Document Document Title
US09601816B2 Dielectric line and electronic component
A dielectric line includes a line portion and a surrounding dielectric portion. The line portion is formed of a first dielectric having a first relative permittivity. The surrounding dielectric portion is formed of a second dielectric having a second relative permittivity. The line portion propagates one or more electromagnetic waves of one or more frequencies within the range of 1 to 10 GHz. In a cross section orthogonal to the direction of propagation of the one or more electromagnetic waves through the line portion, the surrounding dielectric portion is present around the line portion. The first relative permittivity is 1,000 or higher. The second relative permittivity is lower than the first relative permittivity.
US09601815B2 Battery system having battery cells and an apparatus for controlling the temperature of the battery cells
A battery system includes a plurality of battery cells connected to one another and includes an apparatus configured to control the temperature of the plurality of battery cells. The apparatus includes at least one hollow body through which a coolant flows and includes at least one heat conducting element having at least one first contact region and at least one second contact region. The at least one first contact region has a planar configuration and is in thermal contact with a side face of at least one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. The at least one second contact region is arranged on the at least one hollow body such that the at least one second contact region is in thermal contact with the at least one hollow body.
US09601814B2 Battery maintenance alert device and process
The invention provides a battery maintenance alert process and device capable of tracking one or more operational variables for a lead-acid battery and lead-acid battery-operated equipment and alerting the user of the battery or battery-operated equipment when it is time to perform battery maintenance or service.
US09601803B2 Non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte-separator layer product for lithium battery applications
A separator-electrolyte layer product for use in a lithium battery, comprising: (a) a porous thin-film separator selected from a porous polymer film, a porous mat, fabric, or paper made of polymer or glass fibers, or a combination thereof, wherein the separator has a thickness less than 500 μm; and (b) a non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte containing a lithium salt dissolved in a liquid solvent up to a concentration no less than 3 M; wherein the porous thin-film separator is coated with the quasi-solid electrolyte so that the layer product exhibits a vapor pressure less than 0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a vapor pressure less than 60% of the vapor pressure of the liquid solvent alone, a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than a flash point of the first liquid solvent alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no detectable flash point.
US09601800B2 Charging method
A charging method to charge a lithium ion battery in a short amount of time at low cost without degradation of the lithium ion battery is provided. A lithium ion battery includes a lithium compound containing iron as a positive electrode active material. The lithium ion battery is charged through a quasi-constant voltage charging procedure. The lithium ion battery includes a lithium compound as a positive electrode active material used for a positive electrode material. With the lithium compound, a voltage in a flat voltage section of a charging characteristic curve is higher than a voltage of a battery including the lithium compound containing iron as the positive electrode active material. The lithium ion battery may be an assembled battery including a plurality of electric cells connected in series.
US09601797B2 Fuel cell stack manifold with ejector function
A fuel cell stack manifold having an ejector function of which the manufacturing cost and the weight can be reduced by optimizing hydrogen supply and recirculation channels and removing other members. hardware without a separate ejector structure for additionally attaching an ejector, of which the productivity can be improved by removing from an ejector assembly process. The fuel cell system minimizes joints through which hydrogen may leak, by implementing a new structure of a manifold added with an ejector function by integrally forming/manufacturing a stack manifold having a venturi and diffuser structure and adding a nozzle thereto.
US09601796B2 Fuel cell arrangement
A fuel cell arrangement is disclosed. The fuel cell arrangement includes a fuel cell stack and a housing wall element to form a housing surrounding the fuel cell stack. The housing wall element comprises a penetrating opening for an electric contacting of the fuel cell stack via a conductor. The conductor extends through the penetrating opening. A sheath is arranged between the penetrating opening wall and the conductor around an insulation layer arranged at the conductor. The sheath, together with the insulation layer, is pushed against the conductor in a gas-tight fashion, with the penetrating opening being sealed in a gas-tight fashion via a compensation element to compensate for longitudinal and lateral movements. The compensation element is lastingly fastened at the sheath element and the housing wall element in a gas-tight fashion.
US09601787B2 Fuel cell system having a circulating circuit, a radiator, a bypass passage and a three-way valve
A radiator cap is connected to a circulating circuit at a connecting point located upstream of a water pump in a flow direction of coolant and that regulates a pressure in the circulating circuit to be within a predetermined pressure range that is higher than or equal to an atmospheric pressure at the connecting point. A rotary valve is disposed in the circulating circuit at upstream of the connecting point of the radiator cap in the flow direction of coolant. Accordingly, a cavitation is restricted from occurring, and the water pump can perform enough efficiency. A communication passage that has an upstream end and a downstream end connected to the circulating circuit may be disposed instead of the radiator cap. In this case, a pressure regulating valve is disposed in the communication passage.
US09601785B2 Fuel cell
An oxidant gas conduit communicating with both an oxidant gas inlet communication hole and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole is formed in a surface of a cathode-side metallic separator which forms a fuel cell. Continuous linear guide ridges which protrude from intermediate height sections to the oxidant gas conduit side and form continuous guide conduits are provided on the cathode-side metallic separator. The linear guide ridges are continuously connected to ends of rectilinear conduit ridges which form rectilinear conduits, are provided with bend portions, and are set to lengths which are different from each other in a step-like manner.
US09601774B2 Use of xanthan gum as an anode binder
Xanthan gum has been found to be a superior binder for binding an electrode, especially an anode, in a lithium-ion or lithium-sulfur battery, being able to accommodate large volume changes and providing stable capacities in batteries tested with different types of anode materials.
US09601770B2 Precursor for preparation of lithium composite transition metal oxide and method of preparing the same
Disclosed are a transition metal precursor for preparation of a lithium composite transition metal oxide, the transition metal precursor including a composite transition metal compound represented by Formula 1 below and a hydrocarbon compound, and a method of preparing the same: MnaMb(OH1-x)2  (1) wherein M is at least two selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, and second period transition metals; 0.4≦a≦1; 0≦b≦0.6; a+b≦1; and 0≦x≦0.5, in which the transition metal precursor includes a particular composite transition metal compound and a hydrocarbon compound, and thus, when a lithium composite transition metal oxide is prepared using the same, carbon may be present in lithium transition metal oxide particles and/or on surfaces thereof, whereby a secondary battery including the lithium composite transition metal oxide exhibits excellent rate characteristics and long lifespan.
US09601767B2 Alkaline collector anode
An alkaline battery includes a cathode, an alkaline electrolyte, and a copper-based anode which reduces hydrogen gassing without a protective coating or plating to less than 50% of the gas production observed using tin-plated 260 brass. An alloy for an anode which reduces hydrogen gassing without a protective coating or plating to less than 50% of the gas production observed using tin-plated 260 brass includes 0.01% to 9.0% tin, no more than 1% of phosphorus, no more than 1% of incidental elements and impurities, and the balance copper, in wt %. Another alloy for an anode which reduces hydrogen gassing without a protective coating or plating to less than 50% of the gas production observed using tin-plated 260 brass includes 1.0% to 40% zinc, about 0.01% to 5.0% tin, no more than 1% of phosphorus, no more than 1% of incidental elements and impurities, and the balance copper, in wt %.
US09601763B2 Process for mass-producing silicon nanowires and silicon nanowire-graphene hybrid particulates
Disclosed is a process for producing graphene-silicon nanowire hybrid material, comprising: (A) preparing a catalyst metal-coated mixture mass, which includes mixing graphene sheets with micron or sub-micron scaled silicon particles to form a mixture and depositing a nano-scaled catalytic metal onto surfaces of the graphene sheets and/or silicon particles; and (B) exposing the catalyst metal-coated mixture mass to a high temperature environment (preferably from 300° C. to 2,000° C., more preferably from 400° C. to 1,500° C., and most preferably from 500° C. to 1,200° C.) for a period of time sufficient to enable a catalytic metal-catalyzed growth of multiple silicon nanowires using the silicon particles as a feed material to form the graphene-silicon nanowire hybrid material composition. An optional etching or separating procedure may be conducted to remove catalytic metal or graphene from the Si nanowires.
US09601762B2 Phosphorous-coated lithium metal products, method for production and use thereof
A particulate lithium metal composite materials having a layer containing phosphorous and a method for producing said phosphorous-coated lithium metal products, characterized in that melted, droplet-shaped lithium metal is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent with a phosphorous source that contains the phosphorous in the oxidation stage 3, and use thereof for the pre-lithiation of electrode materials and the production of battery anodes.
US09601758B2 Negative electrode material for a rechargeable battery, and method for producing it
The invention relates to a negative electrode powder for a lithium-ion rechargeable battery comprising a mixture comprising carbon and SiOx, with 0
US09601757B2 Electrode active material, production method for said electrode active material, electrode and secondary battery
An electrode active material has, as a main component, a mixture of an organic compound containing a rubeanic acid and oxamide. The rubeanic acid is represented by the following general formula: In the formula, n indicates an integer between 1 and 20, and R1-R4 indicate hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, or a prescribed substituent group such as a hydroxide group, a 1-3C alkyl group, an amino group, a phenyl group, a cyclohexyl group, or a sulfo group.
US09601747B2 Nanopatterned substrate serving as both a current collector and template for nanostructured electrode growth
A process of forming and the resulting nano-pitted metal substrate that serves both as patterns to grow nanostructured materials and as current collectors for the resulting nanostructured material is disclosed herein. The nano-pitted substrate can be fabricated from any suitable conductive material that allows nanostructured electrodes to be grown directly on the substrate.
US09601744B2 Secondary battery
A secondary battery includes: a case; an electrode assembly housed in the case and including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode having a coating portion coated with a first active material and a non-coating portion absent the first active material; and a collector plate including first and second collector plates enmeshed together with the non-coating portion therebetween.
US09601743B2 Electric wire routing structure for bus bar module
Provided are: a first-group accommodation part (21) and a second-group accommodation part (22) in each of which accommodation parts (2) each of which accommodates at least one of a bus bar (3), a terminal (4), and an electric wire (5) connected to the terminal (4) are arranged; a linkage part (8) linking the first-group accommodation part (21) and the second-group accommodation part (22) to each other; and an electric wire routing part (9) provided in the linkage part (8) and accommodating the electric wires (5).
US09601737B2 Lithium-ion secondary battery separator
A lithium-ion secondary battery separator resolves defects of a non-woven fabric separator which is not suitable for use in such a battery. The separator is thin and does not short-circuit and has excellent electrolyte retainability and rate characteristics. The separator includes a composite of a non-woven fabric having a basis weight of 2 to 20 g/m2 formed from fibers of a thermoplastic material having an average fiber diameter of 5 to 40 μm and ultra-microfibers having an average fiber diameter of 1 μm or less in an amount of ⅓ to 3 times the mass of the non-woven fabric. The composite has a thickness of 10 to 40 μm after heat-pressing treatment under conditions that the non-woven fabric has a glossiness (JIS Z 8741) measured at 60° in the range of 3 to 30 and a thickness of 10 to 40.
US09601732B2 Battery module for mitigating gas accumulation and methods thereof
A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cell assemblies configured to electrically communicate with each other. Each battery cell assembly has an electrode stack enclosed by a case. The electrode stack is positioned in the case to form one or more peripheral spaces between the electrode stack and the case. Support members are positioned adjacent to each of the battery cell assemblies to contact a desired portion of the electrode stack. The support members are configured to focus a compressive force on a desired portion of the electrode stack. The compressive force urges gases formed during operation of the electrode stack into the peripheral spaces within the case.
US09601730B2 Secondary battery frame and battery pack including the same
Disclosed is a secondary battery frame with improved dimension management capability and a battery pack including the same.The secondary battery frame according to the present disclosure is used to package a pouch-type secondary battery, the secondary battery frame comprising a frame body comprising a top plate surrounding a circumferential area through which an electrode lead is exposed among a circumferential area of the pouch-type secondary battery, a left plate connected to a left edge of the top plate, a right plate connected to a right edge of the top plate, and a bottom plate connected to a bottom edge of the left plate and a bottom edge of the right plate; and a protrusion protrusively formed from at least one of the top plate, the bottom plate, the left plate, and the right plate in an outward direction of the frame body.
US09601726B2 Sealing material for secondary battery and sealing material composition for secondary battery
A sealing material for secondary battery contains a conjugated diene-based polymer and a cyclic olefin-based polymer. The weight ratio between the conjugated diene-based polymer and the cyclic olefin-based polymer, as expressed in (conjugated diene-based polymer/cyclic olefin-based polymer), ranges from 40/60 to 80/20, and the total amount of the diene-based polymer and the cyclic olefin-based polymer is 80 wt % or more of an entire amount.
US09601722B2 Method of manufacturing display device including a surface treatment operation to remove activated fluorine
A method of manufacturing a display device, the method including providing a first electrode on a base substrate; providing a fluorine-containing pixel defining layer on the base substrate and the first electrode such that the pixel defining layer exposes at least a portion of the first electrode; pretreating the first electrode; and providing an organic layer on the first electrode after pretreating the first electrode, wherein pretreating the first electrode includes performing a first treatment operation of treating an exposed surface of the first electrode using a first plasma gas; and performing a second treatment operation after performing the first treatment operation, the second treatment operation including treating the exposed surface of the first electrode using a second plasma gas, wherein the second plasma gas is different from the first plasma gas and includes hydrogen.
US09601715B2 Method of manufacturing display device, method of exposing terminal of display device and display device
A method of manufacturing a display device includes bonding together a first substrate and a second substrate sandwiching a first bonding material and a second bonding material, a substrate being formed by bonding the first and the second substrate and including a plurality of the display devices, the first bonding material being arranged in at least a display region, the second bonding material being a part of a terminal region and being arranged so as to cover the terminal, and the second bonding material having a stronger adhesion per unit area with respect to the second substrate than the first bonding material; cutting the second substrate at a cutting position between the terminal region and the display region for each of the display devices; removing the second substrate of the terminal region from the display device; and separating each of the display devices from the plurality of display devices.
US09601714B2 Display device
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device comprises a display panel, a window cover, at least one align key and a sealing portion. The display panel includes a substrate, a display unit formed over the substrate, and an encapsulation portion formed over the display unit. The window cover is formed over the display panel. The at least one align key is formed on the encapsulation portion and configured to align the display panel with the window cover. The sealing portion is formed between the substrate and the encapsulation portion, wherein the align key has at least one laser beam through portion passing through the encapsulation portion and is connected to the sealing portion.
US09601713B2 Electro-optic device, method of manufacturing electro-optic device, and electronic apparatus
An electro-optic device includes: a first substrate that includes a first surface; an optical element that is disposed in a first region on the first surface; a casing that is disposed to overlap with a part of the optical element along an outer periphery of the first region on the first surface and includes first and second end portions; a first resin layer that is disposed on an inside of the second end portion of the casing on the first surface and is installed to overlap with at least a part of the optical element; a second resin layer that is disposed on the first resin layer; and a second substrate that faces the first surface and is disposed on the second resin layer.
US09601707B2 Ambipolar vertical field effect transistor
Various examples are provided for ambipolar vertical field effect transistors (VFETs). In one example, among others, an ambipolar VFET includes a gate layer; a source layer that is electrically percolating and perforated; a dielectric layer; a drain layer; and a semiconducting channel layer. The semiconducting channel layer is in contact with at least a portion of the source layer and at least a portion of the dielectric layer and the source layer and the semiconducting channel layer form a gate voltage tunable charge injection barrier. Another example includes an ambipolar vertical field effect transistor including a dielectric surface treatment layer. The semiconducting channel layer is in contact with at least a portion of the source layer and at least a portion of the dielectric surface treatment layer and where the source layer and the semiconducting channel layer form a gate voltage tunable charge injection barrier.
US09601703B2 Organic light-emitting device
An organic light-emitting device (OLED) includes a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; an emission layer (EML) between the first electrode and the second electrode; a hole transport region between the first electrode and the EML; an electron transport region between the EML and the second electrode; and an interlayer between the EML and the hole transport region, wherein the interlayer includes an amine-based compound represented by Formula 1 or 2: where Ar1, Ar2, R1-R4, Z11-Z21, p, and q are as defined in the specification.
US09601701B2 Organic compound and organic light-emitting device
The present invention relates to a novel stable benzo[h]hexaphene compound and an organic light-emitting device including the compound. The present invention provides a benzo[h]hexaphene shown in claim 1.
US09601700B2 Condensed cyclic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
A condensed cyclic compound and an organic light-emitting device including the same, the compound being represented by Formula 1, below: Ar1-(L11)b1-(L1)a1-(L12)b2-Ar2  
US09601699B2 Chrysene-based compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
A chrysene-based compound and an organic light-emitting device including the same, the chrysene-based compound being represented by Formula 1, below:
US09601695B2 Polymer compound
A photoelectric conversion device that contains a polymer compound having a structural unit represented by formula (1) having high photoelectric conversion efficiency: wherein, X1 and X2 are the same or different and represent a nitrogen atom or ═CH—; Y1 represents a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, a selenium atom, —N(R1)— or —CR2═CR3—; R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; W1 represents a cyano group, a monovalent organic group having a fluorine atom or a halogen atom; W2 represents a cyano group, a monovalent organic group having a fluorine atom, a halogen atom or a hydrogen atom.
US09601694B2 Donor substrate and method for manufacturing organic light emitting diode display
A donor substrate for a laser transfer includes a base layer, a primer layer disposed on the base layer, a light-to-heat conversion layer disposed on the primer layer, and an intermediate layer disposed on the light-to-heat conversion layer, where the light-to-heat conversion layer includes graphene.
US09601690B1 Sub-oxide interface layer for two-terminal memory
Provision of fabrication, construction, and/or assembly of a two-terminal memory device is described herein. The two-terminal memory device can include an active region with a silicon bearing layer, an interface layer, and an active metal layer. The interface layer can created comprising a non-stoichiometric sub-oxide that can be a combination of multiple silicon and/or silicon oxide layers with an aggregate chemical formula of SiOX, where X can be a non-integer greater than zero and less than 2. The sub-oxide can be created in a variety of ways, including various techniques related to growing the sub-oxide, depositing the sub-oxide, or transforming an extant film into the sub-oxide.
US09601685B1 Fabricating two-dimensional array of four-terminal thin film devices with surface-sensitive conductor layer
A technique relates to a semiconductor device. First metal contacts are formed on top of a substrate. The first metal contacts are arranged in a first direction, and the first metal contacts are arranged such that areas of the substrate remain exposed. Insulator pads are positioned at predefined locations on top of the first metal contacts, such that the insulator pads are spaced from one another. Second metal contacts are formed on top of the insulator pads, such that the second metal contacts are arranged in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second metal contacts sandwich the insulator pads at the predefined locations. Surface-sensitive conductive channels are formed to contact the first metal contacts and the second metal contacts. Four-terminal devices are defined by the surface-sensitive conductive channels contacting a pair of the first metal contacts and contacting a pair of the metal contacts.
US09601683B2 Unit of piezoelectric element
In object to provide a unit of piezoelectric element having a preferable bending strength and preferably used as a part of a driving unit, a unit of piezoelectric element comprising: a multilayer piezoelectric element, having internal electrodes laminated having a piezoelectric body layer in-between and a pair of external electrodes formed on side surfaces extending along laminating direction and electrically connected to the internal electrodes, a wiring part connected to the external electrodes via a solder part, wherein a solder is solidified, a resin part, joining one end surface in the laminating direction of the multilayer piezoelectric element and a mounting surface of a connection member placed to face the one end surface, wherein the resin part is continuous from the one end surface and the mounting surface to the solder part; and the resin part covers the solder part, is provided.
US09601679B2 Thermoelectric module and method of manufacturing the same
In a configuration to join thermoelectric elements with an electrode in a thermoelectric module, reduction in junction reliability between the thermoelectric elements and the electrode is suppressed in a high-temperature environment and in an environment in which vibration and shock are imposed as load, to efficiently transmit the outer-circumferential temperature to the thermoelectric elements. In a thermoelectric module in which a plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of n-type thermoelectric element are alternately arranged by aligning the surfaces thereof on the high-temperature side and the surfaces thereof on the low-temperature side, to electrically connect the thermoelectric elements in series to each other; the p-type thermoelectric elements and the n-type thermoelectric element are joined via an intermediate layer with a deformable stress relaxation electrode, to thereby absorb stress taking place during the module assembling process and the module operation by the electrode.
US09601677B2 Thermoelectric (TE) devices/structures including thermoelectric elements with exposed major surfaces
A thermoelectric structure may include a thermally conductive substrate, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements arranged on a surface of the thermally conductive substrate. Moreover, each thermoelectric element may be non-parallel and non-orthogonal with respect to the surface of the thermally conductive substrate. For example, each of thermoelectric elements may be a planar thermoelectric element, and a plane of each of the thermoelectric elements may be oriented obliquely with respect to the surface of the thermally conductive substrate.
US09601676B2 LED support assembly and LED module
An LED support assembly and an LED module are provided. The LED support assembly includes: a metal heat sink, a first ceramic substrate and a second ceramic substrate, the metal heat sink defines an upper surface; the first ceramic substrate is adapted to support a LED chip and disposed on the upper surface of the metal heat sink; the second ceramic substrate is adapted to support electrodes of the LED chip and surrounds the first ceramic substrate.
US09601673B2 Light emitting diode (LED) components including LED dies that are directly attached to lead frames
A Light Emitting Diode (LED) component includes a lead frame and an LED that is electrically connected to the lead frame without wire bonds, using a solder layer. The lead frame includes a metal anode pad, a metal cathode pad and a plastic cup. The LED die includes LED die anode and cathode contacts with a solder layer on them. The metal anode pad, metal cathode pad, plastic cup and/or the solder layer are configured to facilitate the direct die attach of the LED die to the lead frame without wire bonds. Related fabrication methods are also described.
US09601669B2 Light-emitting apparatus, backlight unit, liquid crystal display apparatus, and illumination apparatus
A method of manufacturing a light-emitting apparatus includes arranging a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements in a straight line on a substrate and applying a sealing material, including an optical wavelength converter, in a straight line on the substrate to collectively seal the semiconductor light-emitting elements with the sealing material. The sealing material is applied so that a contour of a longitudinal end of the sealing material has a curvature, in a plan view of the substrate.
US09601668B2 Light emitting device
A light emitting device has a plurality of light emitting elements that are arranged with gaps between the devices on a mounting board in a first direction, a wavelength-conversion member that covers the plurality of light emitting elements, a light reflective resin. Each light emitting element has an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer provided in a part of the n-type semiconductor layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer provided on the active layer. In a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, an n-side electrodes are provided at least in regions at both ends of the n-type semiconductor layer, and a p-side electrode is provided on the surface of the p-type semiconductor layer, and wherein in the second direction, the wavelength-conversion member is positioned to approximately align both sides with both active layer side faces, or to dispose its sides outward of the active layer side faces.
US09601666B2 Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a substrate, a plurality of light emitting cells separated from each other and disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of conductive interconnection layers electrically connecting two neighboring light emitting cells. Each light emitting cell includes a light emitting structure including a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an etching area. The light emitting structure further includes a first side surface and a second side surface, and if a width between the first side surface and the second side surface is defined as W, the second electrode is disposed in an area between a position separated from the first side surface by 1 5 ⁢ W and a position separated from the first side surface of the light emitting structure by 1 2 ⁢ W .
US09601664B2 Semiconductor light-emitting element and method of manufacturing the same
A step of forming, on a surface of a semiconductor structure layer, easily-to-be-etched portions arranged on the basis of crystal directions on the surface of the semiconductor structure layer and a step of subjecting the surface of the semiconductor structure layer to wet etching to form an uneven structure surface including a plurality of protrusions derived from a crystal structure of the semiconductor structure layer on the surface of the semiconductor structure layer are included.
US09601663B2 Light-emitting diode chip
A light-emitting diode chip includes a semiconductor body including a radiation-generating active region, at least two contact locations electrically contacting the active region, a carrier and a connecting medium arranged between the carrier and the semiconductor body, wherein the semiconductor body includes roughening on outer surfaces facing the carrier, the semiconductor body mechanically connects to the carrier by the connecting medium, the connecting medium locally directly contacts the semiconductor body and the carrier, and the at least two contact locations are arranged on the upper side of the semiconductor body facing away from the carrier.
US09601659B2 LED structures for reduced non-radiative sidewall recombination
LED structures are disclosed to reduce non-radiative sidewall recombination along sidewalls of vertical LEDs including p-n diode sidewalls that span a top current spreading layer, bottom current spreading layer, and active layer between the top current spreading layer and bottom current spreading layer.
US09601652B2 Ohmic N-contact formed at low temperature in inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells
A method of forming a multijunction solar cell including an upper subcell, a middle subcell, and a lower subcell by providing a substrate for the epitaxial growth of semiconductor material; forming a first solar subcell on the substrate having a first band gap; forming a second solar subcell over the first solar subcell having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap; forming a graded interlayer over the second subcell, the graded interlayer having a third band gap greater than the second band gap; forming a third solar subcell over the graded interlayer having a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell; and forming a contact composed of a sequence of layers over the first subcell at a temperature of 280° C. or less and having a contact resistance of less than 5×10−4 ohms-cm2.
US09601651B2 Method and apparatus for manufacturing a solar module strand and a solar module strand of flexible solar cells
A flexible solar module strand manufactured by a method including providing a first conveyor track for applying flexible solar cells; guiding the first conveyor track around two or more deflecting means; providing individual flexible solar cells; applying the individual solar cells to the first conveyor track; deflecting the first conveyor track by guiding the first conveyor track over a first one of the deflecting means; separating the first conveyor track from the at least one deflected solar cell strip in such a manner that the solar cells are released, with their respective first or second sides facing the first conveyor track, from the first conveyor track; and applying the at least one deflected solar cell strip to a first film web in such a manner that the solar cells are oriented, with their respective first or second sides separated from the first conveyor track, away from the first film web.
US09601650B1 Machine and process for continuous, sequential, deposition of semiconductor solar absorbers having variable semiconductor composition deposited in multiple sublayers
A method of manufacture of I-III-VI-absorber photovoltaic cells involves sequential deposition of films comprising one or more of silver and copper, with one or more of aluminum indium and gallium, and one or more of sulfur, selenium, and tellurium, as compounds in multiple thin sublayers to form a composite absorber layer. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to roll-to-roll processing of photovoltaic cells. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to preparation of a CIGS absorber layer having graded composition through the layer of substitutions such as tellurium near the base contact and silver near the heterojunction partner layer, or through gradations in indium and gallium content. In a particular embodiment, the graded composition is enriched in gallium at a base of the layer, and silver at the top of the layer. In an embodiment, each sublayer is deposited by co-evaporation of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium, which react in-situ to form CIGS.
US09601649B2 Method for producing a microsystem having a thin film made of lead zirconate titanate
A method for producing a micro system, said method comprising: providing a substrate (2) made of aluminum oxide; producing a thin film (6) on the substrate (2) by depositing lead zirconate titanate onto the substrate (2) with a thermal deposition method such that the lead zirconate titanate in the thin film (6) is self-polarized and is present predominantly in the rhombohedral phase; and cooling down the substrate (2) together with the thin film (6).
US09601646B2 Solar cell module
A solar cell module having high reliability by increasing heat release of a bypass diode is provided. A solar cell panel including a photoelectric conversion unit, a holding member disposed at a periphery of the solar cell panel to hold the solar cell panel, a heat release plate spaced from the solar cell panel and disposed on the holding member, and a bypass diode attached to the heat release plate so as to be spaced from the solar cell panel and electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion unit are included. An attachment surface of the bypass diode to the heat release plate is disposed to face the holding member.
US09601640B2 Electrical contacts to nanostructured areas
A process is provided for contacting a nanostructured surface. In that process, a substrate is provided having a nanostructured material on a surface, the substrate being conductive and the nanostructured material being coated with an insulating material. A portion of the nanostructured material is at least partially removed. A conductor is deposited on the substrate in such a way that it is in electrical contact with the substrate through the area where the nanostructured material has been at least partially removed.
US09601639B2 Semiconductor device
A p-type anode layer (2) is provided on an upper surface of an n-type drift layer (1). An n-type cathode layer (3) is provided on a lower surface of the n−-type drift layer (1). An n-type buffer layer (4) is provided between the n−-type drift layer (1) and the n-type cathode layer (3). A peak impurity concentration in the n-type buffer layer (4) is higher than that in the n−-type drift layer (1) and lower than that in the n-type cathode layer (3). A gradient of carrier concentration at a connection between the n−-type drift layer (1) and the n-type buffer layer (4) is 20 to 2000 cm−4.
US09601638B2 GaN-on-Si switch devices
A low leakage current switch device (110) is provided which includes a GaN-on-Si substrate (11, 13) with one or more device mesas (41) in which isolation regions (92, 93) are formed using an implant mask (81) to implant ions (91) into an upper portion of the mesa sidewalls and the peripheral region around each elevated surface of the mesa structures exposed by the implant mask, thereby preventing the subsequently formed gate electrode (111) from contacting the peripheral edge and sidewalls of the mesa structures.
US09601636B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
One object of the present invention is to provide a structure of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region in which the threshold voltage of electric characteristics of the transistor can be positive, which is a so-called normally-off switching element, and a manufacturing method thereof. A second oxide semiconductor layer which has greater electron affinity and a smaller energy gap than a first oxide semiconductor layer is formed over the first oxide semiconductor layer. Further, a third oxide semiconductor layer is formed to cover side surfaces and a top surface of the second oxide semiconductor layer, that is, the third oxide semiconductor layer covers the second oxide semiconductor layer.
US09601635B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
By using a conductive layer including Cu as a long lead wiring, increase in wiring resistance is suppressed. Further, the conductive layer including Cu is provided in such a manner that it does not overlap with the oxide semiconductor layer in which a channel region of a TFT is formed, and is surrounded by insulating layers including silicon nitride, whereby diffusion of Cu can be prevented; thus, a highly reliable semiconductor device can be manufactured. Specifically, a display device which is one embodiment of a semiconductor device can have high display quality and operate stably even when the size or definition thereof is increased.
US09601631B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device in which a shift of the threshold voltage of a transistor is suppressed is provided. A semiconductor device in which a decrease in the on-state current of a transistor is suppressed is provided. The semiconductor device is manufactured as follows: forming a gate electrode layer over a substrate; forming a gate insulating film over the gate electrode layer; forming an oxide semiconductor film over the gate insulating film; forming a metal oxide film having a higher reducing property than the oxide semiconductor film over the oxide semiconductor film; performing heat treatment while the metal oxide film and the oxide semiconductor film are in contact with each other, thereby the metal oxide film is reduced so that a metal film is formed; and processing the metal film to form a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer.
US09601627B2 Diode structure compatible with FinFET process
An embodiment integrated circuit (e.g., diode) and method of making the same. The embodiment integrated circuit includes a well having a first doping type formed over a substrate having the first doping type, the well including a fin, a source formed over the well on a first side of the fin, the source having a second doping type, a drain formed over the well on a second side of the fin, the drain having the first doping type, and a gate oxide formed over the fin, the gate oxide laterally spaced apart from the source by a back off region of the fin. The integrated circuit is compatible with a FinFET fabrication process.
US09601623B2 Methods for forming semiconductor device structures
The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.
US09601620B2 Transistor and fabrication method thereof
A method for forming transistors includes providing a substrate having at least a dummy gate structure having at least dummy gate layer; forming a first dielectric layer on the substrate; thinning the first dielectric layer with a pre-determined depth to cause a top surface of the dielectric layer to be lower than a top surface of the dummy gate structure and expose top portions of side surfaces of the dummy gate structure; forming a stress layer on the exposed portions of the side surfaces of the dummy gate structure; forming a second dielectric layer on the thinned first dielectric layer; removing the dummy gate layer to form an opening with an enlarged top size caused by releasing stress in the stress layer previously formed on the exposed portions of the side surfaces of the dummy gate structure; and forming a gate electrode layer in the opening.
US09601619B2 MOS devices with non-uniform P-type impurity profile
An integrated circuit structure include a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the silicon germanium region has a first p-type impurity concentration. A silicon cap substantially free from germanium is overlying the silicon germanium region. The silicon cap has a second p-type impurity concentration greater than the first p-type impurity concentration.
US09601616B2 Power MOSFETs and methods for forming the same
Power Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) and methods of forming the same are provided. A power MOSFET may comprise a first drift region formed at a side of a gate electrode, and a second drift region beneath the gate electrode, adjacent to the first drift region, with a depth less than a depth of the first drift region so that the first drift region and the second drift region together form a stepwise shape. A sum of a depth of the second drift region, a depth of the gate dielectric, and a depth of the gate electrode may be of substantially a same value as a depth of the first drift region. The first drift region and the second drift region may be formed at the same time, using the gate electrode as a part of the implanting mask.
US09601615B2 High voltage double-diffused MOS (DMOS) device and method of manufacture
A method of forming an integrated DMOS transistor/EEPROM cell includes forming a first mask over a substrate, forming a drift implant in the substrate using the first mask to align the drift implant, simultaneously forming a first floating gate over the drift implant, and a second floating gate spaced apart from the drift implant, forming a second mask covering the second floating gate and covering a portion of the first floating gate, forming a base implant in the substrate using an edge of the first floating gate to self-align the base implant region, and simultaneously forming a first control gate over the first floating gate and a second control gate over the second floating gate. The first floating gate, first control gate, drift implant, and base implant form components of the DMOS transistor, and the second floating gate and second control gate form components of the EEPROM cell.
US09601613B2 Gate pullback at ends of high-voltage vertical transistor structure
In one embodiment, a transistor includes a pillar of semiconductor material arranged in a racetrack-shaped layout having a substantially linear section that extends in a first lateral direction and rounded sections at each end of the substantially linear section. First and second dielectric regions are disposed on opposite sides of the pillar. First and second field plates are respectively disposed in the first and second dielectric regions. First and second gate members respectively disposed in the first and second dielectric regions are separated from the pillar by a gate oxide having a first thickness in the substantially linear section. The gate oxide being substantially thicker at the rounded sections. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US09601612B2 MOSFET having dual-gate cells with an integrated channel diode
A semiconductor device includes MOSFET cells having a drift region of a first conductivity type. A first and second active area trench are in the drift region. A split gate uses the active trenches as field plates or includes planar gates between the active trenches including a MOS gate electrode (MOS gate) and a diode gate electrode (diode gate). A body region of the second conductivity type in the drift region abutts the active trenches. A source of the first conductivity type in the body region includes a first source portion proximate to the MOS gate and a second source portion proximate to the diode gate. A vertical drift region uses the drift region below the body region to provide a drain. A connector shorts the diode gate to the second source portion to provide an integrated channel diode. The MOS gate is electrically isolated from the first source portion.
US09601611B2 Lateral/vertical semiconductor device with embedded isolator
A lateral/vertical device is provided. The device includes a device structure including a device channel having a lateral portion and a vertical portion. The lateral portion of the device channel can be located adjacent to a first surface of the device structure, and one or more contacts and/or a gate can be formed on the first surface. The device structure also includes a set of insulating layers located in the device structure between the lateral portion of the device channel and a second surface of the device structure opposite the first surface. An opening in the set of insulating layers defines a transition region between the lateral portion of the device channel and a vertical portion of the device channel. A contact to the vertical portion of the device channel can be located on the second surface.
US09601610B1 Vertical super junction III/nitride HEMT with vertically formed two dimensional electron gas
A HEMT device comprising a M-plane III-Nitride material substrate, a p-doped epitaxial layer of III-Nitride material grown on said substrate; a recess etched in said p-doped epitaxial layer, the recess having a plane wall parallel to a polar plane of the III-Nitride material; a carrier carrying layer formed on said plane wall of the recess; a carrier supply layer formed on said at least one carrier carrying layer, such that a 2DEG region is formed in the carrier carrying layer at the interface with the carrier supply layer along said plane wall of the recess; a doped source region formed at the surface of said p-doped epitaxial layer such that the doped source region is separated from said 2DEG region by a channel region; a gate insulating layer formed on the channel region; and a gate contact layer formed on the gate insulating layer.
US09601608B2 Structure for a gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistor
A high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) device employing a gate protection layer is provided. A substrate has a channel layer arranged over the substrate and has a barrier layer arranged over the channel layer. The channel and barrier layers define a heterojunction, and a gate structure is arranged over a gate region of the barrier layer. The gate structure includes a gate arranged over a cap, where the cap is disposed on the barrier layer. The gate protection layer is arranged along sidewalls of the cap and arranged below the gate between opposing surfaces of the gate and the cap. Advantageously, the gate protection layer passivates the gate, reduces leakage current along sidewalls of the cap, and improves device reliability and threshold voltage uniformity. A method for manufacturing the HEMT device is also provided.
US09601606B2 Integrated circuit heat dissipation using nanostructures
An approach for heat dissipation in integrated circuit devices is provided. A method includes forming an isolation layer on an electrically conductive feature of an integrated circuit device. The method also includes forming an electrically conductive layer on the isolation layer. The method additionally includes forming a plurality of nanowire structures on a surface of the electrically conductive layer.
US09601602B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor film. A first oxide semiconductor film with a thickness of greater than or equal to 2 nm and less than or equal to 15 nm is formed over a gate insulating layer. First heat treatment is performed so that crystal growth from a surface of the first oxide semiconductor film to the inside thereof is caused, whereby a first crystal layer is formed. A second oxide semiconductor film with a thickness greater than that of the first oxide semiconductor film is formed over the first crystal layer. Second heat treatment is performed so that crystal growth from the first crystal layer to a surface of the second oxide semiconductor film is caused, whereby a second crystal layer is formed. Further, oxygen doping treatment is performed on the second crystal layer.
US09601600B2 Processes for fabricating FinFET structures with semiconductor compound portions formed in cavities and extending over sidewall spacers
A process for fabricating a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) structure is described. A semiconductor substrate is patterned to form a fin. A spacer is formed on the sidewall of the fin. A portion of the fin is removed, such that the spacer and the surface of the remaining fin together define a cavity. A piece of a semiconductor compound is formed from the cavity, wherein the upper portion of the piece of the semiconductor compound laterally extends over the spacer.
US09601596B2 Electronic device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
There is provided an electronic device including at least a first electrode, a second electrode disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode, and an active layer disposed over the second electrode from above the first electrode and formed of an organic semiconductor material. A charge injection layer is formed between the first electrode and the active layer and between the second electrode and the active layer, and the charge injection layer is formed of an organic material having an increased electric conductivity when the charge injection layer is oxidized.
US09601595B2 High breakdown voltage LDMOS device
A multi-region (81, 83) lateral-diffused-metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device (40) has a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) support structure (21) on or over which are formed a substantially symmetrical, laterally internal, first LDMOS region (81) and a substantially asymmetric, laterally edge-proximate, second LDMOS region (83). A deep trench isolation (DTI) wall (60) substantially laterally terminates the laterally edge-proximate second LDMOS region (83). Electric field enhancement and lower source-drain breakdown voltages (BVDSS) exhibited by the laterally edge-proximate second LDMOS region (83) associated with the DTI wall (60) are avoided by providing a doped SC buried layer region (86) in the SOI support structure (21) proximate the DTI wall (60), underlying a portion of the laterally edge-proximate second LDMOS region (83) and of opposite conductivity type than a drain region (31) of the laterally edge-proximate second LDMOS region (83).
US09601594B2 Semiconductor device with enhanced strain
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device includes a gate that is disposed over the substrate. The substrate has a recess. The semiconductor device includes a trench liner that is coated along the recess. The trench liner contains a semiconductor crystal material. The trench liner directly abuts the source/drain stressor device. The semiconductor device also includes a dielectric trench component that is disposed on the trench liner and filling the recess. The semiconductor device includes a source/drain stressor device that is disposed in the substrate. The source/drain stressor device is disposed between the gate and the trench liner.
US09601592B2 IGBT and method of manufacturing the same
An IGBT has an emitter region, a top body region that is formed below the emitter region, a floating region that is formed below the top body region, a bottom body region that is formed below the floating region, a trench, a gate insulating film that covers an inner face of the trench, and a gate electrode that is arranged inside the trench. When a distribution of a concentration of p-type impurities in the top body region and the floating region, which are located below the emitter region, is viewed along a thickness direction of a semiconductor substrate, the concentration of the p-type impurities decreases as a downward distance increases from an upper end of the top body region that is located below the emitter region, and assumes a local minimum value at a predetermined depth in the floating region.
US09601589B2 Semiconductor device with surface insulating film
A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a cell portion and an outer peripheral portion disposed around the cell portion, and a surface insulating film disposed in a manner extending across the cell portion and the outer peripheral portion, and in the cell portion, formed to be thinner than a part in the outer peripheral portion.
US09601588B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming isolation layers and active regions in a substrate, wherein each of the active regions is formed between the isolation layers; forming a silicide layer in each of the active regions; forming trenches and silicide layer patterns simultaneously by etching the silicide layer and each of the active regions, wherein each of the trenches is located between the silicide layer patterns; forming a buried gate in each of the trenches; forming an inter-layer dielectric layer that covers the buried gate and the silicide layer patterns; and forming a first opening that exposes one silicide layer pattern among the silicide layer patterns by selectively etching the inter-layer dielectric layer, wherein the silicide layer patterns are formed before the buried gate is formed.
US09601586B1 Methods of forming semiconductor devices, including forming a metal layer on source/drain regions
Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a metal layer on source/drain regions of respective semiconductor structures, after replacing a dummy gate structure of the semiconductor device with a metal gate structure. The method includes forming a contact structure that overlaps the metal layer on one or more, but not all, of the semiconductor structures. Moreover, an insulating material is between the source/drain regions.
US09601584B2 Thin-film transistor substrate
An embodiment of the invention provides a thin-film transistor substrate, including: a substrate; a gate electrode disposed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer disposed on the substrate and covering the gate electrode; an active layer disposed on the gate insulating layer and above the gate electrode, wherein the active layer includes a metal oxide; a source electrode disposed on and electrically connecting to the active layer; a first insulating layer covering the source electrode; and a drain electrode disposed on and electrically connecting to the active layer, wherein the drain electrode includes a metal oxide layer.
US09601582B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor region made of a material to which conductive impurities are added, an insulating film formed on a surface of the semiconductor region, and an electroconductive gate electrode formed on the insulating film. The gate electrode is made of a material whose Fermi level is closer to a Fermi level of the semiconductor region than a Fermi level of Si in at least a portion contiguous to the insulating film.
US09601579B2 Growth of semiconductors on hetero-substrates using graphene as an interfacial layer
Graphene is used as an interfacial layer to grow Si and other semiconductors or crystalline materials including two-dimensional Si and other structures on any foreign substrate that can withstand the growth temperature without the limitation matching condition typically required for epitaxial growth.
US09601574B2 V-shaped epitaxially formed semiconductor layer
The present disclosure provides a method in accordance with some embodiments. The method includes forming a recess in a source/drain region of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate is formed of a first semiconductor material. The method further includes epitaxially growing a second semiconductor material within the recess to form a S/D feature in the recess, and removing a portion of the S/D feature to form a v-shaped valley extending into the S/D feature.
US09601568B2 Semiconductor device including STI structure
Semiconductor devices including STI structures and their fabrication methods are provided. A mask layer is provided on a semiconductor substrate and patterned to form an opening in the mask layer to expose a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate. A trench is then formed in the semiconductor substrate by etching along the opening. A first dielectric layer is formed in the trench and has a top surface lower than a top surface of the semiconductor substrate to provide an uncovered sidewall surface of the trench in the semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial layer is formed on the uncovered sidewall surface of the trench in the semiconductor substrate. The epitaxial layer includes a spacing to expose a surface portion of the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on the exposed surface portion of the first dielectric layer to fill the spacing formed in the epitaxial layer.
US09601564B2 Deep trench isolation
An integrated semiconductor device includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, a buried layer located over the substrate, an isolated region located over a first portion of the buried layer, and an isolation trench located around the isolated region. A punch-through structure is located around at least a portion of the isolation trench. The punch-through structure includes a second portion of the buried layer, a first region located over the second portion of the buried layer, the first region having a second conductivity type, and a second region located over the first region, the second region having the first conductivity type.
US09601562B2 Oxide semiconductor film
A highly reliable semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor is provided. Provided is a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor layer, an insulating layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate electrode layer overlapping with the oxide semiconductor layer, and a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer. The oxide semiconductor layer includes a first region having a crystal whose size is less than or equal to 10 nm and a second region which overlaps with the insulating layer with the first region provided therebetween and which includes a crystal part whose c-axis is aligned in a direction parallel to a normal vector of the surface of the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09601561B2 Organic light emitting diode display device
An organic light emitting diode display device includes a semiconductor on a substrate with a driving channel, an auxiliary storage electrode on the substrate with a storage electrode formed of a same material as the semiconductor and separated therefrom, a first insulating layer covering the semiconductor and the auxiliary storage electrode, a driving gate electrode overlapping the auxiliary storage electrode to define an auxiliary storage capacitor, a second insulating layer covering the driving gate electrode and the first insulating layer, a main storage electrode overlapping the driving gate electrode to define a main storage capacitor, a passivation layer covering the data wire and the second insulating layer, a pixel electrode on the passivation layer, an organic emission layer on the pixel electrode, and a common electrode on the organic emission layer.
US09601557B2 Flexible display
A flexible display having an array of pixels or sub-pixels is provided. The display includes a flexible substrate and an array of thin film transistors (TFTs) corresponding to the array of pixels or sub-pixels on the substrate. The display also includes a first plurality of metal lines coupled to gate electrodes of the TFTs and a second plurality of metal lines coupled to source electrodes and drain electrodes of the TFTs. At least one of the first plurality of metal lines and the second plurality of metal lines comprises a non-stretchable portion in the TFT areas and a stretchable portion outside the TFT areas.
US09601556B2 Organic light emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display device includes a driving thin film transistor (TFT), the driving thin film TFT includes a lower gate, a source, and a drain on a substrate and on the same layer; a first gate insulating layer covering the lower gate, the source, and the drain; an active layer on the first gate insulating layer; a conductive line contacting the source and the drain; a second gate insulating layer on the active layer; and an upper gate on the second gate insulating layer, wherein the lower gate of the driving TFT is a light shield that blocks light from being irradiated onto the active layer, and the lower gate and the source include the same metal.
US09601554B2 Transparent display device and method of manufacturing the same
A transparent display device includes a first substrate including a pixel region and a light amount controlling region. An organic light emitting display is positioned in the pixel region and includes an anode electrode, a pixel defined layer, an organic light emitting layer positioned on the anode electrode and in an opening part of the pixel defined layer, and a cathode electrode positioned on the organic light emitting layer. A liquid crystal display is positioned in the light amount controlling region and includes a pixel electrode, a roof layer facing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer having a plurality of microcavities between the pixel electrode and the roof layer. The microcavities include liquid crystal molecules. A second substrate seals the organic light emitting display and the liquid crystal display.
US09601545B1 Series MIM structures compatible with RRAM process
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated circuit that prevents damage to MIM decoupling capacitors, and an associated structure. In some embodiments, the method comprises forming one or more lower metal interconnect structures within a lower ILD layer over a substrate. A plurality of MIM structures are formed over the lower metal interconnect structures, and one or more upper metal interconnect structures are formed within an upper ILD layer over the plurality of MIM structures. Together the lower and upper metal interconnect structures electrically couple the plurality of MIM structures in a series connection between a first voltage potential and a second voltage potential. By placing the MIM structures in a series connection, dissipation of the first voltage potential (e.g., a supply voltage) is spread out over the MIM structures, thereby reducing the voltage potential difference between electrodes of any one of the MIM structures.
US09601541B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
An improvement is achieved in the performance of a semiconductor device. In a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, in an n-type semiconductor substrate, a p-type well as a p-type semiconductor region forming a part of a photodiode is formed and a gate electrode of a transfer transistor is formed. Then, after an n-type well as an n-type semiconductor region forming the other part of the photodiode is formed, a microwave is applied to the semiconductor substrate to heat the semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, a drain region of the transfer transistor is formed.
US09601540B2 Method for producing semiconductor device
A method for producing a semiconductor device includes preparing a wafer having plural portions and having an insulator having plural openings thereon, forming an embedding member in each of the plural openings and on the insulator, removing at least a part of the embedding member, and planarizing the embedding member. The plural portions have a first portion and a second portion and each of the first portion and the second portion has a first region and a second region. The density of the openings in the first region is higher than that in the second region. The process of removing at least a part of the embedding member includes removing the embedding member positioned in the second region of the first portion, and removing the embedding member positioned in the second region of the second portion. A first removal amount and a second removal amount in the processes are different.
US09601537B2 Image pickup device that is provided with peripheral circuits to prevent chip area from being increased, and image pickup apparatus
An image pickup device which suppresses an increase in chip area of peripheral circuits without degrading the performance of a pixel section and makes it possible to prevent costs from being increased. The image pickup device includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel section includes photo diodes each for generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion, floating diffusions each for temporarily storing the electric charges generated by the photo diode, and amplifiers each connected to the floating diffusion, for outputting a signal dependent on a potential of the associated floating diffusion. Column circuits are connected to vertical signal lines, respectively, for performing predetermined processing on signals output from the pixel section to vertical signal lines.
US09601531B2 Wafer-level packaging structure for image sensors with packaging cover dike structures corresponding to scribe line regions
A wafer level packaging structure for image sensors and a wafer level packaging method for image sensors are provided. The wafer level packaging structure includes: a wafer to be packaged including multiple chip regions and scribe line regions between the chip regions; pads and image sensing regions located on a first surface of the wafer and located in the chip regions; first dike structures covering surfaces of the pads and the scribe line regions; a packaging cover arranged facing the first surface of the wafer; and second dike structures located on a surface of the packaging cover. The second dike structures are arranged corresponding to the scribe line regions. The packaging cover and the wafer are jointed fixedly via the second dike structures and the first dike structures.
US09601529B2 Light absorption and filtering properties of vertically oriented semiconductor nano wires
A nanowire array is described herein. The nanowire array comprises a substrate and a plurality of nanowires extending essentially vertically from the substrate; wherein: each of the nanowires has uniform chemical along its entire length; a refractive index of the nanowires is at least two times of a refractive index of a cladding of the nanowires. This nanowire array is useful as a photodetector, a submicron color filter, a static color display or a dynamic color display.
US09601518B2 Thin film transistor display panel and method for manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor display panel including: a first insulating substrate; a first semiconductor disposed between the first insulating substrate and a first gate insulating layer; a gate electrode disposed on the first gate insulating layer, the gate electrode overlapping the first semiconductor; a second gate insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode; a second semiconductor disposed on the second gate insulating layer, the second semiconductor overlapping the gate electrode; an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the second semiconductor; and a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the interlayer insulating layer spaced apart from each other, the source electrode and the drain electrode connected to the first semiconductor and the second semiconductor.
US09601517B2 Hybrid pixel control circuits for light-emitting diode display
An electronic device may include a display. The display may be formed by an array of light-emitting diodes mounted to the surface of a substrate. The light-emitting diodes may be inorganic light-emitting diodes formed from separate crystalline semiconductor structures. An array of pixel control circuits may be used to control light emission from the light-emitting diodes. Each pixel control circuit may be used to supply drive signals to a respective set of the light-emitting diodes. The pixel control circuits may each have a silicon integrated circuit that includes transistors such as emission enable transistors and drive transistors for supplying the drive signals and may each have thin-film semiconducting oxide transistors that are coupled to the integrated circuit and that serve as switching transistors.
US09601516B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
The semiconductor device includes a driver circuit portion including a driver circuit and a pixel portion including a pixel. The pixel includes a gate electrode layer having a light-transmitting property, a gate insulating layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer each having a light-transmitting property provided over the gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer covering top surfaces and side surfaces of the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer and provided over the gate electrode layer with the gate insulating layer therebetween, a conductive layer provided over part of the oxide semiconductor layer and having a lower resistance than the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer, and an oxide insulating layer in contact with part of the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09601514B1 Method and structure for forming dielectric isolated FinFET with improved source/drain epitaxy
Described herein is a FinFET device in which epitaxial layers of semiconductor material are formed in the source/drain regions on dielectrically isolated fin portions. The fin portions are located within a dielectric layer that is deposited on a semiconductor substrate. Surfaces of the fin portions are oriented in the {100} lattice plane of the crystalline material of the fin portions, providing for good epitaxial growth. Further described are methods for forming the FinFET device.
US09601512B2 SOI-based semiconductor device with dynamic threshold voltage
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer on a top surface of the substrate, and a first semiconductor transistor on the insulating layer, the transistor including an active region with a source region, a drain region, a channel region between the source and drain regions and a gate structure over the channel region, the gate structure extending beyond the transistor to an adjacent area. An outer well is included in the substrate, an inner well of an opposite type as the outer well situated within the outer well and under the active region and adjacent area, and a contact for the inner well in the adjacent area, the contact surrounding the gate structure. Operating the device includes applying a variable voltage at the contact for the inner well, a threshold voltage for the first transistor being altered by the variable voltage. The inner well and gate may be exposed and contacts created therefor together.
US09601510B2 Semiconductor device with six transistors forming a NAND circuit
A semiconductor device has a small area and constitutes a CMOS 3-input NAND circuit by using surrounding gate transistors (SGTs) that are vertical transistors. In a 3-input NAND circuit including six MOS transistors arranged in a line, the MOS transistors constituting the NAND circuit have the following configuration. Planar silicon layers are disposed on a substrate. The drain, gate, and source of the MOS transistors are arranged in a vertical direction, and the gate surrounds a silicon pillar. The planer silicon layers include a first active region having a first conductivity type and a second active region having a second conductivity type. The first and second active regions are connected to each other via a silicide layer disposed on surfaces of the planar silicon layers. In this way, a semiconductor device constituting a NAND circuit with a small area is provided.
US09601508B2 Blocking oxide in memory opening integration scheme for three-dimensional memory structure
An alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers is formed over a substrate. After formation of a memory opening, all surfaces of the memory opening are provided as silicon oxide surfaces by formation of at least one silicon oxide portion. A silicon nitride layer is formed in the memory opening. After formation of a memory stack structure, backside recesses can be formed employing the silicon oxide portions as an etch stop. The silicon oxide portions can be subsequently removed employing the silicon nitride layer as an etch stop. Physically exposed portions of the silicon nitride layer can be removed selective to the memory stack structure. Damage to the outer layer of the memory stack structure can be minimized or eliminated by successive use of etch stop structures. Electrically conductive layers can be subsequently formed in the backside recesses.
US09601501B2 Nonvolatile memory cell structure with assistant gate and memory array thereof
An NVM array includes a plurality of NVM cells, a plurality of word lines extending along a first direction, a plurality of bit lines extending along a second direction, and a plurality of source lines. Each of the NVM cells includes a PMOS select transistor and a PMOS floating gate transistor serially connected to the PMOS select transistor. Each word line is electrically connected to the select gate of the PMOS select transistor. Each bit line is electrically connected to a doping region of the PMOS floating gate transistor of each of the plurality of NVM cells. Each source line is electrically connected to a doping region of the PMOS select transistor.
US09601500B2 Array of non-volatile memory cells with ROM cells
A memory device that includes a plurality of ROM cells each having spaced apart source and drain regions formed in a substrate with a channel region therebetween, a first gate disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the channel region, a second gate disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the channel region, and a conductive line extending over the plurality of ROM cells. The conductive line is electrically coupled to the drain regions of a first subgroup of the ROM cells, and is not electrically coupled to the drain regions of a second subgroup of the ROM cells. Alternately, a first subgroup of the ROM cells each includes a higher voltage threshold implant region in the channel region, whereas a second subgroup of the ROM cells each lack any higher voltage threshold implant region in the channel region.
US09601499B2 One-time programmable memory cell capable of reducing leakage current and preventing slow bit response, and method for programming a memory array comprising the same
A one time programmable (OTP) memory cell includes a select gate transistor, a following gate transistor, and an antifuse varactor. The select gate transistor has a first gate terminal, a first drain terminal and a first source terminal. The following gate transistor has a second gate terminal, a second drain terminal and a second source terminal coupled to the first drain terminal. The antifuse varactor has a third gate terminal, a third drain terminal, and a third source terminal coupled to the second drain terminal. The select gate transistor, the following gate transistor, and the antifuse varactor are formed on a substrate structure.
US09601498B2 Two-terminal nanotube devices and systems and methods of making same
A two terminal memory device includes first and second conductive terminals and a nanotube article. The article has at least one nanotube, and overlaps at least a portion of each of the first and second terminals. The device also includes stimulus circuitry in electrical communication with at least one of the first and second terminals. The circuit is capable of applying first and second electrical stimuli to at least one of the first and second terminal(s) to change the relative resistance of the device between the first and second terminals between a relatively high resistance and a relatively low resistance. The relatively high resistance between the first and second terminals corresponds to a first state of the device, and the relatively low resistance between the first and second terminals corresponds to a second state of the device.
US09601493B2 Compact semiconductor memory device having reduced number of contacts, methods of operating and methods of making
An integrated circuit including a link or string of semiconductor memory cells, wherein each memory cell includes a floating body region for storing data. The link or siring includes at least one contact configured to electrically connect the memory cells to at least one control line, and the number of contacts in the string or link is the same as or less than the number of memory cells in the string or link.
US09601491B1 Vertical field effect transistors having epitaxial fin channel with spacers below gate structure
A method of fabricating a vertical field effect transistor comprising that includes forming openings through a spacer material to provide fin structure openings to a first semiconductor material, and forming an inner spacer liner on sidewalls of the fin structure openings. A channel semiconductor material is epitaxially formed on a surface of the first semiconductor material filling at least a portion of the fin structure openings. The spacer material is recessed with an etch that is selective to the inner spacer liner to form a first spacer. The inner spacer liner is removed selectively to the channel semiconductor material. A gate structure on the channel semiconductor material, and a second semiconductor material is formed in contact with the channel semiconductor material.
US09601489B2 Dummy metal gate structures to reduce dishing during chemical-mechanical polishing
The described embodiments of mechanisms for placing dummy gate structures next to and/or near a number of wide gate structures reduce dishing effect for gate structures during chemical-mechanical polishing of gate layers. The arrangements of dummy gate structures and the ranges of metal pattern density have been described. Wide gate structures, such as analog devices, can greatly benefit from the reduction of dishing effect.
US09601487B2 Power transistor
A power transistor includes a number of transistor cells. Each transistor cell includes a source region, a drain region, a body region and a gate electrode. Each source region is arranged in a first semiconductor fin of a semiconductor body. Each drain region is at least partially arranged in a second semiconductor fin of the semiconductor body. The second semiconductor fin is spaced from the first semiconductor fin in a first horizontal direction of the semiconductor body. Each gate electrode is arranged in a trench adjacent the first semiconductor fin, is adjacent the body region, and is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. Each of the first and second semiconductor fins has a width in the first horizontal direction and a length in a second horizontal direction, wherein the length is larger than the width.
US09601484B2 Magnetic multilayer structure
A mechanism is provided for an integrated laminated magnetic device. A substrate and a multilayer stack structure form the device. The multilayer stack structure includes alternating magnetic layers and diode structures formed on the substrate. Each magnetic layer in the multilayer stack structure is separated from another magnetic layer in the multilayer stack structure by a diode structure.
US09601482B1 Economical and environmentally friendly chemical mechanical polishing for III-V compound semiconductor device fabrication
Compound semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating compound semiconductor devices (e.g., III-V devices) based on aspect ratio trapping are provided in which economical and environmentally friendly chemical mechanical polishing techniques are implemented to minimize waste of, e.g., III-V precursor material, minimize production costs, and minimize environmental impact from toxic waste generated from chemical mechanical polishing of III-V films.
US09601481B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first electrode, a first semiconductor layer of a first dopant type on the first electrode. A first region of the semiconductor device includes a second semiconductor layer of the second dopant type on the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer of the first dopant type on the second semiconductor layer, and a second electrode extending though the second and third semiconductor layers and inwardly of the first semiconductor layer. A second region of the semiconductor device includes an insulating layer over the first semiconductor layer, a fourth semiconductor layer of the first or second dopant type on the insulating layer, a fifth semiconductor layer of a different dopant type on the insulating layer and surrounding the fourth semiconductor layer, and a sixth semiconductor layer of the same dopant type on the insulation layer and surrounding the fifth semiconductor layer.
US09601480B2 Single junction bi-directional electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit
In an embodiment, an ESD protection circuit may include a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) and a diode sharing a PN junction and forming a bi-directional ESD circuit. The single PN junction may reduce the capacitive load on the pin, which may allow the high speed circuit to meet its performance goals. In an embodiment, a floating P-well contact may be placed between two neighboring SCRs, to control triggering of the SCRs.
US09601475B2 Workpiece with semiconductor chips, semiconductor device and method for producing a workpiece with semiconductor chips
A workpiece has at least two semiconductor chips, each semiconductor chip having a first main surface, which is at least partially exposed, and a second main surface. The workpiece also comprises an electrically conducting layer, arranged on the at least two semiconductor chips, the electrically conducting layer being arranged at least on regions of the second main surface, and a molding compound, arranged on the electrically conducting layer.
US09601472B2 Package on package (POP) device comprising solder connections between integrated circuit device packages
Some features pertain to a package on package (PoP) device that includes a first package, a first solder interconnect coupled to the first integrated circuit package, and a second package coupled to the first package through the first solder interconnect. The second package includes a first die, a package interconnect comprising a first pad, where the first solder interconnect is coupled to the first pad of the package interconnect. The second package also includes a redistribution portion coupled to the first die and the package interconnect, an encapsulation layer at least partially encapsulating the first die and the package interconnect. The first pad may include a surface that has low roughness. The encapsulation layer may encapsulate the package interconnect such that the encapsulation layer encapsulates at least a portion of the first solder interconnect.
US09601471B2 Three layer stack structure
Vertically stacked system in package structures are described. In an embodiment, a package includes a first level molding and fan out structure, a third level molding and fan out structure, and a second level molding and fan out structure between the first and third levels. The second level molding and fan out structure includes back-to-back facing die, with a front surface of each die bonded to a redistribution layer.
US09601468B2 Magnetic contacts
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to integrated circuit (IC) package assemblies with magnetic contacts, as well as corresponding fabrication methods and systems incorporating such magnetic contacts. A first IC substrate may have a first magnet coupled with a first electrical routing feature. A second IC substrate may have a second magnet coupled with a second electrical routing feature. The magnets may be embedded in the IC substrates and/or electrical routing features. The magnets may generate a magnetic field that extends across a gap between the first and second electrical routing features. Electrically conductive magnetic particles may be applied to one or both of the IC substrates to form a magnetic interconnect structure that extends across the gap. In some embodiments, magnetic contacts may be demagnetized by heating the magnets to a corresponding partial demagnetization temperature (PDT) or Curie temperature. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09601467B1 Microelectronic package with horizontal and vertical interconnections
In a microelectronic package, a first wire bond wire is coupled to an upper surface of a substrate. A first bond mass is coupled to another end of the first wire bond wire. A second wire bond wire is coupled to the upper surface. A second bond mass is coupled to another end of the second wire bond wire. The first and second wire bond wires laterally jut out horizontally away from the upper surface of the substrate for at least a distance of approximately 2 to 3 times a diameter of both the first wire bond wire and the second wire bond wire. The first wire bond wire and the second wire bond wire are horizontal for the distance with respect to being co-planar with the upper surface within +/−10 degrees.
US09601465B2 Chip-stacked semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the same
A chip-stacked semiconductor package includes a first chip having a first front surface, a first back surface, and a first connection member on the first front surface, the first back surface being opposite to the first front surface; a second chip having a second front surface, a second back surface, a second connection member and a first through-silicon via (TSV) electrically connected to the second connection member, the second back surface opposite to the second front surface, and the second connection member on the second front face; and a first sealing member between the first front surface and the second front surface, the first sealing member filling a space between the first connection member and the second connection member, the first connection member of the first chip and the second connection member of the second chip being symmetric with respect to each other.
US09601463B2 Fan-out stacked system in package (SIP) and the methods of making the same
An embodiment package includes a first fan-out tier having a first device die, a molding compound extending along sidewalls of the first device die, and a through intervia (TIV) extending through the molding compound. One or more first fan-out redistribution layers (RDLs) are disposed over the first fan-out tier and bonded to the first device die. A second fan-out tier having a second device die is disposed over the one or more first fan-out RDLs. The one or more first fan-out RDLs electrically connects the first and second device dies. The TIV electrically connects the one or more first fan-out RDLs to one or more second fan-out RDLs. The package further includes a plurality of external connectors at least partially disposed in the one or more second fan-out RDLs. The plurality of external connectors are further disposed on conductive features in the one or more second fan-out RDLs.
US09601459B2 Method for aligning micro-electronic components
Alignment of a first micro-electronic component to a receiving surface of a second micro-electronic component is realized by a capillary force-induced self-alignment, combined with an electrostatic alignment. The latter is accomplished by providing at least one first electrical conductor line along the periphery of the first component, and at least one second electrical conductor along the periphery of the location on the receiving surface of the second component onto which the component is to be placed. The contact areas surrounded by the conductor lines are covered with a wetting layer. The electrical conductor lines may be embedded in a strip of anti-wetting material that runs along the peripheries to create a wettability contrast. The wettability contrast helps to maintain a drop of alignment liquid between the contact areas so as to obtain self-alignment by capillary force. By applying appropriate charges on the conductor lines, electrostatic self-alignment is realized, which improves the alignment obtained through capillary force and maintains the alignment during evaporation of the liquid.
US09601457B2 Method for making an electrical connection in a blind via and electrical connection obtained
Method comprising steps as follows: a) depositing a meltable ball on a first conducting zone located in a blind hole formed on a first face of a first support, b) assembling the first support with a second support by transfer of the meltable ball on a second conducting zone, the transfer also being made by thermo-compression so as to compress the ball, the compressed ball being held at a distance from the side walls of the blind hole.
US09601454B2 Method of forming a component having wire bonds and a stiffening layer
Microelectronic components and methods forming such microelectronic components are disclosed herein. The microelectronic components may include a plurality of electrically conductive vias in the form of wire bonds extending from a bonding surface of a substrate, such as surfaces of electrically conductive elements at a surface of the substrate.
US09601453B2 Semiconductor package
Provided is a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes: a first die that is a monolithic type die, a driver circuit and a low-side output power device formed in the first die; a second die disposed above the first die, the second die comprising a high-side output power device; and a first connection unit disposed between the first die and the second die.
US09601451B2 Apparatus and methods for creating environmentally protective coating for integrated circuit assemblies
Example methods, apparatus, and products for creating an environmentally protective coating for integrated circuit assemblies are described herein. A preform plastic sheet is places over components of an integrated circuit such that during a reflow process, the preform plastic sheet melts to form a conformal coating over components of the integrated circuit assembly.
US09601450B2 Semiconductor package
A stacked semiconductor package in an embodiment includes a first semiconductor package including a first circuit board and a first semiconductor element mounted on the first circuit board; and a second semiconductor package including a second circuit board and a second semiconductor element mounted on the second circuit board, the second semiconductor package being stacked on the first semiconductor package. The first semiconductor package further includes a sealing resin sealing the first semiconductor element; a conductive layer located in contact with the sealing resin; and a thermal via connected to the conductive layer and located on the first circuit board.
US09601445B2 Semiconductor packages
Semiconductor packages are provided. The semiconductor packages may include a base film having a top surface and a bottom surface, a circuit pattern disposed on the top surface of the base film and connected to a ground terminal, a via hole penetrating the base film, a lower shielding layer that is electrically connected to the circuit pattern and fills the whole region of the via hole and cover the bottom surface of the base.
US09601444B2 Cable mounted modularized signal conditioning apparatus system
A modularized signal conditioning apparatus system includes at least two slots formed in a coaxial cable. The slots are spaced apart so as to not reduce the measuring performance of the coaxial cable. Slots may be at least 40 mills from one another. In an ESD embodiment, within each slot is an ESD protection component, such as a pair of Shottky diodes coupled between the ground shell and the center conductor of the coaxial cable. Methods of producing modularized signal conditioning apparatus system are also described.
US09601440B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and exposure mask used in the same method
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed in which the probability of occurrence of a crack is reduced and in which manufacturing cost is also reduced. An exposure mask used in the method is disclosed. Protrusion portions are formed in intersections of scribe lines in an outermost periphery of a scribe line pattern of a surface protection film of the exposure mask, to thereby stick out toward an outer circumference. In this manner, the probability of occurrence of a crack occurring in a device formation section can be reduced so that a reduction in the manufacturing cost can be achieved.
US09601436B2 Method for semiconductor wafer alignment
A semiconductor wafer is provided. The semiconductor wafer includes a base layer having an active region and an edge region. A number of semiconductor devices is formed on the active region. The semiconductor wafer also includes a wafer identification. The wafer identification is formed on the edge region and used for identifying the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer further includes an alignment mark. The alignment mark is formed on the edge region and is used for performing an alignment process of the semiconductor wafer.
US09601433B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In an LCD driver, in a high voltage resistant MISFET, end portions of a gate electrode run onto electric field relaxing insulation regions. Wires to become source wires or drain wires are formed on an interlayer insulation film of the first layer over the high voltage resistant MISFET. At this moment, when a distance from an interface between a semiconductor substrate and a gate insulation film to an upper portion of the gate electrode is defined as “a”, and a distance from the upper portion of the gate electrode to an upper portion of the interlayer insulation film on which the wires are formed is defined as “b”, a relation of a>b is established. In such a high voltage resistant MISFET structured in this manner, the wires are arranged so as not to be overlapped planarly with the gate electrode of the high voltage resistant MISFET.
US09601432B1 Advanced metallization for damage repair
An electrical contact structure for an integrated circuit device is described. A first patterned dielectric layer comprising at least one contact hole, the contact hole including a bottom surface, and sidewalls extending from the bottom surface to a top surface is provided. A tungsten via is disposed within the at least one contact hole, the tungsten via having a bottom surface in contact with a lower layer of the device and a top surface. A selectively deposited metal layer is disposed on the top surface of the tungsten via to repair etch damage.
US09601431B2 Dielectric/metal barrier integration to prevent copper diffusion
An interconnect structure for use in semiconductor devices and a method for fabricating the same is described. The method includes positioning a substrate in a vacuum processing chamber. The substrate has an exposed copper surface and an exposed low-k dielectric surface. A metal layer is formed over the copper surface but not over the low-k dielectric surface. A metal-based dielectric layer is formed over the metal layer and the low-k dielectric layer.
US09601428B2 Semiconductor fuses with nanowire fuse links and fabrication methods thereof
Semiconductor fuses with nanowire fuse links and fabrication methods thereof are presented. The methods include, for instance: fabricating a semiconductor fuse, the semiconductor fuse including at least one nanowire fuse link, and the fabricating including: forming at least one nanowire, the at least one nanowire including a semiconductor material; and reacting the at least one nanowire with a metal to form the at least one nanowire fuse link of the semiconductor fuse, the at least one nanowire fuse link including a semiconductor-metal alloy. In another aspect, a structure is presented. The structure includes: a semiconductor fuse, the semiconductor fuse including: at least one nanowire fuse link, the at least one nanowire fuse link including a semiconductor-metal alloy.
US09601426B1 Interconnect structure having subtractive etch feature and damascene feature
Methods of forming an interconnect structure include depositing a first conductive material on a substrate. Aspects include subtractively etching the conductive material to form a patterned first conductive layer, and depositing a dielectric layer on interconnect structure. Aspects also include depositing a second conductive material on the dielectric layer and removing the second conductive material through the top of the second metal liner.
US09601425B2 Circuit substrate and semiconductor package structure
The invention provides a circuit substrate and a semiconductor package structure. The circuit substrate includes a core substrate having a chip-side surface and a bump-side surface opposite to the chip-side surface. A first through via plug passes through the core substrate. A first conductive line pattern and a second conductive line pattern adjacent to the first conductive line are disposed on the chip-side surface. A pad is disposed on the bump-side surface. The first through via plug is in direct contact with and partially overlapping the first conductive line pattern and the pad. The first conductive line pattern, the second conductive line pattern and the first through via plug are configured to transmit voltage supplies of the same type.
US09601422B2 Printed wiring board, semiconductor package, and method for manufacturing printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes a first interlayer, a first conductive layer on first-surface side of the first interlayer, a second conductive layer on second-surface side of the first interlayer, a first buildup layer including interlayers and conductive layers and formed on first surface of the first interlayer, and a second buildup layer including interlayers and conductive layers and formed on second surface of the first interlayer. The first conductive layer is formed such that the first conductive layer is embedded in the first interlayer and exposing surface on the first surface of the first interlayer, the second conductive layer is formed on the second surface of the first interlayer, and the interlayers in the first buildup layer include a second interlayer positioned adjacent to the first conductive layer and having the greatest thickness among the first interlayer and interlayers in the first and second buildup layers.
US09601421B2 BBUL material integration in-plane with embedded die for warpage control
An apparatus including a die including a first side and an opposite second side including a device side with contact points and lateral sidewalls defining a thickness of the die; a primary core adjacent at least a pair of the lateral sidewalls of the die; and a build-up carrier coupled to the second side of the die, the build-up carrier including a plurality of alternating layers of conductive material and insulating material, wherein at least one of the layers of conductive material is coupled to one of the contact points of the die. A method of forming a package and an apparatus including a computing device including a package are also disclosed.
US09601420B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a stack structure of a conductive line and an insulating capping line extending in a first direction on a substrate, a plurality of contact plugs arranged in a row along the first direction and having sidewall surfaces facing the conductive line with air spaces between the sidewall surfaces and the conductive line, and a support interposed between the insulating capping line and the contact plugs to limit the height of the air spaces. The width of the support varies or the support is present only intermittently in the first direction. In a method of manufacturing the semiconductor devices, a sacrificial spacer is formed on the side of the stack structure, the spacer is recessed, a support layer is formed in the recess, the support layer is etched to form the support, and then the remainder of the spacer is removed to provide the air spaces.
US09601419B1 Stacked leadframe packages
A multi-package unit having stacked packages is provided. A multi-package unit may include a first package and a second package mounted on the first package. The first package may be a leadframe package that includes metal leads extending beyond the perimeter of the first package. The first package may include a first integrated circuit die assembled within the first package using the wirebond configuration or the flip-chip configuration. The second package may be a leadframe package or a leadless package that includes a second integrated circuit die. The second package may be smaller than the first package. The first and second integrated circuit dies may be formed using different integrated circuit fabrication technologies.
US09601417B2 “L” shaped lead integrated circuit package
Various aspects provide for bending a bending a lead frame of a semiconductor device package into a shape of an “L” and mounting the package on a substrate. A horizontal portion of the bent lead-frame is about parallel with a surface of the package. A vertical portion of the bent lead frame is configured to extend the horizontal portion beyond the surface of the package. A device may be mounted between the substrate and the package.
US09601416B2 Lead frame, mold and method of manufacturing lead frame with mounted component
A lead frame includes one metal plate 10 having a terminal 15, and the other metal plate 50 joined to the one metal plate 10, on which a mounted component 91 is placed. The one metal plate 10 includes a first connection portion 11 connected to the terminal 15, a first extension portion 12 disposed on one end of the first connection portion 11, and a second extension portion 13 disposed on the other end of the first connection portion 11. The other metal plate 50 includes a pair of first clamping portions 62 configured to clamp the first extension portion 12, and a pair of second clamping portions 63 configured to clamp the second extension portion 13.
US09601414B2 Method for preventing die pad delamination
The invention is directed to a method for inhibiting or preventing delamination at the interface of the die attach/mold compound and the die pad of a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device formed by such method. The method includes providing a leadframe having a top surface; coating the top surface of the leadframe with first and second silane coating; heating the silane coatings to form a porous layer having a porosity of at least 10%; applying a die to the porous layer; securing the die to the porous layer by a die attaching compound; and after the curing of die attach material and wire bonding, a mold compound is applied through molding.
US09601409B2 Protruding contact for integrated chip
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a back-end-of-the-line metal contact that eliminates RC opens caused by metal dishing during chemical mechanical polishing. The method is performed by depositing a sacrificial UV/thermal decomposition layer (UTDL) above an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer. A metal contact is formed that extend through the ILD layer and the sacrificial UTDL. A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is performed to generate a planar surface comprising the sacrificial UTDL. The sacrificial UTDL is then removed through an ultraviolet exposure or a thermal anneal, so that the metal contact protrudes from the ILD layer.
US09601407B2 System-in-package module and method for forming the same
A system-in-package (SiP) module is disclosed. The SiP module includes a substrate and a dam on the substrate. The dam defines a cavity. At least one chip is on the substrate inside the cavity. A printed circuit board (PCB) is bonded to the dam and covers the cavity. A thermal conductive sheet is in the cavity and is disposed between the chip and the PCB. The chip is in thermal contact with the PCB through the thermal conductive sheet. The disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing the SiP module.
US09601406B2 Copper nanorod-based thermal interface material (TIM)
A copper nanorod thermal interface material (TIM) is described. The copper nanorod TIM includes a plurality of copper nanorods having a first end thermally coupled with a first surface, and a second end extending toward a second surface. A plurality of copper nanorod branches are formed on the second end. The copper nanorod branches are metallurgically bonded to a second surface. The first surface may be the back side of a die. The second surface may be a heat spread or a second die. The TIM may include a matrix material surrounding the copper nanorods. In an embodiment, the copper nanorods are formed in clusters.
US09601404B2 Thermal resistance measuring method and thermal resistance measuring device
A temperature of a semiconductor element is measured based on a temperature coefficient of a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode when no heat is generated when causing a constant current of an extent such that the semiconductor element does not generate heat to be input wherein current is caused to flow from a third electrode to a second electrode in accordance with voltage applied between a first electrode and the second electrode. Also, a constant current such that the semiconductor element generates heat is input into the third electrode, with voltage applied between the first electrode and second electrode of the semiconductor element kept constant, and power is measured based on the current such that the semiconductor element generates heat and on voltage when heat is generated between the third electrode and second electrode when the semiconductor element generates heat.
US09601399B2 Module arrangement for power semiconductor devices
A module arrangement for power semiconductor devices, including one or more power semiconductor modules, wherein the one or more power semiconductor modules include a substrate with a first surface and a second surface being arranged opposite to the first surface, wherein the substrate is at least partially electrically insulating, wherein a conductive structure is arranged at the first surface of the substrate, wherein at least one power semiconductor device is arranged on the conductive structure and electrically connected thereto, wherein the one or more modules includes an inner volume for receiving the at least one power semiconductor device which volume is hermetically sealed from its surrounding by a module enclosure, wherein the module arrangement includes an arrangement enclosure at least partly defining a volume for receiving the one or more modules, and wherein the arrangement enclosure seals covers the volume.
US09601398B2 Thin wafer handling and known good die test method
A method of attaching a microelectronic element to a substrate can include aligning the substrate with a microelectronic element, the microelectronic element having a plurality of spaced-apart electrically conductive bumps each including a bond metal, and reflowing the bumps. The bumps can be exposed at a front surface of the microelectronic element. The substrate can have a plurality of spaced-apart recesses extending from a first surface thereof. The recesses can each have at least a portion of one or more inner surfaces that are non-wettable by the bond metal of which the bumps are formed. The reflowing of the bumps can be performed so that at least some of the bond metal of each bump liquefies and flows at least partially into one of the recesses and solidifies therein such that the reflowed bond material in at least some of the recesses mechanically engages the substrate.
US09601394B2 Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method and memory medium
A substrate processing system includes a film-forming device to form photosensitive film on substrate, an exposure device to expose the film on the substrate, a relay device to transfer the substrate between the film-forming and exposure devices, a warping data acquisition device to acquire measured warping data of the substrate, a communication device to perform data communication with the exposure device, and a control device including film-forming, relay, measuring, and communication control sub-devices. The film-forming sub-device controls the film-forming device to form the film on the substrate, the relay sub-device controls the relay device to transfer the substrate to the exposure device, the measuring sub-device controls the warping data acquisition device to acquire the data after the controlling by the film-forming sub-device prior to the controlling by the relay sub-device, and the communication sub-device controls the communication device to transmit the data to the exposure device.
US09601389B1 Method for local thinning of top silicon layer of SOI wafer
A method for local thinning of a top silicon layer of a SOI wafer includes the consecutive steps of: providing a SOI wafer which successively includes a bottom silicon layer, a buried oxide layer and a top silicon layer; successively forming a silicon dioxide layer and a polysilicon layer over the top silicon layer; etching the silicon dioxide layer and the polysilicon layer until a top surface of the top silicon layer is exposed, such that a pattern is formed in the silicon dioxide layer and the polysilicon layer; oxidizing the silicon dioxide layer and the polysilicon layer and concurrently oxidizing the exposed portion of the top silicon layer until the polysilicon layer has been completely converted to an oxide, thereby forming a cap oxide layer; and removing the cap oxide layer, so that a locally thinned area is formed in the top surface of the top silicon layer.
US09601387B2 Method of making threshold voltage tuning using self-aligned contact cap
Methods of forming a PFET dielectric cap with varying concentrations of H2 reactive gas and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include forming p-type and n-type metal gate stacks, each surrounded by SiN spacers; forming an ILD surrounding the SiN spacers; planarizing the ILD, the metal gate stacks, and the SiN spacers; determining at least one desired threshold voltage for the p-type metal gate stack; forming a first cavity in the p-type metal gate stack for each desired threshold voltage and a second cavity in the n-type metal gate stack; selecting a first nitride layer for each first cavity, the first nitride layer for each cavity having a concentration of hydrogen reactive gas based on the desired threshold voltage associated with the cavity; forming the first nitride layers in the respective first cavities; and forming a second nitride layer, with a hydrogen rich reactive gas, in the second cavity.
US09601385B1 Method of making a dual strained channel semiconductor device
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming on a substrate mandrels made from a semiconductor material. A semiconductor material having a lattice constant that is different than the mandrel semiconductor material is deposited onto sidewalls of the mandrels to form strained semiconductor layers. The mandrels are at least partially removed to form free-standing or partially-supported fins that include the strained semiconductor layers. The strained semiconductor layers may include tensile silicon or compressive silicon germanium, which can be used to form a dual strained channel semiconductor device.
US09601383B1 FinFET fabrication by forming isolation trenches prior to fin formation
A semiconductor structure for a FinFET in fabrication is provided, the structure including a bulk semiconductor substrate initially with a hard mask over the substrate. Isolation trenches between regions of the structure where the fins will be are formed prior to the fins, and filled with selectively removable sacrificial isolation material. Remains of the hard mask are removed and another hard mask formed over the structure with filled isolation trenches. Fins are then formed throughout the structure, including the regions of sacrificial isolation material, which is thereafter selectively removed.
US09601379B1 Methods of forming metal source/drain contact structures for semiconductor devices with gate all around channel structures
In one example, the method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a sacrificial structure around a plurality of stacked substantially un-doped nanowires at a location that corresponds to the channel region of the device, performing a selective etching process through a cavity to remove a second plurality of nanowires from the channel region and the source/drain regions of the device while leaving a first plurality of nanowires in position, and forming a metal conductive source/drain contact structure in each of the source/drain regions, wherein each of the metal conductive source/drain contact structures is positioned all around the first plurality of nanowires positioned in the source/drain regions.
US09601375B2 UV-cure pre-treatment of carrier film for wafer dicing using hybrid laser scribing and plasma etch approach
Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits on a front side of the semiconductor wafer includes adhering a back side the semiconductor wafer on the dicing tape of a substrate carrier. Subsequent to adhering the semiconductor wafer on a dicing tape, the dicing tape is treated with a UV-cure process. Subsequent to treating the dicing tape with the UV-cure process, a dicing mask is formed on the front side of the semiconductor wafer, the dicing mask covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The dicing mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide gaps in the dicing mask, the gaps exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the gaps in the dicing mask layer to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09601372B2 Method of forming metal pads with openings in integrated circuits including forming a polymer plug extending into a metal pad
A device includes a metal pad, and a passivation layer including portions overlapping edge portions of the metal pad. A Post-Passivation-Interconnect (PPI) includes a trace portion overlying the passivation layer, and a pad portion connected to the trace portion. A polymer layer includes an upper portion over the PPI, and a plug portion extending into, and encircled by, the pad portion of the PPI.
US09601367B2 Interconnect level structures for confining stitch-induced via structures
A design layout is provided such that an underlying conductive line structure underlies a stitch region in an overlying conductive line structure. A stitch-induced via structure can be formed between the underlying conductive line structure and the overlying conductive line structure when a stitch region in a hard mask layer is etched multiple times. At least one of the underlying conductive line structure and the overlying conductive line structure is electrically isolated from other conductive line structures in a same design level so as to avoid unintentional electrical shorts.
US09601365B2 Peeling device, peeling system, and peeling method
A peeling device separates a superposed substrate, in which a target substrate and a support substrate are joined to each other with an adhesive, into the target substrate and the support substrate. The peeling device includes a holding unit configured to hold the superposed substrate, and a plurality of position adjustment units movable forward and backward with respect to a side surface of the superposed substrate held in the holding unit, and the position adjustment unit configured to perform a position adjustment of the superposed substrate by contacting the side surface of the superposed substrate.
US09601361B2 Fixture for conveying a mask plate for the production of thin film transistor liquid crystal display
A fixture for conveying a mask plate comprising: a conveying bracket; and a fixation structure that is arranged on the conveying bracket and configured to fix the mask plate to be conveyed. The fixture has the following advantageous effects: it is able to prevent the hands from being in direct contact with the mask plate, thereby reducing the risk of conveyance damage of the mask plate which improves the operation efficiency.
US09601360B2 Wafer transport method
A wafer transport method is provided. The wafer transport method includes loading an initial carrier containing a first wafer and a second wafer on a first semiconductor apparatus, and processing the first wafer by the first semiconductor apparatus, and loading the first wafer into a first carrier disposed on the first semiconductor apparatus. The wafer transport method also includes processing the second wafer by the first semiconductor apparatus, and loading the second wafer into a second carrier disposed on the first semiconductor apparatus. The wafer transport method further includes processing the first wafer by a second semiconductor apparatus, and loading the first wafer into an integration carrier disposed on the second semiconductor apparatus. The wafer transport method further includes processing the second wafer by the second semiconductor apparatus, and loading the second wafer into the integration carrier disposed on the second semiconductor apparatus.
US09601359B2 Substrate holding device, semiconductor fabrication device, and substrate clamping ascertainment method
A substrate holding device is provided with an electrostatic chuck that has an electrode therein and is provided with a substrate holding surface, on one side of which a substrate is held; a displacement gauge that is disposed above or below the substrate holding surface; and a controller which, along with using the displacement gauge to measure a first distance to the substrate when a substrate is placed on the substrate holding surface, uses the displacement gauge to measure a second distance to the substrate after a predetermined voltage is applied to the electrode of the electrostatic chuck and, based on the difference between the measured distances, ascertains whether the clamping of the substrate to the electrostatic chuck has been performed in a normal manner.
US09601356B2 Systems and methods for controlling release of transferable semiconductor structures
The disclosed technology relates generally to methods and systems for controlling the release of micro devices. Prior to transferring micro devices to a destination substrate, a native substrate is formed with micro devices thereon. The micro devices can be distributed over the native substrate and spatially separated from each other by an anchor structure. The anchors are physically connected/secured to the native substrate. Tethers physically secure each micro device to one or more anchors, thereby suspending the micro device above the native substrate. In certain embodiments, single tether designs are used to control the relaxation of built-in stress in releasable structures on a substrate, such as Si (1 1 1). Single tether designs offer, among other things, the added benefit of easier break upon retrieval from native substrate in micro assembly processes. In certain embodiments, narrow tether designs are used to avoid pinning of the undercut etch front.
US09601355B2 Via structure for packaging and a method of forming
A via or pillar structure, and a method of forming, is provided. In an embodiment, a polymer layer is formed having openings exposing portions of an underlying conductive pad. A conductive layer is formed over the polymer layer, filling the openings. The dies are covered with a molding material and a planarization process is performed to form pillars in the openings. In another embodiment, pillars are formed and then a polymer layer is formed over the pillars. The dies are covered with a molding material and a planarization process is performed to expose the pillars. In yet another embodiment, pillars are formed and a molding material is formed directly over the pillars. A planarization process is performed to expose the pillars. In still yet another embodiment, bumps are formed and a molding material is formed directly over the bumps. A planarization process is performed to expose the bumps.
US09601351B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
The generation of a variation in properties of vertical transistors is restrained. A vertical MOS transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first interlayer dielectric film and a first source wiring are formed over the front surface of the substrate. The first source wiring is formed over the first interlayer dielectric film, and is overlapped with the vertical MOS transistor as viewed in plan. Contacts are buried in the first interlayer dielectric film. Through the contacts, an n-type source layer of vertical MOS transistor is coupled with the first source wiring. Openings are made in the first source wiring.
US09601348B2 Interconnect structure and method of forming same
A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. Metallic interconnects are formed in a dielectric layer of the semiconductor device. A hard mask is used to avoid usual problems faced by manufacturers, such as possibility of bridging different conductive elements and via patterning problems when there are overlays between vias and trenches. The hard mask is etched multiple times to extend via landing windows, while keeping distance between the conductive elements to avoid the bridging problem.
US09601347B1 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.
US09601345B2 Fin trimming in a double sit process
A semiconductor structure and the method of forming that semiconductor structure. The method includes formation of a plurality of fins from a layer of semiconductor material. At least one fin of the plurality of fins is at least fifty percent wider than each of a group of fins included in the plurality of fins. The method also includes selectively removing the one fin such that only the group of fins remain.
US09601339B2 Methods for depositing fluorine/carbon-free conformal tungsten
Provided are atomic layer deposition methods to deposit a tungsten film or tungsten-containing film using a tungsten-containing reactive gas comprising one or more of tungsten pentachloride, a compound with the empirical formula WCl5 or WCl6.
US09601335B2 Trench formation for dielectric filled cut region
A method for forming a gate cut region includes forming a tapered profile gate line trench through a hard mask, a dummy layer and a dummy dielectric formed on a substrate, forming a dummy gate dielectric and a dummy gate conductor in the trench and planarizing a top surface to reach the hard mask. The dummy gate conductor is patterned to form a cut trench in a cut region. The dummy gate conductor is recessed, and the cut trench is filled with a first dielectric material. The dummy layer is removed and spacers are formed. A gate line is opened up and the dummy gate conductor is removed from the gate line trench. A gate dielectric and conductor are deposited, and a gate cap layer provides a second dielectric that is coupled to the first dielectric material in the cut trench to form a cut last structure.
US09601334B2 Semiconductor device and the method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device according to the invention includes p-type well region 3 and n+ source region 4, both formed selectively in the surface portion of n− drift region 2; trench 6 in contact with n+ source region 4 and extending through p-type well region 3 into n− drift region 2; field plate 8 formed in trench 6 with first insulator film 7 interposed between the trench 6 inner surface and field plate 8; gate electrode 10 formed in trench 6 with second insulator film 9 interposed between the trench 6 side wall and gate electrode 10, gate electrode 10 being formed above field plate 8; first insulator film 7 being thicker than second insulator film 9; and n− lightly doped region 21 in n− drift region 2, n− lightly doped region 21 crossing under the bottom surface of trench 6 from the corner portion thereof, n− lightly doped region 21 covering the bottom surface of trench 6. The semiconductor device according to the invention and the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device according to the invention facilitate lowering the ON-state voltage, preventing the breakdown voltage from lowering, lowering the gate capacitance, and reducing the manufacturing costs.
US09601332B2 Systems and method for ohmic contacts in silicon carbide devices
A silicon carbide device is presented that includes a gate electrode disposed over a portion of a silicon carbide substrate as well as a dielectric film disposed over the gate electrode. The device has a contact region disposed near the gate electrode and has a layer disposed over the dielectric film and over the contact region. The layer includes nickel in portions disposed over the dielectric film and includes nickel silicide in portions disposed over the contact region. The nickel silicide layer is configured to provide an ohmic contact to the contact region of the silicon carbide device.
US09601329B2 Method of fabricating crystalline island on substrate
Certain electronic applications, such as OLED display back panels, require small islands of high-quality semiconductor material distributed over a large area. This area can exceed the areas of crystalline semiconductor wafers that can be fabricated using the traditional boule-based techniques. This specification provides a method of fabricating a crystalline island of an island material, the method comprising depositing particles of the island material abutting a substrate, heating the substrate and the particles of the island material to melt and fuse the particles to form a molten globule, and cooling the substrate and the molten globule to crystallize the molten globule, thereby securing the crystalline island of the island material to the substrate. The method can also be used to fabricate arrays of crystalline islands, distributed over a large area, potentially exceeding the areas of crystalline semiconductor wafers that can be fabricated using boule-based techniques.
US09601328B2 Growing a III-V layer on silicon using aligned nano-scale patterns
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a wafer having a silicon substrate; forming a plurality of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions in the silicon substrate; and forming recesses by removing top portions of the silicon substrate between opposite sidewalls of the plurality of STI regions. Substantially all long sides of all recesses in the silicon substrate extend in a same direction. A III-V compound semiconductor material is then epitaxially grown in the recesses.
US09601323B2 Ion transport apparatus and mass spectrometer using the same
Within an intermediate vacuum chamber next to an ionization chamber maintained at atmospheric pressure, an electrode group of a radio-frequency carpet composed of a plurality of concentrically arranged ring electrodes is placed before a skimmer, with its central axis coinciding with that of an ion-passing hole. Each ring electrode has a circular radial sectional shape. Radio-frequency voltages with mutually inverted phases are applied to the ring electrodes neighboring each other in the radial direction. Additionally, a different level of direct-current voltage is applied to each ring electrode to create a potential which is sloped downward from the outer ring electrode to the inner ring electrode. The circular cross section of the electrode produces a steep pseudo-potential near the electrode and thereby increases the repulsive force which acts on the ions to repel them from the electrode.
US09601316B2 Ignition apparatus for arc sources
The present invention relates to an ignition device for igniting a high-current discharge of an electrical arc evaporator in a vacuum coating system. Ignition is performed by means of mechanically closing and opening a contact between the cathode and the anode. Contact is established by means of an ignition finger that can move on a forced path. On account of the forced path, the ignition finger can be moved by means of a simple mechanical drive to a park position, which is protected against coating, and said ignition finger can also be used to ignite a second target.
US09601314B2 Ion implantation apparatus and ion implantation method
An ion implantation method in which an ion beam is scanned in a beam scanning direction and a wafer is mechanically scanned in a direction perpendicular to the beam scanning direction, includes setting a wafer rotation angle with respect to the ion beam so as to be varied, wherein a set angle of the wafer rotation angle is changed in a stepwise manner so as to implant ions into the wafer at each set angle, and wherein a wafer scanning region length is set to be varied, and, at the same time, a beam scanning speed of the ion beam is changed, in ion implantation at each set angle in a plurality of ion implantation operations during one rotation of the wafer, such that the ions are implanted into the wafer and dose amount non-uniformity in a wafer surface in other semiconductor manufacturing processes is corrected.
US09601311B2 Laser SDE effect compensation by adaptive tuning
Laser sub-divisional error (SDE) effect is compensated by using adaptive tuning. This compensated signal can be applied to position detection of stage in ebeam inspection tool, particularly for continuous moving stage.
US09601310B2 Charged particle microscope with barometric pressure correction
A method of mitigating the effects of environmental pressure variation while using a charged particle microscope is described. The charged particle microscope equipped with a barometric pressure sensor and an automatic controller configured to use the signal from the barometric sensor as an input to a control procedure to compensate for a relative positional error between the charged particle beam and the specimen holder.
US09601307B2 Charged particle radiation apparatus
The present invention provides a high-throughput scanning electron microscope in which a wafer (9) is held by an electrostatic chuck (10), an image is obtained using an electron beam, and the wafer surface is measured, wherein even in a case where the temperature of the wafer (9) is changed due to the environmental temperature the electron scanning microscope is capable of preventing any loss in resolution or the deterioration of the measurement reproducibility caused by thermal shrinkage accompanied by temperature change of the wafer (9). A drill hole is provided on the rear surface of the electrostatic chuck (10), and a thermometer (34) is secured in place so that the front end is brought into elastic contact with the bottom surface of the drill hole. The output of the thermometer (34) is sent to a computing unit, the computing unit computes a measurement limit time for beginning measurement, based on a predetermined algorithm, from an output value of the thermometer (34), and measuring begins at individual measurement sites after the measurement limit time has elapsed.
US09601303B2 Charged particle beam device and method for inspecting and/or imaging a sample
A charged particle beam device for imaging and/or inspecting a sample is described. The charged particle beam device includes a beam emitter for emitting a primary charged particle beam; and a retarding field device for retarding the primary beam before impinging on the sample, the retarding field device including a magnetic-electrostatic objective lens and a proxy electrode. The charged particle beam device is adapted for guiding the primary beam along an optical axis to the sample for generating secondary particles released from the sample and backscattered particles. The proxy electrode comprises a first opening allowing the passage of the primary beam and at least one second opening for allowing the passage of off-axial backscattered particles. Further, a proxy electrode and a method for imaging and/or inspecting a sample by a charged particle beam are described.
US09601300B2 Cathode element for a microfocus x-ray tube
A cathode element for a microfocus x-ray tube includes a heatable filament formed of a wire for thermionic emission of electrons for generating an electron beam. The filament, in a source area of the electron beam, has an elongate extension in two directions perpendicular to the electron beam.
US09601294B2 Fuse unit
In a fuse unit that includes a bus bar whose bend parts separated from each other are arranged in parallel, and one pair of divided bodies formed by being divided into one side and the other side of the bus bar with the bend parts exposed, and in which the one pair of divided bodies is arranged into an L-letter shape by being bent at the bend parts, a partition wall that is to be arranged between the bend parts in a state of leaving the bend parts bent is provided on one divided body.
US09601293B2 Temperature switch
A base member includes a terminal fixing part for blocking an entire surface of an opening part of a housing at a position further inner than an opening end part of the housing when the base member is inserted in the housing. A first electrode part formed by a tip part of two bent stages that are composed of a horizontal part, a vertical part, and a horizontal part and configured by bending a portion of a part of the fixed side fixed a conductive member, which is continuous with a first external connection terminal, in a direction perpendicular to a continuous direction.
US09601285B2 Method and apparatus pertaining to keycap light guides
An apparatus (such as a keyboard) has a plurality of keycaps and a corresponding light guide film disposed on the underside of those keycaps. The light guide film has a periphery, and at least portions of that periphery are thicker than in an interior portion of the light guide film. So configured, more light can be made available for backlighting purposes in the thicker portions than at the thinner portions. These teachings include determining the various (different) thicknesses to employ for the light guide film based upon desired backlighting of one or more of the plurality of keycaps.
US09601284B2 Hybrid relay
A relay (1) includes a motor (20) and a primary electrical switch assembly (132). Primary electrical switching attachment points (113) are switched by a moveable switching link (101) which is moved in and out of the switch on an switched off position axially by the motor (20) in response to electrical signals delivered to the coil (26) via the flexible leads (32, 33). The switching link (101) includes a mercury reservoir (119). A piezoelectric disk bender (105) displaces mercury to close the gaps between the attachment points (113).
US09601283B2 Efficient IGBT switching
Embodiments of the invention provide IGBT circuit modules with increased efficiencies. These efficiencies can be realized in a number of ways. In some embodiments, the gate resistance and/or voltage can be minimized. In some embodiments, the IGBT circuit module can be switched using an isolated receiver such as a fiber optic receiver. In some embodiments, a single driver can drive a single IGBT. And in some embodiments, a current bypass circuit can be included. Various other embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
US09601282B2 Power shut-off unit
The power shut-off unit is equipped with two relays (2) connected to an external circuit, and a tabular baseplate (6). Multiple auxiliary electronic components (7) are mounted on the baseplate (6). The relays (2) are held so as to float over a mounting surface (13) via a pair of retaining members (8). A distance (d) equal to or greater than the thickness of the baseplate (6) is maintained between the relays (2) and the mounting surface (13). The baseplate (6) is not directly fixed to the mounting surface (13) and is connected to the relays (2) via multiple latching members (9). Because no load is acted upon the baseplate (6) by the relays (2), the baseplate (6) can be made thin.
US09601281B2 Multiphase circuit breaker system having a short-circuit link
The circuit breaker system contains a plurality of phase conductors, a circuit breaker having a plurality of breaker poles, and a short-circuit link having a star point and a plurality of link conductors combined at the star point. Each of the phase conductors is electrically conductively connected to in each case one of the breaker poles and each link conductor is electrically conductively connected to in each case one of the phase conductors in each case one of several first disconnectors to which short-circuit current can be applied. In order to avoid expenditure on assembly and downtimes of the circuit breaker system when carrying out simulation experiments with the aid of the short-circuit link, the circuit breaker system contains a second disconnector which, when closed, electrically conductively connects the star point to ground and which is opened when a short-circuit current is applied to the short-circuit current link.
US09601279B2 Electrolyte solution and electrochemical device
The present invention aims to provide an electrolyte solution that is less likely to lead to an increase in resistance and realizes high capacity retention factor even after continuous application of a high voltage, and to provide an electrochemical device. The present invention provides an electrolyte solution including: a nitrile compound; and a quaternary ammonium salt, the electrolyte solution having a potassium ion content of less than 10 ppm, a moisture content of 20 ppm or less, a tertiary amine content of 30 ppm or less, a heterocyclic compound content of 30 ppm or less, and an ammonia content of 20 ppm or less.
US09601278B2 Super-capacitor with separator and method of producing the same
A method of producing a super-capacitor provides a first substrate having a first base, forms a first electrode on the first substrate, and forms a separator so that the electrode is between the first base and the first separator. The method also micromachines holes through the separator, forms a chamber, and adds electrolyte, having ions, to the chamber. The electrolyte is in contact with the first electrode within the chamber. In addition, the holes are sized to permit transmission of the ions of the electrolyte through the holes.
US09601277B2 Method for manufacturing capacitor element
The present invention provides an anode body for capacitors, which is formed of a sintered body that is obtained by sintering a powder mixture of a tungsten powder and a tungsten trioxide powder, and wherein the ratio of the tungsten trioxide powder to the total amount of the tungsten powder and the tungsten trioxide powder is 1 to 13 mass %. The present invention is able to reduce the number of semiconductor layer formation wherein polymerization of a semiconductor precursor is carried out a plurality of times on a dielectric layer. Consequently, a solid electrolytic capacitor element, in which a semiconductor layer that is composed of a conductive polymer is formed on a dielectric layer that is formed on the outer surface layer and the inner surface layer of the fine pores of a tungsten sintered body, can be produced efficiently.
US09601275B1 Dielectric ceramic composition and electronic device using the same
A dielectric ceramic composition includes a main component comprising (1-x)BaTiO3-x(Na1-yKy)NbO3, where 0.005≦x≦0.5 and 0.3≦y≦1.0; a first subcomponent comprising an element selected from the group consisting of Mn, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn; and a second subcomponent comprising SiO2.
US09601273B2 Winding device and winding method
According to one embodiment, a winding device includes a supporting part, a pressing part, a movement part configured to move a positional relationship between the supporting part and the pressing part, a control part, a target movement speed calculation part configured to detect a target relative movement speed of the pressing part with respect to the supporting part, a wire feed speed detection part configured to detect a feed speed of the wire, a deviation amount calculation part configured to calculate a difference between a detection result of the target movement speed calculation part and a detection result of the wire feed speed detection part, and a determination part configured to determine that the wire has deviated from the movement path.
US09601269B2 Resonant coil, wireless power transmitter using the same, wireless power receiver using the same
Disclosed is a coil for wirelessly transmitting or receiving power. The coil includes a coil unit formed by winding a plurality of wires insulated from each other; and a capacitor connected to the coil unit. The wires of the coil unit are shorted at a predetermined interval.
US09601266B2 Multiple connected resonators with a single electronic circuit
Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for a wireless energy transfer source that can support multiple wireless energy transfer techniques. A wireless energy source is configured to support wireless energy transfer techniques without requiring separate independent hardware for each technique. An amplifier is used to energize different energy transfer elements tuned for different frequencies. The impendence of each energy transfer element is configured such that only some of the energy transfer elements is active at a time. The different energy transfer elements and energy transfer techniques may be selectively activated using an amplifier without using active switches to select or activate different coils and/or resonators.
US09601264B2 Resonance terminal device for resonant wireless power reception system
A shunt capacitor is connected to a wireless charging resonator to prevent harmonics emitted from a power amplifier from radiating to the outside, and at least one circuit having a high impedance relative to a Near Field Wireless Communication (NFC) frequency band is formed at a front side or a rear side of the shunt capacitor for solving the problems of radiating noise components due to wireless charging and of lowering an NFC signal and a power transmission intensity due to a concurrent interference between a wireless charging resonator and an NFC antenna.
US09601259B2 Electronic component
An electronic component has a laminate including a plurality of laminated insulator layers, the laminate having a top surface and a mounting surface positioned in a first direction perpendicular to a direction of lamination. The direction of lamination is a direction in which the plurality of the insulator layers are laminated. First and second external electrodes are positioned on the mounting surface rather than on the top surface. The first and second external electrodes including first and second Ni-plating films and first and second Sn-plating films provided thereon, respectively. A first total thickness of the first Ni-plating film and the first Sn-plating film and/or a second total thickness of the second Ni-plating film and the second Sn-plating film are/is 11.6 μm or more, respectively. The first and/or second Ni-plating films are/is 1.37 times or more as thick as the first and/or second Sn-plating films, respectively.
US09601254B2 Apparatus and method for mitigating thermal excursions in air core reactors due to wind effects
An air core, dry type, power reactor (10) of the type having multiple concentrically positioned winding layers (12) extending along a central axis and above arms (24) of a first spider unit (16) when the reactor is horizontally positioned with respect to a horizontal ground plane, the winding layers (12) arranged in spaced-apart relation providing air gaps (20) between the winding layers allowing air to flow along the winding layers. A deflector (40) is positioned between the winding layers (12) and the ground plane to receive air from wind blowing toward the reactor (10) and guide the air in an upward direction from the deflector (40) and along the gaps (20).
US09601251B2 Correction of angle errors in permanent magnets
At least two partial magnets mechanically connected to each other. The length of each partial magnet runs in the main magnetisation direction of each partial magnet and/or in the main direction in which a partial magnet can be magnetised or in which its magnetisation is intended, and defines a first side and a second side as opposed regions at the ends of the partial magnet in respect of its length The at least two partial magnets are arranged in sequence in respect of their lengths and connected to each other. Deviations in the direction of the magnetisation and/or magnetisability of the first partial magnet deviating from the main magnetisation direction and/or main direction of magnetisability reduce and/or substantially compensate for the deviations in the direction of the magnetisation and/or magnetisability of the other or of the adjacent partial magnet deviating from the main magnetisation direction and/or main direction of magnetisability.
US09601244B2 Zinc oxide based varistor and fabrication method
A varistor may include a varistor ceramic that includes zinc oxide having a molar percent greater than 90 percent and a set of metal oxides, where the set of metal oxides includes Bi2O3 having a molar fraction between 0.2 and 2.5 percent; Co3O4 having a molar fraction between 0.2 and 1.2 percent; Mn3O4 having a molar fraction between 0.05 and 0.5 percent; Cr2O3 having a molar fraction between 0.05 and 0.5 percent; NiO having a molar fraction between 0.5 and 1.5 percent; Sb2O3 oxide having a molar fraction between 0.05 and 1.5 percent; B2O3 having a molar fraction between 0.001 to 0.03 percent; and aluminum in the form of an oxide having a molar fraction between 0.001 and 0.05 percent.
US09601242B2 Mold for impregnating a prefabricated condenser core of a high-voltage bushing and device for forming a condenser core of a high-voltage bushing
An exemplary mold is disclosed for impregnating a prefabricated condenser core (C) of a high voltage bushing with a liquid resin and includes two mold modules movable against each other and shaped to form an axially symmetric mold cavity. The mold forms a column of cylindrical design, in which the at least two mold modules are arranged on top of each other. A first of the two mold modules can be executed as a hollow cylinder. Two opposing front faces of the two mold modules and a circular O-ring arranged between the two opposing front faces form a first sealing interface of the metal mold. Such a mold can have a very efficient sealing system and allow high pressures to be applied to the liquid resin and a beneficial forming of the condenser core in a device in which the resin is cured according to a specified temperature profile.
US09601237B2 Transmission line for wired pipe, and method
A wired pipe transmission line for disposal in a wired pipe segment for use in subterranean drilling. The transmission line includes an assembly including an inner conductor and a dielectric layer including silicon dioxide (SiO2) insulating material surrounding the inner conductor and a protective layer that is formed of a rigid material and surrounding the dielectric layer. Also included is a method of forming a wired pipe transmission line.
US09601234B2 Three-dimensional (3D) porous device and method of making a 3D porous device
A method of making a three-dimensional porous device entails providing a substrate having a conductive pattern on a surface thereof, and depositing a colloidal solution comprising a plurality of microparticles onto the surface, where the microparticles assemble into a lattice structure. Interstices of the lattice structure are infiltrated with a conductive material, which propagates through the interstices in a direction away from the substrate to reach a predetermined thickness. The conductive material spans an area of the surface overlaid by the conductive pattern. The microparticles are removed to form voids in the conductive material, thereby forming a conductive porous structure having the predetermined thickness and a lateral size and shape defined by the conductive pattern.
US09601233B1 Plenum rated twisted pair communication cables
Plenum rated communication cables with reduced fluoropoloymer content may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, and each conductor may be insulated with a flame retardant polyolefin material. Additionally, each twisted pair may have a respective twist lay between approximately 0.30 inches and approximately 0.80 inches. The plurality of twisted pairs may be twisted together in a first direction and at least one of the plurality of twisted pairs may include conductors twisted together in a second direction opposite the first direction. A jacket may be formed around the plurality of twisted pairs.
US09601231B2 Hyperbranched olefin oil-based dielectric fluid
The present invention generally relates to a dielectric composition which is a poly-α-olefin or poly(co-ethylene-α-olefin) having a backbone weight average molecular weight less than 10,000 daltons. The dielectric composition uses a metal-ligand complex as a precatalyst and exhibits a hyperbranched structure that enables low viscosity, and therefore good flow characteristics, combined with high fire point due to ability to increase molecular weight via branching rather than backbone growth. Other desirable properties include lowered pour point due to crystallization disruption, and desirable thermal oxidative stability.
US09601227B2 Microbial nanowires and methods of making and using
Electrically conductive nanowires, and genetically or chemically modified production and use of such nanowires with altered conductive, adhesive, coupling or other properties are described. The disclosed nanowires are used as device or device components or may be adapted for soluble metal remediation.
US09601224B2 Electron beam irradiation apparatus
An electron beam irradiation apparatus that emits an electron beam into a container, the electron beam irradiation apparatus including: a vacuum housing constituting a vacuum chamber; an electron generator provided in the vacuum housing; a cylindrical nozzle member that is extended from the vacuum housing so as to be inserted into the container and has exit windows on the distal end of the nozzle member, the exit windows being provided for emission of an electron beam generated by the electron generator into the container; and a magnetic shield member for the vacuum chamber and a magnetic shield member for the nozzle member, the magnetic shield members being respectively provided for the vacuum housing and the nozzle member so as to block variable magnetism generated around an electron beam trajectory extended from the electron generator to the exit windows.
US09601219B2 Method, memory controller, and memory system for reading data stored in flash memory
An exemplary method for reading data stored in a flash memory includes: selecting an initial gate voltage combination from a plurality of predetermined gate voltage combination options; controlling a plurality of memory units in the flash memory according to the initial gate voltage combination, and reading a plurality of bit sequences; performing a codeword error correction upon the plurality of bit sequences, and determining if the codeword error correction successful; if the codeword error correction is not successful, determining an electric charge distribution parameter; determining a target gate voltage combination corresponding to the electric charge distribution parameter by using a look-up table; and controlling the plurality of memory units to read a plurality of updated bit sequences according to the target gate voltage combination.
US09601218B2 Memory device and computing system including the same
A memory system includes a read-only memory (ROM), a main memory and a processor. The ROM stores a basic input/output system (BIOS). The main memory includes a fail address table which stores at least one fail address designating a memory cell row having at least one defective cell. The processor receives fail information of the at least one fail address from the main memory and loads data associated with a booting operation of the memory system in a safe area of the main memory by avoiding a fail area corresponding to the at least one fail address during power-on operation while a power is applied to the memory system. The data associated with the booting operation is stored in a storage device.
US09601217B1 Methods and circuitry for identifying logic regions affected by soft errors
Integrated circuits with single event upset (SEU) detection circuitry are provided. The SEU detection circuitry may include an error detection block for detecting soft errors and a sensitivity processor that determines whether or not to correct the detected soft errors. The sensitivity processor may be used to access a sensitivity map header (SMH) file that is stored on external memory. The sensitivity map header file contains information that can help identify which logic region on the integrated circuit the soft error affects and whether or not that soft error can critically cause functional failure for the integrated circuit. Depending on the criticality of the soft error, different corrective actions may be taken.
US09601215B2 Holding circuit, driving method of the holding circuit, and semiconductor device including the holding circuit
A holding circuit includes first to third input terminals, an output terminal, first to third switches, a capacitor, and a node. The first to third switches control conduction between the node and the first input terminal, conduction between the node and the output terminal, and conduction between the second input terminal and the output terminal, respectively. First and second terminals of the capacitor are electrically connected to the node and the third input terminal, respectively. The first to third switches are each a transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor layer comprising a semiconductor region. Owing to the structure, a potential change of the node in an electrically floating state can be suppressed; thus, the holding circuit can retain its state for a long time. The holding circuit can be used as a memory circuit for backup of a sequential circuit, for example.
US09601214B2 Method and system for improving the radiation tolerance of floating gate memories
A method of improving radiation tolerance of floating gate memories is provided herein. Floating gate memories can include a floating gate transistor or a block of floating gate transistors. A floating gate transistor can include a semiconductor region, a source region, a drain region, a floating gate region, a tunnel oxide region, an oxide-nitride-oxide region, and a control gate region. A floating gate transistor or block of floating gate transistors can be written to multiple times in order to accumulate charge on one or more floating gate regions in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. When exposed to radiation, a floating gate region can retain its charge above a certain voltage threshold. A block of floating gate transistors can communicate with an external device where the external device can read a state of the block of floating gate transistors in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
US09601210B2 Semiconductor memory device and memory system
A semiconductor memory device includes a first stack of memory cells above a substrate, the first stack including a first memory cell and a second memory cell above the first memory cell, a second stack of memory cells above the substrate, the second stack including a third memory cell, a word line connected to the first, second, and third memory cells, and a controller configured to output data stored in the first memory cell and data stored in the third memory cell during a first cycle, and output data stored in the second memory cell during a second cycle that is different from the first cycle.
US09601206B2 Semiconductor memory system including a plurality of semiconductor memory devices
A communication line is connected to first and second chips, and held at a first signal level. A monitor circuit changes a signal level of the communication line from the first signal to a second signal level while one of the first and second chips uses a current larger than a reference current. When the signal level of the communication line is the second signal level, the other of the first and second chips is controlled to a wait state that does not transfer to an operating state of using a current larger than the reference current.
US09601205B2 Storage device and method of writing and reading the same
A write method of a storage device including at least one nonvolatile memory device and a memory controller controlling the nonvolatile memory device includes dividing write data into a plurality of page data groups, each page data group including multiple bits of data; encoding the divided page data groups using different binary codes, respectively; mapping the encoded page data groups; programming, in first memory cells connected to one word line, programming states to which binary values of each of the mapped encoded page data groups are mapped, such that, the plurality of page data groups correspond respectively to a plurality of read voltage levels, and for each of the plurality of page data groups, the page data group can be read by performing a single read operation on the first memory cells using the read voltage level corresponding to the page data group.
US09601204B2 Three-dimensional semiconductor devices and fabricating methods thereof
A three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory device includes a CMOS circuit structure including a plurality of column blocks each comprising a plurality of page buffer circuits, and a lower wiring structure and a memory structure sequentially stacked over the CMOS circuit structure. The memory structure overlaps a first circuit region of the CMOS circuit structure and does not overlap a second circuit region of the CMOS circuit structure, and the plurality of column blocks are contained within the first circuit region of the CMOS circuit structure.
US09601203B2 Floating gate non-volatile memory bit cell
A solid-state non-volatile memory (NVM) device includes a memory bit cell. The memory bit cell includes a field effect transistor (FET) fabricated on a substrate and having a floating gate. The floating gate includes a thick oxide layer. The FET includes drain and source, each fabricated within the substrate and coupled to the floating gate and a channel region with native doping. The drain is fabricated to have a halo region. A method for fabricating a solid-state NVM device includes fabricating solid state device including NVM bit cell which provides multiple storage and includes an FET on substrate. The method also includes fabricating floating gate of the FET including thick gate oxide layer, and fabricating drain and source of FET within the substrate, drain and source coupled to the floating gate and channel region with native doping. Further, the method includes fabricating halo region within the substrate at the drain.
US09601198B2 Memory circuit provided with bistable circuit and non-volatile element
A memory circuit includes: a bistable circuit (30) that stores data; nonvolatile elements (MTJ1, MTJ2) that store data written in the bistable circuit in a nonvolatile manner, and restore data stored in a nonvolatile manner into the bistable circuit; and a control unit that stores data written in the bistable circuit in a nonvolatile manner and cuts off a power supply to the bistable circuit when the period not to read data from or write data into the bistable circuit is longer than a predetermined time period, and does not store data written in the bistable circuit in a nonvolatile manner and makes the supply voltage for the bistable circuit lower than a voltage during the period to read data from or write data into the bistable circuit when the period not to read or write data is shorter than the predetermined time period.
US09601194B2 NAND array comprising parallel transistor and two-terminal switching device
Providing for a high performance and efficiency NAND architecture is described herein. By way of example, a NAND array is disclosed comprising memory cells having a 1 transistor-1 two-terminal memory device (IT-1D) arrangement. Memory cells of the NAND array can be arranged electrically in serial with respect to each other, from source to drain. Moreover, respective memory cells comprise a transistor component connected in parallel to a two-terminal memory device. In some embodiments, a resistance of the activated transistor component is selected to be substantially less than that of the two-terminal memory device, and the resistance of the deactivated transistor component is selected to be substantially higher than the two-terminal memory device. Accordingly, by activating or deactivating the transistor component, a signal applied to the memory cell can be shorted past the two-terminal memory device, or directed through the two-terminal memory device, respectively.
US09601190B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment includes: N (≧1) input wiring lines; M (≧1) output wiring lines; N first wiring lines corresponding to the N input wiring lines; K (>M) second wiring lines crossing the N first wiring lines; a plurality of first resistive change elements disposed at intersections of the first wiring lines and the second wiring lines, each of the first resistive change elements including a first electrode connecting to a corresponding one of the first wiring lines, a second electrode connecting to a corresponding one of the second wiring lines, and a first resistive change layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first controller controlling a voltage applied to the first wiring lines; a second controller controlling a voltage applied to the second wiring lines; and a selection circuit selecting M second wiring lines from the K second wiring lines.
US09601189B2 Representing data using a group of multilevel memory cells
A memory device includes a group or block of k-level memory cells, where k>2, and where each of the k-level memory cells has k programmable states represented by respective resistance levels.
US09601183B1 Apparatuses and methods for controlling wordlines and sense amplifiers
Apparatuses and methods for controlling word lines and sense amplifiers in a semiconductor device are described. An example apparatus includes: a sub word line selection signal decoder which activates at least one of a plurality of sub word selection signals responsive to row address signals; a column segment selection signal decoder which activates at least one of a plurality of column segment signals responsive to a portion of column address signals and a portion of the row address signals; a column segment selection circuit which activates at least one of a plurality of column-subword selection signals responsive to the activated column segment signal and the activated sub word selection signal; and a sub word line driver which activates at least one of a plurality of sub word lines responsive to an activated main word line and the activated sub word selection signal.
US09601182B2 Frequency synthesis for memory input-output operations
A memory channel including an internal clock circuit is disclosed. The clock circuit may synthesize an internal clock signal for use by one or more components of the memory channel. The internal clock signal may have a different frequency than an external clock frequency. The memory channel may include multiple clock circuits that generate multiple internal clock signals. Each portion of the memory channel associated with a different clock circuit may be phase and/or frequency independent of the other portions of the memory channel. The clock circuit may synthesize an internal clock signal based on an external clock signal. The clock circuit may use encoded timing data from an encoded I/O scheme to align the phase of the internal clock signal to a data signal.
US09601180B2 Automatic partial array self-refresh
Methods of configuring dynamic memory associated with a processing system, are described. The dynamic memory is configured in a plurality of blocks, the method comprises: a) receiving information relating to a utilization status of the memory; b) processing the received information to determine at least one first block of the memory that is currently not in use for information storage; and c) configuring the at least one first block to be excluded from an information refresh process.
US09601171B2 Storage device including nonvolatile memory and memory controller and operating method of retiming circuit interfacing communication between nonvolatile memory and memory controller
A storage device includes a nonvolatile memory, and a memory controller adapted to control the nonvolatile memory and to transmit a first timing signal to the nonvolatile memory at a read operation. The nonvolatile memory includes a nonvolatile memory device adapted to output read data and a second timing signal in response to the first timing signal, and a retiming circuit adapted to detect a locking delay according to the first timing signal, to produce a third timing signal from the second timing signal using the detected locking delay, to retime the read data by latching the read data in synchronization with the third timing signal and to output the third timing signal and the retimed read data to the memory controller.
US09601169B2 Semiconductor memory device, memory system including the same and operating method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a program and read unit suitable for programming program data in a memory cell array and for reading read data stored in the memory cell array, and a control unit suitable for generating a control signal for controlling the program and read unit in response to a command input from the outside of the semiconductor memory device, in which the control unit controls the program and read unit to read the read data in a state of storing a first bit data of the program data when a read command is input while programming the program data.
US09601168B2 Memory bank signal coupling buffer and method
A memory array contains a plurality of banks coupled to each other by a plurality of data lines. Each of the data lines is divided into a plurality of segments within the array. Respective bidirectional buffers couple read data from one of the segments to another in a first direction, and to couple write data from one of the segments to another in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The data lines may be local data read/write lines that couple different banks of memory cells to each other and to respective data terminals, digit lines that couple memory cells in a respective column to respective sense amplifiers, word lines that activate memory cells in a respective row, or some other signal line within the array. The memory array also includes precharge circuits for precharging the segments of respective data lines to a precharge voltage.
US09601162B1 Memory devices with strap cells
A device includes a memory array, a first data line, and a second data line. The memory array includes a first strap cell, a first sub-bank, and a second sub-bank, in which the first strap cell is disposed between the first sub-bank and the second sub-bank. The first data line has a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion of the first data line is disconnected from the second portion of the first data line, and the second portion of the first data line is configured to couple the first sub-bank to a first input/output (I/O) circuit. The second data line and the first portion of the first data line are configured to couple the second sub-bank to the first I/O circuit.
US09601158B2 Moving image selection apparatus for selecting moving image to be combined, moving image selection method, and storage medium
An image capture apparatus includes a combination candidate selection processing unit. When one moving image is generated by combining a plurality of moving images, the combination candidate selection processing unit judges a possibility of combination between a moving image which is a basis for combination chosen and another moving image based on a predetermined condition. Furthermore, the combination candidate selection processing unit selects, as a candidate of a moving image for a combination target, a moving image that can be combined with the moving image which is a basis for combination, from among other moving images based on a judgment result.
US09601154B2 Prioritized random access for magnetic recording
A storage device includes a controller that directs incoming data to a storage location based on a capacity of a region or surface of a magnetic disc. According to one implementation, the storage device controller writes new data to data tracks in a first series of data tracks on the magnetic disc until a capacity condition is satisfied. Once the capacity condition is satisfied, the storage device controller writes new data to a second series of data tracks on the storage medium that are interlaced with data tracks of the first series.
US09601147B2 Optical information recording and reproducing apparatus and optical information recording and reproducing method
To provide an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus capable of correct positioning, in an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus which branches a light beam into reference light and signal light to cause interference and records an obtained interference fringe as a hologram on an optical information recording medium and reproduces the hologram recorded by applying the reference light onto the optical information recording medium, the apparatus has an image pickup element which detects reproduction light passing through an aperture 101 in reproduction light obtained by applying the reference light onto the optical information recording medium and generates a reproduction signal, photo detectors 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d that are different from the image pickup element and detect reproduction light applied on a location on the periphery of the aperture 101, and a computing unit which computes a position error signal based on outputs from the photo detectors.
US09601145B1 Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) disk with multiple continuous magnetic recording layers
A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) disk has multiple independent data layers, each data layer being a continuous non-patterned layer of magnetizable material. Each data layer can store data independent and not related to the data stored in the other data layers. The data layers are separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer (SL) and each data layer is formed of high-anisotropy (Ku) material so that the coercivities of lower and upper data layers (RL1 and RL2) are greater than the magnetic write field. At a high laser power both RL1 and RL2 are heated to above their respective Curie temperatures and data is recorded in both RL1 and RL2. At low laser power only upper RL2 is heated to above its Curie temperature and data is recorded only in RL2. The SL prevents lower RL1 from being heated to above its Curie temperature at low laser power.
US09601140B1 In-situ smear detection and mitigation in heat-assisted magnetic recording head-disk interface
A procedure for detecting the presence of contamination at a head-disk interface in a heat- assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drive involves flying a head slider over a magnetic-recording disk at a particular fly height, applying an oscillating signal to a heat source associated with a HAMR near-field transducer (NFT) that is located in the slider to dither the spacing between the NFT and the disk, and determining, based on change to a contact detection signal, that contamination has accumulated on the slider, generally, or on the NFT, specifically. Burnishing the contamination from the slider may then be performed, by bringing the slider into contact with the disk.
US09601138B1 Bias layer and shield biasing design
A read head is longitudinally biased unidirectionally by laterally abutting soft magnetic layers or multilayers. The soft magnetic layers are themselves magnetically stabilized by layers of antiferromagnetic material that are exchange coupled to them. The same layers of antiferromagnetic materials can be used to stabilize a unidirectional anisotropy of an overhead shield by means of exchange coupling. By including the antiferromagnetic material layer within the patterned biasing structure itself, an additional layer of antiferromagnetic material that normally covers the entire sensor structure is eliminated. The elimination of an entire layer is also advantageous for reducing the inter-sensor spacing in a TDMR (two dimensional magnetic recording) configuration where two sensor are vertically stacked on top of each other.
US09601137B2 Magnetic read head with magnetoresistive (MR) enhancements toward low resistance X area (RA) product
A method of forming a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor with a composite tunnel barrier comprised primarily of magnesium oxynitride and having a MR ratio of at least 70%, resistance x area (RA) product <1 ohm-μm2, and fewer pinholes than a conventional MgO layer is disclosed. The method involves forming a Mg/MgON/Mg, Mg/MgON/MgN, MgN/MgON/MgN, or MgN/MgON/Mg intermediate tunnel barrier stack and then annealing to drive loosely bound oxygen into adjacent layers thereby forming MgO/MgON/Mg, MgO/MgON/MgON, MgON/MgON/MgON, and MgON/MgON/MgO composite tunnel barriers, respectively, wherein oxygen content in the middle MgON layer is greater than in upper and lower MgON layers. The MgON layer in the intermediate tunnel barrier may be formed by a sputtering process followed by a natural oxidation step and has a thickness greater than the Mg and MgN layers.
US09601136B2 Data writer front shield with varying throat height
A data storage device employing a data writer may configure the data writer with at least a write pole that is separated from a front shield on an air bearing surface. The front shield can be arranged to continuously extend from the air bearing surface a first throat height distal the write pole and a second throat height proximal the write pole with the first and second throat heights being different.
US09601132B2 Method and apparatus for managing audio signals
A method comprising: detect a first acoustic signal by using a microphone array; detecting a first angle associated with a first incident direction of the first acoustic signal; and storing, in a memory, a representation of the first acoustic signal and a representation of the first angle.
US09601128B2 Communication apparatus and voice processing method therefor
A voice processing method for use in a communication apparatus, in an embodiment, includes the following steps. A near-end audio signal is received by at least one microphone of the communication apparatus. Voice and noise energy data are generated by performing voice activity detection on the near-end audio signal. A noise amount is obtained by performing noise energy calculation with the noise energy data. Whether the noise amount exceeds a first noise amount threshold is determined. If the noise amount exceeds the first noise amount threshold, a sidetone mode of the communication apparatus is enabled to produce a sidetone signal according to the voice energy data and play the sidetone signal through a speaker thereof. A noise suppression mode is enabled to produce a far-end audio signal according to the voice energy data and transmitting the far-end audio signal by a communication module of the communication apparatus.
US09601126B2 Audio splitting with codec-enforced frame sizes
A method and apparatus for splitting the audio of media content into separate content files without introducing boundary artifacts is described. An exemplary method of streaming media content including audio and video involves a computing system receiving a plurality of content files and staging the encoded portion of the audio of the content files for presentation as a continuous stream. Each of the content files comprises an encoded portion of the video encoded according to a frame rate and having a fixed-time duration and an encoded portion of the audio encoded according to a codec-enforced frame size and having a plurality of full audio frames having the codec-enforced frame size. A duration of the encoded portion of the audio of one or more of the content files is greater than or less than the fixed-time duration.
US09601124B2 Acoustic matching and splicing of sound tracks
Acoustic matching and splicing of sound tracks is described. In one or more implementations, a method to acoustically match and splice first and second sound tracks by one or more computing devices is described. The method includes source separating the first and second sound tracks into first track primary and background sound data and second track primary and background sound data. Features extracted from the first and second primary sound data are matched, one to another, to generate first and second primary matching masks. Features extracted from the first and second background sound data are matched, one to another, to generate first and second background matching masks, which are applied to respective separated sound data. The applied first track primary and background sound data and the applied second track primary and background sound data are spliced to generate a spliced sound track.
US09601120B2 Working method of sound transmission-based dynamic token
A working method of a sound transmission-based dynamic token comprises: a dynamic token waiting for disconnection of a key; and when the disconnection of the key is detected, judging the type of a pressed key, and performing a corresponding operation according to different types of keys.
US09601119B2 Systems and methods for segmenting and/or classifying an audio signal from transformed audio information
A system and method may be provided to segment and/or classify an audio signal from transformed audio information. Transformed audio information representing a sound may be obtained. The transformed audio information may specify magnitude of a coefficient related to energy amplitude as a function of frequency for the audio signal and time. Features associated with the audio signal may be obtained from the transformed audio information. Individual ones of the features may be associated with a feature score relative to a predetermined speaker model. An aggregate score may be obtained based on the feature scores according to a weighting scheme. The weighting scheme may be associated with a noise and/or SNR estimation. The aggregate score may be used for segmentation to identify portions of the audio signal containing speech of one or more different speakers. For classification, the aggregate score may be used to determine a likely speaker model to identify a source of the sound in the audio signal.
US09601118B2 Amusement system
A technique for allowing a virtual experience of more realistic live performance. A main apparatus reproduces music data and audience video data recording a video image of audience. A user holds a microphone and makes a live performance for the audience displayed on a monitor. The microphone sends voice data and motion information of the microphone to the main apparatus. The main apparatus determines that the user makes a live performance when the user calls on the audience with a specific phrase and performs an action corresponding to the specific phrase. The main apparatus reproduces reaction data recording a video image and sound indicating a reaction of the audience to the live performance.
US09601117B1 Method and apparatus of processing user data of a multi-speaker conference call
A method and apparatus of sharing documents during a conference call data is disclosed. One example method may include initiating a document sharing operation during a conference call conducted between at least two participants communicating during the conference call. The method may also include transferring the document from one of the two participants to another of the two participants, and recording at least one action performed to the document by the participants during the conference call.
US09601114B2 Method for embedding voice mail in a spoken utterance using a natural language processing computer system
A method for processing a voice message in a computerized system. The method receives and records a speech utterance including a message portion and a communication portion. The method proceeds to parse the input to identify and separate the message portion and the communication portion. It then identifies communication parameters, including one or more destination mailboxes, from the communication portion, and it transmits the message portion to the destination mailbox as a voice message.
US09601112B2 Speech recognition system and method using incremental device-based acoustic model adaptation
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a speech recognition system and method using incremental device-based acoustic model adaptation. The speech recognition system comprises a model selection module selecting an acoustic model of multi-model tree by verifying and categorizing a device key transmitted from a user device; a model management module generating and incrementally adapting multi-model tree by categorizing voice data based on a user device; and a speech recognition module performing speech recognition by receiving the acoustic model selected from the model selection module and transmitting data of which reliability exceeds a predetermined threshold value to the model management module.
US09601109B2 Systems and methods for accelerating hessian-free optimization for deep neural networks by implicit preconditioning and sampling
A method for training a deep neural network, comprises receiving and formatting speech data for the training, preconditioning a system of equations to be used for analyzing the speech data in connection with the training by using a non-fixed point quasi-Newton preconditioning scheme, and employing flexible Krylov subspace solvers in response to variations in the preconditioning scheme for different iterations of the training.
US09601099B2 Electronic bass drum
An Electronic Bass Drum includes one or more loudspeakers, an internal amplifier system, a removable electronic drum module and control panel, at least one impact sensitive electronic kick pad, an attachment for mounting a bass drum pedal, mounting hardware for tom toms or other acoustic or electronic instruments, legs for stabilization, one or more headphone jacks for silent play, input jacks for other instruments and/or microphones, and an MP3 player cradle for playing along with or recording music.
US09601095B2 Percussion surface apparatus
A percussion surface apparatus includes: a head which is formed by rubber, and which includes a front surface and a back surface, the front surface which functions as a percussion surface; a cushion member which includes: a first layer that is butted against the back surface of the head, and that is formed by a fiber-based non-woven fabric; and a second layer that is adjacent to the first layer, and that is formed by a porous urethane material; and a supporting unit which is configured to fix and support the cushion member in a state where the cushion member is butted against the back surface of the head at a pressure.
US09601094B2 Drum stick holder
A repositionable support system for drum-related objects comprises an upper assembly including a base plate adapted to removably receive drum related objects; a lower assembly including an attachment member adapted to removably couple the lower assembly to a recipient object; and an intermediate assembly separably coupling the upper and lower assemblies.
US09601093B2 Restraint item for endpin of musical instrument and stand for speaker
An endpin support 1 as an example of a musical instrument support to which the present invention is applied includes a lower plate member 2, an upper plate member 3, middle plate members 4, and a load receiving member 5. The lower plate member 2 is a portion that vibrates by resonating with sounds of a musical instrument and spreads vibrancy of the sounds. The lower plate member 2 and the upper plate member 3 are joined at a position at which their one end sides are aligned by two middle plate members 4 to form a main body portion 6 that receives a load when supporting an endpin. The two middle plate members 4 are provided at positions of both ends of the lower plate member 2, and a space is formed between the lower plate member 2 and the upper plate member 3.
US09601092B2 Dynamically managing memory footprint for tile based rendering
The introduction of an “out-of-memory” marker in the sorted tile geometry sequence for a tile may aid in handling out-of-memory frames. This marker allows hardware to continue rendering using the original data stream instead of the sorted data stream. This enables use of the original data stream allows the system to continue rendering without requiring any driver intervention. During the visibility generation/sorting phase, the number of memory pages required for storing the data for a rendering pass is continuously tracked. This tracking includes tracking the pages that are required even if the hardware had not run out-of-memory. This information can be monitored by a graphics driver and the driver can provide more memory pages for the system to work at full efficiency.
US09601090B2 Graph display processing system
After an operator has roughly moved a plurality of windows 101-103, with a graph (e.g. spectrum) placed in each window, to desired positions by a manual operation, initial positional coordinates of each window are acquired. The operator also makes an input of the selection of an arrangement pattern (e.g. vertical arrangement). According to the selected arrangement pattern and the number of windows, the sizes of display areas to be formed by dividing a main display frame 100 are calculated, and the display position of each window is also determined. Then, the display order of the windows is calculated from the relative positional relationship of the windows revealed from their initial positional coordinates, and a display screen is eventually formed by resizing each window so as to fit it to the size of the display area and then arranging the windows in the calculated display order.
US09601089B2 Display device with timing controller connected to source drive integrated circuit by a pair of bidirectional transmission lines, and driving method thereof
A display device includes a display panel including data lines, scan lines, and pixels connecting with the data lines and the scan lines, a scan driver configured to supply scan signals to the scan lines, a source drive integrated circuit (“IC”) configured to convert digital video data into data voltages and to supply the data voltages to the data lines, and a timing controller configured to transmit the digital video data to the source drive IC and to control driving timing of the scan driver and the source drive IC, in which a transmitter and a receiver of the source drive IC are connected via a pair of transmission lines to a transmitter and a receiver of the timing controller.
US09601083B2 Glare reduction system
A glare reduction system is provided for glare reduction. The glare reduction system includes an imaging source configured to receive light from an object, and a display driver configured to process the received light to generate an input signal. The glare reduction system further includes a display device configured to receive the input signal. A glare reduction panel is positioned anteriorly to the display device. The glare reduction panel including a liquid crystal layer configured to receive the input signal and an end polarizer with an axis of transmission relative to an angle of transmission of a second polarizer of the display device.
US09601077B2 Circuit for compensating a ripple, method of driving display panel using the circuit and display apparatus having the circuit
A circuit includes a reference signal generating part configured to generate a plurality of reference signals having levels different from each other, a comparing part configured to compare a ripple signal with the reference signals to determine a level of the ripple signal, a compensating signal generating part configured to generate a compensation ripple signal corresponding to the level of the ripple signal, where the compensation ripple signal has a phase opposite to the ripple signal, and a push-pull circuit configured to stabilize the compensation ripple signal.
US09601076B2 Source driver that generates from image data an interpolated output signal for use by a flat panel display and methods thereof
A source driver that responds to image data by generating an output signal which can be used to drive a flat panel display. The source driver includes a gamma decoder and an amplifier. The gamma decoder selects a first voltage among first analog gray voltages based on some upper bits of the image data, selects a second voltage among second analog gray voltages based on other upper bits of the image data, and selectively outputs at least one of the first and second voltages as a plurality of distributed analog signals in response to lower bits of the image data. The amplifier interpolates between the distributed analog signals from the gamma decoder to generate the output signal of the source driver. The amplifier includes bias circuits that are each configured to generate a bias current, and a plurality of MOSFETs. Each of the MOSFETs includes a source, a drain, and a gate terminal. The gate terminal of each of the MOSFETS is separately connected to receive a different one of the distributed analog signals from the gamma decoder. One of the source/drain terminals of each of the MOSFETS is separately connected to a different one of the bias circuits to receive the bias current, and the other one of the source/drain terminals of each of the MOSFETS is connected together at an output node to generate an interpolated signal. The output signal is based on the interpolated signal.
US09601074B2 Drive device and display device
Included are: refresh a rate changing section (15) for changing a refresh rate of a display panel (2) by configuring settings for scan periods during each of which a plurality of gate signal lines (G) of the display panel (2) are sequentially scanned and for pause periods during each of which sequential scanning of the plurality of gate signal lines (G) is suspended; and a drive amount control section (20) for controlling, in accordance with a ratio of the scan periods to the pause periods, drive time during which each of the gate signal lines is driven in each of the scan periods.
US09601070B2 Method for performing detection on display panel
A detection circuit of a display panel and a detection method thereof are disclosed. The detection circuit includes two detection lines respectively for providing scan signals for each row of pixel units. One of the detection lines is only connected to one scan line of the pixel unit and the other one of the detection lines is connected to another scan line of the pixel unit. By way of connecting two scan lines of the pixel unit to different detection lines and applying different voltages respectively thereto, the present invention can detect abnormalities of the display panel.
US09601068B2 Liquid crystal display control method and system, and display device
Disclosed are liquid crystal display control method and system, and a display device. The liquid crystal display control method comprises: performing a decoding operation on input video signals to obtain data corresponding to respective pixels of a display panel; dividing the display panel into a plurality of display regions so that each display region corresponds to one or more light sources of a backlight source and a symmetric center of the one or more light sources is positioned such that an orthographic projection thereof on the display panel is coincided with a center of the corresponding display region; calculating a control signal for controlling display of each display region based on the data corresponding to pixels in the display region; redividing each display region into a plurality of subregions based on a light distribution in the display region and regulating the control signal for controlling the display of each subregion based on data corresponding to pixels in the subregion; and controlling the display panel and the backlight source based on the regulated control signals.
US09601060B2 Image processing method and apparatus
The disclosure of the present invention provides an image processing method and apparatus. The method comprises acquiring a single picture image displayed on a display panel; determining an average value of each area relating to a display parameter, after the acquired single picture image is divided into a plurality of areas according to a preset regulation; determining differences between average values of respective two adjacent areas, and determining a uniformity of the single picture image displayed on the display panel in accordance with a relationship between each difference and a threshold of a resolvable picture uniformity by an human eye; adjusting the difference between the average values of the respective two adjacent areas to be not greater than the threshold of the resolvable picture uniformity by the human eye, when determining the single picture image displayed on the display panel to be not uniform.
US09601059B2 Dynamic backlight control selector
A computer-implemented method for automatically controlling a dynamic backlight control (DBC) of a display is disclosed according to one aspect of the subject technology. The method comprises determining whether an image to be displayed on the display comprises a high-resolution still image, and, if the image comprises a high-resolution still image, then disabling the DBC.
US09601057B2 Pixel circuit, organic electroluminesce display panel and display device
A pixel circuit, an organic electroluminescent display panel and a display device are provided. The pixel circuit includes a light emitting element, a first capacitor, a reset control module, a drive control module, a compensation control module, and a light emission control module. In a reset phase, the reset control module writes a reset signal at a reset signal end into a second end of the first capacitor. In a compensation phase, the reset control module writes a data signal at a data signal end into a first end of the first capacitor, and the drive control module charges the first capacitor through the compensation control module. In a light emission phase, both the light emission control module and the first capacitor enable the drive control module to drive the light emitting element with a stable current for emission of light.
US09601054B2 Display device, manufacturing method, and electronic apparatus
There is provided a display device including a pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a matrix shape. A predetermined amount of light emission variation is added to a light emission state of each pixel and a cycle of the light emission state of the pixel array unit in the case of the addition is shorter than the cycle of a light emission state of the pixel array unit before the predetermined amount of light emission variation is added.
US09601051B2 Organic light-emitting display and method of compensating for degradation of the same
Provided are an organic light-emitting display comprising: a display panel which comprises a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having an organic light-emitting diode (OLED); a sensor configured to detect degradation data indicating a degree of degradation of the OLED of each of the pixels and configured to calculate a degradation data difference between two or more adjacent pixels among the pixels; and a controller configured to set a compensation area utilizing the degradation data difference and configured to generate compensated image data by compensating in the compensation area in input image data.
US09601045B2 Moving image display apparatus
A moving image display apparatus includes a display unit which sequentially displays an image pattern in the form of a moving image on a display screen, a storage unit which stores area sectional information and display format information, the area sectional information defines predetermined divided areas corresponding to the image pattern among a plurality of divided areas into which the display screen is divided, and the display format information defines display formats of the divided areas defined by the area sectional information in a time sequential manner, and a display control unit which controls to display the predetermined divided areas corresponding to the image pattern in accordance with the display formats defined by the display format information.
US09601043B2 Display device and display driver with sequential transfer of gray scale reference voltages
The display device includes display drivers including first and second ones operable to output, based on display data, gradation signals to source lines of display panel regions. The display device is arranged to be able to suppress the variation in output voltage between display drivers while minimizing the increases in chip area of the display drivers and in wiring area of a display panel and keeping high noise resistance. Each display driver can generate gray scale reference voltages for producing gradation signals corresponding to display data. The first display driver can sequentially transmit gray scale reference voltages generated by itself to the second display driver. Based on the transmitted gray scale reference voltages, the second display driver makes the first display driver execute calibration for decreasing the absolute value of difference between gray scale reference voltages generated by the first and second display drivers, or executes the calibration by itself.
US09601040B2 Flat-stock aerial vehicles and methods of use
A flat-stock aerial vehicle includes a body having a plurality of flat-stock sheets connected to one another, at least one motor, and at least three aerodynamic propulsors driven by the at least one motor. The aerodynamic propulsors can provide lifting thrust, pitch, yaw, and roll control in both helicopter-like hover flight and airplane-like translational flight.
US09601035B2 Reconfigurable label assembly
A reconfigurable label assembly including a container capable of storing or holding a liquid and a front panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, and side panels configured primarily as a label and secondarily as a receptacle capable of holding the liquid separate from the container is presented. The bottom and side panels are disposed between and substantially parallel to the front panel and back panels in a first configuration to form a label attached to and separable from the container. The front and back panels are separable and the bottom and side panels are expandable to form a receptacle in a second configuration after the label is separated from the container. The back panel includes a fold. The side and back panels are disposed between and substantially parallel to the front panel and bottom panel in a first configuration to form a label. The front and bottom panels are separable and the side and back panels are expandable to form a receptacle in a second configuration. The side panels may include additional folds facilitating transformation from a label to a receptacle and from a receptacle to a label.
US09601031B1 Medical attachment device position detection system and method of use thereof
A medical attachment device position detection system for use during medical training including a processor and a medical attachment device communicatively coupled to the processor, a first magnetometer coupled to the medical attachment device and configured to detect a first angle, and a second magnetometer configured to detect a second angle. The second magnetometer is communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is operably configured to compare a relationship of the first angle relative to the second angle to determine a position of the medical attachment device relative to a subject.
US09601028B2 Musical instrument training device and method
A musical instrument training device has a sensor array cooperating with a remote device and an electronic controller to assist as a guide for finger placement on the strings of the instrument, and to provide feedback on proper finger use and placement, the sensor being removably mountable on an instrument neck.
US09601027B2 Online system for training novice drivers and rating insurance products
a system for determining vehicle driver hazard detection proficiency and calculating insurance discounts, the system comprising: an Internet device that presents to an Internet user a visual presentation of a continuous drive through a driving environment comprising at least two hazard modules, wherein each hazard module presents to the Internet user at least one driving scenario that comprises at least one hazard; an Internet device that records user viewing locations within the visual presentation, the user viewing locations corresponding to locations within the visual presentation that are viewed by the user during the visual presentation of the continuous drive; a computer analytics device comprising an algorithm that compares the recorded user viewing locations with defined locations of hazards within the visual presentation of the continuous drive, and determines a hazard detection proficiency of the user based at least on the comparison; a computer memory device comprising at least one minimum hazard detection proficiency criteria corresponding to an insurance discount; and a computer analytics device that compares the determined hazard detection proficiency of the user with the minimum hazard detection proficiency criteria and determines whether to award the insurance discount to the user.
US09601024B2 Online proctoring process for distance-based testing
A system for enabling real time live proctoring of an exam across a distributed network includes a first remote computer. The first remote computer is capable of real time audio visual capture and display of an image of a user of the first remote computer. A second remote computer is capable of real time audio visual capture and display of an image of the user of the second remote computer. A server is in communication with the first remote computer and the second remote computer, and provides an interactive web based scheduling portal accessible from the first remote computer and the second remote computer. A database is associated with the server for storing data regarding the rules for proctoring of an exam including the rate at which an exam may be proctored at a given date and time. The server enables access to a virtual exam room by the first remote computer and the second remote computer in response to a request from the first remote computer through the scheduling portal for a date and time to take an exam administered at the first computer when the requested date and time fulfils the rules stored in the database.
US09601023B2 Flight control for flight-restricted regions
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for providing flight response to flight-restricted regions. The location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be compared with a location of a flight-restricted region. If needed a flight-response measure may be taken by the UAV to prevent the UAV from flying in a no-fly zone. Different flight-response measures may be taken based on the distance between the UAV and the flight-restricted region and the rules of a jurisdiction within which the UAV falls.
US09601021B2 Retrospective analysis of vehicle operations
Method and apparatus for generating and outputting dynamic variance reports for vehicle operations. The dynamic variance reports enable a vehicle operations scheduler to understand trends, patterns, or the like in variances between planned vehicle operations and actual vehicle operations. The understanding of the variances provided by the dynamic variance reports enable the scheduler to apply buffers to vehicle operations plans so that planned vehicle operations more closely match actual vehicle operations and crew assignments are less likely to be disrupted.
US09601019B2 Cleaning robot and method for controlling the same
A cleaning robot includes a non-circular main body, a moving assembly mounted on a bottom surface of the main body to perform forward movement, backward movement and rotation of the main body, a cleaning tool assembly mounted on the bottom surface of the main body to clean a floor, a detector to detect an obstacle around the main body, and a controller to determine whether an obstacle is present in a forward direction of the main body based on a detection signal of the detector, control the rotation of the main body to determine whether the main body rotates by a predetermined angle or more upon determining that the obstacle is present in the forward direction, and determine that the main body is in a stuck state to control the backward movement of the main body if the main body rotates by the predetermined angle or less.
US09601018B2 Distributed parking space detection, characterization, advertisement, and enforcement
A mechanism is provided for parking space management of a managed parking structure. Information is received from a vehicle that has parked in the managed parking structure. The information from the vehicle is utilized to determine a probabilistic location of the vehicle within the managed parking structure. Responsive to determining the probabilistic location of the vehicle within the managed parking structure using the information from the vehicle, an occupied parking space evidence data structure is updated with a vehicle identifier of the vehicle as being associated with the location of the vehicle within the managed parking structure.
US09601017B2 Reckless-vehicle reporting apparatus, reckless-vehicle reporting program product, and reckless-vehicle reporting method
A reckless-vehicle determination section of a vehicle determines whether a reckless driving operation takes place in each of different vehicles based on determination information from each of the different vehicles. A target different vehicle in which a reckless driving operation is determined to take place is displayed on a display in a display mode that is different from that for any different vehicle in which a reckless driving operation is not determined to take place.
US09601015B2 Maintenance decision support system and method for vehicular and roadside applications
A method and system are provided in which maintenance vehicles collect information from sensors and operators, forward the collected information to a server, and, in response, receive maps and operator instructions.
US09601010B2 Assessment device, assessment system, assessment method, and computer-readable storage medium
An assessment device (1) includes: a request acquirer (11) that accepts an evaluation target from a user terminal (7); a model acquirer (13) and a data acquirer (14) that select a main model for evaluating the evaluation target accepted by the request acquirer (11) from a plurality of models and select supplemental data to be supplemented for using the main model (data to be input into the main model, a sub-model, or data to be input into the sub-model) when the data to be input into the main model is insufficient; an executor (15) that evaluates the evaluation target based on the main model and supplemental data selected by the model acquirer (13) and the data acquirer (14); and a transmitter (16) that provides a result of the evaluation by the executor (15) to the outside.
US09601006B2 Universal remote control with automatic state synchronization
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for synchronizing a state change at a universal remote control. An embodiment operates by sending a state change of the universal remote control to a remote-controlled device. The universal remote control then receives a confirmation message from the remote-controlled device. The universal remote control then updates a state configuration for the remote-controlled device in the universal remote control based on the sent state change. Because the universal remote control exchanges state change information with the remote-controlled device, the universal remote control does not become out of synchronization with the remote-controlled device which minimizes synchronization time and reduces user experience frustration.
US09601000B1 Data-driven alert prioritization
A technique provides alert prioritization. The technique involves selecting attributes to use as alert scoring factors. The technique further involves updating, for an incoming alert having particular attribute values for the selected attributes, count data to represent encounter of the incoming alert from perspectives of the selected attributes. The technique further involves generating an overall significance score for the incoming alert based on the updated count data. The overall significance score is a measure of alert significance relative to other alerts. Scored alerts then can be sorted so that investigators focus on the alerts with the highest significance scores. Such a technique is well suited for adaptive authentication (AA) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems among other alert-based systems such as churn analysis systems, malfunction detection systems, and the like.
US09600998B2 System, apparatus, and method for sensing gas
According to another exemplary embodiment, a method of cutting power from a source when sensing gas may be provided. The method of cutting a power from a source when sensing gas may include obtaining a gas sensing apparatus, which may a housing, at least one power relay rigidly connected to the inside of the housing, at least one sensor connected to the power relay, at least one alarm connected to the at least one sensor, at least one port power wire outlet connected to the power relay, at least one power socket connected to the power relay, a power transformer connected to the power relay, and a power inlet connected to the power transformer, connecting the gas sensing apparatus to a power supply, connecting an electrical device to the gas sensing apparatus, sensing gas by the sensor, creating a voltage that stops power flow to the at least one outlet, and applying a voltage to the at least one port power wire outlet.
US09600993B2 Method and system for behavior detection
Described herein are systems and methods for automatically detecting a behavior of a monitored individual, for example, that the individual has fallen. In certain embodiments, a system is presented that includes one energy sensor (e.g., a camera of a mobile electronic device) configured to capture reflected energy (e.g., light) within a field-of view; an optional lens to modify the distance or angular range of the field-of-view; and an optional image obfuscator to blur or distort the images received by the energy sensor, thereby preserving privacy. Techniques are described for determining spatial measurements and body measurements from the images and using these measurements to identify a behavior of the monitored individual, for example, a fall.
US09600991B2 System and method for measuring physiological parameters
A method for measuring a physiological parameter is disclosed. The method includes providing an electronic device having a radio reader transmitting and receiving a radio signal; providing a physiological parameter measurement device configured with an energy storage module, a transmission module and a strip port for receiving a strip; energy storage in the physiological parameter measurement device in response to a radio energy storage signal transmitted from the electronic device until it reaches a sufficient energy status; and applying a sensing voltage to the strip via the strip port, receiving a sensing signal from the strip, and converting the sensing signal into a physiological parameter measurement signal by the physiological parameter measurement device under the sufficient energy status.
US09600990B2 System and methods for generating predictive combinations of hospital monitor alarms
Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring data associated with a plurality of physiological characteristics of a patient, comprising: the methods include generating a set of super-alarm patterns associated with the plurality of physiological conditions, wherein the super-alarm patterns comprising data relating to a combination of at least two individual raw alarms from independent physiological data streams that co-occur within a temporal window, and triggering an alarm if a combination of the input physiological data matches at least a portion of a generated super-alarm pattern.
US09600985B1 Wearable computing system with temporal feedback during presentations
Aspects include a system for providing feedback to a user with a wearable device. The system including a wearable device and a feedback mechanism disposed within the wearable device. The feedback mechanism configured to vibrate the wearable device. A memory is provided having computer readable instructions. One or more processors are provided for executing the computer readable instructions, the one or more processors being coupled to communicate with the feedback mechanism. The computer readable instructions include defining at least one prompt point that is associated with a first time parameter. The instructions further include determining when the current time is equal to the first time parameter. The instructions provide for actuating the feedback mechanism in response to the current time being equal to the first time period.
US09600982B2 Methods and arrangements for identifying objects
In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modeled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09600980B2 Electronic gaming machine and gaming method
An electronic gaming machine comprises a display for displaying game symbols for playing a first game of chance, and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of the game symbols on the display. In response to a trigger event in the first game, a second game of chance is displayed, where the appearance of one or more special symbols causes the award of one or more tokens associated with one or more token values. At the end of the second game, an accumulated token value is determined and if it is equal to a predetermined number, a plurality of third games of chance is displayed and is selectable by the player. The third games displayed depend on the accumulated token value. A gaming method is also provided.
US09600977B2 Method and apparatus for electronic gaming
A system and method for providing a card game is provided. Players are provided an option to enter one or more tournaments (for real monies or play monies). In an embodiment, a tournament lasts for a predetermined number of hands for a predetermined duration. As an example, a tournament duration may be defined by the number of players who bust out or complete a requisite number of hands by a predetermined date and time, or is defined by a specified number of players who bust out or complete the requisite number of hands. A tournament payout pool is determined based on the number of players who busted out or played in the tournament for a predetermined number of hands and duration.
US09600976B2 Adaptive mobile device gaming system
Embodiments disclosed herein concern mobile gaming environments. Portable electronic devices can be supported by the mobile gaming environments. The locations of the portable electronic device can influence how the portable electronic devices operate or what services or features are available to the portable electronic device or their users. According to one embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern gaming/betting opportunities that can be secured using a portable electronic device even when an individual is located in a location where betting or games of chance are not permitted. According to another embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern an application program operating on a portable electronic device that supports multiple modes of operation depending upon whether the portable electronic device is in a location where betting or games of chance are permitted.
US09600972B2 Game system, game server therefor, control method for game server, and computer readable recording medium
A first game system includes plural terminal devices at which a game can be played by a player; and a game server configured to communicate with the terminal devices. The first game server stores game data corresponding to the game in a database, and updates game data stored in the database in accordance with the progress of a game that is played at one of the terminal devices, followed by again updating the game data in accordance with the progress of the game that is played at another of the terminal devices.
US09600970B2 Electronic gaming machine and gaming method
An electronic gaming machine includes a display for displaying a game including game symbols arranged into an array of predetermined game positions. An electronic game controller designates at least one of the predetermined game positions as a special game position in the array such that a special symbol appearing in the special game position in a play of the game causes the electronic game controller to award a game enhancing element to the player. The special game position is visually indicated on the array to the player during the play by a graphical element associated with the special game position. A gaming method is also provided.
US09600966B2 Systems and methods for tracking of non-wagering account associated with gaming environment
Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a stored value account. The stored value account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a stored value payment vehicle. Information associated with transactions using the stored value payment vehicle can be used for player relationship purposes.
US09600959B2 System for managing promotions
In various embodiments, promotions are featured on mobile gaming devices.
US09600958B2 Gaming, system, method and device including a symbol changing or augmenting feature
Gaming systems, devices and methods are set forth which provide for the selection and application of modifiers to game outcomes. The modifiers confer different functionalities to base game symbols or an augmenting functionality to alter or provide an outcome. Different sets of modifiers may be accessed randomly or under different conditions and events.
US09600956B2 Wagering gaming device having simulated control of movement of game functional elements
A wagering gaming device that enables a player to affect the movement of a functional element of a game by use of a user input device. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled wagering gaming device that receives input from a user input device. The user manipulates the input device in the manner in which he wishes the functional element or to move. The processor receives the information from the input device and calculates parameters. The processor moves the functional element. This sequence or feature may be employed in a primary game, bonus game or in any stand alone game.
US09600950B2 Communication system and method
A vehicle system includes a vehicle communication module in the vehicle, a remote start system in the vehicle, and a vehicle processor. The vehicle processor is configured to determine if the vehicle is in a garage, and further configured to receive an indication of a remote start request from the remote start system, receive a garage door status from a garage door opener using the vehicle communication module, and determine, based on the received garage door status, if a garage door is closed. In response to determining that the garage door is closed, the vehicle systems transmits a remote command to the garage door opener formatted to cause the garage door opener to open the garage door.
US09600945B2 Lifestyle multimedia security system
A method is disclosed for remote monitoring of a premises, comprising the steps of operatively coupling a geographically remote client to a security system server which is capable of authenticating a user of the remote client, operatively coupling the remote client to a security gateway which is capable of managing the monitoring of the premises, activating a signal at the premises for notifying an occupant at the premises that remote monitoring is occurring, and transferring information between the security gateway and the remote client. The transfer of information between the security gateway and the remote client is controlled by the user of the remote client. The security gateway may be operably coupled to at least one camera at the premises and to at least one audio station at the premises.
US09600941B2 Method and arrangement for transporting cuboidal items
An image, which can be analyzed by a computer and shows at least one face of an item, is generated for an item that is to be transported at a predefined time. By automatic analysis of the image, the arrangement determines, for at least one of a plurality of predetermined optically detectable features, the value of the feature for the image of the item. The identification feature value vector generated is automatically compared with stored registration feature value vectors. A record for a particular item contains six registration feature value vectors and each of the six registration feature value vectors specifies a value for each predefined optically detectable feature for each one of six faces of the item. When the identification feature value vector matches a stored registration feature value vector with sufficient accuracy, a message is generated.
US09600939B1 Augmented reality platform using captured footage from multiple angles
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for augmenting visual information to simulate an appearance of an object and/or a person at an adjustable position and angle. The visual information may be captured by an image sensor. The object and/or the person may have been captured at multiple angles. A user may select at which particular position and angle the appearance will be superimposed and/or otherwise combined with the visual information.
US09600937B1 Camera arrangements with backlighting detection and methods of using same
A method of providing an image to be displayed includes providing captured scene data representing one or more images of a real scene and providing illumination data representing real illumination impinging on the real scene, providing a virtual reality image of a theoretical object by modeling said theoretical object using said illumination data to define illumination impinging on the theoretical object, and providing a combined image including elements of the real scene based on said captured scene data and including said virtual reality image.
US09600935B2 Interactivity with a mixed reality
Methods of interacting with a mixed reality are presented. A mobile device captures an image of a real-world object where the image has content information that can be used to control a mixed reality object through an offered command set. The mixed reality object can be real, virtual, or a mixture of both real and virtual.
US09600933B2 Mobile augmented reality system
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, apparatuses and methods to provide image data, augmented with related data, to be displayed on a mobile computing device. Embodiments of the invention display a live view augmented with information identifying an object amongst other objects. Embodiments of the invention may utilize other related data, such as 3D point cloud data, image data and location data related to the object, to obtain a specific location of an object within the live view. Embodiments of the invention may further display a live view with augmented data three-dimensionally consistent with the position and orientation of the image sensor of the mobile computing device.
US09600932B2 Three dimensional navigation among photos
An exemplary method for navigating among photos includes determining, using one or more computing devices, visual characteristics of a person depicted in a first image associated with a first location. These visual characteristics of the person are detected in a second image associated with a second location. Using the one or more computing devices, a series of intermediate images are identified based on the first location and the second location. Each intermediate image is associated with a location. The series of intermediate images and the second image are provided. Images of an intermediate destination from the series of intermediate images are selected based on a density of images at the intermediate destination. A 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination is then generated based on the selected images. Thereafter, a visual presentation of images traversing through the 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination to the second image is prepared for display.
US09600930B2 Method and apparatus for optimized presentation of complex maps
Methods and devices are described for optimizing display of information such as map data on a mobile device. Certain embodiments may include receiving, at a mobile device, a first and second set of placement data associated with a first and second object. The mobile device may then determine overlap between a representation of the first object and the second object in a rendering of an image comprising the representation of the first object and the second object, using a set of viewing parameters, the first set of placement data and the second set of placement data. The set of viewing parameters may be adjusted to reduce overlap between the representation of the first object and the second object in the rendering of the image. In additional embodiments, 3D enhancements to two-dimensional map objects may be added to enhance the presentation of the information.
US09600929B1 System, computer-readable medium and method for 3D-differencing of 3D voxel models
System, computer-readable medium and method are provided for differencing (diffing) first and second sets of 3D voxel data to identify differences that may exist between the two sets. The system includes a 64-bit processor, a memory, and a display. The memory is loaded with the two sets of 3D voxel data arranged in a 64-tree data structure, wherein an occupied or empty state of each voxel is indicated by 1 bit. The processor executes a 3D voxel diffing algorithm including steps of: (i) aligning the first and second sets of 3D voxel data; (ii) making a one-to-one comparison between each voxel in the first set and a corresponding voxel in the second set to create a diff model that records differences found between the first and second sets; and (iii) displaying the content of the diff model on the display.
US09600928B2 Method and device for automatically identifying a point of interest on the surface of an anomaly
A method and device for automatically identifying a point of interest (e.g., the deepest or highest point) on the surface of an anomaly on a viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device obtains and displays an image of the surface of the viewed object. A reference surface is determined along with a region of interest that includes a plurality of points on the surface of the anomaly. The video inspection device determines a depth or height for each of the plurality of points on the surface of the anomaly in the region of interest. The point on the surface of the anomaly (e.g., having the greatest depth or height) is identified as the point of interest. A profile of the object surface at the point of interest is then determined.
US09600923B2 Scale-independent maps
Various implementations provide a resolution-specific attribute for a resolution-invariant region. Several implementations provide an SCM-based disparity value for scale-invariant cells. Particular implementations provide a signal or structure that includes such an attribute. Yet further implementations access such an attribute, and process the attribute. One particular implementation accesses an attribute for a region of a picture. The region is coextensive with a first integer number of pixels in a particular resolution, and with a second integer number of pixels in a second resolution. The attribute is specific to the region and to a combination resolution determined as a combination of the particular resolution and the second resolution. The attribute is converted to provide an attribute specific to the particular resolution. The converted attribute is associated with the first integer number of pixels. Other implementations use the converted attribute in post-processing operations, such as, for example, subtitle placement using disparity information.
US09600922B2 System, apparatus, and method for image processing and medical image diagnosis apparatus
In an image processing apparatus, an extracting unit extracts mutually the same region of interest from each of a plurality of pieces of three-dimensional image data corresponding to mutually-different time phases. Further, a position determining unit determines, on the basis of feature points included in the pieces of three-dimensional image data, a position used for superimposing together the regions of interest extracted by the extracting unit from the pieces of three-dimensional image data, in substantially the same position of a subject. After that, a display controlling unit changes a display format of each of the regions of interest extracted by the extracting unit from the pieces of three-dimensional image data so as to be mutually different and causes a superimposed image to be displayed by superimposing the regions of interest together in the position determined by the position determining unit.
US09600921B2 Interactive design system for character crafting
There are provided an interactive design system and method for character crafting. An example system includes a memory storing a machine software application and a processor configured to execute the machine software application to receive a plurality of components for a character, the plurality of components including at least a first component and a second component, receive a movement for the character, the movement including a first pose for the character and a second pose for the character, calculate a linkage for the first component and the second component based on the movement, and generate an updated character by connecting the second component to the first component using the linkage. The linkage may include at least one of a connector, a trimmer, and a propagation mechanism.
US09600913B2 Iterative CT image reconstruction of a ROI with objects outside the scan FoV
An image reconstruction apparatus and related method. The amount of out-field-of view material for a CT scanner (IMA) with a given field of view (FoV) in a bore (B) is established. Based on the measurement, a hybrid-image reconstructor (RECONX) is configured to switch between different reconstruction algorithms.
US09600910B2 Attenuation map reconstruction from TOF PET data
Advantageous methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided. An attenuation map for an image can be reconstructed with no known sub-region of the attenuation map prior to performing the method. Gradient data of an attenuation sinogram can be estimated, and an algorithm can be performed to reconstruct the attenuation map from the estimated gradient data of the attenuation sinogram.
US09600905B2 Color-scheme determination device, color-scheme determination method, and color-scheme determination program
An input unit receives designation of an evaluation target screen by a user. A color-scheme information acquisition unit acquires color-scheme information. An attractiveness calculation unit calculates an attractiveness by using the color-scheme information. An importance degree storage unit holds importance degree information representing a relative degree of importance of each of the used colors and corresponding to information for which each of the used colors is used. A color-scheme appropriateness judgment unit calculates ordinal rank of the importance degree information associated with each of the used colors, calculates ordinal rank of the attractiveness associated with each of the used colors, and outputs a judgment result indicating whether or not the ordinal rank of the importance degree information associated with each of the used colors coincides with the ordinal rank of the attractiveness associated with the used color. An output unit displays the judgment result.
US09600903B2 Medical image processing device and method for operating the same
RGB image signals are inputted. B/G ratio is calculated based on B image signal and G image signal. G/R ratio is calculated based on the G image signal and R image signal. In a feature space formed by the B/G ratio and the G/R ratio, a third process for increasing a difference in saturation between coordinates in a first observation area and coordinates in a second observation area is performed. In the first observation area, coordinates corresponding to a portion infected with H. pylori are distributed. In the second observation area, coordinates corresponding to a portion in which eradication of the H. pylori infection has been successful are distributed.
US09600901B2 Video tracker having digital signal processor
Various embodiments include solutions for analyzing three-dimensional video data. Various embodiments include a system having: at least one sensor for detecting at least one of object occlusion or drift in visual data; and a digital signal processor coupled with the at least one sensor, the digital signal processor having at least one database (DB) including target template sets for analyzing both object occlusion in visual data and drift in visual data, wherein the digital signal processor is configured to switch between one of the target template sets and a distinct target template set in the at least one DB based upon detection of the at least one of object occlusion or drift in the visual data.
US09600897B2 Trajectory features and distance metrics for hierarchical video segmentation
A method to perform hiearchical video segmentation includes: defining voxels over a spatio-temporal video; grouping into segments contiguous voxels that display similar characteristics including similar appearance or motion; determining a trajectory-based feature that complements color and optical flow cues, wherein trajectory cues are probabilistically meaningful histograms combinable for use in a graph-based framework; and applying a max-margin module for cue combination that learns a supervised distance metric for region dissimilarity that combines color, flow and trajectory features.
US09600896B1 Method and system for segmenting pedestrian flows in videos
A method and system determines flows by first acquiring a video of the flows with a camera, wherein the flows are pedestrians in a scene, wherein the video includes a set of frames. Motion vectors are extracted from each frame in the set, and a data matrix is constructed from the motion vectors in the set of frames. A low rank Koopman operator is determined from the data matrix and a spectrum of the low rank Koopman operator is analyzed to determine a set of Koopman modes. Then, the frames are segmented into independent flows according to a clustering of the Koopman modes.
US09600895B2 System and method for three-dimensional nerve segmentation using magnetic resonance imaging
Systems and methods for segmenting a nerve in a three-dimensional image volume obtained with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system are provided. A three-dimensional image volume that depicts a nerve and surrounding anatomical structures is provided and from that image volume the nerve is segmented. At least one control point is selected as a point in the image volume that is associated with the nerve. The three-dimensional volume corresponding to the nerve is then generated by propagating the three-dimensional volume outward from the selected at least one control point and through the image volume. The extracted three-dimensional volume corresponding to the nerve can be displayed while selectively displaying the surrounding anatomical structures.
US09600894B2 Image processing apparatus and computer-readable storage medium
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a dividing unit, a calculating unit, a determining unit, and an output unit. The dividing unit is configured to divide an image into a plurality of regions. The calculating unit is configured to calculate a standard deviation and an entropy per region divided by the dividing unit based on tone information of pixels comprising each region, and calculate a ratio between the standard deviation and the entropy. The determining unit is configured to determine a region in which the ratio exceeds a reference value. The output unit is configured to output information based on a determination result obtained by the determining unit.
US09600892B2 Non-parametric method of and system for estimating dimensions of objects of arbitrary shape
A non-parametric method of, and system for, dimensioning an object of arbitrary shape, captures a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud of data points over a field of view containing the object and a base surface on which the object is positioned, detects a base plane indicative of the base surface from the point cloud, extracts the data points of the object from the point cloud, processes the extracted data points of the object to obtain a convex hull, and fits a bounding box of minimum volume to enclose the convex hull. The bounding box has a pair of mutually orthogonal planar faces, and the fitting is performed by orienting one of the faces to be generally perpendicular to the base plane, and by simultaneously orienting the other of the faces to be generally parallel to the base plane.
US09600890B2 Image segmentation apparatus, medical image device and image segmentation method
The disclosure provides an image segmentation apparatus, an image segmentation method and a medical image device for segmenting an object having a tree-shaped tubular structure from a volume image consisting of a series of images photographed on the basis of slices. The image segmentation apparatus comprises: a self-adaptive region growing unit configured to perform region growing according to the volume image, based on a seed point and a preset threshold to obtain at least one part of the tree-shaped tubular structure; and a growing control unit configured to change the preset threshold to re-perform the region growing until a given condition is met.
US09600889B2 Method and apparatus for performing depth estimation
A method of performing depth estimation, the method comprising: estimating, at a higher spatial resolution of images, a global disparity map based on disparity between corresponding pixels of a stereo disparity map obtained from images forming a stereo image set associated with a passive depth estimation technique and an active depth map associated with an active depth estimation technique, wherein the disparity is estimated within a restricted range determined based on a disparity previously estimated between a stereo disparity map and an active depth map corresponding to a lower spatial resolution of the said images and map.
US09600887B2 Techniques for disparity estimation using camera arrays for high dynamic range imaging
Techniques for improved focusing of camera arrays are described. In one embodiment, a system may include a processor circuit, a camera array, and an imaging management module for execution on the processor circuit to capture an array of images from the camera array, the array of images comprising first and second images taken with first and second values of an exposure parameter, respectively, the first value different than the second value, to estimate a noise level, to normalize an intensity of each image based upon the noise level of the respective image, to produce a respective normalized image, to identify candidate disparities in each of the respective normalized images, to estimate a high dynamic range (HDR) image patch for each candidate disparity, and to compute an error from the HDR image patch and an objective function, to produce a disparity estimate. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09600886B2 Optical image measuring apparatus
An optical image measuring apparatus including an optical system, image forming part, controller, and composite-cross-sectional-image forming part. The optical system includes a scanner changing an irradiation position of signal light on an object and a focus position changing part changing a focus position of the signal light. The optical system detects interference light of returned light of the respective signal light from the object and reference light. The image forming part forms a cross-sectional image based on detection results of plural interference light corresponding to plural irradiation positions of the signal light. The controller controls the optical system to irradiate the signal light onto the plural irradiation positions repeatedly while changing focus position. The composite-cross-sectional-image forming part forms one composite cross-sectional image based on two or more of the cross-sectional images based on results of repetitive irradiation of the signal light.
US09600884B2 Object shape aligning apparatus, object processing apparatus and methods thereof
An apparatus includes a unit configured to acquire an object shape regression model, which comprises an average object shape, a plurality of regression functions and a plurality of feature selection maps; a unit configured to set an initial object shape for the object image based on the average object shape; a unit configured to calculate at least one feature vector with respect to a plurality of feature points; a unit configured, for each coordinate of the plurality of feature points, to select feature fragments from the calculated feature vector based on a corresponding one of the plurality of feature selection maps and assemble the feature fragments into a sub feature vector; and a unit configured, for at least one coordinate of at least one feature point, to predict a coordinate increment based on the corresponding sub feature vector and a corresponding one of the plurality of regression functions.
US09600878B2 Reading test strip with reaction area, color calibration area, and temperature calibration area
A method is provided for a computing device with an imaging device to read a specimen test strip. The method includes capturing an image of the specimen test strip, wherein the image includes a reaction area, a color calibration area, and a temperature calibration area on the specimen test strip, determining a color of the reaction area based on one or more colors of the color calibration area, and determining a value of a characteristic of an analyte by correlating the color of the reaction area to the value and then adjusting the value based on the color of the temperature calibration area, or adjusting the color of the reaction area based on the color of the temperature calibration area and then correlating the color of the reaction area to the value.
US09600875B2 Tissue surface roughness quantification based on image data and determination of a presence of disease based thereon
Described herein is an approach to identify a presence (or absence) of a tissue disease based on a quantification of a roughness of a surface of the tissue represented in imaging data. The approach includes an image data processor (120) with a surface roughness quantifier (206) that generates a metric that quantifies a roughness of a surface of a tissue of interest in 3D image data based on a surface model adapted to the tissue of interest in the 3D image data and a decision component (208) that generates a value signal indicating a presence or an absence of disease in the tissue of interest based on the metric.
US09600874B2 Method for evaluating culture quality
A culture quality evaluation method comprises: a first step of culturing a pluripotent stem cell under a predetermined culture condition and creating a sample; a second step of imaging a proliferated cell colony in the sample and accordingly capturing an original image; a third step of dividing the original image into smaller images of a predetermined size and calculating standard deviations of pixel values of pixels of the smaller images; and a fourth step of judging whether the sample is an acceptable sample based upon a ratio of a number of the smaller images whose values of the standard deviations are within a predetermined range to a total number of the smaller images.
US09600872B2 System and method for detecting and documenting straw quality
A system and a method for detecting and documenting the quality of straw, having the following steps: recording an image of a straw swath with a camera, generating a signal regarding the quality of the straw by means of an image-processing system based on parameters derived from the image of the camera, and storing and/or displaying the signal of the image processing system and/or controlling an actuator based on the signal of the image processing system.
US09600867B2 Image processing apparatus and method for filtering an image
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for filtering an image. Said apparatus comprises an image input (3) for obtaining a first and a second image of the same object, the first and second images comprising a plurality of voxels and being interrelated by a noise covariance, each voxel having a voxel value including a signal value and a noise value. A joint bilateral filter (3) is provided for filtering the first image, wherein a first voxel of the first image is filtered by a filter function including a relative voxel-specific weight, said weight including a likelihood of obtaining the voxel values of said first voxel and a second voxel in the first image and of a first voxel and a second voxel in the second image, assuming that the signal value of said first voxel of the first image is identical to the signal value of a second voxel of the first image and that the signal value of the first voxel of the second image is identical to the signal value of a second voxel of the second image. Said filtered image is provided at an image output (4).
US09600866B2 Projection data de-noising
This application describes an approach to filter, solely in the projection domain, correlated noise from (or de-noise) spectral/multi-energy projection data. As described herein, this can be achieved based at least on variances of the basis material line integrals and a covariance there between, based on multiple correlation coefficients and hyper-planes that describe the noise correlation between different basis material line integrals, and/or otherwise.
US09600864B2 Skin tone tuned image enhancement
Techniques related to skin tone tuned image enhancement are described. Such techniques may include performing an enhancement of a pixel of an input image based on a skin tone detection score and local detail information of the pixel.
US09600863B2 Method for combining images
A method for combining images includes capturing a first image including a subject from a first camera. A second image is captured from a second camera and the second image includes the subject. First pre-processing functions are applied on the first image to produce a first processed image. The first pre-processing functions include applying a distortion component of a rotation matrix to the first image. The rotation matrix defines a corrected relationship between the first and the second image. Second pre-processing functions are applied on the second image to produces a second processed image. The second pre-processing functions include applying the rotation matrix to the second image. The first processed image and the second processed image are blended in a processing unit to form a composite image.
US09600858B1 Visually comfortable content-adaptive dithering for super-resolution
A method of producing a high resolution image includes generating high resolution image data for a high resolution image using a processor, wherein the high resolution image has a resolution higher than a resolution of an original image, determining image content of the high resolution image data, and selectively adding dither noise to the high resolution image data based upon the image content of the high resolution image data to produce final image data.
US09600855B2 View projection
A first derived matrix of transport coefficients and a second derived matrix of transport coefficients are derived from a primary matrix of transport coefficients. Each of the transport coefficients describes transport of a respective image forming element from a first position onto one or more image forming elements at a second position. An approximate inverse of the first derived matrix is ascertained. A modified version of a projection image is determined from the projection image, the approximated inverse of the first derived matrix, and the second derived matrix. The modified version of the projection image is rendered from the first position onto a physical medium at the second position.
US09600852B2 Hierarchical hash tables for SIMT processing and a method of establishing hierarchical hash tables
A graphical processing unit having an implementation of a hierarchical hash table thereon, a method of establishing a hierarchical hash table in a graphics processing unit and GPU computing system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the graphics processing unit includes: (1) a plurality of parallel processors, wherein each of the plurality of parallel processors includes parallel processing cores, a shared memory coupled to each of the parallel processing cores, and registers, wherein each one of the registers is uniquely associated with one of the parallel processing cores and (2) a controller configured to employ at least one of the registers to establish a hierarchical hash table for a key-value pair of a thread processing on one of the parallel processing cores.
US09600850B2 Controlled substance authorization system and method for ingestible product preparation system and method
A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically using the electronically received directive information to electronically direct control of the at least partial preparation of the ingestible product designated to be ingested by the particular individual living being upon electronically verifying, thru electronic use of the directive information that the authority is authorized to issue the controlled substance instruction and that the controlled substance instruction has been issued by the authority. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US09600848B2 Method for a centralized obituary service
A centralized obituary service that effectively and efficiently distributes death notices, obituaries, to the general public. The service utilizes a user location for a user account in order to display obituaries from a plurality of obituaries to the user account. More specifically, the user location is compared to biographical information of each of the obituaries in order to identify location-related obituaries. Said location-related obituaries are then displayed with a user personal computing (PC) device. Next, the service prompts the user account to enter a search query request through the user PC device, wherein the search query request includes a set of biographical criteria. A set of biographically matching obituaries are then identified by a remote server. The biographical information for each within the set of biographically matching obituaries meets at least one of the biographical criteria. Finally, the set of biographically-matching obituaries is displayed by the user PC device.
US09600847B2 Method and system for managing and monitoring fuel transactions
Fueling transactions (and other types of transactions) may be verified for legitimacy and validity by recording audio, video and/or images of the transaction as it occurs. The recordings may then be indexed according to one or more transaction parameters such as a driver identifier, a vehicle or transportation unit identifier, an invoice number, a fueling station and the like. A carrier associated with a driver and/or vehicle or other transportation unit may specify which transactions are to be recorded. Accordingly, the fueling station may automatically determine whether to record a transaction upon receiving a transaction initiation request. Transaction recordings may be made based on transaction recordation parameters defined by a carrier and stored and indexed based on transaction storing parameters.
US09600842B2 RDX enhancement of system and method for implementing reusable data markup language (RDL)
Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention allow users to efficiently manipulate, analyze, and transmit eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) reports. They allow users to automatically build financial reports that are acceptable to governing agencies such as the IRS. In one embodiment, the reports are developed by a parser that transforms text documents into software elements containing a format with a hierarchal relationship between the software elements, and an editor that develops reports by referencing the software elements transformed from the text documents. Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention also enable reports to be automatically scheduled by gathering desired information from an accounting system, formatting the information into an XBRL document, and transmitting it to an end source. Furthermore, systems and methods in accordance with the present invention allow a user to translate an XBRL document into RDL format and use the RDL system to manipulate and analyze it.
US09600837B2 Anti-crimes online transaction system
Anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and other anti-crimes measures are enforced in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the USA PATRIOT Act in the USA or equivalent laws in other countries, and crimes in financial transaction activities such as online banking, trading, money services, shopping, payment, etc. are reduced. Embedded identification information is read from a machine-readable official government issued identification document such as a passport, driver's license, etc., and such information is sent to a financial institution for approval and for anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and other anti-crimes purposes.
US09600836B2 Comparison shop ad units
Merchants create ecommerce-enabled ad units advertising items offered by the merchants. The ad units contain functionality enabling customers to purchase the items by interacting with the ad units. The ad units have associated bid prices that the merchants agree to pay for sales through the ad units. The merchants provide the ad units to a broker. The broker publishes the ad units on web pages provided by publishers as comparison shop ad units that contain multiple ad units and functionality for navigating among them. A customer receiving a web page interacts with an ad unit to purchase the item. During the interactions, the broker dynamically updates the ad unit to conduct the transaction.
US09600835B1 Pay-per click information system and method
A pay-per-click system and method for presenting pay-per-click information are disclosed. In one of many possible embodiments, information is provided remotely from a remote subsystem to an access device. The information includes hidden information and at least one link to the hidden information. The access device presents the link for consideration by a user of the access device. The hidden information is kept hidden by the access device until the user selects the link. The access device reveals the hidden information in response to the user selecting the link. The access device is able to reveal the hidden information by relying on information stored directly on the access device and without obtaining additional information from the remote subsystem or from another remote location.
US09600834B2 Aggregating data from multiple devices belonging to one user for directed ad targeting
Targeting advertisements to a user on multiple devices includes: selecting an access point; maintaining an internet access log to track web activity across multiple devices within said access point; identifying the multiple devices involved in the web activity; distinguishing patterns of web activity for the multiple devices to identify users of the devices; generating a user interest vector populated with user interests derived from the patterns of web activity; initializing a master log of user interest vectors for all users within the access point, wherein the master log maps the users with the multiple devices; and updating the master log.
US09600833B1 Duplicate keyword selection
A duplicate keyword selection engine facilitates identification and selection of duplicate keywords that are associated with advertisements and advertising campaigns. The selection engine selects duplicate keywords from one or more sets of duplicate keywords. The duplicate keywords can be selected based on selection criterion specified by the advertiser. The selection criterion for selecting duplicate keywords for inclusion in set of duplicate keywords can be a relative attribute value that a keyword must have relative to attribute values of other keywords in the set of duplicate keywords to which the keyword belongs. For example, the selection criterion can require a duplicate keyword to have a highest attribute value relative to attribute values of the other keywords in the set of duplicate keywords.
US09600832B2 Systems and methods for digital multimedia capture using haptic control, cloud voice changer, protecting digital multimedia privacy, and advertising and sell products or services via cloud gaming environments
Provided is a method for advertising and retailing products and services in cloud gaming environments. A game provider may configure its cloud gaming environment to display third party advertisement before, during, or after the game. The advertisement may be in the form of timeout screens, banners, gaming objects, prizes, and other forms associated with typical cloud gaming environments. Third party advertisers benefit from additional advertisement exposure in these cloud gaming environments, which tend to be dynamic and interactive, and target new audience. Advertisement interaction levels may be measure to determine effectiveness and, for example, to collect certain fees from advertisers. An interaction level of interaction may be determined based on a number of clicks on advertisement objects, duration of exposure to the advertisement, a number of players, and various other factors. Game providers may modify their cloud gaming environments to improve these interaction levels and, as a result, collect more.
US09600819B2 Systems and methods for risk based decisioning
A method and system for creating an assurance level based on authentication data attributes using a computer device coupled to a database are provided. The method includes receiving an authorization request associated with the financial transaction from the sender, the authorization request including a fraud risk assessment of the financial transaction determined by the sender using an authentication response received from the computer device by the sender, the authorization request including one or more reason codes associated with the sender fraud risk assessment. The method further includes transmitting the received authorization request to an issuer associated with the cardholder.
US09600817B2 Foreign exchange token
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for a system for providing a virtual value token. The system, method, and computer program product are configured to receive a request for a token associated with a virtual value; generate the token associated with the virtual value, wherein the virtual value is funded via a known currency; determine that a user is initiating a transaction using the token; determine a local currency for the transaction; convert, using a computing device processor, at least a portion of the virtual value into a converted amount in the local currency; and complete the transaction using the converted amount of the token. The virtual value may be based on a defined value, such as a known amount on a specific day, or a relative value, such as the current value of an underlying asset.
US09600813B2 Point of sale computer system delivering composited two- and three-dimensional images
A point of sale computer system that allows a customer to select and consummate a sale himself. The system may include graphics storage media configured to store two- and three-dimensional graphics data relating to the sale, as well as business rules storage media, configured to store business rules that specify the graphics that should be displayed during the selection and consummation process based on input received from the customer. The technology allows a presentation to be made to the customer that is entertaining and that maintains the attention of the customer throughout the sale selection and consummation process.
US09600810B2 License management for device management system
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer-implemented methods for managing access of device management systems in license management operations associated with purchase accounts of a bulk licensing system. An example method includes identifying a request for a license management operation associated with a purchase account of a bulk licensing system, wherein the request includes a licensing identity associated with the purchase account; in response to the identifying, determining that the license management operation is to be performed based on the licensing identity; and in response to the determining, performing the license management operation.
US09600809B2 Stacking purge-bin
Apparatus and methods for a stacking purge-bin (“SPB”) are provided. The SPB may be configured to rotate. The SPB may include a plurality of receiving sections. One or more tangible items retracted by the SSK may be stored in each receiving section. Rotating the SPB between each retraction may prevent tangible items from two consecutive retractions from being stored in a single receiving section. Preventing tangible items from two consecutive retractions from being stored in a single receiving section may allow each tangible item to be associated with transaction information corresponding to a retraction. The SPB may store separators. A separator may be inserted between tangible items received from two consecutive retractions. Separating between tangible items received from two consecutive retractions may allow each tangible item to be associated with transaction information corresponding to a retraction. Transaction information associated with a retraction may be marked on the separator.
US09600808B1 Secure payment card, method and system
A payment card system uses a static payment card identifying number and generates, for each attempted transaction, an authentication cryptogram based at least upon a seed value stored within the payment card and further based upon a temporal signal value that changes for each attempted use of the payment card. The authentication cryptogram may be alpha-numerically encoded, preferably using a radix-32 coding to provide 5-bits of information for each character or symbol, and may be communicated in a 26-character payment card account name field instead of communicating a payment account name in said payment card account name field, to thus convey up to 130-bits of information while maintaining compatibility with existing point-of-sale equipment and payment system infrastructure.
US09600807B2 Server-side modification of messages during a mobile terminal message exchange
A method, system, and computer program product for server-side modification of messages during a mobile terminal message exchange. Upon receiving a dialog message (e.g., an email message) from a first user device, the method determines the format (e.g., IMAP) of the dialog message in order to insert similarly-formatted additional content. Then, the method modifies the dialog message by inserting selected additional content into the dialog message. The method receives a request from a second user (at a mobile terminal) and the method transmits the outbound dialog message with the inserted additional content to the second user's mobile terminal. The second user's mobile terminal supports native applications for reviewing the additional content, and some modified dialog messages include personalized content, including personalization based on the dialog message from the first user device. The second user reviews the personalized content on the mobile terminal without having to explicitly launch a browser.
US09600805B2 Presenting information on a mobile communication device
Techniques for presenting information on a mobile communication device to an employee of an organization include receiving an indication to present information associated with an organization to an employee of the organization; in response to receiving the indication, determining a current geographic location of the employee; identifying a facility of a plurality of facilities associated with the organization based on the determined current geographic location of the employee; retrieving information associated with the identified facility from a local memory of the mobile communication device; and presenting the retrieved information to the employee.
US09600802B2 Method and apparatus for intelligence-oriented service using context information estimation in mobile terminal
A method and an apparatus for providing an intelligence-oriented service using context information estimation in a mobile terminal are provided. In the method, a correlation relation between a low level context variable and a high level context variable is registered. The low level context variable is obtained from at least one data stored in the mobile terminal. The high level context variable is generated using at least one low level context variable. The high level context variable is provided to an upper application.
US09600798B2 Automated materials handling facility
Disclosed are systems and methods for an automated materials handling facility. The automated materials handling facility uses a series of automated devices, such as automated guidance vehicles, mobile drive units, robotic arms, automated sorters, etc., to facilitate item receive, stow, pick, shipping and other aspects of materials handling. The automated devices are controlled by a materials handling control system that sends instructions to the various devices to coordinate operation of those devices and to coordinate flow of items through the materials handling system.
US09600795B2 Measuring process model performance and enforcing process performance policy
Common sub-process patterns in a plurality of deployed process models may be discovered, and performance measures associated with the sub-process patterns may be computed based on runtime events of the deployed process models. Positive or negative performance patterns among sub-process patterns may be identified and used for creating new process models or improving existing process models.
US09600794B2 Determining a quality score for internal quality analysis
An apparatus for assessing and controlling the quality of a project in a production environment is provided. The apparatus is configured to: receive a first score, wherein the first score comprises a first numerical value associated with a first level of quality, wherein the first level of quality is associated with a first deliverable; receive a second score, wherein the second score comprises a second numerical value associated with a second level of quality, wherein the second level of quality is associated with the first deliverable; and process the first score and the second score to generate a third score.
US09600792B2 Method and apparatus for generating an engineering workflow
Computer system configured to generate an engineering work-flow, said system comprising a first database which stores a library of engineering patterns and a second database which stores a library of engineering tool functions of an engineering tool, wherein a sequence of automatically concatenated workflow steps forming said engineering workflow is generated by mapping for each workflow step a selected engineering pattern to a selected tool function of said engineering tool.
US09600791B2 Managing a network system
Managing a network system includes determining metrics for a plurality of nodes in the network system, determining a plurality of zones including the plurality of nodes based on the metrics for the network system, and, for each zone of the plurality of zones, determining a computational architecture to be implemented for the zone based on the metrics for each node of the plurality of nodes in the zone.
US09600789B1 Forecasting and scheduling campaigns involving sending outbound communications that generate inbound communications
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for generating a roster template used in scheduling agent resources to conduct a campaign involving sending outbound communications using a first channel of communication to generate inbound communications using a second channel of communication. Specifically, a forecast is generated establishing a success rate for generating an inbound communication using the second channel of communication as a result of sending an outbound communication using the first channel of communication and an average response time to receive the inbound communication. Further, the forecast identifies a number of inbound communications predicted to be received for the campaign. From the forecast, a number of agent resources needed to handle the inbound communications is identified and a roster template is generated that comprises shifts identifying agent resources to schedule based on the number of agent resources needed to handle the inbound communications.
US09600787B2 Deferring authentication and resource loading while starting an enterprise system
Embodiments provide techniques for deferring authentication and resource loading through the use of a local web server. One embodiment includes, upon receiving a request for remote web application content, at a local web server, from a client application, transmitting placeholder content to the client application. A remote web server is selected to fulfill the received request. Embodiments further include, upon determining that the remote web server is available to fulfill the received request, redirecting the client application to an address for the remote web server corresponding to the requested remote web application content.
US09600784B2 Estimating value of information technology service management based on process complexity analysis
Techniques are disclosed for quantitatively estimating a value of a given process, such as an IT service management process. For example, a computer-implemented method for estimating a value based on a complexity analysis of a given process comprises a computer performing the following steps. A context for the given process is identified. A baseline for the given process is quantified. The process baseline comprises a key performance indicator and an underlying complexity measure. An improvement measure for the given process is determined. The improvement measure is achieved by at least one of a tooling deployment or a process transformation. A value derived for the given process is estimated based on the context identifying, baseline quantifying, and improvement determining steps.
US09600783B2 Evaluating total cost of ownership
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for evaluating total cost of ownership (TCO) of a system includes obtaining reference values associated with respective aspects of a TCO measurement model. The TCO measurement model is configured for use in measuring TCO, the reference values reflecting a reference TCO determined for a reference system. The method includes mapping actual expenses to the TCO measurement model, the actual expenses identified as associated with a system whose TCO is to be evaluated. The method includes performing an analysis that includes at least comparing the actual expenses to the reference values according to the mapping. The method includes recording a result of the analysis that indicates at least whether the TCO of the system differs from the reference TCO.
US09600781B2 Enhanced seat selection
Methods and systems for improving seat selection at a venue are described. The methods and systems help users understand how good a view they will have of a performance or event and/or how enjoyable an experience they will have before they purchase a ticket. A user selects a seat and is able to access relevant traits of people who purchased seats proximate to the selected seat. Relevant traits include physical features such as height, weight, build, etc., and behavior information, such as how noisy or quiet the person is.
US09600777B2 Configuring and optimizing computational structure for a machine learning application using a tuple of vectors
A method provides program structures for constructing a program that is learned over training data. In one example, two specific program structures are provided in which the first program structure transforms each vector in an input tuple of vectors to provide an output tuple of vectors, and the second program structure operates on an input tuple of vectors to provide an output tuple of vectors by applying one or more transformations that each involves two or more vectors in the input tuple. The transformations of the first and second program structures may be linear transformations. The program may alternatively execute the first program structure and the second program structure in any suitable order a number of times, beginning with operating one of the program structures on an initial tuple of vectors. The vectors may each consist of an ordered set of real numbers.
US09600776B1 Automated adaptive data analysis using dynamic data quality assessment
In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer readable media for automated dynamic data quality assessment. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification includes the actions of receiving a data quality job including a new data sample; and, if the new data sample is determined to be added to a reservoir of data samples, sending a quality verification request to an oracle; receiving a new data sample quality estimate from the oracle; and adding the new data sample and estimate to the reservoir. A second aspect of the subject matter includes the actions of receiving, from a predictive model, a judgment associated with a new data sample; analyzing the new data sample based in part on the judgment to determine whether to send a new data sample quality verification request to an oracle; and, if a new data sample quality estimate is received from the oracle, determining whether to add the new data sample and the judgment to the reservoir.
US09600775B2 Large survey compressive designs
Apparatus and methods of categorizing a subterranean formation including collecting data related to the formation, performing an algorithm comprising guided Bayesian survey design, identifying data observations to collect, and collecting additional data observations related to the formation. In some embodiments, the performing comprises forming a matrix or loading a matrix or both. Apparatus and methods of categorizing a subterranean formation including collecting data related to the formation, performing an algorithm comprising guided Bayesian survey design, identifying data observations to use, and processing the data observations wherein the observations require less processing time than if no algorithm were performed.
US09600767B1 System, method, and computer program product for generating a single software code based on a description of a distributed architecture
The present invention relates to a system, method, and computer program product for generating a single software code based on a description of a distributed architecture. The present invention introduces a BICA-SMART development framework that implements a distributed architecture in a flexible, parallel and scalable implementation that is embodied by a single software code. Thus, using the present invention, a user can input a description of the architecture into the system, with the system automatically generating the software code to implement the architectural description.
US09600765B1 Classification systems and methods using convex hulls
A computerized classifier system that forms convex hulls containing all training experiences for each target class (e.g. threat/non-threat) is disclosed. The intersection of convex hulls for each pair of classes defines a region of ambiguity in feature space. Measurement of feature vector(s) outside an ambiguous region of feature space leads to a class decision while measurement of feature vector(s) within an ambiguous region of feature space defined by convex hulls causes a transition to a new feature space with new features. In particular embodiments, measured feature data includes estimated motion states and electrical lengths of a given object, and range, velocity and acceleration image data from second phase differences for debris mitigation.
US09600764B1 Markov-based sequence tagging using neural networks
Features are disclosed for using a neural network to tag sequential input without using an internal representation of the neural network generated when scoring previous positions in the sequence. A predicted or determined label (e.g., the highest scoring or otherwise most probable label) for input at a given position in the sequence can be used when scoring input corresponding to the next position the sequence. Additional features are disclosed for training a neural network for use in tagging sequential input without using an internal representation of the neural network generated when scoring previous positions the sequence.
US09600763B1 Information processing method, information processing device, and non-transitory recording medium for storing program
An computer-implemented information processing method for a convolutional neural network processing input data, includes: identifying, by a computer, for each of elements of a kernel used in convolution operation, input values to be multiplied by the respective elements in the convolution operation from among input values included in the input data; calculating a sum total of identified input values; calculating, for each of the elements of the kernel, a product of the sum total and the element; calculating an average of calculated products; and performing the convolution operation within the convolutional neural network based on the average of the calculated products.
US09600761B2 Structural descriptions for neurosynaptic networks
Embodiments of the invention provide a method comprising creating a structural description for at least one neurosynaptic core circuit. Each core circuit comprises an interconnect network including plural electronic synapses for interconnecting one or more electronic neurons with one or more electronic axons. The structural description defines a desired neuronal activity for the core circuits. The desired neuronal activity is simulated by programming the core circuits with the structural description. The structural description controls routing of neuronal firing events for the core circuits.
US09600759B2 RFID identification of metal interchangeable parts for machine tools
A machine tool comprises a first component, for example a dressing spindle (3), and at least one second component, for example a dressing wheel (1), which is removably and/or movably arranged on the first component. The first component has a first antenna coil for a wireless signal transmission, and the second component has a second antenna coil. The two components together delimit a cavity which is completely surrounded by metal. The first antenna coil and the second antenna coil are arranged together in the cavity. This forms a metal-protected radio link (26.1) between the first antenna coil and the second antenna coil, which radio link is protected from harmful external influences.
US09600756B1 Wireless input device without internal power supply
A wireless input device comprises a plurality of RFID tag units and keys. Each RFID tag unit is coupled with two conductive wires. Only when the two conductive wires are in a closed-loop status, the RFID tag unit can generate a responsive RF signal corresponding to a scanning signal generated by a host device. Each key is formed with a switching mechanism connectable to the conductive wires of at least one of the RFID tag units. When any one of the keys is pressed, the conductive wires connectable to the pressed key will be switched to the closed-loop status from an open-loop status, and when that pressed key is released, the conductive wires connectable to the released key will be switched back to said open-loop status. Therefore, the wireless input device can be operated without the need of internal electric power.
US09600755B2 Card, an assembly, a method of assembling the card and a method of outputting information
A card configured to output an magnetic field on or at a surface thereof, the card comprising an elongated magnetically conducting material on or at the surface of the card, the magnetically conducting material having a first and a second guide ends, and a field generator positioned so as to feed a magnetic field into the magnetically conducting material. The magnetically conducting material is positioned at the position where the reading head travels and forms a return path for the field generated by the field generator, whereby field from the generator is fed to the reading head via the magnetically conducting material.
US09600748B2 Method for determining a sheet height
A method is provided for determining a sheet height of a sheet conveyed by a sheet transportation unit. An optical sensor is used for sensing the surface geometry of the sheet, resulting in a two-dimensional height image of the sheet. The height image has pixels that have a value representing a local height of the sheet. The method comprises the steps of: a) selecting from the height image pixels that have a deviating value; b) substituting the deviating value of a selected pixel by a realistic value that is derived from not selected pixels; and c) determining a sheet height by finding a maximum value from the values of the not selected pixels and the substituted values. Furthermore, a print system is provided that comprises a control unit that is configured to apply the invented method.
US09600739B2 Architecture for real-time extraction of extended maximally stable extremal regions (X-MSERs)
Architecture for real-time extraction of maximally stable extremal regions (MSERs) is disclosed. The architecture includes communication interface and processing circuitry that is adapted in hardware to receive a data streams of an intensity image and a depth image in real-time and provide intensity labels for image regions within the intensity image that match a given intensity threshold and provide depth labels for image regions within the depth image that match a given depth threshold. The processing circuitry is also adapted in hardware to find intensity extremal regions within the intensity image based upon the intensity labels and to find depth extremal regions within the depth image based upon the depth labels. The processing circuitry determines strong extremal regions based upon significant overlap between the intensity extremal regions and depth extremal regions. The processing circuitry then determines X-MSER ellipses parameters based upon the strong extremal regions and X-MSER criteria.
US09600737B2 Image feature extraction method, image feature extraction apparatus, and recording medium storing program therefor
A feature extraction method includes acquiring an image, detecting a vanishing point in the image, setting a plurality of ellipses and a plurality of half-lines with respect to the detected vanishing point to segment the image into a plurality of regions, and extracting a feature of each segmented region. With the disclosed method, a global feature can be appropriately extracted from an image including a vanishing point or other relevant features.
US09600735B2 Image processing device, image processing method, program recording medium
An image processing device is provided with an acquiring unit configured to acquire a face image and, a control unit configured to specify a face direction in the face image acquired by the acquiring unit and add, based on the specified face direction, a picture expressing a contour of a face component to the face image.
US09600734B2 System, device, and method for geo-locating objects
A method, system, and device for analyzing images captured by a vehicle-based camera includes establishing a communication connection between a mobile communication device and an in-vehicle computing system. Scanning data may be retrieved from a scanning data server by the mobile communication device and, in some embodiments, forwarded to the in-vehicle computing system. A vehicle-base camera may be used to capture one or more images. An image analysis module of the in-vehicle computing system or mobile communication device may be used to analyze the captured image(s) for a match between the image(s) and the scanning data. In response to identifying a match, the mobile communication device may notify the scanning data server of the identified match.
US09600727B2 Image processing to prevent access to private information
A processing resource receives original image data by a surveillance system. The original image data captures at least private information and occurrence of activity in a monitored region. The processing resource applies one or more transforms to the original image data to produce transformed image data. Application of the one or more transforms sufficiently distorts portions of the original image data to remove the private information. The transformed image data includes the distorted portions to prevent access to the private information. However, the distorted portions of the video include sufficient image detail to discern occurrence of the activity in the retail environment.
US09600725B2 Video processing system with text recognition and methods for use therewith
A system for processing a video signal into a processed video signal includes a pattern recognition module for detecting a region of text in the image sequence based on coding feedback data and generating pattern recognition data in response thereto. A video codec generates the processed video signal and generates the coding feedback data in conjunction with the processing of the image sequence.
US09600723B1 Systems and methods for attention localization using a first-person point-of-view device
A method for localizing the attention of a user of a first-person point-of-view (FPPOV) device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of images of an event, each image having been captured by one of a plurality of reference cameras during a first time duration. The method further includes receiving a first user-captured image captured by the FPPOV device during the first time duration. A first image of the plurality of images is selected as a best-matched image, based on the first user-captured image, for capturing a region-of-interest.
US09600720B1 Using available data to assist in object recognition
Processes such as image matching, computer vision, and object recognition can utilize additional data, such as spatial data, to attempt to improve the accuracy of the results of those processes. For example, a computing device acquiring scene data including a representation of an object can also determine spatial data (e.g., location and orientation data). By determining the spatial data, a set of potential matches can be found which can help to more quickly and accurately identify the object based on one or more objects known to be at a corresponding position. The data acquired by the computing device can also be used to update matching data stored for that location, which can assist with subsequent processing.
US09600719B2 Control apparatus and method for exercise therapy device
Provided are a control apparatus and method for an exercise therapy device, including the following steps: calculating a first-order lag waveform of a waveform of the target value of the exercise physiological response as a corrected target value of the exercise physiological response using a response time constant; calculating a difference between the corrected target value of the exercise physiological response and the measured value of the exercise physiological response as an exercise physiological response deviation after correction; generating a command value for the exercise load based on the exercise physiological response deviation after correction, so that the exercise physiological response of the exerciser approaches the corrected target value of the exercise physiological response, to thereby control the exercise load to be applied to the exerciser.
US09600716B2 Method for movement in a physically configurable space and device for use with the method
A method is for movement in a physically configurable space. The space includes one or more physically configurable elements. A first user is in a first location and in a first position in the physically configurable space. The method includes providing the physically configurable space with at least one sensor, connecting the at least one sensor to a control unit, and sensing at least the first user's first location in the physically configurable space by the at least one sensor. The method further includes configuring the at least one configurable element by the control unit on the basis of sensed information from the at least one sensor so that the first user's allowed moving space is altered. A configurable space is for use with the method.
US09600715B2 Emotion detection system
Emotion detection systems disclosed herein actively protect the privacy and security of monitored subjects. This provision of protection differentiates these systems from conventional emotion detectors. In some examples, a self-contained emotion detection device protects the identity of a subject while providing anonymous data descriptive of the subject's emotional state to other devices within the emotion detection system. In these examples, the emotion detection device protects the identity of the subject by isolating raw image data acquired by the device exclusively within storage locations encapsulated within the device. To provide the anonymous data, the emotion detection device first processes the raw image data to identify landmark points within an image of the subject's face. Next, the emotion detection device normalizes the landmark points to a generic face and transmits an anonymous data set descriptive of the normalized landmark points to the other devices for subsequent processing.
US09600714B2 Apparatus and method for calculating three dimensional (3D) positions of feature points
An apparatus for calculating spatial coordinates is disclosed. The apparatus may extract a plurality of feature points from an input image, calculate a direction vector associated with the feature points, and calculate spatial coordinates the feature points based on a distance between the feature points and the direction vector.
US09600713B2 Identification and processing of facial wrinkles in a digital image
A computer-implemented method of processing an input digital image is provided. The method includes forming a representation of the input digital image as wavelet components; and for each of a plurality of facial regions in the input digital image: forming a reconstructed facial region based on a subset of the wavelet components; and identifying pixels associated with facial wrinkles in the facial region as pixels In the reconstructed facial region that differ from corresponding pixels in the facial region by a first threshold amount.
US09600706B2 Acquisition of a fingerprint image
An apparatus and a computer-implemented method of acquiring a fingerprint image from a fingerprint sensor with an array of sensor elements spanning a sensing area, comprising: monitoring groups of sensor elements located at group-wise spaced apart positions in the array of sensor elements, to determine a touch event occurring on the array of sensor elements; from the array of sensor elements, acquiring, at respective points in time, fingerprint sub-images which are confined in size to a subarea of the sensing area; as the fingerprint sub-images are acquired, computing values of a statistical indicator for the fingerprint sub-images; and acquiring a full fingerprint image when a predefined criterion indicates that the values of the statistical indicator has reached or is about to reach a stable state.
US09600701B1 Inter-device data transfer based on barcodes
A sending computing device encodes data items as barcodes and simultaneously displays two or more barcodes on a first display screen of, or operatively coupled to, the sending computing device. A receiving computing device obtains the two or more barcodes from a single video frame captured by a first camera module of, or operatively coupled to, the receiving computing device. Furthermore, the receiving computing device encodes, as an acknowledgement barcode, an acknowledgement that identifies each barcode that was successfully received and displays the acknowledgement barcode on a second display screen of, or operatively coupled to, the receiving computing device. The sending computing device captures the acknowledgement barcode via a second camera module of, or operatively coupled to, the sending computing device. Based on the acknowledgement barcode, the sending computing device determines which of the data items were or were not successfully received by the receiving computing device.
US09600699B1 Wearable tuning surfaces for activating RFID buttons or controls
An inventory system can include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and RFID tuners that can be brought into interacting proximity with one another to provide input or other information about the location or other condition of movable elements within the inventory system. A wearable accessory that is wearable by a human operator can include RFID tuners thereon for interacting with RFID tags on other elements of the inventory system in order to communicate details about the elements and facilitate functions of the inventory system.
US09600698B2 Behavior-based source monitoring system and method thereof
Disclosed are systems and methods for behavior-based source monitoring to detect location of at least a source and gas leakage with a time stamp. The system comprises: at least a badge having a RFID tag and a gas sensor, the badge is capable of detecting leakage and location of the leakage of the gas, the badge is powered with rechargeable and permanent uninterrupted power back-up, at least a processing unit capable of processing at least a data packet, at least a source locator configured to at least locate a most confident center of an uncertain movement of a Radio Frequency Signal Indicator source readings, and at least a behavior characterization module capable of characterizing at least a behavior of the source. At least a RFID node is adapted for conveying at least a data packet received from the RFID badge to at least a computing device.
US09600694B1 Laser marking process
A manufacturing method for sapphire crystal material is disclosed, including a laser-etched bar code formed into the interior of the sapphire crystal material. The laser-etched bar code may be associated with one or more manufacturing parameters or other manufacturing data. The sapphire crystal may be used to create a cover sheet for use with a display screen of a portable electronic device.
US09600692B2 Storage system security
Disclosed aspects include managing access to a particular storage unit in a storage facility. The particular storage unit is coupled, in the storage facility, with both a particular storage unit identifier for the particular storage unit and an access management parameter for managing access to data on the particular storage unit. A device is used to identify the particular storage unit for write protection based on the particular storage unit identifier. In embodiments, the device includes an indicator to visually indicate a proper configuration and the particular storage unit identifier can be a world wide name. Aspects of the disclosure include managing the device for connection with the storage facility and access management for the storage facility.
US09600691B2 Apparatus and method for notifying of security information in electronic device and computer-readable recording medium for the same
An apparatus and a method for displaying information required to be secured in a wireless communication terminal are provided. The method includes recognizing generation of notification information of one or more processes activated in a first operation mode among a plurality of operation modes including the first operation mode and a second operation mode; and notifying a user of a part of the notification information when a current operation mode is the second operation mode.
US09600690B2 Secure access for sensitive digital information
Sensitive pieces of information stored on an individual's device can be protected using a device identification system that applies, for each sensitive piece of information, a function that integrates an identifier of the individual with a respective sensitive piece of information to create a respective identity element. Each identity element can be signed with a signature to create a trust group. The identity element and signature can be uploaded to the individual's device using an application that is configured to provide a subset of the sensitive pieces of information in response to a query.
US09600687B2 Cognitive digital security assistant utilizing security statements to control personal data access
An approach is provided in which a cognitive digital security assistant intercepts a personal data request from a client that is requesting personal data from a user. The cognitive digital security assistant analyzes the personal data request against the user's security statements to determine whether to provide the user's personal data to the client. During the analysis, the cognitive digital security assistant determines whether the personal data request includes benefits that meet the user's benefit thresholds included in the user's security statements. When the benefits meet the user's benefit thresholds, the cognitive digital security assistant provides the requested personal data to the client in exchange for the benefit from the client.
US09600686B2 Augmented reality based privacy and decryption
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for decrypting a document are disclosed. For example, the method captures a tag on an encrypted document, transmits the tag to an application server of a communication network to request a per-document decryption key, receives the per-document decryption key if the tag is authenticated, and decrypts a portion of the encrypted document using a temporary decryption key contained in the tag, the tag decrypted with the per-document decryption key.
US09600685B2 Destruction of sensitive information
Provided are techniques for deleting sensitive information in a database. One or more objects in a database that are accessed by a statement are identified. It is determined that at least one object among the identified one or more objects contains sensitive information by checking an indicator for the at least one object. One or more security policies associated with the at least one object are identified. The identified one or more security policies are implemented for the at least one object to delete sensitive information.
US09600682B2 Mapping process changes
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a request to run a particular process; determining whether the particular process is to be run in isolation on the computer system; selecting a particular permission scheme from among a plurality of permission schemes based, at least in part, on one or more characteristics of the particular process; fetching, according to the particular permission scheme, a copy object that corresponds to an actual object for the particular process, wherein the copy object is instantiated in an isolated environment; running the particular process is isolation on the computer system by executing the copy object in the isolated environment; applying, according to the particular permission scheme, one or more changes to the copy object; and mapping, according to the particular permission scheme, the one or more changes in the copy object to the actual object.
US09600680B2 Unmasking of confidential content
Facilities are provided herein for unmasking content presented on a display of a computing device. An unmask rule for unmasking the content on the display is determined based on confidentiality level of the content and includes an unmasking parameter indicating an extent to which a masked version of the content is to be physically shielded to unmask the content. A mask is selected and applied to the content in displaying the content on the display. The mask is selected based on the determined unmask rule to convey the unmasking parameter to a user. A shielding level indicating an extent to which the user has physically shielded the masked content on the display is detected and it is determined whether the detected shielding level satisfies the unmasking parameter. If so, the content is temporarily unmasked on the display.
US09600675B2 Secure file transfer systems and methods
Certain example embodiments relate to file transfer systems and/or methods that enable a single provider to offer to different customers customizable file transfer solutions that are secure, scalable to handle enterprise-level amounts of data, and able to meet customer-specific needs even though such needs are not necessarily known in advance. Once initially set up, the file transfer solution of certain example embodiments delegates management of the customer-specific instances of the solution, optionally in a sub-delegatable manner and, thus, the single provider need not be consulted after specific initial instance deployment time (e.g., for security management and/or other routine maintenance issues).
US09600673B2 Method and device for risk evaluation
A risk evaluation method and a risk evaluation device for evaluating an anonymous dataset generated according to an original dataset are provided. The risk evaluation method comprises the following steps. Acquiring a plurality of appearing times respectively corresponding to a plurality of original values of the original dataset. Generating a partition set and a weight table according to a sample parameter, an anonymous parameter and the appearing times. Dividing the original dataset into a plurality of data partitions according to the partition set, and generating a penetration dataset according to the weight table and the data partitions, wherein the penetration dataset comprises a plurality of sample data. Comparing each sample data with a plurality of anonymous data of the anonymous dataset to obtain a plurality of matching quantities respectively corresponding to the sample data. And calculating and outputting a risk evaluation result according to the matching quantities.
US09600670B2 Provisioning location-based security policy
In one embodiment, a system comprises: a processor including at least one core to execute instructions; a plurality of sensors, including a first sensor to determine location information regarding a location of the system; and a security engine to apply a security policy to the system. In this embodiment, the security engine includes a policy logic to determine one of a plurality of security policies to apply based at least in part on the location information, where the location information indicates a location different than locations associated with the plurality of security policies. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09600667B2 Method for detecting an attempted attack, recording medium, and security processor for said method
This method in which an attempt to attack a security processor is detected by the security processor itself comprises: measurements (50) of several different events occurring independently of one another in the absence of attack attempts, :building (52) the value of at least one attack indicator as a function of at least one index of concomitance between at least two different events measured, the index of concomitance representing the temporal proximity between the two different events measured, and detecting (54) an attack attempt if the value of the attack indicator crosses a predetermined threshold.
US09600665B2 Monitoring device and monitoring method
A monitoring unit in a monitoring system determines whether or not a program to be executed is a program to be monitored. If it is determined that the program to be executed is a program to be monitored, the monitoring unit in the monitoring system adds, in order, before an instruction string included in a function called by the program to be monitored, an instruction string satisfying a predetermined condition, and a condition branch instruction, which is an instruction starting a predetermined control process when the predetermined condition is satisfied.
US09600661B2 System and method to secure a computer system by selective control of write access to a data storage medium
The present invention relates to a method and system of controlling the writing of data to a computer storage medium such as a hard drive in a computer system in order to prevent viruses or similar program code from being saved on such medium. Upon the computer system initiating a request to write data to the medium, the application embodying the method and system checks the identity of the running application requesting to perform the write. The method and system then checks a rule database to determine if such requesting application has permission to write to the medium. The system can also check that the data file type that the application seeks to write is a permitted type for that application. In response to the output of the database check, the requested write is allowed to proceed or is blocked. In the absence of a rule, the system presents the request to the computer user. The user can either grant permission or block, and such response can be included in the rule database. User responses can be collected from many instances of the invention and the collective response of users presented to a user.
US09600660B2 Security bypass environment for circumventing a security application in a computing environment
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to performing an operation in a computing environment that is prohibited by a security application governing the computing environment. Exemplary embodiments can generate a security bypass environment in a computing environment governed by the security application to provide a bypass to the security application. In exemplary embodiments, a request to perform the operation can be received via the security bypass environment and the operation can be performed through the security bypass environment in response to satisfaction of access control criteria specified for the security bypass environment so that the performance of the operation bypasses the security application.
US09600659B1 User activity modelling, monitoring, and reporting framework
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for identifying risk within an information technology (IT) environment, comprising: analyzing characteristics of a user accessing a system within an IT environment; associating a risk profile with the user based upon the characteristics of the user; determining when the user accesses a system within the IT environment; maintaining a user risk profile record of all systems within the IT environment accessed by the user, the user risk profile record continuing to be associated with the system after access by the user ceases; and, identifying a risk level for all systems within the IT environment based upon the user risk profile record.
US09600658B2 Generating or changing passwords using a degree of simplicity
A technique for generating passwords. The technique includes displaying objects, enabling a degree of simplicity to be set for a password, and generating a password in accordance with the established degree of simplicity. The technique also includes superimposing and displaying a secondary object icon for at least one secondary object available to a primary object on top of the primary object icon for the primary object, and the superimposing and display entails either superimposing and displaying a display on the superimposed secondary object icon to indicate whether or not the superimposed secondary object is available on the basis of the degree of simplicity, or changing the superimposed secondary object icon so as to differentiate the availability of the superimposed secondary object on the basis of the degree of simplicity.
US09600657B2 Dynamic security question generation
A method of dynamically generating a security question for accessing a resource. The method comprises monitoring a behavior of said user during a monitoring period to identify automatically a deviation from a behavioral pattern indicative of repetitive behavior of a user, automatically generating a security question responded to by an indication of said deviation, receiving a user input inputted by a user in response to a presentation of said security question and said deviation, and authenticating, after said monitoring period, an access to a resource according to a match between said user input and said deviation.
US09600652B2 Mobile application, identity interface
Techniques for managing identities are provided. In some examples, identity management, authentication, authorization, and token exchange frameworks may be provided for use with mobile devices, mobile applications, cloud applications, and/or other web-based applications. For example a mobile client may request to perform one or more identity management operations associated with an account of a service provider. Based at least in part on the requested operation and/or the particular service provider, an application programming interface (API) may be utilized to generate and/or perform one or more instructions and/or method calls for managing identity information of the service provider.
US09600651B1 System and method for determining use of non-human users in a distributed computer network environment
Embodiments of systems and methods as disclosed herein may determine that an initiator of a communication on a distributed computer network is an automated script or the like. More particularly, in one embodiment, a web page including a hidden field may be generated in response to a request for the web page. This hidden field is a field included in the web page that is not visible to a human user when the web page is rendered by a browser and presented to the user. By comparing a received value for such a hidden field with an associated value for the hidden field as provided in the web page, the use of an automated script may be detected.
US09600650B2 Apparatus and method for configuring password and for releasing lock
Methods of configuring a different authority for a plurality of users to use at least one application in an electronic device. User inputs are received to set passwords for respective user levels, where each user level is associated with a different authority to access applications. The passwords are registered for the respective user levels. At least one application is associated with one of the user levels.
US09600648B2 Methods and apparatuses for controlling access to computer systems and for annotating media files
Methods and apparatuses for controlling access to computer systems and for annotating media files. One embodiment includes a method including generating a challenge to a user, wherein the challenge includes a verify part and a read part. The methods also includes prompting the user to solve both the verify part of the challenge and the read part of the challenge; receiving input from the user; determining if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge; and identifying the input from the user relative to the read part of the challenge as an answer to the read part of the challenge, if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge.
US09600647B2 Multi-factor authentication
Methods, systems and devices for multi-factor authentication (MFA) are described. An MFA device includes a plurality of tiles, a frame to hold the tiles and a stylus movable over the frame and the tiles. Each of the tiles includes at least one of visible indicia and tactile indicia, for representing a notation, and at least one track of acoustic code generation indicia. The acoustic code generation indicia of each tile, on being swiped, generate a complex sound waveform that encodes a composite binary pattern. The composite binary pattern comprises information blocks including a device identifier block for a device identifier associating the MFA device with a user, a biometric block for at least a part of a biometric pattern of the user, and a data block for the notation of the corresponding tile.
US09600645B2 Smart invitation handling at a smart-home
This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.
US09600643B2 Single login multiplexing
A method and system for providing access to application, where an association of a plurality of passwords with a login for an account of an application is maintained, wherein each of the plurality of passwords has a corresponding user and a corresponding set of privileges. A request for access to the account is received from a first user including the login and a first password of the plurality of password corresponding to the user, and the user is authenticated in view of the login and the password. Upon authentication of the user, access to the account is granted for the user to execute a corresponding first set of privileges.
US09600642B2 Implementing extent granularity authorization processing in CAPI adapters
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing block extent granularity authorization processing for a Coherent Accelerator Processor Interface (CAPI) adapter. An Application Client requests authorization to a File from a system processor file system. The file system validates the request, determines the location of each Extent that comprises the File, and requests authorization to each Extent from a System CAPI Authorization manager. The System CAPI Authorization manager requests the CAPI Client manager to assign a Child Client ID and CAPI Server Register range to the requesting Application Client and requests a previously authorized CAPI Parent Client to authorize the Child ID to the list of Extents. The CAPI Parent Client sends a Create Authorizations command to the CAPI Adapter via the Parent's CAPI Server Registers. The CAPI Adapter validates the Parent Authorization Handle and CPI Server Register range for the specific Extent/Command/Resource, and creates an Authorization List by assigning a new Child Authorization Handle for each requested, validated Extent/Command/Resource. The Authorization List and the Child Client ID are returned to the File System.
US09600641B2 User permissions based control of pooled features on demand activation keys
Embodiments of the invention provide for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys is provided. The method includes pooling one or more authorization codes for access by different end users in activating different features of a set of hardware components using FoD. The method also includes responding to an FoD request to activate one of the features by a particular one of the end users by determining whether or not a pre-defined code usage policy permits the particular one of the end users to use a pooled one of the authorization codes and if permitted according to the pre-defined code usage policy, generating an FoD activation key with the pooled one of the authorization codes and activating the one of the features with the FoD activation key.
US09600639B2 Method for automating the management and interpretation of digital documents and their owners rights metadata for generating digital rights management protected contents
A method for automating the management and interpretation of digital documents and their rights metadata to generate user access of a document protected by digital rights management (DRM), comprising the steps of a server obtaining a digital document and its associated rights metadata, the server interpreting the metadata to ascertain DRM useful information including identifications (IDs) of the document and its users and associated digital rights, and the server generating entries for a DRM database including policies associated with the document ID and users IDs based on the ascertained DRM useful information to enable DRM protection to the document.
US09600637B2 Methods and systems for predictive clinical planning and design and integrated execution services
Systems and methods for predictive clinical planning, design, and integrated execution services are provided. The system may comprise a database, a web server, an application server, and a client.The system may be used to develop a strategic map of a proposed clinical plan, wherein the clinical plan may include a draft launch label attribute, one or more strategies, and a schema; linking the clinical plan and schema to one or more trials; subsequently linking the trials to one or more objectives and measures; subsequently linking none, one, or a plurality of objectives to none, one, or a plurality of measures; identifying patient criteria and enrolling patients from one or more investigator sites located in one or more countries; and integrating the clinical plan with a clinical plan execution application.
US09600634B2 Secure medication transport
A smart carrier has a housing comprising one or more docking locations configured to accept a secure receptacle, a wireless interface module disposed within the housing, and a processor disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the one or more docking locations and the wireless interface module. The processor is configured to communicate with an external device through the wireless interface module and with a secure receptacle that is mated with one of the one or more docking locations. The smart carrier also has a battery disposed within the housing and configured to provide all operational power to the processor, the wireless interface module, and the one or more docking locations.
US09600632B2 Method and system for monitoring intoxication
A method and system for monitoring a user's intoxication including receiving a set of signals, derived from a set of samples collected from the user at a set of time points; providing a sobriety task to the user proximal to a time point of the set of time points; generating a performance dataset characterizing performance of the sobriety task by the user; receiving a supplementary dataset characterizing a demographic profile of the user and/or a physiological state of the user; determining a set of values of an intoxication metric, derived from the set of signals; generating a predicted temporal profile of the intoxication metric for the user based upon the set of values, the set of time points, and the supplementary dataset; generating an analysis of the user's sobriety based upon the performance dataset and the predicted temporal profile; and providing a notification to the user based upon the analysis.
US09600631B2 Remote presence system including a cart that supports a robot face and an overhead camera
A tele-presence system that includes a cart. The cart includes a robot face that has a robot monitor, a robot camera, a robot speaker, a robot microphone, and an overhead camera. The system also includes a remote station that is coupled to the robot face and the overhead camera. The remote station includes a station monitor, a station camera, a station speaker and a station microphone. The remote station can display video images captured by the robot camera and/or overhead camera. By way of example, the cart can be used in an operating room, wherein the overhead camera can be placed in a sterile field and the robot face can be used in a non-sterile field. The user at the remote station can conduct a teleconference through the robot face and also obtain a view of a medical procedure through the overhead camera.
US09600625B2 Systems and methods for processing nucleic acid sequence data
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for nucleic acid sequence analysis. A system for processing raw nucleic acid sequence data from a genomic sequencer comprises a data processing server having a housing contained therein one or more processing modules. The one or more processing modules can each comprise an electronic control unit programmed to align nucleic acid sequence data from a genomic sequencing device and perform one or more of variant analysis and structural variant analysis on the nucleic acid sequence data. The system can further comprise a computer server in communication with the processing server. The computer server can be programmed or otherwise configured to process and/or analyze the aligned nucleic acid sequence data.
US09600624B2 System and method for simulating aerodynamics over an aircraft for a deflected position of a movable aircraft control surface using a structured chimera mesh
A system and method for simulating aerodynamics over an aircraft for a deflected position of a movable aircraft control surface using a structured chimera mesh are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mesh assembly of the aircraft is created by overlapping a background mesh and a structured chimera mesh for the deflected position of the movable aircraft control surface. Further, mesh cell sizes within overlapping boundaries of the background mesh and the structured chimera mesh are analyzed. Furthermore, the structured chimera mesh is regenerated based on the analysis. In addition, the mesh assembly of the aircraft is reformed based on the regenerated structured chimera mesh. Also, a masked mesh of the aircraft is created by auto masking the reformed mesh assembly. Moreover, aerodynamics is simulated over the aircraft for the deflected position of the movable aircraft control surface using the masked mesh.
US09600616B1 Assuring chip reliability with automatic generation of drivers and assertions
A computer-implemented method may include retrieving a design netlist with a processor, identifying, via the processor, a logic structure in the design netlist, generating, via the processor, a driver based on the logic structure, applying, via the processor, a simulation and a formal model based on the driver, and testing, via the processor, an output of the simulation and the formal model.
US09600615B2 Efficient deployment of table lookup (TLU) in an enterprise-level scalable circuit simulation architecture
A method for conducting numerical analysis includes defining a plurality of components in a system and a condition to be analyzed, performing a table look-up for components of the plurality of components, if a component of the plurality of components is defined in a table and the table includes the condition to be analyzed, acquiring a result for the condition to be analyzed based on table information, and conducting the analysis of the system using the result based on the table information for the component.
US09600610B2 Conversion method, program and system of power system data models
A power system data model conversion method, a power system data model conversion system and a power system data model conversion program which are to perform a fast power system analysis and used for a power system analysis capable of reducing inconsistency with another information system, wherein all instances used for the power system analysis are read out from a CIM database server which is commonly used on a power system information system, and a connected relation between instances is constructed while performing recursive retrieval. And, conversion processing of the data model is performed to integrate information necessary for the power system analysis and dispersed to extend over the plural classes of a CIM data model into one class.
US09600609B2 Moving state calculating method and moving state calculating device
A first moving state at a given time including any of a position, a velocity, and a moving direction of a moving object moving in a space is estimated. A constraint condition for calculating a second moving state at the given time is set using the first moving state and a previously-calculated second moving state including any of a position, a velocity, and a moving direction of the moving object moving in the space. The first moving state is corrected using the constraint condition to calculate the second moving state at the given time.
US09600607B2 Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for automatic, non-parametric, non-iterative three dimensional geographic modeling
An apparatus for generating 3D geographical models includes a processor and memory storing executable computer program code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including removing 3D points of a cloud depicting vertical structures in a geographic area responsive to analyzing a set of 3D points of the cloud. The points include data indicating geocoordinates of the geographic area. The computer program code further causes the apparatus to segment rooftops of vertical structures responsive to analyzing the set. The computer program code further causes the apparatus to delineate points of segmented rooftops responsive to extracting a boundary and a portion of rooftops. The computer program code further causes the apparatus to generate 3D geographic models depicting the geographic area based on connecting delineating points to a base including a height lower than heights of delineating points. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.
US09600604B2 System and method for planning an upgrade of a modular computing system
A system and method for planning and configuring the components of a modular computing system is provided. In some embodiments, the method for planning an implementation of a modular computing system comprises presenting a user interface at a display device, the user interface including a plurality of user-selectable objects, each of the user-selectable objects representing a component of the modular computing system. A user selection is received via a user input device. The user selection is from among the user-selectable objects and specifies one of an enclosure, an existing component, and a future component of the modular computing system. A representation of the specified one of an enclosure, an existing component, and a future component is displayed at a display device. The user selection is verified with respect to an implementation guideline. An indicator of whether the user selection meets the implementation guideline is displayed at the display device.
US09600603B2 Interface and method for exploring a collection of data
An interface is provided for permitting a user to explore a collection of data. The data collection provides nodes as structural elements, and references which are assigned to nodes and hold identifiers of other nodes. Multiple references can be assigned to each node, thus guiding a user of the system to multiple other nodes, and multiple references can hold the same address, so that multiple nodes can have references pointing to the same node. The interface allows visualizing the network created by the interconnection of the nodes on a display region. The interface also allows the user to intuitively navigate along the references in both directions of the references, so that the user can explore which nodes are referenced by a certain node, and also by which nodes a certain node is referenced. Electronic documents can be assigned to each node, and the interface allows these documents to be displayed either directly in a reserved display region of the interface, or by launching a matching application on the user's computer.
US09600602B2 Combined deterministic and probabilistic matching for data management
A method for data management. The method includes a computer selecting a first data record and a second data record. The computer determines whether the first data record and the second data record share a deterministic matching category. Responsive to determining the first data record does not share a deterministic matching category with the second data record, the computer determines whether the first data record and the second data record share a probabilistic matching category.
US09600598B2 Computing system with social interaction mechanism and method of operation thereof
A computing system includes: a control unit configured to: detect an upcoming event for interacting with a focal person for the upcoming event; extract an invitee's identification for the upcoming event, aggregate an invitee's information associated with the invitee's identification; build a social graph as an enhanced graph or with an extension graph based on the invitee's information for adding an invitee associated with the invitee's identification; and a storage unit, coupled to the control unit, configured to store the social graph.
US09600597B2 Processing structured documents stored in a database
A method, computer readable medium, and system for processing a structured document are disclosed. The method, computer readable medium, and system include identifying a plurality of strings processed by a database, assigning an identifier to each of the plurality of strings, storing each of the plurality of strings and its assigned identifier in a table in the database, and utilizing the table during document processing.
US09600596B2 Parser wrapper class
A system, a method, a device, and a computer program product for parsing a document are provided. A processing instance for parsing by at least one parsing module in a plurality of parsing modules is generated. The generated processing instance is intercepted. Based on the intercepted generated processing instance, a parsing module is selected. Using the selected parsing module, the processing instance is parsed to generate a parsed processing instance.
US09600593B2 Communication system and computer readable medium used therein
A communication system includes an information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus. The information processing apparatus comprises a controller configured to acquire a file that indicates feed location information and a title of a feed to be acquired in accordance with the feed location information. The controller controls the display to display at least one of the feed location information described in the file and the title described in the file, and to display at least one of the feed location information registered in a device management unit and the title registered in the device management unit. Moreover the controller registers, into the device management unit, feed location information or feed location information corresponding to a title displayed on the first portion of the display, which is specified by the user.
US09600592B2 Systems, apparatus, and processes for using smart learning tools with touchscreen devices
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can receive a first user-provided topic among a plurality of user-provided topics. Topic-based information related to the first user-provided topic is received. The first user-provided topic is assigned to a first game wheel segment among a plurality of game wheel segments. The plurality of game wheel segments define a game wheel. The first user-provided topic is selected based on a spinning of the game wheel. A problem based on the topic-based information is presented.
US09600591B2 Method and apparatus for URL address search in URL list
A URL search apparatus is configured to perform a method for URL address search in a URL list. The URL search apparatus maintains a URL list, and the method for Uniform Resource Locator (URL) address search includes receiving a connection request containing URL address information from a user; identifying tables that are generated according to characters constituting URL address information in the URL list and lengths of character strings serving as URL address information in the URL list; and performing a URL search by checking whether the URL address information contained in the connection request is present in the URL list on the basis of the identified tables.
US09600590B2 Interoperable social services
In a method for utilizing multiple social computing services of a user, a processor accesses a first networking service of a user and a second networking service of the user, wherein the first networking service includes a first group of contacts connected with the user and the second networking service includes a second group of contacts connected with the user. A processor retrieves the first group from the first networking service and the second group from the second networking service. A processor creates a set of contacts, wherein the set of contacts includes each contact of the first group of contacts with a corresponding link to information about that contact, and each contact of the second group of contacts with a corresponding link to information about that contact, and wherein a contact of the set of contacts has an associated relationship, established externally from either networking service, with the user.
US09600589B2 Facilitating navigation of a webpage on a computer device
A method of Webpage navigation can include a computer device loading a Webpage having at least a first portion and a second portion, arranging the Webpage in order to present the first portion in the display area of the computer device and to place the second portion out of the display area, and presenting a navigation map corresponding to the Webpage in the display area. In response to a control command input with respect to the navigation map, the Webpage can be arranged in order to present the second portion in the display area.
US09600588B1 Stemming for searching
Embodiments of a search stemming module at a computer configured to receive a query and identify stems from the query and configured to search a secondary index for variants corresponding to the stems are disclosed. The secondary index may comprise one or more lists of stems associated with variants from a primary index; a search reconfiguration module configured to reformat the query to include variants found from the secondary index; and a search engine configured to implement a search of the primary index using the variants received from the search reconfiguration module.
US09600587B2 Methods and apparatuses for generating search expressions from content, for applying search expressions to content collections, and/or for analyzing corresponding search results
Methods, storage media, and apparatuses associated with evaluating a content item are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, a computer-implemented method may include receiving, by a search expression generator operated by a computer, the content item. Additionally, the method may include generating a search expression, by the search expression generator, based on the content item, to facilitate evaluating the content item based at least in part on searching other content items using the search expression. The search expression may indicate nested juxtapositions of sub-expressions of the search expression. In other embodiments, at least one storage medium may include instructions implementing a search engine that applies the search expression to a collection of other content items. In still other embodiments, an apparatus may include a configurator adapted to organize the collection of other content items. Other embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed.
US09600586B2 System and method for metadata transfer among search entities
A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to ascribe or transfer metadata from one search-related entity to another, where each entity can be one of subject or source, citation, and object or target. First, one or more complete or incomplete attributes associated with one or more of entities across source, citation and target are identified with a high degree of probable accuracy, wherein such metadata or attributes include but are not limited to, time, language, and location of the entities. The identified attributes are then ascribed or transferred from one entity where the metadata is available to other search entities. Finally, the transferred attributes can be utilized to facilitate the selection and ranking of the cited targets for the search result.
US09600584B2 Scalable visual search system simplifying access to network and device functionality
In one embodiment, an indication of information desired by a user is received, and a list of candidates for the desired information is provided for presentation on a mobile device of the user.
US09600564B2 Method and system for handling non-presence of elements or attributes in semi-structured data
The invention relates to detecting non-presence of nodes in a document of semi-structured data and to creating a values index which properly reflects this non-presence. The document of semi-structured data, comprising multiple hierarchically organized nodes, is scanned for values (step 110). Subsequently, these values are indexed (step 120). As non-presence of at least one node is detected (step 140), this non-presence is documented by enhancing the values index (12) by a pseudo key (20) (step 150).
US09600554B2 Interpreting relational database statements using a virtual multidimensional data model
The present disclosure provides improved systems, methods, and computer program products suited to address the issues with legacy approaches. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a detailed description of techniques used in systems, methods, and in computer program products for interpreting relational database statements using a virtual multidimensional data model. Certain embodiments are directed to technological solutions for receiving a relational database statement comprising relational metadata mapped to a virtual multidimensional representation of a subject database, and generating a subject database statement based at least in part on the relational database statement and the virtual multidimensional representation, and configurable to operate on the subject database to produce a visualization result set, which embodiments advance the technical fields for addressing the problem of projecting a multidimensional data view of a subject database on to a relational data analysis environment to enable real time data analyses, as well as advancing peripheral technical fields.
US09600553B1 Distributed replication in cluster environments
Various systems and methods for dividing, accessing, and sending portions of a data structure from one node to another for replication from a primary site to a secondary site are disclosed. The method includes dividing a data structure into portions. The data structure stores information identifying which regions of a data volume have been modified and nodes in a cluster share access to the data volume. The nodes and the data volume are located at the primary site. The method also includes sending a first portion of the data structure to a second node in the cluster. The sending causes the second node to replicate the data identified in the portion of the data structure from the data volume to the secondary site. In one embodiment, the accessing and the sending are performed by a logowner node.
US09600551B2 Coexistence of message-passing-like algorithms and procedural coding
First logical cores supported on physical processor cores in a computing system can be designated for execution of message-passing workers of a plurality of message workers while at least second logical cores supported on the physical processor cores can be designated for execution of procedural code such that resources of a physical processor core supporting the first logical core and the second logical core are shared between a first logical core and a second logical core. A database object in a repository can be assigned to one message-passing worker, which can execute operations on the database object while procedurally coded operations are processed using the second logical core on one or more of the plurality of physical processor cores while the first logical core executes the message-passing worker.
US09600550B2 Optimization for real-time, parallel execution of models for extracting high-value information from data streams
A computer system identifies high-value information in data streams. The computer system receives a filter graph definition. The filter graph definition includes a plurality of filter nodes, each filter node including one or more filters that accept or reject packets. Each respective filter is categorized by a number of operations, and the one or more filters are arranged in a general graph. The computer system performs one or more optimization operations, including: determining if a closed circuit exists within the graph, and when the closed circuit exists within the graph, removing the closed circuit; reordering the filters based at least in part on the number of operations; and parallelizing the general graph such that the one or more filters are configured to be executed on one or more processors.
US09600549B2 Forecasting system and method using change data based database storage for efficient ASP and web application
In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a first client. The system also includes an analysis server coupled to the first client. The system further includes a first customer database of information coupled to the analysis server. The first customer database is to embody forecast data and to receive essentially real-time updates to the forecast data. The first customer database supports an OLAP cube associated with the analysis server.
US09600548B2 Row level security integration of analytical data store with cloud architecture
A predicate-based row level security system is used when workers build or split an analytical data store. According to one implementation, predicate-based means that security requirements of source transactional systems can be used as predicates to a rule base that generates one or more security tokens, which are associated with each row as attributes of a dimension. Similarly, when an analytic data store is to be split, build job, user and session attributes can be used to generate complementary security tokens that are compared to security tokens of selected rows. Efficient indexing of a security tokens dimension makes it efficient to qualify row retrieval based on security criteria.
US09600547B2 System and method of consuming and integrating with rest-based cloud and enterprise services
Techniques are disclosed for consuming and integrating with representational state transfer (REST) based services. In one embodiment, a multiple-step extract, transform, load (ETL) job includes one or more REST steps. Each step in the ETL job performs a particular well-defined task, and the REST step in particular constructs REST requests, invokes REST services, and retrieves REST responses. The REST step may be mapped to a vector of inputs such that multiple REST service calls are made for each of the inputs. Further, a reusable connection may be employed so that one connection can be used to make multiple REST service calls. URLs used to make REST service calls may be dynamically constructed based on input data parameters and ETL job parameters. Additionally, a graphical user interface (GUI) allows users to configure aspects of a REST step.
US09600544B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for displaying items on multiple floors in multi-level maps
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are provided for displaying search results and other points of interest located on multiple floors or levels in a multi-level map. A method may include receiving an input indicating a search criteria. Further, the method may include determining at least one search result position related to the search criteria, and determining a relationship between the at least one search result position and a multi-level map. In addition, the method may further comprise causing, based at least in part on the relationship, a level of the map and the at least one search result position to be displayed as a search result position indicator, wherein the displayed search result position indicator may be presented in a different manners based at least in part on what level the search result position is located. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US09600536B1 Determining discrepancy causes in a computerized accounting system
A method determining one or more causes for discrepancies in a computerized accounting system, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor for: providing a set of theoretical causes for discrepancies between sub-ledgers of an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system and a general ledger of the ERP system; providing a set of database queries corresponding to the theoretical causes in the set of theoretical causes; executing the database queries of the a set of database queries in the ERP system; receiving a set of responses to the database queries; and based on the set of responses, refuting or confirming each of the theoretical causes of the set of theoretical causes.
US09600535B2 Method and system for limiting share of voice of individual users
In various example embodiments, a system and method for limiting shares of voice of individual users in a result set are provided. In example embodiments, an entity providing each entry in a result set of a search is identified. Sorting criteria including a size rule that includes a sort size value defining a maximum number of consecutive publications from a same entity are retrieved. A sorted result set is generated in compliance with the sorting criteria by shifting a publication from the same entity down one or more positions in order to satisfy the sorting criteria. The sorted result set is provided to a searching user.
US09600527B2 Managing a grouping window on an operator graph
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method, system, and computer program product for managing a windowing operation. The method can include determining a sentinel value that defines a start of a grouping window for a stream of tuples and a terminating sentinel value that defines the end of the grouping window based upon an attribute contained in the stream of tuples. The stream of tuples can be monitored for the sentinel value and the terminating sentinel value by a stream operator. The stream operator can initiate a windowing operation that defines the start of the grouping window in response to a presence of the sentinel value and terminate the windowing operation in response to a presence of the terminating sentinel value.
US09600526B2 Generating and using temporal data partition revisions
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for generating and using temporal data partition revisions. In some embodiments, a server computer can execute a data management application. The server computer can obtain a data partition associated with a data stream. The data partition can include a data point and a timestamp. The server computer can analyze the timestamp to determine if the data partition corresponds to an update of a base data record. If the server computer determines that the data corresponds to an update, the server computer can compute a revision comprising a delta and a timestamp and store the revision.
US09600525B1 Method for joining tables using a limited amount of memory
Joining sets of tables on a join attribute using a predefined amount of memory. A set of tables is stored on disk storage. The largest table is a streaming table. The remaining tables form a subset of tables. For each subset table, a hash table is generated, resulting in a subset of hash tables. A group of not yet joined hash tables is determined such that the size of the tables is smaller than the amount of memory. The tables are loaded to the memory. A hash join is performed between the streaming table and the group of tables, forming a temporal joined table. If the subset includes a not yet joined table with the streaming table, a further set of tables with the not yet joined and the temporal joined table is formed. The above operations are repeated using the further set of tables as the set of tables.
US09600523B2 Efficient data collection mechanism in middleware runtime environment
A mechanism for efficient collection of data is described for runtime middleware environments. Two frequencies are used, a collection frequency (CF) to collect the data and an aggregation frequency (AF) to aggregate and persist the data in a repository. The collection cycle is a shorter time interval than the aggregation cycle. An agent residing in the container periodically collects a set of data upon every collection cycle from the components of the middleware system and caches the set of data locally. Upon every aggregation cycle, the agent applies an aggregation function to the collected set of data and persists the set of data into a repository after the aggregation function has been applied. The aggregation function is such that it resulting data represents the behavior of the runtime environment in the total duration of the aggregation cycle.
US09600519B2 Method and system to detect changes to graphical user interface screenshots used in documentation
A computer system includes a processor. The processor is configured to provide a documented screenshot and a machine-executable indication of steps which generated the documented screenshot as contained in documentation. The processor also will execute the steps which generated the documented screenshot, to generate a current screenshot. The processor also will compare the documented screenshot as contained in the documentation to the current screenshot generated by executing the steps, to provide a determination whether the comparison shows differences between the documented screenshot and the current screenshot. A method according to the above will detect changes to a screenshot used in documentation. A non-transitory computer-readable medium can perform a method to detect changes to a screenshot used in documentation.
US09600517B2 Convert command into a BULK load operation
A method for inserting rows into a target table can include receiving a database command, the database command associated with a base table with at least one row to copy to a target table; receiving an indication that use of a BULK insert mode is feasible for the database command; based on the indication, and determining that an insert mode for the database command has been converted from a non-bulk insert mode to the BULK insert mode: reading a row from the base table; building the row read from the base table into an allocated row buffer; inserting the row into the target table in the BULK insert mode; and if it is determined that the allocated row buffer is full, updating at least one index in parallel with the inserting.
US09600515B2 Efficient calculation of similarity search values and digest block boundaries for data deduplication
For efficient calculation of both similarity search values and boundaries of digest blocks in data deduplication, input data is partitioned into chunks, and for each chunk a set of rolling hash values is calculated. A single linear scan of the rolling hash values is used to produce both similarity search values and boundaries of the digest blocks of the chunk. The rolling hash values are used to contribute to the calculation of the similarity search values and to the calculation of the boundaries of the digest blocks.
US09600506B2 Universal delta set management
The different advantageous embodiments provide a method for identifying changes in data sets. An ending version for a data set is received. A beginning version for the data set is identified. The ending version for the data set is compared with the beginning version for the data set. A number of differences is calculated between the ending version and the beginning version. A data structure is created that identifies the number of differences between the ending version and the beginning version.
US09600499B2 System for collecting interest graph by relevance search incorporating image recognition system
A system for comprehensively and effectively acquiring, as an interest graph, targets and regions of interest unique to a user is provided. A system according to the invention is a search system using as input means image information containing various objects and subjects, in which by querying an image recognition engine on the server side via a network about a selected image, the image recognition engine extracts and recognizes in real time various generic objects and the like contained in the specified image, and notifies a relevance search engine on the server side of recognized image components contained in the input image, and the relevance search engine extracts related elements for the individual image components, and visually presents a relevance graph with the extracted related elements as nodes together with the depths of relationships between the nodes.
US09600486B2 File system directory attribute correction
Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for facilitating file attribute correction. A computer system may receive a request to enumerate a first directory stored on a data storage. For a first file in the first directory, the computer system may determine that the first file has a corresponding first entry in an attribute cache, determine that the first entry for the first file indicates native file attributes that match the first file, and return for the first file at least one logical attribute indicated by the first entry.
US09600483B2 Categorization of digital media based on media characteristics
Digital media categorization can include receiving information including a plurality of media objects and a metadata tag descriptive of at least a first media object; comparing the first media object with a second media object; and selectively associating the first media object's metadata tag with the second media object based on a result of the comparison. Each media object can include a digital image.
US09600481B2 Media and location based social network
The present invention is directed to recording and providing media files based on a location. Such systems and methods maybe transacted by a client application or a processor in communication with one or more electronic devices. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, methods may include receiving from a first device: a media file; data comprising information identifying a location associated with the media file; storing the media file and data in a database; receiving from a second device information identifying a location of the second device; determining a geographic radius of the second device based upon user selection; determining if one or more media files stored in the database are associated with a location in the geographic radius of the second device; and sending the one or more media files to the second device.
US09600480B2 Systems and methods for indexing and linking electronic documents
The present disclosure provides various systems and methods for indexing digital (electronic) documents. The systems and methods may utilize various software, hardware, and firmware modules to identify notations, such as sheet names, anchors, and anchor references on construction documents. The identified notations are indexed and used to create hyperlinked pages that are easily navigable. In some embodiments, the hyperlinked pages may include previous- and next-sheet hyperlinks that allow for direct navigation within a set of pages, according to an order provided in an index.
US09600479B2 Electronic document retrieval and reporting with review cost and/or time estimation
An approach is provided for retrieving electronic documents. The approach provides a Web-based graphical user interface that allows users to construct complex queries that include Boolean clauses, proximity clauses and/or keyword phrases, without requiring the users to have a working knowledge of query languages. The Web-based graphical user interface also allows users to specify a semantic meaning for one or more search terms. The approach also allows users to generate various reports for search results. Various filters may be applied to manage the amount of reporting data and semantic meanings may be applied to increase relevancy. A time cost estimator provides an estimated review time for search results. Also included are approaches for using the results of simple searches to perform advanced searches, for estimating the cost and/or time for reviewing search results and for performing tagging analysis and for using logical custodians.
US09600478B2 Display control apparatus, display control method, and program
There is provided a display control apparatus including a display environment detection unit configured to detect a display environment of content, a clustering condition setting unit configured to set a clustering condition of the content based on the display environment, a clustering unit configured to execute clustering of the content based on the clustering condition, and a display control unit configured to display the content on a display unit based on a result of the clustering.
US09600476B2 Acquiring information dynamically regarding a hardware component in the cloud computing system while on the floor of the data center
A method, system and computer program product for managing hardware components in a cloud computing environment. A mobile device captures an image of a bar code placed on a rack that is associated with an identifier that references an Internet resource of the management software that manages the rack. The mobile device transmits a request to the management software for information regarding a component in the rack, where the request includes a unique identifier (e.g., serial number) associated with the component. The management software uses the unique identifier to identify the component of interest and transmits information regarding the component of interest to the mobile device. In this manner, the client device can conveniently access the management software as well as conveniently acquire information dynamically from the management software about specific hardware components in these racks while the user is on the floor of the data center.
US09600474B2 User interface for realtime language translation
A language translation application on a user device includes a user interface that provides relevant textual and graphical feedback mechanisms associated with various states of voice input and translated speech.
US09600472B2 E-services translation utilizing machine translation and translation memory
A system and method for translating data from a source language to a target language is provided wherein machine generated target translation of a source sentence is compared to a database of human generated target sentences. If a matching human generated target sentence is found, the human generated target sentence may be used instead of the machine generated sentence, since the human generated target sentence is more likely to be a well-formed sentence than the machine generated sentence. The system and method does not rely on a translation memory containing pairs of sentences in both source and target languages, and minimizes the reliance on a human translator to correct a translation generated by machine translation.
US09600470B2 Method and system relating to re-labelling multi-document clusters
Individuals receive overwhelming barrage of information which must be filtered, processed, analyzed, reviewed, consolidated and distributed or acted upon. However, prior art tools for automatically processing content, such as for example returning search results from an Internet or database search for example are ineffective. Prior art search techniques merely provide large numbers of “hits” with at most removal of multiple occurrences of identical items. However, it would be beneficial to present searches as a series of multi-document clusters wherein occurrences of commonly themed content are clustered allowing the user to rapidly see the number of different themes and review a selected theme. Further, it would be beneficial, in repeated searches, for new clusters to be identified automatically as well as new items of content associated with existing clusters to be associated to these clusters.
US09600467B2 Display apparatus and character correcting method thereof
A character correcting method of a display apparatus includes displaying a sentence including at least two words in a character input window; displaying, if one of the at least two words is selected, a first user interface (UI) in which the at least one selected word is displayed by a character unit; and, displaying, if one of a plurality of characters displayed in the first UI is selected, a second UI around the selected character, the second UI is configured to edit the selected character.
US09600466B2 Named entity extraction from a block of text
A data processing method, program, and apparatus for identifying a document within a block of text. A block of text is tokenized into a plurality of text tokens according to at least one rule parser. Each of the plurality of text tokens is sequentially compared to a plurality of document tokens to determine if the text token matches one of the plurality of document tokens. The plurality of document tokens correspond to a plurality of documents which have been tokenized according to the one or more rule parsers. Each matched text token is filtered according to predetermined filtering criteria to generate one or more candidate text tokens. It is then determined whether sequence of candidate text tokens that occur in sequential order within the block of text match sequence of document tokens. If so, then it is determined that the document has been identified within the block of text. The document can correspond to an artist, a song names, and misspellings and aliases thereof.
US09600465B2 Methods and apparatuses for quantifying the holistic value of an existing network of devices by measuring the complexity of a generated grammar
Method and apparatuses for constructing a grammar to describe interactions among a plurality of devices in a network are disclosed. An aspect receives, by a network interface of a device, device capabilities of each of the plurality of devices, generates, by a reduced device list generator of the device, a reduced device list representing groupings of the plurality of devices based on the device capabilities, models, by an interaction sequence modeler of the device, one or more sequences of interactions among the plurality of devices using the reduced device list, constructs, by a grammar construction module of the device, the grammar based on the modeled one or more sequences of interactions, and stores the grammar in a memory of the device.
US09600464B2 Authoring tool for the authoring of wrap packages of cards
An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, widgets, global components, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
US09600457B2 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.
US09600456B2 Automatically performing a web service operation
In a method for automatically performing a web service operation, input regarding actions of a user performing a task on a web service are received, an automated web task from the received input is generated, in which the automated web task is to perform the received actions, In addition, an image containing an object is accessed, the object contained in the image is associated with the automated web task to cause the automated web task to be automatically performed by another image containing the object, and the association between the object and the automated web task is stored in a data store.
US09600451B2 Method, terminal, and server for displaying file
A method for a terminal to display a file includes sending to a server a file specification corresponding to the file; receiving from the server a data package for trimming page margins of the file, wherein the data package is generated according to the file specification, and includes margin trimming data of a page of the file; and displaying the page of the file based on the received data package.
US09600449B2 Authoring tool for the authoring of wrap packages of cards
An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, widgets, global components, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
US09600447B2 Methods and systems for page layout using a virtual art director
A layout manager can generate a layout for displaying a plurality of content units in a display area using a layout strategy, with the layout strategy specifying a layout design rule. The generated layout can indicate a position in the display area for the plurality of content units. In some embodiments, the design rule(s) may in effect “codify” traditional graphic design principles. When the layout is generated, the content units can be placed into a display area of a page and then the layout can be checked against at least one design rule and the layout adjusted as needed to meet the design rule. The system can comprise a user interface module that renders the content units in the display area using the generated layout. In some embodiments, content units are placed into a layout on a one-by-one basis according to priority, available display space, and one or more design rules.
US09600439B2 Network management for optimizing cache location
A location manager includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor executes a process including extracting a combination of a transfer device and a path by using topology information indicating a relation of connections among transfer devices. The process including calculating a sum of an amount of electric power consumed by the transfer device being included in the combination to store the data and an amount of electric power consumed by transfer devices on a path included in the combination to transfer the data. The process including selecting a combination of which the sum of electric power calculated at the calculating is a minimum sum out of the combinations extracted at the extracting. The process including outputting information indicating the combination selected at the selecting.
US09600436B2 Split transaction protocol for a bus system
A method of and apparatus for communicating between a host and an agent. The method includes the step of performing a first transaction between a host controller and a hub. The hub is operable to perform a single transaction with an agent based on the first transaction. The method then includes the step of performing a second transaction between the host controller and the hub. The second transaction is based on the single transaction.
US09600435B2 Peripheral device and connection techniques
New techniques for establishing communications connections for computer peripheral devices are provided. In some aspects, new forms of audio-jack-connecting peripheral devices are disclosed, which permit the continued use of the phone jack of a PDA for purposes other than communication with the peripheral device. In other aspects, a new technique for rapidly establishing a uniform, secure wireless peripheral device network is provided. In some embodiments of the invention, the secure peripheral device network is activated by physical docking and/or interlocking, without any use of a wired network connection, based on precise proximity and location information. In other embodiments, a secure, encrypted peripheral device network is established by a system in response to terminating a wired network connection, easing the transition from wired to wireless connection status, and easing the creation of a wireless network, generally.
US09600432B2 Verifying runtime switch-over between multiple I/O protocols on shared I/O connection
A verification environment enables verification of runtime switch-over—i.e., a switch-over without restarting the device under test—between multiple I/O protocols that share a same physical interface. The device under test can be a switch unit having multiple logical protocol processing units and a logical protocol multiplexor. The verification environment includes a switch-over detector which monitors the state of the device under test, and a switch-over controller that controls the switch-over sequence by pausing and re-starting traffic on all or specific protocol drivers of the verification environment.
US09600431B2 High performance interconnect physical layer
A set of training sequences is generated, each training sequence to include a respective training sequence header, and the training sequence header is to be DC-balanced over the set of training sequences. The set of training sequences can be combined with electric ordered sets to form supersequences for use in such tasks as link adaptation, link state transitions, byte lock, deskew, and other tasks.
US09600429B2 Encapsulated accelerator
A data processing system comprising: a host computer system supporting a software entity and a receive queue for the software entity; a network interface device having a controller unit configured to provide a data port for receiving data packets from a network and a data bus interface for connection to a host computer system, the network interface device being connected to the host computer system by means of the data bus interface; and an accelerator module arranged between the controller unit and a network and having a first medium access controller for connection to the network and a second medium access controller coupled to the data port of the controller unit, the accelerator module being configured to: on behalf of the software entity, process incoming data packets received from the network in one or more streams associated with a first set of one or more network endpoints; encapsulate data resulting from said processing in network data packets directed to the software entity; and deliver the network data packets to the data port of the controller unit so as to cause the network data packets to be written to the receive queue of the software entity.
US09600426B2 Bus control device, image processing apparatus, and bus control method
A bus control device includes a plurality of bus masters classified into a plurality of groups according to a priority level, a plurality of group buses each group bus being connected to a corresponding group of bus masters and assigned with a priority level determined according to the priority levels of the corresponding group of bus masters, an upper priority bus that arbitrates a plurality of bus obtaining requests received from the plurality of bus maters via the plurality of group buses, a plurality of masks respectively provided for the plurality of bus masters to mask the bus obtaining request addressed to the corresponding group bus from the corresponding bus master, and a plurality of mask controllers respectively provided for the plurality of group buses to output at least one mask signal that controls operation of at least one corresponding mask connected to the corresponding group bus.
US09600418B2 Systems and methods for improving processor efficiency through caching
Certain embodiments herein relate to using tagless access buffers (TABs) to optimize energy efficiency in various computing systems. Candidate memory references in an L1 data cache may be identified and stored in the TAB. Various techniques may be implemented for identifying the candidate references and allocating the references into the TAB. Groups of memory references may also be allocate to a single TAB entry or may be allocated to an extra TAB entry (such that two lines in the TAB may be used to store L1 data cache lines), for example, when a strided access pattern spans two consecutive L1 data cache lines. Certain other embodiments are related to data filter cache and multi-issue tagless hit instruction cache (TH-IC) techniques.