and erased by applying an erase voltage to the source line structure of the erase block being erased while applying a ground voltage to the other source line structures in the array and a high pass voltage to the bit line structures in the array. |
| US09595333B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and programming method thereof
According to example embodiments, a nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of cell strings on a horizontal semiconductor layer. Each of the cell strings including a plurality of memory cells stacked in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal semiconductor layer. According to example embodiments, a programming method of the nonvolatile memory device includes setting up bitlines corresponding the cell strings, setting up a plurality of string select lines connected to the cell strings, and applying a negative voltage lower to a ground select line. The ground select line is connected to a plurality of ground select transistors between the memory cells and the semiconductor layer. The string select lines extend in a direction intersecting the bitlines. The negative voltage is lower than a ground voltage. |
| US09595329B1 |
Non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) with backup control
A memory system has a first plurality of non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) cells. Each NVRAM cell has a volatile portion coupled to a corresponding non-volatile portion. A non-volatile indicator circuit provides information as to whether the first plurality of NVRAM cells has the most recent data written into NVRAM cells in the non-volatile portions. |
| US09595327B2 |
Variable resistance memory device and verify method thereof
A resistance variable memory has a controller configured to control a voltage to be applied to the memory cell. The controller has a reset operation to bring the memory cell into a reset state, a first operation to apply a set voltage between the first wire and the second wire, a second operation to determine whether a current flowing to the memory cell to be set exceeds a first threshold when a first reading voltage is applied between the first wire and the second wire, a third operation to determine whether a current flowing to the memory cell to be set exceeds a second threshold when a second reading voltage is applied between the first wire and the second wire, and a fourth operation to apply a second reset voltage, between the first wire and the second wire. |
| US09595323B1 |
Word line compensation for memory arrays
A method is provided for operating a non-volatile storage system that includes a plurality of bit lines, a word line comb including a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of memory elements, each memory element coupled between one of the bit lines and one of the word lines. The method includes receiving a current conducted by the word line comb, estimating a resistance of a conductive path between the word line comb and a selected word line voltage node, and generating a voltage at the selected word line voltage node based on the received current and the estimated resistance so that a voltage of the word line comb substantially equals a reference voltage. |
| US09595319B2 |
Partial/full array/block erase for 2D/3D hierarchical NAND
A novel 2D/3D hierarchical-BL NAND array with at least one plane on independent Psubstrate comprising a plurality of LG groups respectively associated with a plurality of local bit lines (LBLs) laid at a level below a plurality of broken or non-broken global bit lines (GBLs) connected to Page Buffer. Each LG group includes multiple blocks and connects an independent power supply line to each of the plurality of LBLs. Each block including N-bit 2D/3D NAND strings each with S cells connected in series and terminated by two string-select devices and coupled to a common source line. In particular, random-size partial-block WLs are selected from each block of randomly selected LG groups of one plane of the 2D/3D NAND array for erase at the same time with border WLs being optionally preread and program into another plane of the 2D/3D NAND array or optionally saved off-chip and wrote back for data security. |
| US09595318B2 |
Reduced level cell mode for non-volatile memory
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for reduced level cell solid-state storage. A method includes determining that an erase block of a non-volatile storage device is to operate in a reduced level cell (RLC) mode. The non-volatile storage device may be configured to store at least three bits of data per storage cell. A method includes instructing the non-volatile storage device to program first and second pages of the erase block with data. A method includes instructing the non-volatile storage device to program a third page of the erase block with a predefined data pattern. Programming of a predefined data pattern may be configured to adjust which abodes of the erase block are available to represent stored user data values. |
| US09595308B1 |
Multiple-die synchronous insertion delay measurement circuit and methods
Circuitry and methods are disclosed for accurately measuring a latency of a data path through multiple FIFO buffers on separate semiconductor dies. A base latency of each FIFO may be measured by measuring an average occupancy of the FIFO. The base latency of each FIFO may then be adjusted using quantities measured using the circuitry and methods disclosed herein. These quantities may include: the phase delay difference between FIFO read and write clocks; and the insertion delay for the FIFO read clock. Furthermore, an insertion delay difference of the sampling clock between the separate dies may be measured and used to adjust these quantities. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. |
| US09595307B2 |
Volatile memory device and system-on-chip including the same
A volatile memory device includes a memory cell array configured to be supplied with a first power supply voltage through a first power supply line, and configured to store data based on the first power supply line; and a peripheral circuit configured to be supplied with a second power supply voltage through a second power supply line, and configured to control the memory cell array based on the second power supply line, the peripheral circuit including a self timing pulse circuit configured to determine an operation timing of the peripheral circuit, the self timing pulse circuit configured to be supplied with the first power supply voltage through the first power supply line, and the self timing pulse circuit being configured to adjust the operation timing of the peripheral circuit according to the voltage level of the first power supply voltage. |
| US09595305B1 |
Semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device may be provided. The semiconductor device may include a pre-charge pulse signal generation circuit configured to generate a pre-charge pulse signal based on the period control signal and a word line off signal. The enablement of the pre-charge pulse signal may be delayed based on the enablement of the word line off signal. |
| US09595298B2 |
Transforming data to create layouts
Concepts and technologies are described herein for transforming data to create layouts. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a computing device can execute a layout generator. The computing device can be configured to receive or retrieve data that includes visual content such as an image and other content such as text. The computing device can analyze the visual content to identify a salient region and/or an invariant region within the visual content. The computing device can access designs for laying out visual content and other content based upon an identified salient region and/or invariant region. The computing device can evaluate the designs to determine if a design matches the data. The computing device can load the data into the selected design to generate the layout. |
| US09595296B2 |
Multi-stage production pipeline system
Multi-stage production pipeline system that may be utilized in conjunction with a motion picture project management system. The multi-stage production pipeline system includes a computer and a database. The database includes metadata associated with at least one shot or associated with regions within the plurality of images in the at least one shot, or both. The computer includes a grouping tool interface for presenting user interface elements and accepting input of the metadata associated with the at least one shot or regions within the plurality of images in the at least one shot, or both. The system enables a large studio workforce to work non-linearly on a film while maintaining a unified vision driven by key creative figures, allowing for more consistent, higher quality, faster, less expensive work product and more efficient project management techniques. The system also enables reuse of project files, masks and other production elements across projects. |
| US09595292B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a specifying unit and a processing unit. The specifying unit specifies an editing position in moving image data contained in a moving image file. The moving image file includes a first moving image file recorded in response to a plurality of recording instructions and a second moving image file recorded in response to a single recording instruction. The specifying unit changes the editing position to any positions corresponding to connection positions of the plurality of moving image data pieces according to a predetermined instruction when specifying the editing position in the first moving image file, and changes the editing position while using a predetermine number of frames in the moving image data contained in the second moving image file as a unit therefor according to the predetermined instruction when specifying the editing position in the second moving image file. The processing unit performs editing processing. |
| US09595290B2 |
Method of manufacturing fluid bearing apparatus and spindle motor including press working a cylindrical inner surface provided with a plating layer
A method of manufacturing a fluid bearing apparatus includes plating a metallic base material including a cylindrical base material inner circumferential surface, and pressing by bringing a contact portion of a pressing member into contact with a plating layer on the base material inner circumferential surface in the plating step. At least a portion of the pressing member including the contact portion has a Young's modulus equal to or greater than a Young's modulus of the base material. In the pressing step a surface of the plating layer is smoothened without causing a plastic deformation of the base material by bringing the pressing member into contact with the plating layer. |
| US09595289B2 |
Providing device-level functionality without altering instructions stored in device memory
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media provide device-level functionality without altering device memory. A non-transitory machine-readable medium can store a first set of instructions that are executed by the machine to provide device-level functionality unsupported by a second set of instructions stored in device memory associated with the machine without altering the second set of instructions stored in the device memory. For example, the machine can be an optical disc player and the medium can be an optical disc. |
| US09595285B2 |
Magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes an orientation control layer formed on a non-magnetic substrate, the orientation control layer made of a Ni alloy or Ag alloy having fcc structure, a non-magnetic seed layer made of Ag, Ge, and a metal X selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Au, and Ti, a non-magnetic intermediate layer made of Ru or Ru alloy, and a magnetic recording layer. The orientation control layer is in contact with the non-magnetic seed layer. |
| US09595282B2 |
Magnetic recording medium having a L10-type ordered alloy
According to one embodiment, a magnetic medium includes a substrate, and a magnetic recording layer positioned above the substrate, the magnetic recording layer including an ordered alloy having a L10-type structure, where the ordered alloy comprises a plurality of ferromagnetic crystal grains surrounded by non-magnetic grain boundaries, and where the ordered alloy comprises Fe, Ni and Pt. |
| US09595279B1 |
Accelerating thermal decay of a harmonic-ratio reference track
A reference track written to a magnetic recording medium includes at least two harmonics that facilitate measuring a clearance between a read/write head and the recording medium. A magnetic field is applied to the reference track that accelerates a thermal decay of the reference track without erasing data of the reference track. |
| US09595277B2 |
Thermally assisted writer protrusion determination and control
Method and apparatus for controlling the fly height of a transducer. In some embodiments, a data pattern is written to a rotating data recording surface using a transducer having a write element, a read element and a thermal assist energy source. A first protrusion distance for the read element induced by operation of the energy source is determined responsive to first and second readback amplitudes obtained from the data pattern using different first and second power levels applied to the energy source. A second protrusion distance for the write element induced by the energy source is determined responsive to the first protrusion distance. |
| US09595276B2 |
Magnetic head and system having offset arrays
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes at least first and second modules, a mechanism for orienting the modules to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape, and a controller physically configured to determine a state of expansion of the tape based on a readback signal from the tape. Each of the modules have an array of transducers. The first and second modules are fixed relative to each other. The transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross when longitudinal axes of the arrays are oriented at an angle greater than 0.2° relative to a line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel. The controller is physically configured to control the mechanism for altering the angle of the modules away from the nominal angle based on the state of expansion of the tape. |
| US09595275B1 |
Reset of magnetic domains in write head via magnetic field from media
A method of removing a magnetic domain from a slider structure, such as a shield of a write head, in a storage assembly having a storage media. The method includes passing the slider structure in close proximity to a region on the storage media having a magnetic field sufficiently large to remove a magnetic domain in the slider structure. |
| US09595268B2 |
Method and a decoder for attenuation of signal regions reconstructed with low accuracy
The embodiments of the present invention improves conventional attenuation schemes by replacing constant attenuation with an adaptive attenuation scheme that allows more aggressive attenuation, without introducing audible change of signal frequency characteristics. |
| US09595267B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding an audio signal
Method and apparatus for processing audio signals are provided. The method for decoding an audio signal includes extracting a downmix signal and spatial information from a received audio signal, generating surround converting information using the spatial information and rendering the downmix signal to generate a pseudo-surround signal in a previously set rendering domain, using the surround converting information. The apparatus for decoding an audio signal includes a demultiplexing part extracting a downmix signal and spatial information from a received audio signal, an information converting part generating surround converting information using the spatial information and a pseudo-surround generating part rendering the downmix signal to generate a pseudo-surround signal in a previous set rendering domain, using the surround converting information. |
| US09595264B2 |
Audio search using codec frames
To detect events in an audio stream, frames of an audio signal (e.g., frames generated by a codec for a voice call or music stream) are received. Based on information in the frames, an index is used to look up an entry in a table associated with the codec. Each entry in the table indicates a likelihood that a frame matches a sound model element. The likelihood is used in the search for a sound bite, word, and/or phrase in the audio signal. The process of dynamic programming is used to find the combined likelihood for a match of the word, phrase, and/or sound bite to a region of the audio stream. Upon detection of the word, phrase, and/or sound bite in the audio stream, an event is generated, such as, notifying a person or logging the event in a database. |
| US09595258B2 |
Context-based smartphone sensor logic
Methods employ sensors in portable devices (e.g., smartphones) both to sense content information (e.g., audio and imagery) and context information. Device processing is desirably dependent on both. For example, some embodiments activate certain processor intensive operations (e.g., content recognition) based on classification of sensed content and context. The context can control the location where information produced from such operations is stored, or control an alert signal indicating, e.g., that sensed speech is being transcribed. Some arrangements post sensor data collected by one device to a cloud repository, for access and processing by other devices. Multiple devices can collaborate in collecting and processing data, to exploit advantages each may have (e.g., in location, processing ability, social network resources, etc.). A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US09595256B2 |
System and method for singing synthesis
A singing synthesis section for generating singing by integrating into one singing a plurality of vocals sung by a singer a plurality of times or vocals of which parts that he/she does not like are sung again. A music audio signal playback section plays back the music audio signal from a signal portion or its immediately preceding signal corresponding to a character in the lyrics when the character displayed on the display screen is selected by a character selecting section. An estimation and analysis data storing section automatically aligns the lyrics with the vocal, decomposes the vocal into three elements, pitch, power, and timber, and stores them. A data selecting section allows the user to select each of the three elements for respective time periods of phonemes. The data editing section modifies the time periods of the three elements in alignment with the modified time periods of the phonemes. |
| US09595255B2 |
Single interface for local and remote speech synthesis
Features are disclosed for providing a consistent interface for local and distributed text to speech (TTS) systems. Some portions of the TTS system, such as voices and TTS engine components, may be installed on a client device, and some may be present on a remote system accessible via a network link. Determinations can be made regarding which TTS system components to implement on the client device and which to implement on the remote server. The consistent interface facilitates connecting to or otherwise employing the TTS system through use of the same methods and techniques regardless of the which TTS system configuration is implemented. |
| US09595253B2 |
Active noise reduction system, and vehicular active noise reduction system
A vehicular active noise reduction system includes a first microphone and first speaker disposed in a front-seat space, a second microphone and second speaker disposed in a back-seat space, and an active noise reduction device that performs control to output cancellation sound, to reduce noise in a cabin, from the first speaker and second speaker. When generating a first composite audio, the active noise reduction device removes audio components belonging to a frequency band relating to a second cancellation sound from audio collected by the first microphone, and when generating a second composite audio, removes audio components belonging to a frequency band relating to a first cancellation sound from audio collected by the second microphone. |
| US09595252B2 |
Noise reduction audio reproducing device and noise reduction audio reproducing method
A noise reduction audio reproducing method includes the steps of: generating, from an audio signal of collected and obtained noise, an audio signal for noise cancellation to cancel the noise by synthesizing the audio signal for noise cancellation and the noise in an acoustic manner, reproducing the audio signal for noise cancellation acoustically to synthesize this with the noise in an acoustic manner; emphasizing an audio component to be listened to, of collected audio; synthesizing an audio signal with the audio component to be listened to being emphasized, and the audio signal for noise cancellation to supply the synthesized signal thereof to an electro-acoustic converting unit; and controlling so as to supply an audio signal, with the audio component to be listened to having been emphasized, to a synthesizing unit, regarding only a section based on a control signal. |
| US09595251B2 |
Sound placement of comfort zones
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a device for noise cancelling using a method of updating a noise cancelling distribution area. The device may include: a memory; a processor configured to: measure a location of a user's head; measure an acoustic environment surrounding the user; determine active noise reduction controller configuration parameters for a noise cancelling distribution area; generate at least one active noise reduction control from the active noise reduction controller configuration parameters; and apply the at least one active noise reduction control creating the noise cancelling distribution area in a region around the user's head or ear. |
| US09595250B2 |
Handheld vibration control device for musical instruments
A handheld device for controlling a vibration of a resonant musical member of a musical instrument includes a handheld housing; at least one transducer on the housing that is configured to sense a proximity and/or vibration of a resonant musical member and output an actuating vibratory electromagnetic force based on the vibration of the resonant musical member; and a haptic component on the housing that is configured to output a tactile feedback responsive to a location and/or vibration of a resonant musical member. |
| US09595246B2 |
Adjustable brass valve
An adjustable valve for a musical instrument, such as a trumpet, allows valve alignment to be adjusted without removing the valve from the instrument. The adjustable valve fits and looks like a standard valve. Rotation of a finger button of the valve causes an upper portion of an adjustable stem to rotate with respect to a lower portion of the adjustable stem that is threadably coupled to the upper portion, resulting in control over the length of the adjustable stem. Increasing or decreasing the length of the adjustable stem changes the alignment of the valve piston within the valve tube. Control over piston alignment is achieved by rotating the finger button, and thus is achieved without the need to remove the valve from the instrument. |
| US09595244B2 |
Musical instrument
A stringed musical instrument includes a string which, when vibrated, produces sound. Both ends of the vibrating portion of the string touch glass. |
| US09595239B2 |
Color display calibration system
A display calibration system may be used to calibrate a display. The display calibration system may have an image sensor that captures images of the display. An electrically controllable tunable filter such as an electrically tunable liquid crystal birefringence cell filter may be used to produce various wavelength-dependent filter characteristics in accordance with a variety of different filter settings. Control circuitry in the display calibration system may be used to adjust the filter to implement one or more color matching functions or to produce other desired filter characteristics for the display calibration system. The image sensor may measure light emitted from the display while the control circuitry is adjusting the filter. The control circuitry may then process the measured light to produce calibration data for the display. The calibration data may be loaded into the display by the control circuitry to calibrate the display. |
| US09595238B2 |
Electronic device, cover for electronic device, and method of performing a function in an electronic device
An electronic device, a cover of the electronic device, and a method of performing a function in the electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display unit configured to display information and a controller configured to detect whether a display screen is covered with one or more parts a cover covering the display unit, and to perform a predetermined function if the display screen is covered with the one or more parts of the cover. Another embodiment may be implemented at any amount. |
| US09595237B2 |
Head-mounted display apparatus for retaining a portable electronic device with display
Head-mounted display systems and methods of operation that allow users to couple and decouple a portable electronic device such as a handheld portable electronic device with a separate head-mounted device (e.g., temporarily integrates the separate devices into a single unit) are disclosed. The portable electronic may be physically coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device can be worn on the user's head. The portable electronic device may be operatively coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device and head mounted device can communicate and operate with one another. Each device may be allowed to extend its features and/or services to the other device for the purpose of enhancing, increasing and/or eliminating redundant functions between the head-mounted device and the portable electronic device. |
| US09595234B2 |
Scan driving circuit having pull-up control assembly and LCD device
A scan driving circuit includes a pull-up assembly, a pull-up control assembly that drives the pull-up assembly, a pull-down maintaining assembly, and a reference low-level signal. The reference low-level signal includes a first reference low-level signal and a second reference low-level signal. When the current scanning line is inactive, the pull-down maintaining assembly controls the reference low-level to be sent to the current scanning line and the output end of the pull-up control assembly according to a pull-down maintaining signal. |
| US09595227B2 |
Pixel circuit and driving method thereof, organic light emitting display panel and display apparatus
A pixel circuit and a driving method thereof, an organic light emitting display panel and a display apparatus, comprise: a light emitting device, a driving control module, a charging control module, a compensating control module and a light emitting control module; the light emitting control module controls the charging control module to charge driving control module under the control of the first scanning signal terminal and the light emitting signal terminal; the compensating control module transmits a data signal send from the data signal terminal to the first input terminal of the driving control module through the charging control module under the control of the second scanning signal terminal; and the light emitting control module and the compensating control module control jointly the driving control module to drive the light emitting device to emit light under the control of the second scanning signal terminal and the light emitting signal terminal. |
| US09595223B2 |
Pixel driving circuit and driving method thereof, array substrate and display apparatus
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a pixel driving circuit and a driving method thereof, an array substrate and a display apparatus, which is able to avoid an influence on a driving current of an active light emitting device caused by a drift in a threshold voltage of a driving transistor. The pixel driving circuit comprises a data line, a first scan line, a second scan line, a signal controlling line, a light emitting device, a storage capacitor, a driving transistor, a first switch transistor, a second switch transistor, a third switch transistor, a fourth switch transistor and a fifth switch transistor. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a display manufacture. |
| US09595220B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display and method of driving the same
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and a method of driving the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels each including an OLED through which driving current is configured to flow and a scan driver configured to apply a scan signal to the display panel. The display also includes a data driver configured to apply a data signal and a data comparison signal to the display panel, wherein the data comparison signal indicates whether the same data signal is applied to adjacent pixels among the pixels, and a timing controller configured to control the scan driver and the data driver. The display further includes a bridge unit configured to control the OLEDs of the adjacent pixels to share the same driving current with each other based at least in part on the scan signal and the data comparison signal. |
| US09595219B2 |
Scan driver and display device using the same
A scan driver and display device using the same are disclosed. The display device includes display panel, a data driver configured to supply a data signal to the display panel, and a scan driver formed in a non-display area of the display panel, including a shift register composed of a plurality of stages and a level shifter formed outside the display panel, and configured to supply a scan signal to the display panel using the shift register and the level shifter. The scan driver comprises: a sensor circuit unit configured to sense internal and external environmental conditions and generate a compensation circuit control signal on the basis of a sensed result; and a compensation circuit unit generating a compensation signal to compensate outputs of the plurality of stages in response to the compensation circuit control signal. |
| US09595216B2 |
Display apparatus and power supplying method performed by display apparatus in different power modes
A display apparatus and a power providing method performed by the display apparatus including a panel that operates in a normal mode or a low power display mode; a power supplying unit that outputs a first high voltage and a first low voltage to the panel in the normal mode, wherein the first high voltage and the first low voltage are first power voltages; and a driving integrated circuit that selectively receives a plurality of input voltages according to a display mode, and that outputs a second high voltage and a second low voltage to the panel in the low power display mode, wherein the second high voltage and the second low voltage are second power voltages. |
| US09595212B2 |
Systems and methods of providing adjustable signage
Architectural signage and the providing of systems and methods for adjustable signage suitable for operation with one hand. A signage assembly may include a slider panel assembly having a back plate and a plurality of slider portions, where each of the slider portions may include a guidance tongue formed from a portion of the back plate. The guidance tongue may include a lock button extending from a front face of the guidance tongue, wherein the guidance tongue is configured to flex in a direction perpendicular to or from a front face of the back plate to allow insertion of a slidable tab with reduced interference from the lock button, and wherein the lock button is configured to mate with a lock pocket of a slidable tab when the slidable tab is fully extended. |
| US09595210B1 |
Cable marking system
A marking system for displaying usable information on URD cables comprising at least one marker comprising a clip and a placard, the clip having a first and second leg and being dimensioned to snugly engage a URD cable. |
| US09595206B2 |
System and method for in vitro blood vessel modeling
The present invention provides an in vitro blood vessel model for investigation of drug induced vascular injury and other vascular pathologies. The in vitro blood vessel model provides two channels separated by a porous membrane that is coated on one side by an endothelial cell layer and is coated on the other side by a smooth muscle cell layer, wherein said model is susceptible to the extravasation of red blood cells across said porous membrane due to drug induced vascular injury. |
| US09595205B2 |
Systems and methods for goal-based programming instruction
A computer-implemented method according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes receiving, by a computer system, a selection of a programming goal; identifying a skill associated with the goal; and generating, by the computer system, a lesson module for teaching the skill, the lesson module including an ordered list of steps for presentation to a student to teach the skill. |
| US09595204B2 |
Relationship performance system and method
An apparatus for negotiating a work role relationship between two participants, comprising a Dialog and Agreement Board with multiple in-dialog areas where participants place one or more cards representing elements or parts of the work role relationship or personal characteristics related to the work role, and with a commitment area upon which cards can be taken from the in-dialog areas and placed to represent agreed-upon commitments by the participants. An agreement between the participants may be documented manually or automatically, in whole or in part. Components marked with bar codes can be read for entry into a computer program for documenting agreements. |
| US09595202B2 |
Programming learning center
A programming learning center includes a learning center workshop and a learning module generator. The learning center workshop allows a user to create a computing program by connecting programming blocks portrayed visually within the learning center workshop as building blocks. The learning module generator generates a learning module from the computing program. The learning module iterates through the computing program to generate a sequential list of steps. The learning module generator allows the user to add notations to the sequential list of steps and to reorder steps in the sequential list of steps. |
| US09595198B2 |
Unmanned aerial system position reporting system
An unmanned aerial system (UAS) position reporting system may include an air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS) coupled with a ground control station (GCS) of a UAS and at least one network-connected remote terminal. The ATC-RS may include an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver and one or more telecommunications modems. The ATC-RS may receive position data of at least one UAS in an airspace from the GCS and the at least one network-connected remote terminal and selectively communicate the position of the at least one UAS in the airspace to a civilian air traffic control center (ATC), to a military command and control (C2) communication center, or to both through the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver. The ATC-RS may display the position of the at least one UAS in the airspace on a display screen coupled with the ATC-RS. |
| US09595194B1 |
Sensor system and algorithm for reliable truck stop parking indications
A method and system of providing information and directions to truck drivers in relation to the availability of specifically marked parking places within a certain highway truck stop area is provided. Such a method includes the utilization of properly placed sensors working in combination with a particular algorithm to provide reliable information in terms of actual availability of such spaces as well as indications as to the actual size of the vehicles parked within such spaces at specific times. As such, this system accords a manner of properly notifying truck drivers of the availability of parking spaces along a highway from a distance, as well as the potential to reserve such spaces on demand. Additionally, then, the ability to indicate the presence of a smaller vehicle that attempts to utilize such a parking space in unauthorized fashion may be handled within a remote platform. |
| US09595192B1 |
Traffic violation detection system
The traffic violation detection system includes a series of smart road studs embedded in the roadway acting as sensors for vehicles moving in the prohibited manner. The road studs have a refraction surface on their upper surfaces for reflecting light to a solar panel, or may have the solar panel without the refraction surface. When the road studs initially sense a violating moving vehicle, an alert is sounded to warn the driver. If the vehicle continues to move in violation, a camera system is activated. The camera system includes solar panels, a camera lens, a light emitting flash mechanism, a distance IR sensor, and controls, all positioned on top of a vertically movable, hydraulic cylinder. The camera assembly is normally hidden underground but will rise to record images when activated by the road stud system. The images are sent to a central monitoring unit in a traffic monitoring building. |
| US09595190B2 |
Intelligent public transit system using dual-mode vehicles
A method has steps for dividing a controlled roadway into virtual moving packets with characteristics of being spaced apart by a specific distance and moving at a controlled speed on the roadway, by a master computer coupled to sensors and actuators of the controlled roadway, managing vehicles traveling on the controlled roadway to enter, leave and occupy individual ones of the virtual packets, through communication by the master computer with on-board computers in individual ones of the vehicles, and adjusting virtual packet size and spacing during operation, causing vehicles occupying the spaces of the virtual packets to readjust position relative to one another according to the size and spacing adjustment of the packets by the master computer. |
| US09595186B2 |
Electronic device combining functions of touch screen and remote control and operation control method thereof
An electronic device having a touch screen and an operation control method thereof are provided. The electronic includes a touch screen which receives a plurality of manipulations; and a controller which determines whether a second manipulation is made on a screen displayed on the touch screen during a predetermined time period after a first manipulation is made on the screen, and controls to perform an operation corresponding to the second manipulation instead of an operation corresponding to the first manipulation to be performed, if the second manipulation is made during the predetermined time after the first manipulation is made. |
| US09595182B2 |
Method and system for configurable security and surveillance systems
A method and system for a configurable security and surveillance system are provided. A configurable security and surveillance system may comprise at least one programmable sensor agent and/or at least one programmable content analysis agent. A plurality of processing features may be offered by the configurable security and surveillance system by programming configurable hardware devices in the programmable sensor agents and/or the programmable content analysis agents via a system manager. Device programming files may be utilized to program the configurable hardware devices. The device programming files may be encrypted and decryption keys may be requested to enable the programming of different processing features into the programmable sensor agents and/or the programmable content analysis agents. The device programming files and/or the decryption keys may be received via a network transfer and/or via a machine-readable media from an e-commerce vendor. |
| US09595172B2 |
Dataglove having tactile feedback and method
A data glove for generating tactile feedback at a finger upon interaction of the finger with an interaction element on an infrared touchscreen includes receiving elements for receiving the fingers of an operator and stimulators for generating tactile feedback attached on the finger-receiving elements. The date glove also includes elements for identifying the finger interacting with the infrared touchscreen and a signal generator for exciting the stimulator of the interacting finger upon successful actuation of an interaction element on the infrared touchscreen. |
| US09595168B2 |
Online social gaming with incentives
A game platform can distinguishes between users in different jurisdictions, can offer eligible players the choice of playing games with the opportunity to enter sweepstakes for monetary and non-monetary rewards, and allows heterogeneous users—those eligible as well as ineligible for monetary reward—to participate in game activity as part of teams. |
| US09595167B2 |
Wagering game system with pausing feature
A gaming system includes one or more controllers and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more controllers, cause the gaming system to initiate a wagering game to be played via a gaming machine and in response to a pause event, temporarily pause the wagering game-in-progress, prior to revealing a final outcome of the wagering game. While the game-in-progress is paused, the one or more controllers allow the gaining machine to participate in a community event along with a plurality of other gaming machines and in response to an end-pause event associated with the community event, reinstate the paused game-in-progress at the gaming machine. |
| US09595162B2 |
Community game having online and land-based game play
In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes permitting a plurality of wagering game terminals to participate in a community game in a land-based gaming establishment. The method includes permitting a player device remote from the land-based gaming establishment to play an online game. The method also includes modifying, by at least one of one or more processors, the community game based on an event in the online game. |
| US09595161B2 |
Social gaming
In one embodiment, a system, apparatus, and method for social gaming may include a gaming machine configured to play a game of chance and produce game information. A social gaming server can be configured to communicate with the gaming machine, may establish a remote gaming session between the gaming machine and a user device, and may distribute the portion of the game information to the user device. |
| US09595160B2 |
Wagering game community environment
A wagering game community environment is described herein. In some embodiments, the environment includes a community server to provide services for a wagering game community. In some embodiments, the community server comprises a communications controller configured to receive communications from community terminals and to send the communications to wagering game machines. In some embodiments, the community server also includes a promotions controller configured to award promotional material to members of the virtual community based on their use of the community terminals, the promotional material being for use in wagering games available on the wagering game machines. |
| US09595159B2 |
System and method for multi-game, multi-play of live dealer games
A system and method for providing multiple synchronous games for multiple plays from a live table game located in a casino includes a physical game table, a physical game system for playing a live table game in connection with the physical game table to generate a single live game data sequence by a live dealer operating the physical game system, a game server to receive the single live game data sequence and generate multiple synchronous games from the single live game data sequence, and one or more electronic gaming terminals in communication with the game server, each of the one or more electronic gaming terminals having a display to display the multiple synchronous games and an input mechanism to input one or more wagers on the multiple synchronous games. The game server is configured to receive the one or more wagers on the multiple synchronous games from the one or more electronic game terminals, to provide the multiple synchronous games to the one or more electronic gaming terminals synchronously, to determine results of the multiple synchronous games, to resolve the one or more wagers on the multiple synchronous games synchronously from the one or more electronic game terminals, and to payout rewards on the multiple synchronous games to the one or more electronic game terminals. |
| US09595153B2 |
Medium handling apparatus
Tapes holding bills and wound round a drum are pressed against the drum by a winding roller, and the tapes are further pressed against the drum by a guide roller provided downstream of the winding roller in the tape winding direction of the drum. Thus, bills difficult to be curved along the outer circumferential surface of the drum, such as creased or wrinkled bills, can be curved along the outer circumferential surface of the drum, and the bills wound round the drum can be prevented from shifting or skewing. |
| US09595147B2 |
Vehicle input device
A vehicle input device for reducing the number of input operation keys of input operation devices that are arranged in a vehicle to control an operation of a large number of controlled apparatuses arranged in the vehicle is provided. An entry key for unlocking or locking a vehicle door is positioned to be movable in a specific input operation direction with respect to a housing fixed inside the vehicle. When the entry key is moved in the input operation direction, the movement is detected, whereby the entry key itself is used as an input operation key for controlling the operation of the controlled apparatuses arranged in the vehicle. |
| US09595143B1 |
Systems, apparatus, and methods for continuous authentication
Systems, apparatus, and methods for continuously authenticating individuals are provided. A continuous authentication system receives first biometric authentication information from an individual. The system compares the first biometric authentication information to stored first biometric information to identify the individual and links the identified individual to a device for obtaining second biometric authentication information. The device for obtaining second biometric authentication information continuously receives second biometric authentication information. The continuous authentication system compares the received second biometric authentication information to stored second biometric information that corresponds to the individual to determine if the received second biometric authentication information corresponds to the individual. The individual may be granted access to one or more access points if it is determined that the received second biometric authentication information corresponds to the individual. |
| US09595140B2 |
Graphical user interface with search function
A graphical user interface is provided that can be used on a diagnostic tool. The graphical user interface allows a technician to operate various functions of the diagnostic tool including searching for additional information on the Internet, receiving weather information that is relevant to certain diagnostic tests, and displaying in certain formats the retrieved vehicle data and when certain vehicles were last scanned or diagnosed. |
| US09595139B1 |
Universal tolling system and method
System, arrangement and method for tolling includes a location determining system arranged at least partly in a vehicle to determine the vehicle location during vehicular travel, a memory device that stores data about predetermined locations, and a processor coupled to the location determining system and that compares the determined vehicle location to data in the memory device to determine whether a transmission of the location is necessary and if so, directs the transmission to a remote site via the Internet. The memory device and/or processor may also be arranged on the vehicle, i.e., to provide a completely vehicle-resident system that may be installed on the vehicle during manufacture or retrofit to the vehicle. |
| US09595135B2 |
Technique for mapping a texture onto a three-dimensional model
A stroke parameterization engine within a rendering engine is configured to map a texture to the surface of a three-dimensional (3D) model along a stroke defined by an end-user of the rendering engine. The stroke parameterization engine converts the stroke to a polyline, then generates a geodesic trace by sliding a geodesic circle along the polyline and collecting points associated with the 3D model that fall within the geodesic circle. The stroke parameterization engine then parameterizes points associated with the polyline and the geodesic trace using UV coordinates associated with a texture map, thereby generating UV coordinates for each point within the polyline and geodesic trace. The stroke parameterization engine then projects the texture map onto the surface of the 3D model using the UV coordinates generated for the polyline and geodesic trace. |
| US09595133B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium for defining tiles with limited numbers of fragments
An information processing apparatus obtains a number of fragments existing on a straight line defined by each pixel of a rectangular image into which a 3D scene is to be rendered for a predetermined viewpoint and a viewpoint, and divides a two-dimensional region in a screen coordinate system corresponding to the rectangular image into a plurality of regions which are processing units for which a predetermined calculation is performed. The apparatus divides the two-dimensional region into different regions by one or more straight line such that a difference in summations of the numbers of fragments included in the regions after the division becomes a minimum. |
| US09595128B2 |
Depth dependent filtering of image signal
A method and apparatus for rendering of image data for a multi-view display, such as image data for a lenticular auto-stereoscopic display, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of receiving an image signal representing a first image, the first image comprising 3D image data, and spatially filtering the first image signal to provide a second image signal. The second image signal represents a second image, the spatial filtering being, e.g., a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter or a combination of a low-pass and a high-pass filter. A strength of the spatial filter is determined by a reference depth of the first image and a depth of an image element of the first image. The second image is sampled to a plurality of sub-images, each sub-image being associated with a view direction of the image. |
| US09595127B2 |
Three-dimensional collaboration
Remote collaboration of a subject and a graphics object in a same view of a 3D scene. In one embodiment, one or more cameras of a collaboration system may be configured to capture images of a subject and track the subject (e.g., head of a user, other physical object). The images may be processed and provided to another collaboration system along with a determined viewpoint of the user. The other collaboration system may be configured to render and project the captured images and a graphics object in the same view of a 3D scene. |
| US09595124B2 |
Adding user-selected mark-ups to a video stream
Methods and systems for adding a mark-up to a video stream. One method includes receiving, with a computing device, a video stream from an image sensor and metadata associated with at least one mark-up. The method also includes processing, with the computing device, the metadata to generate the at least one mark-up for the video stream and displaying the at least one mark-up overlaid on the video stream. |
| US09595122B2 |
Drawing apparatus and drawing method
A drawing apparatus includes a flow line generation section configured to generate the flow line from a predetermined start position; a view setting section configured to set the viewpoint position in the 3D-space; a band-of-facets forming section configured to form a band of facets connecting a plurality of polygon facets along the flow line based on the set viewpoint position; and a texture mapping section configured to map texture onto each of the plurality of polygon facets. The texture represents reflected light on the band of facets with respect to a light source placed at a predetermined position in the 3D-space. |
| US09595119B2 |
Display panel and display device having the same
A display panel with a plurality of unit pixels, each of the plurality of unit pixels including a first sub-pixel having a polygonal shape having five or more sides, a second sub-pixel having a rectangular shape, and a third sub-pixel having a polygonal shape having five or more sides, the first, second, and third sub-pixels being configured to emit light having different colors from each other, and the first sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel being symmetrically arranged with respect to the second sub-pixel. |
| US09595118B2 |
System for generating non-homogenous light and associated methods
A lighting apparatus comprising a plurality of luminaires, each luminaire comprising a controller configured to operate the luminaire and positioned in communication with a computerized device. Each luminaire may be selectively operable to emit source light characterized by a dominant source light wavelength within a range from 390 nanometers to 750 nanometers. Additionally, at least two of the plurality of luminaires may be operable to emit source lights with different dominant source light wavelengths, and such that one or more source lights emitted by the plurality of luminaires may combine to form a combined light at a distance from the plurality of luminaires defined as a combining distance. Furthermore, the dominant source light wavelength of at least some of the luminaires of the plurality of luminaires may be variable with time. |
| US09595114B2 |
Semi automatic target initialization method based on visual saliency
Target initialization can dramatically change the performance of the tracker, since the initial window determines for the tracker what to track. In order to achieve a better tracking performance; The present invention relates to a method of semi automatic target initialization based on visual saliency for a given point coordinate in the vicinity of target by the user. Performance boost of tracker is mainly based on two key features of target initialization algorithm: It is capable of compensating erroneous user input; also selecting the most distinctive, salient part of object as target, so better discrimination is achieved between the target and background. Experimental results show that tracking performance is boosted in scenarios, in which the tracking is initialized by the proposed algorithm. Very low computational cost and requirement of only a point coordinate as input in the neighborhood of the target make this approach preferable in real time tracking applications. |
| US09595113B2 |
Image transmission system, image processing apparatus, image storage apparatus, and control methods thereof
A transmission device divides image data into a plurality of regions on the basis of a similarity of pixels and transmits the image data and region representative points of the plurality of regions. A reception device receives the image data and the region representative points transmitted from the transmission device. The reception device generates region labels used for identifying the plurality of regions using the image data and the region representative points. |
| US09595110B2 |
Disparity deriving apparatus, movable apparatus, robot, method of deriving disparity, method of producing disparity, program, and storage medium
A disparity deriving apparatus for deriving disparity of an object based on a captured reference image of the object and a captured comparison image of the object includes a calculator to calculate costs between a first reference area in the reference image and each one of corresponding areas in the comparison image, and costs between a second reference area and each one of corresponding areas corresponding to the second reference area in the comparison image; a synthesizer to synthesize the costs of the first reference area, and the costs of the second reference area as synthesis costs; a deriving unit to derive a disparity value of the object captured in the first reference area based on the synthesized synthesis cost; and an output unit to output the derived disparity value and a specific cost of the first reference area identified by the derived disparity value. |
| US09595109B1 |
Digital camera with orientation sensor for optical tracking of objects
An object tracking system has an inertial orientation sensor attached to a camera. The sensor uses a rigid body position and orientation (with or without markers) visible to the camera for determining the orientation and the position of the object in the global reference frame, when the camera is not rigidly fixed. Another orientation sensor is attached to the object in order to keep tracking of its orientation when a valid tracking of the object cannot be obtained from the camera. The data from the orientation sensor attached to the object and the data from the orientation sensor attached to the camera is used to increase the accuracy of the optical tracking of the object. |
| US09595108B2 |
System and method for object extraction
A system and method for capturing images from various angles of an object that is resting on an orientation indication background, using a camera of a mobile device and visible light. The images are processed to construct a three dimensional image model and a representation of the three dimensional image model are displayed on an electronic display screen and manipulated or embedded into a video game. |
| US09595102B2 |
Method and a system for registering a 3D pre acquired image coordinate system with a medical positioning system coordinate system and with a 2D image coordinate system
A method for registering a three dimensional (3D) coordinates system with a Medical Positioning System (MPS) coordinate system and with a two dimensional (2D) coordinate system, includes acquiring at least one 2D image of a volume of interest, the volume of interest including at least one tubular organ within the body of a patient. The 2D image is associated with the 2D coordinate system, and a plurality of MPS points is acquired, within the at least one tubular organ. The MPS points are associated with the MPS coordinate system, the MPS coordinate system being registered with the 2D coordinate system. A 3D image model is extracted of the at least one tubular organ form a pre-acquired 3D image of the volume of interest. A volumetric model of the at least one tubular organ from the 2D image is estimated and from the acquired MPS points, the 3D coordinate system is registered with the MPS coordinate system and with the 2D coordinate system by matching the extracted 3D image model and the estimated volumetric model of the at least one tubular organ. |
| US09595101B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus, image processing apparatus, and image processing method
An X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment includes acquiring circuitry and processing circuitry. The acquiring circuitry is configured to count photons derived from X-rays that have passed through a subject and to acquire a result obtained by discriminating energy levels of the counted photons as a counting result. The processing circuitry is configured to notify the acquiring circuitry of an energy dividing set that is set in accordance with an X-ray absorption characteristic of a substance designated by an operator, to receive the counting result acquired by the acquiring circuitry by allocating a counted value to each of a plurality of energy discrimination regions that are set in the energy dividing set, and to reconstruct image data by using the received counting result. |
| US09595098B2 |
Image overlaying and comparison for inventory display auditing
Example methods disclosed herein to perform inventory display auditing include comparing a reference image of an inventory display obtained during a prior audit of the inventory display with a current image captured by a camera to determine whether the current image corresponds to the same inventory display as the reference image. Disclosed example methods also include, when the current image is determined to correspond to the same inventory display as the reference image, identifying a difference region in the current image corresponding to a portion of the inventory display that changed relative to the prior audit. Disclosed example methods further include, while the current image is displayed on a display screen, modifying a characteristic of the current image in the difference region to indicate a change in product inventory in the portion of the inventory display. |
| US09595094B2 |
Measuring form changes of a substrate
The present invention relates to a device and method for determining changes in the shape of a substrate parallel to its substrate surface. The device comprises at least one detection apparatus for detecting images of structures which are located on the substrate surface, and optics comprised of at least two optics apparatus with at least two different beam paths for imaging of the structures on the detection apparatus. The device is able to determine distances (dx1, dy1, dx2, dy2, dxn, dyn) of images of the structures and/or changes of the distances (dx1, dy1, dx2, dy2, dxn, dyn). |
| US09595091B2 |
Defect classification using topographical attributes
A method for classification includes receiving an image of an area of a semiconductor wafer on which a pattern has been formed, the area containing a location of interest. At least one value for one or more attributes of the location of interest are computed based upon topographical features of the location of interest in a three-dimensional (3D) map of the area. |
| US09595088B2 |
Method of, and apparatus for, visualizing medical image data
An apparatus for visualizing medical image data comprises a data processing unit for obtaining first image data representing a first medical image, second image data representing a second medical image, and subtraction image data representing a subtraction image, wherein the subtraction image data is generated by subtracting one of the first medical image data and the second medical image data from the other of the first medical image data and the second medical image data, and the apparatus further comprises a feature identification unit for processing the first image data representing the first medical image to identify a feature, and a rendering unit for rendering a combined image comprising an overlay of the identified feature from the first medical image data and one of the subtraction image and the second medical image. |
| US09595085B2 |
Medical image processing device that improves color identification of different areas, method for operating the same, and endoscope system
First RGB image signals are inputted. Color difference signals Cr and Cb are calculated from the first RGB image signals. In a feature space formed by the color difference signals Cr and Cb, a first process is performed such that coordinates corresponding to a second observation area are moved to a reference area containing the origin point while coordinates corresponding to first and third observation areas are maintained unchanged. A second process is performed to move the coordinates corresponding to the first observation area and the coordinates corresponding to the third observation area away from each other. |
| US09595083B1 |
Method and apparatus for image producing with predictions of future positions
Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus for image displaying. The apparatus includes a prediction system and an imaging system. The prediction system is configured to predict, for a first time, a first position of a display device at a specific future time for displaying an image associated with a position of the display, and predict, for a second time that is later than the first time, a second position of the display at the future time with an offset to the first position. The imaging system is configured to render a first image associated with the first position, buffer the first image in a memory, and adjust the buffered first image according to the offset to generate a second image associated with the second position of the display device. |
| US09595080B2 |
Implementing and interpolating rotations from a computing input device
Novel and simple methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a 3D rotation using input from a mouse, trackball, or other input device are described. Methods of implementing rotations are presented which lead to new realizations of the 3D rotation group and its double-cover, the unit quaternions. New methods, systems, and computer program products are also presented for interpolating rotations of a 3D scene that is more efficient than previously-known quaternion-based methods. The new methods are also used to derive the quaternion composition formula from the geometry of 3D rotations. |
| US09595078B2 |
Method of displaying a new rectangular window on a screen
A method which serves to display a new rectangular window in a display zone on a screen, the display zone already including at least one first rectangular window, the new window being displayed progressively towards the inside and starting from an edge of the first window is disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises shifting the content of the first window from the edge through a distance corresponding to the dimension of said new window in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction parallel to the edge. The method may also comprise displaying the new window along the edge, the display having the effect of correspondingly reducing said first window in the second direction and, once the entire new window has been displayed, managing the scrolling of the initial content in the first window. |
| US09595077B1 |
High performance data rendering
Large data sets are shown efficiently on a digital screen. A data set list is split up into smaller chunks with each chunk containing a number of items. Only the chunks that are within the viewable screen area are shown. As a user indicates to move up and down displayed data on a display (e.g., using a scroll bar), more chunks are loaded and stitched together with the previously shown chunk(s). |
| US09595076B2 |
Programmable display configured to store screen data for debugging into volatile memory
A programmable display includes a display, a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory that stores control screen data containing screen data, and a controller that loads the control screen data from the nonvolatile memory into the volatile memory at startup and displays a screen on the display on the basis of control screen data loaded into the volatile memory. The controller has a function to store the control screen data received from a screen data creation device in the nonvolatile memory and a function to store the control screen data received from the screen data creation device directly in the volatile memory. |
| US09595075B2 |
Load/store operations in texture hardware
Approaches are disclosed for performing memory access operations in a texture processing pipeline having a first portion configured to process texture memory access operations and a second portion configured to process non-texture memory access operations. A texture unit receives a memory access request. The texture unit determines whether the memory access request includes a texture memory access operation. If the memory access request includes a texture memory access operation, then the texture unit processes the memory access request via at least the first portion of the texture processing pipeline, otherwise, the texture unit processes the memory access request via at least the second portion of the texture processing pipeline. One advantage of the disclosed approach is that the same processing and cache memory may be used for both texture operations and load/store operations to various other address spaces, leading to reduced surface area and power consumption. |
| US09595073B1 |
Entity location management using vehicle logistics information
Physical location information for a specified user is corrected according to vehicle location and trajectory analysis. Vehicles, such as delivery vehicles, produce physical location information for the vehicle during delivery events to the specified user and a surrounding physical area. The physical location information for the vehicle is accessed to correct erroneous physical location information for the specified user. |
| US09595066B2 |
System and method for identifying related credit inquiries
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a credit inquiry for a monitored consumer. The method further includes performing at least one credit-inquiry analysis on the credit inquiry. The performing yields at least one of a matched creditor from master creditor records and an inferred credit category based on a lexical analysis. In addition, the method includes, responsive to the performing, determining whether the credit inquiry is related to a previous credit inquiry for the monitored consumer. Further, the method includes, responsive to a determination that the credit inquiry is related to a previous credit inquiry, suppressing a credit alert to the monitored consumer. |
| US09595065B2 |
Transaction assistance
A transaction at a Self-Service Terminal (SST) is initiated as a first type by a customer. During the transaction, the transaction can dynamically switch to one or more second types in order to provide transaction assistance to the customer during the transaction. |
| US09595064B2 |
Integration of remote bidders into multiple and simultaneous live auctions
Multiple simultaneous auctions can be monitored and participated in using a single bidding device operated by a single remote bidder. A multi-windowed environment allows for the display of active bidding windows and docked bidding windows. The active bidding windows are fully functional bidding windows and include auction status, product information and the like. The docked bidding windows provide a subset of the information but, nonetheless provide real-time auction status information and allows for bidders to enter bids into the auctioning process without having to move the bidding window into an active status. A customer-identifier selector of identifier allows the remote bidder to associate a customer with a particular bidding window. The customer-identifier advantageously helps the remote bidder to track who purchased items are associated with, as well as providing control structure over the bidding process. |
| US09595062B2 |
Methods and systems for rendering an optimized route in accordance with GPS data and a shopping list
Techniques for optimizing a shopping agenda are disclosed. The techniques include receiving an electronic shopping list containing one or more items, each item indicating a product sold by a retailer. The techniques further include obtaining a store map, the store map being indicative of a layout of a store associated with the retailer. The techniques further include determining one or more product waypoints based on the one or more items in the electronic shopping list and the store map, each product waypoint of the one or more product waypoints corresponding to one of the one or more items and being indicative of a location of the product indicated by the item in the store. The techniques also include determining a route traveling through each of the one or more product waypoints and providing the route for display. |
| US09595057B2 |
Identity verification and authentication
In one embodiment, receiving, at a first computing device associated with a social-networking system and from a second computing device, a first request to verify an identity of a user of the social-networking system; sending, by the first computing device and to a mobile device associated with the user, a second request for information about the user; receiving, at the first computing device and from the mobile device, the information about the user; determining, by the first computing device, a confidence score indicating a probability that the identity of the user is true based on the information about the user received from the mobile device and information available to the social-networking system; and sending, by the first computing device and to the second computing device, the confidence score. |
| US09595052B2 |
Using behavioral data in rating user reputation
In a system and method for using user behavior and interaction data to rate a reputation of a user, a processor-implemented tracking component tracks an interaction of a user with a network-based publisher. A processor-implemented reputation component generates a reputation value for the user from the tracked user interaction. |
| US09595050B2 |
Method of disseminating advertisements using an embedded media player page
A method of disseminating advertisements includes the step of transmitting to a media device (110) an embedded media player page for playing a media file. The embedded media player page allows a user of the media device (110) to create a bookmark for a browser. The bookmark points to the embedded media player page. The bookmark includes an address of the media file as a parameter. When the bookmark is used in the browser to play the media file, the embedded media player page instructs the media device (110) to request an advertisement from an advertisement server (104) for display in the embedded media player page. |
| US09595048B2 |
Systems and methods for advertising using sponsored verbs and contexts
A system stored in a non-transitory medium executable by processor circuitry is provided for generating sponsored verbs and contexts. The system includes interface circuitry for receiving a search query from a user device and query processing circuitry for identifying search results comprising entity search result objects and non-entity search result objects related to the search query. Targeting circuitry determines a set of verb keywords associated with the search result objects and analytics circuitry selects one or more sponsored verbs for at least one entity or non-entity search result. Display logic circuitry is communicatively coupled to the interface circuitry and dynamically generates interface elements for each of the one or more sponsored verbs, and displays, in response to the search query, the interface elements as a sub-component of the at least one entity or non-entity search result. |
| US09595046B2 |
Content hosting and advertising systems and methods
In an exemplary system, a data store includes at least a subset of media content, media content attribute data associated with the media content, user profile data associated with at least one consumer having access to the media content, advertising content, and content matching data associated with the advertising content. An access module is communicatively coupled to an access device and configured to receive a request sent by the access device, the request being for access to a media content instance included in the media content. A matching module is configured to match at least one advertising content instance included in the advertising content to the media content instance based on the media content attribute data, user profile data, and content matching data. The access module is configured to provide the matched advertising content instance to the access device for user presentation. |
| US09595044B1 |
Systems and methods for automated benefit verification and application
Systems and methods for providing automated benefit verification and application are described. The apparatus may include a receiving module to receive a transaction, a transaction processing module to process the transaction and parse a unique identifier, a verification module to verify eligibility for a benefit and a data store to store a plurality of unique identifiers. The method may comprise receiving a credit card transaction, determining if a unique identifier contained within the transaction matches one of a stored listing and prompting a user to accept a benefit if the unique identifier matches one of the stored listing. The method may, alternatively, comprise processing a payment device, determining if the user is entitled to a benefit based on information contained within the payment device, prompting the user to accept or decline the benefit and providing the benefit if accepted. |
| US09595037B2 |
Digital rights and integrity management in three-dimensional (3D) printing
Systems, methods and media for managing digital rights and pre-verification of structural integrity in three-dimensional (3D) printing are provided. In one example, a system comprises at least one module, executing on one or more computer processors, to receive a request from a user to print a 3D object by a 3D printer or printing service and receive a conditional authorization from an owner of digital rights in the 3D object to print the 3D object. The conditional authorization can include a printing specification or limitation. The at least one module pre-verifies, for structural integrity once printed by the 3D printer or printing service, a digital model on which the 3D object is based. In response to a received conditional authorization, the at least one module transmits instructions to the 3D printer or printing service to print the 3D object. |
| US09595033B2 |
Method of transmitting information from efficient communication protocol card
A method is provided of transmitting information with a communication protocol to a mobile device. A card reader is provided with a read head that has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card, an output jack and device electronics that includes a microcontroller. The read head is used to read data on a magnetic stripe of a card. A raw magnetic signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. A synchronous Manchester encoded stream is produced that makes a greater number of 0 crossings. A Manchester encoded stream output jack signal is delivered to the mobile device through the output jack. |
| US09595029B1 |
System and method for self-checkout, scan portal, and pay station environments
A checkout system includes a checkout station having a housing, a customer interface and a customer unloading station. A point-of-sale system has a microprocessor and memory operatively associated with one another to identify products being purchased, payments tendered therefor and to store transaction information locally at the checkout station or remotely from the checkout station. The microprocessor has programming configured to allow an item to be scanned by a product identification scanner, and an attendant command module. |
| US09595027B2 |
Multiple application versions
In one aspect, this application describes a method for determining a version of a software application targeted for a computing device. The method includes receiving, at an application marketplace system and from a user associated with a computing device that operates remotely from the application marketplace system, a request that corresponds to a software application distributed by the application marketplace system, the software application having multiple versions on the application marketplace system. The method also includes determining one or more device attributes that are associated with the computing device, and identifying a particular version of the software application, from among the multiple versions on the application marketplace system, that is targeted for the computing device based on the device attributes. The method also includes providing, for display to the user and in response to the request, information related to the particular version of the software application. |
| US09595026B2 |
Automated teller machine with an encrypting card reader and an encrypting pin pad
A banking system operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system includes an automated banking machine comprising a card reader. The card reader includes a movable read head that can read card data along a magnetic stripe of a card that was inserted long-edge first. The card reader includes a card entry gate. The gate is opened for a card that is determined to be properly oriented for data reading. The card reader can encrypt card data, including account data. The machine also includes a PIN keypad. The card reader can send encrypted card data to the keypad. The keypad can decipher the encrypted card data. The keypad can encrypt both deciphered card data and a received user PIN. The card data and the PIN are usable by the machine to authorize a user to carry out a financial transfer involving the account. |
| US09595024B2 |
Reprint of a physical receipt and receipt history from an electronic receipt for reducing fraudulent returns
A method is disclosed for reprinting a paper copy of a receipt at a physical store location. The receipt printing may be based off of an electronic receipt. A customer may provide receipt identification to a returns associate at a POS terminal in a store location. Information may be sent to a server or computer system to request that a receipt be reprinted. The server may then process the request and transmit receipt information to the POS terminal where a paper copy of the receipt is printed for the returns associate. A modified receipt may be printed which includes receipt information for additional transactions. A modified receipt may be printed which includes additional information regarding items on the receipt. |
| US09595022B2 |
Collaboration swarming
A swarm can develop around a piece of content. The swarm can include the original content, changes to the original content, the persons contributing the changes, and metadata, such as comments contributed by members of the swarm. A swarm can also include statistics generated about the content, such as the size of the swarm, the growth and/or death rates of the swarm, the longevity of the swarm, the intensity of the swarm, the persistence of the swarm, and the direction of the swarm. Swarms and their behaviors can be used to validate or invalidate content. |
| US09595020B2 |
Dynamic media captions in a social network environment
A dynamic media caption apparatus and method in a social network environment. Included is a user interface to define syntax and distribution rules for a media caption in a social network; a distribution rules engine to understand the syntax and distribution rules defined in the user interface for the media caption and output a media caption that is customized according to the distribution rules; and a distribution manager to translate the customized media caption output by the distribution rules engine to a language understandable by the social network, generate the customized media caption in the language understandable by the social network and output the translated customized media caption to the social network, the customized media caption changing according to the distribution rules and a relationship to the user of a viewer of the media caption on the social network. |
| US09595019B1 |
Parts inventory management
Systems, methods, apparatuses and computer-readable media for analyzing vehicle claim information from a vehicle that is deemed a total loss to determine one or more parts that may be removed from the total loss vehicle for reuse is presented. In some arrangements, the parts identified for reuse may be identified prior to removal from the total loss vehicle and may be identified as available inventory and may include a future availability date. One or more repair shops may then request the parts available for reuse and the part may be reserved for that shop until it becomes available. |
| US09595018B2 |
Switch network of containers and trailers for transportation, storage, and distribution of physical items
Some embodiments include a transportation system implementing a network for transporting, distributing, and/or storing one or more physical items in one or more cargo containers (herein may be referred to as the “transportation network” for short). The cargo containers and relay terminals may be identified via node addresses in a network address space. The no addresses enables the transportation system to track, route, and monitor the physical items as they propagate through the transportation network. The transportation network can mimic routing protocols of telecommunication systems can facilitate different private transportation, storage and distribution companies and fleets. The transportation network can enable dynamic routing to fulfill logistic requests without wasting transportation and storage resources. |
| US09595015B2 |
Electronic journal link comprising time-stamped user event image content
An apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: enable the creation of a discrete journal comprising time-stamped user event content taken from a plurality of user applications, the discrete journal relating to a discrete journal timeframe and wherein the time-stamped user event content has time-stamps within the discrete journal timeframe. |
| US09595011B2 |
System and method for real-time sweepstakes promotions tied to live events
A real-time sweepstakes promotion system includes an event module having one or more data structures configured to receive real-time event data of at least one live event. A dashboard is communicatively coupled to the event module and configured to release an event action during the at least one live event. An incentive module is configured to identify occurrence of the event action within a defined time interval of the at least one live event and award a giveaway in response to the identified occurrence of the event action. |
| US09595004B2 |
Systems and methods for semantic concept definition and semantic concept relationship synthesis utilizing existing domain definitions
Computer-implemented systems and methods for synthesis of concept definitions and concept relationships from a domain of data, utilizing different semantic processing protocols such as formal concept analysis and faceted classification synthesis from existing domain concepts that have a confidence gradient built into them. A cognitive or an input agent provides an input of an active concept which is matched against existing domain concepts. The resultant pool of relevant domain concepts is then used to derive virtual concept definitions using a semantic processing protocol. The derivation is then overlaid with a concept of relative proximity of an attribute from another within an attribute set. An additional layer of coherence is given by the relative proximity measure. The end result is a pool of related virtual concept definitions in a tree structure. |
| US09595003B1 |
Compiler with mask nodes
A packet classification system, methods, and corresponding apparatus are provided for enabling packet classification. A processor of a security appliance coupled to a network uses a classifier table having a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules having at least one field, to build a decision tree structure including a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes including a subset of the plurality of rules. The plurality of nodes may be stride nodes, mask nodes, or a combination thereof. A mask node may remove restrictions of stride nodes, such as markers and consumption of contiguous bits. As long as a bit of a field is a non-consumed bit, the bit may be used for cutting a field in a mask node. An advantage of a mask node is that the mask node may consume fewer resources (e.g., memory) than a stride node. |
| US09594997B1 |
Auxiliary charge pump for a rectifier of an RFID transponder
The present invention relates in one aspect to an auxiliary charge pump for a RFID rectifier, the charge pump, which comprises a first charge pump stage (11; 111) connected to an input (14; 114), a second charge pump stage (12; 112) connected to the input, a diode clamp (13; 113) connected to an output (15; 115), and a regulating transistor (16; 116) having a gate connected with an output (21; 121) of the first charge pump stage and having a source and a drain, wherein one of the source and the drain is coupled to the diode clamp. In further aspects the invention relates to a RFID transponder, to a multistage rectifier and to a rectifier stage comprising such an auxiliary charge pump. |
| US09594996B2 |
Garment tags for intelligent laundering alerts
Aspects of the present disclosure involve an apparatus, systems, and methods for providing intelligent laundering alerts. Example embodiments involve an intelligent garment tag that may be affixed to garments, and may store and provide information about the garment to which it is affixed. The information stored thereon describes various aspects of the garment including color, fabric, and laundering information. The intelligent garment tags further include an alert component for providing laundering alerts (e.g., a flashing or colored light, a warning noise, or a vibration) based on, for example, garment color compatibility or laundering device (e.g., washing machine or clothes dryer) compatibility. |
| US09594992B1 |
Identifiable ticket and monitoring system therefor
An identifiable ticket contains: a body and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached on the body. The RFID tag includes a chip and an antenna, the chip stores an identified message, and the antenna is electrically connected with the chip. The body includes a ticket stub and at least one separable part removable from the ticket stub so as to tear off the antenna, hence the RFID tag responds reading operations of at least one tag reader in different frequency bands and distances after the antenna is torn off or based on a length of the antenna. A monitoring system for the identifiable ticket contains the identifiable ticket, a computer, and the at least one tag reader. The at least one tag reader is connected with the computer and reads the RFID tag so as to acquire and to send the identified message to the computer. |
| US09594990B2 |
Image processing apparatus, print processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus and a control method is provided. The apparatus and method provides that, when a print job to be re-executed is stored, deletes authentication information required for an authentication function in a printing system from among print attributes included in the print job, and then stores the print job in the printing system. |
| US09594987B2 |
Printing system, printing method and computer-readable recording medium
The printing system according to the present invention includes a specifying unit configured to specify specified data from print object data of a print job containing the print object data and a print setting of the print object data, the specified data representing the print object data to be printed; a partial extraction unit configured to extract the specified data and a partial print setting from the print job, the partial print setting representing the print setting to be applied to the specified data; a job generation unit configured to newly generate a print job containing the specified data and the partial print setting; and a printing unit configured to print an image based on the generated print job. |
| US09594985B2 |
Date identification apparatus
A date identification apparatus includes: an isolator that isolates, out of image data generated through capturing of an image of a medium to which a date is assigned using seven-segment characters, date area data to which the date is estimated to be assigned; a binarization converter that binarizes the date area data using a threshold based on luminance and hue; a labeler that subjects the binarized date area data to labeling to extract target area data that is identifiable as a numeral; a numeral identifier that performs a histogram on at least the target area data using a plurality of lines and identifies a numeral on a basis of a peak count in each of the lines; and a date data assigner that assigns date data based on the identified numeral to the image data. |
| US09594983B2 |
Learning systems and methods
A sequence of images depicting an object is captured, e.g., by a camera at a point-of-sale terminal in a retail store. The object is identified, such as by a barcode or watermark that is detected from one or more of the images. Once the object's identity is known, such information is used in training a classifier (e.g., a machine learning system) to recognize the object from others of the captured images, including images that may be degraded by blur, inferior lighting, etc. In another arrangement, such degraded images are processed to identify feature points useful in fingerprint-based identification of the object. Feature points extracted from such degraded imagery aid in fingerprint-based recognition of objects under real life circumstances, as contrasted with feature points extracted from pristine imagery (e.g., digital files containing label artwork for such objects). A great variety of other features and arrangements—some involving designing classifiers so as to combat classifier copying—are also detailed. |
| US09594981B2 |
Image search apparatus and control method thereof
This invention suppresses bloating of indices for an image search. To accomplish this, when a target image to be registered is given, an apparatus described in this specification executes partial image search processing using the target image to be registered as a query image. As a result, if a corresponding image is found, and an already registered image includes the query image, the target image to be registered is registered as an image linked to the already registered image. |
| US09594976B2 |
Sparse appearance learning-based segmentation
The coronary sinus or other vessel is segmented by finding a centerline and then using the centerline to locate the boundary of the vessel. For finding the centerline, a refinement process uses multi-scale sparse appearance learning. For locating the boundary, the lumen is segmented as a graph cut problem. |
| US09594970B2 |
Device with camera at or near junction of first panel and second panel
In one aspect, a device includes a first panel at least bearing a keyboard, a second panel at least bearing a display and which is coupled to the first panel at least at a junction, and at least one camera disposed on the device at or near the junction of the first panel and the second panel. |
| US09594968B1 |
Biometric profile creation
There is disclosed a method for use in authenticating a user. The method comprises obtaining a biometric input comprising a plurality of biometric attributes distinct to a user. Additionally, the method comprises selecting at least one biometric attribute in the obtained biometric input as a currently active biometric attribute. Furthermore, the method comprises based on the at least one selected currently active biometric attribute, creating a currently active biometric profile for the user for facilitating the authentication of the user. |
| US09594967B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying a person by measuring body part distances of the person
A method is described that includes capturing a pixelated depth image of a person with a depth camera. The method also includes identifying body parts from the image. The method also includes forming a vector of distances between the body parts. The method also includes comparing the vector against a database of respective body distance vectors for a plurality of people to identify the person. |
| US09594966B2 |
Obstacle detection device and obstacle detection method
By a disparity computation unit 21, first, with respect to a block in a bottom row of a first image, a corresponding block within a second image which has a same Y-coordinate as a Y-coordinate of the block and in which an object same as or similar to an object appearing in the block appears is searched for, and, next, in the case of searching for, with respect to a block which is upward in order from the searched block of the first image, a corresponding block within the second image in which an object same as or similar to that of the block appears, the corresponding block within the second image which has a same Y-coordinate as a Y-coordinate of the block of the first image and in which an object same as or similar to that of the block of the first image appears in an X-coordinate setting range with an X-coordinate of the corresponding block of the second image corresponding to the searched block which is immediately below the block of the first image as a center is searched for. Thus, provided is an obstacle detection device capable of simplifying processing for finding an obstacle, shortening a processing time and simplifying a hardware configuration. |
| US09594965B2 |
Lane boundary lane recognition device and computer-readable storage medium storing program for recognizing lane boundary lines on roadway
In a lane boundary line recognition device, a calculation section calculates a degree of uncertainty which affects a correct recognition of white lines on a roadway of a vehicle. A learning section updates a learning value of the degree of uncertainty. A recognition suppression section suppresses execution of a recognition process of recognizing white lines on the roadway when the updated learning value is more than a threshold value. An environment change judgment section judges whether or not a road environment has changed. A learning resetting section resets the learning value of the degree of uncertainty to a previous learning value when the detection result of the environment change judgment section indicates an occurrence of change of the road environment. |
| US09594964B2 |
Vision-based wet road surface detection using texture analysis
A method for determining a wet road surface condition for a vehicle driving on a road. A first image exterior of the vehicle is captured by an image capture device. A second image exterior of the vehicle is captured by the image capture device. A section of the road is identified in the first and second captured images. A texture of the road in the first and second images captured by a processor are compared. A determination is made whether the texture of the road in the first image is different from the texture of the road in the second image. A wet driving surface indicating signal is generated in response to the determination that the texture of the road in the first image is different than the texture of the road in the second image. |
| US09594959B2 |
Videolens media engine
A system, method, and computer program product for automatically analyzing multimedia data are disclosed. Embodiments receive multimedia data, detect portions having specified features, and output a corresponding subset of the multimedia data. Content features from downloaded or streaming movies or video clips are identified as a human probably would do, but in essentially real time. Embodiments then generate an index or menu based on individual consumer preferences. Consumers can peruse the index, or produce customized trailers, or edit and tag content with metadata as desired. The tool can categorize and cluster content by feature, to assemble a library of scenes or scene clusters according to user-selected criteria. |
| US09594955B2 |
Modified wallis filter for improving the local contrast of GIS related images
Disclosed herein is a method and system for performing adaptive local contrast enhancement for an image by using a linear complexity algorithm for Wallis filter. For an input image, the standard deviation and mean are computed for the first pixel in the image. The computed standard deviation and mean of the first pixel are re-used to calculate the standard deviation and mean for the nearest pixels. So, the standard deviation and mean for each pixel in the image are based on the computed standard deviation and mean of at least one other pixel in the image. |
| US09594952B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium, method, and apparatus for character recognition
A character recognition apparatus includes a storage and a processor that executes a method including generating input stroke data from input coordinate data corresponding to an input operation, generating stroke combination candidates and evaluation data corresponding to the stroke combination candidates from the input stroke data, the stroke candidates including target verification strokes combined to constitute target verification characters, identifying a first stroke combination from the stroke combination candidates based on appearance probability of the target verification strokes, appearance probability data of each stroke stored in the storage, and the evaluation data, and outputting a character corresponding to the input operation based on the first stroke combination. The appearance probability indicates a probability in which the target verification strokes appear in each of the target verification characters. The appearance probability data is generated based on the appearance probability of the target verification strokes. |
| US09594946B2 |
Image product creation based on face images grouped using image product statistics
A computer-implemented method for creating an image product by accurately grouping faces includes receiving an initial set of face groups for a plurality of face images, training classifiers between pairs of face groups in the initial set of face groups using image-product statistics by a computer processor, classifying the plurality of face images by classifiers to output binary vectors for the plurality of face images by the computer processor, calculating a value for an improved similarity function using the binary vectors for each pair of the plurality of face images, grouping the plurality of face images into modified face groups based on values of the binary similarity functions by the computer processor, and creating an image product based at least in part on the modified face groups. |
| US09594940B1 |
Fingerprint template compression
A method and device for compressing a fingerprint template is provided. The fingerprint template is derived from fingerprint image data captured from a sensor. The compressing process initially surveys the fingerprint template to determine one or more starting points for encoding. Subsequently, the compression process selects a starting point from the one or more starting points and proceeds to encode that starting point. After encoding the starting point, the compression process encodes all contours extending from the selected starting point. The above process is repeated until all starting points and their associated contours have been encoded. |
| US09594938B2 |
Accuracy-enhanced scanner
An accuracy-enhanced scanner provides (in response to a first user input) illumination of potential scan targets and scans (in response to a second user input) a selected scan target. The user uses the illumination to aim the scanner at the selected scan target in between providing the first and the second user inputs. The scanner has switches to communicate the user inputs, to specify an operating mode for the scanner, and/or to communicate information codes to a computing device. The scanner has one or more scan engines (such as a barcode reader or an RFID tag reader), and optionally communicates wirelessly with the computing device. A scanning system including the scanner optionally provides feedback to the user based on feedback from a host processor. The scanner is any of a Multi-Mode Ring Scanner (MMRS), a cordless hand scanner, or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with an add-on scanner. |
| US09594936B1 |
System and method for improved reading of data from reflective surfaces of electronic devices
Disclosed systems and methods for a data reader operable to capture one or more images from items having a highly, or relatively highly, reflective surface. The data reader includes a controller/processor in operative communication with an imager and an illumination system, where the controller/processor is programmed to selectively operate the imager and the illumination systems to interleave the data reader between a first reading period for reading items having a surface with little or no reflectivity and a second reading period for reading items having a surface with high reflectivity. In some embodiments, the items with highly reflective surfaces may include electronic devices, such as mobile phones. |
| US09594931B2 |
Card connector
A card connector including a body, a slider in the body, an urging member, and a cover. The body has a slot for insertion and removal of a card. The slider is slidable, together with the card, at least between a first position and a second position inside the body. The second location is on a card removal direction side relative to the first position. The urging member is configured to urge the slider located at the first position in the removal direction. The cover includes a cover body, which is fixed to the body so as to cover the slot, and a flat spring, which extends from the cover body. At least part of the flat spring is so disposed inside the body as to be elastically abuttable on the slider, on the removal direction side relative to the first position, from a card insertion direction side. |
| US09594927B2 |
Providing a trusted execution environment using a processor
In an embodiment, a system on a chip includes: a single core to execute a legacy instruction set, the single core configured to enter a system management mode (SMM) to provide a trusted execution environment to perform at least one secure operation; and a memory controller coupled to the single core, the memory controller to interface with a system memory, where a portion of the system memory comprises a secure memory for the SMM, and the single core is to authenticate and execute a boot firmware, and pass control to the SMM to obtain a key pair from a protected storage and store the key pair in the secure memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09594921B2 |
System and method to provide server control for access to mobile client data
Systems and methods for protecting a data item include, upon initiation of transfer of the data item from a server to a client device, determining a sensitivity score and a current protection level of the data item. A policy is applied to determine an appropriate protection for the data item based upon the sensitivity score and the current protection level. A protected data item is provided to the client device by applying the appropriate protection to the data item. |
| US09594920B2 |
Managing keys used for encrypting data
A method, a data processing system, and a computer program product for managing cryptographic information. A determination is made as to whether a first time stamp of when cryptographic information was created is more recent than a second time stamp of a backup of the cryptographic information in response to receiving a request for the cryptographic information from a requester. The cryptographic information is used to encrypt data. The cryptographic information is prevented from being provided to the requester in response to a determination that the first time stamp of cryptographic information creation is more recent than the second time stamp of the backup of the cryptographic information. |
| US09594919B2 |
System and method for executing file by using biometric information
Provided are a first device for transmitting data, a second device for receiving data, and a system including the same. The first device includes: a controller configured to obtain biometric information of the second user; and a transceiver configured to transmit, to the device of the second user, the data and to transmit, to the device of the second user, the obtained biometric information to control an access to the data by the second user. |
| US09594917B2 |
Secured multi-directional, multi-interface transaction processing
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an apparatus, method, and computer readable medium for processing a secure transaction. One embodiment describes an apparatus comprising: a processor; a secure element coupled to the processor; and a connectivity device coupled to the secure element, and configured to exchange communications with a device that is external to the apparatus, and receive and execute one or more unsolicited commands from the secure element. |
| US09594916B2 |
Method and devices for providing secure data backup from a mobile communication device to an external computing device
A method and devices for providing secure data backup from a mobile communication device to an external computing device is described. In one embodiment, there is provided a method of backing up data from a mobile communication device, the method comprising: receiving from an enterprise server an information technology (IT) policy message which includes an encryption key; storing the encryption key in a protected memory of the mobile communication device; receiving a request to backup data stored on the mobile communication device; encrypting the data using the encryption key stored in the protected memory; and transferring the encrypted data from the mobile communication device to an electronic device for storage. |
| US09594915B2 |
Information processing apparatus
A hardware TPM has a plurality of registers, and performs data protection by encryption of data associated with the value of one of the plurality of registers. A register number manager manages, for each application, a register number used for the data protection. During execution of an application, an application executor issues a data protection request that designates a register number preset in the application. A software TPM transfers, to the hardware TPM, the data protection request in which the register number designated in the data protection request has been replaced with the register number managed by the register number manager. |
| US09594912B1 |
Return-oriented programming detection
According to one embodiment, a threat detection system is integrated with at least a dynamic analysis engine. The dynamic analysis engine is configured to automatically detect a function call by an application, responsive to detecting the function call, analyze contents located at one or more addresses located within a portion of memory allocated for the application, and, based on the analysis, determine whether one or more objects included in received network traffic is associated with a return-oriented programming (ROP) exploit. |
| US09594908B2 |
Identifying an evasive malicious object based on a behavior delta
A security device may receive actual behavior information associated with an object. The actual behavior information may identify a first set of behaviors associated with executing the object in a live environment. The security device may determine test behavior information associated with the object. The test behavior information may identify a second set of behaviors associated with testing the object in a test environment. The security device may compare the first set of behaviors and the second set of behaviors to determine a difference between the first set of behaviors and the second set of behaviors. The security device may identify whether the object is an evasive malicious object based on the difference between the first set of behaviors and the second set of behaviors. The security device may an indication of whether the object is an evasive malicious object. |
| US09594907B2 |
Unauthorized activity detection and classification
Systems and methods are provided for identifying and detecting unauthorized user activity and for decreasing the rate of false-positives. The disclosed systems and techniques may involve analysis of users' past activity data so that individual classifications and authorization decisions with respect to requested user activity are based on activity data associated with a user's use of multiple services. |
| US09594904B1 |
Detecting malware based on reflection
According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a computerized method is described to detect a malicious object through its attempt to utilize reflection. The computerized method comprises receiving, by a network device, an object for analysis. Thereafter, the network device conducts a first analysis within a sandboxed environment. The first analysis determines whether the object is configured to utilize reflection. According to one embodiment, the first analysis involves analysis of the content of the object by a static analysis engine. Alternatively, or in addition to this analysis, the behavior of the object by an attempt to access a reflection API may determine that the object is utilizing reflection. Responsive to the network device determining that the object utilizes reflection, a second analysis is conducted to determine whether the object is malicious. |
| US09594899B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing operation of a mobile device
A power charger includes a first storage area to store control software, a charging circuit to send power through an interface, and a processor to generate at least one control signal based on the control software. The power to be sent through the interface is to charge a battery of a device coupled to the interface, and the at least one control signal includes information to cause a monitoring operation to be performed to determine a status of the device. |
| US09594897B2 |
Crum chip mountable in comsumable unit, image forming apparatus for authentificating the crum chip, and method thereof
Provided herein is an image forming apparatus, comprising: a consumable unit where a CRUM (Customer Replaceable Unit Monitoring) chip is mounted; and a main body configured to perform at least one of a first authentication and a second authentication of the consumable unit, when the consumable unit is mounted, wherein the main body comprises: a main controller for performing the first authentication according to firmware stored in the image forming apparatus; and an authentication controller for using at least one ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) to perform the second authentication of the consumable unit. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively authenticate a consumable unit even when the image forming apparatus is hacked. |
| US09594896B2 |
Two factor authentication using near field communications
There is provided a method and apparatus for communications using short range communications such as Near Field Communications (NFC). A mobile device comprising an NFC subsystem provides a dynamic credential for use to login to a network requiring two factor authentication. A terminal used for logging in to the network is associated with an NFC reader, and bringing the NFC device in proximity to the NFC reader provides the terminal with the dynamic credential required for two factor authentication. |
| US09594893B2 |
Multi-touch local device authentication
An embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, at a touch sensitive surface of an information handling device, user input including at least one multi-touch input; said detecting comprising detecting two or more substantially simultaneous user inputs to the touch sensitive surface; associating, using a processor, a number with the at least one multi-touch input; determining, using the processor, if the user input matches expected user input; and responsive to determining a match, authenticating a user. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09594891B2 |
Personal authentication method and personal authentication device
(Purpose) The present invention provides a technology capable of simply performing individual authentication with high accuracy by extracting the feature of the vein pattern and the feature of the palm print shape of the person to be authenticated from a single original image data photographed using a visible light image acquisition unit (e.g. visible light camera).(Solution) An authentication light source 11 irradiates light which contains at least red light in the visible light region toward a palm of human body. An authentication image acquisition unit 12 acquires at least one reflection image to form by the light which is irradiated from the authentication light source 11, and is reflected on the palm of human body. An authentication image processing unit 13 performs image processing of the reflected image, and extracts the shape of palm print and the shape of veins in the palm respectively from a single sheet of the reflected image for the authentication to generate the authentication data. |
| US09594890B2 |
Identity-based content access control
In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with performing identity-based access control for content. A content consumption device may be configured to control access to presented content based on identities of one or more content consumers that are physically proximate to the device. The content consumption device may be configured to perform facial and/or voice recognition on one or more content consumers to determine an identity for the one or more content consumers. The content consumption device may be configured to determine access permissions for the identified content consumers. At various times, access to a piece of content may change based on who is physically proximate to the content consumption device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09594886B2 |
Application and open source information technology policy filter
The present invention is directed to a software distribution architecture in which an enterprise has a filter that screens user requested software, software upgrade(s), software feature(s), and/or software setting option(s) against enterprise rules or policies. Disapproved software, software upgrade(s), software feature(s), and/or software setting option(s) are blocked for download. |
| US09594884B2 |
Application licensing for devices
A method, system, and computer-readable storage media for licensing an application for a device are provided herein. The method includes providing a license for an application from a licensing service to a number of computing devices associated with a user, wherein the license includes credentials. The method also includes associating the credentials with each computing device and periodically determining a state of a subscription corresponding to the license on each computing device. Each computing device is configured to call the licensing service at configurable time periods in order to determine the state of the subscription. |
| US09594881B2 |
System and method for passive threat detection using virtual memory inspection
A method in one example implementation includes synchronizing a first memory page set with a second memory page set of a virtual guest machine, inspecting the first memory page set off-line, and detecting a threat in the first memory page set. The method further includes taking an action based on the threat. In more specific embodiments, the method includes updating the first memory page set with a subset of the second memory page set at an expiration of a synchronization interval, where the subset of the second memory page set was modified during the synchronization interval. In other more specific embodiments, the second memory page set of the virtual guest machine represents non-persistent memory of the virtual guest machine. In yet other specific embodiments, the action includes at least one of shutting down the virtual guest machine and alerting an administrator. |
| US09594880B2 |
Methods for quantitative analysis of metabolic mixtures by 2D 13C-constant-time TOCSY NMR spectroscopy
This disclosure provides for new methods for quantification of metabolite concentrations in metabolomics studies, which addresses the difficulties in quantification through 1D peak integrals due to significant peak overlaps in metabolomics samples. For samples from uniformly 13C-labeled organisms the 2D NMR 13C-13C constant-time (CT) TOCSY experiment provides high-resolution information about individual metabolites that allows their identification via database searching or, in the case of novel compounds, through the reconstruction of their backbone-carbon topology. This disclosure further demonstrates using CT-TOCSY spectra for quantification purposes. |
| US09594878B2 |
Geographic utilization of artificial intelligence in real-time for disease identification and alert notification
Systems and methods for generating a diagnosis are provided. In some aspects, a computing device receives medical information for a patient, wherein each medical information item in the medical information comprises a date, a source, and a medical state. The computing device constructs, in a memory of the computing device, a diagnosis tree for the patient, wherein the diagnosis tree comprises a patient node, the patient node having first children nodes corresponding to the dates or the sources, and the first children nodes having second children nodes corresponding to the medical states. The computing device generates a diagnosis for the patient using the constructed diagnosis tree. |
| US09594877B2 |
Virtual reality representation of medical devices
The present disclosure involves a method of facilitating visualization in a medical context. The method includes displaying a virtual reality representation of a medical device via a touch-sensitive user interface. The virtual reality representation of the medical device includes a movable and rotatable three-dimensional model of the medical device. The method includes displaying a virtual reality representation of an anatomical environment of a patient via a touch-sensitive user interface. The virtual reality representation of the anatomical environment is zoomable and scalable. The method includes customizing the virtual reality representation of the medical device. The method includes positioning the customized virtual reality representation of the medical device in an appropriate location of the virtual reality representation of the anatomical environment. The customizing and the positioning are performed in response to user input. |
| US09594874B2 |
Managing flow/volume loop information
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of extracting optimal information from a flow/volume loop concerning the patient's respiratory condition by examining the overall shape of the space under the flow/volume loop's expiration portion. In some embodiments, this is done with reference to the center of mass of that space. In some embodiments, this is done with reference to the area of that space. Some embodiments are significantly less affected by random/statistical variations and/or noise within the measurement system than existing methods. |
| US09594871B2 |
Similar case retrieval apparatus, similar case retrieval method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, similar case retrieval system, and case database
A similar case retrieval apparatus includes: a lesion portion acquirer that acquires partial images including lesion portion images, an image feature extractor that extracts image features of each of the plurality of partial images; a location information acquirer that acquires location information of each of the partial images; a lateral position determiner that determines the right organ or the left organ in which each of the lesion portions exists based on the location information; a unilateral distribution identifier that determines whether or not a distribution of the lesion portions is a unilateral distribution; and a similar case retriever that retrieves case data from a case database including both case data for the unilateral distribution in the right organ and case data for the unilateral distribution in the left organ when the unilateral distribution identifier identifies that the distribution of the lesion portions is the unilateral distribution. |
| US09594868B1 |
Scaling voltages in relation to die location
The method includes identifying, by one or more computer processors, a location that corresponds to an integrated circuit chip on a wafer. The method further includes identifying, by one or more computer processors, an on-chip variation of the integrated circuit chip. The method further includes determining, by one or more computer processes, a desired voltage for the integrated circuit chip based upon the identified on-chip variation of the integrated circuit chip. The method further includes adjusting, by one or more computer processors, the voltage of the integrated circuit chip via a voltage regulated on the integrated circuit chip based upon the determined desired voltage. |
| US09594862B2 |
Method of fabricating an integrated circuit with non-printable dummy features
The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an IC method that includes receiving an IC design layout, which has a plurality of main features and a plurality of space blocks. The IC method also includes calculating an optimized block dummy density ratio r0 to optimize an uniformity of pattern density (UPD), determining a target block dummy density ratio R, determining size, pitch and type of a non-printable dummy feature, generating a pattern for non-printable dummy features and adding the non-printable dummy features in the IC design layout. |
| US09594860B2 |
Analog mixed signal model equivalence checking
An approach is provided in which a hybrid mixed signal equivalence checking system partitions a mixed signal reference model and a mixed signal model under verification into analog sections and digital sections. The hybrid mixed signal equivalence checking system simulates the analog sections from the two different models to determine analog equivalence. As such, the hybrid mixed signal equivalence checking system verifies digital equivalence between the digital reference section and the digital section model under verification in response to evaluating one or more difference functions that represent at least a portion of the first digital section and the second digital section. As a result, the hybrid mixed signal equivalence checking system verifies equivalence between the mixed signal reference model and the mixed signal model under verification based upon the verified analog equivalence and the verified digital equivalence. |
| US09594859B1 |
Apparatus and associated methods for parallelizing clustering and placement
A system for parallelizing software in computer-aided design (CAD) software for circuit design includes a computer. The computer is configured to form or optimize a plurality of clusters in parallel. Each cluster in the plurality of clusters includes a set of nodes in a netlist in a design. The computer is configured to determine placements for blocks in a netlist in parallel, based on iterative improvement, partitioning, or analytic techniques. |
| US09594857B2 |
Methods for designing quadruple-ridged flared horn antennas
Novel methods and systems for antenna design are disclosed. A quadruple-ridged flared horn antenna can be designed based on geometry and frequency requirements. Automated optimization allows the design of antennas with decade-bandwidth. Optimized quadruple-ridged flared horn antennas can be used for radio astronomy. |
| US09594854B1 |
Using abstract nodes to test the behavior of a dynamic system
A device may receive information specifying a physical time delay of a computational node of a first computational graph. The first computational graph may include a group of computational nodes that are connected in a particular manner, and may represent at least a portion of a dynamic system. The device may further add an abstract node to a second computational graph based on the received information. The abstract node may correspond to the computational node and may implement the physical time delay when the second computational graph is executed. The second computational graph may include a group of abstract nodes that are connected in the particular manner. The device may also execute the second computational graph, and may obtain one or more behavioral characteristics of the at least the portion of the dynamic system based on executing the second computational graph. |
| US09594852B2 |
Filtering suggested structured queries on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an text query inputted by a first user from a client device of the first user, generating a set of structured queries based on the text query, each structured query in the set corresponding to a grammar of a context-free grammar model, wherein each structured query is based on a natural-language string generated by a grammar of the context-free grammar model and comprises one or more tokens, wherein one or more of the tokens of each structured query correspond to one or more objects associated with the online social network, respectively, filtering the set to remove one or more structured queries from the set, each removed structured query having a quality score less than a threshold quality score, and sending one or more of the structured queries from the post-filtered set to the client device of the first user for display. |
| US09594851B1 |
Determining query suggestions
Methods and apparatus disclosed include identifying a pair comprising a document visited and a subsequent query, the subsequent query being submitted after visiting the document visited; generating a feature representation for the pair, each of the feature representations including one or more document features representing the content of a document visited, and one or more query features representing the content of a subsequent query; embedding the document features and the query features in a reduced dimensionality space; and determining a similarity measure for the reduced dimensionality space. In some embodiments, the similarity measure is indicative of the likelihood of co-occurrence of the document visited and the subsequent query. Other embodiments include iteratively training a query suggestion rule, applying the query suggestion rule to provide suggested queries in response to a document visited, corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products. |
| US09594849B1 |
Hypothesis-centric data preparation in data analytics
A hypothesis associated with one or more data analytics tasks is obtained. One or more data sets, relevant to the hypothesis, are extracted from one or more data sources, wherein relevance to the hypothesis is determined by one or more selected analytical methods. The one or more extracted data sets are transformed based on one or more characteristics of the hypothesis and one or more privacy constraints associated with one or more data analytics tasks. The above steps are performed to automate at least part of a data analytics lifecycle. |
| US09594846B2 |
Client side caching
A method for client side caching includes, with a client system, running a proxy caching application designed for execution on a proxy server, with a content presentation application running on the client system, accessing content from a server communicatively coupled to the client system, and with the proxy caching application, transparently caching the content into a cache system of the client system. |
| US09594844B2 |
Selectively deleting items that are not of interest to a user
Various embodiments enable a user to use their browser to selectively delete items that are not of interest to them. In at least some embodiments, a user's interest in a particular item is implied by some action a user has taken with respect to the particular item. Responsive to this implied interest, various delete operations that can be performed relative to the items are performed so as to exclude items in which a user has some implied interest. In one or more embodiments, items that appear on a user-specified list, such as a favorites or a bookmarked list, are not deleted when a delete operation is performed relative to items to which a user browses. In at least some embodiments, a user interface is provided and enables a user to select classes of items that are to be retained when delete operations are performed. |
| US09594839B2 |
Methods and systems for load balancing databases in a cloud environment
Systems and methods are presented for load balancing databases in a cloud server environment. In some embodiments, a method can include accessing, by a server in a network-based system, one or more system configuration parameters of the network-based system, with the one or more system configuration parameters defining one or more performance capabilities of the network-based system. The method may also include accessing performance characteristics of a query of a queried database; generating a quadtree decomposition, with the quadtree decomposition modeling a cost estimate of the database query as a function of a range of the performance capabilities of the one or more system configuration parameters; and generating a proposed packing of databases based on the modeled cost estimate of the query including the queried database and defining a configuration of a plurality of databases to be stored in the server. |
| US09594837B2 |
Prediction and information retrieval for intrinsically diverse sessions
Various technologies described herein pertain to predicting intrinsically diverse sessions and retrieving information for such intrinsically diverse sessions. Search results retrieved by a search engine responsive to executing a query are received. A query classifier can be employed to determine whether the query is intrinsically diverse or not intrinsically diverse based on one or more features of the query and session interaction properties. The query is intrinsically diverse when included in an intrinsically diverse session directed towards a task, where the query and disparate queries included in the intrinsically diverse session are directed towards respective subtasks of the task. An objective function can be evaluated based at least upon the query to compute an optimized value when the query is determined to be intrinsically diverse. The search results can be presented on a display screen according to the optimized value when the query is determined to be intrinsically diverse. |
| US09594836B2 |
Adjusting search level detail
A method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing search results. The data processing system displays search results in a graphical user interface. The data processing system displays, concurrent with the display of the search results, a moveable graphical control in the graphical user interface. The data processing system changes a level of detail for the search results in response to a user moving the moveable graphical control. |
| US09594835B2 |
Lightning search aggregate
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for executing a search query. In accordance with one embodiment, a search query is obtained. The search query is classified into one or more of a plurality of categories. The search query is executed for each of the one or more of the plurality of categories. Search results corresponding to the search query are obtained for each of the one or more of the plurality of categories. The search results are then provided for each of the one or more of the plurality of categories. |
| US09594834B1 |
Video indexing, search and delivery platforms, methods, systems and apparatuses
A video ingest, search and delivery solution is provided in which videos and their associated metadata are ingested based on ingest criteria. Moments in the metadata are identified by parsing comments in the metadata for comments that reference a time in the video. Moments are recorded with the referenced time and the text of the comment. Videos are rated and may be delivered to users based at least in part on the rating. Moments may be displayed together with the video by displaying the text of moments at the associated time in the video as the video is being delivered. The text of moment records may be searched based on search parameters received form a user to identify videos to deliver to the user. |
| US09594832B2 |
Personalizing an online service based on data collected for a user of a computing device
An Internet or other online service is personalized or customized based on data collected for a user of a computing device. In one embodiment, a method includes: storing a plurality of person profiles for persons associated with communications received by a user of a computing device; receiving data associated with an online service; and filtering, using at least one processor, the data based on the plurality of person profiles, wherein the filtered data is for display to the user on the computing device. |
| US09594831B2 |
Targeted disambiguation of named entities
A targeted disambiguation system is described herein which determines true mentions of a list of named entities in a collection of documents. The list of named entities is homogenous in the sense that the entities pertain to the same subject matter domain. The system determines the true mentions by leveraging the homogeneity in the list, and, more specifically by applying a context similarity hypothesis, a co-mention hypothesis, and an interdependency hypothesis. In one implementation, the system executes its analysis using a graph-based model. The system can operate without the existence of additional information regarding the entities in the list; nevertheless, if such information is available, the system can integrate it into its analysis. |
| US09594830B2 |
Identifying possible contexts for a source of unstructured data
Potential clues are identified from an unstructured data source. The potential clues are each associated with one or more contexts. A first set of potential contexts for the unstructured data source are determined based on the potential clues. A confidence value for each potential context in the set of the potential contexts is calculated based on the potential clues. A second set of potential contexts is returned from the first set of potential contexts. |
| US09594826B2 |
Co-selected image classification
Co-selected images are labeled based on a topic score that is a measure of relevance of the co-selected image to a first topic to which a reference image belongs. The first topic to which the reference image belongs is identified based on a reference label associated with the reference image. The co-selected images are images that are selected for presentation subsequent to selection of the reference image during a user session. The co-selected images are identified based on selection data for user sessions in which the reference image was selected for presentation. The topic score is generated based on a frequency of selection of the co-selected image. Image search results for a second topic can be filtered to remove images that are labeled as belonging to the first topic or the image search results can be reordered to adjust the presentation positions at which images are referenced based on the topic to which the images belong. |
| US09594824B2 |
Providing a visual and conversational experience in support of recommendations
The mapping system and method comprises receiving a query identifying a source entity, the source entity being of a first entity-type; generating a plurality of candidate entities from an analysis of an entity-relationship graph in response to the query based on the source entity; and computing feature values for each candidate entity of the plurality of candidate entities by passing the source entity and the plurality of candidate entities to a type-specific entity recommender particular to the first entity-type. |
| US09594822B1 |
Method and apparatus for bandwidth management in a metro cluster environment
Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus and a computer-program product for bandwidth management in a metro-cluster data replication environment. The method includes receiving an I/O at a first site and replicating the I/O from the first site to a second site by synchronous replication. Load balancing is then determined between the first site and the second site. Respective portions of the I/O then may be replicated from at least one of the first site and the second site to a third site by asynchronous replication according to the load balancing. |
| US09594817B2 |
Systems and methods for rapid processing of file data
The technique relates to a system and method for selecting dynamic workflow to process file data. This technique facilitates to process file data and business rules simultaneously and thus saves a lot of time. The technique involves receiving a request from File Pattern Recognition Engine (FPRE) to select rules for processing file data by Data Rule Engine (DRE) and to select business rules to be applied on the data by the Business Metrics Engine (BME). After that, DRE and BME select the possible set of rules and send the acknowledgement to FPRE. Thereafter, FPRE sends the signal to proceed to DRE and BME, and after receiving the signal DRE and BME apply at least one of the possible set of rules selected earlier. |
| US09594814B2 |
Advanced field extractor with modification of an extracted field
The technology disclosed relates to formulating and refining field extraction rules that are used at query time on raw data with a late-binding schema. The field extraction rules identify portions of the raw data, as well as their data types and hierarchical relationships. These extraction rules are executed against very large data sets not organized into relational structures that have not been processed by standard extraction or transformation methods. By using sample events, a focus on primary and secondary example events help formulate either a single extraction rule spanning multiple data formats, or multiple rules directed to distinct formats. Selection tools mark up the example events to indicate positive examples for the extraction rules, and to identify negative examples to avoid mistaken value selection. The extraction rules can be saved for query-time use, and can be incorporated into a data model for sets and subsets of event data. |
| US09594809B2 |
System and method for compiling search results using information regarding length of time users spend interacting with individual search results
A system and method for producing more relevant search results. When a user selects a search result from a search result listing, the amount of time that the user spends interacting with the item associated with the search result is tracked. Such information regarding interaction time is compiled and is used as a factor in assessing relevance of items in future searches. |
| US09594808B2 |
Determining relevance of points of interest to a user
Methods and apparatus related to determining points of interest based on content of one or more sources associated with a user. Relevance scores are determined for the points of interest based on additional information associated with the user and the content. Point of interest information that is related to the points of interest is provided based on the determined relevance scores. |
| US09594807B2 |
Emotion-related query processing
Embodiments of techniques, apparatuses and systems associated with emotion information processing are disclosed. In some embodiments, a computing system may receive an image of a person and identify an emotional state of the person, based at least in part on the image. The computing system may cause storage of the emotional state of the person in combination with other data to enable subsequent response to an emotion-related query provided to the computing system. The emotion-related query may include an emotion-related criteria and a non-emotion-related criteria and the response may be based at least in part on the emotional state in combination with at least some of the other data. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09594804B2 |
Dynamic reordering of operations in a query plan
There is provided a computer-implemented method of dynamically reordering operations in a query plan. An exemplary method comprises processing a first set of tuples according to a first operation. The query plan is pipelined and specifies that the first operation generates input for a second operation. The query plan further specifies that the second operation is executed after the first operation. The computer-implemented method further includes determining that the second operation is to precede the first operation based on a specified policy. The computer-implemented method further includes executing the second operation for a second set of tuples before executing the first operation for the second set of tuples. The second operation generates an input for the first operation. The first operation is executed after the second operation. |
| US09594802B2 |
Graphical modeling of database query statements
Example embodiments involve a system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and computer-implemented method for graphical modeling and editing of database query statements. The method may include accessing a database query statement, and generating an abstract syntax tree (AST) representing a syntactic structure of the database query statement. The method may further include generating a graphical model of the database query statement based on the AST, and rendering the graphical model. |
| US09594800B2 |
Image information processing apparatus, image information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image information processing apparatus includes a memory, a list screen display, a detector, and a screen controller. The memory stores plural pieces of image information and plural pieces of related information related to the plural pieces of image information. The list screen display displays a list screen showing a list of the plural pieces of image information. The detector detects an indication operation having a direction, with a certain position on the screen being an origin. The screen controller performs, in accordance with a position and direction of the indication operation, control to switch between scrolling of the screen and display of a list of the plural pieces of related information. |
| US09594799B2 |
Logless atomic data movement
A system and method of logless atomic data movement. An internal transaction is started within a multi-level storage architecture, the internal transaction to merge data from the first level storage structure to the second level storage structure. Committed data is read from a first level storage structure of the multi-level storage architecture as specified by the internal transaction. The committed data from the first level storage structure is inserted into a second level storage structure in a bulk insertion process, and the committed data is marked as being deleted from the first level storage. The internal transaction is then committed to the multi-level storage architecture when the committed data has been inserted into the second level storage structure. |
| US09594795B1 |
Maintaining data consistency when data is changed out from under another data service
An improved technique involves managing conflicts over data changes between a data change initiator and multiple listeners to allow any of the listeners to prevent the initiator from changing data. Along these lines, a data change notification process resides in a storage processor in memory outside of an I/O stack in which the listeners and data change initiators reside. When a data change initiator prepares to perform a data change operation, it notifies the data change notification process. The data change notification process in turn sends a notification to the listeners that have registered with the data change notification process. If there is a peer data change notification process on another storage processor, the data change notification process sends a notification to that peer data change notification process so that the peer data change notification process may notify its registered listeners. |
| US09594792B2 |
Multiple processor system
A method, data structure and computer program are provided. A file is stored in a first memory. A duplicate of at least a part of the file is stored in the first memory. A processor is reset based on the duplicate of at least a part of the file. |
| US09594789B2 |
Time series search in primary and secondary memory
Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention provide the ability to organize, index, search, and present time series data based on searches. Time series data are sequences of time stamped records occurring in one or more usually continuous streams, representing some type of activity. In one embodiment, time series data is organized into discrete events with normalized time stamps and the events are indexed by time and keyword. A search is received and relevant event information is retrieved based in whole or in part on the time indexing mechanism, keyword indexing mechanism, or statistical indices calculated at the time of the search. |
| US09594785B2 |
Database management device and database management method
A database management device includes plural index blocks having a tree structure and each having an access counter and at least one index entry for identifying one piece of row data constituting a table data or another index block, and an access management device that updates the access counter of each of the plural index blocks accessed along the tree structure, the access being made in a manner such that the index entry is referred to in response to data manipulation to the table data. |
| US09594784B2 |
Push-model based index deletion
A method and apparatus for push-model based index deletion. In one embodiment of the method, a first transaction is generated for deleting a first data object from memory. A first message is generated in response to generating the first transaction, wherein the first message comprises information related to an identifier of the first data object, and wherein the first message comprises information that indicates that the first data object was or will be deleted. The first message is then transmitted to a computer system that implements a search engine. |
| US09594782B2 |
Hierarchical file block variant store apparatus and method of operation
A system and apparatus intermediates between a centralized remote file service and several distributed virtual machine data center servers. When several file blocks are committed by applications running in virtual machines, they are aggregated together into a fewer number of file write operations to exploit the parallelism of multi-disk arrays. An application within a virtual machine may be released without risk of data loss as soon as the commitment has been acknowledged. Requests for frequently retrieved file blocks are redirected to the location of the freshest retention. Each data center has a non-transitory file block store locally attached which provides images of virtual machines, applications, and data. Each file block librarian provides a file system view to each virtual machine. Several Virtual Machine Data Centers are coordinated by a tracker which locates, redirects, and retrieves any file block within its name space. |
| US09594780B1 |
Database system with user-directed application-side control of data movement among storage tiers
A database system is provided with user-directed application-side storage tiering control functionality. A database node of a database system comprises a daemon to communicate with a plurality of storage devices on a plurality of storage tiers of the database system; the daemon further configured to implement storage tiering control functionality based on a user-specified data selection and tier imperative for at least first and second storage tiers comprising respective disjoint subsets of the plurality of storage tiers. An application executing on the database node provides the user-specified data selection and tier imperative to the daemon for processing in response to a predefined keyword. The daemon performs the storage tiering control functionality in response to a programmatic call comprising one or more predefined keywords, such as predefined base command verbs, tier imperative keywords and/or environmental qualifiers. A shunt robot optionally implements the storage tiering control functionality on the at least first and second storage tiers. |
| US09594777B1 |
In-database single-nucleotide genetic variant analysis
Genetic data in row-wise flat files, such as VCF and VCF-like files, comprising a plurality of data elements of different types is analyzed using a parallel framework in an MPP shared-nothing distributed database having a plurality of distributed segments by first parsing the data into groups of data elements of the same types, converting the data into entry-wise genetic data such that the same types of data elements are in a column, and distributing and storing the entry-wise genetic data in the distributed segments. SQL database queries are used to analyze the genetic data, including locating probable significant associations between genotype and phenotype data. |
| US09594775B2 |
Retrieving images
A system includes: receiving first information about a device, where the first information includes data corresponding to a location of the device and a time at which the device was at the location; identifying one or more images associated with second information that is within a range of the first information, where the second information for an image includes data corresponding to a location at which the image was captured and a time at which the image was captured, and where the location at which the image was captured and a time at which the image was captured are within a range of the location of the device and the time at which the device was at the location; and retrieving the one or more images associated with the second information. |
| US09594768B2 |
System and method for the synchronization of a file in a cache
The invention provides a system and method for file synchronization. One embodiment of the system of this invention includes a software program stored on a computer readable medium. The software program can be executed by a computer processor to receive a file from a server; store the file as a cached file in a cache; determine if the cached file has been modified; and if the cached file has been modified, communicate the cached file directly to the database. |
| US09594766B2 |
Reducing activation of similarity search in a data deduplication system
For conditional activation of similarity search in a data deduplication system using a processor device in a computing environment, input data is partitioned into data chunks. A determination is made as to whether to apply the similarity search process for an input data chunk based on deduplication results of a previous input data chunk in the input data. |
| US09594764B2 |
Method and apparatus for modifying compressed files
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for preparing and installing update packages for compressed files. In the context of a method, a method for preparing an update package is provided that includes receiving an original file and a modified file, causing the original file and the modified file to be decompressed, and generating one or more delta files based on the decompressed original file and the decompressed modified file. A corresponding method for installing an update package is also provided that includes receiving the update package comprising one or more delta files corresponding to an original file, causing the original file to be decompressed, generating one or more modified subfiles based on the one or more delta files and the decompressed original file, and generating a compressed modified file by compressing the one or more modified subfiles. |
| US09594761B2 |
System and method for storing content on a content delivery network
Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for grouping a plurality of content files in content delivery network (CDN) for easier storage and access. In one embodiment, the CDN may store related files in one or more container files within the CDN to reduce the number of stored files. In addition, a manifest provided to the requesting device relating to the content may be altered to point to the container files rather than the separate content files within the container. The manifest may also provide information to the requesting to extract and process the content files within the container file in the proper order for playing on the requesting device. |
| US09594758B2 |
Method and apparatuses for enabling recommendations
Method and a recommendation system (200) for making a media item recommendation to a user. A weighted graph is created (2:2) that comprises item nodes representing media items and edges linking the item nodes. Weights are also assigned to the edges based on weights of contributors shared by the linked item nodes. When an initial media item of interest to the user is identified (2:4), the recommendation system determines (2:5) a set of media items which are linked to the initial media item in a weighted graph. At least one of the determined set of media items is also selected based on the assigned weight of edges linking the media items to the initial media item. The recommendation system then provides (2:6) the media item recommendation with the at least one selected media item to the user. |
| US09594757B2 |
Document management system, document management method, and document management program
It is possible to reduce a review load of a reviewer. A document management system acquires digital information recorded in a plurality of computers or a server and analyzes the acquired digital information for relevance to a lawsuit. The document management system includes a thread classification unit that verifies supplementary information of each piece of document data included in the digital information and classifies the document data into threads based on the supplementary information, a similarity analysis unit that extracts elements included in the supplementary information of the classified document data for each thread and analyzes similarity between the threads based on the extracted elements, and an integration unit that integrates the threads based on the similarity. |
| US09594756B2 |
Automated ranking of contributors to a knowledge base
A system and method is provided to rank contributors to a knowledge base. In an automated operation, a ranking value is calculated for each of a plurality of knowledge-based contributors based both on document information and on personal network information pertaining to the respective contributor. The document information identifies relationships being documents in the knowledge base and the particular contributor, indicating, for example, whether the contributor authored the document, read the document, or rated the document. The personal network information indicates personal connections in the knowledge base between the respective contributors. |
| US09594755B2 |
Electronic document repository system
An electronic document repository system comprises a storage arrangement (30-36) for storing a plurality of electronic documents; tagging means (132) for permitting users of the repository to apply tags to the documents; automatic tag processing means (134) for generating a lattice representation and assigning stored documents to nodes of the lattice representation based upon the tags applied to the documents; wherein, the repository further comprises a lattice representation difference determiner (138) which is operable to compare two lattice representations of the type generated by the automatic tag processing means (134) and to generate a difference value indicating an extent by which the compared lattice representations differ from one another according to an edit distance measure. |
| US09594754B2 |
Purity analysis using white list/black list analysis
Memoizable functions may be identified by analyzing a function's side effects. The side effects may be evaluated using a white list, black list, or other definition. The side effects may also be classified into conditions which may or may not permit memoization. Side effects that may have de minimus or trivial effects may be ignored in some cases where the accuracy of a function may not be significantly affected when the function may be memoized. |
| US09594752B2 |
Network service system and method with off-heap caching
A method for providing data over a network using an application server having off-heap caching includes receiving at an application server coupled to a network a request for requested data, using an key index stored on the application server to locate where the requested data is stored in off-heap memory of the application server, retrieving the requested data from the off-heap memory of the application server, and resolving the request. |
| US09594750B1 |
Interactive translation tool
A translation window is opened in conjunction with a primary window, such as a Web page window containing Web pages hosted on the Internet. The translation window and primary window are automatically adjusted in size and position so that they fit on one user-viewable screen without overlapping. The translation window is linked to a translation dictionary database accessible through the Internet which provides accurate and comprehensive definitions of the words that are identified to be translated. |
| US09594742B2 |
Method and apparatus for matching misspellings caused by phonetic variations
A method and apparatus for matching equivalent words across languages takes advantage of a set of rules that are built from a user-defined language specification (UDLS), which may be open source and customizable by a language expert. The UDLS is used to build a customer language library (CLL) that includes a list of consonants, a list of vowels, and rules defining phoneme equivalencies across two languages. The CLL is used to match equivalent words by both two-set and three-set matching to not only increase the number of true matches (i.e., overall accuracy), but also improve recognition of variations in a manner that is not language specific. |
| US09594735B2 |
Automatic highlighting of formula parameters for limited display devices
A formula bar is used for receiving user input for entry/editing of formulas using touch input and/or a Soft Input Panel (SIP) designed for formula input. In response to a user initiating entry of a formula, a list of formulas is displayed based on the user's input. A formula may be selected and displayed within the formula bar with a parameter highlighted. The user may then enter the value for the parameter (e.g. a single value, a range, another formula, and the like) using touch input and/or SIP input. As the user enters the value for each parameter, the next parameter for the formula is automatically highlighted. The formula may be validated to determine if the parameters for the formula have been entered correctly. Tips may also be displayed in/near the display of the formula bar to provide assistance to the user entering the formula. |
| US09594734B2 |
Meta tag ownership and control
Personalized metadata may be selected from a group of tags, where the tags include annotations, synopsis, references, etc. and owner controlled rules for visibility and control options such as removal, combining, weighting, adding, sharing, privatizing, assigning etc. are provided. |
| US09594729B2 |
Content navigation and zooming on a mobile device
The contents displayed on the touch screen of a mobile device are modified based in user input, in the form of touch input. In one mode, a content view, contents of a document are displayed to a user at various zoom levels. The user can zoom-out by indicating in one embodiment a pinching touch motion. The user can also switch to another viewing mode, a structure view, where structure of the document is displayed to the user, potentially at various zoom levels. The user can zoom-out in the structure view also by providing a pinching touch motion. The user can switch to the content view by selecting text in the structure view, which then presents the contents of the document at the corresponding location. |
| US09594727B2 |
Optimization of parasitic capacitance extraction using statistical variance reduction technique
A method for performing parasitic capacitance extraction of an integrated circuit (IC) design includes: defining a Gaussian surface around an origin net of the IC design; partitioning the Gaussian surface into a plurality of regions; performing an initial plurality of random walks from each region using a Monte Carlo field solver; and dynamically allocating an additional plurality of random walks among the plurality of regions, wherein the allocation is based on statistical errors associated with the initial plurality of random walks for each of the regions. Results from the random walks are averaged to estimate parasitic capacitance of the origin net. The method may include performing the random walks for each region in pairs, wherein a first random walk of the pair is selected in accordance with an anti-symmetric probability function, and a second random walk of the pair is antithetic to the first random walk of the pair. |
| US09594725B1 |
Safety score using video data but without video
A safety score using video data but without video comprises an input interface and a processor. The input interface is configured to receive sensor data. The processor is configured to provide the sensor data to a safety score determiner, and determine a safety score using the safety score determiner without using inward facing video data, wherein the safety score determiner has been trained using a data set that includes sensor data with inward facing video data. The system for determining a safety score additionally comprises a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. |
| US09594724B2 |
Vector register file
An aspect includes accessing a vector register in a vector register file. The vector register file includes a plurality of vector registers and each vector register includes a plurality of elements. A read command is received at a read port of the vector register file. The read command specifies a vector register address. The vector register address is decoded by an address decoder to determine a selected vector register of the vector register file. An element address is determined for one of the plurality of elements associated with the selected vector register based on a read element counter of the selected vector register. A word is selected in a memory array of the selected vector register as read data based on the element address. The read data is output from the selected vector register based on the decoding of the vector register address by the address decoder. |
| US09594720B2 |
Interface between a bus and a inter-thread interconnect
A processing apparatus comprising: a bus; a first processor connected to the bus and configured to communicate over the bus according to a bus protocol; a second, multithread processor; and an inter-thread interconnect based on a system of channels. The apparatus also comprises an interface between the bus and the inter-thread interconnect, comprising a bus side implementing the bus protocol and an interconnect side for interfacing with the system of channels. The first processor is thereby operable to communicate with a designated one of said threads via the bus and a respective channel of the inter-thread interconnect. |
| US09594719B2 |
Seamless addition of high bandwidth lanes
Seamless addition of high bandwidth lanes, including the steps of: sending, by a master, an idle sequence using 7b/10b code words over new high bandwidth lanes in parallel to sending and receiving 8b/10b data with a fixed delay over master-to-slave (m2s) and slave-to-master (s2m) active high bandwidth lanes; sending in parallel a synchronization sequence and a known non-idle sequence during an inter packet gap; utilizing, by the slave, the known non-idle sequence for deskewing the new high bandwidth lanes; and sending, by the master, a transition sequence over both the m2s active high bandwidth lane and the new high bandwidth lanes, and immediately thereafter the master is ready to transmit high bandwidth data using 8b/10b code words over both the m2s active high bandwidth lane and the new high bandwidth lanes. |
| US09594715B2 |
Integrated circuit devices, systems and methods having automatic configurable mapping of input and/or output data connections
Integrated circuit devices are disclosed with receive ports having mapping circuits automatically configurable to change a logical mapping of data received on receive-data connections. Automatic configuration can be based on a data value included within a received data set. Corresponding systems and methods are also described. |
| US09594708B2 |
Data processing device and data transfer control device
A data processing device includes: a processing block which is connected to a common bus and which processes a plurality of data, which is inputted simultaneously, in parallel; a memory which is consisted of address space which has a plurality of banks; and a common bus arbitration unit which arbitrates a request for access to the memory outputted from the processing block, and controls exchange of data via the common bus between the processing block whose access request has been accepted and the memory. The processing block includes a data transfer control device which changes an order of access to the bank of the memory corresponding to the respective data, unifies the respective data into an exchange data, and exchanges the exchange data with the memory when the processing block performs exchanging of the data to be processed in parallel with the memory via the common bus. |
| US09594707B2 |
Data input/output (I/O) handling for computer network communications links
Systems and methods for performing data input/output (I/O) operations using a computer network communications link are described. A method may include assigning a block of virtual addresses for usage with at least one computer network communications link. The method may also include registering the entire block of virtual addresses prior to an operating system partition performing I/O operations using the at least one computer network communications link, wherein registering comprises setting a plurality of virtual page frame numbers of the block of virtual addresses to point to distinct pages of physical memory. In some embodiments, one or more I/O operations may be performed using the at least one computer network communications link and the registered block of virtual addresses. |
| US09594706B2 |
Island-based network flow processor with efficient search key processing
A Island-Based Network Flow Processor (IBNFP) includes a memory and a processor located on a first island, a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller located on a second island, and an Interlaken Look-Aside (ILA) interface circuit and an interface circuit located on a third island. A search key data set including multiple search keys is stored in the memory. A descriptor is generated by the processor and is sent to the DMA controller, which generates a search key data request, receives the search key data set, and selects a single search key. The ILA interface circuit receives the search key, generates and ILA packet including the search key that is sent to an external transactional memory device that generates a result data value. The DMA controller receives the result data value via the ILA interface circuit, writes the result data value to the memory, and sends a DMA completion notification. |
| US09594704B1 |
User mode interrupts
A method includes for each processed interrupt: identifying an interrupt associated with a first interrupt number; determining that the interrupt is designated as a special interrupt, the special interrupt being an interrupt to be translated to a different interrupt number only if the hardware processor is in user mode; determining a current execution mode for the hardware processor; for each interrupt in operating system mode, delivering the interrupt as the first interrupt number; and for each interrupt in user mode: translating the first interrupt number to a second interrupt number; and delivering the interrupt as the second interrupt number, wherein the current execution mode is determined to be an operating system mode for at least one of the interrupts, and the current execution mode is determined to be a user mode for at least an additional one of the interrupts. |
| US09594703B2 |
Architecture and method for managing interrupts in a virtualized environment
A method may comprise identifying a signal indicating real-time mode operation for a guest operating system (OS) and directly routing an interrupt for a first processor to the guest OS while the guest OS is running without causing a transition from execution by the guest OS to execution by a host system. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US09594702B2 |
Multi-processor with efficient search key processing
A multi-processor includes a shared memory that stores a search key data set including multiple search keys, a processor, a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller, and an Interlaken Look-Aside (ILA) interface circuit. The processor generates a descriptor that is sent to the DMA controller causing the DMA controller to read the search key data set. The DMA controller selects a single search key from the set and generates a lookup command message that is communicated to the ILA interface circuit. The ILA interface circuit generates an ILA packet that includes the single search key and sends the ILA packet to an external transactional memory device that generates a result data value. The result data value is communicated back to the DMA controller via the ILA interface circuit. The DMA controller stores the result data value in the shared memory and notifies the processor that the DMA process has completed. |
| US09594699B2 |
Additional security in flashless modem
Various systems and methods for implementing additional security in a flashless modem are described herein. A modem system for implementing additional security in a flashless modem, the modem system comprising: local storage; non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM); and an access control module to: read non-volatile memory data (NVM data) from the local storage; calculate a hash of the NVM data; access a previously-stored hash; compare the hash of the NVM data with the previously-stored hash to produce a comparison; and control access to the NVM data based on the comparison. |
| US09594696B1 |
Systems and methods for automatic generation of parallel data processing code
Various systems and methods to generate automatically a procedure operative to distributively process a plurality of data sets stored on a plurality of memory modules. Under the instruction of the automatically generated procedure, compute elements request data sets relevant to a particular task, such data sets are fetched from memory modules by data interfaces which provide such data sets to the requesting compute elements, and the compute elements then process the received data sets until the task is completed. Relevant data sets are fetched and processed asynchronously, which means that the relevant data sets need not be fetched and processed in any particular order. |
| US09594693B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing data stored in a storage system that includes both a final level of cache and a main memory
A data access system including a storage drive, processor and cache module. The processor, in response to data required by the processor not being cached within one or more levels of cache of the processor, generates a first physical address (PA). The cache module includes a memory and first and second controllers. The memory is a final level of cache. The first controller converts the first PA into a virtual address. The second controller: converts the virtual address into a second PA; based on the second PA, determines whether the data is cached within the memory; and if the data is cached, accesses and forwards the data to the processor. The first or second controller determines whether a cache miss has occurred and, in response to a cache miss and based on the second PA or a third PA of the storage drive, retrieves the data from the storage drive. |
| US09594691B2 |
Multi-core programming apparatus and method for restoring data arrays following a power gating event
An apparatus includes a programmer, a stores, and a plurality of cores. The programmer programs a fuse array with compressed configuration data. The stores provides for storage and access of decompressed configuration data sets. Each of a plurality of cores is coupled to the fuse array. One of the cores is accesses the fuse array upon power-up/reset to decompress and store decompressed configuration data sets for one or more cache memories. Each of the cores includes reset logic and sleep logic. The reset logic employs the decompressed configuration data sets to initialize the one or more cache memories upon power-up/reset. The sleep logic determines that power is restored following a power gating event, and subsequently accesses the stores to retrieve and employ the decompressed configuration data sets to initialize the one or more caches following the power gating event. |
| US09594683B2 |
Data processing in a multiple processor system to maintain multiple processor cache memory access coherency
A data processing system including multiple processors with a hierarchical cache structure comprising multiple levels of cache between the processors and a main memory, wherein at least one page mover is positioned closer to the main memory and is connected to the cache memories of the at least one shared cache level (L2, L3, L4), the main memory and to the multiple processors to move data between the cache memories of the at least one shared cache level, the main memory and the processors. In response to a request from one of the processors, the at least one page mover fetches data of a storage area line-wise from at least one of the following memories: the cache memories and the main memory maintaining multiple processor cache memory access coherency. |
| US09594682B2 |
Data access system, memory sharing device, and data reading method
A control apparatus sends a data access request to a first memory sharing device, wherein the data access request includes an address of target data. The first memory sharing device determines that the target data is stored in a second memory sharing device according to the address of the target data and an address list. The address list includes corresponding relationships between addresses and memory sharing devices, and first addresses corresponding to the first memory sharing device are different from second addresses corresponding to the second memory sharing device, and forward the data access request to the second memory sharing device. The second memory sharing device obtains the target data based on the address of the target data, and sends the target data to the first memory sharing device. Then the first memory sharing device forwards the target data to the control apparatus. |
| US09594680B1 |
Identifying stale entries in address translation cache
A mapping may be changed in a table stored in memory. The table may map a first set of addresses, for a set of data, to a second set of addresses. The changing of the mapping may including mapping the first set of addresses to a third set of addresses. In response to the changing of the mapping, one or more flush operations may be executed to invalidate one or more entries within one or more address translation caches. The one or more entries may include the second set of addresses. In response to the executing of the one or more flush operations, a first test case may be run. The first test case may be to test whether any of the first set of addresses are mapping to the second set of addresses. |
| US09594679B2 |
Flash cache flushing method and system
A flash memory system that uses repeated writing of the data to achieve stable storage, is adapted for efficient cache flushing operations by utilizing a part of the non-volatile flash memory array as a designated buffer for the data, in which data integrity is retained until all repeat writing thereof is complete. Repeated writing is carried out from the designated buffer directly to the final storage locations in the flash memory array, for example using simple internal copy back operations. |
| US09594677B2 |
Computer system, data management method, and recording medium for storing program
A search server for which data stored in a hierarchical control server utilizing a plurality of storage devices is the object of a search, wherein the search server is designed to update a search index to data while the data exists in an upper-hierarchy storage of the hierarchical control server. Included in a computer system are: a storage unit for storing the usage status of an upper-hierarchy storage area of a hierarchical storage having the upper-hierarchy storage area and a lower-hierarchy storage area; and a determination unit for determining, according to the stored usage status, which process should be given priority between an indexing process for data that is an index-updating candidate among data stored in the hierarchical storage, or a migration process for moving the data to the lower-hierarchy storage area. |
| US09594672B1 |
Test case generation
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems for generating comprehensive test cases covering new events yet to be covered. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to receive a request to generate a test case, wherein the request comprises a coverage schema associated with a first set of events to be covered in the generated test case. Embodiments of the present invention includes updating the coverage schema, wherein the updating the coverage schema comprises adding a second set of events to be covered in the generated test case and generating constraints used to satisfy requirements for meeting the first set of events and the second set of events in the updated coverage schema. Embodiments of the present invention can generate a test case using the generated constraints and the updated coverage schema. |
| US09594658B2 |
Method for displaying operation states of modules included in computer system
A method for obtaining and displaying operation states of a plurality of modules of a system. The operation state of one module that is carrying out a current function is acquired along with the operation states of a module set that is being used by the one module in carrying out its current function, wherein the module set may itself include a plurality of individual modules. Thereby, the latest operation states of the one module and its module set are acquired without inquiring of the operating state of each individual module that makes up the one module and its module set. Thus, the latest operation states of the individual modules included in the system can be displayed without imposing extra loads on the modules, i.e., without imposing extra negative influence on the current function being carried out, and/or on essential operations of the system. |
| US09594656B2 |
Analysis and visualization of application concurrency and processor resource utilization
An analysis and visualization depicts how an application is leveraging computer processor cores in time. The analysis and visualization enables a developer to readily identify the degree of concurrency exploited by an application at runtime. Information regarding processes or threads running on the processor cores over time is received, analyzed, and presented to indicate portions of processor cores that are used by the application, idle, or used by other processes in the system. The analysis and visualization can help a developer understand contention for processor resources, confirm the degree of concurrency, or identify serial regions of execution that might provide opportunities for exploiting parallelism. |
| US09594655B2 |
Cache debug system for programmable circuits
An integrated circuit may be provided with system-on-chip circuitry including system-on-chip interconnects and a microprocessor unit subsystem. The subsystem may include microprocessor cores that execute instructions stored in memory. Cache may be used to cache data for the microprocessor cores. A memory coherency control unit may be used to maintain memory coherency during operation of the microprocessor unit subsystem. The memory coherency control unit may be coupled to the system-on-chip interconnects by a bus. A command translator may be interposed in the bus. The command translator may have a slave interface that communicates with the interconnects and a master interface that communicates with the memory coherency control unit. The integrated circuit may have programmable circuitry that is programmed to implement a debug master coupled to the interconnects. During debug operations, the command translator may translate commands from the debug master. |
| US09594652B1 |
Systems and methods for decreasing RAID rebuilding time
A computer-implemented method for decreasing RAID rebuilding time may include (1) identifying data for which there is a need for physical integrity and high availability, (2) segmenting the data sequentially into a plurality of groups of chunks, with each group of chunks including redundant data sufficient to rebuild a lost chunk within the group of chunks, (3) storing the groups of chunks on a storage array according to a four-cycle-free bipartite storage map that, for each group of chunks, stores each chunk on a different device set within the storage array and, when a chunk within a group of chunks is lost, enables all other chunks within the group to be read in parallel from different devices within the storage array. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09594651B2 |
Parallel computer system and control method for parallel computer system
A parallel computer system includes a parallel computer including nodes connected via communication routes and respectively executing calculations, and a control device to allocate a job to a predetermined number of nodes. The control device includes a job allocation processor to allocate, to a peripheral region of first N-dimensional job nodes allocated with a first job, any of an empty node, a zero-dimensional job node, and a node at a side or a surface with one node length of M-dimensional job nodes, N=<1 and M |
| US09594648B2 |
Controlling non-redundant execution in a redundant multithreading (RMT) processor
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for controlling redundant execution such that if an exceptional event occurs, the redundant execution is stopped, non-redundant execution is performed in one of the threads until the exceptional event has been-resolved, after which a state of the threads is synchronized, and redundant execution is continued. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09594647B2 |
Synchronization and order detection in a memory system
Embodiments relate to out-of-synchronization detection and out-of-order detection in a memory system. One aspect is a system that includes a plurality of channels, each providing communication with a memory buffer chip and a plurality of memory devices. A memory control unit is coupled to the plurality of channels. The memory control unit is configured to perform a method that includes receiving frames on two or more of the channels. The memory control unit identifies alignment logic input in each of the received frames and generates a summarized input to alignment logic for each of the channels of the received frames based on the alignment logic input. The memory control unit adjusts a timing alignment based on a skew value per channel. Each of the timing adjusted summarized inputs is compared. Based on a mismatch between at least two of the timing adjusted summarized inputs, a miscompare signal is asserted. |
| US09594646B2 |
Reestablishing synchronization in a memory system
Embodiments relate to reestablishing synchronization across multiple channels in a memory system. One aspect is a computer implemented method that includes receiving an out-of-synchronization indication associated with at least one of a plurality of channels in the memory system. A memory control unit in communication with the channels performs a first stage of reestablishing synchronization that includes selectively stopping new traffic on the plurality of channels, waiting for a first time period to expire, resuming traffic on the plurality of channels based on the first time period expiring, and verifying that synchronization is reestablished for a second time period. |
| US09594643B2 |
Handling restores in an incremental backup storage system
Techniques and mechanisms are provided for storing data in a backup storage system. According to various embodiments, a first blockmap in a backup storage system may be identified. The first blockmap may correspond with a first restore point. The first blockmap may identify a first plurality of data segments. Each of the first plurality of data segments may have associated therewith a respective storage location in the backup storage system. The first blockmap may be compared with a designated storage system state to identify a subset of the first plurality of data segments that each correspond with a respective matching data segment in the designated storage system state. A second blockmap may be stored in the backup storage system. The second blockmap may correspond with a second restore point. The second blockmap may include the identified subset of the first plurality of data segments. |
| US09594642B1 |
Iterative decode and post-decode microcode cut and paste optimization
Various embodiments for data error recovery in a tape storage system, by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises, in a tape storage system using a hardware-initiated and microcode-initiated iterative decoder, initializing a microcode cut/paste algorithm on a buffered dataset by copying the buffered dataset to a reserved buffer segment; wherein the buffered dataset is a most corrected buffered dataset developed by at least one iterative decode cycle; and the buffered dataset, updated C1 data row error flags, and a correction status recovered by the at least one iterative decode cycle are cut and pasted over a working copy of a dataset resident in the reserved buffer segment. |
| US09594639B2 |
Configuring storage resources of a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) ascertaining a decode threshold value for dispersed storage error encoding data for storage in storage units of the DSN. The method continues with the processing module determining a total width value for the dispersed storage error encoding based on the decode threshold value, a number of selected sites within the DSN, and a number of selected storage units of the selected sites. The method continues with the processing module determining logical storage slots within the selected storage units based on the total width value, the number of selected, and the number of selected storage units. The method continues with the processing module writing a set of encoded data slices to a total width value of the logical storage slots within at least some of the selected storage units of the selected sites based on a slice-to-slot mapping. |
| US09594637B2 |
Deploying parallel data integration applications to distributed computing environments
System, method, and computer program product to process parallel computing tasks on a distributed computing system, by computing an execution plan for a parallel computing job to be executed on the distributed computing system, the distributed computing system comprising a plurality of compute nodes, generating, based on the execution plan, an ordered set of tasks, the ordered set of tasks comprising: (i) configuration tasks, and (ii) execution tasks for executing the parallel computing job on the distributed computing system, and launching a distributed computing application to assign the tasks of the ordered set of tasks to the plurality of compute nodes to execute the parallel computing job on the distributed computing system. |
| US09594635B2 |
Systems and methods for sequential resilvering
Implementations claimed and described herein provide systems and methods for the efficient rebuilding of a failed storage device through sequential resilvering. In one implementation, blocks for resilvering are discovered. The blocks correspond to input/output requests not successfully completed for a failed storage device. A coarse grained sorting of the blocks is performed based on a block location of each of the blocks on the failed storage device. The block locations of the blocks are stored in memory according to the coarse grained sorting. A fine grained sorting of the blocks is performed based on the coarse grained sorting of the blocks. The blocks are sequentially resilvered based on the fine grained sorting. |
| US09594632B2 |
Systems and methods for reliably storing data using liquid distributed storage
Embodiments provide methodologies for reliably storing data within a storage system using liquid distributed storage control. Such liquid distributed storage control operates to compress repair bandwidth utilized within a storage system for data repair processing to the point of operating in a liquid regime. Liquid distributed storage control logic of embodiments may employ a lazy repair policy, repair bandwidth control, a large erasure code, and/or a repair queue. Embodiments of liquid distributed storage control logic may additionally or alternatively implement a data organization adapted to allow the repair policy to avoid handling large objects, instead streaming data into the storage nodes at a very fine granularity. |
| US09594630B2 |
System and method for writing pilot data interspersed with user data for estimating disturbance experienced by user data
A system including a write module to write pilot data at predetermined locations in a page of memory cells that are interspersed with user data in the page. The pilot data has a first predetermined pattern and provides an indication of a disturbance experienced by the user data due to noise and a read, write, or erase operation performed on the page. A read module reads data from the predetermined locations subsequent to writing the pilot data. A signal processing module compares the data read from the predetermined locations with the pilot data and estimates, based on the comparison of the data read from the predetermined locations in the page with the pilot data, and the first predetermined pattern of the pilot data, the disturbance experienced by the user data due to the noise and the read, write, or erase operation performed on the page. |
| US09594629B2 |
Data error correction from cached error correction information
A computing device for correcting data errors may receive data stored by a memory device; calculate a syndrome associated with the data; initiate a calculation of error correction information for the data based on the syndrome; search for the error correction information in a cache based on the syndrome; discontinue the calculation of the error correction information when the error correction information is found in the cache before the error correction information is calculated; and correct an error associated with the data using the error correction information from the cache. |
| US09594624B2 |
Resolving and preventing computer system failures caused by changes to the installed software
A method to resolve or prevent a computer system failure is provided. The method may include capturing a plurality of snapshots associated with a computer system installation environment during a plurality of key times. The method may also include measuring each snapshot within the captured plurality of snapshots according to a measure of system health. The method may further include using each measured snapshot to develop a plurality of learned patterns of good and bad software installations. The method may additionally include providing a probability associated with a proposed installation operation based on the developed plurality of learned patterns of good and bad software installations. The method may also include providing at least one installation recommendation in response to a recovery from a system failure, whereby the provided at least one installation recommendation is based on the developed plurality of learned patterns of good and bad software installations. |
| US09594623B2 |
System on chip and method of updating program code on a system on chip
In a system on chip SoC, a memory control unit connected between the memory unit and the processing unit controls access to the memory unit. An update request received or generated by the processing unit triggers an update operation which comprises appending an update enabling record to a sequence of update records in the log region, writing new program code to the memory unit, and appending an update completion record to a sequence of update records. Write access to the log region is disabled if a fault is detected in the SoC during the update operation. |
| US09594621B1 |
Online network device diagnostic monitoring and fault recovery system
An online network device monitoring and recovery system generates, based at least in part on a schema that describes entities included in a network device, a software entity profile of entity object instances that represent the entities included in the network device, the entities including both hardware components and interfaces between the hardware components. The system registers the software entity profile to one or more proxies implemented on the network device. The system receives diagnostic information corresponding to a respective entity from the plurality of entities represented in the software entity profile registered to the one or more proxies. The system communicates diagnostic information for the respective entity, and a respective connective path through the entities for the respective entity based at least in part on the software entity profile. |
| US09594619B2 |
Robust hardware fault management system, method and framework for enterprise devices
A robust hardware fault management system, method and framework for providing robust hardware fault management for enterprise devices are disclosed. In one example, hardware devices and associated hardware modules in each of the enterprise devices requiring the robust hardware fault management are identified. Further, error structures associated with each hardware module are determined and unique identifiers are assigned to the determined error structures. Furthermore, the error structures are modeled in a centralized repository. In addition, rules are associated with each modeled error structure for detecting hardware failures. Moreover, the rules of each modeled error structure are stored in the centralized repository using associated rule identifiers. |
| US09594618B2 |
Two stage log normalization
An approach for two stage log normalization is provided. The approach retrieves a message format and a plurality of parameters from one or more log files. The approach determines a classification for one or more first sequence files, wherein the one or more first sequence files includes the message format from the one or more log files. The approach determines a classification of error for the one or more first sequence files. The approach determines whether there is a high confidence in the classification of error for the one or more first sequence files. The approach determines whether there is an improvement in confidence in the classification of error from one or more second sequence files, wherein the one or more second sequence files includes the message format and the plurality of parameters from the one or more log files. |
| US09594613B2 |
Health monitoring apparatus and method in aeronautic system
Provided herein is a health monitoring apparatus that is capable of increasing the reliability and stability of an aviation system, the health monitoring apparatus including a health monitoring manager configured to receive a sensed error from an aeronautic system control apparatus, and to activate one of a process level monitor, a partition level monitor, and a module level monitor according to an error level of the sensed error, and a monitor unit comprising the process level monitor, the partition level monitor, and the module level monitor that are integrated into one system by a partitioning method, wherein the one of the process level monitor, the partition level monitor, and the module level monitor that is activated by the health monitoring manager performs error handling and provides an error processing method suitable to the sensed error to the aeronautic system control apparatus. |
| US09594611B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, non-transitory recording medium storing control tool, host device, non-transitory recording medium storing performance evaluation tool, and performance evaluation method for external memory device
According to the embodiments, a nonvolatile memory device is configured to store a normal operating system, and store a bootloader. A host device is capable of initiating the normal operating system by using the bootloader. The host device is configured to determine whether a first condition is established based on information obtained from the nonvolatile memory device; and rewrite, when determined the first condition is established, the bootloader so that an emergency software is initiated when booting the host device. The emergency software is executed on the host device. The host device is capable of issuing only a read command to the nonvolatile memory device under a control of the emergency software. |
| US09594607B2 |
Identifying software application events
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a server computing device, a notification which includes: information associated with the identity of the user associated with the user-initiated event or with the identity of the client computing device; a variable, pre-determined string of symbols for the user-initiated event associated with the notification; a variable number describing a value of an attribute associated with the user-initiated event; and a variable parameter describing an attribute of the user at or near the time of the event or an attribute of the variable number. The method includes correlating, by the server computing device, the user-initiated events with a user; and determining, by the computing device, a description of the user-initiated event associated with the notification based at least in part on the string of symbols. |
| US09594606B2 |
Runtime extension framework
The present invention is a novel device, system, and method for runtime extension framework architecture for extending a system. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a runtime extension framework architecture may have an event manager for identifying and coordinating handling of events. The architecture may have two or more event handlers. Some event handlers may be dedicated to handling events associated with interfacing with an application program interface and some of the internal event handlers handle events as directed by the event manager. |
| US09594599B1 |
Method and system for distributing work batches to processing units based on a number of enabled streaming multiprocessors
A work distribution unit distributes work batches to general processing clusters (GPCs) based on the number of streaming multiprocessors included in each GPC. Advantageously, each GPC receives an amount of work that is proportional to the amount of processing power afforded by the GPC. Embodiments include a method for distributing batches of processing tasks to two or more general processing clusters (GPCs), including the steps of updating a counter value for each of the two or more GPCs based on the number of enabled parallel processing units within each of the two or more GPCs, and distributing a batch of processing tasks to a first GPC of the two or more GPCs based on a counter value associated with the first GPC and based on a load signal received from the first GPC. |
| US09594598B1 |
Live migration for virtual computing resources utilizing network-based storage
Live migration may be performed for virtual computing resources utilizing network-based storage. A virtual compute instance operating at a source host may be moved to a destination host. The virtual compute instance may be a client of a network-based storage resource that stores data for the virtual compute instance. Access to the data stored for the virtual compute instance may be limited to the source host. When migration is performed, the destination host may be prepared to assume operation of the virtual compute instance. Operation of the virtual compute instance at the source host may be paused and the access to the data at the network-based storage resource may be modified to limit access to the destination host. Operation of the virtual compute instance may then resume at the destination host. |
| US09594597B2 |
Systems and methods for automated server side brokering of a connection to a remote device
Systems and methods described herein provide for automated brokering of a remote connection to a device between entities, including support personnel, work queues and automated support tools. The automated brokering of the remote connection may be based on a work flow or events detecting during service to the remote device. In one example deployment, a centralized service provides support services to multiple customer devices. For each device, the centralized service establishes a remote connection to the device via a remote connectivity tool. Based on the type of work to perform, the centralized service may automatically provide the remote connection to a support automation tool to automatically deliver a local automation service to the device or to a remote support agent to access the device via the remote connection. |
| US09594579B2 |
Migrating virtual machines
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to migrate virtual machines are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying via a processor a first virtual machine to be migrated from a first host to a second host to improve a performance of the first virtual machine, determining that a frequency threshold associated with the first virtual machine will not be exceeded if the first virtual machine is migrated, determining a reliability rating for the first virtual machine, and migrating the first virtual machine to the second host based on the frequency threshold and the reliability rating. |
| US09594567B2 |
Configuring a trusted platform module
A method includes storing configuration data for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) in a pre-boot environment such as Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), reading the configuration data, and automatically configuring the TPM based upon the configuration data. The configuring includes storing values of TPM parameters in non-volatile memory of the TPM. A method includes UEFI firmware of a circuit board on an assembly line configuring a TPM. An information handling system includes UEFI firmware and a TPM. The UEFI firmware configures the TPM from a configuration file stored in memory of the UEFI firmware. |
| US09594566B1 |
Accuracy of operand store compare prediction using confidence counter
Technical solutions are described for dynamically managing an operand-store-compare (OSC) prediction table for load and store operations executed out-of-order. One general aspect includes a method that includes receiving a request to retire a queue entry corresponding to an instruction. The method also includes identifying an OSC prediction for the instruction based on an OSC prediction table entry, where the OSC prediction indicates if the instruction is predicted to hit an OSC hazard. The method also includes determining if the instruction hit the OSC hazard. The method also includes in response to the OSC prediction indicating that the instruction is predicted to hit the OSC hazard and the instruction not hitting the OSC hazard, invalidating the OSC prediction table entry corresponding to the instruction. The present document further describes examples of other aspects such as methods, computer products. |
| US09594564B2 |
Arithmetic processing device and control method of arithmetic processing device
An arithmetic processing device includes: first prediction units which output branch prediction information of a fetched conditional branch instruction based on past branch history information of conditional branch instructions; a second prediction unit which stores a branch taken consecutive number of times and a branch not-taken consecutive number of times to a pattern information storage unit, and outputs branch prediction information of a fetched conditional branch instruction based on the past branch taken consecutive number of times or branch not-taken consecutive number of times stored; selecting units which selectively output the branch prediction information output from the first prediction units or the second prediction unit; and a selector which outputs a next instruction address of the conditional branch instruction or a branch target address of the conditional branch instruction to an instruction fetch unit in accordance with the branch prediction information output by the selecting units. |
| US09594558B2 |
Silent store detection and recording in memory storage
An aspect includes receiving a write request that includes a memory address and write data. Stored data is read from a memory location at the memory address. Based on determining that the memory location was not previously modified, the stored data is compared to the write data. Based on the stored data matching the write data, the write request is completed without writing the write data to the memory and a corresponding silent store bit, in a silent store bitmap is set. Based on the stored data not matching the write data, the write data is written to the memory location, the silent store bit is reset and a corresponding modified bit is set. At least one of an application and an operating system is provided access to the silent store bitmap. |
| US09594554B2 |
Extraction and transformation of executable online documentation
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a content artifact. The content artifact includes information content and functional content. Extracting the functional content includes creating a functional content artifact. The computer-implemented method further includes extracting the functional content into a functional content artifact based on one or more decision criteria. The computer-implemented method further includes presenting the functional content artifact to a functional content artifact application. Optionally, the computer-implemented method further includes transferring the functional content artifact to an operational environment. Optionally, the computer-implemented method further includes modifying the functional content artifact into a modified functional content artifact. Optionally, the computer-implemented method further includes making available the modified functional content artifact available to an operational environment. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed. |
| US09594552B2 |
Terminal device, information processing system, request target selection method and program
The terminal device includes a processing section which performs a predetermined process; a connecting section which is configured for connection with an external apparatus capable of performing the predetermined process through a communication network; and a selecting section which selects the processing section or the external apparatus connected through the connecting section as a request target which is requested to perform the predetermined process, on the basis of a predetermined condition. |
| US09594549B2 |
Automated patch generation
A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for generating software patches. In an implementation, a method may include receiving an indication of a software product and a product level of the software product. An indication of a specific defect associated with the software product and the product level may be received. A defect change-set associated with a correction of the specific defect may be identified. An overlapping change-set may be determined based on, at least in part, a source control history associated with the software product. The overlapping change set may occur between the product level and the defect change-set in the source control history and may implicate at least one common file with the defect change-set. A software patch correcting the specific defect may be generated based on the defect change-set and the overlapping change-set. |
| US09594547B2 |
Method and system to manage services for multiple managed computer systems
A method to facilitate provision of services to a managed system (e.g., a PC, PDA, cell phone) includes causing installation of an agent application on the managed system, the agent application including an install component to install at least one of a plurality of service applications on the managed system. Each of the plurality of service applications is to facilitate provision of a service provided by a respective service provider of a number of service providers to the managed system. A service input (e.g., from an IT administrator) is received at the management system. The service input identifies a subset of a number of service applications to be installed on the managed system. The subset of service applications is distributed to the managed system for installation by the agent application on the managed system. |
| US09594544B2 |
Visualized code review
Visualization of the result of user interface code is provided in the context of code review. Changes to user interface code can be visualized to enable code reviewers to easily understand the effect of such changes. Furthermore, the visualization, or view, provides a surface for users to provide precise feedback to a developer. |
| US09594543B2 |
Activity diagram model-based system behavior simulation method
An activity diagram model-based system behavior simulation method. First, a to-be-simulated unified modeling language activity diagram model is read and parsed, and extracted therefrom is important model element information, and a complete model mapping is constructed in a memory; then, the unified modeling language activity diagram model that is read is parsed, and various model elements respectively are parsed from the unified modeling language activity diagram model; then, a hybrid execution concept is combined and employed for continued specific execution, symbolic execution, and constraint solving, and the process is terminated insofar that a node coverage threshold is reached; and finally, simulated use cases collected in the preceding step is used for simulated execution of the unified modeling language activity diagram model. This implements automatic generation of the simulated use cases used for simulated execution of the unified modeling language activity model, construction of a simulated execution environment for the unified modeling language activity diagram model, compilation of statistics on node coverage information of the simulated use cases of the unified modeling language activity diagram model, and feedback of a simulated execution result. |
| US09594541B2 |
System and method for detecting FRO locking
The detection of locking of a free running oscillator (FRO) is disclosed, including taking periodic samples of the FRO output, storing each new sample in a sample storage medium, each time a new sample is stored searching the stored samples for at least one repeating pattern, counting consecutive sampling instances in which a repeating pattern is found, and indicating when the count reaches a preselected threshold number. |
| US09594540B1 |
Techniques for providing item information by expanding item facets
Displaying item attributes may include receiving, from a client device, a search query, providing, for display to a user, a network page containing search result items relevant to the received query and selectable facets, where each selectable facet corresponds to an attribute associated with at least one of the search result items, and, in response to a selection of one of the selectable facets, identifying each of the search result items that is associated with the attribute corresponding to the selected facet, and causing the attributes corresponding the selected facet to be exposed for each of the identified search result items. The identified search results are retained with exposed attributes. |
| US09594537B2 |
Executable virtual objects associated with real objects
Embodiments for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object are disclosed. In one example, a method for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object includes receiving sensor input from one or more sensors attached to the portable see-through display device, and obtaining information regarding a location of the user based on the sensor input. The method also includes, if the location includes a real object comprising an associated executable virtual object, then determining an intent of the user to interact with the executable virtual object, and if the intent to interact is determined, then interacting with the executable object. |
| US09594534B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium that perform image processing for a downloaded image based on third party subjective evaluation information
An information processing apparatus includes a download unit to download, in accordance with an instruction of a user, a print target image from a server accessible by a third party using an SNS (Social Networking Service) via a network, different from the user. A processor obtains subjective evaluation information of the third party for the print target image included in a tag added to the print target image downloaded by the download unit, evaluates the print target image, based on the subjective evaluation information of the third party, and performs image processing for the downloaded print target image in accordance with a result of the evaluation. An output unit outputs image data that has undergone the image processing of the processor. |
| US09594532B2 |
Electronic apparatus, management server, image forming apparatus for determining a resource apparatus moved and selecting closest image forming apparatus by comparing received neighbor access points information with retrieved access points information
An electronic apparatus is disclosed. An electronic apparatus may include a communications interface configured to retrieve accessible access points and receive information of neighbor access points of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; a selector configured to select an image forming apparatus that is nearest neighbor to the electronic apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses by comparing each of the received information of a plurality of neighbor access points with the retrieved access points; a printer driver configured to generate printing data for a document; and a control configured to control the communications interface to transmit the generated printing data to the selected image forming apparatus. |
| US09594531B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating mimic driven operations in digital imaging devices
Systems and methods for facilitating processing of at least one value of attribute(s) on a device such as an imaging device or a printing device. A method includes providing a GUI including graphical format object(s) corresponding to a number of attributes on a display device associated with the device. The method further includes allowing a user to manipulate the graphical format object(s) by dragging the graphical format object(s) of the GUI. The method also includes creating a graphical representation for the attributes based on the manipulation of the graphical format objects by the user. The method also includes defining one or more values of the attributes based on the graphical representation. Further, the method includes saving the graphical representation and the values of the attributes. One or more operations can be executed on the device based on the saved graphical representation and the values of the attributes. |
| US09594529B2 |
Methods and apparatus to select a paper source for image printing
Methods and apparatus for selecting a paper source for image printing are provided. A user accesses a service available from a print server for printing an image. The print server may download the image from a storage server over a network. The print server automatically identifies a list of paper sizes corresponding with a list of available paper sources, and selects a scaling ratio for fitting the image into one of the paper sizes. The print server generates a scaled image based on the selected scaling ratio and sends the scaled image to a printer for the scaled to be printed from a selected paper source. |
| US09594523B2 |
Sub-LUN input/output profiling for SSD devices
A read/write ratio for each of a plurality of data segments classified in a hot category as hot data segments is determined. Each of the plurality of hot data segments is ordered by the read/write ratio in a descending order. Each of a plurality of available SSD devices is ordered by a remaining life expectancy in an ascending order. Those of the plurality of hot data segments are matched with those of the plurality of hot data segments with those of the plurality of available SSD devices such that a hot data segment having a higher read/write ratio is provided to an SSD device having a smaller remaining life expectancy than another hot data segment having a lower read/write ratio. |
| US09594522B2 |
Backup method and information processing apparatus
A backup method may include discontinuing a process of a working system virtual machine (VM) operating within a physical machine (PM) of a processing apparatus, first duplicating data of a state of the working system VM in a memory of the PM, as a duplicating system VM, second duplicating data of contents of a working system virtual recording medium used to realize the working system VM, in a duplicating system virtual recording medium forming the duplicating system VM, within a storage apparatus of the processing apparatus, and resuming the process of the working system VM. The discontinuing and the first resuming may maintain consistency between the data in the memory and the storage apparatus. |
| US09594520B2 |
Atomic write command support in a solid state drive
A method of performing an atomic write command in a data storage device comprising a volatile memory and a plurality of non-volatile memory devices configured to store a plurality of physical pages. The method may comprise storing data in a plurality of logical pages (L-Pages), each associated with a logical address. A logical-to-physical address translation map may be maintained in the volatile memory, and may be configured to enable determination of a physical location, within one or more of the physical pages, of the data referenced by each logical address. The data specified by a received atomic write command may be stored one or more L-Pages. Updates to the entry or entries in the translation map associated with the L-Page(s) storing the data specified by the atomic write command may be deferred until all L-Pages storing data specified by the atomic write command have been written in a power-safe manner. |
| US09594519B2 |
Prefetching monitored areas in a storage apparatus
From unit storage areas each having a certain size in a first storage device, an extraction unit extracts, at certain time intervals, a monitored area formed by consecutive unit storage areas having been accessed at least a predetermined number of times that is greater than zero and being similar to each other in the number of times of access. When detecting movement between the positions of same-sized monitored areas among the extracted monitored areas over time, a prediction unit determines a predicted storage area predicted to be accessed in the storage area of the first storage device on the basis of the direction of the movement between the positions of the same-sized monitored areas, and performs a control operation so that the content of the predicted storage area is copied to a second storage device that provides faster access than the first storage device. |
| US09594516B2 |
Memory device with variable trim parameters
A memory device comprising a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells, two or more fuses coupled to the memory array, wherein each of the two or more fuses contains trim data for the memory array and a mode register for selecting one of the two or more fuses to be enabled. |
| US09594510B2 |
JBOD subsystem and external emulation controller thereof
A JBOD subsystem for providing storage to a host entity. The JBOD subsystem contains at least one external JBOD emulation controller coupled to the host entity for emulating IO operations in response to the IO requests and a set of at least one physical storage device coupled to the JBOD emulation controller for providing storage to the host entity through the JBOD emulation controller. The JBOD emulation controller defines at least one logical media unit (LMU) consisting of sections of the set of physical storage device (PSD) and communicates with the PSD through a point-to-point serial-signal interconnect. As an example, the point-to-point serial-signal interconnect can be a Serial ATA IO device interconnect. |
| US09594494B2 |
Interactive messaging apparatus and method
Disclosed embodiments include apparatus, method and storage medium associated with interactive messaging. In embodiments, an apparatus may include an interactive message service to selectively display messages of a collection of messages, in response to navigation controls received from a proximally located portable client device, through a navigation interface provided to the proximally located portable client device by the interactive message service. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09594491B2 |
Slide control for setting boundaries between regions of a data range
According to an example computer-implemented method, user input is received indicating N regions within a data range of a data variable, where N is greater than or equal to three. A slide control is displayed representing the data range and the regions within the data range. The slide control includes N−1 sliders, with each slider representing a boundary between two of the regions. Responsive to movement of a selected slider, its associated boundary is reset. A determination is made of which one of the regions within the data range a received data variable value falls within. Based on the determination and the boundaries, the following items are displayed separately from the slide control: a graph of the data range that indicates which region the received data variable falls within, and a percentage value that indicates where the received data variable value falls within the data range. |
| US09594488B2 |
Interactive display of high dynamic range images
Implementations generally relate to providing an interactive display of high dynamic range images. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a plurality of images of a scene, where the images are captured at different exposure levels. The method further includes generating a high dynamic range image of the scene based on brightness level information associated with each portion of the scene. The method further includes providing a user interface that displays the high dynamic range image. The method further includes adjusting a brightness level of at least one portion of the high dynamic range image based on user interaction with the user interface. |
| US09594487B2 |
Systems and methods for manipulating a 3D object in a 3D model using a software widget and surface constraints
A system and method are disclosed for manipulating objects within a virtual environment using a software widget. The software widget includes one or more controls for performing surface constrained manipulation operations. A graphical representation of the software widget is superimposed over the object and enables a user to use simple mouse operations to perform the various manipulation operations. The position operation determines an intersection point between the mouse cursor and a surface of a different object and moves the object to the intersection point. The scale operation adjusts the size of the object. The rotate operation adjusts the rotation of the object around a normal vector on the surface of the different object. The twist operation deforms the object along a local z-axis. The orientation operation adjusts the orientation of the object with respect to the normal vector. |
| US09594480B1 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for facilitating adaptive technologies
A system, method, and computer-readable medium that facilitate software configuration of assistive computer devices by automatically assessing a user's capabilities through questions and tasks are provided. The analysis results of the user's capabilities are then available to assistive computer software applications which may subsequently update their interfaces accordingly. A mapping mechanism from an external input device into a target software application is facilitated for software applications that do not include assistive technology features. |
| US09594476B2 |
Electronic device comprising a touch-screen display and a rear input unit, and method of controlling the same
The present invention relates to an electronic device and a method of controlling the same. An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention converts the state of a page displayed on a touchscreen to a standby state through rear input and cancels the standby state upon release of the rear input, thereby providing a page corresponding to a desired time when the rear input is released. |
| US09594474B2 |
Semantic selection and purpose facilitation
Computer-implemented methods for proposing actions to a user to select based on the user's predicted purpose for selecting content are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an identifier of a referent entity associated with user-selectable content, identifying, based on a prediction of a purpose in selecting the content, at least one action to be executed that is associated with the entity, and providing, for display, at least one identifier of the at least one action to the device for selection by a user. Systems, graphical user interfaces, and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US09594469B2 |
Dynamic layering user interface
A system, method, and medium, the method including generating a display environment having multiple layers, each layer containing at least one user interface element associated with the layer; and generating a viewport having a port that provides a visible view onto multiple the layers of the display environment. |
| US09594466B2 |
Input device
An input device separated from a display unit for switchably displaying images hierarchized in hierarchy levels and configured to input a finger operation of a user to an operation surface to operate the images is provided. The input device includes a detector for detecting an operation state of the finger to the operation surface at a time of the finger operation and a controller for, when determining that the operation state detected by the detector is a proximity state, reducing sharpness of at least part of the image displayed on the display unit as compared with when determining that the operation state is a contact state. |
| US09594465B2 |
Method and apparatus for arbitrating among contiguous buttons on a capacitive touchscreen
Various embodiments of a capacitive touchscreen system and corresponding methods are described. A touchscreen controller is operably connected to a first plurality of drive electrodes, a second plurality of sense electrodes, and a host processor. The touchscreen controller has computer-readable button group programming instructions and data loaded into a first memory portion thereof from the host processor that comprise steps for sensing and arbitrating among touches occurring on and within a first plurality of buttons. Firmware instructions and data are loaded into a second portion of the memory of the touchscreen controller. The first plurality of buttons is arranged in a first group on the touchscreen, and the first group is located within a first portion of the touchscreen. Capacitive sensing of touches occurring on and within at least second portions of the touchscreen that are located outside the first portion of the touchscreen are controlled by the firmware instructions. |
| US09594464B2 |
Surface capacitive touch panel and reduction for the same
A transparent input operation plate at least an input operation area of which inside an opening is made of a transparent member is supported on an insulating support member so as to cover an aperture of the opening. A plurality of detection electrodes are arranged on the insulating support member so as to be in contact with the transparent input operation plate around the opening. Transmitting means transmits an alternating-current detection signal that changes relative potentials between an input operation member and the respective detection electrodes. Based on a relative ratio of the reception levels of the alternating-current detection signal appearing on a pair of detection electrodes opposed across the opening, an input operation position of the input operation member in the opposed direction is detected. |
| US09594462B2 |
Uniform signals from non-uniform patterns of electrodes
Apparatuses and methods of sense arrays with non-uniform patterns are described. One capacitive-sense array includes a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes. The first set of electrodes intersect the second set of electrodes to form a unit cells each corresponding to an intersection of a pair of electrodes comprising one electrode from the first set and one electrode from the second set. At one of the second set of electrodes includes a non-uniform conductive pattern including a first region being located at the intersection of the respective unit cell and a distal region being at a location within the respective unit cell that is farther away from the intersection than the first region. The first region includes a first conductive surface area and the distal region includes a second conductive surface area that is greater than the first conductive surface area. |
| US09594461B1 |
Apparatus and method of hosting or accepting hologram images and transferring the same through a holographic or 3-D camera projecting in the air from a flat surface
An apparatus, method and computer readable media for hosting, controlling, displaying, manipulating and/or transferring hologram(s) or holographic image(s), videos and/or multimedia data. The invention contemplates the use of a number of components, including without limitation, a retractable flexible screen, projector(s), processor(s), memory and also contemplates computer readable media for code necessary for the implementation of invention's embodiments. |
| US09594458B2 |
Shielding with display elements
A method and apparatus for operating an input device having a touch sensor and associated display device is discussed. While performing touch sensing, inactive transmitter electrodes of the touch sensor are electrically floated, and one or more source lines from the display device are operated to achieve shielding against interference, such as that coming from a backlight underneath the touch sensor. |
| US09594457B2 |
Unintentional touch rejection
A method for rejecting an unintentional palm touch is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a touch is detected by a touch-sensitive surface associated with a display. Characteristics of the touch may be used to generate a set of parameters related to the touch. In an embodiment, firmware is used to determine a reliability value for the touch. The reliability value and the location of the touch is provided to a software module. The software module uses the reliability value and an activity context to determine a confidence level of the touch. In an embodiment, the confidence level may include an evaluation of changes in the reliability value over time. If the confidence level for the touch is too low, it may be rejected. |
| US09594456B2 |
Background signal processing system and background signal processing method
A background signal processing method and a background signal processing system are provided. The background signal processing method includes: measuring a first background signal measurement value of a first conductive wire group according to a first background signal measurement value to determine whether a subsequent process is required, and measuring a second background signal measurement value of a second conductive wire group if the subsequent process is required, or ending in this step. A background signal speculating value of a third conductive wire group, other than the first conductive wire group and the second conductive wire group, in the conductive wires is calculated according to the second background signal measurement value and the first background signal measurement value. The background signal processing method greatly simplifies the updating steps for background signals, and ensures quality of the captured signals. |
| US09594455B2 |
Projector and control method
A projector includes a projection section adapted to project a projection image on a projection surface, an imaging section adapted to generate a shot image obtained by shooting a range including the projection image projected by the projection section, a detection section adapted to detect a motion of the projector, and an execution section adapted to execute a predetermined process with respect to a calibration for making a correspondence between a coordinate system of the projection image and a coordinate system of the shot image in a case in which the detection section detects the motion of the projector. |
| US09594452B2 |
Synchronous timed orthogonal measurement pattern for multi-touch sensing on a touchpad
A method for detecting multiple objects on a touchpad having a grid of orthogonal electrodes, wherein all drive electrodes are simultaneously stimulated, and then frequency or electrode coding is used to separate each electrode junction and produce a capacitance image of the touchpad surface in a single measurement sequence. |
| US09594448B2 |
Input device, control method and portable terminal device
A touch panel (111) includes: a touchpad unit (111a) that repeatedly detects a touch position touched by operation body; a speed calculation unit that calculates movement speed of the operation body; a vibrator (111f); and a region setting unit (111c), when the speed at first time is less than threshold, sets first reaction region to be anterior in movement direction of the operation body, and when the speed is equal to or greater than the threshold, sets second reaction region that is smaller than the first reaction region to be anterior in the direction; and a vibration control unit (111e) that judges whether the operation body is inside the reaction region at second time after the reaction region setting, when the operation body is inside the reaction region, controls the vibrator to vibrate, and when the operation body is not inside the reaction region, controls the vibrator not to vibrate. |
| US09594447B2 |
Display device and computer readable recording medium stored a program
A display device includes a display unit, a strain sensor which detects strain on an opposite side against a surface in which the display unit is provided, and a control unit which controls changing of displaying content for the display unit based on a detected level of the strain detected by the strain sensor. |
| US09594443B2 |
Wearable device authentication and operation
For wearable device authentication and operation, code authenticates the wearable device to an electronic device. In addition, the code performs a wearable device operation in response to an operation command from the electronic device. |
| US09594442B2 |
Handwriting input device, method for obtaining handwriting information, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
A handwriting input device includes: a touch panel which can detect a touch given through a sheet of paper; and a control section. The control section obtains position information of a touch point on the touch panel at first time intervals, and determines a location of a sheet on the touch panel to obtain sheet location information, at second time intervals. The control section outputs the position information of the touch points and the corresponding sheet location information. The control section optionally calculates displacement amounts of the sheet on the basis of a change of the sheet location information, and outputs the position information of the touch points and the corresponding displacement amounts of the sheet. The control section optionally corrects the position information of the touch points on the basis of the displacement amounts of the sheet. |
| US09594436B2 |
Three-dimensional image display device, cursor display method therefor, and computer program
A three-dimensional image display device includes: a cursor drawing control unit controlling cursor drawing in a first mode in which a cursor is displayed on an image for one of left and right eyes and no cursor is displayed on an image for the other eye and cursor drawing in a second mode in which a cursor is displayed with a depth by using parallax of images for both left and right eyes; and an image analysis unit performing, when cursor drawing is switched from the first mode to the second mode, image matching on the basis of a position indicated by a cursor on an image for the one eye to search for a corresponding position on an image for the other eye and obtaining a cursor display position on the image for the other eye. |
| US09594434B1 |
Autonomous camera switching
A computing device having multiple sensors can operate in different modes, wherein each mode causes data captured by different sensors to be transmitted to a processing component for analysis. For example, a computing device includes one or more pairs of image sensors. Each pair can be configured such that the transmit lines of the sensors are selectively connected to a host processor. The transmission of data from the sensors can be coordinated by having a first sensor instruct a second sensor to transmit data to the host processor when the first sensor has completed transmitting its data to the host processor. In another example, a first sensor can transmit captured data to the host processor while the second sensor waits for a certain amount of time before transmitting its data. Once the certain amount of time has elapsed, the second sensor can begin transmitting its data to the host processor. |
| US09594433B2 |
Gesture-based controls via bone conduction
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for utilizing bone conduction to detect gestures. According to one aspect, a device can generate a signal and send the signal to a sensor network that is connected to a user. The device can receive a modified signal from the sensor network. The modified signal can include the signal as modified by a body of the user. The device can compare the modified signal to the signal to determine a difference in a feature between the signal and the modified signal. The device can determine a gesture performed by the user based upon the difference in the feature between the signal and the modified signal. |
| US09594424B2 |
Reading apparatus having an interface control device configured to be set into either normal state or power saving state based whether a document is supported or not
In a reading apparatus, a control device determines whether a predetermined state is detected based on a signal outputted from a sensor device. The control device sets a first-interface control device into a normal state when a transition condition is satisfied while the first-interface control device is being in a power saving state. The transition condition includes a condition that the predetermined state is detected. The control device maintains the first-interface control device in the power saving state when the transition condition is not satisfied while the first-interface control device is being in the power saving state, regardless of whether a receiving device receives first input. |
| US09594417B2 |
Screen image mirroring method and apparatus
A display apparatus for mirroring a screen image is provided. The display apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a predetermined screen image, an input unit configured to receive a predetermined command or data, a control unit configured to control the predetermined screen image to be transmitted to another display apparatus in order to make the other display apparatus mirror the predetermined screen image, and to reduce power consumption used to display the predetermined screen image when screen image mirroring is requested, and a communication unit configured to transmit the predetermined screen image to the other display apparatus. Also, the display apparatus reduces the power consumption caused when a mirroring service is used. |
| US09594416B2 |
Analog current output module
An analog current output module includes an MPU generating and outputting a digital signal, a D/A converter converting the digital signal into an analog signal and outputting the analog signal, an analog current output circuit outputting a control current corresponding to the analog signal output from the D/A converter, and an overload detecting unit detecting whether an overload occurs by measuring the control current and comparing a value of the control current and a preset reference value, wherein the overload detecting unit sets the reference value on the basis of a reference value generating signal delivered from the MPU, and the overload detecting unit comprises a comparator comparing the control current value and the reference value and detecting whether the overload occurs, and a reference value setting unit generating the reference value according to the reference value generating signal and providing the reference value to the comparator. |
| US09594414B2 |
Auxiliary power shutdown
An auxiliary power control system for enabling a software command that a management controller sends to the power supply to shut down auxiliary power. Such a power control system enables an AC cycle without needing to physically remove an AC power cord and provides additional power savings when a system is not in use. In certain embodiments, the auxiliary power control system includes a paradigm of a main power state, an auxiliary power state and a sub-auxiliary state. In this system many of the power states and wake vents apply to the auxiliary power state in addition to the main power state. |
| US09594411B2 |
Dynamic power management of context aware services
The disclosure is directed to modifying the operation of one or more hardware subsystems when a new context awareness service begins. An aspect determines a power budget for a plurality of operating context awareness services including the new context awareness service, wherein the power budget is based on a power requirement for each of the plurality of context awareness services, and wherein the power requirement for each of the plurality of context awareness services is based on power utilizations of the one or more hardware subsystems corresponding to the plurality of context awareness services, and allocates power resources to the one or more hardware subsystems based on importances of the plurality of context awareness services and/or the one or more hardware subsystems, wherein the allocation of the power resources is performed within the power budget. |
| US09594410B1 |
Method and system for removing heat from multiple controllers on a circuit board
A heat sink including a top surface, a first bottom surface configured to thermally contact a first controller having a first height from a circuit board, and a second bottom surface configured to thermally contact a second controller having a second height from the circuit board, wherein the second height is different than the first height. |
| US09594407B2 |
Electronic device and coordinate detection method
An electronic device includes a housing, a planar display section, a planar transparent member, a touch panel layer which detects two-dimensional coordinates of an indicator having a predetermined conductivity along a surface of the display section and a vertical distance to the indicator, and an acceleration detection section which detects at least one of an acceleration of the housing and an acceleration of the transparent member. The two-dimensional coordinates are determined as effective coordinates when the vertical distance is equal to or smaller than a first value. The two-dimensional coordinates are determined as the effective coordinates when the vertical distance is more than the first value and is equal to or smaller than a second value more than the first value, and the acceleration detection section detects a predetermined acceleration. |
| US09594406B2 |
Touch panel and method for producing same
A touch panel includes a first planar body having a first electrode patterned on one surface of a first substrate and a first lead-out wiring electrically connected to the first electrode, a cover sheet, a second planar body provided between the first planar body and the cover sheet except a predetermined region of a side edge of the first substrate, and a flexible wiring board interposed at a gap portion formed between the predetermined region of the side edge of the first substrate and the cover sheet, wherein the flexible wiring board includes a connector portion fixed onto the connection terminal of the first lead-out wiring held by the first planar body and electrically connected with the first lead-out wiring, and a spacer member that abuts with both the connector portion and the cover sheet is disposed between the connector portion and the cover sheet. |
| US09594399B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium, display control apparatus, display control method and display control system for controlling displayed virtual objects with symbol images
One or more objects and one or more icons corresponding to the one more objects, respectively, are simultaneously displayed on a screen of an upper LCD and a screen of a lower LCD, respectively. On the screen of the lower LCD, the one or more icons are placed in a plurality of placement areas and displayed. On the screen of the upper LCD, an object of the one or more objects, which corresponds to a respective icon of the one or more icons displayed on the screen of the lower LCD, is placed for display at a predetermined position with which the placement area in which the icon is placed is associated, in the virtual space. |
| US09594389B2 |
Device and method for automatically coordinating protection device of smart power distribution management system
Provided are a device and a method for automatically coordinating a protection device of a smart power distribution management system, wherein a protection coordination correction value of the protection device is calculated via topology analysis and system analysis of a distribution system so as to apply the result to a smart power distribution management system. The device for automatically coordinating a protection device as provided comprises: generating the topology information by obtaining the status information of the distribution system; setting machines, which transmit and received data when an event occurs, to communicate for each of a plurality of protection devices based on the topology information; calculating a system power flow including the power flow direction based on the topology information; and calculating a fault current which is generated upon the failure of the distribution system based on the topology information, thereby generating a protection coordination correction value. |
| US09594387B2 |
Voltage regulator stabilization for operation with a wide range of output capacitances
A voltage regulator includes a measurement circuit for obtaining a value representing a magnitude of an output capacitance connected at an output node of the voltage regulator. A correction circuit in the voltage regulator modifies a compensation circuit internal to the voltage regulator based on the value. The modification of the compensation circuit is done to ensure that sufficient stability margins to accommodate the output capacitance are ensured for the main feedback loop in the voltage regulator. In an embodiment, a voltage proportional to the output capacitance is detected at start-up of the voltage regulator, and a corresponding binary signal is generated. The logic value of the binary signal is used to add or remove components and/or circuit portions in the compensation circuit to ensure stability. The voltage regulator is thus designed to support a wide range of output capacitance values. |
| US09594386B2 |
Adjusting circuit and display device
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an adjusting circuit and a display device, which are capable of limiting a fluctuation of an output voltage (Vcom) in the within a small range, weakening a flicker phenomenon and enhancing a display quality of a liquid crystal display. The adjusting circuit for the output voltage (Vcom) comprises a voltage supplying module, a temperature sensing module and an adjustment outputting module, wherein, the voltage supplying module is connected with the temperature sensing module and the adjustment outputting module, and is configured to provide input voltages to the temperature sensing module and the adjustment outputting module; the temperature sensing module is connected with the adjustment outputting module, and is configured to convert a temperature sensed into an electric signal and transmit the same to the adjustment outputting module; and the adjustment outputting module is configured to adjust an output voltage (Vcom) according to the electric signal transmitted by the temperature sensing module, wherein the output voltage (Vcom) fluctuates between an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage which are preset. |
| US09594380B2 |
Path recording and navigation
The instant application discloses, among other things, path recording and automatic navigation that may be applicable to various applications, including, but not limited to, lawn mowing. |
| US09594379B1 |
Detecting sensor degradation by actively controlling an autonomous vehicle
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining sensor degradation by actively controlling an autonomous vehicle. Determining sensor degradation may include obtaining sensor readings from a sensor of an autonomous vehicle, and determining baseline state information from the obtained sensor readings. A movement characteristic of the autonomous vehicle, such as speed or position, may then be changed. The sensor may then obtain additional sensor readings, and second state information may be determined from these additional sensor readings. Expected state information may be determined from the baseline state information and the change in the movement characteristic of the autonomous vehicle. A comparison of the expected state information and the second state information may then be performed. Based on this comparison, a determination may be made as to whether the sensor has degraded. |
| US09594378B2 |
Variable object detection field-of-focus for automated vehicle control
A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes an object-detection device and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect an object in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle. The object-detection device is operable to vary a field-of-focus of the object-detection device used to observe a portion of the field-of-view. The controller is configured to determine, based on information received from the object-detection device, a travel-direction of the object relative to a travel-path of the host-vehicle. The controller is also configured to adjust the field-of-focus of the object-detection device based on the travel-direction. |
| US09594375B2 |
Heading control using multiple autopilots
Various implementations described herein are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: receive a selection of a desired location or desired bearing for a watercraft, receive a desired heading for the watercraft, determine a first set of instructions for a first autopilot corresponding to the desired location or desired bearing and the desired heading, determine a second set of instructions for a second autopilot corresponding to the desired location or desired bearing and the desired heading, transmit the first set of instructions to the first autopilot and the second set of instructions to the second autopilot. The first set of instructions and the second set of instructions cause the first autopilot and the second autopilot to navigate the watercraft to the desired location or on the desired bearing while maintaining the desired heading. |
| US09594370B1 |
Portable user interface for test instrumentation
In accordance with an embodiment, a measurement system includes a measurement instrument, a controller physically connected to the measurement instrument, and a portable user interface wirelessly connected to the controller. The portable user interface is operable to remotely monitor and control the measurement instrument. |
| US09594363B2 |
Queuing access to a shared power supply
A method of queuing access to a power supply shared by a set of electrical access points. The access points turn on independently from one another and thus have independent power draws. Each access point has a specific power draw when on. The on state and associated power draw of each of access point is identified, and a load duration curve for each access point is normalized (i.e., combined with load duration curve(s)) from the other access points) into a probability distribution function. The probability distribution function is a normalized load duration curve that thus accounts for a varying set of “operating states” that may occur with respect to the set of access points (when viewed collectively). Each operating state has an associated probability of occurrence. As the operating state of the set (of access points) changes, access to the power supply is selectively queued, or de-queued (if previously queued). |
| US09594359B2 |
Feedback control for reducing flaring process smoke and noise
A method of reducing plant emissions includes providing a MPC model for a flaring process including one-to-one models between controlled variables (CVs) including a smoke count and/or a flare count (CV1) and a noise level (CV2), and flow of assist gas as a manipulated variable (MV) and another process gas flow as a disturbance variable (DV). The MPC model receives sensed flare-related parameters during the flaring process including a measure of CV1 (CV1*) and CV2 (CV2*). Provided CV1* is above a minimum setpoint for CV1 (CV1 setpoint) and CV2* is above a setpoint for CV2 (CV2 setpoint), the flaring process is automatically controlled using the MPC model which determines an updated flow setpoint for MV from CV1* and CV2*, the CV1 and CV2 error, and the identified one-to-one models. |
| US09594356B2 |
Circuit arrangement having a fail-silent function
A circuit arrangement for a control device implements a fail-silent and/or fail-safe function, particularly with a hardware-realized detection of a fault or a faulty state in a microcontroller of the circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement interrupts the communication of the control device with a communications network when a fault is detected. |
| US09594355B2 |
Wireless monitoring method and device thereof
A wireless monitoring method is implemented through a plurality of wireless monitor devices. Each of the plurality of wireless monitor devices includes a state detection unit to produce a state data, a micro control unit and a communication module. To implement the wireless monitoring method, the wireless monitoring device gets a device identification code of another wireless monitoring device in a connection range thereof, and judges whether the device identification code is stored therein and belongs to a monitor group. If the judging outcome is positive, the wireless monitoring device gets another state data of the another wireless monitoring device. After judging the state data and the another state data meet a state control condition, at least one control signal is output to trigger at least one electronic device. |
| US09594354B1 |
Smart watch extended system
A method and apparatus to provide an extended band is described. The method includes pairing a watch and a host device. The method further includes monitoring a user's status with a plurality of sensors on the host device and/or the watch, and using the extended band to do one or more of: provide alerts to the user, based on the sensor data, control the extended band from one of the devices, and share data with third parties using the extended band. |
| US09594353B2 |
Device and method for determining timing of a measured signal
Device and method for determining timing of a measured signal, the device has a plurality of flip-flop units (10), an evaluation module, an allocating module for allocating at least one path consisting of flip-flop units (10), and a calibration module being adapted for determining a time difference parameter of each flip-flop unit (10), the time difference parameter specifying for each flip-flop unit (10) a time difference between a period of time in which the measured signal (20) reaches the given flip-flop unit (10) and a period time in which the secondary signal reaches the given flip-flop unit (10), wherein the evaluation module is adapted for determining the timing of the measured signal from the output of the flip-flop units (10) located along the at least one path, on the basis of the time difference parameters. |
| US09594352B2 |
Minute countdown clock
An improved minute countdown clock is provided that depicts the 24-hour day in terms of the number of remaining minutes, rather than in the standard 12-hour cycle. The present clock counts down the number of minutes that are left in the day, unlike a standard clock that depicts the amount of time that has passed in two separate cycles. The present invention may come in either analog or digital varieties. The present invention breaks time into smaller increments in order to reprogram individuals' concept and perception of passing time, to facilitate motivation to accomplish more goals, and finally to create a sense of value and ownership of personal time. Furthermore, the constant countdown creates a sense of urgency by helping people recognize that time is valuable and is lost once it passes. |
| US09594350B2 |
Balance spring made of micromachinable material with isochronism correction
A timepiece balance spring made of micromachinable material including a plurality of stages, each forming a spiral wound spring, parallel to each other and all attached to a common axial collet or to the same balance staff, each stage including, at its respective outer end, its own attachment to a balance spring stud which are independent of those of the other stages, the attachment including a position adjustment with respect to a balance spring stud which are also independent of those of the other stages, the attachment and the position adjustment together forming built-in isochronism correction mechanism for the balance spring, and the position adjustment including a plurality of discrete position adjustment positions including housings each arranged to retain a stud. |
| US09594341B2 |
Image forming apparatus having locking cartridge tray
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly including an opening, a cartridge tray for dismountably supporting a cartridge, an openable member for opening and closing the opening, with the cartridge tray being provided at one end portion side, and a limiting member. An urging member urges the cartridge tray from an inner position in the main assembly to an outer position, and a locking member moves between a regulating position and a non-regulating position in interrelation with movement of the openable member. When the openable member is closed, the locking member moves to the regulating position at which the locking member engages with the cartridge tray to push it to the inner position and limits movement of the cartridge tray toward the outer position, and when the openable member is opened, the locking member moves to the non-regulating position at which the locking member disengages from the cartridge tray. |
| US09594334B2 |
Heater and image heating apparatus including the same
A heater usable with an image heating apparatus includes first and second terminals, a connector, and an endless heating belt. At least one first contact is provided on a substrate and connectable with the first terminal through the connector, and second contacts are provided on the substrate and connectable with the second terminal through the connector. The heater also includes electrodes, including a first electrode connected with the first contact and second electrodes connected with the second contacts, the first electrodes and the second electrodes being arranged alternately with predetermined gaps in a longitudinal direction of the substrate. A plurality of heat generating portions are provided between adjacent electrodes so as to connect between adjacent electrodes, and are capable of generating heat by the electric power supply between adjacent electrodes. The first contact and the second contacts are all disposed in one longitudinal end portion side of the substrate. |
| US09594330B1 |
Detachable body and image forming apparatus
A detachable body includes an opening portion, an opening and closing member, a sealing member, a sealing member, and a protrusion portion. The opening and closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position. The opening and closing member includes a facing portion that faces the opening portion with a gap when the opening and closing member is located at the closed position. When the opening and closing member is moved to the open position, the sealing member has a thickness that is thicker than a gap between the opening portion and the facing portion. When the opening and closing member is moved to the closed position, the sealing member elastically deforms to seal the opening portion. The protrusion portion protrudes from one of a frame portion around the opening portion and the facing portion toward the other. |
| US09594327B2 |
Optical writing device and image forming apparatus
An optical writing device includes a plurality of current driven light emitting elements, first and second power source lines, a designation circuit that outputs a designation potential, first driving circuits provided for each of the light emitting elements to supply driving current to the corresponding light emitting element, second driving circuits provided for each of the light emitting elements to supply driving current to the corresponding light emitting element, and a switching control unit that alternately switches respective states of the first and second driving circuits between a state where one of the first and second driving circuits receives the designation potential while the other driving circuit supplies the driving current, and a state where the other driving circuit receives the designation potential while the one driving circuit supplies the driving current. |
| US09594325B2 |
Image formation method
A two-component developer includes a toner and a carrier. The toner includes a plurality of toner particles. The carrier includes a plurality of carrier particles. Each of the toner particles includes a toner core and a shell layer disposed over the surface of the toner core. The toner has a charge decay constant of at least 0.020 and no greater than 0.050 as measured with the toner particles in an external additive-free state. The carrier has a volume resistivity of at least 1.0×1012 Ω·cm. |
| US09594322B2 |
Toner for image formation, and developer and image forming apparatus using the toner
A toner is provided. The toner includes a crosslinked polyester resin, and a block copolymer. The crosslinked polyester resin includes a diol component, which includes an aliphatic diol component having 3 to 10 carbon atoms in an amount of 50% by mole, and a crosslinked component, which is at least one of a crosslinked component of an aliphatic alcohol having three or more valences and a crosslinked component of an aliphatic acid having three or more valences, and the block copolymer includes a crystalline segment (a) and a non-crystalline segment (b). The toner has a first glass transition temperature (Tg1st) of from 20° C. to 50° C., which is determined by subjecting the toner to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and measuring a glass transition temperature in a first temperature rising process in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). |
| US09594321B2 |
Binder resin for toner and toner
A binder resin for toner includes a carboxy group-containing vinyl resin (C), a glycidyl group-containing vinyl resin (E), a reactant thereof, and a fatty acid metal salt (M), in which the carboxy group-containing vinyl resin (C) includes a high molecular weight vinyl resin (H) having a peak in a region in which the molecular weight is equal to or more than 2.5×104 and equal to or less than 1.2×106 in the molecular weight distribution of a THF soluble content and a low molecular weight vinyl resin (L) having a peak in a region in which the molecular weight is equal to or more than 2×103 and equal to or less than 2×104 in the molecular weight distribution of a THF soluble content. The reactant of the carboxy group-containing vinyl resin (C) and the glycidyl group-containing vinyl resin (E) is formed in the presence of the fatty acid metal salt (M). |
| US09594319B2 |
Curable toner compositions and processes
An emulsion aggregation toner composition includes toner particles including: an unsaturated polymeric resin, such as amorphous resins, crystalline resins, and combinations thereof; an optional colorant; an optional wax; an optional coagulant; and a photoinitiator. By optimizing the particle size of the emulsion, the aggregant concentration utilized in the emulsion aggregation process, and the solids content of the emulsion, toners may be produced capable of generating images with non-contact fusing that have high gloss. |
| US09594318B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, including: a support; and a photosensitive layer formed on the support, in which a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a polymerized product of a compound represented by the following structural formula (1). |
| US09594316B2 |
Surface positioning detecting apparatus, exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
A surface position detecting apparatus includes a light projection system that projects a beam from an oblique direction onto a detection target surface, and a light reception system that receives a beam reflected on the detection target surface, said surface position detecting apparatus adapted to detect a surface position of the detection target surface based on an output from the light reception system. At least one of the light projection system and the light reception system includes a total reflection prism member including an internal reflection surface which totally reflects an incident beam. Upon detection of the surface position of the detection target surface, a refractive index of an optical material forming the total reflection prism member and an angle of incidence of the incident beam to the internal reflection surface of the total reflection prism member are set so as to satisfy a predetermined relation. |
| US09594314B2 |
Exposure apparatus, alignment method, and device manufacturing method
The exposure apparatus includes a first detector, a first alignment unit, a second detector, and a second alignment unit, and a controller, wherein the controller controls the second alignment unit so that alignment of a substrate is conducted based on a detection result from detection of the mark by the second detector in a first view when alignment of the substrate can be conducted by the first alignment unit at a prescribed alignment accuracy, and controls the second alignment unit so that alignment of the substrate is conducted based on a detection result from detection of the mark by the second detector in a second view that is wider than the first view when alignment of the substrate cannot be conducted by the first alignment unit at the prescribed alignment accuracy. |
| US09594313B2 |
Movable body apparatus, exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
In an exposure station, positional information of a holding member that holds a wafer is measured by a first measurement system including a measurement member, and in a measurement station positional information of the holding member that holds a wafer is measured by a second measurement system including another measurement member. An exposure apparatus has a third measurement system which can measure positional information of the holding member when the holding member is carried from the measurement station to the exposure station. A controller, coupled to the first and the second measurement systems, controls a movement of the holding member based on the positional information measured by the first measurement system in the exposure station and also controls a movement of the holding member based on the positional information measured by the second measurement system in the measurement station. |
| US09594311B2 |
Inspection method and apparatus, lithographic apparatus, lithographic processing cell and device manufacturing method
The present invention makes the use of measurement of a diffraction spectrum in or near an image plane in order to determine a property of an exposed substrate. In particular, the positive and negative first diffraction orders are separated or diverged, detected and their intensity measured. The intensity of each of the first diffraction orders from the diffraction spectrum are compared to determine overlay (or other properties) of exposed layers on the substrate. |
| US09594310B2 |
Inspection method and apparatus, lithographic apparatus, lithographic processing cell and device manufacturing method
The present invention makes the use of measurement of a diffraction spectrum in or near an image plane in order to determine a property of an exposed substrate. In particular, the positive and negative first diffraction orders are separated or diverged, detected and their intensity measured. The intensity of each of the first diffraction orders from the diffraction spectrum are compared to determine overlay (or other properties) of exposed layers on the substrate. |