| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09639795B2 |
Method and system for displaying at least one matrix code on a screen to send data to electronic equipment provided with means for reading the matrix code(s)
A display method displays at least one matrix code on a screen of an electronic display device, to send data to electronic equipment including a mechanism reading the matrix code. The display device includes the screen and a mechanism displaying information on the screen. The display method includes: generating at least one two-dimensional matrix code from data to be sent; displaying the matrix code on the screen, matrix codes being displayed successively when plural matrix codes are generated; partitioning a primary image corresponding to a generated matrix code into at least two secondary images, dimensions of the primary image being equal to dimensions of the matrix code and dimensions of the secondary image being smaller than or equal to resolution of the screen, the corresponding matrix code being displayed as secondary images during the display, and the secondary images being displayed successively on the screen. |
| US09639793B2 |
Printing system displaying registration screen for registration of attributes of printing media
A printing system includes a plurality of loading units, and a registration management unit configured to display on a display screen a registration screen for receiving registration of attributes of printing media loaded in the loading unit. The registration management unit is configured to arrange selection elements corresponding to unregistered loading units so as to be selectable on the registration screen, and is configured to arrange on the registration screen registration elements for registering the attributes of the printing media loaded in the loading unit corresponding to a selected selection element. |
| US09639788B2 |
Raster image processor methods and systems
Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving the performance of a raster image processor. Smaller objects are identified among a group of larger objects with respect to a job processed via a raster image processor. The smaller objects are merged with one or more larger objects among the group of larger objects. The smaller objects that are merged with the larger object are treated as a single object without losing the perceptual quality of the job and while reducing memory requirements to thereby enhance productivity during processing of the job via the raster image processor. RIP performance improvement results by pre-flattening complicatedly designed backgrounds with multiple objects of significantly low relative occupancy. |
| US09639785B2 |
Method of compensating density and image forming apparatus performing the same
An image forming apparatus according to the present general inventive concept includes a transfer unit configured to transfer an image formed on a photoreceptor to a transfer medium, a power supply unit configured to supply transfer power to the transfer unit, a density sensor unit configured to sense a density of the image transferred to the transfer medium, and a control unit configured to control the power supply unit so that the transfer power supplied to the transfer unit is adjusted, wherein the density sensor unit is allowed to move from a first position for sensing a density of sample patches formed on the transfer medium to a second position for sensing a density of a reference reflective plate, and the control unit performs a sensor compensation mode and a density compensation mode. |
| US09639781B2 |
Systems and methods for classification and alignment of highly similar or self-similar patterns
Systems and methods for training a machine vision system create geometric models. The disclosed methods can extract one or more corresponding features and one or more differentiating features from different sets of training images. The one or more differentiating features can be used to differentiate between the different work pieces. The disclosed methods can generate an alignment model using the corresponding features and a classification model using the one or more differentiating features. |
| US09639780B2 |
System and method for improved classification
A system and method for improved classification. A first classifier is trained using a first process running on at least one computing device using a first set of training images relating to a class of images. A set of additional images are selected using the first classifier from a source of additional images accessible to the computing device. The first set of training images and the set of additional images are merged using the computing device to create a second set of training images. A second classifier is trained using a second process running on the computing device using the second set of training images. A set of unclassified images are classified using the second classifier thereby creating a set of classified images. The first classifier and the second classifier employ different classification methods. |
| US09639777B1 |
Systems and methods for providing an image classifier
Systems and methods are provided for image classification using histograms of oriented gradients (HoG) in conjunction with a trainer. The efficiency of the process is greatly increased by first establishing a bitmap which identifies a subset of the pixels in the HoG window as including relevant foreground information, and limiting the HoG calculation and comparison process to only the pixels included in the bitmap. |
| US09639776B2 |
Image evaluation device and image evaluation system
Provided is an image evaluation device including an acquisition unit that acquires an image including plural patterns having different spatial frequencies and contrasts, and an output unit that compares each of plural patterns included in the image acquired by the acquisition unit with each of plural ideal patterns corresponding to the plural patterns, calculates similarities therebetween, and outputs an evaluation value for evaluating performance regarding a resolution of the image based on a sum of the calculated similarities of the plural patterns. |
| US09639774B2 |
Method for determining applicabilty of a processing device, a processing path and a processing pattern
The present disclosure provides a method for determining an applicability of a specific processing device having a specific processing pattern. The method includes the following steps: locating a similarity index between the specific processing pattern and a reference processing pattern of a reference processing device; and confirming the applicability of the specific processing device if the similarity index is no less than a threshold. Besides, a method for assessing an applicability of a new processing pattern for a specific processing device, and a method for determining an applicability of an alternative processing path for a reference processing path are also provided. |
| US09639772B2 |
Video comparison using color histograms
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for video comparison using color histograms are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to compare video sequences include determining a color histogram corresponding to an input video sequence based on color values of pixels sampled from a plurality of video frames of the input video sequence. Such disclosed example methods also include adjusting the color histogram corresponding to the input video sequence based on a first reference color histogram corresponding to a first reference video sequence different from the input video sequence to determine an adjusted color histogram corresponding to the input video sequence. Such disclosed example methods further include comparing the adjusted color histogram and the first reference color histogram to determine whether the first reference video sequence matches the input video sequence. |
| US09639769B2 |
Liveness detection
An image of a portion of a person's body is accessed, the image having been captured by an image capture device. Using the image, measurements of characteristics in the image are obtained, the characteristics in the image having been selected based on a statistical analysis of characteristics (i) in a plurality of first images taken directly of a person and (ii) in a plurality of second images taken of an image of a person. Based on a liveness function, a score for the image is determined using the obtained measurements of the characteristics in the image. A threshold value is accessed. The score of the image is compared to the accessed threshold value. Based on the comparison of the score of the image to the accessed threshold value, the image is determined to be have been taken by the image capture device imaging the portion of the person's body. |
| US09639768B2 |
Methods and systems to adaptively detect object borders from electronic device images
A method of automatically identifying a border in a captured image may include capturing an image of a target by an image sensor of an electronic device, and, by one or more processors, processing the image to automatically detect a border of the target in the image by applying an automatic border detection method to the image. The method may include presenting the image of the target to a user via a display of the electronic device so that the presented image comprises a visual depiction of the detected border, receiving an adjustment of the border from the user, determining whether to update the default parameters based on the received adjustment, in response to determining to update the default parameters, determining one or more updated parameters for the automatic border detection method that are based on, at least in part, the received adjustment, and saving the updated parameters. |
| US09639766B2 |
Camera device, server device, image monitoring system, control method of image monitoring system, and control program of image monitoring system
An image monitoring system that efficiently utilizes a network band and decrease the processing load of a server is provided. A second image decision processor analyzes an extracted image transmitted from a monitoring terminal, and evaluates the quality (reliability) of the extracted image. A reliability decision unit outputs an individual ID of the analyzed extracted image to a load estimation unit when the numerical value from the analysis output by the second decision processor becomes less than the preset threshold. The load estimation unit estimates the server processor load of a server and the network load. A resend request unit controls the resend request for an individual ID output from the negative load estimation unit corresponding to the server processor load and the network load. |
| US09639765B2 |
Multi-stage liveness determination
A method of determining whether a biometric object is part of a live individual is described. In one such method, image information is acquired from the biometric object by using a sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor. The image information may be analyzed in at least two analysis stages. One of the analysis stages may be a temporal analysis stage that analyzes changes in the image information obtained during a time period throughout which the biometric object was continuously available to the sensor. For example, a dead/alive stage may analyze differences between image information taken at two different times in order to identify changes from one time to the next. Other stages may focus on aspects of a particular image information set, rather than seeking to assess changes over time. These other stages seek to determine whether an image information set exhibits characteristics similar to those of a live biometric object. |
| US09639763B2 |
Image target detecting apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment includes a detection unit 11 and an identification unit 12. The detection unit 11 included in the image processing apparatus 10 detects a region in which a pixel value is changed between frames included in moving image data. The detection unit 11 outputs a detected result to the identification unit 12. The identification unit 12 sets a circumscribed rectangle to the region detected by the detection unit 11. The identification unit 12 specifies a frame including a detection target based on a filling ratio of the region to the circumscribed rectangle. |
| US09639758B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing image
A method of processing an image by using an image processing apparatus is provided. The method includes acquiring, by the image processing apparatus, a target image, extracting a shape of a target object included in the target image, determining a category including the target object based on the extracted shape, and storing the target image by mapping the target image with additional information including at least one keyword related to the category. |
| US09639755B2 |
Automated compound structure characterization in overhead imagery
A system for automatically characterizing areas of interest (e.g., urban areas, forests, and/or other compound structures) in high resolution overhead imagery through manipulation of a dictionary of visual words. The pixels of an input overhead image are initially clustered into a plurality of hierarchically-arranged connected components of a first hierarchical data structure. Image descriptors (e.g., shape, spectral, etc.) of the connected components are then clustered into a plurality of hierarchically-arranged nodes of a second hierarchical data structure. The nodes at a particular level in the second hierarchical data structure become a dictionary of visual words. Subsets of the visual words may be used to label the cells of a grid over the geographic area as falling into one of a number of areas of interest. Categorization information from the grid may be mapped into a resultant image whereby pixels depict their respective type of area of interest. |
| US09639753B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and recording medium
In an image processing apparatus, an image acquiring section acquires one or more images. An image analysis information acquiring section acquires image analysis information on each of the one or more images. A theme determining section determines a main theme representing a theme of each group of images related to each other among the one or more images and a subtheme representing a theme of each of the one or more images based on information on photography tendencies of images associated with each of one or more themes and the image analysis information on each of the one or more images. A theme information output section outputs information on the main theme and information on the subtheme. |
| US09639748B2 |
Method for detecting persons using 1D depths and 2D texture
A method detects an object in a scene by first determining an active set of window positions from depth data. Specifically, the object can be a person. The depth data are acquired by a depth sensor. For each, window position perform the following steps. Assign a window size based on the depth data. Select a current window from the active set of window positions. Extract a joint feature from the depth data and texture data for the current window, wherein the texture data are acquired by a camera. Classify the joint feature to detect the object. The classifier is trained with joint training features extracted from training data including training depth data and training texture data acquired by the sensor and camera respectively. Finally, the active set of window positions is updated before processing the next current window. |
| US09639747B2 |
Online learning method for people detection and counting for retail stores
People detection can provide valuable metrics that can be used by businesses, such as retail stores. Such information can be used to influence any number of business decisions such a employment hiring and product orders. The business value of this data hinges upon its accuracy. Thus, a method according to the principles of the current invention outputs metrics regarding people in a video frame within a stream of video frames through use of an object classifier configured to detect people. The method further comprises automatically updating the object classifier using data in at least a subset of the video frames in the stream of video frames. |
| US09639746B2 |
Systems and methods of detecting body movements using globally generated multi-dimensional gesture data
The disclosure describes systems and methods of detecting body movements using gesture data. The gesture data may be self-referenced and may be comprised by frames which may identify locations or positions of body parts of a subject with respect to a particular reference point within the frame. A classifier may process frames to learn body movements and store the frames of gesture data in a database. Data comprising frames of self-referenced gesture data may be received by a recognizer which recognizes movements of the subject identified by the frames by matching gesture data of the incoming frames to the classified self-referenced gesture data stored in the database. |
| US09639745B2 |
Method and apparatus for evaluating results of gaze detection
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for evaluating results of gaze detection, wherein these results are present or are obtained in the form of information which defines, for each of a multiplicity of successive times, a viewing direction detected at this time and a focal point identified thereby in a scene image assigned to this time. For this purpose, the invention provides for the following steps to be carried out: —a temporal change in the viewing direction and/or the focal point is evaluated in order to identify different viewing events which differ from one another by different speeds of an eye movement, wherein saccades and fixations and/or pursuit movements are detected as different types of viewing events and the identified viewing events are classified according to the type thereof, —a period of time spanned by the times is divided into intervals in such a manner that an interval corresponding to a duration of the particular viewing event is assigned to each of the identified viewing events, wherein at least some of these intervals each contain a sequence of a plurality of times, —precisely one of the times or a true subset of the times is selected in each case from each of the intervals assigned to a fixation or a pursuit movement, —and, for each of these selected times, the focal point identified in the scene image assigned to the particular time is mapped to a position corresponding to this focal point in a reference image. |
| US09639741B2 |
Facial recognition with biometric pre-filters
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for facial recognition processing using biometric pre-filters. The computer determines a first eye-to-eye distance of a first detected face of a first image, and wherein the eye-to-eye distance is a biometric measurement. The computer receives a selection of a demographic characteristic. The computer determines a search range for the first eye-to-eye distance based, at least in part, on the selection of the demographic characteristic, and the first eye-to-eye distance. The computer identifies a second image from a plurality of images, wherein the second image includes a second eye-to-eye distance that is included in the determined search range for the first eye-to-eye distance. The computer applies a facial recognition algorithm to the second image to determine at least one potential identity that is associated with the first detected face. |
| US09639736B2 |
Apparatus for and method of processing image and storage medium
An image processing apparatus displays an object adopted and an object not adopted by an adoption/non-adoption process in a distinguishable manner. A user designates an object whose adoption/non-adoption result is desired to be reversed among the objects displayed by the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus changes an allowable range stored in a storage part so that the adoption/non-adoption result of the designated object is reversed. That is, the user views the adoption/non-adoption result of the objects to change the allowable range of a parameter so that the adoption/non-adoption result becomes proper. This makes the allowable range of the parameter for use in the adoption/non-adoption process proper with ease. |
| US09639732B2 |
Apparatus and system for operating a handheld barcode scanner in a presentation mode
An apparatus and system for operating a handheld barcode scanner in a presentation mode are provided. The apparatus includes an upright stand having a lower end for placement adjacent to a work surface, and an opposing upper end. The apparatus includes a lower mirror, an upper mirror and a dock all supported by the stand. The dock holds the handheld barcode scanner between the lower mirror and a scan volume above the work surface to define a first beam path segment between the handheld barcode scanner and the lower mirror. The upper mirror defines a second beam path segment between the upper mirror and the lower mirror, and a third beam path segment between the upper mirror and the scan volume. The first, the second and the third beam path segments define a beam path between the handheld scanner and the scan volume. |
| US09639731B2 |
Compact mirror arrangement for and method of capturing light over multiple subfields of view through an upright window of a point-of-transaction workstation
A compact optical arrangement splits the field of view of an upwardly-looking imager into a plurality of intersecting subfields along which return light from a target passes through and past an upright window to the imager. A top mirror is positioned along a vertical axis directly above the imager. Overhead mirror portions located between the imager and the top mirror are spaced radially apart to enable the return light reflected by the top mirror to bypass the overhead mirror portions and pass unobstructedly directly to the imager along a central subfield. A plurality of side fold mirrors reflects the return light passing through the upright window to the overhead mirror portions. The overhead mirror portions are positioned apart to enable the return light reflected by the side fold mirrors to pass to the imager along a pair of outer subfields. |
| US09639730B2 |
Aiming system and method for machine-readable symbol readers
An engine for a machine-readable symbol reader includes an image sensor; at least one optical component positioned in an optical path of the image sensor, the image sensor and the at least one optical component having a receiving optical axis and a depth of field; an illumination source; and at least two optical components positioned relative to the illumination source to direct light emitted by the illumination source outward of the engine as a first beam and at least a second beam. The first and the second beams are each parallel to the receiving optical axis of the image sensor and the at least one optical component at least along the depth of field of the image sensor and the at least one optical component. The first and the second beams are opposed to one another across the receiving optical axis of the image sensor and the at least one optical component to provide a visible aiming indication when impinging on an object. |
| US09639728B1 |
Imaging module and reader for, and method of, reading a target over a field of view by image capture with a visually prominent indicator of a center zone of the field of view
An imaging sensor of an imaging reader senses return light from a target to be read by image capture along an imaging axis over a field of view that extends along mutually orthogonal, horizontal and vertical axes. Two aiming light assemblies are offset from the sensor, and direct an aiming light pattern at the target. The pattern has an aiming mark in a central area of the pattern, and a pair of aiming light lines that are collinear along the horizontal axis. The visibility of the aiming mark is enhanced by optically configuring the aiming mark to be different in brightness relative to a remaining area of the pattern by specially configuring aiming lenses with regions of different optical power to forte each aiming light line of non-uniform brightness. The aiming mark of enhanced visibility constitutes a prominent visual indicator of a center zone of the field of view. |
| US09639726B2 |
Code symbol reading system having adjustable object detection
A code symbol reading system is provided. The code symbol reading system has an object detection subsystem that can be configured to detect only those objects that are positioned at a specified distance from the system. The object-detection subsystem thereby initiates the scanning process only when an object is detected at substantially the specified distance from the system. |
| US09639724B2 |
Smart power source
An article having a conductive body, a magnetic diverter, and a communication device is described. The magnetic diverter is positioned on an outer surface of the conductive body. The magnetic diverter covers a substantial portion of the outer surface of the conductive body. A communication device is positioned on the outer surface of the diverter or may be recessed therein. The communication device is capable of signal coupling with a reader. |
| US09639723B1 |
Conditional RFID
A RFID tag includes logic to compare information in a received signal with conditional response criteria, and to respond to the received signal with an RFID only if the information satisfies the conditional response criteria. |
| US09639720B2 |
System and method of automatically avoiding signal interference between product proximity subsystems that emit signals through mutually facing presentation windows of different workstations
Signal interference is automatically avoided between product proximity subsystems that emit signals through mutually facing presentation windows of different workstations. A magnetometer in each workstation determines a direction faced by a respective presentation window. A controller in each workstation controls a respective product proximity subsystem to emit and receive a signal with a first signal characteristic when the respective magnetometer determines that the respective presentation window faces a first direction, and controls a respective product proximity subsystem to emit and receive a signal with a different second signal characteristic when the respective magnetometer determines that the respective presentation window faces a different second direction. |
| US09639718B2 |
USB link lock device
Provided is a USB link lock device. The device includes a device body, a blocking member provided on the device body to block access of an external device, an external USB port part provided on the device body to be adjacent to the blocking member, a signal connection part enabling signal transmission between a terminal inside the USB port and the external USB connecting port, a locking member selectively locked to the electronic device so that the blocking member is not forcedly removed from the USB port, a stopping member provided in the device body to be retractable into the external USB port part, a lock member movably provided on the blocking member to control a locking operation of the locking member and a blocking operation of the stopping member. |
| US09639715B2 |
Protecting user identifiable information in the transfer of telemetry data
This disclosure describes systems and method for preventing the transfer of ‘user-identifiable information’ from a client device while collecting telemetry data that is relevant to features of an operating system or computing application. In various examples, telemetry data is gathered to monitor the performance or use of an operating system or computing application. The process of collecting telemetry data can involve capturing data associated with files that are not directly associated with the operating system or computing application that is being monitored. This disclosure presents techniques that use a cryptographic hash function to prevent user identifiable information from being revealed in file attributes during the process of collecting telemetry data. A user's privacy is protected by the computational impracticability of recreating the original filename from the hash value. |
| US09639713B2 |
Secure endpoint file export in a business environment
Embodiments for preventing data loss in a business environment are provided. In some embodiments, a secure endpoint file export application assigns users to different classes having different permissions for accessing and writing data. In an embodiment, the system and method are configured to identify a plurality of users in a business environment; classify the plurality of users according to business needs; assign the users to one of at least two classes based on the classification; determine that the first user is permitted to access the data; transmit the secure file to a second user who is permitted to write the data in the secure file to removable media; write the data in the secure file to the removable media; and track a location of the removable media. |
| US09639710B2 |
Device-based PIN authentication process to protect encrypted data
Techniques are disclosed for providing a device-based PIN authentication process used to protect encrypted data stored on a computing system, such as a tablet or mobile device. A client component and a server component each store distinct cryptographic keys needed to access encrypted data on the client. The mobile device stores a vault encryption key used to decrypt encrypted sensitive data stored on the mobile device. The vault key is encrypted using a first encryption key and stored on the mobile device. The first encryption key is itself encrypted using a second encryption key. The second encryption key is derived from the PIN value. |
| US09639705B1 |
Encryption management for data storage
Large volumes of data to be securely imported to, and exported from, a data storage service or other such location in a secure manner without a customer having to manage keys or encryption. A data management component can execute on a client device that can identify data to be stored and obtain the appropriate key for encrypting the data. Once the data is encrypted, the data can be transmitted to the data storage service. When the data is received to the data storage service, an ingestion station reads the encrypted data and causes the encrypted data to be stored to the data storage service. The data remains encrypted from the client device through being stored to the data storage service. When a request for the data is received, access to the key can be obtained and the data decrypted and returned in response to the request. |
| US09639704B2 |
Biogenetic information security
In one embodiment, an encryption device may retrieve authentic genetic information from a genetic information database, generate false genetic information based on the authentic genetic information, encrypt the false genetic information to produce encrypted genetic information, assign identifiers to respective segments of the encrypted genetic information, transmit the encrypted genetic information to be genetically analyzed to a gene analyzer, receive, from the gene analyzer, an analysis of the encrypted genetic information, and decrypt the analysis of the encrypted genetic information to parse the analysis of the authentic genetic information. |
| US09639703B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for automatically mitigating vulnerabilities in source code
A method for automatically mitigating vulnerabilities in a source code of an application is provided in the present invention. The method includes the following steps. First, the source code is complied, and a path graph is built according to the compiled source code. The path graph includes a plurality of paths traversing from sources to sinks, and each of the paths includes a plurality of nodes. Then, at least one tainted path is identified by enabling a plurality of vulnerability rules. Each of the at least one tainted path corresponds to a vulnerability, and each of the at least one vulnerability corresponds to a sanitization method. Then, the at least one vulnerability is determined if it is mitigable. If the at least one vulnerability is mitigable, the at least one vulnerability is mitigated automatically. Furthermore, the method may be implemented as a system and a computer program product. |
| US09639699B1 |
Detecting non-human users on computer systems
A method including collecting, by a processing device, raw data regarding an input to fill a form field. The method further includes converting, by the processing device, the raw data to test data, wherein the test represents behavioral characteristics of the entry of the input. The method further includes identifying a human characteristic model corresponding to the behavior characteristics of the entry of the input. The method further includes generating a predictor from a comparison of the test data against the corresponding human characteristic model. The predictor includes a score indicating a probability that the input originated from a human user or from a malicious code imitating the human user. |
| US09639695B2 |
System and method for validating users using social network or other information from a web site
A system and method uses any or all of information of a user and/or user's activity at a second web site, information of the user's friends or other connections at the second web site, or registration information of the user, to determine whether to allow the user to communicate with other users of a first web site, prevent the user from communicating with other users of the first web site, or monitor the user's communications and allow or prevent the user from further communication based on the monitored communications at the first web site. |
| US09639694B2 |
Automated classification of applications for mobile devices
Automated classification of applications (“apps”) for mobile devices is provided. In some embodiments, automated classification of apps for mobile devices includes receiving an application (“app”); performing an analysis of the app using a classification engine; and determining an app category for the app based on the analysis performed using the classification engine. |
| US09639689B1 |
User authentication
There is disclosed a technique for use in authentication. The technique comprises selecting an authentication challenge when an authentication request is deemed risky. An attack threat determined to be associated with the authentication request acts as a decision factor in the selection of the authentication challenge such that a biometric challenge is selected in the event that the attack threat describes a stolen device and an out-of-band challenge is selected in the event that the attack threat describes a stolen identification credential. |
| US09639688B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing and enforcing security and resource policies for a vehicle
In one or more embodiments, a vehicle resource usage control system includes a vehicle computer having security policies that define usage rules for one or more vehicle resources. One or more devices communicating with the vehicle computer may have installed in memory software applications that use one or more vehicle resources for operation. Programmed instructions may be received that define which of the one or more vehicle resources the software applications use for operation. These programmed instructions may be associated with the one or more security policies. The security policy associated with the software applications may be determined based on the programmed instructions. Operation of the software applications may be permitted according to the security policy. |
| US09639685B2 |
Authentication of gesture input through RFID scans
Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for receiving one or more radio frequency identifier (RFID) codes from a passive wearable device and identifying gesture input in at least one of the RFID code(s). Additionally, access to a computing system may be granted if the gesture input corresponds to a known gesture. In one example, identifying the gesture input includes detecting a change in at least one of the RFID code(s) and the detected change is compared to an expected change associated with the known gesture. |
| US09639682B2 |
Voice activated application for mobile devices
A system and methods for performing authentication to enable a user to access a site monitoring system are provided. The authentication includes voice authentication having at least one threshold that may be dynamically adjustable between false-rejection and false-acceptance. The system includes a processor configured to adjust the at least one threshold for the voice authentication based on at least one factor associated with the site monitoring system. The processor may be configured to perform voice authentication based on the adjusted at least one threshold to authenticate the user. |
| US09639678B2 |
Identity risk score generation and implementation
Embodiments are directed to providing an identity risk score as part of an authentication assertion, applying operating heuristics to determine an operating application's validity and to providing identity risk scores to requesting third parties. In one scenario, an authentication server receives from a cloud service portal various user credentials from a user. The user credentials identify a user to the authentication server. The authentication server verifies the user's identity using the received credentials and generates an identity risk score based on one or more identity factors. The identity factors indicate a likelihood that the user is a valid user. The authentication server encapsulates the generated identity risk score in an authentication assertion and sends the authentication assertion that includes the generated identity risk score to the cloud service portal. |
| US09639677B1 |
Skill-based authentication
There is disclosed herein techniques for use in skill-based authentication. The techniques comprise determining a skill associated with a user. Also, the techniques comprise providing a user challenge based on the skill. Further, the techniques comprise receiving a user response to the user challenge. Additionally, the techniques comprise determining whether to authenticate the user based on the user response. |
| US09639670B2 |
On-demand custom entitlement cards for products and services
An entitlement card can be assigned a product key real-time to provide a custom order of benefits including product and/or service, amount, and time. A method facilitating product key assignment for an entitlement can include receiving a request for activating a custom entitlement product key from, for example, a point of purchase. The request includes a request for particular benefits to a redeemer, including the particular product and/or service to be provided and the quantity and time period for the product and/or service. The method further includes assigning the benefits to the product key at the time of the request and activating the product key, which may be later redeemed for the assigned benefits. |
| US09639666B2 |
Pathway planning system and method
A system and method for planning a pathway through an anatomical luminal network of a patient including a computing device having at least one processor; a display device in communication with the computing device; and a user interface configured for display on the display device and configured to guide a user through a pathway planning procedure. The user interface includes a patient selection window configured to receive a user input to select a patient having CT image data on which to perform pathway planning; a target selection window configured to receive a user input to select at least one target from the CT image data; and an airway finder window configured to generate at least one pathway from the at least one target to an entry point of the anatomical luminal network in response to a user input. |
| US09639664B2 |
Computer-implemented methods for executing transactions
Computer-implemented methods for executing transactions between parties seeking services and parties offering services. |
| US09639661B2 |
Simulator for breast imaging examinations
A system simulating the reviewing process of breast imaging examination (i.e. mammographic) information provides a data file of breast imaging information including mammographic (and other breast imaging examinations) images that may be scored by a trainee on computerized worksheet and expert assessments of those images. Quantitative data in the expert assessment may be compared to trainee-entered data recovered from the worksheet to provide an assessment of trainee proficiency in interpreting breast imaging studies. The data file of breast imaging information may be derived from actual clinical data anonymized and selected to provide for realistic yet demanding simulation. |
| US09639659B2 |
Ancestral-specific reference genomes and uses in identifying a candidate for a clinical trial
Ancestry has a significant impact on the major and minor alleles found in each nucleotide position within the genome. Due to mechanisms of inheritance, ancestral-specific information contained within the genome is conserved within members of an ancestry. For this reason, individuals within a specific ancestry are more likely to share alleles in their genomes with other members of the same ancestry. Functionally, the combination of alleles at all positions within a group of individuals defines that group as having a common ancestry. Moreover, the aggregation of differences between alleles at all positions distinguishes one ancestry from another. The genomic similarities and differences between ancestries provides a mechanism to generate reference genomes that are specific for each ancestry. Reference genomes that are specific to an ancestry can be used to increase the accuracy of whole genome sequencing, DNA-based diagnostics and therapeutic marker discovery and in a variety of real-world DNA-based applications. Provided herein is a method for identifying a candidate individual for participation in a clinical trial, comprising the step of comparing a DNA sequence of the whole genome of a patient with any one or more of the ancestral-specific reference genomes of an ancestral-specific reference genome database described herein, wherein the presence or absence of a clinically relevant genetic marker indicates that the individual is candidate for participation in the clinical trial. |
| US09639658B2 |
Ancestral-specific reference genomes and uses in determining prognosis
Ancestry has a significant impact on the major and minor alleles found in each nucleotide position within the genome. Due to mechanisms of inheritance, ancestral-specific information contained within the genome is conserved within members of an ancestry. For this reason, individuals within a specific ancestry are more likely to share alleles in their genomes with other members of the same ancestry. Functionally, the combination of alleles at all positions within a group of individuals defines that group as having a common ancestry. Moreover, the aggregation of differences between alleles at all positions distinguishes one ancestry from another. The genomic similarities and differences between ancestries provides a mechanism to generate reference genomes that are specific for each ancestry. Reference genomes that are specific to an ancestry can be used to increase the accuracy of whole genome sequencing, DNA-based diagnostics and therapeutic marker discovery and in a variety of real-world DNA-based applications. Provided herein is a method for determining a prognosis for a genetic disease or disorder comprising the step of comparing a DNA sequence of or derived from the whole genome of a patient with any one or combination of two or more ancestral-specific reference genomes of an ancestral-specific reference genome database described herein to determine the level of severity of the genetic disease or disorder. |
| US09639653B2 |
Method for checking a hardware-configurable logic circuit for faults
A method is described for checking a hardware-configurable logic circuit including circuit areas and including a configuration memory having different subareas for faults, a respective configuration of hardware elements of one of the circuit areas being defined by configuration data stored in an associated subarea of the configuration memory, and when at least one checking requirement in regard to an output signal which is provided by the hardware-configurable logic circuit is met, a fault check of the configuration data being carried out only in those subareas of the configuration memory of the hardware-configurable logic circuit which are involved in generating the output signal. |
| US09639652B2 |
Compact model for device/circuit/chip leakage current (IDDQ) calculation including process induced uplift factors
A system, method and computer program product for implementing a quiescent current leakage specific model into semiconductor device design and circuit design flows. The leakage model covers all device geometries with wide temperature and voltage ranges and, without the need for stacking factor calculations nor spread sheet based IDDQ calculations. The leakage model for IDDQ calculation incorporates further parasitic and proximity effects. The leakage model implements leakage calculations at different levels of testing, e.g., from a single device to a full chip design, and are integrated within one single model. The leakage model implements leakage calculations at different levels of testing with the leverage of a single switch setting. The implementation is via a hardware definition language code or object oriented code that can be compiled and operated using a netlist of interest, e.g., for conducting a performance analysis. |
| US09639647B2 |
Method of making semiconductor device and system for performing the same
A method of making a semiconductor device includes determining, by a processor, a first pattern density of a first region, determining a second pattern density of a second region, determining a pattern density gradient from the first region to the second region, determining whether the pattern density gradient exceeds a pattern density gradient threshold and performing a placement or a routing of the semiconductor device if the pattern density gradient is less than or equal to the pattern density gradient threshold. |
| US09639646B2 |
System-on-chip intellectual property block discovery
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a bridge circuit configured to receive a first request from an external system, a discover circuit coupled to the bridge circuit and configured to process the first request received from the bridge circuit, and a memory map coupled to the discover circuit. The memory map stores a record for each of a plurality of Intellectual Property (IP) blocks implemented within the IC. The discover circuit is configured to generate a list of the IP blocks implemented within the IC from the records of the memory map responsive to the first request. The bridge circuit is configured to send the list to the external system. |
| US09639645B2 |
Integrated circuit chip reliability using reliability-optimized failure mechanism targeting
Disclosed are methods for improving integrated circuit (IC) chip reliability. IC chips are manufactured and sorted into groups corresponding to process windows within a process distribution for the design. Group fail rates are set for each group based on failure mechanism fail rates, which are set for multiple failure mechanisms. An overall fail rate is determined for the full process distribution based on the group fail rates. First contribution amounts of the groups to the overall fail rate and second contribution amounts of the failure mechanisms to the group fail rate of each group are determined. Based on an analysis of the contribution amounts, at least one specific failure mechanism is selected and targeted for improvement (i.e., changes directed to the specific failure mechanism(s) are proposed and implemented). Optionally, proposed change(s) are only implemented if they will be sufficient to meet a reliability requirement and/or will not be cost-prohibitive. |
| US09639639B2 |
Logic circuit emulator and control method therefor
A logic circuit emulator comprises multiple sub-systems, in which each sub-system outputs to another one of the sub-systems a permission notification to permit the another sub-system to proceed to next emulation clock cycle depending on whether or not the state of an own sub-circuit has advanced. In case a signal that is output from an own sub-circuit and that is to be sent to a sub-circuit of the other sub-system has changed, each sub-system outputs a transfer request to transfer the signal to the another sub-system before the next emulation clock cycle. In case a signal is not being sent from the own sub-circuit to the sub-circuit of the another sub-system, and a permission notification is received but no transfer request is being received from the other sub-system, a clock signal is output for the own sub-circuit to advance the own sub-circuit to the next emulation clock cycle. |
| US09639633B2 |
Providing information services related to multimodal inputs
A system and method provides information services related to multimodal inputs. Several different types of data used as multimodal inputs are described. Also described are various methods involving the generation of contexts using multimodal inputs, synthesizing context-information service mappings and identifying and providing information services. |
| US09639624B2 |
Extracting color schemes of pages written in a markup language
An aspect includes extracting a color scheme of a page written in a markup language. A content portion from the page is nonvisualized, a subtractive process is applied to the page with the content portion having been nonvisualized, and a color scheme is extracted from the page to which the subtractive process has been applied. |
| US09639623B2 |
Method for remotely controlling a video playing within a first web page at a first device from a second device using a document object model
Administration of a Web page is contemplated. The contemplated administration may be used to facilitate identifying state of a Web page at a first device from a remotely located second device, optionally independently of a Web server that downloads the Web page to the device. The contemplated administration may be used to facilitate changing state of Web page as provided through the first device from the remotely located second device, optionally independent of the Web server that downloads the Web page to the device. |
| US09639622B2 |
Image processing system, image processing method, program, and non-transitory information storage medium
A web site determination unit determines web sites associated with any one of a plurality of users of interest. A web site association unit associates, among the determined web sites, a plurality of the web sites with each other, each of the plurality of the web sites satisfying at least one of a condition on a feature amount of the each of the plurality of the web sites and a condition on at least one of the users of interest associated with the each of the plurality of the web sites. Accordingly, web site groups possibly having a commonality may be determined among web site groups associated with users of interest. |
| US09639619B2 |
Network architecture and method for reducing the number of resource requests
A method may include receiving a primary resource in a user device, wherein the resource includes a plurality of addresses and each of the plurality of addresses identifying one of a plurality of additional resources. The method may further include aggregating the plurality of addresses and sending the aggregated addresses to a network device. The method may further include receiving the additional resources in the user device. |
| US09639618B2 |
System, method and program product for key word searching where a key word is a homonym
System, method and program product for forming a search query. A user enters search terms. Icons that correspond to the respective search terms are automatically determined and displayed. The icons are not the search results. An indication is received from a user whether the icons represent a context intended by the search terms. If the user indicates that the icons represent the context intended by the search terms, a search that corresponds to the icons is conducted. The search query can be structured or unstructured. If the user indicates that one of the icons does not represent a corresponding search term entered by the user (for example, if the search term is a homonym), then the context of the corresponding search term is determined as well as another icon corresponding to the context of the corresponding search term entered by the user. A hierarchical relationship between the icons can be determined and displayed. |
| US09639614B2 |
Maximizing content item information on a search engine results page
Methods, computer systems, and computer-readable storage media for maximizing information associated with content items on a search engine results page are provided. A total number of pixels available on the search engine results page is determined, and content items are received in response to a search query. Templates are selected from a set of pre-generated templates, and the content items are initially assigned to the templates such that a number of content items is maximized on the search engine results page. Next, and starting with the highest-ranked content item, an optimal size is determined for each of the templates such that the content-item-per-pixel is maximized within each template. After resizing the templates to the optimal size, the content items are presented on the search engine results page. |
| US09639607B2 |
Managing media content, playlist sharing
Electronic content items which may be associated into playlists and located throughout a plurality of sources may be managed using at least one media content manager. A compatibility hierarchy may be used to determine compatibility of certain electronic content items with other electronic content items associated with other sources in order to populate playlists. |
| US09639603B2 |
Electronic device, display method, and storage medium
An electronic device includes a receiving unit, a searching unit, a storing unit, and a displaying unit. The receiving unit receives a search character string. The searching unit searches a dictionary database according to the received search character string. The storing unit stores headwords which are obtained by the searching unit in a memory as search history data. The displaying unit displays a search history graph based on the search history data. Marks are arranged in the search history graph. The marks show positions of headwords searched for in past times, within a range of headwords collected in the dictionary data. |
| US09639598B2 |
Large-scale data clustering with dynamic social context
A system and method for dynamic, semi-supervised clustering comprises receiving data attributes, generating a set of ensemble partitions using the data attributes, forming a convex hull using the set of ensemble partitions, generating a simplex vector by performing ensemble clustering on the convex hull, receiving dynamic links, deriving an optimal simplex vector using the simplex vector and the dynamic links, computing a current optimal clustering result using the optimal simplex vector, and outputting the current optimal clustering result. |
| US09639596B2 |
Processing data in a data warehouse
Processing data of a data warehouse is provided and includes receiving, by a processing device, user input to create simple filter objects. Each filter object defines an ad hoc subset of a respective dimension of a dimension table of the data warehouse. User input is received to create a filtered operation object that specifies an operation and a plurality of the simple filter objects. The ad hoc subset differs from all subsets defined in the dimension table. |
| US09639595B2 |
Operational business intelligence system and method
An automated method of detecting and reporting exceptions to a plurality of real-world processes, designed to combine the real-time speeds of automated transaction processing systems with the in depth analysis of automated business intelligence systems. The system operates by storing input data in the form of process agnostic database system (PADS) objects, configured to accept data without limitation as to specific process, and design to allow flexible automated linking between various things, activities, and processes to any desired depth. The system operates by analyzing real-time input data against various exception criteria, thereby determining exception marked objects, and then using linkages between different PADS objects to immediately determine the impact of these exceptions on other activities and processes. The system can then estimate the severity of the impact, automatically notify users when an impact to even distantly connected processes are detected, and also estimate the severity of the impact. |
| US09639587B2 |
Social network analyzer
A system and method are described herein that provide for visualizing business objects stored in a backend system in database model views for display as nodes in a user interface. Business objects are retrieved from the backend system, with metadata from the business objects being customized and sorted into a plurality of node types. Each business object may be displayed in a user interface as a node along with other nodes generated from the database model views. The nodes represented by the business objects may be connected by edges that provide for an interconnection between each of the nodes. The edges may be customized by providing directional components to the edges to demonstrate the relationship between the displayed nodes. |
| US09639586B2 |
Identification of load utility
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for converting MLOAD and TPUMP operations. In some embodiments, a system is configured to: receive a first information, wherein the first information comprises at least one piece of data; count the number of pieces of data; compare the counted number of pieces of data to a predetermined threshold value; and identify a load utility based on the comparison between the counted number of pieces of data and the predetermined threshold value. |
| US09639583B2 |
Caching predefined data for mobile dashboard
Embodiments provide a data caching mechanism based on a user's request (query) to a remote database, and the corresponding response (query result) received therefrom. As part of a database query, the user can define cache parameter(s). When a viable communications link becomes available to access the remote database, volumes of relevant data are returned as a query result and cached locally according to those predefined cache parameter(s). Embodiments are particularly suited to allow a mobile device to interact with data of a remote database in an efficient and reliable manner. The mobile device's small form factor, may preclude local storage of large volumes of remotely stored data. However, this can be compensated for by selectively storing data in the cache memory according to user-specified parameters, allowing the mobile device to continue to have access to relevant information in the event that communication with the remote database is degraded or lost. |
| US09639580B1 |
Computer-implemented systems and methods for data management and visualization
Systems and methods are disclosed for data management and visualization. In accordance with one implementation, a method is provided that includes, for example, receiving data from one or more sources, the data being associated with a plurality of locations. The method also includes receiving, based on input from a user, a selection of a set of metrics for scoring each of the plurality of locations and a weight to assign to each metric. In addition, the method includes calculating an overall score for each of the plurality of locations based on the received data, the selected set of metrics, and the weight assigned to each metric. |
| US09639578B2 |
System and method for investigating large amounts of data
A data analysis system is proposed for providing fine-grained low latency access to high volume input data from possibly multiple heterogeneous input data sources. The input data is parsed, optionally transformed, indexed, and stored in a horizontally-scalable key-value data repository where it may be accessed using low latency searches. The input data may be compressed into blocks before being stored to minimize storage requirements. The results of searches present input data in its original form. The input data may include access logs, call data records (CDRs), e-mail messages, etc. The system allows a data analyst to efficiently identify information of interest in a very large dynamic data set up to multiple petabytes in size. Once information of interest has been identified, that subset of the large data set can be imported into a dedicated or specialized data analysis system for an additional in-depth investigation and contextual analysis. |
| US09639577B1 |
Systems and methods for determining membership of an element within a set using a minimum of resources
A computer-implemented method for scanning a file is described. A Golomb-Compressed Sequence (GCS) index may be queried to determine whether GCS data is associated with the scanned data. The GCS index may be stored in a first storage medium and the GCS data may be stored in a second storage medium. The second storage medium may be different from the first storage medium. Upon determining the GCS data is associated with the scanned data, the location of the GCS data associated with the scanned data may be identified. The GCS data may be retrieved from the identified location. At least a portion of the retrieved GCS data may be analyzed. Based on the analysis of the retrieved GCS data, it may be determined whether to perform additional data querying. |
| US09639573B2 |
Systems and methods for query queue optimization
A computer-implemented method for optimizing a queue of queries for database efficiency is implemented by a controller computing device coupled to a memory device. The method includes receiving a plurality of database queries at the computing device from at least one host, evaluating the plurality of database queries to determine a resource impact associated with each database query of the plurality of database queries, prioritizing the plurality of database queries based upon a set of prioritization factors and the resource impact associated with each database query, and submitting the prioritized plurality of database queries to a database system for execution. The database system executes the plurality of database queries in order of priority. |
| US09639572B2 |
SQL enhancements simplifying database querying
Disclosed are techniques employed alone or in combination, to further enhance a database language and improve conciseness and comprehensiveness of query statements in application code. Embodiments may build upon an initial extension of database language to accommodate concepts of entity-relationship models (ERMs). That initial extension may include entities with structured types, and named associations. One technique modifies SQL to allow the SELECT command to specify element path expressions based upon a relationship (e.g. named associations between ERM elements). Another technique modifies SQL to introduce filter expressions suffixed to associations within path expressions, thus improving adherence to the principle of locality within query statements. Yet another technique allows a shorthand to “factor out” association path prefixes, thereby avoiding lengthy lists of path expressions in order to read several elements from the same nested structure or a same target entity behind a single association. Other techniques simplifying database querying are also disclosed. |
| US09639571B2 |
Methods and systems for increasing capacity and performing data rebalancing without downtime to a distributed shared-nothing database with serializable isolation
A distributed shared-nothing database provides serializable isolation for transactions and includes a mechanism for adding storage and processing capacity to the database without stopping the database from processing transactions. |
| US09639568B2 |
Systems and methods for improved data structure storage
A system and method for storing, reading, and updating data structures in a database. The system and method can include storing an entry in a structure table for each data structure, where each data structure is associated with a unique identifier. The system and method can also include storing an entry for each field of a data structure in n field table corresponding to a data type of the field, where the entry for each field is associated with the unique identifier of the data structure. A field for a data structure can be accessed by searching the appropriate field table for the unique identifier of the data structure. Additionally, the data structure can be updated by adding a new entry in the structure table and new entries in the field tables. |
| US09639558B2 |
Image building
An image is built. The building of an image includes selecting an image to be built, performing a hashing function on the image to produce a checksum, querying a registry for an existing image including the same checksum, and if no existing image including the same checksum is found, acquiring a parent image for the image to be built, building the image to produce a built image, adding the checksum for the image to the built image, and storing the built image in the registry. |
| US09639557B2 |
Positioning system
There is disclosed a method of managing a database of positioning data, the positioning data including electromagnetic signal source data for use by a positioning system, and the method comprising: receiving signal data relating to signals received from a plurality of electromagnetic signal sources; associating an appropriate one of a plurality of zone identifiers with each of the electromagnetic signal sources, each zone identifier being associated with a respective geographical zone; selecting a subset of the plurality of electromagnetic signal sources in dependence on their associated zone identifiers; processing the signal data relating to the subset of the plurality of electromagnetic signal sources to compute position estimates of the electromagnetic signal sources; and updating the database of electromagnetic signal source data in dependence on the computed position estimates. |
| US09639556B2 |
Methods and systems for sharing database content
Mechanisms and methods for sharing database content stored by a first organization with a third party are provided. A network address is provided to the third party, which can enable control of the access to the content and tracking of the views of the content. For example, the network address can include an encrypted key that contains information about the organization that created content and the specific distribution ID for delivering the content when requested by the third party using the address. A distribution can be created in numerous ways, with various restrictions on the access to the document of a distribution. |
| US09639555B1 |
Object storage server based gateway to network file system cluster
A gateway of a cluster file system comprises a plurality of object storage servers each having one or more object storage targets implemented using storage devices of a first type. The gateway is configured to communicate with a network file system cluster implemented using storage devices of a second type different than the first type. The network file system cluster comprises storage directories corresponding to respective ones of the object storage targets. A controller that may be implemented at least in part within the gateway is configured to control movement of data between the object storage targets and the storage directories of the network file system cluster. The movement of data between the object storage targets and the storage directories may be controlled at least in part based on one or more of policy information provided by a policy engine and information provided by an application running on a client. |
| US09639554B2 |
Extensible file system
An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries. |
| US09639549B2 |
Hybrid of proximity and identity similarity based deduplication in a data deduplication system
For a hybrid of proximity and identity similarity based deduplication in a data deduplication, comparing color intensity for additional classification enhancement of colored files grouped together by file coloring where a preferred character is represented for the file coloring using a code selected from a multiplicity of codes that represent a variety of contexts. The original meaning of the preferred character is retained when representing the preferred character for the file coloring by the code selected from the multiplicity of codes. |
| US09639547B2 |
Method and system for file-system based caching
A method and system for file-system based caching can be used to improve efficiency and security at network sites. In one set of embodiments, the delivery of content and storing content component(s) formed during generation of the content may be performed by different software components. Content that changes at a relatively high frequency or is likely to be regenerated between requests may not have some or all of its corresponding files cached. Additionally, extra white space may be removed before storing to reduce the file size. File mapping may be performed to ensure that a directory within the cache will have an optimal number of files. Security at the network site may be increased by using an internally generated filename that is not used or seen by the client computer. Many variations may be used is achieving any one or more of the advantages described herein. |
| US09639546B1 |
Object-backed block-based distributed storage
An object-backed block-based storage system may store data blocks in a block cache in a non-relational database and data block objects in an object data store. Access requests for a particular data block may be received at a storage protocol target that are formatted according to a network-based storage protocol. Translated access requests formatted according to respective programmatic interfaces may be generated and sent to the non-relational database or to the object data store in order to access the particular data block. A response indicating success or failure of the access request may be sent. |
| US09639537B2 |
Geographic space management
At least one subsystem among the plurality of subsystems includes a managing section operable to manage individual event information for events occurring in a management target region of the at least one subsystem among the plurality of regions and adjacent event information for events occurring in a partial range from a boundary of the management target region among routes in an adjacent region that is adjacent to the management target region, and an event selecting section operable to select events about which the moving object is to be informed, from the individual event information and the adjacent event information managed by the at least one subsystem. Also provided is a method and computer program product. |
| US09639528B1 |
Translation-based visual design
The embodiments may be adapted to accommodate a plurality of translations of a source text string into a limited available display area of a visual element in a graphical interface of a client system. Text strings in a source language may be received as input. A list of one or more languages selected for the text string to be translated into may also be received as input. The system may then be configured to obtain translations of the text string in the selected languages, to provide a set of translation vectors, and to calculate a minimum display area necessary for a visual element to display the longest translation of the translations contained in the translation vector. The display area of the visual element may then be adjusted to encompass the minimum display area so that the longest translation fits within the display area of the visual element. |
| US09639527B2 |
System and method for website translations
A system and method for a website administrator to order the translation of the strings within a website from the original language to “supported” language(s) by injecting computer code one time from a translation service website into the administrator's website template. The code subsequently analyzes, collects, and electronically transmits un-translated character strings via the Internet to the service's computer server for human or machine translations. When a user-visitor-of the administrator's website selects the supported language to view the website in, then the translated text immediately appears on the administrator's website. When the user visits the website in the future, the system automatedly displays the text in the supported language, and it will determine if new un-translated strings appear on the website, and automatedly translate and store them, and/or store the identity of the supported language, on the user's device. |
| US09639526B2 |
Mobile language translation of web content
Techniques are described for improving language translation of content (e.g., web content) on computing devices (e.g., mobile computing devices). For example, automatic translation can be performed when entering reading view in association with displayed web content by determining that the displayed web content is not in a language that is understood by the user (e.g., as indicated by language settings). As another example, language-related meta-data can be passed between applications and used in language detection of content, such as web content. |
| US09639524B2 |
Linguistic based determination of text creation date
A method includes receiving a text. The method also includes identifying a set of linguistic characteristics contained in the text. The method also includes determining a plurality of time periods in which the text was potentially written based on the set of linguistic characteristics. The method also includes retrieving a set of reference documents for each time period. The method also includes producing a set of proximity scores by performing a set of proximity checks using the set of linguistic characteristics, the set of reference documents, and the text, where the proximity checks analyze how often and how close linguistic characteristics are to one another. The method also includes ranking the plurality of time periods based on the set of proximity scores and returning a set of one or more ranked time periods of the plurality of time periods. |
| US09639523B2 |
System and method for processing natural language
A method for processing natural language includes generating a first layer of a multi-layer knowledge network including a plurality of word nodes arranged to represent a word or an entity name, generating a second layer of the multi-layer knowledge network with a natural language dataset, the second layer including one or more instance nodes arranged to represent a word or an entity of the natural language dataset, each of the instance nodes being linked by one or more semantic or syntactic relations to form one or more sub-graphs, and, referencing the first layer of the multi-layer knowledge network with the second layer of the multi-layer knowledge network by establishing a reference between each of the word nodes and each of the instance nodes when the word or the entity name represented by each word node is associated with the word or the entity represented by the instance node. |
| US09639522B2 |
Methods and apparatus related to determining edit rules for rewriting phrases
Methods and apparatus related to determining an edit rule based on a plurality of edits. Some implementations are directed to identifying the plurality of edits in one or more documents and determining an edit rule based on the pre-edit and post-edit phrases of the edits. Some implementations are directed to identifying the edits from one or more mature documents. The determined edit rule may be utilized to determine one or more candidate rephrasings of a subsequent phrase. |
| US09639520B2 |
System and method for keyword spotting using representative dictionary
Methods and systems for keyword spotting, i.e., for identifying textual phrases of interest in input data. In the embodiments described herein, the input data comprises communication packets exchanged in a communication network. The disclosed keyword spotting techniques can be used, for example, in applications such as Data Leakage Prevention (DLP), Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), and spam e-mail detection. A keyword spotting system holds a dictionary of textual phrases for searching input data. In a communication analytics system, for example, the dictionary defines textual phrases to be located in communication packets—such as e-mail addresses or Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). |
| US09639514B2 |
Information browsing apparatus and recording medium for computer to read, storing computer program
Provided is an information browsing apparatus provided with a display section on which display surface a touch panel to detect contact of an object is disposed. The information browsing apparatus is capable of displaying a document in a first display form where the entire display section is configured with a single region, and in a second display form where the display section is divided into a plurality of regions and provided with a data processing section. In case handwriting information is inputted straddling two or more than two regions in the second display form, the data processing section judges to which region the handwritten information belongs, thereafter when the display from is changed to the first display form, the data display section displays all of the handwritten information in the region which is judged that the hand written information belongs to the region thereof. |
| US09639513B2 |
Multiplexed forms
A system for presenting and executing a multiplicity of interactive forms as a single document includes a server having one or more copies of a multi-form package and configured to deliver a copy of the package to a requesting device upon request. The system also includes a client computing device configured to request and receive the multi-form package, the first computing device including an application program and a multi-form document engine configured to receive commands from the application program and, in response, cause forms from the multi-form package to be presented and executed. |
| US09639512B1 |
Apparatus and method for sharing regional annotations of an image
A machine has a processor and a memory with instructions executed by the processor to receive a regional annotation request for an image, where the regional annotation request is associated with a segment of the image. The position of the regional annotation request in the image is noted. An annotation prompt is supplied. An annotation about the segment of the image is recorded. |
| US09639511B2 |
Systems and methods for editing a file in a non-native application using an application engine
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for editing documents with non-native applications using an application engine. A request to open a document file using a non-native application is received from a user. An engine of the non-native application is selected, the engine being configured to edit the format of the file. Modifications to the document are received by the non-native application engine, and the document is saved to the file using the format of the file, without converting the document to a different format. |
| US09639510B2 |
Advanced editing and interfacing in user applications
A method performed within a content editing device provides advanced editing functionality for use within application user interfaces having selectable content. The method provides automatic content insertion following a selection of an end location within the target document and selection of content for insertion at the selected end location. An editor moves content around within one or more documents by tagging the end location and selecting the content that is to be moved or copied to that end location. The method further enables efficient re-arrangement of multiple selected contents within a single document or across multiple application user interfaces by tagging each of the selected content with a sequence tag indicative of the relative content location within the re-arranged sequence of content. Once the content has been tagged, a selectable paste option automatically orders the various contents at the end location in correct sequence relative to each other. |
| US09639509B2 |
Document generation based on referral
A document machine may detect a request for provision of a document while that document is available for provisioning. The document machine may update a count of referrals to the document and, based on the count of referrals transgressing a threshold value, generate a substitute document based on the original document. This substitute document may then be provided in response to further requests for the original document after the original document is no longer available for provision. The updating of the count of referrals is based on the identifier of a network that referred a request detected while the first document was still available for provision. The document machine may then provide the substitute document in lieu of the original document in response to a further request for provision of the first document. |
| US09639501B1 |
Apparatus and methods to compress data in a network device and perform ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) processing
Systems and techniques relating to processing of network communications include, according to an aspect, a network device that includes circuitry configured to receive value bits selected from a group consisting of a zero bit, a one bit, and a don't care bit; and circuitry configured to store encoded representations of the value bits for use in network packet routing, wherein the encoded representations are position bits selected from a group consisting of a zero bit and a one bit; wherein the circuitry configured to store includes a first memory location and a second memory location that each eliminate a different combination of the value bits from being available for storage respectively in the first memory location and the second memory location. |
| US09639500B2 |
Single wire bus communication protocol
A method for transmitting data over a single-wire bus wherein a first communication channel is defined by pulses of different durations according to the state of the transmitted bit and depending on a reference duration, and a second communication channel is defined by the reference duration. |
| US09639499B2 |
Camera control interface extension bus
System, methods and apparatus are described that offer improved performance of a serial bus used for Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) and/or camera control interface (CCI) operations. CCI extension (CCIe) devices are described. CCIe devices may be configured as a bus master or as a slave. In one method, a CCIe transmitter may generate a transition number from a set of bits, convert the transition number into a sequence of symbols, and transmit the sequence of symbols in the signaling state of a two-wire serial bus. Timing information may be encoded in the transitions between symbols of consecutive pairs of symbols in the sequence of symbols. For example, each transition may cause a change in the signaling state of at least one wire of the two-wire serial bus. A CCIe receiver may derive a receive clock from the transitions in order to receive and decode the sequence of symbols. |
| US09639498B2 |
Protocol conversion system
An Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system includes a chassis having a first end and a second end that is located opposite the chassis from the first end. An Ethernet interface is located on the first end and is configured to directly mate with an Ethernet port on an Ethernet device. A Fibre Channel interface is located on the second end. An Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine is housed in the chassis and configured to receive Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface, convert the Ethernet protocol signals to Fibre Channel protocol signals, and send the Fibre Channel protocol signals through the Fibre Channel interface. The Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine is also configured to receive Fibre channel protocol signals from the Fibre Channel IHS through the Fibre Channel interface, convert the Fibre channel protocol signals to Ethernet protocol signals, and send the Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface. |
| US09639492B2 |
Virtual PCI expander device
Methods, systems, and computer program products for notifying a virtual machine of an expander coupled to a first virtual root bus, probing the expander to detect an additional root bus, probing the additional root bus to detect a second device, and assigning the second device to a second virtual root bus of the virtual machine. |
| US09639491B2 |
Connection interface switching device for multiple portable devices
A connection interface switching device for multiple portable devices provides a communication channel between an I/O peripheral set and for a plurality of portable devices which are bundled with a default control program installed in the portable devices, and switches among the portable devices to establish a communication channel selected between one portable device and the I/O peripheral set according to a switch instruction generated by the default control program of the portable device. The connection interface switching device includes plural I/O ports, a controller, a memory module, a storage module and an I/O peripheral port, and an origin of the computer signal is controlled and switched to achieve the effect of sharing the same I/O peripheral set among multiple portable devices through the communication channel. |
| US09639490B2 |
Ring protocol for low latency interconnect switch
Methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing low latency interconnect switches between CPU's and associated protocols. CPU's are configured to be installed on a main board including multiple CPU sockets linked in communication via CPU socket-to-socket interconnect links forming a CPU socket-to-socket ring interconnect. The CPU's are also configured to transfer data between one another by sending data via the CPU socket-to-socket interconnects. Data may be transferred using a packetized protocol, such as QPI, and the CPU's may also be configured to support coherent memory transactions across CPU's. |
| US09639484B2 |
Provision of access control data within a data processing system
A data processing system (2) includes memory protection circuitry (10) storing access control data for controlling accesses to data at memory addresses within a main memory (16). An access control cache (14) may, in one embodiment, store access control data when the access control data is indicated by the memory protection circuitry (10) to be cachable. In another embodiment access control data is stored within the access control cache with determined address range data for reach determination of access control data by the memory protection circuitry. If the access control cache (14) is storing access control data for a memory access request, then the access control data stored within the access control cache (14) is used in place of access control data retrieved form the memory protection circuitry (10). In the first embodiment, access control data may be determined to be cachable is if is associated with a region of memory addresses within a plurality of hierarchically ordered memory addresses that is a highest order region which encompasses all the memory addresses within that region. |
| US09639482B2 |
Software cryptoprocessor
Security of information—both code and data—stored in a computer's system memory is provided by an agent loaded into and at run time resident in a CPU cache. Memory writes from the CPU are encrypted by the agent before writing and reads into the CPU are decrypted by the agent before they reach the CPU. The cache-resident agent also optionally validates the encrypted information stored in the system memory. Support for I/O devices and cache protection from unsafe DMA of the cache by devices is also provided. |
| US09639481B2 |
Systems and methods to manage cache data storage in working memory of computing system
Systems and methods for managing records stored in a storage cache are provided. A cache index is created and maintained to track where records are stored in buckets in the storage cache. The cache index maps the memory locations of the cached records to the buckets in the cache storage and can be quickly traversed by a metadata manager to determine whether a requested record can be retrieved from the cache storage. Bucket addresses stored in the cache index include a generation number of the bucket that is used to determine whether the cached record is stale. The generation number allows a bucket manager to evict buckets in the cache without having to update the bucket addresses stored in the cache index. In an alternative embodiment, non-contiguous portions of computing system working memory are used to cache data instead of a dedicated storage cache. |
| US09639480B2 |
Dynamic cache allocation adjustment using multiple cache simulations for efficient cache utility curve construction
The configuration of a cache is adjusted within a computer system that includes at least one entity that submits a stream of references, each reference corresponding to a location identifier corresponding to data storage locations in a storage system. The reference stream is spatially sampled using reference hashing. Cache utility values are determined for each of a plurality of caching simulations and an optimal configuration is selected based on the results of the simulations. |
| US09639476B2 |
Merged TLB structure for multiple sequential address translations
A computer system that supports virtualization may maintain multiple address spaces. Each guest operating system employs guest virtual addresses (GVAs), which are translated to guest physical addresses (GPAs). A hypervisor, which manages one or more guest operating systems, translates GPAs to root physical addresses (RPAs). A merged translation lookaside buffer (MTLB) caches translations between the multiple addressing domains, enabling faster address translation and memory access. The MTLB can be logically addressable as multiple different caches, and can be reconfigured to allot different spaces to each logical cache. |
| US09639474B2 |
Migration of peer-mapped memory pages
Techniques are provided by which memory pages may be migrated among PPU memories in a multi-PPU system. According to the techniques, a UVM driver determines that a particular memory page should change ownership state and/or be migrated between one PPU memory and another PPU memory. In response to this determination, the UVM driver initiates a peer transition sequence to cause the ownership state and/or location of the memory page to change. Various peer transition sequences involve modifying mappings for one or more PPU, and copying a memory page from one PPU memory to another PPU memory. Several steps in peer transition sequences may be performed in parallel for increased processing speed. |
| US09639468B2 |
Temporal clones to identify valid items from a set of items
Techniques are provided for using bitmaps to indicate which items, in a set of items, are invalid. The bitmaps include an “active” bitmap and one or more “temporal clones”. The active bitmap indicates which items in the set are currently valid. The temporal clones are outdated versions of the active bitmap that indicate which items in the set were invalid at previously points in time. Temporal clones may not be very different from each other. Therefore, temporal clones may be efficiently compressed. For example, a bitmap may be selected as a “base bitmap”, and one or more other bitmaps are encoded using delta encoding. Run length encoding may then be applied to further compress the bitmap information. These bitmaps may then be used to determine which items are valid relative to past-version requests. |
| US09639466B2 |
Control mechanism for fine-tuned cache to backing-store synchronization
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for processing commands received by an intermediary cache from one or more clients. The technique involves receiving a first write command from an arbiter unit, where the first write command specifies a first memory address, determining that a first cache line related to a set of cache lines included in the intermediary cache is associated with the first memory address, causing data associated with the first write command to be written into the first cache line, and marking the first cache line as dirty. The technique further involves determining whether a total number of cache lines marked as dirty in the set of cache lines is less than, equal to, or greater than a first threshold value, and: not transmitting a dirty data notification to the frame buffer logic when the total number is less than the threshold value, or transmitting a dirty data notification to the frame buffer logic when the total number is equal to or greater than the first threshold value. |
| US09639460B1 |
Efficient string formatting
A system and method for providing a print formatted string wherein a format object is created for a format string a format string having a set of format specifiers, an amount of memory to allocate to a string buffer for the format object is determined, and the determined amount of memory is allocated to the string buffer. For each set of parameter values received with the format object, where each parameter value corresponds to a format specifier in the format string, a determination is made whether the determined amount of memory for the string buffer is sufficient to hold the set of input parameter values in accordance with the format string. If the determined amount of memory is insufficient, an amount of memory sufficient for the set of input parameter values in accordance with the format string is re-determined, and the string buffer is reallocated to the re-determined amount of memory. |
| US09639459B2 |
I/O latency and IOPs performance in thin provisioned volumes
A storage system receives an anticipatory write command corresponding to a potential subsequent write command to be received by the storage system, wherein the anticipatory write command indicates an anticipated region of logical address space that may be written to by the potential subsequent write command. The storage system determines that physical storage is not allocated to the anticipated region of logical address space. The storage system allocates physical storage to the anticipated region of logical address space from a pool of available storage managed by the storage system. The storage system creates an association between the anticipated region of logical address space and the allocated physical storage in a virtual-to-physical mapping. |
| US09639458B2 |
Reducing memory accesses for enhanced in-memory parallel operations
A memory storage system is that includes a memory element having a memory address for a physical memory. A memory controller receives a command for accessing the memory element using a program-generated address and dynamically transforms the program-generated address into the memory address for the physical memory using a rotation module and configuration information. A data word accessed by the physical address is then provided to a set of arithmetic logic units (ALUs) where multiple computations are performed simultaneously so as top reduce program execution time and energy. The configuration information provided to the rotation unit configures the set of ALUs. |
| US09639447B2 |
Trace data export to remote memory using remotely generated reads
A method for easily tracing the execution of an application in a computer system having a plurality of computing nodes interconnected by high speed data links is disclosed. While executing the application on one or more of the computing nodes, trace data is collected into a separate temporary trace buffer coupled to each computing node. A trace transfer request event is sent to another one of the computing after collecting a portion of the trace data in one of the trace buffers. The trace data is recorded on a designated recording and analysis computing node by transferring the trace data from each trace buffer to a recording buffer in the designated computing node in response to the transfer request by performing memory mapped read transfers initiated by the designated computing node. Each trace buffer is memory mapped into an address space of the second computing node. |
| US09639442B2 |
Modified condition/decision coverage test case automation
This embodiment relates to software verification and in particular to automatic generation of Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) tests scenarios. A system and method for reducing Modified Condition/Decision coverage (MC/DC) test scenarios is described along with selection of test data automatically for an input Boolean expression. An MC/DC test case engine generates optimal test case for a Boolean expression using an algorithm. The optimal minimal number of MC/DC cases generated to for satisfy the MC/DC condition for ‘n’ number of inputs may be ‘n+1’. The MC/DC test engine supports Boolean expression with Arithmetic and Comparison operators. The MC/DC test engine supports Boolean expression with no limitation on number of input variables. |
| US09639441B2 |
Solid-state storage system, apparatus and method of writing data
Provided is a method of writing data to a solid-state storage system, wherein the solid-state storage system comprises several logical disks. The method comprises the steps of: from each of the logical disks, allocating at least one idle logic block used for receiving parallel data, wherein each of the logic blocks comprises several logical pages; setting the logical pages with a same page number in respective logic block as one RAID stripe, wherein each RAID stripe is used for storing a set of parallel data and verification information associated with the parallel data; and when data in one of the logical pages is damaged, calculating and restoring the damaged data based on the other data and the associated verification information stored in the RAID stripe where the logical page is located. The present invention also provides a solid-state storage system for implementing the above-mentioned method. |
| US09639433B2 |
Reducing input/output (I/O) operations for centralized backup and storage
Techniques are described for reducing I/O operations and storage capacity requirements for centralized backup storage systems. A central server optimizes the collection and centralization of backup data from a number of endpoint devices for backup purposes. The central server utilizes a single instance store and a persistent files cache to minimize the number of backup copies for each non-unique file, reduce storage usage, network traffic, memory footprint and CPU cycles required to identify and process non-unique data. For each file in the single instance store, the server tracks the source device of that file until a threshold number of devices have been reached. Once the file reaches the threshold number of sources, the file is marked as persistent and its hash value is placed in the persistent files cache. Thereafter, all pointer creation and reference counting for that file cease. |
| US09639432B2 |
Live rollback for a computing environment
A first computing device is provided for rolling back a computing environment. The computing device includes processors configured to acquire a stream containing entries including snapshot entries, memory entries, and input/output entries wherein each entry includes information and is associated with a timestamp. The processors are further configured to receive a snapshot entry associated with a first timestamp, revert to a memory state using information provided in at least one memory entry associated with a timestamp after the first timestamp, and re-execute a previously executed process, wherein the re-execution of the process is started using the first timestamp, information from the received snapshot entry, and information for input/output operations corresponding to the input/output entries associated with timestamps after the first timestamp. |
| US09639430B2 |
Intermediate data backup in an incremental snapshot data backup system to reduce data backup time
Machines, systems and methods for performing intermediate data backups, the method comprising monitoring data updates to one or more data blocks in at least a target data storage medium, wherein the target data storage medium is subject to an incremental data backup routine at prescheduled time intervals; in response to determining that said at least one or more data blocks is updated prior to a prescheduled time interval for the incremental data backup routine, performing one or more intermediate data backups to store data from the updated data blocks to at least one backup data storage medium; and in response to determining that said at least one or more data blocks is updated prior to the prescheduled time interval for the incremental data backup routine but after the last of the intermediate data backups, copying data on one or more updated data blocks after the last of the intermediate data backups to the backup data storage medium. |
| US09639429B2 |
Creating validated database snapshots for provisioning virtual databases
Virtual databases are provisioned using point-in-time copies of a source database. Transaction logs received from the source database are applied to a point-in-time copy of the source database to create recovery milestones comprising database blocks that can be used to provision virtual databases. The recovery milestones are created in advance of receiving a request to provision a virtual database. Each recovery milestone is validated to determine that a consistent database snapshot can be created using the recovery milestone. If a problem is identified that prevents creation of a consistent database snapshot, the problem is fixed before creating the next recovery milestone. In response to receiving a request to provision a virtual database corresponding to a point in time, a recovery milestone is identified and transaction logs applied to the recovery milestone to create a database snapshot corresponding to the requested point in time. |
| US09639423B2 |
Method and apparatus for recovering metadata lost during an unexpected power down event
A system including first and second memory and a control module. The first memory stores a first lookup table with first metadata that includes a first mapping between logical and physical addresses and is lost due to an unexpected power down event. The second memory stores a second lookup table with second metadata and an event log. The second metadata includes a second mapping between the logical and physical addresses. The event log includes entries indicating updated associations between respective ones of the logical addresses and one of the physical addresses as included in the first metadata prior to the power down event. The control module: prior to the power down event, performs segmented flushes each including updating a segment of the second metadata with a corresponding segment of the first metadata; and walks the event log to recover a full flush cycle of segments of the first metadata. |
| US09639421B2 |
Operating method of flash memory system
An operation method of a flash memory system includes reading data stored in a memory device, wherein the data is encoded by units of message blocks each including a row constituent code and a column constituent code by using a block-wise concatenated Bose-Chadhuri-Hocquenghem (BC-BCH) method; performing a hard decision decoding on the read data; determining, when the hard decision decoding fails, a reference voltage for a message block having an error among the message blocks of the read data; and performing a soft decision decoding by using the determined reference voltage. |
| US09639420B2 |
High performance memory controller
A memory device includes a memory array that includes a buffer data. The memory device also includes a memory controller. The memory controller includes an error correction code (ECC) component. The memory controller further receives a status command and an indication related to the quality of the data to analyze with the ECC component. Based on a status value, the memory controller utilizes one of a plurality of error correction techniques via the ECC component to correct an error (e.g., soft state, calibration, etc.). |
| US09639418B2 |
Parity protection of a register
The embodiments herein generate parity check data which serves as parity-on-parity. Stated differently, the parity check data can be used to determine if parity data stored in a memory element has been corrupted. For example, after generating the parity data, a computing system may set the parity check data depending on whether there is an even or odd number of logical ones (or logical zeros) in the parity data. Thus, when the parity data is read out of the memory element, if the parity data does not include the same number of even or odd bits, the parity check data indicates to the computing system that the parity data is corrupted. In one embodiment, to reduce the likelihood that the parity check data becomes corrupted, the computing system stores this data in hardened latches which are less susceptible to soft errors than other types of memory elements. |
| US09639415B2 |
Salvaging hardware transactions with instructions
A transactional memory system salvages a hardware transaction. A processor of the transactional memory system executes a first salvage checkpoint instruction in a code region during transactional execution of the code region, and based on the executing the first salvage checkpoint instruction, the processor records transaction state information comprising an address of the first salvage checkpoint instruction within the code region. The processor detects a pending point of failure in the code region during the transactional execution, and based on the detecting, determines that the transaction state information been recorded, and further based on the detecting, executes an about-to-fail handler. Based on executing the about-to-fail handler, the processor returns to the execution of the code region of the transaction at the address of the checkpoint instruction. |
| US09639413B2 |
Automated fault detection and diagnostics in a building management system
Systems and methods for building automation system management are shown and described. The systems and methods relate to fault detection via abnormal energy monitoring and detection. The systems and methods also relate to control and fault detection methods for chillers. The systems and methods further relate to graphical user interfaces for use with fault detection features of a building automation system. |
| US09639410B2 |
Load-control backup signal generation circuit
In a case in which a malfunction occurs in a control processor which operates according to a predetermined program, a load-control backup signal generation circuit supplies a backup control signal to a switch of a load connected to an output of the control processor. The load-control backup signal generation circuit includes: a watchdog input terminal to which a watchdog signal periodically output from the control processor is input; a pulse count unit which counts a clock pulse generated with a constant period and which controls a count state of the clock pulse according to a signal input to the watchdog input terminal; and a signal selection unit which selects, from a plurality of options, a predetermined condition for causing a backup signal output unit to generate the backup control signal, based on a count output signal of a plurality of bits output from the pulse count unit. |
| US09639409B2 |
Device and method for communicating between cores
A device and method for communicating between cores are provided. The device comprises: a postbox component, configured to store a message sent from a message sending core to a message receiving core and notify the message receiving core to read the message; and a bus adapter component, connected between the postbox component and the message receiving core and the message sending core which communicate with each other and configured to provide read/write interfaces of the postbox component and the message receiving core and the message sending core. By means of the disclosure, the problems that the device and method for communicating between cores with high complexity, poor timeliness and poor expandability during multi-core application in the related art are solved, thereby achieving the effects of reducing the communication between cores complexity significantly, reducing communication time delay and having excellent expandability and scalability. |
| US09639405B2 |
System and method for providing settlement information
A method for providing settlement information in which a device provides settlement information to an application which is installed on the device includes executing a first application which is installed on the device, receiving settlement information from an external device via the executed first application, converting at least a part of the received settlement information, and providing the converted settlement information to a second application which is installed on the device in order to allow the second application to use the received settlement information. |
| US09639404B2 |
API matchmaking using feature models
Software that uses machine logic based algorithms to help determine and/or prioritize an application programming interface's (API) desirability to a user based on how closely the API's terms of service (ToS) meet the users' ToS preferences. The software performs the following steps: (i) receiving a set of API ToS feature information that includes identifying information for at least one API and respectively associated ToS features for each identified API; (ii) receiving ToS preference information that relates to ToS related preferences for a user; and (iii) evaluating a strength of a match between each respective API identified in the API ToS feature information set and the ToS preference information to yield a match value for each API identified in the API ToS feature information set. |
| US09639399B2 |
Method, apparatus and terminal for releasing memory
A method is provided for memory releasing. The method includes obtaining a first memory space value of a terminal system, where the first memory space represents a size of current idle memory space on the terminal system. The method also includes requesting a memory space whose size equals to a second memory space value from the terminal system, where the second memory space value is greater than the first memory space value. Further, the method includes releasing occupied memory after the terminal system receives a memory space request and detects that the second memory space value is greater than the first memory space value. The method includes confirming allocation of the memory space whose size equals to the second memory space value. The method includes releasing the memory space whose size equals to the second memory space value as the idle memory space after receiving allocation confirmation of the memory space of the terminal system. |
| US09639398B1 |
Burst throttling with sequential operation detection
Burst throttling methods may be used manage computing resources of a data storage service. Tokens may represent I/O operations executed by a customer of the data storage service. A global token bucket may contain a set of tokens representing the overall I/O operation capacity of the data storage service. Additionally, a work token bucket may contain a set of tokens for a given logical volume maintained by the data storage service. When I/O request are received the data storage service may determine if the I/O request is a member of a sequence and removed a reduced number for tokens from the work token bucket as a result. Furthermore, if there is sufficient capacity the data storage service may charge a reduced number of tokens to the work token bucket. |
| US09639393B2 |
Virtual processor state management based on time values
A method includes, with a hypervisor, detecting that a virtual processor of a virtual machine has accessed a designated address, the designated address being associated with a time value, causing the virtual processor to enter a halt state for a period of time, and causing the virtual processor to exit the halt state after a period of time has passed, the period of time being based on the time value. |
| US09639389B1 |
Technology for dynamic resource pool master
For managing a pool of virtual computer systems, master status and a rebasing task are assigned to at least one virtual computer system of the pool. A non-reserved status is assigned to virtual computer systems of the pool that are not assigned tasks. A virtual computer system of the pool is selected to respond to a rebasing request. The selecting includes selecting one of the at least one virtual computer system that currently has a master status and that currently has a processing load less than a predetermined threshold and, when no virtual computer system of the pool currently has a master status and a processing load less than the predetermined threshold, selecting a non-reserved one of the virtual computer systems to perform rebasing for the request and changing the non-reserved status of the selected, non-reserved one of the virtual computer systems to master status. |
| US09639381B2 |
Sharing applications in a java virtual machine
Disclosed are various embodiments for executing multiple applications in a single virtual machine. The classes of an application executing in the virtual machine are traversed to identify non-sharable static fields. Upon identifying a non-sharable static field, mapping data is created that corresponds to the non-sharable static field. During another traversal of the classes of the application, access to the identified non-sharable static field is translated into an access to the mapping data that is associated with the non-sharable static field. |
| US09639380B2 |
Physical device emulation synchronization
In one or more embodiments, a system can configure a physical mobile device via configuring a configuration for an emulator of the physical mobile device. For example, a user (e.g., a customer) can request a physical mobile device, and a system can provide the user with an emulation of the physical mobile device, where the user can configure the emulation of the physical mobile device. In one or more embodiments, the user can be provided with the configuration via at least one of a network and a physical delivery of the physical mobile device, configured with the configuration. In one example, the user can execute an emulation of the physical mobile device configured with the configuration, received via the network. In another example, the physical mobile device can be configured with the configuration, and subsequently, the physical mobile device can be physically delivered to the user. |
| US09639378B2 |
Extensible 3D asset plug-in framework
An extensible three-dimensional (3D) asset plug-in framework is disclosed. In various embodiments, files having different 3D file formats may be processed by respective plug-ins. The plug-ins may be configured to be downloaded and installed, to receive input files describing one or more 3D models and having a respective 3D file format, to read the respective 3D file format, and to generate and return a common 3D description to be previewed and manipulated by an application or an operating system. The different 3D file formats and their respective plug-ins may be proprietary or developed by third parties. |
| US09639376B2 |
Methods and systems for creating and using skins
Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment skins can be defined as sets of script files, art files, media files, and text files. These files can be used to create new and different skin appearances, layouts and functionalities. The files are organized for use using a hierarchical tag-based data structure, an example of which is an XML data structure. The data structure is processed to provide an object model. The object model can be a scriptable object model that enables script to execute to provide an interactive, dynamic skin that can respond to internal and external events. In one embodiment, a computer architecture used for rendering the skin includes a layout manager that processes an intermediate representation of the XML data structure to provide the scriptable object model. Various components of the scriptable object model can include a script engine for receiving and executing script, and one or more rendering elements. Each rendering element represents a different skin element and can be individually configured to respond to script via the script engine. The inventive systems and techniques can provide a robust, dynamic skin that can be rendered and re-rendered at runtime. In other embodiments, properties associated with a skin's elements can be synchronized with other skin element properties or state that is associated with a software application. Synchronization can take place through the use of keywords that can be used in connection with the XML data structure. Synchronizations can be one- or two-way synchronizations. |
| US09639373B2 |
Reconfigurable embedded device, method of reconfiguring an embedded device and non-transitory recording medium therefor
An information processing apparatus providing a specific function includes a non-volatile function program memory that stores a function program for providing the specific function, a main memory, and an arithmetic device that reads and stores the function program from the function program memory into the main memory at startup of the information processing apparatus and performs an arithmetic operation based on the function program to execute the function program. The arithmetic device operates at a start frequency set for startup as a clock frequency for accessing the function program memory when reading and storing the function program from the function program memory into the main memory at the startup, and operates at a frequency lower than the start frequency as the clock frequency for accessing the function program memory after reading and storing the function program into the main memory. |
| US09639361B2 |
Tracing speculatively executed instructions
A trace unit for generating items of trace data indicative of processing activities of a processor executing a stream of instructions, the unit includes trace circuitry for monitoring a behavior of the processor; storage circuitry for storing current trace control data for controlling the trace circuitry; a data store for storing at least some of the trace control data; the trace circuitry being configured to store the trace control data in the data store in response to detection of execution of the group of instructions, wherein the trace circuitry is responsive to detecting the at least one processor cancelling at least one group of the speculatively executed instructions to retrieve at least some of the trace control data stored in the data store for the group of instructions executed before the cancelled speculatively executed instructions and to store the retrieved trace control data in the storage circuitry. |
| US09639360B2 |
Reducing energy and increasing speed by an instruction substituting subsequent instructions with specific function instruction
A data processing system is used to evaluate a data processing function by executing a sequence of program instructions including an intermediate value generating instruction Inst0 and an intermediate value consuming instruction Inst1. In dependence upon one or more input operands to the evaluation, an embedded opcode within the intermediate value passed between the intermediate value generating instruction and the intermediate value consuming instruction may be set to have a value indicating that a substitute instruction should be used in place of the intermediate value consuming instruction. The instructions may be floating point instructions, such as a floating point power instruction evaluating the data processing function ab. |
| US09639359B2 |
Thermal-aware compiler for parallel instruction execution in processors
Embodiments are described for a method for compiling instruction code for execution in a processor having a number of functional units by determining a thermal constraint of the processor, and defining instruction words comprising both real instructions and one or more no operation (NOP) instructions to be executed by the functional units within a single clock cycle, wherein a number of NOP instructions executed over a number of consecutive clock cycles is configured to prevent exceeding the thermal constraint during execution of the instruction code. |
| US09639356B2 |
Arbitrary size table lookup and permutes with crossbar
An example method of updating an output data vector includes identifying a data value vector including element data values. The method also includes identifying an address value vector including a set of elements. The method further includes applying a conditional operator to each element of the set of elements in the address value vector. The method also includes for each element data value in the data value vector, determining whether to update an output data vector based on applying the conditional operator. |
| US09639355B2 |
Functional unit capable of executing approximations of functions
A semiconductor chip is described having a functional unit that can execute a first instruction and execute a second instruction. The first instruction is an instruction that multiplies two operands. The second instruction is an instruction that approximates a function according to C0+C1X2+C2X22. The functional unit has a multiplier circuit. The multiplier circuit has: i) a first input to receive bits of a first operand of the first instruction and receive bits of a C1 term of the second instruction; ii) a second input to receive bits of a second operand of the first instruction and receive bits of a X2 term of the second instruction. |
| US09639350B2 |
Tagging non-upstream source code
A method relates to identifying, by a processing device, a plurality of source code objects associated with an open source product stored in a version-controlled code repository, determining a first subset of the plurality of source code objects associated with a respective commit identifier indicating that each of the first subset of the plurality of source code objects is committed to the version-controlled code repository, determining a second subset of the plurality of source code objects not associated with any commit identifier of the version-controlled code repository, labeling each of the first subset of the plurality of source code objects as an upstream source code object, and labeling each of the second subset of the plurality of source code objects as a non-upstream source code object. |
| US09639349B2 |
Subject and audience oriented instant collaborative development
Techniques to facilitate software development are disclosed. In various embodiments, an indication is received that a software development project event has occurred. One or more rules are applied to determine one of more of a notification to be sent in response to the event, a recipient to receive the notification, and a communication channel to be used to send the communication. The notification is generated and sent to the recipient via the communication channel. |
| US09639343B2 |
Method for altering execution of a program, debugger, and computer-readable medium
A method for altering execution of a program on a computer. The program resides in a memory unit that has a logical address space assigned thereto. The method comprises: operating the computer to start executing the program; operating the computer to suspend execution of the program; selecting a patch insertion address within a logical address range of the program, saving the original code residing at the patch insertion address; generating a patch routine; writing a jump instruction to the patch insertion address, thus overwriting said original code, wherein the jump instruction is arranged to instruct the computer to jump to a start address of the patch routine; and operating the computer to resume execution of the program. The patch routine is arranged to prompt the computer to: save a current context of the program; execute a user code; restore the saved context of the program; and execute a surrogate code. |
| US09639341B2 |
Network hardware and software upgrade recommender
Methods, systems and computer readable media for generating hardware and software upgrade recommendations for a managed network of devices are described. |
| US09639333B2 |
Method and system for model driven development
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a system and computer program product for providing a technical solution for model driven development. Program code is analyzed to determine the execution sequence of states of the program code. The program code is generated by performing a first transformation to a model. The model includes an abstract description of a business implemented by the program code. At least part of the statement of the program code is grouped into functional blocks. A visual representation of the program code is created. The visual representation is based on the execution sequence and the functional blocks. A code snipped is determined to be preserved in the program code based on a user's annotation of the visual representation. The code snippety is to be preserved in new program code generated by performing a second transformation to the model. The second transformation is executed after the first transformation. |
| US09639330B2 |
Programming interface
Some examples of a system for providing a visual based programming interface for developing camera-based applications may include a code editor interface, a timeline interface, a canvas interface and/or a program session interface. For instance, the code editor interface may allow a programmer to view and edit source code, the timeline interface may present application data associated with a program session in a frame by frame manner, the canvas interface may allow the programmer to view, interact with, arrange and/or annotate the application data in a visual format, and the program session interface may allow the programmer to choose application data to display in the timeline interface and the canvas interface by selecting between historical program sessions and live program sessions. |
| US09639326B2 |
Floating-point adder circuitry
An integrated circuit is provided that performs floating-point addition or subtraction operations involving at least three floating-point numbers. The floating-point numbers are pre-processed by dynamically extending the number of mantissa bits, determining the floating-point number with the biggest exponent, and shifting the mantissa of the other floating-point numbers to the right. Each extended mantissa has at least twice the number of bits of the mantissa entering the floating-point operation. The exact bit extension is dependent on the number of floating-point numbers to be added. The mantissas of all floating-point numbers with an exponent smaller than the biggest exponent are shifted to the right. The number of right shift bits is dependent on the difference between the biggest exponent and the respective floating-point exponent. |
| US09639323B2 |
Audio control system and control method thereof
An audio control method includes as follows. Control a vehicle to switch to an audio playing mode in response to input operations applied on a touch input unit of a vehicle. Recognize a gesture in response to input signals. Compare the gesture with a plurality of predefined gestures stored in a storage unit of the vehicle to determine whether the gesture is same as one of the plurality of predefined gestures. Obtain a control order corresponding to the one of the plurality of predefined gestures when the gesture matches the one of the plurality of predefined gestures. Control a volume of an audio player of the vehicle to increase or decrease according to the control order. |
| US09639321B2 |
Method and system for controlling the playback of multimedia content
The present disclosure provides method and system for controlling the playback of multimedia content. The method includes: enumerating currently running multimedia input sources to determine a number of currently running multimedia input sources by calling a system application programming interface (API), each multimedia input source having a corresponding multimedia player; determining, when the number of the currently running multimedia input sources is greater than 1, that the multimedia input sources conflict; and controlling, when the multimedia input sources conflict, a corresponding multimedia player to pause or close so as to remove the conflict. According to the present disclosure, when an audio conflict occurs, a corresponding multimedia player can be automatically paused or closed, or a user can be automatically notified of positions of multimedia players, which greatly improves convenience of operating the multimedia player when the audio conflict occurs and brings better experience to the user. |
| US09639316B2 |
System including server and printing apparatus, printing apparatus, and control method that controls printing of access information
Print control of access information for which a valid period is set is performed properly. A printing apparatus acquires access information which is to be used for accessing a server and which has a valid period set for the access. If an elapsed time from the acquisition of the access information exceeds a predetermined time, the printing apparatus does not print the access information even if the valid period has not expired. If the elapsed time does not exceed the predetermined time, the printing apparatus prints the access information. |
| US09639315B2 |
Content production
A method includes causing a display by a first device of a user interface containing a visual representation of content accessed from a source remote from the first device. Responsive to a user's selection of a first control associated with the user interface, a hard copy representation of the content is caused to be generated. Responsive to a user's selection of a second control associated with the user interface, an electronic file representation of the content is caused to be communicated to a second device remote from the first device. |
| US09639308B2 |
Page processing method and apparatus for variable data printing
This invention relates to printing, and discloses a method and apparatus for variable data printing. The method comprises: obtaining a current page of a file to be printed; performing a rasterization process on the current page to obtain a current page dot matrix; determining a reference page for the current page and obtaining a reference page dot matrix corresponding to the reference page; dividing the reference page dot matrix and the current page dot matrix into dot matrix blocks having a predetermined granularity; identifying variable data blocks in the current page dot matrix based on the dot matrix blocks; dynamically adjusting the size of the variable data blocks; extracting a variable data dot matrix in the current page dot matrix splitting the current page dot matrix up into the reference page dot matrix and the variable data dot matrix and then storing and outputting them. |
| US09639304B2 |
Data supplying device and image processing system
A data supplying device may storing a file including contents data in a storage, send, to a data generating unit, a file which has the same content as the file in the storage, specify a first type of contents data from the file in the storage, store the specified first type of contents data in a memory, obtain access information for accessing the first type of contents data stored in the memory, and output image data representing an image indicating the obtained access information in order to cause a print performing unit to print the image indicating the obtained access information. |
| US09639300B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for activating scanned data processor based on captured image
An image forming apparatus includes an image capture device that captures a user image and generates a captured image, a document holding determination unit that determines whether or not the user appearing in the captured image holds a document based on the captured image, and a scanned data processor that performs processing including scanning the document. The scanned data processor is activated if the document holding determination unit determines that the user holds the document. |
| US09639299B2 |
Managing virtual hard drives as blobs
Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods for facilitating communications with storage. A request having a first-interface format to access storage is intercepted. The first interface format of the request supports access to a virtual hard drive (VHD). The request is translated to a blob request having a blob interface format. The blob interface format of the blob request supports access to a plurality of blobs of data in a blob store. The blob request is communicated to a blob interface such that the blob request is executed in managing the plurality of blobs. |
| US09639290B2 |
Substitution of a target volume of a secondary storage controller for a source volume of a primary storage controller for executing a write operation
A secondary storage controller receives metadata that uniquely identifies a source volume of a primary storage controller. Data stored in the source volume of the primary storage controller is synchronously copied to a target volume of the secondary storage controller. The secondary storage controller receives a command from a primary host to write selected data to the source volume. In response to receiving the command at the secondary storage controller, the selected data is written to the target volume of the secondary storage controller. |
| US09639283B2 |
Offline characterization for adaptive flash tuning
The present invention includes embodiments of systems and methods for increasing the operational efficiency and extending the estimated operational lifetime of a flash memory storage device (and its component flash memory chips, LUNs and blocks of flash memory) by monitoring the health of the device and its components and, in response, adaptively tuning the operating parameters of flash memory chips during their operational lifetime, as well as employing other less extreme preventive measures in the interim, via an interface that avoids the need for direct access to the test modes of the flash memory chips. In an offline characterization phase, “test chips” from a batch of recently manufactured flash memory chips are used to simulate various usage scenarios and measure the performance effects of writing and attempting to recover (read) test patterns written with different sets of operating parameters over time (simulating desired retention periods). |
| US09639282B2 |
Variable bit encoding per NAND flash cell to improve device endurance and extend life of flash-based storage devices
Systems, methods, and/or devices are used to implement variable bit encoding to improve device endurance and extend life of storage devices. In some embodiments, the method includes detecting a trigger condition with respect to one or more non-volatile memory portions (e.g., portions configured to store data encoded in a first encoding format) of a plurality of non-volatile memory portions of a storage device. In accordance with detecting the trigger condition, the method includes: determining a current and an estimated endurance metric for the plurality of non-volatile memory portions (e.g., corresponding to estimated endurance after reconfiguration of the one or more portions to store data encoded in a second encoding format), and in accordance with a determination that reconfiguration criteria are satisfied (e.g., the estimated endurance metric comprises an improvement over the current endurance metric), reconfiguring the one or more portions to store data encoded in the second encoding format. |
| US09639278B2 |
Set-associative hash table organization for efficient storage and retrieval of data in a storage system
The embodiments described herein are directed to the use of hashing in a file system metadata arrangement that reduces an amount of metadata stored in a memory of a node in a cluster and that reduces the amount of metadata needed to process an input/output (I/O) request at the node. Illustratively, the embodiments are directed to cuckoo hashing and, in particular, to a manner in which cuckoo hashing may be modified and applied to construct the file system metadata arrangement. In an embodiment, the file system metadata arrangement may be illustratively include a hash collision technique that employs a hash collision computation to determine a unique candidate extent key (having a candidate hash table index) in the event of a collision, i.e., a hash table index collides with a slot of a hash table matching a key found in the slot. |
| US09639276B2 |
Implied directory state updates
A request is received over a link that requests a particular line in memory. A directory state record is identified in memory that identifies a directory state of the particular line. A type of the request is identified from the request. It is determined that the directory state of the particular line is to change from the particular state to a new state based on the directory state of the particular line and the type of the request. The directory state record is changed, in response to receipt of the request, to reflect the new state. A copy of the particular line is sent in response to the request. |
| US09639275B2 |
Managing data within a storage device based on file system metadata
Commands associated with one or more logical block addresses are received via a host interface of a storage device. Based on a timing and sequence of the commands, an extent of a file that contains the logical block addresses is determined, the file being stored on the storage device. The logical block addresses are managed internally as a unitary data structure based on determining an association between the logical block addresses and the file. |
| US09639272B2 |
Sliding-window multi-class striping
A sequence of storage devices of a data store may include one or more stripesets for storing data stripes of different lengths and of different types. Each data stripe may be stored in a prefix or other portion of a stripeset. Each data stripe may be identified by an array of addresses that identify each page of the data stripe on each included storage device. When a first storage device of a stripeset becomes full, the stripeset may be shifted by removing the full storage device from the stripeset, and adding a next storage device of the data store to the stripeset. A class variable may be associated with storage devices of a stripeset to identify the type of data that the stripeset can store. The class variable may be increased (or otherwise modified) when a computer stores data of a different class in the stripeset. |
| US09639270B2 |
Double-linked lists with reference counters
A system includes, in a first memory location, a pointer to a next one of the plurality of memory locations and a respective reference counter, in each of respective ones of a plurality of memory locations, a pointer to a next one of the plurality of memory locations, a pointer to a previous one of the plurality of memory locations, and a reference counter, and in a last memory location, a pointer to a previous one of the plurality of memory locations and a respective reference counter, and atomically incrementing and decrementing of a reference counter stored in one of the plurality of memory locations. |
| US09639267B2 |
Quick gesture input
A computer-implemented user interface method for a computing device is disclosed. The method includes associating each of a plurality of telephone keys with a direction of each key relative to a center of a telephone keypad, receiving a contact from a user of the device at a location on a touchscreen display of a computing device and an input at a direction relative to the location of the user contact, and causing a telephone number to be entered on the computing device based on the direction of each key relative to the center of the telephone keypad corresponding to the direction relative to the location of the user contact. |
| US09639264B2 |
Image projector device
An image projector device includes a projection optical unit through which an image is projected and displayed, a recognition unit that recognizes a user's action related to processing of the image, and a control unit that generates and/or edits a drawing image based on the user's action recognized by the recognition unit and projects and displays the drawing image being generated and/or edited as a projected, displayed image through the projection optical unit. |
| US09639260B2 |
Application programming interfaces for gesture operations
At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application to provide gesture operations for a display of a device. A method for operating through an application programming interface (API) in this environment includes transferring a scaling transform call. The gesture operations include performing a scaling transform such as a zoom in or zoom out in response to a user input having two or more input points. The gesture operations also include performing a rotation transform to rotate an image or view in response to a user input having two or more input points. |
| US09639259B2 |
Portable electronic device and method for controlling displayed information thereof
A portable electronic device includes a display unit, a sensing unit, and a signal processing unit. The sensing unit includes a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor detects a distance between an object and the portable electronic device. The signal processing unit is electronically connected to the display unit and the proximity sensor. The signal processing unit switches a scrolling mode of an image displayed on the display unit according to a detection of the proximity sensor. |
| US09639258B2 |
Manipulation of list on a multi-touch display
Embodiments related to the manipulation of lists via a multi-touch display are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises a computing device having a touch-sensitive display, a processor, and memory. The memory comprises code executable by the processor to display a scrollable list of items on the touch-sensitive display, to detect a first touch gesture over the scrollable list of items on the touch-sensitive display, and, in response, to scroll the scrollable list of items on the touch-sensitive display. The memory further comprises code executable by the processor to detect a second, multi-touch gesture over the scrollable list of items on the touch-sensitive display, and in response to adjust a displayed range of the scrollable list of items. |
| US09639256B2 |
Method for starting activity of mobile terminal and the mobile terminal
Some embodiments of the application provide a method for starting an Activity of a mobile terminal and the mobile terminal. The method may comprise: determining a display mode of a new Activity after determining that the new Activity is required to be started; and setting a window flag for starting the Activity according to the determined display mode so as to start the Activity in the display mode indicated by the window flag; where the display mode comprises a window mode and a full-screen mode. |
| US09639253B2 |
Supporting a presentation of information to a user
An apparatus presents a plurality of information items to a user. Each information item corresponds to at least on piece of information that is marked by at least one tag in a single source script. The apparatus enables a user to select presented information items. The apparatus further enables a use of a plurality of pieces of information from the source script marked by tags, which correspond to information items selected by a user, for presentation in a single graphical representation to the user. Another apparatus automatically obtains a plurality of pieces of information marked by a plurality of tags included in a single source script that is available at a further apparatus, and presents the plurality of pieces of information in a single graphical representation to a user. The information may represent a plurality of locations, times or an area. The graphical representation may comprise a map or a timeline. The source script may be that of a Web page. A user may be enabled to perform a location based search or a time based search. |
| US09639249B2 |
Engineering tool providing human interface among plurality of human interfaces according to user skill level
To provide an engineering tool including a basic processing unit that performs a process of program editing according to an input operation by an input device, and a display processing unit that displays an operation screen for the program editing on a display device. The basic processing unit can accept the input operation by a plurality of input devices, as a plurality of human interfaces, and when a human interface corresponding to a level of operation skill in the input operation is selected from the human interfaces, the basic processing unit performs a process in accordance with the input operation by an input device corresponding to the selected human interface, and the display processing unit displays the operation screen corresponding to the selected human interface on the display device. |
| US09639248B2 |
Autohiding video player controls
Methods are described for maximizing the size of a video displayed in a display area of a video player. The maximum height of the video is determined using its aspect ratio and the dimensions of the display area in the video player. The control panel is removed from the display in the video player if this allows the video to be shown at its maximum height while preserving the video's resolution. The control panel is displayed in the video player if the video can be shown at its maximum height without removing the control panel from the display. |
| US09639247B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and computer-readable medium
An information processing device includes a first output unit and a second output unit. The first output unit displays a start screen including a first image for giving an instruction for switching to a screen corresponding to a user, and a second image for giving an instruction for switching to an edit screen. If the second image is selected, the second output unit outputs an edit screen including, in the same arrangement as the first image, a third image for switching to a screen for editing the screen corresponding to a user. |
| US09639246B2 |
Seamless playback of composite media
A streaming composition system is described herein that provides easy workflow and playback capabilities for content producers to create composite media assets from existing and on-going media content and for streaming clients to seamlessly playback composite multimedia streams provided from different sources. These assets provide broadcasters an option to quickly turn around highlights for an on-going event. The streaming composition system allows a producer to identify clips within existing media assets and compose the clips into a new unified streaming presentation. For producers that already have smooth streaming media assets, the system leverages these assets to provide seamless playback across clip boundaries including advanced playback support for advertisement insertion, fast forward, rewind, and so on. |
| US09639245B2 |
System and method for interactively delivering expert information to remote outlets
A networked interactive expert system is disclosed for selectively providing relevant expertise when a user requires such assistance. System provides a set of networked facilities for determining an expertise needed by a customer based on a location. Such location can be either physical or logical. A physical “location” corresponds, for example, to a department within a retail outlet. Examples of logical “locations” are ones corresponding to a web-page, a product identification code of interest, a customer identification code, and/or explicit knowledge category selected by the customer. An expert studio, from a list of expert studios providing expertise corresponding to the identified location associated with the customer's request, is matched up with the request. Thereafter, a primary connection, supporting an interactive videoconference session, is established between a first networked node associated with the customer and a second networked node associated with the designated expert studio. |
| US09639238B2 |
Modification of a characteristic of a user interface object
Multiple operations can be determined based on different gestures received at a single control. An operation can be a selection or a de-selection (or activation and deactivation) of a feature (or tool) while another operation can be a configuration of a characteristic associated with the feature. The other operation can set a configuration of the characteristic associated with the feature such that upon re-activation of the feature, the configured characteristic may be persisted. Embodiments provide a UI control that can receive multiple types of gestures and determine an operation to perform based on the type of gesture. For instance, in response to receiving a gesture input at a single control, an application may cause a display panel on a GUI to be displayed. The panel configuration (e.g., size of the panel, size of objects in the panel) can be modified in response to receiving another gesture input at the control. |
| US09639235B2 |
Selection of borehole and well data for visualization
A visualization system for providing a preview of data obtained in a borehole and available for selection and a helmet for visualization and monitoring are described. The visualization system includes a processor configured to process the data based on user input and instructions and provide output for display on a display device; a computer-readable medium configured to store the instructions, the instructions including commands to output values of two or more types of parameters at two or more depth values for display; and a helmet including a visor configured to display the values of the two or more types of parameters at the two or more depth values. |
| US09639227B2 |
Electroconductive laminate and touch panel using thereof
The electroconductive laminate according to the present invention is obtained by laminating a hard coat layer and an electrically conducting layer on at least one surface of a polycarbonate base. This electroconductive laminate is characterized in that the hard coat layer is formed from a hard coating composition which contains (A) a phenolic novolac acrylate having two or more acrylate groups, (B) an orthophenyl phenol acrylate containing 1-2 mol of an ethylene oxide structure in each molecule and (C) a bisphenol skeleton-containing diacrylate containing 2-4 mol of an alkylene oxide structure having two or three carbon atoms in each molecule. |
| US09639223B2 |
Display device with touch detection function and electronic apparatus
According to an aspect, a display device with a touch detection function includes a display area; a pixel electrode; a plurality of scan lines; a plurality of data lines; an auxiliary wiring that is a wiring of a metal material having an electrical resistance lower than that of a material of the drive electrodes, is arranged so as to extend in the row direction for each row of the pixels, and is electrically coupled to the drive electrode; a control device that performs image display control and touch detection control; a touch detection electrode that faces the drive electrodes and forms a capacitance with the drive electrodes; and a touch detection unit that detects a position of a proximity object based on a detection signal sent from the touch detection electrode. |
| US09639220B2 |
Touch screen and display device
Disclosed are a touch screen and a display device. In the touch screen, the first electromagnetic touch electrodes (210) and the capacitive touch sensing electrodes (110) are disposed in the same layer, the second electromagnetic touch electrodes (220) and the capacitive touch driving electrodes (120) are disposed in the same layer, such that it is possible to simplify layer structures of the touch screen to a great extent, thereby reducing the thickness of the entire touch screen, while guaranteeing electromagnetic touch effect and capacitive touch effect, and simplify the manufacturing process and in turn save the production costs of the entire touch screen. |
| US09639218B2 |
Liquid crystal panel, display device and scanning method thereof
A liquid crystal panel, a display device and a scanning method thereof is disclosed. The liquid crystal panel includes a CF substrate, a TFT substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the CF substrate and the TFT substrate; the CF substrate includes a transparent substrate and an integrated capacitive-electromagnetic composite touch layer located at the inner side of the transparent substrate to identify touch signals; wherein, the integrated capacitive-electromagnetic composite touch layer includes a capacitive touch structure and an electromagnetic touch structure electrically insulated from each other. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the integrated capacitive-electromagnetic composite touch layer is integrated to the inner of the CF substrate, so that the liquid crystal display including the liquid crystal panel of the embodiments of the present invention has capacitive and electromagnetic touch functions and is relatively thin. |
| US09639217B2 |
Digitiser
A digitiser includes a grid of conductors having excitation conductors and detection conductors. Excitation circuitry applies excitation signals to selected excitation conductors; measurement circuitry obtains measurements from selected detection conductors; and processing circuitry processes measurements obtained by the measurement circuitry to detect one or more objects positioned adjacent the grid of conductors. The excitation circuitry may be arranged to operate in a cyclic manner to select each of the excitation conductors during an excitation cycle, wherein an excitation cycle includes a sequence of excitation intervals during each of which a different pair of neighboring excitation conductors is selected by the excitation circuitry and to which complementary excitation signals are applied. The excitation circuitry is arranged to polarity modulate each excitation signal using a polarity control signal so that the polarity of the excitation signal applied to a selected conductor changes during a time that the excitation conductor is selected. |
| US09639216B2 |
Touch-control display device with integration of capacitive and electromagnetic touch units
A touch-control display device is disclosed. The display device includes first, second, and third touch-control structures, a first plate, and a second plate opposing the first plate. The first and second touch-control structures form a capacitive touch-control structure, the third touch-control structure is an electromagnetic touch-control structure, and the first, second and third touch-control structures are respectively disposed on an inner side of the first plate, on an external side of the first plate, and on an inner or external side of the second plate. In addition, the first, second, and third touch-control structures are separated by one or more insulating layers. |
| US09639215B2 |
Touch screen
A touch screen, includes a position sensing assembly and a display assembly. The position sensing assembly includes: a substrate, a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer, the first polymer layer is formed on a surface of the substrate, a conductive material is embedded in the first polymer layer to form a first conductive area and a first lead on a surface of the first polymer layer, the second polymer layer is formed on a surface of the first polymer layer; a conductive material is embedded in the second polymer layer to form a second conductive material and a second lead on a surface of the second polymer layer. The touch screen omits a transparent conductive film, and achieves an effect of conducting through embedding a conductive material in the first and second polymer layer, thus material cost is relatively low and the producing process is relatively simple. |
| US09639205B2 |
Touch sensor integrated display device
A touch sensor integrated display device is provided comprising gate lines and data lines formed on a substrate to be intersected with each other, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed at intersections between the gate lines and the data lines, and a common electrode formed to overlap the plurality of pixel electrodes through an insulating film disposed between the common electrode and the plurality of pixel electrodes, wherein the common electrode includes at least two touch electrodes, each of which is connected to at least one of signal lines arranged in one of a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction. |
| US09639204B2 |
Touch type distinguishing method and touch input device performing the same
A method for distinguishing a touch type in a touch input device including a touch screen may be provided that includes: determining whether a touch on the touch screen includes a time interval during which the touch has a pressure greater than a first pressure within a first time period; and distinguishing the touch type in accordance with whether or not the touch includes a time interval during which the touch has a pressure greater than the first pressure within the first time period. |
| US09639201B2 |
Touch panel, position sensing method of touch panel, and integrated circuit
A touch panel according to the disclosure includes a touch screen including a plurality of X electrode lines and Y electrode lines, which are alternately disposed with each other, and generating signals that vary depending on a touch position; and a plurality of comparators connected between first and second Y electrode lines adjacent to each other, wherein the touch position on the touch screen is detected based on output codes prepared by using output values of the comparators. A method for detecting a position of a touch panel according to the disclosure includes the steps of generating a position signal that varies according to a touch position between a plurality of X electrode lines and first and second Y electrode lines, which are adjacent to each other and alternately disposed with X electrode lines; detecting adjacent signals from a Y electrode line adjacent to a left of the first Y electrode and a Y electrode line adjacent to a right of the second Y electrode line; inputting the adjacent signal as an input signal of the comparator; overlapping the position signal on one of the detected adjacent signals; and comparing the input signal using the comparator. An integrated circuit according to the disclosure includes a plurality of comparators including a positive input terminal receiving a first input signal that varies depending on a touch position, a negative input terminal receiving a second input signal, and an output terminal outputting a comparison signal of the first and second input signals; and an operation unit generating a position signal by reading out the comparison signal of the comparators. |
| US09639195B2 |
Method using finger force upon a touchpad for controlling a computerized system
A method for controlling an input from a user to a computerized system including a touchpad is presented. The method includes obtaining data from the touchpad. The data is associated with the location and force of a finger and/or a hand of the user upon the touchpad and not associated with an image of the finger from an image sensor, when the user operates the computerized system using the touchpad. The method further includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized system and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. The method further includes determining, using the model, that at least one finger of the user is touching a first control region of the touchpad using a first force. |
| US09639193B2 |
Touch-control pixel driving circuit, touch-control pixel driving method, array substrate and liquid crystal display (LCD) device
A touch-control pixel driving circuit, a touch-control pixel driving method, an array substrate and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device are provided and involve LCD field, the arrangement of additional driving electrodes and sensing electrodes can be avoided, and the manufacturing process can be simplified, and consequently the costs can be reduced. The touch-control pixel driving circuit comprises a pixel electrode (3), a transmissive common electrode (1), a reflective common electrode (2), a gate line (G1), a reset signal line (G2), a reset control line (G3), a read control line (G4), a dual-purpose data line (G5), a first switching transistor (M1), a second switching transistor (M2), an amplifying transistor (T) and a third switching transistor (M3). Of the first switching transistor (M1), a first end is connected to the pixel electrode (3), a second end is connected to the dual-purpose data line (G5), and a control end is connected to the gate line (G1). Of the second switching transistor (M2), a first end is connected to the reflective common electrode (2), a second end is connected to the reset signal line (G2), and a control end is connected to the reset control line (G3). Of the amplifying transistor (T), a first end is connected to the reset signal line (G2) (G2), and a control end is connected to the reflective common electrode (2). Of the third switching transistor (M3), a first end is connected to a second end of the amplifying transistor (T), a second end is connected to the dual-purpose data line (G5), and a control end is connected to the read data line (G4). |
| US09639192B2 |
Multi-touch system and method for controlling liquid crystal capacitors to reduce touch sensing interference
A multi-touch system for controlling liquid crystal capacitors to reduce touch sensing interferences includes K gate driving lines, which are divided into N groups each corresponding to a common voltage conductive line. When a display driving signal is applied to an i-th group of gate driving lines for performing a display driving, the liquid crystal capacitor corresponding to the i-th group is set to a predetermined voltage, where i=1 to N. Finally, a touch driving signal is applied to an i-th common voltage conductive line corresponding to the i-th group for sensing touch points, so as to reduce touch sensing affections caused by noises of the liquid crystal display. |
| US09639189B2 |
Conductive pattern formation method, conductive pattern-bearing substrate, and touch panel sensor
A conductive pattern formation method of the present invention includes a first exposure step of radiating active light in a patterned manner to a photosensitive layer including a photosensitive resin layer provided on a substrate and a conductive film provided on a surface of the photosensitive resin layer on a side opposite to the substrate; a second exposure step of radiating active light, in the presence of oxygen, to some or all of the portions of the photosensitive layer not exposed at least in the first exposure step; and a development step of developing the photosensitive layer to form a conductive pattern following the second exposure step. |
| US09639180B2 |
Computer system and a control method therefor
A computer system that includes a data-processing unit, a touch-sensitive, position-resolving input surface in data communication with the data-processing unit, and a freely movable input device, by which the input surface is to be touched for the purpose of inputting into the data-processing unit. The freely movable input device is a computer mouse, which is in data communication with the data-processing unit. With comparatively low sensor complexity, inter alia, both the absolute position of the computer mouse and also subtle position changes of the computer mouse can therefore be very easily detected by the data-processing unit. |
| US09639178B2 |
Optical stylus
An optical stylus and host computing system is provided, as are methods related to the operation thereof. In particular, in an example embodiment, a method of operating the optical stylus is provided that includes determining when the optical stylus is in contact with a surface based on signals received by a processor from a pressure sensor of the optical stylus and capturing an image while the optical stylus is in contact with the surface using a camera of the optical stylus. The captured image is then transmitted to a host system. |
| US09639174B2 |
Mobile device display content based on shaking the device
When a user shakes a mobile device, such as a smart phone, new content is shown on the display of the mobile device. In one embodiment, the content depends on the page or location the user is currently on within the mobile app or mobile browser page and can depend also on the history or experience level of the user. |
| US09639165B2 |
Position detection system and control method of position detection system
A projection system includes a light emitting apparatus that emits detection light to a detection area for detecting indication positions of indicators, and a projector that detects the indication positions of the indicators in the detection area. The projector includes an imaging portion that captures an image of the detection area, and a position detection portion that detects at least one of an image of light generated by the indicator and an image of the detection light reflected on the indicator from data of a captured image of the imaging portion, and discriminates and detects the indication positions of the indicator and the indicator based on light emission timings of the indicator and the light emitting apparatus. |
| US09639161B2 |
Gesture recognition module and gesture recognition method
A gesture recognition module for recognizing a gesture of a user is disclosed. The gesture recognition module comprises an image capturing unit, for capturing a first pixel value, a second pixel value, a third pixel value and a fourth pixel value sequentially of images of the gesture of the user; a computing unit, coupled to the image capturing unit, for determining a first minimum surrounding shape comprising a first pixel difference between the first pixel value and the second pixel value, and determining a second minimum surrounding shape comprising a second pixel difference between the third pixel value and the fourth pixel value; and a determining unit, coupled to the computing unit, for determining the gesture according to a relation between the first minimum surrounding shape and the second minimum surrounding shape. |
| US09639160B2 |
Tactile sensation providing device
A tactile sensation providing device can provide a user with an appropriate tactile sensation by efficiently vibrating a panel and is waterproof or dustproof. The tactile sensation providing device includes a panel; a tactile sensation provider, which provides a tactile sensation by vibrating the panel; a housing; and silicon rubber with a general U-shaped cross-section, disposed between the panel and the housing, for suppressing intrusion of dust or water from outside the housing to inside the housing. |
| US09639159B2 |
Physical surface interaction
In accordance with an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one receiver configured to receive an identifier of an accessory and sensor information, at least one processing core configured to obtain, based at least in part on the sensor information, a location of the apparatus on a physical surface and a second location in a virtual space, the first location corresponding to the second location via a mapping, and to cause transmission of the identifier of the accessory and information identifying the second location. |
| US09639155B2 |
Biosignal interface apparatus and operation method of biosignal interface apparatus
A biosignal interface apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect a target in contact with the sensor, a position identifier configured to identify a position of the sensor on the target, and a controller configured to control an operation mode of the sensor based on the identified position. |
| US09639148B2 |
Mobile information terminal
A terminal apparatus includes a display module including a window glass, a touch panel, and a display panel; a display holding frame that secures the display module, the display holding frame having a screw accepting part on a rear surface which is opposite to the display panel; a cabinet case, which encloses the display holding frame, and which has a screw hole corresponding to the screw accepting part of the display holding frame; and a bolt or screw inserted into the screw accepting part of the display holding frame through the screw hole in the cabinet case. |
| US09639145B2 |
Method for determining whether to enter a S3 state based on user-defined permissible S3 period during an always on mode
In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes an interface module and a power management module. The interface module is to provide a user interface that facilitates enabling and disabling of an always on feature, and further facilitates configuration of a permissible advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) S3 state period. The power management module to receive a request to enter an ACPI S3 state, determine whether the always on feature is enabled, and in response to determining that the always on feature is enabled, determine whether the computing device is within a user-defined permissible ACPI S3 state period. In response to determining that the computing device is within the user-defined permissible ACPI S3 state period, the power management module is to set a wake event and cause the computing device to enter the ACPI S3 state. |
| US09639140B2 |
Power management of interactive workloads driven by direct and indirect user feedback
A method of managing power state transitions for an interactive workload includes storing one or more parameters, each representing an electrical operating characteristic that controls power consumption of the processing unit, receiving a first user input requesting execution of a task by the processing unit, in response to receiving a second user input, modifying at least one of the one or more parameters, and executing the task in the processing unit while operating the processing unit according to the at least one modified parameter. |
| US09639138B2 |
Electronic device that ensures reduced unnecessary recovery
An electronic device includes a main system, a sub system, and a response availability information storage unit. The response availability information storage unit stores response availability information indicating in which communication protocol the response data is generable by the main system. The sub system causes the main system not to recover to a normal state when the main system is in an energy saving state and the electronic device receives the information request data from the outside, if the sub system determines that the response data is not generable by the main system, based on the communication protocol of the information request data and the response availability information stored in the response availability information storage unit, and even if the response data is not generable by the sub system. |
| US09639137B2 |
Control method and electronic device
A control method and an electronic device using the control method are described. The control method includes, when the processing unit is in a first state, the communicating unit receives current network data; the communicating unit determines whether a communication state of the network data satisfies a predetermined condition; if the communication state does not satisfy the predetermined condition, then the communicating unit stores the current network data into a cache module of the communicating unit; and if the communication state satisfies the predetermined condition, then the communicating unit transmits the current network data to the processing unit, so that the processing unit changes from the first state to a second state, wherein power consumption in the first state is lower than that in the second state. |
| US09639135B2 |
Power consumption limit associated with power over ethernet (PoE) computing system
A computing system is associated with power consumption based on Power over Ethernet (PoE). Power consumption is compared to a threshold, and a signal is asserted that power consumption is to be limited based on the comparison to the threshold. |
| US09639130B2 |
Parallel control of multiple uninterruptable power modules (“UPMs”)
Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable parallel control of multiple uninterruptable power modules (“UPMs”) connecting multiple power sources to a bus in parallel. A UPM may be comprised of at least one controller coupled to at least one inverter, and the UPM may be configured to convert the DC voltage output from a DC source to an AC voltage, such as an AC voltage suitable for output to an AC bus. A UPM may receive a power sharing command and control its at least one inverter based at least in part on the received power sharing command to output a voltage to a bus. |
| US09639126B2 |
Apparatus for cooling a computer
An apparatus including a tube to encase a fluid, a first portion of the tube disposed in a base portion of a mobile computing device, a second portion of the tube disposed in a display portion of the mobile computing device, the second portion of the tube including metal and a pump coupled to the tube and operable to circulate the fluid in the tube. A mobile computing device including a base portion; a display portion; a tube to encase a fluid, a first portion of the tube disposed in the base portion, a second portion of the tube disposed in the display portion and including metal, the base portion and the display portion coupled by a hinge; and a pump coupled to the tube and operable to circulate the fluid in the tube. |
| US09639122B2 |
Stretchable display
A stretchable display is disclosed. In one aspect, the stretchable display includes a display unit that is stretchable and a rotation member arranged below the display unit and connected to the display unit. The rotation member is configured to tension the display unit. The stretchable display further includes a fixing member arranged below the rotation member and defining a rotation axis. The rotation member is further configured to rotate about the rotation axis so as to tension the display unit. |
| US09639117B2 |
Electronic device having expansion interface
An electronic device having an expansion interface includes a shell, a button, a circuit board, switch and a voltage adjusting unit. The shell defines a through hole. The button is movably received in the through hole. The button includes a first electroluminescent portion and a second electroluminescent portion. The switch is electrically connected to the circuit board and is activated by the button to control whether to load a same voltage to the first electroluminescent portion and a second electroluminescent portion to drive them to emit light of equal brightness. The voltage adjusting unit changes the voltage loaded to the second electroluminescent portion to drive the second electroluminescent portion to emit light having a different brightness from the light emitted from the first electroluminescent portion when an expansion device is connected to the expansion interface. |
| US09639109B2 |
Input unit for an operating element that can be actuated by pressure or rotation
An input unit for an operating element that can be actuated by pressure or rotation includes a housing having a recess portion, a carrier having a detent projection, and an input member (e.g., an actuator). The carrier is displacable relative to the housing. The input member is rotatably mounted on the carrier to be rotatable. The input member has a body with a cavity therein and a detent curve body movably arranged in the cavity such that the detent curve body is displaceable relative to the body of the input member. A first end of the detent curve body has a detent curve engaging the detent projection of the carrier. A second end of the detent curve body is adjacent to the housing part and has projections. The input member further has a spring that acts on the detent curve body to press the detent curve against the detent projection. |
| US09639108B2 |
Power supply circuit
A power supply circuit 1 includes an output circuit that generates an output voltage by performing a power supply operation based on an input voltage, an output terminal to which, after start-up of the power supply operation, the output voltage is applied, and a control circuit that causes a test current to flow between the output terminal and a ground. The control circuit detects, as a test voltage, a voltage at the output terminal in a test period in which the test current is caused to flow. When the test voltage at a predetermined judgment timing is lower than a judgment voltage, the control circuit judges that an output capacitor is connected and thus enables the power supply operation. |
| US09639099B2 |
Method for regulating the room temperature in a room or in a group comprising multiple rooms, and apparatus for carrying out the method
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for regulating the room temperature in a room or in a plurality of rooms, the room temperature can be regulated by regulating the mass flow of a heat-carrying fluid flowing through a heat exchanger according to a determined current room temperature. In accordance with some embodiments, a temperature sensor in the room can be dispensed that can determine the current room temperature, in each case the mass flow of the heat carrying fluid through the heat exchanger and the flow temperature prevailing at the input to the heat exchanger and the return temperature prevailing at the output of the heat exchanger are measured, and that a temperature assigned to the determined values of the mass flow, the flow temperature and the return temperature is output as the current room temperature and used for regulation. |
| US09639098B2 |
Thermostat and messaging device and methods thereof
Thermostat and messaging devices (TMDs) and associated platforms for providing monitor and control functionality are disclosed. A TMD can be in communication with one or more sensors to facilitate intelligent heating and cooling as well has home automation. The TMD can facilitate communication with a plurality of different networking protocols such that it can receive communication signals from a plurality of different sensors and devices that operate using varying communication techniques. The TMD can also be configured to assist with geolocating a person who is calling for emergency services. |
| US09639097B2 |
Component temperature control by coolant flow control and heater duty cycle control
Methods and systems for controlling temperatures in plasma processing chamber for a wide range of setpoint temperatures and reduced energy consumption. Temperature control is coordinated between a coolant liquid loop and a heat source by a control algorithm implemented by the plasma processing module controller. The control algorithm may completely stop the flow of coolant liquid to a temperature-controlled component in response to a feedback signal indicating an actual temperature is below the setpoint temperature. The control algorithm may further be based at least in part on a feedforward control signal derived from a plasma power or change in plasma power input into the processing chamber during process recipe execution. |
| US09639094B2 |
Electronic pneumatic pressure controller
An electronic device for controlling pressure regulators, enabling remote adjustments and corrections for pressure drops and supply line expansion is provided. |
| US09639087B1 |
Emergency landing using inertial sensors
An emergency landing procedure that includes a sequence of control settings is continuously generated. An aircraft is landed, including by using the sequence of control settings and a set of one or more inertial sensors to control an actuator. |
| US09639083B2 |
System and method for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine
A system and method are provided for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine. An editing environment is operated to display a 3-dimensional workpiece representation comprising a first surface feature of a workpiece. A first feature surface sampling pattern is created having at least one pattern parameter adjusted to correspond to a first surface feature of the workpiece. A corresponding representation of the sampling pattern includes operative sampling pattern locations located proximate to the first surface feature. User operations in the GUI further adjust pattern parameters of the sampling pattern. The further adjustment of the pattern parameters simultaneously affects a plurality of the sampling pattern locations. The sampling pattern representation may include various types of operative and inoperative sampling pattern locations, which may be displayed in a manner that distinguishes them from one another, such as by being represented with different colors, shapes or patterns. |
| US09639072B2 |
Temperature gradient reduction using building model and HVAC blower
A system is provided for reducing temperature gradients within a building. For example, temperature gradients between the air temperature measured at a thermostat controlling an HVAC system and the air temperature in one or more rooms of the building can be reduced. A model of the building is created by measuring the temperature gradient between the thermostat and one or more rooms of the building. This model is used to determine the operation of the HVAC system so as to reduce one or more of such temperature gradients. |
| US09639071B2 |
Method and system for combustion mode transfer for a gas turbine engine
A method and system for transferring between combustion modes in a gas turbine engine is provided. A processor generates data representative of an initial set of splits for providing at least one of fuel and air to at least one combustor in the gas turbine engine. A gas turbine engine model module generates data representative of at least one engine operating condition. A first split calculation module generates data representative of at least one set of active control splits to control the engine in a first combustion mode, using as an input the initial split data. A second split calculation module generates data representative of at least one set of passive control splits to control the engine in at least a second combustion mode. Transfer between combustion modes may be accomplished via use of at least one of the active control splits and the passive control splits. |
| US09639070B2 |
Controlling a turbine with a recurrent neural network
A method for controlling a turbine is proposed, which is characterized at any point in the control by a hidden state. The dynamic behavior of the turbine is modeled with a recurrent neural network comprising a recurrent hidden layer. In this case, the recurrent hidden layer is formed from vectors of neurons, which describe the hidden state of the turbine at the time points of the regulation, wherein two vectors are chronologically linked for each time point with a first connection bridging a time and second connection bridging at least two points in time. Short-term effects can be controlled by means of the first connections and long-term effects can be adjusted by means of the second connections. Secondly, emissions and also occurring dynamics in the turbine can be minimized. Furthermore, a regulating device and a turbine with such a regulating device are proposed. |
| US09639061B2 |
Solar cell module, timepiece, and electronic device
A solar cell module includes a solar cell panel configured to have multiple pieces and a substrate that connects the multiple pieces to each other. The multiple pieces include a first piece and a second piece adjacent to the first piece. Opposing sides of the first piece and the second piece respectively have a mutually fittable shape. A length of the mutually fittable shape is longer than a distance of a straight line which connects both ends of the mutually fittable shape. |
| US09639059B2 |
Optical component and timepiece
An optical component includes a base material and a film containing silica particles and conductive transparent metal oxide particles. The conductive transparent metal oxide particles are preferably composed of SnO2. The number-based average particle diameter of the conductive transparent metal oxide particles is preferably 0.8 nm or more and 5.0 nm or less. When the content of the silica particles in the film is represented by Xs (vol %) and the content of the conductive transparent metal oxide particles in the film is represented by Xc (vol %), it is preferred to satisfy the following relationship: 0.003≦Xc/Xs≦0.12. |
| US09639058B1 |
Timepiece with movable case
A timepiece may include a movable case that may rotate approximately 180 degrees with respect to a first link and a second link. The case may include a first pair of tracks and a second pair of tracks that may be provided on opposite sides of the case. A first link and a second link may each slidably engage both the first pair of tracks and the second pair of tracks, so that the case may rotate 360 degrees about the first link and the second link. |
| US09639057B2 |
Wearable watch type mobile terminal
A watch type mobile terminal includes: a body having a power supply unit, a printed circuit board, and a display unit formed to implement a touch input thereon; a band unit formed to be wearable on a user's wrist by being connected to the body, and formed such that at least part thereof is wound or unwound in the body; and a length control unit configured to implement winding or unwinding of the band unit such that a length of the band unit is controllable in accordance with a user's wrist size. |
| US09639053B2 |
Image forming apparatus and cartridge group
In an image forming apparatus, when a line connecting a midpoint of a line segment connecting a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion and a rotational center of a first photosensitive drum as viewed from a first axial direction of the first photosensitive drum is referred to as a first straight line, and a line connecting a midpoint of a line segment connecting a third supporting portion and a fourth supporting portion and a rotational center of a second photosensitive drum as viewed from a second axial direction of the second photosensitive drum is referred to as a second straight line, the first straight line as viewed from the first axial direction and the second straight line as viewed from the second axial direction are not parallel to each other. |
| US09639047B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method and non-transitory computer-readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device for forming a pattern image having unit images on a photosensitive member, a sensor for irradiating the pattern image with light and detecting reflected light, and a controller for controlling the image forming device to form a pattern image for printing used when printing and a pattern image for detection to be detected by the sensor on the photosensitive member. A first pattern image for printing includes a predetermined number of first unit images arranged to be spaced from each other, each of the first unit images being smaller than a predetermined size. A first pattern image for detection corresponding to the first pattern image for printing includes more than the predetermined number of the first unit images arranged to be spaced from each other. |
| US09639045B2 |
Image forming apparatus that shifts to state where quick activation is possible, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus capable of shifting to a state where quick activation thereof can be performed in a shorter time period when a power switch is turned off. When the off operation of the power switch is detected, a first state is stored, and when the on operation of the power switch is detected next, the state of the image forming apparatus is shifted to a second state from which the image forming apparatus can return to the first state. When the state of the image forming apparatus is shifted to the second state, time starts to be measured. When the on operation of the power switch is detected in the second state, the value of the measured time is acquired. The image forming apparatus is caused to return to the stored first state depending on the value of the measured time. |
| US09639043B1 |
Heater and fixing device
According to one embodiment, a heater includes an elongated substrate; a conductor that is provided on the substrate along a longitudinal direction of the substrate; and a plurality of resistance heating elements which are respectively disposed on the substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate, are electrically connected to each other in series by the conductor, and of which each resistance temperature coefficient becomes smaller as the resistance heating elements approach end regions in the longitudinal direction of the substrate. |
| US09639032B2 |
Image forming apparatus that utilizes an adjustable alternately switching voltage
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer device, and a transfer bias power source. The transfer bias power source is configured to output an alternately switching voltage that alternates between a transfer-directional voltage having a polarity to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto the recording medium and a return-directional voltage having an opposite polarity to the polarity of the transfer-directional voltage. The transfer bias power source is configured to reduce a target value of Vdc as an image area ratio of a toner image to be printed increases, and to increase the target value of Vdc as the image area ratio reduces, where Vdc is an average value of the alternately switching voltage during printing. |
| US09639031B1 |
Controlled transfer nip for an electrophotographic device and method of using same
An imaging apparatus, including a transfer roll; and first and second rolls, each first roll and second roll being disposed relative to the transfer roll, the second roll forming a transfer nip with the transfer roll and the first roll being disposed upstream relative to the second roll in a media feed direction. During a toner transfer operation, the transfer roll is coupled to a predetermined voltage and the first and second rolls are coupled to at least one voltage reference so that an electric field is generated between the transfer roll and the first roll and between the transfer roll and the second roll, the first roll being associated with an electrical characteristic such that the electric field generated between the transfer roll and the first roll is limited during the toner transfer operation relative to the electric field generated between the transfer roll and the second roll. |
| US09639030B2 |
Image forming apparatus for applying a lubricant to an image-bearing member
An image forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member bearing a toner image, a transfer unit transferring the toner image on the image-bearing member to a printing medium, a cleaning member rubbing against the image-bearing member and scraping away transfer residual toner from the image-bearing member, and a lubricant applying unit applying a lubricant to the image-bearing member. The apparatus further includes a driving unit driving the lubricant applying unit and a controller controlling the driving unit such that when a period required for an area corresponding to an interval between printing media to pass through a transfer position is longer than or equal to a predetermined set period during image formation, the amount of lubricant applied by the lubricant applying unit is at least lower than that in a case where the period required is shorter than the predetermined set period. |
| US09639028B2 |
Image forming apparatus and container for developer
A container for developer detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a container body, a discharge member, a resistive member, and a resistance reduction mechanism. The container body contains developer and is rotated when drive is transmitted from the image forming apparatus body. The discharge member supports the container body rotatable relative to the discharge member and has a discharge port through which the developer is discharged. The resistive member is brought into contact with the container body so as to apply resistance to the rotation of the container body. The resistance reduction mechanism changes a contact state between the resistive member and the container body so as to reduce the resistance between the resistive member and the container body when the container is mounted to the image forming apparatus body. |
| US09639027B2 |
Toner cartridge
The present invention relates a toner cartridge used for a laser printer. The toner cartridge comprises: a toner tank for storing fresh toner and a waste toner tank for storing waste toner obtained after development. When the toner cartridge is installed in a laser printer, the toner tank has a toner supplying section at a lower portion in a vertical direction thereof for supplying toner to an external environment. Two inner surfaces of the toner tank, arranged in a transverse direction of the toner tank and parallel with a direction in which the toner cartridge is installed into the laser printer, keep in a plane state at positions higher than the toner supplying section and are parallel with the vertical direction. |
| US09639011B2 |
Colorless digital primer for digital printing
A colorless digital primer for digital printing includes a colorless paste. The colorless paste includes a non-polar carrier fluid, and a resin swollen in the non-polar carrier fluid. The resin is present in the paste in an amount ranging from about 20% (w/w) to about 50% (w/w). A solid polar compound is dispersed in the resin. The solid polar compound is selected from the group consisting of a cellulose microcrystalline powder, dextrin, maltose monohydrate, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, a styrene maleic anhydride copolymer, a bismaleimide oligomer, sucrose, sucrose octaacetate, sucrose benzoate, and combinations thereof. The solid polar compound is present in an amount up to 60 wt. % of solids in the colorless paste. |
| US09639010B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor, manufacturing method of electrophotographic photoreceptor, image-forming apparatus and image-forming method
Disclosed is an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive support, a photosensitive layer on the conductive support and a surface layer on the photosensitive layer. The surface layer includes a cured resin prepared by polymerization of a compound having two or more radically polymerizable functional groups per molecule, the cured resin containing an organic resin fine particle and a metal oxide fine particle, and the organic resin fine particle comprising a resin containing a structural unit derived from at least one of melamine and benzoguanamine, the organic resin fine particle having a number average primary particle size of 0.01 to 3.00 μm. |
| US09639009B2 |
Electrophotographic member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
The present invention provides a highly electro-conductive electrophotographic member which contributes to formation of high-quality electrophotographic images while bleeding out of an ion conducting agent is reduced, a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic apparatus. Accordingly, the electrophotographic member according to the present invention includes an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer, wherein the electro-conductive layer contains a resin synthesized from a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic cation and a compound being able to react with the nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic cation, and an anion; the nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic cation has two substituents bonded to hydroxyl groups; and the substituent bonded to the hydroxyl group is bonded to a nitrogen atom of a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycle of the nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic cation. |
| US09639008B2 |
Lithography apparatus, and article manufacturing method
A lithography apparatus includes a measuring station that includes a first measuring device configured to measure a height of a substrate holder, and a second measuring device configured to measure a height of a surface of a substrate held by the holder, and a patterning station that includes a third measuring device configured to measure a height of the holder, and patterns the substrate held by the holder based on an output of the second measuring device. The patterning station includes a fourth measuring device configured to measure a height of a surface of a substrate held by the holder. The lithography apparatus includes a controller configured to obtain a correction value for an output obtained from at least one of the first and third measuring devices based on outputs of the second and fourth measuring devices with respect to a substrate held by the holder. |
| US09639007B2 |
Optical arrangement in an optical system, in particular in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
An optical arrangement in an optical system, such as a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, includes: at least one heat-emitting subsystem which emits heat during the operation of the optical system; a first heat shield which is arranged such that it at least partly absorbs the heat emitted by the heat-emitting subsystem; a first cooling device which is in mechanical contact with the first heat shield and is designed to dissipate heat from the first heat shield; and a second heat shield which at least partly absorbs heat emitted by the first heat shield. The second heat shield is in mechanical contact with a cooling device that dissipates heat from the second heat shield. |
| US09639006B2 |
Lithographic projection apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed where at least part of a space between a projection system of the apparatus and a substrate is filled with a liquid by a liquid supply system. The projection system is separated into two separate physical parts. With substantially no direct connection between the two parts of the projection system, vibrations induced in a first of the two parts by coupling of forces through the liquid filling the space when the substrate moves relative to the liquid supply system affects substantially only the first part of the projection system and not the other second part. |
| US09639003B2 |
Programmable imaging assembly for manufacturing biotest post arrays
An imaging assembly for directing a pattern of energy at a workpiece includes (i) a reticle that defines a reticle array that includes a plurality of spaced apart, transmitting regions; (ii) an illumination source that generates an illumination beam; and (iii) a director assembly that selectively directs the illumination beam at the reticle array, the director assembly includes a plurality of director elements that are individually controlled to selectively control the beam pattern that is directed at the reticle array. |
| US09639002B2 |
Method of forming resist pattern
A method of forming a resist pattern including forming a resist film on a substrate using a resist composition which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of the acid; exposing the resist film; and patterning the exposed resist film by negative-tone development using a developing solution containing an organic solvent, to form a resist pattern. The resist composition includes a polymeric compound having at least two kinds of specific structural units. |
| US09638999B2 |
Dual-layer light-sensitive developer-soluble bottom anti-reflective coatings for 193-nm lithography
The present invention provides methods of fabricating microelectronics structures and the resulting structures formed thereby using a dual-layer, light-sensitive, wet-developable bottom anti-reflective coating stack to reduce reflectance from the substrate during exposure. The invention provides dye-filled and dye-attached compositions for use in the anti-reflective coatings. The anti-reflective coatings are thermally crosslinkable and photochemically decrosslinkable. The bottom anti-reflective coating stack has gradient optical properties and develops at the same time as the photoresist. The method and structure are particularly suited to high-NA lithography processes. |
| US09638996B2 |
Resist composition and method for producing resist pattern
A resist composition has a resin which includes a structural unit having an acid-labile group, an acid generator, and a non-ionic compound having a group represented by the formula (a) and having no unsaturated bond: wherein Xa and Xb each independently represent an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, X1 represents a divalent C1 to C12 saturated hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom or a C1 to C6 fluorinated alkyl group, and * represents a binding site. |
| US09638992B2 |
Illumination optical system and image projection apparatus
The illumination optical system includes a first optical system configured to shape a light flux from a light source such that a light flux cross-sectional shape of the light flux becomes close to a rectangular shape of an illumination surface, a second optical system having an optical axis tilted with respect to a normal to the illumination surface and configured to introduce the light flux from the first optical system to the illumination surface, and a light-transmissive element having an entrance surface and an exit surface respectively forming mutually different angles with respect to the optical axis of the second optical system in a plane including the optical axis of the second optical system and the normal to the illumination surface. The light-transmissive element is disposed between the first optical system and the illumination surface. |
| US09638990B2 |
Projector device with luminous tube having a pair of electrodes in a vertical direction
A projector device of the present disclosure includes a luminous tube made of quartz glass, a concave reflecting mirror in which the luminous tube is disposed, and an optical unit for projecting an image by utilizing light emitted from the concave reflecting mirror. The luminous tube has a luminous part, in which at least mercury is enclosed inside and a pair of electrodes is disposed so as to face each other, and a pair of sealing parts extending from the luminous part in opposite directions to each other. The luminous tube is disposed so as to direct the pair of electrodes in a vertical direction. A region of the image projected from the optical unit is a horizontally long rectangle. |
| US09638988B2 |
Light multiplexer with color combining element
A light multiplexing system includes a color combining element and first, second, and third color channels. Each color channel includes a light source that directs light of a corresponding first, second, or third wavelength band, respectively, toward the color combining element. The color combining element includes first and second windows. The first and second windows are made of a solid transparent material and include, collectively, three coated surfaces. The surfaces may be non-contiguous. A first coated surface receives light of the first, second and third wavelength bands. The first coated surface reflects the light of the first wavelength band and transmits the light of the second and third wavelength bands. A second coated surface receives light of the second and third wavelength bands transmitted by the first coated surface. The second coated surface reflects the light of second wavelength band and transmits the light of the third wavelength band. The third coated surface receives the light of the third wavelength band transmitted by the second coated surface and reflects it. The reflected first, second, and third wavelength bands exit the first surface of the color combining element as a coaxial beam. |
| US09638987B2 |
Camera and camera accessory
The camera side mount is brought, by relative rotation with the accessory side mount, from a first state where each accessory side bayonet claw is inserted between the camera side bayonet claws into a second state where the camera side and accessory side bayonet claws engage with each other. The leaf spring biasing the camera side contact pins in the protruding direction is disposed between the camera side mount and the camera body. When the camera being in the normal position is viewed from the direction facing the camera side mount, the leaf spring extends from both sides of the mount center line, which extends from the center of the camera side mount in the direction of gravity, toward the camera side contact pins. The camera side contact pins are arranged at positions other than a position on the mount center line. |
| US09638985B1 |
Adjusting device of focusing curve of camera lens motor and method
An adjusting method and device of focusing curve of camera lens is disclosed. Steps of the adjusting method of focusing curve of camera lens includes: determining an adjustable moving range; moving the camera lens in the area of adjustable moving range, and recording a high definition of the camera lens; computing a difference value of a initial position of the camera lens and the high definition of the camera lens, and computing a focus offset; adjusting the focusing curve according to the focusing curve. Therefore, the angle of the camera lens motor can be adjusted accurately. |
| US09638983B2 |
Photographing device and focus adjusting seat thereof having at least one guide groove movably assembled with at least one guide bar
A focus adjusting seat includes a base seat, at least one guide bar, a driving device and an image sensor adjusting seat. The base seat includes a bottom plate and a front plate connected to the bottom plate and having a lens installation hole. Two ends of the at least one guide bar are disposed on the bottom plate, respectively. The driving device is disposed on the bottom plate and has an output screw. The image sensor adjusting seat includes a bottom seat and an image sensor installation part connected to the bottom seat and facing toward the lens installation hole. The bottom seat has a screwed part screwed to the output screw and at least one guide groove movably assembled with at least one guide bar. The driving device is adapted to adjust a relative position between the image sensor adjusting seat and the lens installation hole. |
| US09638981B2 |
Optical switch with improved switching efficiency
An optical device comprises a first optical coupler configured to receive a light signal and provide a first output and a second output, a first optical waveguide in optical communication with the first output and configured to provide a first optical path for a first portion of the light signal, and a second optical waveguide in optical communication with the second output and configured to provide a second optical path for a second portion of the light signal, wherein the first optical waveguide is configured to provide a phase differential between the first optical path and the second optical path, wherein the second optical waveguide is positioned according to a lateral thermal diffusion length associated with the first optical waveguide, and wherein the lateral thermal diffusion length is a spreading distance of a thermal effect in a direction about perpendicular to the first optical path. |
| US09638980B2 |
Modulator and production method thereof
A modulator including: a Mach-Zehnder modulator that includes an optical waveguide disposed on a substrate, the optical waveguide including an electrode thereon; a resin layer disposed on the substrate, the resin layer embedding the optical waveguide, the resin layer having a groove arranged besides the optical waveguide; a termination resistor disposed on the substrate in the groove of the resin layer; and a first wiring disposed on the resin layer, the first wiring being connected to the termination resistor and the electrode of the optical waveguide. |
| US09638978B2 |
Control method for tintable windows
A method of controlling tint of a tintable window to account for occupant comfort in a room of a building. The tintable window is between the interior and exterior of the building. The method predicts a tint level for the tintable window at a future time based on a penetration depth of direct sunlight through the tintable window into the room at the future time and space type in the room. The method also provides instructions over a network to transition tint of the tintable window to the tint level. |
| US09638972B2 |
Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof and display panel
An array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display panel are disclosed. The array substrate includes: a base substrate, gate scanning lines, a gate-insulating layer, an active layer, data lines, a passivation layer, and pixel electrodes; the array substrate further includes: a bridge structure and a connection line corresponding to each data line; the bridge structure is located on the passivation layer and is provided in a same layer as the pixel electrodes; each connection line is located on the base substrate and is connected with the data line, through the bridge structure in an LED region and in a region under a scribe line of a counter substrate. Therefore the problem of defective display caused by breakage of data lines can be solved, and the display effect of a liquid crystal display device can be improved. |
| US09638971B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having asymmetrical through hole
To provide a liquid crystal display device capable of controlling deterioration of contrast even in the case where an opening is formed in an organic flattened film and the film has unevenness. In the liquid crystal display device that includes a TFT substrate, a CF substrate, and liquid crystal sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate and that drives the liquid crystal with a lateral electric field, the TFT substrate has the organic flattened film in which a through hole for contacting a source electrode of the TFT and a pixel electrode and a sectional shape of the through hole is asymmetrical between a side on which the pixel electrode extends and the other side. |
| US09638970B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display includes: a substrate including a display region and a non-display region, the non-display region including a first region adjacent to the display region and a second region further from the display region than the first region; a light blocking member disposed in the non-display region of the substrate; and a plurality of step providing layers disposed between the substrate and the light blocking member in the non-display region of the substrate, the step providing layers spaced apart from each other. A height of the light blocking member disposed in the first region of the non-display region is different from a height of the light blocking member disposed in the second region of the non-display region. |
| US09638969B2 |
Liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, manufacturing method thereof and display device
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device are provided. The LCD panel includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate which are cell-assembled. Liquid crystals are filled between the array substrate and the color filter substrate. A sealant is disposed between peripheral areas of the array substrate and the color filter color filter substrate to seal the array substrate and the color filter substrate, wherein an electrostatic protection layer is also disposed at the peripheral area of the array substrate and configured to cover a peripheral circuit at the peripheral area of the array substrate to provide electrostatic protection for the peripheral circuit. |
| US09638962B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and manufacture method thereof
The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel and a manufacture method thereof. The liquid crystal panel comprises: a first substrate (1), a TFT layer (2) located on the first substrate (1), a color resist layer (3) located on the TFT layer (2), a photospacer layer (4) located on the color resist layer (3), a protective layer (5) located on the color resist layer (3) and the photospacer layer (4), a via hole (6) penetrating the color resist layer (3) and the protective layer (5), a pixel electrode layer (7) formed on the protective layer (5) and electrically connected to the TFT layer (2) with the via hole (6) and a second substrate (8) oppositely located to the first substrate (1), and one or more color resist material in the photospacer layer (4) and the color resist layer (3) are the same, and the photospacer layer (4) and the color resist layer (3) are formed at the same time during a manufacture process. |
| US09638957B2 |
Liquid crystal display provided with viewing angle compensation
An embodiment of present invention discloses a liquid crystal display provided with viewing angle compensation. The liquid crystal display provided with viewing angle compensation comprises a liquid crystal cell in a vertical arrangement, upper and lower polarizer sheets, and further comprises the first biaxial compensation film provided between the liquid crystal cell and the lower polarizer sheet, the second biaxial compensation film provided between the liquid crystal cell and the upper polarizer sheet, and a monoaxial compensation film provided at the upside and/or downside of the liquid crystal cell. The embodiment of present invention may be applicable for the viewing angle compensation in wide viewing-angle techniques. |
| US09638954B2 |
Display apparatus and backlight
A first LED substrate and a second LED substrate are included each of which includes: on a main surface thereof, a plurality of LEDs connected in series in a longitudinal direction; a first connector including (i) a first terminal disposed on one of short sides of the LED substrate and connected to an anode of an LED positioned first among the LEDs connected in series, and (ii) a second terminal connected to a cathode of another LED positioned last among the LEDs connected in series. The second terminal of the first LED substrate and the first terminal of the second LED substrate are interconnected. The first terminal of the first LED substrate is connected to a positive terminal of a power circuit and the second terminal of the second LED substrate is connected to a negative terminal of the power circuit. |
| US09638950B2 |
Display with opaque border resistant to electrostatic discharge
A display may have a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. A liquid crystal layer may be located between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. The display may have an active area surrounded by an inactive area. The opaque border layer may contain first and second opaque layers in the inactive area. The first opaque layer may have an opening in the inactive area that is overlapped by an isolation layer. The second opaque layer may be located in the inactive area and may overlap the opening in the first opaque layer to block light in the inactive area. The isolation layer may be interposed between the first and second opaque layers and may prevent static charge from an electrostatic discharge event along the edge of the display from migrating to the active area through the opaque border in the inactive area. |
| US09638941B2 |
Photonic crystal type light modulator and 3D image acquisition apparatus employing the same
A photonic crystal type light modulator is provided. The photonic crystal type light modulator includes: a substrate; a first electrode disposed on the substrate; an active layer disposed on the first electrode, where an optical characteristic of the active layer changes according to application of an electric field; a second electrode disposed on the active layer; and a photonic crystal layer disposed on the second electrode and comprising a 2D grating. |
| US09638940B2 |
Optical modulator with automatic bias correction
An optical modulator uses an optoelectronic phase comparator configured to provide, in the form of an electrical signal, a measure of a phase difference between two optical waves. The phase comparator includes an optical directional coupler having two coupled channels respectively defining two optical inputs for receiving the two optical waves to be compared. Two photodiodes are configured to respectively receive the optical output powers of the two channels of the directional coupler. An electrical circuit is configured to supply, as a measure of the optical phase shift, an electrical signal proportional to the difference between the electrical signals produced by the two photodiodes. |
| US09638937B2 |
Spectacle lens, and method for designing spectacle lens, manufacturing method and manufacturing system of the spectacle lens
There is provided a spectacle lens, including: specific first and second reference points, and eye point between the first and second reference points on a meridian, with each point defined on a meridian; and a power variation portion where power is continuously varied from the first reference point to the second reference point, wherein a variation rate of an addition power is substantially zero in a circle of radius 4 mm with the first reference point as a center, and/or in a circle of radius 4 mm with the eye point as a center. |
| US09638928B2 |
Active diffuser for reducing speckle and laser display device having active diffuser
An active diffuser for reducing a speckle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: an electroactive polymer film having at least one or more scattering patterns; a first transparent electrode coated on one surface of the electroactive polymer film; and a second transparent electrode coated on the other surface of the electroactive polymer film, and a shape of the scattering pattern of the electroactive polymer film is varied by voltage applied through the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. |
| US09638921B2 |
Strap system for head-mounted displays
A strap system for a head-mounted display is disclosed. The strap system includes a rigid segment and a latching subsystem coupled to the rigid segment. The rigid segment has opposite first and second sides. The rigid segment couples to the head-mounted display from the first side. The latching subsystem couples to the second side of the rigid segment. The latching subsystem includes a plate including a pair of slots to respectively receive a pair of posts protruding from a detachable audio system. The latching subsystem also includes a pair of latches to latch to grooves in the pair of posts. Each latch of the pair of latches includes an opening that overlaps a respective slot of the pair of slots. The opening receives a respective post of the pair of posts. |
| US09638920B2 |
Torsional support for binocular display
A binocular head mounted display includes a first binocular eye piece including a first torsional brace and a second binocular eye piece including a second torsional brace configured to engage the first torsional brace. The binocular head mounted also includes a frame assembly holding the first binocular eye piece and the second binocular eye piece at an adjustable interpupillary distance. The frame assembly includes a torsional support to directly or indirectly engage the first torsional brace and the second torsional brace. Such engagement resists rotational movement of the first binocular eye piece relative to the second binocular eye piece. |
| US09638919B1 |
Method for reducing reflection when operating a head-up display of a motor vehicle
A method for reducing reflection when operating a head-up display of a motor vehicle. The head-up display includes a covering disk element and a dimming element for dimming a deflected light beam of ambient light. A control device determines a light beam path of the deflected light beam, determines a current position and orientation of the dimming element, and determines a region to be kept free of the deflected light beam around the eye point of a user. Based on this, the control device determines whether the deflected light beam passes through the area to be kept free. If so, the control device generates a control signal for adjusting a position of the dimming element to dim the deflected light beam with an adjustment device, and the adjustment device adjusts the position of the dimming element depending on the control signal. |
| US09638917B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit having a negative refractive power. At the time of zooming, distances between the lens units change, and a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit at a telephoto end is shorter than at a wide angle end. An aperture stop is disposed on the image side of an image-side surface of the first lens unit, and on the object side of an image-side surface of the second lens unit. The second lens unit includes two sub lens units. The object-side sub lens unit in the second lens unit includes one lens component. The following conditional expressions are satisfied. 3.0<ΔD12/ERS<4.5 1.05<|f3/fUN21|<2.1 |
| US09638910B2 |
Image measurement device
The image measurement device includes: a measurement target place specifying part that specifies a measurement target place on a workpiece image based on a user's operation; an illumination condition storage part that holds two or more illumination conditions; an imaging control part that controls a camera and an illumination device to acquire two or more of the workpiece images sequentially photographed while making the illumination condition different; a workpiece image display part that displays the acquired plurality of workpiece images; a workpiece image selecting part that selects any one of the displayed workpiece images; an illumination condition deciding part that decides the illumination condition based on the selected workpiece image; and a dimension calculating part that extracts an edge of the measurement target place based on the workpiece image photographed on the decided illumination condition, and obtains a dimension of the measurement target place based on the extracted edge. |
| US09638901B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging device using the same
A zoom lens includes, in the order starting from the object side to the side of an image plane, a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having negative refractive power, and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. The fourth lens group includes, in the order starting from the side closest to the image plane to the object side, a first positive lens, a first negative lens, a second negative lens and a second positive lens. The fourth lens group G4 has a configuration that satisfies the following conditional expression (1) when νdP1 represents an Abbe number of the first positive lens L46 and νdN1 represents an Abbe number of the first negative lens L45: −40<νdP1−νdN1<0 (1). |
| US09638897B2 |
Optical image capturing system
A five-piece optical lens for capturing image and a five-piece optical module for capturing image, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, include a first lens with refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; a fourth lens with refractive power; and a fifth lens with negative refractive power; and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the five lens elements are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09638896B2 |
Imaging lens
An imaging lens in which a positive first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a negative third lens group are arranged in order from the object side. The first lens group includes a positive first lens having a convex object-side surface and a second lens. The second lens group includes third and fourth lenses each having at least one aspheric surface. The third lens group includes a fifth lens, a sixth lens as a double-sided aspheric lens, and a seventh lens having a concave image-side surface near an optical axis. The lenses are not joined to each other, the seventh lens has an aspheric image-side surface whose shape changes from concave to convex as the distance from the optical axis increases, and an F-number is less than 1.8. |
| US09638894B2 |
Photographing optical lens assembly, image capturing device and electronic device
A photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The third lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The fourth lens element with refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The fifth lens element with refractive power has a convex object-side surface, and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof and having at least one convex shape in an off-axial region thereof, wherein the surfaced thereof are aspheric. |
| US09638892B2 |
Rear conversion lens
A rear conversion lens includes: a chassis including two opposite ends, the chassis including light-transmitting holes on the ends, respectively; a first coupler configured to detachably couple one of the ends of the chassis with an image field side of an image-pickup lens of a three-chip camera including three first image sensors, the image-pickup lens being designed based on an assumption that the image-pickup lens is to be used with a color-separation prism in combination; a second coupler configured to detachably couple the other end of the chassis with a single-chip color camera including a second image sensor, the second image sensor including an image field larger than an image field of the first image sensors of the three-chip camera; and an optical system including a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group arranged in the chassis in this order from an object side, the first lens group having a negative compound focal length, the second lens group being configured to correct a spherical aberration, the third lens group being configured to form an image. |
| US09638885B2 |
Lens driving apparatus
A lens driving apparatus includes a lens holding member, a static member including a housing, a biasing member, and a moving mechanism. The biasing member includes upper and lower leaf springs. The upper leaf spring includes an upper first portion, an upper second portion, and an upper elastic arm portion. A through hole is formed in the upper first portion of the upper leaf spring. The lens holding member includes a fastening portion that includes a mount surface on which the upper leaf spring is placed, a recess facing the through hole, and a protrusion inserted into the through hole. An adhesive held in the recess surrounds the protrusion and part of the adhesive spreads to an upper surface of the upper first portion of the upper leaf spring through the through hole. The upper leaf spring is fixed to the lens holding member with the adhesive. |
| US09638884B2 |
Selective component bonding technique
A method of selectively bonding a component to a substrate prevents glue displacement onto neighboring components. The method entails shortening a section of the perimeter of a mount wall so that the foot of the mount wall contacts the glue without causing substantial displacement. A cure step hardens and holds the shortened foot of the mount wall in a stationary position, while providing a partial bond. Meanwhile the rest of the mount wall that is not located near contact pads on the substrate has a tall foot that extends to the surface of the substrate and is bonded in the usual way. By modifying the component, it is not necessary to modify either the chemistry of the epoxy or the epoxy dispense operation. |
| US09638883B1 |
Passive alignment of array camera modules constructed from lens stack arrays and sensors based upon alignment information obtained during manufacture of array camera modules using an active alignment process
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention actively align a representative optic array with an imager array, and subsequently passively align constituent optic arrays with constituent imager arrays based on data from the active alignment. In one embodiment, a method of aligning a plurality of lens stack arrays with a corresponding plurality of sensors includes: aligning a first lens stack array relative to a first sensor, varying the spatial relationship between the first lens stack array and the first sensor; capturing images of a known target using the arrangement at different spatial relationships between the first lens stack array and the first sensor; scoring the quality of the captured images; and aligning at least a second lens stack array relative to at least a second sensor, based on the scored images and the corresponding spatial relationships by which the scored images were obtained. |
| US09638882B2 |
Spooling cable
A method includes mounting a spool system at a floor level of a multiple dwelling unit. The floor level has multiple customer units. The spool system includes at least one spool of fiber optic cable. Each end of each fiber optic cable has a spliced-on connector. The method further includes paying out a length of fiber optic cable from the at least one spool to reach a customer unit of the floor level, connecting one of the connectors of the paid-out fiber optic cable to a floor splitter, and connecting the floor splitter to a distribution splitter of the multiple dwelling unit. |
| US09638881B2 |
Apparatus having housing in which optical fiber is provided, supporting member, and supporting method
According to an aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, wind generated by a cooling fan blows in a housing, and a port is optically connected with an optical module via an optical fiber. Further, a shielding wall is provided to an optical fiber arranging member, which supports and guides the optical fiber, so as to prevent the optical fiber from being exposed to the wind. |
| US09638879B2 |
Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays
An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters being arranged in arrays that slide independently of other adapter arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections. |
| US09638872B2 |
Optical communication connector
In accordance with the following description, an optical communication connector includes a ferrule having retractable alignment pins that are actuable between an extended position and a retracted position. For example, the connector may include an inner housing assembly having optical fibers and an outer housing positioned over the inner housing assembly. The outer housing is shaped to be removable from the inner housing assembly, which has a movable pin clamp mechanically coupled to alignment pins for aligning the connector with another connector. The pin clamp may be slid from a first position (corresponding to a male gender) to a second position (corresponding to a female gender). Separately or in combination with changing gender, the polarity of a communication connector may be changed due to its inclusion of an asymmetric polarity-changing feature that is actuable by an installer to change a polarity of the communication connector. Such a feature may actuated by being moved from a first position to a second position relative to the communication connector. |
| US09638866B2 |
Optical fibre quick connect box
A mechanism for securing a series of fiber optic cable connectors includes a base that has several connector recesses and a lid that is removably attached to the base. The mechanism may be used to ruggedly connect a series of fiber optic cables in a downhole instrument where space is limited, with the ability to break each of the series of fiber optic cables individually. |
| US09638862B2 |
Monolithic beam-shaping optical systems and methods for an OCT probe
Monolithic beam-shaping optical systems and methods are disclosed for an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe that includes a transparent cylindrical housing having asymmetric optical power. The system includes a transparent monolithic body having a folded optical axis and at least one alignment feature that supports the end of an optical fiber adjacent an angled planar end wall. The monolithic body also includes a total-internal reflection surface and a lens surface that define object and image planes. Light from the optical fiber end traverses the optical path, which includes the cylindrical housing residing between the lens surface and the image plane. Either the lens surface by itself or the lens surface and the reflective (eg, TIR) surface in combination are configured to substantially correct for the asymmetric optical power of the cylindrical housing, thereby forming a substantially rotationally symmetric image spot at the image plane. |
| US09638860B2 |
Optical coupling member and optical connector using the same, and optical coupling member holding member
It is an object of the present invention to simply position a lens and an optical fiber while suppressing an increase in cost. An optical coupling member includes an optical fiber (13), a holder (11) that holds the optical fiber (13) inserted from an insertion hole (11a) formed at one end, and a lens such as a collimator lens (12) accommodated in an accommodation section (11c) formed at the other end of the holder (11), in which positioning is performed by causing the lens and/or the end face of the optical fiber (13) to come into contact with a tapered surface provided at a position facing the lens (12) and the optical fiber (13) in a protruding portion (11e) formed on an inner surface in the vicinity of the accommodation section (11c) of the holder (11). |
| US09638859B1 |
Optical fiber alignment device
A fiber alignment or “fiberposer” device enables the passive alignment of one or more optical fibers to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) device using mating hard-stop features etched into the two devices. Accordingly, fiber grooves can be provide separate from the electrical and optical elements, and attached to the PIC with sub-micron accuracy. Fiberposers may also include a hermetic seal for a laser or other device on the PIC. All of these features significantly reduce the typical cost of an actively aligned optical device sealed in an hermetic package. |
| US09638858B2 |
Athermal hybrid optical source
A hybrid optical source that provides an optical signal having a wavelength (or a narrow band of wavelengths) is described. This hybrid optical source includes an optical amplifier (such as a III-V semiconductor optical amplifier) that is butt-coupled or vertically coupled to a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform, and which outputs an optical signal. The SOI platform includes an optical waveguide that conveys the optical signal. A temperature-compensation element included in the optical waveguide compensates for temperature dependence of the indexes of refraction of the optical amplifier and the optical waveguide. In addition, a reflector, adjacent to the optical waveguide after the temperature-compensation element, reflects a portion of the optical signal and transmits another portion of the optical signal that has the wavelength. |
| US09638850B2 |
Polarizer, process for preparing the same, optical member and liquid crystal displaying apparatus
An object of the present invention is to provide a polarizer which is thin and light as well as has durability, and an optical member capable of forming a liquid-crystalline displaying apparatus for mobiles which is excellent in reliance. According to the present invention, there is provided a polarizer, which comprises a protecting film comprising an epoxy resin as a main component on at least one side of a polarizing film. This polarizer can be produced by a method of coating an uncured epoxy resin composition on at least one side of a polarizing film, and then curing the composition to form a protecting film. Also, an optical member comprising a laminate of the aforementioned polarizer and other optical layer exhibiting the optical function is provided and, further, a liquid crystal displaying apparatus comprising the optical member disposed on one side or both sides of a liquid-crystalline cell is provided. |
| US09638848B2 |
Patterned phase difference film and method for manufacturing same
A pattern phase difference film is manufactured by a process including a laminate body formation step of applying a pattern alignment layer composition on a substrate to form a laminate body, a heat-drying layer formation step of heat-drying the composition to form a heat-dried layer, a pattern alignment layer formation step of irradiating a polarization pattern onto the heat-dried layer to form a pattern alignment layer, and a phase difference layer formation step of forming a phase difference layer including a rod-shaped compound on the pattern alignment layer. During the steps between the heat-drying layer formation step and the phase difference layer formation step, the heat-dried layer and the pattern alignment layer are exposed to the air for four hours or less. |
| US09638839B2 |
Optical zoom probe
An optical zoom probe is disclosed. The optical zoom probe includes: at least one liquid lens having a focus which is configured to be adjusted according to a flow of a fluid through a flow path; and a barrel provided to form the flow path and including a narrowed first end part including a first opening through which an image is captured, the at least one liquid lens being provided inside the barrel. |
| US09638836B1 |
Lenses having astigmatism correcting inside reflective surface
A lens includes a material spanning an area and providing an inside reflective three-dimensional (3D) surface. The reflective 3D surface is defined by a plurality of reflective optical elements including a first reflective optical element and at least a second reflective optical element that each include a sub-element set including a center sub-element (CS) and a plurality of neighboring sub-elements. The plurality of reflective optical elements each have their own non-overlapping optical center axis; and a cylindrically bent spherical surface. The cylindrically bent spherical surface is defined by the neighboring sub-elements in each reflective optical element being located at different 3D points so that the reflective optical elements relative to at least one neighboring reflective optical element provides different values of spherical curvature and different values of cylindrical axis orientation. Each of the plurality of reflective optical elements can provide a different optical power for correction of astigmatism. |
| US09638834B2 |
Hybrid epoxy-acrylic with zirconium oxide nanocomposite for curable coatings
A composition includes: a continuous liquid phase including an acrylic monomer and an epoxy monomer; and a dispersed nanoparticulate including ZrO2 modified with an acrylic silane; and wherein the composition is transparent to visible light when coated on a lens. In addition, a method including the steps of: mixing an acrylic silane and a methanol-based ZrO2 sol to create a methanol-based silane-modified ZrO2 sol; then mixing at least an acrylic monomer, an epoxy monomer, and the methanol-based silane-modified ZrO2 sol to obtain the composition. The composition can be adapted for coating and curing onto another substrate, such as an ophthalmic lens. |
| US09638828B2 |
Method and system for performing surveying and sampling in a body of water
Method and system is described for marine surveying. The method involves operations for exploring and developing hydrocarbons with one or more unmanned vehicles. The unmanned vehicles are used to perform marine surveying and to obtain one or more samples that may be used to identify chemical, hydrocarbon and/or biologic information, which may be used for environmental monitoring of bodies of water. |
| US09638826B2 |
Method using near and far field ULF and ELF interferometry synthetic aperture radar for subsurface imaging
This invention relates to devices and processes for geophysical prospecting, subsurface fluid monitoring and, more particular, to the use of interferometric techniques using Control Source Electromagnetic (“CSEM”) and Magnetoturelic (“MT”) signals to create images of sub-surface structures and fluids. |
| US09638825B2 |
Metal sensor
A metal sensor includes a primary coil, a compensation coil, a first additional coil, and a magnetic field sensor. The first additional coil is configured to be excited without the primary coil and the compensation coil being excited. |
| US09638824B2 |
Quad-gradient coils for use in locating systems
Buried object locators including an omnidirectional antenna array and a quad gradient array are disclosed. A locator display may include information associated with a buried object based on both omnidirectional antenna array signals and quad gradient antenna array signals. |
| US09638814B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus, radiation imaging system, and storage medium
A radiation imaging apparatus including a radiation detection unit in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices configured to convert radiation into electric charges are arranged and a communication unit configured to output image data formed from electric charges read out from the photoelectric conversion devices includes a setting unit configured to perform setting for connecting the communication unit wirelessly to an external apparatus, by executing processing based on a plurality of setting methods. |
| US09638812B2 |
Reconstruction apparatus for reconstructing a pet image
A reconstruction apparatus (9) reconstructs a PET image. A first detector (3) generates first detection events and detection times assigned to the first detection events and a second detector (6) generates second detection events and detection times assigned to the second detection events. A timing window determination unit (11) provides a first-second timing window by providing a first-second upper threshold based on the position of the second detector relative to the first detector and a detection event pairs generation unit (12) generates first-second detection event pairs based on the provided first-second timing window. The first-second detection event pairs are used for reconstructing the PET image. The first-second timing window depends on the position of the second detector leads to an improved generation of first-second detection event pairs, which in turn can lead to an improved PET image. |
| US09638811B2 |
System and method for detecting gamma radiation, such as a gamma camera
The invention relates to a system for detecting gamma radiation, such as a gamma camera, including a source of gamma rays, at least one plate P1 of a fast scintillator, the time thereof for rising to the light peak being less than 1 ns, said plate comprising a diffusing entry surface and a polished exit surface, having a thickness of no less than 10 mm, being provided with photodetectors and microelectronics for dedicated reading, characterized in that the microelectronics are of the ASIC type, in that the detector is segmented, and in that on said plate P1, each segment of said detector is capable of measuring a first trigger T1 such that a time resolution is lower than 100 ps; the detector can measure a space and time distribution of the first adjacent photons emitted by an event on the detectors for a time of more than 100 ps and no longer than the time for rising to the light peak of the scintillator. The invention further relates to the image-reconstruction method implemented in the system, as well as to the implementation and use of said system. The invention additionally relates to the image-reconstruction method and to the method for improving the energy resolution of the detector installed in the system, as well as to the implementation of said system. |
| US09638809B2 |
Handheld dual thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer
A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer system, including: a first detection medium including a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting neutrons; a gamma ray shielding material disposed adjacent to the first detection medium; a second detection medium including one of a doped metal halide, an elpasolite, and a high Z semiconductor scintillator crystal operable for detecting gamma rays; a neutron shielding material disposed adjacent to the second detection medium; and a photodetector coupled to the second detection medium also operable for detecting the gamma rays; wherein the first detection medium and the second detection medium do not overlap in an orthogonal plane to a radiation flux. Optionally, the first detection medium includes a 6LiInSe2 crystal. Optionally, the second detection medium includes a SrI2(Eu) scintillation crystal. |
| US09638806B2 |
System and method for detecting ambiguities in satellite signals for GPS tracking of vessels
The present invention relates to a system for detecting ambiguities in a satellite signal for the GPS tracking of vessels, which includes: a GNSS receiving unit obtaining a vessel position using a plurality of satellites; a vessel position calculating unit calculating a second vessel position from a first vessel position after a specific amount of time elapses using dead-reckoning; a distance calculating unit calculating prediction distances between each of the satellites and the vessel and an error monitoring unit comparing the calculated prediction distances between the satellites and the vessel, and pseudoranges between the satellites and the GNSS receiving unit at the second vessel position, and monitoring for the occurrence of errors at the satellites on the basis of the existence of an increase in errors at each of the satellites. |
| US09638803B2 |
Navigation data configuration for optimal time to first fix
A method and a system for reducing time to first fix (TTFF) in a satellite navigation receiver generate a navigation data structure including three sub-frames. A first sub-frame and a second sub-frame accommodate selective ephemeris data. The third sub-frame accommodates a text message including almanac data optionally, ionospheric data, coordinated universal time (UTC) data, textual data optionally, and any combination thereof. A signal generation system (SGS) in the system selectively groups the almanac data, the ionospheric data, and the UTC data, and selectively transmits the navigation data with the almanac data or free of the almanac data in the navigation data structure to the satellite navigation receiver. The signal generation system also staggers the navigation data in each sub-frame into a first portion and a second portion for parallelly transmitting the navigation data over a first carrier frequency and a second carrier frequency in reduced time. |
| US09638802B2 |
Unmanned aerial vehicle detection method using global positioning system leakage signal and system therefor
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection method and a system therefor are provided. The UAV detection method includes receiving a radio signal from air, detecting a global positioning system (GPS) leakage signal of a predetermined frequency from the received radio signal, and determining that a UAV is detected when the GPS leakage signal is detected. |
| US09638800B1 |
Passive tracking system
A passive-tracking system is described herein. The system can include a visible-light sensor, a sound transducer, a thermal sensor, a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, and a processor. The processor can receive visible-light frames from the visible-light sensor, sound frames from the sound transducer, thermal frames from the thermal sensor, and modulated-light frames from the ToF sensor. The processor, based on data of the visible-light and temperature frames, can also determine that an object is a living being and can provide an X and Y position of the object. The processor, based on data of the sound and positioning frames, can determine a Z position of the object. The X, Y, and Z positions may combine to form a three-dimensional (3D) position of the object. The processor can also passively track the object over time by selectively updating the 3D position of the object. |
| US09638798B2 |
Imaging transducer array
An imaging transducer (302) includes a plurality of transducer elements (404, 604, 704, 804) arranged with respect to each other in an array along an long axis of the transducer, wherein an effective width of a transducer element of the transducer is equal to or greater than a center-to-center distance between adjacent transducer elements. A method includes acquiring data with an imaging transducer, wherein the transducer includes a plurality of transducer elements arranged with respect to each other in an array along an long axis of the transducer, wherein an effective width of a transducer element of the transducer is equal to or greater than a center-to-center distance between adjacent transducer elements. |
| US09638797B2 |
Monitoring device
A monitoring device comprising a plurality of emitters and a plurality of receivers is provided. The emitters are capable of being driven to emit waves with directivity. The receivers are correspondingly disposed with respect to the emitters for receiving the waves. The transmitting paths of the waves define a monitoring area. The monitoring device is able to determine the moving trend and the location of the first object in the monitoring area when the specific waves are reflected to and received by the corresponding receivers. |
| US09638792B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting obstacles in propagation path of a wireless communication signal
An approach for implementing a mechanism to detect obstacles in propagation path of a wireless communication signal and dynamically control one or more functions in a communication system of the signal. The approach includes receiving a sensed signal at a sensing antenna, wherein the sensing antenna is associated with a transmitting antenna. The approach also includes determining that the sensed signal is a disrupted signal element of a transmitted signal originating from the transmitting antenna. Further, the approach includes initiating a cessation of the transmitted signal, an attenuation of the transmitted signal, a presentation of an alert notification, or combination thereof based on the disrupted signal element signal. |
| US09638790B2 |
System for calibrating a distance measuring device
The invention relates to a system for calibrating a distance measuring device, comprising: a measuring track, on which the distance measuring device is mountable; an areal reflector mountable shiftably on the measuring track for reflecting a measurement signal transmitted from the distance measuring device back to the distance measuring device, so that by means of the distance measuring device a distance measurement for determining a distance (D) between the distance measuring device and the reflector is performable; and a laser distance measuring device mountable on the measuring track for registering tilt of the reflector; wherein means for orienting the distance measuring device are provided, so that measurement signals of the distance measuring device reflected back to the distance measuring device by means of the reflector are received with maximum intensity by the distance measuring device. |
| US09638789B2 |
Method, device and system for processing radar signals
An embodiment relates to a method for processing input data that includes multiplying a portion of the input data with a first set of coefficients or with a second set of coefficients, wherein the first set of coefficients and the second set of coefficients are stored in a memory, wherein the first set of coefficients is used on phase modulated input data and wherein the second set of coefficients is used on input data that are not phase modulated. |
| US09638788B2 |
Apparatus for detecting creeping of radar waves
An apparatus that detects creeping of radar waves includes: a transmitter transmitting radar waves; a receiver receiving incoming waves from a target; a distance detecting unit detecting a first distance which is a distance up to the target; a speed derivation unit deriving a relative speed relative to the target; a distance estimating unit estimating, based on the relative speed, a second distance which is a distance up to the target; and a creeping detecting unit determining whether or not a creeping has occurred in accordance with whether or not the differential distance representing a deviation quantity between the first distance and the second distance is larger than or equal to a predetermined threshold. |
| US09638786B2 |
System and method for locating a mobile terminal in a finite location
Embodiments of the present invention include methods, systems and computer program products. Systems, methods and computer program products of the various preferred embodiments can include one or more sensors disposable in a finite location and adapted to receive a communication channel signal from a mobile terminal located in the finite location and a controller connected to the one or more sensors and adapted to calculate a position of the mobile terminal within the finite location. The systems, methods and computer program products of the various preferred embodiments can also include a pseudo-station disposable in the finite location and connected to the controller and adapted to induce a communication channel signal from the mobile terminal by transmitting a control channel signal in the finite location. |
| US09638785B2 |
Position measurement system for geostationary artificial satellite
Ground stations 20, 21 receive any signal transmitted by a geostationary artificial satellite 10, and store the reception signal together with the reception time thereof. A difference Δt in reception time of a same signal between the ground station 20 and the ground station 21 is calculated by performing correlation processing of the reception signal of the ground station 20 and the reception signal of the ground station 21. A distance R20 between the ground station 20 and the geostationary artificial satellite 10 is measured by a distance measurement device. A distance R21 between the ground station 21 and the geostationary artificial satellite 10 is calculated on the basis of the distance R20 obtained by measurement and the difference Δt in reception times, as obtained by correlation processing. |
| US09638782B2 |
Probe card analysis system and method
A system and method for evaluating wafer test probe cards under real-world wafer test cell condition integrates wafer test cell components into the probe card inspection and analysis process. Disclosed embodiments may utilize existing and/or modified wafer test cell components such as, a head plate, a test head, a signal delivery system, and a manipulator to emulate wafer test cell dynamics during the probe card inspection and analysis process. |
| US09638775B2 |
Connecting device for a magnetic system of an imaging system
A connecting device for a magnetic system of an imaging system includes a holding element for connection of the connecting device to a power supply connection of the magnetic system, and a connecting element for connection of the connecting device to a power supply cable for operation of the magnetic system. The connecting device also includes an oscillation damping device having a spring element. The oscillation damping device is operable to dampen oscillations of the magnetic system that act on the connecting device by way of the holding element, with respect to the connecting element. |
| US09638772B2 |
Connector and medical equipment
A connector and medical equipment are provided. The connector includes at least one framework and at least one fastening structure. The at least one connector is used to connect a main body and a housing. The at least one framework is arranged along the outside of the main body. The fastening structure is located on the at least one framework. The at least one fastening structure is used to connect the housing. |
| US09638767B2 |
Current sensor and attachment structure of the same
In a current sensor for detecting an electric current flowing in a current path, a magnetic field generating element generates a second magnetic field perpendicular to a first magnetic field generated by the electric current of the current path, and a magnetic sensor generates at least one of a first signal containing a sine value according to an angle defined between the second magnetic field and a synthetic magnetic field composed of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field and a second signal containing a cosine value according to the angle. A signal processing unit includes a calculation circuit that calculates a tangential value according to the angle using the at least one of the first signal and the second signal, and outputs a sensor signal containing the tangential value. |
| US09638762B2 |
Highly efficient diagnostic methods for monolithic sensor systems
Embodiments relate to integrated circuit (IC) sensors and more particularly to IC sensor diagnostics using multiple (e.g., redundant) communication signal paths, wherein one or more of the communication signal paths can be diverse (e.g., in hardware, software or processing, an operating principle, or in some other way) from at least one other of the multiple communication signal paths. Embodiments can relate to a variety of sensor types, implementations and applications, including 3D magnetic field and other sensors. |
| US09638759B2 |
Power cell system with means for detecting a discontinuity
A power cell system, e.g. a fuel cell system, having a plurality of power cells, e.g. fuel cells and plurality of first resistances, the plurality of power cells and first resistances being connected in the form of a ladder circuit, and electronic filters each having a first connection to a first node between two of the first resistances, each electronic filter comprising a second resistance and a charge storage device connected to the second resistance. |
| US09638757B2 |
Method and arrangement for monitoring the voltage on electrical storage units, battery and motor vehicle having such a battery
The present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the voltage on electrical storage units, to a battery and to a motor vehicle having such a battery that are configured to be used particularly for improved establishment of overvoltages and/or undervoltages on modules of the electrical storage unit. To this end, a method for monitoring the voltage on at least one electrical storage unit includes extracting an idle voltage U_OCV on the at least one electrical storage unit from a voltage U_measured that is measured on the at least one electrical storage unit. |
| US09638755B2 |
Test switch signal analyzer
A test switch signal analyzer comprising: an analyzer hub operably couplable to a test switch base that includes test switch conductors; signal probe(s) couplable to the analyzer hub and to the plurality of test switch conductors when the analyzer hub is coupled to the test switch base, a signal processing unit coupled to the analyzer hub; the signal processing unit, the analyzer hub, and at least a portion of the at least one signal probe being positionable within a test switch cover that mates with the test switch base when the signal probe is coupled to the test switch conductor(s) and the test switch cover is secured to the test switch base. |
| US09638754B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes a test entry control block configured to generate a plurality of trigger signals and a reset signal according to a test setting command and addresses; and a test entry signal generation block configured to enable a test entry signal when the plurality of trigger signals are sequentially enabled. |
| US09638753B2 |
Tap clock and enable control of scan register, flip-flop, compressor
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for providing expected data, mask data, and control signals to scan test architectures within a device using the falling edge of a test/scan clock. The signals are provided on device leads that are also used to provide signals to scan test architectures using the rising edge of the test/scan clock. According to the disclosure, device test leads serve to input different test signals on the rising and falling edge of the test/scan clock which reduces the number of interconnects between a tester and the device under test. |
| US09638751B2 |
Parallel test device and method
A parallel test device and method are disclosed, which relates to a technology for performing a multi-bit parallel test by compressing data. The parallel test device includes: a pad unit through which data input/output (I/O) operations are achieved; a plurality of input buffers configured to activate write data received from the pad unit in response to a buffer enable signal, and output the write data to a global input/output (GIO) line; a plurality of output drivers configured to activate read data received from the global I/O (GIO) line in response to a strobe delay signal, and output the read data to the pad unit; and a test controller configured to activate the buffer enable signal and the strobe delay signal during a test mode in a manner that the read data received from the plurality of output drivers is applied to the plurality of input buffers such that the read data is operated as the write data. |
| US09638750B2 |
Frequency-domain high-speed bus signal integrity compliance model
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide apparatus for using a compliance model to determine compatibility of a channel with a bus's chip I/O circuitry at its ends. The apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The processor is configured to: identify at least one design criteria; obtain boundary sets of frequency domain parameters for compliant signal channels known to achieve the design criteria; and verify whether a particular signal channel is compliant by comparing values of frequency domain parameters for the particular channel to one or more of the boundary sets of frequency domain parameters for the known compliant channels. |
| US09638748B2 |
Tray loading system for electronic components
A tray loading system for tested electronic components including a tray loading bin adapted to prevent trays of a first configuration from being operably received in a first bin operating mode and to operably receive trays of the first configuration in a second bin operating mode. The system also includes an operating mode switching assembly adapted to automatically change from the second operating mode to the first operating mode in response to an operation associated with removal of loaded trays of the first configuration from the tray loading bin. |
| US09638747B2 |
Placing integrated circuit devices using perturbation
Placing integrated circuit devices using a perturbation is described. In one example, a testing platform has a circuit board. A socket is on the board for receiving and connecting to an integrated circuit package. The socket has an array of pins to engage connection bumps on a surface of the package and a biasing feature to guide the package into alignment with the pins of the socket. A perturbation source induces movement of the package into alignment with the pins of the socket. |
| US09638745B2 |
Wafer mounting method and wafer inspection device
Disclosed is a method for mounting a wafer on a probe card. In the wafer mounting method, an extendable tubular member is placed to surround the probe card, the wafer is placed on a chuck top, the chuck top is supported by a movable stage, and the stage is moved toward the probe card together with the wafer and the chuck top to bring the chuck top into contact with the tubular member. After the chuck top is in contact with the tubular member, the stage is moved toward the probe card together with the wafer and the chuck top to bring the wafer into contact with the probe card and maintain a positional relationship of the stage, the wafer, and the chuck top. After the wafer is in contact with the probe card, a space surrounded by the chuck top, the tubular member, and the probe card is evacuated. |
| US09638744B2 |
Integrated circuit device, safety circuit, safety-critical system and method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device
An integrated circuit device comprises a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit wherein the first and second integrated circuits are comprised on a single semiconductor die. The second integrated circuit is a safety circuit arranged to monitor the operation of the first integrated circuit, report any detected faults and drive the device into a failsafe state if a fault is detected. The first integrated circuit may be a power management module for a safety critical system. An isolation barrier in the form of a trench is formed between the two integrated circuits so that the safety circuit is protected from any high voltage or thermal stresses arising in the first integrated circuit. The device has particular application to automotive safety-critical systems such as electric power steering systems. |
| US09638743B2 |
State-dependent capacitance estimation
Techniques for estimating state-dependent capacitance of a circuit are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for determining a circuit state for a circuit comprises determining a capacitance of the circuit for each one of a plurality of circuit states, and selecting one of the circuit states based on the determined capacitances. |
| US09638739B2 |
Defect coordinates measurement device, defect coordinates measurement method, mask manufacturing method, and reference mask
A defect coordinates measurement method includes a step of detecting detected coordinates of a fiducial mark and a defect of a mask blank placed on support pins, a step of detecting detected coordinates of the alignment mark of a reference mask placed on the support pins, a step of extracting a reference mark near the detected coordinates of the defect among the plurality of reference marks based on the detected coordinates of the defect of the mask blank and the alignment mark of the reference mask, a step of detecting detected coordinates of the extracted reference mark, and a step of calculating coordinates of the defect based on the detected coordinates of the reference mark and the detected coordinates of the defect. |
| US09638736B2 |
DC level detection circuit between high speed signal line connecting ports, a system including the circuit, and methods of making and using the same
A DC level detection circuit between high speed signal line connecting ports and a system using the same in optical communications is disclosed. Corresponding ports of a high speed signal line each have an additional resistor, where one additional resistor has a resistance significantly greater than that of the other resistor. The smaller resistor is grounded. The larger resistor is connected to a DC voltage source, a low pass filter, and a signal detection port. Thus, when both ports of the high speed signal line are connected, a status of the electrical level detected at the signal detection port changes. The circuit detects the connection state of the high speed signal line without negative effects on signal transmission and is applicable to various circuits, especially plug-in modules and corresponding slots. Thus, the circuit further enables signal port multifunctionality, increases module installation accuracy, and provides higher compatibility for plug-in modules. |
| US09638733B2 |
Computing device and methods of detecting thermal hotspots in a power distribution system
A method of detecting thermal hotspots in a power distribution system is provided. The power distribution system includes a conductive hub including a connection point for coupling to an electrical distribution component. The method includes measuring a first temperature of the conductive hub at the connection point, estimating a second temperature of the conductive hub at the connection point, and determining when a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The estimation based at least partially on an amount of electric current flowing through the conductive hub. |
| US09638732B2 |
Method and circuit for assessing pulse-width-modulated signals
A method of assessing a pulse-width-modulated signal in which the pulse-width-modulated signal to be assessed is applied to a first input of a microcontroller and a signal, that depends on the pulse-width-modulated signal being assessed, is applied to a second input of the microcontroller for assessment. The pulse-width-modulated signal being assessed is applied to a voltage divider to produce the signal that depends on the same. For the pulse-width-modulated signal to be assessed and for the signal that depends on the same, in each case, the microcontroller determines a time interval between signal edges of the respective signal, and the signal is assessed on the basis of a difference between the time interval between the signal edges in the pulse-width-modulated signal to be assessed and the time interval between the signal edges in the signal that depends on the same. |
| US09638731B2 |
Capacitive touch keyboard
A capacitive touch keyboard includes a shielding layer, a intermediate layer, and a one-dimensional sensor layer where the soft intermediate layer is interposed between the other two to form a capacitor structure. The shielding layer includes a ground plane, and plural first key areas at its outer surface. The one-dimensional sensor layer includes plural sensing cells and plural second key areas where the first key areas correspond to the second key areas, and respective cells are electrically connected to a sensing circuit. Therefore, features of more compact size, simplified structure design, and tactile feel are provided in a capacitive keyboard. |
| US09638730B2 |
Demand target display device
The conventional demand target display device based on time information differing from the information used by electric power companies and electric power consumers causes a divergence regarding their demand values. Therefore, a demand target display device with a dual-purpose scale, which acquires AC signals based on the AC waveform of AC power from a power supply line, generates time information based on the acquired AC signals, transmits the generated time information via radio waves within a housing, receives the transmitted time information via radio waves within the housing, indicates the time on the dual-purpose scale based on the received information, acquires electrical energy consumption within a segment for a given target demand value including the current time, and indicates the relationship between the acquired electrical energy consumption within a segment recorded and a target demand value set for such segment, is proposed. |
| US09638729B2 |
Analysis apparatus and analysis method
Provided are an analysis apparatus and an analysis method which are capable of recognizing a local state change of an internal structure of a secondary battery. The analysis apparatus includes: an observation cell that houses a secondary battery; a charging and discharging controller that controls charging and discharging of the secondary battery; an image pickup device that captures color images of the secondary battery at a predetermined time interval; and a charging and discharging data detection unit that acquires charging and discharging data on the secondary battery during charging and discharging. Color image signals output from the image pickup device and charging and discharging data signals output from the charging and discharging data detection unit are supplied to a signal processing device. The signal processing device outputs a unit that temporally links time-series color image signals and time-series charging and discharging data signals, and designated analysis data. |
| US09638727B2 |
Power inductor and method for implementing shunting measurement through inductor winding
Disclosed is a power inductor. The inductor comprises a magnetic core and multiple lines. The multiple lines have a first terminal and a second terminal, are parallel with each other, and wind the magnetic core to form a winding. The lines at the first terminal depart from the magnetic core at the same position, and the lines at the second terminal depart from the magnetic core at the same position. At least one line at the first terminal forms a first interface end, the other lines at the first terminal, which are not utilized to form the first interface end, form a second interface end, and the lines at the second terminal together form a third interface end. By measuring the current flowing through the first interface end using a current sensor with a small measuring range, the current flowing through the power inductor can be estimated based on ratio. |
| US09638726B2 |
System and method for detecting branch circuit current
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a system monitor for a load center comprising a current sensor configured to be coupled to a circuit branch within the load center and to produce a measurement signal having a level related to a current level of the circuit branch, a sensor circuit coupled to the current sensor and removably coupled to a terminal, the sensor circuit configured to provide the measurement signal to the terminal, and a controller coupled to the terminal and configured to monitor signals at the terminal, wherein the controller is further configured to detect disconnection of the current sensor from the terminal based on a signal level at the terminal. |
| US09638714B2 |
On-center electrically conductive pins for integrated testing
A structure and method for providing a contact pin between a device under test (DUT) and a load board which provides upper and lower contact point which are axial aligned is disclosed. The pin has an upper (30) and lower (32) section and a hinge in between which allow flex of both upper and lower contact (24/26) which, but the axial alignment can provide a direct replacement for POGO pins but with greater reliability. It also includes a structure and method for removing upper pins 230 by use of a modified hinge 244a. In an alternate embodiment, the lower section includes a leg extension 320 and a sliding contact land 360 which slides against an aperture in the housing. A spacer 342 provides space for decoupling components on the load board. The hinge may include a truncated cylinder 40b which is configured to permit remove of the upper pin without removal of the lower. |
| US09638711B2 |
Method and system for discerning a false positive in a fall detection signal
Methods reduce the likelihood of an MPERS device falsely reporting a high acceleration event as a fall impact. The device stores acceleration data acquired before the high acceleration and afterward. If a number of samples of magnitude values from accelerometer sensors in the device acquired during as interval before the high acceleration that approach 0G exceeds a predetermined number, the high acceleration is deemed from a non-fall. Acceleration sensors can also indicate an orientation change before/after the high acceleration, and a barometric pressure sensor can do the same, to further characterize an event as a non-fall. A method compares current event data to composite data sets that have been determined from a plurality of empirically derived data sets of fall and non-fall events. High correlations can indicate falls, or non-falls, respectively. Further statistical analysis of data acquired after an event reduces the likelihood of falsely indicating a fall. |
| US09638707B2 |
Methods of processing samples
Processing containers include a first member having a substantially rigid body with a plurality of regions defining spaced apart workstations and a flexible barrier member sealably attached to the first member to define a closed chamber over the plurality of workstations. The flexible barrier is substantially impermeable and includes or is a manipulation tool that is sealably attached to the barrier. The manipulation tool has a first internal interface that resides in the closed chamber under the flexible barrier and a second external interface that resides outside the closed chamber. The processing containers are particularly suitable for automated processing of nucleic acids and other samples. The manipulation tool can cooperate with or include a pipette head. When the barrier is sealed, the barrier separates the contents of the container from a robotic arm or other manipulation device. |
| US09638706B2 |
Standard solution for use in analysis of amino acid in plasma
An external standard solution for use in the analysis of amino acid in plasma, containing,(1) at least one amino acid selected from the following components A, at a concentration of 0.0007 M to 0.49 M, and (2) (i) at least one amino acid selected from the following components B, at a concentration of 0.2 to 0.9 times of the lowest-concentration amino acid among the amino acids selected from components A, (ii) at least one amino acid selected from the following components C, at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.4 times of the lowest-concentration amino acid among amino acids selected from the components A, or (iii) at least one amino acid selected from the following components D, at a concentration of 0.05 to 0.2 times of the lowest-concentration amino acid among amino acids selected from the components A; [Components A] valine, glycine, alanine and glutamine [Components B] serine, proline, threonine, taurine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, histidine, phenylalanine and tyrosine [Components C] asparagine, ornithine, arginine and tryptophan [Components D] glutamic acid, methionine, citrulline and cystine. |
| US09638705B2 |
Prognostic assays for maintenance hemodialysis patients
Described herein are methods for determining the overall survival of maintenance hemodialysis patients. The methods include measuring low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size and subfraction concentrations as prognostic tools for early mortality risk detection. For example, the presence of increased very small LDL concentration or decreased LDL particle size in blood-serum serves as a useful means for prognostic risk assessment and monitoring. |
| US09638700B2 |
NT-pro ANP and SFlt-1 for the differentiation between circulatory and ischemic events
The present disclosure relates to the field of laboratory diagnostics. The present disclosure provides means and methods for differentiating between an acute circulatory event and an ischemic event, as the cause underlying an acute medical event of a patient. |
| US09638699B2 |
Biomarkers of oxidative stress
The present invention relates to a method for detecting cardiovascular oxidative stress in an individual, comprising detecting in a blood sample from the individual modification of a cysteine at position 45 of the β1-subunit of the human erythrocyte ATP-dependent Na+K+ pump protein or of an equivalent cysteine in a homolog or variant thereof. The invention further relates to a kit for detecting cardiovascular oxidative stress in an individual, the kit comprising at least one agent for detecting the presence of a modification in a cysteine at position 45 of the β1-subunit of the human erythrocyte ATP-dependent Na+K+ pump protein or of an equivalent cysteine in a homolog or variant thereof, wherein said modification is a result of oxidation. |
| US09638698B2 |
Embossed cell analyte sensor and methods of manufacture
An analyte measurement system is provided having sensors with embossed test chamber channels. In one embodiment, the sensors are elongate test strips for in vitro testing, each test strip having a substrate, at least one electrode, an embossed channel in the electrode, and lidding tape covering at least a portion of the embossed channel. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed for filling the sensor channels with reagent, and for trimming the ends of the sensors to eliminate the need for a calibration code during use of the sensors with a meter. |
| US09638697B2 |
Monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing asparagine synthetase
It is an object of the present invention to provide a monoclonal antibody, which is suitable for the quantitative analysis of asparagine synthetase in a cell. The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody which specifically recognizes asparagine synthetase that is present in a cell. |
| US09638695B2 |
Noninvasive detection of lung cancer using exhaled breath
A non-invasive method of detecting or screening for lung cancer in a subject specimen is provided. The method includes detecting elevated levels of one or more carbonyl-containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are biomarkers for lung cancer in exhaled breath from the subject specimen. The method may further include obtaining exhaled breath from the subject specimen; forming adducts of the carbonyl-containing VOCs with a reactive chemical compound; quantifying the adducts of the carbonyl-containing VOCs to establish a subject value for each of the adducts; and comparing each subject value to a threshold healthy specimen value for each of the adducts of the carbonyl-containing VOCs. One or more subject values at quantities greater than threshold healthy specimen values are also useful for screening for lung cancer in the subject specimen. |
| US09638692B2 |
Multiplex immuno screening assay
The present invention provides kits and assay methods for the early detection of pathogens, precise identification of the etiologic agent, and improved disease surveillance. More specifically, the present invention discloses an immunoassay leading to the rapid and simultaneous detection of antibodies to a wide range of infectious pathogens in biological fluids of infected patients. This immunoassay involves the covalent and oriented coupling of fusion proteins comprising an AGT enzyme and a viral antigen on an identifiable solid support (e.g. fluorescent microspheres), said support being previously coated with an AGT substrate. This coupling is mediated by the irreversible reaction of the AGT enzyme on its substrate. The thus obtained antigen-coupled microspheres show enhanced capture of specific antibodies as compared to antigen-coupled microspheres produced by standard amine coupling procedures. The methods of the invention possess the ability to multiplex, minimize the amount of biological sample, and have enhanced sensitivity and specificity toward target antibodies as compared with classical ELISA or Radio-Immunoprecipitation assays. |
| US09638685B2 |
Flow assay with at least one electrically-actuated fluid flow control valve and related methods
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to flow assays including at least one electrically-actuated valve configured to control fluid flow. Methods of operating such flow assays are also disclosed. |
| US09638681B2 |
Real-time compositional analysis of hydrocarbon based fluid samples
Accurate, real-time formation fluids analysis can be accomplished using the systems and techniques described herein. A fluid analyzer includes a first mode of analysis, such as an optical analyzer, configured to determine a physical (optical) property of a fluid sample. The fluid analyzer also includes another mode of analysis, such as a composition analyzer, such as a gas chromatograph, configured to determine a component composition of the fluid sample. A data processor is configured to determine a quantity, such as a weight percentage, of a target component of the fluid sample in response results obtained from the first and second modes of analysis. Beneficially, the results are obtained at least in near real-time, allowing for interim results, such as results from the first analyzer to be used for one or more of tuning the compositional analyzer and for implementing quality control. |
| US09638679B2 |
Methods for producing new packaging designs based on photoprotective materials
Methods and apparatus for quantification of photoprotective performance of packaging concepts in an accelerated timeframe are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a light source which provides a light beam that impinges upon a photoprotective material before being transmitted to a sample cell of a photosensitive entity, such as a photosensitive nutrient. In certain embodiments, the apparatus and methods can be used to generate models for the prediction of photoprotective performance values of untested materials based upon some other known qualitative or quantitative property. |
| US09638678B2 |
System and method for crop health monitoring
A method for monitoring crop health of a geographic region includes receiving an image comprising a set of image elements, the image corresponding to a time unit, mapping an image element of the set of image elements to a geographic sub-region of the geographic region, determining a geographic region performance value for the image element, determining a geographic region performance value change, and identifying a crop health anomaly based on the geographic region performance change and an expected geographic region performance value change. Determining the geographic region performance value for the image element can include determining a vegetative performance value for the image element, mapping the image element to a crop type, and normalizing the vegetative performance value. |
| US09638677B2 |
Chromatograph mass spectrometer
When setting analysis conditions, an analysis operator sets, on a dwell-time calculation/loop-time listing window, the target value of a loop time corresponding to the measurement-time interval to repeat an analysis for one ion, and clicks a dwell time calculation button. Then, a dwell time calculator computes the dwell time for each event, based on the target value of the loop time, the arrangement of events set at that point in time, the number of target ion species set in each event, and other conditional factors. The calculated result is displayed in a dwell time calculation result display field in a listing table. The largest and smallest values of the dwell time are displayed in the largest/smallest dwell time display field. The analysis operator checks this display and changes the target value of the loop time and/or the measurement time of the event so as to achieve an appropriate dwell time. |
| US09638664B2 |
Method of analyzing a material
A method of material analysis, including; placing an electrode in proximity to the material; applying a voltage signal to generate plasma, preferably Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Air, between the material and the electrode; moving the electrode relative to the surface; monitoring an electrical signal associated with the microdischarge; and detecting a change in a physical characteristic of the material through variation in the monitored signal. |
| US09638662B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for manipulating droplets
Apparatuses and methods for manipulating droplets are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for manipulating droplets is provided, the apparatus including a substrate, multiple arrays of electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein corresponding electrodes in each array are connected to a common electrical signal, and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate first side surface and patterned to cover the electrodes. |
| US09638661B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a flow of particles by way of a through-hole
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for generating an electric or pressure difference force that induces a plurality of particles to flow through a through-hole. Independently adjustable heat source in a vicinity of the through-hole induces a thermodynamic force for modifying the flow of the plurality of particles through the through-hole. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09638653B2 |
Highly selective chemical and biological sensors
Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. Each sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) sensor that is coated with a sensing material. In order to collect data, an impedance spectrum is acquired over a relatively narrow frequency range, such as the resonant frequency range of the LCR circuit. A multivariate signature may be calculated from the acquired spectrum to discern the presence of certain fluids and/or fluid mixtures. The presence of fluids is detected by measuring the changes in dielectric, dimensional, resistance, charge transfer, and other changes in the properties of the materials employed by observing the changes in the resonant electronic properties of the circuit. By using a mathematical procedure, such as principal components analysis (PCA) and others, multiple fluids and mixtures can be detected in the presence of one another, even in a high humidity environment or an environment wherein one or more fluids has a substantially higher concentration (e.g. 10×, 1,000,000×) compared to other components in the mixture. |
| US09638645B2 |
Deterioration analysis method
The present invention provides deterioration analysis method which allows a detailed analysis of deterioration, especially deterioration of surface conditions, of a polymer material. The present invention relates to a deterioration analysis method, including irradiating a polymer material with high intensity X-rays, and measuring X-ray absorption while varying the energy of the X-rays, to analyze deterioration of the polymer. |
| US09638644B2 |
Multiple mode inspection system and method for evaluating a substrate by a multiple mode inspection system
A multiple mode evaluation system that includes a multiple mode imager that is arranged to perform a single scan of a substrate while alternating between different optical modes thereby producing different sets of images of areas of the substrate, each set of images being associated with a single optical mode of image acquisition; wherein the different optical modes differ from each other by at least one optical characteristic. |
| US09638643B2 |
Particulate contamination measurement method and apparatus
A particulate contamination measurement method and apparatus are discussed. The method, for example, comprises pressing a measurement surface (5) of a polyurethane elastomer (2) against a surface (7) to be measured, removing the polyurethane elastomer from the surface without leaving residues, then using an optical apparatus (11) to detect particles (8) which have been removed by the polyurethane elastomer from the surface and which have become attached to the polyurethane elastomer. |
| US09638641B2 |
Inspection system and inspection illumination device
In order to provide an inspection illumination device that makes it possible to greatly change a light amount within an observation solid angle of an imaging device even in a case where a change in reflection or scattering taking place at a feature point is subtle, and thus detect such a minute feature point, the inspection illumination device includes: a surface light source that emits inspection light; a lens that is arranged between the surface light source and an inspection object, and provides an image of the surface light source near the inspection object; and a first light shielding mask that is arranged between the surface light source and the inspection object, and forms a dark domain within an illumination solid angle of the inspection light applied to each point on the inspection object. |
| US09638636B2 |
Microsieve diagnostic device in the isolation and analysis of single cells
A micro well plate is described for capturing and distributing single cells in individual wells is described, wherein at least one individual well is provided with a bottom plate having at least one pore to pass sample liquid, such that if one object or cell of interest is collected on the bottom plate of the well, the sample flow rate through that particular well is significantly reduced, minimizing the possibility that multiple cells or objects of interest entering the same well. The presented invention is particularly suited for obtaining single cells and/or microorganisms suspended in fluid samples for subsequent detailed interrogation. |
| US09638635B2 |
Spectrometer for analysing the spectrum of a light beam
A spectrometer (100) for analyzing the spectrum of an upstream light beam (1), includes an entrance slit (101) and collimating elements (110) suitable for generating, from the upstream light beam, a collimated light beam (10), characterized in that it also includes: a polarization-dependent diffraction grating (120) suitable for diffracting, at each wavelength (11, 12) of the spectrum of the upstream light beam, the collimated light beam into a first diffracted light beam (11, 12) and a second diffracted light beam (21, 22); optical recombining elements (130) including a planar optical reflecting surface (130) perpendicular to the grating and suitable for deviating at least the second diffracted light beam; and focussing elements (140) suitable for focussing, at each wavelength, the first diffracted light beam and the second diffracted light beam onto one and the same focussing area (141). |
| US09638631B2 |
Species spatial reconstruction for exhaust system using spectroscopy and tomography
A system for species concentration spatial reconstruction for an exhaust system includes an emitter, a detector, and a controller. The emitter is coupled to a first portion of the exhaust system and tuned to a specific wavelength of a species to be measured. The detector is coupled to a second portion of the exhaust system opposite to the first portion such that the detector is positioned to detect a beam attenuation of a beam from the emitter. The controller is configured to receive a plurality of beam attenuation measurements from the detector and to generate a cross-sectional species concentration map based on the plurality of beam attenuation measurements. |
| US09638629B2 |
Mass analysis data analyzing method and apparatus
A method and apparatus for estimating the structure of an unidentified substance produced from an original substance having a known structural formula through partial structural change caused by metabolism or the like. A mass difference between a product ion, originating from the unidentified substance and having a partial structure including a structural change site, and a product ion, originating from the original substance and having a partial structure prior to the structural change, is equal to the mass difference between the original substance and the unidentified substance. Therefore, when pairs of product ions each having such a mass difference are selected to be compared with partial structures obtained from the known structural formula of the original substance, a minimum common partial structure having the structural change site is obtained. |
| US09638628B2 |
Gas analysis system and method
A gas analysis system and method filter different wavelengths of incident light using a variable light filter at different locations along a length of the variable light filter to form filtered light. The variable light filter is configured to be disposed between a light source generating plural different wavelengths of the incident light and a gas sample. Intensities of wavelengths of the filtered light are determined after the incident light generated by the light source passes through the variable light filter and the gas sample. The gas sample may be identified from among different potential gasses based on the intensity of the one or more wavelengths of the filtered light that is determined by the light detector. |
| US09638618B2 |
Online measuring assembly of the rheological properties of a drilling fluid and associated measuring method
This assembly includes a measuring device (50) including a container (60) and an insert (62) arranged in the container (60). The measuring device (50) includes a means (68) for driving the container (60) in rotation around a central axis, the container (60) and the insert (62) defining an intermediate space (64) between them for measuring the drilling fluid. The assembly includes a control and measurement unit (58), capable of recording information representative of the force applied by the drilling fluid on the insert (62) during the rotation of the container (60). The assembly includes an intake pipe (84) for bringing drilling fluid to be measured into the intermediate space (94) and a pump (82), comprising an inlet connected to a sampling head (80) and an outlet connected to the intake pipe (84) to pump the drilling fluid towards the intermediate space (64). |
| US09638617B2 |
MEMS-microviscometer
Micro-electromechanical device for measuring the viscosity of a fluid, comprises a measuring chamber with a micromechanical actuator, arranged as a cantilever above a metallically conductive counter electrode, elastically deformable towards the counter electrode, surrounded by the fluid to be measured and made of a metallically conductive material, a two-terminal RF voltage source that can be switched off, having a first output terminal connected to the actuator, and a second output terminal connected to the counter electrode, and which is designed to output an RF voltage signal that is suitable for deflecting the actuator out of its rest position, and a measuring device to detect a change in the frequency, amplitude or phase of the RF signal in order to determine a measurement value for the viscosity-dependent speed at which the actuator is deformed. |
| US09638614B2 |
Measuring tape abrasivity and wear of a tape head-type structure
Embodiments of the present invention relate to wear measurement. A system according to one embodiment includes a transport mechanism for running a tape across a wear structure and a measuring device for optically measuring an extent of wear of the wear structure. A method according to one embodiment includes positioning a tape across a wear structure, optically determining a first position of a back of the tape relative to a measuring device using the measuring device, running the tape across the wear structure for a period of time, optically determining a second position of the back of the tape relative to the measuring device using the measuring device after the period of time, and determining a difference between the first and second positions. |
| US09638610B2 |
Sample processing apparatus
Disclosed is a sample processing apparatus that comprises a rack with positions to hold sample tubes, the rack including a rack identification suited to a kind of sample tube, a rack set unit that accepts the rack in a detachable manner, a tube transfer unit with mechanical movement to grab and take out each sample tube from a rack held in the rack set unit, a rack detector comprising a sensor to detect the rack identification of the rack held in the rack set unit, and a controller that controls movement of the tube transfer unit based on a detection result of the rack detector. |
| US09638609B2 |
Apparatus for providing sample gas and related methods
An apparatus for providing a sample gas includes a gas dosing part, a first pressure gauge for measuring a pressure of a sample gas dosed through the gas dosing part, a plurality of flow lines positioned between the gas dosing part and a gas analyzer that can be opened or closed according to the pressure measured by the first pressure gauge, a plurality of control valves respectively formed in the plurality of flow lines and controlling the plurality of flow lines to be opened or closed, a bypass line formed on at least one of the plurality of flow lines and exhausting some of the sample gas flowing along the flow lines, and a controller for selecting one of the plurality of flow lines according to the pressure measured by the first pressure gauge and controlling the control valves formed in the selected flow line. |
| US09638607B1 |
Portable physical phase stratification and separator
A portable physical phase stratification and separator device that includes a “U”-shaped frame connected to a fluid sump having a tank with an inlet port is disclosed. The inlet port is connected to a calibrated sampling column having a graduated cylinder by a gate valve. Above the sampling column is a vacuum port that selectively applies a vacuum to draw a fluid sample from a reservoir. The vacuum can be supplied by an external vacuum pump or by an internal venturi pump. The drawn fluid sample is directed into the cylinder where it separates. A sample of the drawn fluid can be extracted for external analysis. Various valves and fittings route pressures and vacuums and fluid sample as required around and out the portable physical phase stratification and separator device. |
| US09638599B2 |
Circuit carrier for a sensor unit and corresponding sensor unit
A circuit carrier for a sensor unit comprises a first interface via which at least one electrical output signal is tapped at least at one connection point of a measuring cell, a second interface via which the at least one electrical output signal of the measuring cell is applied via at least one first contact element to a circuit board with an electronic circuit, and a hollow, cylindrical main body. The main body includes an inner joining geometry defined on an inner contour which defines at least in part the first interface, an outer joining geometry which defines at least in part the second interface, and configured to electrically connect to a connection point of the measuring cell in a force-free manner. The outer joining geometry is configured as a receiving pocket with a protruding collar, and includes the at least one first contact element. |
| US09638598B2 |
Capacitive pressure transducer for measuring the pressure of a medium adjacent to the measuring cell
The invention relates to a capacitive pressure transducer for measuring the pressure of a medium adjacent to the pressure transducer, which has a resilient measuring diaphragm, of which the first side is at least partially in contact with the medium and of which the second side, which faces away from the medium, comprises a measuring electrode and, for measuring a temperature, a resistance element made of a material having a temperature dependent resistance. Furthermore, the pressure transducer has a base body, which is arranged to oppose the second side of the measuring diaphragm, with a counter electrode, which forms a measuring capacitance with the measuring electrode. According to the invention, the resistance element is formed as a resistive layer disposed between the second side of the measuring diaphragm and the measuring electrode. |
| US09638597B2 |
Differential pressure sensor assembly
A differential pressure sensor assembly includes a transducer having a first sensing surface and a second sensing surface. The second sensing surface is contained in a cavity. An Integrated Circuit (IC) is hermetically coupled to the transducer. The IC has a first aperture aligned to the cavity. A lead frame is coupled to the IC. The lead frame has a second aperture aligned to the first aperture of the IC. A package encapsulates the transducer, the IC and the lead frame. The package has a third aperture exposed to the first sensing surface. The package includes a molding compound providing a hermetic seal between the third aperture of the package and the first aperture of the IC. The molding compound is separated from the transducer by an encroachment distance. |
| US09638594B2 |
Displacement detection type six-axis force sensor
A six-axis force sensor including a fixed part; a first movable part; a first connecting part connecting the first movable part to the fixed part in an elastically displaceable manner; a second movable part; a second connecting part connecting the second movable part to the first movable part in an elastically displaceable manner; a first detecting section detecting a displacement of the first movable part relative to the fixed part; and a second detecting section detecting a displacement of the second movable part relative to the first movable part. The six-axis force sensor enables, in a three-axis rectangular coordinate system, a detection of force components in first axis, second axis and third axis directions, and moment components about the first axis, the second axis and the third axis, of a force applied to the second movable part, with reference to detection values of the first and second detecting sections. |
| US09638593B2 |
Sinkhole detection systems and methods
A sinkhole formation detection system includes tension members associated with sensors. The tension members are arranged in a horizontal grid in an overburden, and each of the tension members is under a longitudinal tension. The sensors are each for generating outputs in response to changes in the longitudinal tension of one of the tension members in response to a vertical displacement of the overburden. |
| US09638592B2 |
Differential motion sensor
A differential motion sensor includes a base and a cradle. The base includes a first surface that extends along a first axis to define a length and a second axis to define a width. The base further includes at least one hinge that pivots about a rotational axis extending along the first axis. The cradle is pivotably coupled to the at least one hinge and is configured to move in the direction of the second axis when pivoting about the hinge. The differential motion sensor is configured to operate in a first mode when the cradle is aligned with the base and a second mode when the cradle is pivotably displaced with respect to the base. |
| US09638591B1 |
Display area force sensing using Bragg grating based wave guide sensors
An electronic device includes an input surface area for receiving a force applied by a user and one or more optical waveguides that include Bragg gratings. The optical waveguide or waveguides is operatively affixed to the input surface area. At least one light source is optically coupled to the optical waveguide or waveguides. At least one wavelength interrogator is coupled to the optical waveguide or waveguides. |
| US09638584B2 |
Differential temperature sensor with sensitivity set by current-mirror and resistor ratios without limiting DC bias
A differential on-chip temperature sensor circuit can be implemented in a standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process using PNP transistors. A pair of transistors have collector currents that are sensitive to voltage, both directly and due to saturation currents. A scaling resistor connects to the emitter of one transistor and its voltage compared to the other transistor's emitter voltage by an error amplifier that generates a bias voltage to current sources that are proportional to absolute temperature since the saturation current sensitivity is subtracted out. The current is mirrored to sink current through a multiplier resistor from an output. An amplifier connected across the multiplier resistor compares a reference voltage to set the DC bias independent of temperature sensitivity. The temperature sensitivity is proportional to the ratio of the multiplier resistor and the scaling resistor, and is multiplied by a mirroring factor. A differential output is provided. |
| US09638583B2 |
Virtual data center environmental monitoring system
A virtual temperature monitoring system in a data center communicates with servers mounted in racks to receive internal temperature data generated by internal temperature sensors of the servers. The system derives a virtual sensor measurement of external temperatures external to the server, including a portion of a cold aisle that extends proximate to a rack in which the server is mounted, based upon a relationship between the received internal temperature sensors and the external environment. Sensor data from other sensors can be received via a building management system, and building management signals to the building management system can be generated based at least partially on the virtual sensor data. The virtual sensor data can be used to generate a graphical representation of the servers that highlights relative thermal characteristics of the servers based on the virtual external sensor measurements, including heat indices, excursions beyond thresholds, historical excursion histories, etc. |
| US09638577B2 |
Spectrometer comprising a plurality of diffraction gratings
A spectrometer including: a spectral dispersion mechanism of an initial light beam; and a photodetector. The spectral dispersion mechanism includes at least three reflective diffraction gratings parallel to consecutive sides of a convex polygon, arranged such that a portion of the initial light beam is diffracted once by each diffraction grating in turn and is diffracted at least a second time by at least one of the diffraction gratings. |
| US09638576B2 |
Infrared-sensor filter member, manufacturing method thereof, infrared sensor, and manufacturing method thereof
An infrared-sensor filter member includes an optical filter disposed in an opening portion of a second member and a first member. The infrared-sensor filter member includes a recess portion formed from a light-incident surface of the optical filter and the first member. At least a part of a bottom surface of the recess portion is formed by the light-incident surface and side walls of the recess portion, which are formed by the first member. |
| US09638573B2 |
Method and apparatus for image scanning
A method of estimating an in-focus level of a target in an image scanning apparatus is provided, wherein the image scanning apparatus comprises a first line scan detector configured to obtain one or more image scan lines of the target and a second line scan detector configured to obtain one or more focus scan lines of the target. The method comprises obtaining at least one image scan line of the target using the first line scan detector, each at least one image scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; obtaining at least one focus scan line of the target using the second line scan detector, each at least one focus scan line being obtained at a respective focus level; calculating at least one focus parameter using at least one focus scan line; and estimating a nominal in-focus level of the target using the calculated focus parameter(s). |
| US09638571B2 |
Guide unit for measurement and micro-weight measuring system using same
The present invention relates to a guide unit for measurement acting as a guide for measuring the micro-weight of fine grains having minute weight and volume, such as powders, granules, seeds and pills, and to a micro-weight measuring system for accurately measuring the fine grains by a preset micro-weight by using the guide unit for measurement. The present invention has an effect of being capable of measuring the micro-weight as a unit to thereby package fine grains such as powders, granules, seeds and pills by micro-weight unit. In addition, the present invention has an effect of being capable of accurately measuring the fine grains by the preset micro-weight in such a manner that in the procedure of discharging a one-unit-micro-weight of the fine grains, some of the fine grains are discharged at a smaller amount than the initially-discharged amount and are finally discharged by dropping. |
| US09638570B2 |
Calibration method for capacitance level sensing apparatus and anti-interference method for plural capacitance level sensing apparatuses
A calibration method for a capacitance level sensing apparatus (10) is applied for a tank measurement. A measurement signal generating circuit (102) generates a measurement signal (104) to proceed with the tank measurement. According to a measurement result measured through the measurement signal (104), a sensing circuit (108) transmits a sensing signal (110) to a control unit (112). According to the sensing signal (110), the control unit (112) determines whether the sensing signal (110) is in an effective range or not. If the sensing signal (110) is in the effective range, the control unit (112) sets a total capacitance in accordance with the sensing signal (110) as a measurement base value. If the sensing signal (110) is not in the effective range, the control unit (112) controls the measurement signal generating circuit (102) to adjust a measurement frequency of the measurement signal (104). |
| US09638569B2 |
Liquid level detector
A liquid level detector may comprise an arm attached to a float, a holder fixed to the arm, and a body rotatably supporting the holder. The body may comprise a first rotation regulator and a second rotation regulator. The first rotation regulator may regulate a rotation angle range of the arm to a first range. The second rotation regulator may regulate the rotation angle range of the arm to a second range. The first range and the second range may not overlap each other in a rotation direction of the arm. Each of the plurality of rotation regulators may comprise a pair of stoppers disposed separately from each other in the rotation direction of the arm. At least a part of area between the pair of stoppers of the each of the plurality of rotation regulators may be open to outside of the body. |
| US09638568B2 |
Weight apparatus for a waveguide, probe apparatus, and method for manufacturing a weight apparatus
A weight apparatus for a waveguide has a wave resistance. The weight apparatus includes a weight body having a fixing device. The fixing device is adapted to fix the weight body to the waveguide and has a wave resistance which is substantially adapted to the wave resistance of the waveguide. |
| US09638567B2 |
Radar level gauge with foldable probe
The present invention relates to a guided wave radar level gauge for determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank, said guided wave radar level gauge i.a. comprising a probe comprising a plurality of elongate probe sections each being pivotably connected to an adjacent probe section by means of a joint, said joint allowing probe sections to pivot between an operating state where said probe sections are substantially aligned along a straight line, and a transporting state. The present invention also relates to a probe, and to a method for arranging a guided wave radar level gauge in a tank. |
| US09638564B2 |
Dose measurement system and method
Embodiments described herein generally relate to devices, systems and methods for measuring the dose remaining in a drug delivery device that is used for delivering a dose to a patient. In some embodiments, a dose measurement system for measuring the liquid volume in a container includes a plurality of light sources which are disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the container. A plurality of sensors are located in the apparatus that are optically coupleable to the plurality of light sources and are disposed and configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least a portion of the light sources. The apparatus also includes a processing unit configured to receive data representing the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors. The processing unit is further operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors. |
| US09638563B2 |
Device for powdered products
The present invention relates to a device (1) having a tubular shape, comprising a body (2) and at least two extremities (3a, 3b), wherein at least one of these extremities (3a, 3b) has a V-shape (4) and comprises an opening (5) forming an ellipse (6), and wherein the angle α between i) the central and longitudinal axis (7) of the device (1) and ii) the tangential line (8) formed by said V-shape (4) is lower than 10°. |
| US09638562B2 |
Fluid measurement device
A fluid measurement or control device has an outer housing with a corner portion cut out, in which an electric line connection is located and which optionally can be closed with a lid. |
| US09638560B2 |
Calibration method and flow rate measurement method for flow rate controller for gas supply device
In a gas supply device supplying many different gases to a gas use portion through many flow rate controllers, a flow rate controller calibration unit includes a build-up tank with inner volume, an inlet side on-off valve and an outlet side on-off valve V2 of the tank, and a gas pressure detector and a gas temperature detector for gas inside the tank, joined in a branched form to a gas supply line, with the valve V2 connected to vacuum. The calibration unit is used to calibrate a flow rate controller based on performing a first measurement of gas temperature and pressure inside the tank, and then building-up gas into the tank, and then performing a second measurement of gas temperature and pressure, and from respective measured values, calculating gas flow rate Q and by comparing a set gas flow rate and calculated gas flow rate Q, performing flow rate calibration. |
| US09638558B2 |
In situ spacing-correcting heat pulse sensor and method for measuring sap flow or water flux
In situ spacing-correcting heat pulse sensor for measuring sap flow or water flux includes: a holder; a temperature probe or two (sometimes there will be more than two) mounted on the holder; and a heating probe mounted on the holder; wherein two or three thermometric elements are provided axially in the same temperature probe, all the thermometric elements are connected to a data collector, a heating wire is mounted in the heating probe, and the heating wire is connected to a power supply. A measuring method thereof is also provided. In practice, by arranging at least two thermometric elements in each temperature probe, measurement errors of sap flow in plant or soil water flux caused by factors such as deflection of the temperature probe or the heating probe are reduced. Furthermore, the sensor is simple in structure, low in cost, convenient in utilization, and accurate in measurement. |
| US09638557B2 |
Ultrasonic flowmeter having an arithmetic operation unit for calculating propagation time correction value
A flow meter device includes: a first vibrator, a second vibrator, a control unit, a timekeeper, and an arithmetic operation unit. The arithmetic operation unit is configured to: determine whether or not a time difference between a propagation time in the forward direction and a propagation time in the reverse direction is less than a predetermined value; calculate a propagation time correction amount based on the time difference if it is determined that the time difference is less than the predetermined value; and calculate a flow rate of the fluid by using the propagation time correction amount. |
| US09638554B2 |
Strain gauge holder
The strain gauge holder 1 includes a holder body 10 on a side surface of a pipe 3, a gauge pressing member 21 for pressing a strain gauge 2 against the side surface of the pipe, and a feed mechanism for giving a pressing force to the gauge pressing member. The guide grooves 12 guide the gauge pressing members. The feed mechanism feeds the gauge pressing member in the guide groove to press the strain gauge 2 against the side surface of the pipe 3. The feed mechanism includes cylindrical portion 32a, bushing 32, and feed screw 31. Each of the feed screws 31 threadedly inserted into the bushing mounted on the holder body is threadedly inserted to feed the gauge pressing member. |
| US09638551B2 |
Pointing device and meter apparatus provided with the same
A pointing device includes a pointer having light guiding properties, a cap that is attached to the pointer and has light blocking properties, a pointing shaft that is vertically formed on a proximal end portion of the pointer, and a light blocking member. The light blocking member includes a cylindrical main body having both end portions for inserting the pointing shaft and a rotary shaft of a motor having light guiding properties respectively thereinto to prevent illuminating light propagating through the rotary shaft from a light source and entering the pointing shaft from leaking from an outer peripheral surface of the pointing shaft. |
| US09638550B2 |
Encoder and sensor system having plural sensors and encoder elements for determining relative positions
System for determining relative positions comprising an encoder having encoder elements, and a sensor unit having a first sensor and at least one second sensor. The sensor unit and the encoder are movable relative to one another and their position relative to one another is determinable by the system. The first sensor and second sensor have a sensor distance with respect to one another. The sensor furthermore has a component composed of a dimensionally stable and aging-resistant material having a coefficient of thermal expansion which, in terms of absolute value, is in a range of 0 to 5·10−6K−1. The sensor distance is determinable highly precisely by the component by virtue of the component serving for the positional fixing of the sensors or by virtue of the component having a scale with the aid of which the sensor distance can be measured. |
| US09638546B2 |
Corrosion resistant pressure transducer
A pressure transducer is disclosed wherein no wetted areas have been welded. A cavity is milled into the back of each of the blocks of a material which will make up the body of the transducer. Pickup coils are placed into these cavities and are held in place generally with epoxy cement. With the coils mounted within the sensor body, the surface which will be exposed to the sample or reference fluids is comprised of a single, solid material with no welding joints. Further, as the sensor block half is made of a single, solid material, fluid fitting connections may be machined directly into the body. The pickup coil placed within the improved sensor body may be wound on an open frame of nickel superalloy (NiSA). Another embodiment involves coating or encapsulating the sensing membrane within a soft, non-magnetic material protecting it from corrosion. |
| US09638545B2 |
Power management apparatus, power management system and power management method
In the present invention, a power monitoring unit (330) estimates the integral power consumption on the basis of an obtained actual value or amount of change of power consumption. When the estimated value for the integral power consumption as estimated by the power monitoring unit (330) reaches a prescribed amount of power, a presentation unit (204) presents a warning, on the basis of the power values obtained by a load power meter (340), indicating a list of loads for which the power consumption should be controlled. |
| US09638543B2 |
Rate-of-turn bias estimation for marine navigation
An example includes a method to estimate a bias affecting an inertial sensor. The method can include monitoring a plurality of rate-of-turn samples, from the inertial sensor, in a sequence over time, wherein each of the plurality of rate-of-turn samples includes substantially the same actual bias value that is included in each of the plurality of other rate-of-turn samples. The method can include estimating the bias as a weighted average of the plurality of rate-of-turn samples. The method can include determining an adjusted rate-of-turn sample by subtracting the bias from an instant rate-of-turn sample of the plurality of rate-of-turn samples. The method can include putting out the adjusted rate-of-turn. |
| US09638541B2 |
Method for calculating paths, method for obtaining paths as well as terminal for same
The present invention relates to a method for calculating trip paths determined by a departure point and a target point by using traffic information in a terminal. The method includes the steps of: requesting traffic information related to a trip from a server; receiving the traffic information related to the trip from the server; and calculating the paths by using the received traffic information, wherein the received traffic information includes traffic events corresponding to information on disturbances in the traffic flow in an area or the path related to the trip, and performance parameters corresponding to information on traffic flow in a road segment within a constant radius from the departure point, and wherein the performance parameters can be received from the server in the case where there is congestion heavier than a predetermined level within a constant radius from the departure point. |
| US09638539B2 |
Navigation methods and apparatus
A method of operating a navigation apparatus is provided. A calculated route is shown on a map display of the apparatus together with a current position indication. In one embodiment, a maximum map scale is determined which will result in a representation of the entire remainder of the route being shown within a visible map display area during travel along the route. In another embodiment, a map scale is set, and the map display is then controlled to maximize the amount of the remainder of the route which is shown within a visible map display area for the given map scale during travel along the route. |
| US09638535B2 |
Dynamic destination navigation system
The claimed subject matter provides a method for navigating to dynamic destinations. The method includes associating a leader mobile device with a follower mobile device. The method also includes displaying, on the follower mobile device, a first path from a follower vehicle to a first location of a leader vehicle. The follower vehicle is associated with the follower mobile device. The leader vehicle is associated with the leader mobile device. The method further includes displaying, on the follower mobile device, a second path from the follower vehicle to a second location of the leader vehicle. |
| US09638533B2 |
Geographic space management
At least one subsystem among the plurality of subsystems includes a managing section operable to manage individual event information for events occurring in a management target region of the at least one subsystem among the plurality of regions and adjacent event information for events occurring in a partial range from a boundary of the management target region among routes in an adjacent region that is adjacent to the management target region, and an event selecting section operable to select events about which the moving object is to be informed, from the individual event information and the adjacent event information managed by the at least one subsystem. Also provided is a method and computer program product. |
| US09638530B2 |
System and method for distribution of 3D sound
A method and system for distribution of 3D sound in a vehicle comprising two speakers arranged spaced apart in close vicinity of a head of a vehicle operator. The vehicle operator can look in multiple directions, and the system for distribution of 3D sound comprises means to determine at least one of angle and gaze direction of the head of the vehicle operator. Furthermore, the distribution of the 3D sound is based on the determined angle or gaze direction of the head of the vehicle operator. |
| US09638529B2 |
Vehicle orientation detection method and vehicle orientation detection apparatus
In this vehicle orientation detection method detecting the orientation of a vehicle on the basis of measurement data obtained at prescribed time intervals, as long as a speed sensed by a vehicle speed sensor is less than a threshold speed, the vehicle orientation is detected on the basis of a yaw rate sensed by a yaw rate sensor. If the speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is greater than or equal to the threshold speed, a drift determination is performed. If not determined to be in a drift state, the vehicle orientation is detected on the basis of signals received by a GPS receiver, and if determined to be in a drift state, the vehicle orientation is detected on the basis of the yaw rate sensed by the yaw rate sensor. |
| US09638527B2 |
Technique for signalling telephone calls during a route guidance
The present disclosure relates to a technique for controlling the signalling of incoming telephone calls during a route guidance by means of a navigation device. A method aspect includes the steps of detecting an incoming telephone call, determining a distance to a forthcoming maneuver instruction or route reference point on a predetermined route in response to the detected telephone call, and delaying the incoming telephone call until a maneuver instruction has been output if the determined distance to the forthcoming maneuver instruction or route reference point falls short of a predetermined threshold value. |
| US09638525B1 |
Systems and methods for monitoring positioning of a machine by utilizing a virtual IMU
A system for monitoring positioning of a machine is disclosed. The system includes an IMU located at a first location on the machine and configured to generate positioning data associated with the first location. The system includes a machine controller operatively associated with the machine. The machine controller is configured to determine predicted positioning data for a second location on the machine based on positioning data associated with the first location. The machine controller is further configured to generate a virtual IMU at the second location based on the predicted positioning data for the second location, wherein the virtual IMU generates virtual positioning data for the second location. The system further includes an application controller operatively associated with the machine controller and configured to use the virtual positioning data as input data for one or more machine-associated applications. |
| US09638524B2 |
Chip level sensor with multiple degrees of freedom
A sensing assembly device includes a substrate, a chamber above the substrate, a first piezoelectric gyroscope sensor positioned within the chamber, and a first accelerometer positioned within the chamber. |
| US09638522B2 |
Total station having scanning functionality and selectable scanning modes
A total station including an electro-optical distance measuring unit and a scanning functionality is disclosed. The total station may include an analysis unit for analysis of the registered measuring signal data and conversion thereof into scanning points for a point cloud, whereby a point cloud having the scanning points can be generated. The distance measuring unit may be configured in such a manner that the distance measurement can be carried out by means of runtime measurement and/or waveform digitizing (WFD). In addition, the total station may have a program storage unit which may provide at least two scanning modes, wherein the at least two scanning modes differ at least in a measuring rate such as, for example, in the number of scanning points per unit of time. |
| US09638514B2 |
Optical position-measuring device
An optical position-measuring device senses a relative position of two objects. A reflection material measure is connected to one object and a scanning unit is connected to the other object. A beam is split into three sub-beams in a first splitting plane by a first splitting element. The first and third sub-beams are deflected toward the reflection material measure by the deflecting elements, while the second sub-beam is split into fourth and fifth sub-beams by a second splitting element. The first and fourth sub-beams propagate as a first pair of superimposed sub-beams and the third and fifth sub-beams propagate as a second pair of superimposed sub-beams. The first and second pairs of superimposed sub-beams, after being reflected by the reflection material measure, propagate respectively toward detectors, where the sub-beams in each pair are brought into interfering superposition, so that the detectors detect displacement-dependent scanning signals. |
| US09638513B2 |
Device and method for the interferometric measuring of an object
A device for the interferometric measuring of an object, including a radiation source for generating an output beam, at least one beam splitter, as well as at least one detector, with the beam splitter being arranged in the radiation path of the output beam such that the output beam is split into at least one measuring beam and one reference beam, and the device is embodied to interfere the reference beam on the detector with an interference beam to form an optic interference. The device has an open optic resonator, which is arranged in the radiation path of the device such that the measuring beam enters the open optic resonator and the interference beam emitted from the open optic resonator is interfered with a reference beam on the detector to form an optic interference. The invention further relates to a method for the interferometric measuring of an object. |
| US09638512B2 |
Handheld dimensioning system with feedback
A handheld dimensioning system that analyzes a depth map for null-data pixels to provide feedback is disclosed. Null-data pixels correspond to missing range data and having too many in a depth map may lead to dimensioning errors. Providing feedback based on the number of null-data pixels helps a user understand and adapt to different dimensioning conditions, promotes accuracy, and facilitates handheld applications. |
| US09638511B2 |
Smart phone attachment for 3-D optical coherence tomography imaging
Methods and apparatus for tomographic imaging of a sample. Low-coherence light is split into a sample path and a reference path. A steering optic recombines light in the reference path with light scattered by a sample onto a camera having an areal focal plane array of detector elements such that light in the reference path and light scattered by the sample are characterized by respectively offset propagation vectors at incidence upon the camera. A processor derives depth information from light scattered by the sample on the basis of interference fringes between light in the reference path and light scattered by the sample. The apparatus tracks lateral motion and may be hand-held or attached to a mobile device such as a smartphone, thus enabling 3-D imaging with the mobile device. |
| US09638507B2 |
Measurement machine utilizing a barcode to identify an inspection plan for an object
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a measurement machine for measuring an object, and more particularly to a measurement machine such as a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine or a laser tracker that measures an object according to a measurement or inspection plan that is identified by a machine readable information symbol located on the object to be measured or on a drawing (e.g., a CAD drawing) of the object. |
| US09638505B2 |
Systems for delivering explosives and methods related thereto
Systems for delivering explosives with variable densities are disclosed herein. Methods of delivering explosives with variable densities and methods of varying the energy of explosives in a blasthole are disclosed herein. |
| US09638504B1 |
Warhead fuse
A warhead fuse mechanism is used to prevent an accidental explosive event of a warhead by separating the booster lead into a plurality of booster lead segments, with each of the individual booster lead segments having a diameter less than the failure diameter of the booster lead explosive. A separating device separates the booster lead segments from each other to maintain the failure diameter until detonation is desired. |
| US09638503B1 |
Dual safety fuze for grenade
A hand grenade fuze includes a secondary safety feature in the form of a trigger pin inserted through the striker lever. One end of the trigger pin has an undercut portion. A slide bar is disposed in the fuze body and has a keyhole opening at one end for selectively engaging the undercut portion of the trigger pin. A trigger has one end connected to the slide bar and another end rotatably fixed to the fuze body. A spring biases the trigger away from the fuze body. When the trigger is depressed, the slide bar translates and releases the trigger pin, which releases the restraint on the striker lever. |
| US09638502B1 |
Pulse error correction for spinning vehicles
Apparatus and methods for pulse error correction are disclosed. The apparatus may include a spinning vehicle having a plurality of antennas for generating pulse signals indicative of the rotational orientation of the spinning vehicle. The apparatus may utilize anti-jamming to detect and nullify a jamming signal. The apparatus may apply pulse error correction to correct inaccuracies in the pulse signals indicative of the rotational orientation of the spinning vehicle. More specifically, positional information of a source of the jamming signal relative to the spinning vehicle and positional information of a satellite relative to the spinning vehicle may be determined and utilized to calculate a rotational orientation correction. |
| US09638501B2 |
Target assignment projectile
A projectile includes an ordnance portion configured to impact a target and a communication apparatus positioned rearward of the ordnance portion. The projectile is configured to rotate about and travel along a longitudinal axis after launch. |
| US09638499B2 |
Insert/outsert assembly for an arrow
An insert/outsert assembly for an arrow. The insert includes a cylindrical body having first and second ends. The second end of the insert is dimensioned to fit within the bore of an arrow shaft. The first end includes a prong containing male threads. The outsert includes a cylindrical wall with an arrowshaft end and an arrowhead end. A center bore extends between the arrowshaft and arrowhead ends. The center bore contains a threaded region with female threads located intermediate of the arrowhead end and arrowshaft end. The insert is threadedly connected to the outsert. An arrowhead is threadedly connected to the outsert. |
| US09638497B2 |
Improvised explosive device defeat system
A robot system (50) includes a control system (101) having a control interface grip (102). The robot system includes a macro robotic arm (54) and a micro robotic arm (60). The robot system is arranged such that the macro robotic arm will respond, in a first control system state, to movement of the control interface grip. In particular, the macro robotic arm will move in a plurality of directions responsive to corresponding movement of the interface grip. The micro robotic arm will respond, in a second control system state, to movement of the control interface grip. In particular, the micro robotic arm will move in a plurality of directions responsive to corresponding movement of the interface grip. |
| US09638490B1 |
Pneumatic firing device
A pneumatic firing device includes a rear section engaging a cylinder, a solenoid valve engaging the rear section from under, an adjusting element disposed inside the rear section, a piston disposed inside the cylinder to form a first chamber and a second chamber, an airflow guiding element engaging the cylinder at the front thereof, a moving rod having a tail end engaging the piston and a front end stretching through the cylinder into the airflow guiding element for controlling the operation of the airflow guiding element, and a front section engaging the front of the airflow guiding element. The solenoid valve holds control of the operation of a pressure release channel to change the pressure difference between the first and second chamber, making the pressured air entering a first passage from a first guiding hole of the airflow guiding element, pushing the delivery tube to a firing position, flowing into a second passage from a second guiding hole, and then firing a pellet with strong airflow. |
| US09638485B2 |
Trigger mechanism for a firearm
A trigger mechanism for a firearm provides modified and/or adjustable trigger pull length, reduced sear pressure, reduced reset trigger slap, and/or improved engagement of the trigger safety. |
| US09638483B1 |
Ammunition magazine for reciprocally-cycled weapon
An ammunition magazine is used with a reciprocally-cycled weapon for delinking and firing cartridges in close-end linked ammunition belts. The magazine includes a housing with an ammunition indexing mechanism fixed to one side of the housing. A magazine feed box is disposed above the ammunition indexing mechanism. The magazine feed box includes a movable follower having an upper and a lower position and cam pins that engage cam slots in the magazine feed box. The movable follower is configured to receive a cartridge from the weapon. |
| US09638482B2 |
Digital detector
The present disclosure provides a digital detector apparatus for use with a sensor unit is provided wherein the sensor unit includes an emitter device and a receiver device, the receiver device having a capacitance. The digital detector apparatus comprises at least a first input port, first output port, and a second output port; and an A/D converter circuit wherein an input of the A/D converter circuit is coupled to the first input port for receiving an output of the receiver device; wherein the first output port of the digital detector apparatus is coupled for charging and discharging the capacitance of the receiver device; the second output port of the digital detector apparatus is coupled for driving the emitter device; and the A/D converter circuit derives a sensor output value from the output of the receiver device during a number of charging and discharging cycles. A digital smoke detector and a method of generating an output signal in a digital detector are also provided. |
| US09638480B1 |
System and method for cooling vehicle computing device
A vehicle computer is programmed to determine an expected thermal load for an autonomous driving compute cluster and a target temperature for the compute cluster under the expected thermal load. Based on a comparison of a current temperature of the compute cluster to an ambient temperature, the vehicle computer is further programmed to operate a switching valve in a first coolant path to open the path to one of a radiator portion and a condenser portion and operate, with the path open to the condenser portion, a pump in the first coolant path and a condenser in a second coolant path at speeds respectively based on at least one of the expected thermal load and the target temperature. |
| US09638478B2 |
Heat exchanger for cooling bulk solids
A heat exchanger comprises a housing that includes an inlet for receiving bulk solids having a first temperature, and an outlet for discharging the bulk solids. A plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel heat transfer tubes are disposed within the housing between the inlet and the outlet, for cooling the bulk solids that flow from the inlet into spaces between heat transfer tubes, to a second intermediate temperature, and a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel heat transfer plate assemblies disposed within the housing and interposed between the plurality of heat transfer tubes and the outlet for further cooling the bulk solids that flow from the spaces between heat transfer tubes, to spaces between heat transfer plate assemblies and to the outlet, to a third temperature. |
| US09638476B2 |
Plate-shaped heat exchanger for a cooling device comprising at least one heart exchanger package
The invention relates to a plate-shaped heat exchanger for a cooling device comprising at least one heat exchanger package, in particular for a motor vehicle, consisting of a plurality of openings for accommodating a pipe conducting a coolant, wherein each opening is surrounded by an passage and a plurality of projections are distributed between the passages for the heat exchange with the medium to be cooled. In order to allow a high performance increase of a cooling device, yet a low increase in pressure loss of the charge air, a plurality of projections are arranged around an passage, wherein the projections have a shape that assures deliberate heat conduction from the projections to the passage. |
| US09638475B2 |
Heat exchanger and battery unit structure for cooling thermally conductive batteries
A heat exchanger and battery unit structure is provided for cooling battery units (or cells) where the thermally conductive nature of the battery forms a cooling path. The heat exchanger is in the form of a cooling element provided with an engaging device formed on or attached to an outer surface of the cooling plate for receiving and/or engaging with a corresponding engaging portion on a battery unit (or cell). The interconnection between the battery unit (or cell) and heat exchanger creates a mechanical interlock between the two components that results in improved heat transfer properties between the two components. |
| US09638469B2 |
Condenser, multistage pressure condenser provided therewith, and reheating module used in condenser
This low-pressure condenser is provided with: a pressure bulkhead which partitions the inside of the container into an upper space and a lower space; a heat transfer tube which is arranged in the upper space; and a reheater which is arranged in the lower space and which, by means of high-temperature steam flowing from the outside into the lower space, heats water which condenses in the upper space and flows into the lower space. The reheater includes multiple partition members, a receiving plate which receives water flowing downward via the partition members, and a dam which is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the receiving plate. The lower ends of the multiple partition members are below the upper end of the dam. |
| US09638462B2 |
Method for producing a C3+ hydrocarbon-rich fraction and a methane- and ethane-rich stream from a hydrocarbon-rich feed stream, and related facility
The method according to the invention comprises the separation of a feed stream (16) into a first fraction (60) and a second fraction (62) and the injection of at least part of the second fraction (62) into a second dynamic expansion turbine (46) to form a second expanded fraction (80).It comprises the cooling of the second expanded fraction (80) through heat exchange with at least part of the first headstream (84) coming from a first column (28) and the formation of a second feed stream (82) of the first column (28) from the second cooled expanded fraction. |
| US09638461B2 |
Method for operating a refrigerator appliance
Refrigerator appliances and methods for operating refrigerator appliances are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a user's presence, associating the user's presence with a heated beverage preference, and initiating heating of a liquid stored in the refrigerator appliance. The detecting step, the associating step and the initiating step are performed by a controller of the refrigerator appliance. |
| US09638460B2 |
Refrigerator with camera and control thereof
A refrigerator includes a storage compartment formed in a cabinet of the refrigerator by a fixed insulation wall, the storage compartment being provided with an access opening. The refrigerator also includes a door rotatably provided to the cabinet to open and close the access opening, a drawer provided in the storage compartment, a camera fixed to a ceiling of the storage compartment to photograph both a first region for storing of food arranged in an external space of the drawer and a second region for storing of food arranged in an internal space of the drawer, and a controller configured to separate, through a capturing time of a picture containing both the first region and the second region, a first region picture and a second region picture from the picture to individually divide and store the first region picture and the second region picture. |
| US09638458B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator may include a cabinet defined with a storage chamber therein, and a shelf assembly mounted in the storage chamber provided with a vertically movable shelf. The shelf assembly includes a guide member mounted in the storage chamber while having guide slots inclinedly formed at side walls of the guide member. The shelf is supported by the guide member to be vertically movable. Guide protrusions are provided at opposite lateral ends of the shelf to protrude laterally and are supported by the guide slots in a state of being slidably engaged in the guide slots. The guide slots have bent upper ends forming upper seats to support the guide protrusions. Each upper seat is formed such that a straight vertical line extending downwards from a center of the upper seat passes through a center of a lower seat formed at the corresponding guide slot. |
| US09638455B2 |
Refrigerator and method for operating the same
A refrigerator including an evaporator to carry out heat exchange, a frost sensing unit to sense an amount of frost formed on the frost sensing unit, and a heater to be operated for removing the frost from the frost sensing unit is provided. The heater is operated in at least a portion of a defrosting section. Methods for operating the refrigerator are also provided. |
| US09638450B2 |
Ice making system
An ice making system for a refrigerator, comprises: a base member; an icemaker mounted to a front surface of the base member for making ice pieces; a driving unit mounted to a rear surface of the base member such that a motor shaft thereof is in a horizontal state; an ice bank horizontally inserted into the base member in a detachable manner, for storing the ice pieces made by the icemaker; a detachable mounting unit for detachably mounting the ice bank to the base member; and an ice crusher assembly provided at the ice bank so as to be connected to or separated from the driving unit, for crushing the ice pieces. Since the ice bank has only to be horizontally pushed into the base member for coupling, or horizontally pulled out of the base member for separation, processes for coupling or separating the ice bank to/from the base member are facilitated. This prevents the ice pieces stored in the ice bank from being discharged out of the ice bank. |
| US09638449B2 |
On-line energy consumption optimization adaptive to environmental condition
An appliance includes an appliance housing, an interface adapted to receive power information, a plurality of sensors for sensing environmental conditions, a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the appliance, and an intelligent control. The intelligent control is disposed within the appliance housing and operatively connected to the interface and the plurality of sensors and adapted to dynamically select control values associated with the plurality of controls based on at least one of the power information, the environmental conditions, or a combination thereof to increase energy efficiency of the appliance. |
| US09638448B2 |
Refrigerant cycle system
A refrigeration cycle system is capable of reducing an amount of information required to be specified in advance, reducing a computational processing load, reflecting differences in actual installation conditions, and speeding up stabilization of an operational state in which the total amount of required input energy is reduced. A refrigeration cycle system is provided with a plurality of actuators, including outdoor fan motors, compressors, indoor fan motors, and the like for causing a refrigerant circuit to carry out a refrigeration cycle. A control unit obtains the slope at the current evaporation temperature and/or the current condensing temperature on a graph of the function between the actuators and the evaporation temperature or the condensing temperature, and updates the value of the target evaporation temperature and/or the target condensing temperature so that the sum of the input energy to the actuators is less that the current level. |
| US09638446B2 |
Method to detect low charge levels in a refrigeration circuit
A method to detect the charge level of a refrigerant within a refrigeration circuit, where the refrigeration circuit has a compressor, a sensor to detect a pressure, and a sensor to detect a temperature. The method has a key cycle that has a first part and a second part. |
| US09638445B2 |
Oil return management in a HVAC system
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described to help manage oil return such as in a chiller system of a HVAC system. A refrigerant/oil mixture can be directed out of the evaporator into an oil return heat exchanger that is configured to help vaporize a refrigerant portion of the refrigerant/oil mixture. Superheat refrigerant vapor can be directed from a condenser into the oil return heat exchanger as the heat energy to vaporize the refrigerant portion in the refrigerant/oil mixture. The oil return heat exchanger can be positioned lower than the evaporator so that gravity can help the refrigerant/oil mixture to flow into the oil return heat exchanger. |
| US09638444B2 |
Filter less A/C system
A low temperature Freon, where indoor air in an air handling unit goes through an indoor coil. Do to the fact that indoor coil fins' surface temperature is below freezing, ice will build up on surfaces of the fins, icy/wet surfaces will catch foreign substances from the air. Air in the center of indoor coil is passing through without cooling the indoor air.Mixture of the cooled and the by passed air are resulting pleasant and clean indoor air. Temperature sensors installed on surfaces of indoor coils opens and closes according to set temperature, turning blower motor on and off. |
| US09638443B2 |
Air-conditioning apparatus
An air-conditioning apparatus is capable of suppressing refrigerant flow noise regardless the refrigerant state of an inlet of an expansion mechanism. In parallel to a flow control valve, an opening and closing valve that opens and closes a refrigerant passage and an expansion mechanism having porous bodies capable of passing a refrigerant therethrough are connected in series with each other. In a heating mode, in the case where a controller stops an operation of one or more of a plurality of indoor units and causes the other indoor unit(s) to operate, the flow control valve of the stopped indoor unit is fully closed and the opening and closing valve of the stopped indoor unit is opened. |
| US09638442B2 |
Medical, topper, pet wireless, and automated manufacturing of distributed thermoelectric heating and cooling
A thermoelectric device comprising an elongated panel, formed of a thermally insulating material, and having a plurality of thermoelectric elements comprising compacted conductors inside the insulating material and expanded conductors outside the insulating material is combined with other layers for leakage current interception, bodily fluid absorption, and pillars that preserve pressure re-distribution. The thermoelectric device may be integrated into a variety of surfaces or enclosures needing heating or cooling and manufactured using pre-existing automated equipment. |
| US09638432B2 |
Ventilation unit calibration apparatus, system and method
A ventilation unit for installation in a ventilation system. The ventilation unit can include a motor coupled to a fan element and a power source. The ventilation unit can also include a calibration module having one of a voltage and current regulator for adjusting the performance of the ventilation unit based on at least one characteristic of the ventilation system. |
| US09638429B2 |
Method and system for controlling the temperature of an indoor space
A method for automatically operating a heating system includes operating a thermostat at a set point having a default set point value, automatically receiving an indoor temperature signal from an indoor temperature sensor, automatically receiving an outdoor weather indicator signal representing a measured or predicted outdoor weather condition, based on the outdoor weather indicator signal, determining a factor affecting heat flow out of water pipes adjacent to an indoor space, comparing the factor affecting heat flow to a pre-determined freeze protection point, based on the comparison, determining whether to maintain the set point at the default set point or to raise the set point to a computed set point higher than the default set point, and using the thermostat to automatically control the heating system. |
| US09638426B2 |
Safety burner system with automatic shut-off
A gas burner safety system comprises dual sensor arrays, the first array positioned proximal to the gas burner and the second array positioned proximal to a control used to turn on and of and regulate the flame of the gas burner. The first array senses the flame components such that a flame signature is obtained when no object is placed on or above the flame and a flame image is obtained when an object is proximal to the flame. By comparing the flame signature and the flame image, a central control unit operatively connected to the sensor arrays can determine the presence or absence of an object proximal to the flame. The second sensor array is positioned to detect a human hand proximal to the control. In operation, if the flame image matches the flame signature and a human hand is not detected proximal to the control, the central control unit turns off the gas burner by causing the closure of a valve in the gas supply line to the gas burner. |
| US09638425B2 |
Cartridge-type gas grill
A structure which performs safety operation with certainty when a gas container is replaced or when an abnormality occurs and is easy to used is provided. A cartridge-type gas grill 11 having a plurality of systems includes two gas container accommodation sections 12; two burners 13; and gas flow paths for connecting the gas container accommodation sections 12and the burners 13 in a one-to-one relationship. All the gas container accommodation sections 12 are each provided with a container attachment switch 19 for detecting that a gas container 15 is connected. Open/close valves 18, provided in the gas flow paths, for adjusting a gas flow are each formed of an electromagnetic valve. Operation knobs 63 each for making an operation on the corresponding open/close valve 18 are each provided with an ignition switch 20, which is turned ON when the corresponding open/close valve 18 is opened and is turned OFF when the corresponding open/close valve 18 is closed. The container attachment switches 19, the open/close valves 18, and the ignition switches 20 are electronically controlled. For an ignition process, the ignition switches are validated under the condition that all the container attachment switches 19 are ON. For a recovery process, all the ignition switches 19 need to be turned OFF. |
| US09638415B2 |
Method for transportation and agitation of refinery solids waste
A method of transporting solid refinery waste includes loading solid refinery waste into a mobile tank having at least one sloped floor wall and a plurality of compartments separated by at least one buffer. The method may also include maintaining a head space between a top level of the solid refinery waste and a top wall of the mobile tank. The method may also include delivering the mobile tank to a burning facility that maintains a reserve of diluent and that is equipped with an agitator configured for lowering into the mobile tank through a manhole opening, to thereby permit the diluent to be conveyed into the headspace and mixed with the solid refinery waste, thereby enabling a resulting mixture to be off-loaded for burning at the burning facility. |
| US09638412B2 |
Optimised method and device loop combustion on liquid hydrocarbon feedstock
The invention relates to a device and to an improved method for chemical looping combustion of at least one liquid hydrocarbon feed, comprising: mixing the liquid feed with an atomization gas so as to feed it into a metal oxide particle transport zone (2), upstream from combustion zone (3), through atomization means (6) allowing to form finely dispersed liquid droplets in the atomization gas; vaporization of the liquid feed in form of droplets into contact with at least part of metal oxide particles in transport zone (2), the operating conditions in transport zone (2) being so selected that the superficial gas velocity after vaporization of the liquid feed is higher than the transport velocity of the metal oxide particles; sending all of the effluents from transport zone (2) to a combustion zone (3) allowing reduction of the metal oxide particles, said combustion zone (3) comprising at least one dense-phase fluidized bed. The invention can be advantageously applied to CO2 capture and energy production. |
| US09638409B2 |
LED lamp
An LED lamp comprising: an LED light-emitting module including an LED; an lens module provided in front of the LED light-emitting module; a casing accommodating the LED light-emitting module and having a sectional area decreasing toward a base located on a back portion of the LED lamp; and a heat sink configuring at least part of the casing and dissipating heat emitted by the LED. |
| US09638406B1 |
Energy-saving device of surgical light
A energy-saving device of surgical light includes a suspension or support system; a light head carried on the suspension or support system and includes a housing, a grip mounted to the housing for hand holding and moving the light head, multiple light clusters mounted in the housing and each including at least one light source, and multiple detection pairs mounted in the housing and each including an emitter and a receiver, in which the emitter transmits a signal that is reflected by an external object to the receiver to detect the external object at a specific site and a specific distance from the light head; a light source driver operable to drive the light clusters according to the detection result of the detection pairs; and an operation interface connected to the light source driver and configured for energy saving modes of fixed light intensity and compensation light intensity. |
| US09638405B2 |
Adjustable photocontrol mounting assembly
An assembly for connecting and holding a photocontrol with respect to a light fixture. The assembly includes a support member and a photocontrol receptacle over and secured with respect to the support member. The support member is on an exterior surface of a light-fixture housing at an opening formed in the housing. The photocontrol receptacle is rotatable about the support member for angular photocontrol adjustment on the light fixture. The support member is fixed with respect to the exterior surface of the light-fixture housing. The receptacle has an engagement portion rotatably engaging the support member, thereby holding the receptacle with respect to the light-fixture housing while permitting rotation of the receptacle with respect thereto. Another aspect is a related method for connecting and holding a photocontrol with respect to a light fixture. |
| US09638401B2 |
Modular LED lighting systems, including flexible, rigid, and waterproof lighting strips and connectors
Modular lighting systems are provided that comprise lighting strips physically and electrically connectable with one another by way of flexible connectors. The lighting strip devices can be made of flexible or rigid material to allow for applying the lighting devices along flat as well as contoured surfaces and can be waterproof or water resistant. A modular lighting strip system is provided comprising: two or more lighting strips comprising a non-conductive substrate strip with an electrical circuit; a plurality of light sources operably connected to the electrical circuit; a plug or socket at opposing ends of the strip; one or more connectors for providing electrical and physical interconnection of the lighting strips comprising: one or more plug and/or socket and one or more flexible wires interconnecting the plugs or sockets, which are operably configured to provide for side-by-side interconnection of lighting strips. |
| US09638398B2 |
Lighting devices
A lighting device includes a cover portion configured to have a hinged connection for mounting on a housing. The cover portion includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a mixing chamber having a reflective internal surface for receiving light from the LED. A phosphorescent lens is disposed opposite the LED and is configured to reflect light from the LED back to the mixing chamber and to emanate absorbed light from the lens to a surrounding region outside of the mixing chamber. An LED driver circuit is configured to power the LED, the LED driver circuit being electrically connected to a power source. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09638397B2 |
Lighting apparatus and method for emitting light having different color temperatures
There is provided a lighting apparatus and a method for reducing discomfort glare. The method comprises a step of providing a first portion of light radiation in a first incident angle range; and another step of providing a second portion of light radiation in a second incident angle range consecutive to the first incident angle range. The first incident angle range is greater than the second incident angle range viewed from a vertically downward direction of a light source emitting the light radiation, and the correlated color temperature of the first portion of light radiation is lower than that of the second portion of light radiation. |
| US09638394B2 |
Light emitting diode (LED) lighting system with antimicrobial/air cleaning functions from highly specular multilayer thin film reflector
A system and method according to various embodiments can include a lighting fixture comprising a light source. A multilayer thin film coated reflector is applied to an outer light emitting surface of the lighting fixture. A top layer of the multilayer thin film coated reflector comprises a material including an anatase TiO crystal structure that exhibits antimicrobial properties when activated by the light source. |
| US09638392B2 |
Lamp optic for use in LED-based lamp
A lamp optic (100) for a lamp includes a proximal end (104), a distal end (106) and a longitudinal axis (L). The proximal end (104) has a proximal inner side wall (112) linearly extending toward the distal end (106) and intersecting a proximal flat portion (114). The distal end (106) has a distal inner side wall (120) linearly extending toward the proximal end (104) and intersecting a distal flat portion (122). The distal flat portion length (LD) is at least 25 percent of the proximal flat portion length (LP). A lateral side (108) extends from the proximal end (104) to the distal end (106). The lateral side (108) has a first skirt region (124) and a second skirt region (126). The first skirt region (124) and the second skirt region (126) extend linearly and successively from the proximal end (104) to the distal end (106). |
| US09638390B2 |
Axially symmetric LED light bulb
An axially symmetric LED light bulb includes a lamp shade, a substrate and a connecting seat. The substrate installed on the connecting seat includes plural LED light sources. The lamp shade has an edge connected to the connecting seat, and the substrate is covered inside the lamp shade. The lamp shade has an unequal thickness with a thicker top and thinner sides. The axially symmetric LED light bulb provides excellent light uniformity and wide-angle illumination. |
| US09638387B2 |
Lighting units for road users
A lighting unit (85) for use by a vulnerable road user such as a cyclist, the lighting unit being intended for use as a front light or a rear light, wherein the lighting unit displays a symbol or word that identifies the category of vulnerable road user. It may incorporate two distinct lights: one which is set to achieve light delivery comparable to current standard white front and red rear bike lights, whilst the other is the symbol or word display. The symbol or word display is designed to increase driver recognition, to improve driver reaction time, and to prime appropriate driving behaviour. For example the lighting unit (95) may be a rear light or a front light for a bicycle (10), arranged to display (80) the word BIKE or a symbol of a cyclist on a bicycle. The lighting unit (95) may also include a light source (103) with an external focusing lens. |
| US09638385B2 |
Head lamp in vehicle
A head lamp in a vehicle may include a light source for emitting a light, a reflector for reflecting the light forward from the light source, a lens for transmitting the light being forwarded toward a front from the light source and the reflector, a holder having one end coupled to the lens and the other end coupled to the reflector to make the lens spaced at a predetermined distance from the reflector, and a movable shield disposed between the light source and the reflector and the lens for selectively shielding a portion of the light being forwarded toward the lens from the light source and the reflector, or not shielding the portion of the light being forwarded toward the lens from the light source and the reflector when being moved to create a space between the movable shield and a lower end of the holder to allow the light pass through. |
| US09638382B2 |
LED modules with ball joint adjustable support
A modular assembly for a headlight includes at least one semiconductor light module having at least one semiconductor light source mounted on a cooling element, having at least one ball socket in which the semiconductor light module is mounted and configured to be pivoted about a ball socket center, a curved cup formed in the cooling element and configured to be mounted in the ball socket, and a guide shell arranged between the curved cup and the ball socket. A method for adjusting the semiconductor light module is also disclosed. |
| US09638380B2 |
Bendable LED strip
The invention relates to a flexible LED strip, comprising modules that include light-emitting diodes (3) arranged successively at intervals, in particular equal intervals longitudinally, wherein the light-emitting diodes (3) of each module are electrically interconnected on one circuit board (2) each, in particular together with other electronic modules (4), and the LED strip can be severed between the modules, in particular without destroying the electrical functionality of the modules, wherein each module has at least one contact region at which a power supply can be connected to the module and all circuit-board sections (2) are mounted in a flexible enclosure (1), wherein the at least one contact region of each module extends through the enclosure (1) and can be electrically contacted outside the enclosure (1). The invention furthermore relates to an end piece (7), a coupling piece (8), and a connector piece for power-supply lines (6) or control-signal lines (6) of this LED strip. |
| US09638379B2 |
Work lamp with magnetic tray and tools
A lighting device provides a storage tray or cavity. The lighting device includes a head section pivotally connected to a base section via a connection assembly. The head section includes a light source, and the base section includes a storage cavity with a magnetic floor. The connection assembly allows the head section to be variably positioned relative to the base section by pivoting simultaneously about mutually orthogonal axes, one of which is fixed relative to the base section, and the other of which is movable relative to the base section. The lighting device may optionally include removable tools, such as a telescopic pick-up tool, and/or various means for attaching the lighting device to a support. |
| US09638372B2 |
Operating gas system for an underwater vehicle, method for operating such an operating gas system and an underwater vehicle having such an operating gas system
An operating gas system for an underwater vehicle, particularly for a submarine or an unmanned underwater vehicle, includes a fuel cell system and an operating gas vessel connected in terms of flow to the fuel cell system. In order to achieve simple and efficient storage of boil-off gasses, a gas-receiving device is also provided and is connected to the operating gas vessel. The gas-receiving device contains a sorbent for receiving boil-off gas from the operating gas vessel. The boil-off gas, which is produced in the operating vessel with an operating gas for the fuel cell system and which cannot be consumed directly in the fuel cell reaction, is therefore collected and stored with the aid of the sorbent in the gas-receiving device. A method for operating an operating gas system and an underwater vehicle are also provided. |
| US09638360B2 |
Leak detection O-ring
A seal member for sealingly securing a first and a second pipe at a crimp connection, the seal member including a ring-shaped body having an outer diameter and an inner diameter. A plurality of protrusions are formed on the ring-shaped body and extend radially outwardly from the outer diameter. The ring-shaped body permits fluid to pass around adjacent protrusions prior to attaining the crimp connection and inhibits fluid from passing therearound subsequent to attaining the crimp connection. |
| US09638359B2 |
Strip wound hose
A strip wound hose is provided including a metal band with an approximately S-shaped profile, which is wound in helical windings to form a hose. The profile of the metal band includes two wall sections extending essentially axially and being radially spaced part from each other, which are connected to each other by a web and are each provided at the edge with a bent rim. The profiles of two adjacent windings each are mutually engaged via their rims such that they are axially movable in reference to each other between a compressed position and an extended position. Both the web as well as the rims of the profile are aligned diagonally by an angle of at least 10 degrees in reference to the radial direction. A method for cutting to length and/or widening the strip wound hose is also provided. |
| US09638358B2 |
Duct element for the exhaust system of a motor vehicle
A duct element for the exhaust system of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, including at least one flexible duct part, preferably a bellows. The flexible duct part is embodied at least partially from a first type of steel with a Mo-content ≧4% or ≧6% and with a N-content from 0.3% to 0.6% or from 0.18% to 0.25%, preferably embodied from steel of the type 1.4565 or the type 1.4547. Furthermore a decoupling element is provided for motor vehicles with an internal combustion engine and a respective use of steel embodied with a Mo-content ≧4% or ≧6% and a N-content from 0.3% to 0.6% or from 0.18% to 0.25%, preferably steel of the type 1.4565 or 1.4547. |
| US09638355B2 |
Seal girding a stick of pipe or a pipeline in the entry or exit ports of a pipe fusion chamber
A seal obstructs the migration of particulates and precipitation into a pipe fusion chamber through its pipe stick entry and pipeline exit passages. Sheets of cloth serially overlap the anticipated center axis of a pipe stick/pipeline which will pass through the machine. The outer edge of each sheet is pleated and fixed to a frame contiguous with the perimeter of the passage and the inner edge of each sheet is gathered on an elastic band. When a face of a pipe stick/pipeline pushes the sheets away from the frame, the pleats and bands cooperate to allow the inner edges of the sheets to slide over the face and hug substantially the entire outer circumference of the pipe stick/pipeline. |
| US09638353B2 |
Clip for supporting a prestressed cable along a dovetail slot in a cement casting
A clip for securing a prestressed cable along a dovetail slot within a cement cast for masonry work. The clip contains a cup receiving the prestressed cable and legs for a fixed attachment to the outside of a dovetail bar. A method of installing the clip includes inserting the clip between the dovetail slot and the prestressed cable and rotating the clip such that the prestressed cable is received within the cup and the legs capture the dovetail slot. |
| US09638349B2 |
Self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal
A self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal includes an annular body formed from a flexible carbon composite. |
| US09638344B2 |
System and method to monitor characteristics of an operating fluid in a process line
A system that provides localized monitoring of characteristics of instrument gas that a valve assembly uses to modulate the flow of a working fluid. The system includes components that generate an output in response to, for example, particulates, humidity, temperature, and other characteristics of the instrument gas. Processing of data and information in the output can help to diagnose changes in the characteristics of the instrument gas. This diagnosis is useful to predict a time frame during which the valve assembly and components associated therewith might fail and/or require maintenance before the valve assembly manifests significant problem that are detrimental to a process line. |
| US09638343B2 |
Sharp-phase change shape memory alloy thermal actuator
A valve actuator, valve, and method of actuation of a valve are disclosed. The valve actuator includes a shape memory alloy element attachable to a valve body, capable of use with a valve to cause movement of the valve between first and second positions responsive to at least a threshold amount of temperature change of the shape memory alloy element. The valve actuator further includes a negative-differential spring applied to the shape memory alloy element, thereby reducing the threshold amount of temperature change needed to cause movement of the valve between the first and second positions. |
| US09638339B2 |
Diaphragm valve
A diaphragm valve comprises at least one valve body which has at least one inlet, at least one outlet, at least one flow channel and at least one shutoff web dividing the flow channel into channel portions. The diaphragm valve furthermore comprises a diaphragm which rests on a circumferential sealing seat of the valve body, and a drive having a drive housing, the drive being coupled to the diaphragm to press the diaphragm against the shutoff web for closing the valve. The diaphragm valve furthermore comprises a fastening unit for detachably locking the drive to the valve body, the fasting unit having a bayonet cap and an additional central retightening unit by means of which an axial tightening force is generated. |
| US09638338B2 |
Microfluidic pump and valve structures and fabrication methods
Plastic microfluidic structures having a substantially rigid diaphragm that actuates between a relaxed state wherein the diaphragm sits against the surface of a substrate and an actuated state wherein the diaphragm is moved away from the substrate. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic structures formed with this diaphragm provide easy to manufacture and robust systems, as well readily made components such as valves and pumps. |
| US09638337B2 |
Plug valve having preloaded seal segments
A plug valve including a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a central chamber extending between the inlet port and the outlet port. The valve also includes an inlet seal segment within the central chamber and includes a bore extending therethrough and aligned with the inlet port. An outlet seal segment is disposed within the central chamber having a bore extending therethrough and aligned with the outlet port. A plug member is disposed in the central chamber and is moveable between an open position, to facilitate fluid flow through the plug valve, and a closed position, to block fluid flow through the plug valve. First and second side segments are disposed between and interlocked to the inlet and outlet seal segments to encircle the plug member. The side segments are tensioned to preload the seal segments against the plug member to prevent the flow of fluid between the seal segments and the plug member. |
| US09638335B2 |
Double sealing valve
A double sealing valve includes a power cylinder having a driving axle, a valve body formed of a first and a second valve members, and a seal plate assembly within the valve body. Therein, the first valve member has an axle bore for the driving axle to pass through, and the second valve member has two valve holes oppositely disposed. The seal plate assembly has a driving frame connected to the driving axle, with plural roller assemblies disposed around the driving frame. The seal plate assembly has two seal plates disposed between two faces of the driving frame and the valve body, respectively. Each seal plate has plural driving grooves corresponding to the roller assemblies. The driving axle drives the seal plate assembly to seal the valve holes, with a sealing force produced therebetween by use of the roller assembly and the driving groove. |
| US09638332B2 |
Valve for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
A valve for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a housing which contains a passage for conducting exhaust gases. In the passage is arranged a closing body with which the passage can be closed. The closing body is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner to a shaft, which is mounted rotatably in the housing, and can be pivoted together with the shaft about the rotation axis of the shaft. The closing body has a partition, which runs perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the shaft, and has a circular outer contour which is sealed off from the housing and divides the passage into a first duct and a second duct. When the closing body is in the closed position both the first and second ducts are closed. When the closing body is in an open position the exhaust gasses can pass through the first and second ducts. |
| US09638330B2 |
Ultrahigh-pressure sealing device and reciprocating pump
An ultrahigh-pressure sealing device improves sealing performance under ultrahigh pressures and improves durability. The ultrahigh-pressure sealing device is arranged to seal an annular space between an outer member and an inner member and separates between a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber. A bottom ring includes a first inner periphery, a first large-diameter outer periphery, a first small-diameter outer periphery, and a first middle outer periphery. A back-up ring includes a second inner periphery, a second engagement portion, and a second outer periphery. A packing ring includes a third low-pressure-chamber end, a third inner periphery, a third large-diameter outer periphery, a third the small-diameter outer periphery, and a third middle outer periphery. An elastic ring includes a fourth inner periphery, a fourth the engagement portion, and a fourth outer periphery. |
| US09638329B2 |
Engine rear seal
In an engine rear seal installed to an engine rear portion having an end plate arranged in a motor exterior side of a housing, and a flywheel arranged in a motor exterior side of the end plate, the engine rear seal has an oil seal and a muddy water preventing seal. The muddy water preventing seal integrally has an attaching portion, and a seal lip directed to a diametrically outer side from the attaching portion and slidably coming into close contact with an end surface in the motor exterior side of the end plate. The seal lip has an inclined lip end back surface portion, and is structured such that a lip end comes into contact with the end surface at the low-speed rotating time and the lip end moves away from the end plate on the basis of an action of a centrifugal force at the high-speed rotating time. |
| US09638325B2 |
Material for gasket
A material for a gasket, wherein a chromate or non-chromate film, a phenol resin primer layer and a polyol-crosslinkable fluororubber layer are formed on one or both surfaces of a steel plate in this sequence from the side of the steel plate; the polyol-crosslinkable fluororubber layer is a rubber layer obtained by applying a fluororubber composition that comprises fluororubber, a polyol-based cross-linking agent, an amine-based cross-linking accelerator and silica to the phenol resin primer layer, followed by heating; and the amine-based cross-linking accelerator is a tertiary amine or a salt of a tertiary amine obtained by a reaction between a tertiary amine and an acid. Provided is a material for a gasket mounted in an engine of a vehicle that, in the actual use environment, does not suffer rubber peeling in a part where it contacts water or an anti-freezing solution even if the gasket is used in a state where it contacts different types of metals and, in a sealing part around a combustion room, abrasion or ply separation of a rubber layer hardly occurs. |
| US09638324B2 |
Sealing device
The invention provides a sealing device constructed by combination of a slinger and a lip member, the sealing device being capable of improving a sealing performance, particularly a sealing performance against external dusts. In order to achieve the object, in a sealing device having a slinger which is installed to one member among relatively rotating two members, a lip member which is installed to the other member, and structured such that the slinger integrally has a tubular portion which is fitted to the one member and a flange portion which extends in a diametrical direction, and the lip member having an end face lip which slidably comes into close contact with the flange portion, a bent portion protruding in an axial direction toward the lip member is provided in the flange portion, and a labyrinth structure having a minute gap is provided between the bent portion and the lip member. |
| US09638322B2 |
Piston ring with dual coating
Exemplary piston rings are disclosed, comprising a base portion formed of a metallic material, and an outer contact surface extending between opposing side faces of the piston ring. The piston ring may include a coating layer applied to the outer contact surface, with the coating layer including an inner layer and an outer layer. Exemplary methods of making a piston ring are also disclosed, comprising providing a base portion formed of a metallic material, applying an inner layer to an outer surface of the base portion, and applying an outer layer on top of the inner layer. |
| US09638314B2 |
ECO lubrication method for a transfer case
A number of variations may comprise a method comprising: a lubrication system for a transfer case comprising: actively managing an oil level in a plurality of sumps in a transfer case by rotating at least one rotating element in the transfer case to transfer oil through the transfer case to lubricate the transfer case. |
| US09638311B2 |
Power transmission gear unit and vehicle instrument
Hemispherical protrusions are protrudingly provided in end surfaces of a rotor gear and a tooth portion of a small gear having the smaller number of gear teeth between the rotor gear and a large gear of an intermediate gear, and between the small gear of the intermediate gear and an output gear, which are meshed with each other in a transmission gear train. Thus, in a case where the large gear rides on the rotor gear or the small gear rides on the output gear when the intermediate gear is accommodated in a housing after the rotor gear and the output gear are accommodated, it is possible to cancel the riding state thereof only by applying a slight vibration to the housing. |
| US09638310B2 |
Drive assembly with a rotating housing attached to an output interface
A drive assembly is disclosed, including a housing cylinder having a cap end and an attachment end including a first attachment surface, with gear teeth being disposed around an inner circumference forming at least one ring gear. The housing cylinder encloses a planetary gear set including at least one sun gear and at least one set of planet gears. An output interface includes an interface body having an annular attachment lip including a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface contacts, and is connected, as by welding, to the second attachment surface, whereby rotational power may be transmitted from the planetary gear set to the output interface via the gear teeth and the contact between the attachment surfaces. |