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US09634354B2 |
Solid state catholytes and electrolytes for energy storage devices
The present invention provides an energy storage device comprising a cathode region or other element. The device has a major active region comprising a plurality of first active regions spatially disposed within the cathode region. The major active region expands or contracts from a first volume to a second volume during a period of a charge and discharge. The device has a catholyte material spatially confined within a spatial region of the cathode region and spatially disposed within spatial regions not occupied by the first active regions. The device has a protective material formed overlying exposed regions of the cathode material to substantially maintain the sulfur species within the catholyte material. Also included is a novel dopant configuration of the LiaMPbSc (LMPS) [M=Si, Ge, and/or Sn] containing material. |
US09634353B2 |
Low internal resistance beta—and beta″—alumina electrolyte produced via vapor phase method
A process for making a solid electrolyte for an electrochemical cell. The process includes providing a multilayer material having a porous layer and a nonporous layer, the nonporous layer containing a first oxide selected from alpha-alumina, gamma-alumina, alpha-gallium oxide, and/or combinations thereof. In addition, an alkali-metal oxide vapor is provided and the nonporous layer is exposed to the alkali-metal oxide vapor at an elevated temperature such that the nonporous layer is converted to a solid second oxide electrolyte layer that is conductive to alkali metal ions. The second oxide is an alkali-metal-beta-alumina, alkali-metal-beta″-alumina, alkali-metal-beta-gallate, and/or alkali-metal-beta″-gallate. |
US09634351B2 |
Mechanical structures for maintaining structural integrity in cylindrical pouch cell batteries
The disclosed embodiments relate to the design and manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a jelly roll containing layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a mechanical structure disposed around a perimeter of the jelly roll to maintain a structural integrity of the jelly roll. Finally, the battery cell includes a pouch enclosing the mechanical structure and the jelly roll, wherein the pouch is flexible. |
US09634345B2 |
Convective flow field for fuel cell stack
The reactant distribution in a gas diffusion layer adjacent the landings of a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell can be improved by using a flow field plate in which suitable sequential protrusions have been incorporated in the channels. The reactant flow field in the plate comprises a plurality of parallel channels in which protrusions are arranged in a sequence along each channel's length and the sequential protrusions in any given channel are offset with respect to the sequential protrusions in the channels immediately adjacent thereto. |
US09634344B2 |
Hydrogen purifier, hydrogen generation apparatus, and fuel cell system
A hydrogen purifier includes: a CO remover configured to reduce carbon monoxide in a hydrogen-containing gas through an oxidation reaction, the hydrogen-containing gas containing ammonia and carbon monoxide; and an ammonia remover provided upstream from the CO remover, the ammonia remover being configured to cause a reaction between ammonia in the hydrogen-containing gas and oxygen by using a catalyst to decompose the ammonia. |
US09634341B2 |
Apparatus and method for diagnosing fuel cell
An apparatus and method for diagnosing a fuel cell diagnoses a state of a fuel cell by estimating a fuel-cell equivalent circuit. The apparatus for diagnosing a fuel cell includes: an impedance measurement unit configured to measure impedance of a fuel cell within a predetermined frequency range; an equivalent circuit model unit configured to derive each parameter value by estimating a predetermined fuel-cell equivalent circuit model in response to the impedance received from the impedance measurement unit; and a fuel-cell-state diagnosis unit configured to diagnose a state of the fuel cell by detecting a variation of the parameter value derived from the equivalent circuit model unit. |
US09634340B2 |
Plate-style water vapor transfer unit with integral headers
A water vapor transfer unit having fluid flow conduits which distribute wet or dry fluid throughout the water vapor transfer unit, which are created by forming apertures in each wet and dry plate so that when the plates are stacked, fluid flow inlet and outlet headers are integrated into the flow stack. These integrated headers negate the need for traditional wet and dry fluid inlet and outlet manifolds external to the water vapor transfer unit stack. Because the plates are stacked and sealed so that the fluid flows cannot co-mingle, the fluids are introduced directly into the stack, flow across the flow fields, and exit the stack without leakage or flow contamination. The integrated header design allows for sealing the stack on no more than a single plane defined by the stack or on no more than two parallel opposing planes and allows for accommodation of stack expansion and contraction. |
US09634339B2 |
Redox flow battery and method of operating the same
A redox flow battery includes: a positive electrolyte storage tank; a negative electrolyte storage tank; a cell stack; a positive electrolyte outward path that sends positive electrolyte to positive electrode chambers in the cell stack; a positive electrolyte return path that sends positive electrolyte to the positive electrolyte storage tank; a negative electrolyte outward path that sends negative electrolyte to negative electrode chambers of the cells; a negative electrolyte return path that sends negative electrolyte to the negative electrolyte storage tank; an entrance open circuit voltage measuring portion that measures an upstream open circuit voltage between the positive electrolyte inside the positive electrolyte outward path and the negative electrolyte inside the negative electrolyte outward path; and an exit open circuit voltage measuring portion that measures a downstream open circuit voltage between the positive electrolyte inside the positive electrolyte return path and the negative electrolyte inside the negative electrolyte return path. |
US09634338B2 |
Humidification cell
A humidification cell of a fuel cell apparatus includes a first outer plate and a second outer plate. A gas chamber, a humidification chamber and a water-permeable membrane separating the two chambers, are disposed between the first outer plate and the second outer plate, starting from the first outer plate. A first water-permeable support element that prevents fibers from detaching and also prevents medium flows from blocking narrow gas outlets, is disposed between the first outer plate and the membrane in such a way that the first support element is made of a filter material. |
US09634337B2 |
Freeze-resistant fuel cell condensers
Cathode exhaust of an evaporatively cooled fuel cell stack (50) is condensed in a heat exchanger (12a, 23, 23a) having extended fins (14, 25a) or tubes (24, 24a) to prevent pooling of condensate, and/or having the entire exit surface of the condenser rendered hydrophilic with wicking (32) to conduct water away. The cathode exhaust flow paths may be vertical or horizontal, they may be partly or totally rendered hydrophilic, and if so, in liquid communication with hydrophilic end surfaces of the condenser, and the condensers (49) may be tilted away from a normal orientation with respect to earth's gravity. |
US09634336B2 |
Fuel cell stack having end plate with external coolant manifold
A first end plate of a fuel cell stack has a coolant supply manifold and a coolant discharge manifold. The coolant supply manifold includes a pair of manifold sections and a supply coupling section coupling upper portions of the pair of supply manifold sections. The pair of supply manifold sections communicate with a pair of coolant supply passages of the first end plate. A coolant supply pipe is coupled to a lower end of one of the supply manifold sections with an inclination of a predetermined angle from a vertical direction toward a horizontal direction. |
US09634334B2 |
Laminated thin film battery
Disclosed is a laminated thin film battery which is capable of exhibiting a high capacity and does not require a separate barrier to be formed on a surface after lamination. A first thin film battery and a second thin film battery, in which cathode current collectors and anode current collectors are formed on first surfaces, are laminated in such a type that the respective first surfaces face each other. The cathode current collectors of the first thin film battery and the second thin film battery are electrically connected to a cathode terminal, and the anode current collectors of the first thin film battery and the second thin film battery are electrically connected to an anode terminal. |
US09634331B2 |
Non-PGM cathode catalysts for fuel cell application derived from heat treated heteroatomic amines precursors
A method of preparing M-N—C catalysts utilizing a sacrificial support approach and inexpensive and readily available polymer precursors as the source of nitrogen and carbon is disclosed. Exemplary polymer precursors include non-porphyrin precursors with no initial catalytic activity. Examples of suitable non-catalytic non-porphyrin precursors include, but are not necessarily limited to low molecular weight precursors that form complexes with iron such as 4-aminoantipirine, phenylenediamine, hydroxysuccinimide, ethanolamine, and the like. |
US09634327B2 |
Negative electrode active material for lithium ion secondary battery, method for producing the same, negative electrode, and battery
In the case where a silicon substance having a high theoretical capacity as a negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery is used as a negative electrode active material, such a negative electrode active material is provided that has a high initial battery capacity and suffers less deterioration in performance even when many cycles of charge and discharge are repeated. A lithium ion secondary battery using the negative electrode active material is provided. Silicon and copper (II) oxide, or silicon, metallic copper and water are pulverized and simultaneously mixed in a pulverization device, thereby providing a negative electrode active material that has good cycle characteristics and a large battery capacity. |
US09634326B2 |
Antimony based anode material for rechargeable batteries and preparation method
An antimony based anode material for a rechargeable battery comprises nanoparticles of composition SbMxOy where M is a further element selected from the group consisting of Sn, Ni, Cu, In, Al, Ge, Pb, Bi, Fe, Co, Ga, with 0≦x<2 and 0≦y≦2.5+2x. The nanoparticles form a substantially monodisperse ensemble with an average size not exceeding a value of 30 nm and by a size deviation not exceeding 15%. A method for preparing the antimony based anode material is carried out in situ in a non-aqueous solvent and starts by reacting an antimony salt and an organometallic amide reactant and oleylamine. |
US09634324B2 |
Nickel-metal hydride battery and method for producing hydrogen storage alloy
It is an object of the present invention to improve the cycle performance in a nickel-metal hydride battery using a rare earth-Mg—Ni type alloy. The present invention provides a nickel-metal hydride battery having a negative electrode including an La—Mg—Ni based hydrogen absorbing alloy, wherein the hydrogen absorbing alloy has a crystal phase having Gd2Co7 type crystal structure and contains calcium. |
US09634322B2 |
Active material for rechargeable battery, rechargeable battery, and electronic apparatus
A rechargeable battery including: a positive electrode; a negative electrode including active material; and an electrolytic solution, in which the active material is capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions and includes Si and O as constituent elements, and an atomic ratio (Si/(Si+O)) of Si with respect to Si and O is 30 atomic % to 75 atomic % in a surface of the active material. |
US09634317B2 |
Reactive separator for a metal-ion battery
A reactive separator is provided for a metal-ion battery. The reactive separator is made up of a reactive layer that is chemically reactive to alkali or alkaline earth metals, and has a first side and a second side. A first non-reactive layer, chemically non-reactive with alkali or alkaline earth metals, is adjacent to the reactive layer first side. A second non-reactive layer, also chemically non-reactive with alkali or alkaline earth metals, is adjacent to the reactive layer second side. More explicitly, the first and second non-reactive layers are defined as having less than 5 percent by weight (wt %) of materials able to participate in electrochemical reactions with alkali or alkaline earth metals. The reactive layer may be formed as a porous membrane embedded with reactive components, where the porous membrane is carbon or a porous polymer. Alternatively, the reactive layer is formed as a polymer gel embedded with reactive components. |
US09634315B2 |
Carbon containing binderless electrode formation
An anode or negative electrode having a material matrix of carbon, graphene and an active element such as silicon or tin is described. The electrode is fabricated from an electrode slurry that does not utilize an organic binder. The electrode slurry comprises a combination of silicon and graphene oxide suspensions that is applied to a surface of a substrate such as a current collector. The layer of electrode slurry is heat treated to ensure adhesion of the layer of active electrode material to the surface of the current collector. The electrode may be incorporated within a lithium ion electrochemical cell. |
US09634314B2 |
Battery pack and method of monitoring removal of secondary battery in battery pack
A battery pack and a simple construction is provided. The battery pack includes a plurality of secondary batteries, a housing storing the plurality of secondary batteries, and an inspection circuit stored in the housing. The housing includes a main body section and a closing member to close an opening for taking the plurality of secondary batteries in and out of the main body section, and includes a plurality of fixing members for fixing the closing member on the main body section, the plurality of fixing members being made of a conductive material. An attachment state of the fixing members with respect to the closing member and the main body section is monitored by the inspection circuit, and an attachment order of the fixing members with respect to the closing member and the main body section is memorized by the inspection circuit. |
US09634311B2 |
Separator including coating layer and battery including the same
A separator includes a coating layer, the coating layer containing a polyvinylidene fluoride homopolymer, a polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a solvent, and inorganic particles, the solvent being present in an amount of about 100 ppm or less in the coating layer. |
US09634308B2 |
Single layer structure of micron fibers applied in separator for battery
A single layer structure of micron or nano fibers, and a multi-layer structure of micron and nano fibers. The single layer structure of micron fibers includes a web of micron fibers and an impregnating resin, and has a pore size of 1 nm-500 nm. The web of micron fibers is formed by plural interweaved micron fibers (D≧1 μm). The single layer structure of nano fibers includes a web of nano fibers formed by plural interweaved nano fibers (D<1 μm). The multi-layer structure of micron and nano fibers includes a web of interweaved micron fibers, a web of nano fibers formed by plural nano fibers interweaved on the web of micron fibers, a mixture layer formed by parts of the interweaved nano and micron fibers, and a resin at least impregnating the mixture layer and parts of the micron fibers of the web of micron fibers. |
US09634307B2 |
Battery pack
Provided is a battery pack that is unlikely to be affected by vibration, shock, or the like, and has stable characteristics.A battery pack includes a battery module 300 that is made by stacking battery holding bodies 200 on which film-covered batteries are placed with positive- and negative-electrode pull-out tabs being taken out from the same side in such a way that sides from which the positive- and negative-electrode pull-out tabs are pulled out are aligned with each other, wherein: an extension tab connected each of the tabs is pulled out from a battery holding body in such a way as to extend in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the pull-out tab and in a direction opposite to the other pull-out tab; and the extension tabs are each bent along a side surface in a direction perpendicular to a battery stacking surface, and are stacked up and electrically connected. |
US09634304B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack includes a battery cell, a circuit board, and a holder. The battery cell includes a battery device covered with a laminate film. The circuit board is connected to the battery cell. The holder includes a cell holder that covers the battery cell and a circuit board holder that covers the circuit board. In battery pack, the circuit board holder covering the circuit board is arranged in a space formed above a terrace portion of the battery cell covered with the cell holder. |
US09634288B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device includes a substrate, a light emitting structure, and a reflective metal layer. The substrate includes a pixel region and a peripheral region. The light emitting structure is disposed on the substrate. The reflective metal layer is disposed between the substrate and the light emitting structure. The reflective metal layer includes a plurality of nanowires and a plurality of openings that is defined by the nanowires. |
US09634287B1 |
Display structure of display device with block members having different haights
A display device and a method of manufacturing the display device are disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a substrate including a display region and a peripheral region. A first block member is in the peripheral region and surrounding display structures, the first block member having a first height. A second block member is spaced apart from the first block member in a first direction extending from the display region to the peripheral region, the second block member surrounding the first block member, the second block member having a second height that is greater than the first height. A first encapsulation layer is over the display structures, the first block member, and the second block member. A second encapsulation layer is over the first encapsulation layer, the second encapsulation layer overlapping at least a portion of the first block member in the depth dimension of the display device. |
US09634282B2 |
OLED package structure and OLED packaging method
The present invention provides an OLED package structure and an OLED packaging method. The OLED package structure includes a substrate (1), a package lid (2) arranged opposite to the substrate (1), an OLED device (11) arranged between the substrate (1) and the package lid (2) and mounted to the substrate (1), and enclosure rein (3) located between the substrate (1) and the package lid (2) and bonding the substrate (1) and the package lid (2) together. The package lid (2) includes a recess (21) formed therein at a location corresponding to the OLED device (11). The recess (21) includes therein a plurality of corrugation projection structures (212) arranged therein and extending outwards from a bottom of the recess (21). Desiccant (211) is attached to the bottom of the recess (21) in an area between two adjacent ones of the corrugation projection structures (212). |
US09634281B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an organic light-emitting display apparatus. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, a first reflective electrode that is disposed over the substrate, an organic layer that is disposed over the first reflective electrode, and includes a light emission layer, and a second reflective electrode that is disposed over the organic layer. At least one of the first and second reflective electrodes comprises a low refractive layer having a refractive index of about 1.4 or less which is smaller than that of the organic layer. |
US09634278B2 |
OLED pixel structure
The present invention provides an OLED pixel structure, comprising: red, green and blue sub pixels, and the red sub pixel comprises a red light emitting layer, and the green sub pixel comprises a green light emitting layer, and the blue sub pixel comprises a blue light emitting layer, and material of the blue light emitting layer comprises inorganic quantum dots, and the blue light emitting layer emits white light, and a blue light filter is located corresponding to the blue sub pixel. By the blue sub pixel utilizing inorganic quantum dots+blue light filter, the stability and the life time of the OLED elements have been obviously promoted. The present invention further adds a white sub pixel, and the white sub pixel comprises a white light emitting layer, and material of the white light emitting layer comprises inorganic quantum dots. With the added white sub pixel, the luminous efficiency of the OLED is raised and the energy consumption thereof is reduced. |
US09634275B2 |
Organic electroluminescent element, display device and illuminating device
Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent element having high luminous efficiency and long life. Also disclosed are a display device and an illuminating device respectively using such an organic electroluminescent element. Specifically disclosed is an organic electroluminescent element comprising an electrode and at least one or more organic layers on a substrate. This organic electroluminescent element is characterized in that at least one of the organic layers is a light-emitting layer containing a phosphorescent compound and a host compound, the phosphorescent compound has a HOMO of −5.15 to −3.50 eV and a LUMO of from −1.25 to +1.00 eV, and the host compound has a 0-0 band of the phosphorescence spectrum at not more than 460 nm and a glass transition temperature of not less than 60° C. |
US09634269B2 |
Conductive flexible substrate and manufacture thereof, and OLED display device and manufacture method thereof
The present invention provides a conductive flexible substrate and a manufacture method thereof and an OLED display device and a manufacture method thereof. The conductive flexible substrate comprises a flexible substrate (1), mesh conductive lines (2) located on the flexible substrate (1) and embossing from a surface of one side of the flexible substrate (1), and a conductive layer (3) filling among the mesh conductive lines (2); a surface of one side of the flexible substrate (1) away from the mesh conductive lines (2) and the conductive layer (3) is flat. The conductive flexible substrate is capable of promoting the conductivity of the flexible substrate, and applying the conductive flexible substrate to an OLED display device can solve the issue of low conductivity of anodes in the OLED display device. |
US09634267B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
A light-emitting element of the present invention can have sufficiently high emission efficiency with a structure including a host material being able to remain chemically stable even if a phosphorescent compound having higher emission energy is used as a guest material. The relation between the relative emission intensity and the emission time of light emission obtained from the host material and the guest material contained in a light-emitting layer is represented by a multicomponent decay curve. The relative emission intensity of the slowest component of the multicomponent decay curve becomes 1/100 for a short time within a range where the slowest component is not interfered with by quenching of the host material (the emission time of the slowest component is preferably less than or equal to 15 μsec); thus, sufficiently high emission efficiency can be obtained. |
US09634265B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials and devices
Novel organic compounds comprising ligands with deuterium substitution are provided. In particular, the compound is an iridium complex comprising methyl-d3 substituted ligands. The compounds may be used in organic light emitting devices to provide devices having improved color, efficiency and lifetime. |
US09634263B2 |
Organic compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, display device, electronic device, and lighting device
A novel organic compound that forms an exciplex emitting light with high efficiency is provided. An organic compound with a triarylamine skeleton in which the three aryl groups of the triarylamine skeleton are a p-biphenyl group, a fluoren-2-yl group, and a phenyl group to which a dibenzofuranyl group or a dibenzothiophenyl group is bonded. By the use of the organic compound and an organic compound with an electron-transport property, an exciplex that emits light with extremely high efficiency can be formed. |
US09634260B2 |
Method for preparing conjugated compound having phenoxathiin and electron donating group of conjugated aromatic unit, and OLED device having the conjugated compound
The disclosure provides a conjugated compound having phenoxathiinl, method for preparing the same and OLED. The conjugated compound has one of the following formulas: Different kinds of electron-rich conjugated aromatic units are reacted with intermediate having phenoxathiinl by Suzuki coupling, Buchwald-Hartwig coupling, or Cu-catalyzed amination of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons for forming the conjugated compound having phenoxathiin. The prepared novel compound is fluorescent, so that it can be used as the material of light emitting layer of OLED devices. |
US09634253B2 |
Donor-acceptor conjugated polymer and organic electronic device comprising the same
Disclosed herein are a donor-acceptor conjugated polymer and an organic electronic device including the same. According to embodiments of the invention, it is possible to realize a conjugated polymer suitable for organic memory devices and a multi-functional, high-performance, large-area organic memory device for electronics including the same, the organic memory device operating in air. |
US09634251B2 |
Nanotube solution treated with molecular additive, nanotube film having enhanced adhesion property, and methods for forming the nanotube solution and the nanotube film
The present disclosure provides a nanotube solution being treated with a molecular additive, a nanotube film having enhanced adhesion property due to the treatment of the molecular additive, and methods for forming the nanotube solution and the nanotube film. The nanotube solution includes a liquid medium, nanotubes in the liquid medium, and a molecular additive in the liquid medium, wherein the molecular additive includes molecules that provide source elements for forming a group IV oxide within the nanotube solution. The molecular additive can introduce silicon (Si) and/or germanium (Ge) in the liquid medium, such that nominal silicon and/or germanium concentrations of the nanotube solution ranges from about 5 ppm to about 60 ppm. |
US09634250B2 |
Resistive RAM devices and methods
The present disclosure includes a high density resistive random access memory (RRAM) device, as well as methods of fabricating a high density RRAM device. One method of forming an RRAM device includes forming a resistive element having a metal-metal oxide interface. Forming the resistive element includes forming an insulative material over the first electrode, and forming a via in the insulative material. The via is conformally filled with a metal material, and the metal material is planarized to within the via. A portion of the metal material within the via is selectively treated to create a metal-metal oxide interface within the via. A second electrode is formed over the resistive element. |
US09634242B2 |
Data reader with front shield coupling structure
A data reader may consist of at least a magnetoresistive stack positioned on an air bearing surface. A portion of the magnetoresistive stack may be set to a first fixed magnetization by a pinning structure separated from the air bearing surface by a front shield that is set to a second fixed magnetization by a biasing structure. The front shield may be separated from the biasing structure by a coupling structure. |
US09634235B2 |
Method for manufacturing liquid ejecting head
A method for manufacturing a liquid ejecting head including a laminate formed of a flow path substrate having a flow path communicating with nozzle openings that eject a liquid, a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode, the method including stacking the first electrode, the piezoelectric material, the second electrode, and a reinforcing member on top of one another to form a laminate; heating the laminate to form a piezoelectric layer made of the piezoelectric material; bonding the laminate to the flow path substrate on a first electrode side; and removing the reinforcing member. |
US09634234B2 |
Downhole energy harvesting method and device
A device generates electrical energy from mechanical motion in a downhole environment. The device includes a magnetostrictive element and an electrically conductive coil. The magnetostrictive element has a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are coupled between a rotor and a bearing. The magnetostrictive element is configured to experience axial strain in response to radial movement of at least one of the rotor or the bearing with reference to the other. The electrically conductive coil is disposed in proximity to the magnetostrictive element. The coil is configured to generate an electrical current in response to a change in flux density of the magnetostrictive element. |
US09634223B2 |
Superconductor, superconducting wire, and method of forming the superconductor
A super conductor is formed by a process including a first step of forming liquid-phase rare earth-copper-barium oxide by heat treating a superconductor precursor including a rare earth element, barium, and copper, a second step of forming a first superconductor of the rare earth-copper-barium oxide that is epitaxially grown from the liquid-phase rare earth-copper-barium oxide, and a third step of forming a second superconductor of the rare earth-copper-barium oxide by heat treating the first superconductor, wherein the heat treatment of the third step is performed in an atmosphere in which the rare earth-copper-barium oxide has no liquid phase. |
US09634217B2 |
Thermally controllable energy generation system
A thermally controllable energy generation system comprising an insulated, thermally-enhanced generator with a power circuit for conveying power. The thermally enhanced generator and its available voltage is controlled by a circuit which changes the ambient temperature of the generator through the use of a heating element and heating circuit. A controller circuit is in communication with the temperature sensor, the control circuit, the heating circuit and the power circuit. The thermally enhanced generator includes at least one cell, which comprises a layer of electron-rich donor material in contact with a layer of hole-rich acceptor material, sandwiched between an anode and a cathode. One of the layers is a stabilized mixture of carbon and an ionic material (carbon matrix) and the other layer is a stabilized oxide mixed with an ionic material (oxide matrix). |
US09634215B2 |
Light emitting device package and light unit
Embodiments provide a light emitting device package including a package body having a through-hole; a radiator disposed in the through-hole and including an alloy layer having Cu; and a light emitting device disposed on the radiator, wherein the alloy layer includes at least one of W or Mo, and wherein the package body includes cavity including a sidewall and a bottom surface, and wherein the through-hole is formed in the bottom surface. |
US09634212B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor light source, a resin package surrounding the semiconductor light source, and a lead fixed to the resin package. The lead is provided with a die bonding pad for bonding the semiconductor light source, and with an exposed surface opposite to the die bonding pad The exposed surface is surrounded by the resin package in the in-plane direction of the exposed surface. |
US09634205B2 |
Light emitting device and image display unit
A light emitting device includes a package having a recess, a lead frame buried in the package so that one end of the lead frame is exposed at a bottom of the recess and another end protrudes to an exterior of the package, a light emitting element arranged on the lead frame exposed at the bottom of the recess, and an encapsulant filled in the recess. The package includes, at the side face where the lead frame protrudes, a first side face formed inwardly relative to a side face of the lead frame, and a second side face formed at a lower portion of the first side face and protruded so as to cover a top face of the lead frame. |
US09634203B2 |
Light emitting device, surface light source, liquid crystal display device, and method for manufacturing light emitting device
A light emitting device includes: a substrate having a main surface; a phosphor layer provided on the main surface and containing an LED element that emits primary light and a fluorescent particle that absorbs a part of the primary light and emits secondary light; and a transparent resin layer having a refractive index n and covering the phosphor layer. The transparent resin layer has an outer circumferential surface that forms a boundary between the transparent resin layer and the atmosphere. When a minimum circumference that includes the overall phosphor layer and is concentric with the outer circumferential surface has a radius r in a cut surface where at least a part of the outer circumferential surface takes a shape of an arc having a radius R, a relationship of R>r·n is satisfied. With such configuration, the light extraction efficiency is enhanced. |
US09634200B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device comprises a supporting substrate that has light reflecting characteristics; a wavelength conversion layer that is disposed on the supporting substrate, and contains semiconductor nanoparticles developing a quantum size effect; an optical semiconductor laminate that is disposed on the wavelength conversion layer and has light emitting characteristics; and a photonic crystal layer that is disposed on the optical semiconductor laminate, and that has first portions having a first refractive index and second portions having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, the first portions and the second portions being arranged in a two-dimensional cyclic pattern. |
US09634196B2 |
Nanostructure layer and light emitting diode with the same
A nanostructure layer includes a number of nanostructures, wherein the number of nanostructures are aligned along a number of straight lines, a size of each of the number of nanostructures ranges from about 20 nanometers to about 100 nanometers, a distance between adjacent two nanostructures ranges from about 10 nanometers to about 300 nanometers, and each of the number of nanostructures includes a core and a shell coated on the core. A light emitting diode with the nanostructure layer is also provided. |
US09634195B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device is provided. The light-emitting device comprises: a semiconductor system comprising a light-emitting semiconductor stack; and an electrode comprising a surface next to the semiconductor system and comprising a base material and a contact material different from the base material, wherein the contact material diffuses into the semiconductor system; wherein the contact material has a largest intensity at a first depth position from a SIMS spectrum, and a distance between the first depth position and the surface is not less than 500 nm. |
US09634194B2 |
Light-emitting diode chip
A light-emitting diode (LED) chip is disclosed. The chip includes a light-emitting diode and an electrode layer on the light-emitting diode. The electrode layer includes a reflective metal layer. The reflective metal layer includes a first composition and a second composition. The first composition includes aluminum or silver, and the second composition includes copper, silicon, tin, platinum, gold, palladium or a combination thereof. The weight percentage of the second composition is greater than 0% and less than 20%. |
US09634192B2 |
Light emitting device and lighting system
Disclosed are a light emitting device, a method of fabricating the same, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device may include a substrate, a first conductive semiconductor layer on the substrate, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer, an ohmic layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer, an insulating layer on the ohmic layer, a first branch electrode electrically connected with the first conductive semiconductor layer, a first pad electrode connected with the first branch electrode for electrical connection with the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second pad electrode in contact with the ohmic layer through the insulating layer, a second branch electrode connected with the second pad electrode on the insulating layer, and a second through electrode passing through the insulating layer to connect the second branch electrode with the ohmic layer. |
US09634191B2 |
Wire bond free wafer level LED
A wire-bond free semiconductor device with two electrodes both of which are accessible from the bottom side of the device. The device is fabricated with two electrodes that are electrically connected to the oppositely doped epitaxial layers, each of these electrodes having leads with bottom-side access points. This structure allows the device to be biased with an external voltage/current source, obviating the need for wire-bonds or other such connection mechanisms that must be formed at the packaging level. Thus, features that are traditionally added to the device at the packaging level (e.g., phosphor layers or encapsulants) may be included in the wafer level fabrication process. Additionally, the bottom-side electrodes are thick enough to provide primary structural support to the device, eliminating the need to leave the growth substrate as part of the finished device. |
US09634184B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor device
An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a layer stack based on a nitride compound semiconductor and has an n-type semiconductor region , a p-type semiconductor region and an active layer arranged between the n-type semiconductor region and the p-type semiconductor region. In order to form an electron barrier, the p-type semiconductor region includes a layer sequence having a plurality of p-doped layers composed of AlxInyGa1−x−yN where 0<=x<=1, 0<=y<=1 and x+y<=1. The layer sequence includes a first p-doped layer having an aluminum proportion x1>=0.5 and a thickness of not more than 3 nm, and the first p-doped layer, at a side facing away from the active layer, is succeeded by at least a second p-doped layer having an aluminum proportion x2 |
US09634183B2 |
Semiconductor material doping
A solution for designing and/or fabricating a structure including a quantum well and an adjacent barrier is provided. A target band discontinuity between the quantum well and the adjacent barrier is selected to coincide with an activation energy of a dopant for the quantum well and/or barrier. For example, a target valence band discontinuity can be selected such that a dopant energy level of a dopant in the adjacent barrier coincides with a valence energy band edge for the quantum well and/or a ground state energy for free carriers in a valence energy band for the quantum well. Additionally, a target doping level for the quantum well and/or adjacent barrier can be selected to facilitate a real space transfer of holes across the barrier. The quantum well and the adjacent barrier can be formed such that the actual band discontinuity and/or actual doping level(s) correspond to the relevant target(s). |
US09634181B2 |
Method of forming a composite substrate
In a method according to embodiments of the invention, a III-nitride layer is grown on a growth substrate. The III-nitride layer is connected to a host substrate. The growth substrate is removed. The growth substrate is a non-III-nitride material. The growth substrate has an in-plane lattice constant a substrate. The III-nitride layer has a bulk lattice constant a layer. In some embodiments, [(|a substrate−a layer|)/asubstrate]*100% is no more than 1%. |
US09634170B2 |
Concentrator photovoltaic panel, concentrator photovoltaic, and concentrator photovoltaic system
A concentrator photovoltaic is formed by concentrator photovoltaic panels each having solar cells arranged on the back side of concentrating lenses. A plurality of portions of an image are imaged at the periphery of each of the solar cells in each of the panels. When each of the panels tracks the sun to be swung in the right-left direction and in the up-down direction, an image which can be identified through the concentrating lenses by a person who sees the image from a position in front of the concentrator photovoltaic is different according to an angle at which the panel is swung (direction rotation angle and elevation angle) due to the characteristic of the concentrating lenses. Therefore, the image of a letter or the like which appears with movement of the sun can be changed, and a message or the like according to time thereof can be displayed. |
US09634166B2 |
Thin film photovoltaic cell with back contacts
Photovoltaic cells, photovoltaic devices, and methods of fabrication are provided. The photovoltaic cells include a transparent substrate to allow light to enter the photovoltaic cell through the substrate, and a light absorption layer associated with the substrate. The light absorption layer has opposite first and second surfaces, with the first surface being closer to the transparent substrate than the second surface. A passivation layer is disposed over the second surface of the light absorption layer, and a plurality of first discrete contacts and a plurality of second discrete contacts are provided within the passivation layer to facilitate electrical coupling to the light absorption layer. A first electrode and a second electrode are disposed over the passivation layer to contact the plurality of first discrete contacts and the plurality of second discrete contacts, respectively. The first and second electrodes include a photon-reflective material. |
US09634165B2 |
Regeneration method for restoring photovoltaic cell efficiency
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for restoring efficiency of a photovoltaic cell. An illumination module illuminates photovoltaic cells so the cells receive a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 5 hours of solar illumination. After illumination, an annealing module anneals the photovoltaic cells at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 10 minutes. In one embodiment, the illumination module illuminates the photovoltaic cells for a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 20 hours of solar illumination. In another embodiment, the illumination module illuminates the photovoltaic cells for a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 16 hours of solar illumination while being heated to at least 50 degrees Celsius. In another embodiment, a solar concentrator irradiates the photovoltaic cells in sunlight for at least 10 hours and increases the irradiance of solar illumination on the cells by a factor of 2 to 5. |
US09634162B2 |
Method of fabricating A(C)IGS based thin film using Se-Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles, A(C)IGS based thin film fabricated by the same, and tandem solar cells including the A(C)IGS based thin film
A method of fabricating an Ag—(Cu—)In—Ga—Se (A(C)IGS) based thin film using Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles, an A(C)IGS based thin film fabricated by the method, and a tandem solar cell having the A(C)IGS thin film are disclosed. More particularly, a method of fabricating a densified Ag—(Cu—)In—Ga—Se (A(C)IGS) based thin film by non-vacuum coating a substrate with a slurry containing Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles, an A(C)IGS based thin film fabricated by the method, and a tandem solar cell including the A(C)IGS based thin film are disclosed. According to the present invention, an A(C)IGS based thin film including Ag is manufactured by applying Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles in a process of manufacturing a (C)IGS thin film, thereby providing an A(C)IGS based thin film having a wide band gap. |
US09634160B2 |
Solar cell and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing asolar cell includes texturing a front surface of a semiconductor substrate having a first conductive type dopant by using a dry etching method, forming an emitter layer by ion-implanting a second conductive type dopant into the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a back passivation film on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate; and forming a first electrode electrically connected to the emitter layer and a second electrode being in partial contact with the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
US09634159B2 |
Integrated photodetector waveguide structure with alignment tolerance
An encapsulated integrated photodetector waveguide structures with alignment tolerance and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a waveguide structure bounded by one or more shallow trench isolation (STI) structure(s). The method further includes forming a photodetector fully landed on the waveguide structure. |
US09634158B2 |
Semiconductor device and electronic equipment
The present technology relates to a semiconductor device and electronic equipment in which a semiconductor device that suppresses the occurrence of noise by a leakage of light can be provided.A semiconductor device is configured which includes a light-receiving element 34, an active element for signal processing, and a light shielding structure 40 which is between the light-receiving element 34 and the active element to cover the active element and is formed of wirings 45 and 46. The semiconductor device further includes a first substrate on which the light-receiving element is formed, a second substrate on which the active element is formed, and a wiring layer which has a light shielding structure by the wirings which is formed on the second substrate, and in which the second substrate can be bonded to the first substrate through the wiring layer. |
US09634157B2 |
Thin-film solar cell module and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a thin-film solar cell module includes a rear surface electrode layer deposition step for depositing a rear surface electrode layer on a substrate, an alkali metal adding step for adding an alkali metal to the rear surface electrode layer, a light absorbing layer deposition step for depositing a light absorbing layer on the rear surface electrode layer, a division groove forming step for forming a division groove that divides the light absorbing layer and exposing a front surface of the rear surface electrode layer in the division groove, an alloying step for alloying the rear surface electrode layer and the alkali metal on the front surface of the rear surface electrode layer exposed in the division groove, and a transparent conductive film deposition step for depositing a transparent conductive film on the light absorbing layer and in the division groove. |
US09634154B1 |
Schottky diode having a well with peripherial cathod regions and center andoe region
In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a first well region configured to be an anode of the semiconductor device, a first doped region configured to be a cathode of the semiconductor device, a second doped region configured to be another cathode of the semiconductor device, and a conductive region. The first well region is disposed between the first doped region and the second doped region, and is configured for electrical connection of the conductive region. |
US09634149B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing thereof
A transistor that is formed using an oxide semiconductor film is provided. A transistor that is formed using an oxide semiconductor film with reduced oxygen vacancies is provided. A transistor having excellent electrical characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device includes a first insulating film, a first oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode. The first insulating film includes a first region and a second region. The first region is a region that transmits less oxygen than the second region does. The first oxide semiconductor film is provided at least over the second region. |
US09634144B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same
Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor devices may include a fin disposed on a substrate. The fin may include an insulating layer pattern disposed in a top surface of the fin. The semiconductor devices may also include a wire pattern disposed on the insulating layer pattern to be separated from the insulating layer pattern and a gate electrode surrounding the wire pattern. |
US09634137B2 |
Integrated power transistor circuit having a current-measuring cell
An integrated power transistor circuit includes a contact structure with a first section and a second section. The first section contacts doped regions of transistor cells in a cell array. The second section includes one or more first subsections which adjoin the first section and extend beyond the cell array in the region of selected transistor cells. A second subsection adjoins the one or more first subsections and forms a tapping line, for example for making contact with source regions of power transistor cells. In the region of the cell array, an electrode structure rests on the contact structure. This electrode structure is absent over the second section. The tapping line can thus be formed at a short distance from the electrode structure, with the result that the active chip area is only insubstantially reduced by the tapping line. |
US09634130B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes stripe-shaped gate trench formed in one major surface of n-type drift layer, gate trench including gate polysilicon formed therein, and gate polysilicon being connected to a gate electrode; p-type base layer formed selectively in mesa region between adjacent gate trenches, p-type base layer including n-type emitter layer and connected to emitter electrode; one or more dummy trenches formed between p-type base layers adjoining to each other in the extending direction of gate trenches; and electrically conductive dummy polysilicon formed on an inner side wall of dummy trench with gate oxide film interposed between dummy polysilicon and dummy trench, dummy polysilicon being spaced apart from gate polysilicon. Dummy polysilicon may be connected to emitter electrode. The structure according to the invention facilitates providing an insulated-gate semiconductor device, the Miller capacitance of which is small, even when the voltage applied between the collector and emitter is low. |
US09634123B2 |
FinFET device including a dielectrically isolated silicon alloy fin
A method includes forming a fin on a semiconductor substrate. An isolation structure is formed adjacent the fin. A silicon alloy material is formed on a portion of the fin extending above the isolation structure. A thermal process is performed to define a silicon alloy fin portion from the silicon alloy material and the fin and to define a first insulating layer separating the fin from the substrate. |
US09634120B2 |
Electronic device and method for fabricating the same
Provided is a method for fabricating an electronic device, the method including: preparing a carrier substrate including an element region and a wiring region; forming a sacrificial layer on the carrier substrate; forming an electronic element on the sacrificial layer of the element region; forming a first elastic layer having a corrugated surface on the first elastic layer of the wiring region; forming a metal wirings electrically connecting the electronic element thereto, on the first elastic layer of the wiring region; forming a second elastic layer covering the metal wirings, on the first elastic layer; forming a high rigidity pattern filling in a recess of the second elastic layer above the electronic element so as to overlap the electronic element, and having a corrugated surface; forming a third elastic layer on the second elastic layer and the high rigidity pattern; and separating the carrier substrate. |
US09634118B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor devices
Methods of forming semiconductor devices are provided. A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming first and second dielectric layers in first and second trenches. The method includes forming first and second conductive layers on the first and second dielectric layers, respectively. The method includes forming first and second protective layers on the first and second conductive layers, respectively. The method includes performing an annealing process while the first and second protective layers are on the first and second conductive layers. The method includes removing the first and second protective layers. The method includes removing the first conductive layer, after performing the annealing process. Moreover, the method includes forming first and second gate metals in the first and second trenches, respectively, after removing the first conductive layer. |
US09634116B2 |
Method to improve reliability of high-K metal gate stacks
A method of fabricating a gate stack for a semiconductor device includes the following steps after removal of a dummy gate: growing a high-k dielectric layer over an area vacated by the dummy gate; depositing a thin metal layer over the high-k dielectric layer; annealing the replacement gate structure in an ambient atmosphere containing hydrogen; and depositing a gap fill layer. |
US09634105B2 |
Silicon nano-tip thin film for flash memory cells
A quantum nano-tip (QNT) thin film, such as a silicon nano-tip (SiNT) thin film, for flash memory cells is provided to increase erase speed. The QNT thin film includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer arranged over the first dielectric layer. Further, the QNT thin film includes QNTs arranged over the first dielectric layer and extending into the second dielectric layer. A ratio of height to width of the QNTs is greater than 50 percent. A QNT based flash memory cell and a method for manufacture a SiNT based flash memory cell are also provided. |
US09634104B2 |
FinFET and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming a first fin and a second fin extending upward from a substrate major surface to a first height, forming an insulation layer comprising a top surface extending upward from the substrate major surface to a second height less than the first height, selectively forming a bulbous epitaxial layer covering a portion of each fin, annealing the substrate to convert at least a portion of the bulbous epitaxial layer to silicide and depositing a metal layer at least in the cavity. The first fin and the second fin are adjacent. A portion of the first fin and a portion of the second fin extend beyond the top surface of the insulation layer. The bulbous epitaxial layer defines an hourglass shaped cavity between adjacent fins. |
US09634100B2 |
Semiconductor devices with integrated hole collectors
Transistor devices which include semiconductor layers with integrated hole collector regions are described. The hole collector regions are configured to collect holes generated in the transistor device during operation and transport them away from the active regions of the device. The hole collector regions can be electrically connected or coupled to the source, the drain, or a field plate of the device. The hole collector regions can be doped, for example p-type or nominally p-type, and can be capable of conducting holes but not electrons. |
US09634099B2 |
Lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor device includes: an epitaxial semiconductor layer disposed over a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric layer disposed over the epitaxial semiconductor layer; a gate stack disposed over the gate dielectric layer; a first doped region disposed in the epitaxial semiconductor layer from a first side of the gate stack; a second doped region disposed in the epitaxial semiconductor layer from a second side of the gate stack; a third doped region disposed in the first doping region; a fourth doped region disposed in the second doped region; an insulating layer covering the third doped region, the gate dielectric layer, and the gate stack; a conductive contact disposed in the insulating layer, the third doped region, the first doped region and the epitaxial semiconductor layer; and a fifth doped region disposed in the epitaxial semiconductor layer under the conductive contact. |
US09634098B2 |
Oxygen precipitation in heavily doped silicon wafers sliced from ingots grown by the Czochralski method
A method for controlling oxygen precipitation in a single crystal silicon wafer having a wafer resistivity of less than about 10 milliohm-cm is provided so that the wafer has uniformly high oxygen precipitation behavior from the central axis to the circumferential edge. The single crystal silicon wafer comprises an additional dopant selected from among carbon, arsenic, and antimony. |
US09634092B2 |
Semiconductor devices having tapered active regions
Provided is a finFET device. The finFET device may include an active region which protrudes vertically from a substrate, a channel region disposed on a center of the active region, a drain region disposed on one side surface of the channel region, and a source region disposed on the other side surface of the channel region, a gate insulating layer formed on two opposing side surfaces of the channel region and having a U-shaped cross-section, gate spacers formed on outer surfaces of the gate insulating layer, drain spacers formed on two opposing side surfaces of the drain region, and source spacers formed on two opposing side surfaces of the source region, and at least one of the two side surfaces of the drain region has a tapered part. |
US09634088B1 |
Junction formation with reduced CEFF for 22NM FDSOI devices
A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed including providing a silicon-on-insulator substrate comprising a semiconductor bulk substrate, a buried oxide layer formed on the semiconductor bulk substrate and a semiconductor layer formed on the buried oxide layer, and forming a transistor device on the silicon-on-insulator substrate including providing a gate structure on the semiconductor layer having a gate electrode and a first cap layer on the gate electrode, growing an oxide liner on the transistor device having a first part covering the gate structure and a second part covering the semiconductor layer, forming a second cap layer on the oxide liner, at least partially removing the second part of the oxide liner underneath the second cap layer and the first part of the oxide liner, and epitaxially forming raised source/drain regions on the semiconductor layer. |
US09634087B1 |
FinFET and fabrication method thereof
A method is provided for fabricating a FinFET. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a hard mask layer on the semiconductor substrate, wherein a position of the hard mask layer may corresponds to a position of subsequently formed fin; forming a doping region in the semiconductor substrate by using the hard mask layer as a mask to perform an anti-punch-through ion implantation process; forming an anti-punch-through region by performing an annealing process onto the doping region, such that impurity ions in the doping region diffuse into the semiconductor substrate under the hard mask layer; and forming a trench by using the hard mask layer as a mask to etch the semiconductor substrate and the doping region, wherein the semiconductor substrates between the adjacent trenches constitutes a fin. |
US09634085B1 |
Semiconductor device including a LDMOS transistor
In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a bulk resistivity ρ≧100 Ohm·cm, a front surface and a rear surface, at least one LDMOS transistor in the semiconductor substrate, and a RESURF structure. The RESURF structure includes a doped buried layer arranged in the semiconductor substrate, spaced at a distance from the front surface and the rear surface, and coupled with at least one of a channel region and a body contact region of the LDMOS transistor. |
US09634083B2 |
Semiconductor structure and process thereof
A semiconductor structure includes a dielectric layer located on a substrate, wherein the dielectric layer includes nitrogen atoms, and the concentration of the nitrogen atoms in the dielectric layer is lower than 5% at a location wherein the distance between this location in the dielectric layer to the substrate is less than 20% of the thickness of the dielectric layer. Moreover, the present invention provides a semiconductor process including the following steps: a dielectric layer is formed on a substrate. Two annealing processes are performed in-situly on the dielectric layer, wherein the two annealing processes have different imported gases and different annealing temperatures. |
US09634080B2 |
Display device
A display device includes contact holes opened in an insulating film outside of a display area in which pixels are arranged, and having a conductive film exposed in bottom portions, a first metal film formed to cover the contact holes and come in contact with the conductive film of the bottom portions, and a transparent conductive film formed on the first metal film. |
US09634077B2 |
Organic light emitting display devices and methods of manufacturing organic light emitting display devices
An organic light emitting display device may include a substrate having a pixel region and a transparent region, a first capacitor disposed in the transparent region of the substrate, a semiconductor device disposed in the pixel region of the substrate, a second capacitor disposed on the semiconductor device, and an organic light emitting structure disposed on the second capacitor. The organic light emitting display device may have a sufficient capacitance for components including the semiconductor device and the organic light emitting structure without increasing an area of the pixel region while maintaining a transmittance of the organic light emitting display device. |
US09634075B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device including: a first emission area including a first organic light emitting diode; a second emission area arranged adjacent to the first emission area and not overlapping with the first emission area, the second emission area including a second organic light emitting diode; a pixel circuit unit electrically connected to the first organic light emitting diode and the second organic light emitting diode; and a transmissive area adjacent to the first and second emission areas and not overlapping with the first and second emission areas, the transmissive area configured to transmit external light therethrough. |
US09634073B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate. A buffer layer is formed on the substrate. A thin film transistor is disposed on the buffer layer. The thin film transistor includes an active layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer. An uneven pattern is formed by patterning the buffer layer. A first pixel electrode is disposed in an opening formed in the second insulating layer. The first pixel electrode includes a transparent conductive oxide. A second pixel electrode is disposed on the first pixel electrode. The second pixel electrode includes a semi-transmissive layer. An organic lighting-emitting layer is formed on the second pixel electrode. An opposite electrode is formed on the organic lighting-emitting layer. |
US09634072B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device includes: a substrate; an active layer on the substrate; a gate electrode insulated from the active layer and overlapping with the active layer; a source electrode including a first source electrode layer, connected to the active layer, and a second source electrode layer connected to the first source electrode layer, the second source electrode layer being larger than the first source electrode layer; a drain electrode including a first drain electrode layer connected to the active layer, and a second drain electrode layer connected to the first drain electrode layer, the second drain electrode layer being larger than the first drain electrode layer; a first electrode directly connected to a top surface of the source electrode or the drain electrode; an intermediate layer on the first electrode and including an organic emission layer; and a second electrode on the intermediate layer. |
US09634071B2 |
Thin film transistor, and thin film transistor array panel and organic light emitting diode display including the same
A thin film transistor includes a semiconductor which is disposed on a substrate and includes a source region, a drain region and a channel region, a gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor, a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode, contact holes defined in the interlayer insulating layer, the contact holes respectively exposing the source region and the drain region of the semiconductor, and a source electrode and a drain electrode which are disposed on the interlayer insulating layer and respectively contact the source region and the drain region through the contact holes, where at least one of the contact holes exposing the source region and the drain region obliquely traverses the semiconductor. |
US09634061B2 |
Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode including a first light emitting cell and a second light emitting cell disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from each other to expose a surface of the substrate, a first transparent layer disposed on and electrically connected to the first light emitting cell, first connection section disposed on a portion of the first light emitting cell, a second connection section disposed on a portion of the second light emitting cell, a first interconnection and a second interconnection electrically connecting the first light emitting cell and the second light emitting cell, and an insulation layer disposed between the first and second interconnections and a side surface of the first light emitting cell. |
US09634059B2 |
Methods of forming image sensor integrated circuit packages
A method of forming image sensor packages may include performing a molding process. Mold material may be formed either on a transparent substrate in between image sensor dies, or on a removable panel in between transparent substrates attached to image sensor dies. Redistribution layers may be formed before or after the molding process. Mold material may be formed after forming redistribution layers so that the mold material covers the redistribution layers. In these cases, holes may be formed in the mold material to expose solder pads on the redistribution layers. Alternatively, redistribution layers may be formed after the molding process and the redistribution layers may extend over the mold material. Image sensor dies may be attached to a glass or notched glass substrate with dam structures. The methods of forming image sensor packages may result in hermetic image sensor packages that prevent exterior materials from reaching the image sensor. |
US09634058B2 |
Image sensor and computing system having the same
An image sensor includes a light receiving element, an anti-reflection layer, a high refractive pattern, a color filter, and a micro lens. The light receiving element is formed on a semiconductor substrate to generate charges responsive to incident light. The anti-reflection layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The high refractive pattern is formed on the anti-reflection layer in correspondence with the light receiving element. The color filter is formed on the anti-reflection layer while covering a top surface and lateral sides of the high refractive pattern. The micro lens is formed on the color filter. The image sensor provides an image having high quality. |
US09634057B2 |
Digital detector possessing a generator of light enabling optical wiping
A solid-state radiation detector comprising a photosensitive sensor comprises photosensitive elements that are organized in a matrix, and a light generator whose purpose is to optically wipe the photosensitive elements. The light generator comprises: an electroluminescent layer that is distributed over the surface of the sensor; at least one electrode that continuously covers the electroluminescent layer and in which electrons may flow, the light emitted by the electroluminescent layer being capable of passing through the electrode; and additional electrical conductors that are in electrical contact with the electrode, the additional electrical conductors forming branches that extend over the surface of the electrode, and being spatially distributed across the surface of the electrode. |
US09634053B2 |
Image sensor chip sidewall interconnection
An image sensor chip having a sidewall interconnect structure to bond and/or electrically couple the image sensor chip to a package substrate is provided. The image sensor chip includes a substrate supporting an integrated circuit (IC) configured to sense incident light. The sidewall interconnect structure is arranged along a sidewall of the substrate and electrically coupled with the IC. A method for manufacturing the image sensor chip and an image sensor package including the image sensor chip are also provided. |
US09634052B2 |
Semiconductor device, solid-state image sensor and camera system
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a solid-state image sensor and a camera system capable of reducing the influence of noise at a connection between chips without a special circuit for communication and reducing the cost as a result. The semiconductor device includes: a first chip; and a second chip, wherein the first chip and the second chip are bonded to have a stacked structure, the first chip has a high-voltage transistor circuit mounted thereon, the second chip has mounted thereon a low-voltage transistor circuit having lower breakdown voltage than the high-voltage transistor circuit, and wiring between the first chip and the second chip is connected through a via formed in the first chip. |
US09634050B2 |
Fabrication of optics wafer
Fabricating an optics wafer includes providing a wafer including a core region composed of a glass-reinforced epoxy. The wafer further includes a first resin layer on a top surface of the core region and a second resin layer on a bottom surface of the core region. The core region and first and second resin layers are substantially non-transparent for a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The wafer further includes vertical transparent regions that extend through the core region and the first and second resin layers and are composed of a solid material that is substantially transparent for the specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The wafer is thinned, and optical structures are provided on one or more exposed surfaces of at least some of the transparent regions. |
US09634049B2 |
Solid-state imaging devices with enhanced angular response
A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate containing a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged into a pixel array. A color filter layer including a plurality of color filter segments is disposed above the photoelectric conversion elements. A partition grid includes a plurality of partitions, and each of the partitions is disposed between two adjacent color filter segments. The color filter layer and the partition grid are disposed in the same layer. In addition, the partitions include a first partition disposed at a center line of the pixel array and a second partition disposed at an edge of the pixel array. The second partition has a top width that is larger than the top width of the first partition. |
US09634048B2 |
Imaging device and electronic device
An imaging device with excellent imaging performance is provided. The imaging device has a first circuit including a first photoelectric conversion element and a second circuit including a second photoelectric conversion element. The second circuit is shielded from light. In the imaging device, a current mirror circuit in which a transistor connected to the second photoelectric conversion element serves as an input transistor and a transistor connected to the first photoelectric conversion element serves as an output transistor is formed. With such a configuration, the amount of photocurrent in the first circuit from which the contribution of the dark current of the first photoelectric conversion element has been excluded can be detected. |
US09634045B2 |
Method for forming thin film pattern
The present disclosure provides a method for forming a thin film pattern. The method includes steps of: forming a mask pattern on a thin film in such a manner that the mask pattern includes a reserved portion corresponding to a region where the thin film pattern to be formed is located, and a partially-reserved portion neighboring the reserved portion; performing a wet-etching process to etch off a portion of the thin film which is not covered by the mask pattern; performing a dry etching process to remove the partially-reserved portion and thin the reserved portion; and performing a dry etching process to etch off a portion of the thin film which is not covered by the remaining mask pattern, so as to form the thin film pattern. |
US09634044B2 |
Method for fabricating array substrate
Embodiments of the invention provides a method for fabricating an array substrate comprising: forming, on a substrate, at least two semiconductor active islands, first patterns positioned on both sides of each of the semiconductor active islands, second patterns positioned at outer side of a part of the first patterns, and third patterns positioned at outer side of the rest of the first patterns, through a single patterning process; doping a semiconductor at the second patterns for once to form a semiconductor of a first conductivity type; and doping a semiconductor at the third patterns for once to form a semiconductor of a second conductivity type. |
US09634043B2 |
Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof, display device, thin-film transistor (TFT) and manufacturing method thereof
An array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, a display device, a thin-film transistor (TFT) and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The method for manufacturing the TFT comprises: forming a pattern of an active layer and a gate insulating layer provided with a metal film on a base substrate patterning the metal film by one patterning process, and forming patterns of a gate electrode a source electrode, a drain electrode a gate line and a data line; forming a passivation layer on the base substrate; patterning the passivation layer by one patterning process, and forming a source contact hole, a drain contact hole and a bridge structure contact hole; and forming a transparent conductive film on the base substrate, and removing partial transparent conductive film to form a source contact portion, a drain contact portion, a pixel electrode and a bridge structure. |
US09634041B2 |
Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A display apparatus includes a number of pixels. Each pixel includes a substrate including a pixel area and a non-pixel area disposed between adjacent pixel areas, a first electrode disposed on the substrate in the pixel area, and a second electrode extending in a first direction and being spaced apart upward from the substrate by a predetermined distance in the pixel area defining a tunnel-shaped cavity, an image display layer disposed in the tunnel-shaped cavity and driven by an electric field formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a roof layer disposed on the second electrode, and a sealing layer extending in the first direction, having a black color, and being disposed in the non-pixel area between adjacent pixel areas in a second direction crossing the first direction to seal the tunnel-shaped cavity. |
US09634030B2 |
Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof
An array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The method has steps of: forming a black matrix layer having a plurality of black matrixes on a substrate; forming a switch array layer having a plurality of thin-film transistors on the black matrix layer; forming a color resist layer having a plurality of color resists on the switch array layer; and forming a transparent conductive layer on the color resist layer. |
US09634026B1 |
Standard cell architecture for reduced leakage current and improved decoupling capacitance
A standard cell IC may include a plurality of pMOS transistors each including a pMOS transistor drain, a pMOS transistor source, and a pMOS transistor gate. Each pMOS transistor drain and pMOS transistor source of the plurality of pMOS transistors may be coupled to a first voltage source. The standard cell IC may also include a plurality of nMOS transistors each including an nMOS transistor drain, an nMOS transistor source, and an nMOS transistor gate. Each nMOS transistor drain and nMOS transistor source of the plurality of nMOS transistors are coupled to a second voltage source lower than the first voltage source. |
US09634025B2 |
Integrated structures and methods of forming vertically-stacked memory cells
Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a stack of alternating dielectric levels and conductive levels, vertically-stacked memory cells within the conductive levels, an insulative material over the stack and a select gate material over the insulative material. An opening extends through the select gate material, through the insulative material, and through the stack of alternating dielectric and conductive levels. A first region of the opening within the insulative material is wider along a cross-section than a second region of the opening within the select gate material, and is wider along the cross-section than a third region of the opening within the stack of alternating dielectric levels and conductive levels. Channel material is within the opening and adjacent the insulative material, the select gate material and the memory cells. Some embodiments include methods of forming vertically-stacked memory cells. |
US09634024B2 |
Semiconductor device having vertical channel and air gap, and method of manufacturing thereof
A semiconductor device is provided. Word lines are formed on a substrate. An air gap is interposed between two adjacent word lines. A channel structure penetrates through the word lines and the air gap. A memory cell is interposed between each word line and the channel structure. The memory cell includes a blocking pattern, a charge trap pattern and a tunneling insulating pattern. The blocking pattern conformally covers a top surface, a bottom surface, and a first side surface of each word line. The first side surface is adjacent to the channel structure. The charge trap pattern is interposed only between the first side surface and the channel structure. |
US09634021B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a silicon layer by epitaxial growth over a semiconductor substrate having a first area and a second area; forming a first gate oxide film by oxidizing the silicon layer; removing the first gate oxide film from the second area, while maintaining the first gate oxide film in the first area; thereafter, increasing a thickness of the first gate oxide film in the first area and simultaneously forming a second gate oxide film by oxidizing the silicon layer in the second area; and forming a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode over the first gate oxide film and the second gate oxide film, respectively, wherein after the formation of the first and second gate electrodes, the silicon layer in the first area is thicker than the silicon layer in the second area. |
US09634016B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a cell region, wherein a contact region, page buffer regions, and a scribe lane region are defined around the cell region; a cell structure located in the cell region, including first conductive layers and first insulating layers which are alternately stacked, and having a non-stepped shape; a contact structure located in the contact region, including second conductive layers and second insulating layers which are alternately stacked, and having a stepped shape; a first dummy structure located in the page buffer region, including first sacrificial layers and third insulating layers which are alternately stacked, and having the non-stepped shape; and a second dummy structure located in the scribe lane region, including second sacrificial layers and fourth insulating layers which are alternately stacked, and having the stepped shape. |
US09634012B2 |
Method of forming active patterns, active pattern array, and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
In a method of forming active patterns, first patterns are formed in a first direction on a cell region of a substrate, and a second pattern is formed on a peripheral circuit region of the substrate. The first pattern extends in a third direction crossing the first direction. First masks are formed in the first direction on the first patterns, and a second mask is formed on the second pattern. The first mask extends in a fourth direction crossing the third direction. Third masks are formed between the first masks extending in the fourth direction. The first and second patterns are etched using the first to third masks to form third and fourth patterns. Upper portions of the substrate are etched using the third and fourth patterns to form first and second active patterns in the cell and peripheral circuit regions. |
US09634007B2 |
Trench confined epitaxially grown device layer(s)
Trench-confined selective epitaxial growth process in which epitaxial growth of a semiconductor device layer proceeds within the confines of a trench. In embodiments, a trench is fabricated to include a pristine, planar semiconductor seeding surface disposed at the bottom of the trench. Semiconductor regions around the seeding surface may be recessed relative to the seeding surface with Isolation dielectric disposed there on to surround the semiconductor seeding layer and form the trench. In embodiments to form the trench, a sacrificial hardmask fin may be covered in dielectric which is then planarized to expose the hardmask fin, which is then removed to expose the seeding surface. A semiconductor device layer is formed from the seeding surface through selective heteroepitaxy. In embodiments, non-planar devices are formed from the semiconductor device layer by recessing a top surface of the isolation dielectric. In embodiments, non-planar devices CMOS devices having high carrier mobility may be made from the semiconductor device layer. |
US09634006B2 |
Third type of metal gate stack for CMOS devices
A third type of metal gate stack is provided above an isolation structure and between a replacement metal gate n-type field effect transistor and a replacement metal gate p-type field effect transistor. The third type of metal gate stack includes at least three different components. Notably, the third type of metal gate stack includes, as a first component, an n-type workfunction metal layer, as a second component, a p-type workfunction metal layer, and as a third component, a low resistance metal layer. In some embodiments, the uppermost surface of the first, second and third components of the third type of metal gate stack are all substantially coplanar with each other. In other embodiments, an uppermost surface of the third component of the third type of metal gate stack is non-substantially coplanar with an uppermost surface of both the first and second components of the third type of metal gate stack. |
US09634005B2 |
Gate planarity for FinFET using dummy polish stop
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a dielectric layer over fins formed in a semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer includes a screen layer over tops of the fins. An etch stop feature is formed on the screen layer. The etch stop feature is patterned down to the screen layer in regions across the device. A dummy gate material formed over the fins is planarized down to the etch stop feature, a dielectric fill between gate structures patterned from the dummy gate material is planarized down to the etch stop feature and a gate conductor is planarized to the etch stop feature. |
US09634002B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same are provided in the present invention. Multiple spacer layers are used in the invention to form spacers with different predetermined thickness on different active regions or devices, thus the spacing between the strained silicon structure and the gate structure (SiGe-to-Gate) can be properly controlled and adjusted to achieve better and more uniform performance for various devices and circuit layouts. |
US09633998B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for making the same
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an avalanche photodiode unit and a thyristor unit. The avalanche photodiode unit is configured to receive incident light to generate a trigger current and comprises a wide band-gap semiconductor. The thyristor unit is configured to be activated by the trigger current to an electrically conductive state. A semiconductor device and a method for making a semiconductor device are also presented. |
US09633996B1 |
High density area efficient thin-oxide decoupling capacitor using conductive gate resistor
A semiconductor device arranged between a source voltage (Vss) and a power voltage (Vdd) may include a first terminal coupled to the power voltage Vdd. The semiconductor device may also include a decoupling capacitor. The decoupling capacitor may include a semiconductor fin coupled to the first terminal, a dielectric layer on the semiconductor fin, and a gate on the dielectric layer. The semiconductor device may further include a second terminal. The second terminal may include a conductive gate resistor coupled in series with the gate of the decoupling capacitor. The second terminal may be coupled to the source voltage Vss via a first interconnect layer (M1). |
US09633995B2 |
Method of forming a gate shield in an ED-CMOS transistor and a base of a bipolar transistor using BICMOS technologies
A method of fabricating a MOSFET transistor in a SiGe BICMOS technology and resulting structure having a drain-gate feedback capacitance shield formed between a gate electrode and the drain region. The shield does not overlap the gate and thereby minimizes effect on the input capacitance of the transistor. The process does not require complex or costly processing since the shield is composed of bipolar base material commonly used in SiGe BICMOS technologies. |
US09633994B2 |
BICMOS device having commonly defined gate shield in an ED-CMOS transistor and base in a bipolar transistor
A MOSFET transistor in a SiGe BICMOS technology and resulting structure having a drain-gate feedback capacitance shield formed between a gate electrode and the drain region. The shield does not overlap the gate and thereby minimizes effect on the input capacitance of the transistor. The process does not require complex or costly processing since the shield is composed of bipolar base material commonly used in SiGe BICMOS technologies. |
US09633992B1 |
Electrostatic discharge protection device
An ESD protection device is provided. Each of a first and a second well has a first conductive type. Each of a first and a second doping region has a second conductive type and is formed in the first well. A third doping region has the first conductive type. A fourth doping region has the second conductive type. The third and fourth doping regions are formed in the second doping region. Each of a fifth and a sixth doping region has the second conductive type and is formed in the second well. A seventh doping region has the first conductive type. An eighth doping region has the second conductive type. The seventh and eighth doping region are formed in the sixth doping region. A first and a second trigger gate are formed on the first and second wells and partially cover the second and sixth doping regions respectively. |
US09633991B2 |
Mutual ballasting multi-finger bidirectional ESD device
An integrated circuit includes a bidirectional ESD device which has a plurality of parallel switch legs. Each switch leg includes a first current switch and a second current switch in a back-to-back configuration. A first current supply node of each first current switch is coupled to a first terminal of the ESD device. A second current supply node of each second current switch is coupled to a second terminal of the ESD device. A first current collection node of each first current switch is coupled to a second current collection node of the corresponding second current switch. The first current collection nodes in each first current switch is not coupled to any other first current collection node, and similarly, the second current collection node in each instance second current switch is not coupled to any other second current collection node. |
US09633990B2 |
Bi-directional ESD protection device
An integrated circuit and method with a bidirectional ESD transistor. A base diffusion separates an emitter diffusion and a collector diffusion. Silicide is blocked from the base diffusion, the emitter-base junction, the collector-base junction, and from equal portions of the emitter diffusion and the collector diffusions. |
US09633983B2 |
Semiconductor chip stacking assemblies
Embodiments of the invention provide semiconductor chip stacking assemblies that provide direct attachment of a first semiconductor device with a second semiconductor device. An assembly comprises a first semiconductor chip that has a first and a second set of electrical interconnect regions disposed on its surface and a second semiconductor chip. The first set of electrical interconnect regions are electrically connected with the electrical interconnect regions of a second semiconductor chip, and the second set of electrical interconnect regions are electrically interconnected with the substrate. Direct electrical connections are for example, silicon photonics device-to-driver or device-to-signal converters, logic-to-memory, memory-to-memory, and logic-to-logic chip interconnections. |
US09633982B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device array
Present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device array, including (1) providing a temporary substrate; (2) forming a plurality of discrete semiconductor structures over the temporary substrate; and (3) removing a surface portion of the temporary substrate to expose a peripheral bottom surface of the discrete semiconductor structure. Present disclosure also provides a method for transferring discrete semiconductor device, including (1) detaching discrete semiconductor structures of a first type from a first temporary substrate supporting the discrete semiconductor structures of the first type by a transfer stamp; (2) carrying the discrete semiconductor structures over a target substrate by the transfer stamp; and (3) dismounting the discrete semiconductor structures of the first type from the transfer stamp to predetermined sites on the target substrate. The transfer stamp includes a plurality of protrusions, positions of the plurality of protrusions being programmable to match the predetermined sites on the target substrate. |
US09633980B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip including a first circuit, a second circuit, a first interconnect connected to the first circuit, a second interconnect connected to the second circuit, and a third interconnect connecting the first interconnect and the second interconnect. |
US09633979B2 |
Microelectronic assemblies having stack terminals coupled by connectors extending through encapsulation
A microelectronic assembly or package can include first and second support elements and a microelectronic element between inwardly facing surfaces of the support elements. First connectors and second connectors such as solder balls, metal posts, stud bumps, or the like face inwardly from the respective support elements and are aligned with and electrically coupled with one another in columns. The first connectors, the second connectors or both may be partially encapsulated prior to electrically coupling respective pairs of first and second connectors in columns. A method may include arranging extremities of first connectors or second connectors in a temporary layer before forming the partial encapsulation. |
US09633976B1 |
Systems and methods for inter-chip communication
A quilt packaging system includes a first and second electronic device each comprising a plurality of edge surfaces at least a first edge surface of which comprises one or more interconnect modules disposed thereon. The first edge surface of the second electronic device is positioned contiguous to the first edge surface of the first electronic device, and at least one of the one or more interconnect nodules disposed on the first edge surface of the first electronic device is configured to be in physical contact with at least one of the one or more interconnect nodules disposed on the first edge surface of second electronic device so as to provide an electrical connection between the first and second electronic devices at the first edge surfaces of the first and second electronic device. |
US09633975B2 |
Multi-die wirebond packages with elongated windows
A microelectronic package can include a substrate having first and second opposed surfaces extending in first and second transverse directions and an opening extending between the first and second surfaces and defining first and second distinct parts each elongated along a common axis extending in the first direction, first and second microelectronic elements each having a front surface facing the first surface of the substrate and a column of contacts at the respective front surface, a plurality of terminals exposed at the second surface, and first and second electrical connections aligned with the respective first and second parts of the opening and extending from at least some of the contacts of the respective first and second microelectronic elements to at least some of the terminals. The column of contacts of the first and second microelectronic elements can be aligned with the respective first and second parts of the opening. |
US09633963B2 |
Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof
Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate, and a passivation layer disposed over the substrate and a first portion of the contact pad. A second portion of the contact pad is exposed. A post passivation interconnect (PPI) line is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled to the second portion of the contact pad. A PPI pad is disposed over the passivation layer. A transition element is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled between the PPI line and the PPI pad. The transition element includes a hollow region. |
US09633962B2 |
Plug via formation with grid features in the passivation layer
Solder bump connections and methods for fabricating solder bump connections. A passivation layer is formed on a dielectric layer. Via openings extend through the passivation layer from a top surface of the passivation layer to a metal line in the passivation layer. A conductive layer is formed on the top surface of the passivation layer and within each via opening. When the passivation layer and the conductive layer are planarized, a plug is formed that includes sections in the via openings. Each section is coupled with the metal line. |
US09633957B2 |
Semiconductor device, a power semiconductor device, and a method for processing a semiconductor device
According to various embodiments, a semiconductor device may include: a layer stack formed at a surface of the semiconductor device, the layer stack including: a metallization layer including a first metal or metal alloy; a protection layer covering the metallization layer, the protection layer including a second metal or metal alloy, wherein the second metal or metal alloy is less noble than the first metal or metal alloy. |
US09633952B2 |
Substrate structure and method for manufacturing same
Provided is a substrate structure, including: a first substrate and a second substrate arranged correspondingly. A first surface of the first substrate faces a second surface of the second substrate, wherein the first surface is successively arranged with a conductor interconnection layer and a bonding layer, with the bonding layer connecting the first substrate and the conductor interconnection layer to the second substrate. The substrate structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The second substrate can serve as a support substrate and the first substrate as a substrate for directly manufacturing a device. However, the first substrate is formed by the growth of a crystal without the problem of thickness and stress thereof, thereby avoiding unnecessary stress and further improving the performance of the device formed in the first substrate. |
US09633950B1 |
Integrated device comprising flexible connector between integrated circuit (IC) packages
Some features pertain to an integrated device that includes a first integrated circuit (IC) package, a flexible connector and a second integrated circuit (IC) package. The first integrated circuit (IC) package includes a first die, a plurality of first interconnects, and a first dielectric layer encapsulating the first die. The flexible connector is coupled to the first integrated circuit (IC) package. The flexible connector includes the first dielectric layer, and an interconnect. The second integrated circuit (IC) package is coupled to the flexible connector. The second integrated circuit (IC) package includes the first dielectric layer, and a plurality of second interconnects. The first integrated circuit (IC) package, the second integrated circuit (IC) package, and the flexible connector are coupled together through at least a portion (e.g., contiguous portion) of the first dielectric layer. In some implementations, the flexible connector comprises a dummy metal layer. |
US09633946B1 |
Seamless metallization contacts
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to seamless metallization structures and methods of manufacture. A structure includes: a contact opening formed in an oxide material and in alignment with an underlying structure; a metal liner lining the sidewalls and bottom of the contact opening, in direct electrical contact with the underlying structure; a conductive liner on the metal liner, within the contact opening; and tungsten fill material on the conductive liner and within the contact opening. |
US09633945B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor device, which includes an electrode lead-out part, a planarization film, contacts, and first and second columnar patterns. The electrode lead-out part is arranged such that an electrode film and an insulating film are alternately stacked in a plurality of layers, and layers of the electrode film are arranged stepwise. The planarization film is arranged above the electrode lead-out part. The first columnar pattern extends from a lowermost portion of the electrode lead-out part to a position lower than the upper side of the planarization film by a first depth. The second columnar pattern extends from a lowermost portion of the electrode lead-out part to a position lower than the upper side of the planarization film by a second depth larger than the first depth. |
US09633942B1 |
Conductively doped polymer pattern placement error compensation layer
A method includes forming a first conductive feature positioned in a first dielectric layer. A conductive polymer layer is formed above the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature. The conductive polymer layer has a conductive path length. A second dielectric layer is formed above the first dielectric layer. A first via opening is formed in the second dielectric layer and the conductive polymer layer to expose the first conductive feature. A conductive via is formed in the first via opening. The conductive via contacts the first conductive feature and the conductive polymer layer. |
US09633941B2 |
Semiconductor device structure and method for forming the same
A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive structure over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric layer over the substrate. The first dielectric layer has a first opening exposing the first conductive structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a seal layer covering an inner wall of the first opening and in direct contact with the first dielectric layer. The seal layer includes a dielectric material including an oxygen compound. The semiconductor device structure includes a second conductive structure filled in the first opening and surrounded by the seal layer. The second conductive structure is electrically connected to the first conductive structure. |
US09633937B2 |
Electronic assembly that includes stacked electronic devices
The electronic package includes a substrate and an electronic component mounted to a surface of the substrate. An interposer is mounted to the surface of the substrate such that the interposer surrounds the electronic component and is electrically connected to the substrate. An over-mold covers the electronic component. In other forms, the example electronic package may be incorporated into an electronic assembly. The electronic assembly further includes a second electronic component mounted to the interposer. As an example, the second electronic component may be mounted to the interposer using solder bumps. It should be noted that any technique that is known now, or discovered in the future, may be used to mount the second electronic component to the interposer. |
US09633935B2 |
Stacked chip package including substrate with recess adjoining side edge of substrate and method for forming the same
A stacked chip package is provided. The stacked chip package includes a first substrate having a first side and a second side opposite thereto. The first substrate includes a recess therein. The recess adjoins a side edge of the first substrate. A plurality of redistribution layers is disposed on the first substrate and extends onto the bottom of the recess. A second substrate is disposed on the first side of the first substrate. A plurality of bonding wires is correspondingly disposed on the redistribution layers in the recess, and extends onto the second substrate. A device substrate is disposed on the second side of the first substrate. A method of forming the stacked chip package is also provided. |
US09633933B2 |
Lead frame with anchor-shaped lead
A lead frame includes a die pad and a plurality of leads arranged around the die pad. Each of the leads includes an inner lead, a bent portion, and an external connection terminal. The inner lead includes a distal portion, adjacent to the die pad, and a connection end portion, located at an opposite end of the inner lead from the distal portion. The bent portion is connected to the connection end portion of the inner lead. The external connection terminal is connected by the bent portion to the connection end portion of the inner lead and located below the inner lead. The external connection terminal includes an upper surface that faces to and is parallel to a lower surface of the inner lead. The inner lead, the bent portion, and the external connection terminal are formed integrally in each of the leads. |
US09633931B2 |
Chip rotated at an angle mounted on die pad region
A package includes: a plurality of lead frames configured to extend inwardly from an outer circumferential portion of the package; a die pad region surrounded with the lead frames in a plane view; a semiconductor chip mounted on the die pad region; a plurality of bonding pads disposed on the semiconductor chip; and a plurality of bonding wires configured to connect the lead frames and the bonding pads, respectively, wherein the bonding wires are respectively connected to front end portions of the lead frames by bonding with an angle ranging from 45 to 135 degrees with respect to a trace of front end portions of the lead frames in the plane view. |
US09633929B2 |
TSV formation
A device includes a substrate having a front side and a backside, the backside being opposite the front side. An isolation layer is disposed on the front side of the substrate, wherein first portions of isolation layer and the substrate are in physical contact. A through substrate via (TSV) extends from the front side to the backside of the substrate. An oxide liner is on a sidewall of the TSV. The oxide liner extends between second portions of the substrate and the isolation layer. A dielectric layer having a metal pad is disposed over the isolation layer on the front side of the substrate. The metal pad and the TSV are formed of a same material. |
US09633926B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a stacked unit having a semiconductor module, a first cooler having a first opening and a first coolant flow path that is connected to the first opening, and a second cooler that has a second opening and a second coolant flow path that is connected to the second opening, and being formed by the first cooler and the second cooler sandwiching the semiconductor module and being stacked such that the first opening and the second opening face each other; a seal member that is arranged between the first opening and the second opening that are adjacent in a stacking direction, and that connect the first opening and the second opening; and a winding member that keeps pressure applied to the stacked unit in the stacking direction by being wound around the stacked unit. |
US09633923B2 |
Electronic device module and manufacturing method thereof
There are provided an electronic device module capable of increasing a degree of integration by mounting electronic components on both surfaces of a board, and a manufacturing method thereof. The electronic device module includes a board having mounting electrodes formed on both surfaces thereof, a plurality of electronic devices mounted on the mounting electrodes, a molded portion sealing the electronic devices, at least one connection wire having one end bonded to one surface of the board and the other end exposed to the outside of the molded portion, and an external connection terminal coupled to the other end of the connection wire. |
US09633917B2 |
Three dimensional integrated circuit structure and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a three dimensional integrated circuit structure including a first die, a through substrate via and a connector. The first die is bonded to a second die with a first dielectric layer of the first die and a second dielectric layer of the second die, wherein a first passivation layer is between the first dielectric layer and a first substrate of the first die, and a first test pad is embedded in the first passivation layer. The through substrate via penetrates through the first die and is electrically connected to the second die. The connector is electrically connected to the first die and the second die through the through substrate via. |
US09633916B2 |
Display panel and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel includes first to third test lines connected to the each of data lines, extending in the second direction, and arranged in the first direction, a first test pad electrically connected to the first test line, the first test pad and the first test line being formed from a same layer, a second test pad electrically connected to the second test line through a contact hole formed through a first insulation layer, and disposed adjacent to the first test pad in the second direction, a third test pad electrically connected to the third test line and disposed adjacent to the first test pad in the first direction, the third test pad and the third test line being formed from a same layer. |
US09633911B2 |
Simplified multi-threshold voltage scheme for fully depleted SOI MOSFETs
A method for semiconductor fabrication includes providing channel regions on a substrate including at least one Silicon Germanium (SiGe) channel region, the substrate including a plurality of regions including a first region and a second region. Gate structures are formed for a first n-type field effect transistor (NFET) and a first p-type field effect transistor (PFET) in the first region and a second NFET and a second PFET in the second region, the gate structure for the first PFET being formed on the SiGe channel region. The gate structure for the first NFET includes a gate material having a first work function and the gate structures for the first PFET, second NFET and second PFET include a gate material having a second work function such that multi-threshold voltage devices are provided. |
US09633908B2 |
Method for forming a semiconductor structure containing high mobility semiconductor channel materials
A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate comprising, from bottom to top, a handle substrate, an insulator layer and a germanium-containing layer. Next, hard mask material portions having an opening that exposes a portion of the germanium-containing layer are formed on the substrate. An etch is then performed through the opening to provide an undercut region in the germanium-containing layer. A III-V compound semiconductor material is grown within the undercut region by utilizing an aspect ratio trapping growth process. Next, portions of the III-V compound semiconductor material are removed to provide III-V compound semiconductor material portions located between remaining portions of the germanium-containing layer. |
US09633904B1 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device with epitaxial structure
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with epitaxial structure includes following steps: A substrate including a plurality of gate structures formed thereon is provided, and a spacer is respectively formed on sidewalls of each gate structure. Next, a first etching process is performed to form a first recess respectively at two sides of the gate structures and followed by performing an ion implantation to the first recesses. After the ion implantation, a second etching process is performed to widen the first recesses to form widened first recesses and to form a second recess respectively at a bottom of each widened first recess. Then, an epitaxial structure is respectively formed in the widened first recesses and the second recesses. |
US09633903B2 |
Device manufacturing method of processing cut portions of semiconductor substrate using carbon dioxide particles
A device manufacturing method according to an embodiment includes forming a film on the side of a second surface of a substrate having a first surface and the second surface, cutting the substrate, cutting the film, and injecting particles onto at least one of a first cut portion formed by the cutting of the substrate and a second cut portion formed by the cutting of the film, to process the at least one of the first cut portion or the second cut portion. |
US09633900B2 |
Method for through silicon via structure
A system and method for manufacturing a through silicon via is disclosed. An embodiment comprises forming a through silicon via with a liner protruding from a substrate. A passivation layer is formed over the substrate and the through silicon via, and the passivation layer and liner are recessed from the sidewalls of the through silicon via. Conductive material may then be formed in contact with both the sidewalls and a top surface of the through silicon via. |
US09633896B1 |
Methods for formation of low-k aluminum-containing etch stop films
Dielectric AlO, AlOC, AlON and AlOCN films characterized by a dielectric constant (k) of less than about 10 and having a density of at least about 2.5 g/cm3 are deposited on partially fabricated semiconductor devices to serve as etch stop layers and/or diffusion barriers. In one implementation, a substrate containing an exposed dielectric layer (e.g., a ULK dielectric) and an exposed metal layer is contacted with an aluminum-containing compound (such as trimethylaluminum) in an iALD process chamber and the aluminum-containing compound is allowed to adsorb onto the surface of the substrate. This step is performed in an absence of plasma. Next, the unadsorbed aluminum-containing compound is removed from the process chamber, and the substrate is treated with a process gas containing CO2 or N2O, and an inert gas in a plasma to form an AlO, AlOC, or AlON layer. These steps are then repeated. |
US09633895B2 |
Integrated fan-out structure with guiding trenches in buffer layer
A bottom package includes a molding compound, a buffer layer over and contacting the molding compound, and a through-via penetrating through the molding compound. A device die is molded in the molding compound. A guiding trench extends from a top surface of the buffer layer into the buffer layer, wherein the guiding trench is misaligned with the device die. |
US09633893B2 |
Method to protect against contact related shorts on UTBB
Isolation trenches are etched through an active silicon layer overlying a buried oxide on a substrate into the substrate, and through any pad dielectric(s) on the active silicon layer. Lateral epitaxial growth of the active silicon layer forms protrusions into the isolation trenches to a lateral distance of at least about 5 nanometers, and portions of the isolation trenches around the protrusions are filled with dielectric. Raised source/drain regions are formed on portions of the active silicon layer including a dielectric. As a result, misaligned contacts passing around edges of the raised source/drain regions remain spaced apart from sidewalls of the substrate in the isolation trenches. |
US09633887B2 |
Workpiece cutting method
A workpiece cutting method is provided. The workpiece cutting method includes an attaching step of attaching an adhesive tape to the front side or back side of a workpiece, an applying step of applying a liquid resin to the front side or back side of a support member, a pressing step of superimposing the workpiece on the support member in the condition where the liquid resin and the adhesive tape come into contact with each other, and then pressing the workpiece or the support member, a fixing step of curing the liquid resin to thereby fix the workpiece to the support member, and a cutting step of cutting the workpiece fixed to the support member by using a cutting blade. |
US09633885B2 |
Variable electrode pattern for versatile electrostatic clamp operation
An electrostatic clamp (ESC) has a clamping surface, and first and second pairs of electrodes. Each of the first pair of electrodes are associated with a respective third of the clamping surface, and each of the second pair of electrodes are associated with a respective sixth of the clamping surface. A peripheral region of each of the first and second pairs of electrodes spirals toward the periphery of the clamping surface. A DC mode connects one of each of the first and second pair of electrodes to a positive and the other one of the respective first and second pair of electrodes to a negative of a power supply. An AC mode electrically connects first, second, and third phase terminals of the power supply to one of the first pair of electrodes, the other one of the first pair of electrodes, and both of the second pair of electrodes, respectively. |
US09633882B2 |
Integrated circuits with alignment marks and methods of producing the same
Methods of producing integrated circuits with interposers and integrated circuits produced from such methods are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of producing an integrated circuit includes forming a base layer overlying a substrate, and forming an alignment mark overlying the base layer. A first layer is formed overlying the base layer and the alignment mark, and the first layer has a first layer thickness. A second layer is formed overlying the first layer, where the second layer has a second layer thickness and where a combined thickness of the first and second layer thicknesses is from about 2 to about 50 micrometers. A second component is formed from the second layer. |
US09633879B2 |
Storage system in the ceiling space and storage method for goods thereby
A storage system in a ceiling space includes overhead traveling vehicles and a traveling route for the same, a shuttle carriage configured to transport goods to and from processing devices and a traveling route for the same, an OHT port to and from which the overhead traveling vehicles and the shuttle carriage both transport goods, and buffers that are provided in the ceiling space above the processing device and are for the placement of goods by the shuttle carriage. The traveling route for the shuttle carriage enables delivery and reception of goods by the shuttle carriage between the load port of the processing devices, the buffers, and the OHT port. |
US09633876B2 |
Selective reflectivity process chamber with customized wavelength response and method
A customizable chamber spectral response is described which can be used at least to tailor chamber performance for wafer heating, wafer cooling, temperature measurement, and stray light. In one aspect, a system is described for processing a treatment object having a given emission spectrum at a treatment object temperature which causes the treatment object to produce a treatment object radiated energy. The chamber responds in a first way to the heating arrangement radiated energy and in a second way to the treatment object radiated energy that is incident thereon. The chamber may respond in the first way by reflecting the majority of the heat source radiated energy and in the second way by absorbing the majority of the treatment object radiated energy. Different portions of the chamber may be treated with selectively reflectivity based on design considerations to achieve objectives with respect to a particular chamber performance parameter. |
US09633875B2 |
Apparatus for improving temperature uniformity of a workpiece
An apparatus for improving the temperature uniformity of a workpiece during processing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a platen having a separately controlled edge heater capable to independently heating the outer edge of the platen. In this way, additional heat may be supplied near the outer edge of the platen, helping to maintain a constant temperature across the entirety of the platen. This edge heater may be disposed on an outer surface of the platen, or may, in certain embodiments, be embedded in the platen. In certain embodiments, the edge heater and the primary heating element are disposed in two different planes, where the edge heater is disposed closer to the top surface of the platen than the primary heating element. |
US09633874B1 |
Package substrate warpage reshaping apparatus and method
A warpage reshaping apparatus to reshape a warpage profile of a package substrate is disclosed. The warpage reshaping apparatus includes a metal boat, a plurality of planar boards and a plurality of spring-loaded clips. The metal boat includes a plurality of cavities. Package substrates are placed into each of the cavities. Each of the plurality of planar boards is disposed on a respective one of the package substrates. The spring-loaded clips have a first portion coupled to the metal boat and having a second portion biased against a respective one of the planar boards such that each planar board is biased against its respective package substrate. In addition to that, a method to operate the warpage reshaping apparatus is also disclosed and the manner in which the warpage reshaping apparatus changes the warpage profile of the package substrate is also disclosed. |
US09633871B2 |
Light-emitting device
To provide a highly reliable light-emitting device with less occurrence of cracks in a sealant bonding two facing substrates together. In a light-emitting device, a first substrate including a light-emitting unit, and a second substrate are bonded to each other with glass frit. A wiring in the area overlapping with a sealing material formed by melting and solidifying glass frit may be formed of a conductive material having a linear thermal expansion coefficient close to that of a substrate material. More specifically, the difference in the linear thermal expansion coefficient between the conductive material and the substrate material is 5 ppm/K or less at a temperature of 0° C. to 500° C. |
US09633870B2 |
System and method for an improved interconnect structure
Presented herein are an interconnect structure and method for forming the same. The interconnect structure comprises a contact pad disposed over a substrate and a connector disposed over the substrate and spaced apart from the contact pad. A passivation layer is disposed over the contact pad and over connector, the passivation layer having a contact pad opening, a connector opening, and a mounting pad opening. A post passivation layer comprising a trace and a mounting pad is disposed over the passivation layer. The trace may be disposed in the contact pad opening and contacting the mounting pad, and further disposed in the connector opening and contacting the connector. The mounting pad may be disposed in the mounting pad opening and contacting the opening. The mounting pad may be separated from the trace by a trace gap, which may optionally be at least 10 μm. |
US09633869B2 |
Packages with interposers and methods for forming the same
A package structure includes an interposer, a die over and bonded to the interposer, and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) underlying and bonded to the interposer. The interposer is free from transistors therein (add transistor), and includes a semiconductor substrate, an interconnect structure over the semiconductor substrate, through-vias in the silicon substrate, and redistribution lines on a backside of the silicon substrate. The interconnect structure and the redistribution lines are electrically coupled through the through-vias. |
US09633866B2 |
Method for patterning of laminated magnetic layer
A microelectronic device is formed by forming a stack of alternating layers of a magnetic material and a dielectric material. An etch mask is formed over the magnetic laminate layer. An aqueous wet etch including 5 percent to 10 percent nitric acid, 0.5 percent to 2 percent sulphuric acid, and 0.5 percent to 3 percent hydrofluoric acid is used to etch the magnetic laminate layer where exposed by the etch mask to form a patterned magnetic laminate layer. An optional adhesion layer, if present, is also removed by the aqueous wet etch solution where exposed by the etch mask. The etch mask is subsequently removed. |
US09633862B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and semiconductor manufacturing method
A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a reactor, a mover, and a controller. The reactor houses an outer edge portion of a semiconductor substrate in inside thereof through a gap portion and scrapes the outer edge portion. The mover moves at least either the semiconductor substrate or end faces of the gap portion in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate to change distances in the thickness direction between the semiconductor substrate and the end faces of the gap portion. The controller controls a movement amount in the thickness direction of at least either the semiconductor substrate or the end faces of the gap portion according to a warp amount of the outer edge portion in the thickness direction. |
US09633855B2 |
Planarization process
Planarization processing methods are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes patterning a material layer and planarizing the patterned material layer by using sputtering. Due to the patterning of the material layer, the loading requirements of nonuniformity on a substrate for sputtering the material layer are reduced, compared with that before the patterning. |
US09633850B2 |
Masking methods for ALD processes for electrode-based devices
Masking methods for atomic-layer-deposition processes for electrode-based devices are disclosed, wherein solder is used as a masking material. The methods include exposing electrical contact members of an electrical device having an active device region and a barrier layer formed by atomic layer deposition. This includes depositing solder elements on the electrical contact members, then forming the barrier layer using atomic layer deposition, wherein the barrier layer covers the active device region and also covers the solder elements that respectively cover the electrical contact members. The solder elements are then melted, which removes respective portions of the barrier layer covering the solder elements. Similar methods are employed for exposing contacts when forming layered capacitors. |
US09633846B2 |
Internal plasma grid applications for semiconductor fabrication
The embodiments disclosed herein pertain to improved methods and apparatus for etching a semiconductor substrate. A plasma grid assembly is positioned in a reaction chamber to divide the chamber into upper and lower sub-chambers. The plasma grid assembly may include one or more plasma grids having slots of a particular aspect ratio, which allow certain species to pass through from the upper sub-chamber to the lower sub-chamber. In some cases, an electron-ion plasma is generated in the upper sub-chamber. Electrons that make it through the grid to the lower sub-chamber are cooled as they pass through. In some cases, this results in an ion-ion plasma in the lower sub-chamber. The ion-ion plasma may be used to advantage in a variety of etching processes. |
US09633841B2 |
Methods for depositing amorphous silicon
Methods for depositing an amorphous silicon layer on wafers are disclosed. A process wafer, a control wafer, and a dummy wafer may be loaded into a chamber where an amorphous silicon layer may be deposited on the process wafer. Afterwards, the process wafer and the control wafer may be removed from the chamber. The chamber and the dummy wafers are dry cleaned together. The dry cleaned dummy wafers are used in the next run for depositing amorphous silicon layer. The process may be controlled by a computer system issuing a control job comprising a first process job and a second process job, wherein the first process job is to deposit an amorphous silicon layer on the process wafer, and the second process job is to dry clean the chamber and the dummy wafer. |
US09633840B2 |
Method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor substrate and method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device
A step of preparing a silicon carbide substrate (S11), a step of forming a first silicon carbide semiconductor layer on the silicon carbide substrate using a first source material gas (S12), and a step of forming a second silicon carbide semiconductor layer on the first silicon carbide semiconductor layer using a second source material gas (S13) are provided. In the step of forming a first silicon carbide semiconductor layer (S12) and the step of forming a second silicon carbide semiconductor layer (S13), ammonia gas is used as a dopant gas, and the first source material gas has a C/Si ratio of not less than 1.6 and not more than 2.2, the C/Si ratio being the number of carbon atoms to the number of silicon atoms. |
US09633836B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor devices including low-k dielectric layer
Methods of forming a dielectric layer are provided. The methods may include introducing oxygen radicals and organic silicon precursors into a chamber to form a preliminary dielectric layer on a substrate. Each of the organic silicon precursors may include a carbon bridge and a porogen such that the preliminary dielectric layer may include carbon bridges and porogens. The methods may also include removing at least some of the porogens from the preliminary dielectric layer to form a porous dielectric layer including the carbon bridges. |
US09633835B2 |
Transistor fabrication technique including sacrificial protective layer for source/drain at contact location
Techniques are disclosed for transistor fabrication including a sacrificial protective layer for source/drain (S/D) regions to minimize contact resistance. The sacrificial protective layer may be selectively deposited on S/D regions after such regions have been formed, but prior to the deposition of an insulator layer on the S/D regions. Subsequently, after contact trench etch is performed, an additional etch process may be performed to remove the sacrificial protective layer and expose a clean S/D surface. Thus, the sacrificial protective layer can protect the contact locations of the S/D regions from contamination (e.g., oxidation or nitridation) caused by insulator layer deposition. The sacrificial protective layer can also protect the S/D regions from undesired insulator material remaining on the S/D contact surface, particularly for non-planar transistor structures (e.g., finned or nanowire/nanoribbon transistor structures). |
US09633831B2 |
Chemical mechanical polishing composition for polishing a sapphire surface and methods of using same
A method of polishing a sapphire substrate is provided, comprising: providing a substrate having an exposed sapphire surface; providing a chemical mechanical polishing slurry, wherein the chemical mechanical polishing slurry comprises, as initial components: colloidal silica abrasive, wherein the colloidal silica abrasive has a negative surface charge; and, wherein the colloidal silica abrasive exhibits a multimodal particle size distribution with a first particle size maximum between 2 and 25 nm; and, a second particle size maximum between 75 and 200 nm; optionally, a biocide; optionally, a nonionic defoaming agent; and, optionally, a pH adjuster. A chemical mechanical polishing composition for polishing an exposed sapphire surface is also provided. |
US09633830B2 |
Phosphor-containing coating systems and fluorescent lamps equipped therewith
Coating systems suitable for use in generating fluorescent visible light, and lamps provided with such coating systems. The coating systems includes a phosphor-containing coating that contains at least a first phosphor that is predominantly excited by ultraviolet radiation of a first wavelength to emit visible light and absorbs but is less efficiently excited by ultraviolet radiation of a second wavelength. The coating system further includes a second phosphor that absorbs the ultraviolet radiation of the second wavelength and little if any of the ultraviolet radiation of the first wavelength. |
US09633828B2 |
Ion focusing member and mass spectrometer using the same
An ion focusing member includes a ball having a surface with a plurality of dimples. The ion focusing member is adapted for being disposed in a mass spectrometer in a way that the ball is located at a spray path of analyte ions and located between a metal capillary and a mass analyzer. When the analyte ions pass through the ball, the analyte ions can be gathered at a downstream position of the ball, which in turn flow into the mass analyzer by a potential difference. Therefore, the ion focusing member of the present disclosure can effectively enhance the amount of the analyte ions entering into the mass analyzer, thereby improving ion transmission efficiency. As a result, a mass spectrometer equipped with the ion focusing member may have increased signal intensity of analyte, lowered limit of detection (LOD), and minimized detection error. |
US09633821B2 |
Microwave plasma processing apparatus and microwave supplying method
Disclosed is a microwave plasma processing apparatus including: a processing container configured to define a processing space; a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves; a distributor configured to distribute the microwaves to a plurality of waveguides; an antenna installed in the processing container and to radiate the microwaves distributed to the plurality of waveguides to the processing space; a monitor unit configured to monitor a voltage of each of the plurality of waveguides; a storage unit configured to store a difference between a monitor value of the voltage monitored by the monitor unit and a predetermined reference value of the voltage and a control value of a distribution ratio of the distributor corresponding to the difference; and a control unit configured to acquire the control value of the distribution ratio of the distributor from the storage unit and to control the distribution ratio of the distributor. |
US09633820B2 |
Method for forming resist film and charged particle beam writing method
In a method for forming a resist film, a first resist film is formed on a light shielding film formed on a substrate, by using a spin coating method. A protective film is formed on the first resist film. The protective film and the first resist film are simultaneously removed at the same region to expose a portion of the light shielding film. A first region in which the second resist film is formed on the light shielding film and a second region in which the second resist film is formed on the first resist film through the protective film, are provided. The protective film and the second resist film are simultaneously removed in the second region to expose the first resist film. A region in which the first resist film, and a region in which the second resist film, is formed, are separately provided on the substrate. |
US09633819B2 |
Microscopy imaging method and system
Generally, the present disclosure provides a method and system for improving imaging efficiency for CPB systems while maintaining or improving imaging accuracy over prior CPB systems. A large field of view image of a sample is acquired at a low resolution and thus, at high speed. The low resolution level is selected to be sufficient for an operator to visually identify structures or areas of interest on the low resolution image. The operator can select one or more small areas of arbitrary shape and size on the low resolution image, referred to as an exact region of interest (XROI). The outline of the XROI is mapped to an x-y coordinate system of the image, and the CPB system is then controlled to acquire a high resolution image of only the XROI identified on the low resolution image. For 3D imaging, once the XROI is identified, each section of the sample can be iteratively imaged in the previously described manner, with the operator having the option to redefine the XROI later. |
US09633817B2 |
Diaphragm mounting member and charged particle beam device
Conventional devices have been difficult to use due to insufficient consideration being given to factors such as the cost necessary for diaphragm replacement and the convenience of the work. In the present invention, a diaphragm mounting member installed in a charged particle beam device for radiating a primary charged particle beam through a diaphragm separating a vacuum space and an atmospheric pressure space onto a sample placed in the atmospheric pressure space is provided with a diaphragm installation portion to which a TEM membrane is mounted and a casing fixing portion mounted on a casing of the charged particle beam device. The diaphragm installation portion has a positioning structure for positioning a platform on which the diaphragm is held. |
US09633812B1 |
Triode tube emulator circuit
Various examples are directed to analog vacuum tube emulator circuits. In various examples, a vacuum tube emulator circuit may comprise a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be effective to receive, a first voltage, a second voltage, and a third voltage. The first circuit may be effective to develop, at an input of the first circuit, a first current based on the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage. The first circuit may output the first current to an output node. The second circuit may be effective to receive the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage. The second circuit may be effective to develop, at an input of the second circuit, a second current based on the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage. The second circuit may output the second current to the output node. |
US09633811B2 |
Circuit breaker for hierarchically controlling short-circuit current and trips
The invention discloses a short circuit current hierarchical control tripping parameter circuit breaker. According to the invention, resistance of an alloy magnetic resistance body is changed through circuit current, and contract control can be carried out on short-circuit current. The control range of the circuit breaker can achieve that no magnetic resistance will be generated when current is no more than 8 times of rated operational current, and current limiting may be realized by the magnetic resistance when current is 8 times more than rated value. In this way, hierarchical control on short-circuit current of different levels of circuits can be carried out, and short-circuit current can be limited in a predetermined range, thereby restricting the short-circuit current in a predetermined range, solving a problem of power supply flickering, and avoiding large-area power failure accidents caused by override trip existing in an electrical control switch. |
US09633807B2 |
Modular solid dielectric switchgear
Modular switchgear and methods for manufacturing the same. The modular switchgear includes a vacuum interrupter assembly, a source conductor assembly, and a housing assembly. The vacuum interrupter assembly includes a bushing, a fitting, and a vacuum interrupter at least partially molded within the bushing and including a movable contact and a stationary contact. The source conductor assembly includes a bushing, a fitting, and a source conductor molded within the bushing. The housing assembly includes a housing defining a chamber and a drive shaft and conductor positioned within the chamber. The housing assembly also includes a first receptacle for receiving the fitting of the vacuum interrupter assembly and a second receptacle for receiving the fitting of the source conductor assembly. The vacuum interrupter assembly, the source conductor assembly, and the housing assembly are coupled without molding the assemblies within a common housing. |
US09633805B2 |
Pushbutton switch
A pushbutton switch includes a pushbutton unit and a resilient member. The pushbutton unit includes a mounting seat for being in proximity to an activator of a switch assembly, and a pushbutton covering the mounting seat. The resilient member has a switch contactor adjacent to the activator, two resilient arms extending from the switch contactor, and two abutment segments connected respectively to the resilient arms and engaging the limiting seat. When the pushbutton is pressed to move toward the limiting seat, the resilient arms are resiliently deformed to have a resilient force for urging the pushbutton away from the limiting seat, and the switch contactor is driven by the pushbutton to contact and move the activator. |
US09633804B2 |
Electrical connector having a domed metal switch
A connector (100) and connector system are provided. A connector can include a domed metal switch (102) that is partially covered with a liquid impermeable barrier (101) such that a portion of the domed metal switch is exposed and the liquid impermeable barrier is coupled to the domed metal switch with a liquid impermeable junction (221). In a connector system, a complementary connector can include a dome switch actuator (706,707), partially covered with another liquid impermeable barrier. When pressed against the connector, the domed metal switch can deform to contact an electrical conductor (104). A control circuit (1309) can determine whether an electronic device or user is causing the deformation by detecting whether voltage or current is applied to the domed metal switch while deformed. |
US09633800B1 |
Key structure
A key structure includes a base, a keycap, a first longitudinal bar, a second longitudinal bar, a first transverse bar and a second transverse bar. The first longitudinal bar, the second longitudinal bar, the first transverse bar and the second transverse bar are uniformly distributed in the range of the keycap. Consequently, the keycap is stably moved relative to the base. The first longitudinal bar, the second longitudinal bar, the first transverse bar and the second transverse bar are made of a metallic material. Since these bars are thinner than the scissors-type connecting element of the conventional key structure, the key structure of the present invention has reduced thickness. Moreover, since these bars are made of the metallic material, the structural strength of the key structure is increased. |
US09633798B2 |
Atomic capacitor
This invention describes a capacitor that formed by a charge or species specific membrane material filled with aqueous or non-aqueous liquid with soluble salts dissolved and non-dissolved in solution and contained within the membrane material. When charged, the oppositely charged ion will leave the structure, leaving behind a charged atomic capacitor. |
US09633794B2 |
Capacitor module of inverter for vehicle
A capacitor module of an inverter for a vehicle includes: a DC-link capacitor configured to be connected in parallel to an input of an inverter between a first high voltage input terminal and a second high voltage input terminal; and a plurality of Y-capacitors configured to be connected in parallel to the inverter. Each of the plurality Y-capacitors includes a first capacitor element connected between the first high voltage input terminal and a ground bus bar and a second capacitor element connected between the second high voltage input terminal and the ground bus bar, and the ground bus bars of the plurality of Y-capacitors are separately provided and the ground holes of the ground bus bars are disposed so as to face each other in a first direction. |
US09633790B1 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor and board having the same
A multilayer ceramic capacitor has a 3-terminal, vertical, multilayer structure in which portions of lead portions are not covered by external electrodes but are exposed to a mounting surface of a ceramic body. Insulating portions are disposed between the external electrodes on the mounting surface of the ceramic body. The insulating portions have an overlap portion covering portions of the external electrodes. 0.005≦i/e≦0.7 is satisfied, where i is a width of the overlap portion, and e is a width of the external electrode partially covered by the overlap portion. |
US09633788B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body and external electrodes provided on opposite end surfaces of the ceramic body. The ceramic body includes an inner layer portion including a plurality of ceramic layers defining inner layers and a plurality of first and second internal electrodes each disposed at an interface of adjacent ones of the ceramic layers defining the inner layers, outer layer portions sandwiching the inner layer portion in a direction in which the layers are stacked, and side margin portions sandwiching the inner layer portion and the outer layer portions in a widthwise direction. The side margin portion includes pores that decrease in number along a direction from inside to outside of the ceramic body. |
US09633784B2 |
Electronic component
In an electronic component, a first terminal electrode is disposed on a first side surface and extends to a second principal surface. A second terminal electrode is disposed on a second side surface and extends to the second principal surface. A third terminal electrode is disposed on a third side surface and extends to the second principal surface. A fourth terminal electrode is disposed on a fourth side surface and extends to the second principal surface. Maximum values of thicknesses of portions located on the second principal surface of the third and fourth terminal electrodes are smaller than maximum values of thicknesses of portions located on the second principal surface of the first and second terminal electrodes. |
US09633783B2 |
Transmission of signals through a non-contact interface
A bi-directional transmission system for transmission of signals through a non-contact interface includes a transformer inductively coupling a first circuit to a second circuit. The second circuit includes at least a first transmitter circuit arranged to translate a first digital input signal into at least one voltage pulse and to provide the at least one voltage pulse to a first winding of the transformer, wherein the at least one voltage pulse takes a positive or negative form based on whether the first digital input signal has a positive or negative edge. The first circuit includes at least a first receiver circuit arranged to receive at least one induced voltage pulse from a second winding of the transformer and to provide a first digital output signal reflecting the first digital input signal based on the at least one induced voltage pulse. |
US09633781B2 |
Ferroresonant transformer for use in uninterruptible power supplies
A ferroresonant transformer is adapted to be connected to a primary power source, an inverter system, and a resonant capacitor. The ferroresonant transformer comprises a core, a main shunt arranged to define a primary side and a secondary side of the ferroresonant transformer, first windings arranged on the primary side of the ferroresonant transformer, second windings arranged on the secondary side of the ferroresonant transformer, and third windings arranged on the secondary side of the ferroresonant transformer. The first windings are operatively connected to the primary power source. |
US09633775B2 |
Electronic device mounting apparatus
An electronic device mounting apparatus to be mounted with multiple electronic components, each of which includes at least one wire. The electronic device mounting apparatus includes a base unit and multiple pin units. The base unit includes a base wall and two side walls extending from the base wall. Each of the side walls has a first surface. The pin units are correspondingly mounted in the side walls and are spaced apart from one another. Each of the pin units has a wire-connecting segment having a connection portion that projects from the first surface, and two projecting portions that project from the connection portion and that define a slit therebetween. The slit is for a corresponding wire to be clamped therein by the projecting portions. |
US09633773B2 |
Thin film common mode filter and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein are a thin film common mode filter and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film common mode filter according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic substrate made of a magnetic ceramic material; and coil patterns formed on the magnetic substrate, wherein external electrodes connected with the coil patterns are sequentially stacked and insulating layers formed on and beneath the coil pattern are made of a composite of ferrite powder and thermosetting resin. |
US09633772B2 |
Solderable planar magnetic components
An inductive component having a printed circuit board (“PCB”) with a first side and a second side. An aperture extends through the PCB and a conductive winding is printed onto the PCB surrounding the aperture. A core is formed by a first core member and a second core member. The first core member includes a first base member with at least one joining surface which is solderable to the first side. A first core leg extends at least partially through the aperture. The second core member includes at least a second base member and is coupled to the first core member or the second side. To manufacture the PCB, the first core member is soldered to the first side and then the PCB is inverted. The second core member is then coupled to at least one of the first core member or the second side. |
US09633771B2 |
Magnetic coupling device
A magnetic attachment comprises a stacked configuration including an attachment surface, a magnetic coupling device, and a device comprising at least one magnet. A thin non-conductive sheet may be positioned between the magnetic coupling device and the at least one magnet. The magnetic coupling device may include an aperture through which radio signals may pass. The magnetic coupling device may comprise alternating layers of magnetically permeable material and non-magnetically permeable material. The magnetic coupling device may have an adhesive backing layer and may be provided in a kit for a user to apply to a device. The embedded coupling device may be configured within the shell of a host device, or within a cover of a device. |
US09633770B2 |
Method for improving coercive force of epsilon-type iron oxide, and epsilon-type iron oxide
An epsilon-type iron oxide having an Fe-site that is substituted with a platinum group element, provided that Fe of a D-site of the epsilon-type iron oxide is not substituted with the platinum group element. |
US09633767B2 |
Power cable polymer connector
[Problem]A power cable polymer connector is provided which is lighter than when using a porcelain insulator and can exert a free-standing property to maintain the arranged position even if it is used horizontally. [Solution]A power cable polymer connector 1 includes a polymeric insulating tube 2 including a cable insertion hole 2a, 2b to allow an insertion of a stripped end 101 of a power cable 100. The polymeric insulating tube 2 further includes an insulation 20 including a polymer-based material and an embedded pipe 21 including a metal and embedded on an inner peripheral surface of the insulation 20 so as to face the end of the power cable 100. |
US09633763B2 |
Wire harness and connector component
Provided is a wire harness that enables a connector component and a cable bundle to be attached to an external member while facilitating the operation and preventing wobbling of the connector component. The connector component is connected to a cable branch line on the radially outward side of the cable bundle, and includes a pair of confining surfaces on each of two sides in the circumferential direction of the cable bundle. The pair of confining surfaces face each other across a gap. The bundling member is disposed between the pair of confining surfaces, and is wound around the connector component and the cable bundle together from the outer side. The fixture is fixed to the bundling member and to an external member. |
US09633761B2 |
Center conductor tip
A tip end conductor for an inner conductor of a coaxial cable, comprising a first portion engaging a first region of the outermost tip to mechanically engage the inner conductor and a second portion, axially inboard of the first portion, engaging a second region of the outermost tip to electrically engage the inner conductor. The first and second portions define first and second diameter dimensions, respectively, wherein the first diameter dimension is less than the second diameter dimension, and wherein the first portion of the tip end conductor includes a mechanically irregular surface for being press fit onto, and producing, a mechanical interlock along a first region of the terminal end of the inner conductor. |
US09633754B2 |
Apparatus for generating focused electromagnetic radiation
A method for generating electromagnetic radiation, including the steps of: providing a series of adjacent electrode pairs arranged on a common dielectric substrate, the electrodes of each electrode pair substantially aligned on opposite sides of the common dielectric substrate; energizing a first electrode pair in the series of electrode pairs at an energizing time to produce a volume polarization distribution pattern within the common dielectric substrate; energizing a next adjacent electrode pair in the series of adjacent electrode pairs at a next energizing time to produce a variation of the volume polarization distribution pattern within the common dielectric substrate, the center of the next adjacent electrode pair located a distance from the center of the previous adjacent electrode pair, wherein the next energizing time is a time interval after the previous energizing time, the time interval less than the time for light to travel the distance between the centers of the previous and the next adjacent electrode pairs; and repeating the step of energizing the next adjacent electrode pair for subsequent electrode pairs in the series of adjacent electrode pairs to produce a continuous time-varying volume polarization distribution pattern within the common dielectric substrate. |
US09633753B2 |
Mobile transport and shielding apparatus for removable x-ray analyzer
A mobile transport and shielding apparatus, which holds an x-ray analyzer for transport between operating sites, and also serves as a shielded, operational station for holding the x-ray analyzer during operation thereof. The x-ray analyzer is removably insertable into the apparatus and is operable either within the mobile transport and shielding apparatus, or outside of the apparatus. The apparatus may provide means to control, power, cool, and/or charge the x-ray analyzer during operation of the analyzer; and also means to transport the analyzer (e.g., a handle). |
US09633752B2 |
Reactor shutdown trip algorithm using derivatives
A controller for producing a nuclear reactor shutdown system trip signal in response to at least one detector signal. The controller includes a signal conditioning module receiving the at least one detector signal and outputting a measured flux signal. A rate module generates a rate signal from the measured flux signal. A comparator circuit compares the rate signal to a trip setpoint and generates a first trip signal. |
US09633747B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices and methods of testing open failures thereof
Semiconductor memory devices are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes an input/output (I/O) drive controller, a data I/O unit and a data transmitter. The data I/O unit selectively drives a first global I/O line and first/second global I/O lines according to the first or second test modes. The data transmitter selectively transfers the data on the first global I/O line onto first and second local I/O lines to store the data on the first global I/O line, and the data on the first and second global I/O lines onto the first and second local I/O lines according to the first or second test modes. |
US09633744B2 |
On demand knockout of coarse sensing based on dynamic source bounce detection
Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for determining a magnitude of a bounce voltage on a source line associated with one or more memory cells and conducting, if the magnitude of the bounce voltage exceeds a threshold, a coarse-level program verification and a fine-level program verification of the one or more memory cells. Additionally, if the magnitude of the bounce voltage does not exceed the threshold, only the fine-level program verification of the one or more memory cells may be conducted. In one example, the coarse-level program verification is bypassed if the magnitude of the bounce voltage does not exceed the threshold. |
US09633743B2 |
Method of shaping a strobe signal, a data storage system and strobe signal shaping device
A strobe signal shaping method for a data storage system includes receiving a strobe signal; boosting a first clock edge portion of the strobe signal when the strobe signal is received after having been idle or paused over a predetermined time period; and returning to an operating mode in which boosting is turned off with respect to a second clock edge portion of the strobe signal. |
US09633740B1 |
Read retry operations where likelihood value assignments change sign at different read voltages for each read retry
Read retry operations in a memory employ likelihood value assignments that change sign at different read voltages for a plurality of read retry operations. A method for multiple read retries of a memory comprises reading a codeword using a first read voltage to obtain a first read value; mapping the first read value to first likelihood values based on a first likelihood value assignment that changes sign substantially at the first read voltage; reading the codeword using a second read voltage to obtain a second read value, wherein the second read voltage is shifted from the first read voltage to compensate for an expected change in analog voltages; and mapping the second read value to second likelihood values based on a second likelihood value assignment, wherein the second likelihood value assignment changes sign substantially at the second read voltage. Read data is optionally generated using iterative decoding of the codeword based on the first likelihood values and/or the second likelihood values. |
US09633739B2 |
Method of erasing information and device for performing same
Methods and devices for erasing information stored on an electronic semiconductor component in a plurality of non-volatile memory elements are described. Irradiating the semiconductor component with erasing radiation until a target dose has been absorbed by the semiconductor component, the erasing radiation penetrating the semiconductor component, results in an ionization effect which influences the concentration of the charge carriers stored on the memory elements such that a statistical distribution of the threshold voltages of the memory elements forms a contiguous region. |
US09633737B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory blocks including a plurality of memory cells, wherein the plurality of memory cells are divided into a plurality of pages; and an operation circuit configured to output operating voltages to local lines of a selected memory block, among the plurality of memory blocks, to perform a program operation, a read operation and an erase operation on the selected memory block, wherein the operation circuit is configured to apply a dummy pulse having a positive potential to the local lines of the selected memory block after completing the program operation, the read operation and the erase operation. |
US09633732B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof
A semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell array, a peripheral circuit, a control logic, and a source line precharge path. The memory cell array may have a plurality of memory strings. The peripheral circuit may perform a program operation for the memory cell array. The control logic may control the peripheral circuit a channel precharge operation of the program operation. The source line precharge path may precharge channels of the plurality of memory strings through a source line of the memory cell array. The peripheral circuit may control, according to program data, a potential level of a selected one of a plurality of bit lines coupled to the plurality of memory strings during the channel precharge operation. |
US09633728B2 |
Memory systems and memory programming methods
Memory systems and memory programming methods are described. According to one aspect, a memory system includes program circuitry configured to provide a program signal to a memory cell to program the memory cell from a first memory state to a second memory state, detection circuitry configured to detect the memory cell changing from the first memory state to the second memory state during the provision of the program signal to the memory cell to program the memory cell, and wherein the program circuitry is configured to alter the program signal as a result of the detection and to provide the altered program signal to the memory cell to continue to program the memory cell from the first memory state to the second memory state. |
US09633727B2 |
Resistive memory devices and methods of controlling resistive memory devices according to selected pulse power specifications
A method of controlling a resistive memory device includes: accessing a first pulse power specification satisfying a memory cell coefficient associated with at least a first of a plurality of memory cells included in a memory cell array; generating a first pulse power according to the accessed first pulse power specification; and performing a write operation on at least the first of the plurality of memory cells using the generated first pulse power. |
US09633726B2 |
Resistive memory device, resistive memory system, and method of operating resistive memory device
A method of operating a resistive memory device having a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines includes selecting one or more first memory cells connected to a first bit line, selecting one or more second memory cells connected to a second bit line, and simultaneously performing a reset write operation on the first and second memory cells using a first write driver. |
US09633724B2 |
Sensing a non-volatile memory device utilizing selector device holding characteristics
Providing for improved sensing of non-volatile resistive memory to achieve higher sensing margins, is described herein. The sensing can leverage current-voltage characteristics of a volatile selector device within the resistive memory. A disclosed sensing process can comprise activating the selector device with an activation voltage, and then lowering the activation voltage to a holding voltage at which the selector device deactivates for an off-state memory cell, but remains active for an on-state memory cell. Accordingly, very high on-off ratio characteristics of the selector device can be employed for sensing the resistive memory, providing sensing margins not previously achievable for non-volatile memory. |
US09633716B2 |
Methods and systems to selectively boost an operating voltage of, and controls to an 8T bit-cell array and/or other logic blocks
Methods and systems to provide a multi-Vcc environment, such as to selectively boost an operating voltage of a logic block and/or provide a level-shifted control to the logic block. A multi-Vcc environment may be implemented to isolate a Vmin-limiting logic block from a single-Vcc environment, such as to reduce Vmin and/or improve energy efficiency in the single-Vcc environment. The logic block may include bit cells of a register file, a low-level processor cache, and/or other memory system. A cell Vcc may be boosted during a read mode and/or write wordlines (WWLs) and/or read wordlines (RWLs) may be asserted with boost. A wordline decoder may include a voltage level shifter with differential split-level logic, and a dynamic NAND, which may include NAND logic, a keeper circuit, and logic to delay a keeper control based on a delay of the level shifter to reduce contention during an initial NAND evaluation phase. |
US09633712B1 |
Semiconductor memory device capable of performing read operation and write operation simultaneously
A semiconductor memory device includes a charge storage element, a read transistor, and a write transistor. The charge storage element is for preserving a first data voltage. The read transistor has a first terminal coupled to the charge storage element, a second terminal coupled to a read bit line, and a control terminal coupled to a read word line. The write transistor has a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the read transistor, a second terminal coupled to a write bit line, and a control terminal coupled to a write word line. The semiconductor memory device is able to perform a read operation and a write operation to the charge storage element simultaneously through the read transistor and the write transistor. |
US09633710B2 |
Method for operating semiconductor device
Provided is a highly reliable semiconductor device, a semiconductor device with a reduced circuit area, a memory element having favorable characteristics, a highly reliable memory element, or a memory element with increased storage capacity per unit volume. A semiconductor device includes a capacitor and a switching element. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric. The dielectric is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. The switching element includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is electrically connected to the first electrode. The following steps are sequentially performed: a first step of turning on the switching element in a first period, a second step of turning off the switching element in a second period, and a third step of turning on the switching element in a third period. |
US09633705B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, memory system and access method to semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a block array having an m number of memory blocks in a row direction and an n number of memory blocks in a column direction (m being an integer of 2 or more and n being an integer of 1 or more), a page selection circuit configured to select a row in the block array from which a page is to be selected, and a page buffer configured to store data to be written in a page selected by the page selection circuit or data read from the page. Each of the memory blocks includes a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells, a row selection circuit configured to select a row of the memory cell array, and a column selection circuit configured to select a column of the memory cell array. |
US09633702B2 |
Memory system with uniform decoder and operating method of same
A memory system includes a memory array including a plurality of memory cells, and an encoder operatively coupled to the memory array, for encoding an original data element to be programmed into the memory cells into a uniform data element in which the number of “0”s approximately equals the number of “1”s. |
US09633696B1 |
Systems and methods for automatically synchronizing media to derived content
A system for creating synchronized content is provided. The system includes a memory, at least one processor coupled to the memory, and a synchronization engine component executable by the at least one processor. The synchronization engine component is configured to locate a media file associated with synchronization information; locate at least one clip derived from the media file; generate a reference template representative of the media file; generate a derived content template representative of the at least one clip; align the derived content template with the reference template to create alignment information; and generate the synchronized content based on the at least one clip, the alignment information, and the synchronization information. |
US09633692B1 |
Continuous loop audio-visual display and methods
An audiovisual work displaying a real world setting or object repeats as a video loop such that a viewer having normal visual and cognitive ability is unlikely or unable to detect the loop. The work is devoid of or has minimal instances of outliers which are otherwise more readily detected by a viewer upon successive looping of the segment. The segment may be of different lengths and optionally includes a corresponding audio component. The work is displayed on any type of screen for viewing, and may be delivered via the cloud, as a subscription, or other means. The display allows for a unique sensation where the viewer is locked in time (such as when viewing a still image) yet experiences video motion and audio variety without the sense of being caught in a continuous loop. |
US09633686B1 |
Disc storage cassettes
A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs and a platform portion abuts the curved portion. The platform portion and the curved portion each include multiple rib pairs configured to separate adjacent discs from touching one another, and to form a disc slot between each rib pair. Disc slots of the platform portion of the disc cassette are configured to provide a guide for disc removal from the disc cassette. |
US09633685B2 |
Method of writing to an optical data storage medium, method of reading from an optical data storage medium, and optical data storage medium
According to embodiments of the present invention, a method of writing to an optical data storage medium is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of data elements, each data element having one of a plurality of values, wherein each value of the plurality of values is associated with a wavelength, and forming, for each data element, a nanostructure arrangement on the optical data storage medium, the nanostructure arrangement configured to reflect light of the wavelength associated with the value of the data element in response to a light irradiated on the optical data storage medium. According to further embodiments of the present invention, a method of reading from an optical data storage medium and an optical data storage medium are also provided. |
US09633684B2 |
Magnetic recording medium, method for manufacturing magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a silicon oxide underlayer having a recess pattern having a plurality of recesses, a nonmagnetic underlayer having a first hole pattern having a plurality of holes corresponding to the recess pattern, and a magnetic recording layer having a second hole pattern having a plurality of holes connected with the first hole pattern. The silicon oxide underlayer, the nonmagnetic underlayer, and the magnetic recording layer are formed in order on the substrate. |
US09633683B2 |
Mode conversion via tapered waveguide
An apparatus includes a write head comprising a near-field transducer at a media-facing surface of the write head and a waveguide extending along a light-propagation direction. The waveguide is configured to receive light emitted from a light source at a fundamental transverse electric mode. The waveguide is configured to deliver the light to the near-field transducer at a transverse magnetic mode which directs surface plasmons to a recording medium in response thereto. The waveguide comprises a core with first and second tapers separated by a straight portion of constant cross sectional width. The first and second tapers successively decrease a cross-sectional width of the core as it nears the near-field transducer. The waveguide includes an end portion between the second taper and the near field transducer. The end portion comprises a top cladding layer, aside cladding layer, and a bottom cladding layer on the side cladding layer. |
US09633682B1 |
Accurate spiral gate positioning in the presence of large non-repeatable runout
A magnetic write head is positioned based on position signals generated by a read head as the read head crosses a plurality of reference spirals. The spiral gate for monitoring a particular reference spiral is timed to begin at a time based on the radial position of the magnetic head when crossing the preceding reference spiral. In this way, the spiral crossing time for the particular reference spiral can be estimated with sufficient accuracy that the spiral gate coincides with the magnetic head crossing the particular reference spiral. Consequently, spiral detection is assured, even in the presence of large non-repeatable runout. |
US09633675B2 |
Interlaced magnetic recording super parity
A storage device includes a storage medium having a first set of non-adjacent data tracks having a number of super parity sectors and a second set of non-adjacent data tracks interlaced with the first set of non-adjacent data tracks. The number of super parity sectors on a data track of the first set of non-adjacent data tracks is selected based on a distance between the data track and an inner diameter of the storage medium. |
US09633674B2 |
System and method for detecting errors in interactions with a voice-based digital assistant
The method is performed at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. A speech input containing a request is received from a user. At least one action in furtherance of satisfying the request is performed. A user interaction is detected, such as a speech input to a digital assistant or a physical interaction with a device. It is determined whether the user interaction is indicative of a problem in the performing of the at least one action. Upon determining that the user interaction is indicative of a problem, information relating to the request is stored in a repository for error analysis. |
US09633668B2 |
System and method of improving communication in a speech communication system
A speech communication system and a method of improving communication in such a speech communication system between at least a first user and a second user may be configured so the system (a) transcribes a recorded portion of a speech communication between the at least first and second user to form a transcribed portion, (b) selects and marks at least one of the words of the transcribed portion which is considered to be a keyword of the speech communication, (c) performs a search for each keyword and produces at least one definition for each keyword, (d) calculates a trustworthiness factor for each keyword, each trustworthiness factor indicating a calculated validity of the respective definition(s), and (e) displays the transcribed portion as well as each of the keywords together with the respective definition and the trustworthiness factor thereof to at least one of the first user and the second user. |
US09633667B2 |
Adaptive audio signal filtering
An apparatus comprising: an audio signal analyzer configured to analyze an audio signal; an audio signal processor configured to signal process the audio signal to enhance the speech component of the audio signal dependent on determining the audio signal comprises speech components; and signal processing the audio signal to enhance a loudness of the audio signal otherwise. |
US09633666B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting correctness of pitch period
A method and an apparatus for detecting correctness of a pitch period. The method for detecting correctness of a pitch period includes determining, according to an initial pitch period of an input signal in a time domain, a pitch frequency bin of the input signal, where the initial pitch period is obtained by performing open-loop detection on the input signal; determining, based on an amplitude spectrum of the input signal in a frequency domain, a pitch period correctness decision parameter, associated with the pitch frequency bin, of the input signal; and determining correctness of the initial pitch period according to the pitch period correctness decision parameter. The method and apparatus for detecting correctness of a pitch period according to the embodiments of the present invention can improve, based on a relatively less complex algorithm, accuracy of detecting correctness of a pitch period. |
US09633654B2 |
Low power voice detection
Methods of enabling voice processing with minimal power consumption includes recording time-domain audio signal at a first clock frequency and a first voltage, and performing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) operations on the time-domain audio signal at a second clock frequency to generate frequency-domain audio signal. The frequency domain audio signal may be enhanced to obtain better signal to noise ratio, through one or multiple filtering and enhancing techniques. The enhanced audio signal may be used to generate the total signal energy and estimate the background noise energy. Decision logic may determine from the signal energy and the background noise, the presence or absence of the human voice. The first clock frequency may be different from the second clock frequency. |
US09633653B1 |
Context-based utterance recognition
In some implementations, a digital work provider may provide language model information related to a plurality of different contexts, such as a plurality of different digital works. For example, the language model information may include language model difference information identifying a plurality of sequences of one or more words in a digital work that have probabilities of occurrence that differ from probabilities of occurrence in a base language model by a threshold amount. The language model difference information corresponding to a particular context may be used in conjunction with the base language model to recognize an utterance made by a user of a user device. In some examples, the recognition is performed on the user device. In other examples, the utterance and associated context information are sent over a network to a recognition computing device that performs the recognition. |
US09633648B2 |
Loudspeaker membrane and method for manufacturing such a membrane
The invention relates to a loudspeaker membrane having a sandwich structure, having a central web separating two layers of material based on high-rigidity threads impregnated with a polymer resin, characterized in that the central web is formed from a layer of material based on oriented natural fibers that are impregnated with a polymer resin. |
US09633647B2 |
Self-tuning transfer function for adaptive filtering
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes receiving, at one or more processing devices, a plurality of values representing a set of coefficients of an adaptive filter over a period of time, and identifying, by the one or more processing devices based on the plurality of values, a phase error associated with a transfer function of the adaptive filter. The method also includes adjusting, based on the identified phase error, a phase associated with the transfer function of the adaptive filter such that coefficients calculated using the adjusted transfer function reduce the phase error. The method further includes determining a set of coefficients for the adaptive filter based on the adjusted transfer function, and programming the adaptive filter with the determined set of coefficients to enable operation of the adaptive filter. |
US09633646B2 |
Oversight control of an adaptive noise canceler in a personal audio device
A personal audio device, such as a wireless telephone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal and injects the anti-noise signal into the speaker or other transducer output to cause cancellation of ambient audio sounds. An error microphone is also provided proximate the speaker to measure the ambient sounds and transducer output near the transducer, thus providing an indication of the effectiveness of the noise canceling. A processing circuit uses the reference and/or error microphone, optionally along with a microphone provided for capturing near-end speech, to determine whether the ANC circuit is incorrectly adapting or may incorrectly adapt to the instant acoustic environment and/or whether the anti-noise signal may be incorrect and/or disruptive and then take action in the processing circuit to prevent or remedy such conditions. |
US09633642B2 |
Electronic musical instrument system
Provided is an electronic musical instrument system. A PC is configured to perform an operation of emulating an analog synthesizer by a first software synthesizer. The PC installs a second software synthesizer to a hardware synthesizer on condition that the hardware synthesizer is confirmed to be the device corresponding to the second software synthesizer. The hardware synthesizer performs the operation of emulating the analog synthesizer by the second software synthesizer. The first software synthesizer and the second software synthesizer related to the operation of emulating the analog synthesizer have the same function respectively, and are capable of generating the same tone respectively, the effect of reproducing the same function and tone as the synthesizer that is to be emulated can be achieved respectively in two different devices, i.e. the PC and the hardware synthesizer. |
US09633640B1 |
Guitar effector
Provided is an adjustment unit for guitar effector that is installed between input unit and output unit to adjust a volume and a tone based on the output signal by using a variable resistor in an analog circuit. The adjustment unit comprises one or more of a level part that adjusts a size of the output signal, a tone part that adjusts an amount of high-pitched sound and an amount of low-pitched sound, and a distortion part that adjusts a degree of distortion, one or more of the level part, the tone part and the distortion part are plural, and a switch comprising one or more of a level switch for selecting any one of the plurality of level parts, a tone switch for selecting any one of the plurality of tone parts, and a distortion switch for selecting any one of the plurality of distortion parts is installed. |
US09633637B1 |
Magnetic resonance tuning device for stringed instruments
A tuning device and method for tuning or verifying the tuning of a string of a stringed instrument is provided. The device includes an electromagnetic pickup physically separate from the stringed instrument. The electromagnetic pickup is a noise cancelling pickup. The electromagnetic pickup ultimately provides an electrical signal indicative of a movement of the string in a magnetic field of the electromagnetic pickup to a processor electronic tuner. Optional features of the electromagnetic pickup increase the effective range of the pickup. |
US09633631B1 |
Foldable guitar
A foldable guitar has a guitar body. The guitar body includes a main body and a rotating bar fixed to the main body. The rotating bar has a top end and a bottom end. Each of the top end and the bottom end is pivoted to the main body. A shape of the rotating bar matches a profile shape of the main body, and the rotating bar is foldable, such that a size of the guitar body is reduced when the rotating bar is folded toward the main body. |
US09633627B2 |
Power supply, power control method thereof, and display apparatus having the same
A power supply and method of controlling power supplied to a light source are disclosed. The power supply includes a dimming-control voltage generator configured to generate a dimming-control voltage based on first and second adjustment values; a dimming controller configured to output a dimming control signal for controlling analog dimming and pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming of a light source based on the dimming-control voltage; and a driver configured to control the analog dimming and the PWM dimming of the light source based on the dimming control signal. |
US09633624B2 |
Data processing apparatus for transmitting/receiving compression-related indication information via display interface and related data processing method
A data processing apparatus has a de-compressor and an input interface. The de-compressor de-compresses a compressed display data in an input bitstream. The input interface receives the input bitstream from another data processing apparatus via a display interface, parses indication information included in the input bitstream, and configures the de-compressor to employ a de-compression algorithm according to the indication information. |
US09633622B2 |
Multi-user sensor-based interactions
Disclosed in some examples are methods systems and machine readable mediums in which actions or states of a first user (e.g., natural interactions) having a first corresponding computing device are observed by a sensor on a second computing device corresponding to a second user. A notification describing the observed actions or states of a first user may be shared across a network with the first corresponding computing device. In this way, the first computing device may be provided with information concerning the state of the user without having to directly sense the user. |
US09633621B2 |
Source driving circuit capable of compensating for amplifier offset, and display device including the same
A display device capable of decreasing an amplifier offset using a gate-start pulse signal is disclosed. A display device includes a display panel, a control circuit, a gate driving circuit and a source driving circuit. The source driving circuit includes a plurality of source driving chips, compensates for an amplifier offset in response to the gate-start pulse signal, performs digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion on data received from the control circuit using gray scale voltages in response to the source control signal, and provides the converted data to the source lines. |
US09633620B2 |
GOA circuit and liquid crystal display device
The invention provides a GOA circuit and a liquid crystal display device each including multiple cascade connected GOA units. An nth-stage GOA unit is for charging an nth-stage horizontal scan line in a display area. The nth-stage GOA unit includes a pull-up control circuit, a pull-up circuit, a transfer circuit, a first pull-down control circuit, a first pull-down circuit, a second pull-down control circuit, a second pull-down circuit and a main pull-down circuit, where n is a positive integer. The invention can improve the stage-transfer efficiency of GOA circuit, improve the output quality of scan drive signal so as to increase charging ratio of LCD tubes and also can accelerate the pull-down speed of scan drive signal. |
US09633611B2 |
Readiness signaling between master and slave controllers of a liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel and a first to nth control substrates (n is an integer which is 2 or greater) which control the liquid crystal panel. When the first control substrate enters an operable status, the first control substrate transmits a readiness signal to the second control substrate which is at a next stage, and when the nth control substrate determines that the nth control substrate receives a readiness signal from a control substrate at a previous stage and is in an operable status, the nth control substrate transmits a readiness signal to the first control substrate, thereby being able to suppress a synchronization failure between the plurality of control substrates which are provided in a liquid crystal display. |
US09633607B1 |
Adaptive RGBW conversion
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to conversion of RGB image data into RGBW image data for display by an image display apparatus. The image display apparatus accesses Red Green Blue (RGB) image data that corresponds to one or more images to be displayed by a Red Green Blue White (RGBW) display of the image display apparatus. The image display apparatus receives one or more inputs. Based upon the one or more external factors, the RGB image data is converted into RGBW image data. Based upon the RGBW image data, the RGBW display displays the one or more images. |
US09633606B2 |
Device for driving light-emitting diodes, light-emitting device, and display device
A device for driving a light-emitting diode, a light-emitting device, and a display device are disclosed. The disclosed light-emitting diode driving device may include: a first transistor having a first conductive electrode connected with a source voltage terminal and having a second conductive electrode connected with an input terminal of the light-emitting diode; a second transistor having a control electrode connected with the second conductive electrode of the first transistor; and a capacitor having one end connected with a data voltage terminal and having the other end connected with a first node, which is connected with a control electrode of the first transistor and with a first conductive electrode of the second transistor. |
US09633605B2 |
Pixel circuit having driving method for threshold compensation and display apparatus having the same
A pixel circuit includes a first path coupled to a gate of a driving transistor and a second path passing through a source and drain of the driving transistor. An initialization voltage of the driving transistor is set based on a gray scale data voltage carried along the first path. A voltage is stored in a capacitor coupled to the gate of the driving transistor based on the gray scale data voltage carried along the second path. The voltage stored in the capacitor is based on the gray scale data voltage, and may be compensated for variation in a threshold voltage of the driving transistor. |
US09633604B2 |
Display device, method for driving display device, and electronic apparatus
Provided is a display device including a pixel array unit that is made by arranging a drive transistor to drive a light emitting unit, a sampling transistor to sample a signal voltage, and a pixel circuit having a storage capacitor to store the signal voltage which is written by sampling with the sampling transistor, and a drive unit that makes a gate node and a source node of the drive transistor be in a floating state up to performing writing of the signal voltage with the sampling transistor, after writing an initialization voltage in the gate node when the source node of the drive transistor is in a non-floating state. |
US09633599B2 |
Pixel circuit, display device including the same and driving method of the display device
A pixel circuit is capable of maintaining a display quality even in cases where an input transistor has a low mobility, or where it is impossible to take a sufficient selection period for each scanning line. A pixel circuit includes an organic EL element (OLED), transistors, and a capacitor. A drive transistor has its drain terminal connected to a HIGH level power supply line, and has its source terminal connected to an anode terminal of the OLED. The first input transistor has its gate terminal connected to a scanning line Si, and is disposed between a data line Dj and the gate terminal of the drive transistor. The second input transistor has its gate terminal connected to a scanning line (Si−1) in the (i−1)th row, and is disposed between a data line and the gate terminal of the drive transistor. The capacitor is disposed between the gate terminal and the source terminal of the drive transistor. |
US09633598B2 |
Pixel circuit and driving method thereof
A method for driving a display device includes driving a first pixel circuit based on first and second fields of a frame, and driving a second pixel circuit based on first and second fields of the frame. The first field of the first pixel circuit overlaps the second field of the second pixel circuit. The second field of the first pixel circuit overlaps the first field of the second pixel circuit. Operations performed in the first field include storing a gray scale data voltage, and operations performed in the second field include supplying an amount of current to a light emitter based on the stored gray scale data voltage. The first and second pixel circuits are in adjacent rows of the display device. |
US09633597B2 |
Stable driving scheme for active matrix displays
A method and system for operating a pixel array having at least one pixel circuit is provided. The method includes repeating an operation cycle defining a frame period for a pixel circuit, including at each frame period, programming the pixel circuit, driving the pixel circuit, and relaxing a stress effect on the pixel circuit, prior to a next frame period. The system includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixel circuits and a plurality of lines for operation of the plurality of pixel circuits. Each of the pixel circuits includes a light emitting device, a storage capacitor, and a drive circuit connected to the light emitting device and the storage capacitor. The system includes a drive for operating the plurality of lines to repeat an operation cycle having a frame period so that each of the operation cycle comprises a programming cycle, a driving cycle and a relaxing cycle for relaxing a stress on a pixel circuit, prior to a next frame period. |
US09633592B2 |
Display apparatus and method of driving the same
A display device includes an acquiring circuit, a calculator, and a delay controller. The acquiring circuit acquires a gray scale voltage of a gray scale value of a pixel. The calculator calculates a first delay correction value based on a voltage currently retained on a data signal line to which the gray scale voltage is output and a gray scale voltage to be subsequently output to the data signal line. The delay controller determines a timing when the gray scale voltage is to be output to the data signal line based on the first delay correction value. |
US09633591B2 |
Digital-to-analog converter, programmable gamma correction buffer circuit and display apparatus
A digital-to-analog converter is for outputting a first output analog voltage according to a N-bit first digital signal or outputting a second output analog voltage according to a N-bit second digital signal and includes: a first voltage generator coupled between first and second reference voltages and for generating 2N first analog voltage between the first and second reference voltages, a first voltage selector for selecting the first output analog voltage from the 2N first analog voltage according to the N-bit first digital signal, a second voltage generator coupled to second and third reference voltages and for generating 2N second analog voltages between the second and third reference voltages, a second voltage selector for selecting the second output analog voltage from the 2N second analog voltages according to the N-bit second digital signal. A programmable gamma correction buffer circuit and a display apparatus also are provided. |
US09633589B2 |
Display device having ESD circuit
A display device includes a first interconnection line, a first data driver, a second interconnection line, an electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit, and a display panel. The first connection line transmits a data driving signal. The first data driver includes the first interconnection line and output a data signal based on the data driving signal. The second interconnection line passes through the first data driver and transmits a gate driving signal. The ESD) circuit in the first data driver and discharges static electricity transmitted through the second interconnection line. The first gate driver outputs a gate signal based on the gate driving signal transmitted through the second interconnection line. The display panel receives the data signal and the gate signal. |
US09633579B2 |
Fibers with physical features used for coding
Disclosed are fibers which contains identification fibers. The identification fibers can contain a plurality of distinct features, or taggants, which vary among the fibers and/or along the length of the identification fibers, a fiber band, or yarn. The disclosed embodiments also relate to the method for making and characterizing the fibers. Characterization of the fibers can include identifying distinct features, combinations of distinct features, and number of fibers with various combinations of distinct features and correlating the distinct features to supply chain information. The supply chain information can be used to track the fibers, fiber band, or yarn from manufacturing through intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer. |
US09633577B2 |
CPR training system and methods
A system including a chest compression sensor configured to detect at least one parameter corresponding to chest compressions of a subject and an electrocardiogram signal simulator configured to generate a simulated electrocardiogram signal and combine and/or modify the simulated electrocardiogram signal with an output of the chest compression sensor to produce a simulated electrocardiogram signal with a CPR artifact. |
US09633575B2 |
Methods of treating overweight and obesity
The present disclosure relates to compositions, kits, uses, systems and methods for treating overweight and obesity using naltrexone plus bupropion, preferably in combination with a comprehensive web-based and/or telephone-based weight management program, and preferably in subjects at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. |
US09633571B2 |
Art instruction systems and methods using a border guide
Improved systems and methods using a border guide and/or border guide easel that enables art instruction in a relatively low cost and simple to use manner suitable for group or individual instruction of a relatively sophisticated nature. A scaled border guide preferably labeled with numbers and letters provides a virtual coordinate or reference system that enables artists to locate multiple random points on the surface to be painted. A physical grid or stencil or the like are not used on the artist's surface. The scaled border lines are used to define a virtual grid on the artist's working surface that may be used to indicate reference, points, positions, sizes and shapes for drawing or painting. Art instruction methods allow the teaching of drawing and painting in a more classical and relatively sophisticated style as compared to paint-by-numbers or grid art. |
US09633570B2 |
Systems and methods incorporating animated widgets in a virtual learning environment
Systems and methods for teaching in a virtual learning environment. In one example method comprises displaying a problem on a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computing system, receiving a user input of one or more potential solutions to the problem, animating, via the GUI, one or more graphical representations of the one or more potential solutions, receiving a user input selecting a first one of the one or more potential solutions, and displaying, on the GUI, an animation that illustrates a workability or accuracy of the one or more potential solutions. |
US09633566B2 |
Trailer backing path prediction using GPS and camera images
A method of controlling a vehicle and trailer assembly comprises obtaining an image for a current position of the vehicle and trailer assembly from a GPS system. The image is displayed on a display screen and a location is selected to indicate a desired final position for the vehicle and trailer assembly. An intended trailer backing path is determined with the desired final position of the vehicle and trailer assembly and a predicted trailer backing path is determined based upon a steering angle of the vehicle and an angle between the vehicle and the trailer. The predicted trailer backing path and the intended trailer backing path are displayed on the display screen to assist the operator in steering the vehicle. |
US09633564B2 |
Determining changes in a driving environment based on vehicle behavior
A method and apparatus are provided for determining whether a driving environment has changed relative to previously stored information about the driving environment. The apparatus may include an autonomous driving computer system configured to detect one or more vehicles in the driving environment, and determine corresponding trajectories for those detected vehicles. The autonomous driving computer system may then compare the determined trajectories to an expected trajectory of a hypothetical vehicle in the driving environment. Based on the comparison, the autonomous driving computer system may determine whether the driving environment has changed and/or a probability that the driving environment has changed, relative to the previously stored information about the driving environment. |
US09633563B2 |
Integrated object detection and warning system
In one aspect, an object warning system for a machine is disclosed. The object warning system includes an object detection system and an operator interface having a visual display, and a controller in communication with the object detection system and the operator interface. The controller is configured to control the display to represent a warning level as a function of a status of the machine and a distance of an object relative to the machine. |
US09633559B2 |
Projecting vehicle transportation network information
A method and apparatus for generating projected vehicle transportation network information for use in traversing a vehicle transportation network may include receiving a remote vehicle message including remote vehicle information indicating remote vehicle geospatial state information and remote vehicle kinematic state information, identifying host vehicle information including host vehicle geospatial state information and host vehicle kinematic state information, generating projected vehicle transportation network information representing a portion of the vehicle transportation network based on the remote vehicle information and the host vehicle information, and traversing a part of the portion of the vehicle transportation network represented by the projected vehicle transportation network information using the projected vehicle transportation network information. |
US09633558B2 |
Processing method and apparatus for implementing control of target device
A processing method for implementing control of a target device includes: providing an interface for confirming or inputting a target device identifier; receiving a target device identifier confirmed or selected by a user; providing an interface for confirming or selecting a function parameter of a target device; receiving a function parameter of a target device confirmed or selected by the user; providing a control interface image; and generating and storing, according to the received target device identifier and function parameter that are sent by the user and correspondence between the function parameter of the target device and a value of a control signal, correspondence among the target device identifier, an operation instruction for the control interface image, and the value of the control signal. |
US09633556B2 |
Adjusting acknowledgement requests for remote control transmissions based on previous acknowledgements
A remote receives an instruction to transmit and determines whether or not to include an acknowledgement request in the instruction based on statistics regarding receipt of acknowledgements associated with previously transmitted instructions. If so, the remote control device includes the request before transmitting. The remote control may determine whether or not to include the request in a variety of different ways in a variety of different implementations. In some implementations, the remote control may classify instructions into two or more different classifications and may treat instructions of different classifications differently. In other implementations, the remote control may treat the same instruction differently depending on the number of requested acknowledgements successfully received during a time period. In various other implementations, the remote control may perform various combinations of these approaches. |
US09633552B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for managing, reprioritizing, and suppressing initiated alarms
Present example embodiments relate generally to methods, systems, computing devices, and logic for managing a plurality of alarms initiated by a plurality of alarm sensors. The method comprises the steps of: receiving the plurality of initiated alarm, prioritizing the initiated alarms, creating an initiated alarm being a condition-based alarm when an initiated alarm satisfies an event condition, reprioritizing an initiated alarm when said initiated alarm satisfies a reprioritization condition, suppressing an initiated alarm, reporting an unsuppressed initiated alarm based on the prioritizing of said alarm, and providing information comprising an operator action for the unsuppressed initiated alarm and an initiated alarm suppressed based on the unsuppressed initiated alarm. |
US09633551B2 |
Enhanced wireless location system and method
An identification tag has at least a controller, a receiver for receiving wireless signals from an exciter, and a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to at least one location receiver (which may be a WLAN access point). The tag's controller can determine the presence of interference from sources unrelated to the location system, such as smartphones, tablets, computer monitors etc., and signal an alert accordingly. |
US09633547B2 |
Security monitoring and control
Systems, methods, and software for monitoring and controlling a security system for a structure are provided herein. An exemplary method may include receiving sensor data from at least one first peripheral, the sensor data associated with at least one of activity inside and activity outside of a structure; determining a critical event based in part on the sensor data; creating an alert based in part on the critical event; getting user preferences associated with at least one of a user and a base unit; determining a response based in part on the alert and user preferences; and activating at least one of a second peripheral and a service based in part on the response. |
US09633546B2 |
Touchless compliance system
A touchless compliance method and system can include: a server beacon, the server beacon including a gesture sensor, a motion sensor, a microphone, a server beacon mass storage, and a server beacon power transceiver; detecting gesture data from the gesture sensor; recording audio data with the microphone; a power station including a power station power transceiver, a station control unit, upload coordinator, and a station storage unit; sending a packet from the server beacon to the power station; prioritizing the packet; uploading a message including the audio data to the power station; uploading the message to an audio database server; transcribing the audio data; and displaying the transcription along with an option to replay the audio data on an external computer. |
US09633544B2 |
Hygiene compliance module
A hygiene compliance module is configured to be retrofit with a compatible dispenser to enable hygiene compliance monitoring functions. The hygiene compliance module is configured to be coupled to the dispenser via a communication interface to receive power, ground, and dispenser actuation signals therefrom. In addition, the hygiene compliance module is enabled to communicate with a wireless data tag that is worn by a user of the dispenser and with a remote hygiene compliance monitoring station. |
US09633541B2 |
Display system for tracking large numbers of persons and/or objects
A display system for tracking large numbers of persons or objects in real-time is disclosed. The display system utilizes a tracking system that employs various types of technologies, such as RFID, to determine the location of the person and/or objects being tracked. The displays of the present invention utilize colors, graphics, and the physical groupings of related data on a display device, usually a computer monitor, to present tracking information in a compact, readily changeable, and easily analyzed format in real-time. |
US09633539B2 |
Collision sensor assembly for a stationary structure
A collision sensor assembly is attachable to a stationary structure such as a pallet rack, a door frame, the corner of a wall, or the like. The collision sensor is configured to sense when a collision occurs with the stationary structure such as when a piece of movable machinery contacts the stationary structure. The collision sensor assembly includes a sensor operatively connected to a processor which determines when a collision occurs, and produces a signal to an output signal generator to provide an external indication of the collision. |
US09633537B2 |
Methods and apparatus to detect and warn proximate entities of interest
Systems and methods to detect and warn proximate entities of interest are described herein. An example method includes determining threat levels for hazards in a plurality of different zones within a building, classifying the threat levels into at least one of a first threat level and a second threat level, designating a first zone of the plurality of different zones having the first threat level with a first detectable indicator, and designating a second zone having the second threat level with a second detectable indicator. |
US09633529B2 |
Medium pick-up apparatus, medium process apparatus and financial device
Provided is a pick-up apparatus. The medium pick-up apparatus comprise a support plate to support a medium, a pick-up roller unit comprising a pick-up roller for picking up the medium, a detection unit to detect the number of medium that is picked up by the pick-up roller, and a pick-up roller moving device to move the pick-up roller unit to space the pick-up roller unit from the medium supported by the support plate when the pick-up of predetermined number of medium is detected by the detection unit. |
US09633526B2 |
Electronic gaming device with near field functionality
Examples disclosed herein relate to an electronic gaming device including a memory, a processor, and a plurality of reels. The memory may include one or more near field modules. A processor may generate one or more symbols to be located in the one or more areas. The processor may initiate one or more game play functions based on location data. |
US09633525B2 |
Gaming machine and methods of allowing a player to play gaming machines having selectable reel configurations
A gaming device is described herein. The gaming device includes a display unit and a controller that is coupled to the display unit. The display unit is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed in a display grid. Each reel is adapted to display one of a plurality of symbols. The controller is configured to randomly determine an outcome of the game, select a reel configuration including a plurality of reel groups, determine, for each reel group, a single random symbol being displayed in each reel of the corresponding reel group in the determined outcome, spin and stop each reel of the corresponding reel groups to display the outcome including displaying the same symbols in each reel of the corresponding reel group during rotation, and provide an award to the player as a function of the determined outcome. |
US09633524B2 |
Gaming machine conducting indication effect
A gaming machine stores an effect combination table in which each of predetermined combination conditions of symbols has probabilities associated with respective effect combinations each constituted by one or more indication effect. The gaming machine executes a process of randomly determining the symbols to be rearranged on the reel unit. The gaming machine executes a process of determining to which one of the combination conditions the combination of the determined symbols corresponds. The gaming machine executes a process of selecting an effect combination table based on the corresponding combination condition and randomly selecting one effect combination from a plurality of effect combinations based on the probabilities in the selected effect combination table. The gaming machine executes a process of executing an indication effect indicated by the selected effect combination, by means of the notification device. |
US09633523B2 |
Apparatus, system, method, and computer-readable medium for casino card handling with multiple hand recall feature
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for detecting, storing, and retrieving information about the composition of present and past hands of cards in a casino table game. The method includes causing a card-handling device to substantially automatically generate a plurality of hands wherein each hand includes one or more cards. Card information is identified that includes a rank and a suit of each card as each card moves through the card-handling device. A play history is maintained of a card composition of more than one round wherein the card composition of each round includes the cards in each hand of each round. The card information of at least one hand from at least one round may be displayed. |
US09633520B2 |
System and method for implementing an additional game to players of a lottery game
A computer-implemented system and method for providing a lottery game includes providing players with a unique validation code for each desired play of a lottery game. A first encryption code is generated for each validation code and stored so that the first encryption code and algorithm are present only as electronic data in the computer system and are not provided to the players. Players submit their respective unique validation code for registration in the lottery game and the computer system applies the algorithm to each code submitted by a player to create a second encryption code for each unique validation code. The computer system compares the second encryption code with a record of the first encryption codes to determine whether a match exists between the second encryption code and one of the first encryption codes. |
US09633518B2 |
Continuous play in historical racing devices
A system for wagering during a wagering period having a wagering base with a first plurality of pools each with an outcome accessed by an input wager. A plurality of terminals is provided at which wagers are input, each directed to access an outcome in one of the pools. A processing system is configured to process the input wagers in a manner whereby each input wager either: a) accesses; or b) fails to access an outcome. The processing system is further configured so that there is an initial pre-assigned probability of accessing the outcome of each pool through an input wager. The processing system is further configured to identify a collective return by determining the number of input wagers that have accessed an outcome in a particular pool. The processing system is further configured to change the wagering base after the wagering period has begun and before the wagering period is concluded based upon one or more system operating parameters detected during the wagering period. |
US09633517B2 |
Gaming machine having free game, wherein the number of adding free game is added
The present invention provides a gaming machine employing a free game system which provides an enhanced game element. The gaming machine determines the number of adding free game based on a game number lottery table under the condition that a first symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game, and adds a preset number of free game under the condition that a second symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game. |
US09633514B2 |
Systems, apparatuses and methods enhancing gaming outcome opportunities
Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing game features. In a game of chance involving at least one outcome, a plurality of alternative outcomes can be derived for a gaming event, such as when one of the outcomes will provide a payout at or above a certain level. The player is presented with an opportunity to select among the alternative outcomes, without being aware of the particular characteristics or values associated with the outcomes. While the player will only select the outcome having the payout at/above the threshold level a certain percentage of the time, the opportunity can be presented to the player more often, while keeping the mathematical probabilities the same or similar if desired, thereby providing the player with the feeling of getting higher value opportunities more often. |
US09633513B2 |
Method and system for gaming revenue
A method and system comprises integrating a contest framework into a game. The contest framework at least comprises means for communicating with a transactional server, a plurality of listeners being configured to monitor interactions during a play of the game for communication to the transactional server, and means for displaying notifications from the transactional server. The transactional server is at least configured for processing received interactions in conjunction with a progressive jackpot contest associated with the game and communicating notifications regarding the processing to the contest framework. A communicating with the transactional server at least comprises associating the game with a progressive jackpot contest and setting parameters for the progressive jackpot contest. |
US09633512B2 |
Method and apparatus for triggering a bonus
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a bonus game that is common to a bank of electronic gaming devices. One or more pools accrue with each wager placed. A player qualifies to play the bonus game when at least one tracked player or game criterion, such as wagers made, exceeds a threshold, triggers a mystery-jackpot counter, or is selected by a weighted pay table. The bonus game includes a video display of a wheel bouncing against a brick wall with bricks being exploded by coins. After an opening is formed in the wall and the wheel escapes, a wheel spin determines the bonus game outcome. More than one player may play the bonus game in sequence until the last player spins the wheel. |
US09633511B2 |
Gaming system and method for providing a game which populates symbols along a path
In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to a game including a path of different symbol display positions. The gaming system generates one or more symbols (and/or one or more awards) at one or more of the symbol display positions of a matrix or grid. The gaming system then randomly forms a path including a plurality of the symbol display positions and determines an award for the player based on which symbol display positions are included in the formed path. |
US09633510B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for perpetual bonus game
Methods of playing games and gaming systems and devices useful for playing games. Gaming devices include a first gaming unit for randomly selecting and displaying indicia associated with play of a primary game and for generating a signal relating to play on the first gaming unit. The gaming device also includes a second gaming unit connected to the first gaming unit for conducting an ongoing bonus game and enabling participation by a player in the ongoing bonus game in response to a signal generated by the first gaming unit. The ongoing bonus game may be administered by and communicated from a second gaming unit in the form of a host server to a number of networked gaming devices. Players may enter and exit play of the ongoing bonus game while it is still in progress, participating only in a segment thereof. |
US09633507B2 |
System for providing a game at a gaming machine
A server includes a memory, a network interface configured to receive data related to a game available as part of a gaming system, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive the game data via the network interface, determine demand for the game within a gaming environment based on the game data and determine a weighting factor associated with the game based on the demand, and upload the game at one or more gaming machines within the gaming environment based on the weighting factor. The prominence of the game within the gaming environment varies according to the weighting factor. |
US09633504B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for purchasing, dispensing, or sampling of products
Systems, methods, and apparatus for the purchase of and/or free sampling of products. The systems, methods, and/or apparatus may permit push notifications of purchased products and/or free product samples being available and may permit the use of mobile devices and/or mobile device applications to be used to purchase products or dispense free samples of products via a product dispenser or vending machine. |
US09633503B2 |
Vendor
The present application provides a vendor for vending a number of products. The vendor may include a cooler and a vending device positioned within the cooler. The vending device may include a number of product shelves with a number of product gates and one or more product locking systems that permit the removal of only one product at a time from the product gates. |
US09633497B2 |
Systems and methods for medical monitoring device gesture control lockout
A medical monitoring device may include a gesture control sensor for detecting gesture commands from users. The medical monitoring device may enable gesture control when it receives an identifier from a tag and the identifier is authenticated. The tag may include an RFID tag and/or a barcode. The identifier may be authenticated locally and/or by a remote device communicatively coupled to the medical monitoring device (e.g., over a network). Once gesture control is enabled, gestures by the user may be identified by the medical monitoring device, an action corresponding to the gesture may be determined, and the action may be performed. The gesture control sensor may be disabled manually or automatically when predetermined criteria are satisfied to prevent the gesture control sensor from receiving inadvertent commands. |
US09633496B2 |
Vehicle contents inventory system
A vehicle may include a passive entry system having a controller and at least one antenna within the vehicle. The controller is operably arranged with the at least one antenna, and configured to cause, in response to a trigger event, the at least one antenna to transmit at least one challenge, receive a response to the challenge indicative of a tag in a vicinity of the vehicle, and identify an item based on the tag. |
US09633495B2 |
System and method for wirelessly authenticating a device having a sensor
A method for wireless authentication of a device to a machine is provided. The device has a sensor and the method includes sensing, by a sensor of the device, a first input pattern of physical parameters received at the device. The method includes wirelessly transmitting, from the device, an identification signal to a machine upon said sensing of the first input pattern. The method includes wirelessly receiving, at the device, an authentication signal indicating an authentication of the device, wherein the device is configured to interact with the machine upon the wireless receiving of the authentication. |
US09633489B2 |
Configurable onboard information processing
A system and method of processing information onboard a vehicle. Execution attributes on the vehicle are read by a computer program running on a data processing system on the vehicle. The execution attributes define a number of information processing actions. The number of information processing actions are performed on the vehicle by the computer program running on the data processing system on the vehicle using the execution attributes. |
US09633487B2 |
Method and system for logging vehicle behavior
Methods and systems for logging driving information associated with a vehicle when driven are disclosed. In one aspect, a mobile telecommunications device is provided that is adapted for installation to a vehicle and configured to log driving information associated with the vehicle when driven. The mobile device is arranged to register the start of a driving period during which the mobile device is installed to the vehicle and the vehicle is being driven by a driver. The mobile device is also arranged to process sensor data during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven. The mobile device is also arranged to store a selection of the driving information to a memory. |
US09633486B2 |
Method for data communication between vehicle and fuel pump
A method for data communication between a vehicle and fuel pump includes storing vehicle operating data on an onboard recorder in the vehicle, and transmitting the vehicle operating data from the onboard recorder to the fuel pump. The vehicle operating data includes vehicle identification information. |
US09633484B2 |
Vehicle device installation system
A device installation system for providing a tool for use by installers to assist in obtaining vehicle specific information such as wiring diagrams, technical information and direct access to technical support technicians. The system further provide for testing, trouble shooting and configuration of installed vehicle devices. |
US09633482B2 |
Apparatus and method for restricting image data visualization
An image processing apparatus comprises a data receiving unit for receiving a medical image data set, the medical image data set being representative of at least part of a patient, and a processing unit for processing the medical image data set to restrict visualization of at least part of the patient's skin surface. |
US09633478B2 |
Display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes: a transparent display; a scanner configured to scan an object seen through the transparent display, a position of the scanner being adjustable with respect to the transparent display; and a controller configured to provide information corresponding to the scanned object on the transparent display, in response to occurrence of a predetermined event. |
US09633473B2 |
Efficient compression of 3D models based on octree decomposition
To reduce the entropy of occupancy codes of an octree and improve compression efficiency, the present principles provide a method and an apparatus for traversing sub-cells in a cell according to the geometrical property of 3D models. That is, a surface smoothness measure is calculated for each sub-cell and the sub-cells are traversed in a pre-determined order of surface smoothness measures. To compute the surface smoothness measure, a sub-cell is connected to neighboring cells of its parent cell to form triangles and angles. Subsequently, the triangle areas or angular measures are used to compute the surface smoothness measure. When the connectivity information is not available in the 3D model data, the present principles also provide a method and an apparatus for estimating the connectivity. |
US09633472B2 |
Master model for data related to a spatial region
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer-implemented methods for providing a master model for data about a spatial region. An example method includes identifying a master model associated with a spatial region, the master model including a plurality of pixels, each pixel corresponding to a particular portion of the spatial region and including a length and a width for the particular portion of the spatial region; identifying a data set including values of a physical property of at least a portion of the spatial region for a particular time; determining, based at least in part on the data set, a set of values of the physical property including a value for each pixel in the master model; and storing the set of values of the physical property as a value for each pixel. |
US09633470B2 |
Generating slice data representing a cross section cut from a three-dimensional modeled object
To make it possible to generate slice data without the need to modify a polygon mesh that does not satisfy conditions of a perfect solid model. A slice data generator for generating slice data representing a cross section cut from a three-dimensional modeled object, wherein the slice data generator has: changing means for changing topology information of a polygon mesh so that a contour polyline is obtained indicating a contour line of a cut cross section of the polygon mesh; and modifying means for acquiring the contour polyline from the polygon mesh, the topology information of the polygon mesh having been changed by the changing means, and modifying the contour polyline so that an inside which is a region inside the acquired contour polyline can be normally filled; slice data being generated on the basis of the contour polyline modified by the modifying means. |
US09633469B2 |
Conservative rasterization of primitives using an error term
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for conservative rasterization of primitives using an error term. In use, an edge equation is determined for each edge of a primitive, the edge equation having coefficients defining the edge of the primitive. Each edge of the primitive is shifted to enlarge the primitive by modifying coefficients of the edge equation defining the edge by an error term that is a predetermined amount. Pixels that intersect the primitive are then determined using the enlarged primitive. |
US09633466B2 |
Low latency ink rendering pipeline
Systems and methods are provided for improving the latency for display of ink during user creation of ink content with a stylus, mouse, finger (or other touch input), or other drawing device for tracing a desired location for ink content in a display area. In order to reduce or minimize the time for display of ink content created by a user using a stylus/mouse/touch input/other device, a separate ink rendering process thread can be used that operates within the operating system and in parallel to other application threads. When it is desired to create ink content within an application, user interactions corresponding to creation of ink content can be handled by the separate ink rendering process thread. This can avoid potential delays in displaying ink content due to an application handling other events in a process flow. |
US09633464B2 |
Automatic animation generation
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method that receives a selection of an animation to apply to two or more graphical objects in a scene over a particular time duration. The method identifies parameters for each of the graphical objects. Based on the selected animation, the method generates modifications to at least one parameter for each of the graphical objects over the particular time duration. The parameter of a first graphical object is modified differently than the parameter of a second graphical object. The method stores the modifications as data for the scene. |
US09633460B2 |
Systems and methods for seamless patch matching
A method implemented in an image editing device comprises determining a source region in a source image and determining a target region in a target image. At least one image characteristic of each of the source region and a region outside the target region is analyzed. The content in the source region is adjusted according to the at least one image characteristic of the source region and the at least one image characteristic of the region outside the target region. The adjusted content from the source region is inserted into the target region. |
US09633452B2 |
Resolving multi-sampled anti-aliasing buffers into single sampled buffers
The resolve operation in multi-sampled anti-aliasing may be avoided on a per pixel basis if all subsamples are determined to have the same color and the same storage is used for the resolved image as for one of the subsample planes. |
US09633447B2 |
Adaptable framework for cloud assisted augmented reality
A mobile platform efficiently processes image data, using distributed processing in which latency sensitive operations are performed on the mobile platform, while latency insensitive, but computationally intensive operations are performed on a remote server. The mobile platform acquires image data, and determines whether there is a trigger event to transmit the image data to the server. The trigger event may be a change in the image data relative to previously acquired image data, e.g., a scene change in an image. When a change is present, the image data may be transmitted to the server for processing. The server processes the image data and returns information related to the image data, such as identification of an object in an image or a reference image or model. The mobile platform may then perform reference based tracking using the identified object or reference image or model. |
US09633446B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for segmentation of objects in media content
In an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes extracting a first set of target-object regions and at least one set of non-target object regions from a plurality of regions of a video content based at least on likelihood information. A plurality of unlabeled regions of the video content are classified based on the first set of target-object regions and the at least one set of non-target object regions to generate a second set of target object regions that is denser than the first set of target object regions. A model is learned for modelling at least one of the target object and non-target objects of the video content based at least on the second set of target object regions. The target object in the video content is segmented based on the model and the second set of target object regions. |
US09633443B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and program for cutting out a cut-out image from an input image
There is provided an image processing device including an image generation unit that analyzes an input image, cuts out, based on an analysis result of the input image, a cut-out image from the input image, and generates cut-out image information in which the cut-out image is associated with a restrictive condition that the cut-out image satisfies. |
US09633441B2 |
Systems and methods for obtaining image depth information
A system for obtaining image depth information for at least one object in a scene includes (a) an imaging objective having a first portion for forming a first optical image of the scene, and a second portion for forming a second optical image of the scene, the first portion being different from the second portion, (b) an image sensor for capturing the first and second optical images and generating respective first and second electronic images therefrom, and (c) a processing module for processing the first and second electronic images to determine the depth information. A method for obtaining image depth information for at least one object in a scene includes forming first and second images of the scene, using respective first and second portions of an imaging objective, on a single image sensor, and determining the depth information from a spatial shift between the first and second images. |
US09633437B2 |
Method for displaying successive image frames on a display to stabilize the display of a selected feature in the image frames
A method for displaying successive image frames on a display. The method including: processing image data containing the successive image frames to identify features in an image frame and to display the image frame to a user with two or more of the identified features highlighted; manually selecting one of the identified features by a user; determining a portion of a subsequent image frame in which the selected feature is likely to be present; and if the selected feature is found in the portion of the subsequent image frame, displaying the subsequent image frame to change the position of the selected feature. |
US09633434B2 |
Calibration of camera-based surveillance systems
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer system for determining camera calibration data. The computer system receives geo-positional data of a moving object, wherein the geo-positional data is associated with an indicator (112). The computer system receives further a sequence of frames (140) from the at least one camera (150), wherein at least one frame has a picture of the moving object (118) with a structure and with an encoded version of the indicator which are optically recognizable. The indicator associated with the at least one frame is extracted by decoding (170) the optically encoded version of the indicator of the at least one frame. The geo-positional data of the moving object which is in the picture of the at least one frame is obtained by matching (172) the indicator associated with the geo-positional data of the moving object and the decoded indicator associated with the at least one frame. At least one reference point of the at least one frame is identified by analyzing the optically recognizable structure in the picture of the at least one frame. The camera calibration data of the at least one camera is determined by applying a geometric transformation (174) on the at least one reference point and its associated geopositional data of the moving object which is in the at least one frame. |
US09633433B1 |
Scanning system and display for aligning 3D images with each other and/or for detecting and quantifying similarities or differences between scanned images
The subject invention is a scanning system and display and more particularly a scanning system and display for detecting and quantifying similarities or differences between stored data and data collected from a scan. The system operates to perform surface scans and/or deep scans or a combination thereof and utilizes a method or process that decreases the time required for calculating a pose estimate thus increasing its performance thereby making it more practical for many applications that require real-time operations. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the system comprises one or more sensing components for scanning and measuring various surface or internal features of an object and determines differences between data obtained from two or more scans. Preferably the system can operate to scan numerous objects including mechanical objects, biological objects or medical conditions, artifacts, geographical objects, agricultural objects, or used in conjunction with robotic manufacturing systems, robotic surgical systems, aircraft systems, and marine applications. |
US09633432B2 |
Image analysis method and apparatus for assessment of peritoneal dialysis complication in peritoneal dialysis
An image analysis method and an apparatus thereof for assessment of PD (peritoneal dialysis) complications in peritoneal dialysis are provided. An analysis procedure is executed on an image under test of a dialysis bag, so as to obtain a color location in a color space corresponding to the image under test. A prompt signal is sent when the color locations obtained in a time period gradually become close to a disease warning range after executing the analysis procedure on a plurality of images under test. |
US09633429B2 |
Pattern outline extraction device, pattern outline extraction method, and computer program product
According to one embodiment, a pattern outline extraction device includes a control unit, a secondary storage unit and a memory. The control unit reads the image data of the patterns formed by changing the process condition, and extracts outlines of the patterns from the image data. The control unit superposes the outlines, and sets straight measurement lines. The control unit calculates variations on the measurement lines relative to measurement points on the measurement lines at points of intersection of the measurement lines and the outlines, and calculates variation-process condition correspondence information. The control unit calculates predicted variations on the measurement lines relative to the measurement points corresponding to a desired process condition based on the variation-process condition correspondence information, calculates calculated points that are obtained by adding the predicted variations to the measurement points on the measurement lines, and calculates a predicted outline by connecting the calculated points. |
US09633428B2 |
Automatic occlusion region identification using radiation imaging modality
Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for identifying an occlusion region in an image representative of an object subjected to examination is provided for herein. Such systems and/or techniques may find particular application in the context of object recognition analysis. An image is generated of the object and an orientation of the object is determined from the image. Based upon the determined orientation of the object relative to the direction the object is translated during examination, one or more parameters utilized for segmenting a second image of the object, identifying features in the image, and/or determining if the image comprises an occlusion region may be adjusted. In this way, the parameters utilized may be a function of the determined orientation of the object, which may mitigate false positives of detected occlusion regions. |
US09633419B2 |
Lens distortion correction device and application processor having the same
A lens distortion correction device and an application processor having the same include a distortion correction unit configured to correct a distorted image into an undistorted image and an image enhancement unit configured to improve the undistorted image using a high-frequency component of the distorted image. |
US09633418B2 |
Image processing device, imaging apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing unit 36 includes an information acquisition unit 40, a filter acquisition unit 42, and a filter processing unit 44. The information acquisition unit 40 acquires imaging information of original image data which is acquired by capturing an object image using an optical system. In a case in which the imaging information includes the first imaging condition and does not include the second imaging condition, the filter acquisition unit 42 acquires a sharpening filter which is associated with the first imaging condition and is associated with a representative condition of the second imaging condition. The filter processing unit 44 applies the sharpening filter acquired by the filter acquisition unit 42 to the original image data to acquire sharp image data. |
US09633415B2 |
Systems and methods for improving video stutter in high resolution progressive video
Systems and methods for improving video stutter in high resolution progressive video captured with fast exposure times. In a first approach, digital video is captured with fast shutter speeds that cause objects moving within the frame to appear motionless. The video codec generates motion information that may be utilized to add an artificial motion blur to each frame of the digital video during processing in a digital video pipeline. The motion blur creates the appearance that an object is moving in the frame. In a second approach, the lens assembly of the digital camera includes an electronically controlled filter that attenuates the light reaching an image sensor such that the shutter speeds may be decreased in order to capture motion blur. The electronically controlled filter may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that is set to a plurality of different transparency levels based on a target exposure value. |
US09633412B2 |
Method of adjusting screen magnification of electronic device, machine-readable storage medium, and electronic device
A method of adjusting a screen magnification of an electronic device is provided. The method includes displaying a Dots Per Inch (DPI) setting screen in order to adjust a screen magnification of an object that is to be displayed on a display unit of the electronic device, receiving information about changed DPI through the DPI setting screen, calculating a screen magnification using the changed DPI and a preset Device-Independent Pixel (DIP), changing a size of the object to correspond to the calculated screen magnification, and displaying the object according to the changed size. |
US09633407B2 |
CPU/GPU synchronization mechanism
A thread on one processor may be used to enable another processor to lock or release a mutex. For example, a central processing unit thread may be used by a graphics processing unit to secure a mutex for a shared memory. |
US09633404B2 |
Method and system for secure co-browsing of patient records on communication devices
A method and system are provided for co-browsing of patient records on communication devices. The method includes setting up a communication session between a first communication device and one or more second communication devices, where the communication session is initiated by the first communication device. Further, the method includes accessing one or more patient records via a server, where the one or more patient records are accessed at the first communication device. The method further includes sending a reference of the one or more patient records to the one or more second communication devices, where the reference is sent from the first communication device. |
US09633393B2 |
Extensible software architecture for processing level 2 financial data
The present invention processes and distributes Level 2 financial data. This invention comprises a constituent component that identifies various pieces of information that are contained in stock feeds. These pieces of information are identified and keys are generated based on the various pieces of information and combinations of pieces of information. The information in the incoming stock feeds can be sorted and processed based on a particular key or keys depending on the desires of a particular client. In addition, new keys can be generated based on the preference of a particular client. This flexibility to create the various keys to be used to process feed information is different from conventional methods that use only a standard set of sorting and processing criteria for all feeds and for all clients. |
US09633392B2 |
Integrated finding experience systems and methods
An integrated finding experience is a workflow configured to facilitate a search by a user for one or more items among many items (e.g., an inventory of items). An integrated finding experience machine may provide one or more user interfaces that support the workflow in presenting information differently as the user progresses through a search process (e.g., a finding experience) with respect to a database (e.g., storing information regarding one or more items). For example, the workflow may include various stages of a search process from defining a query, to refining the query, to visually scanning search results, to displaying details of one or more selected search results, to comparing selected search results to each other. Each stage may have a specialized user interface configured to facilitate one or more user activities pertinent to that stage. |
US09633386B1 |
Display of items from search
Disclosed are various embodiments for determining categories of items to include in a search results listing. Items to include in a search result listing are identified in response to a search request. The items are classified in multiple categories. A particular seller of multiple sellers is identified based at least in part on the search request. A subset of the categories is determined for which corresponding items are to be included in the search results listing. The subset is determined by applying one or more rules specified by the particular seller. |
US09633381B2 |
Mobile application monitoring system
A method and system to test, monitor, and share revenue associated with third-party software applications operating on mobile devices over a network operator's wireless network. An application may be tested by the mobile application monitoring system to simulate the expected load of the application on a mobile device and the wireless network utilized by the mobile device, and to determine any services utilized by the application. Based on the simulation, the system determines a compensation arrangement under which revenue associated with the application will be shared between the network operator and the application provider. In some embodiments, the compensation arrangement is determined from a variable reward table. Revenue is shared inversely with an application's impact on customers and on the network operator. |
US09633379B1 |
Qualified video delivery advertisement
A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU. The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream. |
US09633377B2 |
Image content and advertisement data providing method, system, and apparatus
To provide an image contest providing method capable promoting advertisement effect by dynamically inserting an advertisement image to a distributed image content, an image content reproducing apparatus requests an image content providing apparatus to distribute the image content. Then, the image content is distributed to the image content reproducing apparatus and a viewer can utilize the image content. At this occasion, the image content providing apparatus distributes the image content, detects an advertisement inserting position and requests an advertisement image providing apparatus to distribute an advertisement image. Then, the advertisement image providing apparatus selects the advertisement a image to be inserted to the image content and transmits thereof to the image content providing apparatus. Thereafter, the image content providing apparatus inserts the advertisement image to a position of the image content for inserting the advertisement and distribute thereof the image content reproducing apparatus. |
US09633374B2 |
System and methods for rebroadcasting of radio ads over other mediums
A method and system for specifying content of interest using a digital radio broadcast receiver is described. A digital radio broadcast signal includes an alternate way of distributing content-rich Advertisements over the digital radio broadcast networks and rebroadcast these Advertisements over technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the like to smart devices. A digital out-of-home network system will act as a bridge to relay the received Advertisements to smart devices. |
US09633373B2 |
Activating display and performing additional function in mobile terminal with one-time user input
Disclosed is a mobile terminal including a touch screen display, a camera, a power button and an activation button for turning on the touch screen display. The mobile terminal has a first function and a second function to perform in response to user input and provides user settings for configuring at least one of the first and second functions such that the at least one of the first and second functions is performed along with turning on the touch screen display when pressing of the activation button is detected while the touch screen display is turned off. The mobile terminal is configured to perform the first and second functions depending upon length of pressing of the activation button in addition to turning on the touch screen display. |
US09633372B2 |
Anonymous digital identification
Methods and systems for anonymous digital identification are disclosed and may include detecting the presence of a first wireless communication device utilizing a second communication device, the first wireless communication device being associated with a first set of content that is distinguishable from an identifier associated with said first wireless communication device. In response to a determination that the first wireless communication device and the second communication device are geographically proximate to one another based on location detection capabilities of the first wireless communication device or the second communication device, content may be provided to the first wireless communication device. The content may be based at least in part on a shared or complementary interest associated with the first wireless communication device, and the interest may have previously been expressed by a user of said first wireless communication device. The wireless communication device may be associated with a unique identifier. |
US09633364B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting fraudulent advertising traffic initiated through an application
An approach is provided for detecting fraudulent advertising traffic initiated through an application. An advertising platform receives a request, from an advertising module, for serving of advertisement information, wherein code for executing the advertising module is integrated with other code of an application executing at a device. The advertising platform causes, at least in part, processing of the advertisement information to include at least one verification check of the advertising module, the code for executing advertising module, the application, the other code associated with the application, or a combination thereof. The advertising platform causes, at least in part, transmission of the at least one verification check in response to the request for serving of the advertisement information. The advertising platform causes, at least in part, processing of one or more results of the at least one verification check to determine a functioning of the advertising module. |
US09633363B2 |
System and method of incentivized advertising
Exemplary embodiments of methods and systems of incentivized advertising are presented. A content identifier identifying a digital content item, such as a song, is displayed on a user computing device. The digital content item is typically of the type available for a purchase price by the general public. A selection icon is provided in visual association with the content identifier. If the icon is selected by the user, an advertisement media item, such as a video advertisement, is presented on the user computing device. If the advertisement media item is presented for at least a requisite ad impression period, the digital content item is imparted to the user for free. Follow-up ad engagement views are typically presented to the user with a button to redeem the earned digital content item. Administrator and server elements are configured to facilitate performance of the method, and to optimize efficient use of advertiser's budget. |
US09633362B2 |
System and method for creating reservations
The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems are capable of creating reservations for items and initiating payments for the items based on actions or information received from the digital channel. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information. |
US09633357B2 |
Net utility determination based on product replacement and service plan coverage decisions
Example embodiments relate to net utility determinations based on product replacement and coverage decisions of a customer. In example embodiments, a number of net utility values corresponding to each possible product replacement decision and each possible coverage decision in each of a plurality of time periods is determined. An expected net utility attributable to the customer over the plurality of time periods is then determined based on the determined utility values. |
US09633355B2 |
Knowledge based verification of the identity of a user
According to certain embodiments of the disclosure, a system receives a request from a user device to conduct an activity with an enterprise and determines an authentication level associated with the activity. The system receives information associated with the user from a plurality of disparate channels and calculates a risk score associated with the user based on the received information associated with the user. The system generates a token based on the authentication level and risk score and communicates the token to the user device. |
US09633350B2 |
Card reader communication method
A card reader includes a body, the body being configured for coupling with a device, the device including a device light sensor and a device light source; a reader light sensor that is configured to capture light being emitted from the device light source, wherein, when the body is coupled to the user device, the reader light sensor is positioned adjacent to the device light source; a reader light source that is configured to emit light to the device light sensor, wherein, when the body is coupled to the user device, the reader light source is positioned adjacent to the device light sensor; a reader interface positioned in the body and configured to read the card; and circuitry configured to communicate data between the card reader and the user device using the reader light sensor and the reader light source. |
US09633349B1 |
3D packaging of power amplifier dice apparatus and articles of manufacture
An article of manufacture provides a compact assembly of power amplifiers in series and in parallel. A plurality of radial power splitters and radial power combiners couple surface mounted power amplifier dice into a power platter. Thermal conduction probes chained through the power platters remove heat from the vicinity of the power amplifier dice. Surface mounted power amplifier dice may be enclosed within a matched pair of power platters. Stackable power platters may be assembled to form a 3D power amplifier pile. |
US09633345B2 |
Merchant point of sale security system
A point of sale (POS) security system includes a POS device including a non-transitory memory, one or more hardware processors, and one or more environment sensors. A plurality of POS instructions are located on the non-transitory memory in the POS device and executable by the one or more hardware processors in the POS device to provide a POS engine that is configured to receive and transmit payment information for conducting a payment transaction associated with a purchase. A plurality of security instructions are located on the non-transitory memory in the POS device and are executable by the one or more hardware processors in the POS device to provide a security engine that is configured to receive environment signals from the one or more environment sensors in the POS device and analyze those environment signals to determine a security breach. |
US09633343B2 |
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. |
US09633341B2 |
Silent SMS triggering for mobile billing at a billing server
The invention provides a method of processing transactions with a billing server, including receiving, with the billing server, a transaction request API call from a merchant computer including a msisdn, transmitting, with the billing server, a transaction request response to the merchant computer in response to the transaction request API call, including a transmission ID, receiving, with the billing server, a payment authorization text message from a consumer device at the msisdn including a transaction ID, determining, with the billing server, a match between the transaction ID in the text message with the transaction ID in the transaction request response and if a match is determined between the transaction ID's, transmitting, with the billing server, a charge request to a carrier server to charge an account on the carrier server corresponding to the msisdn. |
US09633338B2 |
Out of office message improvements
Embodiments of the present invention relate to set of improvements to the out of office assistant that send out of office messages to senders of messages while a recipient is out of the office. One embodiment of the out of office assistant associates an out of office message with a calendar event to ensure the out of office message is sent only for the predetermined time period associated with the calendar event. Other embodiments of the out of office assistant generating different messages to people internal to an organization and people external to an organization, and the out of office assistant allows different rich text formatting for the different messages. In a further embodiment, a persistent reminder reminds the user that the out of office message application is turned on. |
US09633336B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for truncating markup language email messages
Truncating markup language email messages involves receiving a markup-language-formatted, source email having a message size that exceeds a predetermined size limit. The source email is truncated to conform to the predetermined size limit. The existence of unclosed tags in the truncated email is determined, and a suffix is appended to the truncated email. The suffix includes closing tags that correspond to the unclosed tags to the truncated email. A truncation index indicating where the truncation occurred is added to the message, as is a unique identifier usable to uniquely identify the source email stored on an email server. The truncated email is then sent to a recipient email client. |
US09633335B2 |
Managing relationship and contact information
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing a relationship with and information about a contact. An example includes a client device that can be used to manage and keep track of information about a contact's family. |
US09633333B2 |
System for dynamic data gathering and analysis
A system is provided which enables customized sessions for data gathering and analysis. The system receives data and commands from one or more user devices to generate and modify a session dataset and to select and activate system functions. The results of user inputs and actions are published to other user devices in the session. One or more functions for generating datasets, organizing datasets and analyzing the datasets may be independently selected and activated. The system enables a data gathering and analysis session to be preconfigured with a predetermined set and order of functions or for a session to be conducted with a dynamic selection and activation of functions and a dynamic selection of the orders of functions. In some embodiments, there is provided a software as a service (SaaS) application for implementing the data gathering and analysis session functions. |
US09633325B2 |
Systems and methods for supply chain management
Systems and methods are directed to supply chain management. In particular, the tracking, tracing, authenticating, and reporting of supply chain events for products, is disclosed. Various embodiments can store, analyze, and track supply chain events and help to coordinate and maintain trading partner connections. Various embodiments also help to enhance patient safety, secure the supply chains for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other healthcare products, and help users to follow regulatory requirements. |
US09633322B1 |
Adjustment of knowledge-based authentication
Systems and methods are provided for adjustment of difficulty level, quantity, and/or other parameters of knowledge-based authentication. The questions may be asked of a consumer based on one or more generated risk scores associated with the consumer's behavior, which may be derived from information received from the consumer, a representative responsible for entering information regarding the consumer, and/or from the consumer's computing device. |
US09633321B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating call request aggregation over a network
A method for facilitating electronic commerce over a network includes identifying input dependencies for a call request based on information passed with the call request, identifying state dependencies for the call request based on information passed with the call request, parallelizing calls from the call request based on at least one of the identified input dependencies and the identified state dependencies, developing a service execution map by grouping calls in an execution order including parallelized calls, and processing the service execution map by executing grouped calls in the execution order including parallelized calls. |
US09633316B2 |
Predictive modeling based on summary data and modeling user's age at line level
A system and method are disclosed for classifying a record of data when the record of data does not contain class membership information. In one example, summary data is utilized with predictive modeling to predict the age range of a user of a line of service. A prior probability that a user within the summary data belongs to a respective class, a first conditional probability of a first predictor within the summary data and a second conditional probability of a second predictor within the summary data are calculated. For each record of data, a probability of class membership is calculated based on the calculated prior probability and the first and second conditional probabilities. |
US09633315B2 |
Method and system for distributed machine learning
Method, system, and programs for distributed machine learning on a cluster including a plurality of nodes are disclosed. A machine learning process is performed in each of the plurality of nodes based on a respective subset of training data to calculate a local parameter. The training data is partitioned over the plurality of nodes. A plurality of operation nodes are determined from the plurality of nodes based on a status of the machine learning process performed in each of the plurality of nodes. The plurality of operation nodes are connected to form a network topology. An aggregated parameter is generated by merging local parameters calculated in each of the plurality of operation nodes in accordance with the network topology. |
US09633312B1 |
Predicting user interests
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for predicting user interests. In one aspect, a method includes training a prediction model to generate a category prediction of a next query from a set of queries, the category prediction specifying categories to which a next query belongs, the prediction model comprising a plurality of prediction functions that each generate a category prediction of a next query, wherein the prediction functions include two or more of a time-based prediction functions that generate a category prediction based on the category data and a difference of submission times of the queries, a rank-based prediction functions that generate a category prediction based on the category data and a rank order by which the queries were received, and a category-based prediction function that generates a category prediction based on the category data. |
US09633311B2 |
Decision tree learning
A method of generating a decision tree is provided. A leaf assignment for each proposed split in generating the decision tree is incremented using a Gray code. |
US09633308B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program for evaluating content
There is provided an information processing apparatus including an evaluation giving unit that gives an evaluation based on a second user to an item in a list created on a basis of a first user, and a display control unit that controls display of the list, on a basis of the evaluation based on the second user. |
US09633304B2 |
Booster antenna configurations and methods
A booster antenna (BA) for a smart card comprises a card antenna (CA) component extending around a periphery of a card body (CB), a coupler coil (CC) component at a location for an antenna module (AM), and an extension antenna (EA) component contributing to the inductance of the booster antenna (BA). At least one of the components may have a pitch which is different than one or more of the other components. A method of wire embedding is also disclosed, by controlling a force and ultrasonic power applied by an embedding tool at different positions on the card body (CB). |
US09633303B2 |
Smart card module arrangement
In various embodiments, a smart card module arrangement is provided. The smart card module arrangement includes a carrier, in which a depression is formed, a smart card module, which is arranged in the depression, and a smart card antenna. The smart card antenna can be coupled to the smart card module in a contactless manner. |
US09633302B1 |
RFID integrated circuits with channels for reducing misalignment
Embodiments are directed to an RFID tag integrated circuit (IC) having antenna contacts separated by a channel. The channel has a smaller cross-section at its center than at its ends, which facilitates fluid flow from the channel center to the channel ends. During attachment of the IC to an inlay or strap, the channel facilitates the flow of liquid adhesive so as to reduce the turbulence and the propagation velocity associated with the liquid adhesive, thereby reducing misalignment caused by the movement of the IC with respect to the inlay or strap. |
US09633301B2 |
IC module, dual IC card, and method for manufacturing IC module
An IC module of the present invention includes: a sheet-like base having a first surface and a second surface and having a first through hole and a second through hole spaced apart from the first through hole; an IC chip provided to the first surface, having a contact communication function and a contactless communication function, and having two terminals formed thereon; a connecting coil formed on the first surface and having two ends; a contact terminal portion provided to the second surface and configured to contact an external contact machine; bridge wiring provided to the second surface, provided at a position overlapping with the first and second through holes, and electrically insulated from the contact terminal portion; a first conductive wire inserted through the first through hole and connecting the first terminal of the IC chip to the bridge wiring; a second conductive wire inserted through the second through hole and connecting the bridge wiring to the first end of the connecting coil; and a third conductive wire connecting the second end of the connecting coil to the second terminal of the IC chip. |
US09633299B2 |
Chip-embedded RFID tag and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a chip-embedded RFID tag, comprising: a first metal casing; a spacer insulator disposed on the first metal casing; a second metal casing disposed on the spacer insulator; a first electrical connecting component, the first metal casing and the second metal casing forming electrical connection via the first electrical connecting component; second electrical connecting components, an RFID chip forming electrical connection with the first metal casing and the second metal casing via the second electrical connecting components; and the first metal casing is separated from the second metal casing by the spacer insulator. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the chip-embedded RFID tag. The chip-embedded RFID tag directly utilizes a metal casing as the antenna of a tag, improving the tag read performance, and also greatly impact resistance and environment resistance performance thereof. |
US09633295B2 |
Far view two-dimensional symbology
To encode information into a two-dimensional (2D) symbol, a palette is selected to represent data in the 2D symbol, the palette including a set of shape fillers. A Base number system is selected according to the palette. A rule is selected, where the rule determines a manner of reading an encoded form of the data from the 2D symbol. The rule and the data are encoded as a set of shapes, where the shapes in the set of shapes are configured using the palette and arranged into a grid pattern, with or without visible grid lines, to form the 2D symbol. The 2D symbol is output in a size that matches an area. |
US09633294B2 |
Optical code
An optical code, a method for encoding data according to said code, and a method for reading data encoded according to said code. The code formed of an array of equal-size elements, each element being the smallest representation of a data value. Elements being one of the following types of element; a first type where the entire area of the element is a single color, a second type where the area is divided into at least two portions and each portion being a respective color. The array having at least one of the second type of element. |
US09633291B2 |
Method and system for configuring network printers
A print control system includes one or more first printers each having a print unit that can print on print media, a second printer that communicates with the first printers via a first network and has a print unit that can print on print media, and a print control server that connects to the second printer through a second network. The control print server sends, to the second printer, configuration control data containing attribute information that can be used to identify one of the first printers. The second printer forwards the configuration control data to the identified first printer and the identified first printer executes a configuration process in response to the configuration control data. |
US09633288B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a density-measuring unit that has a substantially circular measurement field and that measures a density of a to-be-measured image for density measurement, which is moving in a moving direction, and a density-control unit that controls a density of an image and includes a to-be-measured image forming unit that forms the to-be-measured image having a shape following an outline of a density-measurement area defined by a path of the measurement field during a measurement rather than a substantially rectangular shape extending in the moving direction and including a front end of the to-be-measured image in the moving direction, the shape being within the substantially rectangular shape, a density-measuring section that causes the density-measuring unit to measure a density of the to-be-measured image, and a gradation-correction unit that performs gradation correction on the image by using the density of the to-be-measured image measured by the density-measuring section. |
US09633287B2 |
Color information processing method, color information processing apparatus, and color information processing system
A color information processing method includes: inputting reference data including color information about each pixel or each pixel group of a reference medium and evaluation target data including color information about each pixel or each pixel group of an evaluation medium by an input means; performing an image matching process of image matching the input reference data and evaluation target data; setting a specific area which is a unit of evaluation and includes a plurality of pixels to each data item subjected to the image matching process; and comparing the color information items about each pixel or each pixel group in the reference data and the evaluation target data in the set specific area to calculate a color difference and performing an averaging process to calculate an average evaluation result for the specific area by a calculation means. |
US09633284B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method of identifying object in image
The degree of similarity between corresponding local feature amounts out of a plurality of local feature amounts of the object in the input image and a plurality of local feature amounts of an object in an image registered in advance is obtained. At least one degree of similarity is selected out of the obtained degrees of similarity based on a capturing condition for the object in the input image and a capturing condition for the object in the registered image, and one degree of similarity is derived from the at least one selected degree of similarity. It is determined based on the one derived degree of similarity whether the object in the input image belongs to the same category as the object in the registered image. |
US09633279B2 |
Free space positioning method and system
A free space positioning method for estimating an attitude angle of an object in a free space includes: capturing an image of a light source module that includes four light sources to generate a to-be-judged image; analyzing coordinates of the light sources in the to-be-judged image to obtain to-be-judged information; comparing the to-be-judged information with pre-stored light source orientation data to obtain candidate light source orientation data; and estimating an attitude angle of the object according to a pre-stored attitude angle corresponding to each of the candidate light source orientation data. |
US09633278B2 |
Object identification device, method, and storage medium
Disclosed is an object identification device and the like for reducing identification error in a reference image which presents an object that is only slightly difference from an object presented in an input image. The object identification device includes a local feature quantity matching unit for calculating geometric transformation information for transformation from a coordinate in a reference image to a corresponding coordinate in an input image, and matching a local feature quantity extracted from the reference image and a local feature quantity extracted from the input image, an input image different area determination unit for transforming the different area in the reference image on a basis of the geometric transformation information about the input image determined to be in conformity by the matching, and determining a different area in the input image corresponding to the different area in the reference image, an input image different area feature quantity extraction unit for correcting a different area in the input image, and extracting a feature quantity from the corrected different area of the input image, and a feature quantity matching unit for matching a feature quantity extracted by the input image different area feature quantity extraction unit and a feature quantity extracted from the different area in the reference image, and outputting a matching result. |
US09633277B2 |
Apparatus and methods for identifying and evaluating bright spot indications observed through optical coherence tomography
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatus and methods for identifying bright spot indications observed through optical coherence tomography. The indications can be evaluated, for example, to link risk factors or other conditions to clinically relevant outcomes. |
US09633276B2 |
Blood detection system with real-time capability and method of operation thereof
A blood detection system, and a method of operation thereof, including: a camera for obtaining an input image frame; and a processing unit connected to the camera, the processing unit including: an image block module for extracting image blocks from the input image frame, and an automatic blood detection module, coupled to the image block module, for calculating an overall blood probability of the image blocks including: determining a red color dominance probability, determining a red color deviation probability, and determining a red color colorfulness probability. |
US09633272B2 |
Real time object scanning using a mobile phone and cloud-based visual search engine
A system for tagging an object comprises and interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive an image. The processor is configured to determine a key frame. Determining a key frame comprises determining that the image is stable. The processor is configured to determine a tag for an item in the key frame. |
US09633271B2 |
Targeted optical character recognition (OCR) for medical terminology
Embodiments of the present invention provide concepts for correcting optical character recognition (OCR) errors from and OCR scan result by sequentially applying an anagram hash (AH) and Levenshtein-Distance (LD) measurement for concurrent character identity-based (machine code) and character shape-based (OCR-Key) corrections. The OCR-Key classifies characters by shape into one or more disjoint and overlapping classes. Similar shaped-based classes appearing in consecutive characters are appended to a cardinality term, a repetition count of the class. The LD measurement groups OCR-Keys and differentiates on both class and cardinality to arrive at a shape-based mismatch error between competing candidate words from an associated dictionary and a target word from the OCR scan. The shape-based LD measurement errors are then functionally merged with the character identity-based deletion, substitution, and insertion errors to find a minimum error for the set of candidate words, corresponding to the preferred candidate word match to the target word. |
US09633269B2 |
Image-based liveness detection for ultrasonic fingerprints
A liveness-detection method and/or system is disclosed. A method of detecting liveness can comprise obtaining a single ultrasonic image of a biometric object. The single ultrasonic image can be subdivided into a plurality of overlapping sample blocks. Feature vectors can be extracted in a spatial domain and a frequency domain from each of the plurality of sample blocks. The feature vectors can be compared from each of the plurality of sample blocks to a classification model. |
US09633268B1 |
Method and device for gait recognition
Disclose is a gait recognition method, firstly, extracting an initial gait feature of a gait video of a person to be recognized; secondly obtaining a corresponding optimized gait feature according to a trained sub neural network and the initial gait feature; then determining corresponding degrees of similarity according to the optimized gait feature of the person to be recognized and the optimized gait feature of each known person in a matching library, and determining information of the person to be recognized according to information of the known person in the matching library corresponding to the optimized gait feature which has the highest degree of similarity with the optimized gait feature of the person to be recognized. |
US09633267B2 |
Robust windshield detection via landmark localization
A system and method that includes training a classifier using uniquely defined landmark points along the windshield region based on an elastic deformation model. The deformation model uses mixtures of trees with a shared pool of parts and can be globally optimized with dynamic programming and still capture much relevant global elastic structure. Once a candidate area is identified in the scene, a learned threshold is applied to the classification score of the candidate area to determine if the candidate area is a windshield. The identified area is then cropped out for further downstream process. |
US09633257B2 |
Method and system of pre-analysis and automated classification of documents
Automatic classification of different types of documents is disclosed. An image of a form or document is captured. The document is assigned to one or more type definitions by identifying one or more objects within the image of the document. A matching model is selected via identification of the document image. In the case of multiple identifications, a profound analysis of the document type is performed—either automatically or manually. An automatic classifier may be trained with document samples of each of a plurality of document classes or document types where the types are known in advance or a system of classes may be formed automatically without a priori information about types of samples. An automatic classifier determines possible features and calculates a range of feature values and possible other feature parameters for each type or class of document. A decision tree, based on rules specified by a user, may be used for classifying documents. Processing, such as optical character recognition (OCR), may be used in the classification process. |
US09633255B2 |
Substitution of handwritten text with a custom handwritten font
Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide font substitution based on a custom font. In one example, a custom handwritten font may be generated based on a comparison between handwritten sample text and training text. In another example, handwritten original text may be converted to unique machine text based on a substitution of the handwritten original text with the custom handwritten font. Thus, a user's handwriting may be converted to the user's own best or preferred handwriting. |
US09633253B2 |
Moving body appearance prediction information processing system, and method
An information processing system may include a memory storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to receive inputs of pictures imaged by a plurality of imaging apparatuses. The system may detect a moving body appearing in an inputted picture imaged by a first imaging apparatus among the plurality of imaging apparatuses. The system may predict a time period in which the moving body will appear in a picture imaged by a second imaging apparatus among the plurality of imaging apparatuses, based on a calculated probability that the moving body will appear in the picture imaged by the second imaging apparatus and an elapsed time after the moving body leaves an imaging range. The system may notify the predicted time period in which the moving body is predicted to appear in the picture imaged by the second imaging apparatus. |
US09633250B2 |
Method for estimating locations of facial landmarks in an image of a face using globally aligned regression
A method for face alignment operates on a face image and a set of intitial landmark locations by first aligning globally the initial locations to a set of landmark locations of a face with a prototype shape to obtain global alignment parameters, and then warping the initial locations and the image from a coordinate frame of the image to a coordinate frame of the prototype shape according to the global alignment parameters to obtain warped landmark locations and a warped face image. Features are extracted from the warped face image at the warped landmark locations, and a regression function is applied to the features to obtain updated landmark locations in the coordinate frame of the prototype shape. Finally, the updated landmark locations in the coordinate frame of the prototype shape are warped to the coordinate frame of the image, to obtain updated landmark locations. |
US09633246B2 |
Integrated auto-level and electronic rod reader
An integrated auto-level and electronic rod reader is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated auto-level and electronic rod reader comprises a telescope and an image delivery device integrated with the auto-level which is configured for capturing an image of a standard grade rod visible through the telescope and a crosshair. Logic implemented by a processor automatically recognizes the crosshair, automatically compares the crosshair against a scale of the standard grade rod, and automatically determines an elevation of the standard grade rod based upon the comparing. |
US09633245B2 |
Optical information reading device
In an optical information reading device configured to read a code symbol on a subject to be read by acquiring an image of the subject to be read with an image pickup portion and analyzing the image, a laser light source and an irradiation optical system is provided as an irradiator configured to irradiate the subject to be read to form a guide mark indicating an image pickup resolution of the image pickup portion. It is preferable that the irradiator is configured to emit a plurality of radially diffused light beams so as to form the guide mark at equal intervals on the subject to be read. |
US09633242B2 |
Combined multifunctional RFID communication device
There is described a device (100) for communicating with RFID-tags, the device (100) comprising (a) an antenna unit comprising a first antenna (110; 200) and a second antenna (120; 200), and (b) a controller (130) connected to the antenna unit. The controller (130) is adapted to sequentially feed different polling signals to the antenna unit such that corresponding signals are individually and simultaneously radiated by each of the first antenna (110; 200) and second antenna (120; 200). There is also described a home appliance comprising the aforementioned device (100). Furthermore, there is described a method for communicating with RFID-tags by an antenna unit comprising a first antenna (110; 200) and a second antenna (120; 200). The described method comprises sequentially feeding different polling signals to the antenna unit such that corresponding signals are individually radiated by each of the first antenna (110; 200) and second antenna (120; 200). |
US09633241B2 |
Method and apparatus for battery operated radio tags
An apparatus, method and computer program are disclosed in which a radio unit (110) of a mobile station (100) is caused to periodically communicate with a radio tag (200) with a first period between subsequent communications and to perform pairing with the radio tag (200). Storing of pairing information relating to the paired radio tag (200) is caused. A first profile associated with the mobile station (100) is maintained. A second profile associated with the paired radio tag (200) is maintained. Adapting of the first period is performed based on at least one of: the first profile and the second profile. |
US09633240B2 |
RFID reader/writer device
A radio frequency electronic tag reader/writer device including a housing, an antenna, a processing unit connected to the antenna and intended to exchange data with a radio frequency electronic tag presented within the range of the reader/writer device, at least one communication interface intended to be connected to a programmable logic controller and controlled by the processing unit for exchanging data with the programmable logic controller, a signalling unit for indicating one or more operating statuses, the signalling unit being connected to the processing unit, the processing unit being arranged for controlling the signalling unit on the basis of a control frame received from the programmable logic controller. |
US09633239B2 |
System and method for selective access to RFID functionality
A device (100) comprising a Radio Frequency Identification transponder and means for selectively controlling the Radio Frequency Identification communication, the device (100) comprising: a first, internal, electromagnetic shield fixed on one side of the Radio Frequency Identification transponder's antenna and a second, internal, electromagnetic, movable shield (180) on the other side of the Radio Frequency Identification transponder's antenna wherein the device (100) comprises an internal actuator (170) configured to operate a movable mechanism (150), influencing the position of the movable shield, such that when the internal actuator is in a first position, the movable shield is in a first position allowing communication with the Radio Frequency Identification transponder and when the internal actuator is in a second position, the movable shield is in a second position, in which it blocks all contactless communication with the Radio Frequency Identification transponder. |
US09633238B2 |
RFID system with time slot interleaving
A method for interleaving time slots in a multi-antenna system for communication with RFID tags is disclosed. An example is shown for an eight antenna system. A first four antennas arranged side-by-side are sequentially energized to interrogate RFID transponders. A second set of four antennas arranged side-by-side, the first of which is adjacent to the last of the first set of antennas. A four-antenna sequence is performed for the first four antennas and a second four antenna sequence is performed for the second set of antennas. The first and second four antenna sequences are offset by only a marginal amount, sufficient to ensure that a transponder signal received four antennas away from an active antenna is not acknowledged because the receive window for the non-active antenna is delayed. |
US09633236B1 |
Power harvesting in reader devices
Aspects of the subject disclosure provide a reader device for processing payment cards. The reader device is configured to harvest power from received audio signals, for example, from analog signals received on an audio bus, such as a standard 3.5 mm audio channel. In some implementations, a reader of the current technology includes a microcontroller configured to perform operations including receiving an audio signal from the host via the audio bus, analyzing the audio signal to determine when a voltage of the audio signal is negative and providing a reference signal to the power module, wherein the reference signal indicates time periods in which synchronous rectification is to be performed by the power module. |
US09633235B2 |
Device for sampling and locating asset information and method for managing the same
A device for sampling and locating asset information includes a tag and a locator. The tag includes an attaching terminal that comprises an attaching element, a RFID responder, a magnetic element. The tag further includes a fixing end and a flexible connection element. The locator includes an attached element, a RFID reader, a hall switch, a multiplexer and a microprocessor. When a distance between the attaching terminal and the attached element reaches a preset distance, the magnetic element triggers the hall switch to send a trigger signal to the microprocessor. Based on the trigger signal the microprocessor turns on the RFID reader and controls the multiplexer to be connected to the corresponding RFID antenna to read the information. By using the device above, a real time monitoring and an automatic location are realized and the monitoring and the location can be accurate to every unit on the rack. |
US09633234B2 |
System and method for a secure display module
A system for a secure display module includes a display element array, a driver controller, a communication interface, a host controller and a cryptographic engine. The display element array includes one or more segments, and the driver outputs are configured to drive the one or more segments, respectively. The host controller is configured to send commands and data to the driver controller via the communication interface and the cryptographic engine is configured to encrypt communication data between the display element array and the host controller. |
US09633230B2 |
Hardware assist for privilege access violation checks
Techniques are disclosed for processing rendering engine workload of a graphics system in a secure fashion, wherein at least some security processing of the workload is offloaded from software-based security parsing to hardware-based security parsing. In some embodiments, commands from a given application are received by a user-mode driver (UMD), which is configured to generate a command buffer delineated into privileged and/or non-privileged command sections. The delineated command buffer can then be passed by the UMD to a kernel-mode driver (KMD), which is configured to parse and validate only privileged buffer sections, but to issue all other batch buffers with a privilege indicator set to non-privileged. A graphics processing unit (GPU) can receive the privilege-designated batch buffers from the KMD, and is configured to disallow execution of any privileged command from a non-privileged batch buffer, while any privileged commands from privileged batch buffers are unrestricted by the GPU. |
US09633221B2 |
Authentication method and devices for accessing a user account of a service on a data network
An authentication method for accessing a user account of a service (28) on a data network (26), includes the following steps:reception (E20) by the service (28) of a request from a consulting device (10) for the service (28), the request including a first authentication information element,reception (E60) by the service (28) of an information element sent by an authentication security device manager (34), the information received by the service (28) being based on a second authentication information element originating from a security device (16; 18) associated with the user account, andauthentication by the service (28), based on the first authentication information element and the information received from the authentication security device manager (34). |
US09633219B2 |
Providing secure indexes for searching encrypted data
Providing an encrypted search index for performing searches on encrypted documents, the method comprising: (i) providing a set of documents, the documents comprising a plurality of unencrypted phrases; (ii) providing a master key; (iii) providing, based on the master key, for each phrase a set of encryption keys comprising one or more encryption keys; (iv) selecting, for each phrase, one encryption key of the set of encryption keys; (v) encrypting each phrase with the selected encryption key; and (vi) building an index based on the encrypted phrases, the index comprising information regarding which encrypted phrase is comprised within a certain document. |
US09633218B2 |
Identities and permissions
Techniques for identity management for permissions are described. According to various embodiments, a user establishes a communication relationship with another user, referred to herein as a “contact.” According to various embodiments, the contact is associated with multiple identities. Accordingly, embodiments discussed herein enable a primary identity to be specified such that permissions for the primary identity are enforced for interactions with the contact. Further, techniques discussed herein enable a primary identity to be updated based on a change in identity state of a contact. |
US09633216B2 |
Application of information management policies based on operation with a geographic entity
Techniques for providing data retention services based on a geographic region are disclosed. In one aspect, a location of a computing device is determined. A geographic entity corresponding to the location of the computing device is then determined. A data retention policy is applied to production data of the computing device based on regulations of the geographic entity. Other aspects are also disclosed. |
US09633214B2 |
Self-removal of enterprise app data
Self-removal of enterprise application data (e.g., managed application data) is disclosed. It may be determined that a data removal condition has been satisfied. Based at least in part on the determination, data removal information may be generated for a plurality of applications including a managed set of mobile applications. The data removal information may be provided to at least a first application included in the plurality of applications. The first application may provide the data removal information to a data storage location accessible to at least a second application upon a data removal-related event. |
US09633208B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying computer health index
The disclosure discloses an apparatus for displaying a computer health index comprising: a health index calculator configured to calculate one or more health sub-indices, and calculate a computer health index based on the one or more health sub-indices, wherein each health sub-index is associated with one of one or more computer states, and reflects the health degree of the associated computer state; and a simple index display configured to receive the computer health index from the health index calculator, and displaying a small icon reflecting a value of said computer health index. |
US09633207B2 |
Method for downloading at least one software component onto a computing device, and associated computer program product, computing device and computer system
A method for downloading at least one software component onto a computing device, and associated computer program product, computing device and computer system are disclosed. In one aspect, the method is implemented by the computer device including an information processing unit having a memory. The downloading method includes downloading to the memory of a first application from a first distribution capability and connection to a second distribution capability via the first application. The connection to the second distribution capability is performed in a secure manner using an authentication code. The downloading method further includes downloading to the memory of a second application from the second distribution capability, secure connection to a third distribution capability via the second application, and downloading to the memory of each software component from the third distribution capability. |
US09633203B2 |
Spam notification device
A device is configured to receive triggering information including a set of conditions associated with spam. The device is configured to receive a message from a sending device, and to determine that the message is spam based on determining that the message satisfies a threshold quantity of conditions of the set of conditions. The device is configured to provide a notification indicating that the message may be spam, and receive response information, based on the notification, indicating that the sending device is to be blacklisted. The device is configured to cause, based on the response information, a future message from the sending device to be blocked prior to being presented to a user. |
US09633202B2 |
Managing a DDoS attack
A method, system, and/or computer program product manages a distributed denial of service attack in a multiprocessor environment. A determination is made of (a) a first upper threshold for a normal number of packets from the multiprocessor environment to multiple destination addresses, (b) a second upper threshold for a normal ratio of the packets from the multiprocessor environment to a single destination address compared to the packets from the multiprocessor environment to the multiple destination addresses, and (c) a third upper threshold for a normal ratio of packets from the multiprocessor environment to a single port at a single destination address compared to packets from the multiprocessor environment to the multiple destination addresses. In response to the first and second thresholds being exceeded, a specific port is monitored to determine if the third upper threshold is being exceeded at that port, thus indicating an apparent distributed denial of service attack. |
US09633200B2 |
Multidimensional sandboxing for financial planning
A computer-implemented method can include creating a sandbox responsive to a sandbox creation request from a user, wherein the sandbox represents an alternate version of a base version and is accessible only by the user. The method can also include visually presenting to the user information pertaining to the sandbox and information pertaining to the base version, saving changes to the information pertaining to the sandbox, and publishing the sandbox responsive to a publish request from the user. |
US09633196B2 |
Electronic system, electronic apparatus and access authentication method thereof
An electronic system, an electronic apparatus, and an access authentication method thereof are provided. The electronic system includes a master apparatus and a slave apparatus. The slave apparatus is coupled to the master apparatus through a serial transmission interface. The slave apparatus includes a data storage unit protected by the slave apparatus with a predetermined key. The master apparatus sends an access request to the data storage unit through the serial transmission interface. The slave apparatus determines whether the master apparatus is allowed to access the data storage unit according to the predetermined key and a key inputted by the master apparatus for authentication. |
US09633195B2 |
Authentication apparatus and methods
A method of and an apparatus for verifying authenticity of a target authentication device comprising a reference pattern having a characteristic frequency and a security pattern, the security pattern comprises an embedded security device that is coded with phase modulation information. The method comprises extracting frequency domain data from an image of the target authentication device to facilitate verification of authenticity of the target authentication device. The method provides a very effective end expedient mechanism for verifying authenticity of a moiré or moiré like authentication device to combat counterfeiting. |
US09633193B2 |
Server, user apparatus and terminal device
A server, a user apparatus and a terminal device are provided. The server includes a transmission interface, a database and a processor. The transmission interface receives an identification verification request from the user apparatus. The processor captures a plurality of selected patterns from a plurality of database patterns stored in the database according to the identification verification request, selects at least one target pattern from the plurality of selected patterns, and enables the user apparatus to display the plurality of selected patterns and the at least one target pattern in a match object area and a target object area of a user interface displayed by the user apparatus, respectively. An identification verification procedure is finished while the processor determines that one of the plurality of selected patterns that corresponds to the at least one target pattern is selected to conform to the at least one target pattern. |
US09633186B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling output of content based on human recognition data detection
Systems and methods for controlling output of content based on human recognition data captured by one or more sensors of an electronic device are provided. The control of the output of particular content may be based on an action of a rule defined for the particular content, and may be performed when at least one human feature detection related condition of the rule is satisfied. In some embodiments, the action may include granting access to requested content when detected human feature data satisfies at least one human feature detection related condition of a rule defined for the requested content. In other embodiments the action may include altering a presentation of content, during the presentation of the content, when detected human feature data satisfies at least one human feature detection related condition of a rule defined for the presented content. |
US09633185B2 |
Device having secure JTAG and debugging method for the same
A method of debugging a device which includes a plurality of processors is provided. The method includes verifying a request to initiate authentication that is provided to the device to a user; performing a challenge-response authentication operation between the user and the device in response to the request to initiate authentication being a request from a non-malicious user; activating or deactivating an access to a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) port of each of the processors, based on access control information from the user; and permitting a debugging operation via an access that is activated. |
US09633181B2 |
Processing copyright notice of media file
A system and method for processing the copyright notice of a media file stored in digital format in an electronic device are provided. The copyright notice of the media file is checked prior and/or during transmission between two devices and if the copyright notice is not found, action is taken to insert the copyright notice. The copyright notice is presented when the media file is presented. |
US09633179B2 |
Centralized licensing services
Methods and devices are provided for central management of licenses, particularly those relating to wagering games. A license proxy deployed in and/or dedicated to a gaming establishment may operate under the control of a central licensing manager controlled by another entity, e.g., by a game provider. The license proxy may receive requests to enable features of an electronic gaming machine of the gaming establishment (e.g., game themes, player tracking features and/or peripheral device features) and determine, based on information provided by the central licensing manager, whether to grant such requests. The license proxy may also process requests to enable features of other devices in a gaming establishment, such as server-based features. |
US09633178B2 |
Code signing system and method
A code signing system and method is provided. The code signing system operates in conjunction with a signed software application having a digital signature and includes an application platform, an application programming interface (API), and a virtual machine. The API is configured to link the software application with the application platform. The virtual machine verifies the authenticity of the digital signature in order to control access to the API by the software application. |
US09633177B2 |
Blood collection tube management system
At the time of blood sampling, blood collection tube information of a blood collection tube concerned is read by blood-collection-tube information reading means, and blood collection subject information 20 on an identification belt as an information recording medium carried by the blood collection subject is read by information-recording-medium reading means. The respectively-read blood collection tube information of the blood collection tube concerned and blood collection subject information of the blood collection subject concerned are correlated with each other and stored in a storage unit by information management means. |
US09633176B2 |
Method for tracking and imaging biological samples
Systems, methods, and apparatus are described for the handling of biological specimens for analysis. The systems, methods and apparatus are designed to reduce errors in misidentification, incorrect processing, and recordkeeping and reporting. The systems, methods, and apparatus can also provide real time tracking of samples at any stage, from collection to processing to analyzing to storage. |
US09633174B2 |
System, method and computer program product for providing a healthcare user interface and incentives
Actively engaging members in managing their own healthcare, improving their health, and reducing healthcare costs to the payer involves providing a unified interface for member engagement. The interface may be communicatively coupled with a healthcare system, may be personalized to the member, and may offer multiple possible rewards to the member to encourage member behavior to effectively reduce healthcare costs and improve the quality of healthcare plans. The interface may provide the member with a pathway guiding the member to engage in activities to achieve short-term, intermediate and long-term goals for which actions are presented. Goals or actions may be predefined and may additionally be selected by the member. When member-engagement in the actions is verified, rewards may be granted to the member's account. In connection with such member engagement, the healthcare system collects member information, applies rules to that information, and generates alerts from those rules. |
US09633172B2 |
Pharmacy automation optimization system and method
A method of assessing the productivity of a pharmacy includes: (a) recording information regarding the identity and quantity of each pharmaceutical being automatically dispensed with an automated prescription monitoring unit; (b) with an overall pharmacy prescription monitoring unit, recording information regarding (i) dispensing of pharmaceuticals dispensed from the automated pharmacy machine and (ii) manual dispensing of pharmaceuticals; (c) identifying in step (a) low performing pharmaceuticals; (d) identifying in step (b) high performing pharmaceuticals dispensed manually as candidates for automated dispensing; (e) comparing low performing pharmaceuticals of step (c) with high performing pharmaceuticals of step (d) to determine whether replacement is recommended; (f) confirming whether high performing pharmaceuticals identified in step (d) are capable of automated dispensing; and (g) replacing in the automated pharmacy machine a low performing pharmaceutical identified in step (c) with a high performing pharmaceutical identified in step (d). |
US09633168B2 |
Biometric identity validation for use with unattended tests for medical conditions
An initial signature may be generated from an initial set of biometric data. A subsequent set of biometric data may be received along with diagnostic data, and a subsequent signature may be generated from the subsequent set of biometric data. The initial signature and the subsequent signature maybe compared to determine if there is an acceptable degree of matching between the signatures. If the signatures match, such as for example within a threshold percentage, the second set of biometric data is determined to be from the same a subject as the initial set of biometric data, and the diagnostic data is processed for that subject. If the signatures do not match, the initial and subsequent sets of biometric data are determined to be from different people and the diagnostic data is not processed. |
US09633162B2 |
Method and system for the modular design and layout of integrated circuits
An integrated circuit (IC) and fabrication method thereof is provided that include the steps of specifying a plurality of required tile modules suitable for a particular end application, each of the modular tiles being configured to perform a predetermined function and constructed to have approximately the same length and width dimensions. The modular tiles are used to form the IC in a standard IC fabrication process. In many implementations, physical layout of the IC does not include the step of routing. Capabilities also include configuring the modular tiles to have programmable performance parameters and configuring the modular tiles to cooperate usefully with one another based on a programmable parameter. |
US09633161B2 |
Layout design system, method, and semiconductor device employing termination-free unit designs
A layout design system includes a processor; a storage unit configured to store a first unit design having a first area, wherein in the first unit design, a termination is not placed on a border thereof; and a design module configured to generate a second unit design having a second area larger than the first area by placing the termination on a border of the first unit. |
US09633157B2 |
Energy-efficient pipeline circuit templates for high-performance asynchronous circuits
Asynchronous circuits and techniques are described for asynchronous processing without synchronization to a common clock. Two specific energy-efficient pipeline templates for high throughput asynchronous circuits are provided as examples based on single-track handshake protocol. Each pipeline contains multiple stages of logic. The handshake overhead is minimized by eliminating validity and neutrality detection logic gates for all input tokens as well as for all intermediate logic nodes. Both of these templates can pack significant amount of logic within each pipeline block, while still maintaining a fast cycle time. |
US09633153B1 |
Method, system, and computer program product for verifying an electronic design using stall prevention requirements of electronic circuit design models of the electronic design
Various mechanisms and approaches identify multiple cells in an electronic design and multiple sets of stall prevention requirements or multiple sets of transactions for the multiple cells and determine dependencies between stall prevention requirements. A graph is constructed to represent the dependencies and the stall prevention requirements or the transactions involved in the dependencies by using the stall prevention requirements or the transactions as the nodes and the dependencies as the arcs connecting the nodes in the graph. One or more loop analyses are performed on the graph to identify one or more loops as one or more potential deadlocks. False deadlocks may be eliminated from further processing. The analyses and deadlock detection may be independently performed for each cell in sequence or in parallel to divide and conquer a complex electronic system design. |
US09633150B2 |
Experiments approach to design variation mitigation and optimization
A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: store a design metric and a design metric variation from the simulation of the design metric for a subset of a plurality of conditions in an inner loop and an outer loop, wherein in the outer loop is a sample set of design dimensions and their respective values, while the inner loop varies a plurality of variation conditions of the subset; model the design metric and design metric variation using a response surface; and optimize the design metric or the design metric variation for the subset of a plurality of design dimensions using the response surface to generate an optimized design. In other aspects, a system and a method for design variation and optimization are provided. |
US09633149B2 |
System and method for modeling through silicon via
A computer implemented system comprises a processor programmed to analyze a circuit to determine a response of the circuit to an input radio frequency (RF) signal, for at least one of designing, manufacturing, and testing the circuit. An interposer model is tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine readable storage medium to be accessed by the processor. The interposer model is processed by the computer to output data representing a response of a though substrate via (TSV) to the radio frequency (RF) signal. The interposer model comprises a plurality of TSV models. Each TSV model has a respective three-port network. One of the ports of each three-port network is a floating node. The floating nodes of each of the three-port networks are connected to each other. |
US09633147B1 |
Power state coverage metric and method for estimating the same
In some embodiments, in a method performed by at least one processor for estimating an overall power state coverage of an electronic system level (ESL) model comprising a plurality of blocks for a module, a first value and a second value are set for each block of said plurality of blocks. At least one verification case is selected for each block in the ESL model. For each verification case of said at least one verification case: (a) a target coverage value is set, (b) a register transfer level (RTL) simulation is performed, (c) an actual coverage value is received, and (d) the first value or the second value is updated based on whether the actual coverage value is less than the target coverage value or not. A power state coverage is calculated for said each block. The overall power state coverage is calculated for the ESL model comprising said plurality of blocks for said module. |
US09633146B2 |
Systems and methods for assessing property damage
A damage assessment module operating on a computer system automatically evaluates a property, estimating damage to the property by analyzing a point cloud of a property. The damage assessment module identifies individual point clusters or segments from the point cloud and detects potentially damaged areas of the property surface by identifying outlier points in the point clusters. The damage assessment module may be used to determine the financial cost of the damage and/or determine whether the property should be replaced or repaired. In addition to eliminating the need for an estimator to visit the property in person, the damage assessment module improves the consistency and accuracy associated with estimating damage to a property. |
US09633140B2 |
Automated contextual information retrieval based on multi-tiered user modeling and dynamic retrieval strategy
Automated contextual information retrieval techniques are provided based on multi-tiered user modeling and a dynamic retrieval strategy. Content relevant to a current message is presented by initially obtaining a multi-tiered user model containing a multi-tiered representation of interactions of a first user with each contact, wherein the multi-tiered representation includes a plurality of topic models each corresponding to interactions between the first user and one contact. The topic models contain a set of topics, each containing topic keywords. Context information is extracted based on content of the current message, a sender and/or a recipient of the current message, and the multi-tiered user model. A retrieval strategy is determined based on the extracted context information. Contextual queries are generated to search the information repositories selected based on the determined retrieval strategy. Content relevant to the current message is presented based on search results from the selected information repositories. |
US09633138B2 |
Managing questioning in a question and answer system
A system, a method, and a computer program product for managing questioning in a Question and Answering (QA) system are disclosed. An input question received by the QA system is analyzed to determine the set of answer-types. A set of answer-types is determined. Prompting for clarifying data associated with the input question happens. A set of candidate answers of the answer-type is determined. The clarifying data is used to determine the set of candidate answers. At least one candidate answer of the set of candidate answers of the answer-type is provided. |
US09633135B2 |
Method and system for extending the capabilities of embedded devices through network clients
A method and system for extending the capabilities of resource-constrained embedded devices by leveraging the memory and processing resources of clients such as web browsers (‘clients’) installed on host computational devices (‘host computers’). The embedded device delegates computational tasks such as generation of content (e.g., user interfaces, reports, configuration files, etc.) to clients and acts as a simple file and data server. The embedded device provides static resource files to each client, including static template files and a client processing engine. The client processing engine: interprets processing instructions contained in static template files; utilizes managed communication channels to exchange dynamic data sets with the embedded device in real-time; generates various forms of content by processing, transforming, manipulating, and aggregating dynamic data sets and static resource files; and reads and writes arbitrarily large files from and to the host computer, overcoming resource limitations of the embedded device. |
US09633132B2 |
Electronic device and web information providing method thereof
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a web browser that requests web information from a web server, for caching. The electronic device includes: a first controller to initialize the electronic device, when the electronic device is powered on; and a second controller to execute the browser, to store the web information received from the web server, and to control the display a web page using the stored web information. |
US09633129B2 |
Personal web display and interaction experience system
Embodiments of the present invention may be directed to an interactive system. The interactive system may include a browser application allowing a user to access a website using a communication pathway. The website provides website information in a standardized interchange protocol and also in webpages. The browser application is configured to allow user access to the webpages. The interactive system may also include a module of the browser application compatible with the standardized interchange protocol and configured to store and implement user personalized commands and to store recorded user history information. The module implements a graphical user interface with the website information that is personalized to the user. The graphical user interface includes a personalized display experience and a personalized interaction experience that are both custom designed for the user. |
US09633124B2 |
Managing access rights to content using social media
Provided are methods and systems related to communications between a social media service or provider (e.g., Twitter®, Facebook®) or other resource (e.g., web page) and one or more content providers. In an aspect, provided are methods comprising receiving a request for content, wherein the request comprises a user agnostic identifier, determining user information associated with the request, determining time information associated with the request, determining media content associated with the user agnostic identifier based on the time information, determining one or more access rights to the media content based on the user information, and providing access to the media content based on the one or more access rights. |
US09633123B2 |
Data federation query suggestion
Systems and methods are provided for data federation query suggestion. An example system includes a query constraint database including at least one query constraint and a query constraint resolving module that receives from a user a query to search a federated database using a federated database search engine and determines if the query satisfies at least one query constraints. The system further includes a query suggestion module that determines a query suggestion if the query does not satisfy at least one query constraints. |
US09633121B2 |
Personalizing default search queries on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph that includes a plurality of nodes and edges. A first node corresponds to a first user associated with an online social network and second nodes correspond to a concept or a second user. The method further comprises scoring a first set of nodes of the second nodes based on user-engagement factors. The method further comprises identifying common nodes that are connected by edges to nodes of the first set of nodes that have a score greater than a threshold score. The method further comprises generating structured queries and sending the structured queries to the user, the sent structured queries being a personalized query. |
US09633120B2 |
Continuously blocking query result data for a remote query
Continuously blocking query result data for a remote query is provided. Included is: creating a first connection, using a communications network, between a database server and a client. At least one secondary connection is created, using the communications network, between the database server and the client, based on the database server supporting a continuous block fetch protocol. Using the at least one secondary connection, the database server receives at least one cursor-based fetch query. The database server generates continuous blocks of result data, based on the received at least one cursor-based fetch query and sends to the client, using the at least one secondary connection, the continuous blocks of result data. |
US09633118B2 |
Editorial service supporting contrasting content
An editorial service analyzes the web behavior of a group of users in order to classify users into user types and contrasting types. A user type is a classification that is based on the type of web-accessed content that a user typically views. A contrasting type represents a classification that is based on web-accessed content that a user rarely views. A content provider may utilize a user's contrasting type to present divergent or contrasting content to a user thereby engaging the user to stay on and interact with the content provider's web site or application longer. |
US09633116B2 |
Endorsing local search results
Methods and systems for improving user search experience with a search engine by providing a way for associated users to create and share personalized lists of local search results and/or advertisements through endorsements of such local search results and/or ads. Local search endorsements can be used to personalize the search engine's ranking of local search results by offering a way for users to re-rank the results for themselves and for those who trust them. |
US09633110B2 |
Enrichment of data using a semantic auto-discovery of reference and visual data
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for automatically enriching data in tables of report documents. A table of data contained in a document is received. A category of data stored in a column of the table of data is determined Enhancement information associated with the determined category is retrieved. The enhancement information may include visual enhancements (e.g., symbols, images, etc.) and/or may include reference data that is related to the determined category of column data. A user is enabled to select enhancement information of the retrieved enhancement information. The selected enhancement information is displayed in the document. The user is enabled to accept the selected enhancement information to be stored in the document. |
US09633107B2 |
Mobile metadata model repository
A system includes creation of a first data structure defining a generic business object model in a storage medium of a first device, creation of a second data structure defining a specific business object model in the storage medium of the first device, where the specific business object model being an instance of the generic business object model, reception of the second data structure defining the specific business object model at a mobile device, and storage of the second data structure in a storage medium of the mobile device. |
US09633106B1 |
Log data analysis
Analyzing log data, such as security log data and event data, is disclosed. Log data is obtained. Portions of the log data are clustered into clusters of similar data portions. A signature for each cluster is generated. Comparison of subsequent log data with the signature indicates whether the subsequent log data belongs in the cluster. |
US09633104B2 |
Methods and systems to operate on group-by sets with high cardinality
This disclosure describes methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for efficiently calculating group-by statistics. A data set that includes multiple entries is accessed. The multiple entries are grouped into group-by subsets which are formed on two or more group-by variables and which are subsets are subsets of the data set. Cardinality data is determined for each of the group-by subsets, wherein cardinality data represents a number of entries in a group-by subset. At least one summary of data in each of the group-by subsets is generated, wherein each of the summaries includes the cardinality data determined for the group-by subset. Objects for the group-by subsets are initialized such that the objects store the summaries. The objects may then be used to generate multiple statistical summaries of the data set. |
US09633099B2 |
Core data synchronization systems and methods
To synchronize data between a remote database and a local object-graph-and-persistence-framework, a synchronization framework receives messages from the local object-graph-and-persistence-framework indicating that a locally-managed object has been retrieved from a local datastore and instantiated or that the locally-managed object has been created, modified, or deleted. When the synchronization framework determines that the message was instigated by a local user's activity (as opposed to a background synchronization process), the synchronization framework synchronizes the locally-managed object with the remote database. |
US09633095B2 |
Extract, transform and load (ETL) system and method
An ETL system for extracting transactional data from a plurality of source machines is provided. The ETL system includes a data query module configured to provide an interface to enable a data analyst to define an input query to extract transactional data, which is present on a plurality of source machines. The source machines form a multi-tenant system and each source machine is identified by a unique tenant identifier. The system also includes a query parsing module coupled to the data query module and configured to deconstruct the input query to create a tree structure. The tree structure comprises a plurality of distinct queries. The system further includes a data extraction module coupled to the query parsing module and configured to extract transactional data based on the distinct queries and copy the transactional data to a destination system wherein the transactional data comprises a plurality of data types. |
US09633088B1 |
Event log versioning, synchronization, and consolidation
Systems and methods can support log synchronization associated with a complex event handler. An event log can support storing prior event indicators. A new event indicator may be received. Temporal indicators associated with the new event indicator may be analyzed to establish consistent relative ordering with respect to prior event indicators. A synchronized timestamp may be generated in response to analyzing the temporal indicators. The new event indicator may be translated into a canonical form. The translated event indicator may be stored into the event log according to the synchronized timestamp. A rule associated with the complex event handler may be evaluated to identify a stored event dependency within a rule condition of the rule. The event log may be searched to match the translated event indicator against the stored event dependency. The rule may be triggered, and its action executed, in response to satisfying the rule condition. |
US09633086B2 |
Goal-oriented user matching among social networking environments
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for goal-based user matching among social networking environments. In a typical embodiment, a querying user is asked to respond to a series of questions related to goals, criteria, and criteria priorities (and, optionally, a desired “degree” of separation among other users). The querying user will submit his/her responses, which are then parsed and prioritized accordingly. Based on the responses, social networking sites are then searched to identify a set (e.g., at least one) of candidate users that are potential collaboration partners with the querying user. This set of candidate users may be arranged in a list and sorted according to a best match to the querying user's responses. The list can then be provided to the querying user. In addition, invites can be sent to the set of candidate users to invite such users to connect/collaborate with the querying user. |
US09633085B2 |
Method for calculating relevancy scores of search results
A method including the steps of: receiving, using one or more processors, a search query containing search terms from a user device; executing, using one or more processors, a query on a database based in response to the received search query; generating, using or more processors, search results based on the executed query; calculating, using one or more processors, a relevancy score for each of the generated search results, wherein the relevancy score is determined based on match properties of the search terms and field terms of a matching field; assigning, using one or more processors, a calculated relevancy score to each of the generated search results; and transmitting, using or more processors, the scored search results for display as a ranked list on the user device. |
US09633082B2 |
Search result ranking method and system
Search result ranking includes recording user action information on displayed objects in search results obtained using one or more query words, upon receiving a switch-page request or switch-screen request, determining a commonality level of one or more attribute characteristics in a set of objects subjected to user actions, the determining of the commonality level being based on the user action information on the displayed objects, selecting attribute characteristics that comply with predetermined requirements to serve as reference norms for ranking objects that are to be displayed or ranked, the selecting of the attribute characteristics being based on the commonality level, and adjusting rank of objects that are to be displayed or to be ranked and whose attribute characteristics comply with the reference norms. |
US09633081B1 |
Systems and methods for determining application installation likelihood based on user network characteristics
A method for providing a scored list of applications for use in recommending applications to a user includes storing an application signature for each user of a cloud computing service, where the application signature for a first user stores a usage total for the first user for each application in a set of available applications, and storing a user similarity matrix across all users, where a first similarity value in the user similarity matrix measures the similarity between the first user's application signature and a second user's application signature. The cloud computing service receives a request to provide a scored list of applications for the first user, constructs the scored list, where a score of each application is a function of the usage totals for the application in the application signatures for each user and each user's similarity value to the first user, and outputs the scored list of applications. |
US09633079B2 |
Generating and using temporal metadata partitions
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for generating and using temporal metadata partitions. Metadata can be stored in temporal metadata partitions based upon a time range included in the metadata. Furthermore, metadata can be stored in multiple temporal metadata partitions to which the metadata is relevant. As such, metadata can be stored in manner that allows event data to be understood in the context of temporally accurate and/or relevant metadata. Functionality for executing queries of event data and providing results in view of metadata, as well as the merging of multiple temporal metadata partitions also are disclosed. |
US09633074B1 |
Querying data set tables in a non-transactional database
A method and apparatus for facilitating data set query is disclosed. In the method and apparatus one or more tables may be created for the data set, whereby each table of the one or more tables may enable searching the data set using one or more records that are associated with one or more indices of the data set. Upon receiving a request to search the data set, a table of the one or more table is identified based at least in part on the one or more bases for query and is searched to provide a yielded record. |
US09633063B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automated redaction of content in a document
A redaction process obtains redaction data indicating content to be redacted in a document. In addition, the redaction process obtains non-redaction data indicating content not to be redacted in the document. Furthermore, the redaction process obtains proximity data indicating proximate expressions to be matched against the document. In this manner, the redaction process processes the redaction data, non-redaction data and proximity data against the document to produce a redact list and a potential list. Upon receiving user selections from both the redact and the potential lists, the redaction process applies a redaction function to the document to produce a redacted version of the document. |
US09633060B2 |
Computer data distribution architecture with table data cache proxy
The disclosed subject matter includes systems, methods, and computer readable medium for reliable implementation of a table data cache proxy (TDCP). An electronic message requesting table data can be received at TDCP-server that can be coupled to data servers having a table data service accessible via an electronic messaging protocol. The TDCP-server can cache data from and aggregate subscriptions to the data servers. When TDCP-server contains a cached copy of the requested table data, an electronic message providing the cached copy can be transmitted from the cache in response to the first electronic message. The data received from at least one of the data servers and stored in the cache is authoritative due to a data model of the data servers. When TDCP-server does not contain a cached copy, the requested table data can be requested from a server determined to be appropriate and a received response can be filtered. |
US09633059B2 |
Data table performance optimization
A computer program product to optimize a database is provided. A processor determines a frequency of search for a plurality of columns in a table. A processor determines a length of the plurality of columns. A processor determines a rank for the plurality of columns based, at least in part, on both the frequency of search and the length of the plurality of columns. A processor generates a first set of combinations of the plurality of columns. A processor determines an optimization of the first set of combinations of the plurality of columns. A processor selects an optimal combination of the first set of combinations, wherein the optimization of the optimal combination is greater than the optimization for all other combinations in the first set of combinations. A processor moves the plurality of columns excluded from the optimal combination. |
US09633057B2 |
Method and system for collecting, searching and determining the strength of contacts from a mobile contact list
The method allows users of mobile devices or desktop/laptops in an organization to perform a search on a collated list of contacts for a particular contact and determine who, within the system/organization, may have that contact in their list. Contact lists from individual mobile devices are collated and stored and are searchable. A rating for the strength of each contact in a user's mobile contact list is made by determining the type of contact that the user uses to communicate with the contact and by the frequency with which the user communicates with the contact. This can be done across the contacts for the entire organization. The organization can also determine the strength of the contact list of someone in the organization or the relative strength of each contact. |
US09633056B2 |
Maintaining a deduplication database
An information management system can modify working copies of database entries residing in a local database of a secondary storage computing device in response to instructions to modify the database entries residing in a deduplication database. If the working copy does not already reside in the local database, a copy of the database entry, or portion thereof, from the deduplication database can be used to generate the working copy. Based on a desired policy, the working copies in the local database can be merged with the actual database entries in the deduplication database. |
US09633055B2 |
Database migration
A migration framework includes a migration status data store that stores the migration status of a variety of different databases that are being migrated. A migration manager monitors the migration status of the different databases and invokes migration scripts to perform migration steps on the various databases, based upon their migration status. As the migration steps are completed, a status update component updates the migration status of the various databases that are being migrated. |
US09633052B2 |
System and method for decomposition of code generation into separate physical units though execution units
In various embodiments, a data integration system is disclosed which enables users to create a logical design which is platform and technology independent. The user can create a logical design that defines, at a high level, how a user wants data to flow between sources and targets. The tool can analyze the logical design, in view of the user's infrastructure, and create a physical design. The logical design can include a plurality of components corresponding to each source and target in the design, as well as operations such as joins or filters, and access points. Each component when transferred to the physical design generates code to perform operations on the data. Depending on the underlying technology (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle, Hadoop, etc.) and the language used (SQL, pig, etc.) the code generated by each component may be different. |
US09633049B2 |
Searching apparatus, searching method, and searching system
A searching apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores therein indexes for searching for an object included in an image and cooperative information indicating a function of cooperating with the object in association with each other; a receiving unit that receives a captured image; an extracting unit that extracts an object included in the captured image; a calculating unit that calculates a degree of similarity between the object searched for by an index stored in the storage unit and the object extracted from the captured image by the extracting unit; a searching unit that searches for one or more objects based on the degree of similarity from the storage unit; and a presenting unit that presents the cooperative information associated with the index corresponding to the object as a search result of the searching unit to a source of the captured image. |
US09633041B2 |
File block placement in a distributed file system network
A method for file block placement in a distributed file system network that includes a plurality of data storage nodes, the method comprising the steps of generating a plurality of file block placement options for a file block, each block placement option being associated with at least one of the data storage nodes, the file block placement options being based on a set of network parameters associated with the distributed file system, determining a cost valuation parameter associated with each of the plurality of file block placement options, and selecting one of the plurality of file block placement options based at least in part on the cost valuation parameter associated with each file block placement option. |
US09633029B2 |
Method, server, and user terminal for providing and acquiring media content
A method, a server, and a user terminal for providing and acquiring media content are provided. The providing method includes: receiving a file segment acquiring request sent by a user terminal, where the file segment acquiring request is generated and sent by the user terminal according to an identifier of the user terminal, and the media segment description file includes a storage address and an embedded identifier of each media file segment that is divided from media content; and providing the user terminal with a media file segment that is embedded with the identifier of the user terminal. In the technical solution of the present invention, a server no longer processes media content in real time and responds to an acquiring request of a user terminal, thereby reducing concurrent load of the server and reducing concurrent bandwidth occupied by media content distribution. |
US09633026B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting email data
Aspects of this disclosure relate to protecting email data. For example, email protection rules can instruct an email server to route an email to an email protection module. The one or more email rules can identify a group of one or more email addresses. The email protection module can receive an email from the email server that has an email address of the group as an intended receipt. The email protection module can route the email to secondary storage and store the email in secondary storage to create a secondary copy of the email. The secondary copy can be stored inline to persistent memory of secondary storage, according to certain embodiments. Access to the backup copy of the email stored to the persistent memory can be controlled, for example, based on whether a user had permission to access to the email when the email was sent. |
US09633022B2 |
Backup and restoration for a deduplicated file system
The disclosed techniques that can use deduplication information on a source computer platform to improve the process of performing data backups or restoration from/to the computer platform. In one example aspect, a data backup operation can re-use some of the work already done by a source computer's deduplication system. For example, a storage operation could read a deduplication database on the source computer platform to determine the duplicativeness of a given data chunk being transferred to a backup storage system, without having to perform computations such as data chunk hashing and comparison with previously generated hashes. The technique may additionally or alternatively reuse hashes generated by the source computer during deduplication of the data file on the source computer's file system during deduplication at the external backup storage system. |
US09633018B2 |
Generation of related content for social media posts
Architecture presents in a display related content in association with (an annotation) a social media post, as derived from post information of the social media post itself. The related content can be presented in the user interface proximate the social media post or elsewhere in the user interface. The related content can be presented as search engine queries, images, videos, and/or links to related websites. More specifically, the disclosed architecture facilitates the automated annotation of a social media post with related content derived from: post information such as a URL (uniform resource locator) referred to in the social media post, post information such as the text, image(s), and/or video content in a social media post itself, and post information such as content linked-to by a URL referred to in a social media post. |
US09633017B2 |
Dwell-time based generation of a user interest profile
A method is provided for building a user interest profile. According to the method, features of each of a plurality of articles are identified. For a given user, views of one or more of the plurality of articles are logged. For each view, a corresponding dwell time for the view by the given user is measured. A weight is applied to each view based on the corresponding measured dwell time. User interest scores for features of the articles are determined based on the weighted views, and the user interest profile is generated for the given user based on the user interest scores. |
US09633016B2 |
Integrated social network and stream playback
A system and method for searching and playing multimedia content on a social network portal is disclosed. The system and method includes hosting a social network portal of a user, wherein the social network portal displays information of the user. The method further includes integrating, on the social network portal of the user, a multimedia controller. A selection or mouse-over of the multimedia controller initiates and controls the playback and selection of a multimedia item on an integrated multimedia player. The method also includes enabling a user to simultaneously navigate the social network portal and stream content via the integrated multimedia player. A user can also search for or request multimedia content via the multimedia controller and player. |
US09633012B1 |
Construction permit processing system and method
A system comprises a data storage system, data analysis logic, and user interface logic. The data analysis logic is configured to analyze the documents and to identify documents that satisfy search criteria received from a user. The user interface logic is configured to generate a user interface. The user interface logic is also configured to generate a plurality of charts for display to the user. The user can interact with the charts to specify modified search criteria. The user interface logic is configured to receive modified search criteria from the user via one of the charts and update the remaining charts to reflect the modified search criteria. |
US09633009B2 |
Knowledge-rich automatic term disambiguation
Embodiments of the invention relate to ambiguity detection. In one embodiment, an object and a topical domain associated with the object are obtained. In this embodiment, the object includes at least one term. At least one of a plurality of information sources is analyzed based on the at least one term and the topical domain. A determination is made that object is one of ambiguous and unambiguous based on analyzing at least one of the plurality of information sources. |
US09633002B1 |
Systems and methods for coreference resolution using selective feature activation
In some aspects, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for selective feature activation for coreference resolution are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving text data comprising a plurality of mentions corresponding to entities, and determining a plurality of data features, comprising semantic features and syntactic features, for comparing a particular pair of mentions from the plurality of mentions. The method also includes selectively activating a subset of features from the plurality of data features based on semantic and syntactic context of the particular pair of mentions within the text data, and determining, using weights associated with the activated subset of features and at least one machine learning function, whether a first mention of the pair of mentions and second mention of the pair of mentions refer to a same entity. |
US09632999B2 |
Techniques for understanding the aboutness of text based on semantic analysis
In one embodiment of the present invention, a semantic analyzer translates a text segment into a structured representation that conveys the meaning of the text segment. Notably, the semantic analyzer leverages a semantic network to perform word sense disambiguation operations that map text words included in the text segment into concepts—word senses with a single, specific meaning—that are interconnected with relevance ratings. A topic generator then creates topics on-the-fly that includes one or more mapped concepts that are related within the context of the text segment. In this fashion, the topic generator tailors the semantic network to the text segment. A topic analyzer processes this tailored semantic network, generating a relevance-ranked list of topics as a meaningful proxy for the text segment. Advantageously, operating at the level of concepts and topics reduces the misinterpretations attributable to key word and statistical analysis methods. |
US09632995B2 |
Method and apparatus for navigating through a task on a computer
Assisting a user to navigate through a performance of a task, the task including a plurality of sub-tasks. Two or more of the sub-tasks are serially presented on a graphical user interface. Each of the two or more sub-tasks is displayed in a respective area of the graphical user interface. For each of the two or more sub-tasks, the user is enabled to perform the sub-task by entering information into the respective area of the sub-task as the sub-task is presented. While the two or more sub-tasks are being presented, a sub-task list of items is displayed to the user on the graphical user interface. Each item represents a respective one of the plurality of sub-tasks. Displaying the sub-task list includes displaying, within at least one of the items, information corresponding to the sub-task represented by the at least one item. |
US09632994B2 |
Graphical user interface that supports document annotation
A graphical user interface that facilitates annotating documents is described herein. The graphical user interface includes a first field that displays a document to a user. The graphical user interface includes a second field that displays an annotation that has been assigned to a portion of the document, wherein the annotation includes a defined structure. The annotation is in the form of a tuple, wherein the tuple includes a first word or phrase, a second word or phrase, and a third word or phrase that relates the first word or phrase to the second word or phrase. The graphical user interface also includes a third field that facilitates user-editing of annotations. |
US09632993B2 |
Combining and displaying multiple document areas
A method includes storing, in response to marking by a user of an area of a displayed document, information on the marked area; displaying an icon representing the marked area; conducting the storing operation and the displaying operation for a different area; and creating, in response to an operation by the user for arranging two or more icons to be in contact with each other, a joined icon by joining the icons together; and combining marked areas represented by the two or more respective icons, according to a state of contact. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed herein. |
US09632992B2 |
Transcription editing
A computer program product for use with text transcribed from audio information, the computer program product residing on a computer-readable medium, includes computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to: enable defined keystroke combinations for use in editing the text transcribed from audio, the defined keystroke combinations corresponding to formatting functions identified as frequently-used functions during editing of a transcribed text; and respond to an activated keystroke combination by replacing a first format in the text document with a second format corresponding to the chosen keystroke combination. |
US09632988B2 |
Autonomous gadget management system
Techniques are described for outputting web page components, or gadgets, on a web page or other graphical user interface. A gadget automatically conforms to particular styles based on the styles of the other gadgets and of controlling relationships to the other gadgets that are determined from page analysis and other policies. |
US09632982B2 |
Orthogonal transform apparatus, orthogonal transform method, orthogonal transform computer program, and audio decoding apparatus
An orthogonal transform apparatus includes: an interchanging unit which interchanges MDCT coefficients contained in a first half of a prescribed interval with MDCT coefficients contained in a second half thereof; an inverting unit which inverts the sign of the MDCT coefficients contained in the second half of the prescribed interval after the interchange; an inverse cosine transform unit which computes the real components of QMF coefficients by applying an IMDCT using FFT to the MDCT coefficients contained in the first half and the sign-inverted MDCT coefficients contained in the second half; an inverse sine transform unit which computes the imaginary components of the QMF coefficients by applying an IMDST using FFT to the MDCT coefficients contained in the first half and the sign-inverted MDCT coefficients contained in the second half; and a coefficient adjusting unit which computes the QMF coefficients by combining the real components with the imaginary components. |
US09632977B2 |
System and method for ordering packet transfers in a data processor
A data processor includes a packet selector. The packet selector creates an ordered list of packets, each packet corresponding to a respective communication flow, determines whether each packet in the ordered list of packets is eligible for transfer to a prefetch unit based on whether a preceding packet in the same communication flow has been transferred to the prefetch unit, and sets a selection priority for each packet based on start time constraints for the respective communication flow, and based on a processing status of a preceding packet in the communication flow. |
US09632976B2 |
Lazy runahead operation for a microprocessor
Embodiments related to managing lazy runahead operations at a microprocessor are disclosed. For example, an embodiment of a method for operating a microprocessor described herein includes identifying a primary condition that triggers an unresolved state of the microprocessor. The example method also includes identifying a forcing condition that compels resolution of the unresolved state. The example method also includes, in response to identification of the forcing condition, causing the microprocessor to enter a runahead mode. |
US09632969B2 |
Systems and methods for managing a wireless connection between a computing device and a peripheral module
Systems and methods for managing a wireless connection between a computing device and a peripheral module are provided. In some aspects, a computer-implemented method includes detecting a mechanical coupling between the peripheral module and the computing device. The method also includes identifying a first function of the mechanically coupled peripheral module, and comparing the first function to a preapproved function. The method also includes managing the wireless connection between the peripheral module and the computing device based on the comparison of the first function to the preapproved function. |
US09632967B2 |
Control method for a door drive and door drive
The invention relates to a method of controlling a door drive having a plurality of components which are communicatively connected to one another via a digital bus system, wherein at least one component is a safety component which reports the occurrence of a safety-relevant event over the data bus, and wherein the bus protocol reserves a cyclic safety phase for reporting a safety-relevant event and at least one component recognizes an undefined data transmission during the safety phase as a report of a safety-relevant event. |
US09632966B2 |
Portable USB mass storage device
A new type of portable USB mass storage gadget is disclosed which provides the user with upgradeable high speed mass storage and processing for use with portable computer appliances such as smart phones and tablets as well as standard desk top computers and laptops. Various modifications to the embodiment referred to as a UDRIVE are disclosed including a battery option, wireless connectivity, security, and additional internal electronics and external interfaces that allow processing of the data stored or sent to the portable gadget. |
US09632964B2 |
Communications control system with a serial communications interface and a parallel communications interface
A communications control system is disclosed that includes a serial communications interface and a parallel communications interface for coupling a plurality of input/output modules with a control module. The serial communications interface is configured for connecting the plurality of input/output modules to the control module in parallel to transmit information between the plurality of input/output modules and the control module, and the parallel communications interface is configured for separately connecting the plurality of input/output modules to the control module to transmit information between the plurality of input/output modules and the control module, and to transmit information between individual ones of the plurality of input/output modules. The serial communications interface may comprise a multidrop bus, and the parallel communications interface may comprise a cross switch. |
US09632962B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method for generating coupling information
A processing apparatus includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to acquire first data that indicates correspondence relationship between a first address given to a first adapter of a first device and a first bus number given to a first bus coupled to the first adapter, acquire second data that indicates correspondence relationship between a second address given to a second adapter of a first device and a second bus number given to a second bus coupled to the second adapter, acquire third data that indicates correspondence relationship between the first address and a port number given to a port of a second device, the port being coupled to the first adapter with the first bus, and when the second bus number is identical to the first bus number, generate fourth data that indicates that the second adapter is coupled to the port. |
US09632961B2 |
Crosstalk aware decoding for a data bus
Techniques for decoding encoded data are described herein. An example of a device in accordance with the present techniques includes a receiving signaling module coupled to a plurality of signal lines. The signaling module includes a receiver to receive a plurality of encoded line voltages or currents on the plurality of signal lines of a bus, wherein each one of the plurality of encoded line voltages corresponds to a weighted sum of data. The signaling module includes a comparator to determine the voltage level of each line at a unit interval and convert the voltage level to a digital value. The signaling module includes a lookup table correlating the digital value with a digital bit stream. |
US09632960B2 |
I2C bus priority alert system
An inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus priority alert system includes sender device with a sender I2C connector. The sender device detects a first priority event and, in response, sends a first priority event alert signal through the sender I2C connector. A receiver device includes a receiver I2C connector that is connected to the sender I2C connector on the sender device over an I2C bus. The receiver device receives the first priority event alert signal from the sender device over the I2C bus and, in response, pauses a current data transmission operation that is being performed over the I2C bus. The receiver device then performs a first priority event action associated with the first priority event alert signal that addresses the first priority event such that no further actions are performed by the receiver device to address the first priority event. The receiver device may then resume the current data transmission operation. |
US09632954B2 |
Memory queue handling techniques for reducing impact of high-latency memory operations
Techniques for handling queuing of memory accesses prevent passing excessive requests that implicate a region of memory subject to a high latency memory operation, such as a memory refresh operation, memory scrubbing or an internal bus calibration event, to a re-order queue of a memory controller. The memory controller includes a queue for storing pending memory access requests, a re-order queue for receiving the requests, and a control logic implementing a queue controller that determines if there is a collision between a received request and an ongoing high-latency memory operation. If there is a collision, then transfer of the request to the re-order queue may be rejected outright, or a count of existing queued operations that collide with the high latency operation may be used to determine if queuing the new request will exceed a threshold number of such operations. |
US09632951B2 |
Cache memory
A cache memory includes a tag memory array and a data memory array. A control register records a reconfiguration status of at least one cache way, a start address of the tag memory array, and a start address of the data memory array. A memory controller is electrically connected to the tag memory array, the data memory array, and the control register. The memory controller controls a data access state of the tag memory array according to the mode byte and the tag base address. The memory controller controls a data access state of the data memory array according to the mode byte and the data base address. A selection module is electrically connected between the tag memory array, the data memory array, and the memory controller. The cache memory solves the problem of idle tag memory of the tag memory array. |
US09632950B2 |
Storage control device controlling access to a storage device and access controlling method of a storage device
An apparatus includes a first cache memory, a second cache memory, and a processor coupled to the first cache memory and the second cache memory, and configured to store data in the second cache memory, the data being deleted from the first cache memory, store first data stored in a first address of the storage device, in the second cache memory, in case where the first address is included in first management information and is not included in second management information, according to a request for access to the first address of the storage device, the first management information including an address in the storage device of specific data stored in the storage device, and the second management information including an address in the storage device of data stored in both of the second cache memory and the storage device, and register the first address in the second management information. |
US09632949B2 |
Storage management method, storage management system, computer system, and program
A storage management method and the like for managing a hierarchical storage are provided. A storage management method is provided for managing a hierarchical storage including a lower storage tier, and a higher storage tier having higher speed than the lower storage tier, on a computer system including at least one computer. This storage management method includes a step of causing the computer system to copy a target data item from the higher storage tier to the lower storage tier, and a step of causing the system to determine whether or not to delete the entity of the data item on the higher storage tier having been subjected to the copying based on a time required for reading the copy of the data item. |
US09632936B1 |
Two-tier distributed memory
Described herein are systems and methods to redirect data read requests from the first tier to the second tier of a two-tier distributed memory. The first tier includes memory modules with data sets. Data interfaces associated with the first tier memory modules, receive from a second tier including compute elements and associated cache memories, requests to fetch data from the first tier. If a data set has not recently been fetched by the second tier, then the data interface will send the data set from the first tier to the cache memory associated with the requesting compute element. If a data set has recently been fetched by the second tier, the data interface will redirect the requesting compute element to fetch the data set from the cache memory in which the data set is currently located. |
US09632935B2 |
Systems and methods for non-volatile cache control
In some embodiments, a method for controlling a cache having a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory during a power up sequence is provided. The method includes receiving, at a controller configured to control the cache and a storage device associated with the cache, a signal indicating whether the non-volatile memory includes dirty data copied from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory during a power down sequence, the dirty data including data that has not been stored in the storage device. In response to the received signal, the dirty data is restored from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory, and flushed from the volatile memory to the storage device. |
US09632926B1 |
Memory unit assignment and selection for internal memory operations in data storage systems
Disclosed embodiments are directed to systems and methods for assigning and selecting memory units for internal memory operations in data storage systems. The embodiments can improve the efficiency of garbage collection operations by directing dynamic data into memory units with a relatively lower P/E count, directing static and system data into memory units with a relatively higher P/E count, and not mixing static and dynamic data by packing static data into separate memory units from dynamic data. In one embodiment, after completion of garbage collection of blocks, the blocks are each assigned to one of a cool down list and an available memory unit list based on a size limit of the cool down list and a number of program-erase (P/E) operations performed on each block. The blocks are subsequently selected from the lists for write operations according to whether write data includes static or dynamic data. |
US09632924B2 |
Using memory compression to reduce memory commit charge
A memory manager in a computing device allocates memory to programs running on the computing device, the amount of memory allocated to a program being a memory commit for the program. When a program is in a state where the program can be terminated, the content of the memory pages allocated to the program is compressed, and an amount of the memory commit for the program that can be released is determined. This amount of memory commit is the amount that was committed to the program less any amount still storing (in compressed format) information (e.g., data or instructions) for the program. The determined amount of memory commit is released, allowing that amount of memory to be consumed by other programs as appropriate. |
US09632920B2 |
System and method for a diagnostic software service
Systems and methods for a diagnostic software service that utilizes a subscription model to distribute diagnostic software to diagnostic tools. A diagnostic application is installed on a mobile device. The mobile device communicates with an adapter which can be coupled to a vehicle. An application server provides software modules that are available to be subscribed to by a technician and, once subscribed, can be utilized via the diagnostic application. Subscription to software modules enable the technician to add and utilize specific diagnostic functionality in an a la carte manner. |
US09632918B1 |
Creating expected test results using previous test results
One or more previous actual results are retrieved from a software test. The longest common subsequence of data of the one or more previous actual results is determined. The longest common subsequence of data is removed to create remaining common data. The remaining common data is classified resulting in a matched portion of data and an unmatched portion of data. Classification is done by dynamic programming. Matched portions of data are identical. Unmatched portions of data are different. If an existing class exists, unmatched portions of the remaining common data are applied to the existing class. A new class of data is created. The unmatched portions of the remaining common data not applied to an existing class is applied to the new class. An expected test result is created using the longest common subsequence of data, the matched portions of the common data, and the classified common data. |
US09632917B2 |
Software testing
Software testing uses a plurality of test cases, where each of the test cases includes a plurality of test tasks. The test cases are analyzed to obtain at least one reusable test task sequence between at least two test cases. The reusable test task sequence includes at least one identical test task. The test cases are divided into at least one test case group according to the reusable test task sequence, where the test cases in each of the test case groups has at least one reusable test task sequence. For each of the test cases of the at least one test case group, an execution script of each test case is generated by using an execution script of a reusable test task, where the execution script of each test case includes at least one of backup or restore for the reusable test task sequence. |
US09632915B2 |
Historical control flow visualization in production diagnostics
A diagnostic tool can dynamically instrument an application to collect program control flow information using one or more non-stopping production breakpoints. Analyzed program control flow information can be displayed. Dynamic code rewriting techniques can be used to change the production software without deploying new source code. The information collected at the non-stopping breakpoint can include the actual control flow that an instance of the production application took to reach the breakpoint in addition to information about the data. The analyzed control flow information can be visualized in a diagnostic tool allowing a user to see the path an execution of the program took to arrive at a particular breakpoint. |
US09632914B2 |
Error diagnostic in a production environment
Troubleshooting data can be collected to debug a computer appliance running in a production environment. A computer system can record inbound and outbound transactions and monitor for the occurrence of an error. Upon detection of an error, transactional data associated with the error can be copied to a container. The relevant transactions and user sessions can be run in the container on debug firmware and rich troubleshooting data can be collected from the execution. If the same error occurs again during this simulated execution, then the troubleshooting data that was collected, as well a product key, can be encrypted and included in an error report. The container can then be deleted from the appliance. |
US09632912B1 |
Method and system for debugging a program
A system and method of debugging a program may include obtaining a selection of a portion of the program which is between trackable inputs and outputs. The method may also include simulating an execution on the portion of the program, by providing input data via the inputs that was input through said inputs during a recorded execution of the program. The method may further include presenting information relating to the simulated execution on an output device. |
US09632907B2 |
Tracking deferred data packets in a debug trace architecture
A processing device implementing tracking of deferred data packets in a debug trace architecture is disclosed. The processing device is to determine an order number corresponding to an order in which an instruction was executed relative to other executed instructions that correspond to an instruction type within a sequence of executed instructions, identify a first data packet corresponding to a first packet type and sequentially ordered, according to the order number, with respect to data packets of the first packet type within a data trace log, identify a second data packet corresponding to a second packet type and sequentially ordered, according to the order number, with respect to data packets of the second packet type within the data trace log, and map the identified first and second data packets to the instruction, wherein at least one of the first or second data packets was generated post-retirement of the instruction. |
US09632900B1 |
Active workstation
An active workstation is provided and includes a first support element, a computing device to which peripheral devices, which are movably disposed on the first support element, are coupled and a second support element movably disposed proximate to the first support element. The computing device includes a processing unit and a memory having executable instructions stored thereon. When executed, the executable instructions cause the processing unit to facilitate respective operations and movements of the peripheral devices and the second support element in accordance with a user profile. |
US09632893B2 |
Unobtrusive failover in clustered network-attached storage
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for unobtrusive failover in a clustered file system. A node in the clustered file system periodically monitors publicized resource events from a cluster manager in the clustered file system for a triggering event that triggers a grace period. Responsive to detecting a triggering event, the node enters a grace period without restarting. During the grace period, the node processes a state request from a first client. |
US09632890B2 |
Facilitating N-way high availability storage services
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus that monitors with a passive storage controller a plurality of active storage controllers. A determination is made with the passive storage controller when a failure of one of the active storage controllers has occurred based on the monitoring. Storage device(s) previously assigned to the one of the active storage controllers are remapped to the passive storage controller. A transaction log associated with the one of the active storage controllers is retrieved with the passive storage controller from a transaction log database. Transaction(s) in the transaction log are replayed with the passive storage controller, when the failure of the one of the active storage controllers is determined to have occurred. |
US09632889B2 |
Method for the optimization of performance, capacity and redundancy in digital data storage systems
A method and system of optimizing the performance, capacity and data redundancy in a storage system by defining the LBA range on each storage element managing that corresponding range (slice) on each device using a data protection method optimized for the performance and level of data protection required. The creation of such a storage array along with the replacement of failed elements and the expansion of the capacity through the addition of additional elements is managed is an automatic and transparent manner. |
US09632886B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing an automated parallel deployment solution
Systems and methods are provided for implementing an automated parallel deployment solution. Embodiments of the invention described herein prevent defects from being introduced in a production environment, or those that could be introduced in a production environment, by parallel log monitoring of existing and new state systems. One or more systems may be created in parallel to the production system to detect and fix defects. In embodiments of the invention, as existing defects are captured and resolved by the automatic defect resolution system and method, these defects will not impact production any further. Thus, the automatic defect resolution system drives out all production defects over a window of time, requiring less and less maintenance over time. Once a given defect is fixed, the corresponding change is applied to the production environment to avoid future similar defects. |
US09632883B2 |
Digital encoding of parallel busses to suppress simultaneous switching output noise
An apparatus and method for encoding data are disclosed that may allow for different encoding levels of transmitted data. The apparatus may include an encoder unit and a plurality of transceiver units. The encoder unit may be configured to receive a plurality of data words, where each data word includes N data bits, wherein N is a positive integer greater than one, and encode a first data word of the plurality of data words. The encoded first data word may include M data bits, where M is a positive integer greater than N. Each transceiver unit may transmit a respective data bit of the encoded first data word. The encoder unit may be further configured to receive information indicative of a quality of transmission of the encoded first data word, and encode a second data word of the plurality of data words dependent upon the quality. |
US09632876B1 |
Backup appliance replication to provide virtual machine recovery at a remote site
Techniques to protect data are disclosed. A backup appliance configuration data associated with a first backup appliance associated with a first virtual machine environment is received at a host site. The backup appliance configuration data is replicated to a remote replication site. The backup appliance configuration data includes data usable at the remote replication site to provide at the remote replication site a replicated backup appliance that is associated with a second virtual machine environment at the remote replication site and is configured to access backup data stored by the first backup appliance and to use said backup data stored by the first backup appliance to recover to hosts at the replication site one or more virtual machines associated with the first virtual machine environment. |