| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09641437B2 |
Packet relay device and packet relay method
A packet relay device has a packet receiving unit, a switch, a packet sending unit, an associative memory, and a packet search unit. The packet search unit has action registers which hold information specifying an action to be executed, holds address range information including consecutive address ranges of the associative memory and the action registers in association with each other, and registers a plurality of flow entries at a plurality of addresses in the same address range. The flow entries have conditions identifying the flows associated with the same action. The device inputs header information of the packets into the associative memory, determines the action to be executed in accordance with information read out from the action register corresponding to the address range including an address output from the associative memory, and executes the determined action. |
| US09641435B1 |
Packet segmentation offload for virtual networks
In one example, a server executes a virtual router configured to receive an inner packet output by a virtual machine associated with a virtual network. The virtual router is further configured to offload, to a physical network interface card of the server that executes the virtual router, segmentation of the inner packet into a plurality of outbound tunnel packets each having a tunnel header for output by the physical network interface card to a physical network underlying the virtual network. |
| US09641432B2 |
Medical device communication method
A medical device communication method that may be implemented within a variety of medical devices including but not limited to infusion pumps. The method may be implemented with a protocol stack for at least intra-device communication. Embodiments provide connection-oriented, connectionless-oriented, broadcast and multicast data exchange with priority handling of data, fragmentation, and reassembly of data, unique static and dynamic address assignment and hot swap capability for connected peripherals or subsystems. |
| US09641429B2 |
Predictive traffic steering over software defined networks
A method for predicative traffic steering over a software defined network (SDN). The method includes programming network elements in the SDN to forward an incoming traffic flow to an application-layer analysis device; receiving application-layer analysis results from the application-layer analysis device, wherein the application-layer analysis results provide association between at least one network-layer parameter, at least one application-layer parameter, and at least one application-layer service associated with the at least one application-layer parameter; and steering subsequent incoming traffic flows to at least one server configured to provide the at least one application-layer service based on the application-layer analysis results. |
| US09641426B2 |
Method and system for routing information in a network
A method and system for determining an optimal route from a node to a given sink node in a network is described. Sink node periodically transmits routing information containing an indicator of recency. This indicator of recency is periodically updated. Routing information is received by a plurality of nodes in the network. Each node receiving routing information compares the indicator of recency contained in the routing information with an indicator of recency stored at the node to determine whether the received routing information is more recent than the stored routing information. An optimal route to the sink node is determined based on this comparison. Each node also periodically transmits routing information based on stored routing information to other nodes. |
| US09641422B2 |
X2 son for LTE networks through automated X2 address discovery
According to an embodiment, a network device coupled to a local base station at a cell site is configured to automatically create a more optimal route for inter-base station traffic between the local base station and a remote base station. The network device automatically discovers a remote Internet Protocol address of the remote base station used for inter-base station traffic based upon traffic transmitted by the local base station to the network device or traffic transmitted between the local and remote base stations. In response, the network device automatically installs the more optimal route entry in a routing table of the network device, which enables the network device to route inter-base station traffic originated from the local base station and destined to the remote base station using a shorter path through the backhaul network instead of routing the traffic through a mobile core network. |
| US09641418B1 |
Use of physical location and timing delay in fraud detection
Using timing delays associated with user devices on a network and the demographics of the neighborhood(s) in which the user devices reside to determine whether to generate a fraud alert. |
| US09641414B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting control packet in broadband communication network
An apparatus and a method for transmitting a control signal for determining a keep alive status of a counterpart node in a broadband communication network are provided. When a period for determining a keep alive status of the counterpart node to which a data is connected arrives, whether traffic is received from the counterpart node is determined. If it is determined that the traffic is received from the counterpart node, the keep alive status of the counterpart node is determined using the traffic received from the counterpart node. If it is determined that the traffic is not received from the counterpart node, a request signal for determining the keep alive status of the counterpart node is transmitted to the counterpart node. |
| US09641411B1 |
Estimating latent demand with user prioritization
Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure are directed to methods of and systems for estimating latent demand with user prioritization. The estimated latent demand may be used to identify potential increases in usage of a networked computer service that could be realized by provisioning additional resources. A sub-set of the user base is provided a communication quality of service enhancement simulating provisioning of additional resources. Estimated latent usage demand is then determined by comparing the networked computer service usage by the user base receiving the enhancement with usage by a user base not receiving the enhancement. |
| US09641409B2 |
Timestamping packets in a network
Techniques are presented herein to facilitate latency measurements in a networking environment. A first network device receives a packet for transport within a network domain that comprises a plurality of network devices. The plurality of network devices have a common time reference, that is, they are time synchronized. The first network device generates timestamp information indicating time of arrival of the packet at the first network device. The first network device inserts into the packet a tag that comprises at least a first subfield and a second subfield. The first subfield comprising a type indicator to signify to other network devices in the network domain that the tag includes timestamp information, and the second subfield includes the timestamp information. The first network device sends the packet from to into the network domain to another network device. Other network devices which receive that packet can make latency measurements. |
| US09641402B2 |
Configuring a content delivery network (CDN)
In a content delivery network (CDN a method includes: receiving a request for a CDN service of a particular type, wherein a CDN service of said particular type defines a fixed number of configurable layers of request processing, sequentially from a first layer to a last layer; and processing said request, starting at said first layer, said processing being based on a modifiable runtime environment, said processing continuing conditionally through each of said layers in turn until either said request is terminated by one of said layers or said last layer processes said request. A layer may cause some of the processing of a request to be handled by another service. The CDN service may be selected from: delivery services, collector services, reducer services, rendezvous services, configuration services, and control services. |
| US09641401B2 |
Framework supporting content delivery with content delivery services
A framework supporting content delivery includes a plurality of devices, each device configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services. The plurality of CD services include services supporting content delivery. |
| US09641396B2 |
Packet processing method and system
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a packet processing method and system. In the method in the embodiment of the present invention, because a root node configures different control VLANs for any two rings that have an adjacent edge in an area, different control VLANs are used to transmit a protocol packet in a ring that has its own control VLAN configured. The method and system may be applied to a ring network of a metro Ethernet to provide multi-path protection and implement rapid convergence of service switchover. In addition, a network topology structure is not limited to a network topology with a single ring or only two intersecting points, and may be applied to all network topology situations. |
| US09641395B2 |
Method of processing device discovery
A method of processing device discovery for a first communication device in a network system is disclosed. The method comprises generating a discovery management frame including an identity and a medium access control (MAC) address of the first communication device, broadcasting the discovery management frame, and when a response corresponding to the discovery management frame is received from the second communication device, adding an entry with the identity and the MAC address of the second communication device in a device table stored in the first communication device. |
| US09641389B2 |
Method and system for recovering from network disconnects by cloning a virtual port
Techniques for managing the configuration of managed nodes in a virtual machine network are disclosed. In an embodiment, managing the configuration of a managed node involves creating a clone of a virtual port on the managed node and using the cloned virtual port as an alternative communication channel between the managed node and a virtual machine management system to modify the virtual port. This technique can be used to restore connectivity to a managed node, such as a virtual switch, when connectivity is lost due to a misconfigured virtual port. |
| US09641387B1 |
System, method, and computer program for increasing revenue associated with a portion of a network
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for increasing revenue associated with a portion of a network. In use, a portion of a network associated with a communication service provider (CSP) is identified, the portion of the network corresponding to at least one customer group. Additionally, one or more network characteristics associated with the portion of the network to modify are identified for increasing revenue associated with the portion of the network. Further, the one or more network characteristics associated with the portion of the network are modified to increase revenue associated with the portion of the network. |
| US09641385B1 |
Dynamic system configuration in a virtual environment
An example method of launching a virtual machine in a multi-tenant environment using dynamic configuration may include receiving a customer request to launch a virtual machine in the multi-tenant environment. The multi-tenant environment may include a plurality of host server computers. In response to the customer request, configuration parameters stored in association with an account of the customer may be retrieved in the multi-tenant environment. One or more parameters of a hardware and/or a software resource in the multi-tenant environment may be dynamically configured in accordance with the retrieved configuration parameters. The virtual machine may be launched on one of the plurality of host server computers, using the configured hardware and/or software resource. The configuration parameters may be associated with at least one desired performance characteristic of the virtual machine to be launched. |
| US09641374B2 |
Direct-detected orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing with dispersion pre-compensation digital signal processing
Chromatic dispersion is pre-compensated in a direct-detected orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed optical transmitter through digital signal processing methods, to generate signals that can be transmitted over an optical fiber. The dispersion pre-compensation digital signal processing may include multiplying subcarriers by a respective factor. The dispersion pre-compensation digital signal processing may instead include application of a finite impulse response filter to signals. The dispersion pre-compensation digital signal processing may instead include fast Fourier transformations of signals, application of a frequency domain filter to signals generated by the fast Fourier transformations, and inverse fast Fourier transformations of the signals produced by application of the frequency domain filter. |
| US09641371B2 |
Methods and systems for dynamic single-frequency-network-multicast symbol synchronization
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dynamic single-frequency-network-(SFN)-multicast symbol synchronization. In an embodiment, a wireless-communication device (WCD) receives an SFN-multicast transmission at least in part by receiving a respective SFN-multicast-transmission signal from each site in a plurality of sites in a given SFN-multicast area, where each such received SFN-multicast-transmission signal has a respective SFN-multicast cyclic prefix. The WCD calculates a multisource multipath delay spread (“MMDS”) that is characteristic of the received plurality of SFN-multicast-transmission signals, and determines whether that calculated MMDS exceeds a threshold MMDS. If so, the WCD selects a multicast timing point that is after the SFN-multicast cyclic prefix of a first-received one of the received SFN-multicast-transmission signals. If not, the WCD selects a multicast timing point that is within the SFN-multicast cyclic prefix of the first-received SFN-multicast-transmission signal. The WCD uses the selected multicast timing point to demodulate the received SFN-multicast transmission. |
| US09641366B2 |
Wireless communication device, electronic apparatus, and moving object
A wireless communication circuit includes a vibration piece, and a semiconductor device that is connected to the vibration piece in order to integrate the vibration piece and a wireless communication IC into one package and thus to produce a wireless communication device by which a high-precision oscillation frequency is obtained. The semiconductor device includes an oscillation circuit of the vibration piece, and a wireless communication circuit that has an amplifier which amplifies a wireless signal that is generated by an oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit. The vibration piece and the semiconductor device are accommodated in one package. An excitation electrode of the vibration piece is arranged in the package in such a manner that the excitation electrode is not superimposed on the amplifier when the semiconductor device is viewed from above. |
| US09641364B2 |
Communication circuit and approach with modulation
Various aspects of the present disclosure involve communications, and more specifically wireless communications with modulation. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, a rectifier having a plurality of active circuits operates in first and second modes to modulate signals communicated via an antenna as follows. The first mode is at least a half-active mode in which at least one of the active circuits passes the signal, and the second mode consumes less power than the first mode. A modulator modulates a waveform of the signal by selectively operating at least one of the plurality of active circuits, therein setting an impedance of the rectifier and modulating an amplitude of the signal. |
| US09641363B2 |
System for triggering actions on computing devices via audio signals
A system and method effective to trigger precisely timed actions on computing devices. The system may include a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitter may modulate binary data into sound waves, and the receiver may demodulate the audio signal into binary data. Signal amplitude across a range of frequencies may be used to demodulate. The received data may be interpreted in order to trigger actions on the computing device. These actions may involve the device's screen, speaker, built-in lights, camera, or vibration function. The actions may change over time based on the time at which the signal was received. More actions may be loaded from the device's storage. |
| US09641356B2 |
Collaboration system
A method and controller are provided for use in a communication system including a plurality of user terminals in communication with each other and the controller via a plurality of communication channels. The method includes receiving, by the controller from a sender user terminal, a message designated to be communicated to a recipient associated with a recipient user terminal. Additionally, the method includes posting, by the controller via a dashboard interface, the message to a discussion to which it pertains. Finally, the method includes distributing, by the controller, the message to the recipient user terminal based on a preferred communication channel, availability, and workload for the recipient associated with the recipient user terminal. |
| US09641355B2 |
Communication device, communication method, and program
A communication device includes a communication unit that has a plurality of ports and relays data in accordance with a setting status of a plurality of VLANs; a status information management unit that manages, for each of the ports, status information that indicates whether or not the port is currently used by each of the VLANs; and an SNMP processing unit that receives a request, on a port-by-port basis, for the status information in accordance with an SNMP, obtains the status information, on a port-by-port basis, from the status information management unit, and sends the obtained status information to another device in accordance with the SNMP. |
| US09641354B2 |
Virtual cable modem termination system
A method, a system, and an apparatus provide for a cable modem termination system (CMTS). The CMTS may include a virtual machine configured to provide a plurality of virtual CMTSs (vCMTSs). The CMTS may also include a plurality of subscriber groups. Each subscriber group of the plurality of subscriber groups may be assigned to a vCMTS of the plurality of vCMTSs. Additionally, each vCMTS is configured to provide a process. |
| US09641351B2 |
Jitter removal in deterministic networks
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving packets in a flow at a network device in a deterministic network, wherein at least one of the packets is transmitted from a source out of sync due to collision with another flow at the source, analyzing at the network device, the flow to reconstruct a period of the flow, and processing at the network device, the packets according to the period to synchronize the processing of the packets at the network device with the source and remove jitter from the flow. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein. |
| US09641343B1 |
Efficient unified certificate revocation lists
Systems and methods for generating a unified certificate revocation list (UCRL) are provided. A method for generating a unified certificate revocation list includes identifying revocation servers associated with public key certificates. The method also includes aggregating server information of the identified revocation servers into revocation server lists (RSLs). The method further includes combining revoked certificates of the RSLs into a unified certificate revocation list (UCRL). The method also includes compressing the UCRL into a compressed UCRL. Lossy compression may be used. Compressed UCRLs may be used to test for revocation status. A system for generating a unified certificate revocation list includes a revocation server identifier, a revocation server list generator and a UCRL filter. |
| US09641336B2 |
Methods and apparatus to collect distributed user information for media impressions and search terms
An example method includes facilitating installation of a data collector on a media device; collecting, via the data collector, a media identifier indicative of media presented at the media device; encrypting a user identifier that identifies the user of the media device, the encrypting of the user identifier based on a first encryption key corresponding to a first database proprietor having first user information associated with the user identifier; encrypting a device identifier that identifies the media device, the encrypting of the device identifier based on a second encryption key corresponding to a second database proprietor having second user information associated with the device identifier; sending the media identifier to a data collection server; sending the encrypted user identifier to a second server associated with the first database proprietor; and sending the encrypted device identifier to a third server associated with the second database proprietor. |
| US09641335B2 |
Distribution of user credentials
A method relates to distributing user credentials in a distributed physical access control system, and more generally to distributing user credentials in a distributed system. A method may include storing a user credential database (DB), a first transformed credential DB and a second transformed credential DB for authenticating users to access a first and a second service provided by the device. The method may include generating the first transformed credential DB and the second transformed credential DB based on the user credential DB and comparing a credential received from a user to the first or the second transformed credential DB to determine whether to grant access to the first or the second service. The method may include distributing the user credential DB to a plurality of other devices connected in a network for the other devices to generate transformed credential DBs for authenticating users to access services. |
| US09641331B2 |
Method for converting a conditional access content and receiver for the implementation for said method
A method is disclosed for converting a conditional access content. This method includes receiving, by a cryptographic module of a first receiver, the content encrypted according to the first encryption mode; choosing a first entry data of the combination of the first encryption mode choosing a second entry data of the combination of the second encryption mode inverting the first and second input data in order to process the content received by the cryptographic module of the first receiver, this processing including a decryption operation according to the first encryption mode, by using the entry data corresponding to the second encryption mode, and to process the content obtained during the previous processing step, this processing including an encryption operation according to the second encryption mode, by using the entry data corresponding to the first encryption mode. |
| US09641330B2 |
Trusted tamper reactive secure storage
A cryptographic system includes a memory device and a processor. The memory device has at least two sections, including a first section and a second section. The processor is configured to determine a mode of operation, receive a signal, and selectively zeroize at least one section of the memory device based at least in part on the received signal and the determined mode of operation. |
| US09641329B2 |
In-vehicle system and communication method
An in-vehicle system for communicating with an external tool for storing a tool secret key includes: a communication device; a tool key acquisition device; and a communication controller. The in-vehicle system and an external server for storing external tool information provide a vehicular communication system. The external tool information provides a tool public key and key identification information. The tool public key pairs with the tool secret key. When the external tool requests communication connection with the in-vehicle system, the tool key acquisition device transmits the key identification information to the external server, so that the tool key acquisition device acquires the tool public key from the external server. The communication controller performs cryptographic communication with the external tool using the tool public key. |
| US09641326B2 |
Secured wireless communications
The disclosure relates to secured wireless communications. A sender device emits randomly photons in a first polarization, a second polarization and a third polarization without aligning a polarization system in a plane perpendicular to the first and second polarizations with a recipient device. The recipient device is adapted for detection of events in association with six polarizations. The recipient device selects randomly polarization basis for measurement of the received photons. Information of detected events in association with three basis is communicated to the sender device. The information from the recipient device and information stored in the sender device is processed to determine events where same polarization basis was used by the sender device and the recipient device. |
| US09641319B2 |
Flexible architecture and instruction for advanced encryption standard (AES)
A flexible aes instruction set for a general purpose processor is provided. The instruction set includes instructions to perform a “one round” pass for aes encryption or decryption and also includes instructions to perform key generation. An immediate may be used to indicate round number and key size for key generation for 128/192/256 bit keys. The flexible aes instruction set enables full use of pipelining capabilities because it does not require tracking of implicit registers. |
| US09641318B2 |
Systems and methods for a multiple value packing scheme for homomorphic encryption
Systems and methods for a multiple value packing scheme for homomorphic encryption are described, including at a server, generating a plurality of encrypted payloads, each having a plurality of data values; and at a client, receiving each of the encrypted payloads having the plurality of data values; and multiplying one or more of the data values of one of the encrypted payloads by one or more other data values in one or more of the other encrypted payloads, to generate a product that represents the summation of data values corresponding to the multiplied one or more data values of the encrypted payloads and the one or more of the other data values in the one or more other encrypted payloads. |
| US09641316B2 |
Frequency divider and radio communications device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a frequency divider and a radio communications device. The frequency divider includes a shift register unit and an output frequency synthesizing unit; the shift register unit includes multiple cyclically cascaded basic units; a basic unit at each level includes 2N D flip-flops connected in series and a multiplexer, outputs of the 2N D flip-flops connected in series are separately connected to the multiplexer; an output of the multiplexer is connected to an input of a next-level basic unit; the output frequency synthesizing unit superposes an output signal of the first D flip-flop of the basic unit at each level to generate a frequency division output signal. |
| US09641312B1 |
Method for symbol clock recovery in pulse position modulation (PPM) systems
A symbol clock recovery circuit for recovering a symbol clock in an M-ary pulse position modulation (PPM) signal. The recovery circuit includes a largest magnitude comparison circuit that selects a largest magnitude signal value from a group of M signal values aligned with a hypothesis symbol boundary location and the average of that largest magnitude value is compared with a threshold, or with results from other boundary location hypotheses, or with both, to determine the true position of the symbol boundary. |
| US09641310B2 |
Network assisted interference cancellation signaling
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for network assisted interference cancellation (NAIC). An example method generally includes receiving network assisted interference cancellation (NAIC) information from a potentially interfering neighbor base station, and performing interference cancellation, suppression or mitigation when processing a signal from a serving base station using the NAIC information. |
| US09641307B2 |
System and method for wireless access point layout and network operation
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for creating and/or deploying access points for a wireless network in a multi-unit building or for a private residential neighborhood. Additionally, described herein are methods for operating a wireless network in a multi-unit building that was either deployed according to the concepts described herein or was pre-existing. |
| US09641306B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting ACK/NACK for downlink transmission in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting ACK/NACK information in response to a downlink transmission in a relay node (RN) of a wireless communication system; and the RN therefore are discussed. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving downlink transmissions in downlink subframes; and transmitting the ACK/NACK information for the downlink transmissions in one uplink subframe associated with the downlink subframes. The downlink subframes and the uplink subframe are configured for a time division duplex (TDD). Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources are configured by a higher layer, and each of the PUCCH resources corresponds to each of the downlink subframes. Each of the downlink subframes associated with the one uplink subframe is sequentially mapped to each of the PUCCH resources starting from a downlink subframe among the downlink subframes that is closest in time to the one uplink subframe. |
| US09641304B2 |
Transmitting scheduling information in a wireless communication network
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may transmit feedback information on an uplink control channel. The WTRU may also transmit in response to a trigger condition and instead of a transmission of scheduling information, in a transmission time interval (TTI) on the uplink control channel, a predetermined sequence. In the TTI, an uplink data channel may not transmitted by the WTRU. |
| US09641301B2 |
Terminal device, base station device, communication method, and integrated circuit
According to the present invention, there are provided a base station device, a terminal device, a communication method, and an integrated circuit capable of performing communication more efficiently when the terminal device transmits an uplink signal based on scheduling by the base station device. The terminal device includes a setting unit that sets a first uplink-downlink configuration, a second uplink-downlink configuration, and a third uplink-downlink configuration, a reception unit that monitors a physical downlink control channel accompanied with a downlink control information format which is used to schedule a physical downlink shared channel in a downlink subframe based on the third uplink-downlink configuration and includes information making a request for transmitting a sounding reference signal, and a transmission unit that transmits or drops the sounding reference signal and transmit an HARQ-ACK for transmission with the physical downlink shared channel. |
| US09641300B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving control channel, base station, and user equipment
The present invention provides a method for transmitting and receiving a control channel, a base station, and a user equipment. The method for transmitting a control channel includes: determining m PRB pairs used for transmitting a control channel to be transmitted; when a distributed transmission mode is used for transmission, determining an aggregation level L of the control channel to be transmitted; determining, according to the aggregation level L, a first control channel candidate at the aggregation level L; and placing control information of the control channel to be transmitted, on physical resources to which the first control channel candidate is mapped, and transmitting the control information. The present invention improves multiplexing efficiency of control channels of different modes. |
| US09641299B2 |
Method for reporting aperiodic channel information in multi cell-based wireless communication system and device therefor
The present application discloses a method for enabling a terminal to report channel status information in a base station cooperative wireless communication system. Particularly, the method for enabling a terminal to report channel status information in a base station cooperative wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving, from a serving base station, first resource setting information for a channel status information-reference signal (CSI-RS) and second resource setting information for measuring interference: receiving a triggering signal for reporting the channel status information from the serving base station; calculating the channel status information on the serving base station and/or one or more cooperative base stations by using the first resource setting information and the second resource setting information; and reporting the channel status information to the serving base station, wherein the first resource setting information and the second resource setting information include information on an antenna port capable of referring to a large scale property of a wireless channel. |
| US09641285B2 |
Ultra low power (ULP) decoder and decoding processing
A method includes decoding, by a receiver device, a spread spectrum coded stream of information including a multiple codeword blocks. The decoding includes determining a number of invalid codewords in a particular block of codewords. Based on a first particular number of invalid codewords in the particular block of codewords, the particular block of codewords is demapped, and parity codewords of the particular block of codewords are discarded. Based on a second particular number of invalid codewords in the particular block of codewords, a subset of syndrome components is computed using one or more coding enumerations with an update procedure for the subset of syndrome components, if all of the subset components are zero an erroneous bit is found, otherwise coding enumerations continue, the particular block of codewords is demapped, and parity codewords of the particular block of codewords are discarded. |
| US09641281B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for allocating electromagnetic-spectrum jamming assets
Embodiments of a method and apparatus for assigning electromagnetic-spectrum (ES) jamming assets are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the method includes dividing an electronic warfare (EW) support area into a grid. The method may further include determining a vulnerability area (VA) of the entity based on planned route information of the entity within the EW support area. The VA may include portions of the grid. The method may further include assigning a first jamming asset to the VA based on a coverage capability of the first jamming asset. The coverage capability may include a number of contiguous portions of the grid. |
| US09641279B2 |
Stokes-vector-based transmission and detection of optical polarization-division-multiplexed signals
We disclose an optical transport system configured to transport data using a PDM-modulation format, in which each of two orthogonal polarizations is independently amplitude-modulated, and the relative phase between the carrier waves of the two polarizations may also be modulated. This modulation format enables the optical receiver to perform direct optical detection using a Stokes-vector detector to fully recover the encoded data. In an example embodiment, the corresponding signal processing at the optical receiver may include: determining a Stokes-space rotation matrix corresponding to the polarization-state rotation encountered by the PDM signal in the optical transport link; applying the determined Stokes-space rotation matrix to the Stokes sub-vector measured by the Stokes-vector detector to estimate the Stokes sub-vector of the PDM signal at the originating optical transmitter; converting the estimated Stokes sub-vector into the corresponding Jones vector; and recovering the data by decoding the polarization components of the Jones vector. |
| US09641277B2 |
Optical signal transmission method, apparatus and system
An optical signal transmission method includes: obtaining a signal identifier of data to be sent; obtaining corresponding optical frequency slot distribution information according to the signal identifier; and determining a corresponding carrier according to the obtained optical frequency slot distribution information, using the determined carrier to carry the data to be sent to generate an optical signal, and sending the generated optical signal. The optical signal transmission method provided in the present invention does not fix the optical frequency slot distribution into a wavelength identifier, the number of optical frequency slots is not limited by the wavelength identifier field length, and the data to be sent can be transmitted in an optical network by being carried on the carrier determined according to multiple optical frequency slots. |
| US09641275B2 |
Symmetric optical multiplexing node
Techniques for communications using optical fiber are disclosed. An optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) node includes an interface to a first fiber pair connecting a first trunk station and a second trunk station. The OADM node further includes an interface to a second fiber pair connecting the first trunk station and the second trunk station with a branch station. The OADM node includes a plurality of filters configured to provide connectivity between the first trunk station, the second trunk station and the branch station. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09641274B2 |
SNR estimation for sounding signals
An OFDM receiving apparatus is provided for estimating a signal-to-noise ratio of a code-division multiplexed sounding signal transmitted over a wide channel of a wireless communication system. The apparatus separately determines the noise power level and the signal power associated with the sounding signal. Namely, the noise power level is determined in the frequency domain based on a noise covariance matrix. Further, the sounding signal's power level is determined, in the time domain, based on power delay profile of the wide channel over which the sounding signal has been transmitted. |
| US09641272B2 |
Inter-rat interference cancellation
Methods, systems, and devices are described for eliminating interference from a convoluted signal comprising several signals of different radio access technologies (RATs), such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) signal and wireless local area network (WLAN) signal, in an unlicensed or shared radio frequency spectrum band are described. In accordance with the present disclosure, a dual-radio mobile device may utilize a multiple radios to assist in the operation of interference cancellation. Specifically, in some examples, a first radio (e.g., WLAN radio) may process the received convoluted signal to reconstruct a first signal (e.g., WLAN signal). The reconstructed first signal may be utilized by a second radio (e.g., LTE radio) to identify a second signal (e.g., LTE signal) in the received convoluted signal by cancelling or removing the reconstructed first signal from the convoluted signal. |
| US09641265B2 |
Use of an apparatus for improving signal to noise ratio
The invention relates to a use of an apparatus for improving signal to noise ratio in a cable modem system. The apparatus comprises a processor, an attenuator and a cable modem termination system unit for providing access to a communication network. |
| US09641263B2 |
Deriving broadband communication system service area for signal leakage detection
An improved, adaptive and uniformly applicable estimation of the percentage or fraction of a broadband communication system (BCS) plant that is monitored for signal egress during a given period of time is provided by generating and collecting polygons along all possible routes traversed by BCS service vehicles within a service area, preferably by comparison with a roadway map, to define the service area with improved accuracy. The number of polygons generated and collected is then limited by the number of polygons in which DCS service vehicles have been reported in a given period of time or inspection interval. The limited number of polygons is then divided by the number of polygons generated and collected to determine a fraction or percentage of the BCS system which has been monitored during the given time period and can be used in a computation of a cumulative leakage index (CLI) value. |
| US09641260B2 |
Systems and methods for improving the quality of millimeter-wave communication
Various embodiments of a millimeter-wave wireless point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication network in which the different atmospheric absorption rates of different millimeter-wave frequencies are utilized to improve communication performance of the entire system. The network comprises one or more communication systems operating at a millimeter-wave frequency, in which each system is comprised of at least one or more point-to-point or point-to-multipoint radio transceivers. In various embodiments, the different atmospheric absorption rates of different millimeter-wave frequencies are used to reduce electromagnetic interference, to compensate for changing path-loss conditions, and/or to optimize inter-link interferences to enhance communication performance. |
| US09641255B1 |
Wavelength control of two-channel DEMUX/MUX in silicon photonics
Method and devices of controlling wavelengths in two-channel DEMUX/MUX in silicon photonics are provided. The two-channel DEMUX/MUX includes a waveguide-based delay-line-interferometer at least in receiver portion of a two-channel transceiver for DWDM optical transmission loop and is configured to split a light wave with combined two-wavelengths into one light wave with locked one channel wavelength and another light wave with locked another channel wavelength. The waveguide-based delayed-line interferometer (DLI) is characterized by a free-spectral-range configured to be equal to twice of channel spacing. The method includes tuning heater of DLI in receiver of each two-channel transceiver by using either low-frequency dither signals added on MZMs associated with respective two channels as feedback signal or one DFB laser wavelength tapped from an input of transmitter portion at one channel before or after the MZMs as a direct wavelength reference to feed into an output of receiver portion at another channel. |
| US09641251B1 |
Transimpedance amplifier, and related integrated circuit and optical receiver
A transimpedance amplifier includes a first and a second power supply terminal for receiving a positive constant supply voltage, wherein the second power supply terminal represents a ground, and an input terminal adapted to be connected to a current source. The transimpedance amplifier further comprises a transistor comprising a control terminal and two further terminals, wherein the input terminal is connected to the control terminal of the first transistor. An inductor is connected between the first of the two further terminals of the transistor and the first power supply terminal, and a bias network is connected between the second of the two further terminals of the transistor and ground. Specifically, the transimpedance amplifier is configured such that the resistance between said first of said two further terminals of said first transistor and said first power supply terminal is small enough, such that said transimpedance amplifier operates as a differentiator. |
| US09641243B2 |
Safe-mode OTDR method
A safe-mode OTDR method for characterizing an optical fiber link is provided, as well as an OTDR apparatus operating under such a safe mode. The method includes performing OTDR acquisitions along the fiber link using an OTDR apparatus connected at a proximal end of the optical fiber link, and operating under OTDR acquisition conditions that have been deemed safe for a communication device at a distal end of the fiber link. The obtained reflectometric trace, representing a proximal portion of the optical fiber link, is used to determine a partial-link loss value associated with the proximal portion of the fiber link. Modified acquisition conditions that are safe for the communication device are determined based on the partial-link loss value and on loss-related maximum rating parameters for the communication device. The process is repeated using the modified OTDR acquisition conditions until the end of the link has been reached. |
| US09641233B2 |
Reference signal measurement method and apparatus for use in wireless communication system including plural base stations with distributed antennas
An apparatus and a method of measuring a reference signal for efficient downlink transmission in a mobile communication system are provided. The system includes plural base stations, each having a plurality of antennas distributed in the service area thereof based on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). A method for a base station to notify a terminal of reference signal measurement information in a mobile communication system comprises determining whether the terminal is in a Rank Indicator/Precoding Matrix Indicator (RI/PMI) disabled mode, selecting, when the terminal is in the RI/PMI disabled mode, the reference signal to be measured by the terminal between a Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) and a Channel Status Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS), notifying the terminal of the reference signal measurement information with the selection result, and receiving channel information generated based on the reference signal measurement information from the terminal. |
| US09641231B2 |
Method and appartus for modulating baseband signal in beam space multi-input multi-output
A method and apparatus for modulating a baseband signal in beam space MIMO are provided. The baseband signal modulation apparatus may calculate a load value of a plurality of antenna elements using a baseband signal. The baseband signal modulation apparatus may change a phase or a magnitude of a baseband signal or a first band signal having a higher frequency than that of the baseband signal to correspond to the calculated load value. |
| US09641228B2 |
Base station and terminal
In a radio communication system in which a base station and a terminal communicate with each other, the base station is capable of efficiently notifying the terminal of control information. The base station sets monitoring of a second control channel in the terminal through RRC signaling that is higher-layer control information, the second control channel being transmitted using a second transmit port different from a first transmit port used for transmission of a first control channel. The base station transmits control information for the terminal by mapping the control information to the second control channel. The first transmit port is a transmit port used for transmission of a cell-specific reference signal that is a reference signal common within a cell, and the second transmit port is a transmit port used for transmission of a terminal-specific reference signal that is a reference signal specific to the terminal. |
| US09641226B2 |
Mobile device and method for performing function based on short-range communication
A mobile device and method for performing a function using a short-range communication tag are provided. In the method, the mobile device inputs function-related information into a short-range communication tag, and recognizes proximity to or contact with the short-range communication tag. Then the mobile device reads the function-related information from the short-range communication tag, and performs a function correlated with the function-related information. This allows performing various functions of the mobile device, only depending on a user's action to bring the mobile device in proximity to or contact with the Near Field Communication (NFC) tag. |
| US09641219B2 |
Sub-band power scaling reporting and sub-band transmit power estimation
Systems and methods for routing protocols for power line communications (PLC) are described. In some embodiments, a method performed by a PLC device, such as a PLC meter, may include selecting one or more transmit sub-bands on which to transmit frames, where the transmit sub-bands comprise groups of carrier frequencies. The PLC device then generates a frame comprising a tone map that indicates which transmit sub-bands are used to carry data for the frame. The tone map using two bits per transmit sub-band to indicate a status of each transmit sub-band. The PLC device then transmits the frame on the selected transmit sub-bands. A resolution bit and a mode bit may be used to provide additional information about the transmit sub-bands, such as an amount of power adjustment that has been applied to carrier frequencies and whether dummy bits are transmitted on unused carrier frequencies. |
| US09641218B2 |
Tracking asset computing devices
One or more processors send a signal from a first computing device to a second computing device through a hardwire connection. One or more processors determine a change between the signal as sent by the first computing device and the signal as received by the second computing device. The change is caused, at least in part, by the distance the signal travels. One or more processors determine a geo-location of the second computing device based, at least in part, on the change. |
| US09641215B2 |
Leakage cancellation for a multiple-input multiple-output transceiver
A transceiver arrangement (200) for a fixed point-to-point radio link. The transceiver arrangement (200) comprising a transceiver (215) connected to a first antenna (210) and to a second antenna (220). The transceiver (215) being arranged to transmit a first transmit signal (211) via the first antenna (210) in a first frequency band (f1), the transceiver (215) also being arranged to receive a first receive signal (212) via the first antenna (210) in a second frequency band (f2), the transceiver (215) further being arranged to transmit a second transmit signal (221) via the second antenna (220) in the second frequency band (f2), the transceiver (215) also being arranged to receive a second receive signal (222) via the second antenna (220) in the first frequency band (f1). |
| US09641214B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes an antenna unit, a processor, a circuit board and a frequency switching circuit. The antenna unit includes a pin. The processor includes a signal control terminal to output a voltage control signal. The frequency switching circuit is disposed on the circuit board and connected to the signal control terminal and the pin, so as to switch the frequency of the antenna unit according to the voltage control signal. The frequency switching circuit includes a switch unit and an anti-noise unit. The switch unit is connected to the pin, and the anti-noise unit is connected to the signal control terminal and the switch unit. |
| US09641210B2 |
Protective case for electronic device
A protective case for an electronic device contains a first covering part and a second covering part which are connected together to define a hollow accommodation chamber for housing an electronic device. The second covering part couples with a back face of the electronic device and includes a heat removal groove for accommodating a heat dissipation plate, and when the electronic device is housed in the accommodation chamber, it contacts with the heat dissipation plate. The first covering part connects with a front face of the electronic device by using its internal face and includes a transparent visible window aligning with a touch screen of the front face of the electronic device. The accommodation chamber includes at least one receiving interface corresponding to at least one peripheral port of the electronic device and includes at least one button port for extending at least one button of the electronic device outwardly. |
| US09641205B1 |
Active interference cancellation
Antenna structures and methods of operating the same are described. One apparatus includes a processing device that executes an active interference cancellation (AIC) algorithm and radio frequency front-end (RFFE) circuitry coupled to the processing device. The RFFE circuitry includes two RF couplers, and a programmable-delay filter and a vector modulator disposed along electrical path. The AIC algorithm is operable to control the programmable-delay filter to match a delay of the electrical path to a propagation delay in an antenna path. The AIC algorithm is operable to control the vector modulator to adjust a phase, an amplitude or both of a copy of a first RF signal transmitted via the first antenna to generate a second RF signal. The second RF signal is added to a third RF signal via the second RF coupler to remove from the third RF signal interference caused by the first RF signal. |
| US09641204B2 |
Digital multi-band predistortion linearizer with nonlinear subsampling algorithm in the feedback loop
A concurrent multi-band linearized transmitter (CMLT) has a concurrent digital multi-band predistortion block (CDMPB) and a concurrent multi-band transmitter (CMT) connected to the CDMPB. The CDMPB can have a plurality of digital baseband signal predistorter blocks (DBSPBs), an analyzing and modeling (A&M) stage, and a signal observation feedback loop. Each DBSPB can have a plurality of inputs, each corresponding to a single frequency band of the multi-band input signal, and its output corresponding to a single frequency band; each output connect corresponding to an input of the CMLT. The A&M stage can have a plurality of outputs connected to and updating the parameters of the DBSPBs, and a plurality of inputs connected to either both outputs of the signal observation loop or the output of the subsampling loop and to outputs of the DBSPBs. The A&M stage can perform signals' time alignment, reconstruction of signals and compute parameters of DBSPBs. |
| US09641201B2 |
System and method for a radio frequency integrated circuit
In accordance with an embodiment, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) includes an adjustable capacitance coupled to an input terminal of the RFIC, and a first single-pole multiple-throw (SPMT) radio frequency (RF) switch having an input coupled to the adjustable capacitance and a plurality of output nodes coupled to a corresponding plurality of second output terminals of the RFIC. |
| US09641197B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
The present invention provides a method of transmitting broadcast signals. The method includes, formatting, by an input formatting block, input streams into plural PLPs (Physical Layer Pipes); encoding, by an encoder, data in the plural PLPs; processing, by a framing and interleaving block, the encoded data in the plural PLPs to output at least one signal frame; and waveform modulating, by a waveform generation block, data in the at least one signal frame and transmitting, by the waveform generation block, broadcast signals having the waveform modulated data. |
| US09641185B1 |
Digital time converter systems and method
A digital to time converter (DTC). The DTC includes a lookup table, a divider, a thermometric array and a switched capacitor array. The lookup table is configured to generate one or more corrections based on thermometric bits of an input signal. The divider is configured to generate a plurality of divider signals from an oscillator signal based on the one or more corrections. The thermometric array is configured to generate a medium approximation signal from the plurality of divider signals based on the one or more corrections. The switched capacitor array is configured to generate a digital delay signal from the medium approximation signal based on the one or more corrections and switched capacitor bits of the input signal. |
| US09641181B2 |
Electronic device for implementing digital functions through molecular functional elements
An electronic device for implementing digital functions comprising a first and a second electrode regions, separated by an interposing region comprising a dielectric region, is described. The first and the second electrode regions comprise at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, respectively, configured to generate in the interposing region an electric field depending on an electric potential difference applied thereto. In the interposing region, a molecular layer is comprised, which is composed of a plurality of molecules, each being capable of assuming one or more states, in a controllable manner, depending on a sensed electric field. The dielectric region has a spatially variable dielectric profile, to determine a respective spatially variable field profile of the sensed electric field at the molecular layer. |
| US09641178B1 |
Fast Wi-Fi switch with dynamic bias circuit
An integrated radio frequency (RF) switch and method of outputting one RF signal from a plurality of RF signals is provided. The integrated RF switch comprises an input decoder, a plurality of level shifter/drivers, a negative voltage generator and a dynamic bias circuit. The input decoder determines which one of the plurality of RF signals to output. Each one of the plurality of level shifter/drivers controls output of one of the plurality of RF signals. The negative voltage generator creates a negative voltage to drive the plurality of level shifter/drivers. The dynamic bias circuit generates a bias current for the plurality of level shifter/drivers, detects a change of state from the input decoder, generates a pulse in response to detecting the change of state, and increases the bias current for the plurality of level shifter/drivers for a duration of the pulse to decrease a switching time between two RF signals. |
| US09641173B2 |
Input apparatus and control method for input apparatus
An input apparatus has a touch sensor 11 for an input, a load detection unit 12 to detect a pressure load on a touch face 11a of the sensor 11, a tactile sensation providing unit 13 to vibrate the touch face 11a, and a control unit 15 to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit 13, when the detected pressure load satisfies a standard to provide a tactile sensation, to provide a click sensation to an object (means) pressing the touch face 11a. The control unit 15 drives the tactile sensation providing unit 13, when the detected pressure load satisfies the standard after the click sensation is provided in pressing, to provide a release sensation corresponding to the click sensation to the object. Thereby, a realistic click sensation similar to that in operating a push-button switch is provided when an operator operates the touch sensor. |
| US09641170B2 |
Pass device with boost voltage regulation and current gain for VCSEL driving applications
A power efficient device for driving a load comprising a low current path and a high current path, wherein the high current path is driven by a first voltage source. In order to accommodate larger turn on voltages of possible load devices while maintaining low power operation, an additional voltage source exceeding the voltage source in the high current path is introduced in the low current path. |
| US09641159B1 |
Flip-flop circuit
A flip-flop circuit including a first logic circuit, a first master latch, a second master latch, and a slave latch is provided. The first logic circuit operates a logic operation on a selecting signal and a clock signal to generate a first control signal. The first master latch receives a data signal according to the first control signal and latches the data signal according to the selecting signal and the clock signal. The second master latch receives a scan data signal according to the selecting signal and the clock signal, wherein an output terminal of the second master latch is directly connected to an output terminal of the first master latch. The slave latch latches a signal on the output terminals of the first and second master latches for generating an output signal. |
| US09641157B2 |
Method and device for filtering during a change in an ARMA filter
A method and device are provided for filtering digital audio signals using at least one ARMA filter, particularly during a filter change. The method includes the following steps: a step of receiving a first request to change filtering to or from filtering by a first ARMA filter; and, in response to the first request, a step of gradually switching, at each of a plurality of cascaded first filtering blocks, between digital-signal filtering by a first basic filtering cell and digital-signal filtering by another associated basic filtering cell, the first basic filtering cells of the plurality of first filtering blocks factorizing the first filter. |
| US09641148B2 |
Resonator and filter having the same
A resonator and a filter including the same are provided. The resonator includes a body formed of a dielectric material and including a through-hole formed in one direction, and a conductive film coupled to at least one of both side cross-sections of the body in a lengthwise direction and a wall surface of the through-hole. |
| US09641147B2 |
Radio frequency signal splitter
Disclosed is a signal splitter that includes a coupled transmission line element coupled between two output ports of the signal splitter. The coupled transmission line element is used to lower the isolation between the two output ports for a particular frequency band. The coupled transmission line element includes a first and a second elongate electrical conductor. The first and the second elongate electrical conductor first ends are coupled to the signal transmission path that connects the two output ports. The first and the second elongate electrical conductor second ends are un-terminated. The first elongate electrical conductor and the second elongate electrical conductor are not shorted together, and the first elongate electrical conductor and the second elongate electrical conductor are electrostatically coupled, such as by twisting them together into a helix. |
| US09641146B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting radio frequency power
Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to radio frequency (RF) power detection. One such apparatus includes a directional coupler, an RF switch, and an RF power detector. The RF switch can selectively change coupling between the directional coupler and the RF power detector. This can enable accurate power detection based on a ratio of power levels, without factory calibration or laser trimming. |
| US09641140B2 |
Method and apparatus for a multi-harmonic matching network
A matching network and method for matching a source impedance to a load impedance is provided. A bias feed microstrip structure is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source and has a bias feed microstrip electrical length less than one fifth of a fundamental wavelength of a fundamental frequency component of an input signal. A harmonic impedance transformation network can be configured to compensate for parasitic reactances of a precursor element. A tuned impedance element presents a short circuit impedance at the second harmonic impedance transformation network terminal for harmonic frequency components and presents a higher impedance for the fundamental frequency component. A fundamental impedance transformation network is configured to match a fundamental impedance transformation network input impedance for the fundamental frequency component to a load impedance of a load. Multiple instances of the harmonic impedance transformation network and the tuned impedance element can be provided. |
| US09641137B2 |
Electric amplifier circuit for amplifying an output signal of a microphone
An electric amplifier circuit for amplifying an output signal of a microphone comprises a supply input terminal (V10) to apply a supply potential (VDDA) for operating the electric amplifier circuit and a differential amplifier (110) having a first input terminal (E110a) for applying the output signal of the microphone (20), a second input terminal (E110b) and an output terminal (A110) for outputting an amplified output signal (OUT) of the microphone (20). A feedback path (FP) is provided between the output terminal (A110) of the differential amplifier (110) and the second input terminal (E110b) of the differential amplifier (110). A charge supplying circuit (120) is coupled to the feedback path (FP) to supply an amount of the charge to the feedback path (FP) in dependence on the supply potential (VDDA). The amount of charge supplied to the feedback path may be dependent on a change of the supply potential (VDDA). |
| US09641135B2 |
Method for detecting an unbalance and for calibrating a multi-port amplifier of a telecommunications satellite
A method for detecting an unbalance of a multi-port amplifier MPA intended to be on-board a satellite is presented. The MPA includes a plurality of paths, each path being configurable in gain and phase. The method includes transmitting a first test signal which is spread spectrum modulated from the first transmitting station to the first pathway, the first test signal being generated in at least the useful band of the first pathway; receiving by the second receiving station configured in frequency to receive signals transmitted by the second antenna connected to the second path of the MPA, the signals being likely to include a replica of the first test signal; detecting and measuring a power of received signals corresponding to a replica of the first test signal having leaked at the output of the second output port; computing at least one unbalance value of the MPA from the measurement of the power of the replica of the first test signal received in the second earth station. |
| US09641128B2 |
High linearity structure for amplifier
An apparatus includes an input amplifier stage and a switch that has a first terminal at a virtual ground input of the input amplifier stage. |
| US09641126B2 |
Systems and methods for I-Q imbalance calibration
A method for in-phase-quadrature (I-Q) imbalance calibration is described. A signal is transmitted by a first transmitter in a first system. The signal includes a constant value. The signal is received at a second receiver in a second system. An I-Q imbalance is estimated for the second receiver based on the received signal. |
| US09641124B2 |
Electric interconnection system for solar cell of vehicle roof
An electric interconnection system in a vehicle includes a fixed part of the vehicle and a movable part of the vehicle. The movable part has a solar cell module mounted thereon and includes at least one component that maintains contact with the fixed part when the moving part moves. One or more first electric wires extend from the solar cell module of the movable part. Each of the one or more first electric wires has an end that is fixed to one of the at least one component of the movable part. One or more second electric wires are installed on the fixed part. The one or more second electric wires maintain contact with the ends of the first electric wires when the movable part moves. |
| US09641115B2 |
Methods and systems for envelope and efficiency control in an electric motor
An air moving system including an electric motor, a load coupled to the electric motor, and a motor drive controller coupled to the electric motor is provided. A DC voltage generated from an AC input voltage provided to the electric motor tends towards zero at about twice a frequency of the AC input voltage. The motor drive controller includes an adjustment control module configured to receive a measurement of an instantaneous motor current value for the electric motor, determine a flux component value based on the instantaneous motor current value, and determine, based at least in part on the flux component value and a flux component demand value, an adjusted flux component demand value that causes the motor drive controller to adjust an operation such that an average flux component value based on the flux component value is substantially similar to the flux component demand value. |
| US09641112B2 |
Protection method for a generator
A power source includes a generator configured to receive mechanical energy and convert the mechanical energy to an electrical output. The generator includes a rotor and a stator. The stator has a first coil and a second coil. The first coil and the second coil are selectively arranged in a first configuration to provide the electrical output at a first voltage level and in a second configuration to provide the electrical output at a second voltage level. The power source also includes a detection circuit including a sensing relay. The detection circuit is configured to generate an output based on whether the first coil and the second coil are arranged in the first configuration or in the second configuration. |
| US09641107B2 |
Motor controller for electric vehicle
A motor controller for an electric vehicle sufficiently reduces vibration components caused by torque ripples passing through a resonance frequency of a vehicle body. The motor controller includes motor torque setting means for generating a first torque command, based on vehicle information, rotation position detection means for detecting a rotation position of the motor, rotation speed calculation means for calculating a rotation speed from a rotation position signal, a high-pass filter that extracts an AC signal component of a rotation speed signal, and a resonance suppression gain circuit that outputs a resonance suppression signal. A signal in which the resonance suppression signal is added to or subtracted from the first torque command is used as a second torque command so as to perform drive control for the motor. |
| US09641106B2 |
Electric vehicle and control method of electric vehicle
An electric vehicle driven by a synchronous motor 21 and an induction motor 31, and braked with a first regenerative torque BT1 generated by the synchronous motor generator 21 and a second regenerative torque BT2 generated by the induction motor generator 31. The ratio of the first regenerative torque BT1 to the second regenerative torque BT2 is changed in accordance with a state of charge (SOC) of a battery 11. In this way, a switching frequency from a regenerative brake to a hydraulic brake is restricted to improve drivability when a state of charge (SOC) of the battery 11 is high. |
| US09641104B2 |
Actuator
The actuator includes a vibration plate including a fixing portion for fixing the vibration plate to a holding member, and a connection portion for connecting a center portion and the fixing portion, and is provided between a surface and a friction-sliding surface in a direction in which the vibration plate is pressed against the rotor by a pressurizing force produced by a pressure member. When finishing a surface on which a piezoelectric device is to be fixed to the vibration plate to a uniform surface by polishing, a decrease in the performance of the ultrasonic motor due to deformation of the vibration plate that is caused by warping of support portions that extend from both ends thereof or by burrs or the like can be prevented, and the time required to polish the vibration plate can be reduced. |
| US09641102B2 |
Semiconductor device
For example, a semiconductor device has a lead connected to a second portion of a chip mounting part on which a semiconductor chip to be a heat source is mounted and a lead connected to a third portion of the chip mounting part on which the semiconductor chip to be the heat source is mounted. Further, each of the leads has a protruding portion protruding from a sealing member. In this manner, it is possible to enhance a heat dissipation characteristic of the semiconductor device. |
| US09641095B1 |
Power converter output stage using heat dissipating bus bars
A dense and efficient output stage for a DC/DC converter includes center tapped secondary windings of a transformer having an offset core with respect to a PCB, two pairs of synchronous rectifiers configured to define two pairs of paralleled symmetrical AC loops respective to the secondary windings, and at least two bus bars disposed within a forced cooling airstream to act as heat sinks for the synchronous rectifiers, while further providing a filtering impedance between the transformer windings and an output capacitance. A split capacitance is disposed in close proximity with the synchronous rectifiers to filter out ripple current, in one embodiment characterized by first and second capacitors each respectively coupled between opposing ends of the first and second bus bars, wherein the bus bars are arranged about at least three sides of the transformer core. |
| US09641090B2 |
Multiple-input soft-switching power converters
A multiple-input power converter transferring energy from multiple input sources to a load comprises a plurality of voltage inputs. The power converter implements soft-switching techniques thereby reducing the converter switching losses and increasing the converter efficiency while using fewer components than presently designed multiple-input power converters. Such a power converter may include multiple input sources, where serially connected switches are coupled to one of the multiple input sources in an input leg. A voltage blocking capacitor is inserted between these input legs. Furthermore, the power converter includes a transformer for isolating the load from the multiple input sources, where the voltage blocking capacitor is connected to the primary winding of the transformer. |
| US09641083B2 |
Control device and control method of power converter and switching power supply using the same
The disclosure relates to a control device, a control method of a power converter and a switching power supply using the control device. The control device of the power converter includes: a first control unit, which is coupled to the power converter to detect an output voltage of the power converter and is configured to generate a first control signal based on the output voltage; a variable resistor unit, which is connected to an output terminal of the first control unit to receive the first control signal and is configured to generate a resistance value based on the first control signal; and a second control unit, which is connected to the variable resistor unit and is configured to output a second control signal in order to control operations of a switch unit of the power converter. |
| US09641081B2 |
Boost converter
A boost converter for converting between an input voltage and an output voltage is disclosed. The boost converter includes an inductor connected to the input voltage a switching arrangement for controlling the switching of the inductor current to an output load at the output voltage and a controller for controlling the switching arrangement to provide duty cycle control. The duty cycle control switching takes place when the inductor current reaches a peak current level which varies over time with a peak current level function. The peak current level function includes the combination of a target peak value derived from a target average inductor current and a slope compensation function which periodically varies with a period corresponding to the converter switching period. |
| US09641074B2 |
Current control for DC-DC converter
A current control circuit includes an input circuit for receiving an input signal, an output circuit for providing an output signal. The output circuit is coupled to the input circuit to receive a current therefrom. The current control circuit also includes a feedback circuit coupled to the input circuit and the output circuit to form a feedback loop. The current control circuit further includes a first slope compensation current coupled to the output circuit for controlling the output signal, the first slope compensation current being a periodic current. The current control circuit also includes a second slope compensation current coupled to the feedback circuit, wherein the second slope compensation current has the same phase and period as the first slope compensation current. |
| US09641073B2 |
Start up method for switching converters using the same reference voltage in the error amplifier and PWM comparator
A switch-mode power supply is provided that includes a comparator for producing a pulse-width modulated (PWM) controller clock signal for controlling a power switch in the switch-mode power supply. The switch-mode power supply is configured to superimpose a DC-free version of a ramp voltage with an error voltage to produce a combined voltage. The comparator compares the combined voltage to a reference voltage to produce the PWM controller clock signal. |
| US09641068B2 |
Voltage generator circuit
Embodiments are provided that include a circuit for generating voltage in a memory. One such circuit includes a charge pump circuit including a first transistor, a high-voltage switch circuit, and a cut-off switch circuit arranged to reduce leakage current from the charge pump circuit. The cut-off switch circuit includes a second transistor, wherein an output of the charge pump circuit is coupled to one of a source node and a drain node of the second transistor, and a first control signal is input at a gate of the second transistor. Further embodiments provide a method for generating voltage. One such method includes enabling a first transistor coupled to an output of a charge pump circuit when the charge pump is operating and disabling the first transistor coupled to the output of the charge pump circuit when the charge pump circuit is not operating. |
| US09641065B2 |
AC line filter and AC-to-DC rectifier module
An AC line filter module includes AC-to-DC rectification circuitry. The rectification circuitry includes four low forward voltage rectifiers coupled together as two high-side rectifiers and two low-side rectifiers, where each low forward voltage rectifier includes an NPN bipolar transistor and a parallel-connected diode. A current splitting pair of inductors splits a return current so that a portion of the current is supplied to the collector of an NPN bipolar transistor that is on, and so that the remainder of the current is supplied to the base of the transistor that is on. Both low-side rectifiers are driven by these current splitting inductors. A pair of base current return diodes provides base current return paths. Due to the use of NPN bipolar transistors and no PNP bipolar transistors, manufacturing cost is reduced and efficiency is improved as compared to an implementation that uses low forward voltage rectifiers having PNP transistors. |
| US09641064B2 |
Elevator line bridge filter for compensating reactive power in a grid
The invention relates to a method and an electrical converter of an elevator. In the method a controller of the electrical converter determines a first reactive power produced by a smoothing filter using pre-determined information on impedance of the smoothing filter. The controller may also receive information on a second reactive power from a remote node over a communication channel, the second reactive power being produced to a grid. The controller adds the first reactive power and the second reactive power to yield a total reactive power. The controller requests the electrical converter to make a plurality of compensative connections in the converter matrix to compensate the first reactive power or the total reactive power. |
| US09641063B2 |
System and method of compensating power factor for electrical loads
A power factor controller (PFC) for an electrical load such as LED lighting includes a power factor correcting converter for generating a sinusoidal input current. The PFC further includes a programmable controller for estimating a phase shifted multiplier. A current regulator generates a desired PFC current in response to an input voltage, an output load and the phase shifted and subsequently blanked multiplier. The electrical load operates in response to the sinusoidal input current based at least partially on the desired PFC current. |
| US09641062B2 |
Switching power supply, method for controlling switching power supply, and power supply system
A switching power supply includes: a resonant circuit; a switching circuit including a switching element and configured to supply a voltage to the resonant circuit; a smoothing circuit configured to smooth a voltage output from the resonant circuit and outputs an output voltage; a resonance controller configured to, when a control instruction signal is input, cause the switching element to be turned on and off at a first frequency in such a manner that the output voltage becomes a specific voltage; and a controller configured to discontinuously output the control instruction signal to the resonance controller at a second frequency after an operation instruction signal is input until the output voltage becomes higher than a threshold voltage, and continuously output the control instruction signal to the resonance controller after the output voltage becomes higher than the threshold voltage until the operation instruction signal is not input. |
| US09641058B2 |
Linear motor and motor set having multiple magnetic yoke portions supporting magnets
A linear motor includes a case, a magnet assembly and a coil assembly. The case is disposed along a first direction. The magnet assembly includes at least two first magnets, among which the first magnets are disposed corresponding to and between two first magnetic yokes, respectively. The coil assembly includes a winding coil having an exposed portion, among which the exposed portion is extended along a second direction and disposed between the two first magnetic yokes, and the exposed portion is at least partially overlapped with the two first magnets in a third direction. As a result, the coil assembly and the case are driven to reciprocate along the first direction by the winding coil due to the magnetic force, thereby solving the magnetic disturbing issue, enhancing the driving force of the linear motor, and optimizing the mechanical rigidity. |
| US09641056B2 |
Conductive wire piece supply method and conductive wire piece supply device
A conductive wire piece supply method includes the steps of: obtaining a conductive wire piece set using a first slot which receives conductive wire pieces, having been sent, with the conductive wire pieces vertically superposed on each other; carrying the conductive wire piece set from the first slot portion to the second slot portion; and rotating the second slot portion. |
| US09641052B2 |
Connector of vehicular angled connector-integrated servo motor and production method thereof
A primary molded body having an angled connector that is integrally connected to an insulating annular body provided in a stator of a motor section, and that has a plurality of terminals extending along an axial direction of the motor section; a through-hole that is formed in the primary molded body and runs through the angled connector from an interior of the insulating annular body; a secondary molded body that is molded so as to cover the primary molded body; a secondary molded connector that is formed in the secondary molded body and covers the angled connector; and a connector opening that is formed in the secondary molded connector and communicates with the through-hole, wherein an outlet of the through-hole communicates with the connector opening. |
| US09641049B2 |
Fin and installation for converting hydraulic-energy comprising such a fin
This fin is intended to be installed in a protruding manner inside a discharge pipe of a hydraulic machine. The fin includes a first face which has holes and a second face which is solid. The fin defines by itself, between the first face and the second face, a cavity connecting the outside of the discharge pipe to the holes in the first face. |
| US09641048B1 |
Renewable energy leverage generator systems, apparatus, and methods
A leverage generator apparatus for generating electricity from energy transferred from a one or more partially rotating levers each operating on one or more triangular weighted swivel devices that are propelled over a center point on the partially rotating lever by one or more piston switches and actuators and each supported by a triangular support structure operating as a fulcrum at a center-point of the one or more partially rotating levers, such that the energy transferred from the leverage generator turns a crankshaft linked to a generator device. A renewable energy vertical leverage generator apparatus generates electricity from energy transferred by one or more pairs of rotating triangular weight car harness structures travelling on a track system operating as a receptacle to capture weighted car devices such that the triangular weight car harness structures rotate three hundred sixty degrees to produce forces sufficient to turn an axel of a generator device. |
| US09641045B2 |
Electromagnetic platform motor (EPM) (EPM-1) (EPM-2)
The present invention is a new 21st Century Electric Generation. It is an electromagnetic actuated generator mechanism that use magnetic field like a wrecking yard uses extremely powerful electromagnet device to move heavy piece of metal from one place to another. The electromagnetic actuated generator is supported by a platform with a track and wheel system, whereby the mechanism is control by the magnetic field of a wound coil of magnet wire, wherein current is supply by a DC variable power supply or a plurality of battery packs. The mechanism is connected to a plurality of levers with mechanical advantage connection to a ratchet system transforming reciprocating mechanical power to rotation mechanical power connected to a gear transmission system connected to an electrical generator for transforming the mechanical power to electrical energy. |
| US09641042B2 |
Fan motor
A fan motor including: a lower bracket through which a rotary shaft passes and having a lower bearing insertion space formed around the rotary shaft; an upper bracket through which the rotary shaft passes and having an upper bearing insertion space formed around the rotary shaft; a lower bearing forcedly pressed and fixed at a lower bearing seating portion formed above the lower bearing insertion space; an upper bearing forcedly pressed and fixed at an upper bearing seating portion formed above the upper bearing insertion space; a rotor rotatably joined to the rotary shaft inside the upper bracket; a stator located around the rotor; a lower felt cover having a lower bearing supporting portion for supporting the lower portion of the lower bearing; and an upper felt cover having an upper bearing supporting portion for supporting the lower portion of the upper bearing. |
| US09641039B2 |
Drive device, especially for a vehicle, having an electric drive with a rotor shaft bearing system
A drive device having an electric drive. A drive device (1) includes at least one housing (15), at least one electric drive, the electric drive having a rotor arrangement with a rotor shaft (7) which is designed for rotation about a rotational axis (17), and a bearing arrangement (14 a, b) for mounting the rotor arrangement. The bearing arrangement (14 a, b) supports the rotor arrangement in relation to the rotational axis (17) radially inwardly, the bearing arrangement (14a, b) supporting the rotor shaft in relation to a support section (15, 16) that is fixed to the housing. |
| US09641038B2 |
Electrical machine and a method for controlling stiffness in a stator winding of the electrical machine
An electrical machine is provided. The electrical machine includes a stator having at least one winding, and a mechanical assembly acting on the winding for providing a radial force at the winding for controlling a stiffness of the winding. |
| US09641035B2 |
Stator with phase drawing out slots for synchronous motor
A stator for a motor that includes an armature coil that generates an N-pole and an S-pole by applying a current and forty-eight slots radially formed at which the coil is disposed and in which the armature coil alternately implements N-poles and S-poles by arranging six slots as a single unit as the current is applied to the coil. The slot includes a plurality of phase drawing out slots, and when the order of the phase drawing out slots is determined in a clockwise direction by setting one phase drawing out slot as a first phase drawing out slot, at least two methods of winding the armature coil to turn around the slot may be used to decrease a distance from the first phase drawing out slot to the last phase drawing out slot to a minimum value by setting a cell between neighboring slots as a unit. |
| US09641030B2 |
Methods of manufacturing rotors having interfering sintered magnets and carbon filament sheaths for electric motors
A method of manufacturing an electric-motor rotor may include providing a magnet of sintered magnetic material, the magnet having a first diameter; providing a sheath of composite material, the sheath having an inner diameter smaller than the first diameter; reducing the first diameter to a second diameter; fitting the sheath onto the magnet when the magnet has the second diameter; and letting the magnet with the sheath fitted thereon to interfere, allowing the sheath to exert inward pressure on the magnet. An electric-motor rotor may include a magnet of sintered magnetic material, the magnet having a first diameter; and a sheath of composite material, the sheath having an inner diameter smaller than the first diameter. The sheath may be associated with the magnet in such a way that the magnet with the sheath fitted thereon interfere so that the sheath exerts inward pressure on the magnet. |
| US09641026B2 |
Enhanced communication infrastructure for hierarchical intelligent power distribution grid
The subject specification comprises enhanced communication infrastructure for a multi-tier hierarchical smart distribution grid (SDG). The SDG comprises a specified number of distribution network node controller (DNNC) components employed to desirably control communications and power distribution between respective tiers of the SDG to facilitate efficient power distribution. When communication between the a DNNC in one tier and another DNNC in another tier, is desired, the DNNC can identify available communication channels and respective communication conditions of the available communication channels, and can dynamically select a subset of available data and preferred communication channel, based at least in part on predefined control criteria, to control data transmission loads in the network and facilitate real time control of the SDG. Data can be communicated via the selected communication channel. Respective DNNCs can desirably control power distribution for respective tiers, minimizing upper tier involvement in lower tier power distribution. |
| US09641021B2 |
Photovoltaic power generation system including apparatus and method to buffer power fluctuations
A power generation system, apparatus and method to buffer power fluctuations are provided. At least one inverter (14) may be coupled to a photovoltaic power generator (10). The inverter may be subject to at least one operational constraint. A power-buffering circuitry (16) may be connected between the photovoltaic power generator and the inverter to buffer power generation fluctuations which can occur in power generated by the photovoltaic power generator, and satisfy the operational constraint of the inverter notwithstanding an occurrence of the power generation fluctuations. A controller (14) may be coupled to the power-buffering circuitry and may be responsive to the parameter of the photovoltaic power generator to perform at least one control action regarding the power fluctuations. Control actions may be performed by the controller independently of a control strategy of the inverter. |
| US09641019B2 |
Wireless power transmitter and method of controlling the same
A wireless power transmitter and a method of controlling the wireless power transmitter are provided. The wireless power transmitter includes a power supply configured to supply charging power; a power transmitter configured to transmit the charging power to a wireless power receiver; an overcurrent protection circuit configured to change an impedance of the wireless power transmitter; and a controller configured to monitor a current value of an output terminal of the power supply, and connect the overcurrent protection circuit to the power transmitter if the monitored current value is greater than a predetermined threshold. |
| US09641017B2 |
Method and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting power and power transmission information
A method of operating a wireless power transmission apparatus includes receiving, from a wireless power reception apparatus, information on an operating power of a micro control unit (MCU) of the wireless power reception apparatus and information on an output of a direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) converter of the wireless power reception apparatus; determining whether a charging power is to be transmitted to the wireless power reception apparatus based on the received information on the output of DC/DC converter; and transmitting, to the wireless power reception apparatus, an MCU operating power calculated based on the received information on the operating power of the MCU in response to a determination that the charging power is not to be transmitted to the wireless power reception apparatus. |
| US09641014B2 |
Circuits and methods for controlling skin temperature of an electronic device
The present disclosure includes circuits and methods for controlling skin temperature of an electronic device. In one embodiment, a thermal sensor is configured on a case of a handheld electronic device. The thermal sensor is coupled to a battery charger having a current limit circuit. If the sensed temperature of the case increases above a threshold, a current limit is reduced to reduce current in the battery charger. |
| US09641011B2 |
Battery control device adapting the battery current limit by decreasing the stored current limit by comparing it with the measured battery current
A battery control device capable of carrying out current limitation in consideration of constraints on other components than a battery main body is provided. A battery control device according to the invention has an average current table describing an average current allowed for each of plural time window widths, and limits a battery current in accordance with the description. |
| US09641007B2 |
Coupling mobile devices for tetherless charging or communication
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes detecting insertion of a mobile device into a cradle of a computer. The mobile device includes one or more device edges each having device coupling hardware. The cradle includes one or more cradle edges each having cradle coupling hardware. Each of the one or more device edges is configured to couple to a corresponding cradle edge of the one or more cradle edges, through connecting the device coupling hardware of the device edge with the cradle coupling hardware of the cradle edge. Communications are transmitted between a first device edge, of the one or more device edges, and a first cradle edge, of the one or more cradle edges, responsive to detecting the insertion. The communications are interpreted, by a computer processor, to utilize a touchscreen of the mobile device as a trackpad for the computer. |
| US09641006B2 |
Battery control system, battery pack, electronic device and charger
A battery pack (10) includes a plurality of battery cells (100), a measurement unit (measurement unit (200)), and a battery control unit (battery control unit (400)). The plurality of battery cells 100 are connected in series to each other. The measurement unit (200) measures voltages of the battery cells (100). The battery control unit (400) controls discharge of the battery cells (100) on the basis of the voltages measured by the measurement unit (200). In addition, when the battery cells (100) perform the discharge, the battery control unit (400) specifies a minimum voltage cell in which the voltage is lowest on the basis of the voltages measured by the measurement unit (200). Further, before the minimum voltage cell is over-discharged, the battery control unit (400) outputs a first signal for reducing a discharge current in the discharge. |
| US09641003B2 |
Method of controlling switch circuit, storage status adjusting circuit, and storage battery pack
A method of controlling a switch circuit which includes n (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 3) switching units configured to respectively connect n storage batteries, which are connected in series, with n coils, wherein the n storage batteries have respective potential differences between opposite ends thereof, the method includes the step of: controlling the switching units corresponding to k (k is a natural number wherein 1 |
| US09641002B2 |
Battery management system, method and battery
A battery management system includes a master control unit coupled to a plurality of batteries, at least one battery status unit providing data on the status the batteries and a power determination unit providing a measure of the power draw required from the batteries. The master control unit controls the batteries to activate only the number to meet the required power draw. The power determination unit can determine the maximum safe power to a device coupled to the batteries, the master control unit then activating a number of batteries having a combined power capacity not exceeding the safe maximum power. The system allows for a large number of batteries to be coupled to an electrical device and for these to be controlled so as not to produce a current which is too high for the device. |
| US09640991B2 |
Device and method for generating an electrical power supply in an electronic system with a variable reference potential
A method and device for generating a power supply voltage (Vf), referenced to a first reference potential (4), in an electronic system including an energizing source (3) connected to the first and second reference potentials (4, 5) so as to impart an AC voltage differential between the reference potentials (4, 5), wherein the device includes: (i) a source (10) for supplying AC voltage, which is referenced to the second reference potential (5), connected to the first reference potential (4), and encompasses the energizing source (3); and (ii) rectifying and filtering elements (1) connected, at the input thereof, to the first reference potential (4) and to the source (10) for supplying AC voltage, respectively, so as to generate, at an output (8), a power supply voltage (Vf) referenced to the first reference potential (4) by rectifying a voltage at the terminals of the source (10) for supplying AC voltage. |
| US09640986B2 |
Cable breakout assembly
A telecommunications system uses a breakout device to connect a primary power cable to different secondary power cables that connect to different remote radio units (RRUs). For example, the breakout device may include a power distribution terminal that connects −48 VDC and return power lines in the primary power cable to different −48 VDC and return power lines in the secondary power cables. In another example, the breakout device may connect a hybrid cable that includes both power lines and fiber optic lines. A surge protection system may be located in the breakout device to protect the RRUs and other electrical device from power surges. Alternatively, the surge protection system may be located in jumper power cables connected between the breakout device and the RRUs. |
| US09640985B2 |
Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker comprising a superconducting fault current limiter and a circuit breaker module, wherein the superconducting fault current limiter and the circuit breaker module are connected in series. The circuit breaker module includes a disconnector, a first semiconductor switch unit, and a second semiconductor switch unit, wherein the disconnector is connected in series with the first semiconductor switch unit, and also connected in series with the superconducting fault current limiter, and the second semiconductor switch unit is connected in parallel with the disconnector and first semiconductor switch unit that are connected in series. The circuit breaker can quickly and securely interrupt a circuit when an overcurrent fault occurs on the circuit. |
| US09640982B2 |
Over-voltage protection system and method
An over-voltage protection system includes an electronic valve connected across two terminals of a circuit and an over-voltage detection circuit connected across one of the plurality of semiconductor devices for detecting an over-voltage across the circuit. The electronic valve includes a plurality of semiconductor devices connected in series. The over-voltage detection circuit includes a voltage divider circuit connected to a break-over diode in a way to provide a representative low voltage to the break-over diode and an optocoupler configured to receive a current from the break-over diode when the representative low voltage exceeds a threshold voltage of the break-over diode indicating an over-voltage condition. The representative low voltage provided to the break-over diode represents a voltage across the one semiconductor device. A plurality of self-powered gate drive circuits are connected to the plurality of semiconductor devices, wherein the plurality of self-powered gate drive circuits receive over-voltage triggering pulses from the optocoupler during the over-voltage condition and switch on the plurality of semiconductor devices to bypass the circuit. |
| US09640981B2 |
Frequency-conversion differential protection method for output transformer of static frequency converter system
A frequency-conversion differential protection method for an output transformer of a static frequency convertor system. The method comprises: a protection device measuring a three-phase current at each side of an output transformer of an SFC system; according to the connection manner of the output transformer, using a triangle side as a reference to conduct phase correction on a star side; at the same time, taking into account different secondary rated currents at each side of the transformer to adjust a balance coefficient of each side, so as to form sampling values of a correcting current and a differential current at each side, and using a startup and shut-down protection algorithm free from frequency influence in generator protection to calculate amplitude values of the correcting current, the differential current and a restraint current; and according to the magnitudes of the differential current and the restraint current, using the ratio restraint differential characteristic to achieve the frequency-conversion ratio differential protection of the output transformer. The present protection method is suitable for large-scale frequency change. Compared with the current quick-breaking protection, the sensitivity of internal failure detection in the output transformer is greatly improved. |
| US09640978B2 |
Protection circuit for an inverter as well as inverter system
A protective circuit for an inverter is disclosed, the protective circuit comprising a safety element, a switching arrangement, and a control circuit, with the safety element being arranged in a feed line to the power element, and the switching device being switched to the safety element such that the switching arrangement bridges the safety element when the switching arrangement is in a conducting state. The control circuit is embodied such that it, upon receipt of one control pulse or several successive control pulses, emits a switching signal to a switching arrangement for a predetermined period of time, with the switching arrangement being switched through in case of periodic receipt of the control pulses and with the absence of the control pulse opening the switching arrangement after a predetermined period of time, and triggering a protection of the inverter by the safety element. |
| US09640977B2 |
Leakage current detecting circuit-breaker with a flexible shield cord
The present invention discloses a leakage current detecting circuit-breaker with a flexible shield cord, which comprises a detection circuit, a trigger circuit and a tripping mechanism. The detection circuit comprises a flexible shield cord, a zero sequence current transformer and diodes connected in series. The flexible shield cord comprises a foil wrapped around outer insulating layers of a live line and a neutral line and a tinned copper wire between the outer insulating layers and the foil. The flexible shield cord senses an abnormal or fault signal of a power line, and the zero sequence current transformer amplifies the abnormal or fault signal to such an extent as to trigger the trigger circuit. The diodes comprise a fifth diode and a sixth diode; anodes of the fifth diode and the sixth diode are connected to each other, and cathodes of the fifth diode and the sixth diode are respectively connected to the live line and the neutral line. The leakage current detecting circuit-breaker is of low production cost and strong anti-interference capacity. |
| US09640975B2 |
Controllable test-pulse width and position for self-test ground fault circuit interrupter
A circuit interrupting device having an auto-monitoring circuit for periodically testing various functions and structures of the device. The auto-monitoring circuit initiates an auto-monitoring routine which, among other things, generates a self-test fault condition and determines whether the detection mechanisms within the device properly detect the self-test fault. A test fault circuit is configured to generate one or more test pulses that cause the self-test fault condition and the test pulses are generated to occur outside of an active region of the fault detection circuit. |
| US09640973B2 |
Hybrid high-voltage DC breaker
A hybrid high-voltage DC breaker, consists of a plurality of completely identical breaker modules connected in series. Each of the breaker modules comprises a main current circuit, a transfer current circuit, an over-voltage limiting circuit and a control system, wherein a high-speed mechanical switch, the transfer current circuit and the over-voltage limiting circuit are connected in parallel. The transfer current circuit consists of circuits 1-4, wherein the circuit 1 and the circuit 4 are connected in series at first and then connected with the main current circuit in parallel; a pre-charged capacitor is connected with the circuit 4 in parallel after being connected with the circuit 3 in series; and, one end of the circuit 2 is connected with the left end of the main current circuit while the other end thereof is connected with a connection point of the pre-charged capacitor and the circuit 3. |
| US09640967B2 |
Method for molding a cable structure
A headset can include a cable structure connecting non-cable components such as jacks and headphones. The cable structure can be constructed using a molding process. Different approaches can be used to ensure that a conductor bundle extending through the cable structure remains centered within the cable structure during the molding process. A movable tube can be placed in the mold such that the conductor bundle is retained within the tube. As material is injected into the mold and reaches the tube, the tube can be displaced and progressively removed from the mold. Alternatively, the movable tube can be constructed such that the tube may combine with injected material to form a shell of the cable structure. Gates from which material is provided in the mold can be positioned and controlled to facilitate the injection of material in the mold while maintaining the centered position of the conductor bundle. |
| US09640965B1 |
Cable gland assembly
A cable gland assembly for attaching a shielded cable to an electronic enclosure includes a cable gland housing enclosing and in electrical contact with exposed cable shielding of the shielded cable and providing an electrically conductive pathway between the cable shielding and the electronic enclosure. The cable gland housing further encloses a shield pressure ring disposed to hold the exposed cable shielding in contact with the cable gland housing, a weather gasket, and an exposed portion of a cable strength member. The cable gland assembly includes environmental molding disposed within the cable gland housing to bond to and fix in place the exposed cable shielding, shield pressure ring, weather gasket, and exposed cable strength member. An outer molding is disposed around the cable gland housing. |
| US09640963B2 |
Terminal-provided wire
A terminal-provided wire (1) includes an insulated wire (10) with an insulation coating (12) made of polyolefin-based resin, an adhesive layer (30) formed on a surface of the insulation coating (12) over the entire circumference and a waterproof resin portion (40) formed by insert molding. The waterproof resin portion (40) covers an area from a part of the insulated wire (10) where the adhesive layer (30) is formed to a connected part (21) of a metal terminal (20) to a core (11). The adhesive layer 30) is made of modified olefin-based resin, which is olefin-based resin modified with a polar group. The waterproof resin portion (40) is made of aromatic nylon. |
| US09640957B2 |
Wire harness exterior member and wire harness
The wire harness exterior member is a tube-shaped wire harness exterior member which houses and protects at least one conductive path. The wire harness exterior member is formed by connecting metal pipes made of different materials. |
| US09640955B2 |
Wire harness and connector
Provided are a wire harness and a connector (40) allowing a routing path for an electrical wire (100) to be set without increasing the number of components and without requiring a complicated operation. A plurality of connectors (40) are aligned in a direction intersecting a front-rear direction. Each connector (40) is provided with a housing (41) capable of being fitted into a counterpart housing (71). The front face of the housing (41) is oriented in the direction facing the counterpart housing (71) at fitting both the housings (41, 71). The housing (41) is provided with a plurality of through portions (52A, 52B) passing through the housing (41) in the direction intersecting the front-rear direction. Each of the plurality of through portions (52A, 52B) has a space capable of routing an electrical wire (100) extended out from each connector (40). |
| US09640953B2 |
Switchgear motor operator
A motor operator assembly is described, which is releasably secured and selectively coupled to a switchgear unit. The motor operator assembly includes a support plate, and a latch mechanism secured to the support plate that has a latch member configured to releasably secure the support plate to the switchgear unit. A guide tube is secured to the support plate and includes a cylinder assembly having a motor mount and an indexing mechanism for selectively positioning the cylinder assembly between a stowed position and a use position. A motor operator is attached to the motor mount and has a socket configured to engage an input drive shaft on the switchgear unit. |
| US09640947B2 |
Structure and method for the fabrication of a gallium nitride vertical cavity surface emitting laser
A III-Nitride based Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL), wherein a cavity length of the VCSEL is controlled by etching. |
| US09640946B2 |
Electronic fail-safe laser shutter
An improved laser safety shutter is provided for the main supply power to the laser diode to be routed through an electronic shutter that prevents the passing of the supply power to the laser diodes to achieve laser shutdown or in the event of a control power failure. The main power is routed through a rectifier to convert the incoming alternating current (AC) feed to direct current (DC) power. A switching array operates in an alternating cycle so as to provide AC power to be transformed and passed along to the laser diode pump on the load side of the transformer. When shut down of the laser is desired or when power to the controller fails, the switches stop operating and the resultant DC power cannot be passed by the transformer effectively cutting the supply power to the laser diodes. |
| US09640942B2 |
Narrow line-width laser characterization based on bi-directional pumped Brillouin random fiber laser
A method and apparatus for launching optical pump signals into a disordered gain medium at two points thereby producing a narrow line-width random fiber laser within the disordered gain medium. The optical pump signals are propagated in a direction through the disordered gain medium towards one another. The apparatus may comprise an optical gain fiber having a first end configured to receive a first fiber pump signal and a second end configured to receive a second fiber pump signal such that the first fiber pump signal and the second fiber pump signal propagate within the optical gain fiber in a direction towards one another. An optical loss device is coupled to the optical gain fiber, wherein the optical loss device isolates a narrow line-width random fiber laser signal from a signal generated within the optical gain fiber. |
| US09640941B2 |
Distributed Raman amplifier systems
A distributed Raman amplifier system is disclosed. Distributed Raman amplifier systems can include a spool of fiber disposed between a distributed Raman amplifier and local or proximate optical point-loss sources, a carrier hotel for example. The spool of fiber has a fiber of sufficient length to offset aggregated losses, which prevents the distributed Raman amplifier from shutting down while also allowing the distributed Raman amplifier to achieve entitled gain by pumping the fiber in the spool. |
| US09640940B2 |
High power short pulse fiber laser
A pulsed laser comprises an oscillator and amplifier. An attenuator and/or pre-compressor may be disposed between the oscillator and amplifier to improve performance and possibly the quality of pulses output from the laser. Such pre-compression may be implemented with spectral filters and/or dispersive elements between the oscillator and amplifier. The pulsed laser may have a modular design comprising modular devices that may have Telcordia-graded quality and reliability. Fiber pigtails extending from the device modules can be spliced together to form laser system. In one embodiment, a laser system operating at approximately 1050 nm comprises an oscillator having a spectral bandwidth of approximately 19 nm. This oscillator signal can be manipulated to generate a pulse having a width below approximately 90 fs. A modelocked linear fiber laser cavity with enhanced pulse-width control includes concatenated sections of both polarization-maintaining and non-polarization-maintaining fibers. Apodized fiber Bragg gratings and integrated fiber polarizers are included in the cavity to assist in linearly polarizing the output of the cavity. Very short pulses with a large optical bandwidth are obtained by matching the dispersion value of the fiber Bragg grating to the inverse of the dispersion of the intra-cavity fiber. |
| US09640939B2 |
Short pulse laser with amplifier and adjustable pulse sequence
The invention relates to a short pulse laser (1) having a seed laser oscillator (2), a controllable pulse picker (4) for coupling out a laser pulse or a sequence of laser pulses, and an amplifier unit (5, 6) being mounted downstream of the pulse picker (5) and having at least one first amplifier stage (5) and a controllable first pump laser (8). The short pulse laser further includes a control unit (10) which is designed to control the pulse picker (4) and/or the first pump laser (8) such that the post-amplified laser pulses reach a predetermined power. |
| US09640929B2 |
Vibration-reduced brush holder for an electric motor
A brush holder for an electric motor includes a brush magazine forming a receiving space with a wall surface. A carbon brush having an end face and a side face is arranged in the receiving space. The brush holder also includes a spring, which is in contact with the end face and is configured to press the carbon brush in an extension direction of the receiving space. The brush holder also includes a pressing mechanism arranged on a pivot arm and configured to contact the side face and press the carbon brush by the force of the spring in a pressing direction against the wall surface. The pivot arm has a pivot shaft, to which an inner end of the spring is fastened. The pressing mechanism has a rolling surface configured to roll over the side face of the carbon brush when the carbon brush slides in the extension direction. |
| US09640928B2 |
Slip ring brush having a galvanic multi-layer system
A slip ring arrangement comprises a brush with a first contact material on the surface, which rests on a slideway with a second contact material on the surface. The slideway further comprises a layer with a third contact material beneath the second contact material. In this case, the abrasion of the brush is lower than that of the second contact material in the case of a sliding contact between the brush and the second contact material. In the case of a sliding contact between the brush and third contact material, the abrasion of the brush is higher than that of third contact material. As a result, the second contact material of the slideway is degraded first, which corresponds to the normal service life of a slideway. Subsequently, the brush is worn off relative to the third contact material, by means of which a further considerable extension in the service life is achieved. |
| US09640924B2 |
Communication plug
In an embodiment, the present invention is a communication plug that includes a plug housing with a plurality of plug contact slots and at least one plug contact with at least two tines. The at least one plug contact is positioned in one of the plug contact slots, the one of the plug contact slots having a bridge positioned between the at least two tines. |
| US09640922B2 |
Connector
Out of resilient contact pieces (21) provided on a shorting terminal (20), contact portions (24) to come into contact with specific terminal fittings (10) to be shorted by the shorting terminal (20) are provided on a front side of the shorting terminal (20) in a connecting direction to a mating connector (M). A shorting terminal accommodating chamber (46) provided in a housing (40) is open forward in the connecting direction to the mating connector (M). The shorting terminal (20) can be accommodated into the shorting terminal accommodating chamber (46) from front in the connecting direction. Front press-fit portions (34) to be press-fitted to wall portions (48A) of the housing (40) forming the shorting terminal accommodating chamber (46) are provided at positions of the shorting terminal (20) juxtaposed with the contact portions (24) in a width direction. |
| US09640921B2 |
Electrical connector and electronic device including the same
A connector for coupling to a connector port of an electronic device including a coupling face for coupling with the connector port of the electronic device, at least one connector terminal disposed on one side of the coupling face, at least one first magnetic member disposed in the vicinity of the connector terminal and coupled with at least one first metal member located in the vicinity of the connector port of the electronic device, and a detection member disposed on at least a portion of the coupling face that detects a coupling between the connector and the connector port. An electronic device to which the connector device is applied is also disclosed. |
| US09640920B2 |
Protective cover structure
A protective cover structure includes a protective cover that is fitted to an assembly work opening disposed in a wall of a case in which electric components are accommodated, thereby closing the opening, and a fitting detecting connector that detects that the protective cover is fitted to the assembly work opening. The fitting detecting connector includes a receptacle connector which is fixed to an interior of the case and an insertion/extraction connector which is disposed on the protective cover in a mutually insertable/extractable manner while being opposed to the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes a tubular housing and fitting detecting conductors in the tubular housing. The insertion/extraction connector holds a pair of detecting electrodes which are electrically conductible with the fitting detecting conductors, and is molded integrally with the protective cover. |
| US09640918B2 |
Electrical connector having a flange
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a shell covering the insulative housing, and a flange mounted to the shell. The insulative housing has a front face, a number of outer faces, and a receiving cavity extending through the front face for receiving a mating connector. The shell has a front wall and a number of outer walls covering the housing front and outer faces, respectively. The flange has a mating sleeve mounted to the shell and a mating flange portion for engaging a panel along a front-to-back direction. The mating sleeve is bent from a material band, and the mating flange portion is bent from the mating sleeve. The mating flange portion is substantially perpendicular to and resiliently flexible relative to the mating sleeve. |
| US09640917B1 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals located in the insulating housing, a main shielding shell and an auxiliary shell. The insulating housing has a main body, and a tongue portion protruded frontward from a front surface of the main body. The main shielding shell surrounds the main body and the tongue portion of the insulating housing. The main shielding shell has a main plate, a bottom plate and two lateral plates. A middle of the bottom plate defines an avoiding gap. The auxiliary shell has a base plate, and two flanks extended outward from two opposite sides of the base plate. The two flanks are fastened to bottom surfaces of two side walls of the avoiding gap and the base plate is located under the avoiding gap. |
| US09640909B2 |
Connector device
In a connector device, a side surface of a protruding part on a base portion side of an opposite part is configured as an inclined surface that comes closer to an opposite surface in a direction toward the base portion side of the opposite part, and is engaged with an inclined surface of a second connector in a state where a first connector and the second connector are fitted together. The connector device includes a disengaging member that has a disengaging part arranged between the opposite part of the first connector and the second connector and including an end surface opposed to a side surface of the protruding part on an end side of the opposite part, and an operating part configured integrally with the disengaging part and protruding toward an opposite side of the disengaging part from the second connector. When the end surface is displaced in a direction to make contact with the protruding part, the end surface presses the protruding part. At least one of the side surface of the protruding part on the end side of the opposite part, and the end surface of the disengaging part of the disengaging member opposed to the side surface is configured as an inclined surface that comes closer to an end of the opposite part in a direction toward the opposite surface. |
| US09640907B2 |
Fitting adapter for fitting a plurality of cable connectors from an electric device
A fitting adaptor is for fitting a cable connector to a device connector of an electrical device. The fitting adaptor includes a panel; an intermediate connector attached to the panel to be movable relative to the panel; a locking mechanism disposed on the panel; and an elastic member disposed on at least one of the intermediate connector and the locking mechanism, or between the panel and the intermediate connector. The intermediate connector includes a cable connector side connecting portion and a device connector side connecting portion, so that the elastic member urges the device connector side portion against the device connector. |
| US09640905B2 |
Connector
A first housing (10) of a connector includes a housing main body (11) with a receiving portion (17) and a tubular member (20) surrounding the housing main body (11). A peripheral wall (22) of the tubular member (20) has a resilient lock (24) configured to deflect resiliently out when assembling the tubular member (20) and the housing main body (11) and to return resiliently to lock with the receiving portion (17) when the tubular member (20) is assembled properly with the housing main body (11). A protrusion (31) is formed on the outer periphery of the resilient locking portion (24) and is configured to interfere with a receptacle (61) while fitting the tubular member (20) into the receptacle (61) so that an improperly assembled tubular member (20) is corrected into a properly assembled state. |
| US09640902B2 |
Stress relief device for a connector and a connector equipped with such stress relief device
A stress relief device is provided for a connector. The connector is connected to a cable and configured for cooperating with a complementary connector along a longitudinal axis. The stress relief device includes: an anchor configured for being placed around a portion of the cable so as to allow a stress relief of the portion of the cable, the portion of the cable being adjacent to the connector; a shell configured for being connected to the anchor and for at least partially wrapping the connector; and a locking system configured for connecting and locking the shell to a similar shell of a similar stress relief device for the complementary connector. The stress relief device is detachably mountable on the connector and is configured such that its mounting/dismounting does not require any change in the connection/disconnection of the connectors to one another. |
| US09640900B2 |
Plug-in connector part comprising a drain
A plug-in connector part for connection to an associated mating plug-in connector part includes a housing part, which has a plug-in portion and a plurality of contact openings arranged in the plug-in portion each having a contact element arranged therein. The plug-in portion being can be brought into a plug-in connection with the associated mating plug-in connector part in a plug-in direction, and has an outer surface extending peripherally around the plug-in direction. The plug-in portion includes a plurality of drainage openings which are each associated with a contact opening and extend from the associated contact opening to the outer surface so as to lead liquid from the associated contact opening to the outer surface. At least one of the drainage openings extends along a first plane and at least a second drainage opening extends along a second plane offset from the first plane in the plug-in direction. |
| US09640893B2 |
Connector, and header and socket used in said connector
A connector includes: a socket having a socket fitting body provided with socket terminals; and a header having a header fitting body provided with header terminals. At least one of a sidewall surface on an inner side of the socket fitting body and a sidewall surface on an outer side of the header fitting body includes a protrusion in which at least one side surface of the both side surfaces in the width direction faces the corresponding opposite surface formed in the sidewall surface of the other fitting body with the socket and header fitting bodies fitted to each other. |
| US09640890B2 |
Terminal and terminal connection structure
There are provided: a female terminal having a cylindrical base portion and a plurality of elastic contact pieces protruding from a plurality of locations of the base portion in a circumferential direction and being elastically deformable; and a male terminal having a tab portion whose outer peripheral surface is formed as a circumferential surface, a radius of curvature of an inner surface of each of the elastic contact pieces is formed larger than a radius of the tab portion, and when the tab portion is inserted into an insertion space surrounded by the plurality of elastic contact pieces, each of the elastic contact pieces is elastically deformed to an outer side, and the tab portion and each of the elastic contact pieces come into contact with each other. |
| US09640888B2 |
Preventing corrosion of an electrical connector
Embodiments of the invention relate to a primary contact or primary body comprising of a primary material with a propensity to corrode. A location on a surface of the primary body is an active location and functions to interface with a secondary body. The active location has a first surface and an oppositely disposed second surface. An anode material is applied to the second surface adjacent to the active location on the first surface. The primary body is exposed to a corrosive material. The anode material functions to divert a galvanic corrosive medium from the active location to the applied anode material. |
| US09640886B2 |
Fitting confirmation construction for connectors
In a fitting confirmation construction, a lock arm is provided in a housing of a first connector. The lock arm includes a lock wall inclined and disposed at a front end of the lock arm in a direction from the first connector toward the second connector; a deflection space formed at a rear of the lock wall in the direction; and an operation plate disposed on the deflection space. A confirmation opening is provided in a rear wall of the housing, and has a height equal to a height of the deflection space. A lock projection is provided on a second connector to be brought into engagement with the lock wall. A rear end face of the operation plate is exposed to a rear outside of the housing of the first connector through the confirmation opening, only in a state where the lock arm is deflected. |
| US09640885B2 |
Connector receptacle having a tongue
Connector systems may include a connector receptacle and connector plug or insert. The connector receptacle may include a tongue. The tongue may be formed using a printed circuit board. Contacts may be plated on top and bottom surfaces of the tongue. Retention features may also be located on top and bottom surfaces of tongue. These retention features may be speed bumps or other features. The connector insert may include a leading edge portion formed of plastic, a conductive shield around the insert behind the leasing edge portion, a plurality of spring contacts attached to an inside of the conductive shield, a top row of contacts; and a bottom row of contacts. Other connector receptacles may include a tongue having side ground contacts. The side ground contacts may engage an inside of a plug shield and have contacting portion to fit in openings in the plug shield. |
| US09640879B2 |
Connection structure of electric wire and terminal, and manufacturing method thereof
A connection structure of an electric wire and a terminal includes the electric wire, the terminal, and a seal part. The electric wire has an insulating coated part in which a conductor part is covered with an insulating material, and a conductor exposed part in which the insulating material of an end of the electric wire is removed. The terminal includes a first crimp part crimped to the insulating coated part, and a second crimp part crimped to the conductor exposed part. The seal part is made of thermoplastic elastomer and covers a surface including the first crimp part and the insulating coated part of a side extending from said first crimp part toward a direction opposite to the end of the electric wire and a surface of the second crimp part in an extension direction of the electric wire. |
| US09640873B2 |
Radar device for a motor vehicle, securing device for a radar apparatus and method for manufacturing an absorption element for a radar apparatus
The invention relates to a radar device (1) for a motor vehicle, having a radar apparatus (2) for emitting and receiving electromagnetic waves (4) and having at least one absorption element (9, 100), which is formed from an absorption material which absorbs the electromagnetic waves (4), wherein the at least one absorption element (9, 100) is embodied as an element which is separate from a housing (3) of the radar apparatus (2) and is arranged outside the housing (3), in particular on the housing (3). |
| US09640861B2 |
Coupling-type antenna
A coupling-type antenna includes a substrate having opposing top surface and bottom surface, a monopole antenna element formed on the top surface of the substrate for transmitting a first current and having a feed point and a radiator and a conductor respectively extended from the feed point, and a coupling body formed on the bottom surface of the substrate opposite to the monopole antenna element for transmitting a second current. Further, the transmitting direction of the first current in the monopole antenna element is opposite to the transmitting direction of the second current in the coupling grating body. |
| US09640855B1 |
Photosensitive multi-resonator chipless RFID
A chipless RFID transponder is disclosed. The transponder comprises an antenna and a plurality of resonant structures that together define a spectral signature of the RFID transponder. Each of the resonant structures comprises conductive portions separated by interstitial regions. A photo-polymerizable filler is disposed in the interstitial regions of the resonant structures between the conductive portions. The photo-polymerizable filler is positioned so as to shift the spectral signature of the RFID when exposed to radiation. |
| US09640849B2 |
Impedance matching in very high dielectric constant isolator/circulator junctions
Disclosed are embodiments of isolator/circulator junctions that can be used for radio-frequency (RF) applications, and methods of manufacturing the junctions. The junctions can have excellent impedance matching, even as they are being miniaturized, providing significant advantages over previously used junctions. The junctions can be formed of both high and low dielectric constant material. |
| US09640847B2 |
Partial dielectric loaded septum polarizer
In an example embodiment, a waveguide device comprises: a first common waveguide; a polarizer section, the polarizer section including a conductive septum dividing the first common waveguide into a first divided waveguide portion and a second waveguide divided portion; a second waveguide coupled to the first divided waveguide portion of the polarizer section; a third waveguide coupled to the second divided waveguide portion of the polarizer section; and a dielectric insert. The dielectric insert includes a first dielectric portion partially filling the polarizer section. The conductive septum and the dielectric portion convert a signal between a polarized state in the first common waveguide and a first polarization component in the second waveguide and a second polarization component in the third waveguide. |
| US09640843B2 |
Battery management system
An isolation apparatus includes isolation circuitry that includes multiple semiconductor switches arranged electrically in parallel to isolate, from an electrical system, a plurality of battery cells of a battery capable of providing high levels of current. The apparatus includes a microcontroller operatively coupled to the isolation circuitry, wherein the battery cells are isolated from the electrical system to which the battery is connected when the microcontroller switches off the multiple semiconductor switches. The apparatus provides cell-balancing, circuit isolation, trace matching, split columns, heat-tied use of materials and slow-speed switching to provide safety through isolation, equalization and stress reduction. |
| US09640842B2 |
Structural improvement of upper cover of intelligent storage battery
A structural improvement of an upper cover of an intelligent storage battery is provided. A circuit mounting area and a terminal mounting area are provided on the upper surface of its upper cover body. A cap covers the circuit mounting area. A LCD screen and a circuit board are mounted on an inner lateral surface of a to plate of the cap. A conductive adhesive tape is clamped between one end of the LCD screen and a corresponding lateral plate of the cap. A connection terminal in corresponding contact with the bottom of the conductive adhesive tape is arranged on the circuit board. The top plate inclines downward and outward. The inclined plate has a larger mounting area, and can accordingly be provided with a LCD screen which has a larger area; and the conductive adhesive tape is staggered with the edge of the circuit board. |
| US09640838B2 |
Organic electrolyte solution including thiophene-based compound and nitrile-based compound and lithium battery comprising the same
An organic electrolyte solution and a lithium battery using the same are disclosed. The organic electrolyte solution includes a lithium salt, an organic solution, a thiophene-based compound and a nitrile-based compound. |
| US09640837B2 |
Method for producing sulfide solid electrolyte
The present invention is to provide a method for producing such a sulfide solid electrolyte that it has high lithium ion conductivity and the total amount of heat generated by the reaction with the charged anode material that proceeds at around 315° C., is reduced. Disclosed is a method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte, wherein the method includes: a first step of preparing Li3PS4 having a γ structure, and a second step in which a second step mixture that contains the Li3PS4 having the γ structure obtained in the first step and LiX (where X is halogen) is non-crystallized, and the non-crystallized second step mixture is heated in a temperature range of more than 150° C. and less than 190° C. |
| US09640833B2 |
Lithium secondary cell array
A lithium secondary cell array in a cylindrical design has a winding mandrel and a winding packet, which contains foil-like coated strips and contacting strips that form the electric cell structure consisting of anode, cathode and separator. The cell array has outer electrical connections which include pole caps. The winding mandrel includes an insulating material and has a through-channel extending in the longitudinal axis direction. The winding mandrel is connected to an inner pole cap at each end, the pole caps likewise having a respective through-channel. One outer pole cap having a through-passage is respectively provided, which surrounds the winding packet circumferentially at least in the edge region, wherein several radially arranged force-fit connections, each acting between the outer and the inner pole cap, are used to fix the winding packet and achieve the electrical contacting between the contacting strips and the outer pole cap. |
| US09640832B2 |
Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that has a battery element including a positive electrode member, a negative electrode member, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode member contains graphitizable carbon. With respect to 100 parts by weight of the non-aqueous electrolyte solution, fluoroethylenecarbonate is added at 0.5 parts by weight or more and 1.0 parts by weight or less, and lithium difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate is added at 0.5 parts by weight or more and 1.0 parts by weight or less, or fluoroethylenecarbonate and lithium difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate are added at 0.5 parts by weight or more and 2.0 parts by weight or less in total. |
| US09640831B2 |
Electronic device with secondary battery
In the case where a film, which has lower strength than a metal can, is used as an exterior body of a secondary battery, a current collector provided in a region surrounded by the exterior body, an active material layer provided on a surface of the current collector, or the like might be damaged when force is externally applied to the secondary battery. A secondary battery that is durable even when force is externally applied thereto is provided. A region that is easily partly bent and a region that is not easily partly bent owing to a protective material provided in the region are intentionally formed to obtain the durable secondary battery. |
| US09640827B2 |
Method for operating a fuel cell system
The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system having a fuel cell stack to which a fuel is supplied on the anode side and an oxidizing agent is supplied on the cathode side, wherein at least during one phase of the operation of the fuel cell system, urea is supplied to the fuel cell stack as a fuel. |
| US09640824B2 |
Fuel cell electrodes with conduction networks
A fuel cell electrode layer may include a catalyst, an electronic conductor, and an ionic conductor. Within the electrode layer are a plurality of electronic conductor rich networks and a plurality of ionic conductor rich networks that are interspersed with the electronic conductor rich networks. A volume ratio of the ionic conductor to the electronic conductor is greater in the ionic conductor rich networks than in the electronic conductor rich networks. During operation of a fuel cell that includes the electrode layer, conduction of electrons occurs predominantly within the electronic conductor rich networks and conduction of ions occurs predominantly within the ionic conductor rich networks. |
| US09640823B2 |
Manufacturing method of membrane electrode assembly
The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a membrane electrode assembly which makes it possible to produce a polymer electrolyte fuel cell at a high level of productivity. According to the present invention, it is possible to make differences in characteristics between a first catalyst electrode 11A and a second catalyst electrode 11B, which are formed on the both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane 3, without changing materials of the first and the second catalyst electrode 11A and 11B. In the present invention, the first and the second catalyst electrode 11A and 11B are adhered to the polymer electrolyte membrane 3 by sticking the first catalyst electrode 11A by a first roll press 7 followed by sticking the second catalyst electrode 11B by a second roll press 8. |
| US09640818B2 |
Fuel cell and method of operating the fuel cell
A method of operating a fuel cell includes the steps of detecting hydrogen peroxide concentration during power generation by a hydrogen peroxide concentration sensor provided directly on a membrane electrode assembly and determining an operating condition of the fuel cell based on the detected hydrogen peroxide concentration. |
| US09640815B2 |
Air humidification device and air humidification method for fuel cell using injector
Provided are air humidification device and method for a fuel cell. The air humidification device and method for the fuel cell may cool an air compressor and air compressed by the air compressor and easily humidify air supplied to the fuel cell by mixing water with air and injecting the mixture into an inlet of the air compressor. In particular, the air humidification device and method may easily humidify air supplied to a cathode of the fuel cell by bypassing a portion of the compressed air from an outlet of an air compressor supplying air to the cathode of the fuel cell and simultaneously by injecting condensed water discharged from a fuel cell system into an inlet of the air compressor using the bypassed compressed air. |
| US09640814B2 |
Device for adjusting hollow fiber membrane density for humidification device of fuel cell
Disclosed is a device for adjusting humidification gas of a membrane humidification device of a fuel cell. In particular, the device is adapted to induce changes in differential pressure and velocity of the wet air for each division module and to improve the humidification efficiency by sequentially mounting the division modules divided into various numbers to the interior of a housing of the membrane humidification device, thereby adjusting the density of the hollow fiber membrane filled in each division module. |
| US09640812B2 |
Fuel cell system including controller to prevent over-discharge of battery and lowering in drivability upon recovering from idle stop
The fuel cell system of the present invention comprises: an electric motor, a fuel cell stack, a fuel supply unit, and a controller that controls a power-plant including the fuel cell stack and the fuel supply unit. The controller comprises further: a stack output-response request computing unit to compute a stack output-response request requested for the fuel cell stack; a stack voltage setup unit during idle-stop to set up a lower limit of stack setup-voltage during idle-stop that is set up as a stack voltage during execution of idle-stop so as to be higher as the stack output-response request is larger, and so as to be lower as the request is smaller; and an operation unit of recovering a stack voltage during idle-stop to execute a recovery operation when an actual stack voltage becomes, during execution of idle-stop, lower than the lower limit of stack setup-voltage during idle-stop. |
| US09640808B2 |
Operating method for a fuel cell system
An operating method is provided for a fuel cell system, in particular a fuel cell system in a motor vehicle. The system includes a cooling system via which waste heat of fuel cells of the fuel cell system is ultimately dissipated into the surrounding air, and a tank withstanding an internal pressure of the order of 150 bar and more. In the tank, fuel for the fuel cell system is stored in the cryogenic state, in particular as a cryogen, which tank has a heat exchanger in its storage volume, via which, in order to compensate for the pressure reduction resulting from the removal of fuel from the tank, heat can be supplied to the stored fuel in a controlled manner by way of a heat transfer medium. At operating points or in operating states of the fuel cell system in which the waste heat of the fuel cell system cannot be dissipated to the surroundings to the required extent, at least a portion of the waste heat from the fuel cells is supplied to the heat exchanger in the tank storing the fuel until a predefined limit value for the internal pressure in the tank is reached. |
| US09640807B2 |
Integrated fluorine gasket manufactured by injection molding for hydrogen fuel cells
Disclosed is an integrated fluorine gasket manufactured by injection molding for hydrogen fuel cells. In particular, a fluorine compound having a fluorine content of about 60 to 75 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of a fluoroelastomer is disposed in a gasket. The resulting fluorine gasket is integrated with a thin bipolar plate having a thickness of about 200 μm or less to have a thickness of about 750 μm or less by injection molding on the thin bipolar plate and by cross-linking. |
| US09640806B2 |
Method for modifying surface of metal bipolar plate and bipolar plate for fuel cell
A bipolar plate for a fuel cell is provided, which includes: a metal substrate having a flow field structure; a conducting adhesion layer formed on the metal substrate and having a polymeric adhesive and a plurality of conductive particles; and a pure graphite layer formed on the conducting adhesion layer and structurally corresponding to the flow field structure of the metal substrate. The graphite layer including expanded graphite powder is adhered to the metal substrate via the conducting adhesion layer, and a portion of the expanded graphite powder is embedded into the conducting adhesion layer. |
| US09640804B2 |
Fuel cell, and fuel cell stack
A fuel cell (3) includes interconnectors (hereinafter, IC) (12, 13), a cell body (20) disposed between the ICs and including an air electrode (14) and a fuel electrode (15) on both surfaces of an electrolyte (2), and current collecting members (18, 19) disposed between at least one of the electrodes (14, 15) and the ICs. The current collecting members (19) include connector contact portions (19a) in contact with the IC (13), cell body contact portions (19b) in contact with the cell body (20), and connecting portions (19c) that are bent approximately 180 degrees and connect both the contact portions. The connector contact portions include asperities (19e) on outside surfaces of the connector contact portions on the side where the connector contact portions are in contact with the IC 13, and a spacer (58) is disposed between the connector contact portions and the cell body contact portions. |
| US09640799B2 |
Negative electrode active material for non-lithium secondary battery, method of preparing the same, negative electrode for non-lithium secondary battery including the same, and non-lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode
A negative electrode active material for a non-lithium secondary battery, the negative electrode active material including a complex including a hard carbon having a specific surface area of about 50 square meters per gram or less and a ratio of a D-band peak intensity to a G-band peak intensity of 1 or less when analyzed by Raman spectroscopy; and a component including at least one selected from a Group 1 element, an oxide of a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, an oxide of a Group 2 element, an element of Groups 13 to 16, an oxide of an element of Groups 13 to 16, and an oxide of an element of Groups 3 to 12. |
| US09640796B2 |
Preparation method of transition metal oxide and carbon nanotube composite, and composite thereof
Provided is a method of preparing a complex of a transition metal oxide and carbon nanotube. The method includes (a) dispersing carbon nanotube powder in a solvent, (b) mixing the dispersion with a transition metal salt, and (c) synthesizing a complex of transition metal oxide and carbon nanotube by applying microwave to the mixed solution. The method may considerably reduce the time required to synthesize the complex. In the complex of transition metal oxide and carbon nanotube prepared by the method, the transition metal oxide may be stacked on the surface of the carbon nanotube in the size of a nanoparticle, and may enhance charge/discharge characteristics when being applied to a lithium secondary battery as an anode material. |
| US09640794B2 |
Lithium transition metal oxide having layered structure
Provided is a lithium metal compound oxide having a layered structure, which is very excellent as a positive electrode active material of a battery that is mounted on, particularly, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.Suggested is a lithium metal compound oxide having a layered structure which is expressed by general formula of Li1+xM1−xO2 (M represents metal elements including three elements of Mn, Co, and Ni). In the lithium metal compound oxide having a layered structure, D50 is more than 4 μm and less than 20 μm, a ratio of a primary particle area to a secondary particle area of secondary particles having a size corresponding to the D50 (“primary particle area/secondary particle area”) is 0.004 to 0.035, and the minimum value of powder crushing strength that is obtained by crushing a powder using a microcompression tester is more than 70 MPa. |
| US09640792B2 |
Battery assembly having single electrode terminal connection part
Disclosed herein is a battery assembly including at least two battery cells connected in series or in parallel. Each of the battery cells includes an electrode assembly including a cathode, an anode and a separator interposed between the cathode and the anode and a battery case in which the electrode assembly is mounted. An electrode terminal of a first battery cell and an electrode terminal of a second battery cell are formed as a single member at a series or parallel connection portion between the first and second battery cells. |
| US09640788B2 |
Battery cell separator having contoured profile
A battery cell separator according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a top surface and a bottom surface. A body extends between the top surface and the bottom surface and includes a first contoured surface on a first side of the body and a second contoured surface on a second side. The first contoured surface and the second contoured surface converging between the top surface and a center of the body and diverging between the center and the bottom surface. |
| US09640787B2 |
Electrified battery tray assemblies
An electrified battery tray assembly comprising a pair of battery positive and negative terminal engaging elements wiredly connected to at least one plug receiving connector on the tray for accessing battery power via the at least one connector. |
| US09640782B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, an optical layer formed over the substrate and a light emitting pixel formed over the optical layer. The optical layer includes a first refractive index layer portion having a first refractive index, a second refractive index layer portion having a second refractive index greater than the first refractive index. The second portion is disposed next to the first portion and contacts the first portion. The light emitting pixel includes a pixel electrode overlapping the first portion and comprising a first reflective layer, a pixel-defining film overlapping the second portion, an intermediate layer formed over the pixel electrode and comprising an organic light emission layer, and an opposite electrode formed over and overlapping the intermediate layer and the pixel-defining film and comprising a second reflective layer. |
| US09640781B2 |
Devices to increase OLED output coupling efficiency with a high refractive index substrate
Embodiments disclosed herein provide an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device is provided, including a high index substrate having an index of refraction of 1.5 or greater, a reflective electrode, an organic emissive layer configured to emit light having a wavelength of λ; and where an optical distance between the organic emissive layer and the reflective electrode of the OLED is between λ/4 and 3λ/4. |
| US09640780B2 |
Gas barrier film, method for producing gas barrier film, and organic electroluminescent element
An organic electroluminescent element provided with a gas barrier film includes a pair of electrodes and an organic functional layer having at least one light-emitting layer between the electrodes. The gas barrier film includes a base material; a vapor deposition layer that is of a surface-treated silicon compound including at least one element selected from carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), and has a continuous change in composition from a surface toward a direction of thickness; and a polysilazane modified layer. |
| US09640778B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
To realize a high-performance liquid crystal display device or light-emitting element using a plastic film. A CPU is formed over a first glass substrate and then, separated from the first substrate. A pixel portion having a light-emitting element is formed over a second glass substrate, and then, separated from the second substrate. The both are bonded to each other. Therefore, high integration can be achieved. Further, in this case, the separated layer including the CPU serves also as a sealing layer of the light-emitting element. |
| US09640776B2 |
Organic light emitting device manufacturing method using shadow mask and organic light emitting device manufactured thereby
The present inventions relates to an organic light emitting device capable of decreasing a leakage current, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting device manufacturing method and an organic light emitting device using the same, which can decrease a leakage current, by flattening a lower electrode in order to decrease a leakage current of the lower electrode deposited through a shadow mask. |
| US09640772B2 |
Ester-based solvent systems for printable organic light-emitting diode ink formulations
Ink compositions for forming active layers in an organic light-emitting diode are provided. Also provided are methods of forming active layers of an OLED using the ink compositions. The ink compositions comprise a solvent system in which a substantial majority of the solvent is comprised of one or more ester compounds. |
| US09640766B2 |
Organic light emitting diode
The present specification relates to an organic light emitting diode having high light emitting efficiency. |
| US09640765B2 |
Carbon nanotube device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming carbon nanotube based semiconductor devices. The method includes creating a guiding structure in a substrate for forming a device; dispersing a plurality of carbon nanotubes inside the guiding structure, the plurality of carbon nanotubes having an orientation determined by the guiding structure; fixating the plurality of carbon nanotubes to the guiding structure; and forming one or more contacts to the device. Structure of the formed carbon nanotube device is also provided. |
| US09640764B2 |
Carbon nanotube-based ternary comparator
A carbon nanotube-based ternary comparator including a first decoder, a second decoder, and a comparison circuit. The comparison circuit includes: a first comparison unit for producing a greater-than-or-equal-to signal, and a second comparison unit for producing a less-than-or-equal-to signal. A first two-bit ternary signal is input into the signal input terminal of the first decoder. A first three-bit binary signal and a phase inverted signal of the first three-bit binary signal are output from a signal output terminal of the first decoder. A second two-bit ternary signal is input into the signal input terminal of the second decoder. A second three-bit binary signal and a phase inverted signal of the second three-bit binary signal are output from the signal output terminal of the second decoder. |
| US09640763B2 |
Display screen and method of prepare the same
A display screen and a method of preparing the same are disclosed. The method includes steps of: forming a flexible base layer (20) on a rigid base substrate (10), wherein the rigid base substrate (10) includes a first region (101), a second region (102), and a connection region (103) between the first region and the second region, and the flexible base layer (20) is at least formed in both the second region (102) and the connection region (103); fabricating an organic light emitting diode device on the substrate with the flexible base layer (20) formed thereon; and stripping the rigid base substrate (10) in the second region (102) along a boundary between the second region (102) and the connection region (103). By means of a flexible display technology, the above method can achieve seamless assembly between adjacent sub-screens, and therefore increases display quality of pictures. |
| US09640755B2 |
Magnetic memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A magnetic memory device includes a reference magnetic pattern having a magnetization direction fixed in one direction, a free magnetic pattern having a changeable magnetization direction, and a tunnel barrier pattern disposed between the free and reference magnetic patterns. The free magnetic pattern has a first surface being in contact with the tunnel barrier pattern and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The magnetic memory device further includes a sub-oxide pattern disposed on the second surface of the free magnetic pattern, and a metal boride pattern disposed between the sub-oxide pattern and the second surface of the free magnetic pattern. The magnetization directions of the free and reference magnetic patterns are substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the free magnetic pattern. |
| US09640751B2 |
Device for precision displacement
A device for performing a precision movement comprising a plate composed of piezoelectric material and comprising electrodes which are provided at mutually opposite and preferably parallel planes, are connectable to a controlled voltage source having electrical voltage and in this case bring about a change in the form and/or mass of the plate is characterized in that at least one of the electrodes is designed in an elastic fashion to form a base module. |
| US09640749B2 |
Piezoelectric/electrostrictive element and method for manufacturing the same
A piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having a piezoelectric body, a through-hole electrode, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode. The piezoelectric body includes a through-hole in communication with a first main surface and a second main surface. The through-hole electrode is formed on an inner side surface of the through-hole. The first electrode is formed on the first main surface of the piezoelectric body, and connected to the through-hole electrode. The second electrode is formed on the second main surface of the piezoelectric body, and is connected to the through-hole electrode. The third electrode is formed on the second main surface of the piezoelectric body and isolated from the second electrode. A calculated average roughness in the inner side surface is larger than 0.11 microns and smaller than 16 microns. A maximum height roughness in the inner side surface is larger than 0.2 microns and smaller than 20 microns. |
| US09640748B2 |
Thermal oscillator
A thermal oscillator (10) for creating an oscillating heat flux from a stationary spatial thermal gradient between a warm reservoir (20) and a cold reservoir (30) is provided. The thermal oscillator (10) includes a thermal conductor (11) which is connectable to the warm reservoir (20) or to the cold reservoir (30) and configured to conduct a heat flux from the warm reservoir (20) towards the cold reservoir (30), and a thermal switch (12) coupled to the thermal conductor (11) for receiving the heat flux and having a certain difference between two states (S1, S2) of thermal conductance for providing thermal relaxation oscillations such that the oscillating heat flux is created from the received heat flux. |
| US09640745B2 |
Light emitting diode and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting diode includes: at least one light emitting chip; a substrate including lead frames electrically connected to electrodes of the at least one light emitting chip; a lens disposed on the substrate and enclosing the at least one light emitting chip; and an oil disposed in the lens and the substrate. |
| US09640744B2 |
LED module
A LED module includes a substrate, a LED chip supported on the substrate, a metal wiring installed on the substrate, the metal wiring including a mounting portion on which the LED chip is mounted, an encapsulating resin configured to cover the LED chip and the metal wiring, and a clad member configured to cover the metal wiring to expose the mounting portion, the encapsulating resin arranged to cover the clad member. |
| US09640738B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element, a sealing material for sealing the light-emitting element, a phosphor particle having an average particle size of not more than 20 nm and dispersed in the sealing material, a dispersed particle dispersed in the sealing material and forming a three-dimensional network structure in the sealing material, and a light-scattering particle dispersed in the sealing material, having an average particle size greater than that of the phosphor particle and that of the dispersed particle, and having a refractive index greater than that of the sealing material. A concentration gradient of the phosphor particle in a height direction is formed such that a concentration thereof increases according as a position thereof decreases. An average position of the phosphor particle is lower than that of the light-scattering particle. |
| US09640731B2 |
Light emitting diode structure
A light-emitting diode structure comprises a first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer under the first semiconductor layer; a light-emitting layer between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer for emitting a light; a first electrical pad on the first semiconductor layer for wire bonding; a first extension connecting to the first electrical pad; and a first reflective layer covering the first extension and exposing the first electrical pad, wherein the first electrical pad and the first extension have the same thickness, and the reflectivity of the first reflective layer is higher than that of the first extension. |
| US09640729B2 |
LED with stress-buffer layer under metallization layer
Semiconductor LED layers are epitaxially gown on a patterned surface of a sapphire substrate (10). The patterned surface improves light extraction. The LED layers include a p-type layer and an n-type layer. The LED layers are etched to expose the n-type layer. One or more first metal layers are patterned to electrically contact the p-type layer and the n-type layer to form a p-metal contact (32) and an n-metal contact (33). A dielectric polymer stress-buffer layer (36) is spin-coated over the first metal layers to form a substantially planar surface over the first metal layers. The stress-buffer layer has openings exposing the p-metal contact and the n-metal contact. Metal solder pads (44, 45) are formed over the stress-buffer layer and electrically contact the p-metal contact and the n-metal contact through the openings in the stress-buffer layer. The stress-buffer layer acts as a buffer to accommodate differences in CTEs of the solder pads and underlying layers. |
| US09640726B2 |
Light emitting device and light emitting device package thereof
A light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a second conduction type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a first conduction type semiconductor layer, a second electrode layer arranged under the light emitting structure, a first electrode layer having at least portion extending to contact the first conduction type semiconductor layer passing the second conduction type semiconductor layer and the active layer, and an insulating layer arranged between the second electrode layer and the first electrode layer, between the second conduction type semiconductor layer and the first electrode layer, and between the active layer and the first electrode layer, wherein said at least one portion of the first electrode layer contacting the first conduction type semiconductor layer has a roughness. |
| US09640723B2 |
Insulating layer for planarization and definition of the active region of a nanowire device
Various embodiments include methods of fabricating a semiconductor device that include forming a plurality of nanowires on a support, wherein each nanowire comprises a first conductivity type semiconductor core and a second conductivity type semiconductor shell over the core, forming an insulating material layer over at least a portion of the plurality of nanowires such that at least a portion of the insulating material layer provides a substantially planar top surface, removing a portion of the insulating material layer to define an active region of nanowires, and forming an electrical contact over the substantially planar top surface of the insulating material layer. |
| US09640720B2 |
Surface light-emission element using zinc oxide substrate
Provided is a surface light-emitting device comprising a substrate composed of an oriented polycrystalline zinc oxide sintered body in a plate shape, a light emitting functional layer provided on the substrate, and an electrode provided on the light emitting functional layer. According to the present invention, a surface light-emitting device having high luminous efficiency can be inexpensively provided. |
| US09640715B2 |
Printable inorganic semiconductor structures
The present invention provides structures and methods that enable the construction of micro-LED chiplets formed on a sapphire substrate that can be micro-transfer printed. Such printed structures enable low-cost, high-performance arrays of electrically connected micro-LEDs useful, for example, in display systems. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the electrical contacts for printed LEDs are electrically interconnected in a single set of process steps. In certain embodiments, formation of the printable micro devices begins while the semiconductor structure remains on a substrate. After partially forming the printable micro devices, a handle substrate is attached to the system opposite the substrate such that the system is secured to the handle substrate. The substrate may then be removed and formation of the semiconductor structures is completed. Upon completion, the printable micro devices may be micro transfer printed to a destination substrate. |
| US09640713B2 |
Diode having high brightness and method thereof
A light emitting diode includes a transparent substrate and a GaN buffer layer on the transparent substrate. An n-GaN layer is formed on the buffer layer. An active layer is formed on the n-GaN layer. A p-GaN layer is formed on the active layer. A p-electrode is formed on the p-GaN layer and an n-electrode is formed on the n-GaN layer. A reflective layer is formed on a second side of the transparent substrate. Also, a cladding layer of AlGaN is between the p-GaN layer and the active layer. |
| US09640712B2 |
Nitride semiconductor structure and semiconductor light emitting device including the same
A nitride semiconductor structure and a semiconductor light emitting device including the same are revealed. The nitride semiconductor structure includes a multiple quantum well structure formed by a plurality of well layers and barrier layers stacked alternately. One well layer is disposed between every two barrier layers. The barrier layer is made of AlxInyGa1-x-yN (0 |
| US09640710B2 |
Solar cell interconnection method using a flat metallic mesh
An improved method for interconnecting thin film solar cells to form solar cell modules is provided, the method comprising using a flat metallic mesh formed from a thin metallic strip to provide a current collection grid over a thin film solar cell. The method is particularly useful for forming interconnections between thin film solar cells deposited on flexible substrates. The rectangular cross sectional shape of the mesh elements provides an increased area of electrical contact to the solar cell compared to the small tangential area provided by elements of circular cross section. Mesh elements can be made higher rather than wider to improve conductivity without proportionally increasing shading loss. Various coatings can be applied to the mesh to improve its performance, provide corrosion resistance, and improve its cosmetic appearance. |
| US09640709B2 |
Compact opto-electronic modules and fabrication methods for such modules
A wafer-level method of fabricating optoelectronic modules performing a first vacuum injection technique, using a first vacuum injection tool, to surround optoelectronic devices laterally with a transparent overmold region, performing a replication technique to form a respective passive optical element on a top surface of each overmold region, and performing a second vacuum injected technique to form sidewalls laterally surrounding and in contact with sides of each overmold region. The replication technique and the second vacuum injection technique are performed using a combined replication and vacuum injection tool. |
| US09640708B2 |
Paste and manufacturing method of solar cell using the same
Disclosed are a paste and a method for manufacturing a solar cell through screen printing said paste. The paste contains inorganic powder; an organic solvent; and a binder, and the inorganic powder has a tap density of 0.01 to 20 g/cm3. An etching mask pattern formed using said paste has good etch resistance in an etch-back process by which a selective emitter is formed, and thus, a stable emitter can be formed. |
| US09640706B2 |
Hybrid multi-junction photovoltaic cells and associated methods
A multi-junction photovoltaic cell includes a substrate and a back contact layer formed on the substrate. A low bandgap Group IB-IIIB-VIB2 material solar absorber layer is formed on the back contact layer. A heterojunction partner layer is formed on the low bandgap solar absorber layer, to help form the bottom cell junction, and the heterojunction partner layer includes at least one layer of a high resistivity material having a resistivity of at least 100 ohms-centimeter. The high resistivity material has the formula (Zn and/or Mg)(S, Se, O, and/or OH). A conductive interconnect layer is formed above the heterojunction partner layer, and at least one additional single-junction photovoltaic cell is formed on the conductive interconnect layer, as a top cell. The top cell may have an amorphous Silicon or p-type Cadmium Selenide solar absorber layer. Cadmium Selenide may be converted from n-type to p-type with a chloride doping process. |
| US09640702B2 |
High-speed germanium PIN photodiode
A diode is described which comprises a light-sensitive germanium region (5) located on a waveguide (2) made of silicon or silicon germanium and which has lateral dimensions in a direction transverse to a direction of light propagation in the waveguide that are identical or at most 20 nm per side shorter in comparison with the waveguide. |
| US09640693B2 |
Flexible printed wiring board and photovoltaic module
A flexible printed wiring board includes a first strip-shaped member and a second strip-shaped member each including a conductive part and an insulating part covering the conductive part; and a first connecting member including a conductive part and an insulating part covering the conductive part, the first connecting member connecting a first end of the first strip-shaped member and a first end of the second strip-shaped member to each other. The conductive parts of the first strip-shaped member, the second strip-shaped member, and the first connecting member are continuous with each other. The first strip-shaped member and the second strip-shaped member are capable of being linearly arranged when the first connecting member is bent and the first end of the first strip-shaped member and the first end of the second strip-shaped member face each other. |
| US09640687B2 |
Method for producing the P-N junction of a thin-film photovoltaic cell and corresponding method for producing a photovoltaic cell
A method for producing a P-N junction in a thin film photovoltaic cell comprising a deposition step in which are carried out successively: a layer of precursors of a photovoltaic material of type P or N, a barrier layer and a layer of precursors of a semiconducting material of type N or P, this deposition step being followed by an annealing step carried out with a supply of S and/or Se, this annealing step leading to the formation of an absorbing layer of the type P or N and of a buffer layer of type N or P and of a P-N junction at the interface between said layers. |
| US09640686B2 |
Electro-optical device
An electro-optical device can include a plurality of nanocrystals positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode. |
| US09640684B2 |
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. |
| US09640682B2 |
Device for emitting electromagnetic radiation
A device for emitting electromagnetic radiation includes at least one optical semiconductor element configured to generate electromagnetic radiation, at least one photodiode, and at least one beam splitter. The beam splitter is arranged relative to the optical semiconductor element and the photodiode in such a way that one portion of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the optical semiconductor element passes through the beam splitter and a further portion of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the optical semiconductor element is reflected by the beam splitter and is directed onto the photodiode. |
| US09640680B1 |
Wide-band transparent electrical contacts and interconnects for FPAS and a method of making the same
An optical device includes an optically transparent and electrically conducting conductor including graphene, a network of metal nanowires, or graphene integrated with a network of metal nanowires. The optical device includes a II VI compound semiconductor, a III V compound semiconductor, or InAsSb. |
| US09640677B2 |
Solar cell, solar cell module
Disclosed is a solar cell that comprises a photoelectric conversion body, a first electrode including a first finger portion that is placed on one main surface of the photoelectric conversion body and extends in first direction, a second electrode including a second finger portion which is placed on the one main surface of the photoelectric conversion body to be adjacent to the first finger portion in second direction intersecting the first direction and extends in the first direction, a first insulating layer covering at least part of a tip end portion of the first finger portion, which tip end portion is located on first side in the first direction, and a second insulating layer covering at least part of a tip end portion of the second finger portion, which tip end portion is located on a second side in the first direction. |
| US09640673B2 |
Solar cell and manufacturing method thereof
The manufacturing method of a solar cell includes forming a photoelectric conversion unit and forming an electrode connected to the photoelectric conversion unit. The step of forming the electrode includes forming a seed formation layer connected to the photoelectric conversion unit, forming an anti-oxidation layer on the seed formation layer, performing a thermal process such that a material of the seed formation layer and a material of the photoelectric conversion unit react with each other to form a chemical bonding layer at a portion at which the seed formation layer and the photoelectric conversion unit are adjacent to each other, forming a conductive layer and a capping layer on the seed formation layer in a state in which a mask is used on the seed formation layer, and patterning the seed formation layer using either the conductive layer or the capping layer as a mask. |
| US09640670B2 |
Transistors in display device
It is an object to manufacture a highly reliable display device using a thin film transistor having favorable electric characteristics and high reliability as a switching element. In a bottom gate thin film transistor including an amorphous oxide semiconductor, an oxide conductive layer having a crystal region is formed between an oxide semiconductor layer which has been dehydrated or dehydrogenated by heat treatment and each of a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer which are formed using a metal material. Accordingly, contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor layer and each of the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer can be reduced; thus, a thin film transistor having favorable electric characteristics and a highly reliable display device using the thin film transistor can be provided. |
| US09640666B2 |
Integrated circuit employing variable thickness film
An integrated circuit that includes: providing a substrate including a support structure, a dielectric layer, and a variable thickness film processed to include the dielectric layer within a recess of the variable thickness film; forming a gate over the variable thickness film; and forming a channel and a source/drain within the variable thickness film. |
| US09640661B1 |
FinFET having a fin and a V-shaped epitaxial layer formed on the top surface of the fin and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. First, a substrate is provided, and a fin-shaped structure is formed on the substrate. Next, a gate structure is formed on the fin-shaped structure, and an epitaxial layer is formed adjacent to the gate structure. Preferably, the epitaxial layer includes a V-shaped profile viewing from the top. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the V-shaped profile of the epitaxial layer allows more stress to be applied to the region having concentrated currents or edges of the fin-shaped structures during an on-state, and at the same time prevent exerting too much stress to the region having high currents or central region of the fin-shaped structure during an off-state. |
| US09640657B2 |
Semiconductor device
Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor layer including a first opening can be provided. The first opening can be filled with a stress material. The stress material can then be etched to form a second opening having a width less than a width of the first opening to leave a stress material layer in the semiconductor layer and on each sidewall of the second opening. The semiconductor layer can be etched to form a fin structure on a sidewall surface of the stress material layer. A main gate structure can be formed on the sidewall surface of the fin structure. A back gate structure can be formed on the sidewall surface of the stress material layer. |
| US09640654B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device with improved characteristics is provided. The semiconductor device includes a LDMOS, a source plug electrically coupled to a source region of the LDMOS, a source wiring disposed over the source plug, a drain plug electrically coupled to a drain region of the LDMOS, and a drain wiring disposed over the drain plug. The structure of the source plug of the semiconductor device is devised. The semiconductor device is structured such that the drain plug is linearly disposed to extend in a direction Y, and the source plug includes a plurality of separated source plugs arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction Y. In this way, the separation of the source plug decreases an opposed area between the source plug and the drain plug, and can thus decrease the parasitic capacitance therebetween. |
| US09640649B2 |
III-nitride power semiconductor with a field relaxation feature
A III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes a field relaxation feature to relax the electric fields around the gate thereof to improve the breakdown voltage of the device. |
| US09640646B2 |
Semiconductor device having group III-V material active region and graded gate dielectric
Semiconductor devices having group III-V material active regions and graded gate dielectrics and methods of fabricating such devices are described. In an example, a semiconductor device includes a group III-V material channel region disposed above a substrate. A gate stack is disposed on the group III-V material channel region. The gate stack includes a graded high-k gate dielectric layer disposed directly between the III-V material channel region and a gate electrode. The graded high-k gate dielectric layer has a lower dielectric constant proximate the III-V material channel region and has a higher dielectric constant proximate the gate electrode. Source/drain regions are disposed on either side of the gate stack. |
| US09640644B1 |
Semiconductor device
A planar MOSFET is provided on the upper surface of the N−-type semiconductor substrate in a mesa portion between the trenches. A P+-type emitter layer is provided between the trench and the planar MOSFET in the mesa portion. A P-type collector layer is provided on a lower surface of the N−-type semiconductor substrate. The planar MOSFET includes an N+-type emitter layer, an upper portion of the N−-type semiconductor substrate, a P-type base layer, and a planar gate on the foregoing with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The planar gate is connected to the gate trench. The P+-type emitter layer has a higher impurity concentration than the P-type base layer and has an electric potential equal to an emitter potential of the N+-type emitter layer. The N+-type emitter layer is not in contact with the trench. A trench MOSFET is not formed. |
| US09640629B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate electrode. The gate electrode includes a first electrode formed on the substrate, the first electrode having a first conductive property, with a first insulating film between the first electrode and the substrate, and a second electrode formed on the substrate, the second electrode having a second conductive property different from the first conductive property, with a second insulating film between the second electrode and the substrate. The first electrode is formed in a rectangular shape having a hollow portion. A slit is formed in a side surface of the first electrode extending in a width direction of the gate electrode. The second electrode is formed in the slit and along the side surface of the first electrode that has the slit. |
| US09640628B2 |
Semiconductor device having fin-shaped semiconductor layer
An SGT production method includes a first step of forming a fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate and forming a first insulating film; a second step of forming a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a first dummy gate, and a first hard mask formed from a third insulating film; a third step of forming a second hard mask on a side wall of the first hard mask, and forming a second dummy gate; a fourth step of forming a sidewall and forming a second diffusion layer; a fifth step of depositing an interlayer insulating film, exposing upper portions of the second dummy gate and the first dummy gate, removing the second dummy gate and the first dummy gate, forming a first gate insulating film, and forming a gate electrode and a gate line; and a sixth step of forming a first contact and a second contact. |
| US09640626B2 |
Semiconductor device with buried gates and bit line contacting peripheral gate
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a cell region and a peripheral region, a buried gate formed over the substrate of the cell region, a peripheral gate formed over the substrate of the peripheral region and comprising a conductive layer, an inter-layer dielectric layer that covers the substrate, and a peripheral bit line formed inside the inter-layer dielectric layer and contacting the conductive layer. |
| US09640621B2 |
Glass-ceramic substrates for semiconductor processing
Embodiments are directed to glass-ceramic substrates with a III-V semiconductor layer, for example, a GaN layer that can be used in LED lighting devices. The glass-ceramics material is in the anorthite-rutile (CaAl2Si2O8+TiO2) family or in the cordierite-enstatite (SiO2—Al2O3—MgO—TiO2) family. |
| US09640620B2 |
High power transistor with oxide gate barriers
A method of fabricating a gate stack for a power transistor device includes thermally oxidizing a surface of a Group IIIA-N layer on a substrate to form a first dielectric layer of an oxide material that is >5A thick. A second dielectric layer being silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride is deposited on the first dielectric layer. A metal gate electrode is formed on the second dielectric layer. |
| US09640618B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor device, method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device and method of designing silicon carbide semiconductor device
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide layer 32 of a first conductivity type, a silicon carbide layer 36 of a second conductivity type, a gate trench 20, a gate electrode 79 provided in the gate trench 20, and a protection trench 10 formed to a greater depth than the gate trench 20. A region in the horizontal direction that includes both the gate trench 20 and a protection trench 10 that surrounds only a part of the gate trench 20 in the horizontal direction is a cell region, and a region in the horizontal direction that includes a protection trench 10 and in which a gate pad 89 or a lead electrode connected to the gate pad 89 is disposed is a gate region. |
| US09640614B2 |
Integrated device with raised locos insulation regions and process for manufacturing such device
An integrated device includes a semiconductor body including an STI insulating structure that laterally delimits first active areas and at least one second active area in a low-voltage region and in a power region of the semiconductor body, respectively. Low-voltage CMOS components are housed in the first active areas. A power component, formed in the second active area, includes a source region, a body region, a drain-contact region, and at least one LOCOS insulation region. The insulating region is arranged between the body region and the drain-contact region and has a prominent portion that emerges from a surface of the semiconductor body, and an embedded portion inside it. The prominent portion of the LOCOS insulation region has a volume greater than that of the embedded portion. |
| US09640609B2 |
Double guard ring edge termination for silicon carbide devices
Edge termination structures for semiconductor devices are provided including a plurality of spaced apart concentric floating guard rings in a semiconductor layer that at least partially surround a semiconductor junction. The spaced apart concentric floating guard rings have a highly doped portion and a lightly doped portion. Related methods of fabricating devices are also provided herein. |
| US09640606B2 |
Electricity storage device and method for manufacturing electricity storage device
An electricity storage device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an electricity storage layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer. The electricity storage layer is placed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electricity storage layer contains a mixture of an insulating material and n-type semiconductor particles. The p-type semiconductor layer is placed between the electricity storage layer and the second electrode. The n-type semiconductor particles contain at least one of a titanium-niobium composite oxide and a titanium-tantalum composite oxide. |
| US09640604B2 |
Small size and fully integrated power converter with magnetics on chip
An integrated circuit has a semiconductor die provided in a first IC layer and an inductor fabricated on a second IC layer. The inductor may have a winding and a magnetic core, which are oriented to conduct magnetic flux in a direction parallel to a surface of a semiconductor die. The semiconductor die may have active circuit components fabricated in a first layer of the die, provided under the inductor layer. The integrated circuit may include a flux conductor provided on a side of the die opposite the first layer. PCB connections to active elements on the semiconductor die may progress through the inductor layer as necessary. |
| US09640602B2 |
Semiconductor device including magnetically coupled monolithic integrated coils
A semiconductor device includes a first coil that is monolithically integrated in a first portion of a semiconductor body and that includes a first winding wrapping around a first core structure. A second coil is monolithically integrated in a second portion of the semiconductor body and includes a second winding wrapping around the second core structure. The first and second coils are magnetically coupled with each other. An insulator frame in the semiconductor body surrounds the first portion and excludes the second portion. High dielectric strength between the first and the second coils is achieved without patterning a backside metallization for connecting the turns of the windings and without being restricted to thin substrates. |
| US09640596B2 |
Flexible display panel, manufacturing method thereof and display device
A flexible display panel comprises a display element (100) and a drive unit (50) disposed on a first surface (A) of a flexible base (20) and a supporting substrate (200) disposed on a second surface (B), opposite to the first surface (A), of the flexible base (20). The position of the supporting substrate (200) corresponds to a bonding position (C) of the drive unit (50). The flexible display panel can avoid a bonding alignment deviation caused by a deformation of the flexible display panel during a bonding process. |
| US09640593B2 |
Touch organic light emitting diode display device and manufacturing method thereof
A touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, including: a thin film transistor formed on one side of a substrate, a touch signal feedback layer formed on the thin film transistor, a luminous substrate provided on the touch signal feedback layer, and a touch signal receiving layer formed on the other side of the substrate. An anode layer of the luminous substrate is connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor. As to the touch-sensitive OLED display device, a touch screen and an OLED display portion are prepared integratedly, so that the weight and thickness of the display itself are greatly reduced, and the production cost is saved. A manufacturing method of the touch-sensitive OLED display device is further disclosed. |
| US09640592B2 |
Method for forming functional layer of organic light-emitting device and method for manufacturing organic light-emitting device
A method of forming a hole transport layer in which an amount of ink per unit surface area to be applied to a plurality of groove regions is set so as to decrease in an order R, G, B. Prior to applying the ink, a nozzle head is scanned across while applying only solvent to each of the groove regions. At this time, an amount of the solvent to be applied to the groove regions is set so as to increase in the order R, G, B. |
| US09640590B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display and fabrication method thereof
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and fabrication method thereof are provided. The OLED display includes an organic light-emitting layer comprising a plurality of primary color regions and a plurality of mixed color regions, wherein the primary color regions and the mixed color regions have the same light emitting direction. A color shift prevention layer is disposed above or under the organic light-emitting layer, the color shift prevention layer comprising a plurality of opaque patterns disposed on the light emitting direction of the corresponding mixed color regions. The color shift prevention layer incorporated in the OLED display is able to block the mixed light emitted from the mixed color regions of the organic light-emitting layer. Therefore, the color shift problem can be solved. |
| US09640587B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device having vertical channel and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit device having a vertical channel and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A plurality of active lines are formed in a semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode having a lower height than each active line is formed on a sidewall of the active line. A first insulating layer having a height lower than that of the active line and higher than that of the gate electrode is buried between active lines, and a silicide layer is formed on an exposed upper surface and a lateral surface of the active line. |
| US09640576B2 |
Image sensing device and method for fabricating the same
An image sensing device includes: an active layer with a plurality of photo-sensing elements; a color pattern disposed over one of the photo-sensing elements, wherein the color pattern has a color selected from the group consisting of red (R), green (G), and blue (B); a microlens disposed on the color pattern; and a transmissive pattern being adjacent to the color pattern and over another one of the photo-sensing elements, wherein the transmissive pattern includes a color filter portion and a microlens portion, and an absolute value of a difference of refractive indexes between the microlens and the color pattern is less than 0.3, and there is no difference of refractive indexes between the microlens portion and the color filter portion of the transmissive pattern. |
| US09640562B2 |
Display panel
A display panel is disclosed and includes an active area and a non-active area. A first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth charging scanning lines and a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth charge-sharing scanning lines of an array unit on the active area are connected to a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth pixel row, respectively. A first, a second, and a third detection lines on the non-active area are connected to the active area. |
| US09640561B2 |
Flexible display with bent edge regions
An electronic device may have a flexible display with portions that are bent along a bend axis. The display may have display circuitry such as an array of display pixels in an active area. Contact pads may be formed in an inactive area of the display. Signal lines may couple the display pixels to the contact pads. The signal lines may overlap the bend axis in the inactive area of the display. During fabrication, an etch stop may be formed on the display that overlaps the bend axis. The etch stop may prevent over etching of dielectric such as a buffer layer on a polymer flexible display substrate. A layer of polymer that serves as a neutral stress plane adjustment layer may be formed over the signal lines in the inactive area of the display. Upon bending, the neutral stress plane adjustment layer helps prevent stress in the signal lines. |
| US09640558B2 |
Semiconductor device, display device, and electronic appliance
In case the size of the transistor is enlarged, power consumption of the transistor is increased. Thus, the present invention provides a display device capable of preventing a current from flowing to a display element in signal writing operation without varying potentials of power source lines for supplying a current to the display element per row. In setting a gate-source voltage of a transistor by applying a predetermined current to the transistor, a potential of a gate terminal of the transistor is adjusted so as to prevent a current from flowing to a load connected to a source terminal of the transistor. Therefore, a potential of a wire connected to the gate terminal of the transistor is differentiated from a potential of a wire connected to a drain terminal of the transistor. |
| US09640557B2 |
TFT array substrate and method for producing the same
A TFT array substrate has an organic insulating film formed of a photosensitive organic resin material. A common electrode and a lead-out wiring are formed on the organic insulating film, and a pixel electrode is formed above the common electrode with an interlayer insulating film provided between them. The pixel electrode is connected to the lead-out wiring through a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film. The lead-out wiring and the common electrode are connected to a drain electrode and a common wiring, respectively, through contact holes formed in the organic insulating film. A metal cap film is provided on each of the lead-out wiring and the common electrode in the contact holes formed in the organic insulating film. |
| US09640556B2 |
Thin film transistor
Provided is a thin film transistor that has high mobility and excellent stress resistance and is good typically in adaptability to wet etching process. The thin film transistor includes a substrate, and, disposed on the substrate in the following sequence, a gate electrode, a gate insulator film, oxide semiconductor layers, source-drain electrodes, and a passivation film that protects the source-drain electrodes. The oxide semiconductor layers have a first oxide semiconductor layer including In, Ga, Zn, Sn, and O, and a second oxide semiconductor layer including In, Ga, Sn, and O. The second oxide semiconductor layer is disposed on the gate insulator film. The first oxide semiconductor layer is disposed between the second oxide semiconductor layer and the passivation film. The atomic ratios in contents of the individual metal elements to all the metal elements constituting the first and the second oxide semiconductor layers are controlled to predetermined ratios. |
| US09640551B2 |
Passive device and radio frequency module formed on high resistivity substrate
In embodiments, a radio frequency (RF) module includes an RF switching device, an RF active device, a passive device and a control device formed on a high resistivity substrate. The passive device can include a shallow trench device isolation region having a plate shape and formed at a surface portion of the high resistivity substrate, deep trench device isolation regions extending downward from a lower surface of the shallow trench device isolation region so as to define at least one isolated region therebetween, at least one insulating layer formed on the high resistivity substrate, and at least one passive component formed on the insulating layer. |
| US09640550B2 |
Semiconductor device having three-dimensional structure and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor pattern; conductive layers each including a first portion through which the semiconductor pattern passes and a second portion having a thickness greater than the first portion, wherein the first portion of each conductive layer includes a first barrier pattern surrounding the semiconductor pattern and a material pattern, which is formed in the first barrier pattern and has an etch selectivity with respect to the first barrier pattern, and the second portion of each conductive layer includes a conductive pattern; and contact plugs connected to the second portion of each of the conductive layers. |
| US09640549B2 |
Vertical memory device with gate lines at the same level connected
A vertical memory device includes a substrate, a channel, gate lines and a connecting portion. A plurality of the channels extend in a first direction which is vertical to a top surface of a substrate. A plurality of the gate lines are stacked in the first direction to be spaced apart from each other and extend in a second, lengthwise direction, each gate line intersecting a set of channels and surrounding outer sidewalls of each channel of the set of channels. The gate lines forms a stepped structure which includes a plurality of vertical levels. A connecting portion connects a group of gate lines of the plurality of gate lines located at the same vertical level, the connecting portion diverging from the second direction in which the gate lines of the group of gate lines extend. |
| US09640547B2 |
Stacked multilayer structure and manufacturing method thereof
A stacked multilayer structure according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a stacked layer part including a plurality of conducting layers and a plurality of insulating layers, said plurality of insulating layers being stacked alternately with each layer of said plurality of conducting layers, one of said plurality of insulating layers being a topmost layer among said plurality of conducting layers and said plurality of insulating layers; and a plurality of contacts, each contact of said plurality of contacts being formed from said topmost layer and each contact of said plurality of contacts being in contact with a respective conducting layer of said plurality of conducting layers, a side surface of each of said plurality of contacts being insulated from said plurality of conducting layers via an insulating film. |
| US09640545B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices including vertical NAND channels and methods of forming the same
A non-volatile memory device can include a plurality of immediately adjacent offset vertical NAND channels that are electrically coupled to a single upper select gate line or to a single lower select gate line of the non-volatile memory device. |
| US09640543B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device may include: a plurality of source-side half channels positioned in a first region and arranged in first to 2Nth rows, wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 2; a plurality of first drain-side half channels positioned in a second region at one side of the first region and arranged in first to Nth rows; a plurality of second drain-side half channels positioned in a third region at the other side of the first region and arranged in first to Nth rows; a plurality of first pipe channels suitable for connecting the first to Nth rows of source-side half channels to the first to Nth rows of first drain-side half channels, respectively; and a plurality of second pipe channels suitable for connecting the (N+1)th to 2Nth rows of source-side half channels to the first to Nth rows of second drain-side half channels, respectively. |
| US09640539B2 |
Self aligned active trench contact
An integrated circuit and method includes self-aligned contacts. A gapfill dielectric layer fills spaces between sidewalls of adjacent MOS gates. The gapfill dielectric layer is planarized down to tops of gate structures. A contact pattern is formed that exposes an area for multiple self-aligned contacts. The area overlaps adjacent instances of the gate structures. The gapfill dielectric layer is removed from the area. A contact metal layer is formed in the areas where the gapfill dielectric material has been removed. The contact metal abuts the sidewalls along the height of the sidewalls. The contact metal is planarized down to the tops of the gate structures, forming the self-aligned contacts. |
| US09640536B2 |
Method to make dual material finFET on same substrate
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the device are provided. The semiconductor device has a substrate having a first device region and a second device region. A p-type fin field effect transistor is formed in the first device region. The p-type fin field effect transistor has a first fin structure comprised of a first semiconductor material. An n-type fin field effect transistor is formed in the second device region. The n-type fin field effect transistor has a second fin structure comprised of a second semiconductor material that is different than the first semiconductor material. To fabricate the semiconductor device, a substrate having an active layer present on a dielectric layer is provided. The active layer is etched to provide a first region having the first fin structure and a second region having a mandrel structure. The second fin structure is formed on a sidewall of the mandrel structure. |
| US09640531B1 |
Semiconductor device, structure and methods
A 3D semiconductor device, including: a first layer including first transistors; a second layer overlaying the first layer, the second layer including second transistors, where the second layer includes at least one thru layer via with a diameter less than 200 nm, where the second layer includes an oscillator, and where the oscillator has a frequency stability of less than 100 ppm error/° C. |
| US09640523B2 |
Lateral-diode, vertical-SCR hybrid structure for high-level ESD protection
A lateral p-n diode in the center of and surrounded by a vertical Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR) forms an Electro-Static-Discharge (ESD) protection structure. The lateral p-n diode has a cross-shaped P+ diode tap with four rectangles of N+ diode regions in each corner of the cross. A P-well under the P+ diode tap is also an anode of a vertical PNPN SCR that has a deep N-well in a P-substrate. The deep N-well surrounds the lateral diode. Triggering MOS transistors are formed just beyond the four ends of the cross shaped P+ diode tap. Each triggering MOS transistor has N+ regions at the edge of the deep N-well and in the P-substrate that act as the cathode terminals. A deep P+ implant region under the N+ region at the edge of the deep N-well decreases a trigger voltage of the vertical SCR. |
| US09640519B2 |
Photo-sensitive silicon package embedding self-powered electronic system
A self-powered electronic system comprises a first chip (401) of single-crystalline semiconductor embedded in a second chip (302) of single-crystalline semiconductor shaped as a container bordered by ridges. The assembled chips are nested and form an electronic device assembled, in turn, in a slab of weakly p-doped low-grade silicon shaped as a container (330) bordered by ridges (331). The flat side (335) of the slab includes a heavily n-doped region (314) forming a pn-junction (315) with the p-type bulk. A metal-filled deep silicon via (350) through the p-type ridge (331) connects the n-region with the terminal (322) on the ridge surface as cathode of the photovoltaic cell with the p-region as anode. The voltage across the pn-junction serves as power source of the device. |
| US09640518B2 |
Semiconductor package with package-on-package stacking capability and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a method of making a semiconductor package with package-on-package stacking capability. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the method is characterized by forming through openings that extend through a metallic carrier between first and second surfaces of the metallic carrier, attaching a chip-on-interposer subassembly on the metallic carrier using an adhesive, with the chip inserted into a cavity of the metallic carrier, and with the chip-on-interposer subassembly attached to the metallic carrier, forming first and second buildup circuitry on a first surface of the interposer and the second surface of the metallic carrier, respectively, and subsequently forming plated through holes that extend into the through openings to provide electrical and thermal connections between the first and second buildup circuitry. The method and resulting device advantageously provides vertical signal routing and stacking capability for a semiconductor package. |
| US09640517B2 |
Stacked electronic packages
A stacked electronic package includes a substrate and conductive straps each having sides, a top, and a bottom opposite the top. Each conductive strap is coupled along the bottom to an upper surface of the substrate and is separate from others of the conductive straps. A length of at least one of the sides is greater than a width of at least another one of the sides. An encapsulant extends over the upper surface and side surfaces of the substrate and the sides of the conductive straps. A passive electronic component is disposed over the conductive straps, and each conductive strap is coupled along the top to a terminal of the passive electronic component. |
| US09640516B2 |
Flexible display apparatus and methods
A flexible display includes a plurality of pixel chips, chixels, provided on a flexible substrate. The chixels and the light emitters thereon may be shaped, sized and arranged to minimize chixel, pixel, and sub-pixel gaps and to provide a desired bend radius of the display. The flexible substrate may include light manipulators, such as filters, light converters and the like to manipulate the light emitted from light emitters of the chixels. The light manipulators may be arranged to minimize chixel gaps between adjacent chixels. |
| US09640515B2 |
Multiple die stacking for two or more die
A microelectronic package can include a substrate having first and second opposed surfaces, and first and second microelectronic elements having front surfaces facing the first surface. The substrate can have a plurality of substrate contacts at the first surface and a plurality of terminals at the second surface. Each microelectronic element can have a plurality of element contacts at the front surface thereof. The element contacts can be joined with corresponding ones of the substrate contacts. The front surface of the second microelectronic element can partially overlie a rear surface of the first microelectronic element and can be attached thereto. The element contacts of the first microelectronic element can be arranged in an area array and are flip-chip bonded with a first set of the substrate contacts. The element contacts of the second microelectronic element can be joined with a second set of the substrate contacts by conductive masses. |
| US09640514B1 |
Wafer bonding using boron and nitrogen based bonding stack
A bonding material stack for wafer-to-wafer bonding is provided. The bonding material stack may include a plurality of layers each including boron and nitrogen. In one embodiment, the plurality of layers may include: a first boron oxynitride layer for adhering to a wafer; a boron nitride layer over the first boron oxynitride layer; a second boron oxynitride layer over the boron nitride layer; and a silicon-containing boron oxynitride layer over the second boron oxynitride layer. |
| US09640512B2 |
Wire bonding apparatus comprising an oscillator mechanism
A wire bonding apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer including a capillary, a flexible connecting frame having a first side to which the ultrasonic transducer is connected and at least one electrically-driven actuator which is connected to a second side of the flexible connecting frame that is opposite to the first side thereof, the actuator having a longitudinal actuation direction. An elongated slit located in the flexible connecting frame extends substantially transversely to the actuation direction of the at least one actuator to form at least one pivot point adjacent to an end of the slit about which the flexible connecting frame is rotatable when it is driven by the at least one actuator. |
| US09640509B1 |
Advanced metal-to-metal direct bonding
A first semiconductor structure having a first metallic structure that has a convex outermost surface and a second semiconductor structure having a second metallic structure that has a concave outermost surface are first provided. The first and second metallic structures are provided utilizing liner systems that have an opposite galvanic reaction to the metal or metal alloy that constitutes the first and second metallic structures such that during a planarization process the metal liners have a different removal rate than the metal or metal alloy that constitutes the first and second metallic structures. The first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure are then bonded together such that the convex outermost surface of the first metallic structure is in direct contact with the concave outermost surface of the second metallic structure. |
| US09640508B2 |
Electrical apparatus
An electrical apparatus includes a first electrical component; a second electrical component; and an In—Sn—Ag alloy connecting the first electrical component and the second electrical component, the In—Sn—Ag alloy containing AgIn2 and Ag2In, a Ag2In content being lower than a AgIn2 content. |
| US09640507B2 |
Bonding method, bonding apparatus, and method for manufacturing substrate
A bonding method for bonding a semiconductor chip to an underlying structure includes aligning an electrical contact of a lower surface of the semiconductor chip with an electrical connection member of an upper surface of the underlying structure, the electrical contact at least partially encased by a support material. The method further includes first heating the semiconductor chip and the underlying structure, deforming the electrical contact, and curing the support material encasing the deformed electrical contact. The method still further includes second heating the semiconductor chip and the underlying structure to bond the electrical contact of the semiconductor chip to the electrical connection member of the underlying structure while maintaining the support material in a cured state. |
| US09640500B2 |
Terminal structure and semiconductor device
The present invention relates to a terminal structure comprising; a base material 10; an external electrode 20 formed on the base material; an insulating coating layer 30 formed on the base material and on the electrode and having an opening exposing at least part of the electrode; an under-bump metal layer 70 filling the opening and covering part of the insulating coating layer; and a dome-shaped bump 85 covering the under-bump metal layer, wherein in a cross section along a lamination direction, the under-bump metal layer has a convex shape toward the bump, and the thickness Tu0 of the under-bump metal layer at a center of the opening is equal to or greater than the thickness Tu1 of the under-bump metal layer at an end portion of the opening. |
| US09640495B2 |
Semiconductor device processing method for material removal
A method of removing at least a portion of a layer of material from over a semiconductor substrate that can include dispensing an etching solution over the semiconductor substrate to form a pool of etching solution on the layer of material, wherein a footprint of the pool of etching solution is less than a footprint of the semiconductor substrate. The pool of etching solution and the semiconductor substrate can be moved with respect to each other. A pool boundary of the pool of etching solution can be defined on the semiconductor substrate with at least one air-knife such that the pool of etching solution etches the layer of material over the semiconductor substrate within the footprint of the pool of etching solution. The etching solution and at least a portion of the layer of material etched by the etching solution can be removed with the at least one air-knife. |
| US09640494B1 |
Grounded die seal integrated circuit structure for RF circuits
An integrated circuit (IC) structure for radio frequency circuits having a grounded die seal that mitigates the effects of parasitic coupling through the die seal. Embodiments include conductive grounding ties that each electrically couple one or more of the internal grounding pads on an IC die within the magnetic loop formed by the die seal ring to an adjacent extent of an IC die seal. Induced parasitic energy within the die seal ring is quickly coupled to ground through the corresponding grounding ties and grounding pads. Accordingly, very little, if any, induced parasitic energy is propagated around the die seal ring. |
| US09640485B2 |
Bridge interconnection with layered interconnect structures
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards techniques and configurations for layered interconnect structures for bridge interconnection in integrated circuit assemblies. In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a substrate and a bridge embedded in the substrate. The bridge may be configured to route electrical signals between two dies. An interconnect structure, electrically coupled with the bridge, may include a via structure including a first conductive material, a barrier layer including a second conductive material disposed on the via structure, and a solderable material including a third conductive material disposed on the barrier layer. The first conductive material, the second conductive material, and the third conductive material may have different chemical composition. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09640481B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming first patterns on a workpiece layer, and forming second patterns containing a first metal on side faces of the first patterns. The method further includes removing the first patterns after forming the second patterns, and forming third patterns on side faces of the second patterns by a chemical change of the first metal after removing the first patterns. The method further includes removing the second patterns after forming the third patterns, and processing the workpiece layer by using the third patterns as a mask after removing the second patterns. |
| US09640480B2 |
Cross-couple in multi-height sequential cells for uni-directional M1
A MOS device includes first, second, third, and fourth interconnects. The first interconnect extends on a first track in a first direction. The first interconnect is configured in a metal layer. The second interconnect extends on the first track in the first direction. The second interconnect is configured in the metal layer. The third interconnect extends on a second track in the first direction. The third interconnect is configured in the metal layer. The second track is parallel to the first track. The third interconnect is coupled to the second interconnect. The second and third interconnects are configured to provide a first signal. The fourth interconnect extends on the second track in the first direction. The fourth interconnect is configured in the metal layer. The fourth interconnect is coupled to the first interconnect. The first and fourth interconnects are configured to provide a second signal different than the first signal. |
| US09640478B2 |
Semiconductor device having low dielectric insulating film and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a structure portion is provided except a peripheral portion thereof, and has a laminated structure including low dielectric films and wiring lines, the low dielectric films having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or lower and a glass transition temperature of 400° C. or higher. An insulating film is formed on the structure portion. A connection pad portion is arranged on the insulating film and connected to an uppermost wiring line of the laminated structure portion. A bump electrode is provided on the connection pad portion. A sealing film made of an organic resin is provided on a part of the insulating film which surrounds the bump electrode. Side surfaces of the laminated structure portion are covered with the insulating film and/or the sealing film. |
| US09640476B2 |
Driving circuit and pin output order arranging method
A driving circuit and a pin output order arranging method are disclosed. The driving circuit includes (M*N) pins and an arranging module. A first pin˜an N-th pin of the (M*N) pins, a (N+1)-th pin˜an 2N-th pin of the (M*N) pins, . . . , a [(M−1)*N+1]-th pin˜a (M*N)-th pin of the (M*N) pins are arranged along a first direction in a specific distance spaced to form a first row of pins˜an M-th row of pins. The first row of pins˜the M-th row of pins are staggered along a second direction in a staggering way or an aligning way. M and N are integers larger than 1. The arranging module correspondingly arranges the pin output order of the (M*N) pins according to different application modes of the driving circuit. |
| US09640469B2 |
Matrix lid heatspreader for flip chip package
A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing a lead frame based thermally enhanced flip chip package with an exposed heat spreader lid array (310) designed for direct attachment to an array of integrated circuit die (306) by including a thermal interface adhesion layer (308) to each die (306) and encapsulating the attached heat spreader lid array (310) and array of integrated circuit die (306) with mold compound (321) except for planar upper lid surfaces of the heat spreader lids (312). |
| US09640466B1 |
Packaged semiconductor device with a lead frame and method for forming
A method of manufacturing a packaged semiconductor device includes patterning and plating silver nanoparticles in bonding areas of a lead frame, forming a hydrophilic group while oxidizing the silver nanoparticles, forming wire bonds on the silver nanoparticles, and encapsulating the wire bonds and the silver nanoparticles. |
| US09640460B2 |
Semiconductor device with a heat-dissipating plate
A semiconductor device of the present invention includes: a first substrate (1) on which a power semiconductor element (2) is mounted; a heat-dissipating plate (12); an insulating layer (11) disposed between the first substrate (1) and the heat-dissipating plate (12); and molding resin (4) that molds the first substrate (1), the heat-dissipating plate (12), and the insulating layer (11). The heat-dissipating plate (12) has a first surface opposite to the insulating layer (12), the first surface being exposed from the molding resin (4). The insulating layer (11) has a curved area (11a) that is curved to the first surface and an end that is located in the molding resin (4). |
| US09640452B2 |
Electronic component housing package and electronic device
An electronic component housing package has an input/output member that is bonded to a hole part of a frame body via a brazing material. This input/output member has a top surface that is bonded to first side wall parts and a second side wall part inside the first side wall parts, and the top surface is provided with a narrow part having a narrow width at a portion that is bonded to the first side wall part. When the input/output member is bonded, the flow of the brazing material on the top surface can be controlled by the narrow part. |
| US09640444B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device with a field effect transistor. The method may include forming a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode extending substantially parallel to each other and each crossing a PMOSFET region on a substrate and an NMOSFET region on the substrate; forming an interlayered insulating layer covering the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode; patterning the interlayered insulating layer to form a first sub contact hole on the first gate electrode, the first sub contact hole being positioned between the PMOSFET region and the NMOSFET region, when viewed in a plan view; and patterning the interlayered insulating layer to form a first gate contact hole and to expose a top surface of the second gate electrode, wherein the first sub contact hole and the first gate contact hole form a single communication hole. |
| US09640439B2 |
Semiconductor device, related manufacturing method, and related electronic device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device may include the following steps: providing a semiconductor substrate structure; providing a substrate-connecting barrier layer on the semiconductor substrate structure; performing one or more iterations of a composite-layer formation process to provide a gate-connecting barrier layer, wherein the composite-layer formation process comprises: applying a silicon-containing compound set to an outmost existing barrier layer to form an amorphous silicon layer, and forming an overlying barrier layer on the amorphous silicon layer, wherein the substrate-connecting barrier layer is the outmost existing barrier layer for a first iteration of the one or more iterations, and wherein the gate-connecting barrier layer is the overlying barrier layer resulted from a last iteration of the one or more iterations; and providing a conductive gate layer on the gate-connecting barrier layer. |
| US09640438B2 |
Integrated circuits with inactive gates and methods of manufacturing the same
Integrated circuits and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. A method for producing an integrated circuit includes forming a first active dummy gate, a second active dummy gate, and an inactive gate overlying a substrate. The first active dummy gate is replaced with a first metal gate, where replacing the first active dummy gate includes planarizing the first metal gate, the second active dummy gate, and the inactive gate. The second active dummy gate is replaced with a second replacement metal after the first active dummy gate was replaced, where the inactive gate remains overlying the substrate. |
| US09640436B1 |
MOSFET with asymmetric self-aligned contact
A semiconductor device includes a source and drain on a substrate; a first and second gate on the source, and the second gate and a third gate on the drain; a source contact over the source and between the first and second gates, the source contact including first and second portions, the first portion in contact with the source and extending between the first and second gates, and the second portion contacting the first portion and extending over the first and second gates; and a drain contact formed over the drain and between the second and third gates, the drain contact including first and second portions, the first portion contacting the drain, extending between second and third gates, and recessed with respect to the first portion of the source contact, and the second portion in contact with the first portion and extending between and over the second and third gates. |
| US09640431B2 |
Method for via plating with seed layer
Presented herein is a method for plating comprising providing a substrate having a dielectric layer formed over a trace, and forming a via/trench opening extending through the dielectric layer, the via/trench opening exposing a surface of the trace. The method further comprises forming a seed layer in the via/trench opening and contacting the trace and forming a protection layer over the seed layer. The protection layer is removed and a conductive layer deposited on the seed layer in a single plating process step by applying a plating solution in the via/trench opening. |
| US09640427B2 |
Semiconductor structure and fabrication method thereof
A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate; and forming an ultra-low-dielectric-constant (ULK) dielectric layer on a surface of the substrate. The method also includes etching the ultra-low-dielectric-constant dielectric layer to form a trench in the ultra-low-dielectric-constant dielectric layer; and performing an inert plasma treatment process on a side surface of the trench. Further, the method includes performing a carbonization process on the side surface of the trench; and performing a nitridation process on the side surface of the trench to form a SiCNH layer on the side surface of the trench. |
| US09640425B2 |
System for making and cleaning semiconductor device
Various embodiments provide methods and systems for making and/or cleaning semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device can be formed including a metal layer and a photoresist polymer. During formation, the semiconductor device can be cleaned in a cleaning chamber by a first cleaning solution provided from a solution supply device. After this cleaning process, a second cleaning solution containing metal ions and/or polymer residues can be produced and processed in a solution processing device to at least partially remove the metal ions and/or polymer residues to produce a third cleaning solution for re-use. In an exemplary fabrication or cleaning system, the solution processing device may be configured connecting to either an inlet or an outlet of the cleaning chamber. After cleaning, the semiconductor device can be processed to include a metal plug or an interconnect wiring. |
| US09640421B2 |
Monolithic integration techniques for fabricating photodetectors with transistors on same substrate
Examples of the various techniques introduced here include, but not limited to, a mesa height adjustment approach during shallow trench isolation formation, a transistor via first approach, and a multiple absorption layer approach. As described further below, the techniques introduced herein include a variety of aspects that can individually and/or collectively resolve or mitigate one or more traditional limitations involved with manufacturing PDs and transistors on the same substrate, such as above discussed reliability, performance, and process temperature issues. |
| US09640418B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for handling aligned wafer pairs
An industrial-scale apparatus, system, and method for handling precisely aligned and centered semiconductor wafer pairs for wafer-to-wafer aligning and bonding applications includes an end effector having a frame member and a floating carrier connected to the frame member with a gap formed therebetween, wherein the floating carrier has a semi-circular interior perimeter. The centered semiconductor wafer pairs are positionable within a processing system using the end effector under robotic control. The centered semiconductor wafer pairs are bonded together without the presence of the end effector in the bonding device. |
| US09640415B2 |
Robust ink formulations for durable markings on microelectronic packages and its extendibility as a barrier material for thermal and sealant materials
Methods for covalently and indelibly anchoring a polyacrylate polymer using a UV-induced polymerization process in the presence of a photoinitiator to an oxide surface are disclosed herein. The methods and compositions prepared by the methods can be used as indelible marking materials for use on microelectronic packages and as solder and sealant barriers to prevent overspreading of liquids on the oxide surfaces of microelectronic packages. The polyacrylate polymers are covalently linked to the oxide surface by use during the printing and UV-curing process of an adhesion promoter having as a first domain an oxide-reactive silyl group, bonded via a linker to an acrylate-reactive group. |
| US09640414B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device formed by mounting a chip laminate including a semiconductor chip having a small diameter and a semiconductor chip having a large diameter over the top surface of a substrate, an excessive stress is prevented from being added to a joint of the two semiconductor chips. By mounting a first semiconductor chip having a large diameter over a support substrate and thereafter mounting a second semiconductor chip having a small diameter over the first semiconductor chip, it is possible to: suppress the inclination and unsteadiness of the second semiconductor chip mounted over the first semiconductor chip; and hence inhibit an excessive stress from being added to a joint of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip. |
| US09640413B2 |
Etching-before-packaging horizontal chip 3D system-level metal circuit board structure and technique thereof
Provided is an etching-before-packaging horizontal chip three-dimensional system level metal circuit board structure comprising a metal substrate frame; the metal substrate frame is provided with base islands and pins therein; the front faces of the base islands are provided with chips; the front faces of the chips are connected to the front faces of the pins via metal wires; conductive posts are disposed on the front faces or back faces of the pins; the peripheral areas of the base islands, the areas between the base islands and the pins, the areas between the pins, the areas above the base islands and the pins, the areas below the base islands and the pins, and the exteriors of the chips, the metal wires and the conductive posts are all encapsulated with molding compound. |
| US09640411B2 |
Method for manufacturing a transistor device comprising a germanium channel material on a silicon based substrate, and associated transistor device
Method for manufacturing a transistor device comprising a germanium channel material on a silicon based substrate, the method comprising providing a shallow trench isolation (STI) substrate comprising a silicon protrusion embedded in STI dielectric structures, and partially recessing the silicon protrusion in order to provide a trench in between adjacent STI structures, and to provide a V-shaped groove at an upper surface of the recessed protrusion. The method also includes growing a Si1-xGex SRB layer in the trenches, and growing a germanium based channel layer on the Si1-xGex SRB layer. In this example, the Si1-xGex SRB layer comprises a germanium content x that is within the range of 20% to 99%, and the SRB layer has a thickness less than 400 nm. The present disclosure also relates to an associated transistor device. |
| US09640408B2 |
Fast-gas switching for etching
A method for etching a layer in a plasma chamber with an inner injection zone gas feed and an outer injection zone gas feed is provided. The layer is placed in the plasma chamber. A pulsed etch gas is provided from the inner injection zone gas feed at a first frequency, wherein flow of pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed is ramped down to zero. The pulsed etch gas is provided from the outer injection zone gas feed at the first frequency and simultaneous with and out of phase with the pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed. The etch gas is formed into a plasma to etch the layer, simultaneous with the providing the pulsed etch gas from the inner injection zone gas feed and providing the pulsed gas from the outer interjection zone gas feed. |
| US09640402B1 |
Methods for gate formation in circuit structures
Methods for forming a gate structure of a circuit structure are provide. The methods for forming the gate structure may include: forming a first gate pattern in a gate mask layer, the forming including a first etching of rounded corner portions of the first gate pattern; forming a second gate pattern in the gate mask layer, the second gate pattern at least partially overlapping the first gate pattern, the forming including a second etching of rounded corner portions of the second gate pattern; and, etching the gate mask layer using the first gate pattern and second gate pattern to form the gate structure. |
| US09640390B1 |
Method for modifying and controlling the threshold voltage of thin film transistors
Doped semiconductor ink formulations, methods of making doped semiconductor ink formulations, methods of coating or printing thin films, methods of forming electronic devices and/or structures from the thin films, and methods for modifying and controlling the threshold voltage of a thin film transistor using the films are disclosed. A desired dopant may be added to an ink formulation comprising a Group IVA compound and a solvent, and then the ink may be printed on a substrate to form thin films and conductive structures/devices, such as thin film transistors. By adding a customized amount of the dopant to the ink prior to printing, the threshold voltage of a thin film transistor made from the doped semiconductor ink may be independently controlled upon activation of the dopant. |
| US09640389B2 |
High-mobility semiconductor heterostructures
A layer structure and method of fabrication of a semiconductor heterostructure containing a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG), or a two-dimensional electron/hole gas (2DEHG). The heterostructure contains a quantum well layer with 2DEG, 2DHG, or 2DEHG embedded between two doped charge reservoir layers and at least two remote charge reservoir layers. Such scheme allows reducing the number of scattering ions in the proximity of the quantum well as well a possibility for a symmetric potential for the electron or hole wavefunction in the quantum well, leading to significant improvement in carrier mobility in a broad range of 2DEG or 2DHG concentration in the quantum well. Embodiments of the invention may be applied to the fabrication of galvano-magnetic sensors, HEMT, pHEMT, and MESFET devices. |
| US09640385B2 |
Gate electrode material residual removal process
The present disclosure provides methods for removing gate electrode residuals from a gate structure after a gate electrode patterning process. In one example, a method for forming high aspect ratio features in a gate electrode layer in a gate structure includes performing an surface treatment process on gate electrode residuals remaining on a gate structure disposed on a substrate, selectively forming a treated residual in the gate structure on the substrate with some untreated regions nearby in the gate structure, and performing a remote plasma residual removal process to remove the treated residual from the substrate. |
| US09640382B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method
In a substrate processing apparatus, with an internal space of a chamber brought into a reduced pressure atmosphere, a first processing liquid is supplied onto an upper surface of a substrate while the substrate is rotated, and the first processing liquid is thereby quickly spread from a center portion toward a peripheral portion on the upper surface of the substrate. It is thereby possible to coat the upper surface of the substrate with the first processing liquid in a shorter time as compared with under normal pressure. Further, by sucking the first processing liquid from the vicinity of an edge of the substrate, it is possible to coat the upper surface of the substrate with the first processing liquid in a still shorter time. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time required for the processing of the substrate. |
| US09640380B1 |
Electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp with wave-launcher
Electrodeless high intensity discharge (HID) lamps have the promise of higher reliability and higher efficiency than traditional electroded high intensity discharge lamps. However, most electrodeless HIDs operate in the frequency range of around 400 MHz or higher resulting in expensive, inefficient RF drivers that reduce the overall efficacy of the lamp. Operating the lamp at lower frequencies results in substantial increase in the physical dimensions of the resonators used in traditional electrodeless HIDs. In this invention a novel wave-launcher technology is used allow the lamp housing's operating frequency to be independent of the physical dimensions of the lamp housing. This provides an avenue to increase the conversion efficiency of the RF driver and the efficacy of the lamp system. |
| US09640379B2 |
Mass spectrometer vacuum interface method and apparatus
A mass spectrometer vacuum interface can include a skimmer apparatus having a skimmer aperture and an internal surface. A method of operating the mass spectrometer vacuum interface can include establishing an outwardly directed flow along the internal surface of the skimmer apparatus. |
| US09640378B2 |
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer
An embodiment of the invention relates to a TOF-MS capable of performing mass spectrometry of a sample at a high throughput. The TOF-MS has an acceleration part for accelerating an ion, a detector for detecting an event of arrival of the accelerated ion, and a data processing part for performing mass spectrometry of the sample, based on a time of flight of the ion. A first structure of the detector includes an MCP, a dynode, and an anode. In the first structure, the dynode is set at a potential higher than that of an output face of the MCP. The anode is disposed at an intermediate position between the MCP and the dynode or on the dynode side with respect to the intermediate position. The anode has plural apertures and is set at a potential higher than that of the dynode. |
| US09640373B2 |
Method and system for processing analysis data
Data of a plurality of samples collected by an LC/MS, GC/MS or other systems are converted into a two-dimensional table format. After LC/MS measurement data on a plurality of samples are obtained and the respective extracted ion chromatograms (XICs) are created, a time-axis adjustment for correcting a discrepancy in the retention time is performed, followed by a process of correcting the missing of data which has occurred in the head and/or tail section of the data as a result of the time-axis adjustment. |
| US09640368B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus
In a plasma processing apparatus, first to third RF power monitors 94, 94 and 98 are configured to monitor high frequency powers (progressive wave powers), which propagate on first to third high frequency power supply lines 88, 90 and 92 from first to third high frequency power supplies 36, 38 and 40 toward a load side, respectively, and high frequency powers (reflection wave powers), which propagate on the first high frequency power supply lines 88, 90 and 92 from the load side toward the first to third high frequency power supplies 36, 38 and 40, respectively, at the same time. A main controller 82 is configured to control the high frequency power supplies 36, 38 and 40 and matching devices 42, 44 and 46 based on monitoring information sent from RF power monitors 94, 96 and 98. |
| US09640366B2 |
Electron beam irradiation method and scanning electron microscope
The present invention has for its object to provide a charged particle beam irradiation method and a charged particle beam apparatus which can suppress unevenness of electrification even when a plurality of different kinds of materials are contained in a pre-dosing area or degrees of density of patterns inside the pre-dosing area differs with positions.To accomplish the above object, a charged particle beam irradiation method and a charged particle beam apparatus are provided according to which the pre-dosing area is divided into a plurality of divisional areas and electrifications are deposited to the plural divisional areas by using a beam under different beam irradiation conditions. With the above construction, the electrifications can be deposited to the pre-dosing area on the basis of such an irradiation condition that the differences in electrification at individual positions inside the pre-dosing area can be suppressed and consequently, an influence an electric field has upon the charged particle beam and electrons given off from the sample can be suppressed. |
| US09640363B2 |
Nano-patterned system and magnetic-field applying device thereof
A nano-patterned system comprises a vacuum chamber, a sample stage and a magnetic-field applying device, which comprises a power supply, a magnetic-field generation device and a pair of magnetic poles. The magnetic-field generation device comprises a coil and a magnetic conductive soft iron core. The power supply is connected to the coil, which is wound on the soft iron core to generate a magnetic field. The soft iron core is of a semi-closed frame structure and the magnetic poles are at the ends of the frame structure. The stage is inside a vacuum chamber. The poles are oppositely arranged inside the vacuum chamber relative to the stage. The coil and the soft iron core are outside the vacuum chamber. The soft iron core leads the magnetic field generated by the coil into the vacuum chamber. The magnetic poles locate a sample on the stage and apply a local magnetic field. |
| US09640362B2 |
Photocathode coupled X-ray tube
Provided is an X-ray tube including an anode, a target on the anode, a cathode disposed separate from the target and the anode and comprising an emitter providing an electron beam to the target, and a side wall disposed between the cathode and the anode, and surrounding the target and the emitter. The side wall reflects a light generated by collision of the electron beam with the target to the cathode, and electrically insulates the cathode from the anode. |
| US09640360B2 |
Ion source and ion beam device using same
Provided is a charged particle beam microscope which has a small mechanical vibration amplitude of a distal end of an emitter tip, is capable of obtaining an ultra-high resolution sample observation image and removing shaking or the like of the sample observation image. A gas field ion source includes: an emitter tip configured to generate ions; an emitter-base mount configured to support the emitter tip; a mechanism configured to heat the emitter tip; an extraction electrode installed to face the emitter tip; and a mechanism configured to supply a gas to the vicinity of the emitter tip, wherein the emitter tip heating mechanism is a mechanism of heating the emitter tip by electrically conducting a filament connecting at least two terminals, the terminals are connected by a V-shaped filament, an angle of the V shape is an obtuse angle, and the emitter tip is connected to a substantial center of the filament. |
| US09640357B2 |
Electronic device and electronic apparatus having a fuse that is fractured by external forces
There is provided an electronic device including a first member formed to include at least a part of a substrate material, a second member formed to include at least a part of the substrate material and configured to be relatively movable with respect to the first member, and a fuse configured to include at least a part of the substrate material and configured to electrically connect the first member to the second member via the substrate material. |
| US09640356B2 |
Clapping type electromagnetic tripping system
A clapping type electromagnetic tripping system comprises an iron core with a U-shaped structure, an armature, a heating element, a bimetallic element and a connecting plate; a bracket extends into a U-shaped groove of the iron core and is fixedly connected with the iron core, and a wire connecting the heating element and the connecting plate surrounds the iron core and the bracket; the bracket twined round by the wire is fixedly connected with the middle part of the heating element, the bottom end of the heating element and the bottom end of the bimetallic element are fixedly connected with a supporting member together, and the armature is hung on the bracket surrounded by the wire; and the armature and the iron core twined round by the wire are arranged oppositely to form a magnetic loop, and one end of the armature is attracted by the iron core so as to swing when short-circuit current is generated. The clapping type electromagnetic tripping system disclosed by the present invention-creation is simple and reasonable in structure and can enable the armature to be attracted reliably. |
| US09640351B2 |
Temperature-dependent switch
In a temperature-dependent switch having a switching mechanism that has a movable contact part which cooperates with a stationary counter contact and is moved by a spring part to which the movable contact part is electrically conductively connected, the switching mechanism produces an electrically conductive connection between the stationary counter contact and a second counter contact in a temperature-dependent manner. The switch is provided with an arc-shielding plate, which has no mechanical function, is arranged on an upper surface of the spring part and covers sections thereof. |
| US09640350B2 |
Modular switchgear insulation system
An insulated switchgear module is disclosed. In one example, the module comprises a vacuum interrupter, current exchange assembly, and end conductors disposed within an insulated housing. The insulated housing further comprises a tank containing an actuator mechanism for actuating the current exchange assembly. An insulating tray within the housing separates the vacuum interrupter from the components in the tank. The insulated tray has a shape that corresponds with the shape of the vacuum interrupter and the shape of the housing. |
| US09640344B2 |
Portable pressure switch calibration and diagnostic tool
An apparatus for calibration and testing of pressure switches which are used in residential and commercial HVAC systems. The apparatus can be used to test, set, or adjust a pressure switch or a pressure signal transducer to the manufacturer's specifications. The apparatus includes an exterior housing with an on/off switch and at least one vacuum inlet nozzle, and the inside of the housing includes an air compressor to which the amount of voltage supplied can be manually controlled. The air compressor typically operates from a battery power supply located within the housing. A pressure measuring device, such as a differential pressure gage, and a conductivity indicator are typically used in conjunction with the device to calibrate adjustable pressure switches and to test and diagnose faulty pressure switches. The apparatus can include the pressure measuring device and/or the conductivity indicator within its housing. |
| US09640341B2 |
On-load tap changer
An on-load tap changer has a load changeover switch insert having a switching tube rotatable about an axis, at least one switching module associated with the switching insert and having at least one switching segment fastened to the switching tube, an oil tank, and a resistor subassembly having a plurality of separate and identical resistors. An actuating arrangement associated with the switching module at an inner wall of the oil tank has a plurality of identical actuators associated with the switching module at the inner wall of the oil tank. The on-load tap changer is a load selector or a load changeover switch depending on the arrangement of the at least one identical switching segment, the resistor subassembly, and the mounting of the plurality of identical actuators at the inner wall of the oil tank. |
| US09640332B2 |
Hybrid electrochemical capacitor
Hybrid electrochemical capacitors, electronic devices using such capacitors, and associated methods are disclosed. In an example, a hybrid electrochemical capacitor can include a first electrode made from Mg, Na, Zn, Al, Sn, or Li, a second electrode made from a porous material such as porous carbon or passivated porous silicon, and an electrolyte. The hybrid electrochemical capacitors can have enhanced voltage and energy density compared to other electrochemical capacitors, and enhanced power density compared to batteries. |
| US09640331B2 |
Solid state dye-sensitized solar cell tandem module
A method is provided for forming a solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (ssDSC) tandem module. The method fabricates a first panel by forming a first plurality of series-connected ssDSC cells overlying the first substrate top surface, with an electrical interface between each ssDSC cell. A second panel is fabricated in the same manner. An anisotropic conductive film (ACF) is formed overlying each electrical interface of the first panel ssDSC cells. Each ACF is aligned to a corresponding electrical interface of the second panel ssDSC cells, and the panels are bound. The result is a ssDSC tandem module comprising a first plurality of series-connected tandem sections, where each tandem section comprises a first panel ssDSC cell connected in parallel with an overlying second panel ssDSC cell. In one variation, the tandem sections include series-connected ssDSC cells. |
| US09640329B2 |
Hybrid solar cells integrated glassblock and prestressed panel made of dry-assembled glassblocks for the construction of traslucent building envelopes
A hybrid solar cells integrated glassblock structure, includes, at least one glass shell (0) having at least a light transparent surface (2, 9, 13) intended to be exposed to solar radiations, a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSC) device (3, 8) associated to the surface (2, 9, 13) so as to receive solar radiations passing through the surface, the device having electric contacts, at least one hole (7, 11, 15, 17) allowing passage to an external area of the glassblock of electrical connections leading to the device contacts; and a prestressed and dry assembled glassblock panel for the construction of translucent building envelope even in high-rise buildings, which may also provide high performance related to energy production and saving. |
| US09640322B2 |
Monolithic ceramic capacitor with internal conductor layers having different densities
A monolithic ceramic capacitor includes an element body having therein a multilayer portion formed of a plurality of conductor layers and a plurality of ceramic dielectric layers alternately stacked in a thickness direction; and a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode provided on an outer portion of the element body. The element body is divided in the thickness direction into a thickness-direction first outer layer portion, a thickness-direction second outer layer portion, and a thickness-direction inner layer portion located between the thickness-direction first outer layer portion and the thickness-direction second outer layer portion and including the multilayer portion. A first conductor layer and a second conductor layer, which are outermost layers among the plurality of conductor layers, have lower conductor densities than any of conductor densities of the other conductor layers. |
| US09640319B2 |
Anisotropic rare earth magnet powder, method for producing the same, and bonded magnet
The anisotropic rare earth magnet powder of the present invention includes powder particles having R2TM14B1-type crystals of a tetragonal compound of a rare earth element (R), boron (B), and a transition element (TM) having an average crystal grain diameter of 0.05 to 1 μm, and enveloping layers containing at least a rare earth element (R′) and copper (Cu) and enveloping surfaces of the crystals. Owing to the presence of the enveloping layers, coercivity of the anisotropic rare earth magnet powder can be remarkably enhanced without using a scarce element such as Ga and Dy. |
| US09640314B2 |
Outdoor dry-type transformer
A three-phase dry distribution transformer adapted for mounting outdoors on a pad or to a utility pole. The distribution transformer includes one or more winding assemblies mounted to a ferromagnetic core. Each winding assembly includes a low voltage winding and a high voltage winding. In each winding assembly, an encasement comprised of an insulating resin encapsulates the low voltage and high voltage windings. The encasement includes a body and a pair of high voltage bushings and a pair of low voltage bushing. |
| US09640313B2 |
Multilayer inductor and power supply circuit module
A multilayer inductor includes a multilayer body formed by stacking magnetic layers on top of one another. Loop-like line-shaped conductors are respectively formed on the magnetic layers. The loop-like line-shaped conductors are connected to one another by interlayer connection conductors, and thereby a coil conductor having an axis extending in the stacking direction is formed. One end of the line-shaped conductor, which is an uppermost-layer-side end portion of the coil conductor, is connected to a line-shaped conductor, which is for routing and is formed on a higher layer, by a interlayer connection conductor. The line-shaped conductor is connected to an interlayer connection conductor that is formed so as to penetrate through substantially the center inside the loop-like line-shaped conductors. The interlayer connection conductor is connected to an external connection conductor on a bottom surface of the multilayer body via a line-shaped conductor and an interlayer connection conductor. |
| US09640309B2 |
Superconducting DC reactor
A DC reactor consisting of a coil formed of a superconducting material is provided. It is possible to reduce leakage reactance and to increase critical current by using a coil formed of a high temperature superconducting material and forming a first bobbin of the DC reactor as a toroid shape. |
| US09640306B2 |
Ferromagnetic powder composition and method for its production
A ferromagnetic powder composition is provided comprising soft magnetic iron-based core particles having an apparent density of 3.2-3.7 g/ml, and wherein the surface of the core particles is provided with a phosphorus-based inorganic insulating layer and at least one metal-organic layer, located outside the first phosphorus-based inorganic insulating layer. A process further is provided for producing the composition and a method for the manufacturing of soft magnetic composite components prepared from the composition, as well as the obtained component. |
| US09640305B2 |
Method for producing sintered rare-earth magnet, sintered rare-earth magnet, and material for same
A method for producing a sintered rare-earth magnet characterized by sintering a raw material that includes a ribbon-shaped polycrystalline phase with an average grain size of 10 to 200 nm fabricated by rapid solidification of an alloy melt having a rare-earth magnet composition, and a low-melting point phase formed on the surface of the polycrystalline phase and having a melting point lower than the polycrystalline phase. |
| US09640302B2 |
Cable with molded resin
A cable with a molded resin includes a cable including an electric wire and a sheath covering the electric wire, the electric wire including a central conductor and an insulation covering the central conductor, and a molded resin covering a part of the electric wire protruding from the sheath in a longitudinal direction thereof, the molded resin being apart from the sheath. The electric wire is bent at not less than one bent part in the molded resin. |
| US09640301B2 |
Electric wire and cable
An electric wire includes a conductor having a cross-sectional area of not less than 135 mm2 and not more than 165 mm2, an insulation provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the conductor, and a wire sheath provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the insulation. The amount of deflection is not less than 250 mm when, at 23° C., one end of the electric wire is fixed to a fixture table so that another end horizontally protrudes 400 mm from the fixture table and a weight of 2 kg is attached to the other end, and cracks and breaks do not occur when wound with a bending diameter of three times the diameter at −40° C. |
| US09640296B2 |
Electroconductive polymer dispersion liquid and electroconductive coating
The present invention relates to an electroconductive polymer dispersion liquid characterized in containing a π-conjugated electrically conductive polymer, a polyanion, a compound represented by the following chemical formula (1), and a dispersion medium. In accordance with the present invention, an electroconductive polymer dispersion liquid capable of readily forming an electroconductive coating having excellent electrical conductivity, heat resistance, moist-heat resistance, and substrate adhesion property can be provided.[Chemical formula 1] CH2═C(R1)—CO—NH—R2—O—CO—NH—R3—Si(OR4)3 (1) In chemical formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 and R3 each independently represent an arbitrary substituent group, and R4 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group. |
| US09640295B2 |
Aluminum electrode, method of forming an aluminum electrode and electronic device therewith
The present disclosure relates to an aluminum electrode, a method of forming an aluminum electrode and an electronic device therewith. An aluminum electrode according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a bottom layer consisting of molybdenum; a top layer consisting of molybdenum; and an aluminum layer located between the bottom layer and the top layer, wherein the bottom layer, the top layer and the aluminum layer are formed at a temperature below 120° C. An aluminum electrode according to one embodiment of the present disclosure eliminates the mouse bite phenomenon. An aluminum electrode according to another aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a bottom layer consisting of a metal or metal-alloy nitride; a top layer consisting of molybdenum; and an aluminum layer located between the bottom layer and the top layer, wherein the bottom layer, the top layer and the aluminum layer are formed at a temperature below 120° C. An aluminum electrode according to another embodiment of the present disclosure eliminates both of the mouse bite phenomenon and the undercut phenomenon, and can further arrive at a desired profile angle by controlling the content of nitrogen. |
| US09640294B2 |
Single-layer multi-point touch-control conductive film
The present invention provides a single-layer multi-point touch-control conductive film and a method for producing the same. The single-layer multi-point touch-control conductive film includes a transparent substrate having a first surface; a bridging module provided on the first surface of the transparent substrate; a transparent polymer layer provided on the first surface of the transparent substrate, the transparent polymer layer covers the bridging module; the transparent polymer layer is formed with a first groove-like grid on the surface, the first groove-like grid is filled with a conductive material, respectively forming a first electrode and a plurality of second electrode modules, the bridging module electrically connects two adjacent second electrode modules, to form a second electrode; and a conductive module, provided on the transparent polymer layer, and penetrating the transparent polymer layer; each of the second electrode modules is in electrical connection with the bridging module via the conductive module. |
| US09640288B1 |
Flexible radiation shield
A pliable multilayer blanket configured as a particle radiation shield, the blanket including multiple layers. A first layer of the multiple layers is composed of a first material and a second layer of the multiple layers is composed of a second material, different from the first material, each layer being less than 20 mils thick. At least one of the first material and the second material is a metal or metal alloy having an atomic number (Z) of at least 29. |
| US09640282B1 |
Flexible I/O partition of multi-die memory solution
A method of testing a microelectronic package configured to provide memory access can include energizing terminals of the microelectronic package, the terminals including first terminals configured to carry address information and second terminals configured to carry data signals. The method can also include applying read and write test data signals simultaneously to the first and second sets of second terminals, so as to simultaneously test read and write operation in first and second microelectronic elements of the microelectronic package. The first and second microelectronic elements can be configured to provide access to memory storage array locations in the first and second microelectronic elements. The terminals can also include third terminals configured to receive a test mode input that reconfigures the first and second microelectronic elements to permit simultaneous access to memory storage array locations in the first and second microelectronic elements. |
| US09640280B1 |
Power domain aware insertion methods and designs for testing and repairing memory
Aspects of the present disclosure involve insertion of power domain aware memory testing logic into integrated circuit designs to enable efficient testing of the memories embedded therein. In example embodiments, each power domain of the integrated circuit, and the memories included therein, are associated with dedicated test data register (TDR) set and instruction set. Each instruction set causes memory test logic circuitry in the integrated circuit to test the memories included in the corresponding power domain in parallel. Once testing of memories within a particular power domain is over, the test circuitry tests memories belonging to another power domain in parallel, and so on. |
| US09640276B2 |
Shift register unit and gate driving circuit
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of communication. There is provided a shift register unit and a gate driving circuit for decreasing noise interferences, enhancing stability of the shift register unit, and at the same reducing the size of the shift register unit. The shift register unit comprises: an input module configured to provide a first voltage signal to an output terminal in response to an input signal; a reset module configured to provide a second voltage signal to a first node as an output terminal of the input module in the input module in response to a reset signal; an output module configured to provide a first clock signal to the output terminal in response to a voltage at a first node; a pull-down control module configured to provide a second clock signal to a second node in response to the second clock signal and provide a power supply negative voltage to the second node in response to the voltage at the first node or the voltage at the output terminal; and a pull-down module configured to provide the power supply negative voltage to the first node and the output terminal in response to the voltage at the second node. |
| US09640274B1 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes word lines, bit lines, and memory cells at intersections of the word lines and the bit lines. A driver is configured to a voltage to a selected word line. A sense amplifier is configured to detect data of the memory cells. A controller is configured to control the driver and the sense amplifier. A writing sequence of writing data to a selected memory cell connected to the selected word line includes a plurality of writing loops including a write operation and a verify operation. The controller is configured to perform the write operation on the selected memory cell a predetermined number of times corresponding to write data to be written to the selected memory cell, without the verify operation, after a threshold voltage of the selected memory cell connected to the selected word line reaches a first level. |
| US09640271B2 |
Low-dropout regulator peak current control
A low-dropout regulator includes an error amplifier to provide a control signal, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The first transistor receives the control signal and has a source-drain path electrically coupled between a supply voltage node and a load, the first transistor to power the load in response to a voltage on the supply voltage node rising above an absolute value of a threshold voltage of the first transistor. The second transistor has a source-drain path electrically coupled between the supply voltage node and the load, the second transistor to receive the control signal in response to the voltage on the supply voltage node rising above a particular voltage. |
| US09640267B2 |
Semiconductor device, pre-write program, and restoration program
When a control circuit has received a first erase command, the control circuit controls performing a first pre-write process to allow a first storage device and a second storage device to have threshold voltages, respectively, both increased, and the control circuit thereafter controls performing an erase process to allow the first storage device and the second storage device to have their respective threshold voltages both decreased to be smaller than a prescribed erase verify level. When the control circuit has received a second erase command, the control circuit controls performing a second pre-write process to allow one of the first storage device and the second storage device to have its threshold voltage increased, and control circuit subsequently controls performing the erase process. |
| US09640266B1 |
Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof
Provided herein is a semiconductor memory device and an operating method thereof. The semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell array, peripheral circuits, and a control logic. The memory cell array may include memory cells grouped into a plurality of pages. The peripheral circuits may perform a program operation for the plurality of pages. The control logic may control the peripheral circuits to perform the program operation by applying program voltages gradually increasing by a first step voltage to a selected page of the plurality of pages and by applying pass voltages gradually increasing by second step voltages to unselected pages of the plurality of pages. The second step voltages may vary depending on a position of the memory cells of the unselected pages in the memory cell array. |
| US09640264B2 |
Memory system responsive to flush command to store data in fast memory and method of operating memory system
A method of operating a memory system includes storing data received from an external device in a buffer memory of the memory system, programming the data stored in the buffer memory to a first storage area of a nonvolatile memory of the memory system in response to a mode of the memory system being in a guarantee mode and to a second storage area of the nonvolatile memory in response to the mode of the memory system being in other than the guarantee mode, and programming the data stored in the first storage area to the second storage area during an idle time. |
| US09640258B2 |
Ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) with magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices
A ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) cell is coupled to a first word line and a first match line and includes a first data storage portion coupled to a first search line, a second data storage portion coupled to a complement of the first search line, and a resistor divider portion including two resistive elements coupled in series with the first and second data storage portions of the first TCAM cell. The first and second data storage portions of the first TCAM cell are coupled to a first supply voltage and include two resistive elements coupled in parallel. |
| US09640257B2 |
Method and circuit for programming non-volatile memory cells of a volatile/non-volatile memory array
A memory array including: a first volatile memory cell including first and second cross-coupled inverters between first and second storage nodes; a first non-volatile memory cell including at least one resistive element that can be programmed to take one of at least two resistive states; and a control circuit adapted to couple the first non-volatile memory cell to the first and second storage nodes in order to generate a current for programming the resistive state of the at least one resistive element. |
| US09640256B1 |
Nonvolatile static random access memory (NVSRAM) system having a static random access memory (SRAM) array and a resistive memory array
An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a static random access memory (SRAM) array, and a resistive memory (resistive memory) array. A first set of programmable resistive elements in the resistive memory array are used to store data from memory cells in the SRAM array. Sense amplifier circuitry is couplable to the SRAM array and the resistive memory array. An arbiter is configured to assert an resistive memory enable signal to couple the sense amplifier circuitry to the resistive memory array and decouple the sense amplifier circuitry from the SRAM array during a resistive memory read operation, and to couple the sense amplifier to the SRAM array and decouple the sense amplifier circuitry from the resistive memory array during an SRAM read operation. |
| US09640254B2 |
Memories and methods of operating memories having memory cells sharing a resistance variable material
Memories and methods of operating memories having memory cells sharing a resistance variable material. |
| US09640251B2 |
Multi-port memory cell
A circuit includes: a first word line; a second word line; and a memory cell. The memory cell includes: a first pass gate, between a transistor and a first data line (RBL), having a gate coupled to the first word line; the transistor having a drain coupled to the first pass gate, a source coupled to a reference node, and a gate coupled to a data node of the memory cell; and a second pass gate, between the data node and a second data line, having a gate coupled to the second word line. The first word line is configured to turn on the first pass gate. The second word line is configured to turn on the second pass gate after an elapse of a first delay. |
| US09640249B2 |
Write assist scheme for low power SRAM
A write-assist memory includes a memory supply voltage and a column of SRAM cells that is controlled by a pair of bit lines, during a write operation. Additionally, the write-assist memory includes a write-assist unit that is coupled to the memory supply voltage and the column of SRAM cells and has a separable conductive line located between the pair of bit lines that provides a collapsible SRAM supply voltage to the column of SRAM cells based on a capacitive coupling of a control signal in the pair of bit lines, during the write operation. A method of operating a write-assist memory is also provided. |
| US09640246B2 |
Memory tracking scheme
A tracking circuit for a memory includes a tracking cell. A tracking word line is connected to the tracking cell. A tracking bit line is connected to the tracking cell. A voltage generator is configured to provide a variable tracking cell power supply voltage to the tracking cell based on a control signal. |
| US09640245B2 |
Semiconductor device and operating method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell blocks each including a plurality of word lines and suitable for being selectively activated based on an active command and a row address, wherein word lines are selected from the respective activated memory cell blocks based on the active command and the row address, and a column decoding block sequentially accessing the activated memory cell blocks to input/output data thereof by decoding a column address based on the row address. |
| US09640236B2 |
Reduced load memory module using wire bonds and a plurality of rank signals
An apparatus for reducing load in a memory module. In such an apparatus, there is a circuit platform with a plurality of memory chips coupled to the circuit platform. Each memory chip of the plurality of memory chips each has a plurality of memory dies. At least one controller is coupled to the circuit platform and further coupled to the plurality of memory chips for communication with the plurality of memory dies thereof. The at least one controller is for receiving chip select signals to provide a plurality of rank select signals in excess of the chip select signals. The plurality of memory dies are coupled with wire bonds within the plurality of memory chips for a reduced load for coupling the circuit platform for communicating via a memory channel. The load is sufficiently reduced for having at least two instances of the memory module share the memory channel. |
| US09640235B2 |
Stacked memory device and system
A stack memory device may include a core chip and a base chip. The core chip may include a data receiver, a strobe signal generation unit, and a test register. The data receiver may be configured for receiving data outputted from the core chip through a first normal port. The strobe signal generation unit may be configured to generate a data strobe signal based on one of a normal strobe signal and a test strobe signal depending on an operation mode. The test register may store data outputted from the data receiver in response to the data strobe signal. |
| US09640229B2 |
Memory circuit and layout structure of a memory circuit
A memory circuit includes a transistor, a signal line and a plurality of information lines. The transistor includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a control electrode. The transistor is included in a memory cell. The signal line is connected to the first electrode of the transistor. The voltage on the signal line is programmable. At most one of the information lines is connected to the second electrode of the transistor via a contact. Information stored in the memory cell is coded according to the voltage programmed on the signal line and an option of which information line the contact should connect to the second electrode of the transistor. |
| US09640227B2 |
System and method of command based and current limit controlled memory device power up
Devices and systems for powering up a memory device, for example, are disclosed. One such memory device includes power up circuitry configured to receive an external power supply and to provide an internal power supply to the memory device upon receipt of a command. The power up circuitry may be configured to provide the internal power supply limited to a peak current, or may be configured to provide the internal power supply not limited to a peak current. The memory device may be, for example, a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) device or Flash memory. |
| US09640225B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing images
Provided are an image processing apparatus and method for processing images. The image processing apparatus is connected to at least one camera and includes: a performance calculating unit configured to calculate a decoding performance of the at least one camera based on information about at least one of a codec, a resolution and a frame rate of image frames which are received from the at least one camera, and a filtering unit configured to filter the received image frames to select image frames for decoding, based on a result of the calculation of the decoding performance of the at least one camera. |
| US09640223B2 |
Methods, apparatus and systems for time-based and geographic navigation of video content
Methods, apparatus, and systems for time-based and geographic navigation of video content are provided. Video content and associated metadata information are recorded and encoded using a video capture and encoding module. The associated metadata information includes at least one of date and time information of the recording and geographic position information indicative of a recording location. The recorded video content and the associated metadata information are communicated to a remote storage and web server device. A graphical user interface enables the display of an interactive map showing a route and current location of the video capture and encoding module. The video content may be searched using at least one of the graphical user interface and the interactive map by the date and/or time information and the geographic position information. Selected video content can be streamed or downloaded to a select location for display or storage. |
| US09640222B2 |
Multivariant video segmentation system and method
A multivariant video segmentation system and method including accepting video segments that make up a video, accepting video segment variants for the video segments, and selecting a particular video segment variant to provide as a video segment at a particular sequential time order. The video segments are provided to a user at each relative sequential time order via a video player on a first webpage, user inputs associated with the video player and at least one webpage are accepted, and engagements and conversions from the user inputs are determined and stored. The engagements include at least a viewing time of the user viewing the video, and conversions include completion of a predefined task by the user that differs from the user viewing the video. The video segment path with the highest engagement or conversion value associated with information related to the user viewing the video is provided to the user. |
| US09640217B1 |
Systems and methods for flaw scan with interleaved sectors
Systems and methods relating generally to determining flaws on a storage medium. |
| US09640216B2 |
Reproduction system for maintaining synchronization between a first audio content and a plurality of audio contents during special reproduction of the first audio content, and method and program thereof
A reproduction system has a content reproduction section 220 that reproduces a content having a cycle; a special reproduction operation section 230 that performs special reproduction on the content by which the content is reproduced at a reproduction position different from a normal reproduction return position at a time of normal reproduction reproduced normally; a special reproduction process section 235 that makes the content reproduction section 220 perform the special reproduction based on an operation of the special reproduction operation section 230; and a return process section 250 that matches the normal reproduction return position of the content with a position corresponding to cycle timing with which the normal reproduction continues without the special reproduction when the normal reproduction returns after the special reproduction is cancelled in case that the special reproduction is performed. |
| US09640211B1 |
Servo track encoding and decoding
A system includes a memory, a processor, an encoder, a head, and a decoder. The memory stores information. The processor processes information and controls operation of other components. The encoder encodes a first portion and a second portion of a servo track to form a first and second encoded values. The second code has a run length associated therewith. The first and second encoded values result in a Gray code. Each bit of the Gray code remains constant for at least a number of tracks corresponding to the run length. The head is configured to write the first and the second encoded values onto a media, and is configured to read the first and the second encoded values from the media. The decoder decodes the first encoded value and the second encoded value. The processor determines a servo track address from the decoded first value and the decoded second value. |
| US09640210B1 |
Virtual window mode for guide spiral servo demodulation
A write head is positioned over a disk surface of a hard disk drive during a self-servo write process. A virtual window mode is employed for positioning the write head, in which the read channel of the hard disk drive continuously searches for servo spirals, but spiral detection is disabled except during specific time intervals, or “virtual windows.” Each virtual window is associated with one specific servo spiral on the disk surface, and has a predetermined duration. The duration and timing of these virtual windows may be selected to ensure that spiral detection is enabled while a read head of the hard disk drive passes over the associated servo spiral, even when servo spiral placement is not ideal. |
| US09640206B1 |
Thermal assisted magnetic recording head with plasmon generator
A thermal assisted magnetic recording head executing magnetic recording while locally heating a magnetic recording medium includes a plasmon generator generating surface plasmon and generating near-field light from the surface plasmon at an end surface situated on an air bearing surface facing the magnetic recording medium, a main pole being in contact with the plasmon generator and exposed on the air bearing surface, a metal protective layer situated on an opposite side to the plasmon generator when viewed from the main pole and positioned to overlap with a part of the main pole when viewed from one side in a down track direction, and an overcoat protective layer covering the metal protective layer. The overcoat protective layer is formed on a flat surface at least at a position where it overlaps with the main pole when viewed from one side in the down track direction, and the metal protective layer configures a part of the flat surface. Moreover, the overcoat protective layer has a flat bottom surface at least at a position where it overlaps with the main pole when viewed from one side in the down track direction. |
| US09640205B1 |
Magnetic recording-reproducing head having different sections with different functions including an erase function
A magnetic recording-reproducing head includes, on a support member, a first head section having a function of executing a recording process and having a function of executing a reproducing process, and one or more second head sections each having a function of executing an erasing process and having no function of executing a reproducing process. |
| US09640204B2 |
Magnetic recording head front shield formation
Implementations disclosed herein provide an apparatus comprising a write pole, and a two-layer front shield formed on the write pole, the front shield comprising, a first dielectric material formed on the first layer of the front shield, an active shield control (ASC) device formed between the two layers of the front shield on the first dielectric material configured to synchronize the response to a magnetomotive force (MMF) of a write pole and the front shield, and a second dielectric material formed on the ASC device, wherein the second layer of the front shield is formed only on top of the second dielectric material and the first layer of the front shield. |
| US09640200B2 |
Multiple pitch extraction by strength calculation from extrema
An apparatus includes a function module, a strength module, and a filter module. The function module compares an input signal, which has a component, to a first delayed version of the input signal and a second delayed version of the input signal to produce a multi-dimensional model. The strength module calculates a strength of each extremum from a plurality of extrema of the multi-dimensional model based on a value of at least one opposite extremum of the multi-dimensional model. The strength module then identifies a first extremum from the plurality of extrema, which is associated with a pitch of the component of the input signal, that has the strength greater than the strength of the remaining extrema. The filter module extracts the pitch of the component from the input signal based on the strength of the first extremum. |
| US09640199B2 |
Location tracking from natural speech
A headset computer device provides user voice indication of location of the device. The user may implicitly or explicitly present by voice input his and hence the HSC device location. A voice driven location module is coupled to the voice recognition engine, a map database and GPS of the HSC device. Based on user voiced indications of 3D space location, the voice driven location module determines device location and resets 3D space location accordingly. |
| US09640197B1 |
Extraction of target speeches
Methods and systems are provided for separating a target speech from a plurality of other speeches having different directions of arrival. One of the methods includes obtaining speech signals from speech input devices disposed apart in predetermined distances from one another, calculating a direction of arrival of target speeches and directions of arrival of other speeches other than the target speeches for each of at least one pair of speech input devices, calculating an aliasing metric, wherein the aliasing metric indicates which frequency band of speeches is susceptible to spatial aliasing, enhancing speech signals arrived from the direction of arrival of the target speech signals, based on the speech signals and the direction of arrival of the target speeches, to generate the enhanced speech signals, reading a probability model, and inputting the enhanced speech signals and the aliasing metric to the probability model to output target speeches. |
| US09640195B2 |
Time zero convergence single microphone noise reduction
Embodiments of the invention include a device for reducing noise. The device may include a storage configured to store noise data; a processor configured to: classify a segment of noise utilizing noise data which was accumulated prior to initiation of a communication session; estimate the segment of noise, utilizing information received from the noise classification; and select a noise profile which accounts for a user's current context based on a context defined by the data which was accumulated prior to initiation of the communication session. |
| US09640192B2 |
Electronic device and method of controlling electronic device
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a reception unit configured to receive an audio signal, a bandwidth change unit configured to gradually change a bandwidth of the received audio signal from a first bandwidth to a second bandwidth during a preset time, when the received audio signal is changed, and an audio output unit configured to output the received audio signal. |
| US09640190B2 |
Decoding method, decoding apparatus, program, and recording medium therefor
In a speech coding scheme based on a speech production model, such as a CELP-based scheme, an object of the present invention is to provide a decoding method that can reproduce natural sound even if the input signal is a noise-superimposed speech. The decoding method includes a speech decoding step of obtaining a decoded speech signal from an input code, a noise generating step of generating a noise signal that is a random signal, and a noise adding step of outputting a noise-added signal, the noise-added signal being obtained by summing the decoded speech signal and a signal obtained by performing, on the noise signal, a signal processing that is based on at least one of a power corresponding to a decoded speech signal for a previous frame and a spectrum envelope corresponding to the decoded speech signal for the current frame. |
| US09640188B2 |
Reconstructing audio signals with multiple decorrelation techniques
A method performed in an audio decoder for decoding M encoded audio channels representing N audio channels is disclosed. The method includes receiving a bitstream containing the M encoded audio channels and a set of spatial parameters, decoding the M encoded audio channels, and extracting the set of spatial parameters from the bitstream. The method also includes analyzing the M audio channels to detect a location of a transient, decorrelating the M audio channels, and deriving N audio channels from the M audio channels and the set of spatial parameters. A first decorrelation technique is applied to a first subset of each audio channel and a second decorrelation technique is applied to a second subset of each audio channel. The first decorrelation technique represents a first mode of operation of a decorrelator, and the second decorrelation technique represents a second mode of operation of the decorrelator. |
| US09640186B2 |
Deep scattering spectrum in acoustic modeling for speech recognition
Deep scattering spectral features are extracted from an acoustic input signal to generate a deep scattering spectral feature representation of the acoustic input signal. The deep scattering spectral feature representation is input to a speech recognition engine. The acoustic input signal is decoded based on at least a portion of the deep scattering spectral feature representation input to a speech recognition engine. |
| US09640182B2 |
Systems and vehicles that provide speech recognition system notifications
Systems and vehicles that provide speech recognition system status notifications are described herein. Systems described herein include one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions. In some embodiments described herein, when executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions cause the speech recognition system to transform the acoustic vibrations received by a microphone into a speech input signal, determine to remotely process the speech input signal with a remote computing system, and provide a remote processing notification. In some embodiments described herein, when executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions cause the speech recognition system to output an audible sequence with a speaker and provide a barge-in availability notification on a display. |
| US09640181B2 |
Text editing with gesture control and natural speech
A speech processing engine of an HSC device transcribes user utterance input and displays resulting text on a microdisplay. The speech processing engine further provides to the user text editing functions and auto suggestions. The user interface utilizes head gesture control and natural language for text editing. Standard language dictionaries, user's dictionary and user's address book contacts data are utilized. |
| US09640180B2 |
Conversational agent with a particular style of expression
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for handing off a user conversation between computer-implemented agents. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent specific to a user device, a digital representation of speech encoding an utterance, determining, by the computer-implemented agent, that the utterance specifies a requirement to establish a communication with another computer-implemented agent, and establishing, by the computer-implemented agent, a communication between the other computer-implemented agent and the user device. |
| US09640178B2 |
User configurable speech commands
A speech recognition method and system enables user-configurable speech commands. For a given speech command, the speech recognition engine provides a mechanism for the end-user to select speech command terms to use in substitution for the given speech command. The speech recognition engine, or module thereof, forms a replacement command for the given speech command from the user-selected speech command terms. The speech recognition engine thereafter is synonymously responsive to user utterance of the replacement command as though the user issued/voiced the associated counterpart given speech command. |
| US09640174B2 |
Home appliance and operation method thereof
A home appliance and an operation method thereof are disclosed. The operation method of the home appliance includes entering a voice recognition mode, receiving a voice data through a microphone, recognizing the received voice date, and, in a case in which the recognized voice data contains information related to another home appliance, transmitting the recognized voice data to the corresponding home appliance. Consequently, sharing of voice data between home appliances is achieved. |
| US09640173B2 |
System and method for intelligent language switching in automated text-to-speech systems
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing for intelligent switching of languages and/or pronunciations in a text-to-speech system. As the system receives text, the text is analyzed to identify portions which should have speech constructed using a pronunciation distinct from the remaining portions of the text. The text-to-speech system uses multiple pronunciation dictionaries to generate and produce speech corresponding to the text, where the identified portions of the text are in a different language or have a different accent from the remainder of the text. Having generated speech corresponding to the text in multiple languages, accents, or dialects, the system combines the portions, then communicates the speech to the text recipient. |
| US09640168B2 |
Noise cancellation with dynamic range compression
An audio processor (200) for a hearing device has a noise estimator (100), an adaptive noise canceller (110), and a dynamic range compressor (120) to provide a gain according to a signal strength of an input signal. A signal strength processor (130) determines a signal strength dependent noise cancellation parameter, and the adaptive noise canceller provides noise cancellation of the input signal according to an estimated noise from the noise estimator, and according to the signal strength dependent noise cancellation parameter, so as to provide less noise cancellation when the input signal has higher signal strength than when the input signal has a lower signal strength. This helps retain the desirable environment or ambient type noise, present when the signal strength is higher, while providing more cancellation of undesirable circuit type noise when there is low input signal strength. |
| US09640166B2 |
Soundproof panel
A soundproof panel has a sandwich structure, which includes two outer walls, a core, and modifying elements that are maintained in a fractal distribution by the core. The panel has an improved trade-off between sound attenuation efficiency and the weight of the panel. |
| US09640161B2 |
Musical score displaying and performing program, and musical score displaying and performing device
The program of the present invention is provided for an information terminal equipped with a touch panel that is used for displaying a musical score thereon, the information terminal performing music in accordance with performance sequence data corresponding to the musical score. The program displays the musical score on the touch panel, determines a start bar for a performance sequence as the start point for performing from any bar region of the musical score by sliding a touch position in the right direction on the particular bar region, and determines an end bar for the performance sequence as an end point for ending the performance in any bar region of the musical score by sliding the touch position in the left direction on the particular bar region. Thus, the user can intuitively designate a range of performance. |
| US09640160B2 |
System and method for capture and rendering of performance on synthetic string instrument
Synthetic multi-string musical instruments have been developed for capturing and rendering musical performances on handheld or other portable devices in which a multi-touch sensitive display provides one of the input vectors for an expressive performance by a user or musician. Visual cues may be provided on the multi-touch sensitive display to guide the user in a performance based on a musical score. Alternatively, or in addition, uncued freestyle modes of operation may be provided. In either case, it is not the musical score that drives digital synthesis and audible rendering of the synthetic multi-string musical instrument. Rather, it is the stream of user gestures captured at least in part using the multi-touch sensitive display that drives the digital synthesis and audible rendering. |
| US09640157B1 |
Latency enhanced note recognition method
The present invention relates to the field of audio recognition, in particular to computer implemented note recognition methods. Furthermore, the present invention relates to improving latency of such audio recognition methods. One of the embodiments of the invention described herein is a method for note recognition of an audio source. The method includes: dividing an audio input into a plurality of frames, each frame having a pre-determined length, conducting a frequency analysis of at least a set of the plurality of frames, based on the frequency analysis, determining if a frame is a transient frame with a frequency change between the beginning and end of the frame, comparing the frequency analysis of each said transient frame to the frequency analysis of an immediately preceding frame and, based on said comparison, determining at least one probable pitch present at the end of each transient frame, and for each transient frame, outputting pitch data indicative of the probable pitch present at the end of the transient frame. |
| US09640156B2 |
Audio matching with supplemental semantic audio recognition and report generation
System, apparatus and method for determining semantic information from audio, where incoming audio is sampled and processed to extract audio features, including temporal, spectral, harmonic and rhythmic features. The extracted audio features are compared to stored audio templates that include ranges and/or values for certain features and are tagged for specific ranges and/or values. The semantic information may be associated with audio codes to determine changing characteristics of identified media during a time period. |
| US09640153B2 |
Acoustic decoupling device
A drum-supporting component is provided for maintaining a drum or cymbal acoustically separated from an underlying support surface. A body of the component is configured to maintain the drum separated from the underlying support thereby increasing the sound generated from the drum which is projected therefrom. |
| US09640149B2 |
Methods for fixed rate block based compression of image data
A set of methods, techniques and hardware is described for compressing image data for memory bandwidth and memory storage reduction in graphics processing systems. The disclosed technology can be used for compressing image data sent to the frame buffer and/or image data residing in the frame buffer. The compression process can be based on an adaptive number of base color points and an adaptive number of quantized color points. An adaptive technique for compressing alpha values based on pre-calculated maps or using an estimated alpha value based on thresholds is also disclosed. An implementation of the disclosed methods has, for example, a low hardware overhead, low buffering requirements, and low and predefined compression latency. Also, the disclosed methods allow, for example, random accesses to compressed image data. |
| US09640147B2 |
Driving circuit for display panel and driving method thereof
A driving circuit of a display panel and driving method thereof are provided. The driving circuit of the display panel has a capacitor, a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth thin film transistor, a reset thin film transistor, and an output thin film transistor. A sixth and seventh drain electrode, and an eighth gate electrode are connected to a signal output line, a sixth source electrode is configured to receive a fourth power source signal, an eighth is configured to receive a fifth power source signal, and an eighth drain electrode is connected to a sixth gate electrode. |
| US09640144B2 |
Projector, figure input/display apparatus, portable terminal, and program
Blocking a view of a whiteboard by a position of an attendee writing thereon is prevented, and writing records made by all attendees are stored to use the writing records including a course of the written records later. Each terminal of the attendees has a touch-panel-equipped terminal can divide any input line drawing on the terminal into line segment data, successively transmit the line segment data to the controller, and display line drawing information on the display of the touch-panel-equipped terminal. A liquid crystal projector having a controller that can be embedded therein or connected thereto is provided, the controller can sequentially record line drawing information transmitted from each touch-panel-equipped terminal in a data base, add the line drawing information to a video image memory of the whiteboard, and project the video image memory contents onto a wall surface while transmitting information of the data base to each touch-panel-equipped terminal. |
| US09640140B2 |
Color management system
A color management system is provided that includes a color transformation unit that uses a profile connection space to perform a color transformation process on input image data based on an input side color transformation parameter associated with the input image data for translating an input device-dependent color value that describes the input image data into a device-independent color value of the profile connection space and an output side color transformation parameter for matching the device-independent color value to an output device-dependent color value. The color management system further includes an output device selection unit that enables a user to select at least two output devices from plural output devices that are available for selection, and a profile connection space generation unit that automatically generates the profile connection space according to a predetermined profile connection space generation method based on the gamuts of the output devices selected by the user. |
| US09640138B2 |
Information processing system, non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer readable information processing program, information processing method, and information processing terminal
An information processing system includes a first information processing terminal which can be connected to an external network and a second information processing terminal which receives data from the external network through the first information processing terminal. The first information processing terminal stands by in a sleep mode, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, it cancels the sleep mode and transmits data from the external network to the second information processing terminal. |
| US09640135B2 |
Semiconductor device, and display device and electronic device utilizing the same
A semiconductor device having a normal function means is provided, in which the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased even when a digital circuit using transistors having one conductivity is employed. By turning OFF a diode-connected transistor 101, the gate terminal of a first transistor 102 is brought into a floating state. At this time, the first transistor 102 is ON and its gate-source voltage is stored in a capacitor. Then, when a potential at the source terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased, a potential at the gate terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased as well by bootstrap effect. As a result, the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased. |
| US09640130B2 |
Display driver and display device
A display driver is connectable with and serves to activate an active matrix type display panel having a plurality of source lines wired to run in an up-and-down direction and a plurality of gate lines wired to run in left and right directions when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a substrate, and a plurality of pixels respectively arranged at intersections where the source and gate lines intersect with one another; electric charges corresponding to display data are transmitted from the source lines to the pixels selected by the driven gate line. The display driver includes a circuit capable of adjusting, in amplitude, first gate drive circuits operable to drive, of the plurality of gate lines, gate lines wired from the left, and second gate drive circuits operable to drive gate lines wired from the right independently of one another. |
| US09640127B2 |
Semiconductor device and electronic appliance
The amplitude voltage of a signal input to a level shifter can be increased and then output by the level shifter circuit. Specifically, the amplitude voltage of the signal input to the level shifter can be increased to be output. This decreases the amplitude voltage of a circuit (a shift register circuit, a decoder circuit, or the like) which outputs the signal input to the level shifter. Consequently, power consumption of the circuit can be reduced. Alternatively, a voltage applied to a transistor included in the circuit can be reduced. This can suppress degradation of the transistor or damage to the transistor. |
| US09640125B2 |
Systems and methods for transmitting data using phase shift modulation in display systems
The present disclosure provides methods for transmitting data in a display system, a clock controller, a source driver, and a display system. The method includes the steps of: receiving, by the clock controller, a reference clock signal and a data signal from an external data source; determining a phase difference between the data signal and the reference clock signal in each cycle; encoding the determined phase difference to generate a corresponding encoded signal; and transmitting the encoded signal and the reference clock signal to the source driver. By encoding the phase difference between the data signal and the reference clock signal in each cycle, it is able to use the encoded signal and the reference clock signal to transmit the data signal and the reference clock signal between the clock controller and the source driver. |
| US09640109B2 |
Pixel driving circuit, pixel driving method, display panel and display device
The present disclosure provides a pixel driving circuit, including a first pixel driving unit and a second pixel driving unit. The first pixel driving unit includes a first driving transistor, a first storage capacitor and a first driving control unit. The first driving control unit is configured to apply a jumping voltage onto the data voltage at a first compensation stage, so as to perform jumping compensation on a threshold voltage of the first driving transistor. The second pixel driving unit includes a second driving transistor, a second storage capacitor and a second driving control unit. The second driving control unit is configured to apply a jumping voltage onto the data voltage at a second compensation stage, so as to perform jumping compensation on a threshold voltage of the second driving transistor and control the second light-emitting element to emit light. |
| US09640108B2 |
Bit-plane pulse width modulated digital display system
A digital-drive display system, comprising an array of display pixels, each display pixel having a light emitter, a digital memory for storing a digital pixel value, and a drive circuit that drives the light emitter in response to the digital pixel value. The drive circuit can respond to a control signal provided to all of the display pixels in common by a display controller that loads digital pixel values in the digit memory of each display pixel. |
| US09640103B2 |
Apparatus for converting data and display apparatus using the same
Disclosed is an apparatus for converting data capable of enhancing sharpness without deterioration of picture quality, and a display apparatus using the same, wherein the apparatus for converting data is provided in the display apparatus with a plurality of unit pixels, each unit pixel with red, green, blue and white sub-pixels, and the apparatus for converting data includes a 4-color data generator for generating 4-color data of red, green, blue and white colors for each unit pixel based on 3-color input data of red, green and blue colors of an input image; and a sharpness enhancer for enhancing sharpness of the input image by correcting white sub-pixel data of the unit pixel corresponding to an edge portion of the input image by a luminance variation of adjacent unit pixels based on white sub-pixel data for each unit pixel. |
| US09640099B2 |
Display control circuit, display control method and display apparatus
The present disclosure relates to the field of display technique. Disclosed are a display control circuit, a display control method and a display apparatus. The circuit comprises: a signal supplying unit for outputting an image data signal; a timing control unit for processing the image data signal into an signal recognizable for a driving circuit unit; a storage unit for storing and transmitting the signal recognizable to the driving circuit unit; a sample storing unit connected with the signal supplying unit, for acquiring and storing the image data signal; and a sample comparing unit for comparing a current frame signal outputted from the signal supplying unit with a previous frame signal stored in the sample storing unit and controlling the timing control unit to be turned on or off and controlling whether the signal stored in the storage unit needs to be updated according to a comparison result. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, part of modules in the timing control unit are turned off and the image data signal to be displayed is provided to the driving circuit unit by the storage unit when the signal outputted from the signal supplying unit is unchanged, so that intermittent operations of part of the modules are realized to reduce the power consumption in the circuit. |
| US09640098B2 |
Image display device
An image display device comprises a display panel, a casing to hold the display panel, a moving bar provided at the casing and configured to be movable in a first direction while overlapping the display panel, a calibration sensor at the moving bar to be movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and to obtain calibration information related to the display panel, and a controller to control the display panel based on the obtained calibration information. |
| US09640095B2 |
Photography light panel reflector clamp
The present invention provides a photography light panel reflector clamp for mounting a photography light panel reflector with a rod member. The photography light panel reflector clamp of the present invention includes a central member, a groove and a turning clamp set. A rod member clamping seat is disposed on the central member, and a mounting portion is disposed at an opening of the rod member clamping seat. The groove is formed across a mounting face on a side of the central member, and the turning clamp set is disposed on the central member next to the groove. A flange of the photography light panel reflector has a segment fitted in the groove, and the turning clamp set is utilized to fix the segment of the flange of the photography light panel reflector in the groove with the photography light panel reflector clamp. |
| US09640094B2 |
Shelf sign holder
A sign holder includes a sign sleeve having a width and being defined by a viewing flange, a base flange and a first joint that couples the viewing flange to the base flange. At least one protruding member has a width and is coupled to and extends from the base flange at an at least one second joint. Each protruding member includes a leg portion and at least two hook portions coupled to the leg portion at an at least one third joint. The leg portion is oriented relative to the base flange by a first angle and each hook portion is oriented relative to the leg portion by a second angle. The width of the sign sleeve is greater than the width of the at least one protruding member. |
| US09640091B2 |
Card
An article such as a greeting card (10) comprising a sheet (11) defining at least one central portion (16) and at least one versatile portion (18) connected together via at least one fold (20). The central portion (16) has two opposing edges (26, 28) adapted to be drawn together to create a three-dimensional form. The fold (20) is located at a junction of the central portion (16) and versatile portion (18). These portions (16, 18) are foldably connected together whereby the versatile portion (18) can be folded and adapted for location adjacent to or at an angle to the three-dimensional form, and may be secured at that location. The greeting card (10) may further comprise numerous engagement means (30, 32), apertures (38) and cords (39). The greeting card (10) can be delivered in a collapsed condition and can be readily assembled into a three-dimensional form revealing the ingenuity of the card. |
| US09640086B2 |
Voice communication system for simulated radio networks
A method of radio simulation is provided. The method includes a first computer executing a communication manager, the communication manager configured to provide a radio simulation environment comprising a virtual radio network. The method also includes the first computer executing a communication management controller, wherein the communication management controller receives radio control input for the virtual radio network. The method also includes the first computer executing a tactical and environment cue controller, the tactical and environment cue controller configured to provide simulated audible sounds for the radio simulation environment. The method also includes the first computer executing a configuration controller, the configuration controller coupled to the communication manager and configured to receive at least one radio simulator configuration that designates at least a number of radios and frequencies. |
| US09640085B2 |
System and method for automated content generation for enhancing learning, creativity, insights, and assessments
The present invention provides an automated system for multiple types of knowledge content generation for enhancing learning, creativity, insights and assessments comprising the means of: Capturing one or more contents; Storing the captured contents in raw content database; Classifying the captured content by one or more means of selected from Bookmarking or annotating, Using meta information from the content source files, Using algorithms to classify information and Receiving feedback from users and user interaction with content; Defining content template; Specifying rules and algorithms for automatic generation of knowledge content; Finally, Using the generated knowledge content by means of a display to candidate. Invention reduces the manual effort and time taken to create the multiple types of knowledge contents as well as reduce the cost for creation of the multiple types of knowledge contents. |
| US09640084B2 |
Computer-based system and method for creating customized medical video information using crowd sourcing
A computer-based apparatus including a computer including a processor arranged to select a first video regarding a medical condition; create a second video including segments from the first video; transmit the second video for viewing by qualified medical personnel; receive input from the personnel; based on the input confirm accuracy of a first segment or modify a second segment or delete a third segment; create, from the second video, by at least including the first or second segment or deleting the third segment; transmit the third video for viewing by viewers; receive a respective response from each viewer identifying a respective fourth segment of the third video deemed relevant to the medical condition or enjoyable; create a fourth video including at least a portion of the respective fourth segments; and store the fourth video for inclusion in a video regarding the medical condition. |
| US09640079B1 |
Methods and systems facilitating holding for an unavailable destination
Methods and systems are provided for generating an interim route that facilitates navigating a vehicle to an intended destination. One exemplary method facilitating an aircraft landing at an intended destination involves obtaining a current position of the aircraft, obtaining one or more time constraints for the intended destination, determining an interim route from the current aircraft position to the intended destination that veers towards a conditional diversion destination based at least in part on the one or more time constraints for the intended destination, and providing indication of the interim route to an aircraft operator, for example, by displaying a graphical representation of the interim route on a navigational map on a display device. |
| US09640078B2 |
Authority issued slot assignment optimization
An approach for identifying slot exchanges for flights among a schedule of an aircraft operator includes acquiring existing slot assignments and flight schedules for flights operated by any airline that participate in a slot exchange program for a particular controlled airspace. Cost values are assigned to slots of the aircraft operator based on various criteria, such as any difference between flight times of particular flights and corresponding assigned slots. An optimization is performed to identify any alternate authority issued slots that, if assigned to flights of the aircraft operator, result in reduced cost values. Slot exchange requests are issued for the alternate authority issued slots in a manner that facilitates acceptance of the request without user intervention, by either the send or receiving airline. Flight schedules and assigned slots may be represented on a common display. |
| US09640077B2 |
System and method for determining position of a position device relative to a moving vehicle
There is disclosed a vehicle backing system configurable by a driver or spotter as a function of the type of the vehicle being backed up and a spotter's position and/or a position of another vehicle located at a rear of a first vehicle. |
| US09640069B2 |
Quantifying magnetic resonance parameters
Example apparatus and methods provide improved spatial and temporal resolution over conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for a large (e.g., 500 cm3) three dimensional (3D) volume. Example apparatus and methods reconstruct under-sampled 3D data associated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals acquired from the volume using a 3D through-time non-Cartesian generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) approach. The NMR signals are produced in response to a 3D non-Cartesian (e.g., stack-of-spirals) pulse sequence. Example apparatus and methods produce a quantified value for T1 relaxation, T2 relaxation, diffusion, or other NMR parameters in the volume from signal intensities in the data. The quantified value may describe, for example, a perfusion parameter, a blood flow parameter, a blood volume parameter, or other value. Greater precision is achieved for the NMR parameter in the volume as a result of the quantization performed on data acquired with greater spatial resolution and temporal resolution. |
| US09640068B2 |
Device for establishing communications interoperability at an incident site including means for recording crisis incidents
What is provided is recording capability for each of the modules utilized by the first responders and other personnel within the area of the incident, with the stored information at each of the first responders' modules being read out through the ad hoc network, where it can be uploaded to storage. The stored information can be displayed at an incident commander work station in real time to give the incident commander a realistic view of the timeline and the severity of the incident, as well as the response. The use of the ad hoc network permits offloading stored information from each of the first responders' modules so as to free up storage within the modules. By providing storage at every node of the ad hoc network, one has access to a timeline of the actions at the incident as well as redundancy, which enhances the memories and observational skills of the first responders. Incident reporting is made complete due to the fact of all recordings being made available at one node on the temporary ad hoc network from which information reports and analysis can proceed, as well as subsequent training. |
| US09640063B2 |
Sensor device for remote monitoring
A sensor device used in remote monitoring of waste within a waste container includes a sensor arrangement for monitoring the waste and for generating a corresponding waste-indicative signal, a data processing arrangement for receiving the waste-indicative signal, a wireless interface coupled to the data processing arrangement for enabling the data processing device to emit wireless signals including information derived from the waste-indicative signal, and a power source for providing power to operate the sensor device. The sensor arrangement additionally includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of at least the power source, and the data processing arrangement is operable to be switched from the second reduced-power mode to the first activated mode as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. This enables power saving and increased service life of the sensor, battery, and the waste container. |
| US09640062B2 |
Method and apparatus for forwarding local-alert messages within a communication system
A method and apparatus for forwarding detected environmental conditions are provided herein. During operation, sensors will continuously sample an environment surrounding a public-safety officer. The sensors are preferably body-worn sensors, but could be vehicle or incident area sensors as well. The sensors continuously monitor and report any detected condition to a hub (which could be body-worn) as a local status alert message. Once the hub receives a detected condition within a local status alert, the hub will make a determination if a dispatch center needs to be notified of the detected condition. The notification of the condition is transmitted to the dispatch center as a global status alert, which may simply comprise a forwarded local status alert. |
| US09640060B2 |
Payment card location method and apparatus
A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium configured to track the location of lost payment cards. |
| US09640049B2 |
Security device for intrusion detection
The present invention relates to a security device for detecting an intrusion including at least one sensor frame including a sensor, a first connection frame for connecting a signal sensed from the sensor frame, and a signal processing frame for detecting an intrusion from the sensed signal received from the first connection frame or the sensor frame, wherein the at least one sensor frame is detachably connected to the security device. Accordingly, the security device can be easily installed, use a variety of sensors, and be changed in size. |
| US09640046B2 |
Media recognition and synchronisation to a motion signal
The present document describes a device and method for synchronizing a motion signal corresponding to a media content with a media signal for the media content, the motion signal being for controlling a motion feedback system. The method comprises: receiving a portion of the media signal; obtaining a fingerprint corresponding to the received portion of the media signal; from reference fingerprints associated with time positions of at least one reference media content, identifying a reference time position of the media content corresponding to the obtained fingerprint; obtaining the motion signal associated with the identified reference time position of the media content; and outputting the motion signal synchronized with the media signal using the identified reference time position of the media content for controlling the motion feedback system. |
| US09640039B2 |
Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with shifting symbols in different directions between multiple symbol display position matrices
A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices and a plurality of different directions of symbol movement. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions. At least one of the symbol display position matrices includes one or more symbol display positions linked to or otherwise associated with one or more symbol display positions of at least another of the symbol display position matrices. If the gaming system determines that one or more symbols will be repositioned from one or more symbol display positions of one symbol display position matrix to one or more linked symbol display positions of another symbol display position matrix, the gaming system determines a direction of movement of such symbols. |
| US09640038B2 |
Game with chance element and strategy component that can be copied
In various embodiments, a first player may follow the same pattern of betting used by a second player. |
| US09640036B2 |
Method and system for gaming
A gaming machine comprises a display and a game control to control images of symbols to be displayed on the display. Symbols are stored for positioning in an array. The symbols include game-specific standard symbols and bonus symbols and are organized in a predetermined mix and number to define a bonusing scheme for filling positions of the array. The game control randomly selects portions of the array for displaying images of the symbols in a matrix format on the display during a play of the game, and associates symbols within paylines of the matrix to provide play outcomes in accordance with the bonusing scheme and a paytable prescribed for the particular game. The game control is configured to provide play options individually selectable by a player before a play. Each play option has a prescribed set of symbols and each set is designed with a predetermined bonusing scheme. |
| US09640035B2 |
Jackpot interfaces and services on a gaming machine
A disclosed a player tracking unit provides a touch screen display with a touch screen controller integrated into the touch screen sensor assembly. Game service interfaces may be presented on the touch screen display that allow a user to obtain one or more game services. With the touch screen sensor, a user may navigate through the game service interface and supply information required to obtain a game service. Types of interfaces provided with the gaming machine include a jackpot interface for displaying one or more jackpots selected by the player or one or more jackpots that the player is eligible to win. |
| US09640032B2 |
Electromechanical hybrid gaming system
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate an electromechanical hybrid gaming system including a real world engine configured to provide a randomly generated payout for a gambling game; an electromechanical game system connected to an entertainment game user interface and constructed to manage the electromechanical table game including an actuator that affects a goal of the electromechanical table game, wherein outcomes of the electromechanical table game are based upon actions performed by the player, wherein the electromechanical game system operates the actuator based on an outcome of the randomly generated payout for the gambling game; and a game world engine connected to the electromechanical game system and the real world engine, the game world engine constructed to communicate gameplay gambling event occurrences based upon the sensed actions by the player during the player's skillful execution of the electromechanical table game. |
| US09640030B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating information about networked gaming machines to prospective players
On a network of electronic gaming machines, data regarding the performance of the machines or the players of the machines is collected and processed to make predictions of future jackpots and recommendations of games to play. The predictions and recommendations are delivered via at least one virtual persona that communicates with players or potential players via displays in a casino or on a web browser, via smartphone. Players can conduct conversations with the persona using cellular telephone, text messaging, or other types of Internet communications. |
| US09640026B2 |
Gaming machine
In a gaming machine including a symbol region where reels having symbols are arranged in predetermined arrangement. The symbols are displayed in an arranged manner in longitudinal and transverse directions. A reel control unit that independently controls movement of the reels. A winning determination unit determines whether the symbols appearing on a valid line set to span the reels form a predetermined winning pattern. The symbol region includes layer. At least one reel is disposed in each layer. A symbol group is provided in at least one reel or in a specific layer in such a manner that symbols capable of forming at least portion of the winning pattern are arranged in the symbol group. |
| US09640021B2 |
Real three dimensional display for wagering game machine events
Systems and methods include a wagering game machine having a three-dimensional monitor. Certain events are 3D transition events that cause certain graphical elements presented by the wagering game to be rendered as real 3D objects using the three-dimensional monitor. |
| US09640018B2 |
Hybrid instant online lottery game
A system and method for conducting a lottery game is described. The game may include providing a player with a free pre-printed first game piece having a first set of game play data, wherein game play data on the first game piece is insufficient to ascertain an outcome of the lottery game. The game may further include receiving information identifying the first game piece and an indication the player wishes to purchase a chance in the lottery game. Responsive to receiving the indication, the game outcome may be determined and a second set of game play data chosen based on the outcome, so that a comparison of the first set of game play data and the second set game play data is indicative of the outcome of the chance according to predetermined game rules. The second set of game data may be provided to the player on a second game piece also having data associating the second game piece with the first game piece and a unique identifier. When a claim for a prize is received from the player, the uniquue identifier may be used to confirm whether a prize is due the player. A prize with a value that depends on the game outcome may then be awarded to the player. |
| US09640017B2 |
Gaming system and method employing rankings of outcomes from multiple gaming machines to determine awards
A gaming system is provided in which multiple gaming machines are linked. Each of the machines plays its game and generates at least one outcome. The top or best outcome of each machine is submitted, e.g., to a comparator or server computer for ranking. An award is provided for a certain percentage such as one-half of the highest ranked outcomes. The award is made available to the gaming machine, but a player must be wagering on the associated outcome producing event (such as the payline) to receive the award. For example, if a player plays only payline one of a multi-line slot machine and payline five of that machine generates the highest ranked result of all linked gaming machines, the award is made available to the gaming machine, but the player does not receive the award. In an embodiment, each linked gaming machine participates in play (all paylines) regardless of whether a player is playing that gaming machine. |
| US09640014B2 |
Vending machine with elevator delivery of vended product to customer access
An automated vending or merchandizing machine includes an elevator sub-assembly which moves a dispensing bin or elevator tray vertically along the fronts of plural vertical levels of product dispensers in the vending machine. A controller tracks the vertical position of the elevator tray. This allows the controller to send the elevator tray to the vertical level of the dispenser of the product selected by a customer, at that level receive and confirm dispensing of the selected product into the elevator tray, and return the elevator tray holding the dispensed product down to a customer delivery or access door or opening in the vending machine that can below the vertical levels of dispensers. Features can include coordination of locking and unlocking of a customer access door and actuating an anti-cheat security baffle with the position of the elevator tray. |
| US09640012B2 |
Transaction verification protocol for smart cards
A protocol appropriate for smartcard purchase applications such as those that might be completed between a terminal or ATM and a users personal card is disclosed The protocol provides a signature scheme which allows the card to authenticate the terminal without unnecessary signature verification which is an computationally intense operation for the smart card. The only signature verification required is that of the terminal identification (as signed by the certifying authority, or CA, which is essential to any such protocol). In the preferred embodiment, the protocol provides the card and terminal from fraudulent attacks from impostor devices, either a card or terminal. |
| US09640010B2 |
Coin processing device
The present invention has the purpose of providing a coin processing device capable of performing a coin reception test while being connected with a vending machine.When a response command from the vending machine is received while a test mode is executed, a response is carried out to the response command based on device information present immediately before the test mode is executed, reception of a coin thrown during the test mode is stored, and the coin is paid out based on the storage when the test mode is released. |
| US09640008B2 |
Cash transaction machine
To enhance the functionality of an automated cash transaction machine. An automated cash transaction machine 1 is disposed with a currency bill deposit/withdrawal unit 16 that accepts currency bills from outside, a discriminating unit 18 that discriminates the authenticity of the currency bills and also reads their serial numbers, and a receipt issuing slot 8 and an operation display unit 6 that present, to a customer for each deposit transaction, the serial number of a currency bill judged to be a fake bill by the discriminating unit 18. |
| US09640007B2 |
Medium transaction device
The precision of detection of abnormal media is increased using a unique identification number. A banknote deposit/withdrawal mechanism of an automated teller machine confirms whether a banknote having the same serial number is among transaction banknotes by comparing each transaction serial number obtained by reading the serial number for each transaction banknote with other transaction serial numbers. Thereby, when counterfeit notes having the same serial number are included among the transaction banknotes, the banknote deposit/withdrawal mechanism cannot determine a banknote as counterfeit in a process of collating the serial numbers with a counterfeit note serial number list, but can determine that a banknote is counterfeit in a collation process between the transaction serial numbers. In this case, the banknote deposit/withdrawal mechanism can prevent counterfeit notes from being transferred to a user by transporting a relevant transaction banknote together with all other transaction banknotes to a reject compartment. |
| US09640006B2 |
Method for detecting the actuation of a motor vehicle door handle
A method for detecting the actuation of a handle (10) of a motor vehicle door (20), the handle (10) including at least a locking electrode (60), having a capacitance across its terminals, and an unlocking request detection device (50) generating an unlocking request signal, the method including continuously measuring a variation of the unlocking request signal and a variation of the capacitance (ΔCV) of the locking electrode, determining an unlocking request, and then comparing the variation of the capacitance (ΔCV) with a threshold (S2) during consecutive first and second predetermined periods (t1, t2), respectively, in order to detect whether the handle (10) has been actuated. |
| US09640004B2 |
Method for utilizing a wireless connection to unlock an opening
A method of operating a lock from a portable remote device includes sending a radio frequency identification signal from the portable remote device to a controller for the lock, and receiving the radio frequency identification signal at the lock controller and identifying the remote device as an authorized user of the lock. The method then includes sending a sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device to the lock controller, receiving the sound frequency identification signal at the lock controller and identifying the remote device as an authorized user of the lock. The method further includes authorizing operation of the lock in accordance with the radio or sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device. A system for practicing the method includes a lock controller capable of receiving a radio frequency identification signal and a sound frequency identification signal from the portable remote device. |
| US09640002B1 |
System and method for verified admission through access controlled locations using a mobile device
A system and method for verifying entry credentials and activating/deactivating an access control system via use of the native capabilities of a mobile device is disclosed herein. Particularly, the system and method include an embedded local control device attached or communicative with an electronic gate or lock. The control device is communicative with a remote access control management system, which is structured to receive, track and manage access tokens that can be used to control access to a gated community or other secured location. Notifications that an access token has been generated can be communicated to the guest(s) by way of text message, short message service (SMS), email, social media, for example. Each notification may contain a unique link to a webpage employing the access token. While in the geographic vicinity of the secured location, the guest may actuate the access token and open the gate. |
| US09639994B2 |
Optimized parking system
Parking spaces are optimized by orchestrating the movement of one or more autonomous vehicles or shared vehicles. A computing device monitors locations of multiple vehicles. The computing device receives a request for a parking space from a user at or in route to a geographic location. The computing device selects one of the monitors vehicles based on the geographic location of the parking request. The computing device generates an instruction to make available a parking space of the selected one of the vehicles. In the case of autonomous vehicles, the vehicle drives away from the parking space. In the case of shared vehicles, a rental appointment is modified to make the parking space available. |
| US09639986B2 |
Head mounted display and method of controlling thereof
The present specification relates to a head mounted display (HMD) and a method of controlling therefor. More specifically, the present specification provides a method for a user wearing an HMD to recognize at least one object positioned at the front via a virtual map. The HMD includes a display unit configured to display visual information, a position sensing unit configured to sense a position of the HMD, a camera unit configured to sense at least one object positioned at the front of the HMD, and a processor configured to control the display unit, the position sensing unit, and the camera unit. The processor is further configured to obtain position information of the HMD, generate a first virtual map indicating a virtual object corresponding to the at least one object positioned at the front of the HMD, based on the position information of the HMD, and display the first virtual map. |
| US09639985B2 |
Active binocular alignment for near eye displays
A system and method are disclosed for detecting angular displacement of a display element relative to a reference position on a head mounted display device for presenting a mixed reality or virtual reality experience. Once the displacement is detected, it may be corrected for to maintain the proper binocular disparity of virtual images displayed to the left and right display elements of the head mounted display device. In one example, the detection system uses an optical assembly including collimated LEDs and a camera which together are insensitive to linear displacement. Such a system provides a true measure of angular displacement of one or both display elements on the head mounted display device. |
| US09639982B2 |
On-demand transformation aware shape tessellation
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for tessellating shapes. A computing device that has a display can receive an instruction to draw a shape. The computing device can determine a scale factor for the shape. The computing device can determine a set of polygons that tessellate the shape based on the scale factor. The set of polygons can include at least two polygons. The computing device can display the polygons in the determined set on the display. |
| US09639979B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a composite image based on an ambient occlusion
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for non-occluding overlay of user interface or information elements on a contextual map. A method is provided including receiving a two dimensional image associated with a geographic area or object, receiving geometry model associated with the associated with the geographic area, generating an embossing map based on ambient occlusions associated with the geometry model, and generating a composite image based on the two dimensional image and the embossing map. |
| US09639977B2 |
Processing model data representing a biological body section having a defect portion
A method of processing model data representing a body section with bilateral symmetry of a biological organism is proposed that comprises the steps of providing object imaging data representing the body section having one or more defect portions; calculating a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the body section based on mathematical analysis of the object imaging data; and determining a mirror plane based on the calculated longitudinal and lateral axes. Said mirror plane allows for reconstructing the one or more defect portions by mirroring one or more corresponding portions having no defects at the mirror plane. |
| US09639975B1 |
System and method for generating shadows
A computer-implemented method for generating a shadow in a graphics scene. The method includes casting a ray having a finite length associated with a point on a surface of an object in the graphics scene towards a light source; determining whether the ray intersects any other objects in the graphics scene; and generating a shadow value associated with the point on the surface of the object based on a combination of geometric scene information obtained as a result of determining whether the ray intersects any other objects in the graphics scene and an image-based shadow map value. |
| US09639973B2 |
Muon tomography imaging improvement using optimized limited angle data
Disclosed technology can provide a process for generating reconstructed muon image resolution to optimize the use of the limited angular range muon track data collected by a muon tomography system. In one aspect, a process for improving reconstructed muon image resolution for a volume of interest (VOI) imaged by a muon tomography system includes: collecting raw muon track data of cosmic ray muon tracks passing through the VOI; grouping the raw muon track data into two or more subsets of tracks based on at least one angular distribution of the muon tracks in the raw muon track data; generating a set of images of the VOI based on the two or more subsets of tracks; and combining information from the set of reconstructed images and a reconstructed image based on the full set of the raw muon track data to obtain a resulting reconstructed image of the VOI. |
| US09639970B2 |
Character recognition system, character recognition program and character recognition method
A character recognition system for recognizing character(s) displayed on display(s) of computer(s). In one embodiment, memory device(s) store recognition dictionaries, and there may be a separate recognition dictionary for each display font and character size combination. Such a recognition dictionary may contain information pertaining to arrangement of constituent dots making up each character of a corresponding display font and character size. A character recognition unit may identify target character(s) displayed on display(s) by searching such recognition dictionary or dictionaries and extracting therefrom character(s) for which information pertaining to arrangement of constituent dots making up extracted character(s) is a perfect match for target character(s) displayed on display(s). |
| US09639968B2 |
Generating an augmented view of a location of interest
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating an augmented view of a location of interest for a user. The technique includes determining an image capture location based on the location of interest, and determining an image capture direction based on the image capture location. The technique further includes receiving an image associated with the image capture location and the image capture direction. The technique further includes processing the image based on a line of sight associated with a location of the user to generate a processed image and displaying the processed image to the user. Advantageously, the disclosed techniques enable a user to see through obstructions in the surrounding environment to view a location of interest. |
| US09639966B2 |
Visually displaying a plurality of attributes of sound data
A control section analyzes sound data to acquire data indicative of a plurality of attributes, such as pitch and volume, and displays, on a display screen, graphics indicative of the acquired pitch and volume. At that time, the control section displays, on the display screen, a pitch curve where a value of pitch is represented by the vertical axis while the passage of time is represented by the horizontal axis. Also, at a position on the display screen based on a displayed position of the pitch curve, the control section displays a volume graphic where a level of volume is represented by a length or distance or width, in the vertical-axis direction, of the volume graphic. |
| US09639959B2 |
Mobile device configured to compute 3D models based on motion sensor data
A particular method includes determining, based on data received from at least one motion sensor, a movement of a mobile device from a first position to a second position. The method also includes computing a three-dimensional (3D) model of an object based on a first image of the object corresponding to a first view of the object from the first position of the mobile device, a second image of the object corresponding to a second view of the object from the second position of the mobile device, and the movement of the mobile device. |
| US09639956B2 |
Image adjustment using texture mask
Implementations relate to adjusting images using a texture mask. In some implementations, a method includes detecting one or more texture regions having detected texture in an image, and generating a mask from the image based on the detected texture regions. The detected texture regions are distinguished in the mask from other regions of the image that do not have detected texture. The method applies one or more adjustment operations to the image in amounts based on values of the mask. |
| US09639945B2 |
Depth-based application of image effects
An image such as a light-field image may be captured with a light-field image capture device with a microlens array. The image may be received in a data store along with a depth map that indicates depths at which objects in different portions of the image are disposed. A function may be applied to the depth map to generate a mask that defines a gradual transition between the different depths. An effect may be applied to the image through the use of the mask such that applicability of the effect is determined by the mask. A processed image may be generated. The first effect may be present in the processed image, as applied previously. The processed image may be displayed on a display device. If desired, multiple effects may be applied through the generation of multiple masks, depth maps, and/or intermediate images prior to generation of the processed image. |
| US09639944B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a depth of a target object
A method for determining a depth of a target object in an environment is disclosed. The method comprises sensing a depth of objects within the environment with a depth sensing apparatus (1 10), identifying a disocclusion gap caused by the target object (120), detecting a position of edge contours of the disocclusion gap (1 30), and calculating a depth of the target object from the position of the disocclusion gap edge contours and a position of the depth sensing apparatus (140). Also disclosed are a computer program product for carrying out a method for determining a depth of a target object in an environment and an apparatus (300) for determining a depth of a target object in an environment. |
| US09639940B2 |
Imaging apparatus and methods for generating a guide display showing a photographing technique for approximating a composition of a subject image to that of a sample image
A display apparatus (which may be included in an imaging apparatus) includes: a display unit; a guide display generation circuit which acquires an image file including image data and photographing posture data including information of an inclination and a height of an imaging apparatus performing an imaging operation when the image data was created by the imaging operation to generate a photographing posture guide display based on the photographing posture data; and a display control circuit which causes the display unit to display an image based on the image data and the photographing posture guide display. A data processing apparatus may include a signal processing circuit which creates an image file including image data and photographing posture data. |
| US09639938B2 |
Matching patient images of different imaging modality using atlas information
The present invention relates to a medical data processing method of transforming a representation of an anatomical structure of a patient in a first imaging modality into a representation of the anatomical structure in a second, other imaging modality, the method being constituted to be executed by a computer and comprising the following steps: acquiring first modality image data describing the first modality medical image containing the representation of the anatomical structure in the first imaging modality; acquiring atlas data describing a first modality atlas image describing a general structure of the anatomical structure in the first imaging modality, the atlas data containing information about the representation of the general structure in the second imaging modality; determining, based on the first modality image data and the atlas data, a first matching transformation between the first modality medical image and the first modality atlas image; determining, based on the first matching transformation and the first modality atlas image and the information about the representation of the general structure in the second imaging modality second modality, a second modality image representation of the first modality medical image. |
| US09639937B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting event from plurality of photographed images
An apparatus and a method for detecting an event from a plurality of captured images are disclosed. An apparatus for generating an individual event rule is provided, comprising an image receiver, an image synthesis unit, an event rule acquisition unit, an individual event rule generator and a rule transmitter. The image receiver receives multiple captured images from multiple cameras. The image synthesis unit synthesizes the multiple captured images through conversion functions corresponding to coordinate systems of the multiple cameras into a main image. The event rule acquisition unit acquires an event rule for the main image. The individual event rule generator converts the event rule through the conversion functions into individual event rules corresponding respectively to the cameras. The rule transmitter transmits the individual event rules for identifying a single event. |
| US09639936B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium in which program is stored for enhancing an image via super-resolution
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit that is capable of storing a look-up table having association information for associating at least one first image with at least one second image that is different from the first image, a constraint condition storage unit that is capable of storing a constraint condition, which is to be satisfied by at least one of an input image, the association information and an output image, an image accepting unit that accepts at least one image, a mapping unit that acquires at least one second image associated with the at least one image accepted by the image accepting unit, so as to match the constraint condition, using the association information, and an image output unit that outputs an output image configured by the at least one second image acquired by the mapping unit. |
| US09639935B1 |
Apparatus and methods for camera alignment model calibration
Generating a calibrated camera alignment model for image capture devices having overlapping fields-of-view may include identifying a camera alignment model describing a first candidate alignment path for a defined location in a first input frame and a second candidate alignment path for the defined location in a second input frame, identifying a third candidate alignment path spatially adjacent to the first candidate alignment path, identifying a fourth candidate alignment path spatially adjacent to the second candidate alignment path, identifying a first point along the first candidate alignment path or the second candidate alignment path corresponding to a second point along the third candidate alignment path or the fourth candidate alignment path, and updating the camera alignment model based on the first point, the second point, or both. |
| US09639929B2 |
Apparatus and method for computer-aided diagnosis
An apparatus and method for medical diagnostics includes receiving three-dimensional (3D) volume data of a part of a patient's body, and generating two-dimensional (2D) slices including cross-sections of the 3D volume data cut from a cross-section cutting direction. The apparatus and the method also determine whether a lesion in each of the 2D slices is benign or malignant and output results indicative thereof, select a number of the 2D slices based on the results, and make a final determination whether the lesion is benign or malignant based on the selected 2D slices. |
| US09639926B1 |
Image processing tool for automatic feature recognition and quantification
A system for defining structures within an image is described. The system includes reading of an input file, preprocessing the input file while preserving metadata such as scale information and then detecting features of the input file. In one version the detection first uses an edge detector followed by identification of features using a Hough transform. The output of the process is identified elements within the image. |
| US09639925B2 |
Device, system, and method for rapidly and comprehensively inspecting lens actuator
Disclosed is a device for rapidly and comprehensively inspecting a lens actuator, the device comprising a bracket (4) for fixing the lens actuator, a cone-shaped body (2) and a camera (1), wherein the outer surface of the cone-shaped body (2) is a mirror surface, the cone-shaped body (2) is mounted on the top of the bracket (4), and the camera (1) is hung above the cone-shaped body (2). Further disclosed is a system employing the above-mentioned device for rapidly and comprehensively inspecting a lens actuator, and a method for inspecting a lens actuator by using the above-mentioned device. A rapid inspection can be realized so as to facilitate quality inspection and control in mass production, and a comprehensive inspection also can be realized, the inspection items including lens stroke, magnitude of inclination and the similar items under different control conditions. |
| US09639922B2 |
Generation method of image restoration filter, image processing method, image pickup apparatus, image processing apparatus, and recording medium
A method for generating an image restoration filter used to correct a deterioration of an image captured through an optical system includes a first step of setting a target restoration gain value representative of a target restoration degree of an absolute value of an optical transfer function of the optical system, within a restoration gain limiting value calculated by dividing a maximum value operable by a fixed-point arithmetic by a data point number of the optical transfer function, and a second step of generating, through the fixed-point arithmetic, a frequency characteristic of the image restoration filter based on the target restoration gain value set by the first step. |
| US09639920B2 |
Dither directed LUT output value interpolation
In an example, a method for image processing may include inputting a first pixel value corresponding to a first pixel of an image into a LUT. The LUT may map one or more LUT input values to one or more LUT output values. The first pixel value may correspond to a first LUT input value that maps to a first LUT output value in the LUT. The first pixel may include one or more pixel values. The method may include generating a noise value for the first LUT input value. The method may include generating a first interpolated LUT output value for the first LUT input value based on the noise value. The method may include transforming the image into a transformed image using the first interpolated LUT output value. |
| US09639916B2 |
Image processing device, and image processing method
A fog in an image is quickly removed with a small processing load.An image processing device includes a dark channel image generating section 20 for generating a dark channel image based on an input image, a transmittance image generating section 30 for generating a transmittance image based on the dark channel image generated in the dark channel image generating section 20 and a pixel value of atmospheric light, a transmittance correcting section 40 for correcting the transmittance image generated in the transmittance image generating section 30, and a fog removal image generating section 60 for removing fog in the input image based on the transmittance image corrected in the transmittance correcting section 40, the pixel value of atmospheric light, and the input image. |
| US09639915B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus
An image processing method includes configuring a noise reduction filter for each of pixels in an image in accordance with a linear noise model of the image, based on different levels of a noise effect caused to a corresponding pixel, among the pixels, by other pixels, among the pixels and adjacent to the corresponding pixel. The method further includes performing noise reduction filtering on each of the pixels, using the noise reduction filter for each of the pixels, to obtain a noise reduced image. |
| US09639913B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, image processing program, and storage medium
A device comprises an input unit, a motion acquisition unit, a matrix operation unit, and a drawing unit. The input unit implements sequential input of a first frame image and a second frame image. The motion acquisition unit acquires motion data between the first frame image and the second frame image. The matrix operation unit calculates a projection matrix to project the output frame image to the second frame image, from a first matrix including a rolling shutter distortion component, a second matrix including at least one of a parallel translation component in directions perpendicular to an image-shooting direction and a rotation component with respect to the image-shooting direction, and an auxiliary matrix including a motion component not included in the first matrix and the second matrix. The drawing unit generates the output frame image from the second frame image by using the projection matrix. |
| US09639910B2 |
System for embedding data
A method and system including receiving marking information, determining, at least in part, based on the marking 0 information, a plurality of color element additives, adding the plurality of color element additives to at least one color element of a video frame, wherein the at least one color element includes a color element R, a color element G, and a color element B. Related methods and systems are also described. |
| US09639908B1 |
Variable delivery zones for delivery orders
In some examples, a service provider may receive an indicated delivery location from a buyer device. The service provider may determine, based at least in part on traffic information, respective predicted courier travel times to the delivery location from a plurality of different merchant locations. The service provider may compare the respective predicted courier travel times with respective spoilage times for items offered by the corresponding merchants, and may identify one or more items having respective spoilage times greater than the respective predicted courier travel time from that merchant location. The service provider may send, to the buyer device, information about items available to be ordered from particular merchants having respective spoilage times greater than the predicted courier travel time from respective the merchant location. The buyer device may present the item information on a display to enable buyer selection of an item for delivery. |
| US09639901B2 |
Geo-location systems and methods
Systems and methods are provided for matching a first user in a first geographic location with a second user in a second geographic location, and enabling the first user to find the second user in the second geographic location. The first geographic location can be the same as the second geographic location. The first user and second user can be matched based on user-specific matching criteria, including a first user profile of the first user and a second user profile of the second user. The first user can communicate with the second user. |
| US09639900B2 |
Systems and methods for tax data capture and use
A computer-implemented method of acquiring tax data for use in tax preparation application includes acquiring an image of at least one document containing tax data therein with an imaging device. A computer extracts one or more features from the acquired image of the at least one document and compares the extracted one or more features to a database containing a plurality of different tax forms. The database may include a textual database and/or geometric database. The computer identifies a tax form corresponding to the at least one document from the plurality of different tax forms based at least in part on a confidence level associated with the comparison of the extracted one or more features to the database. At least a portion of the tax data from the acquired image is transferred into corresponding fields of the tax preparation application. |
| US09639896B2 |
System and method for dynamically managing message flow
System and method for dynamically managing message flow. According to the example embodiments, an intermediary network device or a client device dynamically manages the flow of messages received from an electronic exchange by analyzing the client device's capabilities, such as CPU utilization. Based on a percentage of total CPU utilization, the level of throttling is dynamically adjusted, such that if the percentage of CPU utilization, or load, increases, then throttling is increased from a lower level to a higher level. Similarly, if the percentage of CPU utilization decreases significantly enough, then throttling is decreased to a lower level. |
| US09639892B2 |
Activity review for a financial and social management system
Embodiments of the invention comprise systems, computer program products, and methods for a financial and social management system that provides improved tracking and management related to how, where, when, and with whom a user enters into activities. The financial and social management system captures activity information and images from various sources of information, including but not limited to social networking accounts, e-receipts, location determination devices, and the like, and associates the activity information and images with the activities. The financial and social management system aggregates the activity information for a number of activities based on the location, user, entity, category, cost, time period, or the like and displays the aggregated activity information in an activity review interface. The financial and social management system may supplement the aggregated activity information with educational data. |
| US09639891B2 |
Computerized method and system for dynamically creating and updating a user interface
The number of users viewing a given variable directly affects the rate of change and/or outcome of said variable. In the case of eCommerce, pricing of products and/or services is based upon a user accessing a website on which products and/or services are for sale. An initial price indicia associator associates initial price indicia with the products and/or services files. The initial pricing can be based upon historical indicia or the engine itself. Thereafter, a price indicia adjuster adjusts the pricing responsive to user access of the website or related website. A user interface meter shown on the website indicates to potential buyers how much interest there is in the product and/or service being sold so that peer activity is exhibited to potential buyers to encourage sales and impulsive buying behavior. Pricing is dynamic and adjusts in real-time at a rate determined by the amount of users accessing the website. |
| US09639889B2 |
Discovery engine storefront
A method and a system of online shopping using a digital storefront. For example, a digital storefront having multiple touchscreen display surfaces presents a plurality of tiles to a user, where one or more tiles display images of items for sale and at least one hunch question which may be related to the environment. In further examples, a response is received from the user to one or more hunch questions, and items are recommended for the user and presented to the user in one or more updated tiles on a touchscreen display surface. |
| US09639885B2 |
Recovery of e-commerce orders
Implementations for recovering e-commerce orders are described herein. An e-commerce order is submitted to an order processing system, by an order check-out module of an online transaction system. The e-commerce order includes order information that is provided to the order check-out module by a client device. The check-out module determines that the order processing is delayed or failed and, based at least on a status of the order processing being delayed or failed, initiates an order recovery action to be performed by an order recovery engine. Once the order recovery action is initiated, the order check-out module is made available to handle a new order. |
| US09639879B2 |
Evaluating real estate properties
The present invention is an improved system and method for analyzing multiple real estate properties. The system includes a pool of properties that are searched based on user-defined search criteria. The system identifies comparison properties from the search pool. The comparison properties include attributes that match or are a near match to the search criteria. The system compares each of the comparison properties to at least one average value and demonstrably depicts the comparison to the user. |
| US09639877B1 |
eBook citation enhancement
Electronic content items such as electronic books are enhanced by identifying citations within the content items, identifying sources of the objects of the citations, and associating the citations with such sources so that readers of the content items can easily purchase or otherwise obtain the citation objects. The citations may be updated as new products become available or information related to the products changes over time. |
| US09639875B1 |
Reconfiguring reserved instance marketplace offerings for requested reserved instance configurations
A virtual computing resource provider may implement reconfiguration of reserved compute instance marketplace offerings for requested reserved compute instance configurations. A request for listings of reserved compute instances available for resale according to a specified instance configuration may be received. Reserved compute instances may be identified that are reconfigurable to satisfy the specified configuration (e.g., a particular type, location, or reservation term length). Listing may be provided for reservation by a client that include modified listings that describe a configuration for the reconfigurable reserved compute instances that satisfies the specified configuration. In some embodiments, a reservation request for a modified listing may be received, and in response the reserved compute instance associated with the modified listing may be reconfigured (e.g., modified, upgraded, downgraded, or term adjusted) as described in the modified listing. Access to the reconfigured reserved compute instance may then be provided to the reserving client. |
| US09639872B2 |
System and method for managing pricing and inventory information
A sales management system may include a pricing data store operable to store a manufacturer price for a sales item; a retail input device adapted to receive a margin applicable to the sales item from a retailer and operable to store the margin; a retail display device residing at a retail location and configured to display a retail price for the sales item; and a product information provider located remotely from the retail display device and in communication with the manufacturer pricing data store, the product information provider configured to receive a request for product information from the retail display device and operable to compute the retail price for the sales item based in part on the manufacturer price for the sales item and the margin associated with the retailer and to provide the retail price to the retail display device for display in relation to the sales item. |
| US09639871B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for assigning moods to content and searching for moods to select content
Systems and methods for content identification and search are described. Content is identified or represented by one or more moods conveyed by the content to viewers. Identified moods are assigned range areas corresponding to each mood. Range areas are assigned spans corresponding to the range areas. Assigned spans are digitized and stored for searching. Searches are initiated by users through the identification of one or more moods and corresponding identification spans within ranges corresponding to the ranges. Once a user has selected at least one search span, a search is performed by looking for content having identification spans that at least partially correspond to the selected search spans, with content being ordered or ranked based on the degree of overlap between the identification spans and the search spans. |
| US09639862B2 |
Tracking the influence of gift giving within a social network
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a gift giving event characteristic. A first set of one or more gift giving events within a first period of time that meet the received gift giving event characteristic are identified. Each of the gift giving events result in a narrative being published to a social network and are viewable by a group of one or more users of the social network. A second set of one or more gift giving events within a second period of time are identified. The second period of time is subsequent to the first period time. The second set of gift giving events are initiated by the group of one or more users. An amount of influence of a first user that initiated a gift giving event in the first set of gift giving events is determined based upon the second set of gift giving events. |
| US09639861B2 |
Messaging with greeting card and gift option
A messaging solution that provides for creating and embedding gift cards into a text message or multi-media message. The inclusion of the gift card may be invoked when a user is sending a greeting card or, a user may directly invoke the sending of a gift card, or similarly a subscription. |
| US09639857B2 |
Method and apparatus for associating commenting information with one or more objects
An approach is provided for presenting a user interface and associating one or more commenting information with on one or more content items detected in one or more media items. Further, a user may associate one or more commenting information related to a point of interest/object wherein one or more content items associated with the point of interest/object may be retrieved and aggregated with the one or more commenting information. |
| US09639854B2 |
Voice-controlled information exchange platform, such as for providing information to supplement advertising
A system with an associated method for preloading advertisements by a server to a user's device is disclosed. In response to inquiries made by members of a user group, the system presents advertisements to the members and keeps a record of these presentations. Next, the system identifies those advertisements which have been frequently presented to the members, and preloads the identified advertisements on the device of a user who belongs to the user group. Subsequently, upon receiving a specific inquiry from the user's device, the system determines a response to the specific inquiry. When the determined response contains one of the preloaded advertisements, the system sends an instruction to the user's device to present the preloaded advertisement to the user. |
| US09639848B1 |
Diffusion prediction based on indicator scoring
Based on historical data describing product sales or other types of transactions, indicator scores may be calculated for users who have purchased, reviewed, or otherwise consumed products, the indicator scores based on subsequent diffusion of the products. Measured, current activities of the scored users with regard to another product may then be employed to develop a diffusion model that predicts the future sales of the other product over time. The diffusion model may be employed to determine product pricing, marketing, distribution, or acquisition. |
| US09639846B2 |
System and method for providing targeted content
An arrangement for providing targeted content includes data repositories storing information from which targeted content may be selected. The data repositories store at least one contextual relationship graph. The arrangement also includes an input/output interface through which a request for targeted content is made. The arrangement further includes a controller that receives the request for targeted content and selects targeted content using the contextual relationship graph. The controller further provides the selected targeted content through the input/output interface. An arrangement for determining the relative strength of a classification for a group of words includes memory for storing a contextual relationship graph for a given classification and a processor that receives the contextual relationship graph and a plurality of words to be analyzed by the processor, identifies occurrences of the relationships identified in the contextual relationship graph and determines the relative strength of classification based on the identified occurrences. |
| US09639844B2 |
Method and apparatus of identifying a website user
A method and an apparatus of identifying a website user are disclosed herein. The method includes: obtaining accounts and user identities from a database; building a connected graph by taking the accounts and the user identities as nodes and connecting account nodes and user identity nodes having association relationship therewith; finding a connected component from the connected graph, accounts corresponding to all account nodes in the connected component forming an account group that is bound to a same website user; computing an account density and a fraud account closing rate of the account group; determining whether the account density and the fraud account closing rate are within respective predetermined normal value ranges; and if affirmative, determining that the account group is a dangerous account group and a website user bound to the dangerous account group is a dangerous website user; otherwise, determining that the account group is a normal account group and a website user bound to the normal account group is a normal website user. |
| US09639842B1 |
System and method for accommodating disrupted travelers so that respective optimized itineraries for the disrupted travelers are identified simultaneously and a result comprising a simultaneous assignment of the respective optimized alternative itineraries is returned to a JMS out queue and outputted in XML format
A system and method for accommodating disrupted travelers utilizing scoring and optimization techniques. |
| US09639841B2 |
Promoting learned discourse in online media
In one example, a method for promoting learned discourse in online forums includes posting forum content on a forum server and providing access to users to the content through an I/O module. The method further includes receiving a comment from a user and analyzing the comment from the user to produce an a priori score for the comment. A portable certificate of status is accepted from the user and used to produce a posteriori score for the comment. A system for promoting learned discourse in online forums is also disclosed. |
| US09639831B2 |
Secure payment of virtual items
A method (400, 500) and a system (100) of conducting transactions for acquisition of virtual items. The method can include receiving from a user (108) a request to acquire the virtual item. Responsive to an identity indicator (112) that is exclusively unique to an identity confirmation device (110) being communicated from the identity confirmation device, a determination can be made whether the identity indicator corresponds to the user. Responsive to determining that the identity indicator corresponds to the user, the virtual item can be provided to the user. The method also can include receiving from a user a request to acquire the virtual item, receiving from an identity confirmation device an identity indicator exclusively unique to the identity confirmation device, and communicating the request and the identity indicator from the client device to a server (104). |
| US09639830B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices to dynamically customize electronic bill presentment and payment workflows
Embodiments of systems, methods and devices for electronic bill presentment and payment are disclosed. Such embodiments include receiving one or more instructions from a biller at a remote computer server. Further, the remote computer server implements an electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) workflow configuration module and provisions, using the EBPP workflow configuration module, one or more configuration parameters for the biller based on the one or more received instructions. In addition, embodiments include configuring, dynamically an EBPP workflow based on the one or more received instructions and provisioned configuration parameters using the EBPP workflow configuration module. The configuring of the EBPP workflow includes generating a state machine implementing the EBPP workflow. Moreover, embodiments include configuring one or more business logic scripts by the EBPP workflow configuration module to implement the EBPP workflow as well as configuring one or more view templates by the EBPP workflow configuration module to implement the EBPP workflow. |
| US09639829B2 |
Location-based automatic payment system
A method for making a location-based automatic payment includes receiving an automatic payment instruction that designates a payee account. The automatic payment instruction is associated with a payer account in a database. A payment location is received and associated with the automatic payment request in the database. A payer device that is associated with the payer account is determined to be in the payment location and, in response, a payment request is sent over a network to make a payment from the payer account to the payee account. |
| US09639825B1 |
Securing multifactor authentication
In certain embodiments, a system receives a request sent by a device to authorize an operation. The system initiates display of an image encoding a challenge code to allow the device to capture the image and extract the challenge code. The device calculates a response using the challenge code and a seed, and sends the response to the system. In certain examples, the device may send the request over a first channel and the response over a second channel distinct from the first channel. In other examples, the device displays the response and a user inputs the response into a computing system to send to the system. |
| US09639812B1 |
System and method for accommodating disrupted travelers
A system and method for accommodating disrupted travelers utilizing scoring and optimization techniques. |
| US09639806B2 |
System and method for predicting iconicity of an image
A system and method for evaluating iconicity of an image are provided. In the method, at least one test image is received, each test image including an object in a selected class. Properties related to iconicity are computed for each test image. The properties may include one or more of: a) a direct measure of iconicity, which is computed with a direct iconicity prediction model which has been learned on a set of training images, each training image labeled with an iconicity score; b) one or more class-independent properties; and c) one or more class-dependent properties. A measure of iconicity of each of the test images is computed, based on the computed properties. By combining a set of complementary properties, an iconicity measure which shows good agreement with human evaluations of iconicity can be obtained. |
| US09639799B2 |
System, method and apparatus for matrix-less inlay design
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a system, method and apparatus for a matrix-less inlay design may be described. The system, method and apparatus can include the formation of an inlay with a pattern, such as a starburst pattern, surrounding an antenna that can be formed during laser ablation process. The starburst pattern may be utilized to provide for the efficient generation of inlays of varying sizes. |